Uncovering a Stone of Hope

My dad and I discovered an archaeological treasure while building fence.  I don’t have any rocks on my land, so my dad and I were surprised to hit a huge one. When we dug it out, we realized it was a milestone, probably from the mid to late 1800s. Carved on its face was “Nephi 11 M.” We typed it into Google Maps and confirmed Nephi is exactly 11 miles away.

We mused on how it got there. It seemed likely that early Utah pioneers carved the heavy stone, transported it, and placed it along the path so travelers on foot or horseback knew how far it was to the main town in the area. At some point, it fell over and was covered with dirt.

I have used the term “milestone” hundreds of times, especially when leading projects, but never made the connection to physical stones placed along roads. The Romans invented the practice, placing a stone every mile and carving the distance to Rome—hence “all roads lead to Rome.”

It was a sacrifice for the person who carved and set our milestone over 150 years ago. It seemed meant for the thirsty traveler walking along this dusty trail in the middle of nowhere, whispering, ‘Keep going—you’re closer than you think.’ That is exactly what great leaders do for their people today.”