Joseph and Emma Smith Home — Attraction in Kirtland

My mom and I, avid fans of historical sites, stopped by on Saturday, November 11, expecting a brief visit to a local historical house. However, our experience took an unexpected turn. A guide, "Elder Sch___," (do not remember this last name) invited us to join an ongoing tour with two other participants.

As the tour commenced, the guides, including a woman referred to as "Sister" based on her name tag (with the same last name as the man), dominated the conversation. Attempts to quietly discuss certain artifacts were met with loud and aggressive inquiries, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere.

During the tour, "Sister's" behavior stood out. When I whispered to my mom about a piece of furniture, she abruptly and loudly demanded if I had a question, creating an uneasy atmosphere. This was followed by her insistence that I should speak up if I had any questions, even though I reassured her I didn't.

Later in the tour, when I whispered quietly to my mom about the painted wallpaper (so quietly she did not hear me), "Sister" once again aggressively questioned if I had a question, asserting that I appeared to have one. Despite my quiet assurance that I didn't, she went on to suggest that we could leave if we wanted, creating an unwelcome and confrontational situation.

To add to our disappointment, the tour focused solely on presenting Joseph and Emma Smith as saints, overlooking historical inaccuracies and stifling any discussion to the contrary. The guides seemed intent on projecting a one-sided, idealized image, making the experience not only historically inaccurate but also offensive.

The constant emphasis on raising children "in light and love of Jesus" felt judgmental, implying a narrow perspective. Our takeaway was a mix of frustration with the tour content, discomfort due to unwarranted scrutiny, and disappointment in the overall experience.

In conclusion, this historical tour lacked depth, accuracy, and respect for diverse perspectives. We encourage visitors to delve into their own research about historical figures and not solely rely on guided tours that may present biased narratives. Given our experience, we recommend exploring alternative historical sites in the area led by objective historians who provide a more nuanced and unbiased understanding...

Nice modern building, configured to match the layout of the original home. I'm no historian, but I was disappointed that they chose to construct it using modern materials and techniques (it made me wish I had a house as nice as theirs!). If you are a member of the LDS church or historical offshoots, you'll feel at home, but it might be disorienting if you aren't; when we were there, the guides' presentation assumed that we either were members or that we had a good understanding of...

Got possibly the closest thing to an accurate account of why Joseph Smith was run out of town here. ... For those who are interested, he started an illegal bank, started printing his own currency, and swindled many (including his own followers) out of money - this ISNT how the guides framed it btw. It's always "religious persecution" with members. Not the obvious fraud Smith...