We got off to a great start today as the weather was finally dry enough for us to catch up on our grass cutting. Weather conditions here are so variable and wet that scheduling a day to mow lawns is pretty random; you have be ready to take advantage of a good day whenever it occurs. So, today, everything fell into place: the weather was good, all the vehicles were working properly, and our new equipment trailer was onsite and ready to use. Everything seemed to be in alignment for a successful and productive day.

     Our original plan was to have the lawns cut by mid-afternoon so we could take one of the mowers in for service and then end our day with a late afternoon walk through one of our favorite places in the mission. It's a 10 acre parcel of heavily wooded ground named the Sacred Grove. It’s part of the Smith family farm, and it’s the place where Joseph Smith knelt in prayer on an early spring day in 1820 and received a visitation and instruction from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. With its tall trees, winding paths, and deep historical and spiritual significance, the Grove is one of our favorite places of repose here in Palmyra. No matter what our feelings may be when we enter that place, they are always better when we leave. We looked forward to our walk there later in the day. 

     Our morning mowing went without a hitch, and by lunchtime we were surprised by how much we had accomplished. We were in a groove so we decided to hold off on lunch and keep going while the going was good. Our next mowing stops were the Stafford Road and Smith family farm properties.

     We drove to Stafford Road and, once arrived, decided to revise our plan. Normally, we both work on the same property but because everything was going so well for us, we decided to split our assignments with Dottie taking the Stafford Road property while I drove a 1/4 mile up the road and mowed the Smith farm. With a final wave to Sister Collins, I engaged my mower and off I went.  

     It’s amazing how quickly life can change. One minute, you’re reveling in the beauty of the day and the seemingly unlimited opportunities before you, and the next, everything falls apart and you wonder how in the world you got into such a mess. Well, that’s what one wrong decision can sometimes bring about. I was mowing one of the access paths on the Smith farm when I espied a wet section of gently sloping turf ahead of me. I decided to power through it rather than go around it, and that turned out to be a big mistake. As soon as I entered the wet area, my mower slipped on the sloping ground and was soon mired in deep mud with the rear wheels spinning freely and the mower deck bottomed out. I was stuck, really stuck, and a mile and a half away from any help. With no recourse, I climbed out of the mower and somberly began making my way back to the Stafford Road property to enlist Sister Collins’ help. I had a tow strap and felt confident we could use the second mower to extract my machine.

     Well, that plan didn’t work out too well either. Before long, we had two mowers mired in the mud. Now what? Our only option was to walk back to the Stafford Road property, pick up our truck and trailer, then drive back to our offices and use our trusty John Deere tractor to extricate our machines. That plan worked, but, oh my, what a far different outcome to our day than we first imagined! One hasty decision brought about one long afternoon.    

     I’ve reflected on that decision, and it brought to mind a statement made by a Swiss mountaineer named Edward Whymper, the first climber to reach the summit of the Matterhorn. After surviving a tragic fall on the descent, he had the following counsel for those untested in the high places and filled with the unbounded energy and confidence of youth and a zeal for adventure. It’s counsel that applies to every aspect of life:

"Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end."

     Thankfully, my decision today didn’t "destroy the happiness of a lifetime,” but it did make for a very long day and provide good reason for me to reflect. Whymper’s counsel is sound. We all would do well to look to each step and from the beginning of our considered actions think what may be the end; whether navigating wet ground on a zero turn mower or considering our place in the eternal world to come.