Priesthood Restoration Site June 4 - 10

Elder and Sister Pickup at the temple

I went over to the Grandin building and took some watermelon for the missionaries there. I met Sister Meyer, Sister Lytle, Sister Reddin and Brother and Sister Thompson. They were thrilled to meet us and have that connection with Rachel.

Monday night, Brother and Sister Robins  taught us about the First Vision. There are a few things that we read in the Joseph Smith History  that I found interesting to discover and think about. We looked at the description of feelings that Joseph placed in the account. He used words like  "unusual excitement, no small stir, great confusion, bad feeling, strife of words, war of words, tumult of opinions, ."  Do we ever feel this around us? at school, at work, in our country, maybe even in our families.  Joseph sets a great pattern for us to follow in dealing with similar strive.

Our living prophet, Russell M. Nelson explains this process of personal revelation.
"The Prophet Joseph Smith set a pattern for us to follow in resolving our questions.  Drawn to the promise of James that if we lack wisdom we may ask of God, the boy Joseph took his question directly to Heavenly Father.  He sought personal revelation, and his seeking opened this last dispensation.
In like manner, what will your seeking open for you?  What wisdom do you lack?  What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand?  Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph.  find a quiet place where you can regularly go.  Humble yourself before God.  Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father.  Turn to Him for answers and for comfort. Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses---yes, the very longings of your heart.  And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind.  Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take.  As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will "grow into the principle of revelation."

Sister Lindsay, Sister Pickup, Sister Barrett, Sister Barlow. This statue represents the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood by Peter, James, and John. 

Elder Pickup, Elder Lindsay, Elder Barrett, Elder Barlow.  This statue represents the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood by John, the Baptist

Statue of Jesus Christ at the Visitor Center.  They let you touch his hands and feet and feel the wound in his side.
Very moving. I had never seen this statue before. 

Beautiful wildflowers along the path

The plaque reads

Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood
This event occurred on the banks of the Susquehanna River
the fifteenth day of May 1829 near Harmony, Pennsylvania. 
Joseph Smith in his writing states

Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron,
which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance,
and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins;
and this shall never be taken again from the earth,
until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.

Many years ago I read the words on this very monument at this very site.  There came into my heart an overwhelming witness that this really happened.  It was a powerful moment that I can neither forget nor deny.  I know with certainty that John the Baptist did appear to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and that the Priesthood of God is on the earth again today. 

Susquehanna River where Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were baptized after receiving the Aaronic Priesthood

Sister Pickup, Elder Morrey, Sister Morrey - cousins to the Morrey's in Wellsville

Found in one of the homes. Perhaps should be posted in every Church - 

CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOR at the MEETING HOUSE

   Decently walk to the Seat or Pew; run not, nor go wantonly.

   Shift no Seats, but continue in the Place where your Superiors order you.

   Lend they Place for the easing of any one that stands near thee.

   Talk not in the Meeting House, especially in the time of Prayer or Preaching.

   Fix thin Eye on the Minister, let it not wildly wander to gaze on any Person or Thing.

   Attend diligently to the Words of the Minister; pray with him when he prayeth, at least in thy Heart; and while he preacheth, listen, that thou mayest remember.

   Be not hasty to run out of the Meeting House when the Worship is ended, as if thou wert weary of being there.

   Walk decently and soberly Home, without Haste or Wantonness; thinking upon what you have been hearing. 

Elder and Sister Pickup with Joseph Smith Statue

at Josiah Stoal home in Colesville

Elder Pickup checking out the well at the Joseph Knight, Sr. home

We had a great drive to and from church on Sunday.  We took a different route that seemed more direct and on better roads.  It took just as long but less stressful.  We picked up Helen again today.  After church, I visited with her and a new convert, Sally while Ray helped Sister Bates set up her new tablet.  Helen shared some lovely experiences she had while searching for a church to attend.  At one point, missionaries from another church were pressing her to get baptized.  While napping on the couch, she had a sweet dream where she saw the face of the Savior.  When she mentioned this to the missionaries there they  stated that this could not be and that she  just needed to be baptized and these things would stop.  She did not get baptized in that church and was not happy with their response.  When she learned about the Mormons, she felt a sweet spirit, similar to her dream.  She knew she had found something good and true.  Sally nodded in agreement.  Sally bore her testimony today and shared how lonely she was, she had lost her mother, her father, her children, and partner.  But at church she felt she had found a new family and had hope again.  She also needed a new washer and dryer because hers were not working.  Ray is helping to fix this for her.  She was very grateful. 

As Sacrament started, Ray leaned over and said that Brother Robert Todd and Sister Janelle Todd had served in Hornell a  few years before us.  Wow! What? We had lived in the Todd’s basement the first year we were married.  He was a professor at Rick’s College, had left for a job and had returned to teach at BYU in the mechanical engineering department.  Sean and Brian both knew him.  We discovered this because Brother Todd had framed seasonal pictures of the Sacred Grove and donated it to the Branch.  This hung in the hallway of their building. 

We took a short walk around the block in the late evening.  It was pleasant and cool.  We met a young family returning from the park.  The father visited with us for a few minutes.  His little boy was so adorable.  The mom went ahead with the older two girls.  We learned he was enlisting in the Navy to better provide for his family.  

Another great week!