🌳 Convert's PERSONAL Experience at Sacred Grove & Hill Cumorah

Two years ago, I documented my first trip to a ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After just a few steps inside the foyer, I came across a framed portrait of God the Father and Jesus Christ appearing to this guy in pants. As odd as it sounds, all religious art I had seen included men and women in robes. I had never had seen a religious portrait with a guy wearing 19th century pants.

I deduced that the man in the portrait must be Joseph Smith.  As I took a seat, a gentleman introduced himself to me and we talked after service. He mentioned Joseph Smith was a 14-year-old farm boy in upstate New York when this event took place. Long story short, this portrait (along with other curiosities like God the Father and Jesus on American soil) was so perplexing to me.

I wondered what exactly was the story behind this so-called "Sacred Grove"?

It's been a long journey (and a lot of various church visits) to get where I am today as a recent convert of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the peculiar happenings during this time has been my mysterious connection with red cardinal birds. They always seem to pop-up at curious moments, especially concerning the Church. Most recently, several appeared the morning of my baptism and then again at the sacred Temple Lot that Joseph Smith designated as a gathering place for all the Saints in Missouri some 200 years ago.

A part of me was curious. If I visited the Sacred Grove, would my odd aspect with a cardinal appearing happen in the birthplace of the restored gospel too?

The Sunday morning during Memorial Day weekend, I made a trip from Wisconsin to the Sacred Grove. My plan was to get inside the forest early in the morning for a prayer walk. While driving, I realized that I would be cutting it short and came across Hill Cumorah. I called an audible and decided to walk up to the top where the Moroni monument is located. As soon as I was underneath the statue, one happened to appear on my left, then flew away.

At that moment, I got down on my knees to say a prayer. The constant phrase repeating in my head was, "Stop. Doubting."

Later, I attended a YSA Sacrament Meeting, browsed around the Palmyra New York Temple, and toured the E.B. Grandin Building where the first copies of the Book of Mormon were published. Ultimately, I wanted to get a sense of what it was like inside the Sacred Grove for the first time.


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⛪ 52 Churches in 52 Weeks is a weekly spiritual series that worships at different churches throughout the United States. The project aims to exemplify love, understanding, and bridge the gap between different Christ-focused religious affiliations. If you'd like to see what happens next, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and hit NOTIFICATIONS.


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▶️ Timestamps:
0:00 Palmyra
0:30 St. Jude
1:26 Portrait of First Vision
4:46 Importance of Palmyra
8:14 Church Sights and Sounds
10:34 Cardinal Connection
15:26 Cardinal at Hill Cumorah
18:33 LDS Sunday Visits
20:52 Sacred Grove
26:08 Four Months into Conversion
31:20 "Doubt Not, Fear Not"
33:03 Kirtland Preview


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🎵 Music:
Gavin Luke - I Will Remember
   • Gavin Luke - I Will Remember (Royalty...  



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