T.A.G. Alex, Tyler, & Grannie Visit The Church History Sites

Last October I was sitting in church and I had the distinct impression that for Christmas we needed to send Alex, Tyler, and Grannie to the church history sites.  I shared this feeling with Birch after church and he was totally on board. Knowing this next year in seminary was going to be on the Doctrine and Covenants, it made it an even more special time to study and visit so many church history sites.

So for Christmas we made puzzles for the boys and Grannie to open as there clue about the trip/gift.

December 2013

The puzzle all put together!

It was kind of strange organizing a trip that I would not be going on.  I had a good time putting together a schedule of ideas and locations of where they would stay the night.  The boys and Grannie came up with an acronym for their trip, "T.A.G - Travel And Gain Knowledge."

First stop was the Kansas City temple.

Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA

First edition of the Book of Mormon, printed in 1830

Future Independence, MO temple site

The Vaile Mansion in Independence, MO

Headed to Adam Ondi Ahman

At the Adam-ondi-Ahman Temple site which was the third temple planned but never constructed by the early Saints in Missouri due to being driven out of the state by mobs.

The beautiful site of Adam-ondi-Ahman lies at a bend in the Grand River in northern Missouri, about 70 miles north of Kansas City. On the highest elevation of Spring Hill, 124 feet above Grand River, a temple block was dedicated. No cornerstones were laid or temple constructed, however, as just days later, the Saints were ordered to leave the settlement. The Church has since acquired the site and much of the surrounding area, which is leased to local farmers.

That second night the Three Peas In a Pod slept at a Bed and Breakfast in Jameson, MO.  It was right at the edge of an Amish community.  The three treated me with several jars of homemade jam made by some Amish women.

The next day they all headed to Nauvoo and spent a couple of days experiencing what life was like at that time in Nauvoo.

Nauvoo Temple

Sunset on the Missouri River

Nauvoo Pageant

 

Sun Stone

The boys got the chance to join a youth group and do baptisms for the dead.  So cool!

Alex is a boy after my heart and loves the bag piles!

The clan enjoyed the nights at the Nauvoo Family Inn and Suites.

After enjoying two days in Nauvoo they headed to Carthage Jail.

The boys shared that it was a really special experience being in the same room the Prophet Joseph Smith was in when he was martyred.

The final stop of the trip was St. Louis.  Birch and I stayed at the Drury Hotel when we were there a few years ago and thought the boys would just love it.  They were giddy when they saw the Cardinals stadium as they drove into their hotel.

Part of the Christmas gift was the opportunity to go to a Cardinals game.  It was a packed house as the opposing team was the Dodgers.

Birch's cousin, Dan lives in St. Louis and joined them for the game.  The three even got to attend church with Dan and his wife Alisha the following day.

That night the three did an evening tour of the St. Louis Arch.

Inside the pod that takes you to the top of the arch.

View from the arch of the stadium.

Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig

The T.A.G. team made it home late Sunday night.  They were exhausted but filled with so many awesome experiences and memories.  What an awesome adventure to have with Grannie!

Alex shared: "This trip really gave me a deeper appreciation for the early beginnings of the church. I learned so much and enjoyed the time with Tyler and Grannie. One of my favorite parts of the trip was doing baptisms for the dead in the Nauvoo Temple. That temple is a very unique and special one."

Alex made a sweet video of their adventures:

Click here if you cannot see the video:  http://youtu.be/d0JnwzIA2wM