Adam and Joani

Genesis

A Story of Adam and Joani

I use for my text tonight, the book of Genesis. The definition of Genesis is, the coming into being of something. In this case, something good.

In the beginning, back in the year of 1984, Mark and Rachel begat their first born. They beheld him and saw that it was good, and they did name him Adam.

Yea, and in the year of 1987, Gino and Kami begat their first born. Yea, and behold, they looked upon her and saw that it was good. And they did call her Joani.

And it came to pass that Adam and Joani both grew up in the Garden of Eden (that being West Millard County), yea, and they new each other not.

Yea, and it came to pass, way back in the beginning, that Mark and Rachel looked upon Adam and said, It is not fair that Adam should grow up alone, so they begat, for him, three brothers. And it came to pass that as the sons of Lovell grew, they became the bike-ridingest boys ever, in the neighborhood they did grow up in.

Yea, and they were blessed, every one, that they did survive their childhoods. Yea, and moreover, their mother was blessed exceeding as she did survive her sons.

Yea, and it came to pass that Adam was artistic, inasmuch as he did put down on paper, the images that he did see in his eye. Yea, and everyone that beheld his artwork did proclaim that it was good. Yea, very good. And he was admired much.

Behold, in the house of Schena, Joani was looked upon with favor, insomuch that she was spoiled mightily. Yea, and Gino and Kami were sore afraid, and did add to their increase two more daughters. And they beheld that it was good for Joani, as she did make room for them in her heart, yea, and she did mellow out.

Yea, and behold, Joani was blessed with much music in her soul. Yea, and she did perform at an exceeding young age, before the multitudes. Yea, and the hosts did exclaim, she is good, she is very, very good.

Yea, and she was a rider of the horse, and did compete in rodeos throughout the land, insomuch that she was named Miss High School Rodeo Utah. And the hosts did exclaim, she is good, she is very, very good. And her family and friends did rejoice exceeding, when she took third at the National Finals.

Yea, and when Adam came of age to go on a mission, he went forth with obedience to serve the Lord for two years in Louisiana. Yea, and he did wax great and grow in strength and testimony.

His mission wrought a mighty change, and upon his return, he did desire, greatly, female companionship and romance, insomuch that he did inquire of his cousin, Jordan, if he knew who might be available, and he did add that it would be pleasing unto him if she was comely and fair to look upon. Yea, and Jordan did therefore suggest unto him that he approach Joani, inasmuch as she was all of the above, yea, and then some.

It came to pass that the young adults of that sector of the land were having an activity. Yea, evenso, a Family Home Evening. Adam did gird up his loins and did call Joani on the phone, and did issue and invitation. Joani was sore afraid to go with someone she did not know to his Family Home Evening. She pondered the situation for fifteen seconds thereabouts, and behold, she did tell him that she had someplace else to go.

Yea, and later when she talked to Adam’s brother and inquired as to how their Home Evening went, and it came to pass that it was a young adult activity that she had missed, not the Lovell Family Home Evening, she was grieved exceeding.

But fear not! For on the morrow, Adam did enquire of her again, and this time she did say, yea. And they drove northward for many miles, to eat, drink and be merry. Yea, and it was Genesis. The coming to being of something. Yea, in this case, something good. Something very, very good.

Yea, and Joani did arouse Adam’s artistic instincts, for she was comely and fair to look upon. And that is what he did, he could hardly keep his eyes off her. Yea, his tongue was stilled, and he could not find his voice. But behold, Joani spake unto him. Yea, she spake unto him and she spake unto him, yea, and she did have such a good time, she spake unto him until they reached Provo, and Adam gloried in what she spake unto him.

Yea, and on the way home, she did the driving as she spake unto him, and Adam watched her in the rear view mirror as she spake unto him. And lo—Adam wanted to ask her to marry him that very night. For behold, it was love at first sight. And the angels sang, and Joani heard them too. And it was good. Very, very good.

And it came to pass that Adam took Joani four-wheeling out to the sand dunes. Yea, and she was so impressed with him for he did shew unto her kindness and it did please her much, for he was a goodly man.

Yea, and on their third date, he did taketh her to a movie. Yea, and he stretched out his hand and did take her hand and did hold it. And it was pleasing unto her.

And on the fifth date, they were out watching a movie on the trampoline, and lo, he kissed her. Yea, and it was pleasing unto both of them, and Adam’s heart beat mightily, and Joani’s tongue was stilled, and the Angels sang.

And it came to pass that in August, the Lovell’s all gathered together in the canyon of Fairview to frolic and make merry. Yea, and they did call it a reunion. And Joani did accompany Adam there, and she was sore afraid. But inasmuch as they did treat her kindly, and the girl cousins did invite her into their tent, and she did get acquainted and she did feel at home.

Yea, and in the season of the fall, Adam did help Joani move to a far off sector of the land called Cedar, where she was to further her education. Yea, he helped her set up her room and everything, and it came to pass that on the morrow, (or was it a week?) Adam moved to Cedar also, with Carl, Kayden, and Heber. Yea, and worked in Minersville and commuted daily.

And it came to pass that Adam did wake up early in the morning and did pick up Joani, and they did take the four-wheeler as they presumed to go up to the hilltop. Yea, and it got them unto the top of the mountain, but just at the crest of the peak, they ran out of gas, and did push it mightily all the way back, yea, a distance of fifteen miles. But behold, it was downhill, therefore, they would push, then coast. Yea, and I say unto you, Adam and Joani, there’s not a lot of coasting in this life if first you do not push.

Yea, and on the twenty-third day of October, in the year of 2006, Adam and Joani were journeying back to Cedar after a rigorous week of the hunting of the deer. Yea, and Joani was exceedingly tired as was asleep with her head on Adam’s shoulder. And as they did approach the Old Mud Fort by Deseret, Adam did slam on the brakes and did speak loudly unto her, saying, something seemeth to be wrong with the car.

And he let himself out and traversed around to her door, and upon opening it, did bow the knee and did inquire, have I found grace in thy sight? For thou hast found grace in my sight. Yea, and he took a ring from his hand and put it upon Joani’s finger. And he had picked it out himself and he was sore afraid. But she looked upon it and he saw that it was good. Yea, it was very, very good. And the angels sang.

Yea, and days and weeks of preparation took place, and the people gathered together to wish them well, as on the twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of 2006, in the Manti Temple were they sealed for time and all eternity. And the angels sang. And it was good. Very, very good.

Yea, and the multitudes spake unto Adam and Joani, saying, Adam, you can make wherever you live the Garden of Eden for Joani, by loving her and looking after her. Yea, like you did on that very first four-wheeler trip to the sand dunes, where she felt love in her heart for the very first time. And Joani, you can make wherever you are the Garden of Eden for Adam, by always loving him and appreciating his efforts.

Yea, and beware of that old serpent, discouragement, and when it rears its head, show forth more love towards each other. Be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth, and great shall be your joy. Indeed, this is the beginning of something. Something very, very good.