Saturday, January 30, 2010

Some of you may remember Elder & Sister Dove and their Downs syndrome son. They are only here for a year because they didn't know how their son would do. He has been amazing. They spoke in church Sunday because they will be leaving soon. I understood very little of what young Elder Dove said, but there was no mistaking the spirit with which he spoke. Very touching. He performed in our variety show. It was a number from "High School Musical" He danced without inhibitions and would come to the mike and say things which we couldn't understand, but with great enthusiasm. He loved it when the Young Performing Missionaries were here, and they were great with him. He really loves the Prophet Joseph Smith and kept thinking he would come. I'm not certain he ever really understood that the actor that played Joseph in the pageant was not him, but anyway he was really happy while he was here. One day this fall, young Elder Dove was blowing leaves in the women's garden. He was cleaning around the statue of Joseph and Emma. After he had cleaned all around Joseph, he turned off the leaf blower and wrapped his arms around Joseph. Then he cleaned around Emma, turned off the blower and again embraced the statue of Joseph. The simple faith and capacity to love of this dear young man has touched our hearts this entire year. What a privilege it has been to have him in our midst.