Doctrine and Covenants Revelation Sites – Joseph Smith Sr. Log Home

Manchester (Palmyra), New York

Joseph Smith Sr. log home

Sections 2, 19, 22, and 23

September 1823 and Spring 1830

Scripture

". . . after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him. . .

"While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.

Upstairs bedroom of the log home where 17-year old Joseph saw the angel Moroni in vision while his five brothers slept.

". . . his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me.

"He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do. . ."

Joseph Smith History 1:29-30, 32-33

"Therefore I command you to repent - repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore - how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

"For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

"But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

"Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit - and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink -

"Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men."

Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-19

Reconstructed log home of Joseph Smith Sr., adjacent to the Sacred Grove.

Key Events

The Smith family moved to this 100-acre farm in 1818, and built a log home where the reconstruction now stands.

In September 1823, the Angel Moroni visited 17-year old Joseph, and told him about an ancient record written by prophets, that was buried in a hill several miles south of his home. The next day, Joseph visited the site and first saw the ancient record, which was engraved upon metal plates having the appearance of gold.

The Smith family built a new frame home on this property, and moved into it in 1825.

The Angel Moroni visited young Joseph each year from 1823 to 1827, preparing him to receive and translate the ancient record.

In September 1827, Joseph received the ancient record from the Angel Moroni, for the purposes of translating it into the English language by the gift and power of God.

The translation of the ancient record was done in Harmony, Pennsylvania and Fayette, New York. The translation was published in Palmyra, New York in 1830, as the Book of Mormon.

Four revelations now included in the Doctrine and Covenants were received here.

Joseph was living in the frame home when he received the golden plates from the Angel Moroni in September 1827.

Words of Joseph Smith

"Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none." (History of the Church 2:52)

"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding its precepts, than by any other book." (History of the Church 4:461)

"The Book of Mormon is true, just what it purports to be, and for this testimony I expect to give an account in the day of judgment." (They Knew The Prophet, 101)