Author: Sagacity

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Visitors in OKC

I have uploaded a couple more pictures to the 2008 album.  The first is of our first visitors to our humble home in Oklahoma City.  Pete and Heather Schultz stopped by on their way to Louisiana.  They could not stop long so we treated them to dinner, a little conversation, and they were on their way.  They were so quickly in and out I don’t believe they even used the restroom.  But hey, they got some of Amanda’s great home cooking.  I hope they travel safely.  They were planning on crashing (not literally) somewhere between Dallas and Houston.  It has been at least 10 years since I last saw Heather.  She graduated two years before me.  Pete looked and seemed familiar to me but I don’t know when I would have met him.  He seemed to remember me as well.  Anyhow, it was great to catch up with them.  I cracked a joke at one point I learned might have been very insensitive.  I really don’t know, I hope not.  It probably will be the last time they come to visit.  Hopefully it is due to location and not my bad humor.

The next three photos are some of my soon-to-be world famous mushrooms.  I have been growing quite the crop of them.  I think we had so much dead matter in the lawn from a very dry summer and then the watering every day for the reseeding helped the crop.  As you can see, some of them were up to about 10 inches across.  I haven’t a clue if they were edible, but I am sure I could have sold them either way.  Good money if they were the magic kind!  In the one picture you can see me pushing my little reel mower.  Yes, I purchased a reel mower brand new!  I have to admit, I believe it is the most novel thing in the neighborhood.  At least a half dozen people have stopped and asked me where I got it.  One guy even wanted to know how it worked.  I explained it and he went on his merry way.  The one neighbor across the street who asked to mow our lawn regularly, commented it would be great for saving gas.  That was one reason I purchased it.  Next, it would be an instrument of exercise.  I also know they are supposed to be much kinder on cutting the grass.  Rather than whipping and ripping the grass, this slices it nicely.  It promotes happy grass!

The last picture is of an intruder in our home.  You will notice by his size, he is more than 3 inches across.  Yep, he is a little Wolf Spider.  Harmless, but enough to make Amanda on pins and needles for weeks.  Spiders are usually friends, not enemies.  Amanda is not so sure.  Therefore the poor little creatures meet an untimely end in our home.  The best part about wolf spiders is they will eat cockroaches.  That argument still doesn’t convince Amanda we should keep them alive, even if I transport them from the home.

Amanda found herself a job.  She starts on Monday.  She will be working at the Dental Depot just a few blocks from our home.  She will be administering anesthesia full time.  The one thing she thought she would never need or use is now her first full time job.  I just hope it isn’t mind numbing work!!

I continue pressing along in school.  I am very much enjoying civil procedure and torts.  Contracts is a bit dry and we haven’t really got into legal writing and analysis.  Apparently it will be a doozy.  I am enjoying Ambulance Recognition and look forward to Ambulance Pursuit next year.

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Prophets after the Old Testament? The New Testament says so.

Here is the response to a friend I met here in Oklahoma City.  We met most randomly and when he found out I was a member of the church he made it clear he was once a member.  He left for a number of questions he had and could not find answers to.  I asked if I might take a stab at them.  He gave me the three questions and I wrote them down with his e-mail.  The first question dealt with why the end of the Old Testament says “The End of the Prophets” and yet we believe in prophets after the fact.  I told him that was a fairly simple answer as the New Testament answered the question for us.  Here is my response.  I am not convinced it is the most orderly way to present it, but I think it does pretty well for doing it all in one sitting.

I have been looking up these scriptures for a couple of weeks now and trying to piece things together.  You will notice the Bible Dictionary is paraphrased (although not cited!) as well as a couple of other documents like the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

If I royally confused something, or need some more clarification, please let me know.  I already know I messed up the citation markings and format.  I am so confused on them at the moment.  I am sure law school will sort me out very soon! 

Lee,

I know I am delayed in my answers.  Moving into a new home, starting law school, and getting a host of other things squared away take time.  Additionally, I want to prepare some to give a quality and more comprehensive answer to your question.  These are not questions easily answered in one short sentence or two.  I expect you do not want just an answer, but also some scriptural references to reinforce what I am talking about.  Therefore, some of the answers may take a couple of e-mails.

The first question relation to prophets ending with the old testament seems to me pretty straight forward.  “If the end of the Old Testament states ‘The End of the Prophets’ why do you believe there were prophets afterward?”  However, in doing some homework, I find out it is not easily contained in a few short statements with a scripture reference or two to back it up.  While the gospel is very simple, we can dig in deep to find all sorts of nuances.  That is what is so beautiful about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It comprehends all things and is simple enough a child can understand it.

Initially, the question is, what is a prophet?  The classic Merriam-Webster gives 5 definitions.  1) one who utters divinely inspired revelations.  As one who writes the prophetic books of the bible or as one regarded by a group of followers as the final authoritative revealer of God’s will. 2) one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight. 3) one who foretells future events. 4) an effective or leading spokesman for a cause, doctrine, or group. 5) the last definition is the one used by Christian Science which I don’t think is of any relevance to what we are speaking since Christian Science is not part of our discussion.  That seems pretty straight forward.  I don’t think we will differ there.  Let’s recap some of it more directly with Christian theology.

The work of a Hebrew prophet was to act as God’s messenger and make known God’s will.  Often the message was usually prefaced with the words “Thus saith Jehovah.”  They taught men about God’s character, showing the full meaning of his dealings with Israel in the past.  It was part of the prophetic office to preserve and edit the records of a nations’ history; and such historical books as Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Sam., 1 and 2 Kings were known by the Jews as the former Prophets.  It was also the prophet’s duty to denounce sin and foretell its punishment.  He was to be, above all, a preacher of righteousness.  When the people had fallen away from a true faith in Jehovah, the prophets had to try to restore that faith and remove false views about the character of God and the nature of the Divine requirement.  In certain cases prophets predicted future events, e.g., there are the very important prophecies announcing the coming of Messiah’s kingdom; but as a rule a prophet was a forthteller rather than a foreteller.

I don’t believe you would have any issues with what we have characterized as a prophet thus far.  I think that pretty well generalizes what most individuals see when looking at the prophets of the Old Testament.

Whether being translated from the greek or the hebrew, the equivalent word basically means, ‘inspired teacher’.  These senses all include the idea of prophecy.  As is apparent, the words come from essentially the same place.  A prophet is a person who possesses the capacity of prophecy.  It is required then that we look into what prophecy means.

Revelations 19:10 tells us, “…I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”  A testimony of Jesus Christ requires revelation and prophecy.  When the Spirit of God speaks to our hearts and we feel the confirming witness of Jesus Christ, that is revelation.  At that point we can say to ourselves, “if I believe, I will be saved” or “through Jesus Christ I will be resurrected” or “because of Christ I will be raised up to his everlasting kingdom” or some other variation.  Indeed, if I say to myself or another person that according to such and such a principle you will be saved or damned, that is prophecy.  You are a foreteller of circumstances which can and will occur according to your knowledge of Jesus Christ.  If Revelations is correct, and I testify it is, then your testimony of Jesus Christ in your life makes you a prophet.  For without the witness of Christ until salvation through revelation you would have neither faith nor hope of those things which are to come.  Paul in Hebrews 11 mentions a number of prophets and even Sara and comments in verse 13, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”  They were all prophets because they had a testimony of Jesus and looked forward to his promises.  These individuals were first prophets to themselves and to others.

The fact that everyone can be a prophet is mentioned in several places throughout the scriptures.  Moses voiced his approval of two of the Seventy who were prophesying in the camp.  “And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them” (Numbers 11:29).  In the next chapter he tells the people how to tell a false prophet from a correct one giving affirmation to other prophets than just himself.  “And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.  My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.  With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches: and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:6-8).  “And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20).  “Surely God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

If all who have a testimony of Jesus have prophecy, then all who have a testimony of Jesus are prophets.  Moses desired that all people were prophets having prophecy and a testimony of Jesus.  These prophets must maintain the testimony of Jesus thereby maintain that spirit of prophecy and revelation.  All the Lord’s people can be prophets as long as they maintain that testimony of Jesus and the attached revelation and prophecy.

According to this line of reasoning, as long as there is an individual with a testimony of Jesus, we have prophets upon the earth.  Indeed, I would argue the New Testament teaches us that prophets did not end with the Old Testament.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John” (Matthew 11:12-13).  The prophets and the law prophesied until John the Baptist.  This does not distinguish a stop at the end of Malachi’s time.

Christ was known for prophesying.  Indeed, they mocked him for it.  “And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands” (Mark 14:65).  If Christ did in fact prophesy, he was a prophet after the Old Testament.  “And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?” (Luke 22:64).  “Saying, Prophecy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? (Matthew 26:68).

Zacharias prophesied, “And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,” (Luke 1:67).

Paul talks about prophecy as one of the gifts, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith:” (Romans 12:6).  He speaks as if they happen presently, “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.” (1 Corinthians 11:4).  “To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues” (1 Corinithians 12:10).  “And thou I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have charity, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2).  “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edified the church.  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:3-5).  He certainly is encouraging prophesying there, which makes those individuals doing the prophesying prophets.

Indeed not only does Paul encourage prophesy, he warns us against denying it with the very succinct, “Quench not the Spirit.  Despite not prophesyings.  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21)  To Timothy, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (1 Timothy 4:14).

Peter, the leader of the church, had a few things to say about prophecy as well.  “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:19-21).

If these instances are not enough to show that prophecy, and therefore prophets, were well and alive in the New Testament, how about instances where there will be prophets to come testified in the New Testament?

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelations 11:3).  These two witnesses will prophesy and stand as prophets to Jerusalem at some later day yet to come.

Well, I have held so far that having the gift of prophecy entitles one to be a prophet.  I have shown where a number of instances show that prophecy was still alive and well in the New Testament.  What about the testimony of the New Testament of prophets?

The people of Jesus’ day considered John the Baptist a prophet.  “And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.  The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?  And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not believe him?  But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.” (Matthew 21:24-26).  “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (Luke 16:16).  John was considered present day for them.  Even Jesus Christ states that the prophets were until John.  This is to the present moment and even after Jesus Christ was born.

John was blessed by his father Zacharias, “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:” (Luke 1:76).

Luke eludes the prophets are still around, “As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:” (Luke 1:70).

Peter indicates the same thing.  In fact, he even says Christ is the prophet who Moses testified.  “But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled…And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.  And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.  Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.  Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in they seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. (Acts 3:18-26).  “Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” (John 6:14).

After the death of Jesus Christ, there are mentions of prophets.  “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”  (Acts 13:1).  They even mention them by name.  “And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.” (Acts 15:32). “And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.” (Acts 21:10).

What is more, the prophets are mentioned as being a part of the church.  “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:19-20).  Now that scripture does not clarify the fact that the church has presently prophets and apostles.  But it does state Jesus Christ was definitely among the apostles and prophets, in fact the chief cornerstone of them.  However, the next chapter makes it clear prophets are a part of the New Testament church, “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his hold apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” (Ephesians 3:5).  “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; (Ephesians 4:11-12).

Anyhow, I think that should all suffice for the moment.  I believe I have showed very clearly that prophecy, prophets, and the testimony of Jesus certainly did not cease with the Old Testament.  The New Testament is replete with all of the above.  Indeed, Paul makes it clear that prophets are one of the fundamental and operating parts of the church.  In fact, all prophets take their cue from he who was a prophet in every sense, even Jesus Christ!

It is my testimony that Jesus Christ lives, that he suffered in Gethsemane, that he died on the cross, and that he was resurrected on the third day.  It was the testimony of all true prophets who have ever lived.  In fact, Jesus Christ bore testimony of it himself.  He was the one who was to be lifted up.  It is through his name, his power, and his capacity that the church of God was organized and continues to operate even until this day.

If you have questions concerning this, please feel free to e-mail you.  I have been pretty exhaustive in the references I could find.  I hope it is very clear what I am trying to show.  As I get a chance, I will start working on your other questions.

Paul Ross

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Starting in Earnest

What little tidbits could I update you on this day?  What has been happening in life?

I finished reading the Book of Mormon for the year.  I was a few days ahead of schedule and pretty excited about that.  I have dedicated myself to answering the questions about LDS doctrine from Lee the Lowe’s Delivery Man.  I just haven’t had time to respond, plus I have been doing some research.  If you want to help, I posted the questions on an earlier post a week or so ago.

In church, oddly enough, I saw a lady walking out of the chapel about midway through the Sunday School lesson.  My first thought, “She reminds me of a Wall”.  I quickly dismissed it as I am in Oklahoma City and surely a Wall would not be here.  After Sunday School as we were walking out, I looked at this lady sitting in a pew near the back.  We looked at each other I am sure with the same degree of puzzlement.  She made the comment, “I heard you reading and thought that sounds like Paul Ross.”  I commented about seeing her facial silhouette as she was walking out and thinking she reminded me of a Wall.  Sure enough, it was Luann Wall who I graduated high school with.  Who would ever have thought.  Right before we left to drive out here we were visiting friends.  One of the friends said he was going to see Rick and Kathy Wall and I asked him to tell them hello for me.  Since Luann has a twin sister, I sheepishly asked which one she was.  Erika, her sister, had been in my stake at Utah State.  Since I was in a Stake Calling then, I would see her regularly in the halls of when I attended that ward.  Luann told me who she was and then I went to call her Leann later.  I am such an idiot.  Anyhow, exciting days.  I have a girl from high school, whose ward I attended in Acequia, and who I had a definite interest in for a good while in about junior high.  Her husband is in the Air Force and is based here.  We have agreed to do dinner when her husband is back in town.  Oddly, the thing that bothers me is this; after serving in England and living all over the country, she recognized my voice.  I doubt it was my accent as it is has been mutilated by cultures.  What was it that was so distinctive that Luann Wall thought across the chapel, “That sounds like Paul Ross?”

Law school is providing some interesting a quick insight into myself.  I can be diligent in studying.  I always knew that.  I still have the old struggle of getting the ball rolling.  I am easily distracted.  Once I get down and dirty, I roll in it for hours at a time.  But somehow, maybe it is the age and bad knee, I just struggle getting down into the mire.  Perhaps it is too long away, but I always had this problem before.  Now is the chance to conquer it.  After all, I am making the decision to pass the bar now.  Every decision of every day is determining that passing rate a little more.

This evening we had a foundation man and a plumber here to crawl with me in our dank crawlspace.  One finds a quick brotherhood in dark spider infested places.  We got our lowest bid yet for the work on the foundation.  All cracks fixed with mortar, more joists to support a sagging bathroom and utility room, and some quality piers.  All for roughly $1900.  The plumber told us a rough estimate for the materials alone would be about $1000.  We have to pull most of the plumbing out for the foundation men since the joist in need of reinforcement is in the plumbing heart of the home.  I am pretty excited to get all the work done.  He said we could pay him as we have the money for the labor.  For which I am glad to hear.  We can pay for the materials up front and then probably pay him the rest within a week or two.  We have one more plumber to come and give us a bid.  He was supposed to come tonight but did not show.  Guess he wasn’t all that interested in the job.

In other conversation with the foundation and plumber men.  Mr. Foundation emphasized getting gutters on the house and getting water away from the home.  That is certainly on the plans.  He emphasized sooner than later.  He will just have to wait until we can afford it.  I have no idea how much new gutters and drip caps will be (which I found climbing on the house to actually be missing in some places!).  What is worse, I have a few eaves that the wood is rotten and it will need to be replaced to even put on a gutter!  Ugh.  One thing after another.  The plumber was kind enough to point out that it was as hot and steamy as a sauna under the house.  That happens to be from the fact Amanda was doing laundry and our dryer vent goes below the house.  Not out, under.  He attributed the dryer vent to the destroyed floor joist right next to the vent.  Since I told him I wanted a spigot the back of the house, when he makes the hole in the foundation to just put in the vent and duct as well.  Two stones killed with one bird there!  The plumber said he could solve my freezing pipe problem as well.  Oh, he even will install the new bathroom tub, to boot!  We will have a new house here.  Now we just have to get an electrician in here to take a look at things too.  I have found more wires laying on the ground under the house, none of which I dare play with too much.  Some of them have connections held together by electrical tape.  We will be poor when we are done, but hey our house will supposedly be worth more!

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Law School Orientation

The Sprinky post received quite a number of comments.  I appreciate hearing from you.  For those of you who have requested, there is a photo of Sprinky available in motion.  He is in the 2008 album.  If you look closely you can see the water swirling in front of him.

On to other business, it has been a crazy couple of days.  I am starting to get my feet wet in the practice of law.  They are breaking us in quickly with a week of orientation.  They might as well call it, “The Crash Course in Writing Briefs”.  I am sure I have little or no idea what is really in store but I am enjoying it so far.

We have heard from the President of the Oklahoma Bar Association giving us advice.  Justice Yvonne Kauger of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma swore us in.  Our professors have done all they can to get the point across we need to study hard.  I have found 4 other LDS students with whom I have already studied and car-pooled.  Things are looking good.  The comments of one professor already have me thinking in my moments of down time.  He told us that we have to make the decision we are going to pass the bar exam now.  Every decision from this point out will be in conjunction with that decision.  Shall I watch TV or study the law.  Shall I do this or study the law.  Pointing out every indiscretion could keep us from learning and weaken our position of passing the bar.  Wow, for a test more than 3 years down the road, my seconds now will matter?  Looking at it in that light, we have either been preparing or not for the past 20 years haven’t we?

Then again, the scriptures teach us to think like this regularly for the bar exam, the Final Bar.  With a capital F.  Every day, every thought, every action, every desire is making up our constitutions for the final day.  The thought of our little moments now making a big difference later are not new to Saints.  D&C reminds us to labor in what is called today, not for tomorrow.  Alma refers to live as a probationary state.  Even President Monson in his maxims talks of acting today for in living for tomorrow we end up with a bunch of empty yesterdays.

I head back to my studying.  Just this night, I have learned TB centers are considered nuisances in close proximity to others.  Undertakes as well.  Cemeteries and mausoleums are not.  Slaughterhouses are not.  Who knows what the next case will teach me.  Obviously we are learning about nuisances and the legal rules applying.  This is just a class to teach us how to read cases and brief them, this isn’t even a real class yet!  However, the most hilarious line tonight was about how the people wanting a mausoleum don’t have the grounds to sue.  Obviously, if they had the grounds, they wouldn’t want a mausoleum!  I went back and reread the statement and saw I read it wrong, but dang it was funny at the moment.

You want to know what is even more sad?  I have been doing some genealogical research on a couple of lines in Washington.  All the cases I referenced are from the State of Washington.  This mausoleum is from Tacoma, Washington and the case is in 1920.  My first thought was, “I wonder if there are any Andress’, Jonas’, or Carpenter’s in this Mausoleum?”  The slaughterhouse case was from south of Colville, Washington.  Colville just happens to be the town where I have several individuals who disappear and I cannot find where or what happened to them.  Not to say the slaughterhouse is my answer, but I have personally been to all these locations in the past 6 months!  Perhaps that is what is making the first few days so interesting.

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It’s Sprinky, such a wonderful toy!

I have uploaded about a dozen new Jonas photographs.  They are from the cousins in Washington State.  They have been sitting in my e-mail for months now and I finally pulled them out, cataloged them, and posted them!  I still have not named the rest of the European Trip photos.

I have to mention my new toy.  Yesterday at Ace Hardware, my favorite place in Oklahoma City, I was looking at sprinklers.  I was going to reseed some of the front and side lawns and knew I would need a good sprinkler.  I don’t know what overcame me, I just had to!

All those lawns I sprayed, I saw this certain type of sprinkler.  I always thought they were really cool and wanted one.  Additionally, if I ever had a sprinkler catch my hose or have problems, it was typically this same sprinkler.  It was a love/hate relationship.  My Grandma had one until she got a sprinkler system.  He is one of those fancy little sprinklers that look like a miniature tractor.  Their front wheel goes over the hose and the hose is a track for the sprinkler to follow.  Then the water going through the sprinkler turn the little transmission so that the wheels propel it forward and it also pulls its hose behind it.  They have been around since the early 60’s and I think they are ingenious!  With the new lawn, I would have to keep it moist for the seed to germinate and I didn’t want to keep moving the sprinkler.  I broke down and purchased it.

Upon returning home, I announced my new purchase.  As I was a bit sheepish about the whole thing Amanda asked how much he cost.  She then emphasized the point we will have to go without food for an entire week to pay for my indulgence.  In the process of our laughter, I slipped and called it a sprinky instead of a sprinkler.  Well, that is his new name.  Every time I see him wandering the yard doing his job, I laugh and think of his name.  Yep, if only purchasing a car these days brought about the same passion.  Sprinky might as well be my pet.  Since he is a bit more expensive and novel, Ace warned me about this, he tends to walk off.  Therefore, with great pride, at the end of his watering day, I unhook him and put him in the garage on the bench, right next to the pickup.  I am retaining some of those itty bitty farming roots; parking my tractor in the shed at night!  Perhaps one day I will even pull out some wax for him…

As I crawled out of the crawl space, I saw him sitting there waiting patiently.  I had to turn him off to enter the crawl space.  The song came for the Slinky commercials.  “It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky, it’s such a wonderful toy…”  Well change the name to Sprinky and it works perfectly.  Now as I wander my little piece of ground, I either sing the Slinky song or the portion of “Give Said the Little Stream” where it might apply to some small part, “I’m small I know but wherever I go, The grass grows greener still.”  The first would be about him, the second would be his theme song.  (I am laughing so hard I am crying!  This is hilarious!)

On a more somber note, I have inspected the underbelly of my home.  The ruling has been pronounced.  The plumbing has to be replaced.  One bathroom has to completely be avoided because any flow of water in the bathroom creates a flow under the home.  Additionally, I have two floor joists that have twisted off their piers and a structural/foundation company has to come in and place a joist beside them to lift the home back up.  Just happens to be, those two joists are beneath the other bathroom, utility closet, and hot water heater.  All the plumbing there has to be moved to allow for the floor joists.  Besides, what is present is a patchwork of 70 years of plumbing.  I would do it myself but I have lead sewer pipes, copper running pipes, PVC for the main bathroom, and this hosing stuff for the utility closet.  With such a mess and having to move it, might as well rip it out and start over.  What is even worse, I have pipes still connected to other pipes that are so corroded they are sawed off, but still connected to water pressure!  Did I mention our cold and hot water to the washer leaks so bad the pipe looks like a rust pillar?

The next pronouncement is more happy.  The termite damage as a whole can be confined to two parallel boards in the subfloor of the home.  My impression was I had whole floor joists that were missing from termites.  Not true!  I have termite damage in the subfloor, very little in the hard wood floors, and in the 2X4’s at the base of the NW and SE corners of the home.  We will start a termite treatment and all should be well.  While I do have sagging in the NW corner of the home it is not from termites.  So when I have the floor joists fixed, they will also jack up the NW corner of the home and we will be good to go.  The sagging that was experienced in the home is from poor construction, not termites.  Initially there were 20 foot expanses of floor with only a 2X6.  No wonder the rooms were all sagging!  As part of the closing, those sagging floors were fixed.  Why the twisted beams were not corrected, as per the contract, will be discussed with the owner of the company this coming Monday.  I do have another company coming in to give us a bid for the remainder of the work, as well as plumbers for the plumbing.  All in all, our little home’s underbelly should be good to go after about $5,000.  That hurts, I don’t like it, but it has to be done.

The part that will hurt the worst is the home was redecorated with the sagging foundation and floors.  Jacking up those two parts of the home will definitely show some cracking and need fixed, as will replacing our plumbing in the walls.  Those expenses I can fix and pay for later.  I am sure the tile floor in the bathroom will need serious fixing as well as the new shower and sink in that bathroom.

Anyhow, enough of our home woes.  This home will be set for the millennium when I am done with it.  Now, like waiting for water to boil, just waiting for that grass to grow with Sprinky’s tender care.

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Packing it into the nest

I uploaded another 340 photos for those who are interested.  They cover the remainder of the time we were in England.  They start about Harlech, Wales through London.  I have not named them yet, nor the ones from the last batch.  I will be sure to let you know when I finally do.  Which really means, you shouldn’t look at them until I have them all named!

Another day in paradise.  We keep plugging along.  We finally gathered all our possessions from rented space into the nest today.  At least we have the account closed with U-haul storage now.  They seem like good people.

Our washer was delivered today.  Our large purchases from Lowe’s are now complete.  Frigidaire has reaped some income from our purchase of a refrigerator, washer, and dryer.  (I also learned yesterday I have spelled refrigerator incorrectly all these years.  I spelled it refridgerator.  Darn English language.)  Interestingly, the man who delivered the blessed washer asked where in Utah I was from.  He deducted it from my 801 cell phone number.  I confessed my wife was from Kaysville and he admitted he grew up in Layton.  Small world.  I found out he is now an ordained minister whose sermons go over the trucker radios.  I wouldn’t have thought of a ministry over the radio, but all the best to him.  I found out he wasn’t allowed to attend LDS services growing up, and then did when he could.  He joined the church and then his mother moved to Oklahoma.  He had some questions that he apparently asked the Bishop and the Bishop couldn’t answer them.  I don’t know if he didn’t want to hear the answers or if the Bishop just wouldn’t or didn’t take the time.  He gave me the three main questions and his e-mail address.  I have dropped him an e-mail to confirm the address and then have to start putting together the answers befitting his situation.  Here they are in a nutshell.  If you would like to write with suggestions on how to respond, I would appreciate it.

The end of the new testament states, ‘The End of the Prophets’.  If it is the end, why do we have Joseph Smith or any others afterward?  A typical evangelical question posed.  I will have to establish what a prophet is, what prophecy is, and that even the Savior himself was a prophet.  Then we can build from there.  Certainly cannot forget Revelations stating that to have a testimony of Jesus is to have the spirit of prophecy.

The second question dealt with the old testament stating there was no God before, and no God afterward.  If we believe that, how can we believe in a separate Godhead and other ‘Gods’?  This one is a bit more tricky to build common ground.  I will have to revisit and do homework.  This is another common protestant question designed to create doubt.

Lastly, the question probably most difficult, and one I may not answer as I intend to go in order and discuss them slowly.  For the doctrines really don’t make it clear and it is one of those areas of gray.  I have my thoughts lined out but they are mine and not really to be shared.  Besides, I cannot back them up with doctrine and I don’t think he is interested in statements of latter day prophets.  But, once we become God in our little world elsewhere, is it given to us, or do we create it.  Next, what do we do once we have our own world or universe?

Coming back down to earth.  We found a dead mouse behind some drawers.  Amanda was not happy.  I just laughed.  After all, being a country boy you might as well say I grew up with mice.  But we did work out a deal.  I remove the mice, dead or alive, and she changes the diapers.  I don’t like diapers, she doesn’t like mice.  Boy, am I glad we got that worked out!

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Quail Creek Ward

I know some of you were interested in the first impressions from the first time we attended our ward here in Oklahoma City.  Here are a couple.

Testimony Meeting was interesting.  Mostly, they were the typical ‘thankimony’ but they were good heartfelt ones.  There was plenty of empty time where we all sat there pondering the life of Abraham Lincoln, or Jefferson Davis depending on which side you fall.  The main theme of the testimony, if there was one, was family history.  Which struck me as a bit unusual from my experience.  Amanda and I were happy to note that our most recent callings were both filled today with new members in this ward.  Meaning, we probably won’t have to worry about those callings again, at least for a good while to come.

Sunday School was most interesting.  Having spent far too long as a Stake Sunday School President, I am very analytical of what goes on in the teaching of a ward.  Here were just a few quick observations.  I tried to review the lesson at least generally so I knew what would be discussed.  The teacher took the liberty of introducing the lesson and then went off about a talk in which talked quite a bit about the atonement.  He did the big no no of straying from the outline of the lesson, thereby discouraging those who prepared, and in a sense making himself totally in control of the lesson.

Next, if we look beyond his high esteem of himself, he spent most of the time on a talk given by President Bednar in 2001.  While it is a good, genuine talk, even published by BYU; it does not fall under the heading of a church publication.  Only official church publications are to be used in Sunday School.  Here we have a talk printed from BYU speeches of the year, and by a man who is not a general authority of the church (at the time).  He should have just pulled out the old Mormon Doctrine, by Bruce R McConkie, it falls under the same category.  I know there is much good doctrine in there, but also a few unofficial doctrines.  It still isn’t published by the church, and therefore out of the question for use in Sunday School.

Even better, the talk has a couple of points which have been clarified by General Authorities before and since.  Not at all that President Bednar was wrong, but a main reference of his talk comes from President David O McKay.  The quote he uses has been clarified by other General Authorities, namely Dallin H Oaks.  If the church had put this talk into correlation and official publications, I am sure it would have included some of these other clarifications.  For example, the quote by President McKay goes something like we make bad men good, and good men better.  In 1998 as a missionary we were very seriously taught from a talk by Elder Oaks that we are not here to make bad men good, or even good men better, we are here to make men Gods.  If you just want to make bad men good, and good men better, go to another church.  Don’t waste our time.  However, we have the Priesthood and the ordinances which make manifest godliness.  Anyhow, this point isn’t so much important as the first two, it really is getting down to semantics and intent of the talks.  Nevertheless, I was pretty upset to have prepared for a lesson that was never given.  The teacher went off on some talk he had impress him once at complete disregard for correlation or standard procedure of the church.  Most of the lesson was no less true, but it make a talking head of the teacher and removed the nourishing of one another.

Priesthood went very well.  People were very friendly and I feel very welcome into the quorums.  I look forward to getting to know more and serving therein.  We have a member of the Stake Presidency in the ward, as well as a Patriarch.  The CES Institute Director for the area is also in the ward and he committed me to Institute, of which I was happy to oblige.  Most interestingly, we then went to a combined High Priest and Elder Quorum lesson on of all things, Family History.  From what I gather from the lesson, this ward is pretty active when it comes to family history.  The temple and family history center appear to be very active.  I am glad to hear these things and look forward to being one of the humble herd following along.

As the church often works, we found out today of a dental hygienist in the ward.  Amanda visited with her for a while and it has really given us some hope for the prospects of her employment in the area.  Moreover, this good lady has a brother in law who will be in my law school class!  Meaning, I know now I am not the only LDS student in my class.  I probably have a study buddy now!  We have been fasting today that Amanda’s prospects and employment opportunities will be open, forthcoming, and available.  That door swung open to a degree today.  Hopefully this path will work out for our long term benefit while we are here.

I started up on the family history for the man I do the work for professionally yesterday.  It will be good to have a little income to help us out while we wait for employment and licensing for Amanda.  Things will go well in the Quail Creek Ward from all outlooks.  As long as we don’t end up having a run in with with Gospel Doctrine Teacher like in the Provo 1st Ward!

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Moving in

We are in the process of moving into our new little abode in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma State, United States of America.  We got the master bedroom mostly squared away, the living room, received our dryer and refrigerator today, and watered half the lawn.  Tomorrow we have the termite inspector coming to check things out.  I am going to climb under the house with him to take a look.  Not sure if I am excited about that.  Plus I can see the new joist work the contractors did for us to buy the home.  I am worried they were not honest since there is one spot in the floor of the home that sags quite a bit.

This is a good, solid little home.  The past occupants/fixer-uppers were not very well trained in the layout or work on a home.  It is quite obvious where they moved light switches, many are not very good moves.  If they were going to go through so much trouble to rewire some of the home, you would think they would put in 2-way switches or put in a new breaker box for the home.  The current one must date to the 60’s.  I found out the home has two ceilings.  The old lathe and plaster ceiling has another ceiling about 4-5 inches below it, at least in most rooms of the house.  I guess they grew tired of putting in the new ceilings and skipped the kitchen.  There is very little insulation in the attic space and it will need to be increased.  The poor air conditioner runs all day, so I am wondering what the inside of the walls look like.

Our poor lawn is almost dead.  Forget the garden existed, nothing but rotting shells of what was once edible plants.  At least the lawn did not grow much while we were not living here.  The chopped down tree in the front yard has plenty of runners to mow though.

We have moved everything from our storage unit except two book shelves, one heavy enough to require 3 men to move, and a 4 drawer filing cabinet.  I will be glad to let the storage unit out of our control some time next week.  Sadly, while carrying a tele down the stairs at the dock, I slipped and found myself sitting at the bottom of the stairs.  At least the tele was safe!  But I have some pretty nice bruises on my rear bumper and the bottom of my shoulder blades.  My right elbow took a pretty good hammering, but I already had a bruise there from my water bottle on the hike.  Amanda just laughed at me.  Good thing we have some entertainment around here.

The breeze-way between the garage and house is so big we fit all our storage in there.  Who knows what we will do with it when we get everything put away.  Perhaps we could put up a painting studio, a dance studio, or something.  Heating and air conditioning I am afraid is pretty poor in there, not to mention the insulation.  We will have to see.  Not enough money, or time, for all the projects I will probably have over the next 3 years.  We have some serious water rot of timbers on the roof.  The home has very few or no gutters, which is ultimately the problem.  But to put gutters on will require replacement of much of the wood on the eaves.  I haven’t a clue how to do that.  Guess I will have to read a DIY book.

So much to do, so little time to do it in, so little money to do it with!