"Give Me this Mountain"

Mountains

After all my years of growing up
Father finally thinks I ready
He’s made a plan to challenge each of us
Sure we’ll make it if we’re steady
A family goal, through different paths,
To all have conquered mount Quandary
Mother knowing we’ll need warm cloths
Silently does her children’s laundry
Packed and ready with all we’ll need
We leap into the car
Mother calms us all, and sincerely prays
Trusting father to take us far
Having reached our destination
We jumped on out and stared
The immovable giant laughed at me
Calling you can’t climb me if you dared
Then I heard my father’s voice
Calling us over for a story
One of Caleb at eighty years old
Still trailing flames of glory
Who feared no mountain nor giant kfoe
For he gave the lord his all
Facing both he charged onward and up
“Give me this mountain” was his call
Inspired I helped to pitch our tent
Toward that little hill
I knew I’d make it to the top
No longer so starkly real
Confidently I zipped up my bag 
And was shortly immersed in sleep
I dreamed of fighting giant foes
And monsters of the deep 
Rise up oh men of god
I heard more loud and clear
I rose and dressed for this great test
Give me this mountain we did cheer
And off we were with dad in front 
To protect and set a pace
With mom in back to make sure
No one felt it was a race
Laughing and talking we started off
Down the clear and sloping trail
Into the woods and over brooks I cruised
Determined not to fail
Soon I lagged a little bit
But caught up nice and quick
Waiting for us by a sign they were
Where the trial began to split
I knew it was coming, for it was in the plan
To split the older from the young
But mom was nice to stay with us 
the youngest and make it fun
we talked, sung and pleadingly prayed 
to see them at the top
I hiked and hiked and felt so tiered
Yet Matthew had to stop
I felt so proud a big boy now
The youngest of the kids
We drank some water and ate some bread
Rach called “come on, the mountain bids”
Soon we left forest into a rocky dusty trail,
With the Sun shining above
Mother leads or lags with us 
Directed by her love
Breathin’ was harder, breaks more frequent
My head began to throb
“we over half way there” I said
Wondering could I do the job
Fighting on I felt a grasshopper
In the eye of the giants stare
“Give me this mountain” I heard
I said a humble prayer
Then on I went with faith in god
Yet the way grew even steeper
Sick and tiered I rested and looked back
My faith grew even deeper
The fourths the way one quarter left
That’s all we had to go
I saw the peek seemingly just ahead,
My body told me no
I’ll make it there, the tops not far
I picked up the slowing speed
My sister brother and dear mother 
Followed my restless lead
Soon realized the top we saw 
Was a rocky lame false summit
The giant laughed at me asking 
How I thought I could have done it
Dropping down, exhausted from my charge
catching my panting thin breath
Thud it hit, Altitude sickness
My head felt close to death
Yet on they went, Matt and Rach
For their eyes were to the top
I tried to follow their slow pace
yet soon I had to stop
My mother stayed by my side
telling me it’s all ok
I cried a tear, feeling stuck right here
and making my mother stay
After a while I got cramped up 
watching the others reach the top
I looking up I saw dad coming down
My head began to drop
He called my name from far away
I did not dare look up
for he trusted me to climb it all 
to drink this bitter cup
Then called again much closer now
No disappointment in his voice
"Look how far you've come my son
Such reason to rejoice"
"We are now not far from the top 
our family waits up there
It starts with just one step, my son
you’ve almost done your share"
I stood up and took that step
then bent over and threw up
"I can't dad, I've done my best" 
I can't drink this giants cup
Reaching down he picked me up
for a piggy back on shoulders
"You've done your best, that’s all I ask'"
as he climbed over many boulders
Then laughing together we made it up
Mother Dad and I
We saw our whole family cheering us
some began to cry
When at the top what a view
a 360 degree prize
On top of the world, seeing a larger view
and touching the clear blue skies
Nevertheless being with family at the top
was the best prize by far
"give me this mountain" we cheered together
forever a guiding star
'went down and drove home, the same,
like it never happened
But I remember well that day 
when I conquered my first mountain
I have conquered many more since then
when asked which one was worst
I look them in the eye and say
"as always it’s the first"
But let me tell you the whole truth
though at first I started off shouting
"I am strong enough to conquer Quandary"
I soon was loudly pouting
My father came down and carried me 
He gave me this mountain

 Thanks for sending me the letter to president Grimly.  I was shocked to find out however that I was a tennis captain, had a full tuition scholarship to BYU, and frequently wrote mother notes to see how she was doing. I don't know where you got you information but I am pretty sure those are not true. I wish they were. Thanks. It was really nice and way above the praise I deserve.  (Note from mom:  He has a a statue that say's "captain's choice" and dad thought that meant he was the captain.  He has written me notes from the MTC to me specifically and he does have a scholarship when he gets back to BYU--dad thought it was full tuition.  Most likely it is 1/2 tuition.  I wrote the letter first and then he edited and added to it and mailed it off.  We were not intentionally misleading his president.)

This week was great. I got a new companionish, I will know for sure who it is tonight. But I think it will be Elder Hsiao, whose family is from Taiwan, but he is not any better in Chinese than us, he just went through the fast track. He's great. I totally loved general conference. I want the whole world to watch it. My favorite was look up, so mom I really am working on my posture now. lol I loved the idea though. I realize how important it is to look forward and up, not down and back. I sometimes feel like Lots wife when I look back at sins that I have already confessed. If gods forgotten them, we need to become more god like and forget them to. Also mother, I am waiting for the coat you used on your mission, I think that would really help. lol. But seriously, what a church we have. I learned that one of my friends from highschool Kari Baker's dad --had a stroke at 55, on a bike ride and died. I just wanted her to know what we know. It would help her so much. I am sending her a letter. I love our church. Dad you did a great job raising Rachel because there has never been a doubt you loved mom. Thanks for your example. I loved your Lehi's Dream annalisis.  Here are some thoughts I have with it. It's interesting how the iron rod is next to the river/cliff, when there's a barren wasteland it could be at, nowhere near the filthy river. It's almost not fair to those righteous (one step wrong and you're toast) but then let's look at it from the sinner's point of veiw, although it may be a steep hard climb, the path is right next to you. Jesus will help you up. I also like that Jesus can walk on water, and go under for baptism, if we cry, 'Lord save me," he will immediately. I love how in his baptims he "straitway went out of the water." If we have faith we need not remain in the filthy river. Also I re-read it this week and saw a JS first vision parallel where Lehi was first sourounded by darkness, and it was not until he called upon the lord that he was delivered. Then when they saw Jesus (the tree) it was "whiter then any white" "and brighter then noon day sun. I thought those were cool thoughts.

his week I had in-field orientation and loved it. I am so excited to go to Taiwan. It is also nerve racking too, but onward and upward, look forward not back and look up not down.   I want to start memorizing scriptures like Elder Scott told us, send me what you think were good ones to memorize.

Love you all,

Elder Sabey