My talented son

Brevan had his first band concert last week, where he got to debut his trombone talent. He has learned a lot of technique since school started, and we are proud of the progress he has made. His trombone practice is even starting to sound more like a band instrument than a bad case of gas (hehe). Brevan also spoke in Sacrament meeting for the first time today! I was definitely much more nervous than he was, but I had no need to worry. He sat down this week and wrote an amazing talk ALL BY HIMSELF. Many people listening probably thought we helped him write the talk or that he plagiarized, because it was so well written. I think this boy may have a future in journalism, like his Uncle Scott. Here is the talk he wrote:

"My talk is on the life of Christ and His atonement. During the pre-existence, everyone lived in heaven with our Heavenly Father. When it was to be decided who would become the great savior of man, Heavenly Father chose Jehovah. Lucifer then tried to take this grand title, and was thrown out of Heaven along with one-third of all of the heavenly beings.

Jesus was then born a perfect being, committing no wrong. One day, on a trip to Jerusalem with his family, Jesus disappeared. After three days of looking, his parents found him preaching to doctors in a temple. When Mary asked why Jesus had caused them so much suffering, Jesus replied... “Wist ye not that I must be about my [Heavenly] Father’s business? (Luke 2:48-49) Jesus had to be absolutely perfect, as a sinful person could not save men from spiritual death and sin. Jesus paid this great price because of the love he felt towards everyone. During his teachings, he taught many things about love, such as, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34) and “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John -14:15) During his whole life, he tried hard to teach everyone that you must have love to enter into the kingdom of God.

Although Jesus did things no man could do, such as healing the blind and sick, and walking on water, men still tried to find something that he did wrong, in hopes of proclaiming him a false impersonation of Jesus. Multiple times the Pharisees tried to get him to falter, but he was strong and answered perfectly, usually causing the men to be without any logical response. This caused the priests to dislike him even more, for the people they taught looked to them for an example. Eventually, the Roman’s got so mad at him that they sought to kill him. They went to one of Jesus’ apostles, Judas, and offered silver if he told them the location of Jesus. Judas then agreed to the deal, and ran off with the money. After a few days, he felt so much regret that he hung himself upon a tree. While Judas was doing this, Jesus was in a grove of trees. He kneeled and prayed, and felt every feeling that would ever be felt, including pain, joy, and love, among the rest. From modern revelation, we learn that he bled from every pore in his body, and so great was this feat that no normal man could survive. When the Roman’s arrived, they took Jesus to their city. Then they built a cross, and forced him to carry it around the city, along with a crown made of thorns upon his head. The Romans then wrought the most painful death technique ever designed by man upon Jesus, by nailing his hands to the cross with a nail in each hand. One man then stabbed Jesus in the side with a spear, and then Jesus’ cross was lifted up. The platform his feet lay upon was dropped, and he lay there dying. Jesus then cried up to heaven to forgive the men, for he said they knew not what they were doing. After Jesus died, he was put into a tomb. The Earth then trembled, and great storms occurred. There were three days of darkness, and entire cities were carried into the ocean. During this time, Jesus’ spirit was making preparations in heaven.

After three days, an angel came and rolled the stone covering the entrance to the tomb away, and Jesus’ spirit re-joined with his body. Jesus then walked out, and left the tomb. Mary Magdalen came, and cried when she saw the tomb open and Jesus gone, for she feared someone had stolen the body. Jesus then appeared and told her not to cry, and had her touch his hands and feet, so she would know he really had been resurrected. Jesus then went to the Americas and showed himself to the Nephites. Jesus then had the Nephites also come forward and touch him. While he was doing this the parents were keeping the children back, trying not to disturb Jesus. Jesus then called out to the children, and had them come forward to him. After this, he returned to heaven to be with Heavenly Father."

(Bear testimony)