Kirk James has brought his
girlfriend, Holly Haskell, home for the summer. Their intent is to live with
the family and see if they are suited for one another in marriage. They are
both 27 years of age. Kirk is going to summer school at the U. of Washington.
This means that he has exposed himself to Professors he doesn’t know. Holly is
working to finish her Master’s degree in Spanish literature. She really should
be close to her Prof at BYU.
Kirk has
told me that Holly can’t believe the relationship that we have. We are very
open with one another and communicate our feelings openly. Perhaps we have
found certain treasures of family life that others have not but I am so
grateful for the trust I feel in our children and the manner in which it is
reciprocated.
I perceive
by the Spirit, that after experiencing much tribulation, the blessings have
come – D&C 58:3; 112:13 – perhaps we have even undergone an Abrahamic trial
to some degree. It is evident that we are enjoying a relationship of love,
respect, and joy that truly is a reflection of what eternal life will be like.
As Alma’s prayers were
answered regarding the conversion of his errant son, Alma (Mosiah 27:14), I
know that God has answered our prayer for each individual in the family. May it
continue to be so!! I long for us to be pure in heart and a true Zion people that as a
family we will be recognized as the Lord’s people. How grateful I am for the
charity and love and respect I feel for each member of this family. How
grateful I am to my Father in Heaven for his guidance, His chastisement, His
concern, His love for me personally that has brought all this about.
Call to the Bishopric – On Thursday evening, June 27th,
Norma and I were called to the Stake President’s office concerning our
call to the Bishopric. This is the first time in our church experience that we
have been called together. An indication of things to come??
What I
write now I want to be a testimony that this call came from my Father in heaven
and not from man. Bishop Fillery (sp?) was the intermediary but he waited for a
long time to receive spiritual confirmation. I have always felt that Bishop
Fillery is the epitome of Church leadership because he directs with humility
and spirituality that is true and brings peace and confidence to those who work
in his presence.
I could
feel the sincerity of the Stake Presidency and their concern in enlisting the
Lord’s help for the 8th ward. How fortunate we are to have such men to care for
us and direct the affairs of the Lord’s church in these last days. How
reassuring to know that this train of authority goes all the way to the Lord
Jesus Christ, Who’s church this is.
Truly the
Lord has sent me to school!! – as an Elder’s Quorom Pres, that I could learn to
care about others and expand my life out of my self-centered medical life, as a
Seventies President that I could come to understand and develop the missionary
Spirit which in turn was enhanced by being called to a Stake Mission, as a
Seminary teacher, that I could learn to care about the choice youth that are in
our midst, that I could come to care for them as I care for my own children, a
High Priest Group Leader, that I could become converted to geneaology work, but
above all the privilege of coming to know the blessings of being a patriarch in
my choice family. Because of some success in these areas I now wax strong in
confidence in the presence of my Father in Heaven because He is concerned about
my growth – may it ever be so. I pray humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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