The Sacred Grove and the Smith Farm

The first thing the kids saw when we got out of the car on our way to the Sacred Grove was a field of wheat. Kaylie and Carter had a great time picking some of it and showing us their great accomplishment.

On the bridge leading to the grove. It goes over a small stream, which I imagine at certain times in the year is full of water, but while we were there it was rather low.

It was also really cold, but the feeling in the grove immediately warmed me up.

A crooked view of Nathan and I, taken by Kaylie, our aspiring photographer.

I thought it was nice to see some moss growing as a sign of new life in a place that was muddy and full of dead leaves. Nathan and I both found it interesting that we went to the grove the same time of year (give or take a week or two) when Joseph Smith went and beheld the glorious vision of God the Father and the Son. We found that if the grove was the same now as it was then (as it has been carefully preserved through the years) that there really weren't any birds humming or radiant beams of sun glowing through the grove. It was cold and almost lifeless, but I will never forget the feeling I was overwhelmed by almost immediately upon walking on this hallowed ground. It has been a long time that I'd felt that overcome with the spirit and love of God. I've always known and believed with all my heart that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Somehow being in the very grove in which it happened a few hundred years ago strengthened my belief and filled me to the brim with testimony of its verity. I cried almost the entire time we were there and I felt overcome with joy and love. I felt the presence of spiritual beings and grew closer to my own family in being able to share that experience with them.

Some swampy area in the grove

There were signs depicting the events that took place in the grove and the ensuing events about the Book of Mormon. Nathan read them out loud, as I was unable to compose myself enough to read aloud.

A cute shot of Kaylie and Carter on the bench we decided to have a short family testimony meeting in which Nathan and I both tried to share our thoughts and feelings about what had happened in the Sacred Grove with our children. I'm not sure that anything can bring greater family unity than a testimony meeting, spontaneously brought about by an outcoming of the spirit. I felt greater love for my children and husband by sharing with them my feelings of the Savior and my knowledge of what He and Joseph Smith did for mankind. What a sweet feeling true love is! I felt Gods' love for me as well, which is always comforting and warm.

Coming out of the grove, my man and my girls.

The kids and I on our way out of the grove and heading toward the Smith family farm.

Cute!

Kaylie in the Smith barn

Carter getting up close and personal with the carriage. He tried to climb inside, but we stopped him. He was having a great time roaming and got a little carried away.

A shot of the Smith home that we got to tour, the following pics are from inside:

Lucy Smith used to make rugs of this nature and sell them for money

Lucy and Joseph Sr. shared this room.

This was a state-of-the-art sink back in those days. My how times have changed. Walking into their house was literally like walking into history. It was really well preserved and they said over 80% of it was authentic.

The pantry. I can't imagine not having a refrigerator or freezer, and having to use only the food that I or some nearby neighbor had planted and harvested. We really do have it easy as modern day moms. We just have a completely different set of jobs and challenges. I can imagine how they spent the majority of their time just working on things to survive. I'm sure that they had to make their kids work from a very young age, and do all of the things that allowed the home to function. I was proud when I handed over the jobs of clearing the table and unloading the dishwasher to my children, but I can't imagine what this kind of lifestyle must have been like.

I laughed when I saw this little potty made of wood. I think Lily was tempted to use it, it was so cute.

This was about 100 yards down the road, and is the first farm house of the Smith family in Palmyra. This is the one where Moroni visited Joseph Smith. It was so small! We weren't allowed to go inside this house, but I guess it wouldn't have taken much time to tour. It's always been amazing to me that the angel was able to visit Joseph without waking his siblings.

It was definitely a great trip to see the Smith Farm and lifestyle. We also saw the apple orchard and fence where young Joseph lost his ability to make it home due to being up all night with the angel. What a neat experience it is to see real life history.

We live in the DC area and have been able to see many of the historic sights from our country's history books. However, none of them hold a candle to the feelings I felt here at this humble farm with a swampy and cold grove where one of the most important historical events in our worlds' history took place. I was grateful and overcome with love for our Heavenly Father and for our prophet Joseph Smith.