Bardsleys hoping to find, bring son's body home

ELK RIDGE — Near the entryway at the home of Kevin and Heidi Bardsley hangs a verse from Psalms: "Be still, and know that I am God."

For the Bardsleys — who are preparing for a final search for their missing son, Garrett — that simple sentence summarizes the faith that has supported them through their worst nightmare and helps them hold onto hope that his body will be found.

"We hope this will put closure to this situation," said Kevin Bardsley, who was one of the last people to see 12-year-old Garrett before he went missing during an outing with the Boy Scouts last summer.

"We hope it will help a mom that's really concerned about where her boy is and what's happened to his body," he said. "It will help a lot."

Heidi Bardsley said some days are better than others. But she struggles to cope with her son's disappearance and hopes this final search will allow her to bring the body of her boy home for a proper burial.

"Hopefully we'll find him," she said. "If not, it will be a long ride home."

The Bardsleys will lead a search for Garrett Aug. 4-6 in the area of the High Uintas where he disappeared last August. They are asking volunteer searchers to sign up at www.findgarrett.org.

The search was originally scheduled for Aug. 5-7, but the family changed the dates after their leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints counseled them not to search on a Sunday. Kevin Bardsley said he felt it was important to follow the counsel of church's leaders because the family is depending on divine help.

"We've been praying a lot," he said. "We're praying that we will be able to know where he is because we believe that's the only way we'll ever find him. We're going to turn it over to the Lord's hands and say, 'If you want us to find him, we need your help.' "

The Bardsleys are hoping for a lot of help from volunteers.

"We're hoping all the people that can help and want to help will go to the Web site and sign up so we will know what we have," Bardsley said.

The United Way is setting up a phone number for volunteers without Internet access to sign up.

Food and water will be provided for all volunteers. Assistance hauling tents and sleeping bags to the command post will be available.