Makakilo, Hawaii Fireside December 2, 2011

[Cougarbib]

If you are here post - I would love to say hello

Aloha

The Bibster - aka Whine Bibster

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[byucougar1]

Please keep us informed about attendance, who spoke, the impact of the Spirit, how locals reacted, message delivered and overall impressions.

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[Cougarbib]

Running on LDS time. Team has not arrived yet. I read that in one of their blowout losses to UH they arrived at the stadium late. But Hawaii is kind of laid back and you can suddenly realize that the clock was still movin while you were snoozing.

This Chapel and parking lot are huge and it is packed. Hafoka's dad is Stake President of one of the La'ie stakes. Uale's dad is Stake President in Honolulu. This is Makakilo Stake here.

Team is filing onto the podium area. Travis Uale looking nice wearing blue lei, will speak as will Bronco and Kanekua Friel.

Uona Kavienga opening prayer. Walter Kahaiali 'I special musical number.

Holly Mendenhall will speak - a roast, I hope.

The team will sing "We Will Bring The Lord His Truth"

Closing Prayer

Preston Hadley

I am stoked.

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[Cougarbib]

Kanekua Friel - from Kaneohe - GRATITUDE - loved baseball - hurt shoulder - could not pitch any more - quit skipping Church for sports - played football because his dad wanted him to - too skinny - quit - got hungry for it and played because he wanted to play.

Underutilized - wanted to quit - dad encouraged him to improve so he could make the "A" team where his friends were. Junior year he started to get attention and blossom. Robert Anae gave him hope. He came to camp. Coach Mendenhall offered him a schollie when he visited even though he was unproven. Got more PT as a senior. Knew he was not the greatest - grateful for the chance at BYU - worked hard to make the most of it.

Through returned missionaries on the team and friends Travis Uale and Tana Uyema (I am sitting next to Tana Ueyma's dad as his son just got credited for challenging Kanekua to read the scriptures). He learned that the Church was true from reading and praying.

Bibster: Tana Uyema was a walk-on at BYU who only had 1 year of eligibility left when he went, and never got to play. He got to do something far more important. Tana's dad and mom and family are one of the most humble yet great families I have ever known.

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[Cougarbib]

Walter K is playing the piano and singing - beautiful voice. Singing about the Savior. Sweet melodic piano accompaniment.

Pin drop quiet.

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[Cougarbib]

Travis Uale - Hawaii Kai. Youngest in a family of four. One of my son's best friends from seminary. Kanekoa played on the scout team Vs older Uale on the "A" team at Kamehameha High School - head-to-head.

Walked on at Utah. Played as a freshman. Served a mission. Offered a schollie at U. Turned it down to transfer to Y and walk on. Best decision of his life - not because of football - he met his wife soon after he got there - and why he felt he was inspired to go there.


Filed mission papers without telling his parents. On the U of Utah team bus after the Emerald Bowl, his mom called to tell him his call had arrived. He had wanted to go right after high school but was not old enough. Could hardly wait to get home and then go to Mexico.

Great tribute to his wife and Coach Mendenhall the coach and the man.

Gratitude for the opportunity.

Getting to know Jesus Christ is the greatest Gift.

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[Cougarbib]

Players Choir - 40 or so

We are as the Army of Helaman................

KVN back row ...Tree 2 players to his left

Nice Job

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[Cougarbib]

Holly raised in a part-member, less active family. But her mom had the kids baptized. Bronco and Holly teach Primary - jointly - 10 year olds - Bronco usually teaches and she is color commentary. Grew up fly fishing in Montana. Bronco got the flu - so she had to teach if he didn't get well - scolded him and said she would ask to be released if he didn't get well - had to teach - grew. Still getting used to living in Utah.

We will always be considered a peculiar people - and she is quite ok with that. Confessed that she always has been peculiar.

Bibster: Bronco and Holly are quite peculiar but in very different ways.

Travis cut all of Bronco's kids hair this morning. Before game day. Another priority re a family experience for her boys. It was fun. Understands BYU and grateful to be a part of it.

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[Cougarbib]

Bronco

Peculiar People but not a Perfect People. There has only been and only will be one.

Quoting CS Lewis re judging a Church by it's people. Who gets admitted to the hospital - not the well - those trying to become well.

Applies to Church. Not perfect. Trying to move towards it.

Bibster Comment - maybe we are all on a quest for perfection.

Told a story about a friend who came to Church when invited even though he had to go outside three times during Sacrament Meeting to smoke. He enjoyed the Spirit between smokes - better than not coming - gotta start somewhere.

Talking about Saul - an enemy to the Church - who changed - made a choice - Lord - What Would Thou Have Me Do?

This is why you invite someone to Church even if they have bad habits to break.

Bibster: Every 10 year-old should have Bronco and Holly for a teacher.

Bronco makes it clear that the following statement is just his personal opinion - not official Church position:

The BYU Football team is the most visible part of the Church.

Bronco got to talk to ESPN commentators today about our 77 missionaries and what a mission is. Maybe people will learn about missions during the game tomorrow. Joking about missionary advantage others perceive. Hilarious. Highlight: Opponents claim that we send our players off to foreign countries to learn foreign languages like Mandarin Chinese so they can talk secret signals at the line of srimmage without the opponent knowing what they are saying.

My personal boss is my Savior but I answer to the Board - President Monson and some of the 12 Apostles.

Who would you bring to play for your team if you report to that Board? Travis, Kanekua, etc. Our mission is bringing people to the Church

By knocking them down
Then helping them up - give a hand - a pat on the back
Knock them down again

Talking about a former D player - not spiritual at the time - back when we didn't win many - great player - came to talk to the team today - husband, father, temple. That is why football will never be the #1 priority as long as I am here.

Talking about example. Do what they do. But we also need to play well to catch attention of those we want to influence.

ESPN announcers know what a fireside or devotional is now, too.

Apologizes for going over a little bit - Bib: there will be no complaints.

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[Cougarbib]

Bronco closes by quoting from the program flyer and paying tribute to it:

Our purpose is to help others gain a knowledge of why they are here on Earth.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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