(From the June 15, 1990 issue of GUIDElines)
The Bad News!
There are some things that happen in the Program that are so difficult to write about that I will have to leave them for private communications. But I do want you to know that the Program had a crisis of the most major proportions yesterday and I am not sure how the fallout will effect everything.
UB had a Farewell fro his son, Brent, the President of the Program, and had invited friends from all over the Stake and family far and wide to attend, to hear the Guides sing. Only four Guides showed up. Eric J. had his farewell at the same time, and there was obviously a conflict.
UB was hurt and cried most of the day, came to the meeting and asked for our forgiveness for the things he had thought about us all and threatened to quit over it.
There are two sides to every story. You will find that out when you get into a counselor’s role in the Church. Many times in retrospect we would do things differently. This is one time I choose not to comment publicly in the GUIDElines on the private communications between Directors. I will say that Claudia and I, having known Eric’s family for almost our whole Church life, chose to take our family to Eric’s Farewell. Brother Vega chose to go out of town for the weekend, and everyone else chose either to go to Brent’s too late to sing or to go to Eric’s There were 26 who sang at Eric’s.
The Good News
UB came to the SNTM very late. It was an excellent meeting. The Ammonites were given the treat of having Leslie, Laurie, the Duffer, Kyle T. and Katina teach them about the Star Test and Missionary Guide principles. The Guides worked on the new Rock approach. Singing went well…it was an excellent meeting.
When it was 9:00 p.m. and we were all done, UB addressed the group, about 40 in all. He expressed his disappointment and his anger, as only UB can do, and was really magnificent. Kind, loving, forgiving, wonderful Uncle Bobby!
The kids felt bad. Jeff wept a little at the podium and apologized for the group.
You just never know what spiritual experience will happen next in this Program. I think it should be a law instead of a requirement that you attend the SNTM. The Program will never be the same after yesterday, whether UB stays or goes, as he suggested he might. I really don’t want to be in the Program without him. I am not after his job. There really isn’t any way you can replace an Uncle Bobby. But, the Program is the Lord’s and will go on, in some form, long after any of us have anything to do with it.
We will be learning lessons from this one for a long time!
If David Could Write You All…his letter might go like this:
7 May 1990 – Dear Lance:
(It makes me smile just to see your name written on paper!) How is the work in South Dakota? I am sure with your help it is doing just fine. By this time (or the time you get this letter) you will have over a year of your mission behind you. It sure doesn’t seem like a year since I have seen you.
I am in a city in Southern Chile called Puerto Montt. I love it. The Lord has blessed me greatly. The people here are wonderful. Many of them are very poor and humble. The language is coming along. I have really been blessed – I can see the Lord’s help almost on a daily basis as I try to speak and understand.
Right now we are teaching a man that has just married an LDS lady. He is awesome. I really believe he will be baptized and be a real strength to our ward. It has been exciting for me because my comp. has been sick much of the time since I got here and then just last week they took his appendix out. Because of this we really have only worked one week since I got here. So it is really exciting to finally see someone progressing in the gospel. I am working with a couple of other Elders part time here in our sector. It has been a challenge for me not to be able to work every second like I want to. But in a way it is a blessing because it only fills me with more desire. I know I also need to learn patience. All I know is when the opportunity comes I am going to give it all I have got. I feel so unworthy. There is so much I want to be doing that I am not. It is tough sometimes but I have faith.
I got a letter from Brother Parker today. It is always so good to hear from the Guides (or about the Program). It really inspires me to be a better missionary. I also heard from Paul Freeman today. He is doing well in South Africa. I haven’t heard from Aaron since the MTC, but I am sure he is doing awesome!
The MTC was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. What a blessing it was for me to spend time there. I learned so much about humility and the importance of REMEMBRANCE! I believe that one of my greatest weaknesses is my pride. I also believe that my pride is centered in a lack of remembrance. If I could remember all the blessings I have received from the Lord, and the kind of person I ought to be, it would help me to be humble. That was the problem that the Nephites had. They lacked the ability to remember. There are so many things I know I could improve in my life, if I could just REMEMBER! If the Nephites could have remembered, they would have avoided the pride that caused their fall. Some of my favorite scriptures on this are Mosiah 4:11 and Helaman 5 (the whole book of Helaman, really). I don’t want to sound like I am preaching to you because I really believe you are one of the most humble people I have met. (I know that is a terrible thing to say to a humble person!)
I need to go, Lance, but I really want you to know that I think of you often. I believe you would be very surprised if you knew how many times your name is mentioned in my prayers. May the Lord bless us both. Thank you for your example and friendship that somehow remains strong even when writing seems to be difficult.
GOD BLESS YOU MY BROTHER – Elder David P.
“What you sincerely in your heart think of Christ will determine what your actions will be.” – David O. McKay
“Greatness is not found in one significant act – greatness is doing the little things with great enthusiasm.” – L. Alden Porter
“Just as meekness is in all our virtues, so pride is in all our sins.” – Neal A. Maxwell
“Problems facing an individual are always relative to the amount of belief and determination that a person has to achieve his goal!” - David B. Porter (?)
Long-suffering is the second law of leadership. It is willingness to wait, when necessary, for the unfolding of plans and for the reconciliation of ideas, in the interest of the final achievement of worthy goals. Christ exemplified this method in his parable of the wheat and the tares.
Meekness is the fourth law and is a virtue of the strong. It is unpretentiousness. It is the buoyancy and joy of going out to meet life. It is accepting circumstances as they are, as the beginning of better things. It is purity of purpose. No one will inherit the earth unless he is meek. The lamb is a symbol of meekness, and Jesus was called the Lamb of God.
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