Young patients who go to Dr. W. Daniel Jackson's office at Primary Children's Medical Center need a little diversion. Something fun. Something to take their minds from their troubles.

Fifteen-year-old Samuel Barnes understands. Several years ago, Samuel was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, an incurable, lifelong illness that disrupted the young man's life and has forced him to undergo countless hours of treatment at the Salt Lake City hospital.

Whenever Samuel would dart through Primary Children's lobby on the way to Dr. Jackson's office, he'd always notice the crowd of children and parents gathering to watch the toy train that winds through a festive village on permanent display at the south end of the hospital.

"No one walked by without looking at the train," said Samuel, a teacher in the Manila 2nd, Pleasant Grove Utah Manila Stake.

Last year, when Samuel was finalizing his plans for his Eagle Project, he thought about trains. Wouldn't it be great, he wondered, if fellow patients in Dr. Jackson's waiting room could also enjoy a little toy train fun. He asked the hospital if he could build a track and village for his doctor's office.

Primary Children's Medical Center is often approached by Scouts hoping to complete Eagle Projects. The hospital usually suggests the boys collect quilts and stuffed animals, or maybe conduct a book or art supply drive. But Samuel felt the train village would be best. The hospital staff agreed.

Deborah Barnes did not initially share her son's railroad enthusiasm.

"Our family did not know anything about toy trains," she admitted. But Samuel was tenacious, and soon his Eagle project was under way.

Raising money for the train track and village became a community effort. Samuel's fellow ward members supported a project fund-raiser, buying pizzas and pies. The youth spent a combined activity night delivering the goodies. A good friend and ward member, Rob Bennett, offered his expertise as a professional set designer and hours of his time helping Samuel build the village. As at all times, Samuel had the full support of his family while working on the project.

Samuel made sure the village — which includes a winding track cutting through two mountain tunnels, a waterfall and a chapel — was marked with a few personal touches. Look closely and you can spot a pair of missionaries chatting with a villager.

"One of the missionaries is a figure of my brother Jonathan, who is serving a mission in Denmark," Samuel said.

After an estimated 900 combined hours spent fund-raising and village building, the train was ready to be moved from Samuel's American Fork home to the hospital.

Primary Children's Medical Center unveiled the village during its annual "Pennies By The Inch" appreciation dinner. Samuel, in Scout uniform, spoke at the banquet.

Shortly after placing the village in Dr. Jackson's office, Samuel learned his first lesson in train troubles. The continually-running engine sometimes had trouble making it up the hill into one of the mountain tunnels.

"The little engine that could sometimes couldn't," Sister Barnes said.

Sister Barnes went to a hobby shop in Utah County searching for a remedy. While explaining the problem to a shop employee, another toy train aficionado at the store offered his expertise. The man, Ted York, suggested they start over and build another village with a few track modifications.

Brother York and Samuel quickly finished the new village. The winding train now operates flawlessly in Dr. Jackson's office.

Samuel still hopes his original village — which currently sits in his basement — will eventually find a home in another pediatrician's waiting room.

That sort of optimism typifies Samuel, said Sister Barnes, adding, "Samuel's great faith is an example to many people."

Samuel's illness is now in remission. Samuel received the coveted Eagle Scout award on Dec. 16, 1999. It was presented to him by his friend, President Thomas S. Monson.

He developed a friendship with President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, during the dedication of the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple, which is a short walk from Samuel's home. Prior to the temple groundbreaking, Samuel wrote to President Monson and asked how he, as a youth, could help with the new temple like pioneer children helped build early temples.

President Monson directed some of his dedication remarks to Samuel, and asked the boy to stand by him at the podium. Samuel even offered a few comments about his thankfulness for the new temple.

Since then, Samuel has performed baptisms for the dead at the Mount Timpanogos Temple almost every Friday. When he doesn't go, the baptistry workers call to ask if all is well.

"They are my temple family," Samuel said.