Sacred Grove

Mina

We got to the Sacred Grove early this morning.  We arrived before the visitor center opened.  There is a tiny amphitheater in the grove.  We went there and listened to someone read about Joseph Smith's First Vision.  Dan, the bus driver, sang In the Garden.  He has a great voice. We then got some time to wander around.  That time went by fast!

Marie & Mina

 Brett & Grace, Ron, Stephanie

 Ron, Brett & Grace, Rachel, Stephanie

Marie, Mina

 Marie, Mina, Stephanie

 Just like in the pictures

 Stephanie ~ I'm looking at Marie who was taking my picture

 Brett & Grace, Mina, Rachel, Marie

 Hello Marie!

 The trees are really big or 

Brett's family is really small

We then got to go inside the Smith's log home.  This is where the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph three times during the night.  We were trying to guess where the angel was.

Grace, Marie, Mina

It's kind of cool.  When you are walking down to the Sacred Grove, if you look to the left, all of a sudden the Palmyra Temple appears.  Well, the top of it does.  Ten feet to either side and you can't see it at all!

Palmyra Temple

Our next stop was Alvin Smith's grave.

 The original stone inside the newer one.

The house that is standing on the Martin Harris Farm looks neat.  It has tons of rocks instead of bricks.  That must have taken a lot!

Dang it!  These were supposed to be pictures of the E.B.Grandin printing shop where the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were printed.  I have so many pictures that many now have the same number.  Looks like I wasn't careful when I was adding these.  Well, let's enjoy pictures from our Disney Cruise a year and a half ago.  I am getting tired, so I will try to remember to put the E.B.Grandin pictures on another day.

Jorja, Maysen, Preston, Stockton

 Jorja, Maysen, Preston, Stockton, Stephanie

In order to get a copyright, Joseph Smith had to take an add out in the paper about the Book of Mormon.  He had the title page printed I think.

 Mina the bus driver

 Grace & Marie

 Mina

 Brett, Rachel, Mina

We then made our way to the Hill Cumorah.  Mina and Marie had a lot of energy.  Instead of listening to the presentation they decided to roll down the giant hill with their dad.  I think that will be a highlight of the trip.

Mina, Marie, Brett

 Mina

 Angel Moroni

 Gracie, Mina, Marie

Brett

 Rachel

A photographer met us at the Palmyra Temple to take a group photo. He also took a picture of just my dad's family.  That's pretty cool.  The Palmyra Temple is the only temple that has a window that can look out. President Hinckley wanted a window to look out at the Sacred Grove. This is the window.

 Close up version

 Pretty pictures

 Brett, Mina, Marie, Grace & Rachel

 Gracie

 Rachel & Brett taking a selfie.  I wonder if I'm photoboming it?

Poor princess Marie.  She must have eaten an apple.

She needs a prince to kiss her.

 The view of the Sacred Grove from the temple window.

We travelled to Peter Whitmer Sr.'s house.  A lot of the Book of Mormon was translated here.

The church was also restored here.  The first sacrament was given here. Well, as Marie pointed out, it wasn't the first sacrament ever . . . that was with Jesus.  The first sacrament in this dispensation was given in this room.

We then spent the next couple of hours on the bus.  We stopped at a Chinese Buffet.  I ate so much.  They had a lot more than Chinese food there.  That was nice.  I don't think my stomach is ready to fill up on only Chinese food just yet.  It did enjoy the many ice cream flavors though.

We are now at the hotel.  Marie is sleeping next to me as I type.  I talked to my girls today.  Maysen got to do Chalk the Walk.  She sounded like she had a good time.  Her pants sure had a party!

Maysen and Payton were chalk partners.  They had to pick a famous painting centered around the color red.  Then they got to miss class to work on their drawings.  Looks pretty good to me!

Jorja had a softball game today.  She played catcher and got three people out.  They also got their pictures and trophy.  Today was supposed to be the last game of the season, but I think they get to play one more week to make up some games.

Jorja

 What a cute trophy!