We are currently in Macedon New York. Our campground is super cute. The speed limit in the campground is 3. I thought that was funny. We are literally right by the Erie Canal. The trees are changing their colors and fall is almost at its peak. The air is still warm. Locals are saying that it is warmer than normal at this time of the year. New York is absolutely stunning.
Guess who came to visit us today? Scotty's parents. Nena and Bob flew out from California to spent the day with us. We were so happy to see them. It was nice to spend some time catching up before we all took off for the day. 
Our first stop was Taco Bell. We ran for the border. hahahhaha. Doug is seriously the best truck. Now that you can't eat in the restaurants, Doug has become our place to sit and eat. 
Palmyra is so rich with history from our church. We drove into the city and the first things we saw were the four churches on the four corners of Church and Main. These churches were built in the 1830's during the time of religious excitement. This was the time that Joseph Smith was confused about which church to join. He was very concerned about joining the right church and about being saved by Christ. While I was looking at the tall churches facing each other, I kept thinking that I would be confused too. The reason why there was a religious excitement in this city was because many people from all over came to work on the Erie Canal. They brought with them the beliefs from their places. Hence, there were a vast amount of religions in this small area at one time. 
Scotty came but he had to stay in the car for this stop to work.
We walked down the street about a block to see the store where the first publications of the Book of Mormon happened. The store was closed but we still talked about how hard it was for Joseph to find someone who would put their prejudices aside and print it for Joseph. 
On our way back to the truck, we found a park that the kids played at. How cool is that, that the kids got to play in a park in Palmyra. I thought that was really cool. I hope they remember that forever. 
Our next stop was at the Temple in Palmyra. The temple was built right in the middle of an old Hopewell mound. Scotty and I felt that this could have been a mound from the Nephites in the Book of Mormon, The temple was near the front of the mound. There was a lot of vacant land behind the temple. We had heard that there was a path that led you along the top of the mound all the way around the temple. The entrance to the trail was very easy to find. We walked all the way around on top of the mound. The spirit there was so strong. As I walked I could almost feel the spirits of all the ancient civilizations that had been there. 
The next stop was at the log home that Joseph Smith lived in as a 14 year old boy and the Sacred Grove that he went in to kneel and pray to God to know which church to join. Here in the Sacred Grove, Joseph Smith received a revelation of God and his son Jesus Christ. If you have never heard of this then follow HERE to watch a short video of what happened. Again, the spirit was incredibly strong. Taj walked away from us and said that he was going to go and be alone so that he could be sacred. He is so adorable. Pepper talked to me and she really felt the spirit. Graham and Asher also had spiritual experiences here. I am so grateful for Joseph Smith and for all that he did to restore the church that Jesus organized when he was here on the earth. I am beyond grateful for the Book of Mormon, I love this book. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and knows all of us. 
Our last church history site stop was at Hill Cumorah. This is where Moroni buried all the gold plates from the Nephites. This is where God led Joseph Smith to find the plates. With these plates, Joseph translated the ancient language into the Book of Mormon. This is also the place that we think that the last battle between the Nephites and Lamanites was. This place is very sacred. It was a dream come true for me to be able to walk on that ground and spend time contemplating the sacredness of the land. 
Before Nena and Bob left, we all went out to dinner. Thank you so much for dinner and for coming out to spend such a wonderful day with us. We will miss you both. 
How special that Scotty's folks could join you for that sacred day.
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