Wednesday, September 25, 1968

Today under the hands of Elder Elray L. Christiansen, an Assistant to the Twelve, I was set apart as a missionary, an ambassador of Christ, an ordained minister of the gospel. This took place in his office in the Church Administration Building shortly after 3:00 P.M. My companion, Elder Gale, received his commission under the same hands. I was blessed to be able to master the language, admonished to keep wicked thoughts that would hinder the work from my mind, blessed with every needful and righteous desire necessary to accomplish the Lord's work if sought from Him in earnestness and with pleading. I was given the authority to baptize, confer the Holy Ghost, teach, exhort, expound, and all other necessary rights pertaining to my calling.

Elder Spencer W. Kimball of the Twelve presented a certificate, signed by the Prophet, indicating I was a duly ordained minister in good standing in the Church, authorized to preach the principles of the gospel and administer the ordinances thereof.

General Authorities this morning included Howard W. Hunter, Milton R. Hunter, and Delbert L. Stapley.

A surprising amount of free time was scheduled for us today, with even more tomorrow. I suppose it should be devoted to study and learning discussions. Most of it, however, is spent with Evan, or Elder Ballard rather. We generally wander over to Temple Square and sit talking as long as time permits. Out of everyone we both know in the missionary home this week, it seems most difficult to call each other Elder Ballard and Elder Cleverly rather than by our first names. We have talked much about both Karen and Dorothy, much about ourselves and our missions and our relationships to God and each other. Evan tells me he does too much of the talking. That is partly true. The significant thing about our talks is that we are able to exchange love and other good emotions as well as pretty deep ideas at times. For these precious moments together with one of the Lord’s choice children I am humbly appreciative, wishing to trade the associations and memories with absolutely nothing else. Evan commands both my love and respect. I place fullest confidence in his potential as a truly great missionary. How lucky we were to be in the mission home together.

Life in the mission home begins each morning around 6:00 A.M. and runs until between 10:30 and 11:00 P.M. Meals in the basement of the Hotel Utah are served at 7:00 for breakfast, 12:00 for lunch, and 5:00 for dinner. Classes meet in the basement of the mission home.

"Scripture Sally" is a favorite of the elders in the home. I fail to understand her. At meal times she stands in front of the home in her self-assumed prophetic role, quoting scriptural references and telling us how apostate the Church is. She does not believe in the Old Testament but quotes from the Doctrine and Covenants mostly and some from the Book of Mormon. We were instructed to ignore her and do so generally.