Notes from Kirtland Trip '97

I've been consolidating some of my stuff and have found some things I previously have written. The following is a journal entry I wrote after a church history trip I took with my roommate at the time, Chad Conrad. There are some nice thoughts. I'm including it here so it doesn't spend another 13 years in a box.

June 18, 1997

Chad and I are on a plane right now returning from Kansas City and our 9 day vacation. The trip was a 100% success. We were blessed with safety and good spirits the whole trip. The trip took us to Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas and Missouri. We stayed one night with Ty Rasmussen – it was nice to see him. We spent a day in Kirtland, three days in Nauvoo, and two days in Kansas City.

My favorite site this go-round was the Whitney store. The spirit was almost as strong as I have ever felt. Our guide spoke with testimony. We did not feel rushed and were able to sit and meditate on the events that occurred there.

We noticed a big difference between the LDS guides and the RLDS guides. Opie, one of our tour guides, mentioned that he (RLDS) was more interested in relating the history of the homes in Nauvoo. He said that history was fact, and easy to convey with authority. But the religious stories were not so easy to be an expert in, since everyone had their interpretations. Whenever religion was discussed, Opie said the discussion would deteriorate to opinions. Thus, he just wanted to convey facts.

As a side note, any stories he did share with us all cast doubt on the character of the Prophet Joseph. Nothing he said was positive. While on Opie’s tour through the RLDS sites in Nauvoo, I was able to feel the spirit – but it was the spirit I bought with me.

Perhaps this is the reason the spirit was so strong in the Whitney store. We had just been through the Kirtland Temple, and the whole time were basically told about the construction and what the building is currently used for. I wanted to bear testimony to the events that happened there. Testimony was borne, but only to me. Following this experience we went to the Whitney Store where testimony was freely borne and received. Certainly we were uplifted and edified and rejoiced one with another.

We talked a lot with people from the reorganized church and also the Church of Christ or Hedrickites. We talked of their doctrines and histories. After learning more of their churches, I reaffirmed my faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The trip has been a boost to my testimony; not to the things I know, but to the allegiance I feel to what I know – my resolution to be “true to the faith.” I want to be an active part of Zion – not only of the past but of the future.