Lost

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Lost
YW Camp – 2004

Before I get started, I’ve got to tell you the most embarrassing thing that happened to me.

I was at BYU as an engineering student. Every week we had to take a seminar with all the other engineering students. This one Thursday morning, my buddy and I went early to the theater since we didn’t have any classes, and we studied till the seminar began. We sat on the 4th row back. Eventually the theater filled (over 350 people) and the speaker started. When they announced who he was, my buddy and I groaned to each other – we knew him. He then announced his topic “Bridges to Success” again we groaned to each other – ‘how corny’ we said. Slide after slide, he showed us different bridges around the world, and then explained some little tidbit of advice on how to be successful. We were in one of those moods where we groaned and moaned all through his talk. At the end of his talk, he said “And one of the bridges to your success, is your family. And today, I have my wife with me. Dear would you stand and let people see you?” She was sitting right next to my friend.

Now I tell you these things that you might learn wisdom.

I have my spies among you. My wife is out there, and two daughters, plus a couple of nieces. So if you want to complain and groan about my talk – better do it later and make sure you’re alone.


I need to give my wife a quick report on the house.
1. Max is alive and well – He’s eating healthy – if you count cheetos, twinkies, and pizza as good food. He wanted me to tell you – “Help, I’m dying”
2. The house is fine. The counter actually has some bread crumbs on it. I had no idea how many times a day Wendy must clean off the cupboard. Of course, you may not find some of the spatulas, or other specialty gear is…I’m not sure where they go.
3. The shower still works, and it is warm, and you feel so cleannnn when you get out. We all miss you….including the shower.

Okay let’s have some fun. Let me ask you a few questions…
1. How many hours of sleep did you get last night? How many got 8 hours? 6 hrs? 4 hrs? How many are still looking for your first good hour of sleep?
2. How many of you wish you’d have brought up a warmer sweater? A warmer blanket? How many have been sleeping in the car with the heaters going?
3. How many got wet? Drenched? How many floated away, and have not been found yet?
4. How many of you are sleeping in a tent with 1 other person? 2 other people? 5 other people? 10 other people? How many have resorted to sleeping in the porta-potty?
5. How many of you feel like you know your way around pretty good? Could walk home if you wanted to? Have tried walking home? Well the one thing you don’t want to do – is get lost. That’s what I want to talk to you about tonight – how to avoid getting lost.

Get thinking about people who get lost
Occasionally you’ll come across a story in the papers of a hiker, or snowmobiler, or skier who get’s lost. Last week after 3 days they found the boy scout from West Valley (William Dunn) who was lost in the high Uintahs on a 50 miler and had gotten off on a wrong trail. They found him last Friday. Sometimes lost people are found, but sometimes they are not found. Have you ever thought about how scary it would be? To be alone, in peril, and realize that you have no idea where you are, or how to get back to where you needed to be.

Q. Have any of you had an experience with being totally lost and then being found?

A few years ago, the 2nd ward had a girl’s camp down in the canyons near price. One of the older young women (missy miller) drove down by herself because she had had to work. She made a wrong turn, and drove for 30-40 minutes up the wrong canyon and she ran out of gas. So here she was, alone in the mountains, a car that was out of gas, a camp of girls who knows where that were waiting for her, and it was starting to get dark.

Q. What would you do?

She did the perfect thing. She prayed. She believed. And then she began searching. She knew that she needed to stay close to her car, but she also knew that no one was going to find her by her car for who knows how long….it could be days, maybe weeks. Suddenly, she looked down the road and saw a lone man walking down the road towards her. Now what should she do? Was she in trouble or was he going to be helpful? Then she saw he was carrying a gun, and a dog was running by his side. He was a hunter….good? or bad? She decided to trust in the Lord, that he would send her help. And so she approached the hunter. As she approached close, she realized that she knew the man. It was Wayne Poulson one of the kindest and best men from her ward. She told him her predicament, and he told her not to worry, that she’d be just fine. When he heard that she was out of gas, he told her that his truck was parked on a side road, probably not a mile from there. And he said that when he had left to go hunting that morning, he had felt a distinct impression to get extra gas. He normally didn’t carry an extra tank of gasoline on his jeep, but he did this time. So they hiked back to his car, he then drove them back to her car, filled her up, and told her where she had made her wrong turn. The girls were so happy to see Missy when she finally arrived.

Coincidence? Or answer to prayer?

Fortunately I haven’t had much experience in the area of getting physically lost. But, in my calling I’ve had a lot of experience with people who have lost their way spiritually, and who are lost.

How many have ever heard the song – Amazing Grace?

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see.


Being spiritually lost is even more tragic and terrifying than being physically lost. Why? Because with spiritual loss, the stakes are enormous – they are eternal.

The scriptures have lots of ways to describe someone who is lost spiritually –
- Gall of bitterness
- Better that a millstone were hung about their neck and cast into the sea
- It were better that they had never been born
- Hell with fire and brimstone whose smoke ascendeth forever.
- Wish that the mountains would cover them and bury them

Alma the younger described that feeling of being lost like this…You’ll remember he was out tormenting the church…Alma 36:
12 But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.
13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.
14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.
15 Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.

A few months ago we had to hold a disciplinary council for a man who had committed many terrible sins. We were going to sit in council to determine whether this brother would be excommunicated from the church or not. As I walked past the room where his wife was sitting, I greeted her and told her how sorry I was for the situation that had arisen which had caused us to need to meet this sad day. She had been weeping for many hours, and her eyes were red and swollen with tears. She looked up, and said, “please do whatever you have to do to find my husband. He is lost right now...”

You are in the process of getting lost when:
You feel unhappy, depressed, confused, and frustrated.
You feel heavy, full of darkness, mind is muddled.
You feel empty, hollow, and cold.
You feel like anything anybody does will bother you – always on the defensive.
You feel easily discouraged
You become secretive, sneaky, evasive.
You want to be alone. You avoid other people, especially members of your family.
You are envious of others and what they have.
You feel critical of others, especially of family and authorities
You don’t want to go to the temple
You wish you had no work to do
You don’t want to pray.
You feel the commandments are bothersome, restrictive, senseless
You become a slave to your appetites
You become overindulgent in food, sleep, stimulations of all kinds.
You wonder if life is really worth living.

So with how terrible it is to be lost, and all the distractions around us to cause us to get lost spiritually, should we fear? No, the lord has said on many occasions:

D&C 6: 34
34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

D&C 35: 27
27 Fear not, little flock, the kingdom is yours until I come. Behold, I come• quickly. Even so. Amen.

D&C 50: 41
41 Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;

Matt. 18: 11
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Luke 19: 10
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Christ finds us and saves us - 2 Ne. 25: 17
17 And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.

So how did Alma feel when he was found again – when he was saved? Alma 36:
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.


So we know that being lost is terrible, but if we become lost – the Lord has given us tools to help us find our way back…and to keep us from getting lost in the first place. So what does the lord give us to help?

In the physical world we have numerous things to guide us and help us find our way safely to our destinations, our kingdoms:

Q. What do we have to help us not get lost?

North Star – This miraculous star never changes places, hence enabling us to use it in navigating our way. We can look to the sky and see the North Star at all times and know whether we are heading the right direction
Compass – Compass is sooo cool. They always point the right direction. Let me show you how it works. I’ve given a compass to several of your leaders. Now I want them to pull out the compass and show you. Each of you will get one of these tonight when you retire to bed. This molten iron core in the center of the earth creates a magnetic field around the earth which will align any free floating magnetized needle so that it points north.
Okay leaders – I’m assuming you know how to use a compass. Now show me – when I say ‘3’ I want you to point North. 1-2-3. Isnt’ that neat?
This miraculous device was discovered around 300 BC in China. And so, Lehi, who was 300 years before that, when he needed something similar to a compass, the lord gave him a device to help him…the liahona.
Cloud by day and pillar of fire by night – Moses needed direction in the wilderness.
Global Positioning System (GPS) – This system uses 24 satellites positioned around the world, to help identify exactly where you are. If you tell it where you are trying to go, it will point out the direction you need to go to get to your destination.
Never Lost System – This is a GPS system hooked to a database which actually shows you on a map where you are, and what roads you need to take to get to your destination. It talks to you, and tells you exactly when you need to turn left or turn right, and how far you have to go. The OnStar system in Yorgasons’ car, is the next step up. You just push a button and a live operator says “Hello Mr. Yorgason, what can I do for you today?” IF you want a place to eat or spend the night, the person knows exactly where you are and can direct you, until you arrive safely.
Lighthouses – These are lights which are placed on top of hills close to rocky shoals to steer ships away from danger
Traffic laws – These are in place to ensure that people arrive safefly at their destinations without causing problems to others.
Shepherd – These brave and patient people live with the sheep, and call to them when danger approaches. They then protect the sheep until the danger has been averted.
Whistle – Get people’s attention

Q. In the spiritual world, What has he given us to help us keep from Getting Lost spiritually?
Standards – (like traffic laws) - For the strength of youth…guidelines regarding dating, friends, media,
Bishops and youth leaders – (like lighthouse)I hope when they come up tomorrow that you will show them how much you appreciate the time they take with you and for you. They really love you, and would do anything to help you.
Scriptures – (like north star) The scriptures are like a rod of iron along the path. As long as we hold to them, and live them, they keep us on the strait and narrow path. But if we let go of them, then we will get lost.
Partiarchal Blessing – Like your own personal (Liahona). When you live worthy and give heed to it, it can direct your path.
Prayer – It’s like a whistle that you toot to let him know you’re here and that you have question, concerns, or thanks. He will always listen to your toot. He will always answer. We have just started as a stake our gift program. I hope that you prayed to determine which gift you would give. I hope that whenever you are challenged, you will whistle and ask for help.
I had a man who was trying to break a terrible addiction. He was being successful. I asked him how he was doing it. He said, whenever I have a temptation I drop to my knees and beg the Lord to help me. And he always ALWAYS answers me. I walk away from the temptation. Prayer does work miracles.
I hope that you will then feel comfortable to whistle a lot when you find that your gift is hard to give. He will give you strength to complete your task.
I hope that you will then learn to always have a project with the Savior. That on at least one task you will feel free to call on him for help. Eventually, you will feel comfortable calling on him for multiple projects, and then eventually, you will know you can call on him at all times. And you will have confidence that he will be there for you always.

When you get in trouble and you don't know right from wrong,
give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
When you meet temptation and the urge is very strong,
give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
Not just a little squeak,
pucker up and blow.
And if your whistle's weak, yell "Juminy Cricket!"
Take the straight and narrow path
and if you start to slide,
give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
And always let your conscience be your guide

Prophets – (like a compass) Our beloved prophet is one of the greatest compasses we have. He gives a clear message so that we know whether we are on the right path or not. Can you remember the last time he spoke to the Young Women as a group. It was at the Young Women broadcast back in March.

Let me end my talk over the next 10 minutes sharing the 10 things that our compass said specifically to you young women to ensure you don’t get lost during these coming days ahead. These are written on your compass so that you will never forget what your spiritual compass is saying…
1 There are so many of you. My heart reaches out to you. I appreciate you. I honor you. I respect you. What a tremendous force for good you are.
You are the strength of the present, the hope of the future.
You are the sum of all the generations that have gone before, the promise of all that will come hereafter.
You must know, as you’ve been told, that you are not alone in this world. There are hundreds of thousands of you. You live in many lands. You speak various languages. And every one of you has something divine with you.

2. You are second to none. You are daughters of God. There has come to you as your birthright something beautiful and sacred and divine. Never forget that. Your Eternal Father is the great Master of the universe. He rules over all, but He also will listen to your prayers as His daughter and hear you as you speak with Him. He will answer your prayers. He will not leave you alone. You have the potential to become anything to which you set your mind. You have a mind and a body and a spirit. With these three working together, you can walk the high road that leads to achievement and happiness. But this will require effort and sacrifice and faith.
3. Among other things, I must remind you that you must get all of the education that you possibly can. Life has become so complex and competitive. You cannot assume that you have entitlements due you. You will be expected to put forth great effort and to use your best talents to make your way to the most wonderful future of which you are capable.

4. As you walk the road of life, be careful of your friends. They can make you or break you. Be generous in helping the unfortunate and those in distress. But bind to you friends of your own kind, friends who will encourage you, stand with you, live as you desire to live; who will enjoy the same kind of entertainment; and who will resist the evil that you determine to resist.
5. As we look out over the world, it seems that morality has been cast aside. The violation of old standards has become common. Studies, one after another, show that there has been an abandonment of time-tested principles. Self-discipline has been forgotten, and promiscuous indulgence has become widespread. But, my dear friends, we cannot accept that which has become common in the world. Yours, as members of this Church, is a higher standard and more demanding. It declares as a voice from Sinai that thou shalt not indulge. You must keep control of your desires. For you there is no future in any other course. I should modify that to say that the Lord has provided for repentance and forgiveness. Nonetheless, yielding to temptation can become like a wound that seems never to heal and always to leave an ugly scar.
6. Modesty in dress and manner will assist in protecting against temptation. It may be difficult to find modest clothing, but it can be found with enough effort. I sometimes wish every girl had access to a sewing machine and training in how to use it. She could then make her own attractive clothing. I suppose this is an unrealistic wish. But I do not hesitate to say that you can be attractive without being immodest. You can be refreshing and buoyant and beautiful in your dress and in your behavior. Your appeal to others will come of your personality, which is the sum of your individual characteristics. Be happy. Wear a smile. Have fun. But draw some rigid parameters, a line in the sand, as it were, beyond which you will not go.

7. Stay away from sleazy entertainment. It may be attractive, but in all too many cases it is degrading.

8. Respect your bodies. The Lord has described them as temples. So many these days disfigure their bodies with tattoos. How shortsighted. And while I am speaking of things to avoid, I again mention drugs. Please do not experiment with them. Stay away from them as if they were a foul disease, for such they really are.

9. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ must be a beacon light before you, a polar star in your sky

10. Never assume that you can make it alone. You need the help of the Lord. Never hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him. What a marvelous and wonderful thing is prayer. Think of it. We can actually speak with our Father in Heaven. He will hear and respond, but we need to listen to that response. Nothing is too serious and nothing too unimportant to share with Him.

“Sisters, we have work to do. The Prophet Joseph charged the Relief Society with the work of saving souls (see History of the Church, 5:25), for it is our very nature to nurture and to search after those who are lost. And yet, President Spencer W. Kimball lamented that there was a power in Relief Society that had not “yet been fully exercised to … build the Kingdom of God” (“Relief Society—Its Promise and Potential,” Ensign, Mar. 1976, 4). For all the good it has done in the past, Relief Society has yet to help move this latter-day work forward as it must. Sisters, the time has come to unleash the power of righteous happiness that exists among women of God. The time has come for us to be anxiously engaged in the work of saving souls. The time has come for the sisters of Relief Society to stand with and for the prophet in helping build the kingdom. The time has come for us each to stand tall and to stand together.” Sheri Dew

Tonight before you go to bed, you will receive your compass, and your whistles. I hope that these tools which help you not get lost at camp, will remind you of the tools the Lord has given you so that you don’t get lost on your Quest to the Kingdom.

In the name of Jesus Christ.


Scriptures related to “Lost”

Lord talks about how we are salt, and when we sin, it is as though we have lost our savour…or nutritive powers…Matt. 5: 13
13 ¶ Ye are the salt• of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Lord only came to save the lost - Matt. 15: 24
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent• but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matt. 18: 11
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost•.

Luke 19: 10
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost•.

Lost sheep - Luke 15: 4
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in• the wilderness, and go after that which is lost•, until he find it?

Luke 15: 6
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

Lost money - Luke 15: 9
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

Prodigal son - Luke 15: 24
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Luke 15: 32
32 It was meet• that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.


Christ will not lose any of us who have been given him - John 17: 12
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none• of them is lost•, but the son of perdition•; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

John 18: 9
9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none•.

Gospel is restored – 2 Cor. 4: 3
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

Lose their way on the path to the tree of life - 1 Ne. 8: 23
23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist• of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.

1 Ne. 8: 28
28 And after they had tasted• of the fruit they were ashamed•, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.

1 Ne. 12: 17
17 And the mists• of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad• roads, that they perish and are lost.

All mankind is lost – repentance finds them - 2 Ne. 2: 21
21 And the days of the children of men• were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent• while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost•, because of the transgression of their parents.

Lord only came to save the lost - Matt. 15: 24
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent• but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matt. 18: 11
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost•.

Luke 19: 10
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost•.

Christ finds us and saves us - 2 Ne. 25: 17
17 And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore• his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous• work and a wonder among the children of men.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace that fear relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds
And drives away his fear.

Must Jesus bear the cross alone
And all the world go free
No, there's a cross for everyone
And there's a cross for me.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun


Wendy and I coming back to Utah from Houston Texas, took a ‘shortcut’ which wasn’t on the map, but realized that we were in the middle or New Mexico, no water, and no road signs to tell us what road we were on, let alone if we were on the right road. When we finally came to the end of the road it ended in a dirt road and had a sign posted “dirt road next 45 miles – unpassable during rainstorm”. We turned around. But realizing we didn’t have enough gas to find the next gas station, we just started heading blindly on a road that eventually turned into another dirt road. This time we had no choice, we needed to take the dirt road. Not knowing for sure whether it would take us to Farmington. Or not. We sat at the place where the road turned dirt and pondered and then prayed. Soon a car came driving up. We stopped it and asked them if the road connected with a road to Farmington. They told us it did, and told us they would follow us to ensure that we didn’t run out of gas along the way. They were so kind.

I can remember being on a milk route as a driver. I had poorly written instructions, and if I missed a single turn, I would start delivering milk to wrong place, and then be lost for an hour – which was really frustrating because customers would start calling to complain, and it would take you that much longer to get home. Driving lost, going fast, along a huge field, all the sudden beautiful hunting dogs jumped up on the road in front of me, I skidded to a stop…but milk covered the inside of the windshield, and milk just poured out of truck like a river.

I remember reading a story of a person who was identified as missing for months…he had been diving in a large lake, when he disappeared. After a few weeks the search ended and he was assumed dead. Some months later, he was found in the middle of a forest miles from the lake still in his snorkeling gear. What happened? Can you guess? Apparently a forest fire had brought out the helicopters who flew to the lake and scooped up huge scoops full of water, and then dropped the water on the fire below. I turns out that the diver was the un