On Friday of this week I flew for the first time to Rochester, New York. I didn't think too much about it being on my schedule until I looked at a map and discovered it is only 25 miles from Palmyra, New York. Now for those who may not know, the area of northern New York around Palmyra is where the Prophet Joseph Smith lived as a young man with his family when he was visited by our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Joseph had been so concerned about his sinful state that he sought (through prayer) to know the path to forgiveness. What followed was a series of marvelous visitations, visions, and angelic ministrations.
The Church has acquired many of the properties that were instrumental in early church history. The buildings have been restored, or replicated in some cases, and serve to bring that history to life. They are staffed by sister missionaries as well as couples who share the history by retelling it to all who visit.
I landed around 11:00 AM and rented a car at the airport. I changed clothes and left for my adventure without checking-in to my hotel. The weather was perfect with beautiful blue fall skies, puffy white clouds, and mild temperatures as you can see in the photos. I wish I had brought along my camera, but since I didn't know about this day trip I didn't bring it.
The first stop was at the Smith farm. When they arrived in the area they acquired 180 acres and began to clear the trees to make way for crops. They built a log cabin which was large enough to house the eleven family members, but was quite small by today's standards. Most of the cabin had been destroyed over the past 190 years but the foundation was still in place. This replica was made to the same dimensions and layout and sits on the same foundation as the original. It was in an upper bedroom of the cabin that the Angel Moroni visited Joseph multiple times to give him instructions concerning the golden plates from which he would eventually translate as the Book of Mormon.
On the farm the Smiths grew apples for use by their family and as food for their animals. There were thousands of maple trees for making syrup and sugar. There were wheat fields for grain and streams for fishing. They hunted and trapped for food and for their furs and pelts.
Adjacent to the farm is a large grove of trees into which the young Joseph went to pray. There in the quite solitude he knelt and prayed vocally, seeking to know the mind and will of God. For a full description of the events of that day read JS History 1:10-20.
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| Path to the Sacred Grove |
During my visit to the Grove the sunlight streamed through the canopy and lighted many of the leaves at various levels. The place was stone quiet, but for the rustle of dried leaves from the chipmunks and squirrels scurrying about gathering hickory nuts. It is easy to let ones mind wonder to the time when only Joseph was there - somewhere.
After my time in the Grove, I visited the Palmyra Temple which is built on a portion of the homestead called the Hundred Acres. It is small but every bit a Temple of the Lord with stained/cut glass windows on every side. It should not surprise anyone that the principle focus of the art glass is the grove of trees with their associate symbolism - the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge.
After my short time there I went into the Village of Palmyra and toured the print shop and book store where the Book of Mormon was first published. There were several miraculous and fortuitous events that all came together to allow for the publishing of that first edition of 5000 copies. During the tour I saw how the typeface was set and proof pages were printed. The signatures, or mini booklets, were printed with 16 pages of the book on each sheet of paper and then folded into the proper order. Those would be bound and cut, and the book covered with sheep skin. While there I saw two of the four First Edition copies owned by the church there. There are about 150 copies known to exist and many of those are owned by the Church and housed in various Visitors Centers and libraries around the world.
Finally, I visited the Hill Cumorah where the golden plates had been buried by the Angel Moroni many centuries ago. It is from that place Joseph received the plates after several years of instruction. The Church has erected a monument 'near the north end of the hill, slightly below the crest on the west side', since that is the general description of the location of the plates before they were given to Joseph.
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| My view from the Hill Cumorah |
