Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith 18th Biennial Family Reunion, August 2005
By Frances Orton
[Editor’s Note: The journal of the August 2005 Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith 18th Biennial Family Re-union recounts their special experiences at the Kirtland temple and the divine assistance in completing their journey. Only the first page is printed here, but the complete text and photos can be accessed online at http://www.josephsmithsr.org.]
Monday, August 8, The Smith family group left Provo for Salt Lake City meeting the remainder of the group at west side of Temple Square. After the bus was loaded we began our journey. As we drove through Parley’s Canyon the bus began to experience difficulties. During our first rest stop Bryan and Steve were throwing the Frisbee and it went on the roof of the rest stop’s pavilion. Our driver, Walt Kolditz was not only able to get the bus rolling again but he used his ladder to retrieve the Frisbee. We made it through Wyoming and into the family’s first destination at the Best Western Stagecoach Inn in Ogallala, Nebraska. We arrived late at night and really appreciated the rest.
Tuesday, August 9, we boarded the bus early and continued through Nebraska and Iowa. Today Buddy shared a DVD that Eldred and Hortense made called, Witness the Restoration – Smith Family Artifacts and Their Story. It was nice to view this as a family group during our travels. We also listened to a CD of Carole Mikita’s radio interview of Buddy Youngreen about the history of the Smith family reunions. This interview was tapped on 8/2/05 and broadcast on 8/7/05 as part of her People of Faith on Utah’s new AM820. We pulled into the Davenport Fairfield Inn in Davenport, Iowa about 10:45 p.m. They allowed the pool to be open later for the bus group to go swimming.
Wednesday, August 10, we left the hotel at 8:00 a.m. Today we crossed Illinois and Indiana. We then stopped at the Cleveland airport to pick up cousins flying and driving in from various areas of the country. We drove to the Fairfield Inn in Willoughby, Ohio. Karl Anderson spoke to the family during the morning session in Kirtland.
Thursday, August 11, today we visited and toured the Kirtland Temple. We also enjoyed a stop at the Whitney Store, the Morley Farm, and the temple rock query.
Continued with additional photos and story at http://www.josephsmithsr.org.