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| 2 Questions Inspired by the Church Site at Sharon, Vermont |
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Oct. 11th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
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This past weekend I took the combination of a three-day weekend and Stake Conference as a sign that I should take a little trip. Since I have not previously been, we headed to Maine to visit a friend, but stopped a few places between here and there. One stop was the birthplace of Joseph Smith in Sharon, Vermont. While I wonder why we have created this kind of a shrine for someone we do not worship, it was a perfectly lovely place and prompts my first question: On the way out, I noticed this sign:
It seems so…unambitious. Yeah, I hope your visit was worth while, but couldn’t it have been enjoyable, or inspiring, or provocative, or challenging, or amazing, or life-altering, or edifying? Annual physicals are worth while. High School orientation was worth while. Eating lunch is worth while. Can’t this be a little…more? So… 2. What adjective would you hope a visit to Sharon Vermont and the birth place of Joseph Smith would earn? |
Adam-on-diaomon(?) in Gallatin, Mo is another cushy Senior Mission. I could handle the peace and quiet. Since we don’t worship the guy, I do think this is about the right tone. And I think the same is true of Adam-0n-Whatever in Missouri. I would rather they stay understated than be inflated to represent more than they are. |
Adam-ondi-ahman. |
But, do they still have the music? |
I heard no music, but I was there before the Visitor’s Center was open, and perhaps they control such things. |
1. There are all sorts of cushy senior missionary assignments. But I wouldn’t want to be in Sharon in February. 2. Despite the music I quite enjoyed my trip there. I think “inspiring” is probably the best choice, but I’m not sure it is a great fit. Memorable? Edifying? 3. The title of this post has triggered my #1 pet peeve. May I suggest “Two Questions Raised…”? |
LOL! This is a good point, and my use of “begged” is clearly problematic, HOWEVER, this is your #1 pet peeve?!? ARJ, there are SO MANY more worth while peeves! |
I wouldn’t say unambitious, I would say understated. It’s actually kind of charming, and a refreshing change from our usual propensity for hyperbole. It also strikes me as very Vermont-ish. Not showy or trying too hard. |
(For “propensity for hyperbole,” should I cite examples? RS = largest women’s organization, us = fastest growing and only true church, Music and the Spoken Word = longest-running nationwide network broadcast, MoTab = bestest/biggest, etc) |
My main remark about visiting there: The tour is to a large extent about how the monument was built, which was a great act of devotion. I am glad the site is preserved mostly because it records the hagiographic process by providing a snapshot of 1905. By then Joseph’s own comparison of himself to a “rough stone rolling” has given way to a comparison of Joseph to a giant unblemished, perfect shaft of granite. I think this is constructive. |
I meant instructive, not constructive. |
Cynthia–great examples. Paul 2–you make me sorry that I did not wait for the Visitor’s Center to open and take a tour! Ben and Jerry’s was calling me. Oh, and, I’ve been on way too many Palmyra tours that just don’t do anything but irk me. I shall have to return. |
I can tell you that this is indeed a plumb missionary assignment – at least that was my view of it when my Bartholomew grandparents served there and did the tours (many years ago). We went there to visit them at least a couple of times and it’s such a beautiful place – especially in Fall or Spring. Also it is there that I came to more fully appreciate the joy of genuine Vermont maple syrup. It’s pricey but so worth it! |
ESO, I’m sorry. That is in fact my primary pet peeve. It is like a raw nerve and I am compelled to respond. I know it is obnoxious. Worse than that, it is a losing battle as even professional writers abuse the term regularly. Hopefully the Atonement will cover both their sins and mine, but in this case I am not sure. |
Sadly, I liked the Ben and Jerry’s tour more. |
Hey, we’ve all got our thing. I just think using your for you’re is much more troubling, and don’t get me started on “Have a good one!” or people who wear their pajamas in public. |
I was just about to post the following sentence: I’d much rather see it be worthwhile than worth while. And then I checked and found out that “worthwhile” as a single word apparently wasn’t used in Joseph Smith’s day, dating from only 1884. Is it possible this misspelling was intentional? I hope so. Misspelled signs are among my pet peeves. |
My wife and I sat down at the table with Jospeh Smith. It was off season, and the nice missionary let us climb into the diorama, and even took our picture! This was before they had the music, so maybe things have changed |
Oh wow–that kind of creeps me out. |
I for one am rather annoyed by the phrase “pet peeve”. But then again, I also don’t like the use of “I for one”. And don’t get me started on people who think we shouldn’t begin a sentence with a conjunction. |
I myself have many pet peeves, depending on the day of the week, the weather, whatever. “That which might not bother me in the least one day might turn me into a raging maniac the next day.” (Paraphrasing Joseph Smith) Mostly it depends on how tired I am. |
Chris, I have repented of my conjunction injunction! |
I’m confused. First you complain that it is too much, “I wonder why we have created this kind of a shrine for someone we do not worship”. Then you complain that it is not enough, “It seems so…unambitious”. So which one do you really want? |
We were there on a Sunday morning and it was pouring rain. It was great because we had the whole place to ourselves. I don’t have a problem with a monument for the prophet’s birthplace, but the site has nothing left of any historic value whatsoever. Other than seeing the general area where Joseph was born, there is nothing here for the average member to appreciate. |
I think it’s nice that the church has created this memorial, but I would not bother to go out of my way to see it. It’s kind of an obligatory memorial. We know where he was born, so we had to do something there, but it would be overkill to make too big a deal out of it. Telling people that we hope their visit was worthwhile sounds about right. |
That should be PLUM, not PLUMB. See: Grammar cop out. |
