Monday, August 31, 2020
9:24 pm
What happened to August?? Good day today, finished what we needed to before closing the month tonight. Looking forward to seeing how the numbers end up for the month. It should be a good one.
I started the day with scripture study in the morning after Abbie left for seminary. I like it when I can study in the morning; it makes the rest of the day go better. I'm thinking about watchmen on the tower and what that means. I realized today that the watchmen are warning us. They don't exist to frighten off the enemy. As we are warned, we need to heed that warning and spread that warning to our neighbors. We are more effective when our neighbors receive that warning and we stand together shoulder to shoulder. If I fail to warn my neighbor, I may suffer because I need his help to overcome whatever challenge is before me. As I write that, it seems so obvious, but I think I understand it in a new way.
The weather was much cooler today than it has been. The kids asked if we could have FHE outside, so we did. Poor Jessie was freezing and wore a jacket with hood. By the end, all the kids were cold so we came in for dessert and hymn history. I was family story and found a letter Julie and I wrote exactly 22 years and one day ago. It was written in Book of Mormon style while we lived in Phoenix and was fun to read. I'll paste it below for memories.
After FHE we came upstairs and found eight garbage can liners lying in the hallway. The old garbages were taken out, but the new liners had not been put in. That was Camilla's responsibility; when I asked her about it, she indignantly informed me that she wanted to put the liners in but Emma made her play instead.
I am far too tired to stay awake any longer than necessary.
Thankful: The weather today was quite nice, and it was nice to sit outside. I also loved my roast beef sandwich on homemade bread with crock pot carrots and fresh tomato for lunch. Yummy!
Ministering: I'm afraid other than trying to be a good boss today I didn't do much ministering.
More later…
And now it came to pass that I awoke on this day, being the thirtieth day of the eighth month, one thousand nine hundred ninety and eight years since the coming of our Lord, and it did occur to me that this day also marks the completion of the second month of my marriage to Julie, a most fair and delightsome young woman, and my heart did feel to give thanks and praise to my God for the marvelous blessings He does bestow on His children. And now, I also did feel to send greetings by way of an epistle to my fellow brethren and sisters.
Behold, on the day known as Wednesday the 19th, I did attend an exercise of "Team Building" with those with whom I work, and we did undertake much merriment and frivolity with the goal of becoming a stronger team in the sight of those for whom we work. And those for whom we work did support and pay for this day of Team Building, for which we were glad. And we did go to a place of eating and did eat, and great was our fullness upon leaving.
And it came to pass that we did divide into three groups of eight and did wander for the space of many hours in the urban wilderness of Phoenix, observing items of curious workmanship and making engravings upon paper of Kodak that these items might be shown to others, and that we might win the prize offered to the team which did complete this task.
And now behold, I would that ye should know that after the great wandering in the heat of the day – in which we were all sorely afflicted, but not unduly afflicted because of the many excellent rooms that had been prepared with air conditioning in the which we did rest frequently – that we did find a great and enormous house of BOB. Now, there are those who refer to this great house by the longer name of "Bank One Ballpark", but this name is not pleasing unto me, therefore I shall refer to it as BOB from this time out. And in this house there were many people who did gather to behold a spectacle known as baseball, between two opposing forces known as Diamondbacks and Phillies. And the Phillies had come from afar, crossing many lands and waters and rivers and hills, yea, they did hiss forth from the ends of the earth as it were, but none were weary among them, neither were the girdles of their loins loosed; but they did come in the belly of a great fish that did roar as a lion, and their wheels were like a whirlwind. And these visitors from afar did proceed to play in their might and did beat the Diamondbacks, in the which there was some sorrow and lamentation; but behold, this lamentation was not exceedingly great, for behold the contest was interesting to behold, and the residents of this land have grown accustomed to the defeat of the Diamondbacks; for behold, they do not wield the bat with great skill. And it came to pass that after this contest, that many, yea most, of the people with whom I did travel did go to a place of wickedness where they did partake in strong drink and boast of their great strength, and many did continue in this activity until after the going down of the sun. But behold, I did not partake in this activity, it being an abomination before God.
Now behold, on the morrow two humble servants of God did arrive at our home, and did request food for their support. And having been warned beforehand by the calendar that these missionaries would be coming that day, we did have victuals prepared for them; and we did feed them porridge of carrots, potatoes and meat which we did roast in a pot; but behold, the meat was served sparingly, which thing is pleasing in the sight of God. And after they had eaten and were full, the missionaries did preach unto us the words of God; and Elder Lowe did recite unto us the words of King Benjamin which he did deliver to his people from the great tower, and Elder Lowe did exhort us to become as little children that we may one day return to the presence of God.
On Saturday we did arise from our beds early that our minds might be invigorated, and truly this was wise, for behold we had much to do. And as I was caring for the vehicle which God has enabled us to acquire, in the which I did change the oil, behold, a member of our congregation did contact my wife in my absence, requesting our help in preparing the home of another with all manner of paint on the walls; for behold, the walls were shades of orange or pink or green, and were not pleasing to behold, for they did not please the eye nor gladden the heart. And we did go to this house and did work diligently for many hours, spreading gallons of paint before we did go home.
And when we did return home, we did clean ourselves and dress in our fine twined linens that we might be suitably prepared to go to the House of the Lord, where we did participate in the ordinances of salvation on behalf of our forefathers. For behold, the words of Malachi are being fulfilled, for truly the hearts of the fathers are being turned to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers. And we did both seal children to fathers, and husbands to wives, and this work did bring us joy and gladness. And it came to pass that after this period of worship in the House of the Lord, that we did meet with friends, and did go yet again to a house of eating, and verily we did eat much. And the food was Mexican, and it was good. And the goodness thereof was such that Julie did keep in reserve the half of her meal to take with her to work that she might partake of it there too; and also was the desire to not get sick in the house of eating great in the mind of Julie.
On the next day, we did arise early and go to a house of worship where we did partake of the sacrament, and we did remember the Lord our God, and did rejoice much in the Spirit that did abound. And Julie did serve the children, and I did endeavor to preach the pleasing word of God.
And it came to pass that after our meetings, we did return to our house and did prepare more food, of which we did partake with new friends we have made. Behold, their names are Mike and Amy. And they are young, like unto us, but behold Amy is great with child, and is due to be delivered. And after we did eat, we did play the game of Rook; and behold, we did play in our might, in the which Julie and I did beat Mike and Amy; and behold, there was no sorrow nor lamentation, and we did agree to meet together soon, that they might try to beat us. And now, I would that ye should know that we feel blessed and fortunate to have so many friends upon whom we may call; for verily, they are all men and women of sound understanding, and they take delight in doing that which is right, and also in enjoying righteous activities which are pleasing in the sight of God. And also, there are three new young couples who have moved into our ward, and we shall invite them over soon for food, or for merriment, according as we shall desire.
Now behold, Julie does work each day at a place of learning known as Arizona State University; and behold, she does work at Arizona State Savings and Credit Union, which is located there. And she does work with other women there, and they do both give and receive money; and she has spoken to those with whom she works concerning Jesus Christ and the joy that comes from following his teachings. And they are all greatly impressed by her, and delight in working with her. And this brings us peace and satisfaction.
And it came to pass that on Tuesday, we did journey to an Institute that we might continue to feast upon the good word of God; but behold, the class had been canceled, although we did not know why. But we shall make the journey again this Tuesday that we might meet this teacher and learn more of the Doctrine and Covenants and grow in the spirit of God.
On Wednesday, behold we did go our separate ways, in the which the Lord did watch over us and protect us that no harm or accident might come upon us. And Julie did go to a meeting of the Primary Presidency of which she is a part; and I did go to yet another house of eating with many from my place of work. And behold, the place of eating was exceedingly loud, and great was the loudness of our waiter. But behold, many did find this person funny, but this was because of the quantities of alcohol that they had consumed and did continue to consume throughout the meal. But I and my fellow Mormons did not partake of this tradition, but we did drink lemonade and did remain sober. And the company did pay for this meal, and verily I say unto you that the bill was great, even to exceed all other bills I have seen for a meal. For behold, there were many people present, and the majority of those present did partake of strong drink which does cost exceedingly much. And I was grateful that the Lord has counseled us not to partake of such, for the consequences are not pleasing unto me.
On Friday, we did go to out and did behold in a house of entertainment a movie, in the which a man named Truman did live out his life. And we did comment among ourselves that the movie was entertaining; and we were grateful that wickedness was not portrayed as happiness, nor were great sins enacted before our eyes. And truly, this is a marvel to behold; for it was astonishing unto us that the previews for other movies were most abominable, and one dares not imagine the actual movie, for the preview is most shameful. And we will content ourselves in the watching of movies that are pure and wholesome, most of which were made before we were born.
And now, I would speak unto you concerning the labor that I do. For behold, there is much to do, and the time which I have to engage in this labor is not sufficient that I might accomplish all that they would have me accomplish. And also, there is much that I yet do not know, and behold, I did make an exceedingly great mistake with one account, which did require two days to undo. Now behold, I was frustrated to a great degree by this mistake, but those with whom I work did exercise great patience with me and did show me the error of my ways, in the which I learned much. And it is astonishing to behold that I have worked for nearly four months at this job, and time doth pass exceedingly fast.
And now, I behold that I am out of room on this page. And verily, I know not what more to say than I have already said. And so I give this page to my wife, that she may write the things which are pleasing to her soul. And I make and end.
Hi everyone. Hope you were able to get through that. We had lots of fun writing it. Life here is WONDERFUL! I started work one the 19th. It's lots of fun. I'm meeting so many neat people and I am able to work on my Independent Study classes from the Y during my lunch break. Today in primary we had lots of fun with all the children together so we could let the teachers go to Relief Society and Priesthood. So after singing time we did some finger painting. It was interesting. Tonight we were able to go to a New Comers Fireside at the ward building. It was great fun. We met quite a few new couples and had fun visiting with them. We are getting ready to leave to go play games at some friends of ours so We'll say so long. We wish we all the best and want you to know we are thinking of you.
It can be cold at the end of August!
