June 1, 1986- transcribed by Mandi Anderson

Insert: “Royalty and Temple Marriage” talk given by Elder Royden G. Derrick, Seattle Temple President, June 1, 1986

ROYALTY AND TEMPLE MARRIAGE

Nearly everyone, if not all, has read the beautiful story of Cinderella.  It has kindled dreams and aspirations in the hearts and minds of little girls that have smoldered through adolescence.  Nearly every young lady has dreamed of marrying a prince, but have placed doing so beyond the realms of reality.

The Apostle Peter, writing to the saints of his day who held the Melchizedek Priesthood, addressed them as “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9).  Why would he make such a salutation?  The most clarifying attribute of royalty is the blood line.  “In general, the Lord sends to earth in the lineage of Jacob those spirits who in pre-existence developed an especial talent for spirituality and for recognizing truth.  Those born in this lineage (have) the blood of Israel in their veins and (find) it easy to accept the gospel…  Since much of Israel has been scattered among the gentile nations, it follows that millions of people have mixed blood, blood that is part Israel and part gentile.  The more of the blood of Israel that an individual has, the easier it is for him to believe the message of salvation as taught by the authorized agents of the Lord.  This principle the Lord had in mind when he said to certain Jews: ‘ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine… But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.’” (John 10:14, 26-27; Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 81)

The royal line of Israel is through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Nevertheless, one can enjoy all the promises and special blessings the Lord has given to the children of Israel through the law of adoption.  Those who received the gospel and obey the principles of the gospel, regardless of their blood line are adopted into the lineage of Abraham (Abr. 2:9-11).  “The effect of the Holy Ghost upon a gentile is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually the seed of Abraham” (Teachings, pp 149-150).  In the oath and covenant of the priesthood we learn that those who magnify their callings in the Melchizedek Priesthood are “sanctified by the spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.  They become the … seed of Abraham” (D&C 84:33-34).  Therefore, all the promises that have been given to Abraham and his posterity are given to them, predicated upon their righteousness, as though they had been of the actual blood lineage of Abraham.

Royalty connotes that there is a king and a kingdom.  In temple marriages Heavenly Father is the king.  The kingdom of heaven.  The groom is the prince and the bride is the princess.  The prince inherits his father’s kingdom.  “Therefore all that (his) Father hath shall be given unto him, “ the Savior promised (D&C 84:38).  The princess shares the kingdom, for “man is not without the woman nor the woman without the man in the Lord.”

In the sealing room of the temple a beautiful princess kneels on one side of the altar and a handsome prince on the other.  He who is authorized seals the couple in holy matrimony, not until death do they part, but for time and for all eternity, for he holds the authority to bind in heaven that which is bound on earth.  This is the same authority to which the Savior referred when he said to Peter, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth will be bound in heaven.” (Matt. 16:19)  these same keys were given by Elijah the prohphet to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836 and the sealing authority has been given to others for this purpose.  Thus haing satisfied civil and eternal law a new family begins in mortality to be extended into the eternities based upon their remaining faithful to the covenants they received in the temple.  The two are welded together in the bond of holy matrimony and share together all the promises and blessings extended through the oath and covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood.  It now behooves the young prince to build his wife into a beautiful queen and the princess to build her husband into a great king.  Her childhood fantasy of Prince Charming thus becomes reality – which is only a beginning.

Insert: Poem (author unknown), handwritten caption on side of poem: I have treasured and drawn strength from this Poem so many times.  Hope it does the same for you –

EDUCATION WEEK PROGRAMS

Jaynann M. Payne, Instructor

A Solitary Way

There is a mystery in human hearts.

And though we be encircled by a host

Of those who love us well, and are beloved,

To every one of us, from time to time,

There comes a sense of utter loneliness.

Our dearest friend is “stranger” to out joy

And cannot realize our bitterness:

“There is not one who really understands,

Not one to enter into all I feel”;

Such is the cry of each of us in turn,

We wander in a solitary way.

No matter what or where our lot may be;

Each heart, mysterious even to itself,

Must live its inner life in solitude.

And would you know the reason why this is?

It is because the Lord desires our love.

In every heart He wishes to be first.

He therefore keeps the secret key Himself,

With perfect sympathy and holy peace

Each solitary soul which comes to Him.

So when we feel this loneliness it is

The voice of Jesus saying, “Come to Me.”

It is a call to us to come again.

For Christ alone can satisfy the soul.

And those who walk with Him from day to day

Can never have a solitary way.

And when beneath some heavy cross you faint,

And say, “I cannot bear this load alone,”

You say the truth, Christ made it purposely

So heavy that you must return to Hi.

The bitter grief, which “no one understands,”

Conveys a secret message from the King,

Entreating you to come to Him again.

The Man of Sorrows understands it well

In all pints tempted He can feel with you.

You cannot come too often, or too near,

The Son of God is infinite in grace.

His presence satisfies the longing soul.

And those who walk with Him from day to day 

Can never have a solitary way.

March and April 1986

Insert: picture missing / caption:

This is a picture of Rick & me in our tuxedos at the reception in Medford, Oregon.  On Sat., March 1, Norma & I drove with Rick & Laurie to Medford for their reception.  I was able to attend, but still not well.

Norma & I were most impressed with Laurie and her family who feel very grateful that Rick has become their son-in-law.

Insert: series of four pictures of Kirk J. Anderson in leisure, tuxedo, and suit attire / caption:

A pleasant experience _ when Norma & I were walking through Nordstrom’s store on our way from the genealogical library to eat our lunch – we were in Salt Lake – Norma says: “Kirk there is a Madras jacket that you would enjoy very much”.  Spontaneously we went about purchasing it.  I had not even noticed it, but Norma’s eye had caught it and in her consideration for me she made the suggestion I buy it.  I am grateful for her and for the jacket.

I put this picture of me in my journal to remind me of certain feelings I had about tuxedos and how we must listen to the feelings of others.  I truly dislike wearing a tuxedo and think I’m only had one  on at the receptions of our children’s weddings, as well as, at a couple of medical meetings.  In my own heat I was very resistant to wearing a tuxedo at Rick and Laurie’s reception, but kept my mouth shut and honored their feelings.  After I got the tux on I rather enjoyed it and realized how important it was for one of the 3 major events in their lives.

Insert: article “Human Factors Workshop” Aviation Safety March 1, 1986 / caption: Some of the fallacies in aeronautical training & accidents that relate to life

March 28, 1986

Tonight Norma and I had a very traumatic experience.  Several weeks ago I had a call from one of my previous patients who state that he wanted to know more about our church.  I invited him to our home.  He then asked if he could bring a friend and I said “of course”.

We were hardly seated when I realized that “the friend” was a disciple of Lucifer.  He was obviously a student and tried to be most impressive with his diatribe about the great Alexanderum scholars and the Jewish Rabbis – I asked him why he has desired to come into our home.  He said, because he wanted to “save us”.

He was invasive, obtrusive, and a smug sophist of the first order.  The only thing Norma & I could do was to bear our testimonies, but I made at clear we recognized the nature of his spirit.  The utter gall of such a person who would gain entrance into the sanctity of our home and then be so rude was unbelievable.  

After they left we recognized that he was undoubtedly a Sherem – an excommunicated apostate-

Insert: 3 live shot pictures of ducks / caption: I placed these pictures of my friends the mallard ducks in my journal so I could refer to them when carving and painting my models.

Insert: picture / caption: (on the picture) overcast, cowling of 828ID (under picture) This is a familiar scene very dear to my heart that I have witnessed many times.  We are returning to Seattle in 828ID, our plane.  Below are the Cascade Mtn’s.  We have just passed Mt. Rainier on our left and ahead is an overcast at 8000’ that is just beginning to break up.  We have just been cleared to 8000’.

Insert: picture (labeled 1-9) / caption:

We are now established on the ILS – the instrument guidance system which aligns the plane with the runway at Boeing field and guides the plane as to the correct rate of descent to the runway.

The time is 16 minutes after 1PM (1). We are in the overcast with the altimeter reading 1000’. (2) The HIS shows the wings level and 1 breath below the horizon (3) which with the gear (landing gear) in the down position (4) allows the plane to descent at 500’ /minute (5) with an airspeed of 100 knots (6) as indicated on the airspeed indicator.  

The STEC autopilot (7) is locked onto both the localizer and glide slope radio signals being transmitted from the airport. The plane is right on the localizer as indicated by the centered indicator (8) and, also, right on the glide slope as indicated by the pegged glide slope indicator (9).  With all systems looking good we were supposed to reach the runway at 3 minutes 40 seconds.  We passed over the threshold at 3’ 43”

Insert: picture / caption (labeled on the picture) overcast, West Seattle, Harbor Island, 8281D Cowling (under picture) 8281D is just breaking out of the overcast.  We are about 4 miles from the airport and still can’t make out the runway of Boeing field because of fog and mist.

Insert: picture / caption (labeled on the picture) overcast (under picture) Runway 13R (outlined and arrow) is now identifiable straight ahead.

Insert: picture / caption (labeled on the picture) 1 & 2 (under picture) Now prepared & cleared for landing.  Runway 13R straight ahead (1) and freeway I5 is to the left. (2)

Insert: picture / caption (labveled on the picture) McCall runway (under picture) Flight over McCall, Idaho in March, 1986

Insert: picture(s)

• Airplane mechanic (no caption)
• Kirk J. Anderson with grandkids painting (labeled on the picture) Scotty paints Courtney holds
• Carved duck (labeled on the picture) Bufflehead duck decoy painted by Courtney, Scotty & myself

April 5, 1986

Teaching grandchildren Courtney and Scotty Biddle how to paint a Bufflehead duck decoy.

Insert: picture of Kirk J. Anderson / caption: This is my walking & golfing suit.  Since retirement Jan 1, 86 I have been able to walk with Norma regularly & play golf 2x weekly with a loss of 20 lbs!

Insert: picture of Kirk J. Anderson golfing / caption

About 25 years ago I took golf lessons from my good friend, Ray Bennett, and bought new clubs with the idea that I would probably join a golf club.  That idea was terminated when the Farmer children came to live with us.  Now, after retirement I started playing again & enjoy it tremendously.

Insert: picture of Kirk J. Anderson golfing / caption

My other golfing buddy, Ray Tame.

How I enjoy these righteous men.  They are great fun; sessions about their golf, and marvelous company Ray was married 2 days after Norma & me in the Salt Lake Temple.  We came to know one another in the 1^st Ward and subsequently the 8^th Ward.  Our friendship has always had great depth.

Insert: picture of Gene Conger in golf cart / caption:

My golf buddy, Gene Conger.  He, along with Ray Tame got me started playing golf again.  He was our first bishop in the 1^st Ward of the Seattle Stake.  His wife got Norma started in the Primary, which brought us back into activity.  Our paths did not cross for many years until the Seattle Temple was built.  He was a member of the Temple Presidency and now we share duty as sealers in the Temple.

Insert: picture of Kirk J. Anderson & Duncan Biddle (no caption)

Insert: picture of tulips

April 6, 1986

This day Norma & I took Carol & Duncan to the Columbia Gorge hotel in Hood River, Oregon to celebrate her birthday.  It was magnificent weather and the setting was also.

Insert: picture of Duncan & Carol Biddle surrounded by spring flowers

Insert: picture(s)

• Kirk & Norma Anderson in doorway of Marquam Manor (apartments)
• Kirk J. Anderson in front of University Hospital North
• Kirk J. Anderson in front of University of Oregon Medical School

April 6, 1986

On the way home from Columbia Gorge hotel we stopped in Portland and showed Carol & Duncan the University of Oregon Medical School which I attended 45 years ago.  We alos chowed them Marquam Manor which was the first home (really an apartment) for Norma and me when we were married in 1942. 

April 12, 1986

Today while bathing I received a crystal clear impression that all my thinking and planning for a mission has been on my terms – my time limit – not the Lord’s.  This is not my mission!!  It is the Lord’s errand or mission.

Norma and I knelt in prayer and covenanted with the Lord that we would do anything He calls us to do.  We asked only in return that we might be assured that our family would be cared for and that their problems would be eased and resolved while we served.  Also, that our own minds and hearts might be freed of worry.

December 29, 1974

Several things have happened in the last few days I wish to record.

I: After driving our relatives to the airport to fly home on Friday, I was driving home. While engaged in prayer, really a recitation to the Lord of my list of unlimited things to be grateful for, I received a definite spriutal impression that Warren and Wilda had received the Gospel. The veil was extremely thin. I followed the direction as given to us in D&C 9:7 and the answer came back an unreserved "YES!!" I am sure that they, Warren and Wilda, are in close contact with us and are directing or assisting us in our direction and affairs here upon the earth.

II: Warren was married on 12/28/74 to Margaret Sandmayon of Boise. She comes from a Catholic family of nine and is a great girl with many talents. There is no question that Warren and Margaret are devoted to one another. I am sure that now they are thinking of "family things" we will have a chance to draw closer with better communication and understanding and love for one another. I am sure that now they are thinking of "family things" we will have a chance to draw closer with better communication - understanding - and love for one another.

We were able to fly over and arrive in Boise at 1:30 before the wedding and then fly home afterwards. The weather here in Seattle en route and in Boise had been so treacherous because of cold fronts, moist, unstable air. Severe icing and a barometric pressure of 29.35 that I didn't think we would make it. It was as if we had been given a reprieve for a few hours so we could make this important trip to attend Warren's wedding.

III: Kirk James talked to me ad told me of a talk he had heard given by Elder Boyd Packer. Kirk counsels me--this is a unique wonderful experience to be counselled by my son. He has been very strong in his stand that we must learn, study, and concern ourselves about the BASICS of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder Packer stated that in his work as an apostle he always asks Stake Presidents, etc. if they have any questions or if there is anything that he can do for them. He said most of the time the question will be "how can we improve our computer readout service?" or "How can we get better delivery service, etc." Occasionally a question will relate to the mysteries. Elder Packer said that only occasionally would the most important question be asked, "How can we become more clean?" If we learn the basics of the Gospel and cleanse ourselves, then the veil will become so thin that the mysteries will be made manifest to us and we may speak about the mysteries when the Spirit is right without the question even being asked.

Kirk tells me such things in concern that he is too critical. But I accept it as guidance for me as an individual to rebalance my perspective and study of the Gospel. {Perhaps, I see why Kirk and Leland did not enjoy the BYU --as I would expect--because in the religion department there are many things expounded which are presented as "truth" when they are really "the precepts of man" who though their intellectual pursuits and research come to believe what they believe and say is true without depending more on the Spirit. Even the elect can be deceived!!!

IV: This morning a man that I admire very much, Brother Luis Fife--one of our LDS Institute teachers approached me and addressed me in a special way as "his beloved brother" -- I asked him to tell me why he approached me this way because he has done it before. His reply was because our encounters were very special to him (they are to me because he is such a fine man and teacher) and because I have attributes that he desires most such as empathy, integrity, being people oriented and not program oriented.

As I walked into the church this morning I saw him sitting in a room in his High Priest Quorum group. His face was like a light to me and in all that group of men I could only see him. I am not being melodramatic in saying this. I honestly believe that there is spiritual attraction and "chemistry" between men or women that draw them to one another for spiritual nourishment--direction and encouragement. That another person of such quality should feel this way about me is a humbling experience to me.

V. Tom called us the day after Christmas from London. We surely missed not having him home for Christmas but his voice sounded good--he is happy--hardly complains and adapts to new situations so well.

Its been a marvelous Christmas spirit--How can we be the recipients of such marvelous blessings?