More Missouri (Richmond, Lexington, Far West, Hannibal

Richmond, MO was the town that Joseph Smith and others were taken for their "mock trial" prior to being sent to Liberty. Their counsel, General Doniphan, said of the judge that "a cohort of angels could come down and declare their innocence and it would be the same with this judge".

It was at this jail that the prisoners were so completely offended by the language of the guards that that Prophet stood in chains and declared to their captors, "Silence, ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still; I will not live another minute and hear such language. Cease such talk, or you or I die this instant!" Parley Pratt said that he had seen "dignity and majesty but once, as it stood in chains, at midnight, in a dungeon in an obsure village of Missouri". The funny part is that this village is still pretty obsure. Where the jail was is now a Salvation Army center.



Also in Richmond is a Pioneer Cemetery where Oliver Cowdery and many of the
Whitmers are buried. Ironically, the Church has maintained this small cemetery for the past 50 years.



I couldn't resist taking this photo. We were in the main Richmond Cemetery where Bob Ford is buried. His small headstone reads that he was the person who shot Jesse James. Not much of a tribute in as much as he shot him in the back! I hope I will be known for something more worthwhile.



This is a pretty nice shot of the County Courthouse in Lexington, MO. Not a lot of Church history here, but pretty significant Civil War activity.



A cannonball from the Battle of Lexington is still embedded in the pillar of the Courthouse!



This battlefield is one of the few remaining in which you can still discern the outlines of the trenches. You can see the Missouri River behind me.



Far West! Once the headquarters of the Church and the largest town in MO at the time. There is really not much there now. Just memories of times past. The most significant thing to see is the Temple site with the four original cornerstones. You can envision in your mind's eye what a thriving community of 5000 it was at the time. Many signifcant revelations are now in the D&C even though the Prophet was only there several months.




Our next stop was in Hannibal, MO. This town is pretty much dedicated to Mark Twain's memory. I even got Patty to paint the fence, and enjoy doing it!



Here is Grandpa Jay in front of Mark Twain's boyhood home.



A monument to Tom and Huck. Also, a lighthouse overlooking the Mississippi was erected in Twain's honor some 50 years ago.




Stay tuned until next time for Nauvoo!