May 17, 1974

On the opposite page is a letter we have just received from Jane. She is currently on a survival course as a part of her BYU Sociology Course. What she wrote attests that when we withdraw from “worldly ways” and the carnal appetite way of life that our communion with God is much more likely. Jane is such a choice spirit, a tremendous strength to our family. When she returns home from this trip she will then go to N.Y. to participate in the “Hill Cumorah Pageant”. I’m so grateful that she is able to partake of so many wonderful blessings at this time in her life. [Letter enclosed from Jane talking about her experience. She reports that she hikes about 15-20 miles a day, but that they don’t hike every day. She talks about being very cold at night and that they eat and drink very little when they are out for two days at a time. She talks about a “jackrabbit stew” that they made one night.]

[No date provided] between May 9 and May 17, 1974

Using the Book of Mormon as a model I am recording thoughts, events, letters and incidents of spiritual significance to me and that I believe will strengthen the spiritual posture of my family.

            I wish to record an incident of great importance to me and the man whose picture appears on the proceeding page – Dr. Helaman Pratt Ferguson. He opened my understanding to new dimensions pertaining to administering to the sick through the power of the Priesthood.

            Br. & Sister Ferguson asked Norma and I to come to their home one Sunday evening after church. After a pleasant visit they informed us that their son was to have another surgery performed on his eyes. The youngster had had a prior operation and there was little medical hope because the boy was not able to “fuse” his visual objects in the brain. I was then asked to administer to young Helaman the next evening. I was grateful to be asked but fearful because of the responsibility and concern.

            After fasting and prayer the next evening I appeared at the Ferguson home to find 2 other close friends there. Again, we visited for some time, perhaps two hours. I must admit that I was becoming restless and irritated because I had arose at 5 AM to teach seminary the next morning and the time was now 10 PM. Br. Ferguson then asked us all to kneel in a prayer circle and each of us prayed individually, fervently, calling upon the Lord in “mighty prayer” to guide us in this administration, that His will be done.

            Br. Ferguson then brought his son from the bedroom to be administered to. He was asleep. In an administration that drained my physical strength a promise was pronounced upon this boy that he would be made “whole” again. A miracle was wrought and the boy was able to see normally. I will never forget in church one morning subsequently that young Helaman Ferguson looked at me and I knew that we knew one another by the Spirit in spite of our age difference.

            I learned that if it is possible that we should estrange ourselves from the world and enter into the Lord’s atmosphere of peace and with a broken and contrite heart and gentleness of soul when we understand to do great things in the Lord’s kingdom then we are ready to really know the Lord’s will. Also, the combined faith of faithful and virtuous saints creates a power of unbelievable dimensions.

May 9, 1974

Kirk James has completed his studies and now has time to spend before his final exams. Eric and I therefore flew to Salt Lake on Friday evening to bring him to Seattle. It was a joyful and fun time for all of us. We thoroughly enjoyed each other and the weather was great.

            Kirk talked to his mother and me about bringing Holly (his girlfriend) to Seattle for the summer. He felt that it would be good for Holly and himself to spend the summer in the environment of our family life. I am thrilled and grateful that he would contemplate this. I think they are contemplating marriage and Kirk wants Holly to experience and see the type of family life we are now enjoying. How can I ever thank my Father in heaven enough for allowing me to capture the essence of true family life as He has intended it to be for His children here on earth.

            It now appears that Leland and Shirli desire to stay here in Seattle. I know that this will be a disappointment to both of their parents but on the other hand I feel that it will expand the Spirit of family unity to a greater number of people in our family. Oh! – How I long to have us maintain this wonderful blessing and build upon it. I truly believe that if we continue this way we will be capable of living the law of consecration without difficulty. My heart yearns for us to be involved in a family business of some type. I wonder if the Lord is directing me by the Spirit to constantly contemplate such an endeavor. It will come to pass if this is the Lord’s will for us and if we obey his commandments.

[Multiple letters enclosed from Evelyn Schwiermann, Tim Walker, Bob Backstein, and Ted Ferrenburg (sp?). Kirk notes, about these letters that they are “meaningful and pertinent to my life”. ]