For approximately the last month or so I have been receiving lessons from Elder Wilkes and Elder Reyes. Both of them have shown exceptional character and class, and not to mention a lot of determination in their efforts to bring me closer to the Lord. I have a short, and what I think is a funny story to share with everyone about the two of them. But before I get started, I just want to tell them again how much I appreciate them..
"Elder Wilkes, Elder Reyes - do you guys know who my favorite Mormon performers are? I have been watching them forever." We had just finished a study session when I posed the question to my young friends - By the way - I find it a bit awkward referring to the two of them as Elders. The fact is if you combined their ages into one and then added a few more years - I would still be older than both of them. "Who is your favorite Mormon performer?" Elder Wilkes asked...I didn't want to come right out and tell them so I said this, actually I started singing it. "I'm a little bit country and I'm a little bit rock-n-roll. Donny and Marie baby. The Osmond's. I used to watch their variety show faithfully when I was a kid. You guys like Donny and Marie? Don't you?"
When I think about Donny and Marie way back then, it reminds me of my two missionary friends of today. They were wholesome and pure, they were young, they were witty, and both had a deep affinity for their beliefs...Just like Elder Reyes and Elder Wilkes. "You guys must love Donny and Marie...Aren't they the best." I said with conviction. One problem, my young friends had never heard of them.
"Who is Donny and Marie?" At first I thought they were pulling my leg. "Come on guys - Donny and Marie are like Elvis to the Mormon sect. You know who I am talking about." Both the Elders have a great sense of humor. I was for sure they were trying to pull one over on the old guy when they said they didn't have any idea who the Osmond's were. So I needled them a little more, "If you go down to the strip, look directly up at the Flamingo Hotel, you will see a large mural of them on the side. You guys almost had me for a minute. Donny and Marie, who are they. You two should be standup comedians."
I waited a moment for them to fess up to the joke and then Elder Reyes says - "We kid you not. We are being serious. We don't have the slightest idea who Donny and Marie is? Are they some old time singers from when you were a kid?" When I think of Donny and Marie - even to this day - the last thing I think of is old. Donny still looks like he could whip anyone. And Marie, she is still one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. They're not old to me, but to a couple of young whippersnappers like Elder Reyes and Elder Wilkes. I guess I can see where they are coming from. But still, Donny and Marie.
We played a few Donny and Marie tunes on Youtube and then I gave them a quick rundown on the rest of the Osmond clan. "I would play the Donny part, and my younger brother would be Marie. And after there show was over, we would stand up and sing one of their songs." I ranted a little more about how much I liked them and then I asked who they're favorite performers were...Both of them said in unison, "Imagine Dragons," I guess we will have to chalk it up to the age gap, because I had never heard of them...In Jesus name we pray - Amen.
