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MormonTimes.com: Pushing and pulling; handcart treks test youths, make memories

this is certainly the best camp i've ever heard.its important youth learn to be back to the basic.my children once attend such camp,but the body building exercise seems like a torture.they cant tell anyone about what is it they went through during the camp,afraid discourage other youths to join.the most dangerous thing is they have to go inside a shallow river at night with both eyes covered by a cloth.they only sleep for 3 or 4 hours depending you can find the flag they took and hide it while you away in the jungle,they ask them only to find the flag after the youth came back around midnight and thought finally they could have a rest.some youth only go to sleep around 3am,and all must be ready at 5am to start the program again.they all make the camps beside the jungle.luckily its only for 3 days.this camp teach about mental,physical and moral building,so knowing you plan to have a camp that include spiritual thing is best.hopefully it will be a success!

Do we really need to subject the youth of the chruch to this activity year in and year out? If I weren't a member I would think this is the only thing the youth do in the summer. I know the kids learn alot, but I really wish we would not spend so much time and money on this activity. Why not use our youth conferences as service projects, like the stake that helped rebuild a house. The pioneers are our heritage, but I don't think we need to live and dress like them to learn of them and their sacrifices.

I for one believe that the youth and the adults be subject to this type of activity every year. The day is coming when we won't have cell phone and the modern comforts that we have have. The Prophets have told us when we go back to build Zion we will walk. The Lord when on earth walked everywhere He went.

Robert

Our stake just finished trek and I had the fabulous opportunity of being a ma. It was physically difficult, but one of the most fabulous experiences of my lifetime. Dispite the long and difficult hikes, we ate well, had plenty of water and snacks available and medical care with us.

We learned to appreciate a portion of the hard work and sacrifice of the pioneers, but more than that, learned valuable insight about ourselves, about the power of prayer and priesthood, about family, and about teamwork. For me, watching groups of 10 random teenagers and a "ma and pa" bond quickly into cohesive family units provided a unique lesson on how we can draw our real families closer together.

While it may seem like a great effort or organize and execute, even Christ withdrew himself to "...a mountain apart to pray." Sometimes great contemplation is only possible when one is able to withdraw from the distractions of the world and contemplate things of eternal significance.

Of those I've talked to, 90% of the people from our stake who went, adults and teens, would go again tomorrow if they had the opportunity because it was so spiritually powerful and life changing.

I participated in a Trek last year and it was the best activity I've ever participated in with the youth. The Women's Pull still makes me emotional when I think about it. I wholeheartedly recommend this activity for all youth and adults alike! Like Robert said - there will be a day when we have to do this for real.

I am sure we don't understand all the pioneers went through and I don't think we need to. I don't think they would trade places with us and deal with the trials we encounter.

Some people have become very sick on these Treks. Why can't we just satisfied with our own tribulations and let the trials of the past rest.

I, for one, won't be walking to Zion

It was interesting to hear how these make shift families bonded. Our own stake did this a few years ago and they are still talking about the many events and especially how they reached out and bonded. I think of what the pioneers went through, how family members died and how the remaining family members went on. It made me think how they had to bond with other families. This explains how they could go on. There is something special that we do not know about until we experience it. We are blessed to not worry about it so much. But we never know what the future will bring. I truly believe if we are prepared we need not fear. It's not just physical hardships but being prepared with the gospel in our hearts that ALL WILL BE WELL.

I know that there are stories about pioneer treks every summer in the DesNews but most stakes do this every 4-6 years. I know our stake did a trek this year for youth conference. We do a service project every other year and a more spiritual type youth conference every other year. Both are important.