driving back from my second visit to the hill cumorah visitors center today... i again passed by joseph smith sr's farm, the sacred grove, through palmyra and the 4 corner churches symbolic of past religious fervor, past alvin smiths grave and finally martin harris's farm. i tried to recall another time when i felt i had walked, witnessed and experienced sacred ground. only on the battlefields of gettysburg did i feel so completely humbled and eternally grateful to those selected few who had risen to an eternal call, had sacraficed all for the good of mankind.
nothing rocks you to your core like walking through the sacred grove where God the Father and his Son appeared, looking down from cumorah's hill knowing that here a sacred record was buried and angels visited; viewing alvin smith's tombstone and recalling joseph's words, that alvin was the purest man he had ever known, but in a strange way i felt most humbled by the small cabin and the frame house which sits on the 100 acre smith farm.
in this humble 18X20 two story home 10 people lived, worked, loved, sacraficed and were prepared for the Lord's work to come. oh how they must have worked... historians figure that on this land 1000 trees grew within every acre, the smith family cleared 60 of those acres for planting and harvest. 1000 trees an acre, some 4 feet in diameter, with only an ox, a plow and 6 boys or men to do the work. they lived on the farm for 3 1/2 years, obtaining the land with 2/3 down payment on a $1000 note, yet were never able to make the final payment... finally being forced to leave as the saints moved to ohio.
during the tour, you get a since of their industry. planting and harvesting 4 different types of seed crops, harvesting sap from trees, mother smith painted, in the winter they trapped and sold pelts, they hired themselves out and pooled their money while maintaining their own crops, made barrels, erected houses and barnes, logged and sold timber.. yet there was no access to pay off their remaining debt and finally own the farm.
you get a since of their support, commitment and love for one another exemplified by alvin's gift of the frame house to his parents, hyrum's support of joseph to their deaths, and what it must have taken to live in such tight quarters and work shoulder to shoulder to make ends meet.
you marvel at their preparation for the call, and willingness to be obedient, having been taught from the scriptures by their mother, father and ancesters.
you are grateful that joseph went into that peaceful grove and called upon the Lord for an answer to the burning question in his heart and even more grateful that he accepted the calling he had been foreordained to perform. it was a day i will never forget.
i wonder...
could i have done 1/10 as much
could i have been so humble
could i demonstrate such industry
could i have listened to the message and believed
could i have withstood the persecution
could i have moved and been obedient without murmur
could i have given all for zion
could i have been strong enough
could i have been faithful enough
could i have endured
i hope so
7 comments:
Glad to hear it was such a profoundly inspiring day. Heather Scukanek said the same. I don't think they had the grove to themselves for 45 minutes as you did. How wonderful to be able to slow down enough to appreciate and ponder the events that transpired in that grove and on that farm. I'm anxious to hear if it lived up to the 2 days in Baltimore. You did not think the trip could get any better but it sounds like it may have. Love you, K.
dad, you totally could have done it. i know it.you are one of the most amazing men i know and there is no doubt in my mind you would have been at the head of the pac sacrificing everything.
dad, the family blog has lots of posts about your blogging cause they aren't able to post comments to your blog because you have it set that no anonymous people can comment. i will copy and paste them here so you can read them, and you can check the family website too. love ya.
FROM KATIE
BRIT, your job is to relate to your dad the comments on the family web site if he is not checking this as some of us can't post on his blogspot. So I was moved to tears by what he said and how he said it. What an incredible experience, one I too will never forget but haven't been there for years. We went when we lived in New Hampshire and can't wait to go again. I to believe that Ronald is up to whatever task the Lord expects of him and would pass any challenge with flying colors! Keep those posts coming. They are awesome!!!!!
FROM TRACY
Brit - I don't know how to blog directly to Ron's blog, so will here.
The blog is great - I am not surprised at Ron's power of observation, but pleasantly surprised at his entertaining writing. This is lots of fun. As one who generally derives great pleasure from others' experiences, this is the perfect vicarious experience for me. Thanks Ron for sharing!
Tracy
I love your description of the farm and the grove. It makes me want to go there more than ever. What an amazing experience for you, I am jealous. Thank you for letting us get a taste of what it is like through your pictures and words. Keep it coming, we are loving it!
Ron, You have touched my heart in so many ways through the years and this travelogue is another instance. I have relished your words as I've read them as memories have come speeding back to me. Your writing skills are great but that which is so much greater is your willingness to share with us such glorious thoughts, which as Katie has mentioned have the power to water my eyes. I can't wait to get mother in here tomorrow to read your blog. Incidentally, she seems to have recovered satisfactorilly from the tumble out of bed. As for me, I'll never be the same. That's why I'm writing this at 2:30 a.m. Part of my constant care of mom. We started in bed tonight at 11 p.m. but she woke me at 1:15 a.m. to go to the couch. I stayed in my chair there until I was sure she was back to sleep and then slipped in here to check the family website. Thanks for your remarks. They truly are priceless. Love, dad.
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