Mormon

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Spraying the world

This past Saturday and Sunday was another log of interesting acquaintances and thoughts.  At least for me.
Saturday found me in Malad again.  I had to leave really early in order to get out of there at a decent time to head to Salt Lake City.  I left about 6:30 from Preston, and started spraying about 7:30 AM.  I am getting used to this early thing.  That does not mean I like it though.
One of the first jobs I did was for a Price family.  I caught my arm on the chain link fence and took a large chunk out of my forearm.  It was a great way to start the day.  I think I might be allergic to silk worm silk.  I walked under a tree with loads and I sneezed pretty regularly for the next hour or two.  I thought my poor lungs would give out by the time I was done.
There was this one lawn I was spraying.  Tim Burnett had this really cool recreation of an old time fueling station, like 1930’s.  He had created it out of all local materials.  Some of the signs were very interesting.  He came up and asked me some questions, then another neighbor, Don Hess, joined us.  Before long we were talking politics in Malad.  I am so dismayed that people go to such great lengths to do what they do.  They passed a bond (what a fitting term, let’s enslave the people) for a new jail.  Now, I have no qualms with a new jail, but what in the world does Malad need a 64 person jail for?  What is more, I am sure they will have somebody from outside design it and it will ruin the downtown spirit of Malad.  From the 20 or so neighbors who ended up weighing in on the street, either joining us, or just catching the conversation walking by, not one liked the idea.  I am not sure how they passed the bond if this is the sentiment.  What was even more disgusting, is that the person who was behind it had much to gain by the building of the jail.  As Tim was commenting, feathering his own nest at the expense of the community.  Whoever the guy, apparently also a policeman, gets to sell his land for the building of it.  Another neighbor commented how odd it is that the water line for the new jail is already being built (the street where we were talking was tore up) yet he still doesn’t have enough water pressure at his home to adequately water his lawn (we spray his lawn as well).  I have to admit,
I am really disgusted sometimes what happens in politics.
Larry drove over in my car to relieve me and finish what I did not finish spraying.  I headed quickly to Kaysville.  There I showered and changed, then Amanda and I headed to Salt Lake.  We found a great little parking spot and headed to Abravanel Hall for A Prairie Home Companion.  It was not his best show, I will admit.  In fact, some of the show was quite the letdown.  Usually they do a really interesting background on the areas that they go to.  There was nothing of that sort in this show.  Plus the news from Lake Wobegon actually was telling a story that he had already told, just with a different setup.  There was some of it which was a really good laugh.  Especially the Coffee Council.  I did enjoy lives of the cowboys as well.  I enjoyed the music the
most.  It was a surprise that Amanda did not know any of the songs.  The classic Americana songs which I remember singing at the county fair or other places, especially the sing songs in England, she did not know one of them.  The ones I thought were well known like Good Night Ladies, and In the Good Ole Summertime.
We finished the show and headed to Kaysville. There, we changed and got ready to attend the temple.  Amanda’s parents were finally able to join us for one.  We drove up to Ogden together.  I enjoyed the session.  I learned some good things this time.  Lately it seems I have been so tired I could not be in tune.  We finished and headed home, happy to have completed our goal of attending all the temples in Utah before leaving for Virginia.
Sunday arrived far too early for me.  We drove up to Tremonton for Jami Rupp’s farewell.  She is a sweet girl.  We then headed south to Brigham City for Jeanette Smoot’s farewell.  We had some time, so we tried to pay a visit to Lenard and Donna Bruderer, but we could not find their house and they were not answering their phone.  We went to the cemetery and walked around.  Of mention was the grave of Lorenzo Snow.  We then went down to the Box Elder Tabernacle with the intent of taking a nap on the lawn under a tree.  However, I wanted to walk around and the building ended up being open.  We watched a movie, took a tour, and the guy asked if we played organ.  I ended up playing the organ for an hour.  I was a bit rusty, but it came back.  One guy who came in for a tour even said he was honoured to hear me play.  (He must not go to church, they play better there!).
We headed to the farewell.  It was good to see everybody, most of which we saw also at Jami’s.  Jeanette gave a good talk as well.  Afterward we headed to the VFW Building for a little luncheon.  It was fun.  I enjoy good company.  It was good food too.
We had to leave to meet Nathan and Holly Wayment.  We were meeting them to sign the rental contract for their home in Glen Allen, Virginia.  We met them at the old Perry Tabernacle, now the Heritage Theatre.  We had a good visit with them.
We paid a visit to Grandpa in Plain City.  He was in a good mood, however he was headed to a viewing for another friend.  He said he liked the photos we gave to him.  We talked some about Hobart Day and I told him about meeting Carma Preece in Vernal.  He seemed interesting to know how she was doing.
Hobart Day was Grandpa’s half brother.  His father, John William Ross, had married a May Day (doomed marriage?) before my Great Grandmother.  He had a son who lived in West Virginia.  He was a preacher and married a Edna Montgomery.  He was knocked blind when he was 21.  Somebody threw something at him and hit him in the head.  He was blind from that point on.  He came out to visit Grandpa three times in his life.  The first two times he brought his wife.  Grandpa was telling me how he used to call him Big Brother.  They took him all over.  The last time he came out to visit, he came alone.  Grandpa was telling me that before he put him on the bus to send him home Hobart day made a few comments.  Something like, “I have been to Utah, been to a Mormon Sacrament, visited with a Mormon Bishop, now I can go home and die.”  Three days later he was dead.  Grandpa said he got a letter or two from Edna afterward she had dictated to someone to write for her.  But he did not know where they were and did not expect Edna to be around anymore.  Hobart died in 1983.
Before leaving we asked Grandpa if he knew Amanda’s Great Grandpa, Walter Wayment Hansen.  He said he did, he even helped him add onto his house.  Amanda found that interesting.
Grandpa had to go and we went to visit Glynn and Chyrrl Wayment.  Nate and Holly arrived right before us.  Glynn and Chyrrl both showed up shortly afterward.  Nate wanted us to stop and visit with his parents so we did.  They obviously knew Amanda’s Great Grandparents, they only lived a stone throw away.  I asked if Glynn knew Grandpa and he pointed to the white house to the south that he owns and said that Grandpa and Floyd Neilson built that house.  He said of course he knew him.  He had nothing but good to say about Grandpa.  The same for Amanda’s Great Grandfather.
We left and drove past her Great Grandparents home there in Warren.  I called Jennie Britzman and asked if she was going to be around.  She said she was.  We headed over.  Richard was there as well.  We were there for several hours.  We visited about life, Virginia, school, and I asked questions for family history.  Jennie’s mother was the sister to my Great Grandmother, Berendena (Dena) Van Leeuwen (married name Donaldson).  Jennie said that many people thought her mother Jane (Jantje in the Dutch) were twins.  She said that she liked Aunt Dena and Uncle Dave.
She told me that her mother used to have premonitions.  She knew of things before they happened.  When they were growing up in California she knew when the earthquakes were coming and would prepare for them.  One time she knew a big one was coming and told her husband, William Frederick Bremer.  He had become pretty edgy about her premonitions and did not want to hear of them.  He would tell her to not speak of them and that he did not want to hear them.  The same was on this occasion.  But she knew a big one was coming so she hired somebody to put guards on the shelves in the pantry to keep the bottles on the shelves.  But the time it took to get her husband to agree and for the work, he was only half done by the time the earthquake hit.  This was in the 1930’s in Los Angeles.  They lost half of everything in the pantry because it was not all guarded.
She knew when my Great Grandmother was going to have her accident.  She tried to convince Dena not to go where she was going.  But she went anyway, and got in the accident that eventually would take her life.
Jennie was telling me about a time when she was going to run to the store.  Her mother said that she saw Jennie flying through the air in an intersection.  But the ambulance was in the way so she could not see how her state was.  She plead with Jennie not to go but she did anyway.  She made it to the store alright, but on the way back she was t-boned by a semi that ran a stop sign.  Just like her mother said, the car was hit, the door flew open, and she flew across the intersection.  She was obviously knocked silly and did not remember any of it.  But it happened.  When they called her mother, she responded to those on the phone, “I know what happened, how hurt is she?”
Amanda commented that my family all have strange gifts.  I thought that was a funny comment.  But I suppose it is true.
Jennie (who turns 90 this year) told me that Uncle Dave (my Great Grandpa) was deathly afraid of earthquakes.  During the 1930’s when he was working in the area as a plumber he did some work in their house, especially after the earthquake.  When an aftershock would hit he would flee from house.  He would always run from the house when anything started to shake.  He commented to her once that he did not want to be in a basement and stuck down there if something happened.  Jennie said she used to like to tease him.  They would go to the window for the room Uncle Dave was in and then start shaking the window or screen.  They used to laugh and laugh to see a man as big as him jump and run outside.  She did not say if he ever knew it was them, but I don’t think he did.  I enjoyed this story.
We headed back to Amanda’s parents.  Mel and Shanna Thompson were there, Amanda’s grandparents.  We had a good little visit.  They were working on family history.  It was good to see them.  I did not know that Mel was born in Pingree, Idaho.
I headed home to Provo for work on Monday morning.  They have given me one last job to finish before I leave.  It is a good little job and will keep me busy.  It is to paint the walls in the crystal department.  I have been working on it since.
Last night I went up and met Amanda and her family at the Bountiful Temple.  We then went up Mueller Park with Rick for family photos.  It was fun.  I don’t know if I will like any of the photos, but it was fun.  Amanda’s cousin Sherise was there to keep us entertained.  We went out to eat Mexican at El Matidor (something like that).  I way overate.  It was very good food.
Anyhow, today we are packing to move to Virgina.  Moving day is fast approaching.  Looking forward to the trip!
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Back from Father’s Day

Another weekend with some visits to a far away land.  Well, at least another state.  We get around!  Colorado, Idaho, and Utah all in the last few weeks.  In the upcoming weeks, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Virginia.  We are looking forward to it.  It should all be an adventure.

We went up to Idaho for Father’s Day.  In typical Ross household fashion, they forgot we were coming.  A couple of grandchildren gave up their bed so we could have a bed to sleep in.  Jan had just returned from the hospital in the previous day from having a kidney infection.  I hope she improves quickly.

The next morning with nobody home, I left Amanda sleeping and went to a field out at Ridgeway.  I met Ted there and we ended up chatting for several hours.  The pump on his 4-wheeler died, so we ran to Murtaugh for parts.  They had what we needed, but we were hungry, so we ran to Kimberly.  The Maverick for some reason or another was not serving breakfast, so we ran to Eden for food.  They did not have anything desirable, so we headed to Burley.  We ended up settling for a breakfast at Burger King.  We enjoyed the time to chat.  He counseled me on my marriage, and I counseled him on his being Bishop.  It really weighs on him at the moment for a variety of reasons.  Some of which I hope no Bishop ever has to endure.  Our several hours were finally up with Amanda calling me.  She was finishing the laundry.  Ted really has some heavy burdens.  I hope I never am called to such a position.  He was curious what my ideas were on what he should do in a couple of scenarios.  The only thing I had to call on was mission experience, and they did not really seem to apply.

I went home, got ready for the day, and Amanda and I headed out.  We ran to visit some people, none of which it seemed were home.  Steve and Abby Whitesides, Dennis and Joan Isaak, Paul and Kathy Duncan, Warren and Sara Crane.  It was a good day.  We stopped for burgers at Burgers Ect.  Then we had to drive to Burley to pick up Jan’s granddaughter, Shyanne (spelling).  We picked her up and headed home.  We stopped at Andra’s and dropped off her wedding photo.  At home, I crashed for a couple of hours.  I had been fighting a cold since Friday afternoon.  The nap was great, and I think it was the breaking point.  I awoke and we met Kevin and Megan Orton for dinner at Perkins.  Dustin and Maren McClellan were to meet us, but I suppose they had more important things going on.  It was great to visit with Kevin and Megan again.  They seem like they are doing really well in their lives.  I am happy for them.  Ryan and Kegan were there, and they seem like good kids.  I hope they grow up to be good, faithful, diligent boys.

Sunday arrived and I slept in I think due to the cold.  We got ready and went to church.  I really enjoyed Elder’s Quorum, Sunday School, and Sacrament.  Sunday School was about David and how one little innocent thought can lead to a whole host of things.  A look, glance led to sin.  Not only that, the desire to hide sin led to greater iniquity.  It even cost someone their life.  They made the comment that the first sin was forgiven, but the second is what cost David his exaltation.  I had never heard this before and I have no idea where Brother Dibb got this from.  I e-mailed his Sister-in-Law and hope to find out.

After church, we ran to Andra’s house and picked up May and Andra.  It was great to see May for the first time in years.  She has matured and looks like a responsible young woman.  In visiting with her, it sounds like she truly has put her life on the right track.  I hope that is truly the case.

We drove to Darrel and Cindy Schmidt’s for Sunday Dinner.  There was quite the host there.  Cindy’s sister, Mary Lou, and brother, Lanny, were both there.  Lanny brought his son Jeremy, who seems to have pulled his life around as well.  I am glad to hear the family is progressing.  I hope many others will put there life in order.

Dinner was absolutely amazing.  I loved it.  I ate two full plates.  It was good to visit with the family and to see Cindy again.  Tia was there, but did not seem too interested in visiting.  I was told that she thinks the only time I call is when I want something.  Which is partially true.  She seems to have become so cynical and pessimistic, that it is hard to visit with her too often.  So I use my coming into town as an excuse to call, which means I also would like to get my car in for a service or something like that.  They go hand in hand.

Andra left with a friend and we headed back with May.  I forgot to go visit Armina Jonas Farnes in Kimberly.  We did visit Tuck and Kathy Taylor though.  That was fun.  I also got a bunch of temple cards back, most of which I will send to St. George to have the sealings to parents done.

We crashed and went to bed.  Monday morning dawned and again we were alone in the house.  I got to see Dad for a whole 15 minutes on Sunday.  We did give him his card and Father’s Day present, which was three photos from the reception.  He said he really liked them, especially the family portrait.  We got ready and headed out.  We met Brock for lunch at Perkins at 11:00.  We had a good visit with him.  He had to run off for an art teaching appointment.  It was good to visit with him.  I am glad he is doing good things with his life.

Afterward, we stopped to visit Ted and Becca Tateoka one last time.  We visited for probably about an hour.  Then went to pay a visit to Paul and Kathy Duncan.  We were there for about 2 hours.  We visited with Kathy and she updated on all the family and everything that was going on.

I was sad to realize that I was saying good bye to many of these people for the last time for several years.  Some of them possibly ever.  On the way back down, we stopped to see Grandpa.  He had left to go pick up his army buddy, Polke at the Greyhound Station.  We left him his two photos in a frame from the wedding.  I hope he appreciates them.  They were for Father’s Day as well.  We stopped to visit the Hemsley family, and they were happy and about the usual.  Jill has flown to Pennsylvania for a week of meetings.

Anyhow, that was the weekend.  Things are well here.  I worked yesterday and today.  People seems surprised that we are now in single digits for the amount of days I have left at work.  I am going to miss the painting and maintenance.
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Monticello and Vernal

This weekend was a great trip.  I don’t know if I have written this, but Amanda and I made a goal to hit all the Utah Temples before we move away.  We made this goal in Jan or Feb and have been working on it since.  Monticello and Vernal both posed a problem for achieving that part of what we wanted to do.  Why not knock them both out at once?  So we did.  We took this past weekend, drove down to Monticello on Friday and stayed the night.  We stayed at, and highly recommend the Monticello Inn (in the phone book as Triangle H) especially if you are LDS.  They were more than wonderful with us.  She even called the temple to make our reservation for the 8:00 session for the next morning.  We attended the 8:00 session and when we came out, got our photo (we are taking a photo with us and each temple as well, Amanda’s idea!) and headed out.  We drove back up through Moab, over to Fruita, Colorado, up through Rangely, Colorado and into Vernal.  It was a beautiful day for a drive.

Vernal turns out to be one of our favorite temples.  There is something about it.  It has more character than some, and it seemed more like home to me.  We were sitting in the chapel waiting to go on the next session when I kept looking at the only other couple in the room.  I was sure it looked like the parents of a friend from high school.  She looked younger though, and he had some chops, so I had my doubts.  Finally, I just had to know, walked up to them, and sure enough, it was Scott and Anita Jensen from Paul, Idaho.  Anita was a cub scout leader for me for a few years.  Bryan, their son, helped me secure a ring at a great price for Amanda last year.  We chatted, and were one of only a few couples on the session.  I will tell you what, there is something that is inspiring when the rays of the sun are coming through the veil when they lift the curtain before being introduced.  It just lit up the room and I loved it.

On the session was also a Shane Mayberry.  Afterward, I visited with him and asked if he knew a Carma Preece.  He said he went to school with her son.  I asked about her, and found out she only lived a block of two from the temple.  Before we left, by asking others, he had her address and phone number for me.  So, we are close, why not visit.  I gave her a phone call, she was home, and we were invited to stop.

She is the first person I have ever met who is related to me through the Ross line.  In fact, her maiden name is Ross and her father is the brother to my Great Grandfather.  It was interesting to look at her characteristics and physical makeup.  She must have barely have been over 5 foot.  Similar to most of my closer Ross relatives, other than my Dad, who inherited his height from the Donaldson side.  Amanda snapped a picture of a portrait of her parents.  Giving me the first copy of a photo I have of any of the other Ross siblings.  I have a rough, vague, damaged photo of my Great Grandparents, and nothing of them together.  My Great Grandmother died in 1925 after giving birth.  The baby also passed away with her.  For some reason or another, the Sharp line did not like my Great Grandfather, John William Ross.  So he was run off, and my Grandfather’s family farmed out to members of the Sharp family.  My Grandpa to the Ed Sharp family, Uncle Harold to the Delwin Sharp family, and Paul Ross to Fred and Vic (Sharp) Hunt.  The only thing we really know is that he moved to California.

He died in the Veterans Hospital in Livermore, Alameda, California.  As far as we can tell, all of his siblings ended up in California as well.  John had a sister named Fanny, who married a Calvin Dickerson Phibbs, who was the judge in Rupert, Idaho for a time.  Calvin’s father and some other family members are buried in Rupert.  But the Phibbs went to California as well.  Then there was a Robert Leonard Ross, and his life is very sketchy.  Have very little idea of him.  He was married to a Minnie Belle Hambrick, Rose Ann Clawson, and Ruby Leaster Hall.  The only one of these I could confirm was Rose Ann Clawson, who had been married to a Sanders, but he married her in Burley, Idaho.  Then there was Carma’s father, James Thomas Ross who settled in the Vernal area.  Apparently he was the one who went to Utah so his children could marry LDS.  They missed Virginia so much, they named their first child after their old home.  So, Carma’s older sister is named Vesta Virginia.

It seems to me that somehow they caught wind of the opening of the Sugar Factory in Paul, Idaho, so they moved there from Virginia.  I know the Phibbs were there before the Ross family was.  Fanny and Calvin were married in Virginia in 1906.  The Phibbs all moved to Idaho and then Fanny probably invited her other siblings to go.  Fanny arrived there sometime between 1912 and 1914 as children changed their birth locations.  My Grandpa has a half brother, Hobart Day, born in 1911 in West Virginia.  My Great Grandparents were married in Fort Logan, Colorado.  How that ever happened I will never know.  My Great Grandmother was married to a Mark Lewis Streeter, who gave another half sibling to my Grandpa, June Streeter.  Great Grandma went with Mr. Streeter and they operated a confectionery in Paul, Idaho named Streeter’s Confectionery.  There doesn’t seem to be records of this in Paul, other than a Hall’s Confectionery which according to my Grandfather would have been in the same location.  Whatever happened, my Great Grandmother divorced her Streeter husband in 1919.  My Grandpa is the oldest, born in Plain City.  Paul was born in Paul, John Harold in Burley, and Ernest Jackson in Plain City, who died.  So that pretty well breaks down the time in Idaho for my family.  My Great grandmother married Streeter in 1917 or so as June was born in June 1918.  Fanny and Calvin were there until after 1930, when their last child was born in Rupert that year.

James Thomas had only one child born in Idaho at Rupert.  She is a middle child, and the rest were born in the Vernal area.  That child, Sydney Bea was born in 1922.  As for Robert Leonard, he married the one wife in 1919 at Burley, but that is about all that is set in stone for him.

I do not know what the draw was to California.  All of them seemed to have died there.  I don’t know where Robert died, but I know it was in 1944 and everyone says it was California.  Nobody seems to know where, and I have not found a record.  My John William died in Livermore in 1948.  He remarried a Zane Coffey in Rock Springs, Wyoming.  We don’t know what happened to her, if they stayed together.  Fanny died in 1943 in San Francisco.  James died in Los Angeles in 1964.  California had such a draw that both of their parents, James Thomas Meredith (legally, but went by James Thomas Ross) and Damey Catherine Graham both moved to California and died in 1951 and 1933 in Fresno and Marysville respectively.  I do not know if my Great Great Grandparents ever came to Idaho, or spent any time in Utah.  Carma told me that she met her grandparents in California, so that makes it seem that while she has memory, they were not in the Vernal area.  Who knows for sure.  I seem to remember somewhere that James Thomas Meredith/Ross was a Bishop in California at one time, indicating he spent some time there, long enough to become acquainted and be called.  I don’t remember for sure if it was him or someone else who was called as Bishop.

Anyhow, it was interesting to visit with Carma.  She told me of a couple of visits to Grandpa and Grandma’s place.  She told me how impressed she was with how tender they were with Judy.  They have not visited Plain City since the early 1970’s.  She told me of a time that Grandpa came to visit them in Vernal.  She said they took them around and introduced them to the family and showed them the area.  The one comment that was interesting was that Grandpa used to swear up a storm.  According to her, every other word was a swear word.  I have never known him like that.  The only time I ever heard him swear was when the emphasis was needed, or another word sometimes just did not seem to fit.  She was surprised to learn that Grandpa and Grandma had become active.  I thought that was interesting.  She was even more surprised to learn that they both worked in the Ogden Temple for a few years.  Carma now works in the Vernal Temple.

It was good to sit and visit with her.  She loaned me a book that was given to her just the month before with all the descendents of James Thomas Ross (Jr).  I was excited about that.  It looks like we will have to call on Carma on the way to Denver at the end of this month.  To return the book and perhaps to glean some other memories from her mind.  She is 81 now, and who knows how much longer she could be around.  Getting into those ages, things change so quickly.  However, I hope she will still be around when we come to visit Utah again, and that we can pay her another visit.  Funny how things happen.

We had a great visit and we snapped a picture of Carma and me together.  I enjoy visiting family.  There are always more stories to hear.  I have many more, I record of all my visits in my regular journal.  Sorry you don’t get to read of some of those adventures.  Perhaps someday I will reiterate some of them here.
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Married Life

Well, now is the time for the update.  I know some have been wondering, so here you go.  I love it.  I am enjoying every aspect of it.  The ups, the downs, but the steady course is upward for both.  Here are some of the lessons and highlights that I feel I can share and want to here.
Rule number one, never expect.  Even if bordering on stating the obvious, speak your mind.  Assumptions end up with frustrations and heartache, and at other times disappointment and anger.  Speak it, make sure the other understands, and then move from there.  Some instances have been at the moment, others have built up over time.  The pot finally needs stirred and it is much easier if you stir it together.  I suppose later in life as we learn more carefully what the other’s temperament, attitudes, and actions are it may be easier, but for the moment, I err on having everything in the open.  Things are much more calm, lucid, and in fact we have a whole lot of laughs at some of the obvious things we say, of twists of them.
I am learning to choose my words and fights carefully.  I am not saying that in relation to Amanda, but in general.  I have learned that my observations, that comments, and criticisms, if not properly directed and thought out beforehand are taken personally by the other person.  A slight observation towards Utahns in the car driving down the road can strike a dagger at a heart that neither meant to take offense nor receive it.  Before making statements, build the foundation for them and make sure the premises for the statement are agreed upon before the declarations start to roll.  If it is understood where I am coming from, then what comes out is more discussed rather than an emotional jarring.
From the mission, it is probably a carry over, but do everything together.  Sometimes we both don’t do this, but nothing is the sole responsibility of the other.  This is a marriage, we are sealed together, and in fact, if faithful in this life, we will be entirely one in the next life.  If we prove ourselves faithful in this life, then even a worship I suppose of the spouse would  be permissible.  If there is anything that comes closer to worship than marriage, I know not.  We have both decided that the Lord must come first, because we have learned that if the other comes first, then God, things get all confused and nothing goes quite right.  However, in putting God first, and doing it together everything works much more smoothly.  I know I have loved before, and have learned what to love is.  In marriage though, it is a constant day by day motion that ticks forwards and is constantly bonding.  I know I am rambling in some sense, but I just don’t know how to say it.  It is like a combination of the things I have already said.
About a week after we had been married, I remember us commenting to each other, nothing is really different.  It was engagement with a few more benefits.  Well, now speaking a month into it, we notice the difference.  I suppose we expected this flash of light and crash of drums to initiate us into married life.  Such was not the case.  But I will tell you this, a sealing, under the hand of God, I recognize that we are coming to be more one every day.  I sense our feelings becoming more wrapped up in each other.  I can sense our destinies becoming merged with every day.  There is a singularity of thought, mind, and body (soul) that is continuing.  I don’t know how that would work outside marriage sealing, but inside it is something beautiful.  It is like a warm current in the sea of life.  It buoys you up and give you strength.  It is beautiful and lifts the soul.  Earlier if we did things separately, or without the other’s recognition and understanding, it did not matter, but somehow we sense a separation if complete communication and understanding is not present.  It is something so wonderful awe inspiring and beautiful that continues to build.  How shall I contain it in five years time?
I dearly love my wife and it grows daily.  Some days I feel closed and like I am selfish, but by the continual agreement we have of putting the Lord first, always later I feel my heart open wider than it has before.  It encompasses a little more and I am humbled that much more.  Something so wonderfully beautiful.  I think we have worked out the main difficulties we had to begin with, or come to an understanding of them and can work with and around them.  We cannot change the other, but together we are growing together and those weaknesses, scars, or pride are melting away.
The old stanza of If You Could Hie to Kolob comes to mind
There is no end to glory
There is no end to love
There is no end to being
There is no death above
There is no end to glory
There is no end to love
There is no end to being
There is no death above
Brother Phelps was inspired to repeat those sacred lines.
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Journals galore

This is in response to why I keep a journal.
I am sure you are a fine teacher.  It would be fun to watch and listen to you.  I am sure you do much better than what you think.  I am glad you are enjoying it.  You commented about that in your last e-mail.  You have an excitement about life and are an optimist.  That is a good thing and it shows cords of faith worked throughout your character.
Thanks for asking for comments now.  You have asked a question about a topic that I have come to have a testimony of and have been converted to.  In the path of time though, I found it hard to have a reason from the gospel for a journal, so it has been a search since I started my journal.  I started my journal on the 31st of August 1997.  I had just graduated from high school that summer and right before moving up to Logan for school, a couple of friends and I went shopping in Twin Falls.  While there, Altan Hardcastle, a great friend of mine, wanted to stop at Barnes and Noble.  We walked through the store and I saw the journals on the shelf there.  The thought crossed my mind that I needed to start a journal.  I grabbed one of the shelf, passed out the 12.99 for it, and took it home.  I pretty much kept it hidden from them and anticipated getting home.  I was not quite sure why.  They dropped me off at home, I went downstairs to my room, and started to write.  I have been regularly writing in my journal ever since.  The current journal, Amanda purchased and sent to me just about a month back, is number 16.  I have averaged two a year ever since then.  In the two years of the mission, I kept 5.  Before the mission it was just about every day.  The shortest journal I have ever kept was during that time frame and it covered 3 months.  The last journal covered about 8 months.  Life now doesn’t have as much happen during the week.  I have found that when I am caught in a schedule like work, much of the activities to report become mundane.  However, you let me have the time to myself and I am always finding new things to experience and record.  It has been a sort of goal to always have something new to record and report.  So why did I start?  I can only say it was a prompting I acted upon and have continued.  However, I have since then found many reasons for continuing.  I will give you a bunch of scriptures and my personal ties to them.  Hopefully you find this of some value.
2 Nephi 29:11-12, “For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.  For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.”
Well from the above, it is a commandment.  When the Lord speaks to us, he expects us to write it.  I have always made a point of making sure I record all the spiritual experiences and how life is (as much as I feel I can or am allowed to record)  I attempt to point out my blessings and look at life as one big one.  I try to make sure that I point out my blessings and life’s course as a blessing from heaven.  In doing so, the blessing comes that I am more fully capable of recognizing my blessings, and more importantly of what I am doing with the blessings.
Next, the Lord expects us to record his doings that he may judge all men according to the things which are written.  I attempt to record all of those individuals who bless my life and who I recognize for their faith and good works.  I attempt to analyze and portray those who are good and their redeeming qualities.  For those who do bad things, are dishonest, I make sure I record them as well.  While in doing so, I always attempt to find redeeming qualities, not focusing on the bad, but always telling of my interactions with other people.  Especially those, good or bad, that have great bearing on my life.  I honestly believe that people will be held accountable for those things in relation to even me, the least of brethren, in the day of reckoning.  Plus there is always some of that self interest in there as well.  I feel that if I am recording my thoughts and actions and perceptions, the Lord will be more likely to judge me by the books I record than that of other people.  My own witness is more powerful than others when it comes directly to myself.  Now the thought is always brought up, “Well, you will be able to speak at that day.”  Yes, that may be true, but the evidence at that time, while with a body, is the greatest evidence.  But there is a great power in the written word as opposed to the spoken word.  Elder Packer told us as missionaries that if a persons baptism and confirmation was not recorded on earth, it was not recorded in heaven, even if they really had been baptized and confirmed.  Without that record, they would have to be baptized and confirmed again.  Hence those early pioneers that the records cannot be found concerning their baptism, their work is done for them again so that there is a record.  I believe much of a similar thing is true of our world today.  The written is very important.
Lastly concerning this scripture, I recognize that many people later will read these things.  I would like to make sure my character and life are recorded for those who come after me who may be interested in knowing of me.  Whether they be family, or people interested in a certain place, or just a random Idahoan.  I would like my testimony, works, life all recorded so that my witness will stand up against anyone else who may wish to say otherwise.
As a comment, the journals have already come into valuable use in my life.  With the murder of Meta by my mother, I was a suspect for a while.  When it was shown I was not a suspect, but that I had dealings with the murderer, the journals with their testimony allowed me to give my testimony without having to be present.  Those journals, still in the possession of the state, provided a character witness for my mother for the years of my life.  My dealings with my mother during my time at Utah State were nearly all recorded.  They provided a character witness that my mother was indeed the type of person that could do these things.  The threats that she had made to me were real and what is more important they were not memories or hearsay given at the pulpit.  There were recorded incidences and times written at that time concerning topics that were in question.  Those journals made it possible that if the trial had gone on, I was not required to come home from the mission field.  The testimony in those journals was actually of more value to the court than were my living witness after the fact.  While I had nothing to do with the events, I would not have testified concerning them, but the events leading up to and comments were all recorded already.  That is one powerful blessing in this life, and I am sure those journals will come to play in my own judgment and the lives of others later.
In keeping with the above, due to the fact that we believe in a resurrection and a judgment, I believe there is great solace in this fact.  That even though I may have been wronged in the greatest of ways, by recording them and leaving to the master judge, I have no need of carrying them myself.  Even though there are those who would have taken my life, all animosity, all grief, all pain, all anguish, all sorrow, have been left behind and healed by the fact that I could write them down unto God.  They were not my burdens, I was recording them before the Lord, and I need not worry about them anymore as that he would take care of them.  My comment after the murder and other events was simply, “Why carry them, when I can give them away to the pages of a book?”  Classic comments like “fools mock, but they shall mourn” (Ether 12:26) are brought more fully to life.  “And ye ought to say in your hearts–let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds” (D&C 64:11).  By recording them, and leaving them to be before them and the Lord, I find I can move on with my life.  If they repent not, that is between them and the Lord.
The commandment is written elsewhere too.  3 Nephi 27:23, “Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are forbidden.”  As I commented before, inasmuch I felt I could write it, all those things which were spiritual and important to me are recorded.
3 Nephi 5:16-17, “Therefore I do make my record from the accounts which have been given by those who were before me, until the commencement of my day; And then I do make a record of the things which I have seen with mine own eyes.”  Here is another reason why I keep a journal.
Over a year ago, I stumbled upon a copy of my Grandmother’s journal.  I did not even know that she had kept one at any point in her life.  I was able to borrow it for a space of time and I went through the whole thing.  Due to the fact that I could not keep it, plus the owner of it I could not trust, I set out to record all those events from the journal I thought were of note to record.  I literally filled scores of pages in my journal with excerpts of the pages of my grandmother’s journal.  In reading her journal I was profoundly glad she had kept this journal for three years of her life while she was in high school.  The time when I was of most wanting to learn of her life, she was gone.  I never really had the opportunity when I was alive to learn from her because I was not ready.  Even though I had her journal, she never wrote more than two sentences per day.  Oh what I would have given for her to have written four or five pages a day!  Or kept the two sentences a day for 10 years rather than just those three years ending a few days after she got married.  What I would not have given to go back and counsel her to write twice as much as she did at that time.  How much I yearn to know of her life, but she was not mindful enough of coming generations to record what she thought was a boring mediocre day to day life.  How terribly wrong she was (if she thought that).
Herein lies two lessons.  Oh what I would have given as a later generation to have had more.  What I would have given to know her more in person, but since I couldn’t, the next best thing is her own writing.  While others can tell me about them, they cannot tell me the exact thoughts and writings of the individual.  It is a great family history tool for those who will come after.  But also in referencing what Mormon wrote above (a different Mormon than the abridger of the Book of Mormon) he was taking the history from other histories and piecing them in his.  I went through and took the important highlights of her life and recorded them into my own journal.  Since I knew her journal may be lost or never again found, I recorded those things which I considered most precious and desirable above all else (sounds like why the Book of Mormon was compiled as it was!  Oh it is that very reason why it was compiled).  I wanted to record those things from before me for the generations after me to possess.  What is more, I don’t just do it from the writings of others, but I try to record every story I hear about my ancestors.  Especially those from my aunts, uncles, great aunts, great uncles, grandfather, ect.  I have recorded my Grandpa’s war stories.  Ever time he would tell me one, I would try and record it in my journal.  Even with all the dirty details.  Since it affected me, I record it.  It obviously affected him, especially for him to remember it 50 years later.  The stories and journals I keep are not just mine, but they tell of the lives of my family and of those living in my times.  They give background information and tell the tale of the era.  For example, my recording that I gave away copies of the Book of Mormon in Senator Smith’s office automatically assumes responsibility for myself and the others in the office for have even been in the vicinity as the truth.  Each of us will now have to act and be judged according.  My failure to act, or their failure to act is all recorded.  Hopefully those who come afterwards will learn many things and be wiser than I.
3 Nephi 24:16, “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.”
3 Nephi 26:6, “And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people.”
Revelations 20:12-13, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”
I always hear people commenting about how they will speak for themselves when the day comes.  There are those who claim they will be testifying against others at the day of judgment.  However, in most of my searching, while not exhausting, I cannot find us speaking or testifying at that day.  All I can ever find is the records of those who were on the earth.  It appears our lives are judged according to the things which were already written, not our testimony at the last day.  The records of the church are obviously important, the temple records, the ordinance records, and of course the official records of our life.  But what about those Judges of Israel who keep a faithful record of our dealings with our fellow man.  What about those records of how well we served in our callings.  What about the testimony of those who were about us.  What about the testimony about those who were our family?  They will all be important as well.  Tainted, perhaps.  Wrong, perhaps.  But when compared with the whole host of all the records kept, I am sure a pretty clear painting will emerge from our lives without a witness being called to vocally speak.
Jeremiah 30:2, “Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.”
Moses 6:5, “And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration.”  Verse 8, “Now this prophecy Adam spake, as he was moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and a genealogy was kept of the children of God.  And this was the book of generations of Adam, saying: In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;”  Verse 22, “And this is the genealogy of the sons of Adam, who was the son of God, with whom God himself, conversed.”  Verse 46, “For a book of remembrance we have written among us, according to the pattern given by the finger of God; and it is given in our own language.”
Here is a reference of all the scriptures of which I have linked to 2 Nephi 29.
Mosiah 24:6
Revelations 1:19
3 Nephi 27:23
3 Nephi 5:8-14
Ether 12:27
3 Nephi 23:13
Revelations 20:12-15
3 Nephi 29:16
Moses 6:5
Jeremiah 30:2
All of this is wrapped up in D&C 128:6-8 which I will not type up since it is so long.  However, all of which I spoke of concerning the judgment is clearly delineated.
Now, the last two points I wish to make.
First deals with the perspective and analysis of life.  In the writing and recording of life as it goes along, we have to view the inscription as we write it.  We have to take the thoughts and present them in a fashion which requires us to place them as if we were recording them for another person to understand.  As we place our thoughts upon the page, we get a glimpse of who we are and of our thinking.  We can see our shortcomings, we can see our weaknesses, we can see our view of the world, and we can see nearly aspect of ourselves.  All things are constantly being brought into our view because we are literally interpreting our thoughts and actions for others to browse.  We can be dishonest, which I admit I do sometimes by leaving out information or tweaking things slightly, or face the harsh truth.  I have learned it is most difficult for me to be completely honest with my journal.  But to do so with myself I have found that achieving that means I don’t care about being honest with others.  If I can be honest with myself, and not fear what others will think of me in the silent pages of my own journal, then surely another person will not phase me.  When I can achieve honesty with myself, I have little or no difficulty in doing so with others.  I can tell when my thoughts are coherent, and when they are not.  Over time I have really struggled to place feelings and thoughts into the structure of words.  This is a talent and a gift which must be nurtured.  Learning to explain myself not only physically but also spiritually has become a great liberator.  By coming up with the words and strength of being able to communicate them, I am more able to understand and fathom my thoughts.  I learn many things about myself, my experiences, and all aspects by placing them into words.  That medium allows us to structure our lives and to analyze and view with accuracy more fully everything about us.  As we can do with ourselves, it becomes more easy to discern all things, of the spirit, and of other people.  Your comments about my ability to analyze people is directly attributable to my journal writing.  I am also watching for detail so that in describing my life and actions to the silent listeners in my journal, I find I am more aware of my surroundings and all things that take place.  It is a great liberator.
Now in a side note, I will not touch much upon, one of the classic stories of those who are trying to lead a people into oblivion is to remove their language.  By removing their ability to express themselves, they are less likely to understand themselves, and when they cannot understand themselves, then they can be more easily molded and lead into a certain way of thinking.  Current trends of watering down language and not seeking to know the English language is a dangerous field.  The English language was considered the great liberator, but as we lose our own language, we also lose our liberty.  Just some extra thoughts which have more to do with education and politics than with the spiritual reasons of journal writing.
Second deals with the memory.  As I record things, I find that I have a reference for the future to recall.  Those things which are recorded I have little or no difficulty in recording down the road.  Even aspects of life on the journal may be entirely forgotten.  However, breaking open the book from 1998 and reading just a little bit, I can bring back with clarity and clearness events that happen then that are not contained in the journal.  Often when I do review, I will record the extra memories for later generations.  My memory I believe is what it is because I have a framework of a past which is remembered.  Since it is remembered, the framework is greater for which to analyze the events of the present.  The memory is a powerful thing.  Plus by writing down the links and thoughts which are in our minds allows for us to place in language the structure of those thoughts and we can analyze them in a new light of whether they are still able to connect one with another.  It is a great tool of remembering all things.
Anyhow, those are my thoughts about journal writing.  If you have more questions, please let me know.  If I think of anything else, I will respond and send them to you.  I have given you quite a few scriptures to work with, some examples which will hopefully recall some of your own.  You are free to use some of my own if you wish.
by

Jaunty Iconoclasm

Sometimes I find myself in such a hard position.  Should I say something or should I not.  To do so always can be turned against me as being judgmental.  While not saying something may cause me to fall into the situation of caring not for my brother.  Which would I care to be known as more?
Judgment.  What an interesting idea?  What a fascinating attribute.  Whatever does it mean?  I remember the distinct idea from the D&C that it is from this attribute that the capability to bless is given.  Without it, you cannot bless.  While I cannot now find this reference, and my memory does not serve me to find it, I will have to move on without.  There is such a cry in the world today that we should not judge.  That that is an attribute left only to God.  What a horrible thought.  If I were never to judge, what would I ever get done?  Nothing.  What if I were never to see that a friend is hungry, in need of help, and not decide to do something.  In fact, I would not even recognize them as hungry.  Now condemnation, that is something I believe we are expressly forbidden to do.  Of us it is required to forgive all men.  We are to ever go on searching to serve.  Is that not the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood?
Oath and Covenant.  What a serious covenant.  The Priesthood is more than just the authority to act in the name of God.  That is simply not enough.  Just to have the priesthood is not enough.  If we think that is all we are to do, we are seriously mistaken.  We will find ourselves coming very short at the last day.  It is the oath and covenant to bring the atonement into efficacy into the lives of all those within our sphere of calling.  Somehow we let para-scripture have more importance than the truth.  In order to bring the atonement into the lives of others, we must judge them.  We have to search out ways in which we may bless the lives of others.  We must be diligent in our efforts to act and do as God would have us to do.  That means reaching out the destitute and poor, the widow and the weak, and lifting up the hands that hang low.
Until we have proven worthy.  Most Saints understand that it is an endurance to the end.  A trek where we must work and fight and pray and hope and continue on in all faithfulness.  Only then if we are found worthy shall we be called up and sealed in the celestial kingdom of our God.  Until then, we are to have absolute faith and work diligently.  Believing is not enough.  That will not save you.  You must have faith.  But working is not enough.  That will not save you.  You must have faith, and that faith must drive you to work.  Without the faith, you will work in the the wrong direction and find you have worked for the wrong master.  If not working for God and his Son, and his Kingdom, you are working for the opposing.  Sorry, even if it is your own kingdom, it is not the right kingdom and you will not find yourself saved at the last days.  Those who say believing is enough wrest the scriptures.  We must be acting on that faith, and becoming like God.  While that will not save us, it will help to sanctify.  The faith will justify, but the works are used to sanctify.  Harold B. Lee made the comment, “to sanctify means to keep the commandments.”  Onward ever onward, learning to keep more of the commandments.
Until then, nothing is granted.  Even the temple ordinances are pronounced according to our faith.  I have friends who say that their sealing secures that they will be each others forever.  Sorry mate, but that simply is not true.  While yes, that ordinance entered into and observed will grant you the only way to remain together forever, it of itself is not enough.  That is like saying that just because I have been given the keys to the car, I am the car.  No, you must exercise those keys, work them, use them, become familiar with and drive the car.  How are we to become God’s if we are not to practice and arrive at the destination?
How in the world can the sealing of two individuals promise they are to find themselves sealed up in the celestial kingdom.  It is directly contrary to scripture.  They must prove themselves worthy of each other.  How do we come upon such preposterous ideas?  It is clear.  We allow ourselves to believe certain things which literally damn us.  They keep us from working and trying to obtain the higher ground.  We must work ever upward.  Ever gaining more light and knowledge.  Just as those of ancient.  Joseph Smith made it clear that he was not content with the run of the mill daily things.  He commented that he was always digging up new things for his hearers.  How can we claim we know enough when even Joseph went on to learn Greek and Hebrew.  I have not mastered those and know of nobody else who has.  Somehow the every day idea is that we have done enough.  I remember being warned of a mission president that when we ever say we have done enough, or all is well, then we are damned.  Our progression has stopped.  Repentance has ceased.  We must march onward.  As Oliver Cowdery said in his general charge to the twelve, we have not reached our goal until God himself puts his hands on our head and promises us the blessings.
Why do we allow ourselves these ideas to enter?  These jaunty iconoclastic ideas from the dark side.   It is simple.  We are not following the Spirit and allow our pride in the way.  We tell ourselves we have reached our goal, when we have not.  We will find ourselves other than where we thought we were.  Funny.  When we don’t know where we are, we are sure we are saved.  Yet, until we know, we are not.  It is the weakness of the hearts of men.  Please, look up, rise up, and come up.  That is the only way.  Never are we finished in this life.  Just as Christ himself, never spoke of himself as having a sure place, as perfect, until after he was resurrected.  We are the same.  Until we have done our all, and walked the road, then after we have died will we know our station and the exact place we will be awarded.  I believe we may know and have our station secured while in this life, but those who do never speak of it.
Let us be careful of the wrong and damning ideas floating in the world about us.  Look to God and live.  Look to the world and die.  Come out of her is the call.  Shall we heed more faithfully than we are now?
by

Portland

A wonderful weekend in Portland. A much needed break in the drive to Preston, Burley, or Logan every weekend. Tom, Erika, Seth, and Gabriel Kunzler all went with me. We left Thursday afternoon and wound our way to the center of the blue state. The sun set on us in Pendleton so from that point on was mostly not too interesting. I saw a couple of the dams on the Columbia river, and they were beautiful with their shimmering lights. I dropped them off in Gresham and made my way to my Sister Becky’s house. They moved to Portland about two years ago onto Peacock Lane and purchased a 1920’s Tudor House. They have been fixing it up ever since and have it almost done, all except the kitchen. It is a beautiful classic home. She has decorated it with the pastel and rich colors which were popular during the 30’s and have been coming much more back into style. I have always loved the Art Deco colors. Joe, her husband, was in town because he had hurt his back. The constant stress of traveling, meetings, working, and various other things sent his back into little spasms which have laid him up for a few days and probably will for weeks.

Friday I awoke and visited with them for some time. I was given a full tour of the home and the neighborhood. For lunch we went to a authentic German restaurant which was very good. I enjoyed my sauerbraten and spatzle. I did not partake of the beer, but enjoyed an amazing raspberry lemonade. I had to stir it every single time I wanted to drink so the raspberry would not all be in the bottom. There were even seeds in it!

That evening I was privileged to attend the swearing in of Molly Bordonaro. She is the new U.S. Ambassador to Malta. Her husband is part Maltese so I suppose that is one of the factors that put her in favor with the President. The story goes that every time she has met the President, she has been pregnant. That supposedly endeared her to him as well. I don’t know if it is because a pregnant woman would require more effort to do those sorts of things, or the nobility of motherhood. It was an interesting affair. Those who were supposed to be attending with me missed their flight so I ended up flying solo at the affair. It was a good experience. I met and come to know many more people. I also met fellow associates from The Gallatin Group for the first time. Shelley, Julia, Chris, Kent and his wife, were all there. Greg Walden of U.S. House of Representatives spoke and conducted. Also speaking were Senator Gordon Smith. I did not get to visit with Senator Smith as he was always cornered by other individuals. He did give me a hello wave as if he recognized me, but I really don’t think he placed where he knew me from. I was sad his wife, Sharon, was not there. It was a great evening. They took so long to get dinner going after the event that many people left. I decided to do the same. After all, hanging out with some snobby and increasingly drunk lawyers was not my thought of a great continuing evening. It was interesting how I would start visiting with people and my being an intern caused them to quickly lose interest. However, it was fun to have one man come up to me and was so interested after he found out more about the Gallatin Group. He started telling me all about what he does and his business and a myriad of details like I was a founding partner. He must have missed the fact that I was only an intern in our first introduction. He gave me his card, his personal cell written on it, and other little notes and requested us to remember his business. My personal preference is still friends first, then business. I seem to have misplaced his card too.

Saturday was an interesting day as well.  Joe and Becky took me to breakfast at “No Fish! Go Fish!”  It was really good food and I thought everyone was friendly.  The owner came out and visited with us most of the time.  Afterward on the walk home they informed me that Shawn was gay.  I remember the thought crossing my mind, but it didn’t really matter to me.  They went on to tell me about Shawn and John were one of the first couples in Portland to be married.  It was a few months ago, I guess just short of their one year anniversary that their marriage was declared unlawful.  He seemed like a nice man, I did not have any problems with him.  I have to admit, if he can cook that well, I really don’t have any problems with him.  It then led to a discussion of people and their reactions to the gay segment of our society.  We also discussed how people treat them as individuals.  Without going into the political side of the argument, we basically agreed on one thing.  Somehow in our denunciation of the actions of these people, we as a people somehow find it Christian to treat with utter disdain this people.  Being so entrenched in our way of life and our notion of right and wrong, being entrenched in our opposition forget there are people’s lives at stake.  While I will never entertain the lifestyle that these people espouse (pun intended), it does not mean at all I should ever treat them as subhuman.  Becky and I discussed an individual we know who would find it completely unbearable to even be in the presence of Shawn.  They may be okay to begin with, but would fester and before long say things which they should not say.  Or flat out ignore him the entire time.

As part of the discussion Becky told me of a story of a member of Joe’s family.  Who considers himself a good Christian.  However, because Becky has not been “active” in a religion that she somehow is sub Christian, or unable to think in Christian terms.  What is worse, he proclaims to be a Christian while treating his family in ways that are plain rude and inconsiderate, if not verbally abusive.  He made the comment that since Becky came from a family of divorced parents that she would have the same inclinations towards divorce.  He had the nerve to ask her what she thought or what she was doing to avoid a divorce.  (This was before her and Joe married)  He then went on to counsel her about Christian living.  She informed him that while her parents may have divorced, she had two sets of Grandparents who were not.  Plus they were more Christian than he could ever hope to be, and they didn’t have to go around proclaiming it to everyone.

On the same note, there seems so many people who are so set on protecting the Christian way and lifestyle that they have forgotten to live it.  While we do not permit any form of adultery, it doesn’t mean we still stone everyone in the street.  Which is the equivalent to what some of these professing Christians do.  Moreover, it extends to the conservative party in many ways.  They are so set on providing the perfect life, what they determine to be the right way of life, they don’t care who they stone along the way.  I do not agree with their lifestyle at all, but I cannot force them to live my way.  If I don’t like it, well, suck it up and get on with it.  I remember the scriptures talk about gathering to people of similar beliefs.  Of leaving Babylon and letting them go on to their own destruction.  I cannot remember any scriptures whatsoever that talk about transforming or making Babylon live the the Christian life.  We keep that up we will end up with a state similar to the history of the Catholic Church.  Many, many Catholics, but most simply in name.  Heck, lets go back to Constantinople and force all of Rome to be Christian.  Oh wait, we are already headed that way.  Suddenly I sound very blue!  I am not either party.  In some ways I am Constitutionalist, other Fundamentalist, others Republican, and yet others Democrat (heaven forbid!  Utah higher education failed here!!  Pass some more laws!).  Too bad Utah State does not teach down any particular line.  Randy Simmons, don’t let the Utah State Legislature find out.  Lets stick with the basics of the Constitution and let people govern themselves.  Even better, Common Law, which I advocate always is much better to the governing of society than Statutory Law ever was.  I think some in this country are beginning to see this.

Anyhow, Saturday afternoon Becky and I made a trip to downtown Portland.  What a great city.  Their buildings have style and design.  They don’t all look the same.  I applaud the Portland urban renewal belt.  It is helping revitalize the city.  While Portland may claim to be the most green city, they have some serious roads yet to make in their downtown area.  Some streets had trees, others without.  Some were hot concrete jungles, others were nice, shady, beautiful areas.  What a beautiful city, hopefully that will spread throughout the rest.  You get so far out of the downtown and it is a dump.  In fact, driving into Portland Thursday night, I had a fight between two end up in the road and I nearly ran them over.

Well, off my little soapbox about politics.  Saturday night Joe and Becky took me to dinner with a couple of their friends.  Hal and Mindy seemed like a great couple.  She teaches acting or something like that at Portland University.  I don’t remember what Hal does.   Since we were in a big city, I told Becky of my hankering for some good Indian food.  Especially if I could get a donner kebab.  So we met Hal and Mindy and ate at this great Indian restaurant.  There were not any donner kebabs, but I had this amazing chicken korma.  We ordered and somehow my future marriage came up.  It then came knowledge to Hal and Mindy that I would be married in an LDS Temple.  So cornered me and asked if I was excited about learning all the secret stuff that happens therein.  In jest I assured her I already knew.  Becky told her I had already received my endowments and that this was just the sealing.  They did not know there were multiple ordinances performed in the temple.  She turned to me and asked if I would tell her the secrets.  I told her I could share with her those things which are in the scriptures and thereby give her a general overview of what takes place therein.  I went on eating my appetizer and realized they wanted it now.  Well, for the next hour I taught them the overall scriptural ideas of the endowment.  They found it utterly fascinating.  Hal at one time was quite the scholar on the ancient tabernacle in the wilderness so I did the discussion completely from there and the Temple in Herod’s day.  They really liked how I kept tying the Old and New Testaments together and were apt to asking questions before I could even finish a topic.  Finally after nearly 2 hours we had gone through the endowment.  Washing, Anointing, Garments, New name, Adam and Eve, covenants, and finally the sealing.  What was great was the promptings I felt of the Spirit to where I could nearly quote entire passages of relevant scripture.  Obviously I did not reveal any of the signs, keys, or tokens.  Mindy as a acting instructor found the theatrical portion ideas of the endowment to be very interesting.  We discussed some of the ancient plays recorded in the scriptures, Greece, and Becky even brought in this one part about the Native Indians.  It was a very fascinating conversation.  In discussion of the covenants portion of the endowment, I discussed why the covenants were sacred and why we do not reveal or tell them.  Hal made the most interesting of all evening on how he missed the rituals of organized religion.  He commented how he noticed there was a certain mystic, power, in the ritual.  I instantly thought of some Hugh Nibley and thought to refer him, but did not.

The conversation moved away to politics.  They were noticeably impressed with the clarity the endowment made.  They said they would think about it and next time definitely have more questions.  Perhaps I may be able to refer them to the missionaries next time.  However, after the discussion of the temple, they then asked what my political leanings were.  Especially since they liked the way I thought.  We ended up discussing marriage, abortion, stem cell research, death penalty, republicanism, democracy, the proper role of government, and a whole host of things.  Joe and Becky were much more a part of that conversation.  By the end of the evening I just barely finished my food and we all had a great time.

That evening we were plum tired out.  So we decided to go to bed early.  However, Becky and I stayed up and talked about family, genetics, and traits until nearly midnight.  It was a good bonding experience.

Sunday rolled around and I finally awoke and got ready for the day.  I had blueberry pancakes with Joe and Becky and then headed out to pick up Tom and Co from Gresham.  It was good to see Chad and Morley again.  They are good guys.  Rather than going home on I-84, we chose U.S. 26.  It was a beautiful drive.  We found the church in Madras but they had it earlier in the morning and there was not an afternoon ward.  We tried again in Prineville, but they were just letting out of church when we got there.  There are two wards, but the second ward started at 11:00 AM so that put us too late.  In the end, we were not able to attend church.  We tried.  There were some really cool little towns on the way like Mitchell, Dayville, John Day, Prairie City, Unity, Vale, Nyssa, Parma, Notus, and back to home.  It was interesting to drive through Nyssa and see the Sugar Factory there.  I have known of it all my life with my Dad’s association with Amalgamated Sugar.  I have recently heard much of it working for The Gallatin Group and watching DR-CAFTA with Amalgamated and their closing the plant this year.

Today found me back at work and loving my job.  This is my last week, so there are some bittersweet feelings there.  Nevertheless, DC will prove to be fascinating and interesting.

by

The low down on Miss AH

Well, the details about Amanda. Since everybody keeps asking. Here we go.

She is a beautful, red head at about 5’6″. She grew up in Kaysville, Utah about 20 minutes north of Salt Lake. She has two parents (duh) Bryan and Jill, and three siblings Derek (16), Scott (12), and Alyssa (6). She is a biology major at Utah State, but after we marry will finish her last semester at BYU. She plans on attending Virginia Commonwealth University and become an Dental Hygienist.

We met at Utah State as we both lived in the same ward. The first month of the school year the Elder’s taught the same apartments they had from the summer. I home taught her apartment the first month and met her then. I don’t remember anything in particular about the incident, other than she struck me as the usual freshman, but cute. There was something that intrigued me, but I never thought twice about it. I would say hello to her at Ward Prayer but otherwise never saw or visited with her.

It was not until the end of January that we had a snow storm that dumped snow on us. We received about a foot and a half overnight. Well, being the dutiful Elder assigned to keep some of the sidewalks cleared, I was out shoveling snow. It was a chore to keep my sidewalks clean. Finally when it slowed down some, I thought, well what is the point of shoveling walks if they have to walk through it to the church. So I started shoveling a walk all the way to the church doors. I had crossed the parking lot and was headed by some trees when I was nailed in the side of the head with a snowball. Looking around, a girl who I could not recognize with her hood and everything was looking very innocent. I walked over to her and told her we needed to chat. Putting my arm around her, I picked her up and did a full body plant with her in the snow and then proceeded to white wash her. (I could full body slam her in a foot and half of snow, so I did) She laughed, I laughed, I helped her up (I now knew who it was), and then went back to shoveling. Only seconds later, I was hit by another snow ball in the side of the head. I turned around and was more shocked by the audacity of the girl, (J Golden Kimball comes to mind, “You damn sons of perdition, have you no respect for the Priesthood!) and thought well, here comes another white washing. Again, she did not attempt to run and I proceeded to dump her again and white wash her. However, when I planted her, she put her elbow down, and I heard it hit the pavement. It visibly hurt her, so I felt really bad. I helped her up, felt really bad, and walked her home. I promised I would make it up to her somehow.

A few weeks later, I finally got up the nerve, and a hole in my schedule to take her out. A married friend (James) of mine was given a turkey at Christmas. His wife (Catherine), hates turkey, so he told me to bring a date to dinner, a hungry one. After being turned down twice, Amanda accepted. I did not tell her we were having dinner with a married couple until on the way there, that way she could not back out. We had dinner and played games afterward and my friend insisted on telling stories of me the whole time. After the date, she seemed to enjoy herself, I was impressed with her demeanor, and decided I wanted to take her out again. A week later I was invited by a family in Richmond to come to dinner and bring a date. I did, another awkward date, but she handled it well. I have been taking her out ever since. She keeps letting me!

She really impressed me with an understanding of astronomy. It was also very impressive how she studied biology and could retain it. She was learning it, not just studying it to pass a test. She is one very smart cookie! That kept my attention and she has taught me many things. A very thoughtful girl, deliberate, and interesting. She has a quiet confidence which is very attractive. That is not to mention that she is really cute too. She loves me, and everything has lined up perfectly. Sometimes I think it is too perfect how everything has turned out.

Anyhow, that is the story from my side of the paradigm. Any other questions, feel free to let me know.