2011 Trek Talk  

 

Brothers and Sisters of the Layton south Stake Trek of 2011;

Speaking on behalf of your great great great grandfathers and grand Mothers I would like to offer some advice.

After arriving in winter quarters our captains encouraged us to take the shoes from the children,
so their feet would toughen up.

Our shoes were not made by adidas, diesel, or nike;
and they did not even come with a left and a right shoe - both were the same
It was great we never had to worry if they were on the wrong foot - they always were; as a result they were never very comfortable,
The fit would often cause blisters, our blisters would get infected. so the advice given to us was to try to go without our shoes.
As a matter of fact if you look at the photos of us pulling our handcarts you will notice that many of the children and some of the adults were barefoot.

In addition to removing our shoes - we were asked to leave a great many other things behind;
our handcarts simply did not have enough room;

today we are going to ask you to leave one thing here in this chapel where you now sit.

It's your PRIDE - Let me explain why!

For the next 3 days if you can live without pride you might discover some of the following...

That the journey is more enjoyable when you don't have to keep score -
who did what to whom, and whom you need to stay mad at for what.

You might discover - You’re not as fat as you imagine.

Trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos from this trek and see how fabulous you really looked, compared to what you will look like in in the future - with your balding hair, wrinkles.

You will also accept certain inalienable truths,
The trek might get tough; but you’ll get through it,
It might get hot - but remember you’re so cool that heat is just a metaphor;

The wind will blow, and the mosquitos will bite, and you will be older when you return,
You will miss 11,187 text messages over the next three days; but they will still be on your phone to answer when you return
When you do return home you will do so in the same school buses that will take you there - somethings never change.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults;
and if you succeed in doing this, tell me how you did it.

If you get bored - do something to make someone laugh.

Laugh! - at yourself; your mistakes may serve as a warning to others.

Your biggest challenges in life are quite possibly not the ones that you are experiencing today; and maybe they are.

Smile - that way you can at least fool others into wishing they were you!

Remember that time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh never-mind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.

Believe me; our generation would not trade you our struggles for yours; yes it was hard for us - you may experience some of the trials we faced while you are on trek. Our trials were different that's all; and we appreciate you taking the time to try to understand what our lives were like. As we share parts our journey with you!

Our world was very quiet when compared to your digitally connected world of unending music, messages, tweets and chats, with your ipads, iphones, and ipods.

Don't get us wrong - even we think that Apple is cool -
Grandma would have enjoyed a iPhone and would have used facebook to keep in touch with the relatives back in England as we trekked across the plains -
and I would have hooked myself up with an iPad for sure.

But remember; for the next few days you are living our journey -
so ENJOY the SILENCE!
- use the quiet time wisely; take the time to listen to the crickets, the birds, your heart and the spirit.

Don’t worry about breakfast, lunch or dinner; you'll get them all I PROMISE -
and Yes there will be enough.

Stretch!

Don’t wait for the final judgement, it is taking place every day.

Don’t mess too much with your hair - it might fall out!

Don’t worry about what your girl or boy friends are doing back home, because worrying
about them is as effective as trying to make filet mignon from shoe hide.
Trust me we tried it; and it didn't work. It tasted like shoe leather that was as good as it gets.

DRINK
plenty of water; it goes in easier than an IV.

Always remember you are unique, and so is everyone else.

You might get sweaty; it's natures way of cooling us down!

Take your turn pulling the cart - but quit before you faint.
Take your turn walking behind the handcart; but pull the cart before you grow soft and become a slacker.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy;
sometimes you’ll be ahead, sometimes you’ll be behind…
the trek is long enough that you can experience both.

BRUSH!
your teeth that is; fresh breath attracts less fly's.
This was not a problem in our day; we had lost most our teeth before our journey began.

ENJOY your teeth!

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Reach out one hand each day and help someone.
Or use both arms and put them around someone who needs a hug - lift them
and you will be surprised that in the end they will be the one that is really lifting you.

Work hard to develop relationships with those younger than you - because they will still have their strength and memory when yours starts to fail.

Work hard to develop relationships with those older than you - because using their understanding and wisdom might keep you out of the potholes of life.

SING! - DANCE!

Never pass the chance to use the Pot a Potty -
because you never know when your next chance will be!

If you see an activity that looks like fun - don't be afraid - jump in and do it.
Remember you left you pride in the chapel!

Real men can wear pink!
As a matter of fact there will be a few of you with pink bandannas!

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

RELAX!

Don’t congratulate yourself too much for what you have - because what you have is partly based on your choices; and part a gift from God -
never forget that you are BLESSED.

Don't berate yourself - the world will do a good enough job for you.

If you don't like you trials - look at the trials of others; but be very careful before you make a trade, and if you don’t want to trade for other trials
help others bear those trials that you are glad that you do not have to bear.

Understand that friends may come and go, make as many as you can.

Be nice to your siblings; your Ma and Pa - you are part of a family and the journey is easier with a family than going it alone.

SHARE!

Trust me! Apply generous portions of both DEET and Sunscreen along the way.

Above all remember we will be with you every step of the way on this journey you call trek - just as we are every day in your mortal life.

Signed Grandpa and Grandma