Historical transparency. I’m very pleased.

We spent at least two hours this afternoon at the newly dedicated Priesthood Restoration Site in Oakland, Pennsylvania (formerly known as “Harmony”), where most of the Book of Mormon was translated, where the Aaronic priesthood was restored, and in the vicinity of which the Melchizedek priesthood was returned to earth.  (Directly adjacent is the McKune Cemetery, where Isaac and Elizabeth Hale, the parents of Emma Hale Smith, and Joseph and Emma’s infant firstborn son are buried.)

The facilities at the new Priesthood Restoration Site are fabulous.  State of the art, and very well done.  The site is abundantly worth a visit.

And I was especially pleased to see a prominent photo, with explanation, of the seer stone that Joseph Smith used during the translation process.

Just now, too, I watched a brief video clip about the newly re-opened Church History Museum in Salt Lake City.  I can scarcely wait to get back there and have a look.

Once again, I’m particularly pleased to see the seer stone openly treated — along with, apparently, frank discussion of plural marriage.

I think this is all very much to the good.

Among the many pleasures of the trip that we’re currently on, and which is beginning to wind down, has been the presence in our group of the artist Gary Smith, whose work I’ve known for many years but whom, unfortunately, I’d never previously met.  (His paintings have shown up at several places along our way, including very sacred ones.)  He and I have had some interesting conversations about the crying need for more historically accurate Church art, and about some of his ideas for helping to create it.  Thus, I was especially happy, at roughly 2:55-3:05 of the video to which I’ve linked above, to see on the wall of the Church History Museum his new painting of Moses, Elijah, and Elias appearing in the Kirtland Temple.  He had shown it to me on his iPhone a few days ago.

For other examples (mostly secular ones, so far as I’ve looked) of Brother Smith’s work, Google “images” for “Gary Ernest Smith.”  See also here and here.

Posted from Victor, New York