Trip around the United States

Memories from Linda, Susan and Amy    

     After months of planning on the part of our parents, we ventured out on a three-week long American and Church history tour across the country with six kids from 10 to 19 years of age. We must have been quite a sight as we barreled down the road in our white, faux wood paneled Ford LTD station wagon with two giant fiberglass car top carriers attached to the roof. One carried all the camping gear, which consisted of a large Springbar tent with three modular zip-on bedrooms.  If you think this was easy to set-up, you are mistaken. We also had a Coleman stove and lantern, blow-up mattress for eight, a foot pump and various other equipment. The second carrier held three large suitcases; one for the girls, one for the boys and one for our parents. In the back seat of the car was a large Coleman cooler that held little more than stinky hard boiled eggs and bananas.  It stunk to high heaven.

     It’s hard to believe, but we actually had a seating chart where we rotated seats—giving everyone equal chances to sit by the smelly cooler. Mind you, car air conditioning in 1973 consisted of three vents on the dash board shooting cold air into the car. There was little chance that any cool air ever made it to the back seat and the seating rotation at this post was pretty miserable. To add to the discomfort, the two back seats were jump seats that faced each other behind the middle row. Of course, none of us wore seat belts and we rumbled along in real style.

     During the 21-day trip we went through 22 states only staying two nights in a motel. We stayed in KOA campgrounds most of the time, although there were several nights where we stayed at the home of acquaintances of my parents. Dad would call ahead and ask if we could set up our tent in their backyard. They were always gracious and welcomed us to their homes—and we never slept in a back yard. They just made room for us and we piled into their homes using freed-up bedrooms, couches and the floor.  Often, they had prepared a hot delicious meal for us when we arrived. Every host acted thrilled to have us. Everyone loved and admired mom and dad.

      When we stayed at campgrounds overnight, breakfast was typically cold cereal, milk and fruit. Occasionally, the KOA campground would have a swimming pool—a great bonus for the kids.

      As we traveled, our lunches were made in an assembly line across the middle seat of the car. We would stop at a grocery store and purchase sandwich supplies of bread, cheese, bologna, mayonnaise and mustard. To save time and money, Dad would run into the store alone without the company of us kids. I don’t remember going into any store with him on the trip, or eating at any restaurants. Today, our parents would create a blog and show the world how to successful cross the country with a family of eight on a budget.  We also ate a loaf of peanut butter and honey sandwiches frequently.

      Dinner was made on a Coleman stove and was often created from produce picked up at roadside stands; corn on the cob, cabbage and other veggies. One memorable time we stopped by a roadside stand and purchased a huge cabbage for 25 cents. We cut it up with a pocket knife and ate it in strips as we traveled along. Fond memories.

      The deep south was a real eye-opener for us. It seemed we had left the United States as we traveled through Alabama, Louisiana, and Georgia. We stopped at, or passed by, many old plantations.

     A high priority in the South was to see South Carolina where Amy was born.  Our parents’ beloved friends, the Royals, were still living there and they organized a huge potluck dinner at the ward house for all of Dad and Mom’s old friends. It was really memorable.

      As we made our way up the east coast, we went to Williamsburg and then on to Washington D.C. In Washington, we were hosted by Reed Benson, a family friend from BYU days. Reed was the son of Ezra Taft Benson. Reed was quite the tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about this sites and history of the nation’s capital. He took us in his Volkswagen bus to the monuments and museums of the city. He would drop us off at each of the sites and then wait for us in his parked car so that we could jump back in and head off the next site when we were done.  The capital was so memorable for us and we saw many places. I will never forget an experience we had at the Lincoln Memorial. A little black boy was standing at the foot of Lincoln’s grand statue and asked his mother who he was. His mother knelt down beside him and said, “Why honey, he is the most important man in our lives.”  What a legacy Lincoln left. We were pretty young on this trip, but the significance of the heroes and the history of the nation were not lost on us.    

     While there we also toured Monticello and Mount Vernon. 

     We made our way up the coast to New York City and drove through the Burroughs. I’ll never forget the feeling of driving through the Bronx and Harlem. It seemed very dangerous and exotic to me. What a city. After the Big Apple, we headed to Boston and walked the Freedom Trail before starting our journey home through Church history sites.

     Perhaps the pinnacle of the trip was our time in the Sacred Grove where we were able to have a private family testimony meeting. All these years later, I can visualize our family sitting on fallen logs off the trail bearing testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel and the Prophet Joseph Smith. It was a remarkable thing to have parents of faith who provided us with spiritually nurturing experiences that blessed our lives and built our testimonies. We never doubted their testimonies and heard them often.  Dad told us how blessed we were to have mom as our mother because she was one of the “noble and greats”.

     After our time in Palmyra, we headed west, first stopping at Niagara Falls and then on to Kirtland, Ohio. Karl Anderson, foremost authority on Kirtland and friend of dads was our guide. We had a very memorable time there with the few buildings that were standing and of course, in the Kirtland Temple.  After Kirtland, we drove to Nauvoo to see the temple site and a couple of pioneer era homes that had survived the ravages of time since the Saints had been driven out. It was very impressionable and sobering to be in the Carthage Jail where the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum were martyred. Dad also made arrangements for us to meet with Dr. LeRoy Kimball who had purchased his grandfather, Heber C. Kimball’s home and restored it with the intent that it would be a summer home to enjoy. Tourist interest was so great in the home that they never slept in the house—and he ultimately donated it to the Church. Dr. Kimball was the leading force behind the restoration of Old Nauvoo.

      The pace of this trip was daunting. We saved time by eating on the run and focusing on key locations. We didn’t stop and play much, but had a remarkable time together. As we headed home, we stopped at Adam-Ondi-Ahman and Liberty Jail before pushing on across the prairies of the Nebraska to Salt Lake City.

      It is hard to believe that we made the whole trip in 21 days. We saw so much along the way, but the lingering effect was a profound love for our country and the founders. More importantly, we were given a glimpse into the Restoration and the building of the kingdom in New York, Missouri and Ohio that left a lasting impression upon us and strengthened our faith.

     I will always be grateful to my parents for the sacrifices they made for this trip and other experiences that broadened our view of the world and strengthened our faith. Their investment in educational travel over the years has blessed our lives immensely. I will be forever grateful to them for the blessing they have been in my life.