Peter Whitmer Farm -- May 14, 2014

This was our last day in the Palmyra area, and the only thing left we needed to see was the Peter Whitmer Farm.  This was a really neat church history site!  Actually, all the church history sites are really neat.  It's hard to choose a favorite.

The Whitmer farm is a significant place for several reasons: first of all, Joseph had originally come to temporarily stay at the Whitmer home in the summer of 1829 to get away from the persecution in Pennsylvania and to finish translating the plates (which they did in one of the upstairs rooms).  About a month after Joseph's arrival, the translation of the Book of Mormon was completed.  It was also here that Angel Moroni showed the plates to the Three Witnesses.

Another reason why this is a historic site is because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially organized in the Peter Whitmer home on April 6, 1830.  About 60 friends and family members were present at that meeting, and they crammed into the main 20-by-30 foot front room of the Whitmer home.

But my favorite story of this home is in regards to Mary Whitmer. She was the first person (besides Joseph) to officially see the plates -- even before the Three Witnesses. When Joseph stayed at the Whitmer Farm, there were many other people there that would visit for several or many days at a time (Oliver Cowdery, Emma, etc). Not to mention, there were MANY family members in the Whitmer family as well, so sometimes there were about 15+ people staying at this tiny log home, which made it very crowded and cumbersome.  David Whitmer says it "greatly increased the toil and anxiety of my mother.  And although she had never complained, she had sometimes felt that her labor was too much, or at least she was perhaps beginning to feel so."

David , Mary Whitmer's son continues: she "was going to milk the cows, when she was met out near the yard by the same old man [presumably Moroni]...who said to her: 'You have been very faithful and diligent in your labors...; it is proper therefore that you should receive a witness that your faith may be strengthened.'  There upon he showed her the plates."

I love that story.  Here's a picture looking out the back door of the log home, where the vision would have taken place.

One fun, but kind of nerdy fact -- we were the first visitors to tour the newly renovated visitors center at the Whitmer farm. It was under construction and closed to the public for a brief time, but it re-opened the last day that we were in the Palmyra area.  Dorky I know, but we thought it was kind of fun to be part of that history.

After touring the Peter Whitmer farm, we got back in the car and headed back home to Pennsylvania. It's a good 3+ hour drive, so upon arriving home we unpacked, returned the rental car, picked up Hannah from our friends house, went grocery shopping, came home to eat dinner, and then got ready for bed.  Once again, we were pretty exhausted from all the traveling, but it was so worth it!