Sacred Grove Welcome Center — Attraction in Town of Palmyra

I walked into the Sacred Grove visitor center fully expecting to leave a five star review. However, I cannot.

We walked in after a tour was on the way out the door. Instead of being welcomed by the sister missionaries we were met with a very unwelcome antagonism from one of them. It was clearly said that they couldn't accommodate my little family and that we would need to make an appointment and come back later. What I was expecting was for them to give me an actual time in which my family could do the tour. Nope, that would have been too easy. Instead we were met with a confusing discussion about tour buses and large groups.

Finally, after my disappointment was becoming increasingly clear, and after I asked about people who aren't a part of large groups, another sister missionary stepped in and said they could accommodate us and gave us a time. Great! But much to my major dismay the antagonistic and disrespectful sister missionary, who refused to give us a time to return for a tour, was our tour guide. The only reason I didn't request a different sister missionary to give the tour was because my daughter begged me not to.

I should have waited until the next tour with different sister missionaries. That's on me. Because just like the temple any ill feelings towards others in the group is an invitation to sit it out, and I should have.

It's a major slap in the face to any family, not just mine, who have saved up money and vacation time to visit church history sites to be turned away because there's a tour bus showing up in the next hour. I know the church can do better.

As a side note for any potential guest who has made it this far in my review, if it has recently rained there will be a muddy mess on the trail on the Sacred Grove. It isn't well maintained and doesn't have sufficient height or drainage throughout. So dress accordingly.

Ultimately, I did not feel welcome at the Sacred Grove Welcome Center. Instead I felt as if I had majorly inconvenienced the sister missionaries with my presence. All it takes is one sister missionary to either make it a great visit, or as I experienced, a terrible one. I honestly regret driving across the country for this. It...

This was not my first visit here, but it was the first visit for my brother who was with me and for his med school roommate and his parents.

On top of the religious significance of this place, there is also rich history and a cool opportunity to see what life was like in the mid 1800s. The previous day I toured the Eastman house in Rochester with this same group. I am struck that we do so much to preserve large impressive houses, but we don't have as many opportunities to see what life was like for people more like you and me - those without a lot of money or wide influence. I think both are valuable and was glad to see some of both on this trip.

I think my favorite gem of knowledge from this trip was that the Smith family had "one way plumbing" in their kitchen! A large stone sink was installed with a hole that drained the water out. Imagine - when only having to haul water one way was a luxury. Puts things in perspective.

My brother's roommate and family commented that if you ask 100 people in Palmyra, likely less than 2 would have come to visit this site. I hope that changes - exploring your own backyard can be...

Make no mistake, this is primarily a religious site for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church or Mormons) in addition to being a historic site. This site is comprised of a visitors center staffed with full-time Mormon missionaries, two restored structures Joseph Smith (the founder of the Mormon Church), and the "Sacred Grove," the site where Mormons believe Joseph Smith was personally visited by Jesus Christ and God the Father. It is a must see location for Mormons, but it also a place of significant historic interest. Because of the religious significance, the LDS Church was meticulously documented and restored the area. So it is a fine historical site and is beautifully maintained. For people who aren't Mormons, just know the guides will be talking at length about the religious significance of the place, but they regularly host non-LDS visitors and are gracious and respectful. As a Mormon, I enjoyed it greatly. Wonderful...