Celebrations

Monday, March 26, we attended a special event at the E.B. Grandin Bookstore/Printing shop in Palmyra, celebrating the anniversary of when the Book of Mormon became first available to the public (at this very place).

3,000 copies were printed, and sold for $1.50, equivalent of 2 days' wages in those days.

This was the most advanced printing press of the day, brought to Grandin's printing shop via the fairly recently completed Erie Canal. The ink is being applied in this photo.

Our sweet Mission President and his lovely wife greeted hundreds of guests who walked back in time to that day in 1830.

We were also reminded of the special sacred circumstances involved in the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon.

view from 2nd floor window of the Grandin Building

I know that the Book of Mormon can bring us closer to our Savior, as it testifies of Him and contains the fullness of His Doctrine and stands next to the Bible as a witness that He is real, that He was resurrected, continues to live and loves us beyond measure. 

The next morning, the missionaries who live in our apartment complex helped celebrate Elder Ellis's  (Grandpa's) 66 birthday!

Elder Preisendorf made french toast with his special buttermilk syrup(sounds yukky, but it was good)!

Elder Preisendorf , Elder Ellis, and Elder White

Later on that day, we came home to this surprise (done by none other than our sweet Elders).

On Saturday, we drove to Cattaraugus, location of the Seneca Indian reservation, to attend the baptism of a young lady whom Elder White had taught while he was in that area.

The man in the middle of the picture, holding a paper plate, is Brother Garlow, a Native American (Onieda tribe) from Canada, whose wife (not pictured) was born on the Cattaraugus reservation. When a missionary first handed him a Book of Mormon, he immediately felt something that made him cry. Three weeks later, he and his young family were baptized. He serves in the branch presidency, along with another Native American, who is the branch president. This chapel is on the reservation.

This weekend, was a celebration of another kind--General Conference. On Sunday, we saw the sessions of conference along with a few guests, one of whom is deaf. So, along with hearing it, we got to see it signed in ASL (American sign language).

These two gals, who are college students, are seeing General conference for the very first time.

Conference was great! The words of our Prophet and apostles were timely, uplifting and inspiring.  If you missed it, you can see and hear it on lds.org.