HIGHLAND, Utah — The young men of the Highland East Canyon View Ward recently completed a 250-mile, nine-stage temple trek that took place over 12 non-consecutive days from September 2014 to August 2015.
When the ward's Young Men leaders sat down at their annual troop planning meeting in August 2014, they wanted to plan an experience that the youths would never forget. The trek enabled each boy to complete as many of the stages as he could, earn up to four different Boy Scout merit badges, visit 10 LDS temples and take part in temple work for his ancestors.
During each stage, the boys visited a temple and then either hiked, backpacked or rode a bike along a trail to another temple. The stages ranged from daytrips to two- or three-day camping and backpacking trips, and from 6 miles to 50.
In addition to temples and hiking trails, the boys visited cultural monuments such as the World War II Monument, the Olmec Head and the International Peace Park.
By the end of the trek, the boys had visited the Brigham City, Ogden, Bountiful, Salt Lake, Oquirrh Mountain, Mount Timpanogos, Draper, Provo, Provo City Center and Payson temples.
The group began with a practice stage at the Mount Timpanogos Temple in September. The first official stage of the trek, completed in October, started at the Draper Temple.
During the third stage, completed June 10, the Young Men visited the Khadeeja Islamic Center in West Valley City. They met Bilal Ahmed Mirza, a Muslim who shared experiences from his pilgrimage to Mecca.
“We decided to convert our temple trek into a … pilgrimage to help us prepare for our ultimate 'pilgrimage' experience as young men — serving a full-time mission where we will not only re-enact the Savior's life but serve as his official representatives at the same time,” Scoutmaster Lenard Brunsdale wrote on a blog that detailed the trek.
The final leg of their trek ended on Aug. 12 at the Salt Lake Temple, where the Young Men were greeted by Bishop Mike Jones and Stake President Howard Bangerter.
To read more about the Highland East Canyon View Ward young men’s temple trek, visit hecvym.blogspot.com.
Email: mswensen@deseretnews.com