Greetings from New York!

After much anticipation, we find ourselves in New York and having a wonderful time! What fun to finally be visiting Marian and Randal in their new home and to see the area where they now live.

On the Smith farm with the Palmyra Temple in the background.

We've done a little sightseeing. The highlights, of course, were the Church history sites in Palmyra. We went to the Hill Cumorah pageant our first evening in New York which was a great way to start our vacation! We've stood in the Smith home where Joseph Smith listened to the words of Moroni, gazed at the hill where the plates were buried, stood by the fireplace where he hid the plates from the mobs and walked through the Grandin building where the Book of Mormon was published.

The Smith home where the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith.


Kevin in the Grandin building.

Of course, the time that we walked quietly through the Sacred Grove was really incredible. What a feeling of peace surrounds you while you are there. You know that you are walking on sacred ground. As we walked through the grove, there were other visitors that were going different directions. Adelaide was quite concerned that they might get lost. Soon that transferred to concern that we might get lost. At one point she turned confidently to our group and stated in her sweet little voice, "Follow Me!" I could not help but see the Savior smile as He watched her. I'm sure He loved hearing His words repeated: "Follow Me!" If only we could always remember and heed those words.

Adelaide in the Sacred Grove.

More to follow . . .