Gathering – Part 4

Friday night brought another kind of gathering altogether – the biggest by far!

After temples, reunions and General Conference, this time it was BYU football!

And what a hoot it was.

Thanks to Amilya, who very kindly arranged everything, I found myself at LaVell Edwards Stadium for BYU versus Iowa State, surrounded by somewhere around 60,000 people all dressed, singing, shouting and cheering for their team.

I don’t think I was quite prepared for the spectacle.

Dearie me!! – it was completely different from East End Park and a Dunfermline Athletic match.

The music, the singing, the cheerleaders, the Cougarettes, Cosmo, the drone show, the noise, the fireworks, the interactive games and lets not forget about the food!

And, of course, the legendary Cougar Tail – which, as the photograph proves, requires a certain amount of commitment! I’m grateful to those who helped. That said, it was much sweeter than any doughnut I’d ever eaten before!

The atmosphere was absolutely electric and what a hype!

People were warm, friendly and kind. There was laughter, conversation, plenty of sociability and a real sense of people enjoying being together.

But they were also wonderfully raucous! And no swearing!

Sitting – well nearly always standing in the student section – the Roc – when they got going, it really got going.

The noise rolled around the stadium. People were on their feet, clapping, singing, shouting and willing their team on. It was loud, energetic, slightly chaotic and enormous fun. There was a band – but honestly, not once did I hear them above the noise of the crowd – but then again, that could be my hearing!

Everywhere I looked there were people talking, laughing, cheering and connecting. I was surrounded by returned missionaries too, swapping stories and enjoying being together.

It was simply joyful, but very different kind of joy from the one I experienced the previous Friday in the Jordan River Temple.

That was quiet, sacred and deeply emotional. This time it was loud, raucous, energetic – and great fun.

But both reminded me of something simple. And that is we are made for connection.

There is something about gathering with other people – whether in quiet reverence or in a stadium shaking with noise – that lifts us.

The scripture that came to mind was one of the simplest: “Men (and women) are, that they might have joy.” – 2 Nephi 2:25

Sometimes that joy comes in sacred moments.

Sometimes it comes through friendship, laughter, music, kindness, memories and simply being part of something bigger than us.

And sometimes, apparently, it comes while trying to eat an absurdly long doughnut in front of 60,000 BYU fans!

Oh – and almost incidentally… BYU won!

Another wonderful evening. Another gathering. Another memory added to a remarkable couple of weeks.

Where have you found unexpected joy simply by gathering with others?