(Introduction - if you are familiar with Faith Hill's song "The Meaning of Life", it was what got me started)

A couple of girls sittin' round talking,
What's the meaning of life, anyway?
One of them says, "There ain't no meaning."
Other one says, "I don't see it that way."

First one says, "It's like playing a game.
Each day you only get what you see."
Second one says, "It's not that easy.
It's much deeper, a mystery."

Kinda like the man named Jesus.
He taught stories that were plain to see.
Some thought they're kinda interestin'
Other pondered, in humility.

So what's the meaning of life, we're asking.
Is it a game or a mystery?
It depends on the clues that are given,
If girl number one or two you'll be.

Throughout the week some verses you'll hear
They may be simple, or harder yet.
Think like Jesus, what was he saying?
And by Friday we all might just get:

The meaning of life in all its glory,
An earthly treasure, or a spiritual one.
Which will bring you lasting happiness?
It's up to you when we are all done.

(Clue #1)

What would our life be like without them?
Empty, like an unwritten letter?
They're worthiness only depends on
Do they make me the worse or the better?
We gather here to send it or read it.
We talk and laugh, find a note so dear.
Doesn't matter if they're gold or silver.
What's the secret you can find here?

At the intercamp mailbox we had gold and silver candy kises sitting out, but the real treasure was Good Friends.

(Clue #2)

She stands alone, the wind in her face,
Her hair and dress blown back in the breeze.
If stepmother asked, "Is she the fairest?"
All would answer, "Oh, Yes!" with ease.
For she need not worry, things aren't a-showin'
Beauty rings true all around and about.
No tinkling sounds offer false adoration,
Clothed in virtue within and without.

(refer 2 Nephi 13:16-24)

We have a bell tower that we ring the girls in and out with - it has the picture of the YW with the wind blowing her dress and hair hand carved on the top of it. We hung a mirror from it representing vanity - but the real treasure was modesty in our dress and appearance.

(Clue #3)

It takes great strength to stand strong and tall,
Anchored securely against one and all,
Waving the standard with wind and tide,
Sharing our colors though men may deride.
True as old Abe was to family and friends,
Never to waiver the truth to defend
Showing through words, our actions and deeds,
We can stand tall, not surrender to please.
No memory to hold or burden to carry
When truth is the banner we cherish
Though pennants may wag, our tongues will not
Or witness false, lest others perish.

This sent them to the flagpole where some candy was sitting out, but the real treasure was Honesty.

(Clue #4)

Like water from a leaky faucet
It drips and drips into more and more
Either washing clean or drowning out
Hurting, building or cutting to the core.
Like water flowing from our mouths
It lands on closed or open ears
Do we thirst for bits of knowledge
That may cause another's tears?
You can stop the words 'fore spoken
Never to drip or hurt or defame.
You can stop this misinformation
That might cause others hurt or shame.

This was the faucet by the kitchen that always has a puddle around it and we glasses and water available for them to drink, but the real treasure was Clean Language, free of gossip.

(Clue #5)

Though trash to some, treasures to others,
Do we choose as well as we could?
Discard it now, accept it later,
Before we know it, embraced as good.
If loads of trash were hauled to our home
Appalled, we would never let it in.
But bit by bit, and before too long,
Our lovely homes would smell foul as sin.
Don't open that book or see that show.
But guard as your home your soul, your mind.
And place within it uplifting things
Where the spirit a home would find.

This led them to the trash can site where we had a recycling center arranged, but with trash strewn around, among them were old Ensigns and New Era - did they help clean it up while they were there? The real treasure was choosing media that uplifts and isn't trash.

(Clue #6)

"I'm sore," "I'm tired," "I'm sick," you say.
So there I go where it's safe to stay
For needful rest on beds to lay
To build my body so I may play.
But when things enter my body clean
Which may be harmful and downright mean,
I lose the Spirit and often control
I could drift through life, defiled and dull.
The nurse may heal my troubled body
But she can't mend my tortured soul.
I need a kind and loving Father
One who'll lift this heavy toll.
So stay clear of evil vices
They like bugs and ticks and "lices,"
Invade the body outside in.
Don't start these addictive habits of sin.

(This lead them to the nurse's trailer wher she had a huge bowl of fresh fruit and helathy snacks sitting out - the real treasure was physical health through obeying the Word of Wisdom)

(Clue #7)

Sweet and smooth or hard as rock
With strings attached to lull our minds
Our bodies bending ever moving
To the sights and sounds and rhyme.
Do we sample all the offerings?
Or pick wisely, as we should?
It can draw us down or lift us
To inspire all that's good.

We had an open guitar case down by the campfire ring with candy treasure chests inside but the real treasure was good uplifting music.

(Clue #8)

In the beginning, it was the last,
The time for such work was complete.
Now was the time for reverence and awe
And to gather our thoughts, oh, so deep.
But men have moved the last to the first
And no more is it reverence and awe.
Men have become too busy to keep
All commandments including this law.
Filled is our time with all sorts of things
For money, pleasure, or holiday.
How blessed we would be if only we
Would see that it was a holy day.

We had a big calendar posted with Sundays circled and some candy beneath it - Sabbath day observance was the treasure.

(Clue #9)

The Parable to the Pearl Girl

Deep on the bottom of the ocean floor lived a very large oyster. As was its nature, it sat and watched and had lots of time to ponder. Feeling as though it had sat in this deep quiet spot in the ocean long enough, it decided to move to a busier section where it could sit and watch and ponder new things. It plodded along the ocean floor to a shallower, more active beach.

There was much more to see, hear, and ponder in this new location. People were everywhere, in the water, on the water, even above the water. Then one sunny morning a young girl wandered along the beach, tiptoeing through the soft rippling waves. She was like the other kids who played here every day, except there was uniqueness to her, especially her eyes. She seemed to radiant her own sunshine. It also came from her smile. And everything she touched seemed to be loved.

This was not an ordinary girl, the oyster thought. She was different, almost special. She looked like the rest: thin, scrawny legs with sharp skinned elbows. But still the oyster sensed her spirit and it decided she was worth protecting. Slowly it opened its giant mouth and patiently waited until she was close enough. Then quickly and carefully closed its shells around her, safely enclosing her inside.

Time passed. The oyster had slowly drifted out to safer waters in quieter areas. The young girl, who had tumbled and struggled around in the shell in the beginning, became used to her new home and began to appreciate the safety within the giant oyster. The sharp bony edges started to wear down and became rounded and softened. Her skin became smooth and silky. She began to shine like alabaster. Soft and protected she truly developed into the jewel of a girl that the oyster had earlier foreseen. Knowing that girls, even lovely ones, cannot live forever in giant shells, the large oyster began looking for a suitable place for this pearl to live.

Scanning the beaches up and down the coast, it finally found a palace suitable for its princess. A place with the same peacefulness, serenity, and loveliness as she displayed. The walls shined brilliant white in the sun. The landscape around was groomed and lovingly cared for. And on the very top was a glint of gold to smile down all around. Here was place for this special young maiden to feel at right at home. Here she would find someone who could and would continue to treat her like a princess, someone who had been saved and protected, kept clean and pure to be her equal throughout their lives together.

With a big heavy heave and a sigh of good-bye, the oyster produced not the scrawny girl it had first seen, but a beautiful young woman who stretched forth her arms with a thankful hug and bid the oyster farewell. The oyster had been right. She had been special. And protected and nurtured and loved just enough, she had become what he had seen in her all along: a daughter of His, prepared to carry on His work.

This led them to a grove of trees with posters of temples on them - on a table was sand and on the sand were plastic oyster shells with small red cushions (Thanks to the Youth Camp Leaders) and a small "pearl" that was the last charm for their necklace that they were building throughout the week.

They got the pearl and the treasure was being pure to go to the temple. This invitation was handed to them also:

You are invited to gather
To the spot marked X
Bring your treasures in hand
To stake your claim to Heaven's reward
Appointed time: 6:00 Friday evening

We had given them tally sheets at the beginning of camp for them to write what they thought each treasure was and then bring them to the X Spot. (Huge Rope X in the meadow clearing)

At the right time we saw a small crowd forming and they were really stewing about what was going on. We gathered them - maybe about half of camp and reviewed what they thought each treasure was that they found. They caught on pretty quickly. Then we had them think what was one of the greatest gifts our Heavenly Father had given to us in this life (The opportunity to attend the temple and seal our families throughout the eternities. Another was a handbook to help us live worthily to go to the temple.) Those who came then got a small copy of the FTSOY pamphlet tucked inside a plastic canvas reccommend holder for them to save for their future.

Those girls who didn't come and saw what the other girls got were mad they didn't play the game all the way through, even some of the adults - so they had to talk to their Bishops (who had come up for the night for Testimony meeting) and "repent" that they would follow the commandments better in the future so they wouldn't miss out on the blessings to come.

Anchored to Christ

Camp

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