Trip to New York --Part 1

When my daughter Athena started talking about going to New York after her daughter

Jenni returned from her mission there, I was really excited. The closer it came to going, the more frightened and hesitant I was. I had had knee replacement rebuild surgery four months before, and I was still having problems. I tore my rotator cuff in my left shoulder a week before. I had injured my left lower back and it was really bothering me. How could I at 75 years old do NYC?

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019: PLANE

Jenni & Emma on the plane

Our plane in Salt Lake City was delayed due to the abnormally hot New York City, which was enduring a heatwave. They felt if they delayed it until it arrived in New York it would be cooler, and the plane wouldn’t be so heavy.

A funny thing happened going through security. Suddenly my carry-on bag starting buzzing! We looked all through my bag, and finally, I discovered my electronic toothbrush in its plastic bag had been hit just right and turned on. I was glad when we found it and turned it off.

Example of going through security

The flight was smooth except for some thunderstorms which bumped us around. At one time I looked out my window and saw thunderclouds from above—it was really spooky.

NEWARK

We took the AirTran to the land transportation site where we rented a car and went to our hotel in Newark. James was determined to eat dinner at restaurants that were not available in Utah, so we just ordered in pizza.

FRIDAY, JULY 19TH, 2019: OAKLAND TOWNSHIP & PALMYRA

First thing in the morning we drove to Oakland Township and the Priesthood Restoration Site. (164 miles, 2 hours 35 minutes)

HARMONY—SUSQUEHANNA RIVER

Athena & Dirk by the Susquehanna River

It is on a narrow strip of land in Harmony, Pennsylvania where Joseph Smith and his wife Emma lived on property belonging to Emma’s brother Jesse, and South of the land where Emma’s parents lived. It was there in Harmony in 1828, while Joseph and Oliver Cowdry were translating the Book of Mormon, that they came upon a passage that described baptism. It was on May 15, 1829 that they went to the Northern wooded part of the Hale farm and prayed about baptism.

The following information is from “Where Was the Priesthood Restored,” by Mark L. Staker and Curtis Ashton:

“Historical accounts show that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had been praying in the woods, ‘aside from the abodes of men,’ when John the Baptist appeared to them. (See Oliver Cowdery, “Dear Brother,” Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, vol. 1, no. 1 (Oct. 1834), 15; see also Joseph Smith—History 1:68.)The most likely wooded area on Joseph’s farm was on the north side of the property, where the sugar maples grew. Because of heavy boat traffic on the river and the lack of tree cover on the plowed part of the land, any other part of the farm might not have given the men the seclusion they sought as they asked the Lord about the authority to baptize.( For a more detailed presentation of this argument, see Staker, “Where was the Aaronic Priesthood Restored?” 142–59.)

“Oliver Cowdery described the answer they received to their prayer. ‘The voice of the

Redeemer spake peace to us,’ he recalled, ‘while the veil was parted and the angel of God came down clothed with glory, and delivered the anxiously looked for message.’ ( Joseph Smith—History 1:71, note; Oliver Cowdery, “Dear Brother,” 15.) The angel introduced himself and conferred the Aaronic Priesthood, explaining that it holds ‘the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 13:1.) He then commanded the two men to ‘go and be baptized.’( Joseph Smith—History 1:70) They made their way to the flooded Susquehanna River, choosing a moment when the heavy boat traffic would least disturb them as they followed the angel’s instructions. After baptizing each other, they ordained each other to the Aaronic Priesthood. These ordinations may have taken place on the banks of the flooded river or back inside the house.”

Susquehanna River

It was very humbling to stand on the banks of the Susquehanna River where Joseph was baptized. It was interesting that while we were there, a family from Jenni’s mission brought their daughter to be baptized at the same spot, and then confirmed in the Restoration Site building. It made it more real somehow to see a baptism there.

We were all dressed in Sunday clothes for the baptism, but I laughed at Jenni’s fancy high heels that she wore in that dusty, dirty riverbank.

Jenni & her high heels

PRIESTHOOD RESTORATION SITE

After the baptism, we explored the Priesthood Restoration Site, where Joseph Smith received the Melchizadek Priesthood, and the house Emma and Joseph were living in during this time. No one knows the exact day or place that Peter, James, and John conferred the Melchizadek Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry, but it was after May 15, 1829, in the Harmony, Pennsylvania area. It was also here in Harmony that Emma and Joseph lost their first child. 

From there we drove to Palmyra, New York - (142 miles, 2 hours 32 minutes).

PALMYRA, NEW YORK  

Before going to the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center, we stopped by the Book of Mormon Publication Site in downtown Palmyra. It was interesting to see the publication process and the sacrifices made by members of the Church to see the Book of Mormon published.

THE SACRED GROVE

Sacred Grove

From there we went to the Sacred Grove, and the home of Joseph Smith when he was a boy. It was here in their Palmyra home when Joseph Smith was 15 years old that he had the First Vision found in Joseph Smith—History 1:15–20.

"On the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring" of 1820, young Joseph went into these woods to pray, to a place where he "had previously designed to go." Here, God the Father and His resurrected Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith to commence the Restoration of the gospel in the latter days.

First Vision

The Hill Cumorah is a beautifully peaceful place where I truly felt the spirit of the Lord testify that it was here Joseph Smith’s first vision occurred. No one knows exactly where in the 10-acre wood area that it happened, but it is truly a sacred place. Later in the evening, after the pageant, we came back to see the fireflies alight in the grove.

I visited the farmhouse where on the night of September 21, 1823, the angel, Moroni, appeared to Joseph Smith and told him about the golden plates that were buried in a stone box a few miles from Joseph’s home. Joseph said that the same angel visited him various times over the course of the next six years. It was so interesting

Replica of Joseph Smith's bedroom

to see the location of the bed where Joseph had been when the angel Moroni had visited him.  Like those around Paul and Alma and the sons of Mosiah, when they had their visions, no one around them could hear or see the vision. Even though Joseph Smith shared his room with his brothers, only he saw the angel Moroni.

HILL CUMORAH & PALMYRA PAGEANT

At the foot of the Hill Cumorah, where Joseph retrieved the gold plates that contained the writings of the ancient prophets, which he translated and which became the Book of Mormon, we watched a pageant of the history of those ancient people. Before the show, the actors in costume wandered among the audience, and it was fun to imagine they were not actors, but ancient Nephites and Lamanites.

The Palmyra Temple

SATURDAY, JULY 20TH, 2019: PALMYRA TEMPLE & HILL CUMORAH

Early the next morning, we went to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Palmyra

and did family names. It is a small temple and you must make a reservation to attend. It was another sacred and special event on our tour.

After the temple we visited the top of the Hill Cumorah (others walked, I went by car).

Leave Palmyra and go to Auburn (42.7 miles - 50 minutes).

Family at the Palmyra Temple

Going Back in Time to Vicenza

Vicenza, Italy is a city in Northern Italy that with its metropolitan area (270,000) is the third-largest Italian industrial center as measured by the value of its exports (according to Wikipedia in 2008). It is 37 miles west of Venice and 120 miles east of Milano. It is at the

base of the Alps, and has the  Bacchiglione River running through it.

Vicenza was settled in 350 B. C. by tribes who resembled Etruscan and Greek more than the Celts of northwest Italy that they naturally assimilated. By 157 B. C. Vicenza was a Roman center, whose citizens held Roman citizenship. Its name Vicetia or Vincentia, means "victorious."

We arrived in Vicenza as a family in 1984 when my husband was stationed at the United States Military base located there. My three teenagers went downtown Vicenza often. 

Our hotel room

30 years later we stayed in downtown Vicenza, on the Stradella Stefano, on the very edge of the auto-free zone. We used “Home-away” a program that rents out people’s apartments, as our rental. It was much more personable than a hotel, and far more family friendly. Our 3-bedroom apartment in Vicenza may not have appealed to many people—it was the quintessential authentic Italy apartment of forty years ago, like the ones our Italian friends lived in. It had the tall skinny windows, the armoire with a curtain for a closet, and felt REAL. But it was modern in some important aspects—it had a TV, and an internet modem.

We decided to explore downtown Vicenza, and Marc had an infallible memory. He could show us where to go and how to get back, whereas to me all the tiny alleys confused me. (That isn’t hard, I am navigationally challenged.) Vicenza was the home of Andrea Palladio, a 16^th century

at a cafe the night we arrived in Vicenza

classical architect and is the home to 28 of his works. The most famous was the Teatro Olimpico, begun in 1580, but other works, including the Basilica Palladiana were in the central plaza, near a lot of the popular cafes and restaurants, such as the Piazza de Signori, El Paradisio (underneath which were the remains of a Roman bath). But Marc couldn’t locate “The Cab” which was one of his favorite spots.

We had to shop at Benetton’s a store which is unfamiliar here, but one of the kids’ favorite stores way back when. We found the bargain floor (on the top), and Marc, Kira and Marc had fun buying stuff at clearance prices!

Bryan trying on clothes at Benettons

Just as Carnivale is big in Venice, its younger cousin, Vicenza had its own kind of Carnivale in the square. It was fun to see its miniature celebration.

The next day, Marc, Kira, and Bryan went to a pirate cruise in Venice, and I was left to explore Vicenza on my own. I purchased a pass to all the museums in the city and began discovering my forgotten Vicenza history. When we lived in Italy, I completed my bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in History. I took a series of classes on art and culture in Italy. During the week, we’d study and talk about the different art of a specific city, and then on Saturdays, we’d go and visit them (all except Rome, which was too far). 

It was a wonderful way to learn and I took my memory of what I had learned of Vicenza. I’d forgotten its Roman roots, and one museum showed the statues, art, mosaics of forgotten Rome. The Teatro Olimpico is a world-famous Palladian theatre. It doesn’t look like much outside, but the inside is a treasure trove of paintings, statues, and the wonderful 3-D set.

I was amazed as I wandered around Tempio de Santa Corona, where a fabulous

Bryan at Vicenza's Basilica

Renaissance painting of Christ being baptized is just there—on display for anyone to see. I remembered it from my portfolio of church pictures, but to see it completely filling the wall stunned me. It reminded me again of my astonishment years ago, to see many great Renaissance paintings that you are familiar with because of their great beauty—and they are just hanging on the walls of the churches. You don’t have to go to museums to see them—just go to church (which are museums of course).

By 3:00 p.m., I was getting tired and decided to find my way back home—except I couldn’t figure out where I was and where to go. I am a visual person, so a paper map where I can follow the lines is best, (but I’d left my maps of Vicenza at home) and all I had was my Google Maps. It must have been set on the maps for cars (and cars can’t navigate auto-free zone of Vicenza) because Google Maps kept leading me further and further astray—out of the city and into the roads.

Besides, my right knee, the one I’d had replaced six years ago, started really hurting, like a painful apostrophe I was going the wrong way. Sometimes, I’d get near the Basilica, but then, I’d been out on the wide roads outside the city center. Finally, close to tears, with hunger, pain and frustration—I stopped by a Pharmacia; I purchased a knee brace and asked them to call me a taxi to take me home. 

I was very frustrated because despite all my preparations, my body had given up on me. Because of my arthritis and bursitis, I’d had injections in my bursitis hips and my arthritic left knee; I’d had an epidural injection, in my lower back, my upper neck and my sacroiliac joints, and took care of my arthritic feet. Then to be let down by my replaced knee that was supposed to be good, really upset me. Or it may have been that I was coming down sick, which I discovered the next day. 

Back side of Monte Berico

Vicenza Carnivale

Piazza de Signori

Ancient Roman sculptures unearthed in Vicenza

Vicenza's streets

Teatro Olimpico

restaurant uni-sex toilet

Crazy streets

Part of Vicenza's medieval walls

wandering around Vicenza at night