Building upon the rock of the Redeemer
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Those attending Brother Brigham's Family Ball or other Pioneer Day events held at This Is the Place Heritage Park in July might have noticed a new addition that is as long as a football field and weighs more than 100 tons.
As part of the Bountiful Utah Central Stake's Youth Conference, 250 youth and leaders assembled on the west side of the property near the Brigham Young home Friday, June 19 to put their stone masonry skills to the test.
Six hours later, the group completed the 300-foot-long rock wall structure and put an end to a project that has been ongoing for seven years.
Crafting a Theme
Months ago, leaders began making plans for the stake's summer youth conference. Mike Mayfield, stake Young Men president, and Tina Schwab, stake Young Women president, pondered over a theme. "These kids have to be so strong; they have to be solid in their conviction and testimonies," said Sister Schwab.
Considering the Young Men/Young Women theme, "Be thou an example," and hoping to increase the youths' relationship with the Savior and give them a solid foundation to base their testimony upon, a theme was chosen — "Rock on."
Activities such as rock-climbing walls, classes and firesides centered on the rock message and rock painting, were then planned with that focus in mind.
A door soon opened that would take the conference one step further, one that allowed the youth to cement their testimonies in stone and heart.
A few months earlier, Ron and Leslie Burt were called to organize a service project that could occupy the strength and attention of 250 youth for six hours.
Not finding anything in their Bountiful, Utah, area, they felt to call This Is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City.
They were initially told there were no projects.
"Wait a minute," they were suddenly told. "There is a project that has been started a few times and never finished. It's been on the shelf for six years. It's a very involved project, but if you want to finish our rock wall, the project is yours."
They welcomed the opportunity. because it corresponded so nicely with the theme and purpose of the youth conference,
"It was one more affirmation that we were doing the right theme," Sister Schwab said.
Cementing testimonies
President Blake Murdock, first counselor in the stake presidency, oversaw the project and addressed the youth about the importance of building a foundation on the rock of the Redeemer. The youth were then granted some time to ponder and write their testimonies of the Savior.
From there they migrated to take on the wall. In order to complete the task a combined effort of hard work was essential.
"In today's world sometimes we don't demand enough from our youth. We wanted them to feel the sweetness that comes from hard work," President Murdock said.
Though the task would be difficult, organization was on their side.
David McBride, a member of the Moss Hill Ward, has had experience with stonemason work. Using his expertise, he trained 25 leaders. To help focus the youth on the project, the leaders took groups of 10, found a spot on the wall and began working. With everyone pitching in, the challenging task became a reality.
"The kids were going nonstop and working so hard. We ran out of mud three times and had to wait for more, but they wanted to stay until it was finished," Brother Burt said.
Working with a sense of determination, the youth kept going strong until the end.
"Everybody took pride in doing that wall. There was a lot of effort and love that went into it. That's why it was such a success," Brother McBride said.
A cornerstone ceremony was held to commemorate the project's end. Testimonies of the youth written that morning were placed in a time capsule and buried in the rock structure. A rock emblazoned with "Bountiful Utah Central Stake Youth Conference, June 19, 2009, Rock on," was then added to the wall.
The youth took pride in their accomplishment and return to the site to show their parents the place where their testimonies were cemented.
"The best part of the whole project is that they were able to accomplish something worthwhile and lasting and give back to a historic site that is especially meaningful to Latter-day Saints," Brother Mayfield said.
The park was pleased with the craftsmanship and sent a letter of appreciation that was read in each ward sacrament meeting.
Still better was witnessing the change in the youth.
"When they left the youth conference, they came away knowing they had a testimony built on the rock of the Savior," said Sister Schwab.
