Philmont

Sterling, Me and Jordon went to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico for their LDS Scouting Leadership week. It was AWESOME. All the people there were either Stake Presidencys or Stake YM pres or High Councilors or Bishops. The idea is that they teach these people how to run the scouting program and they take their knowledge home and teach the wards what they need to do to help the boys. There were people from all over: New York, Indiana, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan and of course Utah and Arizona. The General YM president Dahlquist and his wife and the general Primary president sister Lant and her husband were both there. They all spoke at several meetings. Sister Dahlquist was the best. I loved her talk on finding peace. The men were in meetings all day M-Th. The kids are divided up by age and boys and girls and each group has several 'rangers' (college kids) that take them for the day. Yes, the day. They go on hikes, do crafts, play outside games and just have lots of fun. This is their group playing ultimate dodgeball and on one of the 3 hikes they took. I would drop him off in the morning, get him for lunch then drop him off for the afternoon. He had a blast and met lots of boys. He also loved the western dance night.

This is of Jordon and his friend Hunter being silly.

The women had several things they could choose to do like hiking, dutch oven cooking, museum tours, crafts like leather work, stamping, jewelry making, etc... But mostly they encouraged us to take some time to enjoy the beauty of Philmont and be still. It is at 8000 ft and the grounds are lush and green with tall trees. I signed up for a few things, but really didn't do anything; a little reading and some scrapbooking. They also had one meeting each day for women. The Dahlquists and the Lants spoke at two different ones. They were very good. However, the thing I liked most was the spirit that was there. When the deacons came up the side isles at Sacrament meeting, and there were 600 of us to pass to so they must have had 30 deacons, the spirit was so so strong that this is a special place and it was going to be a wonderful week. It was, like no other. All the food was provided so no cooking or cleaning, just time to be. Sterling and I sang in the choir every morning for practices. The group sang in sacrament meeting and at the Wed. flag ceremony. We didn't want to leave when Friday finally came. If you ever have the opportunity to go, do it.