Yesterday our stake Relief Society held a conference which was uplifting. I want to tell you about the class taught by Ron deYoung. You may remember him or his wife, Carol Gaffney de-Young. He lives on a 10-acre farm in Alsea.
I'll give you a few of the great quotes he used and then I'll tell you his story. (He gave us the sources if you want any of them.)
President George Q. Cannon said, "You may dally by the wayside; you may fool away your time; you may be idle, indifferent and careless; but you only lose thereby the progress that you ought to make."
Scott D. Whiting at a BYU Devotional said, "It is important to recognize that digital detachment is an impediment to receiving personal revelation. The supposed need to constantly be 'plugged in' can drown out the quiet whisperings and subtle impressions of the Holy spirit."
Elder Richard G. Scott said, "A pebble held close to the eye appears to be a gigantic obstacle. Cast on the ground, it is seen in perspective. Likewise, problems or trials in our lives need to be viewed in the perspective of scriptural doctrine. Otherwise they can easily overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the joy and beauty the Lord intends us to receive here on earth." (Brother deYoung said our trials can make us bitter or better!)
The last quote: President Thomas S. Monson said, "This is our one and only chance at mortal life--here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lesson we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey--now."
Now for Brother deYoung's story. Ken, you may remember his wife on the trek you and Dad went on. She was one of the nurses. He had tried to discourage her from going because she was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer at the time and one of her legs was twice the size of the other. Since she wore a dress no one knew. But she really wanted to go. The kids walked 26 miles but she walked even more checking on health needs. She had a great time. Three months later she died. He said the night she died after they had taken away her mortal remains and he had finally fallen asleep, an alarm clock went off. He'd had it set to give her medication. He woke up and sadly thought "She's gone." But then he joyfully thought, "She's gone!" And he's felt joy each day since. He's a wood worker so he made her casket. He works with stone so he lovingly made her headstone. He is so grateful for the 26 years they had together. She was his "missionary" and brought him to the place where he could rely on the Holy Spirit before she went on.
