211. The Palmyra Temple -- The rest of the story -- (History)
Subject: Palmyra Temple--Rest of the Story T We rarely know all the details of a completed temple. Much goes on in the months and years prior to its completion. The Palmyra, NY temple is no exception and the story is one of great vision, insight and the Lord's intervention . The story starts years before, perhaps years before anyone thought to build a temple here. In 1907 Apostle George Albert Smith purchased a portion of the original Smith farm for $16,000. In 1915 he sold it to the Church for $1.00 and President Joseph F. Smith called Bro Willard Bean and wife Rebecca on a 5 year mission to manage the farm and be the first stationary missionaries in the area since the Saints removed to Ohio in 1830. They served here for 25 years! making numerous improvements to the farm, softening the attitudes of the local residents, helping the Church to acquire more of the farm, and even the hill we now call the Hill Cumorah. The Hill Cumorah pageant had its beginnin