Harmony and Fayette

6-15-13

We got up very early (4:40 am) and headed out to pick up Julianne’s dad at the airport. I was worried that we might have some trouble getting in and out of Dulles airport in our RV. But it was no problem, we made it just fine. From there we drove and drove. After a long time we made it to Harmony (now Oakland PA). We easily found the monument to the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood. 

Our Family in front of the monument for the Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood

Kaleb did a great job of teaching us about that. We thought it was a great thing for him to be able to do since he is close to receiving that priesthood. We talked for a while about how important that was. 

Then we found the grave of Joseph and Emma’s first baby that died. We talked about how hard things were for them often. 

Looking at the memorial for Joseph and Emma Smith's first son, who died at birth

Jacob was tired by the time we found Emma's father's grave

We walked over to the foundation of the little house they lived in while they translated most of the Book of Mormon and talked about that.

Site of the Smith home in Harmony

Our little home away from home at the site of the Memorial for the Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood

 We found the remains of the foundation of Emma’s parents’ house. 

Julianne's Mom and I at the site of the Hale home in Harmony

Alexia, Sabrina and Jacob at the site of the Hale home foundation in Harmony

Then we drove to the trail that we hiked for a long time to get to the Susquehanna River. 

We got in and out of the motorhome a lot here

It was an interesting hike down to the Sesquehanna River

There Sabrina taught us about baptism (she gets baptized in a few months). 

The Sesquehanna River near where the ordination and baptism would have taken place

This is where Sabrina taught us about baptism

Everyone loved it at the Sesquehanna River

We also threw rocks in the river like they used to when they needed a break from translating. Everything all around there is incredibly beautiful. We had a wonderful, wonderful time. It was a series of great moments.

Throwing Rocks was a great pastime

Jacob really got into it

We drove and drove and finally made it to Fayette. There we listened to missionaries and learned about the organization of the church and finishing translating the Book of Mormon. We had a lot of great moments there too. It also became clear that our kids need to learn a little bit about how to behave when missionaries are teaching them. But all in all it was a pleasant evening. We had a picnic just outside of the Whitmer home. 

The Whitmer home in Fayette

Inside the Whitmer home where the Church was organized

Still inside the Whitmer Home

Then we were off again.

We were going to stay at the Howells. But we figured out that they have one shower, and there would be 17 of us to get ready for church the next day. We drove past a little RV park and pulled in and learned it was cheap and kid friendly. So we stayed the night. We all showered there and we recharged the RV with everything it could need. We passed a very pleasant evening there.

I am thrilled to see my kids thinking about these important things and having it sink into their souls. They are getting along pretty well now. We asked for them all to change their behavior to make a difference in how we are getting along, and they all tried a bit. BJ really took it to heart, and has gone out of his way to make things good. It has made a huge difference, a huge one. I am so grateful for that. I can see the kids learning and understanding and developing a love for the scriptures and the Restoration. Sabrina has borne sweet testimony of how she feels about baptism. Others have been similar. It has been wonderful.