Sunday, November 10, 1968

Somewhere I blinked my eyes and two weeks slipped by. Now that we have moved into second level work and memorizing the discussions, time is really valuable. We must put at least 35 hours in a day, or so it seems. The weeks clip by at an unbelievable rate: by the time it is Friday I am still thinking in terms of Tuesday. Weekends are necessary to catch up with myself: little details like letter writing, laundry, scripture study, journal entries, and such as that.

Halloween visited the missionaries and the Great Pumpkin, sponsored by Karen, blessed our district. On the eve before Halloween a plate of homemade donuts were brought, and the district had a feast. Elder Burr had a trick-or-treat surprise for us Halloween night in the form of sacks of candy.

Beginning second level has introduced several changes into our schedules. Retention every evening is now held at BY High rather than in Allen Hall. Afternoon proselyting class is now conducted in Portuguese. We are given various situations or objections we might run into and discuss how to resolve them. Last weekend Elder Rencher and I spent many hours preparing our flannel board figures, plastic coating them, cutting and trimming, putting on tape, marking them.

The United States paused Tuesday to elect new leaders. Richard M. Nixon, the Republican candidate, will be the next president of the United States. Hubert Humphrey trailed uncomfortably close in popular votes, even leading at various times. George Wallace captured a significant percentage of the vote (I was told 14 percent) but managed only to carry three southern states. In Utah by margins of two-to-one liquor-by-the-drink was defeated, and Calvin Rampton, Democrat, was reelected governor. I was greatly pleased with the election since Nixon was my man.

Fast and testimony meeting last Sunday lasted two hours and 15 minutes. Elder Ostergar, who was conducting the meeting, could not turn it off. A great number of novos [new missionaries] spoke in what Portuguese they knew.

I have been called to be the Live Your Language chairman for the Marília District. Essentially it involves promoting the new speak total program, keeping a record of the district members who do speak total, and representing the district on the zone committee. The speak five program has been replaced by the Live Your Language (or viva sua lingua) program, which means total effort during the official day, 7:30 to 10:00 on weekdays. Either an elder speaks all the way or none. Individuals are recognized in zone meeting daily for the previous day’s efforts. Individuals and districts are recognized weekly in the leadership meetings.

Last Saturday night following the zone talent show, our district retired to the home of Elder Burr's girl friend for a pizza fest. It was financed by the cinco centavos we had been charging in class every time English was spoken. Elder Burr showed slides taken on his mission. Elder and Sister Welch attended also. We had pizza and root beer floats. Because of their great love and help for us, we presented both professors a little gift.

Elder Rencher and I saw Taming of the Shrew yesterday. Costuming, acting, and photography were all fantastic. And who can beat Shakespeare for excellency in script? I had seen the show once before. About the same time we were watching the show, Utah State was slaughtering BYU on the football field.

After living a week in the Lund Motel we were finally moved to the Rambler Motel on 5th West at 8th North. It is so much nicer and even closer to Allen Hall and the Wilkinson Center cafeteria. Before we had to ride the city bus every morning to breakfast, which was becoming expensive.

The district is now about half way through the first discussion. I have never studied so hard for so long in my life. Friday afternoon I presented all I knew to Elder Burr in 40 minutes, terribly slow. To pass all of it off it can only be 55 minutes. We learn generally about 50 to 60 lines a day and pass off that new section the next morning. If we make it within the time limit and mistake limit, we receive a blue mark on our chart. That is all both Elder Rencher and I have thus far.

Dr. Chauncey Riddle, my philosophy professor from last year, spoke in last Wednesday's leadership meeting. He is a giant of a man who holds my greatest love and respect. It was he who introduced me to what the gospel was really all about on a level deeper and more meaningful than I had ever known before. He delivered a stirring sermon, carried by the power of the Lord's Spirit that accompanies him. Afterward I went up and spoke with him—Elder Ballard also—and he remembered us and seemed glad to see us.

Brother Riddle emphasized the necessity of living by the Spirit. Then he moved into a discussion of stewardships. In the priesthood there are three basic relationships: father/mother, brother/sister, and son/daughter. In a temple marriage the priesthood stewardship relationship is one of father to daughter. The husband presides over the wife and the two together preside as a quorum over the family. He explained Cain’s and Abel’s situation. Their stewardship relationship was brother to brother. When Cain slew Abel he usurped priesthood authority he did not have by assuming a father role over Abel. The Lord appeared to demand an accounting for that stewardship. Cain was not meant to be his brother’s keeper. In Brazil we will be in a father role over the people there because, as representatives of Jesus Christ, we are duly authorized to act for Him even as if He Himself were there. The father stewardship is one more of blessing rather than just dominion over.

Brother Riddle also taught a lesson in how to deal with leaders over us we think are doing wrong. To criticize them is only to question the Lord’s ability to direct His own Church. Perfect obedience best helps that leader. Then if he really is doing wrong the Lord will remove him. It is not ours to ask an accounting of his stewardship.

From Brigham Young: "To be gentle and kind, modest and truthful, to be full of faith and integrity, doing no wrong is of God; goodness sheds a halo of loveliness around every person who possesses it, making their countenances beam with light, and their society desirable because of its excellency. They are loved of God, of holy angels, and of all the good on earth" (Discourses of Brigham Young, 280). Sounds like part of a description of one who is a disciple of Christ in truth and in deed.

The world has been beautiful recently. Yesterday the heavens were crying. Today a sharp blue sky clashed with the snowy peaks of Timp. The air was crystalline fresh. Stubborn leaves still cling to the trees that gave them birth but months before. The glory of God is manifest in all His creations.

Karen Stockton wrote the following poem last July:

A mission—separation—
Not a tearing apart
But a molding together
Through parallel growth.

Thoughts, hopes, dreams,
Cherished experiences, care
Woven, delicately yet strongly,
Into letters—a bridge across the miles.

Always present in the memory
A knowledge of past joy;
Fleeting glances in dreams
Of future joy to share.

Two years will pass by quickly.
It will be hard to leave
Your newfound life of service.
But old friends will welcome you
To a life—familiar—yet somehow new.

The past is gone.
But ahead lie bright horizons,
For old friendships
Made ever more meaningful
By growth and wisdom
In two years of blessings from God.