NOvember 30-December 4, 1981

During this week one of the outstanding evenings was the Old Testament class on Wednesday evening.  Pres. Stephens lectured on the Ten Tribes.  That is one of the most enjoyable classes I have ever enjoyed.  He goes from one obscure text to another – picking out a verse here and there just form memory and builds a foundation for his lesson.  He also skips from Old Testament to New Testament to D & C to Book of Mormon to Pearl of Great Price.  He made the statement that if we do not understand the Old Testament, we cannot understand the gospel.  At one time I would have scoffed at the idea, but now I’m beginning to understand why he made the statement. It’s the whole basis upon which the gospel is built upon.  Without that as a foundation, we do not have very much to base our beliefs on.  Furthermore the wonderful characters who move through the pages of the Old Testament restored some of the fundamental keys to Joseph Smith when they gospel was restored.  I’m really convinced that a good understanding of the Old Testament is essential.

November 29, 1981

 Today is a special event. After our regular church, we had the dedicatory services for our new addition on the church house. It began at 7:00 p.m. They chapel was not as packed as I thought it would be – after a regular church day the children were too weary for their parents to drag them out to another session. As we know the children make up a large portion of the audience. It made for a serene, peaceful and spiritual atmosphere – very fitting to turn the labor of our hands and contributions to our Savior for His house. Our two wards met together. Marilyn Lofgreen conducted a combined choir. It was really heavenly music. The program was outstanding, conducted by Bishop Dee Preece of Milton Second; President Calvin Stephens gave the Dedicatory prayer. IN my estimation, he is truly one of the great ones chosen before he was born. If I were a prophet I would say, “One day he will be one of the General Authorities of the church.” We had quite a few visitors from the other stake. Keith and Faye Donna were there.

November 26 – 27, 1981

November 26

Today dawned beautiful and bright.  I made hot rolls (delicious too!), green shrimp salad and a batch of Rice Crispy treats.  Jeannie came down and we went and had dinner with Steve and Jackie and the girls (and John).  It was very delicious and enjoyable.  I really love Jeannie.  She’s so pleasant and even tempered – a real joy to be around.  Steve showed films of when they were growing up. Jeannie really enjoyed them.  The girls came over and stayed tonight.  They had the usual ball playing post office and store.

 Saturday, November 28

Also dawned bright and beautiful.  I was really happy because I had planned on going to Cache Valley for Mildred and Vernal’s Golden Wedding anniversary.  I went up and got there about 3 p.m.  I had a chance to have a visit with them and their family before the open house began.  All their children and their spouses were present plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren.   It was an impressive gathering and one to be very proud of.  Ruth Allen Brunker was there.  It seemed good to be with her again.

November 24-25, 1981

November 24 Sharon Craig and I went visiting teaching to Connie Wardon’s and Jean Wixom. We enjoyed visiting with them for a few minutes and it had to be a few minutes because I had to be in Peterson to meet with the Stake Presidency. They asked me to be the Stake co-chairman of the single adult transition program. Of course you know, I accepted. It was Pres. Calvin Stephens who interviewed me and there isn’t many people who can meet that look and refuse.

November 25 When I got home I was so tired and cold, I decided to stay home and relax instead of going to my Old Testament class. I felt guilty but I also enjoyed very much getting warmed up and staying in and not going out in the cold again. Ah the blessings of a warm house and bed!

November 24-26, 1981

November 24 Sharon Craig and I went visiting teaching to Connie Wardon’s and Jean Wixom. We enjoyed visiting with them for a few minutes and it had to be a few minutes because I had to be in Peterson to meet with the Stake Presidency. They asked me to be the Stake co-chairman of the single adult transition program. Of course you know, I accepted. It was Pres. Calvin Stephens who interviewed me and there isn’t many people who can meet that look and refuse.

November 25 When I got home I was so tired and cold, I decided to stay home and relax instead of going to my Old Testament class. I felt guilty but I also enjoyed very much getting warmed up and staying in and not going out in the cold again. Ah the blessings of a warm house and bed!

November 26 Today dawned beautiful and bright. I made hot rolls (delicious too!), green shrimp salad and a batch of Rice Crispy treats. Jeannie came down and we went and had dinner with Steve and Jackie and the girls (and John). It was very delicious and enjoyable. I really love Jeannie. She’s so pleasant and even tempered – a real joy to be around. Steve showed films of when they were growing up. Jeannie really enjoyed them. The girls came over and stayed tonight. They had the usual ball playing post office and store.

November 16, 1981

November 16

This morning started the first of a three day murder trial.  Janis W. was going to court but she classed late Sunday evening to say that she was sick, so I had to go to court.  We had called 45 witnesses be cause we anticipated that we would have a hard time choosing a jury on a case like that.  Imagine my surprise when the first seventeen were called.  They chose the jury from among them and the trial was in progress by 10:30.  It had started at 9:00 a.m.  Robert Hastie was the Deputy Sheriff who had handled the case so he was the chief witness for the prosecution and he did an A-1 job as a witness.  I was really proud of him and I believe he was proud of himself.  At any rate, court recessed at 5 p.m. and started again the next morning and went all that day.  It quit soon after 5 but I didn’t go home. I just stayed there for comm’s meeting, which lasted until 9:30.  Very fortunate for me because we had a case scheduled for 8:30 on Wednesday morning.  The murder trial resumed at 9 a.m. By noon the jury went out and everyone expected them to be out for several hours and we were all astounded when they announced 20 minutes later that they had reached a verdict.  They all filed in and the judge handed the verdict to me to read.  It was “not guilty”.  Again, many of the people acted amazed.  It seemed like the jury had their minds made up before they ever left the courtroom because they didn’t have time to study the evidence.  Needless to say, there were several very happy people.  Mrs. Furrh was one and her daughter was another.  I was thankful for a nice, quiet day on Thursday and Friday. 

Saturday and Sunday were nice.  On Saturday I worked for a couple of hours over at work and went home expecting to have Macey and Jamie for the evening but at the last minute they decided to take them bowling with them.  This caused me to miss Leann Flitton’s open house and the stake singsong they had over to the high school.  All the children participated and also Deloy from his ward.  They said it was all very good and I was disappointed to miss it.  However, Ken called Sunday morning and said they wanted to come down so I told them to come down around 4 o’clock and I would cook dinner.  I invited Steve, Jackie and the girls down also, so they would have a chance to play together and they had a ball.  In fact, they didn’t want to go home.