Palmyra Adventure - Day 4

We started our day right at the Palmyra temple. It is beautiful inside and out. Evan was able to do baptisms here last summer and he told us to look for something special when we visited. Because our temples are sacred, the windows are made of frosted or decorated glass. The view both in and out is obscured. To me it is a symbol of how the temple is a place set apart from the world to focus on God's work. The Palmyra temple is unique because it has a large clear window. It is the middle of the three windows to the side of John's arm. When the temple was being built, President Hinckley visited and asked that a clear window be installed so that temple patrons could see the Sacred Grove. There are several lovely depictions of the grove in the temple, but there is nothing like seeing the real thing!

Next we drove out to the Peter Whitmer farm. They have a huge chapel and visitors center there. They also have a reproduction of the original cabin. It was built of boards from the 1820s just like the Whitmer's cabin! Much of the Book of Mormon translation was done here. This is also a special place because it is the site where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was formally organized on April 6, 1830. Six founding members signed the necessary legal documents, but about 50-70 people were in attendance. They couldn't all fit in the house, so some stood outside watching through the doors and windows.

It has been a challenge during our trip to find food that John can eat. He needs to have almost no salt. One of the senior sisters recommended "Connie's Diner." Their food was delicious and John was able to get a freshly made hamburger and fries with no salt! I had potato salad that tasted like homemade! We were grateful to find it because John was getting tired of fruit and unsalted nuts.

Back in the town of Palmyra, we saw a few more sites. We were able to visit, but not tour the Martin Harris home. Harris was one of the three witnesses to the gold plates and a scribe to Joesph Smith as he translated them. When the translation was finished, Martin Harris mortgaged (and eventually lost) half of his farm to raise $3,000 to pay for the printing of the Book of Mormon. His home burned in the 1840s and was rebuilt in 1850 using carefully selected river rock. Evan was able to stay in this gorgeous home last summer when he stayed with his friend's grandparents who were serving a mission in the area. John and I were excited to visit. Can you see the rows of rocks covering the house?

After seeing Martin Harris' home, we had to see the site where the Book of Mormon was first published. It was quite a process to typeset, print and bind 5,000 copies at the Grandin Press.

Next we took a short walk to see the grave of Joseph's brother who died when he was only 25. It is in a little cemetery at the top of a hill. Many of the graves are now unreadable and it makes me sad that the memorials and record of these individuals has been lost.

In the late afternoon we took a walk in the Sacred Grove where young Joseph prayed to know what church to join. God the Father and His son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph and told him to join none of the churches. Later, Joseph would help restore the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. The grove is a peaceful, beautiful place and we were grateful to spend some time there (even if I did get some bug bites).

Finally we headed to the hill to see the final night of the pageant. I enjoyed it even more the second time. We met a few more of Marianne's friends before the show. We were also able to spot her onstage during the dance number. What a treat to be there for the performance.

Before bed we took a walk near our hotel and enjoyed the fireflies. I haven't seen fireflies since I was a little girl in Iowa and it was fun to see them again. Lavender would love them. I told John we need to bring her to Palmyra in about five years.