Between Two Weathers

           Joseph Smith knelt in a grove of trees in fervent prayer and was visited by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  This is known as “the first vision” which took place in early spring 1820. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/the-first-vision-fe5db8d?lang=eng

According to the equinox the first day of spring begins at the end of March (usually 20 – 22 depending on the year I guess) and ends in June on the same numbered date.  My definition of spring includes blossoms on trees, buds starting to peek their heads out of stems promising to become flowers.

https://beneaththewraps.blogspot.com/2016/02/spring-arrived-early.html

 I have always seen spring as a promise of growth.  That means no snow, no wind and no darkness. Or so was my belief when I lived in Salt Lake.  I remember seeing the blossoms and buds appearing in February 2016 our first year in Oregon.  It is so different from Salt Lake. The grass is green from October to June. 

 

https://beneaththewraps.blogspot.com/2016/02/spring-arrived-early.html

There hasn’t been much in the way of snow though we’ve had days of bleakness, heavy rain, fog and winds.  There are signs of snow in the hills – but it doesn’t last.  Still, I have seen more signs of autumn this year than of spring – which should take place in six and a half weeks.  The grass is green in Oregon but buried beneath the snow in Palmyra.

It was probably 2 and a half months after the date of the first vision when my family visited Palmyra on June 14, 2020 so today would be closer to the date of the first vision than would our only visit.  There has been speculation that March 26, 1820 (here and here) was the actual date of the first vision – but it is only speculation.  Artists portray the first vision as happening in the cool green grass and doesn’t give the impression that the ground was still muddy with moisture left by the winter snow. 

https://bookofmormoncentral.org/blog/celebrating-the-restoration-
day-3-differences-and-similarities-in-the-first-vision-accounts

 And yet there appeared to be a lot of snow on the ground in Palmyra yesterday – not that I was able to go in person, but through the inspired technology I was able to attend a virtual tour offered for seminary teachers and their students.  The pictures I took look so much different than the ones I screenshot yesterday morning.  Of course not all of the locations are exactly the same.  

    I am also sharing some inside pictures that we were not able to see in June due to the pandemic.  A virtual tour would have looked differently then.  I think I appreciated it more yesterday than I may have in June though who can say for certain. 

angling the appearance of Father and Son

it isn't known exactly which part of the grove They appeared

one experience that was shared was about hiding 
the plates in the loft and an empty stone box below.
The empty box was found and the culprits smashed
the box and left.  They hadn't bother checking the loft

I never understood why those who claimed not to 
believe in the plates would try to find them

the focus was on the temple.  I did
not get a picture of the temple
when we'd gone in June

This fireplace is said to be one of 
many hiding places of the golden plates

yesterday

June 14, 2020

Randy and Carrie have moved back to Utah now.  The photographs we took are now distant memories.  It’s pretty likely we will not be returning to New York again.