From Dad July 31, 2016

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Re:  Letter 84 of 3

Dear Riley:

The week just flew by and it’s hard to believe the family vacation is over.  It was nice to be off the grid and largely disconnected from the electronic world, though I had a lot waiting for me when I got home and it will take a few days to sort through it all.

Yosemite was too grand for words and far more than pictures can convey.  I just felt really small and in my mind couldn’t help but consider the words in Psalms What is man, that thou art mindful of him?  In order to see the grandest vistas we were compelled to brave the unbelievable traffic, crowds of tourists (with full understanding that we were part of the headache imposed on others), and 100 degree weather on the valley floor.  After 45 minutes we were able to extract ourselves from the madness and headed for higher ground where the view was spectacular and the tourist pressure greatly diminished.  Unfortunately the Sequoia forest was closed for renovation so we didn’t get to see the redwoods.  Material for another trip I suppose…

Lake Tahoe was my favorite place and I think I could spend a week there and still not grow tired of it.  The condominium accommodations were comfortable but not plush.  However, the price was an amazing find and the view of the lake from the high vantage point was breathtaking.   Thursday we drove around the entire lake and stopped at every place that caught our fancy…that is…until we wore everyone else out.  Leadelle and I were still game for more but all the swimming and sun took its toll.  The water is like blue topaz and so clear that you can see 60 feet down.  The sand was a coarse non-fouling mosaic that simply screamed for Josie to come and play.  I think she could easily spend 8 hours in the water and sand without little thought or care for anything else.  I think sometime I would like to experience the lake is over a period of several days from a sailboat with sleeping quarters.  Throw out a line, cook up a fish, explore an inlet, and fall asleep under a sky ablaze with stars while rocking to the gentle slap of the waves against the hull.   Yeah.  That would be something.

One of the cool things we did was learn to use our camera to photograph the Milky Way.  Very cool what you can capture with the right equipment readily available and a little attention to detail. 

Well, Mom tells me you’re on so I’ll get this in your mail box.  We pray you’ll see God’s hand in the work, and feel his approval of your offering.  Stay the course and be not weary in well doing.

Love,

Dad

From Dad June 5, 2016

Re: Letter 76 of 3

Dear Riley:

When you travel internationally it’s common to mess up your circadian rhythms and we call it jet lag. I’ve discovered a similar phenomenon on the heels of recent events and I’m calling it wedding lag. We’re just exhausted, we’re tired all day but still have a hard time sleeping a full night and a difficult time getting to sleep once we retire. I suppose it’s a combination of the several weeks of going to bed well past midnight, the euphoria of a beautiful wedding nearly flawlessly executed, and the reliving the highlights of the day’s events over and over in your mind. There’s practically nothing I would change.

Friday started early. Cambry was up at 5:00 AM waiting for people to come and do her makeup and hair. I got up to catch some of the pre-wedding action with photo and video then decided to fix Cambry her last breakfast as Sister Parish. I got her fed, fed the kids, and went to get myself ready. Cambry and Mom left earlier and I was three minutes away from leaving when I got a call informing me that as a witness, I was actually already supposed to be in the temple. This was a revelation to me, but what was to be done?? It was 7:45 AM and the soonest I could get up there was 8:40, but I left almost immediately and hoped for the best. On the way I was delayed by an accident for an extra 10 minutes I didn’t have. About this time, my stomach started growling and I realized that I had fed everyone breakfast but myself. Oh well, too late to do anything about that.

 I finally made it to the temple at 8:50 and hurried inside. Once in the temple I was quickly grabbed by a Sister temple worker who seemed to know just who she was looking for and was greatly relieved that I was there. She got the appropriate paperwork signed and I felt more at ease. Then they handed me over to a temple volunteer and that’s when the fun began. 

He was determined to take me to the marriage wedding room even though I explained to him that I was supposed to be there 50 minutes earlier. He got turned around and went to the wrong floor on the elevator; he went left when he should have gone right; at one point he confessed to me that he had been working there for 9 years and it still felt like a labyrinth to him, which didn’t make me feel very comfortable; he walked me around a corner to a hallway which seemed to stretch for a half mile and we started the sloth shuffle way down to the marriage waiting room. Along the way he chatted pleasantly apparently oblivious to the time constraints we were under. We finally arrived at the wedding waiting room only to find it nearly devoid of people. “Well how about that………they must have taken everyone up to the sealing room!” We went back out into the hallway and met up with a sister whom I believe was searching for me in earnest. 

She grabbed my hand and we fairly flew to some elevators where she pushed the button and then had second thoughts. She took me over to a small spiral stair case and said “The stairs are faster. Run all the way to the top.” I emerged three floors up 10 seconds later where I should have been all along and could see Leadelle (very relieved) at the end of the hall in front of the sealing room. On the way I passed by Cambry and Cameron sitting outside the sealing room visiting quietly with the temple President who would also be their sealer. I was the last one I the room besides the bride, groom, and sealer. I thought the entire thing was pretty funny and once I was in the building and had signed the official documents, wasn’t the least bit worried that they would start without me, but Grandma B was sweating bullets.

The ceremony was simply beautiful and beautifully simple. When you consider the far reaching impact of what transpires within a few paragraphs and less than five minutes of the sealing ceremony, it’s truly remarkable. The Spirit was so strong and witnessed to the correctness of the path, the blessings and fruits of good clean living, and the worthiness of these two individuals to be in that holy place. Both Cambry and Cameron looked so radiant and it truly felt like pay day for me; the culmination of everything we had hoped, prayed, and worked for since Cambry’s birth. I considered how quickly time flies and realized that Leadelle’s parents were about my age now when I married her 24 years ago. Now here they sat in the temple watching their granddaughter get sealed. It won’t be long before we’re watching our own grandchildren get married.

As it turned out, Cambry was the first one married in the Salt Lake temple on Friday. This meant that there was no one in front of us at the prime picture spots. Just as we were wrapping up, an enormous throng of people from three other weddings came around the corner. I was glad that we didn’t have to battle the crowds. The weather and lighting were perfect and everything ran like clockwork. After the main pictures were taken, the bulk of our wedding party headed down to Provo for the luncheon. We stayed behind for a few more pictures with Cambry, Cameron, and the parents. As we were walking back to the dressing room so Cambry could change, I walked a ways behind them. What a handsome couple! They turned a lot of heads and some people even asked if they could take their picture. As I watched Cameron escort Cambry back to the temple, it really sank in that I had handed my stewardship over to another priesthood bearer who would watch over, provide for, and care for my daughter. It’s a feeling difficult to describe, but for me it was filled with both joy and sadness.

The luncheon was a buffet held at the Sky Room at BYU and was a relaxing and enjoyable gathering. CB played the guitar and piano while we ate. I showed the video/slideshow I had worked on and there was a fairly long pause of complete silence at the end. I guess that’s a good sign. Anyway, it was a tender reminder of just how quickly time flies and how the young grow up and move on.

We hardly had time to rest before getting ready for the reception. Everything came together in an amazing fashion. Even the venue supervisor commented on how everything looked, and they’re accustomed to seeing a lot of events.  The food looked amazing and the décor was stunning. People started arriving ten minutes early so we formed the line and began greeting the guests. The line very quickly grew out of sight and some people told me it extended out the doors. We tried to be gracious to the hundreds of guests and make them feel like their wait in line was worth it. I think we did a pretty good job moving people along but still some must have stood in line for 40 minutes and I never saw the end of the line until the end of the reception when we started moving down the line so we could cut the cake. Cake cut, bouquet thrown, wedding singer song sung, father daughter dance, bride and groom dance, sparkler tribute as they ran to their tastefully decorated getaway vehicle…and they were off on their new life together. It was all a whirlwind of activity and over almost before it started. I was elated that everything went off so well, broken that my once little baby was gone. (the daddy daughter dance was something I was told about the day before, and it fairly demolished me. To be fair, Cambry soaked my shoulder with her tears. (Thank goodness for waterproof makeup!) All said and done, I ate one meal all day and barely got a taste of the wedding feast. That’s how the day went.

Our Indian guests felt so loved and welcome. They were beautifully adorned in their best ceremonial dress, which incidentally changed throughout the day with the most grand reserved for the reception. Uncle T was a God send and picked them up at the airport as they arrived. He happily made two trips to the airport on Wednesday evening on account of a delayed flight and ultimately went to bed around 2:00 AM.

Saturday was more relaxed, and we enjoyed our Indian guests and exchanged gifts prior to their departure in the evening. Such good and kind people! It’s amazing to me that such a deep love and friendship can spring from a business relationship which enriches our lives temporally, culturally, and spiritually for decades. I got back from dropping them off at the airport at about midnight.

I wish you could have been here. Uncle T played a joke on everyone and made your picture look more like a shrine. He even went and got some Catholic candles (definitely a strong Central American flavor) and set them up around the picture. All the P clan thought it terribly funny. Mom was going crazy over it but never had time to take them down herself and no one she petitioned to help her would remove them. It WAS pretty funny, but I’m glad the rumors of your death were greatly exaggerated.

Well, I’m tired and trying to get back on a reasonable schedule. Take care and work hard. We prayed especially that you would be extra blessed and compensated for your service during this time where your heart may be drawn closer to home and the events playing out in your absence.

Love,
Dad

From Dad May 29, 2016

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Re: Letter 75 of 3

Dear Riley:

It’s hard to believe that the next time I sit down to write, Cambry Parish will be Mrs. Hernandez. Things are at a fever pitch and I’m rather glad that I have only one wedding related task to stress over. As I consider how the week will shape up, I realize I won’t have much time to work on the wedding video especially when my Indian guests arrive. This letter will be brief so I can focus on making progress on it. I miss my missionary especially during this significant event.

I really enjoyed your last letter. It sounds like you have a pretty effective companionship that magnifies the unique strengths of each of you. Very cool experiences with the Spirit.

The weather has been quite cool and wet. This has favored truly incredible lettuce which, with a little help from micronized volcanic rock, has a depth and complexity of flavor you simply won’t find in any commercially grown greens. I finally got my peppers and most of my tomatoes planted about two weeks later than the ideal. This year will just be this way. The other evening I stepped out into the garden for some night reconnaissance. I knew I had a snail issue and was determined to eradicate the problem once and for all or at least get an idea of what I was up against. What I found was astounding. Over 100 snails from small to enormous were covering an area just 10 feet across. They were chewing my rhubarb leaves to ribbons even though the leaves are supposed to be poison. Many of them were lined up along the water’s edge in the ditch which made them easy pickings. I threw so many against the cement ditch bank that my arm started to ache, so I got a bag and filled it up. I moved to the side of the house and went through the flower beds. Within thirty feet I had filled a quart bag to capacity. (This is with snail bait I had already spread around earlier.) A quick trip through my microwave left them in pieces but I’m fairly confident I didn’t put much of a dent in the local population. Did I mention we’ve had a lot of rain? They remind me of the Borg in Star Trek; slow, relentless, multiplying, overpowering, and completely effective at assimilating any living plant in their path.

It appears my bees have made it through that initial difficult phase. It’s a happy thing for me to see them hustling to and fro. The owner of Utah Valley Fruit Growers was commenting on the poor pollination of his fruit crops this year and what a poor harvest he was anticipating. It made me glad that I had the advantage of the pollinating power of several thousand bees just through the fence. It seems to have already paid big dividends as my trees are loaded with fruit. Just think, some of these apples I’m tending will be eaten by you.

The highlight of last week was Parker’s High School graduation. It was a little tense leading up to the final days, but he pulled it off. He’s been sleeping a lot since, but now he can get down to task earning money through the summer for college and a mission. The plan is that he will work with me. As I consider the crossroads just around the corner as kids grow up and move on, I want to take advantage of these final months to build the relationship.

Well, I’m going to sign off. We pray for you daily and many members follow your progress on the blog. I’m just so grateful that you chose to serve a mission and wish more of my youth were focused on preparing for a mission. You remember the V don’t you? Well they now live in Uncle JP’s ward, so I get to keep tabs on them. N just received his call and will be leaving in July I think. Can’t remember exactly where he was called, but I believe it’s stateside. Anyway, that was good to hear. Take care and keep working hard. We’ll be thinking of you especially this week.

Love,
Dad

P.S. Got to step into the garden for some night reconnaissance!

From Dad May 22, 2016

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Re: Letter 74 of 3

Dear Riley,

Such a busy week, yet as I sit down to write it seems like there’s not much to tell. We had our fourth funeral in less than 6 weeks. This is the first one in over twenty funerals since being called as bishop that I wasn’t able to attend or conduct because I was 4 ½ hours away in Blanding for the funeral of MK. M was a friend and mentor for nearly 20 years at PC. He passed away at age 60 from a horrible condition which caused many strokes over a 6 year period. It was a sad story because he lost so many of his faculties and it completely altered his personality. He leaves behind a wife and three children, one of which is a special needs child 24 years old who is a vegetable and requires constant care. It’s so sad.

The highlight of the week was that Cambry received her endowment. We had over twenty family members there to support her and it was simply beautiful. Cambry’s already beautiful, radiant, clean, and happy by nature, but she commented after she had been through the temple that she had never in her life felt more beautiful, radiant, clean, or happy. It felt like payday for me and I wished you could have been there for at least a little while to share in the spirit of the moment. There’s a real power there that can’t be contrived.

The garden is doing awesome. I’m little behind on some of my planting, but what I planted a month or so ago already looks amazing. I watched a gardening video which expounded the virtues of micronized volcanic rock. I thought I’d try it and bought a few bags. Just 22 pounds in a 5’ X 5’ planter does wonders. I can’t remember ever having lettuce that looked or tasted so good. It’s gigantic and even better looking than when I took the picture a week ago. The Rhubarb is three feet high and has enormous beefy stalks. We’ve already a couple fresh rhubarb cakes which are always a hit. I still need to finish thinning the apricots and will need to thin the apples in a week or two, but it already looks like we’re in store for a bountiful harvest. I haven’t checked my bees since I put in the brood and hadn’t planned on checking them for another two weeks. However, given the apparent lack of activity around the entrance even when the weather is warm is a little worrisome.

Well, it’s late and I’m a little surprised you’re not on yet. Keep working hard. We love and miss you, especially when such exciting family events are just around the corner. Just consider, even if you miss this wedding, I’m pretty sure you’ll be here for the next one….Yours!

Love,
Dad

Since you've been gone... May 16, 2016

...we're just going with the flow.

This was Dad's choice.

From Dad May 15, 2016

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Re: Letter 73 of 3

Dear Riley:

Whooooa! Somebody slow down the train. Halfway through the month and the wedding is a little less than three weeks away. The house is fairly overrun with wedding preparations, the stress is tangible, and bedtime comes at midnight nearly every day. Fortunately for men, they aren’t given much say in the planning or execution of the various aspects. I still need to work on the wedding video and just barely got the pictures. It was sort of funny last Friday when I asked your mom to accompany me to the movie for a date. She was quick to inform me that she couldn’t spare the time. I was quick to point out that if I had invited her to go on a 2 hour tandem bike ride she would be able to find the time. She acknowledged this was indeed the case. I’m still not sure if it was a compromise or the obvious incongruity of the situation, but she finally relented to go see a movie which she enjoyed much more than she expected. Early Saturday morning we took a beautiful 20 mile tandem ride along the Murdock canal.

It’s right in the middle of planting, thinning, spraying, and landscaping. Combined with work, church, and the added demands of an up and coming wedding, it’s difficult to keep on top of everything. We’ve had three funerals in the last four or five weeks and have a few more members who aren’t doing terribly well. In the midst of all this, I realized I once again had bee problems. My hive had no developing brood or eggs, but WAS full of honey. This was a familiar story and almost identical repeat of last spring. I called the seller of my bee package who invited me out to Payson to get a frame of developing brood in order to save my hive. I needed to build a special box to transport five frames full of bees to and from Payson. The mass of bees would prevent chilling and death of the brood during transit. This box is called a “nuc” which is short for a “nucleus hive” but this one was my own custom design for transit. (The bee farmer was duly impressed with my handiwork and very complimentary.) The transfer of brood went smoothly while I watched from afar without any bee protection. The trouble started when the bee farmer brought me some tools to hold. Unfortunately a few bees were ticked and followed him. One bee took particular interest in me and started dive bombing me in the face. I knew I wasn’t supposed to swat. I’ve seen up close and personal how bees respond to any sudden rapid movement while I’ve worked on the hive. However, all this knowledge seemed to fly out the window when the old phobia from being swarmed and stung by yellow jackets as a teenager returned. I took a few ineffective swings which only excited the already aggressive bee and I ended up getting stung slightly above my right temple. Since I was rather far from my vehicle and not thinking entirely clearly, I used my fingers to pick the stinger out (also something I had been instructed not to do.) I drove into town with my head throbbing and bought some Benadryl at the nearest pharmacy. I have been stung before and usually this will suffice. By the end of the day, there was a rather large red swollen patch on my forehead. The following day it had expanded to below my eye and my right side of my face was misshapen and grotesque. By the third day, the swelling had extended down to my upper lip and completely filled out the right side of my face. I awoke being able to see my right eyebrow, my upper eyelid, and cheek all with my right eye. Vision was a little blurry and I felt a little self conscious about my appearance. It was at this point I conducted a funeral. Your mother tried her best to help me with various remedies which were about as useless as anything I was able to come up with. Her constant laughter was about the best motivation for me to recover as quickly as possible. Every time she looked at me was like a new revelation for her. By Saturday I was pretty much back to normal, but this incident impressed on me my earlier resolve to always wear a bee suit when working with my bees. This was just a single sting. Imagine if I was attacked by a dozen or more…Some people responded with “and you have bees?” “Dude...get an EpiPen!”

I just received some sad news a few days ago. When I worked for Grandpa years ago, I had a mentor named MK. He had the mind of a mechanical engineer even though I don’t think he ever studied this field. He was inventive, careful and meticulous, and a fundamental part of the business for many years. I learned much from M and I attribute my knowledge of the processing equipment I currently use largely to him. A number of years ago he moved to Blanding Utah. A few years ago he survived a rather serious stroke, but reportedly never fully recovered. He passed away from respiratory failure on April 9th. The funeral will be held this coming Saturday. He was only 60 leaves behind a wife and three children. It’s so sad. We just never know how much time we have. A number of my siblings are considering going with Grandma and Grandpa to the memorial service. I’ll probably go too, but will need to work on the wedding video during the nine hour round trip.

Well, we sure loved the Mother’s day call. The following morning we sang Happy Birthday to Josie Thai fashion. (We laughed about it for days!) Keep up the good work and don’t get discouraged by the fact that you seem to be constantly opening new areas and revitalizing old ones. Someone needs to plant the seed before it can bear fruit and be harvested. Often times this process can take years, but it’s all part of the work and recognized by Heavenly Father. We got some great feedback from Sister G regarding your work ethic, and contribution to the work. Chin up and shoulders back! Till next time.

Love,
Dad

From Dad May 8, 2016

Dear Riley:

Rain rain and more rain. That's how the weekend has been. The snails and worms are having a ball. We're officially out of the woods, I think, for late frost but the other day while at work we got hit by hail nearly as big as marbles. By the time I came home, the hail had melted, but the evidence of its destructive power was everywhere. Streets were littered with debris and flowerbeds were in tatters. Just that morning I was out in the garden and wanted to take a picture of my lettuce patch. It looked like a postcard and was ready to eat. After the hail, it looked like tossed salad. Oh well, what's to be done. It's just another reminder of how dependent we are on the elements behaving just right, and how quickly circumstance can change.

Mother's Day has been nice. The kids and I made gourmet chocolate dipped strawberries yesterday and had a ball. They didn't look too shabby considering it was our first stab at it. We had a nice Sacrament program and minimal demands by way of extra meetings and interviews. I was home early and will be heading over to Grandma's in a minute. Can't wait for the Mother's Day call from our missionary. Your mother can hardly contain herself. Talk to you soon.

Love,
Dad

From Dad May 1, 2016

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Re: Letter 71 of 3

Dear Riley:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I neglected to wish you a happy birthday last Sunday, but Bro. Pinegar called on your birthday and asked that we relay his birthday wishes to you. What a week! Things are at a fever pitch as we move toward the wedding and I’m getting a little nervous about my portion of the responsibilities. I had obligations every day but in retrospect, the way things worked out was completely satisfying. I’m also a little stressed about the unfinished work in the yard and garden, but what’s to be done when almost every spare moment I have is also punctuated with rain. Today it was beautiful and sunny. Last Sunday it was beautiful and sunny. Yesterday it was cloudy with rain. Tomorrow will be more of the same. I’m still waiting for a good time to check the bees, which I hope are doing ok. Well, at least as long as it’s raining it isn’t freezing and that means my apricots are still ok. It looks like we’ll have tons this year.

I had a blessed turn of events at work. The last phase of the equipment installation involves the instrumentation. This is what enables me to monitor and control temperature, pressure, flow, agitation, etc. What it required was beyond my expertise and I really didn’t know where to start. My impression to contact the robotics and automation department at UVU didn’t yield the results I hoped for, but did provide clarity on the skills I was looking for. I went online and found someone local who seemed to have the necessary skills to help me, but was unable to make contact for several weeks. In the meantime, I had people contacting me from places as far off as Turkey, Venezuela, and India all claiming to be able to assist with my project. I just felt the individual here in Orem was the one I should be working with so I did a little sleuthing online and was able to find his address. Would you believe he lives about four blocks diagonally from me? It turned out to be a good fit, I went by his home, was able to make contact, and I’ve been working with him the past week. As it turned out, he had grown discouraged by never getting any work from the online contracting side jobs he had applied for and simply stopped checking his account. If I hadn’t dropped by, it’s likely I never would have got him. As I look at the spreadsheet he generated mapping all the parameters and equipment needs I can understand why my head was swimming, and am so grateful to have someone working on it for me. In the end, I’ll have everything on a central computer screen, data logging, mobile access and control with alarms sent to my phone if any parameters fall outside established set points. What this means is peace of mind, and repeat-ability of my process without long nights and early mornings to keep things under control. Also, no more scraping Pyrex drying trays! It’s all pretty exciting and a long time in coming. I think you’ll be impressed by what we accomplished over the past two years.

I don’t think I mentioned the passing of CH a couple weeks ago, but J M passed away on the 28th so I’ll be conducting another funeral on Tuesday. These things frequently come in threes and there are a number of other members dancing on the fringes of mortality. It’s just the price we pay for the wonderful association we share with those in their golden years. GS is among those who may not last long. She’s such a dear woman and we’ve been so blessed by her friendship, I don’t want to say goodbye.

Well, I need to sign off and send. I hope your new area is proving fruitful and you’re in a good companionship. I sort of think your mission president sends you to areas to get things moving and that you end up planting a lot of seeds that will bear fruits in the future, but every area you’ve worked was at one time unplowed soil. We’re looking forward to Mother’s Day and your final call home before you head home. I can hardly believe it. Take care, be obedient and safe.

Love,

Dad

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Re: Letter 70 of 3

Dear Riley:

Last week was a category 5 whirlwind of activity. There wasn’t a day without multiple obligations outside of work and by Saturday evening we were exhausted. Cambry graduated from college. That was two days of pomp and ceremony which is sort of funny when you consider all the colorful robes, silks and heady rhetoric. All the same, I was so pleased for Cambry and her accomplishments. She looked beautiful and radiant. Now she’s fully focused on working full time at dōTERRA and wedding planning. dōTERRA has really been good to her and was recently recognized in Forbes magazine as one of the best places to work. Now that Cambry has a degree in English studies, they have encouraged her to consider technical writing and will be looking to promote her talents in more distinguished, and higher paying, endeavors.

The weather has been beautiful and the garden is coming along nicely. I’m surprised by how quickly the 5’ X 5’planters are filled up and feel motivated to put in a few more before the end of summer. I’ll send you a picture of how things are coming along. Sadly, much of the beautiful weather was lost on other obligations. Saturday brought some respite from external obligations but brought some wet weather which made working outside less than ideal. Today was beautiful and sunny. Tomorrow and Tuesday is forecast rain again. Oh well, we need the moisture, but I wish my schedule would get in sync with good weather.

You’re on, so I need to send this. Sorry so short!

Love you!
Dad

From Dad April 17, 2016

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Re:  Letter 69 of 3

Dear Riley:

Wow! Can’t believe another week has passed. In retrospect I think it was pretty fruitful, though I still didn’t accomplish everything I hoped I would. The weather has been beautiful with a few nights that deposited frost on my truck windshield. It made me a little nervous but so far it looks like we’ll have a pile of apricots. Just a few more weeks and we’re out of the woods. Yesterday we took the greater part of the day to go up to Layton and help Grandma and Grandpa with their flood cleanup. The crew that came a few months ago had neglected to remove carpet and wall board from one affected room and it developed mold.  Your mom left immediately to go and buy some quality dust masks, which I believe saved the day. We boxed and hauled hundreds of pounds books and moved a good deal of property to other unaffected areas of the basement. We put in about 3 hours of work and put a good dent in things. We were happy to assist. The whole mess was caused by Utopia drilling to lay cable through the yard. They’ll pay for the restoration, but nothing is compensating for the upheaval or the potential health effects from the ordeal. I’m a little horrified that Grandma and Grandpa are being exposed to this.

I've had an amazing experience with revelation through the Spirit. I can’t give specifics without breaking a sacred confidence, but something was revealed to me in my heart and mind through the Spirit that couldn’t possibly be known any other way.  I have since been praying for the way to use this knowledge for its intended purpose but was unsure how to proceed. It was a delicate matter and I was afraid of blowing it. (It certainly wouldn’t be the first time I stepped in it and I didn’t want to make a muck of things.) A portion of my prayers was devoted to this dilemma and the nature of my prayers was adjusted to be more in line with the knowledge I’d received. Quite unexpectedly, the way forward opened up beautifully in a manner that was a direct answer to a specific request in my prayers. Is this not real? I wish everyone could experience this, or was willing to acknowledge it when it was manifest. Anyway, it leaves me wanting more of experiences like this and fills me with gratitude for the blessings of the calling of Bishop.

DH turns 100 years old tomorrow. What a remarkable man with remarkable legacy. Just consider all he has seen in world progress. Consider what he’s witnessed in the growth of the Church. Consider the blessings and miracles he’s seen. He is a true man of God; always steadfast and faithful; an example to us all. If there was a better way to live a life, I suspect he would have found it by now. He’s so happy and upbeat and speaks openly of how many ways God has blessed him. His mind is sharp and can quickly recall facts, figures, events, names, and places that people considerably younger than him would be challenged to commit to memory... If only his body wasn’t so run down. We celebrate with him tomorrow at an open house held in his honor. His family arranged for a large number of people to send him birthday cards, with the hope that we could reach at least 100 by his birthday. Today he had received in excess of 70.

It’s getting late so I better get this into your inbox. Love you tons!

Dad

Paper Post April 10

David wrote the article for our ward messanger this month and sent it to Riley.

The Power of Tandem

Last year, near the end of summer, Leadelle and I purchased a used tandem bicycle built for two. The front rider on a tandem is generally the tallest of the riders and frequently called the “captain” or “pilot”. The captain controls the steering, braking, and gear selection while the rear rider, often called the “stoker”, sits directly behind the captain and functions as a source of additional power. Of necessity, there’s a linkage between the riders called the timing chain. This ensures that the pedals are synchronized so that the downward power stroke of each pedal rotation occurs simultaneously for both riders. The combination of twice the pedaling power on an apparatus lighter than the combined weight of two bicycles, and the fact that the captain nearly perfectly blocks the wind for the stoker makes a tandem a thrill to ride and potentially a serious force to be reckoned with. We love going fast and few bikers are able to keep up with us on a level surface. Downhill we approach speeds almost beyond reason and only the most serious riders on highly geared bicycles even come close to keeping up.

We rode hundreds of miles together and had a blast, but early on began to notice some stretching and slippage of the timing chain which got progressively worse until the timing chain was noticeably looser than when we purchased the bicycle. Over the course of any ride, it would repeatedly jump a cog or two until the front and back pedals were out of synchronization anywhere between a quarter to three quarters of a revolution. There’s a rhythm and sway to a tandem bicycle that we call swing. It’s a little difficult to describe but easily felt, and it only occurs when both riders are moving in synchronized harmony to maintain balance and speed. What we quickly discovered was when we were out of sync on the pedaling we lost our swing and a portion of our energy was wasted in battling each other. This negatively affected balance and power which translated to lower speeds and less enjoyment for our effort.

Earlier this spring we took our faithful tandem in for a complete tune up. When we got it back, the timing chain had been tightened and the drive gears and chains had been completely cleaned and lubricated. These elements combined with a dozen other minor tuning adjustments transformed our bicycle into a machine we had never experienced before. It seemed alive beneath us and fairly pulsed and surged with each revolution of the pedals now perfectly in sync…always in sync. With swing easily maintained and gears free from grime, we picked up our average speed by nearly 2 miles per hour without any additional effort.

We’ve marveled at the power and thrill and power of working in synchronous tandem and can’t help but draw a few parallels with life. What marriage wouldn’t benefit from a periodic tune up to ensure that both husband and wife are working in optimal synchronized harmony towards worthy goals? What life doesn’t benefit from a periodic good cleaning to remove the grime and extraneous elements which prevent each of us from reaching our full potential? What power and blessings would manifest in the lives of any and all willing to work in synchronous tandem with God and our Savior Jesus Christ in thought, word, and deed?

As we move into General Conference weekend may we avail ourselves of the opportunity to tune and clean our hearts and lives; may we bring them into synchronized harmony with God as we apply the words of inspired leaders; may we more fully experience the power and blessings of working in synchronous tandem with Christ to build His kingdom and further His work.

Bishop Parish

From Dad April 10, 2016

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Re: Letter 68 of 3

Dear Riley:

Ok, so it’s 9:40 PM and our last bit of company from the monthly birthday bash just left. It was held at our home on account of some remodeling underway at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s. What a pleasant evening surrounded by family. Now I’m rushing to write my letter to my missionary.

Last week was spring break and we took a couple days near the end to enjoy some family time away. Would you believe that the last time we visited Goblin Valley Elise was just a small baby and has no recollection of the adventure? So off to Goblin Valley we went. We camped about 7 miles outside of the park which was a great adventure. All the open space with few restraints was almost more than the kids could handle. We had a great time hiking around, sitting around a campfire, watching the stars, and piling into a huge tent. Josie was particularly intrigued by the concept of all being in the same room of the tent. The following morning we went into the park to explore the rock goblins. As we looked over the valley from the parking lot Josie remarked “Hey! Did they say we could climb on those?” I assured her that it was ok. She then turned to mom and asked “Will they really let us climb on those?” Leadelle confirmed that it was indeed allowed. To this Josie slowly shook her head in wonder and remarked “Well it’s a really good thing it isn’t furniture!” She spent the greater part of the day tearing all over, exploring and climbing, playing hide and seek…and standing in the line for the bathroom only to chicken out at the sight of a cavernous hole with a seat on top.. She had a ball and thoroughly exhausted herself. Poor Parker! I think he was missing a brother nearly as crazy as he is. Sisters are great, but a little too hesitant for his style. At one point, very close to the place you scared me to death years ago; he got up something he couldn’t get down without assistance. He was the only one who wasn’t ready to leave at the end of the day. For the most part, everyone all got along well and when we finally got back home, it seemed we had been gone for considerably longer than a couple days.

I’ve got bees again and they seem to be settling in well. I was missing the activity around the hive when I looked out the window, or worked in the garden. I finally planted the strawberry patch and given the age of the starts can expect some produce in a couple months. Still a lot of work to do, and I’m still getting up early each morning to knock out a few projects.

Sacrament meeting was wonderful and it was fascinating to watch the common thread that linked everything together. The Spirit was so strong, and there were several testimonies that touched on personal experiences regarding the location of most of the new temples that were announced. One particular story was told by KK who lived in Brazil during the early years of his marriage and served as branch president in Belem Brazil. He told of a man who had heard the missionaries’ message numerous times, but told them he simply wasn’t interested. He was extremely poor and was more concerned about day to day survival. Then one day, the missionaries came by to chat, and one of them happened to be carrying the Ensign magazine with a picture of the prophet on the cover. He asked who the man was, because he had a dream about him and knew he was a man called of God. When this good brother found out that this was the leader of our Church and that we considered him a prophet of God, he joined the church. He came to church and brought his family but couldn’t afford the bus fare, which was a few pennies, except for every other week. Yet when he did come, he always paid tithing and fast offerings. It was a sweet testimony and firsthand account of how the faith of members such as this man built the spiritual foundation upon which a physical temple will now be built in their city. There were a lot of tears in our meeting and I soaked through four tissues myself.

Well, time to sign off. I don’t want to miss you. I hope you got as much of a lift from conference as I did. Keep up the great work. The time will pass before you know it. No regrets!

Love,
Dad

From Dad April 3, 2016

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Re: Letter 67 of 3

Dear Riley:

The weather is beautiful right now and I’m enjoying the sounds and sights of spring through the open windows. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed General Conference and feel renewed, enlightened, and resolved to go forward trying a little harder to be a little better. A wonderful spirit permeates our home and I feel badly there are individuals who refuse to acknowledge the nobility of what just transpired over the past couple days or recognize the delicious fruits of the gospel. Shouting voices of descent during the sustaining of Church officers has become the new normal and stands in stark contrast to the unanimous votes in the affirmative of years past. President Monson looked and sounded stronger than he has in recent past conferences, but spoke only briefly for General Priesthood (5 min max) and the meeting only went 90 minutes rather than the customary 120 min. This morning he was our first speaker but once again was under 5 minutes. He announced four additional temples and reminded us that there are 27 temples currently under construction in addition to the 150 currently in operation. The prophecy that temples will dot the earth is being fulfilled in our lifetime. As I consider the content of this conference it seemed right in line with the issues I see as bishop that concern me. There was a lot of focus on marriage, family, temples, priesthood power as it relates to worthiness, and rescuing the lost sheep.

Tomorrow marks the first day of spring break. Spring brings a lot of initiative for me that quickly fades in the heat of summer. Right now I feel driven to get plants into the ground and work to beautify and improve the yard and home. I plan on getting up early each day to put in a couple hours of yard work before heading to work. I’m also considering taking some time off work while I’m on task to knock out a few projects. Tomorrow I plan on getting lettuce, cabbage, peas, and strawberries into the planters. We haven’t decided what or where yet, but will likely take some family time for an outing.

Cambry and Cameron are adorable together and things are progressing well toward June 3rd. In addition to immediate and extended family, we’ve been informed of up to 8 Indian friends who plan on being in attendance for the celebration. We’re excited to see our friends and family, and feel touched by their support.

Last week at work was the exciting culmination of many months of seemingly little progress on getting our double cone vacuum dryer up and running. In retrospect, I probably wouldn’t purchase a piece of European equipment again. Customer support is agonizingly inefficient, a handful of replacement parts were astoundingly expensive and four months in coming, everything on it is metric and specialty order (if at all available in the U.S.) and costs up to 5 times the amount of non metric equivalents. Some parts needed to be custom made in order to marry European to U.S. technology. I was told by someone that a general rule of thumb is that you will spend as much money getting equipment installed as you spent on purchasing it. This certainly applies in this instance. However, we have it powered, hooked up to heating and vacuum, and it’s a thing of beauty to behold, at least to someone who has a lot of time and money invested into getting it up and running… We just have a few instrumentation and control issues to address and I’ll feel confident in using it to dry our germanium. This means good bye to Pyrex drying trays. As for the reactors, they’re slightly behind the double cone, but truly should be fully functional within 6 weeks, provided I can get some badly needed instrumentation assistance. We have a good deal of work to do on some other equipment we’ve acquired, but it’s still nice when things come together quickly once a multitude of nearly imperceptible issues have been suitably addressed.

I should be getting my bee package this Friday. I’m a little excited and a little apprehensive of a repeat of last year. There are a host of forces working against bees that make the matter of bee keeping more difficult than meets the eye. One thing that prevents a multitude of ailments for a hive is to have a strong hive. I learned about the destructive power of wax moths on a weak hive and was grateful I at least didn’t need to deal with them. However, while tending my extra frames and honey super with drawn out comb I discovered they had been fully infested with wax moths through the course of last summer. Bummer! It’s just one more thing to manage and protect. I need to prepare the main hive to receive bees and hope it’s in better shape than my unused honey super.

My mantis tiller needed a carburetor rebuild this year. It was beginning to weigh heavily on me so I priced it out. Would you believe it’s a $100 now and a two week waiting period? Considering this unacceptable, I went online and found a $10 rebuild kit a few days out with free shipping. I took a couple hours one evening putting my kit to good use and tilled my garden with my refurbished tiller yesterday. That was extremely satisfying to say the least! If I don’t mind waiting for 1 to 2 months, rebuild kits are available for 3 dollars. I think I’ll order a few and have them on hand for future rebuilds. I also discovered it was oxygenated fuel that destroyed the diaphragms in my tiller, so spent some time searching for a local source of gasoline without ethanol. All the things they never taught me in school…

We’re looking forward to your letter and pray for your success and safety multiple times daily. The gospel and its fruits stand in sharp contrast to the world view and the destructive paths it promotes. Stay the course and keep the faith. There truly is no greater path to happiness than faith in and obedience to God, His son Jesus Christ, and membership in the gospel of Christ. Till next time.

Love,

Dad

From Dad March 27, 2016

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Re: Letter 66 of 3

Dear Riley:

Happy Easter! We love and miss you especially on holidays traditionally reserved for family gatherings. This morning we had our usual egg hunt followed by a breakfast of Goldenrod Eggs. Grandma and Grandpa P came over as well as Cameron. It was a nice leisurely morning since I had no interviews and my single bishopric meeting was moved to one hour before Sacrament Meeting. There were no obligations following church, so I’ve been enjoying good food, time with family, and the chance to write my missionary without feeling rushed.

Sacrament meeting was uplifting, though a little energized. It was reminiscent of Christmas and a Halloween weekend with red 40 dye and other artificial colors surging uninhibited through the veins of hapless children who, for the time being, saw nothing wrong with climbing the walls. It was a little funny to watch, and I think God understood. PY gave her farewell address and will be entering the MTC around the middle of April. She’s a powerhouse and will be a great asset to the people of Toronto. It’s a little sobering when our young women are more desirous and prepared to serve in this capacity than our young men.

Friday was a red letter day on a couple levels. We spent the day up at Utah State University touring the facility with Parker. It just felt right for him, and he’s decided to attend. We had several people placed in our path who helped him arrive at this decision. It was an extremely well organized event and everyone was so helpful. The structure differs from BYU in that it seems more of a tight knit community with an understanding of the struggles and stress of college. They have a system which seems to work pretty well to help students legitimately succeed and have considerable resources dedicated to this end. One of these is almost immediately getting the students into hands-on practical applications. Parker was vacillating a little from going into engineering because the math intimidated him, but finally decided to go for it, with a minor in psychology. Not to say he isn’t a little stressed and apprehensive about what lies ahead, but Cousin E is also in the USU engineering program and was able to provide some valuable perspective. She looked great, by the way, and seemed happier than I think I’ve ever seen her. At any rate, he’s planning on attending fall semester before serving a mission. We think living away from home in a college setting will be invaluable for his emotional development and mission preparation.

The other news from Friday is that Cambry is officially engaged and has a ring on her finger! Friday she was kidnapped from work and sent on a treasure hunt for the greater part of the evening. She was pampered and indulged with food and pleasantries which culminated in a ring, a proposal, and a custom written song. They’re so happy together and we’re thrilled with where things are headed. It’s gratifying to have two families who hold each other in high regard and consider themselves equally blessed to have an extraordinary addition to their family through marriage. Not all marriages get off with this level of support.

We pray for the safety of our missionary. I’m sure you’ve heard about the recent terrorist bombings in Brussels that claimed around 36 lives and left upwards of 200 injured. Four of the injured were missionaries from Utah. They were about 15 meters away from ground zero and sustained rather serious burns and other injuries. There were people farther away who were more seriously injured or even killed. The world has gone mad and the only real solution is for people to turn their hearts to Christ. We still pray for Chaad, though it sounded like he and his family were fading in your last letter. However, I can’t help but feel that even if they don’t make it to the waters of baptism before you leave, the fact that you were teaching them helped you find a lost member. Keep up the hard work. Till next time…

Love,

Dad

From Dad March 20, 2016

The weather has been extremely nice.  It’s officially the first day of spring.  The crocuses are fading, the daffodils are out, and the apricot tree is in early stages of bloom.  I’m in the middle of pruning, early planting garden preparation etc. We took advantage of a spare 50 minutes yesterday to ride the tandem up to Bridal Veil and back.  Two weeks ago we put 23 miles on it and rode down to Utah Lake State Park (through some truly sketchy areas of inner city Provo) It’s remarkable what a good cleaning and full tuning does for the biking experience and we’ve picked up our average speed by about 1.6 mph.  It’s a lot easier to push the bike to the limits of its capacity and I’m still not satisfied that there aren’t few things we could do to squeeze a few mph out yet. 

Cambry and C are still unofficially engaged and simply waiting for the ring which was delayed by two weeks.  Notwithstanding, the plans have proceeded unimpeded.  We now have the dresses for bride, bride’s maids, and flower girls purchased and the date scheduled with the Salt Lake Temple.  (I think I mentioned the date and venue previously.)  It’s a joy to witness a truly wholesome relationship and how it elevates both to a higher plane.  Aside from choosing to remain true to the gospel of Jesus Christ, who you choose to marry is the most important decision you will make in your life and it impacts every facet of your life.  Even the former hinges to significant degree upon the latter.  Leadelle has noted that the actual fruits of the relationship are of greater importance than any chemistry or perceived advantage.  We rejoice with C’s family and see great promise in this partnership between him and Cambry.  She is truly the best side of Cambry we’ve known.

“He is the half part of a blessed man, left to be finished by such as she

And she; a fair divided excellence whose fullness of perfection lies in him.”

William Shakesphere

The business is doing well, and the larger equipment installation is proceeding well on numerous fronts.  I need some expertise regarding the instrumentation for pressure, temperature, and flow.  We have a few connections for heating loops and some venting issues to address.  Last week we filled one vessel with RO Water to begin testing certain parameters with agitation and vessel interior lighting.  It was exciting and felt like we’d crossed a threshold years in the making.  Whatever happens in the future, I can’t imagine wanting to part with this equipment.  There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and heart in them.  Besides, they’re all paid for…

We’ve enjoyed the pictures and letters. I was so moved by your experience with the Chaad family and their neighbor who had been baptized 42 years ago.  Considering everything in perspective, there’s no doubt you and your companion have been instruments in the hands of God in finding this lost sheep and bringing him back to the fold.  The timing and circumstances under which he was able to reunite with the missionary who baptized him are nothing short of miraculous.  These are the gems which make a lot of seemingly fruitless effort worthwhile.  We’re grateful you and your companion are going to stay in the area for at least another transfer and pray that the Chaad family will progress to the waters of baptism before you leave the area.  We sure love and miss you.  We’re confident in the path you’re on and the importance of the work in which you’re engaged.  Stay the course and keep the faith!  Until next time…

Love,

Dad

Since you've been gone... March 14, 2016

...ever thangs fawner 'n frog's hair.

This was Dad's choice.  Hehehehehe

From Dad March 6, 2016

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Re:  Letter 64 of 3

Dear Riley:

The morning dawned wet and cold, but the weather last week was simply beautiful.  Insects were out, birds were everywhere, Crocuses were in full bloom in the flowerbeds, and the temperatures were in the 60’s.  I’m a little concerned that an early spell of warm weather could spell disaster for my apricots which now look a week from full bloom, but took advantage of the sunshine bringing the yard back from winter and getting the spring fertilizer on the grass. (I still haven’t gotten to the pruning or spraying.)  Your mother would like a window well installed for Cambry’s room within the next couple weeks, so I started excavating the pit in front of the house.  I was surprised by how very much dirt had washed down from the original hole and filled up the bottom.  14” and I was just hitting the cement remnant from the window cutout.  At any rate, I’ll be installing something I build myself because I don’t like any of the local options and the out of state options I prefer, are far too costly to ship to Utah.  I have an over engineered plan, a project cost, and motivation.  We’ll see if it goes as smoothly as I hope.  These projects frequently have a way of surprising you with a few curve balls.

With all the birthdays we’ve had recently, a real getaway weekend date has been somewhat elusive.  Last Friday we finely got away for an evening out.  We’ve equipped the tandem for night flying and had just gotten the bike back from the shop where it underwent a complete overhaul.  These facts combined with astoundingly good weather opened a whole new world of possibilities.  We rode down to the movie to see Brooklyn which came highly recommended but surprised and disappointed us with some objectionable content.  Can’t say I would recommend it for this reason.  Anyway, we still had some evening to burn following the movie, so rode back up to Orem and over to Wendy’s for real lemonade and fresh French fries (highly recommended!).  We were fairly flying and had it maxed out a good portion of the time.  It’s surprising what a tune up and good cleaning of the chain and gears will do.  We LOVE that bike and keep scheming on how to squeeze a little more performance out of it.  One thing the technician at the bike shop mentioned when I went to pick it up was the high quality and lightness of the frame.  He said the old KHS bikes with the Tru Temper steel were much higher quality frames than they make now for tandems less than $4,000.  Sweet!  That was a great find for a couple hundred.  Light and strong means more of your energy is translated into speed.  I now feel even better investing a little in getting more out of our bike.  It doesn’t seem we’ll wear out the frame for a considerable time, if ever.  Your mom wants to go to Yellowstone when it’s open to bikers and closed to automobiles.  Wouldn’t that be an adventure?     

Our sacrament testimony meeting was a little different today but very sweet.  A number of individuals who had had faith and worthiness struggles got up and bore testimony. Several were from the same family which was visiting for a baby blessing.  These were former members of the ward I had watched grow up for years.  Whatever their faith struggles or poor choices, they had all come full circle and were now sharing heartfelt testimony borne of trial, tribulation, and God’s hand in their lives.  It just drove home the point that we need never give up hope for those who stray.  Here, three individuals had their separate divergent paths which eventually led them back to the gospel of Christ.

Cambry and C have picked out a ring, have a date (the 3^rd of June),  a venue (The Manor at the Riverwoods), and are picking colors, flowers, and food.  I imagine we’ll be sitting down for a chat with an aspiring young man within a week or so.  They’re so happy together and we’re pleased to see Cambry with someone who truly brings out the best we’ve seen in her.  C asked her if she was prepared to be mistaken for a Hispanic when people see her name.  I feel a little bad you’ll be missing the event, but rest assured we’ll be thinking of our missionary and that you’ll be represented on some level.

The old Dodge van is sold and gone.  We had a lot of memories in the vehicle, but it went for a good cause.  The family that bought it felt it was a blessing and answer to prayer just as we felt the Honda Odyssey was an answer to ours.  I’ll leave the longer version of the story to your mom.  The next thing to go is the RV, which I offered to Cambry and C as a cheap first home option….they declined.  Someone’s bound to be excited over the camper if the price is right.  I just want it gone. 

Well, time to sign off.  We missed hearing a complete report last week, so are really looking forward to your letter this week.  We did enjoy the picture of the Ostrich which we hope you’ll expound on this week.  We just met the son of a member today who served in your area for 6 months.  That was years ago, but he just loved it and was excited to meet the family of a missionary who was currently there.  Keep the faith and keep working hard.  We expect more miracles and so can you. 

Love,

Dad

Paper Post from Dad March 7, 2016

This is a copy of the talk Dave gave for Ward Conference in February this year.

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you,feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. (2 Nephi 32:3)

Thirty three years ago, long before the internet, years before the term “home computer” had any meaning, mail order catalogs were still a popular way of enticing consumers to make purchases.  Magazines frequently had a section of ads at the back for a multitude of items specifically tailored to captivate the reader’s imagination and convince him or her to part with their hard-earned cash.  

One such ad caught the eye of a 14 year old boy.  This was a small picture of a large sheath survival knife.  I still remember the heading…”Over 12” long and Razor Sharp”…  There was a rather long list of features and associated benefits that could be yours for the astoundingly low price of $5 + S&H.  In its handle was a small kit containing items deemed useful in a survival situation.  One such item was a small compass.  In addition to desiring one of these for myself, I was convinced these would also make great gifts for siblings and purchased four of these innovative marvels.

Following what seemed like an eternity, the greatly anticipated package finally arrived in the mail.  However, upon opening it quickly became apparent that what I had purchased was a mere shadow of what I had envisioned.  Aside from the obvious inferior quality of the knife, closer inspection of the survival items in its handle revealed that they were also nearly useless.  One particular item which made a particular deep impression on me was the compass which proved to be so entirely inconsistent so as to remove all confidence in relying on it for anything.  In my heart I knew that if I wanted the quality and consistency I had anticipated, I would need to invest more.

Four years later, I found myself as the chosen leader of a group of six individuals comprised of both boys and girls, dropped off somewhere in the desert west of  Utah Lake.  We were equipped with food, water, first aid supplies, suitable clothing for any likely contingency, skills and training in survival essentials and, perhaps most importantly, maps and a compass.  This time I had wisely invested in more reliable equipment suitable for the circumstances and, comprehending the potential consequences of failure, had given great heed and diligence to the prior training I had undergone.  

Our group’s task was to successfully navigate to a known destination 8 miles away using our equipment and acquired knowledge.  The first order of business was to figure out where we were on the map.  Keep in mind that GPS navigation was not anything readily available to the public, so we were obliged to rely on the map, our powers of observation and the ability to identify landmarks by something called contour lines on a map, and the ability to determine where they were on the map by using the compass to “triangulate.”  The terrain was such that simply hiking in a straight line was out of the question.  Additionally, we had been given the task of demonstrating our ability to find water along the way using the map and compass to navigate to a source of water and filling a provided container.  It therefore became necessary to regularly check our orientation and progress using the map and compass.  

As the day played out, our confidence in our equipment and training grew as we began to anticipate landmarks before we came to them.  It was a challenging day which left us spent both physically and mentally.  Imagine the feeling of accomplishment we felt as we arrived at our destination late in the afternoon where food, comfort, refreshment, and transportation awaited us.  Imagine what it did for one’s faith in and gratitude for heed and diligence to proper instruction and reliable equipment.

This experience forever changed how I consider the account of another group of people over 2 ½ thousand years ago who ventured into the wilderness headed for a land of promise.  They also were provided with a compass of sorts as well as the means to regularly check their orientation with the commandments of God…

10 And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness. (1 Nephi 16:10)

28 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.

29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it.And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

(1 Nephi 16:28-29)

We are told that this ball or director led them in the more fertile parts of the land in the course of their journey.

The prophet Alma spoke to his son Helaman and expounded on the nature and significance of this "director":

    

And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

39 And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

40 And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;  (Alma 37:38)

43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.

44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever. (Alma 37:43-45)

• Our Heavenly Father in His love has provided us a means whereby we can return to His presence.
• We must regularly feast on the words of Christ and check our personal spiritual orientation against them.  (Not nibbling from sample plates at the store.)
• There are landmarks or indicators which help us maintain the proper course and which, if we will look, demonstrate the reliability and consistent nature of the words of Christ and the wisdom of heeding them.

o   Do we have greater peace, happiness, contentment in our lives?

o   Do we feel confident in approaching our Heavenly Father through regular prayer?

o   Do we find substantial spiritual nourishment through the daily study of His word?

o   Do we have increased strength and capacity to resist evil and keep God’s commandments?

o   Are we able to Recognize God’s hand in our lives manifest miraculously in small and simple ways?

o   Are the promised spiritual and temporal blessings of obedience evident in our lives?

I bear witness that these things are true.  In contrast, I further witness that what the world offers is neither reliable in direction nor consistent in function and will never lead us back to God.  However, if we will simply invest our faith, heed, and diligence in the Words of Christ they will with a surety “tell [us] all things what ye should do” and carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.”

From Dad February 28, 2016

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Re: Letter 63 of 3

Dear Riley:

Another week just clocked by and we’re finely out of the birthday months. Parker turned 18 yesterday but the whole event was somewhat anticlimactic. He wanted an experience for his birthday so chose Tucanos for lunch on Friday. Leadelle, Parker, Josie, and I had a great time and ate a hair past the comfort zone. Later that evening Parker was complaining about not feeling well. He had a fever and sore throat and basically felt like garbage all day Saturday. On account of this, the birthday celebration was spread over two days. We had Goldenrod Eggs on sourdough English muffins for Saturday breakfast, and Shrimp Scampi, Asparagus, and sourdough bread for dinner tonight. Your mother took Parker in for a strep culture which came back positive, so now he’s on antibiotic. At least we know what we’re dealing with.

The weather has been simply beautiful and crocuses are up in the flowerbeds. The bees are out and I feel a little bad knowing mine would be out too if they had been able to survive another 3 ½ weeks. The buds on the fruit trees are swelling and I’m already feeling driven by pruning, dormant oil spray, and early planting. There’s always more to be done than can reasonably be accomplished, but my outdoor goals this summer include a window well and fill dirt for the hole in front, drip irrigation for the front flower beds, installing solar powered landscape lighting in the garden, and installing at least one more cement planter box.

We had another special Ward Council today on some follow up Sabbath Day observance training. This was under the direction of the First Presidency and went nearly two hours. Accordingly we held in the Schroeder’s home because it provided a better setting for an extended meeting. The training and discussion throughout brought a wonderful spirit and made me so grateful for the gospel and the good members within my auxiliaries; truly some of the finest people I know. Before getting into the training, we covered a few items of concern in the Ward. Among these was concern for the widows and widowers. I mentioned that one recent widow had expressed gratitude for the outpourings of love in her behalf, but brought attention to something perhaps only the lonely can truly appreciate. When well intentioned people bring by food, it can also be a reminder to the recipient that they are alone as they eat it by themselves. Many would much rather be invited to eat in a home filled with friends and family. One individual present was a widower who just broke down as the truth of this statement struck home. My heart went out to this good brother as I realized just how lonely so many of the members are, and felt a little bad that some of my efforts in their behalf were potentially making the loneliness more difficult to bear. I’ve resolved to do things a little differently in the future.

Your mother gave a missionary report today in sacrament meeting and did a fine job. I think the last time she reported on your progress you had only been in Thailand for a couple months. I thought back on all the experiences you’ve shared and all the progress you’ve made and considered how remarkable a mission truly is. We pray for the family you’re teaching to stay the course and make it to the waters of baptism. Your mother recently read a sweet story of a mission president who was baptized by the grandfather of one of his missionaries. Every member of his family had eventually joined the church and stayed active. He and his brother served missions, his boys went on to serve missions and now he was influencing many other missionaries as a mission president. The missionary’s grandfather had always felt a little bad that he had only baptized two people on his mission, but the impact of just one of these conversions was immeasurable.

We’re planning an epic picture for tomorrow. I can’t tell you what it is, but the creative process involved was pretty enjoyable. I’ve got to get up early for work to free up some extra time later in the evening so this won’t be a very long letter. At any rate, we love you so much, are so pleased with your work, and hope you never forget how the hand of the Lord was manifest time and again throughout your mission.

Love,
Dad

From Dad February 21, 2016

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Re: Letter 62 of 3

Dear Riley:

Today was Elise’s Birthday so it began with Eggs Benedict and Orange Julius and ended with Orange Chicken, Pan seared Brussels sprouts, sticky rice, and an amazing dark chocolate mousse/cream cake. We had Grandma and Grandpa P, DJ, and CH over for the party this evening. Mom took her shopping for an outfit last night and today she looked simply stunning. Elise is so sweet and such a beautiful talented young woman. What a blessing to have her in our family.

Parker had a bit of a tough time last week and is still coming out of a depressive episode. Scholastically he’s struggling a bit, though he always manages to pull out passing grades the last week of each term. He’s convinced now that perhaps he WOULD do better on some medication to help with anxiety and depression, but this takes awhile to work into his system and stabilize. He received a disappointing rejection letter from BYU, but has a few open offers from other local colleges. If you have time, he could use a few words of encouragement. I know he really looks up to you. He’s a good young man and has a lot going for him.

Spring seems just around the corner and yesterday the outdoor enthusiasts were out in droves enjoying the beautiful weather. Your mother and I took out the tandem and rode to A.F. We went by the Timpanogos Temple then down the huge hill to State Street Grill. Just coasting we briefly hit 38 mph. I was thinking about CY’s bike accident and considered what could happen if I lost focus (not that she lost focus...). It was awesome and great to be out. We ate the best fish and chips in the valley in the true New England style prepared by a genuine Bostonian before heading back home. Great date, so…consider this a “must try” when you get back.

The Spirit works in fascinating ways and I’m continually impressed by what it can do. Some time ago, I met with a member of my ward in an interview and had a strong impression regarding the individual which seemed presumptuous so I just set it aside wondering what should be done about it. After a number of weeks, this impression from the Spirit was confirmed through a third party source with details which fit perfectly into the earlier impression. I’m still not sure how things will play out, but what I do know was that hidden things were revealed to me through the Spirit. I’m seeking guidance on how to proceed but I believe this is borne of God’s love and desire to help an individual through an inspired leader. It’s a remarkable feeling and a little difficult to express. It’s just true and real, and really quiet, but you just know, and you know that you know it.

Well, it’s getting close to the time you may be online. We pray daily for you and your success and always look forward to your letters, and pictures. Keep up the good work, expect miracles, and do your part to make them happen.

Love,
Dad

P.S. “I’m in bed, but I miss you and want you to come home right now. I’ll be in school when you DO come home, so you might not see me…”

Love,

Josie