I was on a river rafting trip with a youth group from my
ward having a great time. A few
minutes before this incident I had climbed off a large raft with a big group of
my peers and leaders and climbed onto the back half of a small, inflatable, two
man kayak with a close friend. As we headed downstream we took on every big
rapid and quick current we could. We were having the time of our lives. Finally,
we took on a particularly big rapid that seemed to dip and then wash back over
itself so that the visible part of the rapid was actually flowing upstream. Its
upstream force was enough to stop our little kayak with my friend past the
rapid and me still behind it.
All of a sudden our kayak buckled and I was sucked down into
the rapid. At first I thought nothing of it as I had already jumped in the
river multiple times that day and have spent much of my life in the water.
However, despite wearing a life jacket, I wasn’t surfacing. Still, I didn’t
become concerned until I noticed that my surroundings were getting darker and
darker as the rapid forced me deeper and deeper without allowing me to move
downstream at all. I don’t know how long I was under the water, but I know it
was long enough to think that I was going to die; just as that thought crossed
my mind, I remembered my patriarchal blessing. Specific promises and personal assignments
that I had been given came to mind and I knew my time on earth was not yet
finished. I knew the Lord had more for me to do and that He would take care of
me until I had finished my assigned tasks.
No sooner had that thought crossed my mind than I instantly
shot to the surface. Immediately next to me was a couple on a small boat who just
happened to be right where I surfaced. They helped me onto their boat and took
me to my group where I was fussed over for a minute and then allowed to enjoy
the rest of the trip.
I have since associated this experience with one of my
favorite scriptures. Matthew 14:30-31. This is the story where Peter joins our
Savior, who is walking on the water. It reads -
30 But when he (Peter) saw the wind boisterous, he
was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
I love that the Savior immediately
came to Peter’s rescue, much like He did mine. I know that if we are living
according to God’s laws that we can call upon Him in our need and that He will
come immediately to our aid, no
matter how bleak the situation, so long as it is His will to do so. Our Savior
can save us from any situation we find ourselves in, so long as we will turn to
Him and ask for His help. I love Him for that and for the great sacrifice He
made for each one of us.