YM / YM Walk to the Temple

Last Wednesday B7’s YM and YW completed the second annual walk to the St. George Temple.  This tradition started last year when they left the Mulberry Chapel for the almost 5-mile walk to the St. George Temple.  This year, YW President Cheryl Kanenwisher wanted the journey to be a bit more meaningful … a pretty tall order considering 12-18 year old boys and girls were gathered together and sent out in 82-degree weather … not always an ideal setting for reverence.  “It's not that I wanted this event to be perfectly holy and upright," said the YW President.  "I wanted them to have fun, but there also needed to be a purpose.

Each year for Girls Camp, the Young Women are required to go on a hike as part of their yearly certification.  I had to get permission to use our walk to the temple to qualify for that certification.  One of the requirements of a 3rd year camper is to learn how to use a compass for orienteering purposes.  I figured we could accomplish this task of teaching them how to use a compass, certifying for our hike and applying this event as an analogy of how the temple is like a compass in our life.

We began in the Relief Society room with a brief discussion of what a compass is, it's historical use and how it is helpful.  The dictionary describes a compass as a device used to find direction by means of a needle which always points north and as something to help a person make choices about what is right and effective.

I asked the youth how compasses are helpful.  Here's what we determined:

·                Compasses always point to true north.

·                Compasses help us find direction.

·                Compasses help us negotiate through unfamiliar territory.

With those definitions in mind, I asked the youth to think of how the Temple is a compass during their walk to the temple.  We left shortly after our discussion and headed to our first stop at a park where a water stop was provided by our advisors in YW's.  Along the way I pointed out the 'petroglyphs' made by pioneers high up on the desert varnish depicting the Cotton Mission established by Brigham Young when he sent settlers to this area to colonize.

During our 15 minute break in the shade at the park, Brother Kanenwisher took our 3rd year campers aside and demonstrated the use of a compass. After hydrating, we set off again and by this point in the hike, the temple was in our sights for the rest of the journey.

We followed an established walking/biking city trail route until we reached Dixie High School, where we left the trail and crossed the street over to the temple.  After a quick drink and photos on the steps of the temple, we all joined together in a circle under a tree in the grass for a quick discussion where I asked the youth to tell me what their impressions were about how the Temple is a Compass in their lives.

With the same definitions as established before:

·                How does the temple point to True North.  

·                Who is True North?

·                How does the Temple help us find direction?

·                How does the Temple help us negotiate through unfamiliar territory?

I asked each one of the youth to share how the Temple is a Compass in their life.  I asked them to complete this sentence:  The Temple is a compass in my life because...

We had some wonderful and thoughtful remarks. I don't know if this activity left as big of impression in their lives as it did mine, but the Spirit did testify of the importance of the temple in our lives.  I also asked the youth to list some other 'compasses' in their lives.  They named the Holy Ghost, scriptures, patriarchal blessings, parents, prophets and teachers.

Applying the same definition of a compass as before, these are all great compasses in our lives.  We are blessed to have these tools given to us to lead us back to our Father in Heaven.

After our discussion we walked over to the church parking lot across the street from the temple where Sister Bair had pizza waiting! Spiritual and physical nourishment are both important!  I gave each of the youth a small compass on a carabiner along with the print out from above.

Thank you to all those who participated in our Temple Walk, both leaders and youth.  We had so many parents come to help deliver the youth home afterwards, too.  I'm so grateful for the support of wonderful leaders and parents in this ward.  Girls Camp hike, accomplished.   Compass discussion, accomplished.  Successful and meaningful joint activity, accomplished. I'd say this was definitely a mission accomplished.  

I feel encompassed in the love of our Savior and friends.  I thank Him for temples.”