...For We Shall See Him As He Is...

The Kirtland Temple and the John Johnson farm have two things in common, the appearance of the Lord in both.

When we went into the KT Jim was already in a passioned explanation of the Temple. Again, he is not a member of our religion and yet he talked about the visitation of the Lord, Moses, Elijah and other heavenly visitors like a seasoned gospel doctrine teacher. Albeit one with a prison tat. After giving us a view of the construction, function, priesthood order, persons, revelations received and more, Jim left a few moments of quite to consider who had been there. A solemn feeling filled the room. At this point Jim told us his story of first seeing the Temple, then went on to tell us that over 200 religious organizations can trace their beginnings to the Kirtland era. One group, that doesn't even remember that they are connected to the early saints, only sing hymns acapella. The reason stems for the KT. There was not room for an organ or piano in the Temple so all hymns were sung without accompaniment and somehow this is what stuck with this religion.  

From Kirtland we drove out to the John Johnson (Father Johnson) farm.

Joseph and Emma lived here for about a year. Many revelations in the D&C were given while at the Johnson farm and the Lord visited in the upper room of the house. It was also moving to hear the story of Joseph being dragged from the house, down the road to empty lot where he was beaten, stripped, skin scratched by the finger nails of his assailants, tarred and feathered, and nearly murdered. Sidney, living across the street, didn't fare any better. He received a concussion so severe that he was delirious for days. Joseph and Emma's child died a week later. It is true what Joseph said:

The things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity—thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart! (History of The Church, 3:295)

To know God is to know the dark abyss. Even our darkest times are paths we walk to know our Father again.