so I first heard about this program in
one of my religion classes. It's really
just incredible. I mean anybody who wants
to go on one of these programs should
really consider that these study
abroad programs, this experiential
learning it's far and away the best way
to learn.
It is so worth it to come out
and to experience these actually spots
where the
restoration of the gospel took place.
Well as far as fun
experiences that we do out here, we spend
a lot of time together and it's really
quite incredible how close you can get
to people and the things you're able to
share and just the relationships you
build with the people is wonderful and tons of fun.
This experience has
been phenomenal. For me, I recently
returned home from a mission and it's
been refreshing to focus on the gospel
this much again. It's helped me focus
again on my Savior and really taught me a ton.
As I'm on this travel study I can
see as important as our history is, it is
important only because it is preparation
for what will come.
I've come to realize
that I came on the study abroad to learn
about the restoration of the church but
it's turned out that I've learned more
about the restoring church, that we're
part of the restoration now, that the
restoration is still taking place, that
the foundation that Joseph Smith and
Hyrum Smith and all these wonderful
people put in place, is happening right
now with us and we get to be part of that.
I think that experiential or
inspired learning really happens when
you have a personal experience while
learning whether inside or outside of
the classroom and this trip really helps
you get that sort of experience. Some of
these places hold a special power and a
certain spirit about them and here where
it's a church history travel study you
feel comfortable being able to pray and
get your own answers and that's really
inspired learning.
We headed out to
Sharon, Vermont to the birthplace of
Joseph Smith. As you walked around you
could just feel a stillness and a peace
about the area.
It was a place where I truly came to
know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of
God. One of the best parts about it was I
wanted to share that with my family. I
remember grabbing my cell phone and
calling my mom, my dad, my brother, and
sharing that experience with them
because I know that Joseph Smith is a
prophet of God and that he truly was
sent to come down to this earth and that
he was born in Sharon, Vermont with a
purpose to restore this gospel.
I came on
this church history travel study because
I want to teach my future family about
all these places and Nauvoo is my favorite
place, especially the temple, just being
up around because I feel like this whole
trip culminates in being at the temple
and the ordinances that are there. The
whole restoration points towards the temple.
Since I'm a convert, I'd never
been to any of these places before. This
program in particular has helped me
connect and feel inspired by learning
about the real struggles and the real
blessings that were experienced by real
people in these places and that
inspiration honestly has made all of the
difference to my education here at BYU.
Being on this trip is really my dream.
I've always wanted to come and see the
church history sites but I didn't think
that I would ever get the opportunity. I
was able to go to the Sacred Grove and
kneel down and pray and ask God really if
everything was true. I got my
confirmation. I mean it was amazing and
incredible and basically this trip has
exceeded my expectations. I just hope
that I will be able to continue to feel
the spirit everyday and continue that
throughout my whole life.
