OCTOBER
October brought out the colors with the crisp
evenings and warm days. I really felt like I was in a traditional university
finally. I had never experienced anything like this in California. I once told
Michael Allred that I loved the fall season the most and he said he didn’t
because it meant winter was coming.
I
was getting more and more attached to Mike being around him constantly. He was
in the bathroom shaving in the morning when I was showering. He was on his
knees praying at night across from me when we went to bed at night. We cooked
most of our meals together and went shopping together. I was much closer to him
than either of my other two roommates., Ken Lewis and Darwin Ross who were more
interested in dating.
Michael
had a dark secret that I never knew, which he kept bottled up until one day in
October he went and confessed something to President Warner that he had done on
his Mission. I have no doubt that it wasn’t anything major but in the
controlled hyper religious environment every little transgression, no matter
how insignificant, seemed to be the thumb in the eye and was all we could see.
Michael
was a gentle and kind soul and I think that is one of the reasons I eventually
began to fall in love with him. He was tall, had sandy colored hair and wore
glasses but there was something about his character that attracted me even
more. Perhaps I wanted to be as good as he was.
Kathy
Ausderau, Mike, and I became a trio and hung out together a lot during the Fall
Term and since Kathy was way more worldly than Michael, I think she knew my
feelings for Michael was more than simple friendship.
One
time I was so frustrated by not having had sex that I met someone in the old
BYU Academy Building which was mainly deserted but I think used for storage
more than anything else. This kid and I
found a secluded closet there and we groped around but that was all as neither
one of us wanted anything more intense than some physical contact.
I
felt so guilty about it though so that I went to President Warner and confessed,
which to say he least was very disappointed in me, and I don’t think I ever
regained his trust or respect. As that I hadn’t actually morally transgressed
by having intercourse, I had little more than a rebuke by the Branch President
for my shame and transgression.
After
that I really tried to become more excited by dating girls. One in particular
was a coed named Marta Gillings. She was
no wilting flower and I liked that about her. Actually, she initiated a lot of
our make out sessions.
The fall is prime time
when people start nesting before the coming winter and I think I was no
exception with Marta although I’d rather have had spent all my time with
Michael.
I tried to be
politically active in October and joined the Young Democrats who set up a table
outside the J Reuben Clark Library. I remember this one faculty member coming
over in a fit to be tired and raged at us like as if we were Marxists. I have
no doubt that Campus Security kept a file on the Young Democrats, but I never
did much else with the group after that; being too busy with working, going to
school, and attending Church. It was like almost every minute of the day was
prescribed for me.
Additionally,
inflation really hit hard that fall with the prices of most food commodities
skyrocketing while our wages stayed stagnant. A pound of hamburger was became
so expensive that we supplemented it with a soy bean substitute; with most our
meat casserole dishes being mostly soy with a little bit of meat as protein and
flavoring. Food was becoming a luxury.
1 October 1973 Monday
At Family Home evening tonight for an activity
we went bowling in the Wilkinson Center and while I am not much of a bowler, we
had fun. I am getting to know Marta Gillings a bit better. She’s brunette,
gregarious, and a bit chunky but carries it well. Ken Lewis has started going
out with Sarah Francis, who is Mardene Francis’ sister but not a part of our
Family Group. Darwin Ross didn’t come with us because he was still going with
Debbie Holbrook who he knew from our dormitory days at Chipman Halls. We all went
over to the Cougareat Cafeteria to get some ice cream cones afterwards. The
weather is perfect, and fall is really in the air. The sides of the mountains
are a blazed with reds and oranges.
Additional
Material
Marta Lynn Gillings was born on Pioneer Day
1951 in Neptune, New Jersey but raised in Richmond Virginia. She attended Ricks
College, Idaho before transferring to BYU.
She was 30 years old when she married for the first time 7 November 1981
to an African American named Jude Cornelius Harris in Virginia. They separated
in May 1985, and she moved to Florida. Marta filed for divorce which was
granted in September 1986. Her divorce certificate listed her race as
black. She married again 3 Oct 1993 in
Polk County, Florida to Franklin Lee Tilley
2 October 1973 Tuesday
I went with Marta Gillings to hear Sister Reba
Keel speak at the Farrar School’s cafeteria this evening. She was asked to give
a talk by the Young Adult Mutual Improvement Association on the role of
“Femininism” in the Church. When I walked
Marta home to her place, she took my hand, and we walked home hand in
hand. Hmmm.
Additional
Material
Reba Keele was a English Professor and the
first woman director of the BYU Honors Program,
3 October 1973
No Entry
4 October 1973 Thursday
Today is Michael John Allred’s 22nd
birthday and Mardene Francis and Leila Olson made him a cake which they brought
over with some of our Family Home evening members attending. Michael was kind
of surprised by the attention from what he said. I didn’t get off work and home until 9:30
this evening but they saved a piece of cake for me.
Earlier Kathy Ausderau
and I gave him a funny birthday card and a BYU key chain. I think it’s funny
that we are both born on 4/10/51 depending on whether the day comes first, or
the month comes first.
5 October 1973 Friday
The 143rd Fall General Conference
starts this weekend. President Harold B Lee is going to speak on the theme of
“Obedience to the Commandments of God for therein is our only safety in these
days”. Tomorrow is General Priesthood Meeting, but I have to work all day. Mike
Allred, Ken Lewis, and Darwin Ross are going, however. I feel left out but not
their fault.
6 October 1973 Saturday
War broke out between Israel and Egypt and that
is all that is on the news. Some of the kids at work think it will lead to
Armageddon and the 2nd Coming of Christ. This is my last Saturday that I have to work
all day. I start over at the drinks station, come Monday. Now I only have to
work every other Saturday but longer in the evening to close up at 9.
7 October 1973 Sunday
There was no Church today so we could stay home
and watch General Conference on TV. Our
Family Home Evening Group met at our apartment because we were the only one who
had a television to watch it on. During the Morning Session, Elder N Eldon
Tanner talked about the role of women in Heavenly Father’s plan of progression
saying that there was no greater honor than being a wife and a mother. He said
that Satan and his cohorts are trying to lure women away from their primary
responsibilities and their primary role as “homemakers”.
President
Harold B Lee in his closing remarks talked about the troubles in the Middle
East, especially with Israel, and the turmoil down in Chile. He said that
tribulations are coming but our enemies won’t prosper against the church.
President Lee said he sees the hands of the Lord in the affairs of the world
right now and they are the signs of the times as foretold by the prophets and
that the Lord’s coming is “nigh”. President Lee said that the signs are here
for the 2nd Coming. It
was a very sobering warning for me to repent and follow more closely in the
steps of the savior.
8-9 October 1973
No Entry
10 October 1973 Wednesday
There’s so much in the news lately that it’s
hard to keep up. The Yom Kippur War in
the Middle East is still raging, and old Spiro Agnew resigned as Vice President
of the United States today because of some tax evasion scheme when he was
Governor of Maryland. He’s the first
vice president to resign for criminal behavior.
So, who’s the nattering nabob now or is that being too negative? So many
crooks in the Nixon White House but the Brethren say to be positive in our
thoughts toward the president. That is a challenge.
11-12 October 1973
No Entries
13 October 1973 Saturday
There was an Elder’s Quorum service project
leveling a yard for an elderly sister. Although I am not an Elder in my Branch,
I attended because it’s for all the
members of Priesthood Quorum and we were expected to be there. There were a lot
of us, so it didn’t take long. I mainly pushed a wheel barrow, but it was
tiring.
Additional
Material
Cher’s "Half-Breed" has been the
number 1 song for the past 2 weeks.
14 October 1973 Sunday
I walked
to the Priesthood Meeting of the 41st Branch at Farrer Junior
High with Mike Allred and Ken Lewis. There were 79 in attendance with Bro.
Mills presiding and Bro. Mursett conducting. Announcements made were that
because of Stake Conference being held next week at 1:30 in the afternoon at
the Provo Tabernacle so Sacrament Meeting will be held at 9 in the
morning. Fifteen Elders fixed up the
yard of Mrs. Jasper yesterday by leveling her yard and pouring a concrete
porch.
The opening hymn was
“Come, Come Ye Saints” led by Br. John Mourtgas. The invocation was given by
Bro. John Boswell. There was no business conducted today and lessons on faith
were given to non-home teaching elders and visitors while Bro. Sarbett divided
up the rest of the Quorum into home teaching districts and we were given
separate instructions. The closing prayer was offered by each individual group.
We were dismissed at 10:15.
Sacrament
meeting began at 4:02 this afternoon with 236 students in attendance. Bro.
Robert Daines presided over the meeting with Bro Paul Smith conducting. The
music was provided by Sister Neilsen.
It was announced that a
Stake Leadership meeting of the Relief Society had been held at 1 this
afternoon at St. Francis School and there will be a Fireside tonight at 8 with Dr. Philip Flammer speaking. He had just
recently arrived at BYU.
The 8th
Stake Conference will be held next Sunday at 1:30 in the afternoon. Elder
LeGrand Richards will be presiding so Sacrament Meeting will be held at 9 in
the morning. Mutual will meet on Tuesday Evening and Special Interests will
meet on Wednesday Evening. The Welfare Project last Saturday was successful.
Bro. Daine was
presented with an Intramural Trophy which the 41st Branch won while
he was its Branch President last school year. There will be a Stake Welfare
Project picking Apples next Friday or Saturday for two hours for men and women.
Details to be announced later.
The opening hymn was
“Praise the Lord with Heart and Voice” led by Sis. Mardene Francis, accompanied
by Sister Kathy Neilsen. The Invocation was given by John Mourtgas.
During the business
portion, Sister Ginger Roberts was sustained as Rest Home Coordinator, Carol
Davis as Nursery Coordinator, Gail Boyd as Mother Training Class, and Freda
Grogan as Relief Society Pianist.
Sisters Doralisa Riquelme and Agnes McPherson were sustained as Sunday
School teachers. Brothers Chuck Swanson and David Douglas Oler were sustained
as Assistants to Young Adult Mutual Improvement Association. Sis. Lori Packer
was sustained as a publicist to the
YAMIA. Sunday School teachers who were sustained were Debbie Holbrook, Jane
Allis, Elaine Hunt, Janeth Bell, Judy Banger, and Karen Coleman. Dirk Merrill
was sustained as Choir Director. The
Sacrament song was “In Humility Our Savior” and the Sacrament was administered
by Br. Thomas Sederberg and passed by Brothers David Excell, Alan Padigemis,
and others. Sis. Denis Smith sand “I am a Child of God” accompanied by Sister
Kelly Jamison/ President Warner delivered an address on the value of Self
Respect as a Child of God and on Moral Cleanliness. The closing hymn was “Lord,
We Ask Thee Ere We Leave”. The closing prayer was offered by Don Gubler and the
meeting was dismissed at 5:46 this evening.
I later went with Mike Allred and our Family Sisters to the Stake Fireside at Farrar Junior High where this Faculty History Professor spoke. He got his PhD at Yale and was in the Air Force.
15-16 October 1973
No Entries
17 October 1973 Wednesday
There was a Special Interest Group tonight held
to discuss Carol Pearson’s book “Daughters of Light” about the spiritual gifts
the Sisters in the Church had in its early days. I think probably most of the
guys who went were there for the pumpkin bread than to learn anything new,
according to Michael Allred. I had to work at the Cougareat until 9 to night
and close up.
In the news the Arab Countries are threatening
putting an oil embargo on the United States for helping Israel. The price of a gallon of gas is expected to
jump. Right now, Michael Allred is paying 35 cents a gallon but what will it
be, after the embargo goes into full effect? Inflation is already making it
almost too expensive to eat.
18 October 1973
No Entry
19 October 1973 Friday
Everything is starting to jump in prices. Gas
is up to 60 cents a gallon and it’s a good thing that Mike Allred drives a
Volkswagen. Even then he doesn’t drive it much just for us to go shopping
together at Ream’s. It’s the cheapest store even if they add on 10 percent at
the checkout. Hamburger there is still
only 75 cents a pound where everywhere else it is over a dollar. Even at that
we stretch it with a lot of soy meat substitute. Mike and I do most of the cooking at our
place while Darwin Ross eats a lot over at Debbie Holbrook and Ken Lewis
mooches where he can.
Additional
Material
In
response to U.S. support of Israel, the Arab members of OPEC, led by Saudi
Arabia, decided to reduce oil production by 5% per month on October 17. On
October 19, President Nixon authorized a major allocation of arms supplies and
$2.2 billion in appropriations for Israel. In response, Saudi Arabia declared
an embargo against the United States, later joined by other oil exporters and
extended against the Netherlands and other states, causing the 1973 energy
crisis.
20 October 1973 Saturday
I went to the 8th Stake Welfare
Project with Marta Gillings and her housemate Piper Ballou where we picked
apple down in Payson, Utah. I really like Piper. She’s a Freshman and is a
convert like me. Her folks kicked her out when she joined the Church so her
Page, Arizona Ward is putting her through school. She’s been dating Dixie
Holmes’s brother Richard Holmes from Southern Utah. Piper and Richard are a
good match as they are both over 6 feet tall.
In
the news, today is called the Saturday Night Massacre because Nixon ordered
Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Archibald Cox, the Watergate Special
Prosecutor and Richardson refused and
resigned instead.
Additional
Material
Angie by
the Rolling Stones was the number 1 song for a week
21 October 1973 Sunday
I went to the BYU’s 41st Branch
Sacrament Meeting at Farrer Junior High with about 195 in attendance. The
meeting began at 9:06 this morning with President C Terry Warner presiding and
Bro. Gene Mills conducting. The Prelude music was played by Sister Janae Earl.
Announcements were that Branch pictures may be taken anytime during the flowing week at the BYU Photo Studio on Campus in the Wilkinson Center. There will be a Branch publication meeting held 15 minutes after Sacrament. It was announced that the Apple picking Welfare service project was successful.
The Young Adult
Fireside is tonight at 7:30 to discuss lessons from October General
Conference. The 41st Branch’s
Talent Show will be held November 6th. There will be a Special
Interest meeting held at Sheila Ford’s home at 7:30 also. Stake Conference is to be held this afternoon
with Elder LeGrand Richards presiding at the Provo Tabernacle.
The opening song was “O
Israel God Is Calling” led by Sis. Cathy Neilson and accompanied by Sister
Janae Earl. The Invocation was offered by Bro Tom Thurston. During Branch
business , Sister Jennifer Kerns was released as Sunday School pianist. Bro.
Gordon Zimmerman was sustained as Assistant Representative to the Young Adult
Mutual Improvement Association. Sister Rita Wolcott was sustained as Sunday
School Chorister and Sisters Agnes McPherson and Ann Broadbank as Sunday School
teachers. Ken Lewis was sustained as being on the publication committee.
The Sacrament hymn was
“God of Our Fathers Hear Us Pray”. The Sacrament was blessed by Keith Allred,
Scott Larsen, and Roger Foote. It was passed by Jim Boswell, Richard Stancliff,
Mike Dorias, John Mourtgos, Dan Tindall, Dave Excel, Rod Edleman, and me.
Sister Susan Hanson spoke about changing
ourselves into the people we would like to become. Bro. Dave Farnsworth spoke
on the topic of Missionary Work. Sister Mardene Francis played “Meditation on
Thais” on a flute accompanied by Carol Harris on the piano.
The closing hymn was
“More Holiness Give Me”. The Benediction was given by David Jones. We were
dismissed at 10:45.
22 October 1973 Monday
Today is my baby niece, Denise Wach’s 2nd
Birthday. So much has changed since I was living in the dorms at Cal-State
Fullerton when she was born, and I had to babysit my nephew James while my
sister Charline was in labor. Seems like a lifetime ago.
Marta
Gillings and I have been dating for a while now. I walk her home from campus
and from church and we usually end up necking for most of the night. Michael
Allred gets so fussy when I come home with hickeys that Marta gives me. I think
Kathy Ausderau and him are envious and feeling like I had left the gang. Kathy
is talking about dropping out of school and heading back to California. I don’t
think she knows what she wants.
23-26 October 1973
No Entries
27 October 1973 Saturday
One of my Priesthood assignments is to visit
with elderly people at the Provo Rest Home. So, I went with others from the
Elders Quorum, and I was assigned to a man named George who was about 80 years
old. He was infirmed but fairly alert and was happy to have BYU students come
to the nursing home.
He
told me a little about himself that he had served in World War I and had been
sent over to France and fought in some battles there. He said his father was a
polygamist and when I asked him how he liked that I was surprised that he was
said that he hated it. He said that the kids of the favorite wife would get
good shoes and clothes to wear while his family just got cast off clothes. He
had nothing good to say about polygamy which really was not what I was led to
believe in my Doctrine and Covenant Class which made it seem like that Plural
Marriage was an ideal form of marriage. That definitely was not George’s
experience.
Additional
Memoirs
I went to see George for several days until his
health rapidly declined and he couldn’t have visitors. I was later told he died
in November.
28 October 1973 Sunday
The Sacrament Meeting of BYU’s 41st
Branch began at 4:06 this afternoon with about 216 students in attendance at
Farrer Junior High. President C Terry Warner was presiding and conducting. The
prelude music was by Sister Janae Earl. It was announced that there was a
Fireside tonight at 8 this evening. The Branch Newspaper can be picked up after
Sacrament. Br. Gene Mills’ wife had a baby boy. Br. Steve Paulsen’s wife had a
baby girl.
The opening hymn was
“Hour of Peace” led by Sister Mardene Francis accompanied by Janae Earl. The
Invocation was given by Rod Edleman. Branch business included information that those who received Relief Society callings
are to meet in the lunch room to be set apart. Sister Jennifer Kerns was
released as Sunday School Secretary. Sister Ann Nicholas was sustained as
Homemaker Counselor. Br. Steve Sorenson was sustained as 2nd
Counselor in Sunday School. Sister Denise Deglar was sustained as MIA Program
Coordinator. Ken Lewis was sustained as
being on the Publication Committee with Sisters Kaye Reeder and Kathy
Dillberry. Sister Mardene Francis was sustained as Sacrament Chorister, Sister
Edith Hill as Assistant Compassion Coordinator in Relief Society. Sisters
Barbara Adney and Becky Emerson were sustained as counselors in Young Adults.
The Sacrament Hymn was
“Gently Raise the Sacred Strain”. The sacrament was blessed by Tom Sederberg
and Mike Dorias and passed by Ben Edgar Williams, John Hatch , John Cook, and others.
Bro. Mike Presbry spoke
on the importance of Home Teaching as did Bro. Tristan DeMille and Bro. Fred
Olinik. Sister Becky Green played a musical interlude. The last to speak was
Br. Bill Mursett who also spoke more on Home Teaching.
The Closing Hymn was
“Nearer MY God to Thee” and the Benediction was given by Br. Ken Keiser. The
Meeting was dismissed at 5:40 this afternoon.
29 October 1973
No Entry
30 October 1973 Tuesday
Yesterday
it snowed for the first time this year down here in Provo although we have had
snow in the mountains since the first of September off and on. Michael Allred
and I were up at 8 this morning to get ready to go to the Devotional up on
campus. We picked up Kathy Ausderau along the way and then went to the Grant
Building where Marta Gillings works, and we picked her up also.
The Marriott Center was
already packed all along the conclave halls when we got there but our own seats
weren’t too bad. Bro. Paul Dunn was the speaker, and we all love him. He talked
about many experiences he’s had in his life and then he bore his testimony
regarding the truthfulness of the Gospel.
Afterwards
Marta had to go back to work and Kathy walked back down off campus while I went
to the J Reuben Clark Library and did
some genealogical research until about 2:30 in the afternoon. When I came back
to the apartment Michael and Ken Lewis were sacked out sound asleep. I decided
that wasn’t such a bad idea, so I laid down and tried to sleep also. However,
Kathy called and kept me up for the rest of the afternoon asking questions
about Michael.
In
the mail I received some genealogy forms back from Salt Lake from the Research
Center there. They couldn’t find anything on William Henry Fenter or on Neal
McLeod and Margret Crawford, Grandma Johnson’s people, because I had forgotten
to put down on the forms where they were born.
This evening the
Mutual’s Halloween Party was held at Farrer Junior High School on Center Street,
and we had to go in Family Groups. Mike Allred didn’t feel like going but the
rest of the family did including Jenkins who recently had gone deer hunting. He
brought back a deer head in the back of his pickup for Marta Gillings. She’s
taking a class in Taxonomy and works in the Heber J Grant building in the
Taxonomy Department. Mike once brought his stuffed Penguin Juan Carlos, that he
brought back from his mission to Argentina, to Marta because the feathers felt
dry or something and she fixed him up.
31 October 1973
No entry
NOVEMBER
November is always a gloomy month, as it really
ends all the fall colors, with almost all the trees bare of leaves, and not
much daylight as the hours grow shorter and the nights colder. Work became less
stressful as people stopped ordering ice cream so much but there was still a
high demand for soda pop. Most nights in the Cougareat I now was working by
myself in my section but sometimes I would help out in the salad department
keeping the shelves stocked.
I
was rarely attending my Hebrew Literature class as I was so unprepared getting
such a late start with the text book but somehow, I managed to get a C on my
midterm.
Some
time this month I was horny to be with someone. Walking on University street by
the old Maeser Building that was basically closed and under construction I was
cruised by this young guy, probably another BYU Student. We had no place to go
so we snuck into the Maeser Building and found a
closet where we went and groped each other too nervous at being caught to do
anything else.
1-2 November 1973
No Entries
3 November 1973 Saturday
Additional
Material
"Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys
Knight & the Pips was the number 1 song for the last 2 weeks in October
4 November 1973 Sunday
Priesthood at the BYU 41st Branch
began at 9:17 with 70 in attendance. Counselor Br. Gene Mills presided and Br.
Bill Mursett conducted the meeting. It was announced that next Sunday will be
our Branch Conference.
This evening I went to
a Ten Stake Fireside that was held at the Marriott Center with my roommates
Mike Allred, Ken Lewis, and Darwin Ross because President N Eldon Tanner was
the speaker. He’s the 1st Counselor to Harold B. Lee. I never heard him talk before outside of
watching him on TV during General Conference.
5-10 November 1973
No Entries
11 November 1973 Sunday
At
Priesthood Meeting, which began at 9:20 this morning, there were 83 men in
attendance. President Robert Thomas was presiding with C Terry Warner
conducting. Today began Branch Conference and in attendance from the Stake were
Bro. John Garner, Bro. Robert Moss, Br. George Mitchell, Bro. Sharp, and Bro
Hix.
The opening hymn was
“How Firm a foundation” led by Dirk Merrill. The invocation was given by Fred
Olinik. President Warner welcomed and recognized the visiting members of the
Stake Presidency and members of the High Council. The Priesthood Quorum sustained the Priesthood leaders of the 41st
Quorum of Elders of the 8th Stake. We then sustained Dick Wilson as
President and Bill Mursett as his 1st counselor and Tim Garbett as 2nd
Counselor. Tom Sederberg was sustained
as Secretary and Mike Dorias as assistant secretary. Bro. Glen Mills introduced
the theme of the Branch Conference which
was “Now the end of the commandment is Charity out of a pure heart and of a
good conscience and of faith unfeigned.”
The Quorum began its
meeting with President Dick Wilson conducting.
It was announced that there would be a Branch Thanksgiving Party next
Saturday at the Timp Lodge. It was suggested that those who have not paid tithing
to do so. If anyone needed transportation to contact Bill Mursett. Lynn Cornick
will need volunteers to set up chairs at the lodge. The Priesthood lesson was
on “Stewardshipping Our Lives with the Priesthood.” The lesson was taught by
Rob Robison. The Benediction was offered by Mike Presbry. We were dismissed at
10:15 this morning.
Sacrament Meeting began
at 4:06 this afternoon with 234 students in attendance at Farrer Junior High
for the 41st Branch’s Conference. President Robert Thomas was presiding,
and C Terry Warner was conducting. The
prelude music was provided by Sister Janae Earl.
It was announced that
there would be a Fireside tonight at 7:30 with Bro. Bryce Chamberlain as the
Speaker. He’s the Coordinator of BYU Indian Education Programs & Activities
and who also starred in Man’s Search for Happiness. There will be a Branch Thanksgiving
Dinner next Saturday at 5:30 at Timp Lodge.
The opening hymn was
“Sweet Is the Work” led by Sister Mardene Francis accompanied by Janae Earl.
The Invocation was offered by Art Meacham. We sustained the Stake and Branch’s
Officers during the business portion of Sacrament. We are the 41st
Branch of the 8th BYU Stake of Zion. We sustained C. Terry Warner as
Branch President and Bro. Paul Smith his first Counselor and Bro. Gene Mills
his 2nd Counselor. We sustained Steve Paulsen as the Branch Clerk,
Darin Francom as financial Clerk, Linn Robinson as membership clerk, Ben Edgar
Williams, historical Clerk, Dave Excell Executive Secretary, Reba Keel as Relief Society
President, Rebecca Green her 1st Counselor and Debbie Mursett as her
2nd Counselor. Jerrie Walker
was Relief Society’s Secretary. We sustained Craig Doer as Sunday School
President, and Brent Anderson his 1st Counselor. The Elder’s
Quorum’s was the same that we sustained this morning.
The Sacrament Hymn was
“In Memory of the Crucified”. The Sacrament was administered by John Boswell
and Roger Foote. It was passed by Guerry Green, John Mourtgas, Steve Sorenson,
Chuck Swan, Dave Jones, and Mike Dorais.
President Warner spoke about purifying the heart by changing
one’s desires that they may receive charity. Sister Susan Warner bore her
testimony. Anne Broadbank bore her testimony. Dirk Merrill sang a hymn
accompanied by Sister Merrill. President Thomas spoke about praying unto the
Father with all one’s heart and to serve God by serving others. Steve Paulsen
was the concluding speaker and spoke about the inspiration President Warner
gives to the Branch.
The closing hymn was
“Abide with Me Tis Eventide.” The
Benediction was offered by Brian Anderson and the meeting was dismissed at 5:40
this afternoon.
12-16 November 1973
No Entries
17 November 1973 Saturday
Marta Gillings came over to watch “All in the
Family” at the apartment. Her place doesn’t
have a TV. I wasn’t feeling well
so I wanted to stay home instead of going to the Branch’s Thanksgiving Dinner
at Temp Lodge. The others went. Michael Allred was out with Mardene Francis and
Ken Lewis was out with Sara Francis. I am sure Darwin Ross went with Debbie
Holbrook so it’s a rare occasion to have the place to ourselves even if I am
sick.
Marta fixed us buttered
popcorn and we had 7-Up to drink and then we settled in to watch M*A*S*H, The
Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, and The Carol Burnett Show. Saturday is the best night to watch TV when
we can. We didn’t watch much however because we made out for a lot of the time
mostly just kissing.
It was a good thing
that Michael Allred came home early and watched the rest of the Carol Burnett
Show with us so we could cool off. I think he knew we were going at it hot and
heavy before he came in. Marta even gave me a hickey I found out later when Mike
saw it when I got undressed for bed.
Marta
left at 9 a night after the Carol Burnett Show and drove home. Mike and I then
stayed up until 10 waiting for Ken Lewis and Darwin Ross to come in. When they did,
we had our group prayer led by Mike then he and I went to our room, said our
individual prayers, and went to bed to rest for the Sabbath tomorrow.
Additional
Material
In Orlando, Florida, President Richard Nixon
told 400 Associated Press managing editors "I'm not a crook.”
"Keep on Truckin' " by Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations was
number one song for the past 2 weeks
18 November 1973 Sunday
I
woke up at 8 this morning when Darwin Ross was getting ready for church. I was
still feeling weak from the flu so Michael Allred said he would take me in his
Volkswagen.
The 41st BYU
Branch Sacrament Meeting was held at Farrer Junior High at 4:02 this afternoon
with about 251 in attendance. President Warner presided with Bro. Mills
conducting the meeting. The prelude music was provided by Sister Earl. It was
announced that there would be a Fireside tonight at 7:30. The opening hymn was
“Let Us All Press on” led by Sister
Mardene Francis and accompanied by Sister Earl. The invocation was offered by
Steve Paulsen.
Barbara Abney, Dennis
Adams, Jane Allis, Keith Allred, Mike Allred, Rodney Anderson, Holly Ballard,
Sharon Barker, Steve Barker, Jackie Bell, Ann Broadbent, Marian Cahoon, Karla
Jean Capener, Doug Carey, Karen Coleman, Kathy Cooms, Janine Cooper, Geneva Demetler, Mike Dorais, Larry Eggert,
Diane Findley, Cindy Fullmer, Julie Gleed, Guerry Green, Rebecca Green, Dianne
Grey, Freda Grogan, Clare Hall, Carol Hanson, Kirk Harmon, Margene Hassel,
Elaine Hunt, Rex Jarrett, Sandra Jeffs,
Fay Jenkins, Marvin Jones, Kenneth W. Lewis, Don Matt, Dirk Merrill, John
Mourtgas, Dawn Munk, Bruce Myler, Becky Osborne, Allen Padigimus, Mike Pitcher,
Janie Posey, Mike Presbry, Steve
Preston, Lynn C Robinson, Jeanette Robison,
Darwin Ross, Susan Seneca, Cathy Sicklos, Leslie Solomon, Carol Starr, Rosemary Stewart, Vinson D
Tanner, Corrine Thompson, (Ben) Edgar H. Williams, Rose Wise, and Gordon Zimmerman
all had their membership records read in Sacrament business. The Sacrament hymn
was “When in Wondrous Realms Above” The Sacrament was administered by Marvin
Jones, Dave Excel, Ken Kaiser and passed by Mark Gardiner, Reed Eldeman, Rick
Eldridge, Ron Fuller, Bob Groenig, and
Mike Pitcher’. Kirk Harmon and Les Smith bore their testimonies. Sister Karen
Hunt and Brother Chris Burt sang a Thanksgiving Song. Sheila Ford and Don
Gruble spoke. The meeting was dismissed at 5:30 this afternoon.
19 November 1973
No Entry
20 November 1973 Tuesday
I managed to get LaMar, who wanted the hours, to cover my
shift over the Thanksgiving Break so I can go with Marta Gillings to Page,
Arizona. Piper Ballou asked her and Karen Hunt to go down to spend Thanksgiving
with this Mormon family who took Piper in when her family disowned her. The
Page Ward is helping her attend BYU. I guess Piper’s boyfriend Richard Holmes
wants to go along with his sister Dixie. Marta then wanted me to go along so as
not to be a third Wheel and get stuck with Karen and Dixie the whole time.
Mike
Allred is going home to Afton, Wyoming for Thanksgiving and Darwin Ross will be
up in Salt Lake at his folks. I don’t know what Ken Lewis is doing but am sure
he will find someone to mooch off of.
21 November 1973 Wednesday
We left Provo at 5 this afternoon after picking
up everyone. Richard Holmes wanted to drive all the way in his pickup truck
with Piper Ballou and his sister Dixie. We followed in Marta Gillings car with
Karen Hunt, me, and her. Marta insisted that only she drive saying her
insurance wouldn’t cover anyone else driving. I was a little put out because
actually I think she just wanted to be in control.
It
was a long drive and dark most of the way and even with some rest stops along
the way it was nearly 11 at night when we reached Page. It looked like just a
few twinkling lights in the pitch blackness of the night.
Piper’s
Mormon friends who took her in when her folks kicked her out were still up and
put the girls in the kid’s room while Richard and I had the front room. I slept
on the floor in the front room and let Richard
have the couch as he had drove the entire way down. Even then he didn’t
fit with his feet and head too big for the couch.
22 November 1973 Thursday Thanksgiving
I spent Thanksgiving in Page Arizona with Marta
Gillings, Piper Ballou, Richard Holmes, Dixie Holmes, and Karen Hunt and
Piper’s adopted Mormon Family there. I
felt really out of place almost like an intruder although they were nice enough,
but I could tell they didn’t have much.
The
girls all helped Sister LaWanda Johnson prepare dinner because with us and Bro
and Sister Johnson and their kids there was 12 of us for dinner. Brother
Johnson and his small boys and Richard and I stayed out of the way watching
football. I thought it was odd that the Johnson’s were super Word of Wisdom
observers more than just coffee, tea, alcohol, and tobacco. They were extreme
in that they kind of health nuts, like not cooking in aluminum pans or aluminum
cook ware, grinding their own whole wheat flour, not using white sugar, and not
drinking any stimulants like soda pop or hot chocolate. In fact, they wouldn’t
allow their kids chocolate candy at all. They only drank water or milk made from powder milk.
Dinner
was dismal but I was grateful for it.
The dressing was mostly moist whole wheat bread with just broth from the
turkey neck. No celery or onions or even poultry seasoning. It really made me
miss my mom’s cooking. There were piles of potatoes but no yams or cranberry
sauce. I think if Sister LaWanda didn’t can it, they get stuff from the Bishop
Storehouse. The only desert was a thick
crust pumpkin pie that wasn’t season right and not enough sugar in it. I think
they used honey and molasses instead.
The
portions were meager, and I felt like I was taking food out of their kids’ mouths,
so I mostly ate mashed potatoes with Turkey gravy and buttered homemade bread.
The butter I am sure came from the Bishop Storehouse too.
I
thought I’d pass out from hunger by the time Brother Johnson finished blessing
the food. Most of the conversation was about BYU football and how Piper is
doing in school. It was really an awkward meal and was glad when everything was
cleared up, we went for a drive to see Page in the day time. We crossed this amazing suspension bridge
that went from the Utah side of the Canyon to the Arizona side. Piper said it
was one of the highest bridges of its kind in the world. It’s nearly 1300 feet
long and 700 feet above the Colorado River.
We all got out and looked around and over the edge. Amazing.
Additional
Material
Page, Arizona was founded in 1957 as a housing
community for workers and their families during the construction of nearby Glen
Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. The city is perched atop Manson Mesa at an
elevation of 4,300 feet above sea level and 600 feet above Lake Powell.
23 November 1973 Friday
Brother Johnson who works in the Glen Canyon
Dam took us on a tour down into the bowels of the dam to see the 8 giant
turbines that produced electricity. I don’t think I ever knew that dams were
built to generate electricity I thought they were just to hold back water. You
learn new stuff every day. We were lucky to be taking on a tour because most
people never get to go down into the belly of the dam. It was kind of eerie
thinking of all the water behind the dam.
He told us that the dam is 710-foot-high dam and took ten years to build
and now holds back Lake Powell.
Marta was cute dressed
in her blue jeans and with pig tails asking all these questions about the
generators and such. It went right over my head. I kept thinking that her
hiking boots were much more suited for what we were about to do than my tennis
shoes after taking the elevator back up to the top.
Brother Johnson showed
us a spot where we could climb down from the rim of the Glen Canyon to the
Colorado River floor. It was about a mile from the dam. There were some rope
like handrails for much of the climb down but for about 100 feet it was just where
you could get a foot hold while you grabbed onto the side of the cliff.
It was a beautiful day
a little cool, so I wore a jacket. On the river bed there were these beautiful
multicolored river polished stones that I put a few in my pockets but big
mistake going back up. Coming down I had
no trouble but going back up the side of the cliff I had some vertigo as the
sides seems so much steeper than going down.
I emptied all the
stones out of my pockets and almost felt like I couldn’t make it back up while
the rest scrambled like mountain goats.
I was the last one up because I was helping the girls with their footing,
but no one was behind me to boost me. At one point I was afraid I’d be stuck at
the bottom of the canyon with no way up. I prayed to the Lord to please help me
up the side because I was panicky. Finally, I just steeled my nerves and
thought if the girls can climb the rest of the way up so should I be able
to.
Back at the Johnson’s
we packed up the two vehicles again and left at 4 in the afternoon. Dixie
wanted to ride in Marta’s Vega because she was too cramp in Richard’s Ford
Pickup. I don’t think Piper was crazy about the idea of riding with Richard
alone all the way back, but she didn’t say anything and there’s no arguing with
Dixie who is kind of an old maid. She
rode in the back with Karen who I think slept the whole way back.
I asked if Marta wanted
me to help drive but she kind of snapped at me about it being her car and that
hurt my feelings. It made me also doubt where our relationship is going if she
is so controlling.
We got back into Provo
about 10 at night and I got out first because they were all going over to
Marta’s place. Ken Lewis was the only one home munching on a pizza that he
didn’t offer me any, so I just said my prayers and went to bed. I have a lot to think about.
Additional
Material
Page is the home of two of the largest
electrical generation units in the western United States. Glen Canyon Dam has a
1,288,000-kilowatt capacity when fully online. The other power plant to the
southeast is the Navajo Generating Station, a coal-fired steam plant with an
output capability of 2,250,000 kilowatts.
24 November 1973 Saturday
I walked up to the J Reuben Clark Library to
study before going into work at 4. I didn’t want to be in the apartment
listening to Ken Lewis go on about romantic adventures. Like I care. When I got
off work and came back to the Hostel, Mike Allred and Darwin Ross were home
watching TV. I guess everyone had a good break.
Additional
Material
"Photograph" by former Beatle drummer
Ringo Starr number 1 song for 1 week
25 November 1973 Sunday
Sacrament Meeting at the BYU 41st
Branch began at 4 in the afternoon at Farrer Junior High School with about 128
students in attendance, President C Terry Warner was presiding with Paul Smith conducting the
meeting. The prelude music was provided by Cathy Nelson. It was announced that
Young Adults need to pick up their tickets at ZCMI for a musical performance of
the Messiah at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in December.
The opening hymn was Praise to the Man led by
Mardene Francis accompanied by Cathy Neilson. The invocation was offered by
Doug Carey. There wasn’t any Branch business. The Sacrament hymn was “God So
Loved Us That He Sent His Son.” The Sacrament was blessed by Darwin Ross and
passed by Steve Dransfield, Tom Sederberg, Roscoe Orton, Scott Larsen, Mike
Dorais and Ron Wise.
Sis Lynn Bodily spoke
about the gift of forgiveness. Randy Gillian spoke about the importance of
friendship. Denise Smith spoke about the ill effects of gossiping. Dennis Adams
spoke about the effort necessary to reach the Celestial Kingdom. President Warner’s
family sang “My Heavenly Father Loves me.”
The closing hymn was
“Precious Savior Dear Redeemer.” The Benediction was offered by Semi Brown and
the meeting was dismissed at 5:17 this evening.
26 November 1973
No Entry
27 November 1973 Tuesday
I guess we are getting a new Vice President, Gerald Ford. I never
heard of him, but he’s got to be better than Agnew. It’s weird to think we will have a Vice
President of the United States that no one has elected. I wonder how he will
get along with Nixon.
28-30 November 1973
No Entries
DECEMBER
1 December 1973 Saturday
Marta Gillings and I broke up yesterday after
we had been pretty hot and heavy for most of October and November. We had even
gotten very serious and made wedding bell plans but something about Marta’s
dominating personality didn’t sit well with me. Also, her testimony of the
Gospel was not that strong. We knew a break up was coming after the trip to
Page, Arizona over Thanksgiving. I think Marta really wanted to get more
physical with me then I wanted. I’m trying to be morally clean after all that
I’ve been through. Mike Allred use to get so mad at me because I’d stay at
Marta’s making out with her. I am sad however because Marta was kind of special,
but I guess we were not meant to be.
Additional
Memoirs
The Song “The Love I Lost” by Harold Melvin and
the Blue Note was on the radio at the time and it made me so melancholy but
probably more over John Cunningham than Marta “The love I lost Was a sweet love
The love I lost Was complete love The love I lost I will never, no, no, never
Love again, ooh I can remember planning Building my whole world around you I
can remember hoping That you and I could make it on through But something went
wrong We loved each other We just couldn't get along Take a good look at me I'm
in misery, can't you see?”
2-5 December 1973
No Entries
6 December 1973 Thursday
The 41st Branch’s Talent Night was
held tonight in the Farrer Junior High Cafeteria. Mike Allred and I went to
support Mardene Francis who sang “O Holy Night”. In the news the House of Representatives
confirmed Gerald Ford and he was sworn in today as Nixon’s Vice President. It’s
hard to keep up with the news out of Washington but God will keep his Saints
safe high on a Mountain Top.
7 December 1973
No Entry
8 December 1973 Saturday
Additional
Material
"Top of the World" by The Carpenters
was the number 1 song for the past 2 weeks
9 December 1973 Sunday
I have been neglecting keeping a record in my
Journal of the Sabbaths. I am so overwhelmed with school right now and working
and trying to keep certain feelings under control. Mardene Francis is so in
love with Michael Allred, but I don’t think he feels the same about her. Darwin Ross is down in the dumps because I
think Debbie Holbrook is going to break up with Darwin because of her families
objections to him because they don’t think he’s good enough for her.
10 December 1973 Monday
We had a Christmas Party over at the Seville
Apartments for our last Family Home Evening activity for the Fall Semester
because we agreed to not meet next week because of Finals Week. We sang carols and read from the Book of
Mormon 3rd Nephi about the birth of Christ and then from Luke 2nd
Chapter. Mike Allred was called upon to bless the refreshments and we had
Christmas Cookies and red fruit punch. I notice that Marta Gillings and Karen
Hunt were absent. Piper Ballou said that they are being moody, and Piper stays
up on Campus most of the time rather get involved with their funk.
Michael
Allred has been moody too and kind of stand offish to me and we don’t have
group pray together as roommates with Ken Lewis and Darwin Ross anymore. I wonder if Kathy Ausderau has been stirring
things up, telling Michael things about me. Oh well. “Wickedness was never
happiness”.
11-14 December 1973
No Entries
15 December 1973 Saturday
My Family Home Evening group, all except for
Marta Gillings, Karen Hunt, and Darwin Ross, went to the Salt Lake Tabernacle
on a bus that the Branch chartered for us, We all got free tickets a while ago
to hear the Tabernacle choir sing Handel’s Messiah. The spirit just filled the
entire space especially when everyone stood during the Hallelujah Chorus. I
wonder what is going on with Michael Allred. He hardly talks to me anymore.
Additional
Memoirs
I had no idea this had taken place but, on this
date, the American Psychiatric Association voted to remove homosexuality from
its DSM-II. Homosexuality had been considered a pathology and a mental illness
until this time; however, psychiatrists
who believed in aversion therapy and
that homosexuality was a sin refused to accept the APA decision.
The BYU on-campus
program of aversion therapy lasted through the 60s and 70s and faded out around
1983. From 1971 to 1980 BYU's president Dallin Oaks appointed Gerald J. Dye
over the University Standards Office Dye stated that during that decade part of
the "set process" for homosexual BYU students referred to his office
for "less serious" offenses was to require that they undergo some
form of therapy to remain at BYU, and that in special cases this included
"electroshock and vomiting aversion therapies."
On 28 August 1982, in
an address to BYU students Bruce Hafen,
then president of Ricks College, counseled students to avoid
homosexuality "at all costs, no matter what the circumstances." He
further said that the 1973 removal of
homosexuality as a mental disorder from the DSM was an example of something
gone wrong "deep within our national soul."
16 December 1973 Sunday
I sent my Grandma Johnson Christmas Card and a
letter today and posted it so she should get it in a few days. I had to borrow
an 8 cent stamp off of Darwin Ross because I was out of stamps.
“Dear Grandma, how are
you and grandpa? It’s been a really mild winter up here so far. It’s snowed
twice here in November, but it’s all melted by now. It’s not going to be a
white Christmas it looks like. I called Mom a couple of weeks ago and said I
wouldn’t be able to go home for Christmas because I couldn’t find a ride. Mom
was upset because she had already made plans for a turkey dinner and all. But
Donna said she would send me the money to come home on after all. I’ll be going
home on the 22nd and on the bus. I’m getting excited about going
now. Love Jr.”
17 December 1973 Monday
Finals are all this week, so I am cramming like
mad. The only class that I am really worried about is my Hebrew Literature
Class. The Final is this Thursday where we have to translate a passage from
Hebrew to English. I had not attended class for days at a time because I was so
unprepared and didn’t want to appear foolish in class. My Doctrine and Covenant’s class is also on
Thursday but in the evening but that will make it hard to study for my two
finals on Friday. I’m not too concerned about My English 321 Grammar class’
final but my History of Utah’s class’ final is also on Friday.
We
canceled Family Home evening tonight because everyone agreed last week that we
needed this week off to study for finals. I think poor Darwin Ross is ready to
bag school now that he and Debbie Holbrook have broken up. I totally understand
how he is feeling.
18-19 December 1973
No Entries
20 December 1973 Thursday
I took my Hebrew final today and I know I
bombed it. There was this long passage without any vowel points. I could only
recognize the word Noah in the whole passage, so I tried to fake it by writing
about the Ark. Well, that was a waste of a semester. I only took the class to
meet my language requirements to graduate this Spring or Summer. The Doctrine and Covenant test was multiple
choice, with a small essay portion. It was pretty simple. But my brain is
fried.
They are playing a lot
of Bobby Darin’s hits on the radio because he passed away from a heart attack.
He wasn’t all that old, and I liked all his songs especially “If I was a
Carpenter” and “Beyond the Sea”. Leila
Olsen is so young. When I told the girls that Bobby Darin had died, she said
“Who’s that.”
21 December 1973 Friday
Today is the first day of Winter and it’s sure
seems like Christmas here with all the pretty lights downtown. Christmas music
is played constantly in the Wilkinson Center.
Before taking my last finals, I had Ken Lewis take me down to the bus
station to buy a round trip ticket to Santa Ana with the money my sister Donna
sent me. I will leave tomorrow early in
the morning and come back a week later.
Both
English 321 and the History of Utah’s finals were not all that hard, and I went
into work afterwards, but we weren’t busy as a lot of kids have already left
campus for Christmas Vacation.
At
the apartment only Ken Lewis was there as Darwin Ross and Michael Allred had
already left. I packed a small bag of clothes for the trip tomorrow so I
wouldn’t have to do it in the morning. Ken said he’d take me down tomorrow
before he takes off himself.
22 December 1973 Saturday
Well, I am back on a bus home to California
again, this time for Christmas. I can’t work up any excitement for it because
California almost seems alien to me now and there’s too much out there to tempt
me and of course memories of John Cunningham are everywhere. Ken Lewis took me to the Provo depot early
this morning at 6:45 and I only took a small bag because I am only spending a
week home during Winter Break before I have to be back at work in the Wilkinson
Center.
There
is snow everywhere until we got past Cedar City and then it was clear from St.
George into Las Vegas where we had an hour layover and I had to change buses. I
ate a hamburger at the depot cafeteria but didn’t leave because I didn’t want
to miss getting a seat on the bus home to Santa Ana. The ride across the desert
is so dreary and I hate it. I tried reading the book “Miracle of Forgiveness”
that Mike Allred gave me for Christmas but who can read with all the noise and
all?
I
finally got into Orange County about 9 tonight and my sister Donna was there to
pick me up after I called her to come get me. It was about a half hour before
she came and took me home to Mom and Dad.
She just came in to say hi and then left saying she had to work tomorrow
on the Sabbath. I think she is working at a Pup N Taco joint in Anaheim.
Mom
was up when I came in, but Dad had already gone to bed, so we talked a little
about what’s going on with me at the Y but it’s hard because she doesn’t get
the Gospel, so I don’t talk much about what is most important to me the Church.
I told her about my trip to Grand Canyon Dam last month. I know she is glad I
came home but I also know Mom and Dad have gotten used to all us kids being
gone now.
Additional
Material
"The Most Beautiful Girl" by country
singer Charlie Rich was number 1 song for the past 2 weeks
23 December 1973 Sunday
I attended Sacrament Meeting in my Garden Grove
Ward off of Chapman and Valley View. I didn’t know a soul there and of course
they don’t know me even though they are supposed to be my home Ward where my
records are while attending BYU. I don’t think Bishop Juchau even remembers who
I am.
24 December 1973
No Entry
25 December 1973 Tuesday Christmas
My sister Charline and her husband Dennis
brought the kids over for Christmas Dinner and Grandma and Grandpa Williams
came down from Yucaipa with Aunt Minnie. They are staying at Aunt Bonnie
Fagan’s in Buena Park but came to the house at noon with Bonnie and Bill Fagan.
Donna
came by for a little while to see Grandma and Grandpa but didn’t stay long. It
was good to see her, but we didn’t have a lot to say to each other now that our
paths have diverged. She thinks I am a religious fanatic now and she is living
in some hippie commune in Anaheim. I
guess she is taking classes at Cal State Fullerton, but I don’t think she’s an
anthropology major anymore. We didn’t talk much. What is there to say? She
won’t hear anything about the Gospel.
My
nephew and niece, James, and Denise, were so wired because of Christmas and
opening more presents that Grandma and Grandpa brought over. I don’t think
Denise knows it’s Christmas, but little James sure does. He turned 5 years old
on the 1st of the month.
I
am already feeling homesick for Provo because I feel out of place here because
no one even talks about the Lord and it’s the time of year we should be
celebrating the birth of the Savior not just opening presents. Mom and Dad
bought me a warm winter coat to take back up to Utah and a scarf and gloves. I
sure can use them.
26 December Wednesday
Grandma and Grandpa Williams were over visiting
with Mom and Dad when on the news I heard that President Harold B Lee had died!
I burst uncontrollably into tears and went to my room and just cried. Mom came
in to ask what was wrong and I told her that the prophet had died but I didn’t
expect her to understand. I called Denise Smith in Provo, and she said it was
true. My heart is broken.
27 December 1973
Thursday
No Entry
28 December 1973 Friday
I was shocked to find in the mail my grades
from my Hebrew Literature class. I got a D in that class instead of failing it.
I was thrilled. I thought for sure I had failed it, but I guess between the C
on my midterm and the F I got on my final, it averaged out as a D. The
instructor wrote a note saying that I should not complain about the grade
because he said I had missed 16 days of classes. He was being generous because
I know I missed a lot more than that and I won’t complain at all. Since the
class is not part of my Major, I can get a D in it and still fulfill my
language requirement. The Lord’s hand has to be in this.
29 December 1973 Saturday
Mom and Dad took me down to the Santa Ana Bus
terminal at 8 this morning so I could catch my bus home to Provo. How strange
that it’s been nearly a year since they said goodbye to me last January. Mom
was sad to see me leave again but there weren’t the tears like last time.
I sat next to this kid
who was heading to Utah to go skiing up in the mountains. He said he had
friends who lived in Salt Lake but had never been there before. I told him how
beautiful Utah is and that I was going back to Brigham Young and then he asked if
I was a Mormon. I said yes and he said he wasn’t and after that we rode most of
the way home in silence. He fell asleep
outside of Payson and his head rested on my shoulder. I just let him sleep
until we got into Provo when he woke up. I think he was kind of embarrassed.
But he was just tired, I guess. He was just a kid probably about 19 or 20.
There
was no one to come get me when I got off the bus, so I just walked the distance
back to the apartment looking at all the Christmas lights still on the
buildings downtown. I had on the jacket and scarf mom and dad bought me for
Christmas. The Tabernacle was all lit up and beautiful.
I
came home to a dark and empty apartment, said my prayers, and climbed back into
my own bed again. It felt good to be
home even if a little bit lonely. I miss the companionship of Michael Allred.
Additional
Material
"Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce was
the number 1 song for a week at the end of December
30 December 1973 Sunday
It was announced in Sacrament today that the
First Presidency was reorganized by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder
Spencer W. Kimball, Elder N. Eldon Tanner, and Elder Marion G. Romney are now
the acting First Presidency because of the death of President Harold B.
Lee. There are lots of people still away
on Winter Break, so attendance was way down.
31 December 1973 Monday
The gang all came home this morning with Darwin
Ross first arriving, then Ken Lewis, and then Michael Allred who actually
seemed happy to see me like his old self.
I went back to work today, and we were shorthanded, but it didn’t matter
much as we were not busy at all.
No
one wanted to go out this evening for Family Home Evening, so we called some of
the Sisters, who were back in town, to come over for an informal Family Home
Evening. We popped some popcorn and the girls brought over some candy and
treats left over from the holidays. Everyone told what they got for Christmas
and what classes they wanted to take this Winter Term. I haven’t decided yet. I bragged how I passed
my Hebrew Class.
Well,
another year has gone by and what a strange, frightening, and wonderful one it
was. It was frightening last Spring, but Heavenly Father spared my life last
May, even though I was a sinner, for some reason and purpose of His own.
It’s amazing what a
difference a year can make. A year ago, I was wondering if I should go to BYU
to learn more about the Gospel. I left all my old friends behind, the gang from
the dorms at Cal State Fullerton, the old Cypress College Crowd, Bob Wimberley
and Gary Bassett and all my old boyhood friends from school days like Jerry
Smith. They all seem to be part of a distant world; now that I have accepted
the Gospel and have made so many of the Saints part of my new life.
There was no way at the
beginning of this year could I have dreamed that I’d be where I am now safe in
the Everlasting Hills of Zion. But the Savior has upheld me this year and
guided my path even when the Adversary has tried everything in his power to deceive
me. “Trust and Obey for there’s no other
way to be happy in Jesus but to Trust and Obey”.
Additional
Material
The Top 30 Songs for 1973
1"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak
Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn
2 "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" by Jim Croce
3 "Killing Me Softly with His Song"
by Roberta Flack
4 "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
5 "My Love" Paul McCartney &
Wings
6 "Why Me" by Kris Kristofferson
7 "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John
8 "Will It Go Round in Circles" by
Billy Preston
9 "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon
10 "Touch Me in the Morning" by Diana
Ross
11 "The Night the Lights Went Out in
Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence
12 "Playground in My Mind" by Clint
Holmes
13 "Brother Louie" by Stories
14
"Delta Dawn" by Helen Reddy
15 "Me and Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul
16 "Frankenstein" by The Edgar Winter
Group
17 "Drift Away" by Dobie Gray
18 "Little Willy" by Sweet
19 "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
by Stevie Wonder
20
"Half-Breed" by Cher
21 "That Lady" by The Isley Brothers
22 "Pillow Talk" by Sylvia
23 "We're an American Band" by Grand
Funk Railroad
24 "Right Place Wrong Time" by Dr.
John
25 "Wildflower" by Skylark
26 "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder
27 "Loves Me Like a Rock" by Paul
Simon
28 "The Morning After" by Maureen
McGovern
29 "Rocky Mountain High" by John
Denver
30 "Stuck in the Middle with You" by
Stealers Wheel
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