Making Choices

CHOOSE THE RIGHT June16th 2011

"and now for the rest of the story,,,,,"

As was mentioned earlier I met a girl by the name of Renae Sorenson.
She was from Mesa and came to one of the activities that we were having in our Stake. A swimming party was planned and I was asked to bring my guitar and just have a nice sign along time with a few of our friends. (this is how I remember the evening going down)
We were all swimming and eating and there were a lot of people in attendance. At one point of the evening We were all sitting on the porch and I got out my guitar and was playing a few songs. I noticed a new person in the crowd, that I could not keep my eyes off. She was brought to the party by a guy that lived in my Ward. I knew of him, did not know him very well because he was attending BYU.
The funniest thing that I would like to point out is that they were the only people there that was not wearing a bathing suit. I remember playing songs, eating and then jumping off the diving board as to splash the new girl. I did my best to get noticed!! I remember going back over to the porch and asking if anyone had a request for me to play. Then this girl spoke up and asked me if I knew any BREAD????? Country boy playing BREAD!!! WOW,, I tried to fake as much as I knew on the guitar and kept trying to get her attention. As the night was coming to an end I wanted to get her contact information. As she was getting ready to leave, I walked her quickly outside to her car and tried to do it without her friend knowing about it. I then asked her if she ever attended the Wednesday night dances in Phoenix or Mesa. She told me that she was working and that maybe Wednesday she would show up. That was a shot in the dark, but at least I tried. I really wanted to have her come there so I could get to know her better.
Wednesday Night came and I was at the dance 1 Hour Early. Danced with a few girls and kept watching the door for her to come in. It was getting late and I thought she was not going to make it. There was only 1/2 hour left untill the dance was over, then I remember her coming through the door, and as (she recalls I came running up to her!!)-maybe I did.
I asked her to dance and then walked her out to her car. I remember her tearing off a check deposit slip that had her info on it and I told her I would like to call her. I also told her I was playing in a band and asked if she would like to come out and hear me play. She said she would think about it and ask one of her friends if she would like to come with her. I remember calling her that night and we talked a long time.
Well, She came way out to North Phoenix with her friend and they both got hit on as soon as they walked into the nightclub. I was taking a break and noticed them come in. Walked down as asked if they were OK. They stayed for a few sets and then they drove back to Mesa. I called her and we spoke a long time, night after night. I remember driving to her home way out in Mesa, and not getting home until 2-3 in the morning. Then getting up for Construction work around 5 and doing that night after night. It is funny what Love does to a person!!
We became very close and I had to explain that I was already in the process of waiting for my Mission Calling to arrive. That did not go over very well. It was a very hard conversation for me to have. She was going back to BYU after the summer and I was preparing myself to Serve.
Time went by real fast. The phone bill from Phoenix to Provo was crazy.
Then it arrived. I was called to Serve in the Canada Calgary Mission


It was a very exciting time for me. I did not even know where this place was. My Dad told me right off the bat that "I was going to Freeze up there." Pulled out a Map to see where it was. Called Renae and explained that I was to report to the Missionary Training Center in Provo on the 25th of November 1979.

So, I was off to Salt Lake City, Utah. She drove up there and gave me a ride to Prove,,,(with one of her friends).
She drove me to the MTC and assisted me in carrying my bags to the room. We did not know she was not supposed to go in there. We got up about 2 flights of stairs and then we heard all the Elders yelling out loud,,,"GIRL IN THE DORM,, GIRL IN THE DORM." She quickly headed down and I went out to give her my last hug and say goodbye for awhile.

So that is where I will leave it for now. My Choice was to Serve a Mission. I did have second thoughts after meeting and getting to know Renae of calling it off and seriously asking her to Marry me. But with my experience at the Temple, I knew I had made the proper decision, To Go and Serve the People in CANADA

My Personal Lifechanging Experience...

Life-Changing Experience 1979 I would like to share a very special experience that I encounter in the year of 1979.

As mentioned earlier I had been really wondering what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I tried many things, but most of them had to do with just me. I moved back into my parents home on Garfield and started to ask questions to my Bishop. He challenged me to start thinking about submitting my Missionary papers to Serve a Full time Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That took me by surprise. I had never thought about that before. After listening to him I was really interested in the service part of being a full time Missionary.
Only two problems that I was worried about,,,leaving my music and giving up the thing that I loved most,,,and not enough money. I went back to playing in nightclubs throughout the valley with the band when I returned from California. It was what I knew how to do to earn money.

MESA ARIZONA TEMPLE
He asked me to go to the Temple grounds in Mesa and just walk around and contemplate the feelings that I would be having there. So one evening I went all by myself and enjoyed the beautiful grounds. I stopped at one of the reflecting pools there and just started staring at the temple which was so beautiful. I remember just standing there and I heard a quiet voice in my ear that told me to "Go Home and See your Bishop" I just ignored it,, then it came again and was a little louder. "Go Home and See your Bishop" So I remember running to my car and driving back to Phoenix to my Bishops house.

"This is something hard for me to put into words, but I want each of you to know that it really happened."




Continuing on with the story, I arrived at the Bishops house and I remember it was pretty late. I knocked on the door, he answered and asked me to come in. As I entered in, I explained what had happened at the Temple. He paused and pointed to the little desk by the entrance of the door. He explained that while he was praying a little earlier in the evening. He had a very strong prompting come over him that he was to Sign the Mission papers for me to get the process started for me to get approved. I remember standing there with him reaching over and picking the application up and handing it to me. With tears in my eyes I could not believe the feelings that I was having. Without a shadow of a doubt, I had the Spirit testify to me that I needed to Serve a Full Time Mission for the Church. From that point on I never doubted my decision.

COMMITMENT to SERVE

Started to save as much money as I could. I talked with my parents and they did not understand why? I put away all of my earnings from construction and playing 6 nights a week at the Wagon Yard in Phoenix.
Then I was called in to talk with the Bishop again. He had explained to me that I needed to have a series of Interview to make sure I was worthy to serve. I did everything I was asked to do. I had an interview with one of the General Authorities from our Church when he was here attending a Stake Conference. I remember His loving arms and understanding heart as I asked to be forgiven of all of the past transgressions that I had committed. It was like looking into the eyes of the Savior. He asked me to Council with my Stake President and prepare to Serve. It was a very humbling time in my life, But I felt as if the past was in the past and I was getting my life ready to be a worthy full time missionary.
Then came the big request from my Stake President which hit me pretty hard. He requested that I stop participating in the BAR SCENE(playing music). It was not a place where the Spirit resided so I needed to find other ways of saving my money.
It came to the point where I sold my equipment to my Brother in Law and even sold my car. I earned as much money as I could. I was told from my parents that I was on my own and they could not send money. I told them I understood. The Bishop explained that when the time came for me to go, there were some great people living in my Ward that would help support my Mission. My commitment was real and things started to fall into place.
During this time I received a calling to be the Young Adult Leader for the Ward. I would plan and hold activities. We would hold Family home evenings for each of us to participate in. The time came for me to submit my application. I was ready, filled in the papers and sent them off to Salt Lake City, Utah to see where My Father in Heaven wanted to me SERVE. What happened next caught me totally by surprise. I met SOMEONE!!!! not supposed to happen to me at this point,,I guess it was another challenge for me to see if I would be able to make the proper choice.


"I met Renae Sorenson"

......to be continued