Christmas Miracles

Uh...that's root beer.

 First things first, I apologize to any and all who ever actually read this blog for the hiatus you have so long endured.  I learned quickly that life back in the world moves fast, and it seems that you have no time to do simple things like write a blog (even when you really don't have much else to do).  But due to happenings of late, I could no longer ignore the promptings to fire up the ol' blogspot, and so here we are.  Forgive me if I'm rusty. :P

 I believe that everyone, sporadically if not occasionally, has experiences with miracles.  And why wouldn't we? I mean, if there is anything the scriptures teach us, it is that throughout history, God has constantly and consistently shown us miracles.  "And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles." 

 Today I had the wonderful opportunity to go to a farewell of Grant Walker, whose family has long been friends with mine.  Grant's father was my bishop through a pivotal time in my life, and his guidance and influence was instrumental in me serving a mission.  While I was serving in my last area, just a couple months to go, I received word from my family that Bishop Walker had passed away.  To anyone who knew Bishop Walker, this was devastating news.  He was young, faithful, and one of the nicest men you could ever hope meet.  Grant shared that, at that point in his life, he was struggling and wasn't sure what to do. But, through a miracle, God strengthened and inspired Grant to serve a mission.

 Now, we learn in Ether that " ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." Basically, it tells us that we receive miracles according to our faith.  There can be miracles, if you believe. ;)

 However, in my experience in life, there are also miracles that are just the opposite: they occur to help your faith. Grant received a miracle that wasn't akin to parting the red sea or raising the dead, but for him, he knew it was from God and it helped him to serve a mission.  Throughout my own life, I experienced similar miracles that gave me strength, faith, and comfort to know that God is there. Recently, someone very close to me survived a serious car accident with (comparatively) minimal injuries.  There isn't a doubt in my mind that this was a miracle. 

 Yes, we can call down miracles by faith. But to me, the true beauty of miracles is how many of them simply happen because God loves us.  He reaches out to us each and every day, and I imagine we are very often completely unaware of miracles He performs in our day to day lives.

 This year, as Christmas approaches, may we all express our love and gratitude to Him who loves us so very much.  May we remember His Son who performed the greatest miracle of all in the Atonement.  May we strive to make this season a little brighter for those who may have little reason to celebrate, and perform miracles of joy and love in the name of our Father.

This is my Christmas wish, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Of Prayer and 4-Wheeling

This week, we had several opportunities to bear witness of the importance and power of prayer.  Whenever we teach this, I reflect on my own experiences with praying that have shaped my testimony.  I'd like to share one of these with you today; I call it: "Of Prayer and 4-Wheeling". 

 I was 16 years old, and we were camping up beautiful Logan canyon (yes, that is Logan canyon).  My dad had recently invested in a couple old used 4-wheelers, and since I'm the only boy in my family, between two sisters, I was the only candidate as his 4-wheeling buddy. (Note: 4-wheelers are also commonly known as ATV's, this is what they look like:)

   



 So we were sitting in camp, mid-afternoon or so, and my dad says, "Hey, wanna go riding up the canyon?"  I was like, "Sure."  And so our adventure began.
First, I would like to impress upon you at this point that we are already a pretty good distance up this canyon.  A half hour from the city, at least.  We take some dirt roads up a side canyon in my dad's truck, and eventually we come to a parking lot at the mouth of a trailhead.  We unload the 4-wheelers, and we head up the canyon. Now, refer back up to the picture of Logan canyon: it looked much like that, but this canyon was far narrower, between two steep mountain faces.  We start riding, and I'm following my dad. We finally come out the other end of the canyon about 20 minutes later or so, and we are IN the mountains. High wilderness.

 We continue to ride upward for an hour or so, and then we realize it's coming on late afternoon, and we have a way to get back home!  So we stop, enjoy the scenery for a moment, and work our way back down the mountain.  We get to the mouth of that canyon I mentioned earlier, which is the last leg back to the parking lot.  Dad decides to stop and chop some firewood off some dead trees off the road, we load it up, and get back on the ATV's.  Dad turns his on, and takes off, leaving dust swirling the cooling mountain air.

 At this point, I need to fill you in on a couple things:

A) I had only ridden a 4-wheeler a couple times before.

B) I have little to no mechanical experience.

 I get on my 4-wheeler and turn the key.

It doesn't start.

I panic.

I keep turning. Nothing is happening.  I decide that dad, surely, will notice my absence, and I would see him round that bend of trees up ahead, coming to save the day.  He didn't come. It was getting dark.  I did everything the instructions said to start your struggling ATV.  Nothing!
 And then a voice whispered in my head, "Say a prayer."
 I thought, "What if it doesn't work?? I've done everything I can! What if I don't get an answer?"
The voice was persistant, so I thought "what the heck", and got down on my knees in the middle of this dirt road.
 I finished, and got back on my 4-wheeler.
 I stared at the key. I reached out for the key. I held my breath...and turned the key.
 And nothing happened.
 I was like, "NO!"  In my frustration, I kicked the side, shifted up and down, and turned it again.
 It turned on.

My shout of elation still echoing down the canyon walls, I took off like a spider monkey.  I admit, I was probably driving a little recklessly in my haste to get out of these forboding mountain walls and return to my dad.  I had been driving for what seemed like a short time when I started to recognize my surroundings, and realize I was almost out.  I sped up.  As I was coming up on a bend, I received a prompting like I had never received before. It said,

"GET OFF THE ROAD, NOW."

I promptly did so, almost without thinking.  Not a second after, a huge truck came barreling around the corner, chock full of semi-sober college students, going at least twice as fast as I had been.

 In shock, I looked to the Heavens, and thanked my Father.  He had saved me, not once, but twice, in the span of 15 minutes.  I gingerly continued out on the road, and safely returned to my dad (who, by the way, had been sitting in the parking lot waiting for me. Yeah, helpful. :P)

I testify to you that Prayer Is Real.  No matter the situation, God hears us, loves us, and answers our prayers.  Be it getting a 4-wheeler to start, or for a loved one's health to return, or even pass a final, I know that our Savior is always listening.

"Therefore ye must pray always unto the Father in my name.."