Learning Experiences

As I prepare to embark on a journey, I was drawn to the topic of learning.
We can learn all sorts of things, in all subject matter, in all sorts of ways.
We are encouraged to study all that we can. In the Doctrine and Covenants, it says to "seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith" (D&C 88:118, emphasis added). I believe that the reason that we are encouraged to seek wisdom and learning is because we can learn things pertaining to us both spiritually and temporally.
Jesus Christ said in the New Testament, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me" (Matt. 11:29). Learning more about Christ and how to emulate Him is what's most important.
Here's something I find pretty cool: the Old Testament prophet Daniel was gifted with the ability to learn. "As for these four children [meaning Daniel and his friends], God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom" (Dan. 1:17). Some of us, too, have been gifted with the ability to learn. And if we feel that learning may not be something we are good at, we can pray for the gift of learning, that we can learn more and learn more effectively.

I don't know about you, but I personally enjoy learning, and every time I take a trip, I like to learn along the way.
And that is exactly what kind of journey this will be.
We will be going to Germany and Austria. Just a few of the things that I know I will learn about on this trip:

• At Dachau: Dachau was one of the first concentration camps built in the 1930s and became an example for future concentration camps. It was one of the worst camps at which to be imprisoned. There, I can learn in person about the horrors of Dachau and about life in concentration camps in general, about World War II and the Nazi regime, and gain a better appreciation for the world in which I now live.
  

• At Neuschwanstein: I can learn about the history and explore the architecture of this beautiful castle after which the Disneyland castle was modeled.

Neuschwanstein Castle (credit: Amazon.com)

Disneyland Castle (credit: TheEnchantedManor.com)

• In Salzburg: I will be able to experience firsthand the musical culture of Salzburg (yay!). Salzburg sound familiar? It's also the home of the famous Von Trapp family and filming city of many scenes from Rodgers & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music, including the Mirabelle gardens where many of the scenes from the song "Do-Re-Mi" were filmed. (Yes, we will be taking the special tour. Four hours of living the dream!)

Credit: AmericanSongWriter.com

Credit: TheWorldIsABook.com

Credit: FlipTravels.com

Auf Weidersehen!