Students are getting a chance to live a chapter of church
history
through the Nauvoo study program.
"We are trying to make the program a great learning on-location
experience," said Debby Bennion, the Nauvoo study program
developer. "One that equals the Jerusalem program."
Bennion said that along with a formal education, students
get a chance
to watch construction of the temple, participate in a
Nauvoo pageant,
go on field trips and do community service.
Retired faculty run the program.
"A few of the faculty were given special missionary calls
to teach," Bennion said. "The rest are there because they
have a special love for Nauvoo."
Bennion said that after experiencing Nauvoo, students will
come away with a greater appreciation for the early saints
and gain a greater testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith,
while developing lifelong friendships.
"Although students may leave Nauvoo," she said. "Nauvoo will never leave the students."
Melinda Fitzgerald, 21, a public relations major from Provo, said she enjoyed the program.
"It is the best way in the world to get on fire about church history and genealogy," she said.
Fitzgerald said her highlights included walking everyday
where Joseph Smith walked and watching the Nauvoo
temple being built daily.
The program also tours famous church sites including Palmyra,
the Hill Cumorah, Kirtland, Hiram, Independence,
Far West, Adam-ondi-Ahman, WinterQuarters, Liberty and
Carthage jails.
The Nauvoo study program began in 1994 with the help of Milton Backman, a retired BYU religion professor.
The program is offered Fall and Winter semesters.
The administration hopes to attract half of the students from BYU, Bennion said.
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