I did not enjoy high school.  I was miserable.  For this reason I have never attended a class reunion.  I used to say that I’d attend our 50th reunion just to see who was left, but when we reached that milestone I was unable to make myself do it.  Maybe I’ll make myself attend the 55th reunion, which will be held next year (2020), but I doubt it.  I have no wonderful memories that I want to go back and revisit.

I remember Mr. Schenck, the social studies teacher in my junior year, advising us to “enjoy high school, because they’ll be the best years of your life.”  He was also a football coach, and, for him, the high school years were probably full of fun and full of the glory of being recognized as a sports star.  For him, life probably went downhill from there.  I would not remember the man or his name now except for that one, single, stunning statement that he made.  I can visualize the class and where I was sitting when he said it.  I thought to myself, “Oh, my goodness!  Stop the world.  I want off if this is as good as life gets.”

I didn’t believe his statement then, and have since proven it to be so very untrue.  I feel genuinely sorry for the man.

The misery of my senior year was a repeat of the previous one.  And then things really got bad.  I had to leave home and go to college.  I was a good student, and everyone liked me.  I was cheerful on the outside, but chronically depressed inside.  Life had no meaning.  Life had no joy.  Life was all about me, and I felt sorry for myself.  I think I perhaps even enjoyed feeling sorry for myself.  I was not happy.  I did not like myself.  I did not like who I was.

And then the gospel of Jesus Christ came into my life.  More specifically, the Book of Mormon came into my life, and through it, I found Jesus Christ.  Lights turned on.  The darkness in my head vanished.  I learned that I could repent of my sins and be a different person.  I quit thinking “poor me,” and my thoughts turned outward.

I learned how to pray, and found the true friend that I’d always been looking for.  I was astonished to see prayers answered daily.

The big change happened as I was turning 20.  The first prayer I ever uttered was in October 1966, five months before my 20th birthday.  That first prayer was perhaps four hours long as I emptied out all of my troubles and trash onto an unseen Being who I knew was patiently listening.  The prayer culminated with a voice that came into my mind saying, “Everything is going to be all right.”

Two weeks later I was given a Book of Mormon.  I stood it upright in the center of the desk in my bedroom and just looked at it for another two weeks.  I was savoring the moments.  I knew that something was going to happen when I began reading it.  The voice had said that “Everything is going to be all right.”  That promise and that book were surely connected.

I had not the slightest idea what the Book of Mormon was about.  I thought perhaps it was the story of Brigham Young crossing the plains.  When I began reading, I was enthralled.  Lights came on.  Darkness receded.  Joy entered my soul.  I didn’t want to do anything but read that book.  I found Jesus Christ.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is about me.  It is about my opportunity to repent.  It is about my happiness, my peace of conscience, and my joy.  It is about my possibilities and my future.  It is about my covenants.  It is about my Friend.  It is about my personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe.  It is about the service that I render to His other children.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is about me and for me.  I am part of the Plan.  I am known and loved and needed.

My baptism occurred 20 days before my 20th birthday.  I am happy to report that the past 52 years have been the best of my life.  Life got good at 20.