We drove up to Tony Grove to find "Dad's Rock". When he was young, he was hiking around the lake when he found a rock with a fossil in it. He loved this fossil and thought that it would be fun to take it home with him. The rock, however, was way too big for him to be able to just pick up and carry away. I'm not sure whether he had these tools with him or if he went back home to retrieve them, but he took a ball-pein hammer and a railroad spike and started chipping away at the rock, hoping to be able to claim the fossil as his own. After some time, he realized that this was a much more difficult undertaking than he'd imagined, and he left empty-handed. The evidence of his efforts are still visible on this rock some forty-plus years later. He had shown it to me when I was younger, but when I have taken my kids there, I've been unable to find it for them. I remembered the general area that it was in, but no matter how hard I looked, I could never find it. I was so excited to take Dad back up there, so that I could finally show it to my kids. After only a few minutes of searching, Dad spotted it. The lighting wasn't great, what with the hail and everything, but here's "Dad's Rock":
We also drove by Dad's childhood home. The goal was just to take some photos of the outside of the house, but as we drove up, the homeowners were standing on the porch. Thinking that it would probably be appropriate to ask their permission, Dad walked up to the porch. Sitting in the car, I could only guess what the tone of the conversation was. To my mom and I, it looked like the homeowners were uncomfortable with him taking pictures, so we were a little surprised when Dad motioned for us to pull in to the driveway. Here's Dad's side of the story, from his Flickr Photostream:
I grew up in a small town in northern Utah--Wellsville. There were 8 of us kids plus mom and dad living in a very small, but happy home. Much of the time my bedroom was in a small, unfinished basement near the coal furnace. One of my jobs was to shovel the coal into that furnace in the winter. The coal was stored in a small coal room, just off my bedroom.
I am now visiting the old stomping grounds in Utah and drove by the old house. The owners were sitting out on the porch. I decided to approach them and talk about the house. I introduced myself. "Darrell Wyatt? Your name is on the wall in the basement!" I couldn't believe it. I remembered scratching my name in the concrete wall of the coal room over 45 years ago. I was amazed that it was still there. I asked if I could see it and they graciously led me to the basement. There it was, along with the peace sign and "LOVE and PEACE" (It was the 60's ;-)
Wow, the memories that it brought back. Funny how we all seek "immortality" in our own way.
After King Benjamin finished his speech, he was very pleased that his people wanted to covenant with God "to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things" (Mosiah 5:5) He told them that, because they were willing to make this covenant, he would confer upon them the name of Christ.
And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into this covenant with God that ye should be obedient to the end of your lives. (Mosiah 5:8)
When I was baptized, I made this same covenant with God - that I would take upon myself the name of Christ. Every Sunday, as I take the Sacrament, I renew this covenant. I promise that I will be obedient to the end of my life. I also covenant that I will always remember Him.
For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? (Mosiah 5:13)
Part of taking upon myself the name of Christ is serving Him and always keeping him in my thoughts and my heart. I must "do good continually".
And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression; therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts. (Mosiah 5:11)
Just as my dad etched his name on the coal room wall, by covenanting with the Lord to always be obedient I have had the name of Christ etched on my heart - never to be removed, except through transgression. I must not take this name lightly.
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