A TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM BRUCE EVANS
OUR FATHER BRUCE BORE HIS TESTIMONY NOT LONG AGO STANDING HERE AT THIS VERY PULPIT. HE’S BORE MANY TESTIMONIES OVER THE PAST FORTY YEARS BUT THIS ONE TRULY STRUCK ME BECAUSE THE WORDS HE SPOKE WERE OF SUCH WISDOM TO ME. HE SPOKE OF ENDURING TO THE END BUT NOT JUST ENDURING BUT ENDURING WELL. IN FIRST NEPHI 13:37 IT READS-AND BLESSED ARE THEY WHO SHALL SEEK TO BRING FORTH MY ZION AT THAT DAY, FOR THEY SHALL HAVE THE GIFT AND POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST; AND IF THEY ENDURE UNTO THE END THEY SHALL BE LIFTED UP AT THE LAST DAY, AND SHALL BE SAVED IN THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM 0F THE LAMB; AND WHOSO SHALL PUBLISH PEACE, YEA,TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, HOW BEAUTIFUL UPON THE MOUNTAINS SHALL THEY BE."
OVER THE PAST SEVENTEEN YEARS HE UNDERWENT NUMOROUS Health CHALLENGES, and persevered despite his limitations.
HE HAD SUCH AN AMAZING DRIVE TO ATTEND CHURCH SERVICES EVERY WEEK. EVEN CLOSE TO THE END OF HIS LIFE WHEN HIS HEALTH REALLY STARTED TO EFFECT HIM AND MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE KEYS AWAY HE DROVE TO CHURCH. THIS IS WHAT HE WANTED AND NO ONE WAS GOING TO ARGUE WITH HIM ABOUT SERVING THE LORD. KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS, AND GOING TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY. HE WAS A FAITHFUL AND DILIGENT Latter-day Saint.
WHILE I HAVE CARED FOR MY FATHER OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS I HAVE TRULY BEEN BLESSED TO UNDERSTAND THE MAN HE WAS. OUR FATHER LOVED PEOPLE AND TAUGHT EVERYONE AROUND HIM THAT EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY AND CHALLENGES YOU CAN ALWAYS WEAR A SMILE AND HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR. HE LIFTED PEOPLES SPIRITs
HE ENDURED A CAREER OF DENTISTRY BUT I ALWAYS BELIEVE HE LONGED FOR THE OPEN ROAD AND NEXT BEST ADVENTURE! HE OFTEN TALKED TO MY MOTHER ABOUT SELLING THE HOUSE, BUYING AND R.V. AND HITTING THE OPEN ROAD WHEREVER IT MAY LEAD. HE WAS A BORN ADVENTURER AND LOVED TO BE OUTSIDE.
OUR FATHER COMES FROM A LINE OF ENDURING MEN. HIS GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER’S NAME WAS JAMES HERN. HIS WIFE’S NAME WAS ELIZA. THEY RODE WITH THEIR FAMILY IN THE GREAT TREK OUT WEST IN THE WILLIE HAND CART COMPANY. THIS GREAT MAN BURIED TWO CHILDREN AND ENDURED MUCH HEARTACHE WHILE HELPING THE SAINTS MAKE THAT HISTORICAL TREK. IT WAS SAID HE WAS A LARGE MAN IN STATURE AND HE CARRIED MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN ACROSS STREAMS AND RIVERS DUE TO THE EXTREME COLD. WHAT A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ENDURING WELL ROOTED IN THE TAPESTRY OF OUR FATHER’S ANCESTORS. THIS SAME COURAGE, PERSERVERANCE, TENACITY AND TRUE GRIT RUNS IN ME. IN US! IN D&C 121:7&8 WE READ, MY SON, PEACE BE UNTO THY SOUL; THINE ADVERSITY AND THINE AFFLICTIONS SHALL BE BUT A SMALL MOMENT; AND THEN, IF THOU ENDURE IT WELL, GOD SHALL EXALT THEE ON HIGH; THOU SHALT TRIUMPH OVER ALL THY FOES."
I’VE FACED MANY HEARTACHES AND CHALLENGES IN MY OWN LIFE BUT OUR FATHER ALWAYS TAUGHT 0ME TO KEEP Persevering AND NEVER GIVE UP! TRUST IN YOUR SAVIOR AND LEAN ON HIM AND YOU WILL GET THROUGH. ENDURE KIMBERLY AND ENDURE WELL AND DON’T FORGET TO SMILE.
In the name of Jesus Chrisst, Amen
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