April 12, 1974

This past week we were able to attend conference in SLC – Norma, John, Rick and I were able to fly to SLC together. We were able to get the family together on Sunday – 17 of us – the Dones, grandma Pixton and Kirk, Jane, Tom and us were together. On the way back to SEA we stopped in Boise and found that Norma’s mother was doing well. We also had a visit with my father and Florence. So I feel good at present that we have a good understanding of our families and a good feeling exists between us.

            As always, the conference was excellent. The prophets talked by the Spirit and related forcibly to the issues of today. It’s interesting this week that there has been extremely bad weather in the east and western section of the USA. There have been cyclones back east that have caused a loss of 300 lives and several billion dollars in damage. Again, this is fulfillment of prophecy in that we have been warned that there would be thunderings, earthquakes, etc which will serve as a warning to the people to repent. Literally, it is the voice of the Lord calling the people to repentance.

            Yesterday, I flew to Portland to visit with Grant Fagg and Glen Haws. Both of these men are unique Saints and choice priesthood holders. Br. Fagg was our previous Stak Pres. He is a choice person who is trying to truly put aside the things of this world. Consequently, this is why I went to visit with him. We spent 3.5 hours in intimate spiritual conversation and he has helped me to better crystallize my own thoughts, goals, and will help the future direction of my life. He was in a position to become one of the top 3 people in a highly successful pharmaceutical company but withdrew because he desired to be closer to his family. Now he has made another step by accepting a full-time assignment in the LDS Institute system. He is primarily motivated by his desire to become a true Son of God. This I desire with all my heart also. Br. Haws who also gave up a teaching position in the secular world as a Professor, now teaches in the Institute and is a true healer of the souls of men. He is also a Bishop and a father of 8 children. He told me of a man he knows in Provo who started with a small store, He then built it into a chain of stores and he became a millionaire – but!! – he has lost all of his seven children from the church. This is such an often repeated story its unbelievable that we can’t learn from the experience of others.

            Today, a beautiful Saturday morning, as I baby-sit my grandson Eric my heart soars with gratitude for the unbelievable blessings that have been showered upon this family. I cannot of myself generate the love and genuine charity I feel, I pray that I might live as a true patriarch to my family, that through me and the Priesthood I hold might flow the revelations that will guide us to exaltation. I envision that I might one day stand with Norma in the presence of God and rejoice with Him that we have successfully brought our choice family back into His presence with His guidance.

            I love the Savior and my Father in Heaven more each day. I desire to know them – truly know and understand the Atonement. As I envision the Savior on the cross my body is racked with emotion because He cared so much about me and my brethren & sisters upon this earth that He died for us under such degraded circumstances. And so, as I sat in the presence of Pres. Fagg, we intimately exchanged spiritual thoughts and felt an atmosphere charged with spiritual emotion because our “bond” is common and centers in the personal relationship we have with the Savior. Our brotherhood has been bought by experience, decisions, trials and the knowledge of both joy and despair. I am so grateful that there are men that have so lived and love so freely that they can give of themselves so fully. And so I approach this Easter with a prayer that my understanding of the Atonement may be deepened.