The Morley Farm

Wildflowers at the Farm.

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

LeGrand finally realized a life-long goal--he sang at the Kennedy Center!  Of course it was just to the adoring audience of one (me).  He sang well though.

After we failed in our attempt to get tickets to America's Divine Destiny program, we took the free tour of the Kennedy Center.  It was pretty cool!  Next time we visit, we may try to get tickets to see something here.

JFK supported the Center's goal to bring culture and arts to the DC area.  During his presidency, Kennedy set aside federal funds to support the Center so they renamed it after him.

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Many countries donated items or money to the Center.  For their support, Israel was given space for it's own reception room. The room is pretty artsy in a cool Near Eastern style. This picture is of just one part of a mural that is painted on the roof of their reception room.td>

This is the Presidential Box with the real deal seal on the wall and all.

On the third floor of the Kennedy Center, there is a nice outdoor plaza.  This is a view of Georgetown University from that plaza.  Of course, I had a telescopic lens. . .

Also from the plaza we could see the Pentagon.  The tour guide told us the horror of seeing the smoke and carnage of the 911 attack.  The black helicoper buzzed us a few times.  LeGrand said I looked suspicious.

Meeting Glenn Beck

Okay, so we missed getting tickets to Glenn Beck's program at the Kennedy Center (they ended up distributing them the night before so people camping out would leave the premises), so we strolled along the Potomac from the Kennedy Center to the Lincoln Monument. Nearing the awesome statue of Abe Lincoln, we heard a familiar voice being broadcast over the area. I looked at LeGrand, "Glenn Beck?"

Giant projection screens and sound equipment were obviously being tested for the big Glenn Beck Divine Destiny Rally scheduled for the next day. We listened for a moment to Beck during his sound check and decided to stand where we thought he would exit. Sure enough, five minutes later his cute wife and son came right next to us. As she was passing I said to her, "Utah loves the Becks!" She actually turned to find me, waved and said, "Thank you."

A few minutes later the Glennster himself came close to us and just before he got to us, he started shaking hands with those of us lining his escape route. Yes, I shook Beck's hand and then got a "kind of" shot of him shaking hands with LeGrand.

LeGrand's brush with conservative fame.

Beck escorted by big and serious guys.

Beck was very kind to those waiting to catch a glimpse of him.  It's that sort of goofy humility combined with earnest purpose and sound principles that makes him interesting. 

His wife is way better looking than he is.  Just shows he has good judgement.

Down by the stage checking things out for the Rally.

Kirtland Church History Site

Storage Room of the Whitney Store

Metal baby bottle in cradle.

Working Sawmill in Kirtland.

Water wheel for powering the sawmill.

Only reconstructed lye manufacturing plant in America.

Newell K. Whitney Store (School of the Prophets)

Small upper room of the store where Joseph received many sections of the Doctrine and Covenants.

The first floor of the Newell K. Whitney  Store where Joseph and Emma were allowed to live in Kirtland for a time.

The Smith kitchen table.

The store also used as the Smith home for awhile.

Carthage Jail

Our Temple Tour

LeGrand and I have been able to attend the temple at some remarkable places in the last few weeks: Nauvoo, Washington D.C., and Palmyra. We also visited the historic Kirtland Temple Site and loved the tour by the Community of Christ. There is no denying the Spirit of God in these sacred places! How grateful I am for our own little Monticello Temple.

Palmyra Temple -- President Hinckley requested one transparent glass window in this temple (no other temple has one) to overlook the Sacred Grove. It looks very much like our Monticello Temple, but has beautiful stained glass windows that look like trees from the surrounding groves.

Washington D.C. Temple-- so remarkably beautiful that everyone in the area knows what it is and where it is!

The Beautiful Nauvoo Temple:  statues of Hyrum and Joseph getting their last look of the temple that meant so much to them before they rode off to Carthage.

The Kirtland Temple  required the most sacrifice of any temple in relationship to the Saints' ability to pay for it.