Open to the Public on August 29, 2015 - An Exciting New Church History Site to Visit!

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the reopening and dedication dates of the Priesthood Restoration Site near Susquehanna Depot, Pennsylvania. The historic site will be open to the public beginning on Saturday, August 29, 2015.

Susquehanna River, where Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery baptized each other on May 15, 1829, under the direction of the resurrected John the Baptist.

Dedicatory services will be held on Saturday, September 19, at 11:00 a.m. eastern daylight time (EDT) at the site. President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, will give the dedicatory prayer. Because of limited space, dedicatory events will be for ticket holders only. Other interested individuals and families are invited to view the services live on the Church satellite system or on LDS.org. The broadcast will be archived on LDS.org for later viewing.

Located in what was historically known as Harmony, Pennsylvania, the site includes a visitors’ center and meetinghouse, the reconstructed homes of Joseph and Emma Smith and Isaac and Elizabeth Hale, the woods where John the Baptist restored the priesthood, the baptismal site at the Susquehanna River, a trails system, and a new statuary.
Joseph and Emma Smith moved to Harmony in December 1827 to escape persecution for their religious beliefs. They lived with Emma’s parents, Isaac and Elizabeth Hale, until they purchased a nearby home with 13½ acres from Emma’s brother Jesse.

           

 The reconstructed home of Emma's parents, Isaac and Elizabeth Hale.

In early April 1829, schoolteacher Oliver Cowdery came to meet Joseph and soon became his scribe. During the translation of the Book of Mormon, Joseph and Oliver went into the woods and prayed for guidance on the subject of baptism. In reply, the resurrected John the Baptist visited them on May 15, 1829, and ordained them to the Aaronic Priesthood. He then commanded Joseph and Oliver to baptize each other in the nearby Susquehanna River. A little later in a nearby area, the two men received the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood from Peter, James, and John, three of Jesus Christ’s original Apostles.
Also in Harmony, Joseph received 15 divine revelations that were later included in the Doctrine and Covenants. Joseph and Emma Smith moved from Harmony in August 1830. The home they lived in burned down in 1919 and is now reconstructed as part of the site.

             The reconstructed home of Joseph and Emma Smith.

The Church invites all interested parties to visit the Priesthood Restoration Site located near Susquehanna Depot, Pennsylvania, in the United States, just off Pennsylvania Route 171. Daily operating hours will be 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

         

               https://www.lds.org/church/events/priesthood-restoration-site-dedication?lang=eng

Why I Believe, Part 1

Chris Hoke, former Steelers player and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, poses with some missionaries after sharing his believe in Jesus Christ at a Sunday-night fireside.

This is the first post in a series on the topic "Why I Believe." This topic was inspired by a recent "fireside" based on the same topic. At that event, retired Steelers player Chris Hoke talked about the topic of why he believes in Jesus Christ. We've asked others in the Pittsburgh area who attended the same fireside to reflect on why they believe in Jesus Christ as a contribution to this blog.

By Kendra Williamson

Rarely do I feel completely enveloped in the Spirit of the Lord, but when I do, I just feel a pure goodness that is difficult to put into words. I feel happy, and the complications of life all simmer down into manageable bites. Most of all, I remember things--I remember how blessed I am, I remember what the Spirit feels like, and I remember my testimony. This is how I felt on Sunday night at the Pittsburgh Stake's fireside, themed "Why I Believe."

This fireside, organized by President Johnson, the man who oversees the missionaries in the Pittsburgh PA Mission, was a compilation of video clips (see below for links), musical numbers, and testimonies. Several things stood out to me during the evening:

First, I was blown away by the musical talent among the 40 young missionaries serving in our area. They performed two choir pieces, and there were a few solos and a duet. In addition to their admirable talent, I marveled at their spirit and feeling as they sang. They just seemed happy, and I felt like they love their Savior and love serving Him.

Second, I enjoyed hearing the testimonies of a few different individuals and relating those testimonies to my own. President and Sister Johnson both shared their testimonies, as did Bishop Chris Hoke. He was a big draw at the fireside, as he had played for the Steelers for eight years and in two Superbowls. He related a few of his experiences from his football career that brought him to his knees, whether he was seeking divine help or forgiveness. Their testimonies posed the simple question that I have been reflecting on for two weeks since then:

Why do I believe in Jesus Christ? 

Until I really started thinking about it, I didn't know that it was such a difficult question to answer. Here is my answer for now, in two parts:

I believe in Jesus Christ because my parents taught me to. Sometimes I think this is a weak or shameful answer--like I believe just because it's the only thing I know. But actually, I believe because they truly do believe and taught me what and how to believe. I've come to realize that growing up in a home that encourages belief in the Savior is a great privilege. I was instilled with Christian values and spiritual sensitivities that made it easier for me to later become more independent in my beliefs.

I believe in Jesus Christ because living and acting in accordance with this belief has brought me joy, blessings, and direction that I find in no other way. This is pretty simple. I am encouraged in my belief because it results in true goodness and happiness in my life. This happiness is not found in money and possessions, but in knowing about God's plan for me now and after this life, in spending time with my family, and in finding ways to follow Jesus Christ's example of service. Believing in Jesus Christ has brought me a new sense of perspective that helps me see that there's hope beyond the day-to-day struggles of life.

So, that's my answer for now. If I had been asked this question five years ago, it would have been different. In five more years, it will be different still. As I continue to believe in Jesus Christ and as I have more experiences in life, my reasons for believing will change and grow. And that's the way, in my opinion, it should be.

A few more photos from the fireside with Chris Hoke: 

A few of the video clips that were shown at the fireside:

2015 Youth Conference

This weekend 74 youth from The Pittsburgh Stake and The Pittsburgh West Stake participated in a youth conference in Palmyra, NY.  The theme for this year was “Embark” based on the scripture Doctrine and Covenants 4:2: “Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.”  Following the theme, the event started with a day of service projects, including making hygiene kits, a book and food drive, weeding around the church, and indexing names for family history.

                           

The next day the youth traveled to Palmyra, NY, where the church was first organized.  They visited the home of Joseph Smith Jr. and walked through the Sacred Grove.  They were able to talk with the missionaries and hear the stories of the events that had taken place.  The youth saw that the Frame House still had the original hearth, which was once taken apart to hide the golden plates.  One youth said, “You could really feel the Spirit in the Frame house, knowing how much work they put in to protecting the scriptures.  I am very grateful for it.”

Later that evening, they got to see the Pageant, which is a play about different stories from the Book of Mormon.  Before the event started, the youth were able to walk around Hill Cumorah and meet the cast.  They also explored the visitor’s center.

On Saturday the youth held a testimony meeting.  They shared their strong testimonies of the gospel.  It was so special to listen to them share the things that they had learned.  Their last trip was to the EB Grandin Printing Press, where the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were printed.  It was a very special testimony-building youth conference.  Thanks to everyone who made this trip a success.

                            



RootsTech Pittsburgh Family Discovery Day 2015

The registration desk

We had an excellent time at RootsTech Pittsburgh on Saturday. As expected, the speakers were marvelous, and there was a great turnout. We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to this marvelous event. Here are a few photos that give you a feel for the day.

We were privileged to have Marlene Bransom, president of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society (AAHGS) attend and present.

Presenter Ted Dillenburg of Forever.com with Dwight Ferguson, one of the organizers of the event.

At one point, there was only one empty parking spot!

Classes

Ed Snodgrass - Using Family History Centers

Victoria Ridley (AAHGS) - African American Genealogy 101

Jonathan Harbuck (Google) - Google Your Ancestors

Laura MacBeth - Using FamilySearch.com

Kay Mosser and Bonnie Kerry - Using Puzzilla to Find Ancestors

Internet Cafe

In the Internet Cafe, guests could go and get individual help from the family history assistants and volunteers.

Youth came to participate in a youth indexing challenge.

Lunch

Thank you to all who helped organize this event and who attended. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we view family history as a collective effort that strengthens individuals and unites families. The church has many family history resources, which we are happy to share with the public, but we also recognize that we have much to learn as we collaborate with other people and resources in the community. This event is one way we bring family history resources together and make them more accessible to all, so we are grateful that so many members of our community participated in RootsTech Pittsburgh Family Discovery Day.

Truth – The Arbor – April 2015

The April 2015 issue of The Arbor focuses on Step 4 – Truth:

Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself

Here is a quote shared by Toni M. in this month’s issue:

“The sorrows and suffering from our past will no longer keep us from fully feeling the love of God. As our self-awareness changes, we may find an increase in self-esteem, a diminished sense of guilt and a greater peace in our lives.” President James E. Faust (Healing Though Christ, p. 42.)

ARP Fireside on Saturday, May 30 at 6:30 pm

When Other Sources Cease to Make Me Whole: Recognizing our false fixes

@ Kalamazoo stake center & broadcast on the internet at: https://sites.google.com/site/kalamazoostakeconference/

Announcing RootsTech Pittsburgh 2015!

It's time to start getting excited for the second annual RootsTech Pittsburgh Family Discovery Day! This is a community family history event that will take place in Oakland on Saturday, June 13th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free, but please do register in advance.

The Family Discovery Day is a time for members of the community to come together and celebrate family connections across generations. Participants are encouraged to use technology to discover, share, and celebrate their family roots.

You can attend RootsTech Pittsburgh for all or part of the day, making the event suit your individual needs as you seek out and build your family tree. At RootsTech you can learn through:

• Classes taught by genealogy experts. Each hour, about six or seven different classes are offered, with class topics ranging from African American Family History 101 to Google Your Ancestors to Indexing. Pick and choose which is most interesting and useful to you. Classes are aimed at varying levels of experience, and each hour there is a class particularly intended for youth ages 12-18. See the class schedule here. 
• Individualized help from consultants in the Internet Café. Family history consultants will be available to help you on your personal family history. Whether you just need to set up a basic FamilySearch account or you are trying to break through a brick wall in your research, the consultants in the Internet Café can help. 

Last year's RootsTech Pittsburgh was a great success. Over 200 people attended and learned more about how to strengthen their family ties. Check out the blog post and photos from RootsTech Pittsburgh 2014 to get a feel for what this year's RootsTech will be like.

Lunch will be available for purchase at cost, or you can bring or buy your own lunch in Oakland. Parking is free. See RootsTechPittsburgh.org, including our FAQ page, if you have more questions, or contact us through Facebook or by commenting below.

We're looking forward to an awesome event! Your attendance will make it a success.

Pittsburgh 5th Ward Helping to Feed Local Schoolchildren

During the 2013-14 school year, more than 70 percent of children attending school in the Pittsburgh School District were eligible for free or reduced price lunches. Many of these children return home to empty cupboards each night and weekend.

The Pittsburgh 5th Ward is teaming up with the local arm of Blessings in a Backpack to feed children from two elementary schools in Wilkinsburg, PA for a weekend.  The 5th Ward's goal is to fill at least 100 of the 620 backpacks needed for these schools.

The service event will be held Saturday, April 25, 2015 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Greentree Chapel - 46 School St., Pittsburgh.  

All our welcome to attend, especially children.  Please bring a donation and help fill the backpacks that will go home to feed these children.  If you have any questions about this event, contact Jacqueline Haines at jrhnanny4u@me.com.

Blessings in a Backpack provides elementary school children who are on the federal Free and Reduced Price Meal Program with food to take home for 38 weekends during the school year.  Backpack food includes easy-to-prepare, ready-to-eat foods, like granola bars, juice boxes, macaroni and cheese cups, and oatmeal.

If you'd like to bring a donation, follow the guide below:

Last names starting with --

A-D: Capri Sun 100% juice (this brand only)

E-G: Fruit Snacks of Fruit Roll Ups

H-K: Individual pudding cup, applesauce, or fruit cups

L-N: Microwaveable popcorn

O-Q: Cheese Crackers (six in a pack, no peanut butter crackers)

R-T: Individual boxes of cereal or Pop Tarts

U-W: Rice Krispie treats or granola bars (no nuts)

X-Z: Easy Mac or small Chef Boyardee (not canned)