Palmyra- Part 2

From the Sacred Grove we met up with friends of ours from Beantown. They headed to the Sacred Grove while we toured the Smith family log home; the definition of modest living space. Standing in the dining room/family room, it is easy for me to imagine Lucy Mack Smith, not 5 feet tall, among her husband and sons, all 6'+ in that small space. Regardless of square footage, there is a clear feeling of love and happiness in that space. We walked up the steps to the bedroom where Joseph shared a room with his brothers. They lived simply and humbly.

The sister missionary told of the Angel Moroni's visit to Joseph Smith and shared her testimony. She invited us to share our thoughts and testimonies. Again, being alone there as a family was a sweet experience. If you go to Palmyra in July during the Hill Cumorah Pageant there are long lines and large crowds, and the tours are rushed so all can get through the sites. I have decided that I'd rather visit Palmyra during the off-peak time when tours are less rushed, testimonies are shared in these intimate settings, and there is a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere....just my opinion. We've been to the pageant, thought it was nice, but the crowds were not so fun.

The following photo is a view of the Sacred Grove from the back door/porch of the log home. {I've got one more (without the family) to share later on as soon as I edit out a large trash can}

We caught up with our friends and walked down the dirt path that leads to the Smith family frame home. I forget the percentage, but the vast majority of the frame home is original to the Smiths, whereas the log home is a replica using the exact home perimeter as the Smith log home.

Heading back to the Visitors Center parking lot, off to the right there is a clear view of the Palmyra temple. I love that the temple was built on land owned by the Smith family. I love that you can see the temple from their homesteads. The significance of the beginning of the restoration being crowned with a temple for saving ordinances is no small thing. This temple looks perfectly at home on this humble hill.

Quick stop at the Hill Cumorah before the clouds burst....

The E.B. Grandin Printing Press has a very interesting tour about the first printing of the Book of Mormon....

Our final stop for the day was the Peter Whitmer Farm, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on April 6, 1830.

By 4pm the kids were DONE with tours and smiling for photographs. Wesley cried when I took him into the bathroom for a diaper change before we hit the road again. He just wanted to walk around and explore. We said good-bye to the Robisons (we LOVED spending the day with you guys in Palmyra!!!) and piled back in the car (SORRY kids!) to head off to our next destination.... Maryland!