A
Walk to The Sacred Grove in Fall, Part 2
A
Photographic Essay by Scot Facer Proctor
 |
Details
of the well across from the Smith’s cabin. |
The following
is from the original 1832 manuscript. I have broken it into
small sentences and paragraphs only to accommodate the photographs
as we walk to the Sacred Grove together.
 |
Window
of the Smith cabin flooded with morning light. |
“I was born
in the town of Sharon in the State of Vermont, North America,
on the twenty third day of December, AD 1805, of goodly parents
who spared no pains to instructing me in the Christian religion.
At the age of about ten years my Father, Joseph Smith, Sr.,
moved to Palmyra, Ontario County, in the State of New York,
and being in indigent circumstances were obliged to labor hard
for the support of a large family, having nine children, and
as it required the exertions of all that were able to render
any assistance for the support of the Family.
|
Hay
is stacked in the fields on the Smith Farm today as it
was 180 years ago. |
“Therefore
we were deprived of the benefit of an education. Suffice it
to say I was merely instructed in reading, writing, and the
ground rules of arithmetic, which constituted my whole literary
acquirements.
|
The
Palmyra Temple can be seen here as the early morning light
and moisture perfectly paint the scene. |
“At about
the age of twelve years my mind become seriously impressed with
regard to the all important concerns for the welfare of my immortal
Soul which led me to searching the scriptures, believing as
I was taught, that they contained the word of God.
|
Spider
webs and dew play in the clover of the Smith Farm. |
“Thus applying
myself to them and my intimate acquaintance with those of different
denominations led me to marvel exceedingly, for I discovered
that they did not adorn their profession by a holy walk and
Godly conversation agreeable to what I found contained in that
sacred depository. This was a grief to my soul.
|
View
through the trees of a portion of the Smith frame house. |
“Thus from
the age of twelve years to fifteen I pondered many things in
my heart concerning the situation of the world of mankind, the
contentions and divisions, the wickedness and abominations and
the darkness which pervaded the minds of mankind.
|
Looking
through the split rails towards the cooper shop and a
portion of the barn. This old barn belonged to Brigham
Young’s family and was moved here from Mendon, New York. |
Click
here to go to the Part III
All photographs
are copyrighted 2003 by Scot Facer Proctor and are protected
under the copyright laws of the United States of America and
International Copyright laws. All rights reserved. No pictures
can be used from this essay without express written permission
from Meridian Magazine.
