5. Susquehanna River

This photograph shows the Susquehanna River in Harmony Township, Pennsylvania.

Significant Events: Joseph Smith Jr. first came to Harmony in 1825 to find employment. He and his father boarded near here in the Isaac Hale home, where Joseph first met Emma Hale, his future wife (JS—H 1:56–57). Joseph and Emma were married January 18, 1827. The Prophet received the gold plates September 22, 1827, at Manchester, New York, and soon thereafter moved with Emma to Harmony, where he began translating the plates. During the translation of the Book of Mormon, Joseph and Oliver Cowdery wanted to know more about baptism and walked to a spot in the woods near here to pray to the Lord concerning the subject. In answer to this prayer, John the Baptist appeared on May 15, 1829 (JS—H 1:66–74; D&C 13). He conferred the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph and Oliver. They then went to the river and baptized each other for the remission of sins. Joseph and Oliver were then directed by John the Baptist to ordain one another to the Aaronic Priesthood. Soon thereafter, Peter, James, and John appeared between Harmony and Colesville and conferred on Joseph and Oliver the Melchizedek Priesthood (D&C 27:12–13; 128:20).