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My ward meeting house located at 1235 S Douglas Street (1250 East) was a tudor style building with mural paintings throughout. At the front of the chapel was a painting of the Sacred Grove which I think was done by John Fairbanks, whose son Aavard Fairbanks, a sculptor, lived in another ward that met in the building. I don't remember a specific instance where a light turned on in my heart, but seeing this painting each week for the 10 years I attended in this ward had a lasting influence on my testimony of the reality of the First Vision. Many years later when visiting the Sacred Grove with my young family I felt as if I had already been there, and I felt again the Holy Ghost's gentle witness that the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ began here. 

When I went to prison I found out for myself that Joseph Smith is and was a prophet of Heavenly Father and he saw God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. All he wanted to know was which church was true. He was not ready for the answer he got that all the churches were wrong. When he walked out of the Sacred Grove he knew more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ than any man on Earth. I love the faith of Joseph Smith because if he had a question he went in to God the Father and got an answer. The Book of Mormon is the word of God.I found this out for myself by reading and studying the Book of Mormon. I will stand by anybody on there judgment day and tell Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that I told them that Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon are true. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true and living church on this Earth today. We also have a living prophet today that speaks for Heavenly Father. I know with all my heart that what I say is TRUE. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Being raised in a gospel-filled home and baptized a member of The Church of a Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the typical age of eight, I’ve always “known” that Heavenly Father loves me, that Jesus Christ atoned for my sins and was resurrected again, and that Joseph Smith was a man called of God to bring forth the Restoration of Christ’s church. I’ve had many “ah-hah!” moments as my personal testimony has grown and taken shape over the years, and many more subtle experiences that have confirmed and more clearly defined truths for me along the way.

One particularly profound moment happened some twenty-four years ago when, as an awkward 15-year-old teenage girl wearing a loose-fitting, Eddie Bauer flannel shirt, wide-leg jeans, and Mary Jane Doc Martin shoes, I gained a sure and unwavering testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his incredible faith, bravery, selflessness, and devotion.

While on a tour of historic church sites in Nauvoo and Carthage, Illinois with my family and close friends, we found ourselves in the very room where dear Joseph was martyred. As our tour guide explained what took place in that sobering and sacred space, the room fell quiet and the mood somber. Then, at the invitation of our good friend, Kordell, my Dad took a seat in a wooden rocking chair positioned near the second story window Joseph’s body fell from. The Spirit filled the room and swelled in my heart as my Dad then sang the beautiful hymn, “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief.” As his voice flowed through the silence, the melody and lyrics resonated inside of me and triggered tangible feelings of humility, gratitude, and understanding.

To this day, the recollection of that experience still brings me to tears and yields the same humbling and overwhelming emotions. I know Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God — that he was called as a young, seeking boy to do a special and unbelievably important work far beyond his human scope, and that he fearlessly and faithfully answered that call, doing all in his physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional power throughout the remainder of his life to fulfill to the fullest the purposes and mission given him.

Just like the Savior knew the importance of His roll and the magnitude of His work, Joseph knew what he was to do, and he didn’t shy from it. Both men lived and taught the wholeness and truthfulness of God’s gospel and withstood the worst in persecution, mockery, hatred, pain, hardship, and ultimate death for the cause of bringing the world Heavenly Father’s message of hope and salvation.

I am eternally indebted to these selfless men. I love them, although I’ve never personally met them. I strive everyday to be even a little bit like them. I pray daily for my children to know them. And I yearn for others to learn of and follow them. 

In my earliest years of life I was taught of Joseph Smith's First Vision - from that point forward I just accepted it as true. As such, I never felt to question the reality of Joseph's experience. However three years ago my wife and I, along with another couple, went on a 10-day tour of the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church) historic sites. We started in Palmyra - first time to visit that site. I was sure that walking through the grove I would experience a witness moment - while beautiful and peaceful, nothing out of the ordinary. As we continued on our journey to Harmony, Fayette, Colesville and finally to Kirtland, tremendous experiences that were both sacred and educational occured for each of us on the journey.

Our last stop was the Johnson farm house in Hiram, Ohio. It was at this farm house that Joseph and Sydney Rigdon were dragged from their beds on a March evening , taken outside by a mob of men and beaten, tarred and feathered. It was also in this farm house on the second floor that Joseph and Sydney had a vison in which they saw God, The Father and Jesus Christ - a vision that lasted several hours (D&C 76). Our group of four along with another family were the only ones touring the Johnson farm house that day. Following the tour, I asked our tour guide if I could go by myself back to the second floor of the Johnson home - my request was granted.

Alone on that second floor I knelt to ask if Joseph and Sydney truly had the vision as recorded in D&C 76. I was overwhelmed at the response - no voices, no vision, simply a soul to soul witness from The Holy Spirit that not only did Joseph and Sydney see what they stated in the D&C; but, that the same two Beings - God and Jesus visited Joseph in the Sacred Grove. I felt an overwhelming sense of God's love for each of us - for the unique role Joseph was chosen to play in restoring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this earth . Joseph Smith is a prophet of God - he did receive a visit from God and Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove as well as other places and times during Joseph's mortal life.

There in the sacred grove in the summer of 1962. What a beautiful and spiritual day. I will never forget the incredible emotions I felt there that day. 

 I was blessed to feel the truth of Joseph's experience at an early age . I was 7 or 8 years old as I recall, and my mother bought a book for me which told of the First Vision and the events of the Restoration and Joseph's experiences as a young boy and man. It was written in simple language, so it could be easily understood by young people. As I read that historical account, I felt, even then, the Spirit confirming to me the truth of these miraculous events.

I recall feeling the spiritual confirmation of this sacred vision again several times when, as a slightly older boy, I went with my cousin downtown to see the film of these events at the visitor center on Temple Square. We would take the bus to the U of U, skateboard around the campus then down into town, finally arriving at the visitor center where we would shift our focus from having fun, to feeling something much more valuable. We loved watching the boy Joseph as he entered that quiet grove seeking an answer to a simple question. What followed has changed the world so much for the better. We would usually follow up that film by moving into the theater showing, "Christ in the Americas." This glimpse of the arrival and loving ministry of our Savior to some of the early inhabitants of this continent, always brought a tear to my eyes, as I again felt the whisperings of the Spirit of God confirming to me the reality of what was depicted in that film.

I am grateful for the personal revelations I have received regarding the First Vision, and of the greatly expanded knowledge of the love of God the Father, and the amazing atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the faith, courage, and sacrifice of Joseph Smith and his family as they followed their promptings and played such a valuable role in our Heavenly Fathers plan for our salvation.

For as long as I can remember, I have known that Joseph Smith experienced the theophany we call The First Vision. He lived and died true to his prophetic calling to open the final dispensation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; translating the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ and restoring the fullness of His Gospel to the earth.

One memorable “Sacred Grove” experience occurred for me in 2004 when my husband, Stan, and I were blessed to take our three sons on a special vacation to visit many early church history sites in the eastern United States which included a visit to the Smith home in Palmyra, New York and the Sacred Grove. We walked through the trees of the grove mostly together and then separately for a time. During those private wanderings, I remember an overwhelming feeling of the Holy Ghost testifying that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ had indeed been somewhere in this very grove of trees and had conversed with Joseph Smith. It felt like being Home; as if I were surrounded by beloved family though I was alone. I felt peaceful, happy, comfortable, warm and safe. I didn’t want to leave. I almost couldn’t make myself walk out of that grove of trees and back into the world. I have never forgotten that powerful feeling. That’s how I hope to feel again when I see and hear Them myself upon my future return to Home.  

 I was on a Church History Tour. After the Missionaries tearful telling of what took place in his home we walked into the Sacred Grove. It was a very cloudy, extremely windy day. Our guide read Joseph’s experience there and then we sang Joseph Smith’s First Prayer. As we sang “Suddenly a Light Descended, 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 far than noonday sun”, the wind stopped and the sun shone brightly. We were so tearful we could barely finish the hymn. 

 I was blessed to grow up in a home of faith and covenant living. Perhaps this is why the truthfulness of Joseph Smith’s prayer and dispensation-opening experience in the Sacred Grove have for me been like the gradual germinating of a seed ever in the soil of my soul. Memorable moments that have nurtured this maturing witness –

• The confirming answer to my adolescent prayer as the sun arose over the east mountains following a beautiful spring-morning, pre-dawn walk to a nearby hill.

• Sharing Joseph’s testimony in Spanish as a missionary in Chile: “... vi una columna de luz, más brillante que el sol, directamente arriba de mi cabeza; y esta luz gradualmente descendió hasta descansar sobre mí. ... Uno de ellos me habló, llamándome por mi nombre, y dijo, señalando al otro: Este es mi Hijo Amado: ¡Escúchalo!” (“... I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. ... One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”)

• Inspired guidance as an Aaronic Priesthood Scouting leader when we prepared a summer-camp opportunity for our boys to read and memorize parts of Joseph’s testimony – that exemplify key elements of a young man’s spiritual development ...

> First Vision (personal prayer);
> Translating the Book of Mormon (personal scripture study);
> Restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood (honor the priesthood and live worthy to make temple covenants)
> Gospel and Church Restored to the Earth (proclaim the gospel to the world as a missionary)
> Valiance Amid Adversity (faithfully endure to the end)

Like the iron rod in Lehi’s dream, these and many other continuing confirmations have steadied and strengthened my resolve to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ by living the principles of His Restored Gospel – commenced in response to the earnest prayer of Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove. 

 My family took me to New York in 1957, and I visited the Sacred Grove and prayed there for a witness, as well as visiting other spiritual places. It followed Boys State and my first National Guard camp, so it was special.