Sacrament Meeting Talk: "The Trail to the Gate"

ELDER BRAXTON CRAPO TALK

MAY 2013 

 “THE TRAIL TO THE GATE”

 

            Every year at the end of March in small town Parker, Idaho, the snow begins to melt and green once again begins to appear.  All the farmers and ranchers anxiously watch the calendar and can’t wait to be back in the fields again.  Our cattle spend all winter in the corrals protected from the dangers of the harsh winters and fed good rations to keep them warm.  We spend countless hours all winter long checking cows and helping them give birth to the new crop of calves.  When early May comes along we are ready to get them out to pastures.  They spend a few short weeks at a pasture near our home and the time comes to head them toward the mountain.  I’ll never forget those days and the lessons I have learned from cows.  When the time comes to head for the mountain, we load our horses and dogs up, and prepare for the long 3 day cattle drive.

            The first day we spend much of our time trying to get the cows to trail out.  Some will see the horses and go; others need to be pushed by the trained cow dogs and hard working cowboys.  The hardest part is just convincing them to even begin the journey.  Once they get going, they have to decide which direction to take. 

Then comes day 2.  When you hit day 2 you are sore and boy, are you tired. But likely this is the shortest day of the drive.  You push the cattle and by now, they, for the most part get the point.  But some never want to take the easy road.  So here again come the cow dogs.  As directed by the cowboys, they go after the wandering cattle and try to bring them back to the road so the journey can be easier.  Another struggle you have on day 1 and day 2 is sometimes cows turn back; they make a break for the old home on the desert, not knowing what really lies ahead.  And sometimes, try as you might, even the cowboy with the best horse and the best dog can’t get them to come, so we make a choice and leave the cow behind.  We hope she will realize her mistake, turn around, and make the journey on her own.

Now day 3, the last and long final push.  By this time everyone is tired, but there is work to be done and the wonderful green pasture is just over the hill.  As the cattle take one last look at the desert and begin the 12 mile climb up the Hamilton Hill, I am sure they wonder if this is really right.  Do these cowboys know what they are doing?  But with a nice reminder fro the cowboy, they continue forward hoping for greener and better pasture.  They struggle and so do the cowboys to just continue on.  It seems as though the hill you thought was the last hill, really was only one hill closer to the end.  Finally you come around a small hill and there lies the gate.  Through the gate lies the most beautiful mountain pasture you’ll ever see.  Trees, ponds, grass 3 feet tall, everything a cow could ever want.  The journey really has paid off. 

Now think of the cowboy, the one who knew all along the end result and then to finally see his prize cattle hit the range and be safe and happy.  I can tell you from experience, this joy is overwhelming, and sense of accomplishment is indescribable.   You know and you can feel you have done a hard thing. 

Brothers and Sisters, as I look back at those long days and the good times, I have thought a lot about how this journey can really relate to our missionary work as well as our own journey to the gate.  I see the members as the cowboys, hard working, and you know the direction the work needs to go.  You are busy, just as the cowboy, and you know how to get the cattle headed in the right direction.  You also know the people around you who may not quite know the way yet.  You spend hours being an example and trying to show them the way.  You are determined and focused, just as the cowboy, to help others find their way to the gate.

Now with anything in life, there are great cowboys like I described.  And then sometimes on day 2 or even half way through day 1, we begin to see what I would like to call the “back seat cowboy”.  I am sure you all know what I am referring to.  This is the cowboy who doesn’t bring his rope or his good horse because he is just along for the ride.  Or it could be that he hasn’t quite understood why his Dad would make him go on such a long 3 day cattle drive when he could be out having fun.  I can promise you, I have been there.  Not only literally, but also in relation to my member missionary work at home, I think we will all be there at some point.  But Brothers and Sisters, once you feel that joy of seeing someone enter the gate you will crave that long and hard journey.  We as members of the church, have the greatest knowledge anyone could ever want.  We truly know where the gate is and how to help someone get there.  That gate and the greener pasture is the knowledge and testimony of the Restoration.  In a talk by Elder Russell M. Nelson, he said, “I cannot speak of the restoration in tempered tones.  This fact of history is absolutely stunning!  It is incredible!  It is breathtaking!”  What a wonderful gift we have to share with the world.

Now let’s go back to the cowboy.  Back home I have 2 dogs, Jay and Duke.  Jay is a hard working machine.  He loves his job and all he thinks about is moving cattle.  He is obedient and will do anything my Dad tells him to do.  He does make mistakes, and he is still a dog, but he really is a huge asset to our operation.  And then we have Duke; he is a happy, loving dog, who doesn’t do much but look up at you.  Brothers and Sisters, I see this as the missionaries.  Some are like Jay and some are like Duke.  We are only focused on missionary work and that is all we do all day every day.  We eat, sleep, and breathe it. But one thing about it, you can have a great cow dog, but without a good cowboy, he is nothing.  But I know one thing if you have one good cowboy and 2 good cow dogs, you can move hundreds of cattle quickly and efficiently.  The cowboy can see the cattle from far away; he knows where they hang out, and how to find them.  And then once you are there the cow dog helps you get the cattle headed in the right direction.  As stated by Elder Nelson, “Together members and missionaries invite all to learn of God, of Jesus Christ, and of his gospel.”  I know that together we can all experience joy that is indescribable.  In 2 Nephi 2:25, it tells us our purpose is to have joy, and in D&C 18:15-16, it tells us how to accomplish that.  Just as the cattle drive, this work is very hard, and we won’t be able to help everyone come to the knowledge.  (Sabrina story)

We spend all summer back riding and getting phone calls about cattle we missed or are out of the boundaries.  We must do the same.  We must continually be searching for those who are being prepared to start their journey.  “Meanwhile, your exemplary lives will attract the interest of your friends and neighbors.  Be ready to give an answer to those who ask why we live as we do.” (Elder Nelson)

Be ready to help them begin their long journey, and remember, sometimes that first day is the hardest.  Sometimes getting people to understand that the journey is worth it is tough.  In D&C 88:104, it states; “For everyone shall hear it and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess.”

Brothers and Sisters, I testify that this is God’s work.  As we try to do God’s work together as a team, we will help bring many souls to that great and wonderful knowledge of the restored gospel.  The joy we will feel will be overwhelming.  I know the trail can be long and hard, but always remember that the gate is just over the hill.  Don’t allow yourself to give up when trials arrive.  When you hit that last and final long haul on your trail to conversion, push forward.  Be steadfast and enjoy the ride.  I know the knowledge of the gospel is worth every price that must be paid.  I know God lives, Jesus is the Christ, and he wants more than anyone for EVERYONE to find the gate.  Let’s go forth cheerfully doing his work.