2026 Remembering the Restoration with Rich Robins

Today, we board our flight and begin what promises to be a memorable journey through Church History. After arriving in Boston, we’ll catch our first glimpses of this historic city as we make our way to the hotel. We will drive by historic Bunker Hill, the site of one of the earliest and most significant battles of the American Revolutionary War. On this evening, we will gather for our Welcome Dinner, a chance to get acquainted as a group and preview some of the sacred sites and remarkable events stories that will deepen strengthen our understanding of the Restoration..

This morning, we step into the heart of Revolutionary War history as we relive the first moments of America’s fight for freedom. Our journey begins at the site where the “shot heard ’round the world” was fired—marking the beginning of the American Revolution and forever changing the course of history. We’ll travel along the historic Battle Road, the route British troops took on April 19, 1775, and stop at several key points where colonial militias and British forces clashed. Along the way, we’ll drive by the site where Paul Revere was captured during his famous midnight ride, bringing his daring mission to an abrupt halt—but not before the alarm had been sounded. As we explore the Lexington Green and Concord’s North Bridge, we’ll come to understand the people, places, and pivotal events that sparked the struggle for American independence.

This afternoon, we leave behind the Revolutionary battlefields and travel to West Lebanon, New Hampshire—a peaceful setting that connects us to the next chapter in the story of religious freedom and the Restoration of the Gospel.

Today, we journey into the early life of the Prophet Joseph Smith, beginning at the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in Sharon, Vermont. Born here on December 23, 1805, Joseph’s life would soon shape the course of religious history. We will visit the LDS Visitor’s Center, learn about the Smith family’s humble beginnings, and see the monument marking his birthplace—a remarkable 38.5-foot granite obelisk, symbolizing each year of the Prophet’s life and standing as one of the largest solid granite shafts in the world. Next, we travel to Tunbridge, Vermont, where Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith were married and first established a home.

As we travel through Vermont’s stunning countryside, we’ll enjoy views of rolling hills, vibrant forests, the white-steepled Churches, and the state’s iconic covered bridges—a landscape not so different from what the Smith family would have known..

Our next stop is the Bennington Battle Monument, a towering 306-foot-high stone obelisk commemorating the Battle of Bennington, a key American victory and the turning point of the Revolutionary War.

This morning, we continue our journey toward one of the most sacred sites in the Restoration—the Priesthood Restoration Site in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. As we travel, we’ll make brief stops to see two historically significant locations:

• The Joseph Knight Home – Joseph Knight Sr. was a close friend and supporter of the Prophet Joseph Smith. His temporal and spiritual support played a crucial role in the early days of the Restoration.
• The Josiah Stowell Home – It was while working for Josiah Stowell in 1825 that Joseph Smith first came to this region.

Upon arrival at the Priesthood Restoration Site, we will explore the Visitors’ Center, the reconstructed homes of Joseph and Emma Smith and of Isaac and Elizabeth Hale, the Sugar Bush area where John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on May 15, 1829, conferring upon them the Aaronic Priesthood, and the Susquehanna River, where Joseph and Oliver were baptized.

Early this morning, we journey to Fayette, New York, where we will attend Sacrament Meeting in the chapel on the farm of Peter Whitmer Sr., – the very place where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially organized on April 6, 1830.

After lunch and our tour of the Whitmer Farm, we continue on to Palmyra, New York, one of the most sacred locations in our Church history. We begin at Joseph Smith Sr. Farm to visit the frame home and the reconstructed log home, where the Angel Moroni first appeared to Joseph Smith in 1823, preparing him for his prophetic calling and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Our last stop will be the Sacred Grove, where Joseph Smith prayed as a 14-year-old boy and was visited by God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ in the First Vision. In this peaceful and holy setting, you’ll have time to walk, reflect, and feel the assuring witness and comfort of the Spirit.

Today, we continue our journey to the Hill Cumorah and the newly-restored and dedicated Hill Cumorah Visitors’ Center. Next, we’ll walk the halls of history at the Grandin Building in downtown Palmyra, where the Book of Mormon was first printed and published in 1830. We then visit the grave site of Alvin Smith, the eldest brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith, whose untimely death in 1823, deeply affected the Smith family and influenced Joseph’s spiritual understanding of life after death. Our final stop today is Mendon, New York, where we will review the missionary labors of Samuel Smith, one of the very first missionaries of the newly restored Church. His efforts would eventually lead to the conversion of Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball.

As we depart Palmyra, we leave behind sacred ground where the Restoration began and continue our journey to one of nature’s grandest wonders—Niagara Falls, the oldest state park in the United States. Here, we will board the world-famous “Maid of the Mist,” a thrilling boat ride that takes us right up to the base of the roaring falls and into the Horseshoe Basin. It’s a fun and unforgettable experience! Next, we’ll continue our travels to Kirtland, Ohio, where we explore the next chapter in the unfolding of the Restoration.

Today we begin with a visit to the Kirtland Temple, the first temple built in the latter days. Here, we remember the sacred events where the Lord, Jesus Christ appeared, along with heavenly messengers such as Moses, Elias, Elijah, and numerous other angels. Next, we tour the newly restored Joseph Smith Home. After lunch, we spend the afternoon exploring the Morley Farm and the historic Kirtland Village which includes: The Kirtland Visitor’s Center, The Whitney Home and Store, and The Ashery and Sawmill.

This morning, we depart for Hiram, Ohio, to visit the John Johnson Farm—a peaceful and sacred place where profound revelations were received. It was here that Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon received “The Vision” (Doctrine and Covenants 76), which unfolded a majestic understanding of the three degrees of glory. This afternoon, we make our way to the airport for our flight home, carrying with us not just photos and memories, but a deeper appreciation for the life and mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the faith of the early Saints, and the