To every end is a beginning and to every beginning an end. Tonight was an experience that will stay painted in my mind for years to come. I will remember the things I smelled, the way I felt, the things I heard, the places I went, the feelings I experienced; I will remember the night the Prophet passed.
Today started out different than most Sundays because Kylie and I stayed in Highland and went to church with her family. We left church early because I wanted to try and meet with my Bishop today before he left our ward in Logan. The drive was nice and the weather was beautiful. We came home and unloaded our laundry. I came in my room and was overcome with sleepiness so I took a small nap before ward prayer. Everything was going great and everyone was getting along. We went to ward prayer and I was in rare form after having a nap. I was fully energized and enjoying the company of my ward family. After ward prayer I went to grab something that was near my Bishop's office and I ran into a girl from Kappa Delta, one of the sororities I rushed for. We had a wonderful talk about how my decision not to join one of the Sororities was a good one and she shared some of her experiences. I walked back to find my roommate Kylie and friend Chris talking about our summer job. We all talked about our motivations for the summer when a girl walked up to us.
This girl looked at us like she hated us. She proceeded to nonchalantly and very rudely state that the Prophet of the Lord has passed away. I didn't believe her. She said it like it didn't matter or like she didn't care that she was giving us this very startling news. I walked down the quiet hallway and saw a Bishops wife getting ready to shut the door on their ward prayer. I caught her eye and asked her if she had heard anything about Gordon B. Hinckley passing on. She thought it was a rumor because she knew nothing of it, but that didn't stop my heart from expanding in my chest to the point that every pulse seemed to be forced. I didn't know why that feeling rushed over me, but about five minutes later, that ward prayer let out and all of the members of that ward family had tears on their cheeks, phones in their hands, and the bishop's wife just nodded her head. I knew why she was nodding and so did my roommate.
We walked out of the building supporting each other and when we reached my car we just cried. I was happy- happy that Gordon B. Hickley was with his wife Marjorie again, happy that he was going to be a missionary and teach thousands of people. I called Nichole, my manager for the summer, and asked her if she had heard. She didn't know about it, but she was happy. Kylie and I finally walked in and our roommates were watching the news on T.V. We all gathered in our living room and each of my roommates talked on their phones with their families. My phone wouldn't dial out to my family so I tried my friends. I couldn't get in touch with my family and I broke down crying. I was panicked that I couldn't be with my family to support them at this time. I finally got through to my inactive brother who really doesn't care about the church and asked him to call my mom. She finally called me, but it wasn't the call I wanted. She didn't seem to care about the news either and all she said was... "I'm sorry, well goodnight". My roommates went to Waffle Night, but I stayed home to reflect on the day. When my roommates arrived home, I asked two of them if they wanted to go on a walk.
The night was beautiful, warm (well for Utah) and breezy. We walked in silence down towards Old Main and walked right through the quad. We noticed that the snow on one section of the quad was mostly untouched so we decided to walk the letters "R.I.P G.B.H" through that section of the quad. After we did that we continued walking toward the amphitheater behind Old Main. There was more untouched snow and I decided to run through it. It was about a foot high and before I reached the amphitheater I just fell down in the snow and made snow angels with my roommates. I felt carefree and as innocent as a child again. I felt refreshed and relaxed.
After a few minutes we all decided to get up and finally walk into the amphitheater. We sat at the top of it, looking out onto Logan and the temple. It was beautiful and I returned to a state of reflection. I realized how happy and blessed I am to know that just because Gordon B. Hinckley passed on does not mean we will be without guidance. Kylie quietly started singing "We Thank Thee O God For a Prophet" and Rhiannon and I joined in. I felt the spirit so strong at that point that that I could barely squeeze the words out. We finally walked home in silence and in remembrance of the beloved Prophet and leader of our church, Gordon B. Hinckley.
I will never forget the night that a prophet, my prophet, passed through the veil to the other side.
With love,
LC
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