Doing Hard Things

Almost 200 years ago lived a man named John Rowe Moyle.  John was a skilled stonecutter who, although he lived a valley away, was asked to help work on the Salt Lake Temple.   Every Monday John left home at about 2am and walked 22-miles to work on the temple.  Every Friday he would walk the 22-miles back home to spend the weekend with his family.   He continued this routine for years, even eventually going back to the weekly commute after his leg had been crudely amputated after he suffered an accident on his farm.   It was John who carved the words, "Holiness to the Lord". 

(picture source)

So it was with this story in mind that the Young Women leaders of our ward (church congregation) decided to create an experience for the Young Women (girls aged 12-18) that would help them learn that they too could do hard things and that sacrificing to get to the temple is well worth the effort.   They would go on their own 22-mile walk to the temple. 

Although the prospect of such a long walk initially seemed very intimidating to the girls, they've worked hard to prepare themselves physically by going on weekly training walks (up to 15-miles) together.  The training sessions, in addition to building their stamina mile by mile, also helped them to develop and strengthen friendships with one another.   

Finally bright and early on Saturday morning, a group of Young Women and leaders gathered near the W&OD trail and embarked on a journey that none of them will ever forget. 

Despite being a little bleary eyed when I dropped them off, it was evident in this picture that their excitement level was high...

It was cool to see that each of the girls had a little picture of the temple pinned to their backpacks to serve as encouragement along their way. 

After dropping the girls off I went back home and snoozed for a little longer until the younger kids crawled into bed with me chatting about their plans for the day.  After a day filled with me and the kids getting things done around the house while a friend and 2 sons spent hours mowing, edging, and trimming our yard (thank you Tapps!), I finally got a text saying they were about an hour away from the temple. 

So I loaded the kids up and met them at the temple.  Timing was perfect and I got there just in time to see this group of girls (including Emma) racing up the hill  up to the temple gates.  Apparently they'd been wanting to run for a while, but their leaders encouraged them to wait until they were a little closer...

It had been about 8 hours of near constant walking in 90+ degree heat, but the sense of accomplishment they displayed upon finally reaching their final destination was palpable.  There were a whole lot of smiles coming up that hill... 

and even a few tears...

Afterward they were eager to take off their shoes and rest their weary feet.  Their beautiful smiles, however,  never left their faces.   

Eventually they all headed to the air conditioned bliss of the Visitors' Center where Bishop H. spoke to them for a few minutes, then presented them with medals! 

Then it was picture taking time....

Ellie adores her older sisters and their friends and eagerly lapped up the opportunity to be in as many pictures as possible.

And a fun little tidbit....Ashley, the girl in the white shirt in a lot of the pictures, is John Rowe Moyle's great-great-great-great-granddaughter.

A vision of loveliness...

What a wonderful accomplishment and life lesson for these girls, that when they put their minds to something, they indeed can do hard things!