Day 3, The start of the LDS Church.

Our first stop after leaving Vermont was to Colesville New York, this is the place that Joseph and Emma was married. Their was only this sign and an information kiosk, and a pretty cool dirt track.

Our next stop was to Harmony PA. This is Emma and Joseph first house, on property given to them by her father. In this home Emma had their first child, who died at birth. There is not a name of the headstone but it is believed that the babies name was Alvin. In this home the Prophet Joseph received 15 revelations that are in the Doctrine and Covenants. Joseph Sr., Hyrum and Emma all received revelations in this home. The majority of the translation of the Book of Mormon was done in this home, including the 116 pages lost by Martin Harris. It is very interesting to me that, although Emma's father didn't approve of Joseph, he gave them property to come live by them. I have to believe her mom had something to do with that decision! When they left here and went to Peter Whitmer's farm because of the persecution Joseph was receiving, they never again had any know contact with Emma's parents.

In the Susquehanna River behind Joseph and Emma's home, Oliver Cowdery and Joseph had gone to inquire of the lord about baptism after translating 3 Nephi chapter 11. John the Baptist visited them and conferred the Aaronic Priesthood upon them. They then baptized each other in the river.

This was a really cool waterfall Norm took us to see :)

This is the visitors center and chapel at the Peter Whitmer farm in Fayette NY. The sister missionaries shared a really incredible story about the Angel Moroni transporting the plates between Harmony and Fayette to protect them.
This is inside the Peter Whitmer home. The organization of the church happened here with the first meeting involving somewhere between 50 and 80 people. After the organization of the church, members were baptized into the church including Joseph and Oliver again, this time as members of the church, and Joseph Sr.

They finished the translation of the Book of Mormon here in 90 days. The 3 witnesses were shown the plates here as well as Peter Whitmer's wife. (who must have been a really incredible lady!)
One other interesting fact we learned today... of the 11 witnesses recorded in the Book of Mormon, 7 of them were either direct members of the Whitmer family or part of the family by marriage. They must have been quite the family!