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.