"The Rock"

Well, I never thought that I would do this, but when you can’t sleep and you feel like you could say more to a friend then you just did on the phone, you do things that you would never do. I never thought that I would get off the phone with someone, then go to my computer and write an entire blog about that person. I guess I should tell the story before I get off on some random tangent.

This person isn’t a rock, she doesn’t look like one, doesn’t act like one, and doesn’t have a heart of a rock either. She actually is the exact opposite. She is a tiny little girl... she is so small that when I would give her hugs, I would feel like I would break her if I squeezed to hard. This girl is brilliant, she has a wonderful mind and can learn and explain things so wonderfully. And, her heart is as big as the world. She is a kind, loving, and gentle person. She reaches out to others and pulls them to higher ground, no matter who they are. However, this girl is a rock in the sense that she stands for what she believes in, she is a rock in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and a person that one can always turn to for guidance, much like a lighthouse. She has a testimony as solid as a rock.

I meet her about a year ago and tonight I came up with her nickname, “the rock”, simply because she is as strong as one in the things that matter most in life.

The rock was a friend of a guy on my floor. She was often the center of conversation because many of the guys on our floor hung out with her because she was always nice to us and friends with one of our friends. While many guys knew her within a few weeks after school started, I wouldn’t get to meet her in person until January, a few months after school started. I met her in my Book of Mormon class where Stanley Johnson was our teacher... It was surprising, a bunch of guys on my floor signed up for that class with her, I believe. I had heard about the teacher from some other friends at work, and about six of us ended up in the same class. Little did I know that the cute girl sitting next to me would change my life forever.

Well, just meeting the rock for the first time was pretty cool, we talked as we walked to the devotional and then things just went from there. I found out that she was also in my American Heritage lecture. So, we saw each other a lot that semester. We spent most of our time studying for Book of Mormon, but we also had some time to talk and get to know each other. About March time we thought about getting serious, but seeing that I had a girlfriend and the semester was coming to a close we saw it best not to proceed. We never actually discussed that issue, but we both knew why we couldn’t become more then friends. I won’t lie, now looking back at the whole thing, I wish I would have dated her but that’s okay.

The rock became one of my closes friends, and we talked about some of my personal struggles. She always had the perfect advice and knew exactly what to say. She always made me want to be a better person, and wanted to lift me to a higher level. Like I said before, she reaches out and pulls people up.

The rock struggled with some things herself, mainly, physical things that she had no control over. Rather then blaming people for it, she thanked the Lord for her trials, saying that it had brought her closer to her Heavenly Father. What great faith she has. She never complained, or told anyone how bad things really hurt her, but would rather turn the conversation and ask, how are you doing? What kind of person asks that question? A few names that come to mind, the Savior, the prophet, and my dad, all people who I have a great love and respect for.

At the end of the semester, the rock moved home and I stayed in Provo to work, so we weren’t able to talk as often, but we still stayed in touch and every time I called her, the first things out of her mouth were “Hi, how are you?” The rock is not selfish, she is very kind and loving and concerned about others.

Over the past months the rock has helped me overcome my personal struggles, which has allowed me to serve a mission, something that will change my life forever. That cute little girl has changed my life forever and I will be forever grateful for what she has done for me.

While the rock and I may grow distant over the next few years, I will always remember her and what she has done for me. If we never do get to celebrate this great success together, remember this rock...

“And if it so be that you labor all your days crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father.” - D&C 18:15

You saved my soul, so you have already had great success in this life, your only getting started. Remember the Lord loves you and you are one of his choice daughters. Keep your head up, for this trial will be just a small moment(D&C 121:7-10). Your awesome! I can’t say enough about you. Thank you for all that you do and all that you continue to do.

God speed.