Fit for the Kingdom Part 2

Just to be clear, I was only acting on inspiration. We did what we felt was an inspired adventure for our young women. I am not as amazing as some seem to think. I just like to think I am obedient--or at least try to be.

PS...I could not have done it without the help of outstanding counselors and advisors. Most of all, it would not have been as successful without the outpouring of blessings from our Father in Heaven. Just saying.

Fit for the Kingdom

Last March, I had my young women over to watch the General Young Women's meeting on TV.

It was inspiring to say the least. In Sister Dalton's talk, she told the story of John Moyle. He was a stonemason who was called to do work on the Salt Lake temple. He lived about 22 miles from Salt Lake, so he would get up on Mondays at 2 a.m. to walk the distance to be on time for work at 8. Then, after work on Friday he would walk the distance again until he arrived home at midnight. Once, he was kicked in the leg by a cow and had to have his leg removed just below his knee. When it had healed, he made himself a wooden leg and then continued to make the trip for years. She said that some young women in Salt Lake walked from the Draper temple, to the Salt Lake temple. They carried the name of an ancestor and John Moyle to honor them. When I heard that story, it was like an arrow to my heart and I knew that MY young women needed to have an experience like that.

I spoke to my counselors, and chose September 17 as the day we would walk to the temple. We called our adventure "Fit for the Kingdom," and presented it to the girls.
We asked them to physically and spiritually prepare for this big event.

Their spiritual requirements included: Reading and studying "For the Strength of the Youth" pamphlet, which outlines the standards of the church. There are 22 topics and we asked them to do one a week, while keeping a journal and finding things in their personal progress that went with each topic. We also asked them to develop a pattern of daily prayer. We wanted them to also do a self-affirming statement each day. It could be something like, "I am a daughter of royal birth." Finally, we asked them to choose a person from their ancestry who they admire to walk for. Instead of walking for John Moyle, they also were to think of someone who will someday call them grandma. We told them to think about the fact that their posterity will someday look to them for a good example.

Physically, we asked them to prepare by participating in conditioning walks, eating well, and becoming more physically fit.

During the preparation process, we planned walks three or four times a week. The girls were busy, but many made it to at least one or two a week. We reminded them constantly of the spiritual preparation and expected them to do the things we asked of them. I felt, and still feel that there was a LOT of opposition to our plan. People were getting injured, attitudes weren't always good, and disappointment and frustration were commonplace.

Two weeks ago, I was thinking that maybe this wasn't anything of value, and almost called it off. I changed my mind when a few girls told me they were talking to others about their "big walk." Also, people in our community were offering to come walk with the girls, and others were asking how our preparation was going.

Yesterday, we got up and were off to the starting place by 4:30. The girls were tired, but in good spirits. Since it was so early, we had to walk the first three miles in the dark. Some girls got out to a big lead, and left the rest of us in the dust. When the sun came up, we saw that it was going to be a beautiful day. This meant something to me, because the weatherman had predicted showers right where we would be walking. On Thursday, I said a little prayer that maybe my Father in Heaven would see fit to keep us dry. So, when I saw the sun, and very few clouds, I knew my prayer had been heard and answered.

By the fourth mile, a few girls learned why we had been arranging conditioning hikes. Some were getting blisters on their feet, some had pain in their hips and backs. One sweet girl who is tiny, couldn't keep up because of her stride. By the tenth mile, many had received first aid and were starting to really feel the stress to their bodies. All this time we were walking, we asked them who they were walking for and why they chose them. I loved listening to girls talk about grandmothers who had overcome hardships in their lives, children they hoped to someday have, and pioneers who pushed handcarts, etc. The girls sang songs like "I love to see the temple," and "Shall the Youth of Zion Falter." They laughed and they ATE. Relationships were strengthened and new friendships blossomed. Conversations about teen things and eternal things were heard all over the road. As they walked, the talk lessened and they focused on the task before them. The heat in their feet became overwhelming and the pain in the hips reminded them of why they were treading on dirt roads and asphalt.

Some girls and leaders began to feel overwhelmed with their task. Just as we began walking into Rexburg, young men in our ward greeted us and cheered us as we walked past them. They walked the remaining five miles with us and brought hope and fun to the young women.

By this time, a few of the girls were physically unable to walk and were limping. I worried that they needed to have a ride, but they resisted--saying they HAD to finish the walk and make it to the temple. By now, they could see the temple up on the hill and it became their goal. As if the people of Rexburg knew our girls needed support, they would honk and yell as they drove by. The encouragement helped immensely.

As leaders, we wanted the girls to see this challenge as a metaphor for their lives. That things would be hard, but that if they could do this, they could do anything! We told them that having to ride for a minute was a real life fact. Sometimes, we all need support. We talked about how the friendships we make on earth can help and sustain us through hard times. We taught them that even though some times our lives may seem all uphill, sometimes life can be level and even downhill.

I had arranged for the girls families to meet them at the temple, just like our loved ones will meet us after we pass from this life. As we walked up to the temple and they could see their families, I became emotional. Maybe its because I am closer to seeing those who've gone than they are, or just because I knew what it would mean to them. Their families were cheering and yelling encouragement to them. Then, the most touching thing happened. The girls did NOT lose sight of the goal. They hugged their families, and then walked right past them to the temple. Although they were so fatigued, they trudged up the stairs and went to the temple and touched it.

My vision, or what I thought we were supposed to bring to the girls was so tiny in comparison to what they actually got. Each girl had their own personal story. Each girl grew in their own way. The spirit of the thing affected them in ways so much more profound than I would have ever guessed. I wouldn't have ever predicted my own reaction to the walk. It has changed my life. I know I can do things I didn't think I could. I fell in love with my Marki more as I watched him give up his only day off for my young women. I grew closer to the girls as we walked and talked. I knew that my Father in Heaven really did have a goal for my girls, and that he heard my prayers--and answered them. I felt the spirit of the temple outside of the temple. On so many levels, this was one of the defining moments of my life.