Early this morning Agamemnon and David showed up to tell us they were not going to come back to church for a while. Idealistically, Agamemnon had decided to sacrifice himself to save Aldo from going inactive. Elder Smith tried to talk some sense into them, but they would not listen. A few hours later Paulo showed up. We asked if he were going to quit too. He thought that a silly thing to do. He is certainly a sharp young man. I grow to respect him more every day.
Tonight I had a long talk with Aldo. I think he’ll be over it in a few days. He realizes how childish he has been and is being (Betânia called him a five-year-old) but would never admit it. The other elders saw Vitória. Paulo had been to talk to them and their father found out about all that was going on. He said they had to attend all the meetings and to respect everybody. So they are restored to the fold. The crisis seems to be over. Aldo’s worst feelings are towards Elder Smith.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Sunday, October 11, 1970
Following Sunday School we listed to the last half of the sixth session and all of the seventh session of the semi-annual general conference. Except for a few times, reception was fair. The messages were instructive and inspiring. As the conference closed, President Smith left his blessing on the Church. Hugh B. Brown was ill and did not attend any of the conference.
Tonight’s sacrament meeting was one of the best and most spiritual I have seen in a long while. Simone spoke about the necessity of having love and friendship between members of the branch. Elder Smith then spoke in explanation of the chart we had made. He explained the será program after I had gone over the chart itself. The choir sang “More Holiness Give Me” (“Mais vontade dá-me”). I delivered a few remarks concerning the necessity of problems and the God-given gift of weaknesses. As I bore my testimony, I expressed my love for and left my blessing upon the members.
Then the fireworks started. Aldo was in a mood like I’ve never seen before, still steaming over the incident from last weekend. Agamemnon went up to him to see if there were any difficulty. Aldo blew up and right in front of everybody tore into Agamemnon and all his brothers and Paulo Santos Filho. Vitória was crying, saying she could never come back (and tonight she had just been sustained as a Sunday School teacher). Aldo hinted that he might not return himself and certainly Alexandre would not be around for a while. Everybody except Aldo was pretty animated when the meeting was over, but now everybody was disanimated and half of the members crying. Elder Smith tried to defend Vitória and company, and Aldo is rather ticked off at him too.
As we walked home, my companion and I alone, the tears would not stay back. Months of effort spent building the branch seem futile as it all seems to just crumble apart. The members seem to me as children, and I am pained as I see them quarreling and wrecking the good things of their lives. I felt particularly discouraged and lonely. In my prayers I poured out my whole heart, pleading for comfort and direction.
In answer the Lord taught a valuable lesson: I feel and understand a little how He must feel when He sees His children screwing up their lives. I see how my sins must make Him feel. It adds fuller meaning to the account of Enoch seeing God weep because of the iniquity of His children on the earth (see Moses 7:28–40).
Tonight’s sacrament meeting was one of the best and most spiritual I have seen in a long while. Simone spoke about the necessity of having love and friendship between members of the branch. Elder Smith then spoke in explanation of the chart we had made. He explained the será program after I had gone over the chart itself. The choir sang “More Holiness Give Me” (“Mais vontade dá-me”). I delivered a few remarks concerning the necessity of problems and the God-given gift of weaknesses. As I bore my testimony, I expressed my love for and left my blessing upon the members.
Then the fireworks started. Aldo was in a mood like I’ve never seen before, still steaming over the incident from last weekend. Agamemnon went up to him to see if there were any difficulty. Aldo blew up and right in front of everybody tore into Agamemnon and all his brothers and Paulo Santos Filho. Vitória was crying, saying she could never come back (and tonight she had just been sustained as a Sunday School teacher). Aldo hinted that he might not return himself and certainly Alexandre would not be around for a while. Everybody except Aldo was pretty animated when the meeting was over, but now everybody was disanimated and half of the members crying. Elder Smith tried to defend Vitória and company, and Aldo is rather ticked off at him too.
As we walked home, my companion and I alone, the tears would not stay back. Months of effort spent building the branch seem futile as it all seems to just crumble apart. The members seem to me as children, and I am pained as I see them quarreling and wrecking the good things of their lives. I felt particularly discouraged and lonely. In my prayers I poured out my whole heart, pleading for comfort and direction.
In answer the Lord taught a valuable lesson: I feel and understand a little how He must feel when He sees His children screwing up their lives. I see how my sins must make Him feel. It adds fuller meaning to the account of Enoch seeing God weep because of the iniquity of His children on the earth (see Moses 7:28–40).
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday, October 10, 1970
This afternoon we received over the short-wave set about the last half of the fourth session of general conference. Reception was good. What a glorious experience to hear the Brethren again. Among the voices we heard were those of Sterling W. Sill, Howard W. Hunter, A. Theodore Tuttle, David B. Haight, and Joseph Fielding Smith, who was concluding the session. After having expressed gratitude and announced the closing hymn and prayer, President Smith closed the meeting by saying, “This general session of the conference will stand adjourned until 10:00 tomorrow morning.” Followed by a pause, he continued, “I think it’s going to be in the Tabernacle.” Everyone cracked up on that one. He added, “Yes, that’s right, it will be in the Tabernacle.”
Tonight’s MIA was a really enjoyable and uplifting experience. Elder Smith’s lesson on sportsmanship was sharp and everybody participated. The activity was a new one that everybody enjoyed without goofing off or causing headaches for anyone. This afternoon we played volleyball again. An added attraction beginning this week is ping-pong.
Elder Hendrickson and I finished up the big chart all day yesterday and this morning. We even tracted this week.
Tonight’s MIA was a really enjoyable and uplifting experience. Elder Smith’s lesson on sportsmanship was sharp and everybody participated. The activity was a new one that everybody enjoyed without goofing off or causing headaches for anyone. This afternoon we played volleyball again. An added attraction beginning this week is ping-pong.
Elder Hendrickson and I finished up the big chart all day yesterday and this morning. We even tracted this week.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Thursday, October 8, 1970
A beautiful letter arrived today from Elder Blackham. That was an animating experience. He affirmed that it was one of the longest letters he had written on his mission. By far it is the sharpest letter I have ever received. I would like to record all of it here, but its length prohibits all but the parts that more particularly touched me:
“You know, comp, I sure got shook up when I got transferred. For a while I wondered if I would pull out of my slump. Two and one half days of bus riding thinking about Maceió and my beloved companion is enough to make anyone sad. I had the good luck to receive a fine comp like Elder Christiansen. He’s a good man. If I had received a mais ou menos comp I think I would have been even longer in my slump. But you know, comp, you were right we were up for a very long time and it sure was great.
“I surely appreciate all the good times we had together. I thank you for sharing the work equally with me. That meant very much to me. I’ll always remember my work with you as a privilege. I guess I didn’t fully appreciate you until about a month previous to my transfer.
“In thinking about the relationship we had as comps the following thought keeps coming to mind. Elder Cleverly prayed to be able to have the pure love of Christ as a gift from God. As I think of our friendship that is what comes back to me. I think that is probably why we had such a good relationship. I firmly affirm that you, comp, manifested or shared with me that type of love. The Pure Love of Christ. I know that grace by grace your love for other children of God will increase. I think of any person I’ve ever really known you come closer to radiating the pure love of the Savior than any other. For that reason I think we enjoyed our little bit of heaven as you called it. That is certainly a good description. I always admired your capacity to love others and to some extent I felt very successful in extending my love to others by following your example. I think we were especially successful with each other. I think I can really and truthfully say I love you. I know that comes from inside and it is a glorious feeling.
“You know, comp, I don’t know what the President is going to do to replace you. I know there isn’t another elder like you. I just hope the branch can take the jolt. If you thought it was bad when I left, wait till you have to leave the old homestead away from home. You had better take buckets to church. That is going to be hard. Don’t worry about making yourself something you already are, indispensable!!
“Well (hole in the ground), comp, you are going to receive one of the longest letters I’ve ever written in Brazil. Four pages.
“I want to, as I terminate, express my love for you. I really do love you, Elder Cleverly. It is great to be able to say that and know that you know what I mean. I guess that is because you understand me. You understand me as a son of God as we are brothers in spirit. I said to you many times that one of the most marvelous principles of the gospel is that we as humans are capacitated to become like God if we make the effort. I pray for our success in returning to our Father’s presence. My prayers are with you there in Maceió. Keep up the good work.”
Sometimes the Lord answers prayers with a clear and unmistakable NO. I had prayed earnestly that Elder Blackham and I remain together longer as companions, if it were His will, but it seems it was not His divine pleasure to allow us that privilege. Every day I still remember my beloved brother and the things we shared, nightly expressing my gratitude to the Lord for Elder Blackham and his dear friendship and pleading that he be blessed in his new responsibilities in a completely new environment.
This week has been slipping right away. While working yesterday with Elder Knecht, I called Vitória to be a Sunday School teacher. Today Elder Smith and I worked together at Aldo’s house on a big chart we are designing to get the members involved in the work.
“You know, comp, I sure got shook up when I got transferred. For a while I wondered if I would pull out of my slump. Two and one half days of bus riding thinking about Maceió and my beloved companion is enough to make anyone sad. I had the good luck to receive a fine comp like Elder Christiansen. He’s a good man. If I had received a mais ou menos comp I think I would have been even longer in my slump. But you know, comp, you were right we were up for a very long time and it sure was great.
“I surely appreciate all the good times we had together. I thank you for sharing the work equally with me. That meant very much to me. I’ll always remember my work with you as a privilege. I guess I didn’t fully appreciate you until about a month previous to my transfer.
“In thinking about the relationship we had as comps the following thought keeps coming to mind. Elder Cleverly prayed to be able to have the pure love of Christ as a gift from God. As I think of our friendship that is what comes back to me. I think that is probably why we had such a good relationship. I firmly affirm that you, comp, manifested or shared with me that type of love. The Pure Love of Christ. I know that grace by grace your love for other children of God will increase. I think of any person I’ve ever really known you come closer to radiating the pure love of the Savior than any other. For that reason I think we enjoyed our little bit of heaven as you called it. That is certainly a good description. I always admired your capacity to love others and to some extent I felt very successful in extending my love to others by following your example. I think we were especially successful with each other. I think I can really and truthfully say I love you. I know that comes from inside and it is a glorious feeling.
“You know, comp, I don’t know what the President is going to do to replace you. I know there isn’t another elder like you. I just hope the branch can take the jolt. If you thought it was bad when I left, wait till you have to leave the old homestead away from home. You had better take buckets to church. That is going to be hard. Don’t worry about making yourself something you already are, indispensable!!
“Well (hole in the ground), comp, you are going to receive one of the longest letters I’ve ever written in Brazil. Four pages.
“I want to, as I terminate, express my love for you. I really do love you, Elder Cleverly. It is great to be able to say that and know that you know what I mean. I guess that is because you understand me. You understand me as a son of God as we are brothers in spirit. I said to you many times that one of the most marvelous principles of the gospel is that we as humans are capacitated to become like God if we make the effort. I pray for our success in returning to our Father’s presence. My prayers are with you there in Maceió. Keep up the good work.”
Sometimes the Lord answers prayers with a clear and unmistakable NO. I had prayed earnestly that Elder Blackham and I remain together longer as companions, if it were His will, but it seems it was not His divine pleasure to allow us that privilege. Every day I still remember my beloved brother and the things we shared, nightly expressing my gratitude to the Lord for Elder Blackham and his dear friendship and pleading that he be blessed in his new responsibilities in a completely new environment.
This week has been slipping right away. While working yesterday with Elder Knecht, I called Vitória to be a Sunday School teacher. Today Elder Smith and I worked together at Aldo’s house on a big chart we are designing to get the members involved in the work.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 5, 1970
This morning I wrote a nice long letter to Elder Blackham. When Elder Blackham left for Rio, I told him the first thing he had to do when he saw a Bob’s was to drink a laranjada dupla [a large orange drink] for me. The letter I received from him last Wednesday started thusly:
“How are you today? I just thought I’d drop you a line and first of all tell you how much I enjoyed my first laranjada dupla, which I drank in your behalf. It was scrumptious, refreshing, really cold, strong and clean. I really enjoyed it. But you know something? It doesn’t compare to Dona Creuza’s apple pie or banana cream pie.”
All of the elders went to the beach today to play futebol. It really was a lot of fun. Elders Smith and Knecht didn’t show up quick enough from Maceió to play but were available for another leadership training session and a zone conference. We returned to Maceió this evening, leaving immediately following the conference.
Yesterday we tried pretty hard to get general conference. I finally found the session in English just as it was ending. Pois é. Then started a session in German, which was strong and clear, but I don’t remember much of my German. At least the choir sounded good. On the same frequency the Portuguese session began as soon as the German ended. This was at 7:00 in the evening when reception should have been good, but there was so much static as to make nothing understandable. It must have been an inspiring conference.
Yesterday’s meetings in Recife were enjoyable, but I sure missed Maceió. One of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make was whether I should stay in Recife the entire weekend or return to Maceió for Sunday and back to Recife on Monday.
Yesterday Aldo taught a special lesson on chastity in priesthood meeting that got a little out of hand because of gross questions from the boys. Vitória taught her first Sunday School class and was super nervous. Adriano and Fátima were confirmed in fast and testimony meeting.
At night they also tried to listen to general conference at the church. There was a little falling out between Alexandre and Paulo, David, and Agamemnon. They had been playing like they should not have been, and Alexandre became a bit ticked off, and the three pounced on him. Aldo was asleep, but Elder Smith woke him up at this point, and was ticked off also. In MIA Saturday night there were some rough waters too.
“How are you today? I just thought I’d drop you a line and first of all tell you how much I enjoyed my first laranjada dupla, which I drank in your behalf. It was scrumptious, refreshing, really cold, strong and clean. I really enjoyed it. But you know something? It doesn’t compare to Dona Creuza’s apple pie or banana cream pie.”
All of the elders went to the beach today to play futebol. It really was a lot of fun. Elders Smith and Knecht didn’t show up quick enough from Maceió to play but were available for another leadership training session and a zone conference. We returned to Maceió this evening, leaving immediately following the conference.
Yesterday we tried pretty hard to get general conference. I finally found the session in English just as it was ending. Pois é. Then started a session in German, which was strong and clear, but I don’t remember much of my German. At least the choir sounded good. On the same frequency the Portuguese session began as soon as the German ended. This was at 7:00 in the evening when reception should have been good, but there was so much static as to make nothing understandable. It must have been an inspiring conference.
Yesterday’s meetings in Recife were enjoyable, but I sure missed Maceió. One of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make was whether I should stay in Recife the entire weekend or return to Maceió for Sunday and back to Recife on Monday.
Yesterday Aldo taught a special lesson on chastity in priesthood meeting that got a little out of hand because of gross questions from the boys. Vitória taught her first Sunday School class and was super nervous. Adriano and Fátima were confirmed in fast and testimony meeting.
At night they also tried to listen to general conference at the church. There was a little falling out between Alexandre and Paulo, David, and Agamemnon. They had been playing like they should not have been, and Alexandre became a bit ticked off, and the three pounced on him. Aldo was asleep, but Elder Smith woke him up at this point, and was ticked off also. In MIA Saturday night there were some rough waters too.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Saturday, October 3, 1970
Following a simple preparatory service at the church, many of the branch members gathered early on the Pajuçara Beach to watch Fátima Maria Sabino Tenório and Adriano de Oliveira Tenório become members of the Church of Jesus Christ. Elder Smith baptized Fátima, and I baptized Adriano.
Immediately following the baptism, Elder Hendrickson and I grabbed the 7:30 bus for Recife. Upon arrival there, we headed straight for the chapel. How good it was to see once again Elder Monte Stewart, my old companion and friend, and his present companion, Elder Michael Knight, now both assistants to the President. They are touring every city in the mission. This afternoon we, the district and zone leaders, had a wonderful “excitement council” with them, the first to be held in the Nordeste.
Without any success, we tried to locate conference on a short-wave set the elders had borrowed. This evening I worked with Elder Brinton. We showed a slide strip to relatives and neighbors of a member. Elders Knight and Stewart left for João Pessoa. We are spending the weekend with Elder Brinton’s district, who all live in the same apartment.
Immediately following the baptism, Elder Hendrickson and I grabbed the 7:30 bus for Recife. Upon arrival there, we headed straight for the chapel. How good it was to see once again Elder Monte Stewart, my old companion and friend, and his present companion, Elder Michael Knight, now both assistants to the President. They are touring every city in the mission. This afternoon we, the district and zone leaders, had a wonderful “excitement council” with them, the first to be held in the Nordeste.
Without any success, we tried to locate conference on a short-wave set the elders had borrowed. This evening I worked with Elder Brinton. We showed a slide strip to relatives and neighbors of a member. Elders Knight and Stewart left for João Pessoa. We are spending the weekend with Elder Brinton’s district, who all live in the same apartment.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Friday, October 2, 1970
Time really slips by. General conference begins today in Salt Lake City. No way does it seem like six months from the April conference. We hope to get part of the proceedings by short-wave radio this weekend.
Wednesday morning Elder Brinton worked with Elder Smith, and Elder Ferrin worked with Elder Knecht. My companion and I kept ourselves busy. As soon as we ate lunch, the two visiting elders returned to Recife.
Being at a month’s end, we have spent a great deal of our time this week on reports. The secretaries of each auxiliary are learning how to do the correlated reports. Inez and Sônia, doing the Sunday School and YWMIA reports, know fully how to do the complete reports. Vitória filled out her first Primary report. Alexandre did his first YMMIA report. Zezira knows her report but is still out of town.
Vitória, at my request, will teach the youth Sunday School class this week. Hopefully it will work out for her to replace Elder Blackham.
This afternoon before Primary I interviewed Fátima to be baptized. This evening Adriano was interviewed. The Aaronic Priesthood boys went out collecting fast offerings tonight. We had a really good talk with Sônia and Simone last night.
Wednesday morning Elder Brinton worked with Elder Smith, and Elder Ferrin worked with Elder Knecht. My companion and I kept ourselves busy. As soon as we ate lunch, the two visiting elders returned to Recife.
Being at a month’s end, we have spent a great deal of our time this week on reports. The secretaries of each auxiliary are learning how to do the correlated reports. Inez and Sônia, doing the Sunday School and YWMIA reports, know fully how to do the complete reports. Vitória filled out her first Primary report. Alexandre did his first YMMIA report. Zezira knows her report but is still out of town.
Vitória, at my request, will teach the youth Sunday School class this week. Hopefully it will work out for her to replace Elder Blackham.
This afternoon before Primary I interviewed Fátima to be baptized. This evening Adriano was interviewed. The Aaronic Priesthood boys went out collecting fast offerings tonight. We had a really good talk with Sônia and Simone last night.
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