Priesthood Restoration Site

Off again.  This time to Pennsylvania to see the newly-dedicated Priesthood Restoration Site located on the Susquehanna River.   It is so close to the boundaries of our temple district, it isn't even funny.  But we were legit. Ted asked if we had electrified collars on to make sure we stayed within temple boundaries.  Very funny!

After a four-hour Sunday drive with the Prices, and a stay at the Holiday Inn, we arrived on Monday morning.

Left to right: Sister Price, missionary-couple docents, Brother Price, and Gary

A quick look at the diorama of the Hale farm:

Because of persecution, newly-wed Joseph and Emma left Palmyra, New York where they had been living with Joseph's family.

They hid the Gold Plates in the bottom of a barrel of beans.........

Hard to tell, but this a dissection of the bean barrel with the plates on the bottom.

..........and traveled the three-day trip to Harmony, Pennsylvania to live with Emma's parents.

Really cute display: the faster Gary spun the wagon wheel, the faster the horse went.....

.......galloping at this point!

They arrived at the Hale home on a cold, November day, much like today.

Newly-built replica of the Hale home

"Bustle oven" on left and 2 warming ovens above

Joseph stored the Gold Plates in a glass box. The box wasn't made of glass, but was a container for shipping glass panes.  It is calculated that the box and its precious contents weighed between 50 and 60 pounds.

Gary lifting 50 pounds

"It looked so easy when Gary lifted it!"

Joseph kept the box and contents under Emma's and his bed in their tiny bedroom just off the kitchen.

The Hale home was considered a very luxurious home with wallpaper, carpeting, and nice furnishings.

Emma's father, Isaac, wouldn't let Joseph do any translating of the Gold Plates in his home.  In fact, he had not given his approval for Joseph to marry Emma, but they were married in spite of Isaac's disapproval.

After just a few months of living with the Hales,  Joseph and Emma bought 13 acres from Isaac, which included a small home previously owned by one of Emma's brothers.

A replica of Joseph and Emma's home

Interior of Joseph and Emma's modest home:

                                       

                                       


                                           

                                               

Old-time clothes pins

Wash tub and wash board

Some contraption your dad had to figure out.

Down the road a piece in a small cemetery is this original marker.  It has been cemented to a granite slab to help preserve it.  Here is buried Joseph and Emma's first child who lived only one hour.

Being in his own home, Joseph was finally able to start translating the Book of Mormon again.

Oliver Cowdry had heard of Joseph Smith, and traveled to find him to offer his help. He became Joseph's scribe. In the next two months, Joseph translated almost seventy percent of the Book of Mormon.

Copy of actual manuscript in Oliver's handwriting

Those who were scribes for Joseph while he translated.

Because it was easier to see the writings on the seer stone in the dark, Joseph put the stone in an upside-down hat and looked into the hat. If Oliver didn't write exactly as Joseph dictated, the words on the stone would remain until Oliver had corrected his mistake.  Once the mistake was corrected, a new phrase or sentence would appear on the stone.

On May 15, 1829  Joseph was translating a section in the Book of Mormon concerning baptism.  He and Oliver discussed the fact that neither of them was baptized.  They went  into the woods near Joseph's home and prayed concerning the matter.  John the Baptist appeared to them and conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood.

They then went into the Susquehanna River.  Joseph baptized Oliver and Oliver baptized Joseph.

We couldn't wait to finally be at the water's edge of the beautiful Susquehanna River.  Such a peaceful and sacred place.

As you can probably tell, it has been a very touching and spiritual day.  Touching: to feel of the sacrifice, and the hardships both Joseph and Emma endured for the Gospel.  Spiritual: to feel the commitment, love, and service Joseph and Emma not only displayed for each other, but for their Heavenly Father, and the Savior.