Joseph Smith Log Home
New York is so beautiful. I could not believe how many trees there are! A few acres of New York probably has as many trees as all of Burley. There were beautiful corn fields completely surrounded by groves of trees. So pretty and green! Here we are in front of some trees near the Smith home.
This was the Smith family time out bench.
In the upstairs room--angel Moroni visited here three times in one night!
It was so fun to have my dad along--especially on this part of the trip. It was awesome to hear his carpenter's perspective of the homes. He spent SO long looking at all the details. It was awesome! See how those joints are put together? They are notched in such a way that they are locked into place and won't slip.
So funny to hear him ask/tell the sister missionaries things about the wood and construction. For example, the floor is made of very wide boards. Today, that type of wood has to come from somewhere like Africa. There are not trees large enough to make such wide boards in the USA anymore. However, in the 1800's there were. The grove behind the house was prime wood--the best in the country. It was all being prepared for the Lord's visit to Joseph Smith. Really, I loved hearing all Dad's comments.
A view of the Smith home from the back. Can you believe the Smiths lived here with 9 children? So would not happen in our world today. We all have to have a starter home larger than this--even just with one little child! Such a different world.
So, note Anna going up the stairs to get her picture taken next to Eliza. . . .
And now note that the picture happened not quite as she planned, but so, so great none the less! Kevin was on his way to help her as I snapped this picture, but even if he wasn't, I think I would have taken it first and helped her second. It's worth it, right?!
The well in front of the Smith home.
Yeah, don't think I'd be making much of an awesome meal cooking over this fireplace. I know I would burn everything.
I think this is Joseph Sr. and Lucy's bedroom--cozy, eh?
Cute, tidy little garden. She grew ingredients for green smoothies, too. I saw chard, kale, and lettuce.
Smith family log home from the front. Very humble beginnings for the Lord's prophet called to restore the entire church! Really, I can't even imagine living in such a tiny place with such a large family. I guess most of their lives were lived outside, so they didn't need too much. In her history, Lucy Mack describes it as "snug." Cute.
Next Stop: The Sacred Grove
The sacred grove is directly behind the Smith log home. When I pictured the sacred grove, I always imagined a nice little "grove." Not a forest. If I remember correctly, the Smiths had something like 100 acres--or maybe the grove area is about 100 acres. Anyhow, it's not some tiny little grove. It is HUGE! There are lots and lots of little paths to follow all through it. It is beautiful, peaceful, and quiet.
My girls did a lot of walking like this on our trip--everyone wanted to hold Grandma's hand and be by Grandma!
This was such a special part of our trip. It is kind of hard to describe the feelings I had as we walked into the sacred grove. I would call it a "quickening" of my heart. The whole area just radiates reverence and holiness. It makes my heart beat faster again just seeing these pictures and thinking of it. I did my best to have my girls stop and try to "feel." I hope it will remain in their minds at least somewhat.
It is easy to see why Joseph would have chosen this area to pray to Heavenly Father. It would have been a very peaceful place, I'm sure, compared to the tiny home filled with 11 people. I'm sure it was long being prepared as the place for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to appear to him.
Anna
Madeline
Natalia
Kevin and Mari
Lindy
Camilla
Mari awake
Eliza
Grandpa Reese (I guess we didn't get Grandma on her own)
So happy to share this sacred place with my family.
And a giant mushroom. Lots of rain makes lots of fungus, too.
Smith Frame Home/Cooper Shop
After the sacred grove, we had a little picnic before continuing our tours for the day. We'd brought peanut butter and honey for sandwiches, but forgot the knife. Luckily Hill Cumorah pageant pamphlets (which they were handing out) were made of sturdy cardstock and made a nice knife when folded up!
Anna was thrilled with this mini water bottle we received on the plane. It really did have excellent water-holding properties.
There was a big youth group a few tables down from us. They were having a youth conference and my dad went and talked to them for a very long time. Just kind of random and funny.
The Smith Frame home. This was just down the road from the log home.
Mother Smith painted large oil cloth rugs like this one. They were very pretty. This home was built in large part by Joseph's brother, Alvin. It was intended to be his home for his future family, but he died before it was finished. The Smith family finished it and moved in, but the rent was suddenly made due after just 4 years. They couldn't pay it right away and had to move out. Apparently loans back then could be called due at any time. This home is beautiful and soooo much larger than the tiny log home. I can't imagine moving into this one and then having to move back to the other. It would be very hard!
The golden plates were hidden under the bricks in this fireplace once. We looked, but they aren't still there. (just kidding)
Mother Smith made lots of medicines from dried herbs and plants. Madeline recognized some from some books she has read. Pharmacist dad, herbalist daughter . . . .
Eliza being cute on the bench.
Eliza in front of the threshing barn and a whole bunch of boy scouts.
Another bunch of boy scouts.
This is a big chunk of log which was used to cut meat....hmm....not too sanitary I'd imagine!
Ever tried to fashion your own wooden rake? Maybe it's a pitch-fork, I'm not quite sure.
Grandpa Reese was in heaven in this barn. He checked out all the tools and asked lots of questions!
The Smiths kept bees in these hollow logs--it's kind of mind boggling how much work they went to just to sustain life and take care of their daily needs. I am so thankful for the grocery store!
The Palmyra temple can be seen from the road between the two Smith homes, but just barely! President Hinckley had the trees cut down so the sacred grove could be viewed from the temple windows. I was constantly in awe over how thick the trees are here.
Yearsley family in front of the Palmyra temple.
Check out the size of that hydrangea!
It matches Natalia's shirt in color and her head in size.
A new version of Alvin's grave. The old one had weathered and was not readable. This was a cool old cemetery. Most of the headstones were so old they were unreadable.
After our day of touring, we finally got to swim in the hotel pool!
This girl is half mermaid. She is totally fearless in the water!
Madeline is such a great swimmer she can pause to wave while treading water!
Sweet little Camilla fish! She and Madeline loved jumping/diving in the pool!
Mari also enjoyed her time splashing away. Eliza swam as well, but apparently Kevin didn't take her picture. Woops.
Later that evening, Grandma and Grandpa Yearsley took us on a private, personal tour of the Peter Whitmer farm. Yes, it pays to be in the "in" crowd with the missionaries!
This building is the church/visitor's center. It was built in 1980, but designed to look like a building from the 1930's. (Except it does have plumbing!)
Grandpa Reese was appalled at the huge spaces of mortar between these logs. Totally not how it would have been done!
Elder and Sister Yearsley. We are so happy to be able to spend this time with them!
This is the room where the first meeting of the church took place. Lots of history here! (Actually it's just a replica of the room; it's not the original house, but is built like it).
Grandma is showing the girls a Book of Mormon as it was published originally--it was divided into books, but didn't have verses. Madeline was lucky and got to end this wonderful day by spending the night with Grandma and Grandpa. Baby Austin is the only other cousin to have had such a privilege as far as I am aware! Camilla had planned to join her, but she came down with a fever and had to drop out!
This was a long, but wonderful day. Even Grandpa Reese declared it a "perfect day."
Smith Frame Home/Cooper Shop
After the sacred grove, we had a little picnic before continuing our tours for the day. We'd brought peanut butter and honey for sandwiches, but forgot the knife. Luckily Hill Cumorah pageant pamphlets (which they were handing out) were made of sturdy cardstock and made a nice knife when folded up!
Anna was thrilled with this mini water bottle we received on the plane. It really did have excellent water-holding properties.
There was a big youth group a few tables down from us. They were having a youth conference and my dad went and talked to them for a very long time. Just kind of random and funny.
The Smith Frame home. This was just down the road from the log home.
Mother Smith painted large oil cloth rugs like this one. They were very pretty. This home was built in large part by Joseph's brother, Alvin. It was intended to be his home for his future family, but he died before it was finished. The Smith family finished it and moved in, but the rent was suddenly made due after just 4 years. They couldn't pay it right away and had to move out. Apparently loans back then could be called due at any time. This home is beautiful and soooo much larger than the tiny log home. I can't imagine moving into this one and then having to move back to the other. It would be very hard!
The golden plates were hidden under the bricks in this fireplace once. We looked, but they aren't still there. (just kidding)
Mother Smith made lots of medicines from dried herbs and plants. Madeline recognized some from some books she has read. Pharmacist dad, herbalist daughter . . . .
Eliza being cute on the bench.
This is called the Alvin Tree. It was planted the same year Alvin died--it's huge!
Cute garden again. I'm not sure what the fence was for--maybe to keep some animals out, but it seems like most could still get in there pretty easily.
Eliza in front of the threshing barn and a whole bunch of boy scouts.
Another bunch of boy scouts.
This is a big chunk of log which was used to cut meat....hmm....not too sanitary I'd imagine!
Here is where the horses and Annas were kept.
Ever tried to fashion your own wooden rake? Maybe it's a pitch-fork, I'm not quite sure.
Grandpa Reese was in heaven in this barn. He checked out all the tools and asked lots of questions!
The Smiths kept bees in these hollow logs--it's kind of mind boggling how much work they went to just to sustain life and take care of their daily needs. I am so thankful for the grocery store!
The Palmyra temple can be seen from the road between the two Smith homes, but just barely! President Hinckley had the trees cut down so the sacred grove could be viewed from the temple windows. I was constantly in awe over how thick the trees are here.
Yearsley family in front of the Palmyra temple.
Check out the size of that hydrangea!
It matches Natalia's shirt in color and her head in size.
A new version of Alvin's grave. The old one had weathered and was not readable. This was a cool old cemetery. Most of the headstones were so old they were unreadable.
After our day of touring, we finally got to swim in the hotel pool!
This girl is half mermaid. She is totally fearless in the water!
Madeline is such a great swimmer she can pause to wave while treading water!
Sweet little Camilla fish! She and Madeline loved jumping/diving in the pool!
Mari also enjoyed her time splashing away. Eliza swam as well, but apparently Kevin didn't take her picture. Woops.
Later that evening, Grandma and Grandpa Yearsley took us on a private, personal tour of the Peter Whitmer farm. Yes, it pays to be in the "in" crowd with the missionaries!
This building is the church/visitor's center. It was built in 1980, but designed to look like a building from the 1930's. (Except it does have plumbing!)
Grandpa Reese was appalled at the huge spaces of mortar between these logs. Totally not how it would have been done!
Elder and Sister Yearsley. We are so happy to be able to spend this time with them!
This is the room where the first meeting of the church took place. Lots of history here! (Actually it's just a replica of the room; it's not the original house, but is built like it).
Grandma is showing the girls a Book of Mormon as it was published originally--it was divided into books, but didn't have verses. Madeline was lucky and got to end this wonderful day by spending the night with Grandma and Grandpa. Baby Austin is the only other cousin to have had such a privilege as far as I am aware! Camilla had planned to join her, but she came down with a fever and had to drop out!
This was a long, but wonderful day. Even Grandpa Reese declared it a "perfect day."
SO INCREDIBLE! I loved every second--can't believe you got a picture of Anna falling off the stairs--poor thing! I bet it was fun to have Dad's perspective on the old buildings. Love the gardens and the sacred grove, and all the history.
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