September 8, 2018
This was by far my favorite day of our trip. I cannot tell you how much I loved the SACRED GROVE. The feelings I felt there were strong. I don't want to ever forget how I felt there. I know that GOD THE FATHER, and JESUS CHRIST appeared to Joseph Smith there. You can feel it. I don't know how anyone could not feel that after being there. But before I talk about the Sacred Grove. Check out what else we saw!
We were all excited to get on the bus to see some amazing things. We first stopped at the HILL CUMORAH. I couldn't believe I was actually there where Moroni buried the plates and Joseph Smith received them there. It wasn't until I got home and was reading the BOOK OF MORMON that I realized this was where the last battle was and that Mormon died there. Many people believed it was somewhere else. To me, though, it makes sense that it was here. Either way, this is for sure where Moroni buried the ancient records and Joseph Smith retrieved them here.
Here is a monument of Moroni. Surrounding it was dense forest. It's a good thing he kept having Joseph Smith come back every year or he probably wouldn't be able to find where the gold plates were.
This picture doesn't really show how steep the hill was, but it was a pretty good climb.
After we saw the HILL CUMORAH (we took a tour in the Visitor's Center there too), we had lunch out on the ERIE CANAL. I was shocked at how narrow this canal was. They did all of their shipping and trading on this canal and had boats going both ways. It was like their highway so I was surprised at how narrow it really was. It was a cold, breezy overcast day but I was still glad we stopped here to eat our box lunches so I could see the canal.
Then we hopped back on the bus and I was so excited for this next stop! My old boss, Pat Beckstead and her husband Sid, are on a mission in Palmyra. They were going to give us a tour of the Smith Farm! I could not wait to see her!! As soon as she saw me get off the bus and run up to her she started crying and that made me cry! We hugged for a long time and it was so awesome! I miss her!
I introduced her to everyone in our tour group and then she and Sid got to work and gave us a great tour! They live right next to the Smith Home and so she has the Sacred Grove in her back yard! She takes her morning walks in the Sacred Grove. What a lucky gal!
Sid gave us a great tour
And Pat told us some interesting things too. Like how when they said he moved to the next County, it was 500 ft away. They had lived on the border of both Counties. Ha! Ha! So we walked there to the other home :)
This is probably where the Angel Moroni stood (Where this man is standing) when he first appeared to Joseph Smith in his bedroom.
This bedroom slept Joseph Smith and his brothers. His brothers slept through this whole visitation
Look how steep, narrow and winding these steps were to get upstairs in the bedroom.
I believe this was the bed Joseph was sleeping in when the Angel Moroni appeared to him.
This was their farm. I love how they made fences with wood but without nails. They just notched out and crossed them. So cool!
I love our tour guides! They were awesome!
Sid showed us the hearth where Joseph hid the plates from the mobs.
I was so happy to see Pat and sad to leave her too!
THE SACRED GROVE:
Taking a selfie but then we asked someone to take it for us.
My testimony was strengthened this day. I did NOT want to leave this place. This was a highlight for me and something I could check off my bucket list.
Oh how lovely was the morning, radiant beamed the sun above...
I kept thinking to myself, "Is the place where Heavenly Father appeared to him? Am I standing in the exact spot?" We walked the whole way through the grove. It was quiet and peaceful. I loved it when rays of light would shine down through the trees. It was so beautiful!
I was so happy to have experienced this with my Mom. This was her dream trip and some place I always wanted to visit too. We gathered a lot of leaves off the forest floor so I could bring them home to my children and grandchildren. I wish they could be with me here, seeing and feeling what I am.
It was hard for me to leave this place. I couldn't believe we spent 3 hours here! It still wasn't long enough! But then we headed out to see the PALMYRA TEMPLE. We didn't have time to do a session but we stopped to take pictures.
What a great bunch of ladies to share this special day with!
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