--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Cannon, Angus J. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 32 number: 3 published: 1929-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Angus J. Cannon, “The Joseph Smith Memorial Farm,” *Improvement Era* 32, no. 3 (January 1929): 195–198." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3203unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3203unse start_page: 195 end_page: 198 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1929-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3203unse publication_year: 1929 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1929, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Joseph Smith Memorial Farm The Joseph Smith Memorial Farm By Its Manager, Angus J. Cannon THE average January temperature is 17 degrees in the hilly sections of Vermont. This means that the thermometer often falls far below zero, not infrequently reaching 40 degrees be- low. This intense cold, together with the deep snows that drift and fill in the roads and hollows, Iwould help to drive a less resolute and hardy race out of the country. But history tells us that neither the elements nor King George's red-coats, even with the help of the Indians, could conquer them. With dauntless courage they waged independent war against England during the war of the Revolution and in the end wanted to conclude a separate peace treaty with their recent enemy. From this stock Joseph Smith came — just as independent and sturdy in his work as were the Green Mountain Boys of Revoluntion- ary fame. When Champlain first saw the Green Mountains, he called them Verts Monts. Later when the constitutional convention met in the old Constitution house, now used as a very attractive tea room, in Windsor, Windsor county, the state was given the name of Ver- mont, from the French Verts Monts, meaning green mountains. Even in this day of modern conveniences, such as the telephone, electric lights, radio and the auto, winter life on the hill farms of Vermont leaves much to be desired. The farms are very much iso- lated, not always because of great distances between them, but rather because of the hilly, wooded character of the country, which makes neighborly communication quite difficult, and after the fre- quent heavy snow storms the hardy people of the back hill farms are hard put to keep their roads open. On such a farm, far back in beautiful hills, and about three miles from what is now the charming little village of South Royal- ton, Joseph Smith was born on the 23d day of December, 1805. It is rather hard, 123 years after that important event, to picture the primitive conditions surrounding people of the time, but though we know something of those hill farms today, and are acquainted with some of the modern conveniences enjoyed on the more favored of these farms, it is possible to realize something of the hardships of that time. Where and how did thev send for a doctor? The nearest villages, Sharon, Tunbridge and Royalton, were miles away and, even if a doctor could be found, were the roads open? What kind of a home did they have? Probably a very poor one. even for 196 IMPROVEMENT ERA that early time. They lived on a rented farm — rented from Lucy Mack's parents, Solomon and Lydia Mack. We think there must have been a large, open fireplace in the house, because the hearthstone has been saved from the ruins of the old home, and this hearthstone naturally has a place of honor in the cottage built on the site of the original dwelling. And another interesting part of that home is the old well, still to be seen some distance below the cottage, a vivid reminder of the toil connected with living in the olden days, when even water, that most important article in our lives, could not be had without much hardship. We can imagine that the surroundings were, in a wild way, beautiful and attractive then, even as they are now. Mount Patriarch, thickly covered with white and yellow birch, rock maple, ash and other trees, is a wonderful background, being one of the highest hills in that hilly neighborhood, while on the north the old sugar groves have for many, many years given forth the sweet sap from which delicious maple syrup and sugar are made, and on the north- west near the cottage is that charming bit of wildwood named after the Prophet's sister, Sophronia, and now called Sophronia's Glen. This is filled with maple, ash, birch and other trees. On the south, about a furlong away, is another sugar grove hill. So the cottage and grounds are pretty well shut in, and all else shut out. Beautiful! Yes, and romantic, with no other dwelling in sight. The solitude and the stillness are almost oppressive at times in winter. But what a wonderful place for meditation and prayer! Today it is a most delightful place in the summer, and thousands visit there each season. The grounds are well laid out and the cottage is attractive. It is a white-painted frame building and makes a pleasing picture in the centre of the lawns. Hundreds of visitors express surprise in finding such a beautiful place far up in the hills away from everywhere, and one lady expressed the views of a large crowd of visitors when she wrote in the guest book, 'We are proud that the 'Mormons' have such an appreciation of the beautiful." Perhaps she and her friends had been of the opinion that the "Mormons" have no love of beauty. This is just one case of the many hundreds in which persons leave there with a better idea of this people's worth. Another incident: One day the reception room of the cottage was filled with visitors composed of two or more different groups. Sometimes, as was the case that day, these different groups will not mix well, and it is more or less difficult to interest them. Well, this day of which we are writing, one of the groups was made up of theatrical people, some of whom had been several times in Salt Lake. The other group seemed critical, and passed almost slighting remarks on some of our statements. However, one of them after read- THE JOSEPH SMITH MEMORIAL FARM 197 ing the "Articles of Faith" said, "Well, if the 'Mormons' believe that, they must be a broad-minded people." One of the actors took the conversation away from the guide by saying, "Broad-minded! Why the 'Mormons' are as broad-minded as the streets of Salt Lake are wide." But though the grounds and surroundings are attractive and form a harmonious setting for the cottage, they are the least im- portant part of the Joseph Smith Memorial Home, or Farm as it is more often called. The big drawing card, of course, is the Monu- ment erected by the Church in 1905, under the direction of Elder Junius F. Wells. In this connection we should pause long enough to pay a slight but well deserved tribute to Brother Wells for the work he did in obtaining title to the old Mack farm, in planning the Monu- ment and selecting the almost flawless block of granite from which the thirty-eight and a half-foot shaft is cut, watching every bit of the work from the quarrying, polishing and the transportation of the one hundred tons of granite forming the base and the shaft of the Monument by rail and over bad roads that had to be planked every foot of the way with heavy hardwood planks, until the shaft rested on its base, a few feet from the cottage. Then when the crowd, that had gathered to watch the hoisting of the shaft into place, started to cheer, Brother Wells stopped them and, kneeling before the wonderful shaft, thanked the Lord for the consumma- tion of his efforts. But Brother Wells did much more than direct all this. He did a work for which he was peculiarly adapted in breaking down the spirit of opposition and hate, and by his charm- ing personality he won the friendship of many, not for himself alone, but for the Church and our people. I use the word "charm- ing," for that expression has been used more than once in my hearing by visitors speaking of him. The shaft itself, as has been mentioned, is thirty-eight and a- half feet long — a foot for every year of the Prophet's life. It is a splendid piece of granite — as nearly flawless, we are told, as one could find in any quarry. One expert, after carefully looking over the Monument, made the statement that, outside of Barre, Vermont, he did not know any granite field where such a perfect shaft of that length could be quarried. And a Barre man later told us that even Barre could not produce such another shaft. The people there are very proud of the Joseph Smith Monument. It may be of interest to the readers to know that many of our visitors call on us again, often bringing friends with them. Nat- urally they usually come to see the Monument rather than to learn of Joseph Smith's great mission. Still, many listen to our story of 198 IMPROVEMENT ERA the work he was instrumental in starting, and we feel confident that they leave with a better impression of the Church and her people than they had before visiting that sacred place. The good that is done there cannot be measured in dollars and cents, nor can one estimate it with any degree of accuracy. One day it was noticed that visitors had come to the place from England and from at least five different states. This may or may not have been an exceptional day. They come from Florida and California, as well as from Vermont and New Hampshire, and leave the place with the feeling that they have visited a great American shrine. Repentance I wandered through green fields at home, And found a bird, so young, alone; With childish glee I seized it tight, And made a cage for it that night. Next day I found it lying dead — The body cold, the spirit fled. My bitter tears were all in vain; Its life I could not give again. A wanderer I grew to be, The laws of God were naught to me. I met a boy, so young, who plead For help from me, a crust of bread. I helped him not. Next day I found His body cold upon the ground. My pleadings, then, were all in vain, I could not call him back again. Last night in dreams I thought I went To meet my Maker, him who sent Me here to earn a rich reward, To do his will and keep his word. He gave me just what I had earned, A punishment that seared and burned. And though I cried in bitter pain, My life I could not live again. Heavenly Father, hear my plea! Guide me, a sinner, back to thee, And of thy love let me partake. In Jesus-' name and for his sake. Vancouver, B. C. WILLIAM SYKES