St. Patrick and Cumorah

Me & St. Patrick

Last year we visited the Hill of Slane/Sláine in Ireland where there is a statue of St. Patrick. The Hill overlooks the prehistoric passage-mounds of the Boyne Valley, such as Newgrange.

Traditionally, this hill is the place where Saint Patrick lit the paschal fire, bringing Christianity to Ireland. Naturally, some scholars disagree (as scholars usually do).

The Irish do a good job preserving and commemorating their history. There are excellent signs posted, nice visitors centers, and careful preservation of historic sites and structures. Exhibits show original documents and explain different interpretations of evidence.

At Newgrange, they even preserve the post-molds to show where ancient structures once stood.

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The Church also does an excellent job of preserving sites, structures, documents and artifacts related to Church history. The visitors centers are all informative, with attractive graphics, dioramas, maps, etc. Visitors learn a great deal and are offered resources to learn more.

With one exception.

At the Hill Cumorah, there is not a word about what early Church leaders said about the site, apart from it being the location of Moroni's stone box. No placard with the text from Letter VII on it. Nothing from Lucy Mack Smith's history about Cumorah, nothing from David Whitmer, Martin Harris, Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, etc. Not even anything about Ramah.

It's all very strange.

And it's the same at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, except they have one small exhibit that at least tells people where the Hill Cumorah is located. Kudos to them for that.

But still, no mention of Letter VII or any of the teachings of the prophets about Cumorah/Ramah.

Very strange...