Well, I'm going to follow him favorites.
This is where John and I share a single story to go with each week's come follow me lesson.
John, we're in the book of Job, which is a bit of a difficult book to read. A lot of bad things happen to Job. Tell me the story that you have in mind.
“I remember in Job 27 verse 6, he says, "My righteousness, I hold fast and will not let”
it go. My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live." Job hung on to his integrity in his testimony of Christ no matter what, and it reminded me of this story, it's Elder David B. Hate. This was a while back, but he talked about Clarence Nezlin.
Clarence Nezlin Jr. took his family to Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. Was an exciting experience until 11-year-old Canon attempting to jump across a crevice mist and fell into the deep chasm. He became wedge between the walls of ice. And you imagine this, as his father looked down some 30 feet to where his son was trapped.
He was further alarmed as he saw a river of icy water flowing beneath the crevice. Several young men were also exploring the glacier they heard the cries and came running. They had a small rope, but realized that it was not strong enough to pull Canon to safety. If it broke, Canon would most assuredly fall into the rushing river of freezing water. They ran to a nearby lodge, they got a park ranger.
They learned by telephone two park rangers were in the ice fields, they found them by radio, they rushed to the rescue, time was short, silent prayers were sent heavenward. Rather Nestlin the father tried to calm his son and suit his fears, but hypothermia was settling in it.
“Okay, so he's down here in this ice, you got the picture?”
You're wedged in a canyon of ice. Yeah, young Canon's shirt had been pushed up as he fell, his bare skin was pressed against the walls of the glacier. To keep his son from unconsciousness the father called down to him to keep praying, to wiggle fingers and toes and to see favorite songs over and over Canon's saying, "Guess, I'm a
child of God. He has sent me here as given me an earthly home with parents kind and deer." All listening were strengthened by Canon's faith and determination, but he was beginning to weaken, his father kept telling him help would arrive soon and Heavenly Father would hear his prayers.
Finally, the two rangers came, Hank.
They drove spikes into the ice, ropes attached to the rager, and the rager was lowered down to rescue Canon. But the walls were too narrow for the ranger. The only chance was to lower a looped rope and pray that Canon was alert enough to grasp it and then to hold on like Job as they tried to pull him out.
“With their nestland setty offered the most fervent prayer of his life, pleaded with the Lord”
to save his son's life and he set a feeling of assurance came over me. I knew he would be saved. Well, Canon had lapsed into unconsciousness. His father called down encouragement, rousing his son sufficiently, that Canon's icy fingers were able to catch hold of the rope.
Hold on with all your might, his father called down to him. Canon was carefully pulled up inch by inch, foot by foot, 30 feet when he was finally pulled off the safety he was unconscious. But his fingers had miraculously frozen around the rope and had to be pride loose. He was wrapped in blankets, rushed to an ambulance.
There was not enough warmth to raise his body temperature. So this awesome paramedic, undressed Canon took off his own coat and shirt and held Canon against his bare chest so the body heat would radiate to the boy. And soon responded to the loving care of his rescuers, young Canon Nestle and the newly ordained, Deacon is here in this audience tonight.
Elder Hatesis. We thank our father and heaven that his life was spared. He was spared for a purpose. I wish I could have been there to look at that kid. He told us father that while wedged in the ice, he felt an insurance that his life would
be saved. He knows God loves him, has a special mission for him to perform in this life. So hang on like Job did. He trusted that heavenly father would help him because he felt that assurances to this father.
Amazing story. Like Job. Job didn't know what to expect. He didn't know if it was going to get worse or get better. But his commitment was it doesn't matter.
I will hold fast. That's an incredible story. You had me. I was holding my breath there. Whew.
Thank you John. We hope you'll join us on our full podcast. It's called Follow Him. You can get it wherever you get your podcast. We're with Dr. Marcus Martines this week.
He is fantastic.
He walks us through the book of Job in a way that you've never been through it before.
Join us there and then come back here next week. We'll do another follow him favorite.
