Palmyra

This past weekend we visited Palmyra, NY and we were able to see all the sites! This was my second time and Jaron's third time visiting. We went to the Hill Cumorah pageant a couple years ago, and while it was amazing...there were just too many people there to feel and experience the spiritual aspect of the area. So, we decided to skip the pageant and visit during the slow time of year. Some of our friends came with us since they had never been and we had a lot of fun!

Our first stop was the Visitor's Center...when Jaron and I went a few years ago there was a 2 hour line so we didn't go. There is so much in there for you to see, the missionaries were great to talk to and had so much information for us. We saw the movie that is playing in the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake...I think it's called Joseph Smith and the Restoration...or something to that effect. Pictured above is the Christus Statue...typically there are stars in the background but this one has the Sacred Grove in the background and I LOVE IT!!

Jaron, Amy, Belinda, Josh

This is the top of Hill Cumorah...aren't the colors beautiful?

Next it was off to the Joseph Smith Farm and Sacred Grove. I have a million pictures that we took, but I can't post them all so I'll just skip to the pictures in the Sacred Grove.

We thought this trail in the middle of the Sacred Grove was very picturesque and couldn't resist taking a few. The neatest thing happened, just before we entered the Sacred Grove mine and Jaron's phones started ringing. Everyone was calling to tell us the good news...a Philadelphia Temple was announced!!! Such a wonderful feeling and spirit came over us with the great news and the location we were in, I'll never forget it.

Kissing in the Sacred Grove...

Stopping by the historical Erie Canal and taking a few pictures. Josh, Belinda, Amy, Jaron

The Book of Mormon publishing site is one of my favorite things to visit because the building is almost 100 % authentic and hasn't been changed very much from the time they printed the Book of Mormon. The ink stains are still on the ground, the floors are still the same, and the brick on the inside is still the same brick. They also have a few 1st Edition Book of Mormons there to see and take pictures of.

Our last stop was Brad & Dad's Ice Cream Parlor. We were trying to go to an ice cream store our friends recommended down the street...but it was closed for the season. Although, we were not disappointed with Brad or Dad! They make their own ice cream right there in the store every morning and it was the best Strawberry ice cream I've had in years! We definitely recommend this place to those of you looking for some yummy ice cream. This was our last stop of the day, then we were off to Niagara Falls, which Jaron will write about in the following entry...