"Oh, have we come all this way for that?"

In studying for our lesson on Sunday, "Waiting Upon the Lord" by Elder Hales, I came across a great BYU Devotional given by a former General Relief Society President, Elaine Jack. She rehearses a story from the journals of Ruth May who crossed the plains as a teenager in the 1850's. Ruth writes of the excitement and vigor of her testimony and journey from England to the Salt Lake Valley. They made many sacrifices along the way but nothing could dampen their desire to reach "Zion" and live with the Saints.
Yet, after all the hard work and tribulation to get there and when they crested the ridge to enter the Valley, Ruth looked down at the brown desert expanse and exclaimed "Oh, have we come all this way for that?"
How often do we feel this way? The lesson this Sunday is a great reminder that life is what we are doing while we learn and gain experience (and perspective AND patience!).