Fragile and Precious Life

My Mom

Also My Mom (Really Kathy's Mom, but I love her like my Mom.)

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
     Today was brought home the fragility of life and the ephemeral time that we have on this Earth.  For a time today Ma Brown was really sick and the very real possibility that her time was complete on the Earth was brought home.  When I lost my Mother over 11 years ago now, I didn't think that anyone else would bring up such a well of emotion  and sense of loss as had losing your mother in your 30's.  I was wrong.  When I heard about my mother in laws illness and potentially life threatening surgery and illness, all the sense of loss and love came crashing home.  I found myself walling that emotion behind defenses to allow myself to function at my job.  In the back of my mind all day were thought of the love, joy, and happy and sad times I shared with both these women whom I consider to be my MOM.  Even now the tears well up and the emotion is close to the surface as I contemplate the time not far distant when I will be the Elder generation.  When I will be what kids think of as grandparents and the generation that is totally out of touch, but one that loves nonetheless for lack of understanding. 
      Today as I was brought face to face with the reality of my own mortality, I prayed more fervently, spoke more kindly, thought more clearly, loved more fully, sang more joyously, and thanked God more for the blessings of this life and for having had these two wonderful women in my life to teach me about compassion, joy, and living meaningfully.  I am also thankful that, at least for the moment, God has chosen to leave my Mom here for me to learn from for a little while longer.  I pray that it is for years to come and that I will be learning life lessons from my Mom for years to come.  I hope that today you can take the time to communicate your love and thanks to those who so deeply affected your growing.  That you can thank your Father in Heaven for the plan which allows us to enjoy the bonds of family and of love beyond this Earthly Veil.  Once again, and probably not for the last time, the Lord has reminded me of how empty the afterlife would be without the bonds of love forged in this life.  To spend the Eternities without those people who are most dear to my heart and soul would be a tragedy.  Thank God for His Tender Mercies in allowing us to be family for time and all Eternity.  My brothers and sisters, I am so thankful that you are a part of my Eternal Family.  May this day bring joy and love to your heart. 

Brother Carv

Nothing is Impossible with Christ our Lord!

     Today as I sat correcting papers late into the night, I was struck by how often I seek for THE answer.  As if in life, there is only one solution.  I teach Geography, which as many of you know is a Social Science in which one plus one CAN equal three!  The answer in Social Studies mentality is often grey.  Many factors play a role in how History happens.  What would have happened if we hadn't spoken English during WW2 (we speak it by one sole vote.)?  What is Washington hadn't been able to cross the Delaware?  What if the French had stayed out of the Revolutionary War or Heaven forbid came in on the side of the British (yeah, I know, fat chance of that ever happening!)?  What if Germany had developed the Atom bomb first?  What if the Japanese had found our injured carriers instead of us finding their fleet?  For many, this is a world filled with random circumstance, pure chance, an alignment of the stars if you will.  But for the faithful, it is a testimony that God is with us in the small and great moments. 

     In the heavy rush of the day, it is so easy to mistake the miracles for simple luck.  Was it luck that I hugged my daughter?  Am I just one of the lucky ones to have good kids, or is it a freaking miracle that such stellar kids came from me?  (Those who really know me, know it is the latter.)  How many times each day am I blessed by my guardian angel (Hi Mom!) with safety, security, or just a feeling of love that I desperately needed?  Can we slow down and recognize the blessings of the Allmighty?  (Maybe turn off the music and TV for an hour. (Boy this is the pot calling the kettle black!  I am a slight TV/Computer addict.))  Can we take the special moment to make that person feel appreciated?  I have found that more often than not when I need to feel the love of The Lord that it is the people around me who bear His love to me!  Indeed, I stand as a witness of the Love of God.  Thank you Paul for your unselfish help when I so dearly needed it!  Thank you Kat for loving me despite my faults!  Thank you Aaron for recognizing my love of the little children and finding the perfect calling in Nursery!  Thanks to my friend Diamond for the hug of a brother each time we meet and for making me feel so very loved!  Thanks to Brent for being such fun friend to blow things up!  Thanks to Todd for taking my on a trip to so many cities as a chaperone!  Thanks to Vince for being my friend for over two decades through thick and thin!  (Mostly thick for me!  I may have gained some weight over the years!) (p.s. thanks for not shooting me like I asked. ;)) Most of all, thanks for eternity to my Savior for blessing me far beyond measure, for making it possible to have a forever family, to fix what is broken, restore that which is lost, and for being my true friend no matter how I acted.  Yes, my friends, with Jesus Christ on our side there is nothing, no nothing that we cannot do!

My Conversion Story

My dear brothers and sisters,
      I call you that, for so you are.  We are all sons and daughters of the Most High God.  We are all descended from the same Heavenly stock.  So literally, you are my brothers and sisters. I know that he loves you and I.  I know this because our Father in Heaven sent his only begotten son in the flesh to save me from the mistakes in my life.  This was to help me be a better husband, father, and friend and someday to return to live with him.  I am blessed by my associations.  I am blessed because of the atonement of Jesus Christ.  It has real application in my life.  I find joy in the service I am able to give. 
     My conversion story is probably a lot like others out there.  I was a teenager living in an interesting home where Christ wasn't usually talked about.  I was a military brat (Air Force) and moved a couple of times before my dad retired and settled us in Sunset, Utah.  My parents loved my brother and I, but at times seemed lost themselves.   My parents were from the generation in which children are seen and not heard.  We often heard "Go play!".  I thought my life was normal until I became a teenager and was more widely exposed to the home lives of those around me.  I learned that many of my friends parents played games with them, hung out with them, and even taught them from time to time.  To say that this came as a revelation to me would be and understatement.  One family in particular had a profound impact on my life and one person in particular.  Jonathan Wendell Izatt and his family treated me like family and gave me a glimpse of what life was like inside a home much different from mine.  Jon had a peace about him that was very appealing to me, as I seemed to find very little of it at the time.  He knew who he was, where he was going, and what the purpose of life was.  But most of all, Jon was just my friend.  Eventually, he invited me to attend church with him in Clearfield.  I was welcomed by that LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) ward (local unit of the church) like a long lost son.  I loved attending there.  I learned about the Gospel of Jesus Christ from normal people who were doing the best they could in life.  I learned about the Book of Mormon for what seemed like the first time. (It really wasn't but was certainly the first time it profoundly impacted my life.)  I had long talks with my friend Jon as we played endless levels of some game I can hardly remember on his green screen computer.  He shared with me his love of the scriptures, his love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and his desire to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 
     Over the course of our two year friendship a desire grew within me to have that same sense of place, that same enduring peace through all the troubles of life, and to give my life a direction it was lacking.  Slowly, through all our conversations, my own reading, and my prayers I came to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was Christ's church restored in the Latter Days.  I wanted to share that message with the world as a missionary.  Can I tell you that this came as a severe shock to my parents?  As Robert Frost so eloquently said, "Two roads diverged. . . " and at least for my life that truly has made all the difference.  My friend introduced me to the Gospel.  He helped me gain a desire to know for my self.  He served his mission to Florida Tampa Mission, while I served in the Haiti Port-au-Prince mission.  I will be forever thankful to my friend Jon for all that he did to me.  I cannot wait to greet him in the life to come and give him the biggest hug of his life!  I will forever remember Jon smiling.  He was the most profoundly happy man I have ever met.  In September 1st of 1990, Jon was called home to the other side to work there.  I know that I will see him again.  I know too that I will see Jesus face to face and I will hug him as well.  May the Lord guide you to find out for yourself, as did I, that the Gospel is true.  I am forever grateful for the blessings of the Lord.