Call to action

May 31, 2015

Two years ago we participated in a Race for Rachel, a young girl diagnosed with cancer. We have watched through the eyes of Andy and Cammie, our children, as she has gone through tremendous pain and suffering as treatments were applied. Recently on face book she shared one of the most significant messages of our day, saying that she was getting very tired and almost too weak to use the keyboard as she shared a beautiful understanding of life and eternity. She shared positive, meaningful, sweet, and genuine expressions of love for her family, friends, and life itself. In my never-to-be-humble mind she is a sterling example of who and what we ought to be.

Yesterday L Tom Perry, one of the twelve apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints passed away at 92. He was charismatic, dynamic, sincere, and inspiring as he shared his apostolic testimony of the divinity of the Savior, Jesus Christ. His desire was, as Rachel’s is, to share love, hope and understanding of our purpose in life. Elder Perry’s obituary picture is one with a smile as big as all outdoors, sharing another way he had of giving to others.

Recently I was in the oncology center getting pumped up with iron. One of the ladies seemed to be having a bad hair day so I asked her to help me, saying I just couldn’t figure it out (truth be, I couldn’t). She immediately went to her mothering role and gave me a note telling when my next appointment was. Then in a flash of inspiration she went back to her computer and printed out all of my appointments with Central Utah Clinic. She was helping a soldier in distress and that gave her reason to go beyond herself. She felt better; my needs were addressed, and all was good with the world.

A few weeks ago during surgery I had a very detailed, significant dream which puzzled me. I shared the dream with a few people and received some beautiful and inspiring assistance in my understanding. Joe Richardson, a high school friend and surveyor shared his professional understanding of many of the tenants in the dream and gave credence to the thinking, specifically about Utah Lake and the place the Utah State Prison should be installed. Doug Austin brought me a book by Lee Nelson telling of his life and experiences he had as he wove his net around his personal destiny.

My brother Glenn, lent a great deal of credibility to the dream by sharing his belief that the Utah lake project could become reality because of the potential for financial gain through harvesting the pond fill, sacking it, and selling it as Utah lake fertilizer. Then, there was always the potential for other benefits like more water storage, more and better recreational opportunities, and all kinds of new thinking that would bless the lives of thousands.

Yesterday, my beautiful daughter-in-law called and shared similar feelings about my dream and gave me the name of a book that tells of a similar dream, particularly about Utah Lake. We talked for some time about the importance of following our promptings, understanding which thoughts were spiritual and meaningful, and which were simply the machinations of our idle thinking.

Some of you will say all this excitement, prompting, and gushing about “stuff” is simply poppy cock. That is where perspective comes into play. Nothing in this life is ever accomplished without someone getting out of their mental prison and doing something. The only ending in doing nothing is that nothing happens. Go for the gold ring. Life is exciting and very worthwhile.

God bless us as we charge forward in our efforts to help others and make life just a little better for those around us.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend