Raclette Cheese

Jon and I have decided to start a new Christmas tradition. We have wanted to start have for our Christmas meal, something that Jon had in Switzerland that he enjoyed. We found a store recently, thanks to our friends the Millers, that will make this possible. We went to Meijer (said Meyer) a grocery store that is a little like a super Walmart. Click on the logo to go to the Meijer homepage. There we found Raclette Cheese. Some of you we have shared this wonderful meal with. Others have not been as lucky, but maybe someday. The cheese is cut into slices and melted using an oven that looks like this: The cheese melts to a perfect liquid. It is then poured over potatoes, or whatever else you want. Potatoes are the traditional Swiss way. It is very good!!!

The Hobo Spider it dead!

So we had a hobo spider that came with our stuff from Utah. She had decided to take over our bedroom. This morning she scared Jon in the bathroom attached to our bedroom. So, sorry Leisy, she had to die. Now we hope no more came with us and our house is hobo free.

Our move and travels around the area.

We drove North to Lake Ontario and saw two lighthouses and drove the scenic way home to Toledo.


Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse on Lake Ontario:
Looking up the Genesee River at a rotating bridge.
Lake Ontario:

Peter Whitmer Farm:
On 6 April 1830, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally organized with six members.Members of the Whitmer family did much to further the budding Church. They took in the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. and his wife Emma for a period of time and allowed Joseph and Oliver Cowdery to work on the translation of the Book of Mormon in their home. Joseph also received revelations comprising 20 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, and some of the first priesthood ordinances were performed in or near this home.

Room where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored.Fayette Chapel and Visitors Center:

Sculpture of Joseph and Oliver Cowdery receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood in Fayette, New York:

In this building, Joseph Smith, latter-day prophet and translator of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, met with E. B. Grandin to discuss printing the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon.
Alvin Smith's Grave:A newer head stone has been built around the old head stone.

Joseph Smith Sr., his wife Lucy Mack Smith, and their eight children moved to Palmyra, New York, in 1816. After a few years in Palmyra, Joseph Sr. bought 100 acres of wooded land. He and his sons cleared the land, prepared the soil for cultivation, and planted crops.

Map of the Smith Farm:

We stay Thursday Night in Rochester, New York. We caught the 9:00 a.m session at the Palmyra Temple. It was very... Well, what does one say about the temple... Fun seems wrong. Jon and I were the witness couple for the first time since when we were dating. The temple is built on part of the original 100 acres that the Smith family owned. It over looks the Sacred Grove. BEAUTIFUL!

The Palmyra New York Temple:

Entering the Sacred Grove:
Jon pushed my dad on a beefed up wheel chair.
Sacred Grove:

During the 1820s, upstate New York experienced a period of religious revivals. Joseph Smith Jr., a 14-year-old boy, lived in Palmyra, where he attended the services of various religions. He searched the Bible to discover religious truth. While searching the New Testament, he read, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). Joseph was inspired to ask God the questions that had been troubling him. One morning in the spring of 1820, he went to the woods near his home, found a secluded place, and knelt down to pray. While praying, a miraculous event occurred, which Joseph later described: "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. . . . When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other–This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" (Joseph Smith–History 1:16-17). These two personages, God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, instructed Joseph not to join any of the churches then established, but instead to wait for further direction in the restoration of Christ's Church. The Sacred Grove was so peaceful!If you look close, you can see the original stone fence that was on the border on the Smith Farm. My mom and dad enjoying the Spirit of the Grove.
The Smith family built a small log home on their property and lived there for a number of years. They then decided to build a larger and more comfortable home.Smith's Barn:Father and sons worked side by side to produce a quaint frame home, which they moved into late in 1825. Having lost title to their farm, they moved back into the log home in the spring of 1829, where they lived until late 1830, when they moved from the area.

Jon standing outside the Frame House next to a garden that the Couple Missionaries are growing. Smith Cooper Shed, where barrels would be made:Old fashioned beehives on the Smith Farm:Smith Farm:

Martin Harris was known as "an honorable and upright man, and an obliging and benevolent neighbor." He faithfully served his community in many appointed capacities and through his industry and integrity became a respected and prosperous farmer.


Martin Harris first met Joseph Smith Jr., the future prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, after the Smith family settled in Palmyra, New York, in 1816. He was among the first to know about Joseph's vision of Jesus Christ and God the Father and soon received a knowledge that the young man was truly called of God. Thus, Martin did all he could to aid in the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, including mortgaging his farm to pay for its printing.

Martin's original home no longer exists. The Lake-Stone house is now build there. Lake House built on Martin Harris Farm:
It has a very unique style on the outside.

Hill Cumorah:


Trail back to the visitor's center from the top of the hill.
Statue of Moroni on top of the hill:

Church was great on Sunday. People are so friendly here and welcomed us. They were also fast to get our records here and give us a calling. We are in the nursery. Jon is having a hard time, but I have done it before and I'm actually enjoying it.

Kirtland, Ohio:
Monday, we headed to Kirtland for the day. It was really fun to see most of the same missionaries that Jon and I saw when we were there in May.

Most of these pictures are from our trip in May. I need to develop the pictures from this trip and then I will be able to post then.

John Johnson Farm in Hiram, Ohio:
This is where the mobs dragged Joseph Smith out the front door and tarred and feathered him. The exposure from having the door open, caused the boy adopted twin the die a short time later.


Kirtland Temple:

The gentleman that took us around the temple did a better job then last time. He was a life long member of the RLDS now Community of Christ Church. He had done a lot of research in our church and understood more than more in his church. I could tell he truly believes that Christ appeared in the Kirtland temple. He pretty much bore his testimony, but wasn't supposed to according to his church.

Isaac Morey Farm:

This is where the 4th General Conference of the church was held and high priests were first ordained.
Newel K. Whitney Store:

While we were visiting the other sites, a new missionary was set apart in the School of the Prophets above the Whitney Store. What a neat experience. I guess that is where the stake there sets apart missionaries. He was headed to the other Swiss mission (Jon went to the Zurich mission). Kind of fun.