Short Trip: the Top of the Mountains Bowl

Saturday I went with my dad to watch Eastern Arizona College play Snow College for the Top of the Mountains Bowl trophy in football. It was held at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT. It was excessively cold. Good thing EAC had two suites to watch in the game in comfort. We lost but we had a great time. I was impressed with the loyalty the gila monster fans showed by showing up in Utah.

I was really impressed with Brother Palmer. He is probably the best fan of EAC sports. He has probably done more for EAC than any other individual the colleges history. I have great respect for him because of how he treats others and how he treats his family. One of my favorite people is his daughter, Mellani Larson, who I got to know when I attended Thatcher High School. She was one of the secretaries, and by that I mean she kept the place together. Another one of my favorite people is Molli Norton, his grand daughter. She is a great example of being cheerful even when it is hard and she is a great leader. Brother Palmer even showed his lighter side. I hope Santa grants his Christmas wish...

Short Trip: Finding Simple Peace at the Templenacle

Last night I took an accidental solitary pilgrimage to the future site of the new Provo Temple, in Provo, Utah. I have stopped there before to show friends from out of town, or just to look and be excited. Yesterday was different. I meant to drive by, but the building beckoned me to take some time to ponder near it's walls.

I remember the day the edifice burned. I could smell smoke from my apartment six blocks north. The air was hard to breathe and my bus to work took a detour.

For months the sad building stood, while it's future was decided. There were many rumors. Some said they should destroy it, sell the bricks and build another one, others said they could leave it as it was and create an outdoor museum, still more people thought it could make a good cannery, park, community center, etc. Nobody could have guessed what this broken building would become. This October, President Thomas S. Monson, the Prophet of the Lord, announced that the Tabernacle's walls would be restored and used to rebuild the building. This is not reconstruction, but construction of a Temple.

As I looked at that broken building last night, I thought about how I felt. In some ways I am broken, burned from life's experiences, and in desperate need of reconstruction. But what will I become? I could throw out all of who I am and independentlty rebuild myself into a successful person. I could do nothing and accept my lot in life. I could mold myself in a way that counselors, friends, society, etc would. Outside influences might not know what I can become, but the Savior of mankind has plans for me. By allowing me to be cut down, He can now build me into something greater than anyone, especially myself, would have guessed. This can only happen if I allow my life to be rebuilt by that most holy carpenter, Jesus Christ. This is not reconstruction, but it is construction, a work in progress in purification as I allow the Lord to create a Temple of my life.

When you feel broken, torn, with your heart failing and full of despair, seek in yourself Faith that things will get better. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer I have overcome the world." John 16:33

This is an artist's rendering of what the new Provo Temple will look like when it is complete. Unfortunately, I do not have an artist's rendering of myself, although I think if there was one I would have six pack abs on the outside and a whole lot of awesomeness on the inside :)