Palmyra, New York Temple

Temple #56

Palmyra, New York

April 5, 2016

     Here starts our journey home. We had lived in Pennsylvania for about four months and had loved it. We had a 70 degree Christmas and then four feet of snow a few weeks later. We visited major cities all around the East Coast and also visited small Amish towns which had the most delicious cheese. We were able to go to historical sights such as Gettysburg and more modern sights such as the Hershey's factory. It was all wonderful and we knew we would miss it, yet we were excited to go home. 

     It wasn't hard to say goodbye to our apartment, for it was small and still smelt of smoke from the previous tenant, but it was difficult to say goodbye to the friends we had made, the ward we were in, and especially Ivy's cousin and her family. 

     We packed up our car to the brim to where we could hardly look out the window. We said our goodbyes and then headed north. It was a bit of a detour what we were doing, but we wanted to still see as many temples as possible on our way home. 

     Driving through northern Pennsylvania was pretty, and we first went to Harmony Township in Pennsylvania. In Harmony was where the Priesthood was Restored, and Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith were baptized in the Susquehanna River. It's a pretty area with a new visitor center that is wonderful. 

     After we drove on through New York, passing the beautiful area of Ithaca and the finger lakes. Eventually we made it to the famed Palmyra. We had been to Palmyra a month earlier with Vera, Heidi and Trevor, but the temple was closed when we went. We were able to go to the Hill Cumorah, the Sacred Grove, and many other Church sights in the area though with Vera, Heidi and Trevor. When we went back we did it all again because we loved it so much. Doing the church sights on our trip made our trip home what it was. It was spiritual and exciting, and we were both so happy to be able to see the places we have always heard and read about. 

     The Palmyra temple is a smaller temple, yet it has many unique things to it because of its location. When you first walk in and go past the front desk, the first thing you see is a giant stained glass window of a tree, which could be the Tree of Life or a tree of the sacred grove, because you can see through the window partially and see the sacred grove in the distance. There's a neat feeling as you look out that window and see the sacred grove. It's the only temple that we know of where you can look outside through a clear window. 

     As we went through the temple we also saw other stained glass of trees that are supposed but be trees of the sacred grove, and there is also a stained glass artwork piece of the first vision in one of the hallways. The temple is small and simple, yet the stained glass, art and decorations make up for it. We had a wonderful session and very much enjoyed it. 

     What was just as spiritual was all the sights we were able to go to in the area. It's neat how the temple is built on the land that Joseph Smith’s family once owned, and is near so many other historic sights. With Vera, Heidi and Trevor we also went into Palmyra and toured the Book of Mormon publication site visitor center. That place was informative to see and gave us a new appreciation for the publication of the Book of Mormon.

     Going throughout all the historic sights helped us gain a lot of insight and appreciation for Joseph Smith and all he had done. Palmyra was fun, we loved it, and were glad we could finally do the temple there. This was just the start of our journey home and it was a great start. We couldn't wait to continue on!