It's our last night in New York and we saved the best for last. We spent the last four days road-tripping through church history sites. It was and incredible experience in many ways. We were educated by the missionaries who led our tours, inspired by the sacrifices made by the early saints, and touched by the spirit that rests in the places we visited. The beautiful countryside was a huge breath of fresh air after three months of concrete and city.
Sunday we attended morning church then picked up a rental car and headed north-west. Our first stop was the site of the restoration of the priesthood in Harmony Pennsylvania. Currently the site includes the monument above and markers where the foundation of Joseph and Emma's first home (where much of the translation of the Book of Mormon took place) as well as Emma's parents' home. The church has just announced plans to rebuild both homes and create a visitor's center similar to what they have done in Palmyra.
The Susquehanna river, where Joseph and Oliver Cowdry were baptized and near where they would have received the Aaronic priesthood from John the Baptist.
Niagara Falls...we stayed here for two of our three nights of our trip. The falls were absolutely beautiful and the water was incredibly clear...after a summer of staring at the Hudson it almost seamed surreal that water could be so clean.
The south end of the falls, reflecting the light of the rising morning sun
Monday we drove to Kirkland, Ohio. We toured the Kirkland temple, compliments of the Community of Christ.
Us with the temple in the background
While in Kirkland we learned about the incredible faith and sacrifices of the Whitney family. Newel was a wealthy man, acquiring much of his wealth from his Ashery. He gave up his upper storage for his store to house the prophet Joseph and his family for 18 months. At one point he was asked to contribute all of the earnings from the ashery to the help pay the debts from the temple. He willingly did so. He was called to serve as the first bishop of the church and continued to serve as bishop until the day he died.
Tuesday we went to Palmyra. We got in town just in time to attend the 1:30 session in the Palmyra temple. You can see the sacred grove from the temple grounds.
The Smith home at the time of the first vision; also the home where the angel Moroni visited Joseph in the night to tell him about the golden plates. The Sacred Grove is just behind the home.
The Grandine Store, where the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were published.
The Moroni monument atop the Hill Cumorrah
Wednesday morning we woke up early and went for a run through the wooded trails around the temple. This picture is from the far end of a field behind the Palmyra temple.
After our run we went for a walk through the trails of the Sacred Grove. We could have stayed there all day! The peace of this beautiful site is so tangible, a true testimony to the great events that occurred here.
The Peter Whitmer home, the site of the organization of the church and our final stop of the trip Wednesday morning. Once again a place filled with stories of miracles and faith in support of the church. It is at this location where the Book of Mormon translation was completed
Sunday we attended morning church then picked up a rental car and headed north-west. Our first stop was the site of the restoration of the priesthood in Harmony Pennsylvania. Currently the site includes the monument above and markers where the foundation of Joseph and Emma's first home (where much of the translation of the Book of Mormon took place) as well as Emma's parents' home. The church has just announced plans to rebuild both homes and create a visitor's center similar to what they have done in Palmyra.
The Susquehanna river, where Joseph and Oliver Cowdry were baptized and near where they would have received the Aaronic priesthood from John the Baptist.
Niagara Falls...we stayed here for two of our three nights of our trip. The falls were absolutely beautiful and the water was incredibly clear...after a summer of staring at the Hudson it almost seamed surreal that water could be so clean.
The south end of the falls, reflecting the light of the rising morning sun
Monday we drove to Kirkland, Ohio. We toured the Kirkland temple, compliments of the Community of Christ.
Us with the temple in the background
While in Kirkland we learned about the incredible faith and sacrifices of the Whitney family. Newel was a wealthy man, acquiring much of his wealth from his Ashery. He gave up his upper storage for his store to house the prophet Joseph and his family for 18 months. At one point he was asked to contribute all of the earnings from the ashery to the help pay the debts from the temple. He willingly did so. He was called to serve as the first bishop of the church and continued to serve as bishop until the day he died.
Tuesday we went to Palmyra. We got in town just in time to attend the 1:30 session in the Palmyra temple. You can see the sacred grove from the temple grounds.
The Smith home at the time of the first vision; also the home where the angel Moroni visited Joseph in the night to tell him about the golden plates. The Sacred Grove is just behind the home.
The Grandine Store, where the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were published.
The Moroni monument atop the Hill Cumorrah
Wednesday morning we woke up early and went for a run through the wooded trails around the temple. This picture is from the far end of a field behind the Palmyra temple.
After our run we went for a walk through the trails of the Sacred Grove. We could have stayed there all day! The peace of this beautiful site is so tangible, a true testimony to the great events that occurred here.
The Peter Whitmer home, the site of the organization of the church and our final stop of the trip Wednesday morning. Once again a place filled with stories of miracles and faith in support of the church. It is at this location where the Book of Mormon translation was completed
