Four years ago, March 6, 2005, I was jolted out of my comfort zone. I guess the Lord felt I had been comfortable long enough. I was terrified and felt very inadequate to serve as bishop.
Now, as my time as bishop draws to a close, I feel tremendously blessed, yet incredibly sad.
It has been an honor.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Stake Conference
We had stake conference this past weekend. What's more, we had a change in our stake presidency. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and Elder Pickered of the Seventy were with us to make that change and help to uplift and strengthen the members of the stake.
As one might imagine, we had record attendance at each of our meetings. At the adult session, I think we had about 740 attendees, almost doubling the previous high water mark. That was a particularly good session of conference, as the adult meeting usually is. It was great to be in attendance with my wife and my oldest son, Dallas, who, at 18, can now attend the adult meeting. I appreciated his attentiveness to the things that were said, particularly those said by an Apostle of the Lord.
In the priesthood leadership meeting earlier in the evening, Elder Nelson taught us about the importance of paying a full tithe with respect to the economic conditions in which we currently find ourselves. He said that if we invest in our tithing, there will be no erosion of our nest egg. That statement could be interpreted in different ways. I think what he was saying is that a full tithe payer will have the promised blessings poured out upon him/her such that there will be increased strength, spiritually and mentally, to weather any storm, economic or otherwise. A full tithe payer builds a firm foundation for present and future crisis.
He also taught that each man needs to understand that his most important duty as a priesthood holder is to care for his wife. I wonder how many problems would be solved, or not even become problems in the first place, were all of us priesthood holders to learn that important lesson. I was taught by Elder Nelson in different settings on both Saturday and Sunday. On each occasion, the importance of wives, children and family was made very clear: they are our first priority; nothing comes before them.
Elder Nelson taught so much during our meetings: the process of revelation received through a Prophet, Christ's mission and atonement, our need to focus on ordinances, how to pray and the importance of enduring to the end. The whole weekend was one big spiritual experience for me personally. It is not often that we have an opportunity to sit at the feet of an Apostle, in person, and be taught.
If there was one thing that struck me throughout the weekend, it was the deep love that Elder Nelson has for others. It is evident in his eyes, in his handshake, in his voice. With all due respect to all of the other church leaders and members I have come to know and love over the years, I have never felt more comfortable than I did in the presence of Elder Nelson.
As one might imagine, we had record attendance at each of our meetings. At the adult session, I think we had about 740 attendees, almost doubling the previous high water mark. That was a particularly good session of conference, as the adult meeting usually is. It was great to be in attendance with my wife and my oldest son, Dallas, who, at 18, can now attend the adult meeting. I appreciated his attentiveness to the things that were said, particularly those said by an Apostle of the Lord.
In the priesthood leadership meeting earlier in the evening, Elder Nelson taught us about the importance of paying a full tithe with respect to the economic conditions in which we currently find ourselves. He said that if we invest in our tithing, there will be no erosion of our nest egg. That statement could be interpreted in different ways. I think what he was saying is that a full tithe payer will have the promised blessings poured out upon him/her such that there will be increased strength, spiritually and mentally, to weather any storm, economic or otherwise. A full tithe payer builds a firm foundation for present and future crisis.
He also taught that each man needs to understand that his most important duty as a priesthood holder is to care for his wife. I wonder how many problems would be solved, or not even become problems in the first place, were all of us priesthood holders to learn that important lesson. I was taught by Elder Nelson in different settings on both Saturday and Sunday. On each occasion, the importance of wives, children and family was made very clear: they are our first priority; nothing comes before them.
Elder Nelson taught so much during our meetings: the process of revelation received through a Prophet, Christ's mission and atonement, our need to focus on ordinances, how to pray and the importance of enduring to the end. The whole weekend was one big spiritual experience for me personally. It is not often that we have an opportunity to sit at the feet of an Apostle, in person, and be taught.
If there was one thing that struck me throughout the weekend, it was the deep love that Elder Nelson has for others. It is evident in his eyes, in his handshake, in his voice. With all due respect to all of the other church leaders and members I have come to know and love over the years, I have never felt more comfortable than I did in the presence of Elder Nelson.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
An afternoon with the girls
Last week, I took Kelsey & Kamryn, their cousin, Megan, and Kamryn's friend, Havana, on an afternoon excursion to downtown Phoenix. We drove over to Christown Mall, got on the new light rail train and rode down to central Phoenix. We then walked a couple of blocks to the Arizona Center and went to a movie. Hotel for Dogs. Great movie, very entertaning for kids and adults. After the movie, we walked back to the light rail and rode back to Christown Mall and then headed for home. 
The girls seemed to all have a good time. The light rail ride down was fairly uneventful. Not a lot of people heading downtown that time of day. I have to say that the ride was actually quite nice. The train cars haven't been tagged or busted up, yet.
Kamryn, Havana and Megan at the Arizona Center.
Havana climbing the decorative panels at the light rail station.
On the ride home, we were joined on the light rail by different groups of ASU students who were participating in some type of a scavenger hunt. Many of them were dressed up in different costumes, most quite odd. One guy in one of the groups had a huge, fake, black afro looking thing. The girls, who up to that point had been pretty energetic, were stunned into silence. I secretly took this photo, which doesn't give you a good appreciation of what he looked like, but you get the idea.
It was a great afternoon.
The girls seemed to all have a good time. The light rail ride down was fairly uneventful. Not a lot of people heading downtown that time of day. I have to say that the ride was actually quite nice. The train cars haven't been tagged or busted up, yet.
Here is a picture of the girls at the light rail station when we got off in downtown Phoenix.
I thought this picture was pretty funny. I told Carey about it. Now I'm thinking that maybe I'm the only one that thinks it's funny.
Kamryn, Havana and Megan at the Arizona Center.
Havana climbing the decorative panels at the light rail station.
On the ride home, we were joined on the light rail by different groups of ASU students who were participating in some type of a scavenger hunt. Many of them were dressed up in different costumes, most quite odd. One guy in one of the groups had a huge, fake, black afro looking thing. The girls, who up to that point had been pretty energetic, were stunned into silence. I secretly took this photo, which doesn't give you a good appreciation of what he looked like, but you get the idea.
It was a great afternoon.Saturday, January 24, 2009
A plug for agency and the Word of Wisdom
Carey and I went hiking this morning; something of a habit for us on Saturdays or holidays. More often than not, we'll go out to Thunderbird Park in north Glendale. Such was the case today.
We got out there around 9:00 this morning and entered the park via 59th Ave. We parked in a little lot at the far west end, then hiked up to the main trail that goes around the northern hill, and started heading to the east. As we approached the main entrance to the trail, close to the 59th Ave. entrance to the park, we heard a brief squeal of tires and looked up to see a truck making a quick turn from the inner park road onto the short entrance road, just behind a white SUV. I didn't think much of it and assumed it was some punk showing off in his truck. I turned my attention back to the trail.
A few seconds later, I heard the familiar crunch of metal. I looked up and saw that this truck had pulled out onto 59th Ave. and slammed into the front right panel of the white SUV, which must have pulled onto 59th Ave. just a split second earlier. The truck pushed the white SUV to the east, onto the median, causing the SUV to run over and flatten a metal post and sign in the median.
All of this must have caused the idiot in the truck to loose control because he next swerved sharply to the west, went off the road and down the embankment and back into the park, except this time he was not on the road, but was driving through the rock, brush, cactus, etc. He was driving as fast as he could in that terrain, too. From our vantage point, we could easily hear the truck as he gunned the engine and it bounced over rock and brush. He was clearly trying to escape the situation he was in.
About this time, I noticed a guy in a yellow shirt, a fellow hiker, I presume. He was running along the inner park road, about 100 yards from the truck, yelling profanities at the guy in the truck. My first thought was that this guy had stolen his truck. About that same time, the truck made it to the edge of the desert, about two feet from the asphalt road, and was stuck. I could hear the engine screaming as the guy floored the gas pedal, and the tires digging into the dirt, but he wasn't going anywhere. The man in yellow was still running toward the truck.
Of course, I couldn't pass up the opportunity for some excitement. I told Carey I'd be back and I ran off down the short trail toward the road in pursuit of the man in yellow and the truck. The man in yellow made it to the truck not more than 10 seconds before I did and as I continued running, I watched as he opened the truck door, grabbed the guy inside, yanked him out of the truck and threw him on the ground. That's about the time I arrived, just behind a second gentleman.
The idiot from the truck was struggling, trying to get away, but there was no way he was getting away from me and the man in yellow after we pounced on him (the other guy had stood off to the side). It didn't take long to realize that the idiot was either drunk, under the influence of drugs, or both.
A few moments later, a detective from Phoenix's finest arrived. He happened to be at the park exercising. A crowd began to gather and Glendale's finest were summoned. Prior to their arrival, the idiot entertained us with comments such as "those drugs really knocked me down" and "why are all these people here" and "we don't need to get the police involved. You can take my truck and I'll just walk home" and "I have more lawyers in my family than there are police officers in the whole city" and (looking at the man in yellow) "you don't have any hair." (The man in yellow was as bald as bald can get). I admit that I laughed out loud at a couple of those.
Glendale's finest arrived, we all gave our statements, and Carey and I continued on our hike around the hill. By the time we finished our hike, the tow truck had just hoisted the idiot's truck onto the flatbed and was getting ready to leave. Oh, the idiot had high-centered the front of his truck on a HUGE boulder lining the roadway. I'm not exagerating when I say that there was a good eight inches of air between the ground and the bottom of the front tires. That guy was going nowhere real fast! Completely messed up the underside of his truck, but he seemed to be more concerned with the fact that the little door to the gas cap was dented inward.
I'm grateful for a Church that teaches that our bodies are temples, that teaches the importance of staying away from substances that can harm us physically, emotionally and spiriturally. I'm grateful for agency and the freedom to make those choices. Too bad others cannot learn the simple truth that our freedom, our ability to choose, increases when we make correct choices. Conversely, when we make incorrect decisions, we loose that freedom. Sometimes in dramatic fashion.
We got out there around 9:00 this morning and entered the park via 59th Ave. We parked in a little lot at the far west end, then hiked up to the main trail that goes around the northern hill, and started heading to the east. As we approached the main entrance to the trail, close to the 59th Ave. entrance to the park, we heard a brief squeal of tires and looked up to see a truck making a quick turn from the inner park road onto the short entrance road, just behind a white SUV. I didn't think much of it and assumed it was some punk showing off in his truck. I turned my attention back to the trail.
A few seconds later, I heard the familiar crunch of metal. I looked up and saw that this truck had pulled out onto 59th Ave. and slammed into the front right panel of the white SUV, which must have pulled onto 59th Ave. just a split second earlier. The truck pushed the white SUV to the east, onto the median, causing the SUV to run over and flatten a metal post and sign in the median.
All of this must have caused the idiot in the truck to loose control because he next swerved sharply to the west, went off the road and down the embankment and back into the park, except this time he was not on the road, but was driving through the rock, brush, cactus, etc. He was driving as fast as he could in that terrain, too. From our vantage point, we could easily hear the truck as he gunned the engine and it bounced over rock and brush. He was clearly trying to escape the situation he was in.
About this time, I noticed a guy in a yellow shirt, a fellow hiker, I presume. He was running along the inner park road, about 100 yards from the truck, yelling profanities at the guy in the truck. My first thought was that this guy had stolen his truck. About that same time, the truck made it to the edge of the desert, about two feet from the asphalt road, and was stuck. I could hear the engine screaming as the guy floored the gas pedal, and the tires digging into the dirt, but he wasn't going anywhere. The man in yellow was still running toward the truck.
Of course, I couldn't pass up the opportunity for some excitement. I told Carey I'd be back and I ran off down the short trail toward the road in pursuit of the man in yellow and the truck. The man in yellow made it to the truck not more than 10 seconds before I did and as I continued running, I watched as he opened the truck door, grabbed the guy inside, yanked him out of the truck and threw him on the ground. That's about the time I arrived, just behind a second gentleman.
The idiot from the truck was struggling, trying to get away, but there was no way he was getting away from me and the man in yellow after we pounced on him (the other guy had stood off to the side). It didn't take long to realize that the idiot was either drunk, under the influence of drugs, or both.
A few moments later, a detective from Phoenix's finest arrived. He happened to be at the park exercising. A crowd began to gather and Glendale's finest were summoned. Prior to their arrival, the idiot entertained us with comments such as "those drugs really knocked me down" and "why are all these people here" and "we don't need to get the police involved. You can take my truck and I'll just walk home" and "I have more lawyers in my family than there are police officers in the whole city" and (looking at the man in yellow) "you don't have any hair." (The man in yellow was as bald as bald can get). I admit that I laughed out loud at a couple of those.
Glendale's finest arrived, we all gave our statements, and Carey and I continued on our hike around the hill. By the time we finished our hike, the tow truck had just hoisted the idiot's truck onto the flatbed and was getting ready to leave. Oh, the idiot had high-centered the front of his truck on a HUGE boulder lining the roadway. I'm not exagerating when I say that there was a good eight inches of air between the ground and the bottom of the front tires. That guy was going nowhere real fast! Completely messed up the underside of his truck, but he seemed to be more concerned with the fact that the little door to the gas cap was dented inward.
I'm grateful for a Church that teaches that our bodies are temples, that teaches the importance of staying away from substances that can harm us physically, emotionally and spiriturally. I'm grateful for agency and the freedom to make those choices. Too bad others cannot learn the simple truth that our freedom, our ability to choose, increases when we make correct choices. Conversely, when we make incorrect decisions, we loose that freedom. Sometimes in dramatic fashion.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
A wedding
My youngest brother, Russell, got married yesterday. What a great occasion. It was a privilege to be in the temple with him, his lovely bride, Jennifer; my own wife; my other brothers and their wives; my parents; Jen's parents, siblings and spouses; other family members; and some dear friends. The ceremony provided opportunity to be reminded of things that are most important, namely the relationships that we have with family. That is the one great cornerstone to our Heavenly Father's plan. It is the reason we exist. It is the reason for the gospel - to bring families together in eternal units. Russell and Jen are the latest in that unit and I'm grateful to have been in attendance.
Likewise, I'm glad they had such a great reception last night. It was a reunion in many ways. A family reunion, a ward reunion, and a reunion with friends. The night was about Russ and Jen, but some of the rest of us benefited greatly, too.
Hmmmm. As I ponder the subject, I hope that death is somewhat like a wedding reception, with the newly deceased standing in the center of the room, maybe with a couple of previously deceased relatives by his side, and many, many other family and friends filing through in a line to greet him and congratulate him on his achievement. Heck, I hope that there are also chicken salad sandwiches, meatballs, and an Italian ice/syrup bar, catered by Belnap & Company. Now that would be a sweet homecoming.
Likewise, I'm glad they had such a great reception last night. It was a reunion in many ways. A family reunion, a ward reunion, and a reunion with friends. The night was about Russ and Jen, but some of the rest of us benefited greatly, too.
Hmmmm. As I ponder the subject, I hope that death is somewhat like a wedding reception, with the newly deceased standing in the center of the room, maybe with a couple of previously deceased relatives by his side, and many, many other family and friends filing through in a line to greet him and congratulate him on his achievement. Heck, I hope that there are also chicken salad sandwiches, meatballs, and an Italian ice/syrup bar, catered by Belnap & Company. Now that would be a sweet homecoming.
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