Jan 26, 1974

We are returning home today – Norma and I have had a wonderful time – a marvelous rest. Our spirits and souls particularly have been regenerated. When we pray we are able to feel spiritually attune and close to God and we find ourselves lost in the more refined sphere of spiritual gratitude for the marvelous joys in our lives. What a contrast to those times when we are under the “pressure” of our temporal lives. I would pray that everyone – especially the honest in heart – might “pause” frequently in their lives to meditate and reflect prayerfully about the important things in life.

Yesterday, we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center which is owned by the Church to provide a means by which all the Polynesian people might make enough money to go to the Church school and then return home to be an example to their own people. The center point of course is the Hawaiian temple. We went to the information center and heard the presentation about the origin of the Polynesian people and the importance of the Book of Mormon and the Bible in their lives. As the young Polynesian student guided us around and bore his testimony to us I knew we were on hallowed ground and that there was a great – truly – a great out-pouring of the Spirit. It seems hard to believe but there were a number of people who did not even start to grasp the significance of the Gospel message. Surely, only the “honest in heart” can recognize the voice of the Shepherd.

The Polynesian people are beautiful. They have a simplicity and freshness that sets them apart from the reckless “pace of the world”. Apostle Matthew Cowley told the Polynesians “I want to tell you native people that you will never be great trying to be great white people. You will be great only by trying to be great natives. You have a delicacy of soul which the white man does not possess.” Surely our individual greatness lies in being ourselves.

Jan 24, 1974

Tonight Norma and I are in Honolulu. We had planned a snow skiing trip with the family but it did not work out because of the “energy crisis” and the kids could not get out of school. Therefore, spontaneously, we decided to come to Hawaii. The children supported us in this.

Norma has given of herself to the family and particularly so during the holidays and I am pleased that we could be alone together for a little time. We have done nothing but read, study, swim in the surf, walk, and eat – so much so that we cut our stay on Maui short because we were getting “antsy”.

I have re-read and studied most of the D & C and cross-referenced it with the other standard works.

Today we saw the USS Arizona memorial where over 1000 men went down with the battleship when it was bombed by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941. I thought how most of the people in the world are pawns or marionettes in the hands of a few powerful wicked men of the world and how we have been influenced by war during most of my life. Truly, a feeling of emptiness and useless wasting of young life was felt as we stood over the sunk battleship which still holds the bodies of the dead. I have decided to call my right fifth finger a “memory finger”. As a tradition I have been and will continue to look for rings to remind me of pleasant travels and memories in my life. I now have rings from Mexico, Egypt, Jerusalem, and Honolulu.

Jan 11, 1974

This preceding note from Shirli and Leland to Norma and me [the note reads as follows: “Dear Uncle Kirk & Aunt Norma and family, I wanted to write you a friendly Happy Holiday note and say a few of the thoughts that are on my mind. How do you thank someone for 50 Sunday dinners, 60 loads of wash, 100 listening ears, a couch, four chairs, a beautiful flannel baby quilt, a baby book and an always open door? And heart? I guess you just write Thank you on blue paper for a start… Thank you! Much love, Leland, Shirli & Leland III] is so meaningful and important because we have been privileged to reach our arms and heart to these wonderful relates and become “family”. When such respect and love exists, nothing seems impossible. It truly is that part of the Spirit of Elijah which turns the harts of the Fathers to the children and creates a celestial-like family life here upon this earth -> truly “a bit of heaven on earth”. Last week when we were walking down the street together, Shirli spontaneously stated “I like you” – what a thrill!! I love my family so much – Truly the Lord has opened the gates of heaven and poured out a blessing on me that I would have never thought possible. I know that other members of our family on the other side of the veil are watching over us and guiding us and I feel confident in times of stress.

I love to write in this journal. I can almost see the people of my family who will walk the earth after me and will read these words and know of me. A bond will be created between me and them and in this family which will help to make us a true Zion people. I want more than anything for us to be a great [underlined four times] family in the eyes of the Lord because we desire to do His will and obey His commandments. As a consequence He may then give us great power through the Priesthood to do His work here upon the earth.

I love the scriptures. I have just completed an hour of study in the Doctrine and Covenants. It is apparent to me now that in order to lose ourselves in the scriptures and understand them, we must ponder each passage and pray over each passage or phrase to understand their meaning.

I spent most of the week in Salmon, Idaho working. This began 2 years ago when Dr. Boyd Simmons (also a Stake President’s counselor) asked me to fly to Salmon and do some total hip replacements. Since then I have continued to fly to Salmon to see patients. I have enjoyed it for several reasons – 1. Because my medical skills have more meaning in the small remote area where such medical care is not readily available – as a sideline it is interesting that my presence in the community is a threat to orthopaedists who work in the cities over 150 miles away. Doctors are some of the most defensive, insecure people who declare an imaginary domain and get “all shook up” if it is invaded. 2. Because the people of Salmon are “different”. They are more hardy and heal themselves faster than the “city folk”. The relationship is a more genteel, appreciative one. 3. Because I have been able to stay with the Simmons and have many precious hours of communication. They are striving for the same things we are. They have experienced much sorrow because their decisions in life have taken them on pathways at times that restrict them in their desires to have complete “freedom” to be profitable servants for the Lord. I respect and love them so very much. And 4, lastly, because I love to fly. Flying is very much like surgery and like the pursuit of living. It can be highly successful and rewarding if the pilot is prepared; has an alternate plan if the primary flight plan fails or is threatened; and if the pilot is knowledgeable enough to make intelligent decisions. I have progressively improved myself to become a commercial and instrument rated pilot and am now working toward an ATR (Airline Transport Rating). Getting an instrument rating allows a pilot to penetrate a world where he cannot see and must depend on his instruments (akin to faith). He must gain a superior knowledge to fly in a world of clouds and weather systems that otherwise would be the means of his destruction. So it is with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we soften our hearts and place ourselves in His hands, but at the same time gain greater knowledge of His world through study and prayer, then we are allowed to see things through our Spirit eyes and we can enter and penetrate a world of new experiences that lift us from just living in a restricted mortal world. Yeserday, when flying home I was able to fly “on top” of clouds which covered most of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington and then penetrate a layer of clouds to make an instrument approach to Boeing field which brought me home. Very few people saw the beauty of the setting sun filtering through a spectacular lenticular cloud on top of Mt. Rainier and its brilliance extending through the cloud layers as I descended to earth. How very fortunate I am!!! How grateful I am!!!

I must spend a few hours now paying bills – which I detest, but it is made easier by the rich moments I have spent this morning reading the scriptures and recording my thoughts. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the abundance we have been given and the nature of the stewardship we have been given to manage. We are out of debt so that we can of our own free will contribute to the welfare of others that “we might esteem our brethren as ourselves”. Norma and I have been given a large family to manage and considerable resources. We must organize our time and efforts and activities that we might effectively manage our stewardship effectively. It is in this sense that I don’t mind keeping our affairs in order. However, deep in my heart I long for us to reach a state where we can live the law of consecration – So!!! back to the mundane things of life.

Dec 29, 1973

We have gathered as a family to listen to the funeral of Pres. Harold B. Lee – Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

What a shock!! A feeling of emptiness to hear of his death on Wed. night, Dec. 26. He was in good health and was such a vigorous leader. He had done so many things during his short tenure of around 18 months. He talked “straight” and was beloved by the entire church. We had all felt that he would lead us for 20 or more years. Surely the Lord has specific designs in the scheme of things to take his life at this time.

I feel a spiritual awareness that perhaps now we are to see the latter day Moses referred to in the 103rd sec of D&C.

Were it not for the fact that our individual relationships were directly with the Lord and our individual testimonies and conversion of and to the Gospel of Jesus Christ were the direct line of communication and strength for each of us individually, we would be very insecure in the latter-day world with its many changes and challenges.

The testimony of the life of Pres. Lee indicates to us that a man or woman who is righteous may be taken anytime according to the call of the Lord. With death it is a time of joy for the ones who “passes” because of the glorious change in his life – but for those who remain behind it is a time of great mourning. As Pres. Lee’s life has been an example, I see that my life has been of little consequence. I say this in honest humility without self-pity. Would that I might someday know and live in the midst of these great and noble spirits, such as Pres. Lee, who have so nobly walked the earth. Nevertheless, I rejoice that I have participated in some rich experiences with wonderful people in my family, saints in my ward and Stake, and my brothers and sisters of “the world”. May God sustain me and grant me the desire to live a worthwhile life with some accomplishments that will benefit others according to the plan of our Lord as revealed in his gospel.

Dec 26, 1973

We tried this year to cut down on the giving of presents and instead give the money to a needy family. This we did. As a family we gave $200 to a family that has recently lost their husband and father and now find themselves in a markedly changed financial condition. We were indeed blessed. Carol came up with the idea that we be assigned a given name of someone in the family and make a present for them. The presents were wonderful. It is evident that there is a great deal of talent in this family. This was the best and most exciting part of our Christmas and we excitedly plan to do it again next year. Jane brought presents to each of us from Spain. I showed all the family what we had accomplished in our genealogy work and told them that it was necessary for the Farmer children to come to know the Anderson, Evans, Holm, Southwich line of the family because we would be intimately associated with them on the other side of the veil. I was greatly pleased about their response. We certainly have the Spirit of Elijah with us in regard to the living and now I feel it will become more developed for those who have gone before us. We need them as advocates to guide our family in the troubled time ahead.

President Badger (Stake President) called on Christmas day to tell me of his love for us and how he valued our friendship and also that he regrets that we do not see much of one another. I am really amazed by this because I hardly even see Pres. Badger. My church position never really calls for me to see him except at High Priest Quorum meetings once every three months. I certainly feel a great respect and love for him and sustain him in his position as my Stake President. I hope that the time will come when we can continue to be as and more productive but will be able to savor and enjoy our relationship with others to a greater extent than we do now. I am grateful that others care about us.

This Christmas was also special because Norma gave Eric a present which was her personal life history. This means so very much to me because now I can make copies for all the children. There is no greater present than this – giving of oneself and sharing the precious moments of a special life.