Stake Conference Talk

Things Not Seen

Bonnie Gwyn Johnson

October 20, 2013

Sandpoint, Idaho Stake Conference

Ether 12:27

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

A testimony takes time. Faith is an Action word.

Becoming strong has never been easy – especially when it comes to spiritual things. A testimony is something that grows over time, and requires continual effort and nourishment, or else it will die away. The same goes for faith, except that faith requires a little more. It’s an action word. The more you act on it, the stronger it gets. So the question is: how do you act on it?

Forever Changed

This summer, I – along with many here – had the opportunity to go on a pioneer trek: something I gratefully call the best experience of my life. When I got home from Trek, I felt like nothing would ever be the same. Of course, I assumed that would change. After a week or two, all would be back to normal, and I’d forget that it was ever different. But the funny thing? That never happened. I can still feel it, and I know I always will. I’m forever changed.

Why am I changed? Because the experience was difficult, amazing, and strengthened both my testimony and my faith. Everyone who went on Trek had to take action. Believe me, nothing about pulling a handcart resembles taking a nap or sitting in front of the computer. It’s dusty, leaves you pretty sore, and makes you think a lot about those who came before us. That’s why it’s so awesome. After all, what’s the point of life if it’s easy?

Now, I’m not saying you should purposely seek out terrible situations … but when they come, there’s always a reason, and we need to accept that and gain what we can from the experience.

Simple Things: Port-a-Potties and Food Trucks in Sight

Rocky Ridge ♥

On the third day of Trek, we crossed a creek, and came to face a long, steep hill – even longer than it appeared from the bottom. Every family had to put full effort into the climb, and they couldn’t stop. When the first family made it to the top, they went back to help the others. And as each family arrived, more were found on the next cart, until everyone had made it and all were ready for a break.

I’ve never been so in awe as I was in that hour, as we – already exhausted – still thought of the others and lent a hand. That in itself was a strong reminder that no matter how bad the world is, there are still good people, and we aren’t as few as we sometimes feel. It wasn’t easy to pull up those carts, but I personally found that the more I did what Christ would do, the stronger I felt. Others felt it too. There were angels pulling with us. God was with us. I’m sure of it. And if the angels were with us, how overwhelming they must have been for those whose lives truly depended upon that climb.

[Excerpt from my journal.] With the handcarts safely up the hill, we gathered for water and a story. And that’s when we were told about Jens and Elsie Nielsen. The amazing thing is that we weren’t only told about them; we were able to see a reenactment.

Jens and Elsie were traveling towards Zion, and at Rocky Ridge, Jens’ feet froze. He couldn’t walk and collapsed beside the trail. There he told Elsie, “Leave me by the trail in the snow to die, and you go ahead and try to keep up with the company and save your life.” Being a loving and courageous wife, Elsie shook her head and told him, “Ride, I can't leave you; I can pull the cart.”

We watched as Elsie struggled through the deep sand, barely moving a few feet or so in that long unbearable silence. Youth drifted to the edge of the crowd, as close to her as they could get without breaking the unspoken rules of not helping – at least, not helping yet. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that it killed us to watch her. Jens did what he could, pushing the wheel with a weak hand, while tears were forming in the eyes of their audience.

Finally, Elsie herself collapsed on the ground, bringing her hands together in prayer. And then, the youth rushed to Elsie’s aid.

I’ll never forget how it felt to touch that handcart. We all have angels working in our lives, and sometimes we feel them so strongly, but to be an angel … truly, the feeling was indescribable. So many angels, coming to the aid of a woman who did all she could.

Our Savior

When He died for us, Christ himself pulled our carts up a long, steep hill. He helped us conquer death, sin, pain, sorrow … but what He did won’t be a finished deal until we do our part. We must accept His sacrifice and grace, do all we can do to save ourselves, and then help others on their way up the hill – just as they’ve helped us. We can all be angels. We just need to listen to promptings and do as the Lord commands.

On the first morning of Trek, before we set off with our handcarts, President Coffey gave a prayer. In it, he prayed that we could “commit to the gospel, commit to the cause, and carry on.” That phrase stuck with me. It takes a lifetime and more to truly become that committed, that firm. And in this world, with all of its distractions and temptations, it’s more difficult than ever before.

Phantom Phones

That’s another reason why Trek was so amazing. On the bus ride, several of us kept feeling our phones buzzing in our pockets, but – of course – we didn’t have them. They were phantom phones – just as we often have on a daily basis. Because we’re so attached to them, we feel them all the time. But on Trek, we were there without those distractions, and as we tuned in to the Spirit and the experience, we felt it in a truly rare purity.

As Ether 12:27 states, God gives us weakness – and, if I might add, trials – that we may be humble. And when we are humble and have faith, He makes us strong. Life is full of difficult times. Some give physical pain, other emotional, and temptations and sin can strike our very souls. But no matter the difficulty, humility can be found within it all – even if it’s simply being humble enough to cry.

Some difficulties are as simple as having the courage to stand. On the last night of Trek, we had a beautiful testimony meeting. Opportunities like that can be hard. Even though it’s very worth it, getting up in front of everyone and expressing feelings is a challenge. I know I was touched by many testimonies that night.

Family, Gratitude

Before Trek, I asked how our families would be chosen, and President Beazer told me it would be by inspiration. It truly was. I was in the Burrell family, and it was a perfect match for me and the experience. The other families felt the same way. :) I’m so grateful for the Ma’s and Pa’s who took the time to give us such an amazing few days, as well as the Stake Presidency and all of our leaders. Having them with us brought such a great Spirit.

Without the Priesthood

On the morning of the Women’s Pull, we all gathered together, as families, as friends, as brothers and sisters. And then, the men were all led away. There were suddenly holes in every line. It wasn’t empty, because we had each other, but I think it was the loss of the Priesthood in our group that was so significant.

I’ll never forget how it felt to pull up that hill, no men in sight – and then, as we neared the top, to see them again. They were like angels, lined on both sides of our path, hats against their hearts, silently watching. But they weren’t just watching. They were helping us in ways they may never realize. The power of the Priesthood as we pulled between them was overwhelming. It filled that emptiness we’d felt, and that’s when I realized how vital the Priesthood really is – how important both men and women are to our world.

1 Corinthians 11:11 – “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.”

We’re in this together.

2 Nephi 2:11

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

Lehi, in everything he went through, saw the point of trial and opposition. If we don’t know pain, we can’t know joy. If we don’t know evil, we can’t know good. And we need to know good. Every part of this life is for learning and progressing towards salvation. It’s school. We’re in school, and we have to have patience with ourselves as we learn.

We all have a handcart. We all have bumps in the road. But we must see past those bumps and keep an eternal perspective. The pioneers knew they’d one day reach Zion. Their path was difficult, but they walked it, and they never said that they regretted it – even with all of the pain and death. Some of my ancestors said that they had a “high time.” They were focused on Zion, as we too must be.

In closing, I’d like to share a scripture in II Corinthians. I love this scripture because it’s a reminder that even when things are hard on the outside, God knows what He’s doing on the inside. He loves us, and is accomplishing a great work within each and every one of us, whether we know it or not.

2 Corinthians 4:15-18

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Closing Thoughts

Faith and testimony (along with love) are not seen, but they are felt, and they are vital.

We must remember the reasons for opposition, and let our faith grow. It won’t grow without us!

On Trek, we endured dust, and felt some pain, but inside so much more was happening. The same goes for every trial. There is always a reason.

My testimony of Trek is that it changes lives. If we open ourselves up to Heavenly Father … He will change our lives.

Amen!