Sacred Grove

A major event leading to the eventual formation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, took place in what is commonly referred to within the Church as The Sacred Grove. This Grove is a forested area near the border of western New York near the home of Joseph Smith, Jr. around 1820. It is the location where Smith said he had his First Vision, an important theophany in the movement's theology.

The exact location of the Sacred Grove is not known, but it would have been west of Smith's adolescent home on the border of the towns of Palmyra and Manchester. This area was being cleared at the time for farming by the Smith family, who were also using the trees to harvest maple syrup. The area has been purchased by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who cares for the area and allows tourists to visit. Many Latter Day Saints view the place as a sacred site.

The First Vision

The Sacred Grove's main historical significance is as the location of Joseph Smith's First Vision. In the early 19th century, the western New York area had "caught fire" so many times with intense revivalism that it later became known as the burned-over district. As an early adolescent, the revivalism both interested and confused Smith, and he became concerned "for the wellfare of my immortal Soul," which led him to study the scriptures Harv|Smith|1832|pp=1–2. Believing that "there was no society or denomination that built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament" Harv|Smith|1832|p=2, and not knowing where to turn for forgiveness of his sins, he went to the woods near his home to pray Harv|Smith|1832|p=3. While praying, Smith said he saw a "pillar of light", and then "his mind was caught away" into a vision Harv|Pratt|1840|p=5, where two personages, identified as God the Father and Jesus Christ, told him his sins were forgiven and that all churches were false and corrupt (Harvnb|Pratt|1840|p=5; Harvnb|Smith|1842c|p=748).

This story has become a foundational element in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because adherents believe this vision started Smith on a path toward becoming a prophet, translating the Book of Mormon from golden plates, and re-establishing the Church of Christ.

Other Occurrences

The Sacred Grove is also suggested as a possible site where Joseph Smith, Jr. showed the golden plates to Eight Witnesses in June 1829.cite web |url=http://www.hillcumorah.org/grove.asp |title=The Sacred Grove |accessdate=2008-02-07 ] Smith's mother said that the event took place at a location near the Smith log home [Because of a foreclosure on their Manchester property, the Smith family was then living in a log cabin technically in Palmyra (Harvnb|Smith|1883|p=14; Harvnb|Berge|1985).] "where the [Smith] family were in the habit of offering up their secret devotions to God" Harv|Smith|1853|p=140. According to Joseph, the plates had been taken there by the angel Moroni, who had been guarding them since their translation (Harvnb|Smith|1853|p=140).

Today

Located in Palmyra, New York, the Sacred Grove is often visited as part of the Smith Family Farm, an historical site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 843 Stafford Road in Palmyra. The church operates a welcome center on the farm, which includes a replica of the log home built in 1818 by Joseph Smith, Sr. and his wife Lucy Mack Smith, as well as the original frame home built by the Smiths in 1825.

Other historic sites close to the Smith Farm are the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center, where Smith was given the records that he translated the Book of Mormon from, as well as the Book of Mormon Historic Publication Site, located at the E.B. Grandin Printing Shop in Palmyra.

Notes

References

#Citation
last=Berge
first=Dale L.
title=Archaeological Work at the Smith Log House
journal=Ensign
volume=15
issue=8
year=1985
date=August 1985
pages=24
url = http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1985.htm/ensign%20august%201985%20.htm/archaeological%20work%20at%20the%20smith%20log%20house.htm?fn=document-frameset.htm$f=templates$3.0 .
#Citation
first=Orson
last=Pratt
author-link=Orson Pratt
title= A Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, and of the Late Discovery of Ancient American Records
place=Edinburgh
publisher=Ballantyne and Hughes
year=1840
url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cgi-bin/docviewer.exe?CISOROOT=/NCMP1820-1846&CISOPTR=2821 .
#Citation
last=Smith
first=Joseph, Jr.
author-link=Joseph Smith, Jr.
chapter=History of the Life of Joseph Smith
year=1832
chapter-url = http://en.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_the_Life_of_Joseph_Smith&oldid=314384
editor-last=Jessee
editor-first=Dean C
editor-link=Dean C. Jessee
title = Personal Writings of Joseph Smith
place = Salt Lake City
publisher = Deseret Book
publication-year = 2002
isbn=1-57345-787-6
url=http://deseretbook.com/personalwritings .
#Citation
last=Smith
first=Lucy Mack
author-link=Lucy Mack Smith
title=Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations
place=Liverpool
publisher=S.W. Richards
year=1853
url=http://relarchive.byu.edu/19th/descriptions/biographical.html .
#Citation
last=Smith
first=William
author-link=William Smith (Latter Day Saints)
title=William Smith on Mormonism: A True Account of the Origin of the Book of Mormon
place=Lamoni, Iowa
publisher=RLDS Church
year=1883
url=http://www.olivercowdery.com/smithhome/1883Wilm.htm .

ee also

* Adam-ondi-Ahman
* Holy of Holies (LDS)
* Most Holy Place

External links

* [http://www.hillcumorah.org/Site%20Map.asp A Map of the Sacred Grove and Surrounding Environment]
* [http://www.hillcumorah.org/WelcomeCtr.asp LDS Webpage for the Joseph Smith Farm Welcome Center ]
* [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1 Joseph Smith History]
* [http://www.scienceviews.com/parks/sacredgrove.html The Sacred Grove] at Parks and Places: scienceviews.com