August 12, 1974

Kirk James and I spent a wonderful day with Dad, one of the finest visits ever. He is now 84 years of age and very sharp mentally as well as physically. His ability to work is unbelievable. He arises at 3:30 AM and works from 4:30 AM until noon. He has 8 people working for him. My sister Ruth directs the office force. He told us that he paid $135,000 in income for last year. His contributions to the Church are also larger. He indicated that his contribution to the ward budget alone was over $12,000 last year. If his longevity is any indication then I may be living quite a while yet.

            After we had attended church Dad told us some events in his life that bear recording and will be interesting and edifying for those who read about him in my journal.

            Dad told us that he attended the funeral of Carmen Smith in the past few weeks. Ezra Taft Benson, who is President of the Quorum of the Twelve and one who may become the next President and Prophet of the Church; also a nephew to Carmen Smith spoke at her funeral and he asked to see Leland David Anderson (my father) as soon as possible. When Dad sought him out Pres Benson greeted him with outstretched arms and indicated his high respect for my father. He asked Dad if there was anything he could do for him. Dad replied – “When you become President of the Church then call me to be your 1st Counselor”. Pres Benson replied – “There isn’t a better man that I could find.” Then he said: “Do you remember the Weiser incident?” and Dad said yes, he surely did. When President Benson was President of the Stake MIA in Boise Dad was called as one of his counselors. A man had absconded with $260 which had been raised for an MIA function. Pres Benson sent Dad to Weiser to recover the funds. A Bishop told Dad in a meeting the destitute circumstances of the involved person and how he would be unable to repay the money. All of a sudden, Dad saw red and told the Bishop – “Bishop, I want you to get the Go*-Da** SOB in my office with that money on Monday or he will go to jail”. The following day, Pres Benson called Dad and said “What happened in Weiser?” and “What about your language?” Dad replied: “I guess in my anger I called on the Lord in a forceful way”. The next day, Pres Benson received a check for $260. [See Aug 21, 1974 entry for a follow-on to this story/entry]

[editor note: this entry was shortened]

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.

July 12, 1974

At this time I want to write about Duncan Biddle. He is Carol’s boyfriend. I personally love the young man very much because he is a special spirit. He spent last summer at the Lake (Payette) with us and we all enjoyed him so much. He has regularly attended church with us this entire year. We accept him as a dear friend and literally a member of our family. We have felt pride in his accomplishments as a student, football player, a wrestler, a skier, etc. He is now meeting with the missionaries and growing in the Gospel. He has fine parents and brother and sisters who have enjoyed a close family relationship but he now feels concern for them regarding the Word of Wisdom. He has been offered a scholarship to the U. of W. to play football but he told us tonight that he intends to go to the BYU after much prayer. This is a difficult decision for him because his father distinguished himself in playing football at the U. of W. and he would like to please his father.

            I really “feel” for this choice young man – that he will confront the “issues of life” as we now experience them and make decisions that will tear him apart from his family unless they choose to follow. He has also found that his best friend now wants to compromise his life in many ways – according to the world – which he cannot accept. Duncan has also seen fit to confide in Norma about his feelings for Carol.

            I pray that we, as a family, will support him in a way that he will always find a haven here. It is this experience that indicates to me that the power of the family is unbelievable. Just by being ourselves but by openly demonstrating our love and concern for others we can do a great missionary work.

What a blessing it would be if we all, as a family, could be called on a mission. How I pray it will be in the Celestial Kingdom as I envision it to be, that what we enjoy now will be so magnified many times and that we can all be called together to function as a family in various endeavors – even to the time we will become creators of new worlds, and be engaged always in that which “will bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”.

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.

June 9, 1974

Tonight I am in San Francisco to attend the American Orthopaedic Association meeting. The flight was magnificent. It is about the only time since the 1st of the year that we have had good flying weather. On every other trip a high percentage of the trip was spent in the clouds.

            The meeting is being held in the Fairmont Hotel. I am here alone without Norma. My room is costing $44/day. “Pop” is $1.10 per bottle, a steak sandwich - $8, a hamburger - $3.50. When the hotel gets you “locked in” when attending a convention they “gouge” unmercifully. Our government has brought this about by creating a tax structure that creates this type of financial manifestation. It is ridiculous!!!

            Doctors do need to communicate their experiences and consider new advance in Medicine and surgery but I can’t see the necessity to come to such a place to do so.