I wanted to speak for a moment about my friend Kim Curtis.
I posted a while back about friends who helped me after my conversion. Having left the world behind me, I needed to find a new place in life and new friends. Somewhere I would fit in with friends who would be understanding and not judge me because of my past.
I started going to UVU (UVSC at the time) and attending the Orem Institute of Religion. The Orem Institute of Religion, wow what an amazing place. What amazing teachers. I’ll talk about that another day. Anyhow, I was taking half a dozen institute classes, trying to learn, immerse myself in the gospel, and spend time somewhere I felt the spirit.
One day I was standing outside a classroom, waiting for one class to end and another to start when this girl exited the classroom. To my astonishment, she was radiating with the most glorious light shining all around her. She glowed like an Angel. I instantly felt drawn to her. The next week I waited outside the door again, hoping to see this girl a second time. Again, she was glowing with light. I knew I needed to know her, but I lacked the courage to talk to her.
[I would like to state, I have never before that time nor since seen something like that. I have seen what I thought was the aura of a spirit around a person. But never in my life radiating light like this. I could only imagine a heavenly being doing this. To me, it was a miracle.]
A few weeks later I bumped into two friends who had cleaned their lives up also, Steve McIntosh and Chris Lewis. We got together and went to a dance at the institute. To my complete bewilderment, Steve knew Christine Haskin, Becca Sutton, Amy Benson, and this angel of light Kim Curtis. That meeting changed my life.
Kim was kind of the ringleader. She was basically the glue that kept this group together. She radiated compassion and kindness. There was a joy about her that was infectious that made people want to be around her. She passionately lived the gospel and was equally passionate about sharing it with those who struggled.
We joined this group of friends and began spending a lot of time together. We also gathered at Kim’s home for what we called “friendly night” once a week. Where we would have a family home evening as friends. This was an amazing time of growth and inspiration for me. I learned so much about living the gospel and being an example to others. Sharing the gospel. Living the gospel. And more. I don’t think any of it would have ever happened without Kim.
This group fluxed. People would come and go, but there was always this tight-knit group at the core who were like family. Dave Haskin, Randy Akers, Chis Lewis, Steve McIntosh, Ben Thomas, Martin Baron, Kim Curtis, Kristine Haskin, Becca Sutton, Amy Benson, Amy Osborne, Shea Davis, and a few others.
After I returned from my mission some things had changed. Some people had drifted away and others had married. Some fell back into old habits. As a group, most of us moved on with life. Since that time some were also lost.
- Steve McIntosh passed away from drugs and alcohol (2018)
- Ben Thomas passed away from suicide (2000)
A lot of what I am today is because of the positive influence of that group of friends and Kim.
I remember Kim sharing a quote once. I may get this slightly wrong. A true friend loves you, cares for you, and helps you return to God with honor. That kind of friend Kim was.
Left to right: Steve, Chris (front), Randy, Michael, Kim, Dave, Becca
Boys left to right: Unknown, Steve, Dave, Michael Chris. Girls left to right: Unknown, Kim, Amy, Becca, Unknown