An Exerpt from a letter to Sister Bartsch that I am so glad he shared!  

Elder Golden

"Not sure if I told you, but Elder Golden From the Quorum of the Seventy came down a couple weeks ago.  He said a lot of things I needed to hear.  At one point he was talking about D&C 121:46.  He asked if anyone knew it, my heart started to take flight as no one answered.  Then, someone in the back raised their hand, and started to explain what was in it.  Elder Golden stopped him and in his English sounding voice, “No, no, no. Who has it memorized?”

Oh, crap.  No one’s answering and in the span of time that seems like forever, I raise my hand.  I raise my hand in front of my district, my zone, almost half of the entire mission, my mission president, and one of the Holy Ordained servants of the Lord.  He calls on me, I stand up, get handed a microphone and start to quote it.  About half way through, with my heart beating out of my chest, he tells me it’s supposed to talk about charity.

I reply “Well, that’s verse 45, you asked me to recite 46. Would you like 45 or 46?” Now I’m way nervous because I just called out an apostle basically on not knowing his scriptures.

So Elder Golden asks, somewhat surprised, “well, do you know that one too?” After nodding in agreement, and in his English accent, “Would you delight us in doing both?”

Holy cow!  I was nervous.  I don’t normally get nervous, but with all things given, I was shaken up pretty good.  He continued to have me stand and started picking my brain as to why I had those scriptures memorized and what they meant to me now.  I told him they are now my words.  He then went to explain the power of memorization, and although we don’t memorize lessons anymore, the exercise brings power nonetheless.

Pretty intimidating experience!  It was great though.  Towards the end of his address, he directed his words at me, couldn’t remember what he said, but said my name in his priceless accent and came across as what sounded like, “Elder SandBAG”. Ha!"

I just had to share.  I love this kid!