Mission1970.blogspot.com

                                                                Missionary Journal,  April 8 , 1970 Easter Sunday, March 29 th , was a good day.   The morning began with a stake missionary meeting.   Brother L. was set apart as the DL(District Leader). Elder G. introduced the missionary correlation program (for friend shipping).   J. L. and I went to Poulsbo.   We attended all of our meetings there.   J. enjoyed being a missionary!   The Lincoln Grange was full.   It was a fast and testimony Sunday also. There were many beautiful testimonies borne.   I too stood and bore my testimony.   Brother S. gave a powerful testimony.   He is a dark-skinned Samoan.   Brother S. is an impressive man to behold. He is tall and large in build, about 50 years in age.   When he sp...

                                                                                     Missionary Journal March 21, 1970 I still marvel at the Saturday of March 7 th .   It was indeed choice.   On Monday, March 9, we taught M. E. He was wanting to procrastinate his baptism, but I persuaded him to be baptized on the scheduled date—the 14 th .   I performed both baptism and confirmation.   I was nervous, but fasting and prayer aided me. I am learning that a missionary must be totally dedicated.   He cannot be preoccupied with future marital plans, stereo sets, cars, his pending release, etc.   These things distract and draw the elder away from his task.   They subtly undermine his effectiveness.  ...

  March 13, 1970 T he next week was very long.   In addition to normal work we sought out materials and formulated plans for the “mfd”.   I did a lot of growing that week. Thursday, Brother T. and I taught Bro. M. a 3 rd .    I did not have my lesson book to study, and I worked hard to call to memory the discussion as we drove to Bainbridge Island.   It came back slowly, but I felt prepared as we entered the M. Home.   We spent two hours discussing the Word of Wisdom.   Bro. M. is sincere and straight forward.   He moves through the material   slowly,   almost as if his brilliance drags him down.   His understanding of much of the gospel is very thorough.   I challenged him to live the W of W for a couple of days—no problem—so I asked him to live it until I saw him again; after his two week trip.   He jokingly asked   if we couldn’t reconsider and meet again before his trip!!!   One of Poulsbo mfd’s, J. ...

February 11, 1970 We went to Poulsbo Sacrament…it was a missionary meeting.  Brother C.R. a convert of one year, told his story.  Parts of it are very interesting. As a young boy he was afraid of the dark.  Once a friend of    his spent the night and chided him for such a fear.  There was nothing to hurt you in the dark.  Then in a more sober thought the friend said..there is something in the dark.  C. said “What?!” His friend replied-The Lord.  So C. R. began praying and received many answers….Brother R. entered the Army and soon forsook his heavenly friend.  He began to drink and smoke and was generally unhappy.  He wanted to talk to his old friend, but just couldn’t.  Then C. noticed two men that stood out from the rest.  You see, C. always wanted to be a man.  He thought his toughness acquired in the Army would make him a man.  After all, he was doing a man’s work.  Nonetheless, inside himself C. R. kn...

January 16, 1970  Wednesday was the final day of classes in the Salt Lake Mission Home.  I was called to give the closing prayer after our last class. After lunch Elder S  and I spent the first part of the afternoon shopping. Yesterday 10 missionaries left SLC for the PNW. President W. and his marvelous wife were there to meet us.  The President radiates a very special feeling of warmth and spirituality.  I know I’ve been sent to the PNW because it is the best in the church.  Surely the “field is ripe and ready to harvest.”                                               Pacific Northwest Mission Home, Mercer Island, Washington  I might mention the flight from SLC to Seattle was interesting. I gave the  1st and 2nd discussions to Sister S. Time passed quickly. It was Elder C’s  first flight. He certainly enjoyed it! After dinner w...

                                              January 11, 1970 I’ve been in the mission home a little over a day now.  It is an exciting and choice experience.  ..My roommates were Elders J.S., (L.A.) R.W. (Rome, GA) E.S. (L.Vegas.). We were all headed for the Pacific NW. Meals are served in the Missionary Room of the Hotel Utah.                                                                      Hotel Utah We file in and take our drinks and hot plates.  Then we crowd in at long tables.  The food is okay and the companionship is choice.  Sunday began early. Room 310. Arose at 5:30 and by 5:45 we were studying.  Sacrament Meeting was held in the Temple Annex Chapel....

 In honor of Bill's life I want to share part of his Missionary Journal.  Many of the entries are inspirational and informative.  With the hopes that his experiences will benefit his children,  grandchildren, relatives, and friends, I will share the highlights of Bill's journal, but not all of the 210 pages.  This will be a year long project and I hope you readers will respond with your comments, reflections or questions.  I'm sorry I have only a few photos to add to this blog, but I still feel this is the best way to share privately what was an extraordinary experience and the foundation for the rest of his life. I will add location maps, etc as we go along so you can be advised to the areas where he served.   Within the pages of the diary, he mentioned many public figures, such as BYU professors, apostles, etc,  so I will type out their full names, but I will use only initials for private citizens he m et or taught on his mission, and compa...