Palmyra.

My Palmyra adventure began when I hopped on a Megabus all by myself (sounds sketch, I know, but it really wasn't bad at all! Well, minus the time when we had to pull over so that an EMT could meet us and save a passenger. That was fun.), and jumped off at Union Station right smack dab in the middle of Washington D.C. I met a Turkish friend who was overly excited to practice his English with me as he told me that he would rather visit London than my home country. It was charming.

I walked out into the humid air and pushed past the Congress pages who were catching the metro home and was greeted by an old friend - Laura!  How exciting it was to see this little lady again! We got our toes done (even though we got there five minutes before the salon closed... "If you see sign on, you come on in.") and bought food to last us on our drive up north.

Initially, we knew that the drive would take about six and a half hours; however, we became very excited when the GPS told us it would only take five hours and twenty-two minutes. GPS's lie. It took us about seven hours total including stops and such. Seven glorious hours of our favorite songs, hard core laughter, searches (and a discovery) of Amish buggies, creepy teenage boys stalking us, rainy skies, green landscape, no-name cities, reminisces about our freshman year, and one out of place white Statue of Liberty in Pennsylvania.

Our first stop was Canandaigua, New York. My spell check doesn't even recognize the name. And neither did I when I first read it. We were just happy to see civilization when we pulled into town. Little did I know how much I would love it by the time we left! Canandaigua is filled with cute shops and diners that line a downtown located on a lake. Laura and I were very fortunate to be allowed to stay with a sweet, sweet family that welcomed us into their home for a couple nights. We threw our stuff into our room and rushed out so that we wouldn't be late for Pageant that night.

Now, when most people heard that I was heading to New York to see a pageant, they immediately assumed that I was heading into the city to watch a beauty pageant. Little did they know I was going to be about five hours north of there and watching a narration of Book of Mormon stories. Just a little different.

Before the first night at Pageant, we stopped at a little restaurant called "Buffalo Bill's" in Shortsville, New York. Another town that I now love. When we first went in for dinner, the host told us it would be about ten to fifteen minutes. So we told him that we would be back and went outside to look around. When we returned twelve minutes later, I could tell something was up by the way he looked at us. He meekly walked over and said, "Oh, you're back. I just gave your table away." I was a little shocked, since everyone knows how the Yankees are known for their hospitality. Eventually, we got a table and ate dinner. Next stop was Pageant!

When you walk in, there are about ten million people welcoming you to pageant. "Welcome to Pageant!" "Welcome to pageant! We are so glad to have you here." "WELCOME TO PAGEANT!" It's a little overwhelming. But, we made it through the crowd and were greeted by Laman. Some who are familiar with the Book of Mormon would have ran from such a character who is known for his  murmuring and life of sin, but being the brave souls we are, we followed this bearded man to the seats he so kindly saved for us. Luckily, I actually knew "Laman" (how cool is that?!) - he's my friend from BYU and also one of the nicest Yanks you will ever meet (he even says "y'all").

The Pageant is a massive production with over 800 people who volunteer their time to put on such a wonderful show. Located on the Hill Cumorah, where Moroni delivered the Golden Plates to Joseph Smith, it takes you through ten major stories found in the Book of Mormon and testify of Christ. It's something you need to see at least once in your life. Laura and I were able to see it twice in one weekend! I couldn't describe it any better than the pamphlet, "With its sound and lighting, its special effects, and its elaborate costuming, the pageant is still carefully designed to present the simple message of Jesus Christ's love for all people."

Leaving the pageant amazed and uplifted, we were thrown back to reality when we discovered that the car had a flat tire. Always an adventure. We made it back to the home where we were staying and could not have been in better circumstances - the home owner was a car dealer and referred us to a reliable tire place! The next morning, we (more like Laura) woke up early and made the necessary calls to get us back on our way. While the tire was being fixed, we discovered downtown Canandaigua and had the best breakfast at the cutest little diner. After Laura met her soul mate at the tire shop (oh, Larry.) and the car had a shiny new tire, we were on the road again!

I try to go to the temple as often as possible so it was a very special experience to be able to do baptisms in the Palmyra Temple. It was my first time in the Palmyra temple and I was taken back by its beauty! All temples, of course, are beautiful but this one was especially beautiful as it is positioned on the edge of the Smith Family Farm property and can be seen from the Sacred Grove. A very special experience, indeed.

We then toured the Smith Family Farm and took some time to reflect in the Sacred Grove. It amazes me to think that a 14-year-old boy had enough faith and humility to bow down and ask his Father in Heaven a question that would ultimately change the lives of millions. Without his simple prayer, I don't know where I would be today. I can only pray that one day I too will have the strength, courage, and faith that Joseph displayed as he went through the journey of translating the Book of Mormon. While I was in the Grove, I felt an overwhelming feeling of peace and love. There is no question that that is the exact Grove where our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith to restore the true Gospel to this earth. Just as Heavenly Father guided Joseph Smith through the process of organizing the Church and translating the Book of Mormon, I know that He also guides me (and you!) through daily life - even with things that are much smaller in comparison to the great things Joseph did. I felt His love and reassurance that even though I may not know where my life is taking me right now, that it would be okay because He loves me and has a plan for me - a plan of happiness.

Grandin Printing Press was our next stop! We took small tours with missionaries and it's crazy how much work went into one book! We are so blessed to live in an age where computers do most of the work for us now! My favorite part with this stop was that we were able to see all the languages that the Book of Mormon is printed in now. Complete amazement! There were languages I didn't even know existed that now have the opportunity to read from the Book of Mormon! It was also really cool to see the Books of Mormon that my friends would now be teaching from on their missions including Cebuano, Icelandic, and Hiligaynon. Absolutely amazing.

Now, you might be thinking that there is no way we could fit any more into this already jam packed day. I would tell you that you are wrong! Because we did! We stopped at the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center then mingled with Book of Mormon characters before the last night of Pageant. We got to take pictures with some of the main characters including one who looked exactly like James Franco!

I was sad to see the Pageant come to an end on the final night! Not only did this mean back to the real world, but as with most spiritual things, it left me wanting more! I love the re-boost that things such as Pageant, General Conference, etc. leave you with. You leave them wanting to change the world and shout your testimony for everyone to hear from the top of the Empire State Building! It was a testimony builder for sure and I am so thankful that I was able to go and experience it once again.

We said farewell to Laman until the Fall and headed back to Canandaigua. We went to church the next morning then were off! I was legitimately sad to wave goodbye to Canandaigua and our fun, little adventure. Even though it was short, it was filled with everything I needed. I don't think I would change a thing if I had the chance to. We saw everything. We did all the big stuff. And had a blast. What more could I ask for? On the way back we stopped at a suggested restaurant, "The Country Cupboard." It was a fun little place! The next day, I boarded a bus back to North Carolina and made it safely home missing the fun of vacation.

I invite you to find out for yourself what makes the Book of Mormon such an important book. It not only testifies of Christ's good works and life, but also of His unconditional love for you and me and how the power of the Atonement can helps us all to return back to His presence. The Book of Mormon is one of my most favorite things in the world and I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to read from it everyday. It inspires me to be a better person and teaches me how to live a greater, more fulfilling life. The Book of Mormon truly is the word of God.

A special thank you to the people who helped make this trip possible. There is no way I would have been able to pull it off without your help!

Canandaigua, don't change. I'll be back.

Xoxo

Buffalo Bill's.

Peace & Blessings & Cookies.

First night of Pageant!

Yum.

Canandaigua, I love you.

I love to see the temple.

Hiligaynon and Icelandic!

Beautiful.

Smith Family Farm.

JAMES FRANCO, AM I RIGHT?!

He thought he was big stuff.

J. Smith.

Crazy eyebrows.

Can I go back?

He's a G E N I U S.

Exhaustion when we pulled into Laura's driveway.