wander- palmyra, ny

After our week in Lock Haven, the EFY crew hopped in a hoard of cars and headed on one of the most beautiful drives, through the gorgeous North-Eastern countryside, to the small town of Palmyra, NY.

This session of EFY is what we call a “special edition” session. There are special edition sessions held in Palmyra, Salt Lake City, Kirtland, and Nauvoo because of the historical significance they all hold in the church. The difference between a regular EFY week and a special edition week is that, instead of classes during the day, the youth travel around to the different historical sites and go on tours.

It honestly is such an amazing experience.

Some of the historical sites in the area that we visited were:

<– THE SMITH FARM

Significance: Joseph Smith lived and worked here as a young boy, just a few feet away from the Sacred Grove.

 

THE SACRED GROVE –>

Significance: Where God and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph as he prayed, amidst religious turmoil, to know which church, if any, he should join.

<– THE PALMYRA TEMPLE

Significance: Located on the east end of the Smith Farm, this temple includes artwork depictions of the Sacred Grove. At the groundbreaking in May 1999, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “I regard this temple as perhaps the most significant, in one respect, in the entire Church. It was right here in the Sacred Grove where it all began.” (Quote from history.lds.org)

THE HILL CUMORAH –>

Significance: Joseph was directed to translate plates of gold (The Book of Mormon) that had been buried in Cumorah’s Hill long ago by a prophet named Moroni (Photo from history.lds.org).

 

<– THE MARTIN HARRIS FARM

Significance: Martin Harris was one of Joseph Smith’s first scribes as he translated the Book of Mormon. Martin even mortgaged part of his farm to help with the publication of the book (Photo from history.lds.org).

THE PETER WHITMER FARM –>

Significance: A little farm house where Joseph  Smith and five other men formally organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on April 6, 1830. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery also completed the translation of the Book of Mormon in the original farm house(Photo from history.lds.org).

<– THE GRANDIN PRINTING SHOP

Significance: Egbert B. Grandin, an aspiring publisher, signed a contract to publish the Book of Mormon with his printing press in 1829 (Photo from history.lds.org).

ALVIN SMITH’S GRAVESITE –>

Significance: In April of 1836 Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received revelation in the Kirtland, OH temple which helps us understand that people who have passed away before knowing about/accepting the gospel will have the opportunity to do so on the other side. Thus allowing Alvin (Jospeh’s oldest brother), and others who have passed away, to be sealed to their families forever (Photo from history.lds.org).

It was not only an amazing experience being able to see these sites and learn more about the history of our church but it was so much fun exploring them with our kids. I can’t even get over how much I learn from them and how stellar they are.

I’m so very blessed to have ended my EFY 2014 adventure in Palmyra, it was the perfect finish to an amazingly hard, rewarding, frustrating, growing, beautiful, uplifting, inspiring summer.

Thanks for all the memories!

*For more information about the LDS Church (Mormons), our historical sites, EFY, and more please visit Mormon.org