Trek+Youth=AMAZING!

As you all know I am BLESSED to be the 2nd counselor in the Young Womens in my ward. I love the YW's!!! I have served in the Young Womens for SOOOOO many years, and I love it every bit as much today as I ever had...in fact I love it more so.



For youth conference we went on Trek, and let me tell you it was AMAZING! I wonder if I got more out of it then the youth did. What an amazing and humbling experience.


We had so many character building experiences and learned so much. On the second day of trek we simulated "Rocky Ridge"...which was an all womens pull. We started out that day and walked maybe about a mile where we stopped and broke into two groups, men and women. There we had a little inspirational meeting for both groups. I am not sure what the men talked about but the women/young women sure were uplifted. Sister Henson (one of the Trek Masters) talked to us about some of the strong women who pulled husbands and children up Rocky Ridge, and how it was so extremely tough for them. Then she talked about how our girls have extremely tough situations in this day that they have to pull up...their own Rocky Ridges.

She then quoted Margaret D. Nadauld who was a Young Women general president by saying this: “The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. … There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity”.

After the breakout session we headed back to our handcarts. On our way to our handcarts we witnessed something ever so humbling it was all the Men and Young Men on their knees praying. I would like to wish they were praying for these remarkable Young Women who needed to be strengthened for the next leg of our journey. As we started walking we were asked if we would walk and pull in silence. As we pulled emotions started to hit each and every member of our company. One by one the young men and men left our handcarts and headed to the top of the hill to watch us in reverence. As we pushed and pulled up the to the top of the hill we were trying to suppress our emotions so we could make it. I pulled the handcart with three of my girls and we had two leaders pushing our cart. One of our leaders who has M.S who was pushing the handcart had to step to the side to rest for a moment and we were left with one leader on the back of the cart. It was tough...but WE DID IT! As we reached the crest of the hill we heard some violin music playing "Come Come ye Saints" when we reached the violinist she played "....all is well ...all is well". In unison the four of us girls pulling that handcart was overcome with emotion that we erupted in sobs. I can't imagine what it must have been like for those pioneer women to pull their children and husbands up Rocky Ridge, with no shoes only their feet wrapped in burlap and leather straps, and in freezing weather. It took us maybe 20 minutes to pull to the crest of that hill it took the pioneers 20 hours to pull up the ridge. I am humbled by my meager experience and I marvel at the strength and selfless sacrifice of those amazing pioneers who paved the way.

There are so many more amazing experience that I will forever treasure...would I go again? IN A HEART BEAT!