The One

*Let me apologize now.  My writing is all over the place.  My sentences might run on because I can't find an easy way to tell this story.  I am not sure how to organize it, how to get it to run smoothly, because it is hard to find the right words.

Last Friday, I got an email from dad saying: "Elder Christensen would like to visit Porter. Apparently, President Monson received a letter from someone and he has asked Elder Christensen to visit us. :)"

Again, there are no words.  I don't know where to begin.  It is yet another day where my heart is bursting with love and so much thanks. I know I have said that the last few posts of mine, but today it is about to pop.  For those who know me well, I have clutched my hand over my heart maybe 100 times already today (and it is not even 10:00 in the morning yet)...this is for real.

Elder Craig C. Christensen came over last night.

But, let me take a step back and insert another story.  A few hours before Elder Christensen came, someone else knocked on our door and brought a very sweet spirit in.  Mom told us that around 3:00 there was a knock at the door.  There stood a man who introduced himself to my mom as Porter's chemistry teacher.  With tears welling up in his eyes, he told me mom that he had just found out about Porter through some students.  He showed true concern and we were touched to see him come to our house to check on Port.  He sat down with Porter and told him he didn't need to worry about chemistry work because that's what chemo is...chemistry.  He told Porter to try and understand what the chemo is and what it was doing to help him overcome cancer.  Our hearts were touched to see a man care so much about my special brother.  He filled our home with love.

Elder Christensen entered our home around 7:00 last night.  What an amazing, sacred, spiritual, loving, and awe-inspiring experience to say the least.  It is something that we will forever remember.

First, I have a little connection, well connections, to Elder Christensen and that just proved so much more to me how much the Lord is involved in this whole situation.  I met Elder Christensen's son, Ben, my freshman year at BYU.  Ben and Drew are best friends.  In fact, Drew married one of Ben's cousins.  The Livingstones and the Christensens raised their boys together.  And since Elder Christensen loves the Livingstones, and they love him, I already had a soft spot for him in my heart.  Elder Christensen has also had a few run-ins with mom and her family throughout the years.

He came in, met the whole family, and we sat down.  He said, "President Monson is aware of you Porter, and he has asked me to come in his behalf."  He chuckled and told us that he knew he was a poor substitution for President Monson, but none of us thought so.  He then told us that President Monson had been praying for Porter.  As if that didn't make us feel loved and special enough, he then told us that President Monson, the First Presidency, and the Apostles had prayed for Porter, by name, in the temple for the last two Thursdays.  Oh how we have truly felt the love of these men (and all of our family and friends) support us through the last few weeks.  Miracles have been pouring down upon us.  President Monson, a man who has the weight of the world on his shoulders, busy leading the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has sent specific prayers to Heavenly Father for my brother, for Porter James Thorkelson.

Elder Christensen asked Porter about things he liked to do, getting to know him better.  I have such a wonderful brother.  We had lots to say about Porter, more than he had to say about himself.  After we discussed Porter, sports, rugby, and his sweet heart, Elder Christensen asked Porter if he had anything he would like to tell President Monson.  This blew Porter away.  His face was shocked and he just smiled.  Not a normal smile, but an oh my goodness, really?! type smile.  What would you say to the Prophet if you had a chance to have a message sent to him?  Especially at just 15, how could you find the words to express everything in your heart.  Needless to say, thank you was said and love was shared.  Elder Christensen left us with a prayer.  We knelt down and he spoke words of comfort, mentioning miracles and love.

After Elder Christensen left, my dad, grandpa, and Scott gave Porter a blessing.  What a blessing it is to have so many worthy priesthood holders in my life.  As they were about to start the blessing, I reached for my heart again...Porter saw this and we shared a smile as we closed our eyes.

I am very grateful for the opportunity that we had to meet with Elder Christensen.  I am grateful for the Gospel, I know it is true.  I have a new gratitude towards President Monson.  I know that he is the living Prophet here on the earth at this time.  I know that he truly watches out for "the one" and that includes my brother.  I also know that what Porter is going through will greatly bless him and our family.  A new spirit has been brought to our house.  A new selflessness.  A new love.  I hope we never lose that.



*** ALSO.  Thanks to all of those who have blue on to support my brother.  Those pictures will be coming and shared because it is overwhelming!  It means so much to us to see such a large amount of people, some who don't even know Porter, show their love.