Smith Family Farm — Attraction in Town of Manchester

The Smith Farm Home is the second home that the Smith family lived in on the Smith Family Farm.

Joseph Smith Sr., his wife Lucy Mack Smith, and some of their children moved from Norwich, Vermont, to Palmyra, New York, in 1816. In 1818 or 1819, the family built a log home near property owned by the estate of Nicholas Evertson of New York City. In 1825, the family moved into a larger and more comfortable frame home that they had built on the property.

In this home, Joseph Smith Jr. taught his family about what he had learned from the angel Moroni during his yearly visits to the Hill Cumorah as he prepared to receive the golden plates.

The Smith Family began construction on the home in 1823 when Alvin, who was an apprentice housewright, began building the much larger home for his parents. After Alvin’s death in November 1823, the rest of the Smith Family finished the construction of the home. In 1825, Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith moved their family into the home.

What to Expect

The Smith Family Farm Home is part of the guided tour given by missionaries of the homes on the Smith Family Farm. They will guide you through the individual rooms on the first floor and tell stories of the Smith Family. Tours begin at the Sacred Grove Welcome Center.

Read more about what occurred in the frame home in Saint Volume 1, Chapter 4.

"In the darkness of his room, Joseph began to pray, pleading fervently that God would forgive his sins.

As Joseph prayed, a light appeared beside his bed and grew brighter until it filled the entire loft. Joseph looked up and saw an angel standing in the air.

The angel called him by name and introduced himself as Moroni.

Moroni spoke of gold plates buried in a nearby hill. On the plates was etched the record of an ancient people who once lived in the Americas. The record told of their origins and gave an account of Jesus Christ visiting them and teaching the fullness of His gospel.

For the rest of the visit, Moroni quoted prophecies from the biblical books of Isaiah, Joel, Malachi, and Acts. The Lord was coming soon, he explained, and the human family would not fulfill the purpose of their creation unless God’s ancient covenant was renewed first. Moroni said that God had chosen Joseph to renew the covenant, and that if he chose to be faithful to God’s commands, he would be the one to reveal the record on the plates.Before departing, the angel commanded Joseph to take care of the plates. Light then gathered around Moroni and he ascended to heaven."

*For more Informations:

Read Joseph Smith History chapter 1.

Watch Joseph Smith, The Prophet of the Restoration,...

Inspiring visit to one of the most interesting places in North America. The farm features a historic recreation and accurate restoration of the historic farm house, Smith family frame house, Brigham Young barn, bee hives, wells, gardens and visitors center discussing the boyhood home of Joseph Smith Jr., translator of the Book of Mormon and the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Incredibly interesting historic site discussing the early life of Joseph Smith Jr., persecution, and the foundation of a new "American religion" that would spread to cover the world. Tours are free and located on the same property as the Sacred Grove were Smith reported miraculous visions and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had its foundational beginnings. Tours are hosted by volunteer missionaries from the Church. The site is quiet, unpretentious, and surprisingly spiritual. A guided tour is recommended to get a full understanding of the rich history of the farm house and historical settings, I suggest a private, contemplative walk through the adjacent grove for self-relection, and pondering. The Smith farm is one of several local historic sites operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which also include the Sacred Grove, the Hill Cumorah visitors center, the E.B. Grandin Building (original printer of the Book of Mormon), the Whitmer Farm in Fayette, New York and the Priesthood Restoration site visitors center near Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. Summer months are peak periods for visitor with bus loads of people coming from all over the world. Spring and early fall are great times to visit these sites with...

We went out of our way to make Palmyra part of a family road trip. Unfortunately, in spite of this having been the home of both people and animals when miracles occurred here, our puppy that was traveling with us was not allowed to be anywhere on the grounds—not just in the buildings—as a matter of policy. Our choices were therefore to leave him in the car in the dead of summer or to have one of our family miss the site altogether. Very thoughtless of whoever is making the rules, and not at all in keeping with the spirit with which the Smith...