Keep Running! -Kim

Dear, Loved Friends-

I am not quite ready to express myself to you. But I will. This blog will be here for as long as I am allowed to keep it, and I hope to, from time to time, continue to add a thoughts and experiences about Kim. For now, I have a message from my dad that he would like to share.

I can never thank you enough, for all you have done. And be warned- I plan to ask you for more. But not today.

Always, Love, Emily


From David:

As I was talking to Ben Rogers this Sunday afternoon in our home, a correlation between Kim’s suffering and early Mormon Pioneers come to mind.

It seems cruel that people have to go through pain and suffering, especially people who are doing everything the best they can; they don’t seem to deserve such a hard life. But as is taught by our prophets, our trials in life are a process we mortals go through to become more compassionate, learn patience, and become more perfected -even more like Christ.

As the Mormon Pioneers had to suffer physical pain, endurance and even death in many cases, they didn’t complain. Modern day people who learn of the Pioneer history often complain against God, wondering why He would let such a cruel thing happen to His chosen people. But you don’t see journal entries of these people complaining of their experience; it was a blessing to them. They were given spiritual blessings and strengths we don’t understand. These harsh experiences helped sanctify these people so they were worthy of God’s greatest blessings in heaven.

The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Liberty jail that his trials, if endured well, would exalt him on high. These pioneer experiences are recorded in history for others to benefit from. The ground that these people lost their lives on, such as Martin’s Cove, for example, is hallowed ground. Modern-day treks bring these stories and experiences to life for many youth groups for whom the spirit is felt and conversions to the gospel are made.

So it is with Kim. She suffered in her battle with AML leukemia, months of hospital stays, 8 rounds of chemo therapy -each one bringing on life threatening side effects and untold pain. She bore these “well” as the Lord told the Prophet Joseph to do. Kim’s undaunted spirit, courage and positive attitude won her the love and respect of all who knew her and cared for her. Her circle of friends and admirers exploded to include many more people than she would ever imagine. These events were recorded by her sister Emily and made public to the world through the modern day miracle of the blog. As her father, I’m totally amazed at the volume of people who expressed their admiration of Kim and her great example of positive attitude and adherence to the Savior’s Gospel.

So, just as the Pioneers were perfected in the “refiner’s fire” with their trials, Kim was as well, with her trials. Kim illuminated to her best when she was under adversity, both in earlier life experiences, such as her training for track, or in her battle with cancer. She was particularly amazing in the later. She was truly magnificent. This experience, I’m certain has refined her spirit to the point that she had learned all she needed to graduate to the next level in the plan of salvation. She now has another calling and I’m sure is running at her best to do it with perfection. Her trials and example has made and will continue to make me a better person.