How to wire up the arduino kit
Go to the Arduino site and just use the examples.  If you use the normal shields and LCD then the Arduino Software already includes the drivers AND example code.  With only a few clicks you can have it working and then start customizing for your own project.

http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/LiquidCrystal?from=Tutorial.LCDLibrary

I have been using microprocessors for 30 years now and the hard part getting started with the Arduino is how EASY it is.  

1 Download the software and unzip it.

2 Plug in your arduino to the USB and help Windows (if you use windows) to find the USB drivers.

3 Start the arduino software and select your Arduino model and COM port (the arduino driver installs as a serial port) from the Tools menu.

4 Use the File menu to open an example sketch (I suggest Blink and then LCD).

5 (this was hard part for me...) just the push the arrow button and it compiles and loads the program to the arduino board.  That's it!

Done.