I don’t usually write much about my personal life. If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you will know that most of what I share revolves around technology, security, Microsoft, work, teaching, soccer, or whatever project is consuming my attention at the time. I keep some parts of my life to myself, and one of those is my personal beliefs.

They are mine, and mine alone.

I have never felt the need to broadcast them, defend them, or convince anyone else to believe what I believe. I am also not particularly interested in being judged, directly or indirectly, because of assumptions people make based on a religion, a label, or something they think they understand about me. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are times when it can feel like you walk around with a target on your back. People sometimes have strong opinions about the Church, its members, or what they think we believe. Occasionally, they feel the need to tell you those opinions whether you asked for them or not. That has never really interested me.

NOTE: If you have strong opinions on what I believe, please don’t comment or try to start a debate. I will simply not respond. This post is not about that. Your personal views are yours, and mine are mine. Thank you.

I am comfortable with what I believe. My wife and I have raised our children with those same beliefs, while also teaching them that faith is ultimately something they have to understand, develop, and choose for themselves.

Over the years, we have watched that take shape in different ways. My daughter Bethan was called to serve a mission in California, and my son Joel served in Tacoma, Washington. Now we find ourselves approaching another of those moments that make you stop and reflect, as my son Aidan prepares to begin his own mission.

He will be serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Puebla, Mexico, spending the next two years meeting people, learning from them, helping where he can, and experiencing a completely different culture and way of life. As his dad, I am incredibly excited for him. Not because I expect him to come home as a completely different person, but because I know how much experiences like this can shape you. He will be challenged. He will have days that are amazing and others that are incredibly difficult. He will meet people he never would have met otherwise. He will learn patience, independence, resilience, empathy, and probably a great deal about himself along the way. I know that because, more than 30 years ago, I did the same thing. I left the UK and came to the United States to serve a two-year mission. In Utah, of all places. Yes, the people of Utah need missionaries too.

Those two years became an important part of who I am today. The lessons I learned about people, relationships, work, disappointment, perseverance, communication, and myself have stayed with me throughout my life. Looking back, I can see how many of those experiences shaped decisions I made years later, both personally and professionally.

Watching Aidan prepare to begin his own journey has inevitably made me think about mine. But this isn’t really a post about religion. It is about something Aidan and I decided to do before he leaves.

As his departure got closer, we realized opportunities for the two of us to disappear somewhere together for a few days were becoming fairly limited. So we took some time away from work, schedules, soccer, email, and everything else that normally fills our days. We did a 50-mile hike earlier this year in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains. This time, however, we got on a plane and flew to Utah. The plan was ambitious. We wanted to work our way through Utah’s famous Mighty Five national parks: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park.

Five parks. A lot of driving. A lot of hiking. Very little sleep.

And for Aidan, landscapes unlike almost anything he had seen before. Each park turned out completely different from the last. The enormous sandstone arches around Moab. The seemingly endless scale of Canyonlands. The long, remote roads through Capitol Reef. The strange orange hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. And finally, Zion’s towering walls.

A towering red rock formation against a clear blue sky, surrounded by desert vegetation.
A panoramic view of a desert landscape featuring towering red rock formations and a clear blue sky.
Three towering rock formations with a clear blue sky in the background.
A tall rock formation with a large balanced boulder on top, surrounded by desert landscape and clear blue skies.
A large, mushroom-shaped rock formation towers over the desert landscape against a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of rocky formations in a desert landscape, with distant mountains in the background and clear blue skies overhead.
A scenic view of rock formations, featuring two natural arches against a clear blue sky, with desert vegetation in the foreground.
A tall, vertical red rock formation against a clear blue sky, with sparse vegetation in the foreground.
A natural rock formation known as an arch, with a clear blue sky in the background, showcasing its reddish-brown color and rugged texture.
Panoramic view of Arches National Park showcasing a natural rock arch and surrounding desert landscape under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of reddish rock formations under a clear blue sky, showcasing the natural landscape of a desert area.
Panoramic view of red rock formations and arches under a blue sky, showcasing natural beauty and rugged terrain.
Delicate Arch standing majestically against a clear blue sky, surrounded by red rock formations.
A panoramic view of a rugged canyon landscape under a clear blue sky, featuring steep red rock formations and a winding dirt road.
A carefully stacked tower of flat stones, with a clear blue sky and distant mountains in the background.
A panoramic view of a vast canyon landscape featuring red rock formations under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view from beneath a large rock arch, showcasing a vast desert landscape with rugged terrain and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
Natural rock arch formation in a desert landscape with clear blue sky.
Sunrise over a rugged desert landscape with distinct rock formations and a clear blue sky.
A stunning sunrise over a rocky desert landscape, highlighting orange and red rock formations with hills and distant cliffs.
Sunrise over a vast desert landscape with rugged red rock formations, casting a warm glow on the foreground rocks.
A sign marking Cathedral Valley, featuring a scenic image of the area and information about Bureau of Land Management.
A warning sign on a dirt road stating 'ROAD IMPASSABLE FOR MOST VEHICLES, TRAVEL AT YOUR OWN RISK', with rugged rocky terrain and sparse vegetation in the background.
A large sandstone formation known as the Temple of the Sun, set against a clear blue sky, with a dirt road in the foreground.
A tall, red rock formation with sharp edges rising against a clear blue sky in a desert landscape.
A panoramic view of towering red rock formations against a clear blue sky, with sparse vegetation in the foreground.
A large rocky formation surrounded by arid terrain and sparse vegetation under a clear blue sky.
Close-up view of a muddy off-road vehicle against a clear blue sky and rocky terrain.
A muddy Jeep Rubicon parked on a dusty road with rocky cliffs in the background and a caution sign nearby.
Vast desert landscape featuring red rock formations and layered cliffs under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of red rock formations and a winding dirt road in a desert landscape under a clear blue sky.
A wooden sign indicating 'Bryce Point' with the elevation marked as 8300 feet, surrounded by trees and shrubs.
A panoramic view of Bryce Canyon with towering red rock formations and deep canyons under a clear blue sky.
A view of a rock formation with an arch surrounded by layers of colorful cliffs and trees in the background.
A panoramic view of Bryce Canyon showing its unique hoodoo rock formations, bathed in warm sunlight, with distant mountains in the background.
Sign directing visitors to Wall Street at Bryce Canyon, with orange rock formations in the background.
A towering rock formation resembling a mushroom in Bryce Canyon, with layers of reddish-orange rock under a clear blue sky.
A scenic view of Bryce Canyon National Park showcasing its unique rock formations and hoodoos, with visitors walking along a winding trail amidst the colorful landscape under a clear blue sky.
Panoramic view of Bryce Canyon's unique rock formations under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of Bryce Canyon showcasing its distinctive hoodoo rock formations, surrounded by a colorful landscape under a clear blue sky.
Panoramic view of a mountainous landscape with vibrant autumn foliage and clear blue skies.
A panoramic view of Zion National Park featuring towering red rock cliffs, a clear blue sky, and a winding river surrounded by lush greenery.
Narrow canyon walls of red rock with green trees and yellow flowers under a clear blue sky.
Panoramic view of Zion National Park featuring towering red rock cliffs, lush green vegetation, and a clear blue sky.
A hiker navigating a narrow trail along a canyon in Zion National Park, surrounded by red rock formations and scattered vegetation.
Panoramic view of Zion National Park's towering cliffs and deep canyons under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of Zion National Park showcasing steep red rock cliffs, deep canyons, and a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of Zion National Park showcasing towering red rock formations, steep canyons, and a clear blue sky.
Panoramic view of Zion National Park featuring steep red rock cliffs and a winding valley below under a clear blue sky.
A hiker navigates a rocky path with a chain rail on a cliff in Zion National Park, surrounded by red rock formations and clear blue skies.
A narrow rocky pathway with a chain railing, surrounded by steep cliffs and bright blue sky, in Zion National Park.
A view of towering red rock cliffs under a clear blue sky, surrounded by green trees in a natural landscape.

We managed to visit all five parks, but some of the trip’s most memorable moments came from pushing a little farther beyond the obvious stops.

One of those was the drive out to the Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon in Capitol Reef. Getting there meant heading roughly 17 miles into the middle of nowhere, with no phone service and very little around us other than open desert and rock. We were glad we rented a Jeep Wrangler, because by the time we completed the full off-road route, we had covered about 34 miles on rough dirt roads. It was absolutely worth it.

There is something almost surreal about arriving somewhere that remote, stepping out of the Jeep, and seeing those enormous rock formations rising out of an otherwise empty landscape. No crowds, no traffic, no phone signal. Just silence, space, and some of the most breathtaking scenery we saw during the entire trip.

A panoramic view of towering red rock formations in a desert landscape under a clear blue sky.

We also managed to get a permit to hike Angels Landing in Zion National Park, which was an experience in an entirely different way. The final section is roughly a mile round trip along the mountain’s narrow spine, with steep climbs where you hold onto chains bolted into the rock. In places, the drop-offs are very real, and you become acutely aware of exactly where you are putting your feet.

But once we reached the top, the effort was completely worth it.

Standing there looking down through Zion Canyon, surrounded by the park’s enormous cliffs, was one of those moments where photographs simply don’t do the place justice. It was breathtaking, and easily one of the highlights of the entire trip.

A panoramic view of Zion National Park showcasing towering red rock formations, deep canyons, and a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of Zion National Park showcasing rugged rock formations, deep canyons, and clear blue skies.
Panoramic view of Zion National Park showcasing dramatic red rock formations, steep cliffs, and a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of Zion National Park showcasing steep red rock cliffs and a deep canyon under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of Zion National Park showing steep rock formations and a lush valley below under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of Zion Canyon featuring steep, red rock cliffs and a clear blue sky.
Panoramic view of Zion National Park showcasing steep cliffs and a clear blue sky, with trees in the foreground.
A panoramic view of Zion National Park, showcasing deep canyons and red rock formations under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of red rock formations and steep cliffs in a canyon under a clear blue sky, with a green valley visible below.
A panoramic view of a canyon landscape with steep red rock cliffs, a winding road, and green vegetation, under a clear blue sky.

But the parks were only part of the reason for going.

Our trip also coincided with General Conference, which The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds twice a year, in April and October, in Salt Lake City.

Interior view of a large auditorium filled with people, featuring a grand stage with a colorful backdrop and a large organ. Attendees are seated and mingling before an event.
A grand stone temple with tall spires and intricate architecture, surrounded by people and trees on a sunny day.
View of a modern building with a clear blue sky, featuring flags flying and a fountain in the foreground.
Exterior view of the Conference Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, featuring large stone steps and modern architecture against a clear blue sky.
The Salt Lake Temple reflecting in a mirrored pool with a clear blue sky in the background.
Exterior view of a tall, ornate temple with multiple spires and a golden statue on top, surrounded by greenery and colorful flowers, with people walking in the foreground.

We managed to get tickets for the Sunday session at the Conference Center, and that became another memorable part of the trip. Sitting inside a building that seats more than 21,000 people, listening to talks and music with Aidan beside me, felt very different from hiking through the national parks, but in some ways it felt surprisingly similar.

Throughout the week, we’d reach the top of a climb, find somewhere to sit, and simply stop. No phones. No rushing. No need to say much.

We would sit in silence, looking out across landscapes that seemed to stretch forever, taking in the scale of the mountains, canyons, cliffs, and desert around us.

General Conference provided a different kind of stillness. Instead of standing on top of a mountain or looking across a canyon, we were sitting among thousands of people, listening, reflecting, and thinking about life, family, faith, and what comes next. For me, that contrast became one of the things I appreciated most about the trip.

We spent one part of the week pushing ourselves physically, climbing mountains and exploring places neither of us will forget. Then we spent part of Sunday slowing everything down and reflecting. More than anything, though, I was grateful we got to experience it all together.

With Aidan about to leave for two years, there was something special about having a week where there really wasn’t much else competing for our attention. We drove, hiked, talked, laughed, got tired, saw incredible places, and occasionally just sat quietly and took it all in. Those are the moments I think I will remember most.

I am grateful that Aidan has chosen to serve a mission, and I am excited to hear about the experiences he will have over the next two years.

We had a fantastic time on this trip, but now we are getting back to normal. Back to work, schedules, soccer, emails, and the general hustle and bustle of everyday life. More importantly, we now have just a few weeks left together before he leaves at the beginning of November.

As I get older, I have come to realize that many of the things we spend so much time worrying about really are not that important. The important things are often much simpler.

Time with family. Being present. Going somewhere together. Talking. Laughing. Sharing an experience. Sitting quietly on top of a mountain and taking in the view. Making the effort to create moments that we will still remember years from now. Those are the things I know I personally need to spend more time doing, especially with the people who mean the most to me.

My wife has told me for years that the memories we make are ultimately some of the most important things in life.

The older I get, the more I understand exactly what she means. Things are just things. We can buy them, lose them, break them, replace them, and eventually forget about them. Memories are different.

They become part of the stories we tell. They remind us where we have been, who we shared those moments with, and sometimes even help shape the person we become.

This trip gave Aidan and me a lot of those memories. And with his next adventure about to begin, I am very grateful we took the time to make them.