Trek to the Holy Land

When most people think of Mormonism the first area that comes up is Utah but Palmyra, New York is also a important place. It is where Joseph Smith is said to have found the golden plates left by Moroni way back when there was a massive battle between good (the white guys) and evil (bad blacks)

My first trip outside the vicinity of my hometown, around the age of five, was to this mecca. I don't remember much, but will attempt to sketch out what I do:

After a long, boring car ride we exited the car in a parking lot near some trees. Standing on the paved area, I was told this was the grove where Joseph had his vision. This left me more unimpressed then I was previously. I felt no spiritual presense or calm breeze, only boredom and annoyance. There was a young kid who was being led around by a leash attached to his wrist, which stood out in my memory more then anything.

Later that night we went to the yearly pagent held on the Hill Cumorah, where the great battle is said to have occured. It seemed like any other hill I had seen; I had seen better hills (for tobogganing). I didn't understand most of the show and thought it was too long and boring, like anything else church related.

The highlight of the trip came on the ride home when we stopped off for donuts.