Beginnings of the History of the Church in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is important in the history of the Restoration of the Gospel, or the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Joseph Smith first visited Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, after he was hired to help find the possible site of an old silver mine. There he met Emma Hale, his future wife. They were married in New York and lived there for a time, but then returned to Pennsylvania.

Between 1827 and 1830, Joseph and Emma Smith lived in Harmony, now Oakland Township, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, where Joseph translated the Book of Mormon and received the Aaronic Priesthood. The Church has marked the site of their home and is currently planning to make a more formal visitor's center at the site.

Here are a few resources about the site in Oakland.

• Baker, Robert L., "Latter-day Saints make $2.1M land purchase," The Scranton Times Tribune, January 8, 2011. (Link.)
• Christensen, Horace H., "Harmony, Pennsylvania," Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Brigham Young University. (Link.)
• Hodges, Blair. "'In Memory of an Infant Son,'" By Common Consent [blog], January 23, 2013. (Link.)
• LDS Church, "Church to Restore Historic Site in Pennsylvania," [Press release], April 21, 2011. (Link.)
• Lloyd, R. Scott, "Church offers preview of priesthood restoration site and film project at Motion Picture Studio," Deseret News, October 2, 2014. (Link.)
• Porter, Larry C., "Joseph Smith’s Susquehanna Years," Ensign, February 2001. (Link.)
• Scott, R., "Harmony historic site to be memorialized as plans take shape," Church News, May 21, 2011. (Link.)
• Wikipedia, "Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site." (Link.)

All pictures taken by the author on a cold November day in 2012.