The summit of Mount Timpanogos is 11,749 feet high, making
it the second highest peak in the Wasatch Mountains. I consider the route from
the Timpooneke Trailhead to be one of the best hikes in Utah. Reaching the summit
will require 4 1/2 hours. The summit is 7.5 miles one-way with an elevation
gain of 4580' on a well-maintained trail. That is a round trip of 15 miles and total
elevation change of more than 9000 feet. To me that is incredible.
A few years ago, I made the climb. It was my second attempt.
The first time, we left at 9PM at night and our goal was to summit the mountain
by sunrise. The night hike was a challenge all of its own. That combined with
the elevation gain and the wee hours of the morning through which we hiked was
more than I could accomplish. For those of you familiar with the climb, I
almost made it to the saddle. I know that was nearly the top, but my strength
and endurance were spent. I hit the wall
as they say and made a conscious decision to delay my goal, and my climbing party
supported my decision. They descended the mountain without reaching the summit that
time either in order to guide me back home. Fortunately, my goal was realized a
year later with the help of a colleague who knew the trail and provided encouragement,
direction, and water, which were all critical needs for me. I still appreciate
the experience and ecstasy one feels when achieving that goal and surmounting
that peak. I don’t know if I have another climb of that magnitude in me, but I will
always nevertheless relish the achievement.
Today I am grateful I can relive that incredible journey
time-and-again through memory and others’ experiences. Youtube gives us dozens of
opportunities to summit the peak and experience the ecstasy of a successful
climb. I doubt I will ever be able to conquer that mountain again, but I can
relive it in my memory and vicariously through the success of others who
celebrate and share their incredible experiences with the rest of us. To me
that is wonderful. I can relive summiting this massive peak on the Wasatch
Front without having to expend the effort, strength, and endurance I probably
no longer have.
We are the average of the individuals with whom we spend the
most time. That realization is noteworthy for me because I frequent the
association of so many great people daily. I am surrounded by incredible folks
in the form of an amazing family and friends that have literally changed my
life, but I also have the good fortune of digitally rubbing shoulders with many
other fine examples, including prophets, apostles, and others. And so do you.
The Church website is filled with dozens of talks from
incredible people. Some are often in the lime light—others are not—but they all
have in common great messages of hope in the Savior Jesus Christ and our
intimate association with him as our personal Redeemer. I love the metaphor of
Christ freeing us from a debt we cannot pay. In this analogy, Elder Boyd K.
Packer talks about a young man who fails to pay his debt but is saved from the
grasp of justice through the mediation of a friend. In this analogy, we are the
debtor pleading for mercy. The creditor demands justice. There they were: One
meting out justice, the other pleading for mercy. Neither could prevail except
at the expense of the other.
“If you do not forgive the debt there will be no mercy,” the
debtor pleaded.
“If I do, there will be no justice,” was the creditor’s
reply.
Both laws, it seemed, could not be served. They are two
eternal ideals that appear to contradict one another. Is there no way for
justice to be fully served and mercy also?
There is a way! The law of justice can be fully satisfied
and mercy can be fully extended—but it takes someone else. The Savior Jesus
Christ is our Mediator with the Father and our Redeemer from death of the body
and the spirit. He is our Savior. Because of him, we have hope.
Jesus paid our debt in full.
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions
and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which
saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. Alma
7:11
Like my colleagues who stayed by me and helped me until I
had summited the climb up Mount Timpanogos, my parents and family support and
inspire me to press forward. When the
going gets rough, I can rely on their help, love, and assistance to embolden me
to reach my destination.
But it is the Savior who is by our side every step of the
way. He doesn’t postpone his help, waiting at the top for us to finally catch
up with him. He provides help daily—encouragement, direction, blessings, and a
perfect example—so we can achieve our potentials and not face our journey
alone. The enabling power of the atonement gives you and me the strength to
change our circumstances and the hope and courage to endure to the end. He is
the Living Water on our journey. His is the sustenance and life enabling power
to help us reach our potential as sons and daughters of God. His empathy, love,
and mercy reach out to save us.
My wife hikes the trail to the Timp Caves multiple times a
week. By contrast that is 3 mile round trip and an elevation climb of roughly
1000 feet. Hikers frequently see marvelous nature, spectacular vistas, and
enjoy exercise and social interaction with others.
Though this hike is much less strenuous than summiting the
mountain, it still takes significant effort, time, and water along the way. Yet
every time I do it, I am reminded of the journey to the mountain peak.
Similarly, as we cast our daily burdens on the Savior, we are reminded that he alone bears the weight of salvation to the kingdom of God in our behalf. His grace is sufficient. And learning of him and his mission gives us hope in the future, strength to carry on, and power to overcome the formidable challenges of life.
Life is like a journey: bends in the trail, up-and-downs,
and significant obstacles. Gratefully, we are able to notice the beautiful
vistas along the way as we climb, and the spectacular view from the top is
worth all the effort. I gratefully acknowledge what brought me to where I am
today.
Jesus Christ is the Light and Life of our lives.
28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your
souls.
30 For
my yoke is easy, and
my burden is light.
Let him turn your family and your life into something even
more beautiful than you can now imagine. That’s what he does best.
Being born again comes by the Spirit through ordinances
- Joseph Smith
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