July 25, 2014 -"'-"•- ^HNMHIM Youths learn of sacrifice in journey to the temple s: By DANA RIMINGTON Standard-Examiner correspondent OUTH WEBER - Nearly (300 youth from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints strapped on their walking shoes June 27 and trekked from their homes in South Weber up to the Ogden LDS Temple on 22nd Street, a 10.8 mile walk one-way. Already deemed a challenge for many of the kids, it became even more challenging when only an hour into their walk, the weather brought sprinkling and that sprinkling quickly turned into a torrential downpour onto the large group clad in bright neon green T-shirts. With everyone soaked to the bone, and youth leaders worried about the kids giving up, leaders were surprised when the teens kept trudging onward, determined to get to their destination. "As the rain start falling, I couldn't believe it was happening," said Kent Hyer, co-chair of the event with his wife, Diana. "The kids' heads went down, and they kept trudging through, saying they were going to get through this, and pretty soon kids started stomping in mud puddles, and you could hear laughing and giggles all the way up and down the line." Diana Hyer said the activity was Courtesy photo Bobby Pinzon and a friend celebrate in the rain as they walk to the Ogden Temple in a youth activity designed to raise awareness and appreciation for temple blessings. meant to turn the hearts and minds of their youth to the LDS Ogden Temple, given the temple's upcoming open house and dedication in August and September. "We also wanted the youth to realize they are capable of doing hard things," she said. "Eleven miles isn't a small task, especially in pouring rain, but they all did it." The group traveled from South Weber, along the Weber River Parkway, through Riverdale and downtown Ogden to the Ogden Temple where they were transported home in cars after a day of service at a See YOUTH, Page 4C Courtesy photo. South Weber youths admire the facade of the newly remodeled Ogden Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after they had walked more than 10 miles from their community to get to the structure.