Ethan! Ethan!

It is the year mark since our son and brother passed away in a car accident. Our ward organized a hike with all of the youth and asked Aidan to write a few words. We couldn't express our feelings any clearer than Aidan did in his words.

Friends, 

It is indeed a bitter sweet opportunity that I have to write a message for this occasion, but nonetheless not one that I would pass up, because I LOVE talking about my baby brother, and I'm so grateful for all of you gathering here today to remember him.

The past year has been something else. It has felt unreal. Time has moved by so fast and it is hard for me to believe. It is hard for me to put in words how I have felt over the past 12 months. There has been pain. Not just stomach twisting, physical anguish, or mind churning mental strains, but there has been a deep spiritual wound that has been with me since I received that news. It was and is something that cuts to the heart. That cuts to the soul. To echo the words of Alma the younger, "There could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains." We all felt that pain in this trial, and I can honestly say that I did not comprehend that, that kind of sorrow was possible. Yet, on the other hand! "Oh, what joy and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!" "There can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy!" The joy that we have felt, the love that we have experienced has been immeasurable! All of us have felt the ministering of angels, and we have all experienced something greater, lifting us above our deepest pit. I would like to believe that the reason this time without Ethan has gone by so fast is because Ethan has not left us. Ethan has been with us, and IS with us today, both me and you. I can TESTIFY of his presence.

Throughout this time I have learned so much that has helped me in this burden, and I would like to share some of those lessons today. To begin, I would like to read from a scripture in Romans. Romans chapter 8:35, 37-39 says:

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

-This is Paul speaking, and his answer?-

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors (meaning abundantly victorious) through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And how true it is! When we choose to let Christ in, enduring to the end can become enjoying to the end because we can see the beauty in every bit of our lives. I want you for a minute to think back on the hike you took today. Ethan and I always loved the outdoors and we have always believed that there are great lessons to be learned while on the trail. Some of you may have hiked this very trail before, but when you started out this morning among friends, what changed? Every time I hit the trail with my best friend (of course Ethan) all at once nature became higher and nobler, but also more achievable. We knew that we had each other! It is indeed the same with Christ. As soon as we accept the Lord’s invitation "Walk with me" the nature of our lives changes, it does become higher, it does become nobler, and it does become more achievable, because we know that we are not alone.

The second lesson is found in 1 Thessalonians 5. It’s just small, only two little words! 

16 Rejoice evermore!

Who was that kid that could always be found with a smile? Ethan. Who was the one who could always put a smile on your face? Ethan. Ethan is the MAN! Ethan is a MYTH! Ethan is a LEGEND! I love that dude and if we are gonna live like Ethan, we gotta live with love, love for the good! Love for the bad! Love for the earth! Love for each other! So let’s grow our hair out and listen to rad tunes together! Just kidding... But let us always be ourselves like he would. Again I’m very grateful for my younger brother! My love is stronger than words! And I know I will see him again!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.