The Sacred Grove

 

Day 1 of our trip and here I am in New York! We arrived in the morning and went to the Sacred Grove. Why are some secluded woods considered holy and revered? Because this was The Beginning. What happened among some trees in the year 1820 is the reason Joseph endured decades of trials to build a church. 

This is the place. This where a teenage boy decided to go into the woods to be alone with God and his faith and his questions. On his family's farm of 100 acres. I wanted to do the same. I told my husband: This is the kind of place you go to hear God call your name. And tell you He has great things in store for you.

For our flight to New York we were up in the clouds for most of it. Clouds were below us, and above us. At one point the sun was shining in and the clouds were so bright that I put my sunglasses on. It made me think of Joseph Smith and his "first vision". I've read about it many times. After feeling doomed to destruction first, he called upon God. There was God and Jesus (and angels too). There was an introduction with a pillar of light brighter than any light he had ever seen. That's how it seemed today as we were immersed in a magnitude of the whitest clouds. They seemed to be holding the plane while it flew through the heavens. 

I looked at the account of the first vision and how Joseph cried out for mercy. Then he was overtaken by an evil power trying to stop him. He called on God, and God did 2 notable things. He called Joseph by name, and then he introduced His Son - Jesus. Jesus spoke next and the very first thing he does is say: "Joseph, thy sins are forgiven thee." Then it was on to other answers. In a peaceful and quiet grove of trees Heaven and Earth collided again, Man and the Divine united in a forest council. 

The Sacred Grove is where a person goes to pray for mercy from God. It's a place where God can tell me, too: "Suzette, thy sins are forgiven thee." This is a place where the Lord can pour down peace and joy and knowledge and revelation. My soul was warmed. 

When the divine visitation ended and the light had departed, what happened next? Joseph said: Peace and calm filled my mind. My soul was filled with love. I had received a promise. Well I want this too! I'm not asking to see God in person. He shows up when He is asking someone to do extraordinary and big (and painful) things. But I can use Joseph as an example in what to pray for. Something like: Dear Heavenly Father I pray for peace and calm to fill my mind. I pray for my soul to be filled with love. I pray to be ready for the promises and the blessings. I also pray for mercy. I pray that Jesus will forgive all my sins so I can move forward in faith. I pray for redemption through my Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.

And I thought of all these things as we did the tour. I was in awe of the houses they built, and even the fences were amazing to me. I think I used the word "amazing" a lot during this trip. The tour took us through 2 different houses, and ended at the start of the trail to the Sacred Grove. Six other people were in our group, but we hung back and three minutes later they had all disappeared. There are several trails, and we didn't see those people again as we walked in solitude through the trees.

What a gorgeous summer day to be in nature with the beeches, oaks, maples and more. What a wonderful place to listen with my heart. What a perfect time to ask for confirmation that these things are true. A time to ponder all the scriptural imagery involving trees, branches, roots, seeds, fruits, paths, and so on.

I don't have to wait for an afternoon in the grove to get personal revelation. The grove was sacred after the experience Joseph had. There are places in my own house and neighborhood that can become sacred to me as I seek personal revelation on a walk. The Bible dictionary says divine revelation is one of the grandest concepts and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for without it, man could not know of the things of God and could not be saved with any degree of salvation in the eternities. Continuous revelation from God to His Saints, through the Holy Ghost or by other means, such as visions, dreams, or visitation, makes possible daily guidance along true paths and leads the faithful soul to complete and eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom. The principle of gaining knowledge by revelation is the principle of salvation. It is the making known of divine truth by communication with the heavens and consists not only of revelation of the plan of salvation to the Lord's prophets but also a confirmation in the hearts of the believers that the revelation to the prophets is true. 

There is more in the dictionary, and it's all good. It's worth the time to break down the long sentences. But here is the highlight that pierced my heart many years ago when I first read it. "The Holy Ghost is a revelator," said Joseph Smith, and "no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations". Without revelation, all would be guesswork, darkness, and confusion.

Next year in Sunday School and the Come Follow Me study - we are reading the Doctrine and Covenants book. I am so grateful for this trip that will add real depth to my weekly scripture education in 2025. 

There are 10 hymns about Joseph Smith. One is called Joseph Smith's First Prayer. To be sung with dignity. Here are all four verses.

Oh, how lovely was the morning! Radiant beamed the sun above. Bees were humming, sweet birds singing, music ringing through the grove, when within the shady woodland, Joseph sought the God of love.

Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing, 'twas the boy's first uttered prayer, when the powers of sin assailing filled his soul with deep despair; but undaunted, still he trusted in his Heavenly Father's care.

Suddenly a light descended, brighter far than noonday sun, and shining, glorious pillar over him fell, around him shone, while appeared two heavenly beings, God the Father and the Son.

"Joseph, this is my Beloved; Hear him!" Oh, how sweet the word! Joseph's humble prayer was answered, and he listened to the Lord. Oh, what rapture filled his bosom, for he saw the living God.

The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. It brings love and truth and healing to the hearts of men. John 8:12 is Jesus speaking. "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." No matter how many cold and dark winter nights are ahead of me, my heart will be able to rest in the memory of this bright and sunny time spent in the Sacred Grove.