Palmyra and Rhododendrons

Palmyra

On July 12, 2014 we joined the YSA's for the much awaited trip to Palmyra. We advertised to all our Institute classes to join with the other YSA's from mid and northern New Jersey groups and ride a chartered bus together.  It was a whirlwind trip for them.  They left early (6:30 am) from the Morristown Chapel and returned very early the next day. The YSA's from the East Brunswick Branch decided to go up on their own. Their plan was to drive up in three or four cars and then spend the night.  Us older chaperones did the same.  We drove, spent the night at the Palmyra Inn, and came home on Sunday.

When we arrived in Palmyra we had time for a bite to eat, so we stopped by the Yellow Mills Diner just outside of town. We had eaten at that same diner last year with Janell and Stan.  Then, we hurried over to the sacred grove where there was a planned meeting and we were able to hear from President Arthur Francis of the NY Rochester Misson.  During the afternoon, Elder Hancock and two other vehicles, shuttled the YSA's to the other sites around town and also to the "Chill and Grill."

Fireside in the Sacred Grove

 Dalia Mendez, Aggie Brochocki, Haley Hoffman, and Kaitlin Finlinson. Can you see Elder Hancock in the background?

 

Alyssa Peterson and Erin Ray Brophy

Behind is: Caitlin Fullerton, Allie Blanch, Beccah Plate

Dalia Mendez

Mike Peterson, Cole Lacroix, Dane Morgan, Kelly Kercher

When visiting the visitor's center near the Hill Cumorah, I ran into a friend from home. Marcia and Lamar Angle are here as volunteers for a couple of weeks.

With Marcia Angle

Before the pageant we went to have a visit with cousins, Art and Gene Bushman. They are serving a temple mission in the Palmyra Temple. Their little apartment is in the Palmyra Inn and our room was just across from theirs.


The pageant was great. This is from the final scene.

It was fantastic and we left on a spiritual high!

On Sunday morning we decided to attend church at the Fayette Ward which is next to the Peter Whitmer farm.  This building was much less crowded, I'm sure, than the Palmyra ward. After a wonderful church we headed for home.  It was raining hard this morning, but let up after an hour or two.  The drive through New York has been one of my favorites so far.  It is beautiful!



Rhododendrons

On the way home, Brother Bean made a stop at Dingmans Ferry.  We were there just two weeks ago and the rhododendrons were just ready to bloom. Sure enough, they were in bloom and it was beautiful. There were wild rhododendrons all along the walk to Dingman's Falls.

Dingmans Falls

 

 Two good sized beavers along the way

This is a heavily wooded area.  We had never seen a sign like this before.