Youth Conference

Don't let the gravel road fool you. It was not gravel all the way up.

This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time. A TREK.

Yup, I did. Why? MMMmmmmm

Okay, I am getting a head of my self. What a great 3 days I have just had.

If the youth experienced half of what I got out of this youth conference, then

youth conference was successful.

1st day: We had created the city of Nauvoo with the help of my dear friend

Sherrie Cottom. If you know her, you know that she went all out and...she

did. That woman is amazing. We had the youth come and go around to

the different rooms. In each of the rooms we had people telling stories about

there shop and some experience they may have had as a pioneers. Then we had
Tiffany come and I don't know what instrument she played, but it sounded
like bag pipes "Praise to the man". Then Pres. Elegante came in and told us
the prophet had been shot and we were leaving our city first thing in the morning
to head to Zion.


2nd day: Trek
Easy? no. Worth it? YES
What an incredible experience I had.
Three of us had put everyone in families. It was fun. Like thinking things like....
Marcus comes from a family of all boys so let's put him in a family with all girls.
Did we stop to think of how hard it would be? Ummm no.
My heart went out to his family.
We had a family of orphans. (all youth)
A family with all daughters.
My heart hurt for each on of them. I had an amazing family. Strong youth. Had I
been fair in placing the families?
How did the pioneers do it. There were women with out husbands.
Family members that died along the way.
We only had one day.
Another part was when the women had to pull the hand carts up the hill. I was so
determined to do it. I was warn out!! I pushed as hard as I could. I didn't think
I was going to make it and then at the point that I couldn't go any farther, Pres
Elegante stepped in and pushed the rest of the way up the hill for me.
How blessed I had been once again. I had the strength of the brethren rescue
me again.
Oh yea, and lunch? It was the best bread and jam I have ever eaten in my life!

We were told time and time again that we were the best group they had ever had.
Yea, they tell everyone that (I thought in the back of my mind)
I was reassured again that we had the best group ever. I did not hear them complain.
I didn't hear anyone say " I am not doing this"
What I did hear was......
" I didn't want to come, but I did and I am so glad that I came".
I heard testimonies being born. I felt relationships beginning.
I felt the sweet spirit of the Lord in our presents.


3rd day: Service projects, Water fights, speaker, movie, testimonies. Amazing!


I will always remember these days we have just had. I want to tell you how
grateful I am for those pioneers that traveled across the plains. I am so
grateful to live in this land where I am surrounded by the gospel, by temples
and by youth that are so strong. I ditto what Kris said. "I am grateful to our youth
that are here in our Stake for they truly are great leaders for our future.
I know that our Heavenly Father is bringing his work here to an end. These
are the last days. We all need to be prepared for the conclusion of his work.
We are pioneers too and I am grateful for the gospel as a guide in my life and
for being surrounded by great leaders, friends and family.

If you ever wonder if you should go on a trek.....I would highly recommend it.