All I Ever Wanted

"All I ever wanted out of life was a good, home-grown tomato. Well, that, and maybe a jalapeno pepper." --Anonymous

The Summer That Was

It started with graduating from high school as an Illinois scholar. Then, he finished his scout project , and passed his Board of Review, and was later awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor. Next he completed the last of the requirements for his Duty to God award, which was presented to him in Sacrament Meeting on the same day as the Court of Honor. Also that same Sunday, he was sustained in wards around the stake and later that day, ordained to the office of Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. And just today, Marshall moved into his new home away from home, his dorm room in Heritage Halls, preparing to start his freshman year at the great Brigham Young University.

I will so miss Marshall while he is at school.. Probably more than anyone I have ever known, Marshall has long had the ability and the temperament to mentally joust with me, often besting me in our little competitions, and always competing in a spirit of good humor and camaraderie.

Good luck my son in your new adventures. Take every good thing BYU and its professors, your new bishop, and tons of new friends have to offer as you prepare to serve the Lord as an emissary of the Church, for your career, and eventually for marriage. And leave your mark, too, by being the very best you can. May Provo never be the same!

A Missionary's Prayer

The end of another day,
Of knocking on doors
And even stopping people in the street, asking,
“Can we have a few minutes of your time?”

Another day of rejection,
Of quickly closed doors
And people who are too busy to talk about
The most important thing in the world.

So I sit at my little desk,
Pondering the scriptures,
And thinking about the life
Of another who also found little acceptance.

I don’t know if I can get out bed tomorrow.

Why didn’t that beautiful family
That we taught for weeks
Accept the gospel
And receive all the blessings it brings?

The pain I feel in my feet
From walking all day is nothing,
Compared to the pain
I feel in my soul.

Oh please, Heavenly Father,
Help me to be a better missionary.
Help me to better express
The testimony that burns in my heart.

I’ll work even harder.
I’ll wear out these shoes
And humble myself so that pride and
The pain of rejection don’t show.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I’ll get out of bed tomorrow—
In fact I’ll get up even earlier.
It doesn’t have to be me
Who brings that family into the church.

But please, please send them someone
Who can do what I couldn’t.
I only want for them what was also given to me:
The Spirit of God, like a fire in my heart.

My Meetings with Joseph

Even today there’s a lump in my throat,
As I think on our meetings.

Oh, you won’t remember them Joseph,
Because I speak of figurative encounters.
But they are as real as anything I know.
I remember so many of them—

Two years of daily study of the Doctrine and Covenants;
Many readings of the Book of Mormon;
Pondering those old Nauvoo postcards which have no value
To anyone but me.

Singing “The Spirit of God” and feeling that burning
Within my bosom over and over again.
And “Hail to the Prophet”!
I can hardly sing it without shedding a tear.

I have a small statue of you and Hiram sitting on my desk,
A small reminder of the greatness of you both,
And just how much I am indebted to you.

"Teachings" was perhaps our closest encounter,
As I felt the power of God conveyed to me
Through your own inspired and inspiring words.

I visited your home in New York--
Such a wonderful spirit is still there.
I took that same walk you did, into the sacred grove
Where it all began.

Each meeting is a learning experience for me,
Pushing me ever closer to the Savior,
Changing me forever
In so many good ways.

I long to be with Him, and with you.
But for now I must be content--content to work
In my little field
Sowing seeds of the same fruit He first planted.

When we meet in person, you won’t know me—
At least, not my name.
But if you look into my eyes,
You will surely see how much I love you--
A true prophet of God.

First Post

This is my first posting as I set up my website. Nothing cerebral today, just a little test message to see if I'm doing this correctly. Appreciate hearing from you if you are able to access this blog. I promise to post some interesting comments and links and photos soon!

Rich