Blogger of Jared

I remember keenly, when I was young, going to Magic Mountain (roller-coaster theme park) and standing in line waiting to go on the newly opened Batman ride. The opening was much anticipated and we were absolutely giddy as we stood in line waiting to take the wild ride. The line for this ride is a bit different than most other coaster lines that just wind back and forth for an eternity. This line wanders through a snapshot of Gotham city, into the sewers and finally into the Batcave.

You only spend a few minutes in said Batcave which affords you the opportunity to watch a couple returning coaster cars before it’s your turn to buckle up. In those few minutes though, you get to see a sampling of how you might feel when you finish the ride. Some people look sick, some scared, some dizzy, some exhilarated, etc… Every once in awhile someone will turn to the waiting riders and say something like “It’s so scary you’re gonna piss your pants”(true story). Once they exit the coaster, the riders are shuffled off down an opposite corridor to wind their way back to the park. Then the next car is sent away.

Last week, on my birthday, I received two major announcements:

1. My sister-in-law (wife’s sister) just found out she is pregnant.
2. My grandfather who is just about to undergo treatments for both prostate and lung cancer, suffered a stroke and will be in rehabilitation for awhile. This will set back his cancer treatments significantly and, starting about a year ago, is just another knot on a string of recent maladies. As sad as it is to say it, the end is near for the 85 year old hero.

As I said, I received all of this news on my birthday and so the entire “circle of life” was sorta laid out before me in a very literal and sobering way. One spirit coming. One spirit in the thick of it. One spirit leaving.

An interesting note about both my grandfather and my sister-in-law is that neither are very “churchy”. My grandfather grew up as a Catholic and served as an altar boy and such… once he went to school for higher education however, he abandoned Catholicism and turned to science. I would give more details about his beliefs but no one really knows.

My sister-in-law was baptized into the church at the same time as my wife and much of the extended family are die-hard members of the Wasatch Front variety. She did not hang around too long though before other priorities took over. I similarly know very little about what she truly believes and am crossing my fingers that the miracle of birth will maybe spark some questions in her mind and lull her back to the fold.

Now I, like Elder Eyring, know very little about how the crowds will be handled in the world to come. I also know very little about how (if at all) the spirits of those coming and going interact with each other. I have a strong belief that my Grandfather will accept the gospel in the afterlife. When he does, if there is a “batcave” moment between those beginning their mortal probation and those who have already returned, I hope he will find my children and find a way to impress upon them the blessings of being Born in the Covenant. And I hope that they will somehow remember that feeling as they ride through life, grow in the church and are reminded of the truths the veil has hidden.

And if my children ever read this:

What are you just sitting there reading for? Your room is an absolute disaster area! And who touched the thermostat? I’m not paying to heat up the neighborhood! And the answer is no, you can’t have a pony. And I love you.