Dan's Testimony of a Kite

Dan bore his testimony today "because it was time". He shared an analogy that he has used with the young men about kites. 

A kite is tethered and held down with a string. It may seem constraining, but if you let go of the kite string, the kite will flounder in the wind and soon fall to the ground. The kite string actually enables the kite to fly. 

Like a kite, the gospel has boundaries, rules that may seem constraining at times, but in essence allows us to be free from sin and to soar higher then we could ever imagine. We must learn to fly within the boundaries that the gospel provides. As we do, our kite will fly to its highest and greatest potential. 

Just a Pot of Dirt

Andrew was in his institute class when they were approached and were asked for volunteers to help with the St. George Temple renovation. Andrew and his friend Ryan Jones were the only ones to go volunteer. Andrew called Dan and he came over and helped. Their task was to dig crawl space tunnels under the oxen in the baptistery. They crawled around digging for three hours. 

Family friend, David Suttner, heard about it and wanted to help next time there was a need. The next time the job was to replace the light bulbs in the women's dressing room; not quite as dramatic, but good service none the less. David wanted some of the dirt that had been dug out from under the temple. He and Andrew asked and they were able to get some. Mindy wrote this poem and she and David planted pots with flowers and the temple dirt, and they took them around to their friends. Here is the poem about Andrew and his service.

Just a Pot of Dirt

Just a pot of weak red sand,

A lone spot of green

Yet so much more can be had

When you have the eyes to see.

This dirt its post many years it kept

beneath twelve oxen, from Napthali to Dan,

Until strong young men were called.

Just one heard and came.

Humble, true, his heart was sound

The nod to him was given

To take some of this hallowed ground

And share a bit with friends.

This is but dirt until you hear

The sighs of Saints from long ago

Who crossed the desert Sinai

To those who crossed the desert here,

Forsaking comfort, wealth, and ease

To follow God’s commands

To make the desert blossom as a rose

With nothing but their hands.

With blood and sweat and aching limbs

They gave this work their all

To build a beacon to the world

This temple firm and tall

Where those from round the globe

On both sides of the veil,

Come to covenant with God--

Their faith to never fail.

Just a pot of dirt you say

Until with eyes now opened

A symbol of the eternal plan

Held in one cupped hand.

                                                                                By Mindy Suttner

Andrew Flake, a descendant of James Madison Flake, was the Young Single Adult who responded to the call for volunteers to help dig out under the St. George temple baptistery to renovate the plumbing.  James Madison Flake, when he met the Prophet Joseph Smith, immediately freed all of his slaves, sold his large plantation, and dedicated his wealth to outfitting as many Saints as he could to trek west.  Andrew’s consecration to the Lord is reminiscent of the sacrifices of his forbears.