Road Trip #7 - Adam-ondi-Ahman, Far West and Liberty Jail

"And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. " Phillipians 4:7

The best way I can describe this beautiful area called Spring Hill is a place of peace, like the temple, there is a lovely, calming, quiet, peaceful reverence here. We wanted to stay!
According to the prophet Joseph, ancient Americans called Nephites lived in this beautiful valley and Adam met here with his posterity three years prior to his death - it is prophecied that he will again one day visit his people here.
The peace and beauty here invite quiet contemplation and fill the heart with gratitude for all the many blessings we have been given.

Sandy, Ray, Arianne ~ at Adam-ondi-Ahman

This is one of the temple cornerstones laid at Far West, Missouri. The Saints were driven out before they could get their temple built. But the four cornerstones of the temple remain.

An interesting bit of history about Far West. In 1838, Joseph Smith received a revelation that some of the apostles would be leaving for a mission to the British Isles the following year from the temple site in Far West. A year later, this seemed impossible, because the Saints had been driven out of Missouri by angry mobs and lives were threatened if they ever returned. The Saints were then living in Quincy, Illinois, but the apostles, faithful, and obedient, went back to Missouri to the temple site in Far West. Even though it was very dangerous for them to do so and Missouri was in the opposite direction from where they needed to go, Brigham Young, Heber C Kimball, Orson Pratt, John E Page, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and George A Smith along with others faithfully went back to the temple site, prayed, sang and ordained new apostles and left for their missions. It is said, as they came into the area, not a dog barked, nor did a cow moo . . . they arrived and left peacefully and unnoticed.

Liberty Jail, near Independence, Missouri is another place that invites serious contemplation about faith, courage and endurance. It was here that Joseph and five companions were incarcerated for nearly five months during one of the coldest winters on record. The ceiling in the lower area of the jail where the prisoners were kept was so low that the men could not stand up straight, the food was so bad that it made them very ill and they were constantly cold. A bit of history that I didn't know was that the men were pleading with the Lord to be delivered from this awful prison. The Lord revealed to Joseph that he would provide the way for them to escape if all six men agreed and were in accord to attempt it. They all agreed but one and that night the guard left the hatch door wide open, along with the front door and he was absorbed in reading a book in the corner. But the men did not try to escape because they were not all in unison to attempt it! The prison became a place that tried them severely physically, but strengthened them spiritually and brought them close to the Lord.
Elder Neal A Maxwell said, "It wasn't until the prophet was physically confined that his mind was fully liberated . . . the double walls, fourfeet thick kept Joseph and his companions in, but they could not keep the spirit and revelations out."

Our lovely guide had a beautiful voice and she sang to us as we left Liberty Jail ~ I was singing the song for days after we got back home.

"Lead kindly light amid the encircling gloom

Lead thou me on

The night is dark and I am far from home

Lead thou me on.

Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene—one step enough for me."