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Show AT PROPHET JOSEPH'S BIRTHPLACE Visitors Center Is Opened including many of the attended the formal opening Sunday Visitors Center at the Joseph Smith Memorial in South Royalton, Vermont. Hundreds, The visitors were told the story of the Restoration of the Gospel by means of special displays set up in two special buildings in the shadows of a tall granite shaft, marking the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith in December, 1805. Hie memorial with its attractive landand the informative scaping displays is expected to become one of the most frequented places in Vermont. Especially this year it is expected to draw many tourists and other visitors who will be traveling to Expo 67 in Montreal. 300-acr- e Elder Boyd K. Packer, Assistant to the Twelve and president of the New England Mission, was in charge of the formal opening Sunday. The event was preceded by a 10 a.m. conference of the Vermont District, at which a new district president, Dr. Kay Nilsen was sustained to succeed Pres. William J. Lewis. Both the retiring and new district leaders are on the faculty of the University of Vermont at Burlington. Pres. Lewis is on sabbatical leave. Following the conference, tours were Conducted through the Visitors Center by missionaries of the Vermont Zone who serve as guides. Many people came in the afternoon from nearby communities and from the states of Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. .v. A press conference was held two days prior to the opening and representatives were on hand from several newspapers of New England. The opening was also featured on Vermont radio and TV stations. . 4 a fj " f ' ;' . 4 ' - .. ' -- x -- "' '. ' '" ,,. J ' , . Pres. Packer reported the new displays were all in place and everything In readiness for the crowds attending Sunday and on the other days of this week. Inside the two buildings visitors were greeted by missionaries who guided them to original paintings and backlighted photography on scenes from the Old and New Testaments and the Restoration. the full-tim- e reproduction in color phoThey saw a seven-foof Grove the diorama from the Salt Sacred tography Lake visitors Center. There is also a bronze figure of Joseph Smith. ot full-siz- e 5 Two carrousels, circular displays on turntables, featured illustrations by the noted American artist, Ed. Vebell, regarding the church Christ organized, and also by Carl Block on the life of the Savior. Pres. Packer said the opening of the new Memorial facilities marks a significant step in the progress otf a nation-wid- e system of historical sites from Vermont to the west coast known as the Mormon Trail." He drew attention at the conference to the history and growth of the Church in the Vermont area. He explained that during the past five years mem- bership of the Church in New England has doubled. Eighteen chapels have been constructed and two stakes, the Boston and Hartford Stakes, have been organized. The membership in Vermont is also approaching stakehood, he said. There are flourishing branches now in Burlington, Bane, St. Johnsbury, Rutland, White River Junction and Brattleboro, as well as at South Royalton. - a . 4 , 'j ,. Huge, lighted carrousel dominates living room of Joseph Smith Memorial. A program of improvement has been carried on for several years at the Joseph Smith Memorial. This program included erection of the two attractive memorial buildings which house the Visitors Center, a large reflecting pool, extensive landscaping surrounding the impressive monument, and the installation of sound and moving picture equipment where the remarkable story of the Church can be presented. The monument, erected in 1905 at the centennial celebration of the Prophets birth, stands 382 feet high, one foot for each year of his life. It is one of the tallest solid granite shafts in existence. At the dedication of the monument 62 years ago. President Joseph F. Smith, then president of the Church and a nephew of the Prophet, predicted it would be a place of peace and that Vermont shall yet be proud of her native son, Joseph Smith." A new and lovely chapel crowns the hill nearby, a South Royalton branch center for the and the Vermont District. fast-growi- WEEK ENDING JUNE 10, 1967 CHURCH- -3 |