August 3, 1974

Today I officiated at my first marriage. If anyone had told me that I would one day do such a thing I would not have believed it. Doing the Lord’s work takes us into so many avenues of life. The families involved were genuinely happy to have me there!! There is no question in my mind that when one is doing Church work that his life ultimately becomes one of true greatness that far surpasses the “honors of men” and yet the world extends recognition to those who live such lives. Our Church leaders today constantly receive recognition for their devotion to such causes as the Boy Scouts, etc.

            The wedding was held in the home and involved a sweet young man and woman who is pregnant. How grateful I am that I could care about them personally and not judge them. I only have feelings of concern and love for them because I was once at the same age able to stand with Norma in the Temple to be married. I remember how I cherished her and longed to have children with her. That we were able to start our lives free of such an encumbrance through transgression was a blessing. But when children are not taught – truly taught, the Gospel of Jesus Christ they are easily deceived and enter into transgression that brings unhappiness. Oh! How I prayed and “cared” that I might say just a few words by the Spirit that would touch and change the lives of the Bride and Groom that they might find the pathway to true happiness.

            How I love my Father in Heaven because He has loved me and helped me. Norma accompanied me, what a strength she is!! – more and more I respect her and revere he as my wife, as a friend, as a righteous person.

June 29, 1974 - Call to the Bishopric

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.

March 31, 1974

Today is Sunday. The Sabbath day, because of energy “crunch” and gas shortages our church schedules has now changed. Our priesthood meeting, Sacrament meeting and Sunday School are all scheduled together from 1-5 pm. As a consequence our attendance at Sacrament meeting has gone from 42% to 70%. Personally, I feel that it is wonderful because when we arise on Sunday morning we do not have the hustle we used to. We can meditate and prepare ourselves for the meetings. I am sure that the level of spirituality will increase considerably.

            Eric is now functioning as the Ward Financial Clerk. This week has been a bad week – We have been unable to get the ledger to balance. He has spent close to 30 hours, had to miss a budget dinner at his own home and stay up to 3 AM. I can understand and empathize over his frustration. It seems that no matter how old we are, we suffer over the problem and trial that our children experience. I went to God last night with a sick feeling in my heart and stomach which I have known very often. I realized how deeply I love Eric and Chris and their children and how precious they are to me. I also realize how our Father in Heaven must feel for us as we struggle to be righteous people and when we experience painful trials that bring added growth and stature.

            I feel to write about an incident that happened this past week. I do this because our relationships with people are not all “black and white”.

            I was approached by a young man with a family for money to continue his education. To me, his attitude is somewhat aggressive and overbearing. He acts like it would be a privilege for me to help him. I really don’t know but perhaps his attitude is influenced by the fact that his father holds a high office in the Stake and his wife is the granddaughter of a previous member of the 1st Presidency. To complicate things, I have had previous business dealing with his father. They were so adverse and unpleasant that I had resolved to have as little as possible to do with his family. In fact, the very name of the family “turns me off”. Now!! – I am approached by this young man in the crisis hour for financial support. When discussing this problem with Norma she pointed out to me the goodness of the mother and I recall a son of the family whom I taught in Seminary and for whom I developed special feelings. As a consequence we will do our best to help. Perhaps we are purposely put in such positions as this to purify our souls and purge ourselves of negative, destructive feelings towards others.

March 2, 1974

This Saturday morning I have arisen, searched the scriptures and meditated. All week I have been depressed because one of the men in the clinic is leaving – apparently because he feels a need to make more money. I just can’t understand this because we have been blessed with such a monetary abundance. For many of us, I guess there is never enough because of greed and selfishness. I have been emotionally shaken because I thought I was building through my relationships with the other doctors a bastion of loyalty, respect and pride in our ability to serve those who come to us for medical help. Certainly, it is foolishness to put our trust in “the arm of the flesh” and I anticipate a gradual crumbling of the temporal world in which I personally live and work unless the doctors I work with maintain some of the objective ideals I have worked for. I have constantly tried to create an atmosphere in which each doctor can experience a democratic atmosphere in which to develop his talents and skills and that he not be stifled by an authoritarian influence of one person who exercises leadership through coercion, etc. (D&C 121). I am sure that the time is fast coming when the true converted Saints will cry constantly to the Lord to hurry the Second Coming. For we live in the midst of unbelievable evil (D&C 82:6). All types of shortages are developing. In the State of Washington the gas lines are getting longer, tempers are short and I can imagine how it will be when we develop real food shortages. Then we will really see the uprising of mean against men, state against state, etc.

            Last night I spent time in an intimate interview with one of the brethren in my High Priest Group. He is a choice individual with a marvelous family. With the treacherous inflationary rise in food prices he finds himself in a financial bind that is strangling. He has a very good job, is a PhD in Animal Husbandry and he has 2 boys on missions. He is looking for another job to supplement his income. His plight will become more common – I resolve that we can, will and must live the Gospel more closely, for “Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor” (D&C 82:19). We do as the Lord requires of us and become a true Zion people.

            To those of my family who read these writings, I want to convey the understanding that we are now passing through very difficult times. We enjoy technological advances our forebearers never dreamed possible but our hardships are affluence, greed, selfishness, pleasure-seeking and unbelievable evil that bombard us from all quarters. Our only protection is to have and develop a strong family oriented in the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the scriptures and the oracle of the present-day prophet to guide us.

            Truthfully, it would be wonderful to receive an honorable release from this mortal life now but I resolve to endure to the end. The promise we have to return to the presence of our loved ones in their great family, my family, and our Father in Heaven make me want to go on and do all that I can to build for those that are to come. I rejoice in having my eyes opened to see that these Spirits are more choice, spiritual, and intelligent than my generation. Oh! how their presence is needed now and in the near future. May they know that I love God with all my being – that He is a living and loving God who places a gentle hand on my should to guide, and on my mind to understand, and on my heart to love and feel a peace in this environment so influenced by the spirit of Lucifer. May the know the respect and love I feel for our forebearers, many of whom I have never met but am coming to know spiritually through geneaology, because they lived their lives honorably and distinguished the name I now bear. May they know that I know we are protected by the Lord, that as long as we do what He asks He is bound and we have a promise (D&C 82:10).

            Tomorrow, John will be advanced to the office of a Priest. How grateful I am that the children are progressing in their lives. What transpires tomorrow in this ordination far transcends any temporal problems we now face.