A Rocky Summer

It has been a rocky summer; I can blame most of it on COVID-19.  Vacations for our family had to be changed and adjusted, in doing so we saw a lot of rocks.

July 10, 2020 was a date that happily took a few of my family members and I to Idaho for a wedding. We decided to make a road trip out of the occassion and stayed the night in a hotel (first time for us to do so during COVID). On our way we detoured to see the City of Rocks in Almo, Idaho. Impressive, large boulders that seemed to pop up just like a little city as we came around the corner and caught our first view. "Camp Rock" (not pictured) was one of our favorites.

"The City of Rocks National Reserve, also known as the Silent City of Rocks, is a United States National Reserve and state park lying 2 miles north of the south-central Idaho border with Utah. It is widely known for its excellent rock climbing and rock formations."

The following day, on our return from Idaho Falls, we drove to Craters of the Moon, the vast area was created by lava flows over time. 

"Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a U.S. national monument and national preserve in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho. It is along US 20, between the small towns of Arco and Carey, at an average elevation of 5,900 feet above sea level." 

Then on to see the Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, where rocky canyons is the landscape for the sparkling waterfalls. The falls have been called the "Niagara of the West".

It was an enjoyable couple of days to escape home, get out and see new places. Every time I saw these rocks the scripture from Heleman 5:12 would enter my mind.

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Back in February, we planned a trip to Disneyland for August. There was a time we thought that might happen, but California Disney never opened up. Instead, we opted for a road trip to see something we have wanted to see but hadn't seen before - Mt. Rushmore. Originally our vacation week would have been during Sturgis, an annual motorcycle rally through the Black Hills. We adjusted the time of our arrival to South Dakota and went to Yellowstone first. There is so much to see in Yellowstone! Over 3,000 square miles of land! Clearly one cannot see it all in a day or two, and that is all we had. But the various landscapes, impressive geological sites, beauty of canyons, waterfalls, and lakes, and the occasional sighting of wildlife were all things to behold. We exited Yellowstone out of the east side and drove through the mountains and canyons on North Fork Highway. Such a beautiful drive to Cody, Wyoming. Again, recalling these words, "remember that it is upon the rock of [y]our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation;..." played through my mind.

In South Dakota we saw Mount Rushmore, which I loved seeing so much! It was remarkable. Such a special feeling there. I am grateful for the service, leadership, and dedication to our country of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The majestic carvings is a memorial to them. 

We drove through the 8-foot wide Needles Eye Tunnel, which is part of the Needles Highway drive filled with unusual and impressive rock formations in the Black Hills. The air was cool, and the rocks and landscape sights were too. 

One place I wished we could have visited longer was the Crazy Horse Memorial. It is a mountain monument under construction on private land in the Black Hills - not too far from Mount Rushmore. It depicts the Oglala Lakota warrior, Crazy Horse, riding a horse and pointing to his tribal land. Learning a little bit about its history and seeing the evening laser show was inspiring. I got to bring home a granite rock, from which this mountain monument is being carved out of. I hope to visit this memorial again in my lifetime. 

Every time I saw these impressive, massive, meaningful and beautiful rocks, the spirit would fill my mind with remembrances of and a connection to where my foundation lies. Additionally, I would be reminded of the children's Primary song about the wiseman building his house upon a rock. I am so grateful for my knowledge of Jesus Christ. He IS my Savior, Redeemer, and my firm foundation of faith. I can trust Jesus.

"He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock." (Luke 6:48)

The rocks would remind me of how beautiful the world is. Sometimes, within just a few miles, the landscapes and formations would quickly change. There is much variety and beauty in this world. I am so grateful for this beautiful world, created for me and you, by an all-knowing, and loving God. There is no denying His handiwork. "... yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and call things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." (Alma 30:44)

Incidentally, we drove past Devil's Gate near Martin's Cove and Independence Rock on our return drive home. More rock formations to keep my mind remembering who my true rock is. AND, while on this trip, my son was with many of his friends on their own excursion at Island Park. While there, he gave his girlfriend a rock, a really special and expensive rock, and asked her to marry him. She said, yes! :)

Thank you COVID for making my summer so rocky. It has been a reminder of where my true foundation lies. Which is in the creator of all these great rocks! My Savior, Jesus Christ, is my rock, my sure foundation. 

Why is He my rock?  Because He is constant, true, and someone I can rely on always. Think about it, since the coronavirus (March for me), our lives changed and things around us started shutting down. Details about our way of living were changing hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly. God is not changing. "For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever", I can rely on Him!  People, places, and circumstances around me might change, but Jesus Christ will always be there and so will my Father in Heaven. I am the one that moves and chooses to distance myself from them, but like like the firm, strong, and steady rocks I've seen this summer, He will always be there. I know it. When the distance happens, God is still there. Always calling me to return, to come unto Him, partake of His gift of repentance, change my heart, and partake of the goodness, peace, light, and joy He offers. Oh, it is wonderful!

Thank you, Jesus, thank you Heavenly Father, and thank you to the Holy Ghost that communicates to me teachings, testifies of truth, and helps me see spiritual connections along my journey. 

As extra thoughts...

On the heels of our Yellowstone trip, the Music and Spoken word for Sunday, August 23,  showcased pictures from Yellowstone and the history of the National Parks. Would highly suggest taking a look, or at least fast forward to the speaking part. So cool!  August 23, 2020 - #4745 Music & the Spoken Word. https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/videos/august-23-2020-4745-music-and-the-spoken-word/

Additionally, "How Firm a Foundation" (Hymn No. 85) supports many of my above thoughts. 

1. How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!

What more can he say than to you he hath said,

Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,

Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

2. In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,

In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth

At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—

As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,

As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

4. When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’erflow,

For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

And sanctify to thee, and sanctify to thee,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume,

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

6. E’en down to old age, all my people shall prove

My sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love;

And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn,

Like lambs shall they still, like lambs shall they still,

Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.

7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

(Text: Attr. to Robert Keen, ca. 1787. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835. Music: Attr. to J. Ellis, ca. 1889)

Today (Tuesday September 8) as I get ready to share this post, with walking up to hurricane-force winds at up to 95 mph, causing big damage in my yard with trees falling, I am reminded again of rocks. The rocks don't move in the fierecest of winds. They are strong, firm, and steady. So is Jesus. Life has always been a bit messy, but there is always a way through as I lean on my Savior. He IS my sure foundation!