Whatever I had to say just feels like it wouldnt be
enough to respond to the news that I have recieved today. I will be honest,
today was already quite a difficult day for me. Yesterday was already
heartbreaking. We were supposed to have a baptism. It was one of the most sure
ones i have ever had. He had passed his interview, he was keeping all of his
commitments, and his testimony was already very strong. But yesterday at church
he was feeling very sick. He was feeling sick because his conscience was weighing
down on him. He then took us outside and broke down and told us that he couldnt
be baptized. Not everything was as good as we thought it was. It was
heartbreaking, we had to call off the baptism at the last second. So I will be
honest, this wasnt already the best of mondays for me. We will continue to
teach him, and we will help him until he is ready for baptism.
But hearing that news
from ya'll this morning was hard. In fact it brought tears to my eyes,
even now as i must try to type this. This has been a trying week for me, but in
no way does it compare to what their families must be experiencing.
The following is what i sent to the bishopric, but this
version has a few more things added. Please make sure that they see this, in
both wards. And also, if appropriate, let their families see this. This is the
best thing i can do for them now.
I am heartbroken.
Those 2 men played some of the most important roles of
any people in my life.
More than just good examples to me, they were both
friends and mentors.
I can not express how sad I am... truly.
I dont have the words to express myself.
My young mens leaders made some of the biggest impacts on
my life, things that they could never have known about.
They changed me and helped me become the person I am today.
Without doubt I can cite them as reasons for my
missionary service, for more of my love of the outdoors, and my love of this
gospel.
Let me add my testimony of these good men. They both
forever changed the course of my life. When I did not want to go to church, or
to scouts, or to anything like it, these 2 men were often the reasons that I
went. And more importantly, they were often the reasons that I stayed. I can
remember many fun activities, many campouts, and many good times. I can vividly
remember trying my hardest to throw Bro. Bryge out of the raft at high
adventure. I can remember climbing up White rocks with him, and him following
me up this crazy crack in the wall just because he couldnt let me do it along.
I remember the best capture the flag games with Bro. Coons and him 'recruiting'
me for his turkey bowl team. Yet at this time what i remember the most of them
were the talks I had with them as we drove to and from these various
activities. That is what i remember about these men, because that is what made
a difference in my life. When they talked to me, when they inspired me, when
they helped me get my head on straight, those are the times that have changed
my life. And they were both involved.
To their families, I would just want them to know, that
because things like this happen in the world, that is why I am serving a
mission. The single most important thing to me that as a missionary i ever talk
to people about is the family. My family is the most important thing in the
world to me.
Because of that, I am here, sharing a message that will
bring other families together forever. Because I can not imagine living without
my family, I am here to share that same goodness with others. I do not know why
all the bad things happen in the world, I have wrestled over that question for
a while. I do not know how things like this fit into the great overall plan.
But what i do know, what i do testify of, is that God does not leave us in
these times. In fact He is closer to us during these times than ever before.
There is nothing I can say that you all as members do not already know. But
just know this, that I serve my mission, so that people can have 1 source of
comfort in these types of times. People hurt, and God hurts with us. Families
weep, and God weeps with them. Their dedication to me as a young man is one of
the reasons that I made it to missionary service. Because they spent a little
time away from their families to help me, I now spend a little time away from
mine, to try and help others.
The good that has, and will, come from these 2 mens lives
will never be known. The lives they have affected are many, and with strength I
can say that the universe is a different place because of their 2 examples. At
the least, I will forever be different because of them. I will never forget
them. Neither will any of you. The impact that leaders have on the youth is
great. The impact that good leaders have on youth is life changing. The impact
that these leaders had on me falls into the latter. And no doubt they had the
same type of impact on others as well.
God is so real. His plan is so loving. I will never claim
to understand it all, but what I can understand for now is that everything will
be made whole again, even families. These men were important to me, but surely
even more so to the families that they have left. If it is any peace I can
bring, it is this. That because they believed in eternal families they were
members of this church. Because they were members of this church, they impacted
my life. And because they impacted my life, i now serve a mission, so that
others may also believe in eternal
families. Their impact will be felt throughout time and eternity, and it starts
with us. Let us all be better people for knowing them, for I am, and i know
that everyone else who knew them is as well. My heart breaks because of this,
but it is ok, everything will be ok. I know it.
If you can make sure that both wards atleast get this
email I would appreciate that.
I really dont have anything i could say after that. Nothing
else really seems all that important. Maybe if i remember i will tell ya'll
next week.
I love you family, truly i do. I love every one of you.
And that isnt just something we should say or feel at times like these. Rather,
it should be made known by the way we talk and live everyday. My family is the
most important thing to me, more important than anything else. You are what
matters to me. You, family, are the reason.
Beck out,
Elder Beck
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