(Jill) A few years ago my husband and I journeyed to Peru to visit the famous archeological site of Machu Pichu. Because my husband never wants to do things in a conventional way (you know, train and bus) we decided to hike to Machu Pichu along the old Lares trail used for centuries by the Inca tribes who inhabited the area. This trail wandered through the tops of the Andes Mountains to Machu Pichu. We identified a good guide who had been over the trail many times. We purchased good hiking shoes and set off on our adventure. We were living in Hawaii at the time which, as you all know, is at sea level. We didn't have a full appreciation that our little four day hike would require that three times we would have to climb mountain passes that reached the altitude of nearly 15,000 feet (about 4,600 meters).
(Greg) This hike was not only physically challenging but the experience provided us with several valuable lessons for life. The beginning of the hike was straight up to the top of a mountain. Switch back trails that never seemed to end. Every time we reached what we thought was the summit there was a new and higher mountain ahead of us. We hiked most of the day before we finally reached the summit of our first 15,000 foot pass. The view was spectacular. We were all exhausted. As you can see from this photo it was late afternoon and we still had another 4 miles to hike down the mountain to reach our first night's base camp. It soon became obvious that we were going to run out of light before we arrived at our camp. Only a couple of members of our party had prepared for this by bringing small flash lights. The rest of us were literally in the dark. To make matters worse, the trail was only about 2-3 feet wide and the drop off to the floor of the canyon below was between 1,000 and 2,000 feet. We could hear the roar of the river far below but our lights were too weak to even see part way down the canyon. As we slowly helped each other off that mountain, we learned the value of having a light and the value of following that light. By following the light and good guides we eventually arrived at our base camp, tired but unhurt.
Following dinner, Jill and I both discussed the day's experiences and what we had learned from them. We have reflected on this many times since the Andes experience and have concluded that we learned three important insights on that journey that we will discuss with you today:
- Success in life comes from steady progress,
- There is great value in clinging to the path and following good leaders who have the light of the gospel
- Anything of value requires sacrifice
(Jill) Let us consider the first lesson learned. Success in Life comes from Steady Progress. As I sat in my tent that first night, I wrote in my personal journal my thoughts of that day.
"When the climb was steep and the mountain looked endless and I couldn't get enough oxygen, I couldn't think about the whole mountain because it was too daunting. I had to pick out a spot I thought I could make and walk to there:take 10 or 12 deep breaths- then pick out a new spot and walk to that. It was so hard to breathe in the high altitude. It took all my efforts both mind and body to accomplish the task.
I found myself thinking so often this day of my pioneer ancestors walking across the plains to the Utah valley...day after day and week after week until they reached the Rocky Mountains. What must they have thought when they saw those mountains before them? They must have thought, "How are we going to cross those mountains? How will we get the wagons through?" Many people were exhausted, without shoes, and lacking food for this part of their journey. I had gained a new appreciation for their accomplishments and their sufferings."
(Greg) Some tasks in life require our whole mind and body to accomplish. Many of us may be familiar with the expression "You can't eat an elephant all at once. You must do it one bite at a time." And many parents have told their children the story of the tortoise and the hare and admonished their children that "slow and steady wins the race." In church we teach that the best way to overcome a problem is to not focus on doing everything at once. Don't try to overcome all of our weaknesses at once. The Lord teaches that we grow in the gospel "line-upon-line, precept-upon precept, here a little and there a little" (2 Nephi 28:30) until our light and understanding grows "brighter and brighter until the perfect day." (D&C 50:24). Attending college requires a slow and steady determination. Obtaining that college degree takes many years of consistent effort. And have you ever noticed that the hardest part of writing a term paper is getting started? Once you have started your project your mind begins to formulate how to reach your objective. On the other hand, Satan desires us to always push on the accelerator of our life, race our engine at high RPM's but never put our life in gear. We can always do it tomorrow. We just make a lot of noise, use a lot of energy but never seem to go anyplace. Don't sit and worry about all you have to do, just start taking a few steps. Steady progress always results in achievement.
(Jill) Surely this principle of "steady progress leads to success" applies to all facets of our lives.
Our calling has been to serve in the temple. One of the most rewarding parts of this service for me, was to instruct female patrons before they participated in the endowment ordinance. As those of you who have been to the temple know, it is not possible to understand all aspects of the endowment the first time you attend the temple. I instructed sisters in the importance of returning often and learning more about the endowment with the help of the Spirit. The endowment is symbolic in many ways. Only the Holy Ghost can reveal to us the significance of the ordinances and symbolism of the temple. And we learn about the endowment like we learn about the gospel "here a little and there a little." However, we will not receive these blessings without returning often to the temple and by preparing ourselves spiritually for answers to our prayers and questions. Here is a great example of having steady progress to reach success:to understand all that the Lord has in store for us in the temple.
(Greg) Now to consider our second principle: Cling to the Path of Righteousness and Identify and Trust Good Leaders that are filled with Light and truth. Often it is not clear in life how to arrive at our desired destinations because we cannot see the path clearly. Remember Lehi saw a mist of darkness that covered the path to the tree of life which caused many people to lose their way (I Nephi 8:23). It was only those who clung to the rod of iron that eventually came to the tree of life. I like Lehi's choice of words "to cling" which describe the way in which they held the rod.... To cling means it took great effort to maintain hold of the rod.... In our lives I have learned that it is essential to selected good trusted leaders who have been down the trail before to help us arrive at our destinations. The apostle Paul taught that in this life "....we see through a glass darkly" (I Cor 13:12).
(Jill) Sometimes the path we are inspired to take doesn't lead to where it seems logical. Put yourselves in the place of the Children of Israel who upon leaving Egypt headed directly towards the Red Sea with the armies of the Pharaoh nipping at their heels. Any military strategist will tell you that having your back pinned to the Red Sea is the least defensible position in a conflict. What they didn't know, however, is that in following Moses (an inspired leader) God had another plan. He opened the waters of the Red Sea and they passed through on "dry ground" (see D&C 8:3). In their attempt to follow, the armies of the Pharaoh were destroyed.
(Greg) Most of us know the scriptural teachings but May I share with you a modern day example of this principle. We had a missionary arrive in our mission with a very interesting story (I will not use his name because we were unable to contact him and ask his permission). He was a little older than most missionaries, having joined the church when he was in his 4th year of a 5 year law program at a prestigious university in Brazil. Since he was a young boy, he had wanted to be a lawyer like both his parents. When he joined the church, his parents reacted negatively and cut off all help for his education and kicked him out of their home. He had to leave college and during the next year lived with members of the Church. He was steadfast in his resolve to live the gospel and made it through the next year working odd jobs to survive. Even though he had only one year in the church when he entered the mission field, he had an amazing testimony and understanding of the gospel. In my first interview with this Elder he told his story as we wept together. I said to him, "What a sacrifice you have made to serve the Lord." And the Elder's reply was, "What sacrifice? It's true isn't it?"
(Jill) His story continues in an interesting way: Despite being rejected by his family, my husband asked this Elder to write his family every week but they had never responded to his letters. About a year into this young man's mission, his parents showed up at his missionary apartment. They had found it by the return address on his letters. They had come to Recife to take their son home. When they first met they gave him an expensive watch, told him they were willing to forgive him, pay for his school and give him a home if he would renounce his belief in this religion he had embraced. When this Elder called to ask what he should do, Greg invited both he and his parents to our home. We discussed his mission for nearly half an hour and as you can imagine the atmosphere in our home was tense. I have never felt such a dark spirit as I did during this meeting.
(Greg) At the end of the meeting, I asked him what he had decided. At that point he turned to his parents and told them he was here to stay and serve. They begged him to come home---they were determined and tried everything they could to persuade their son. They finally said, "Would you just come home and have a psychiatric evaluation so that we know you have not been duped into believing all this nonsense?" They were getting desperate at this point! This great young man said, "I love you mom and dad but I have made a commitment to serve the Lord and to obey my mission president. I will not leave unless he says I can leave." We were amazed at this Elder's resolve in the midst of great adversity. In a call to the Area president it was decided that the Elder should go home for two weeks. The parents could take the Elder to the doctor and have their evaluation if they agreed to have the whole family participate in the evaluation. It was agreed. In those two weeks, the Elder and his parents all underwent psychiatric evaluation. The doctor reported that the young man was fine but the parents needed help! The Elder returned and fulfilled his mission. He has continued to serve the Lord and has been a branch president in his branch in Brazil. Incidentally, his parents' hearts were finally softened and they helped him to finish his schooling. These are the blessings of obedience.
(Jill) Following the advice of his leaders and clinging to the path had resulted in a wonderful outcome for this great missionary.
Each of you have been blessed to live in an age when we have living prophets, scriptures and inspired leaders to help us follow the correct path in life. What a blessing it is for each of you to be at an institution where good leaders as President Wheelwright and his staff and professors are teaching you the things of the world set in the context of the principles of the gospel.
(Greg) Now for our final principle: Anything of Value Requires Sacrifice
We finally arrived at Machu Pichu... all of the other tourists that arrived that day had come in air conditioned cars, trains and busses. However, our experience had been anything but an air-conditioned bus with reclining seats. I believe, however, because of our experience, we had gained a unique appreciation for the people who built this "wonder of the world" that no one else could understand. Our sacrifice to walk where these ancient Incas had walked had taught us something of their struggles and sacrifice to build this amazing city in the tops of the mountains.
(Jill) Sacrifice is a great teacher. God never intended that we go through our lives without having to make sacrifices and face challenges. When people have tried to avoid sacrifice and take the easy road, they have lost blessings. Think of the Israelites who were invited by the Lord to come to the mountain to behold the presence of God and to receive their temple ordinances. They became fearful and unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary to sanctify themselves.
The Prophet Joseph Smith received the following insight into what Moses was attempting to do:
"....Moses ....sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God. But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fullness of his Glory. Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also" D&C 84:23-25.
(Greg) As a result, the Children of Israel lost not only the blessing of experiencing the presence of God, but their posterity for many centuries, lost the blessing of holding the Melchizedek Priesthood and participating in the ordinances of the temple.
Think of Adam and Eve in the Garden. They were forbidden to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When Eve finally partook of this fruit she commented that t the fruit of the tree was delicious and very desirable. Once both Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of this tree, it appears that it was no longer forbidden to eat of the fruit. Symbolically each of us continue to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil each time we make choices. When we choose to do good, the result is desirable, when we choose to do evil, we suffer the consequences. Life is designed to enable us to sacrifice our own will to choose God's will for us. My young friends, do not be afraid to make sacrifices in your life to put yourselves in a position to grow spiritually and to spread the gospel.
(Jill) In our lives, we have been asked to make sacrifices and in every incident, the sacrifice turned out to be a great blessing. Nearly 20 years ago, my husband's employer asked him if he would be willing to move to Brazil for 3 years to help direct Ford Motor Company's Operations in that part of the world. This was an invitation to leave our comfort zone and make the sacrifice to move to a new country, learn a new language, and experience a new culture. Our seven children also had to sacrifice. Our oldest daughter was 16 years old, a junior in high school and very involved in music and drama. Our son was a member of the high school football team with great prospects for a bright future in high school sports. Feeling inspired to accept the offer; we took that leap of faith.
(Greg) Many of you have done this same thing:you have left your family and homes to study at BYU Hawaii. In our case, this sacrifice resulted in learning a new language, learning about a new culture and learning to love the Brazilian people. We also made many new friends who we continue to keep in contact with through the years. Our children had even greater opportunities in music, drama, sports and other extra- curricular classes. At the end of our Ford experience we were called to preside over a mission in Recife, Brazil which brought new spiritual growth to our family. As the hymn "Praise to the Man" states, "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven." We can truly attest to that fact.
(Jill) As we stood at the top of the mountains at the spectacular ruins of Machu Pichu, we were amazed at what the ancient people had accomplished. Even if they had the great machines and inventions of our day, the city in the tops of the mountains would still have been incredible. Their sacrifice had built a great city that we could now enjoy as a museum in the mountains. The views from that mountain were amazing. It was truly worth all the effort and sacrifice to get there.
(Greg) Our dear young friends, you have a life of rich experiences ahead of you. You will have to climb your own mountain passes and experience walking through life when you don't have all the oxygen you need to be comfortable. Don't shy away from the challenges that you will encounter. Your lives may be similar to the experience of Ammon and his brethren as they journeyed in the land of Nephi. Mormon said of their experience:
"This is the account of Ammon and his brethren, their journeying in the land of Nephi, their sufferings, .... sorrows... afflictions and their incomprehensible joy." Alma 28:8
Sufferings, sorrows, afflictions and incomprehensible joy are all in the same phrase. That is the way life works as each of us cling to the path leading to eternal life and exaltation.
(Jill) As I reflect on my journal entry years ago in the Andes Mountains it does have application to you today. "When the climb was steep and the mountain looked endless and I couldn't get enough oxygen, I couldn't think about the whole mountain because it was too daunting. I had to pick out a spot I thought I could make and walk to there:take 10 or 12 deep breaths- then pick out a new spot and walk to that. It was so hard to breathe in the high altitude. It took all my efforts both mind and body to accomplish the task." I pray that each of us may approach life understanding that:
Success in life comes from steady progress
There is great value in clinging to the path and following good leaders who have the light of the gospel.
Anything of value requires sacrifice
And may I just add....you meet some pretty fascinating people at 15,000 Feet!
(Greg) May I add my testimony that God lives and his gospel is designed to help each of us develop our lives to be like he is.