iron rod

One more experience from youth conference:

Each "family" had an iron rod experience. We were each blindfolded. Someone would escort us and give us a few instructions. We were told if we wanted to return to our Heavenly Father and be reunited with our family we needed to hold to the iron rod. We were also told that the iron rod contained a gap and that if we needed assistance we were to pray and ask for it.

As parents, Kevin and I got to go first. It was so interesting to then watch each of our "children" complete this task. Many dropped to their knees the very moment they ran out of iron rod. A few tried to find their way on their own for a bit then dropped to their knees. Three boys absolutely refused to kneel and pray. They wandered and groped and tried so hard to find their way on their own. It was probably pretty indicative of people in general. I, myself, fit in the category where I am pretty good at praying when I need help. It's when things are going well that I struggle to pray.

It was also interesting for me to note the intense feelings I had as I watched "my children". I found myself wanting to go grab the boys who wouldn't pray and lead them back to the iron rod or, at the very least, I wanted to scream at them to just kneel and pray. I wanted so very badly for them to be reunited with us as a family. It gave me my very first glimpse at what it might be like to have a child stray from the gospel or to have them struggle with their testimony. And I couldn't do anything about it except hope and pray. It made me want to redouble my efforts to ensure my children, Kevin, and I live so that we can be an eternal family.

youth conference

The Book of Mormon youth conference was so AMAZING that I really wanted to post yesterday but I was absolutely TOO exhausted! I am still exhausted today and badly in need of a nap so it might take a while for me to post everything.

One experience we had actually involved Alec who was not one of our "assigned sons and daughters". Thursday night (the first night) they had a re-enactment of Noah's court including his high priests and Abinadi. They spoke and acted it out and then using a slight-of-hand type maneuver they bound Abinadi to stakes and burned him. Yes, there was an actual bonfire. Of course, everyone knew that they were burning a dummy made to look exactly like the man who had played the role of Abinadi. Well, everyone knew except Alec. He was quite upset so his "dad" took him close to the fire to show him that Abinadi was not real. Alec was still very upset and kept saying "We have to help him. We have to save him." When his "dad" told him they couldn't save him Alec said, "Then we need to pray for him."

I am so glad his "dad" shared that experience with Kevin and I. Once more I am reminded that Alec is really a spiritual being trapped inside an imperfect mind. It also reminded me that that is what that experience should have been like for all of us - and not just a "Wow, that dummy looks pretty realistic" type of experience.