Lessons from Trek:

1. The family unit is essential to the plan of salvation. 

It was apparent that the strongest families of the Tucson South Stake Trek were the ones that worked as a team. They cared for one another and we’re willing to sacrifice for each other. Their goal was to get back to camp safely with their whole family intact. 
I saw some extremely strong individuals pulling and pushing their hand carts. However, not a single one of those powerful people could’ve brought the hand cart safely home by themselves.   Every little effort from even the smallest among us was noticed and needed! 
Henry B Eyring said “Every priesthood effort and every priesthood ordinance is intended to help Heavenly Father’s children be changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ to become members of perfected family units. It follows that “the great work of every man is to believe the gospel, to keep the commandments, and to create and perfect an eternal family unit, and to help others do the same.”

2. Remembering what the Lord has done for us in the past can greatly bless our lives in the future! 

“…one of the most important things we can do in this life is to recognize and remember the pathway back to our Heavenly Father and faithfully and joyfully persevere throughout the journey.”
(Elder Jose A. Teixeira)

Attempting to physically reenact a small portion of the trek that the pioneers endured, was exhausting and sometimes felt hopeless. There were many moments of misery and of triumph. It gave me great appreciation and gratitude for those early Saints that sacrificed all to gather together and to strengthen the Stakes of Zion. The strong Stakes that began from so much sacrifice have endured and expanded to many strong stakes throughout the world. It’s kind of amazing when you think about it. 

I love our Mt.Fagan Ward family. Jesus Christ is the only way back home to our Heavenly Father. I pray that we will all be there together some day . What a reunion that will be!
- Bishop Bingham

Mend. A simple four-letter word that has so much meaning. It is healing. It can change the course of your life. It creates closure for you and others. It can even bring people together. That simple four-letter word can change us for the better and make the world a better place.
To mend or mending truly come from our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Matthew 11:28, Christ says, “come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Christ truly will take on our burdens and helps us through all of lives twists and turns. Where can we feel the Savior the closest? In the Temple.
 
Let’s look at the word temple recommend. See it now? Embedded in the word is mend, a temple recommend gives us the keys to unlock more mending power. Through finding Christ in the temple, we can be mended from all of lives woes, yes all. Healing and mending are in the Lord’s timing, but temple worship allows all of us to mend and see his timing play out. Providing the clarity to see God and understanding how and when the healing will happen.
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Is the temple the only place we can be mended and healed? No, but the temple is a powerful place to be mended. In order to enter the Lord’s house, we need a temple recommend. It unlocks the healing and mending power we can feel through our Savior. Elder Renlund’s talk on Family History and Temple Work, he shares that we can claim the healing blessings found within the temple. These blessings will and can unlock the power of mending and healing.
Let us have a temple recommend gaining the power for mending and healing unlocked through our Savior, in the temple.- Brother Clayton

• Set goals or challenges for yourself and take them seriously. Brother Clayton has challenged all the youth to do the work for 100 people by the end of this year - what a great opportunity to help ourselves and others focus on temple attendance.

2.Time management-President Nelson said, "I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple". Prayerfully consider that and use that blessing to make the adjustments needed to prioritize the temple.

3.Physical Limitations-. President Nelson said, "Should distance, health challenges, or other constraints prohibit your temple attendance … I invite you to set a regular time to rehearse in your mind the covenants you have made."

4.Expired recommend-Brother Clayton and Brother Johnston will make themselves available before and after church on Sunday's and before and after youth activities on Wednesday (just give us a heads up on Wednesday's so we can be dressed appropriately).

5.Worthiness- If there is something that is bothering you, go see the bishop. He represents the Savior. Go and "cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you" (Psalm 55:22). "Come unto [the Savior], all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and [He] will give you rest. Take [His] yoke upon you … for [His] yoke is easy, and [His] burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). "Will ye not now return unto [Him], and repent of your sins … that [He] may heal you? … [His] arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will [He] receive. Behold, for such [He has] laid down [His] life … therefore repent, and come unto [Him] … and be saved." (3 Nephi 9:13, 14, 22). The Savior wants to forgive.
 
 
Our prophet has promised many blessings including greater access to the Lord's strengthening power, protection from the buffetings of the world, experiencing the pure love of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, a feeling of peace and spiritual reassurance, and much more. May we each have a greater desire to go and then put it into action. -Brother Johnston

Jesus Christ taught  “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”(Matthew 6:20-21)

What treasures did the Savior try to lay up for himself in heaven? 


Just prior to the restoration of the church, the Savior said this,
in revelation to Joseph Smith: 
“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!” (D&C 18:10–13.)
We are his treasure! We are his glory! (Moses 1:39). His hand is out stretched still (Isaiah 9:12). Come unto come to him and receive his peace.