During SVI’s coverage of five state championship football games, I came across some inspiring examples from our youth.

The games were held at War Memorial Stadium on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie.

When coming back on the field for the final game 4A game between Sheridan and Campbell County, I noticed a Sheridan player kneeling in prayer, away from the team, and in a quiet area by himself. He was praying in advance of the game.

It’s my understanding that prayer is allowed when the students initiate the action, separate from the school.

Another time during the games a much larger group of students knelt in prayer  at the conclusion of the Star Valley/Cody game.

Not all the football team, but most, knelt at the center of the field after the game concluded.

This event caught my attention as I was inspired by the youth of both communities, probably representing various faiths. They took the time to pray, and this time the prayer came after a heated battle on the field by two well disciplined, well prepared teams.

Very impressive. For some, regardless of any particular faith, they were taking the time to kneel in prayer with their neighbor.

I thought of how these young people were probably raised in good families, had good friends and a good church in their young lives.

Coming from throughout the state, they were exemplifying solid upbringing that night at the University of Wyoming on War Memorial Field.

For some, coming from the regions of the state where many were probably members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Cody-Big Horn Basin area or Star Valley some would be serving their two year missions less than a year from the time of that championship game. Some from both areas might even find themselves serving together in remote areas of this earth, far from the football fields of Wyoming.

Regardless of one’s faith, it was a wonderful moment of faith in a Savior that night, coming from the youth of Wyoming.