Adam-ondi-Ahman

On Saturday we had a group of missionaries from Nauvoo travel to Adam-ondi-Ahman.  This is not a place where people get tours.  Elder Mecham had contact with one of the missionaries who invited us to come and get a personalized tour.

Those who attended: Pleshek, Bailie, Warner, Munoa, Avey, Nash, Allen, Odum, Poll, Bowman, Quirl, Walker, Sister Elia, Barney, Robertson, Booth, Lancaster, Dixon, Mecham, Cochran, Jensen, Brown and Stapley

We did a lot of walking and it was hot and humid so we were all very sweaty and gross.

There are places on the trails where there are markers of where things used to be.  Each one is a square on the ground and have a orange stick marking it.

Just a shot of the line of people walking through this sacred ground.

There are two very old trees here that are believed to have been here when the saints lived here.

A well from the 1830's.

There are a few sycamore trees that are just stumps with new trees growing out of them.  These stumps are believed to have been here while the saints were here as well.

The pecan grove.

The pecan grove.  It is a natural amphitheater.

This spot is where Adam built his alter when he left the garden of Eden.  The Nephites built an alter here in the same place.  There were remnants here when the Saints came here in the 1830's.

This is the overlook into the valley below the alter.

This is "Preacher's Rock" where a person can stand and talk in a normal voice and be heard in the natural amphitheater in the pecan grove below.

My companion standing on Preacher's Rock while I am in the pecan grove.

He was pulling up the music on his phone so he could sing Adam-ondi-Ahman.  I couldn't hear the music very well, but I could hear every word he sang.  As long as we were quiet, we could hear whatever was being said from the rock.

As I listened to Elder Wilcock tell us about what happened here in this sacred place, I was not aware of all of it.  I didn't recall that prior to Adam's death he called his posterity together in this place.  While that happened, the Savior appeared!  Why didn't I remember that?  I once again felt so blessed to be able to walk in a place where the Savior has appeared to man.  The Spirit was very strong in this place.  I imagine the Savior standing on this rock and addressing the people. 

This is an original foundation from one of the early homes here built by the Saints.

In this field is the temple site for the "Garden" temple which will be built one day.  I never thought about there being a temple site here.  But why wouldn't there be?  Everywhere the saints went, they had a temple site whether it was built or not.

I don't recall the significance of this rock.  Too much information overload.

The Grand River is in the background.

This ledge was a place where the early brethren may have had a sacrament meeting (s).

It was a long day of travel.  Seven hours total.  A delightful picnic with the Polls and Bailies.  How blessed we are to be here in this historic site mission at this time with these wonderful people!  My life will forever be changed and filled!