Let me make it perfectly clear from the onset: You do not need to visit the Sacred Grove to have a rock solid testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith any more than you need to visit Gethsemane to have a testimony of the Savior’s Atonement. Both of these witnesses can come whenever, and wherever you may be, if you seek this knowledge with real intent.
This week I visited the Sacred Grove with my family for the second time in my life. It is as serene and unspoiled as I remember it to be. It is a place of peace. When Joseph Smith entered this small copse of trees, it was merely a grove – but when he exited, it had become sacred, and is sacred to this day.
You can feel it, if you are willing. It is that same Spirit-filled awe that you can feel in the temple. It is the feeling we get when we follow God’s counsel.
“Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places.” D&C 101:22
I have always felt that an important part of my role as father to my children is to create and watch for opportunities were my children can collide with the Spirit. These “collisions” can happen many places: at church, at home, or on the right kind of vacation. The ability to recognize the Holy Ghost and his whisperings is one of the greatest gifts – if not THE greatest gift – my kids can take with them into adulthood.
And so we find ourselves together, in holy places, learning to feel, and growing testimonies. I went into the Sacred Grove already having had a sure witness that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, and is the prophet of our dispensation. Visiting the Grove did not change that. But walking where Joseph lived and struggled did increase my love for him. (To read more of my testimony of the prophet Joseph, click here.)
As for my sons that were with us, one is seventeen, and will soon be testifying about Joseph Smith somewhere in the world. The other is a brand-new Deacon, learning about his priesthood, and growing into his own testimony. Standing in this particular holy place is much more than just a tourist stop. The goal isn’t to say, “Hey! I’ve been there!” The goal is to remember what we felt there.
I have included some pictures. I am not a “photographer,” and took these with my phone. Besides, that wasn’t my focus.
For your Sabbath listening pleasure:
I find it appealing to believe that it was sugaring time when Joseph visited the grove. I read somewhere that he had gone to retrieve an ax he had been using to cut wood, possibly as fuel for reducing sap to syrup. The idea that the long grey winter was yielding to the first subtle buds of spring fits with the idea that the long winter of apostasy was yielding to the spring of Restoration. I have visited Palmyra several times in summer and fall but I would love to see the Grove when the sap is rising in the maples.
I love that thought about winter turning to spring! Thank you- can I use that sometime?
Some time ago I attended a lecture by T.C. Christensen (17 miracles, others) he mentioned that “In the Early Spring” of upstate New York there would not have been bees humming or birds singing, down “south” where I live we would consider it very much still winter. I heard another analysis that looked over the almanac which recorded the weather (likely drawing info from here: http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2002/vision.html ) and talks about the maple production the Smith family was likely working on at the time of the first vision. Really interesting stuff. (no I’m not trying to downplay the title or anything else, I just thought what T.C. had to say was funny and interesting).
We went to the Susquehanna in May one year – it was muddy and brown – spring had not sprung yet.
This is really interesting- I have heard Richard Bushman also talk about it. From my personal experience living up North, any temp above 35-40 degrees that is consistent, even if there is snow on the ground is early Spring. People are out playing with shorts on. Birds are out, bees are are in the fall. Usually Middle of March early April.
First time was 1981 during the BSA Jamboree. In 1996 we moved to upstate New York on assignment. Over spring break we drove up from Tennessee to look for a house. It was snowing when we got to our Palmyra motel at about 10:00 pm. When we woke up there was 8 inches of snow on the ground. We took our kids and pushed a stroller. We couldn’t see any trails and everything was absolutely silent. Wonderful.
My EC and I both served in the YW/YM programs while there. We took the youth down every summer for the Pageant. (even got to see Donny Osmond play Samuel the Lamanite….the youth had no idea why my EC was excited about that) I was eventually called to the Bishopric and had the great opportunity to attend the ground breaking for the temple and spend some time with Pres. Hinckley.
in 1938 my great-grandparents attended a conference at the Hill Cumorah. in 1998 my parents were visiting, and we drove down for my mother to see the sites. I picked a few leaves off of a maple tree to press and put in a Book of Remembrance. A few months later, as I was browsing my great-grandmother’s journal, I found 2 maple leaves that she had picked, and discovered that they had been there the same day, 60 years before!!!!!
Thanks! 🙂
I remember going there as a 5 year-old during a family vacation. I was sure I had found the VERY spot where Joseph knelt to prayer. We knelt as a family and had family prayer. Beautiful memories. Thanks for the post.
The groundskeeper/tree guy (thats what I called him) for the grove- is not a member of the church. Very nice man, but not a member. When I was there- it may be different now. You would think- how could someone who has been there everyday not have a testimony? not have felt the power of that place? It just shows that testimony comes from the spirit and when you are seeking to know. You can go to the sites and feel nothing, or go and have a wonderful spiritual experience.
Beautiful pictures, and sentiment…thanks for sharing.
I had not been there since a youth conference 20 years ago (it that possible?!) until we took our kids this summer from VA to see the Pageant and the Sacred Grove and Niagara Falls and Kirtland. It was a great trip and we intend to continue this type of trip- it started last year with seeing Nauvoo/Carthage and Liberty on the way out to a family reunion. We hope to go to a temple open house somewhere driveable in the next couple of years (Philly, PA?)- we’ve never done that. So important to make memories together of standing in holy places.
Ahhhhhhhhh the memories of that sacred place. I have been there twice and am planning on a trip next summer to go back once more. It is a wonderful place to grow your love for the Prophet of the Restoration!
“The goal is to remember what we felt there.”
Bringing back fond memories.
Thank you,
That was my mission. A trip to the sacred grove was one of our first introductions to the area…in January, forty years ago. I will never forget the feeling. It wasn’t as developed as it is now…but it was still sacred.
PIcture #1 is very First Vision-ish…so cool! I’d probably be printing that and hanging it up in my house if I had taken it!
We visited The Grove years ago, and the Spirit was very strong. I was disappointed that there were no leaves on the trees, though, and it was late in the spring. I’ve always wondered if the green pictures are just wonderful photography but maybe not the way it really looked when Joseph was there.
When we visited there, bees were humming and birds were singing!
Thank you. Simple. Beautiful. Straightforward. Inspiring. Just what I needed.
On my bucket list. And I couldn’t agree more. When I went to Nauvoo earlier this year, and walked where Joseph and Hyrum had walked, I knew I was in a place that had been sanctified not only because of the Heavenly outpourings, but by the faith of those who believed, and followed. Tearing up as I write this. Good Sabbath to you and yours.