September 30, 2007 Mount Sinai Sunrise

September 30th, 2007
Mount Sinai Sunrise Hike
After a wonderful experience the prior evening at a sacrament meeting convened in hotel where all of the talks seemed to be inspired and an outpouring of the Holy Ghost was witnessed, the scripture “where two or three are gathered together in my name, I will be in their midst” became all the more true. Whether in a dedicated building, or a hotel at the base of a mountain in the middle of the Sinai, the Holy Spirit is an all pervading and encompassing influence available to all those with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
As we all sauntered onto the bus, heads nodding in exhaustion and lack of sleep, we start to imagine the task looming ahead of us. Pulling into the parking lot, the moonlight etches the silhouettes of the mountains surrounding us. We begin to trudge up the valley and pass by St. Catherines monastery where many devoted servants of God silently slumber. Onward we press, through the legions of camels, and after a lot of ignoring of merchants and camel drivers we begin to ascend slowly up the mount.
After hiking for a little over an hour and a half, the first group summits. As we get situated in anticipation of the pending sunrise, and as others groups roll in, we begin to survey our surroundings. All present can’t help but to be in a state of humble reflection and admire the beauty of our glorious Father’s creations. As the sun begins to pierce the horizon, and its fluorescent rays perforate through the clouds we were awestruck by its brilliance. In a state a reverence, many prayers of gratitude were offered.
As we sang hymns and Brother Ludlow expounded some doctrines of the kingdom, vivid memories were engraved into our memories. Whether it was on that particular mount, or another close by, the Holy Spirit testified of the truthfulness of the Gospel and of the wondrous works of an ancient prophet who communed with our God.