Unto whom much is given . . . (D&C 82:3)

I read my sister’s post the other day http://lifeisgood-eagar.blogspot.com/ where she described taking my dad out to the ball game as a belated father's day gift. She had some choice things to say about him . . . it got me to thinking about all the amazing people I have been associated with through out my life. In D&C 82:3 it speaks of requiring much of those who have been given much. I don't anticipate sharing about being required to give much; rather I want to focus on how much I was given. We'll see if this turns into a series - ha ha.

I'm going to start in randomly with Doug Baker. This poor, poor man was called to be the Deacon's Advisor along with Bill Alexander. Doug and Bill made sure we were involved in everything Scout related. We were learning how to Dutch oven cook one evening and had an all out food fight that was so intense we trashed his entire yard. Pineapple rings were hanging from branches in the tree. He responded by teaching us about consequences. This instance actually got us and all our parents into Bishop Hawkley's office for a "come to Jesus". After that meeting my dad got called "2 by 4" for a story he shared in the meeting - more on that later. Through Doug's amazing service over the next couple of years I earned merit badges, learned leadership, and like a typical teenage punk I belittled him all along the way. My final trip to camp Geronimo with him I learned more about consequences. In an intense water fight (using the buckets intended for the event of a fire) I got caught up in the moment and grabbed the grease fire bucket (a.k.a. dirt) and threw it on David Baker - we were all soaked and this fine reddish dirt was absorbed by all his wetness. He looked like a piece of wet chicken that was just dipped into some breading before being fried. We all stopped in shock and horror - we all knew I had crossed the line. The water fight was over and consequences loomed for me. I was given a 3 hour service project to right my wrong. No one helped me, this was my burden alone. Doug could have made a big deal about it, sent me home, screamed at me - instead he gave me a consequence that seemed unbearable but I didn't dare protest. Looking back now I think Doug was a genius for how he handled us. He wasn't going to be able to stop us from acting up, but he taught us consequences when I'm sure inside he was ready to break our necks.

I had a short break from him as he served in the Bishopric. I'm sure to him this was a nice break (even considering how busy you are in the Bishopric, I'm sure he was grateful to be free from us). Soon he was back (what thing did he do earlier in his life that God kept punishing him) and we went to camp Whiting. Whiting was a life changing event. We had to navigate using a compass to go anywhere from 3 to 9 miles a day to get to the next days events. He let us decide how to do this. We made bad (I mean really bad) choices. He didn't stop us. I gave him a black eye when we did canoe jousting (I broke the rules and hit him above the shoulders). I learned to rappel, lumber jack, black powder and bullet making, Indian lore and finally at the end of the week when we ran out of food we showed up at the chuck wagon. This week long activity helped us earn our 50 Miler award. We learned brotherhood, we learned that we could have fun and be humbled. We learned that Doug Baker was amazing.

Of all the young men that did that trip, we formed lasting bonds and still get together occasionally. Most of us earned our Eagle Awards. Our stake had a Colorado River trip for all boys that became Eagles. Due to Doug's efforts with us we attended a court of honor where 56 young men earned their Eagle rank. A few months later me and 7 friends had our Eagle court of honor. Each of us received a hand carved Eagle neckerchief slide - carved by hand by Doug. We each received an amazing glass display of our rank, merit badges, and awards and also a handmade Eagle neckerchief that had a hand sown Eagle on it. Amazing keepsakes that I wear with pride at every Eagle court of honor that I attend.

Later in life as Priests this same motley crew of boys would meet up with Dan Pennell - we would have missed out on so much if Dan had to wait for us to learn all the things that Doug had taught us. Doug had given us so many experiences to build upon to take us to the next level and had done it so consistently that the course of change was natural and expected. Because of Doug, we had not just earned our Eagle rank - we lived the things that were required to become Eagles. We were still punks and very ungrateful, but we were nurtured and taken pride in despite all of this.

We had so many experiences that covered such an array - I remember one trip we went to Disney land as a troop and we whistled at some girls while at a stop light - the girls came and flirtatiously threw a book of matches at Doug. After all that we put him through his wife Kathy didn't hate us - even when she parked next to our aluminum chloride bottle that we just activated - "BOOM" - the 2 liter bottle exploded all over the side of the truck she was driving as we were screaming at her to move (as she continued to insist on having a moment to talk with her son). We all scattered leaving David to take the brunt of her wrath. We got caught teepeeing their house - he was so cool about it that it took all the fun out of ever doing it again.

Later in life I was attending a wedding reception and I saw him there. It suddenly dawned on me how much he endured having served us. We were all so much better prepared for life, we understood the gospel, we were Eagle Scouts, we served missions, we had testimonies, we tormented him and he responded by serving us even more. I awkwardly walked up to him at the wedding and told him that he was an amazing man - that he "rocked" and that I was grateful for everything he had done for me. That was all I got out before I started to lose my composure so I stopped. A few moments later Ben Larson came up and told me" that what I said (as awkward as it was) had touched Doug. That's when it finally dawned on me . . . "Unto whom much is given, much is required". It was a scary thought because I had been given MUCH by this one man alone - what must be required of me as a result? Surely I could never give as much as could be honestly expected - the challenge seemed daunting. This thought has continued to linger as I have served in various callings. When I think that I am frustrated, when my efforts seem unrealized by those I try and serve - I can only laugh and know that Doug suffered worse with us.

As a result of this experience of talking with Doug at the wedding I remembered a promise made long ago with my friend Ben. We had agreed to have a Priest quorum reunion after our missions. We went ahead and planned it with other quorum assistants that had served over time. We invited our former leaders including Doug. David, yes the one I threw the dirt on at camp Geronimo, created some amazing plaques that we had our quorum scripture engraved on and also a thanks to the leaders for helping us to become worthy husbands and fathers - on the front of each plaque was a glass case that we were able to fill with hand written notes of our feelings for the men that had taught us so much. Truly I am grateful for that reunion and the chance to publicly show my gratitude for Doug and the other leaders that affected my life so intensely.

My approach in life needs to be elevated as I strive to magnify my callings, priesthood, spousal and patriarchal responsibilities. I have been truly blessed and having the chance to realize how much I have been given has made me truly thankful for Doug and all those that did so much for my benefit.

Doug Baker, you do ROCK! You are an amazing man. Thanks.

- Andrew "unto who much is given . . ." Brown