The Call of Cumorah

After leaving the sacred grove Adam and I headed into town to see the printing shop of E.B. Grandin.. the printer who took on the job of printing the first edition of The Book of Mormon.  In all, they printed 5000 first editions… a monumental task for the day.

Outside E.B.Grandin Printing Press, bottom floor

The Printing Press

Floor level: store entry

The shop consisted of three floors that have been beautifully restored by the Church.  Much of the original materials were saved and restored… original walls, flooring and many other items remained.  It was a fascinating thought to be walking on the same floors that Joseph, Oliver, Emma, Hyrum, Father Smith and many more had passed upon.

Many miracles occurred to allow the coming forth of The Book of Mormon in such a short period of time.  The theme of sacrifice was becoming clearer in my mind… As our journey progressed in the days ahead, Adam and I have come to see the tremendous amount of personal sacrifice that has occurred for the gospel and its restoration.  No other religion on this continent, in modern times, has been through the crucible that the Saints were called to pass through… they endured it in the name of Christ and for his teachings… No other people have experienced the spectrum of suffering that the earlier members in this dispensation have lived… They endured the persecution that they might follow the Lord and to heed the call of His Prophet… They wanted to live their religion according to the dictates of their heart.

As the day progressed we felt the call of Cumorah… calling us to her hill.  It was late afternoon by the time we pulled into the visitors center parking lot… there were a few cars there but we did not see many others.  The area was beautiful… it was immaculate and kept with care. We were greeted by several missionaries as we entered, with a very pleasant “Welcome to the visitor center… where are the two of you from?”  The missionaries have been wonderful on our visit to Palmyra…here again they were so kind and welcoming.  We visited with them for a few minutes then one of the Sister Missionaries took over and began showing us around.  She asked a few questions and was very kind and helpful… however she kept nudging us to pay a visit to a room off the main entry… I do not remember the name of the room….we stated that we were looking forward to seeing and walking to the top of The Hill Cumorah, but would like to see the Christus room.  She kindly took us in… we were alone… it was quiet and peaceful.  The Sister Missionary allowed us sit there for a few moments… we tried to take it in. There in front of us stood the Christus… a statue of Christ.  The original statue was sculpted by Bertel Thorvaldsen in 1821… this Christus is a smaller statue of the one that stands at Temple Square in SLC.  It is beautiful, in a beautiful place.

It was absolutely awe-inspiring to sit there looking at a statue of the resurrected Lord in front of a painted background of the Sacred Grove.  How unimportant I felt when looking at this statue of the Savior, but how much love I sensed when I looked at the wounds in his side and the prints in his hands and in his feet… we pondered what He has done for us… what He has done for you and what He has done for all mankind.  Again the thread of sacrifice surfaced in my mind… Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our great exemplar… He set the example in all things… He has all, yet He sacrificed all… for us!  All of the eternal blessings are available for those who follow His commandments… I know that I am not unimportant in His sight… none of us are.  We are all known personally to Him.. He knows our name.

This good sister played a short one minute audio of the Savior talking to us, quoting from scriptures… what did I take away from this short audio… That I should love others as He has loved us!

Memo  (click “Memo” to play)

As we were leaving the Christus room our good sister missionary nudged us again to visit the other room… so we conceded and went in… how glad I am that we did. This room is packed with such insights and good information… I especially enjoyed listening to President Monson’s recordings to the youth… I wish every young man and young woman could be here and see this room.  Again it was beautifully done… open to the world for all to see… much like the Christus, the church has open arms for anyone to come and partake of these living waters.

We headed outside to the hill… the grass was “real grass”…. not like we have in Florida.  It was a beautiful afternoon, the temperature was perfect and Adam was feeling his oats.  I showed him the switch back path that lead to the top and stated that we needed our exercise so lets climb the path… no not Adam.. he had to conquer the hill… so he took off running with a smile on his face.

At the top of the hill and out of breath…as it is very steep… we had a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside .  There were some clouds in the sky, but they did not obscure our view.  The visibility seemed unlimited, the air crisp with a slight breeze… We felt alive.

Somewhere on this small mountain… and I suppose it is not important as to the exact location… Joseph met with the Angel Moroni for a number of years, each day on the 22nd of September until he was ready to receive the plates…. each time being taught and schooled by divine messengers.  Joseph was ridiculed, persecuted and hated by his neighbors for telling his story and holding fast to the knowledge that was given to him.  Joseph was taught by an angel, the Angel Moroni… Moroni was also hated, persecuted and hunted for his belief in Christ while he lived in mortality.  Sacrifice: Each of these men have taught us sacrifice by the lives they led as they followed the Savior and His teachings.

On the top of this “hallowed hill” is a beautiful monument of the Angel Moroni… Moroni has one hand pointing to the heavens to draw our attention to higher spheres, in the other he is holding the plates… that ancient record that bears witness of Jesus Christ.

Again Sacrifice surfaces with the works of God and His Kingdom on earth for those who are truly converted.  We are the receivers, the partakers of the fruit… we enjoy the sacrifice and labors of those who have gone before us… those who have laid the foundations for us to build upon.  I am adding a link that is connected with the Angel Moroni Monument, I have found it very interesting and insightful as to the workings in bringing it about.  http://www.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=13&num=1&id=345

After walking around on the top of this holy hill, Adam and I heading down about 30 feet… straight down… and sat in the middle of the hill looking out over the panoramic countryside. Even though Adam is 18, he will still hold my hand or put his arm around me in gestures of love, as a son to his father.  I am ever touched by his immense capacity to love and express care and concern.  We held hands, put our arms around each other… we talked and expressed our gratitude to each other and to the Lord for these opportunities and for the sacrifices of those who have gone before us.  We would ask ourselves many times over the next few days… Would we have been able to sacrifice as much as they did?  Would we have remained true and faithful in the face of adversity?  I know Adam would have… He has a strong spirit.  Adam spoke of sharing the gospel as others have done… ever wanting to bring others to the Lord and His teachings.  In the shadow of Angel Moroni, one of the great gospel teachers of all times, Adam’s desires to proclaim the gospel to all nations was so appropriate.

The Lord is healing Adam… He will fulfill his purposes!

Adam at the Angel Moroni Monument

Adam and Dad at the Angel Moroni Monument

Adam on The Hill Cumorah

As the sun was getting lower in the western sky, our hearts were filled, our spirits strengthened for our allotted time here, but before the sun set we were off to the home of Peter Whitmer… the home where the Church was organized on April 6, 1830.

More info at:  http://www.mormon.org