10 Day Spiritual Trek

Remember the Journey
This was a activity that I participated in with my relief society of my ward. It was about the Willi handcart trek from 1856. I really enjoyed this experience. It has caused my testimony to grow. I am so thankful for the pioneers and their strenght, and sacrifices. "Most of the saints in Europe in 1856 had never seen the prophet or even heard his voice. Yet the power of the Holy Ghost witnessed to them that a living prophet was again upon the earth and that the gospel of Jesus Christ had been restored. When the prophet's call came to them to gather to the Salt Lake Valley, they left their homelands, their possessions, their fields, their orchards, their farms, and their friends & family that they would never see again, and they crossed the great sea and walked halfway across a continent under trying conditions. The faith that burned in their hearts was more than belief-- it was a power that moved them to begin a great journey." The ten day trek had a great in pact on my life. I really needed the 2ND day. I loved Neil A. Maxwell's quote " How we handle life's little irritations often exposes how large our remaining selfishness it. Little irritations show, sometimes embarrassingly, the gap between what we know and what we are. Often these little irritations are merely dressed-up versions of childish concerns over "my turf", "my praise", "my possessions", and "my timetable"....It is seen in the simplest of daily things: The light is green, but the car ahead is not moving, he is in "my way, holding me up"....Jesus, who knew who He was, scrupulously avoided letting the little irritations reach Him. Big individuals refuse to be vexed by little irritations, which is yet another dimension of freedom." (That Ye may Believe, 117-118)
Each step of the pioneers was a constant reminder to them of the path they were on, and their trials pushed them towards greater faith and discipleship. Our test today, in a loud, busy, comfortable, confusing, and distracting world, is to make sure we are also taking constant, daily steps towards greater discipleship. If we live the gospel partway, we may find, at the end of our journey, that although we were honorable, we didn't live with "Valiant Faith". I am so thankful that our relief society decided to accept this challenge. It was faith building and life changing.