Goodbye Chicago, we're taking the sun with us!

Sometime during the night, a strange wind came out of the north and shed tears of sorrow on the land. It must have known that LIGHT was leaving and taking the sun back to Arizona. By the time we left the hotel, the rain had stopped, but the wind was a-blowing cold. We had a few hours before we needed to be at the airport, so downtown we went and Tim let everyone go shopping (in small groups of course). There was the Hershey Store, Bloomingdale's, The Nike Town, the Water Tower Mall, H&M, Disney, Saks and a host of other interesting sites and places to shop. A lot of downtown has buildings that are nearly 100 years old. On the way to the airport, we filmed another session for the music video that we had started back in Nauvoo. And after everyone had checked their bags, they went outside to the sidewalk and we filmed a little more. Yeah, we had an audience with the usual look of "What are these crazy kids doing?" We almost made it through security without a hitch, but Sis. Thurber got pulled out for carrying an 'unknown substance'. The Feds went quickly to work to try and find the powder's origin and thwart another evil plan to blow up . . . something. After a detailed analysis, it was determined that the powder in question was hot cocoa mix -- the non-explosive variety. They released her with a stern warning to always carry marshmallows when traveling with hot cocoa. We finally boarded and found our seats and then waited for two volunteers to leave the plane because of an overbooked flight. So we sat there awhile until finally we had our two and then we were on our way. In Phoenix, we were met by a host of family members with signs, placards and hurrahs for LIGHT. It really is good to be back home where every other meal is NOT pizza and having a coat on standby is a silly notion.

There is much fear in this world over the economic situation.  Many people have given way to cynicism, believing that the world and our country is now doomed because of corruption in the highest levels of government.  There are those who preach doom and gloom because it sells newspaper or it furthers an unrighteous agenda.  I have spent the last 7 days with a group of people who represent everything that is good about this day and about this great country.  It is this writer's opinion that the future of our world and our country should not be in question.  Oh there will be hard times ahead, that I am sure of.  But we will survive because we will have placed the mantle of leadership upon the shoulders of our fair sons and daughters.   Look into their eyes and you will see the future - bright, hopeful and secure in their role to usher in the the second coming of Christ.  This group of young people is simply wonderful. To rub shoulders with them for a week in close quarters was a most pleasurable and uplifting experience. I love them. I love them all. They are my friends.