Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site
| Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site | |
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 Site of the Smith home |
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| Location | Oakland Township, Pennsylvania,  United States |
| Coordinates | 41°57′04″N 75°38′19″W / 41.9512°N 75.6387°WCoordinates: 41°57′04″N 75°38′19″W / 41.9512°N 75.6387°W |
| Area | 157 acres (64 ha) |
| Elevation | 955 feet (291 m) |
| Years of significance | 1827-1830 |
| Governing body | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
 Site location within Pennsylvania, USA
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The Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site is a historic site located in Oakland Township, Pennsylvania, United States. The site comprises property once owned, and lived on, by Joseph Smith, Jr and is the spot Smith says the resurrected John the Baptist conferred the Aaronic priesthood upon him in 1829. Because of its historical significance to Mormonism, the site is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In April 2011 the Church announced it would rebuild some historic buildings on the site, which were once part of the Hale Farm, and construct a new monument.
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History [edit]
In December 1827 Joseph Smith, Jr. and his wife Emma Smith moved to area, hoping to escape persecution experienced in Palmyra, New York. After arriving the Smiths purchased 13.5 acres (5.5 ha) from Emma's father, Issac Hale.[1] Historically the property was located in the Harmony Township of Susquehanna County, until the creation of the Oakland Township. Emma had been raised in Harmony, and many of her family members lived in the area. Her brother, Jesse Hale, had constructed a three-room frame home which the Smiths purchased and had moved onto their property.[2]
While living in the home the Smiths' first child, Alvin, was born and died.[2] Alvin is buried just east of the historic site in the McKune Cemetery. A large percentage of the Book of Mormon was translated by Smith while living in the home. According to Smith the Aaronic priesthood was restored to him and Oliver Cowdery on May 15, 1829 somewhere in the woods near the home. Following their ordination to the Aaronic priesthood the two men baptized each other in the nearby Susquehanna River.[2]
The Smith family left the area and their home, moving to Fayette, New York, in August 1830. In 1919 the home lived in by the Smiths was destroyed by fire.[1]
Property acquisition and developments [edit]
Because of the site's significance to its early history, the LDS Church has purchased the original site and some surrounding property. Between 1947 and 1959 the original property and six additional acres were purchased by the church.[1] In 1960 a monument was added to the site which commemorates the nearby restoration of the priesthood. The monument includes a sculpture by artist Avard T. Fairbanks, depicting John the Baptist conferring the priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Since that time additional property has been purchased, expanding the church's holdings in the area to 157 acres (64 ha). The most recent acquisition occurred in January 2011, which added 10 acres (4.0 ha) purchased from the Boughton family for USD $2.1 million.[3]
In a letter dated April 15, 2011 the Church announced to nearby members that the site would be restored.[4] The restoration will include reconstructing the homes lived in by Smith and the Hale Family, along with farm out-buildings. A combination visitors center and meetinghouse will be constructed, along with a new monument. Also planned will be the re-routing of Pennsylvania Route 171, which currently splits the historic site in two.[5] The site is currently in the design phase with more information to come.[4]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b c The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2010). "Priesthood Restoration Site, Harmony (now Oakland)". Joseph Smith website. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ a b c Porter, Larry C. (2001). "Joseph Smith’s Susquehanna Years". Ensign (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) (February 2001): 42–51. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ Robert L. Baker (8 January 2011). "Latter-day Saints make $2.1M land purchase". The Scranton Times Tribune. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Church to Restore Historic Site in Pennsylvania" (Press release). LDS Church. 21 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
- ^ "Harmony historic site to be memorialized as plans take shape". LDS Church News. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
External links [edit]
Media related to Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site at Wikimedia Commons
- Mormon Historic Sites Registry - Susquehanna River & Harmony
