Special Fireside

Tonight we attended a special fireside organized by the church's public affairs committee and presented by Rand Packer from Provo and the author of "A Lion and a Lamb."  Brother Packer gave a special presentation to the Historical Society earlier this weekend as the church presented the museum with a picture they prepared of the early days of Palmyra. Then tonight, he presented this fireside in the Palmyra Stake Center across from the temple.

Most missionaries serving in the Cradle of the Restoration know about Packer's book and the Willard Bean family who came to Palmyra in the early 1900's at the call of a prophet to live in the Smith home and to foster good relations with the people here.  They were the first Mormons to come back to this area after the saints were forced to leave nearly 80 years earlier.  They endured much persecution in the beginning, but after nearly 25 years (they only expected to stay 5 years) they left having made many lasting friendships and having accomplished what they were sent here to do.  Bro. Packer is the grandson of Willard and Rebecca and the son of Palmyra, their oldest daughter.  It was a treat to listen to story after story and to see pictures of the early days of this area, especially ones of the church historical sights.  For any who have not read this history, we recommend it to you.

A note of interest, Brother Packer was Emily's stake president while she was living in Provo going to school.  He bears a powerful testimony of the Restoration which began, as he told us tonight, as he grew up hearing these stories told over and over at his mother's knee.