Saving the world...

***I want to tell a funny story. A present day story that I want to get written down before I forget. ***
A short time ago, I visited my family in Utah for a couple days. It was fantastic. I endured nineteen hours on a train, arrived in Provo at four in the morning, and left my husband in California to go through the LDS Timpanogos Temple with my youngest brother, Cooper. Totally worth it Coop!! It was an interesting trip, though, that had this recurring theme of the importance of family and having love for one another.
Friday morning, my dad and Cooper had already left to go take care of some preparations for the temple. My mom, Cody, and I were in “fast” mode as to not be late to the temple session. To be late would mean that we would have to wait for the next scheduled session, which would mean totally missing our brother and son going through the temple for the very first time.
As I hurried, I can remember passing by Zach multiple times as he sat on the couch watching television. Every time I staggered by he would gaze at me as if he was waiting for me to say something to him. He had “longing” eyes. That’s the best way I can explain his face. I was ready to go so I had some time to stop and talk to him. “What’s up man?” He asked if we were going to the temple and I told him that we were but that we would meet up with him afterwards and go out to lunch. If you ever want Zach to do anything, food is the ticket. I thought the lunch bit would satisfy his longing to ride along with us but it didn’t, not fully.
About a year ago, Zach was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Usually, kids are baptized at an age of accountability and as members we believe that to be eight years old. However, at eight years old Zach was still in his own little world of mischief and due to his disability we didn’t feel he was at an age where he could understand what being baptized meant so we waited.
Going through the temple takes a lot of preparation so your heart and mind are edified and equipped to receive those sacred and sanctified ordinances and covenants that take place within its walls. We look at it as an experience of great magnitude and weight and, to put it generally, feel that only certain people who have lived and kept His commandments and ordinances of the gospel can receive the blessings of the temple. (If you want to know more, you can check out lds.org and you can research anything about the LDS church. It’s awesome!).
Zachery is almost 21 years old. For any person his age, the temple is still hard to comprehend and understand. Though, Zach wanted to go with us to the temple, he doesn’t know what that entails and isn’t quite ready to grasp what is taught in the temple. I do know, though, that he can “feel” the importance of it. He feels a need to have purpose, like so many of us do, and that’s where I think some of this desire to tag along comes from. As I stood in the temple that day beside my brothers, parents, and some extended family I felt a peaceful feeling that one day Zach will be there with us. (It makes me so giddy inside thinking about that!)
The next day after the temple, I was preparing to return back to California and back to my husband. Getting ready to go, I searched for “Shmach” (his nickname, just say it like Zach but with a “Sh”) and found him across the street in the neighbor’s yard. He was standing in the shade and as I squinted I realized he had his “garb” on. His “garb” consists of a staff (a tree branch) with a flag (ratted, nasty towel with grease and paint on it from days in the garage), a bandanna on his head, and he’s usually featuring a cape but the hot weather didn’t call for it. As I listened closely to his yelling, it came clear to me what he was saying. “Tifty cents fo da cuntry!” I hear that and rack my brain as to what he is saying. “Fifty cents for the country!” “What? What does that mean?” I thought. I didn’t give it too much thought. Wasn’t the first time Zach left me confused. I called to him, “Zach! I’m leaving!” I said this, totally convinced that he would drop everything and come give me a hug. His reply, “K! (pause) See ya!” Immediately, thoughts run through my head in disbelief. Zach and I have a pretty strong relationship and, honestly, I was a little annoyed to be shrugged off so easily. I thought about it more, though, and he was in full character and realized that nothing else mattered right then. Still, I kept thinking about where he got the “fifty cents for the country” bit but with Zach, sometimes you have to just leave it to the imagination.
I was off. My mom and I had to run some errands and then would go straight to the airport. While out, we realized she had forgotten her purse at home. (On behalf of my mother, our house can be somewhat chaotic and pretty sure this was one of those days. Any mother would have forgotten her purse.) After the errands and almost home, we drove past neighbors’ houses to arrive upon a distinct visual of Zach on a neighbor’s doorstep. He continues to sport his garb (with style) but had something extra as well. He was holding a hat or “Fedora” and as we drive by with the car decelerating, we see the neighbor boy throw some cash into the hat. At this moment the car decelerates very quickly and we come to a complete stop, pick Zach, the peddler, up, and continue on home.
Story goes that Zach had been trudging around to various houses soliciting money. Later on that week multiple people at church let us know what words were actually coming out of Zach’s mouth to convince them to give him money. Supposedly, at each doorstep Zach would ask for fifty cents. “What’s the money for, Zach?” everyone would ask, naturally. He would reply that he, Zachery Swenson, was going to “save the world”.
Of course, we pull into the driveway and my mom goes into interrogation mode while I stand behind her fighting back giggles and hoping Zach doesn’t see my half-smile (he’s very good at spotting those and when he does, he totally feels justified in whatever wrong doing he’s committed). At this point, my mom and I could care less what the money was for, he just needed to turn right around and return it. There were only a couple bucks in change but, obviously, he needed to know that asking people for money was not okay.
At church, everyone is so, so kind and good-natured when it comes to Zach. In fact, I could probably go as far to say that I’m pretty sure everyone who knows Zach loves him. Whether they’ve said it out loud to my mom and dad or whether through their actions, which speak volumes, most everyone has been touched and affected by Zach. He’s this man/boy with a heart the size of Texas and a love that, honestly, has no boundaries whatsoever.
Sometimes Zach will do things that are completely random, illogical, and frequently leaves you dumbfounded. But sometimes, he will do things that come from a deeper place within his core. Whatever it is, it may come off as just another one of his crazy antics, like this story, but I truly believe that there is meaning behind it.
Those few people that had this boy with Down Syndrome knock on their door, ask for money, and proceed to say that, “I’m going to save the world”, on the surface, may seem pretty silly and comical. As I dig deeper, though, it’s rather beautiful and sweet. Zach wanted to attend the temple. He looked upon the family as the hustle and bustle enfolded and understood that Cooper was about to do something “big”, something that was a step in going on a mission. We all had a purpose that day. Cooper, especially, had a purpose that day. Zach, well, it’s just not time…yet. He wasn’t upset about it, and he knew, thank goodness, that he would be apart of the most important thing, lunch! He was okay. But, as the events of the next morning would take place, it makes sense to me that Zach was carrying on in his “purpose” to “save the world”.
Like I said, anyone who comes into contact with Zach is affected in a positive way. He has a deep love for people with no boundaries and hardly any sense of judgment. I know that he’s on this earth with a purpose and that is to touch peoples’ lives, to love them. I know that if I strive to have a greater capacity to love that I can help in his cause to “save the world”.
When Zach arrived home from returning the money, we found a couple dimes and nickels in his pocket. Please accept our apologies to those who did not receive a full refund. When my mom asked why there was still money in his pocket he replied that he really wanted a Mountain Dew. It’s his favorite drink. So, thank you for contributing to “saving the world”. Something has to keep this guy going and energized. He’s got plenty of work ahead of him.
In the Doctrine and Covenants there is a scripture I want to share. The verses are in Chapter 18, verses 10 and 15. It’s Jesus Christ speaking and giving revelation to, then prophet, Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer. It dates back to June of 1829 when the church was still in the process of being restored. It reads,

10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save It be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the Kingdom of my Father!