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  April 24, 1971: Conference Notes Things have really been busy since Elder H.  arrived.  We are getting along very well. As soon as Elder W. left I began to iron out the difficulties in the district.  Finally I decided to recommend a district division.  I proposed it once more at the District Meeting.  All seemed in agreement.  Saturday, April 3 was a District Leader Seminar.  I discussed it with the President then.   The past few weeks have been full of disappointment and heartbreak.  Although we have taught the B.'s, follow-up on them had been very poor.  Seminary and Sunday School attendance has hit an all time low.  Saturday, April 3rd, we had a good District Leader Seminar.  As District leaders we decided to really work hard.  We discussed many things.  President W. introduced the open house manual and the ward council missionary program.  He mentioned interviews.  Elder T. discussed intervie...

March 1971   Summary Another month has flown by.  Great strides have been made on all fronts.  It's a crime I didn't make weekly entries in this thing. Monday, Feb. 22 Elder M. visited us for the last time.  He left for home on the 26th.  He expressed his fears that Liahona District would be dissolved and that the President would re-construct the Lamanite program.  He also phoned the President and discovered that Elder Y. was remaining in Lapwai and I would be the new District Leader.  As yet, we still didn't  have a car. Tuesday the President phoned me.  He called me as District Leader and also included Oak Harbor in the district.  He phoned early, around 7:00 AM.  I was outside burning trash - it took me almost 5 minutes to get to the phone.  Thursday I fired off a letter to the President expressing my feelings on the direction of the Lamanite program.  We got a car.  Oak Harbor also became part of Liahona dist...

Swinomish Pow Wow Grand Entry Event   February 20, 1971 Weeks and months go by swiftly  now.  I do not know where the time goes!  It is going to be difficult to catch up on the last six weeks.  Many things have  happened.  My feelings toward the Lamanite program have not stabilized very much.  In mid January I was ready to leave the program.  I seem to be motivated on a day to day basis.  Very many consecutive set-backs, and I am down on the program..... The weather has really hampered our work.  It snowed in January and crippled transportation for days.  Unceasing rain followed causing floods.  It is clear one day in seven or eight...and when it rains it pours. We've been to two more pow wows recently These functions are one of the few ways to look back into Indian culture.  But the picture is very distorted.  Indian culture is very regional at best.  There are many different languages, dresses, custom...

  Rainbow Bridge at La Conner January 1971 I suppose one of the pressures on me is concern for my family.   I joined the church because I knew my family would be best here.   As a Lamanite elder, we deal with and teach about celestial families; Temple marriage.   But my calling is to lead the Lamanites to family happiness, not to seek out my own family now.   My day will come.   God has promised me that as I remain clean and faithful. I am writing this entry now knowing full well that I intend for Sister S. to read it.   I   have really enjoyed discussing the gospel with her.   ..Our discussion Christmas eve was pertinent.   We talked of discouragement, disappointment, and ways Satan tries to keep us off the path of righteousness. Satan is clever.   He’s always “reversing his field.” His basic weapon is man’s tendency to be self-concerned.   Thus Satan turns defeat into discouragement—which is self-pity and quitting. He tur...

 December 25, 1970 La Conner, Washington December 25, 1970 Another month has flown by.   It does not seem like Christmas is already here.   W. left Nov. 27 th .   …             I think the joy of the holiday season is making me feel a little more charitable. My new companion is Elder A.. W.   He is a fine fellow.   We’ve gotten along very well from our first meeting.   He’s a farm boy from Amalga, Utah.   He’s simple and straight forward.   Elder W. has many good traits, but is not an expert in much of anything.   His strongest characteristic is making the best of what he has available.   This attitude carries through not only with personality resources, but to practical situations.   He’s forever repairing the bus, etc, with apparently inadequate tools. Elder W. loves the Lamanite people.   He is very happy with his assignment here.   He does    ...

Lummi Art: Salmon   November 24, 1970 Slowly I am beginning to feel accepted by the Indian people.  It takes a long time.  This last weekend was an eventful one.  It began with the funeral of M. C.  She was an old Swinomish, 92 years old, and one of the last of her race.  Her last few years were hampered by crippling injuries.  She was sort of an invalid. Elder W. and I had been getting firewood for her for a few weeks.  Another accident put her in the hospital—there she died.  Friday evening her funeral dinner was held at the community center.  Elder W. and I got there at 4:00 and helped prepare the tables.  We also helped serve food; and cleaned up afterwards.  We set the table for the banquet for the next day.  That evening we met I. O. wife of P. O.  They were the stake missionaries that opened up the Lummi (Reservation) over 15 years ago.  (Percy is deceased now).  She expressed her love for the Lamanit...