PONDERING:
Discovering Depth in Nature and the Scriptures By Emily Jex Boyle
L
ast fall, my husband and I went on a backpacking trip to Coyote Gulch in Southern Utah with our four youngest daughters. We spent our days river trekking, exploring and taking in the beautiful sights and sounds. Hiking around a particular curve in the canyon, we arrived at a unique spot. Here, the river spreads wide and shallow only inches deep. Intricate waves of red rock beneath a thin layer of water attest to years of patient carving and etching. From the shallows, the waves gather, forming larger rivulets in tube-like paths then cascading into pools a few feet below. Intrigued and game to explore, our sixteen-year-old daughter sought to discover the depth of a bathtub sized pool. Stabilizing her arms on rock, she began lowering herself into the water.
We all expected the pool to be shallow, but soon the water level reached her hips. She hesitated. My husband called, “Find the bottom!” She pulled herself out and announced, “There is no bottom.” Unsatisfied, she tried again minutes later. This time, she went in until the water reached her neck, pausing with wide eyes to say, “Where’s the bottom?!” She moved to climb out but dropped briefly until water touched her chin. That’s when she yelled, “Wait, wait! It’s right here! It’s literally right here!” Immediately, her sisters hurried to join her. Nephi writes, “my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them.” (2 Nephi 4:15) According to Merriam-Webster, the word ponder means to weigh in mind, think about or to consider deeply. Decades ago while I
Photo by: Emily Boyle
On a recent backpacking trip as a family, one stretch of river intrigued our sixteen-year-old daughter and she sought to discover the depth of a bathtub sized pool.
was studying French, my dad (a fellow Francophile) shared with me that in the French version of the Book of Mormon, the verb sonner is used in place of ponder. Sonner in French describes the ringing of a bell, of filling space with a harmonious sound. A verb similar in Eng-
lish is to sound. This verb describes the action of determining depth of water either with a physical tool such as a pole or by using sound echoes. From this perspective between the two languages, Nephi’s description of his heart pondering the scriptures Continued on pg. 19
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MONUMENTAL JOIN THE SONS OF UTAH PIONEERS!
Come to know our fathers, and turn our hearts to them.
Preserve the memory and heritage of the early pioneers of the Utah Territory and the western U.S.
Honor present-day pioneers worldwide who exemplify these same qualities of character.
Teach these same qualities to the youth who will be tomorrow’s pioneers.
YOU’RE INVITED! Please be a guest of The Sons of Utah Pioneers Mesa Chapter. 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:00pm Patriotism. Musical entertainment. Inspirational presentation. Fellowship. Now gathering IN PERSON, unless otherwise noted! For More Information: Chapter President Matthew Warton (480) 650-8499 www.SUP1847.com Facebook.com/Sons-Of-Utah-Pioneers-Arizona
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