The Old Rock Fence and More

Stone fence at Palmyra Temple.

Mr. J and I on the temple path.

Yesterday we worked the morning shift and while I was working in the Grove I talked with Bob Parrott, the caretaker of the grove, who told me that the stone fence to the east of the temple grounds was built by the Smith family. So after our shift we stopped at the temple, walked the small path again and found the spot Bob had marked with orange ties because it is an exceptionally well preserved part of the path. The quality of the workmanship is what has preserved it, and I enjoyed standing there imagining Joseph, his father and brothers loading the stone boat with rocks, hauling them to the property line, and carefully constructing a fence that would last for almost two-hundred years.

After our walk we stopped at one of the four churches on the corners of Main Street in Palmyra. Palmyra is in the Guinness Book of World records as the only city in the world with four Protestant churches at one intersection. The Evangelical church, on the south-east corner, has some beautiful stain glass windows that depict the life of Christ. The Church was built in 1827 and is beautifully preserved and cared for. A delightful historian took us through the building and even let us ring the church bell.

"Plates of Gold"

After our visit to the church, we ate lunch and went to a showing of a new full-length movie called “Plates of Gold.” We had heard about it, but I am always a bit leery about Church movies and was reluctant to take the time to see it. Sometimes these movies take too many liberties with actual history. Other times they are too cheesy. Other times they are so poorly acted and directed that it is difficult to watch them. But we went and I was pleasantly surprised. The movie is not only well done, but moving. (In my opinion, that’s what a “movie” should do to you!) It won’t open in theaters until September, but when it does open go. I’ll be going again. It makes you appreciate on a deeper level all the sacrifice and effort that were necessary to bring forth the Book of Mormon.

The only sad thing is that our time here is running out. To feel what we feel, see what we see, and experience what we have been experiencing both from the history here and the wonderful people we have met is extraordinary and I'm not sure I want to go back to "real" life.

The Palmyra Temple



Palmyra Temple

 We began the day yesterday with a session in the Palmyra Temple. The temple is built on property that was part of the original Smith farm and when you enter the temple there is a window in the foyer that looks out to the far side of the property where the Sacred Grove is. That view fills me with the most peaceful feeling. I wish I could send it on to all of you!

The other windows in the temple beautifully depict a grove with leaves made of beveled glass that glimmers in the light so that it looks like the breeze is blowing through the leaves. It is breath taking. After our temple session we did the afternoon shift on the Smith Farm and after that we saw the pageant again. It was a full day.


Palmyra Temple from Smith Farm.

Each day we rotate through several stations on the farm and today I got to tell the story of the cooper shop again. It is my favorite station. We are keeping busy, but we are enjoying every minute of it.