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+---
+title: Survival Journal - Final Paper
+---
+
+_Since the experience of the past month has been a period of great
+learning for me, this paper will be an attempt to express the lessons I
+have learned from survival. Hopefully, it will be a summary of my
+thoughts and realizations as I have come to understand them during solo._
+
+From the hardships and tests of endurance I learned much about my
+limitations. Strangely though, I learned more from observing others than
+myself. The first realization came when we left the little pond at the
+mouth of Horsethief during impact. I thought I had nearly reached my
+limits as we hiked that day and was extremely reluctant to continue on.
+Then as I was given the opportunity to help Melody and saw how tired she
+was, but how determinately she continued on I knew that I had not even
+come close to my limits of endurance. Throughout many of the tests of
+survival I have felt that my trials have not been as severe as those of
+others and each time I knew that if they had the courage to carry on
+surely, I must also.
+
+One of the greatest lessons I have learned is the role that humility
+must play in my life. During group ex. it was humbling to see how well
+the girls groups performed together compared to the boys groups. An
+essential part of cooperating as a group is having the humility to put
+your trust in a leader and his decisions. We boys were too
+individualistic and did not function well as a group until we were
+humbled by becoming separated. Humility also is an essential element in
+a person's relationship to the Lord. Only when a person has enough
+humility to know that he must depend upon the Lord instead of his own
+strength, can he earnestly strive to seek the help and guidance he
+needs. This lesson was not fully realized by me until the end of
+survival week when I felt sufficiently humble. I now have a better
+understanding of how much I must depend upon the Lord not only during
+times of hardship, but in all walks of life.
+
+Survival has also taught me a lesson of appreciation for the sacred
+privilege of living in this beautiful creation. During solo I witnessed
+many wonders, from the graceful motions of deer and great hawks to the
+delicate scampering of field mice and insects. I often studied the
+canyon walls and remembered back to the other beautiful landscapes I had
+seen during the past month. I had time to appreciate their immensity and
+perhaps more fully understand how all these things are filling the
+"measure of their
+
+creation", as Sharon said. My eyes have beheld many of these marvels
+before, but I was not a part of them and could not fully appreciate
+them. It was as if I looked at them only through a picture frame until I
+had this chance to experience some of the joys and pains of living so
+intimately amongst them. For this added appreciation of the sacred
+blessing of earthly existence I am most grateful.
+
+Some of the lessons I have learned are in relation to the goals I set,
+at the beginning of the course. One of my goals was to learn to base
+friendships upon the inner qualities of people rather than on outward
+appearances or superficial, less eternal qualities. From this experience
+of knowing hardships and suffering, of depending upon and living so
+closely with people I did not previously know, I feel I have learned how
+to more easily recognize the qualities upon which I want to base love
+for others. I am continually amazed at how much I can find to love in
+every single person I have met, during survival. I feel I have a greater
+understanding of Christ's love for all his children and His commandment
+that we are to love others as we do ourselves. Another of my goals was
+to overcome my selfishness or to learn to love others to the point that
+I cared more about them than I did myself. From the many opportunities I
+had to serve others and give of myself I learned much about myself. I do
+not feel that I gave as much as I could or that I have overcome all my
+selfish desires, but I have learned much about where my faults lie and
+what I must do to correct them.
+
+To summarize my feelings from survival, I have come to know a great
+peace within myself. It is not a peace such that what I am is entirely
+what want to be, but the lessons I have learned and the knowledge of
+myself I have gained do not disturb me, but confirm my faith in myself.
+I feel a sense of accomplishment at having endured hardships and having
+born them without faltering. I feel, too, that the direction I am going
+after survival will enable me to apply what I have learned toward
+improving
+
+myself. I will be able to increase my faith in the Lord and learn to
+more fully love and serve others during my mission to Brazil. I am
+extremely grateful to have had this chance to learn so much that will
+serve as preparation for mission my experience.
+
+As far as an instructor critique, I'm afraid I have little to say.
+Throughout the entire month of survival I never at any time felt a
+lacking on the part of the instructors. Their total dedication to their
+responsibility always seemed more than sufficient to me. The two
+instructors with which I had the most contact and whom I learned to love
+and appreciate the most were Fred and Russ. I feel that they both gave
+me much more than could give in return and that they both did an
+excellent job of teaching what they were. I will be eternally grateful
+to them and all the instructors for making survival the great experience
+it was to me.