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| The Iron Rod Experience |
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by Gina Prisbrey / ga03292008
If you are interested in purchasing this program, click here. If you have questions, you can e-mail Gina at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Every few years, our stake girls camp has a special night where we re-create Lehi's vision of the tree of life. We take each ward through an undeveloped trail in the mountains. We put up 300 yards of PVC pipe and rebar. Each girl's hand is placed on the PVC "ROD" and told not to let go. After passing the RIVER OF FILTH and SPACIOUS BUILDING (we had a Styrofoam and cardboard building that we created and painted.) We had the 5th year girls there, imitating having a loud drinking party, asking the "goody goody girls to let go and have fun"), the girls are handed blindfolds, and are spaced apart. They continue holding on the rod. The right side of the rod had people reading from the scriptures. The left side of the rod had people asking them to leave the ROD. If the girl leaves the rod, she must speak to our Stake Presidency and "repent". Remember this is all taking place in rough terrain, and the girls are blindfolded and feel alone, in the dark. After the rod ends, the girls are able to take their blindfolds off and enter a "room" made of visqueen wrapped around trees. Beautiful soft music is playing. There is a tree of life there. (really a tree with white Christmas lights on it.) The girls are asked to partake of the fruit. (Small white bags hanging on the tree, with small trinkets and scriptures quotes inside). Then the girls are asked to listen to the music created especially for this, called "HOLD ON". Not a dry eye exists. This is truly a unique experience that the girls will remember for the rest of their lives. The spirit is SO strong. The music created for it is so beautiful! It really "ties up" the Iron Rod Experience into a great package. Some of the girls who had the experience didn't really see how it related to their lives, until the song was played. You'll find the words posted below. They are set to the most perfect music. If any of you would like me to get CD's for you, write me back and I'll be glad to get information to you. The CD's are available now and are $5.00 each. My ward has ordered 50 of them to give each YW girl for Christmas. HOLD ON words I place my hand on the rod, my journey begins, Back to my home above. And though I can't see, what lies before me I will search for my Fathers love I place my feet on the path, I take my first step, I am trying to find my way. The road can be rough and the challenges tough but a rainbow of values will help me stay A fountain of filth pours insults my way I reflect on my Individual Worth And the choices I make, and the paths that I take Show I've had Divine Nature since birth. CHORUS -- With my hand on the rod On the path that I trod Straight and narrow's the way With my hand on the rod I will try to find God Please help me, Dear Father, I pray. A river that flows, tosses thoughts to and fro It challenges my Integrity But I make the right choice, listen to the still small voice and show my Accountability. sing CHORUS A building is there Floating up in the air people are laughing at me. Temptations are great, their pride radiates, The mists are so dark, I cannot see. Oh, Father, where can you be? (Fathers voice) Keep your hand on the rod On the path that you trod Hold fast and you will see Keep your hand on the rod It is the word of God Hold on till you find the tree (Girl and Father duet) Hold on to the rod With my hand on the rod Partake the Love of God On the path that I trod The fruit is so sweet, you see Straight and narrow's the way Keep your hand on the rod With my hand on the rod It is where you find God I know I'll find God Hold on and you will find me. (Father repeats) Hold on and you will find me. COMMENTS FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE USED THE HOLD ON CD AND EXPERIENCE 1. I just wanted to get back to you on how our "Hold to the Rod" experience went. Words can't even begin to explain the impact this experience had on our young women, and leaders. We can't thank you enough for allowing us to use your idea. We are so glad that we did! Our camp ended a couple of weeks ago, but so many are still talking about that aspect of camp. During our testimony meeting the last night of camp, almost every single girl who bore her testimony mentioned the iron rod experience and how it helped her realize the importance of always holding on to the rod. Fast Sunday was that same weekend and ward members were able to get a glimpse of what the experience was like through the testimonies of their ward young women. Many YW classes held that day centered around that experience and what the girls learned from it. It all brought such a cohesiveness to each ward YW group. We wanted our YCL's to experience it before the rest of the girls went through, so we took them through first. Granted, we were limited on tempters, etc., but they still enjoyed it. They wanted us to tell them ahead of time about the activity since they were going to be helping us with it, but I told them that having it a surprise would make it so much more meaningful to them. Afterward, they thanked me for not telling them beforehand. The beautiful thing is that we had non-members and members who were struggling with their testimonies state that they had never felt the spirit like that before. One inactive member said that she could never see temple marriage in her future before, but now she really wants to strive for one. The girls were touched in so many ways, which makes the whole thing worthwhile. It took us approximately 3 hours to run everyone through it, and in hindsight we think we could definitely speed it up if we were to do it over again, but we really have no regrets about the whole experience. The code of silence worked well and really helped cultivate the spirit that we wanted them to have. The highlight for most of the young women was going through the veil and seeing the tree of life lit up so beautifully. We had little bags (wedding favor bags from Oriental Trading Company) hanging on the tree with a white chocolate mold of the SLC Temple inside and a quote to go along with it. After partaking of the tree, they were able to listen to that beautiful CD. My, how it touched those young women! Many wanted to know how they could get a copy of it. Not wanting to spoil the surprise that we were going to give them each a copy as a parting gift, we told them that once we got back home we could get them the information on how to get one. Imagine their surprise when we presented them each a copy of the CD prior to them leaving camp. When we told them it was the song they heard at the tree of life, their eyes lit up, huge smiles crossed their faces, and they gave us a big hug. From what I understand from many of their mothers, they are practically wearing them our listening to them so much. THANKS for making it possible for us to give one to each girl! It will serve as a reminder to them for years to come of the importance of holding to the rod and not letting go. They relive that experience each time they listen to the song. Well, I could go on and on about the impact this has had on our youth, but I'll spare your ears for now. Not only the girls were touched, but the adult leaders were touched as well. Some were able to go through and others were participants, but all were blessed for participating in any aspect. Our counselors. in the Stake Presidency, who was at the end of the rod telling them they had finished and could remove the blindfold, asked us afterward what we were going to do next year to top this. We had no answer for him. So, thanks once again for sharing it with us. We REALLY appreciated it. The gospel is true and I'm thankful for being able to do what I can to build up the kingdom of God. Thanks for doing your share! Love, Joan Stott in California 2. The program turned out so unbelievable! I have participated in it before, but with your added info and some tweaking of my own, it was so amazing! My husband and the camp dads made an awesome iron rod out of actual metal rod. My husband didn't like the tree I picked out to be the tree of life, so he "made" one out of branches he cut down. He had a spotlight hanging above to illuminate it and then with all the lights on it, it was so great! For the fruit, we found some cherry wood ring boxes at Wal-Mart for $1.57 that were really pretty. We painted little wooden apples white, put a gold cord for the stem and a little leaf and put them in the box. Attached to the outside with gold cord we put the scripture about the fruit. They were so pretty! The testimonies born at camp and comments about it have been extremely favorable. The Bishop we had at the end of the rod says it was a life changing experience for him, and all the Camp Dads are begging to come back next year! (We have had a hard time in the past even getting the 2 necessary Priesthood!) After he took people off the rod my assistant and I greeted them, hugged them and said, "This is the Tree of Life, whose fruit is desirable to make one happy. Would you like to partake of the fruit?" It was so inspiring to see their expressions and feel their great spirits! We had rope lights leading up the path past the tree to our seating arena. Just before entering we had one of the Stake YW leaders dressed in white with a basket of pens and little journals we made for each person. They were then escorted into the seating area until all returned. We had them all (the whole group) wait in the amphitheater listening to beautiful music (including the Hold On song) until everyone returned. So many commented on what a great time that was -- waiting for their girls and their friends and realizing that's how it will be on the other side. One of the leaders that was put on the rod with her unit at the very beginning said how she got to the end and just waited for the girls in her unit to come, how excited and relieved she was when each reached the end. But her own daughter didn't come, and didn't come, and she cried & waited & cried. It made such an impact on her how important it is to be a forever family in the next life. She hasn't been all ! that active so this really impacted her. It was awesome! How on earth will we be able to top (or even meet) it for next year?! Each of our leaders received a CD at the slide show after camp. Wish I could have given one to each girl. Diane in Portland 3. We just returned from camp yesterday (Sat.) We also used the iron rod activity for our faith walk on the last evening, before our testimony meeting. Our stake in Upstate NY only has 66 girls, but we have to pay to use a boys scout camp which costs us over 3,000.00. So we had a very tight budget so we were not able to buy the cd's for our girls. We modified abet due to budget an couldn't find anyone to donate the pvc pipe, but the out come was just as wonderful as the previous sisters letter. I was giving the opportunity to stand at the tree, and watch the girls as we played the cd. We also had many, many testimonies bore on the impact of the walk, the thoughts they had as they walked through the mist of darkness. Our fruit at the end of the tree was a poem, with a white ribbon and a pearl. The pearl was added to their charm bracelets. We took pictures for the memories book of the girls blindfolded holding onto the rod, picking from the tree, and some yw afterwards just standing in silence in front of the tree. They didn't want to leave. One of our tempters was the Counselor. in the Stake Presidency who was there for the entire week. He was able to tempt many off the path with his walking stick. It was a wonderful and spiritual experience. One to share even if you can't afford to offer the yw the cd afterwards. I am thankful for you sisters and brothers for sharing this talent and sharing your walk with us. We were blessed. Lori from Upstate, New York |
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