Day 17, Thurs Sept 18, from Utica, NY to Lenox, Mass

After leaving the area of Palmyra Wednesday afternoon, we drove east on Rt 5, stopping at this beautiful spot on the north shore of one of the famous Finger Lakes; Seneca Lake, Geneva, NY. However the hotel on the lake shore had no room available and we traveled on east and were unsuccessful in finding anything suitable or otherwise until we reached Utica and took lodging in an old Ramada Inn. (at the point we were glad just for a bed - actually it wasn't all that bad and we got a suitable night's rest. Ironically, we heard from Sister Suzanne Wyatt, one of our CDNM missionaries who we had hoped to see and visit with while traveling through the area. We had given her a bad phone number and so we kept missing each other. It turned out that she lives and works in Geneva, right across from the hotel we were hoping to stay at! But, we had traveled far down the road before we became aware of how close we had been. We feel bad that we missed seeing and visiting with her.

This is a view of the Mohawk Valley, taken as we traveled east on Rt 5, east of Little Falls, NY. A nearby historical marker reminds travelers that this Valley was once the home of the Mohawk Indians, "proud members of the powerful Six-Nation Iroquois Confederacy." The Valley was the main gateway between the Adirondack Mountains and the Allegheny Plateau. It was the pathway of Christian missionaries, pioneering settlers, adventurers, trappers, and contending armies during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.

This is a view of the Mohawk Valley, taken as we traveled east only Rt 5, east of Little Falls, NY. A nearby historical marker reminds travelers that this Valley was once the home of the Mohawk Indians, "proud members of the powerful Six-Nation Iroquois Confederacy." The Valley was the main gateway between the Adirondack Mountains and the Allegheny Plateau. It was the pathway of Christian missionaries, pioneering settlers, adventurers, trappers, and contending armies during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.

Downtown Albany, NY (the State's capitol) is filled with remarkable, older buildings of beautiful architecture. We are not sure what this building is, whether government or business, but it is representative of the so many that we saw as we drove through the city on Rt 5.

After crossing the Hudson River in downtown Albany, NY, we stopped on the east bank and took this picture tooking back across the river toward the Albany skyline. In the extreme right is some commercial shipping seen under the Interstate bridges. One of these looks like a US Navy destroyer. It is obvious that the Hudson is passable for large ships even this far inland. This was a beautiful, clear, sunny day with temperatures in the 60's.

Day 16, Wed Sept 17, Palmyra Temple and Cumorah

When we arrived at the Palmyra Temple to attend

the 11 am session on Wednesday, Sept 17, we were met at the recommend desk by this man, who upon looking at Terry's recommend said, "Brother Chapman don't you recognize me? You and I served together in the New England Mission."

I admitted I didn't know who he was, though he did look familiar. He smiled and said, "Elder Yancey." Then of course, I remembered. Elder Marvin Yancey. He had been a Traveling Elder (like a Zone Leader today). He and his companion Elder Gerald Flake had visited Elder Walker and I when we were stationed in Dover, NH. We had fed them a very bad meal and given them a place to bed down for the night in our little apartment.

After the Temple session he introduced us to his wife Linda. They reside in Blackfoot, Idaho and are serving a Temple Mission in Palmyra. They have a daughter living in Rexburg.

We met Ron and EdieTimmerman, who were in our session. They are from St. George and knew Jeffery and Kristi from their previous years in Dixie Downs area. Brother Timmerman said he served with Jeffery on the High Council.

We also met Elder and Sister Dugger who are serving at the Temple from Mesa. When you are a member of the Church it is indeed a small world!

This is the Temple entrance. As you can see, the temple has beautiful stained glass panels that depict trees and vegetation to harmonize the Temple decor with the Sacred Grove that is just to the west of the Temple. President Hinckley said when he approved the plans for the Temple that he wanted those who entered to be reminded of the Sacred Grove. It is very beautiful inside and out.

Day 16, Wed Sept 17, Palmyra Temple and Cumorah

We were in touch with former CDNM sister missionary, Maryann Hidalgo of Ontario, Canada. She planned to attend the 11 am temple session with us Wednesday morning, but as time came for the session to begin she had still not arrived. It is a 3-hour drive from her home to Palmyra.

But to our great pleasure as we entered the Celestial room at the completion of our endowment session, there she was, all dressed in white, waiting to greet us! That was a very happy moment for the three of us! She said that she did arrive right at 11 am, but the session could not be delayed. She participated in some initiatory service instead and then was able to be in the Celestial room when we entered. How good of her to come all that way! Such a splendid young woman! We went to lunch together down in Manchester before she had to get back on the Interstate and return to school and home.

We love and admire this dear young woman and wish the very best for her in her schooling and in her church assignment as Relief Society President in her Young Singles Branch.

Before we departed from the Palmyra area we drove over to the Hill Cumorah. They now have a paved road that curves around to the east side of the hill and allows the visitor to park at the top of the hill in a concealment of trees a short distance from the statue of Moroni. This made it possible for Linda to experience our second visit to this very sacred and remarkable place.