Monday, April 7, 2008

Happy birthday Mormons!











Yesterday was April 6th - the day the LDS church was officially re-organized here in Fayette, New York. Happy birthday to us Mormons! We're now 178 years old :) I had a testimony of Joseph Smith before we moved out here ... but now having walked through the Sacred Grove, sat at the top of the Hill Cumorah, stood in the room where the angel Moroni first visited Joseph Smith and been in the home where Joseph received some of the revelations that became the Doctrine and Covenants ... I can now say that my testimony has increased. I know without a doubt that he was visited by the Father and the Son, and that he restored the full and everlasting gospel to the earth. I know he was our first prophet and having walked where he walked - I can say that I love him.

Pictures from left to right: Sacred Grove, Peter Whitmer farm house, and room inside the frame home where the Smith family lived.

General Conference over the weekend only served to re-enforce those feelings. I said to Cory the other day that I was so grateful to be a Mormon and to have been raised by wonderful parents who instilled in me such good values. Living in an area where Mormons are the minority (ironic, since it all
started here) I am so grateful to have the standards and direction that I do. Watching other people struggle through life without much direction (or many standards) makes me ever so grateful that I have all the direction I need. I'm so grateful to be a member of this church and know for myself that it is true!

3 comments:

Andrea said...

That was beautiful! I cried when I read that. The appreciation factor skyrockets when you can be around the sites all the time. I think I took that picture of the Peter Whitmer Farm. That mist was amazing. Funny the things you can dicover there at 6:30 in the morning.

Lincoln and Alisia said...

Wow! That is so neat! I hope we can come see the sights soon!

stephanie said...

The pictures are beautiful! I can't wait to see you when you guys come, we will have to have you guys over for dinner and games!!