Adam-Ondi-Ahman and Far West!!!!

Today after church we went to Adam-Ondi-Ahman. I drove with Bro and Sis Graves. He is one of the counselors in our Bishopric and she is in the RS presidency. This weekend i stayed with his sisters. Above is Far West, a settlement in Missouri where pioneers had a town of 5,000 people, what is left is the Far West Temple site, that has 4 corners of the laid foundation that the pioneers did during the night, since they were constantly persecuted. They finally had to leave Far West as they headed to Nauvoo. . . This is one of the cornerstones.

Me in front of the sign!

This is me in front of the Far West monument thingy. It has scriptures and revelations, mostly from D&C. It's at the far end of the Temple ground.

But first we went to Adam-Ondi-Ahman!!! This is the big area, where we met. My ward members are viewed here.

This is me, with the low lands of Adam-Ondi-Ahman in the background. Much of the 1,000 or so acres are rented off to farmers to farm the land. . or so Bro Grave's thinks. The saints will be called here when God comes again. That's gonna be interesting. Lol Adam and Eve came here after they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, which is in Missouri, more south.

Missouri and Iowa is Midwest, spaced out areas of beautiful farmland and greeness. It's been a wet season, so it's just beautiful here! Even the cities seem more spaced out. It's a neat place to live and be around, but if i were to live here forever my husband better be one sexy beast, and my neighbors better be a lot of fun!!! Hahah but the blue sky, shining sun and growth at Adam-- was beautiful here.

Some corn fields in Adam-Ondi-Ahman, which means Adam (Man) Ondi (around or about) Ahman (God).

This sign explained how Saints had bought land on Adam-Ondi-Ahman and Joseph Smith came to the land and realized where and what it was. They found remains of a tower, used in Adam's time. As well as 3 altars laid on a hill, which were Native America (Nephite) altars, under which there was a burial place of Nephite people. . . farther to this point was a town called Spring Hill, where the Saints mapped out a town to build, like Salt Lake's in a grid like fashion, but the town was never built, because the mobs forced them out. Although there were people that lived in this area and a ward established. Like 1,500 people lived in Adam-Ondi-Ahman, Lyman Wight was one of the first to build his log cabin there, just below our field we met at.

This is, Tower Hill i think they called it, if it's called anything. Where they found the altars and bodies.

And this is me and the sign of entrance to this Holy Land. What a neat experience to travel here with my fellow Saints and see this land. As i looked over the low lands of corn fields i tried to imagine looking at it as if i were a pioneer (which wasn't hard, since it's country land everywhere) but the world was a very different place. I'm grateful for my Pioneer ancestors and my forefathers to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this land and eventually to Zion. We are so lucky to have been raised in the shadow of the Church's Headquarters. What a neat opportunity to grow and learn and be blessed by the temples, church's and gospel teachings so close and easily accesible! I have grown to love the Salt Lake Valley even more! I'm excited to travel to Liberty Jail soon, in Liberty, MO and Nauvoo soon! I'm grateful for the gospel in my life and the peace it brings in my life.

The other night i wondered, what if the gospel isn't true. What would i do? And i've had these thoughts before and i realized, even if there was nothing behind it all (which i know there is, but i'm just saying) that i would still want to be part of a religion that teaches us to be like the kindest person that ever walked this earth. To live a life of service, of hardwork, of honesty and morals. . . there's nothing wrong with living a life like that, a life that i'm proud to tell my mom what i did at the end of a late friday night, a life where i am encouraged by my prophet to look after the widows in my ward and not judge others, and lovingly encouraged to fix my many weaknesses. . . but they're are too many tender mercy's and confirmations of my heart where i feel the love of my Savior and the peace of the Holy Spirit to deny that the Lord God lives and is aware of my being and that there is life after death and i look forward to dwelling with my Heavenly Family again someday.

Hello from Lamoni!!!

This is Kate, me, and Aubrey. They're roommates and they live a few doors down from me on our hall. We live on Solah, each student belongs to a "house." Solah is the oldest and most popular female house at Graceland University (which is where i go to school. fyi. haha) These 2 are freshman and each have a few cousins here at school with them. They just met, but they are hilarious to watch and be around. Aubrey is the world's most sarcastic cinic and pessimist. Yesterday she came into my room and said she's never seen so much positivity in pictures and signs in her life and had to leave cuz it was overwhelming her. Haha. Awesome. This was at our Solah Inductions last week. We each had a candle and then blew it out. I can't believe i showered for it, but everyone else was getting all ready for it. . so. .

We had a lot of welcome activities for the school and our hall. One of them on our hall was a tye dye day! I don't know, but everyone here is like super into tye dying. I haven't done it since like elementary. . but it's cool! haha i liked it! These are some girls on my hall! Kate, Kayla, Lindsay, Amantha, Aubrey and me!

Lamoni is only 3 miles from the Missouri border. And they are lots of corn fields and bean fields around! It's very green and pretty! There is a sign as we enter Lamoni that says something about being aware of buggy's and horses, to respect the Amish people in our town. Haha which is also awesome! Lamoni is actually a very cute little town! It should be filmed on a Lifetime movie.

This is one of the two hotels in town. It's called Chief Lamoni Motel, which i found amusing, since he was a king, but whatever. The school is sponsored by COC (Community of Christ- which used to be RLDS) but i don't have to take any classes or anything for it. Lots of kids' families are COC, but i haven't met many that are very active and into the religion. We had a a big religion talk last night in my room, which was good and neat. My roommate went to a Restoration high school, which is a break of COC, there were Mormons at her school, but she doesn't claim any religion. It's neat being able to talk to her about religion because she's knowledgable in it, but not judgmental about anything. She's really awesome! i love her! She's a freshman from Independence, MO.

There is something very great that I have come to appreciate each fall for the last 3 years. It is college. Higher education, better jobs, more money, competitve world, we should do it, blah, blah, blah. Actually the whole school thing is important and awesome, but college life is SOOOO easy! I love it! Sure there are times where i have to push myself physically and mentally in basketball, which is what's paying for my schooling. . . but it's a good life. I wake up each late-morning to get ready for a 50 to 75 minute class. I got to 2 or 3 a day, with breaks in between and prepared meals at my behalf in the commons, or if i'm running late in the "Swarm" which is our on campus fast food place. Things are going good!

Basketball is going good! We're having a team bonding day today, instead of practice. The girls are all pretty cool. My ward family is Awesome and so supportive! The RS presidency drove a 1/2 hour yesterday to come visit me and the 3 other mormon girl's that go here, and took us for ice cream. I get to give a talk on Sunday on Nurturing Testimonies and am going to be working in the primary! So things are looking good! If only i could stop procrastinating all homework assignments, things will be golden!