Venna S Briggs: Early Beginning

This was a near perfect day. We left our hotel room this morning for Palmyra NY with no reservation t see the historical sites. We arrived there around 11 o’clock. Jeff was able to secure us a reservation at the Smith farm and Sacred Grove at 3:15. We left there hoping to get into a tour for the Hill Cumorah and to possible see the Granger Printing Co. We were able complete everything and get pictures at the Palmyra Temple before we returned to the farm.

We were fit into a our for the Hill Cumorah even though the tour wasn’t necessary for us. We were able to climb up to the statues last few e and it was beautiful. I was overcome with each the spirit as we climbed up the path. My testimony as I reflected on the realization

that we weren’t really able to have this experience. Until the last few years this was not a consideration for us to be able to do. The sheer beauty of the area was amazing and the company couldn’t have been better. Sharing this experience with Becca’s family has been so special.

Granger Publishing was an expected treat. We went expecting it to be a time filler but it was fascinating as the Sisters explained the tedious processes of publishing the Book of Mormon. Malachi mentioned that it’s was surprisingly a spiritual experience and he was right.

From the publishing house we went to lunch at Mark’s Pizza. Lunch was great bu t my favorite part was the pretzel sticks and white cheddar cheese.

After lunch we had just enough time to get a few pictures at the Palmyra Temple. We didn’t get to go inside for obvious reasons but couldn’t have any way because of COVID.

We arrived at the Smith time Farm just in time four our tour. Immediately felt a rush of the spirit as we entered the visitor center. I was touched at Lucy’s description of her tiny home especially as I raised 8 children and Becca has 8 children and we have often commented on the need of space in our much bigger homes. I was touched by the amount of sacrifice by the whole Smith family. The Lord requires sacrifice equal to the glory of the task and this one was big. The farm and path approaching the Sacred Grove were so tranquil, setting the mood for the engulfing peace of the grove. I had expected the Grove to be smaller more a “this is the place feeling”. I Sheva said it was more li me finding your own path to the Savior and that was kind how it was. At one point we could see the temple looking through the trees from the farm and it was truly beautifully.