Preparation for Ghana

We took a trip to Palmyra and Kirtland to visit the sites of where our Church began.  The pictures below are of the "sacred grove", the Palmyra Temple, the Kirtland Temple, and the Hill Cumorah. We very much enjoyed the few days we spent on what we feel is "hallowed ground".  Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration and every time I read his testimony about the events that happened here, my testimony is strengthened. I know without a doubt that he was the instrument in the Lord's hands to restore His church back to the earth in the latter days. Years after Joseph had the experiences he had, he said the following:  

"It caused my serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy of a little over fourteen years of age.....should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter persecution and reviling.  But strange or not, so it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself.  However, it was nevertheless a fact that I beheld a vision.....I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying,  I was led so say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth?  I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen?  For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation".