Palmyra, New York - Smith home and Sacred Grove
The Smith Family Farm
Because of our visit, Sister Johnson and her companions were assigned Monday as their P-Day. That meant that they could take us to the Smith Family Farm before the Visitors Center was open for our very own early morning tour. We got all the details and extra time for taking pictures!
Replica of Joseph Smith’s boyhood home
Walking down the beautiful quiet lane from Joseph Smith’s boyhood home to their second home.
The restored Joseph Smith Sr. Family Home
“In this home, Joseph Smith Jr. taught his family about what he had learned from the angel Moroni during his yearly visits to the Hill Cumorah as he prepared to receive the golden plates. The Smith Family began construction on the home in 1823 when Alvin, who was an apprentice housewright, began building the much larger home for his parents. After Alvin’s death in November 1823, the rest of the Smith Family finished the construction of the home. In 1825, Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith moved their family into the home. After their marriage in January 1827, Joseph also brought his new bride, Emma, where they lived for most of 1827. When Joseph obtained the golden plates in September 1827, he hid them in several places in and around the home to protect them from treasure seekers searching for the plates.”
Sister Johnson gave us a good tour and told stories of where they had hidden the plates in the home to keep them safe. Each of the boys took a turn holding the weight of the plates and tried to ward off others trying to take them away. A fun hands-on experience. Everyone was surprised at how heavy they would have been.
Smith Family Cooper Shop
Located to the northwest of the Joseph and Lucy Smith Farm Home, the Cooper Shop was one of the places where Joseph Smith, Jr., hid the golden plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. Shortly after Joseph obtained the plates, several of the Smith Family’s neighbors came to the Smith Home looking for the plates. As the threats that the plates would be stolen intensified, Joseph wrapped them in cloth and hid them in the loft above the shop. He then took the empty box they had been stored in and placed it under the floorboards. A mob came that night and ransacked the Cooper Shop. They found the empty box under the floorboards, but did not check the loft where the plates remained safely hidden.
Joseph Smith Sr.’s father, Asael, taught him the trade of coopering (barrel making) and Joseph, Sr., passed the skill down to his son Hyrum. In a shop similar to this, both Joseph Sr. and Hyrum made and repaired barrels, baskets, and light furniture both for their own use and to sell to others .
Sister Rowe and Sister Rios In a historic church member’s barn relocated here to be part of the Smith Family Farm area.
Walking into the Sacred Grove
The missionary apartments neighbor the Sacred Grove. They take early morning walks through the Grove and often have personal study here. This is Sister Johnson’s favorite place to sit and pray. As we walked through together, she invited the boys and each of us to find our own space to be still and pray. Grateful for her.
The Little Johnson Family in the Sacred Grove.
The Sacred Grove
