Volume 3: What We Learned Traveling to Our Area

 

For those who want to know a little more:

There have been a few times on our trip, as we crossed through six states, that we are like our forefathers who were pioneers traveling across the plains. We stopped at as many locations where there were pioneer settlements as we could. We followed the history of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, backward and ended in the area we will be serving. We are changed because of this trip. We see in a way you cannot until you go to these places, how soft, spoiled, and entitled we are in these latter days of the church. We really have no idea what sacrifice means, and I cannot help but wonder if and when things get hard who, and will I be strong enough to stand and proclaim that I am a member of this church. Right now our tags announce that to the world. So, in that sense, it's easy to say who I am and what I believe. I know back at home it wasn't that easy. You get so caught up in the day-to-day. You forget the eternal perspective of things. I am changed. Jeff is changed. I recommend this trip as a family vacation. It will change you too. 

Our last stop was the temple in Kansas which is incredibly beautiful. And the flowers. I swear they are the biggest ones I have ever seen! Before that, we went to Liberty Jail where Joseph and others suffered the bitter cold unjustly for many months. Seeing the jail floor they slept and lived is very humbling. You can read more about this experience in D&C 121-123. Joseph was in constant prayer with the Father during this time. He received revelation from God. It is recorded in these scriptures. They have been a favorite of ours for a long time for different reasons. Anytime we go through a trial, the words whispered to Joseph, "The son of man descended below all things, art thou greater than He?" Is a haunting gut check to our own personal struggles. We are never alone. God is always with us. As He was for Joseph Smith.