Joseph Smith Memorial

We had our ward service project down at Camp Joseph. Its like a super nice camping area where New England youth have their girls' camps and Father and Sons. (Erica Goulding would probably know a lot more about this place then I would. So if you read this Erica, you can enlighten us!) Also just ward activites and such. We were just working on pulling out raspberry bushes and moving wood into piles. It really was one of the most amazing and beautiful places I have ever seen. I just can't enough of this Vermont beauty. It really is kind of undescribable.
(This is a view from the lodge at Camp Joseph)

(This is some of the play area at Camp Joseph)

So Camp Joseph is like super close to the Memorial of Joseph Smith's birthplace. We stopped there on our way out. So I will try to describe as best as I can the area. When you get out of your car at the parking lot, they have little hidden speakers in the surrounding trees playing hymns. So you literally feel like angels are in the woods singing "Praise to The Man" and "We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet". It really sets the most amazing feeling. So there are cute little older missionary couples who do tours through the Visitors Center. They give a backround of Joseph and timeline of his life and then talk about the church. It was such a good day! Oh and Ethan couldn't have been better. Seriously. The tour was like an hour and he just quietly walked around and looked at the pictures and made cute, quiet little comments. I mean he was seriously perfect. I am so lucky to be his mom!

This memorial is made of one solid piece of granite. I guess it is one of the largest single pieces of polished granite in the world. It is 38 1/2 feet tall, one foot for every year of Joseph's life. When Joseph F. Smith dedicated this memorial in 1905 he blessed it that people would feel peace when they came to visit. I can tell you that I dont know the last time I have been to a more beautiful and peaceful place.

This is us with the memorial in the backround.

The memorial. Gosh, I really just cant explain how beautiful it is here. The pictures just dont do it justice. Plus, through pictures you cant feel the AMAZING peace and spirit that was there.

This bench is where the Smith house was located when he was born. That little birdhouse looking thing is, to their best knowledge, what the house looked like.

This is at the base of the monument

And this is cute Ethan splashing in puddles. Time to get some rain boots!