My World of Wonder . . .

And see that all things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that man should run faster than he as strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize therefore, all must be done in order.
Mosiah 4:27

In August 2005, I had the opportunity to attend Youth Conference with our Stake. That year’s particular youth conference would entail going to Martin’s Cove, Rocky Ridge, and Rock Creek Hollow, which are significant in Church History, located central Wyoming. There were many months of preparation, not only for the committee, but for the participants as well. We had a number of firesides where the Stake President would give counsel to “prepare ourselves, especially our feet.” He counseled us to do this by finding one pair of shoes that we would use for the Trek and break them in by walking as often as we could. He also told us that during the TREK we would be walking in 3 days a total of about 36 or miles. The first day we would walk about 7 to 8 miles and the 2 remaining day would be approximately 15 miles. He encouraged us that if we start preparing and could walk 7-8 miles without incident, at home, would we would be okay to walk each day of Trek. So I spent many months preparing not only my feet, but my heart as well. By the time Trek came, I was walking 8 miles 4-5 times a week and I felt ready and excited for this adventure.

As you see in the scripture I emphasized some of the words that stuck out to me as I answered this question. Here is the question asked: What experiences have you had that explain this scripture? My response: When I attended Trek a few years ago, we were leaving the Martin's Cove Visitor Center and preparing to go to the Dan Jones Cove. I stayed back to take pictures, since I was one of the photographers for this Trek, I realized that most of the youth and many of the leaders were almost there. But in the distance about midpoint between the Youth and I, I saw that our Stake President and his wife were at a point that I could still catch up to them and not miss the "next big thing". With determination and a desire not to “miss” anything of a spiritual nature, and feeling that I was in good enought shape I walked as fast as I could. As I started catching up to the Stake President and his wife the thought kept going through mind "If I keep walking fast I won't “miss out on anything of a spiritual significance." Boy, was I wrong!

I passed the Stake President and his wife. As I was getting closer to the Dan Jones cove I noticed that I was about mid-point of the youth and the Stake President. I was almost there. Then I had an experience, that until the very moment I was anwering the question, I could not understand. The Lord was to teaching me a valuable lesson, and I wasn't listening!

While I was walking very fast, and to stubborn to recognize what was happening, I felt an actual force holding me back. Yes, some of you might think it was the wind, and it was some what windy, but not enough to make walking the trail this difficult, that is when I just started to cry. I could not understand what was happening. I knew it was the spirit teaching me, but what was I going to learn in the the middle of Wyoming with all of this sage brush?

My--ah-hah moment--I was in such a hurry to get to the “next big thing” (Dan Jones Cove) that I was not enjoying the journey along the way. The spirit was telling me that I didn’t need to hurry to the “next big” thing in order to have a spiritual moment. If I would just slow down, I would be able to enjoy the Spirit throughout Trek. I think at times we are so busy that we are only focused on the “next big thing,” instead of being diligent, we forget that many times the journey leading to the “next big thing” is often times what prepares us for the “next big thing.”
Since that time I have had similar experiences, but it wasn’t until I was ready to LISTEN, that I understood. If any of you would like to share: What experiences have you had that explain this scripture? I would love to hear thoughts from you.