Liverpool Docks Where People Left for America. Happy Pioneer Day in Utah!

And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.  And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.  1 Nephi 13:13 & 19

Seen in a shop in Liverpool.  I like the logo.

The British converts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided the strength and root system from which a mighty Zion was built up in Utah, making it possible for the Church to survive and thrive.  Many more converts from other countries also contributed to the strength of the Church in Utah.  Mormon immigrants were part of the million who left from England in the 1800s.  Today, we visited the Liverpool docks from whence they launched.  It is an historic place in history for many who now live in America because it is where their ancestors left to cross the ocean.

We felt we needed to see the docks before we left our mission because Elder Blain's grandfather (a small boy at the time) sailed from here with his mother and family (the father died before they could leave).  The Blain family then crossed the plains to Salt Lake City with a hand cart and settled in Spring City.  Can you imagine that single mother with a young family being so courageous as to attempt such a journey?  She was among thousands of other valiant Latter-day Saints who left for America from the docks in Liverpool, along with other immigrant groups who were not converts to the Church (probably my ancestors from Ireland who left during the potato famine).

It was a sunny day, for a change, and the wind was blowing strongly as it usually does near the sea.

Driving into Liverpool just before getting to the docks.

Elder Blain standing on the dock where his grandfather left for America.  This is looking out to sea in the direction they went.

This is the main dock where many left for America

Some of the things we saw while walking the docks

Enclosed area for ships to dock safely.  There is an exit on the right to the sea.  Ships could load directly from the warehouses in this area.

Shops now surround the dock on the inside area.

This explains the weird banana shaped statues all over the docks

The blue flag flying says "Downing" on it.

King Edward the 7th with British flags flying behind him

Roman numerals to mark the water level

Why can't the U.S. have cool historical mail boxes?

A more modern version of the famous black cab like is found in London

I wanted something like this when I was in Wales and couldn't find anything, so I found this in Liverpool!  Notice the Beatles pictures in the background?  Beatles museums and souvenirs are everywhere.

Can you tell I LOVE these logos?  I felt the same about the English Lion and the Welsh Dragon.

Is Elder Blain going to have to walk the plank?

I talked the pirate into giving Elder Blain his freedom.  I should have left a Book of Mormon in his hand but he wasn't too receptive, refusing to let go of his broken sword.

This sailor was just hangin' around