Spring 2nd Quarter Journal 1975 April-June

 

APRIL 1975

1 April 1975 Tuesday

It’s a  new month with new hope. Moroni said where there’s faith there is hope. It was a bright and sunny day for most of entire day. Today is April Fools and I suppose I am the biggest fool there is.

            Ralph Ludders called late this evening and wanted me to come up to Norco and spend the night. Norco is 30 miles away and I said I couldn’t make it tonight. So we made plans for tomorrow.

 

2 April 1975 Wednesday

I spent most of the morning packing away items and getting ready for the trip back to Utah. This evening Ralph Ludders and I went to the show and saw “Murder on the Orient express” and “Funny Lady”.

            Before Ralph came over, Mom and I talked for a while abut her trip back to Texas to be with Grandma. I guess she had a really good visit with the folks back there.  I also received a letter from Linda Prindle today. It was sweet and loving. Her address is 506 North 8th street Kelso, Washington  98626

The movie Funny Lady is vastly  over rated. It’s not nearly as good as Funny Girl was and also the music was poor and not memorable. On the other hand Murder on the Orient express was excellent and very entertaining.

            We didn’t get out of the shows until midnight and by the time we arrived in Norco it was about 3 in the morning.

 

3 April 1975 Thursday

Ralph Ludders jumped up at 7 this morning to get ready for teaching. The alarm clock didn’t go off at 6 like he set it so he really had to hustle to be at work by 8. We said our goodbyes and I locked up the house for him when I left.

            From Norco I drove into Riverside to go to the blood bank there to sell some blood like Ralph suggested but it was closed today for some reason. So I drove down to Corona to see the kids and say my goodbyes. Little baby Mike was asleep and James and Denise were out playing with their friends. So I came back home to Garden Grove to spend the night there.

            My Disneyland paycheck was in the mail and I cleared $80. Tomorrow I go back to the Labor Board in Santa Ana to see about the money Don Giovanni owes me. When I leave tomorrow after that for Utah I will stop in Yucaipa to see Grandma and Grandpa Williams before leaving California.

            In the news South Vietnam is falling rapidly before the North Vietnamese Communist. The South Vietnamese troops have not tried to stop the communist advance at all but just retreat before them without any major battles. Refugees by the hundreds of thousands are felling south trying to get out from the Communist controlled territory. The United States personnel and civilians are evacuating and Americans are trying to adopt and save the orphans bringing them here but the South Vietnamese governmental bureaucracies for these children to be flown out of the country. Fifty-eight orphans were flown into Oakland today with 2000 more waiting to come.

            President Ford blames Congress for the fall of Cambodia to the Khmer Rouge and the imminent fall of South Vietnam but the American people don’t. East Asians hadn’t tried to fight their own war expecting just the Americans to do it. We have opened our homes to South Vietnamese children  so President Ford is so wrong. I have little faith in Ford’s capabilities to govern this nation. Some people say Ford will step down before 1976 and Nelson Rockefeller will step in and become President.

 

4 April 1975 Friday

I was up at 8 this morning to get ready to go to the Labor Board by 10. John Lococo and Don Baldwin showed up but they said they were unable to pay me all the money they owed me today. They signed a statement saying they owed me $562 and agreed to pay me weekly installments of $50 starting on the 14^th of this month but if they don’t I will have to file a small claims against them in civil court for the recovery of the money. I am now wondering if I will ever see a penny of it.

            It started to rain a little bit in Santa Ana and I was back home at 11:30 mentally fatigued so I went back to bed to try and get some more rest for the trip this evening. I slept in until 2:30 in the afternoon then was up to finish packing the Pinto,

            When Mom came home from work we went to her bank and she cashed my Disneyland payroll check. With the $25 that Ralph Ludders loaned me and after paying some bills I had over $80 for my trip back to Provo.

            Mom and Dad took me out to dinner at 6 where we had Pizza at Me and Ed’s Pizza on Katella. I know they are going to be lonesome again with Donna gone and now me  going too. Mom is just a little upset about me leaving home again but knows it’s for my happiness.

            I left Garden Grove at 7 in the evening after saying my goodbyes. Then I drove over to my Uncle and Aunt, Milton and Marie’s house. Only Marie and my cousin Gregory Williams  were home. We visited for about a half an hour then I said I had to get back on the road and left for Corona.

            I wanted to say goodbye to my babies. James is old enough and smart enough at 6 years to know that I am going away although 3 year old Denise just sensed that something was different about this visit. I hugged and kissed them all and sweet little Michael just smiled and cooed at me.  The only time I cried was leaving them behind. It’s the Johnson in me because we are such criers.

            Leaving Corona, I drove to Yucaipa to see my beloved Grandparents and Aunt Minnie before leaving. Grandma Williams had an awful cold and she felt very bad. I’m glad I made the extra effort to come see them because who knows what the future will bring.

            At 10 at night I was finally on the road for good. I drove into Barstow before stopping for gas there at about midnight.

            Today seems so unreal like I’ve stepped into another dimension. It doesn’t seem possible that I could be actually coming home to Utah.

 

5 April 1975  Saturday

I arrived in Las Vegas at 4 in the morning because of the time difference and I stopped again for gas and had a cheap breakfast for 49 cents. Then I drove into Utah at St. George and stopped again at Beaver for gas. After that I just drove on into Provo. It was 10 in the morning, Utah Time. I was so tired. I felt like I would never get off the road.

            Mike Allred answered the door after I pounded on it to wake him up. It’s good to be home again even if I am exhausted. Mike Pitcher and Mike Allred helped me unload my car and then I just collapsed onto the couch.

            After resting some while the others listened to morning General Conference, I took a shower and cleaned up. I then went over to see Linda Prindle. I don’t think she really believed I was here standing in front of her.  I didn’t stay long and had her let me go back to the Stevens Apartment  early so I could get some more needed sleep. However I was just too keyed up to sleep although my eyes hurt really bad from eye strain I guess from driving at night,

            The guys went to General Priesthood and while I got ready to go, I just couldn’t. I was too exhausted so I laid back down on the couch and tried to sleep while they were away,

            When Mike Allred came home he said that Priesthood was pretty explicit and that Bishop Featherstone said for us not to even drink cola soda pop. Mike said that on Friday’s session of conference, elder Perry eulogized his wife who  had passed away last December. I just met her the one time at my Graduation Banquet. She had such a wonderful quality about her.

Additional Material

"Lovin' You” by Minnie Riperton was the number 1 song for the week.

 

6 April 1975 Sunday

I was up at 9 this morning to go pick up Linda Prindle to bring her to the apartment to watch General Conference together. I made a Sunday dinner of Meatloaf.

            In the afternoon for the closing session Denise Smith came over to the apartment and watched the last of Conference with us. It was nice to see her again.

            After conference I took Linda home so she could get some rest before Sacrament Meeting. We drove up to where the 92^nd Branch was meeting on campus because it had snowed quite heavily today. Sacrament wasn’t over until 8 at night. I then took Linda home so she could go to bed. I returned to the Stevens Apartment and stayed up talking with Mike Allred before going to bed on the couch.

 

7 April 1975 Monday

Arthur Johansson from my Garden Grove Ward was here in Provo and came over to see me. It was really neat to see him up here in Provo. We went to the Smith’s Field house to go running at 12:30. I only ran a half mile but it’s a start to getting back in the groove.

            We then went to the Wilkinson Center to get some ice cream at the Cougareat. By coincidence we ran into Piper Ballou Holmes. She was with her sister Midge Ballou. She wanted to know what I was doing in Provo since I hadn’t written her that I was coming back up sp soon. She doesn’t have a phone so if I want to get in touch with her I will have to go out to American Fork.

            In the Wilkinson Center I also saw Marietta Clark again. She’s changed somewhat but then so have I from last year. She’s still a neat lady and I didn’t ask anything about how Jodie was doing.

            I took Arthur for a tour of the Wilkinson Center to the very top down to the basement. We then went to the Marriott Center as he had never been inside of it and he was impressed.

            Arthur said he needed a place to crash while he’s here in Provo and I said Sure any time. I am sure the guys won’t mind if you stay with us.

            While Linda Prindle at her Family Home Evening group. I went to the Harold B Lee Library on campus to do some genealogy. The only thing I found was a Thomas Basil listed in the 1790 Census of Bennington County, Vermont. Did my ancestor Samuel Danforth upon moving to Vermont marry this man’s daughter or widow? The census just listed a male and a female in the household. Samuel Danforth’s first born son was named Thomas Bassel Danforth and may have been named after this man. I only stayed until 10 tonight before Mike Allred came on campus to take me back to the apartment.

 

8 April 1975 Tuesday

I wrote Grandma Johnson and Mom letters today to let them know I made it okay and what I’ve been up to here. I didn’t do a whole lot except clean the apartment especially getting my junk together and organized. I suppose Mike Pitcher is going home for the summer so it will be just Mike Allred and me living together. I am trying to talk him into going out on a double fate with Linda Prindle and me this weekend. He needs to get out more.

            I went up on campus to see about admissions for this Spring Term.  They said I can’t pay my tuition until the 25^th of this month so I won’t be able to get my student loan until then so money will be tight.

            After the 15^th Linda and I are going to Kelso, Washington to meet her parents. Her friend Sue is coming along also to help pay for gas.

 

9 April 1975 Wednesday

I went into Salt Lake City today to go to the Church’s genealogical library; I was there for 9 hours working on research from noon until 9 at night.  I didn’t find anything except for some land deeds on the Morgan side of the Danforth Family. Grandma Williams’ great grandmother was Lucretia Morgan Danforth the daughter of Theophilus Morgan who was a Revolution War veteran.  It was kind of a wasted day but I needed something to do.

 

10 April 1975 Thursday

I woke up to find two birthday cards near my bed. One was from Mike Allred and the other from Linda Prindle. Mike also bought me some Uncle Scrooge comic books too for my birthday because he knows I enjoy them. I finally got my Income Tax refund for $197 in the mail today as my biggest birthday surprise. I really needed it.

            I spent much of the morning cleaning the apartment for the guys letting me stay here and finding places to put my things away. Arthur Johansen is still staying with us for a while. He’s such a cool guy. I wish he wasn’t leaving.   It was a pretty day because the sky was a deep blue and the mountains are covered with snow.

            At 11 this morning, Linda came over and introduced her two brothers, Mike and John to me. Mike Prindle is married and lives in American Fork. John Prindle has been called to go on a Mission to Anaheim so he had lots of questions about Orange County and Disneyland. 

Linda Prindle’s younger brother John was a huge guy for a 19 year old over 6 feet tall and like a football player. I had imagined him small like a teenager like the kids I knew from the dorm but he’s a big guy.

            Mike Prindle was tall too and seemed really nice. They want me to go with them to Manti so they could attend a temple session there. I am not sure I want to go as I remember sitting in the freezing car last year in Manti on my birthday so Linda could go through the temple there.

            The rest of the day I spent preparing a big dinner and I made a raspberry cobbler for my birthday.  Linda was over much of the day keeping me companying. I really love that woman. She gives me joy. I had Linda stay for dinner and she stayed afterwards and watched TV with me until 8 this evening. . So we spent much of my 24^th birthday together,

            Coming back to the apartment after taking Linda home, Piper and Richard Holmes were at the apartment just getting ready to leave thinking they had missed me. I made them stay a while and fed them the rest of the raspberry cobbler. They wanted to invite Linda and me  over tomorrow to visit. I said sure because I need to get a few things they had stored for me.

            I called Mom called evening and she wished me a Happy Birthday. Dad and she were fine just tired from working. She said that Donna and Ken came and retrieved the rest of their things and truly are out on their own now. She said Grandma Williams had bronchitis from that terrible cold she had.

            I told Mom I can’t express in words the thrill and the dream like quality that being back in Provo has affected me. It’s like nothing has changed from last fall yet everything has changed.

 

11 April 1975 Friday

The Prindles came over to pick me up at 10 this morning. How could I say no? While Provo’s weather was pretty in Manti it was rather chilly.  Mike Prindle’s mother in law and her boyfriend came along also with Linda Prindle’s nephew and nieces, Alicia, Rodney, and Sheila who’s just 2 years old. Linda and I took care of Mike’s kids while the rest were in the Temple. I feel like I was asked along to help Linda babysit.

            John Prindle is leaving for his Mission soon so It will be awhile before Linda will see him again.  It was a nice day but Linda was wearing down so I just played with the kids to keep them from being restless.

            We all were home by 4 this afternoon but it was a long day. In the evening Linda and I drove out to American Fork to get my trunk that contained my clothes from Piper and Richard Holmes’ place.

           

12 April 1975 Saturday

Mike Allred and I spent much of the day together looking for a place to live for this summer but we haven’t found anything we liked or could afford yet. Everything for students is either too expensive or terribly run down with no upkeep from landlords.

            We were barely back in time to clean up the apartment and get ourselves ready to go out tonight on our double date. Mike’s brother Eddy Allred and his wife Linda came over at 5 this afternoon. They are nice people and Linda is sweet.

            We had to hurry  as we said we would pick our dates up at 6:30 this evening. Mike’s date was Nancy Lewis’ cousin Marilyn. We all went to see “Murder on the Orient Express” because the rest hadn’t seen it before and even though I had it was still a fun picture.

            I didn’t know whether Linda Prindle enjoyed it or not. I don’t think Linda gets much of movies or likes them as much as I do. Linda tries to read too much into everything I do. She is going to have to accept me as I am.

            After the movie let out we call came back to the apartment and played the board game of Life and had some homemade pizza. It was a fun evening although I was tired and I had things on my mind about the trip taking Linda home to Kelso Washington to meet her folks to really get into the spirit of things.

Additional Material

"Philadelphia Freedom" Elton John Band  2 weeks

 

13 April 1975 Sunday

Today was an eventful Sabbath and a beautiful cool crisp day.  This morning, Mike Allred and I picked up Marilyn and Linda Prindle to go to the Ten Stake Conference which was held in the Marriott Center. The place was filled to capacity  because Elder Hartman Rector Jr., Elder LeGrand Richards, Elder Mark E. Peterson, and Elder Gordon B. Hinckley were in attendance.  We heard Elder Hinckley and Elder Richards speak before we all had to leave to be down in Mapleton. Elder Richards spoke on Missionary work as usual, God love him. His talk was an inspiration and he’s such a fine man; he truly is.

            The main business of the conference was to announce the formation of two new Stakes, the 11^th and 12^th BYU stakes.   We had to leave early because we had promised Ken and Nancy Lewis we would attend the blessing of their baby in their Mapleton Ward. Their Sacrament Meeting was their Fast and Testimony one for them. Ken looked really nice and it has been a long time since I’ve seen him and Nancy. 

After church we then went over to Ken’s mother in law’s house where we ate dinner. She served us ham, scalloped potatoes, creamed green beans,  a lemon fruit pudding, and homemade pineapple sherbet.  It sure was delicious.

At 4 this afternoon, Linda Prindle announced that we had to leave to make it to our Sacrament Meeting in the 41^st Branch. I was rather put out because I wanted to stay and visit some more with Ken and Nancy and Linda hadn’t even consulted me before hand. If she did, she never made me truly aware of her intentions.

I was tired from being in meetings and just wanted to go home but instead I went with Linda to Sacrament in the 41^st Branch. There it was announced that Linda’s residence was no longer in the 41^st Branch and the branch’s boundaries had been completely altered. The 41^st Branch was taken out of the 8^th Stake and put in the new 12^th Stake.  It was also announced that from now on, there were to be branches just for single people and others for married people. Branches weren’t to be mixed anymore.

Linda was really upset by the changes as that President Polve was to have worked with Linda and I about getting married and knew about our special problem about me not being an Elder.

Jim Sumsion, who was the 41^st Branch clerk informed me that my church membership records came today. Ironically when I am no longer a member of that branch because of the changes.

In Sacrament President J Reuben Clark III from the Stake gave some good advice on taking what BYU religion teachers say with a grain of salt. He said they are not set apart to preach the Gospel. They have no special calling. He said if we are to quote anyone we should quote the prophets or the Scriptures. He said don’t quote someone else who might have less faith than you. So take that Rodney Turner.  I’m glad I attended Sacrament after all.

I was still however upset with Linda a little for arbitrarily decided what we are doing without consulting me first before making decisions that affect us both. We talked about it after church although I don’t think it made much difference.

 

14 April 1975 Monday

Mike Allred and I spent much on the day searching for a place to live for the summer. We finally decided on the Marshall Apartments, up past the Cougar Football Stadium. It was a 4 man apartment for $37.50 a month per person with electricity included. It was one of the few inexpensive places left in Provo. Almost all the rest of the apartments rent for $45 a month per person for the summer but it will go up to $65 next fall because of inflation. It’s terrible.

            Mike has been trying to just get through his finals. It’s been very hectic for him.  I guess Mike Pitcher will graduate this term and then go home. He said there is a possibility he might stay with us over the summer but I doubt it.

            I went up to BYU to see if I could pay my tuition in advance since it’s just a week away. They said to come back tomorrow and I could find out whether I could get my student loan sooner.  I tried to go to the English Department to find out what I need for an English minor but all I got was the run around. I was kind of depressed how it all seems so frustrating and it shouldn’t be.

 

15 April 1975 Tuesday

Arthur Johansson has been staying with us a lot this week. He’s a really nice guy and a god Latter Day Saint. I really enjoy his company. Eric, Mike Allred’s roommate, is going to stay here in apartment 3 of the Stevens Apartments until about the 20^th of April before moving out. I think Mike will be glad to see him go.

            Mike and I called Marshall Arms to confirm us moving in for the summer and said we would be over tomorrow to put down a deposit.

            I went back up to BYU and went to the English Department again. This time they told me to go to this certain teacher to have my transfer credits from Cypress College and Cal State Fullerton evaluated. But when I went there she never showed up for her office hours.

            I then went back to the financial aid department to find out whether I could pay my spring term tuition early in advance so I could access my student loan.  They said I had to go over to the registration office and get a slip proving that I have been accepted and that I am signed up for Spring.

            At the registration office I was told that I had to come back tomorrow to pick up an intent to register form. So frustrating dealing with the bureaucracy.

            Since I was already up on campus I went to the Harold B Lee Library to do some genealogy and look up this Thomas Basil I had found in the 1790 census. I located his father and his siblings in Connecticut in the 1760’s. I still don’t know much about the Bassells or even if they are related to me.

            I had walked up and back from campus so I was tired when I reached the apartment to get a bite to eat but I talked Mike into going back to the BYU library to do some more genealogy with me.

            We stayed two hours from 7 to 9 when it started to rain. This was the last day of classes for all the guys in the apartment and for Linda Prindle. She has to go to the Jordan School District in Sandy, Utah for a job interview this fall. I hope she can get it.

            I am dreading the long drive to Kelso, Washington. Linda says it will take 15 hours. I also dread going and meeting all these people who know Linda but not me. Insecurity on my part I suppose but I’ve got to be shown off.

            In the news Cambodia fell to the Communists as General Lon Nol fled the country. Phnom Pehn the capitol is in the control of the Khmer Rouge after all the Americans were evacuated.

 

16 April 1975 Wednesday

It was a long and busy day. I had stayed up to 2 in the morning rapping with Arthur Johansson before finally getting to bed. I am on the couch and he’s sleeping on the floor next to me in his sleeping bag.

            This morning I was up at 10 and half hour later I went up to BYU to see about my student loan again and I finally got it. Praise be the Lord. I went down and opened a checking and savings account in Deseret Savings and Loan. I  deposited $1000 into my savings and $676 into checking.

            When I came home I wrote a $200 check to pay off the car loan on the Pinto and sent $100 to pay back Donna, $60 to Mom and wrote a $40 check as a deposit on my new apartment.

            Mike Allred and I went to the Marshall Arms at noon to pay our deposits then we went to the Skyroom in the Wilkinson Center to treat ourselves to a buffet style dinner there. I paid for our dinner as that Mike paid for ours yesterday when we ate at Jerry’s Burgers.

            When we came home at 1:30 this afternoon, Arthur said that Linda Prindle had called to see when we would be leaving for our trip. I called her back and said as soon I can pack some things away for the move to Marshall Arms. However Mike said he was going to stay at the Stevens’ until the 25^th so I was able to just leave everything here with him.

            So I packed a suitcase for the trip and drove over to Linda’s place to pick her and Sue up and we were on our way by 3. I drove 230 miles to Burley Idaho where we stopped to buy some drinks and we stopped and ate the sandwiches the girls had made. I then drove another 160 on into Boise where Sue took over the driving 170 miles into LaGrande, Oregon.  I resumed driving the Pinto over the Blue Mountains where it snowed until I was so tired and sleepy I had to let them drive. They both drove 50 miles each before I drove the rest of the way  into Sandy, Oregon where Sue lives. I then drove the 70 miles into Kelso Washington across the Columbia River.  It had snowed in several places on our journey but on the whole the weather was good and Linda didn’t get too sick thank goodness. Sue was an interesting girl and having her with us made the time pass and she could attend to Linda.

 

17 April 1975 Thursday

We reached Linda Prindles’s home in Kelso this morning at 8, Washington time. Linda’s father was home when we arrived but he was just getting ready for work. I was just worn out from driving all night so I took a shower and slept in Linda’s brother John’s bed until about 2 this afternoon. When I was up, I felt so achy and stiff from the long drive that I went into the front from and just read some National Geographics that were out until Linda was up.

            Washington is such a beautiful state with lush ferns and moss everywhere. There are beautiful tall fir, pine, and cedar trees too. Everything is so green the color of emeralds but still, I could never live here. The weather is too damp and I like a drier climate. It showered almost all day so it was rather gloomy.

            I finally met Linda’s sister Beth who is very exuberant and lively, very fun like, so unlike Linda. She’s a very pretty girl. I finally met Linda’s parents with who I felt so ill at ease; not by anything done to me but just the awkward circumstances.

            People up here are so different from Utahns and Californians. It’s hard to generalize but I really feel out of place here like not being at home here, kind of unwelcomed. I’m used to Texas hospitality instead of this northern one.

I went to bed early after a meager meal when the rest retired. There’s no heat in John’s room that is located  in the attic.

Additional Material

Linda Prindle’s father was  Virgil McB Prindle who died July 27, 2014, at the age of 89. Her mother was Patricia Marie Barker. They settled in Kelso in 1950 where Virgil to taught school in the Kelso School District. He was an art teacher in high school and a librarian in elementary school.  He served as Scout Master, high counselor, bishop, and seminary teacher. Linda’s siblings were Michael Prindle,  Kathleen Gibson,  Janneth Laurion,  John Prindle and Elizabeth Bonnett,

 

18 April 1975 Friday

It rained  for the better part of the day plus being damp and chilly in the house. I am not dressed for this kind of weather. Linda Prindle was ill for much of the day probably from the long trip and her medicine being off. Bro and sister Prindle were gone to work and  I just kind of stayed out of the way until this evening when  Linda and I went down to Portland where Linda’s twin sister Kathy and her husband, Jim Gibson, had us for dinner.

 

19 April 1975 Saturday

This afternoon Linda’s father asked me to go out to their Stake’s Welfare Farm to see a sign he was given as an assignment to paint. He put me to work and I ended up painting the thing instead of him and then helped in hoisting the sign up on its mounts. It was really heavy.

            The wind was chilly and with the humidity I was chilled to the bone. When we came back to the house, Linda’s father then asked me to mow his large front and back yard. Being a guest and raised right, I complied, but I never heard of such a thing before asking a visitor to do work.  I guess he wants me to work for my lodging.  Strange people.

            The whole time I have been in Kelso I’ve been dragged from one place to another constantly on the go. I haven’t even had time to get fully rested from the long trip here. My upbringing sure is different than Linda’s is up here.  Her folks are really kind of miserly and I feel like I am imposing on them.

            I was asked by Linda to come along, therefore I thought I’d be treated like a guest; but I have been made to feel by her folks, maybe unintentionally, like I had asked to be here and am sponging off of them.    I am never consulted to what I’d like to do while I am here.

            I’ve already spent $15 out of my own pocket, plus furnishing the wear and tear on the Pinto,  plus doing most of the driving, so Linda could have me meet her folks. I guess I am really complaining about being somewhere I don’t want to be. It’s not my home nor have I’ve been made to feel at home by these people. They are as cold as their house to me.

            Everyone interrupts one another constantly like no one listens to each other. You can’t carry on a conversation without someone interrupting on a different topic and subject. I’m not sure if anyone really listens.  I think Northwestern people are just cold by nature, probably from this clammy climate.

            This night we were dragged to a concert that was put on by the Stake to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the beginning of America’s War of Independence. They performed music from the past 200 years and it seemed like the program was nearly that long.  It was way too long and really needed to be shortened but it was fairly well done but I know Linda was really fatigued.

            When we finally came home, Linda’s father had us gather in the living room and had a family prayer that was endless also before we could retire. I wish I had more blankets for John’s cold room. It’s just miserable.

 

20 April 1975 Sunday

 I was up early to attend Priesthood with Bro. Prindle at 8 this morning. Sunday School was at 10 and I was able to go to the New Testament Class with Linda to get away from her father who had to attend some High Priest meeting. However I really enjoyed the class because it was on the Parables.

            We went back to Linda’s folks for Sunday dinner where Linda’s parents had invited the Missionaries to eat with us.  When Sister Prindle said “Father would you like more pot roast?” He replied “No, thank you. Enough is sufficient,” That was my clue to not have any more even though I have been hungry since I’ve been here. I was surprised that there wasn’t any dessert because the Missionaries were here. I think they were surprised too.

After Sacrament Meeting Kathy and Jim Gibson were over but we didn’t get to talk much among ourselves because Linda’s father acted like he was presiding.

 

21 April 1975 Monday

When Bro and Sis Prindle came home from work, we all drove up to Seattle to visit Linda’s grandmother, Vi, who is Bro. Prindle’s mother. It was a long 2 and a half hour trip from Kelso to Seattle but it a pretty drive. I have never been this far north in my life.

            Seattle is a fair size community and what I saw of it full of trees. It was another long drive back and we didn’t get in until 1 in the morning. Linda sure was beat and rested her head on my shoulder the entire time back.  She is starting to come down with a cold.

 

22 April 1975 Tuesday

I am so ready to be back in Utah. Mike Allred and I have so much to do before school starts. It’s been a damp rainy day. Linda Prindle was really sick today and it did nothing but rain today so I was soaked when I went to the store to get some Midol and Alka-Setzer Plus to help Linda because her folks don’t keep stuff like that in the house. She started her period and was having painful cramps.

            Sister Prindle went to a Relief Society meeting and Brother Prindle was out this evening to his High Council Meeting. I had bought ingredients while I was at the store to make some chocolate chip cookies for Brother and Sister Prindle and to take back with us tomorrow.

            The Pinto has been really acting up. I am quite worried that it might break down on the journey back to Utah.

Linda Prindle and I left Kelso after having dinner with her folks and her sister Beth. Her folks left before we packed to attend Beth’s ROTC drill routine so they didn’t see us off. I thought that was odd they didn’t say good bye or anything.  He did give me $10 to help out on gas back and I sure appreciated it as Linda’s $20 she had budget for the trip was already spent on the way to Washington and I was spending my own money to return.  I filled my tank up at Kelso for $4.25 at 47 cents a gallon. I had 61,700 miles on the Pinto.

            Linda drove the Pinto down to Portland to spend the evening with Jim and Kathy Gibson. I had drove Bro. Prindle's car because he wanted us to drop it off in Portland to be serviced.

            At Jim and Kathy’s I became increasingly worried over my Pinto’s ability to make it over the mountains back to Utah. It had no pick up at all going up an incline.

            Our original plan was to spend the night with Jim Gibson’s parent’s house because he and Kathy didn’t have a spare room. However I had reservations about my car being able to make it up a steep hill they lived on. Instead I had Linda call Sue, in Sandy, to see if she could put us up for the night.

            She acted all put out that we had asked her to put us up which upset me but what really made me mad was that she said it was unfair to ask her to pay more than the $20 for gas for the round trip and that the cost should be split three ways. That really made me mad as I thought I was doing the girls a favor by letting them use my car to go home on so they should have paid  for the gas not me. That was our original understanding . Now I am paying $20 of my own plus furnishing the car.

            I filled up the gas tank in Portland for $2.20 at 51 cents a gallon. I had 61,771 miles on the car.  On the way out to Sandy, we discovered that Linda didn’t pack the map out to Sue’s house and we drove around lost for a while until I happened to find it only with the Lord’s help. It was late at night and Sue lived out in the country which I was unfamiliar with. 

Once there I slept upstairs on the hard floor while Linda took the couch. I finally was able to go to sleep about 11:30 at night.

 

24 April 1975 Thursday

Sue’s mom woke me at 5 this morning so we could get on the road. The girls then got up and we were on the road by 6.   Linda and Sue slept for most of the way into Boise, Idaho.  Sue’s mom packed us some sandwiches so we only stopped for gas and drinks on the way back to Utah. Sue rode in the front seat so Linda could lie down and rest in the back seat.

            The Pinto got us home without incident. I think it didn’t like the lower altitude of Kelso which was just 75 feet above sea level.

            After dropping the girls off, I went right to the apartment where everything seemed disoriented to me. Mike Allred wasn’t at the Stevens, only his roommate Eric and he didn’t know where Mike was or anything.

            Some other guys had already moved in so I just didn’t know what was going on. I was kind of desperate to know what was happening but I was so tired from the long drive home.

            I asked Eric if I could sleep on the couch tonight until I finally realize what is going on. Even as late as it was I called Mike’s brother to see if he knew where he was and fortunately Mike was over there.

            I just had to go to bed because I was exhausted but I slept better knowing that Mike was still here so I finally was able to get some rest and have some peace of mind.

 

25 April 1975 Friday

Mike Allred came by at 9 this morning to wake me up. There’s so much to do. We spent much of the morning packing up my things left at the apartment into the Pinto and we moved over to Marshall Arms. It began to snow some while we were moving out.

            We spent all day moving except at 2 in the afternoon when I went up to campus to register for Spring Term and paid my tuition.  Then we finally got it moved into our new apartment and I am so exhausted.

 

26 April 1975 Saturday

I just couldn’t believe what happened today. I had gotten up at 8 this morning to start organizing the kitchen and putting things away and trying to get the front room into some type of order. Mike and I even went and bought groceries but in the afternoon, the manager came over and posted the Spring and Summer Rates for Marshall Arms. Mike and I were aghast as the rate was $50 a month and not what we were told.  We could not believe that was correct and thought there must be some sort of mistake  as when we put our deposit down we were told our rent would be $37.50 a month each.  

            So we went and talked to the manager to say we could not and would not pay $50 a month for this place. He said the owner wouldn’t lower the rate so Mike and I had no other option but to move again. Greedy landlords gouge students because they know they can.

            I was so exhausted and we had to pack up and move again! We had no idea where we were going to go so we just went up on campus to the student housing office to look at their list of approved apartments. We saw that this place called Fairmount Square was only $32 a month with utilities paid. It was only for 4 people also so we called them up and asked if we could look at it.

            The manager, Meg Madsen, said they were getting ready to close but if we hurried down she would show the apartment to us. The place was near Center Street and 900 East about a mile south from the Wilkinson Center. So we hurried down and it was located at 45 South 900 East and we could see that they were well kept up and nice and for $32 a month you couldn’t beat  that so we said we will take it.  I was so sick of apartment hunting and moving. I just wanted to get settled someplace.

            We had to pay a $55 deposit but we will get it back at the end. We started moving everything out of the Marshall Arms and we were able to get everything moved by midnight, Mike borrowed his brother’s truck this time and it took us 2 full truck loads to move everything. However I left my cinder block book case behind because I was just too exhausted to move it so I had to jettison some things. Grandma Johnson always said ever move is like a fire. So true. It was a cold snowy day on top of everything.

Additional Material

"(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B. J. Thomas was the number 1 song for the week.

 

27 April 1975 Sunday

Mike Allred and I didn’t go to church today not knowing where or when our new branch was meeting. Besides we were completely worn out. If even an ox was in a mire, ours was, so the Lord is just going to have to understand.

            We spent all day putting things away and up and getting things organized. The apartment was empty of any roommates at first so Mike and I shared a room so as not to get any surprises. School starts tomorrow for me so I had to unpack and get ready.

            In the afternoon we had a new roommate move in. His name is Phillip Stark and he teaches music in Salt Lake. So far there will be just the three of us. I am very content with the apartment. It has a good vibe although U will have to get a phone installed.  For the time being I will have to write Mom now and let her know where I landed. Well I am just glad to be settled.

            I haven’t seen or spoken to Linda Prindle since I have been back. I have been too busy and I am sure she needs the rest.

 

28 April 1975 Monday

Today was the first day of Spring Term and the first I have been back in school since last August. I was up at 7 this morning so I could go to the Administration building to buy a parking sticker for $6. I live too far now from campus to walk every day. My new address is 45 South 900 East apartment 10 here in Provo.

            My first class was English 377 which is teaching English in Secondary Education. I don’t like the teacher at all. I was supposed to have had Education 301 before taking this class. Oh well. I have this class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 until 11 in the morning. At noon until 1 I have to take Doctrine and Covenants 325 again to make up the incomplete Rodney Turner gave me last summer. It’s for an hour every day except there’s no class on Fridays. I have Bro. Andersen whom I’ve had before and I need the spiritual uplift that this class gives me for sure.

            At 2 until 4 in the afternoon I have English 302 which is the study of Masters in literature from 1798 till today. It’s going to be my hardest class with 5 papers due in it besides a midterm and a final.  I have tons of reading for it. Sis. Blanch is the professor and the class is held in the Jesse Knight Building.

            I came home to the apartment afterwards, ate some supper and read until I went to bed at 10:30 at night. I am already tired of school! Ha! It’s hard getting back into the swing of things once again.

 

29 April 1975 Tuesday

I only had Doctrine and Covenants on Tuesday so spent most of the day getting caught up on my reading. It is time to write some of the world shaking events that are bombarding the headlines now that the Dominoes theory has come back to haunt us in South Vietnam. Hue and city after city have fallen before the conquering Communists. Refugees are fleeing south to avoid the advancing Reds. President Thieu withdrew the ARVN troops after troops from the provinces as they fell without one major battle. Saigon and some of the coast are all that is left of South Vietnam. Thousands of Vietnamese are being allowed to flee the country by helicopters to come to America. Unbelievable

 

30 April 1975 Wednesday

South Vietnam has fallen. The county is in panic as the communists have taken  Saigon and the government surrendered unconditionally. The South Vietnamese threw away their country on this last day of April as Saigon fell to the National Liberation Front and now the country is entirely in the hands of the North Vietnamese.  So this is how it ends after all the money, blood, and effort we put into that war.  Some might blame America for not helping more than we did but we did do all we could for the corrupt South Vietnam government that would not help themselves.  We have brought hundreds of orphans and thousands of Vietnamese Refugees to this country and more are coming every day. The communists say they will rename Saigon, “Ho Chi Minh City”.

            Well the question is finally settled but who would have thought that the Communists would have won. A lot of American blood spilt for so little.

            April was a strange month for me and a turning point, for me and the nation in many ways.

 

MAY 1975

I was not faithful in recording my thoughts and actions  in my journal for the month of May. I was overwhelmed with attending school again, and living in a new apartment with Mike Allred, the object of my affection. However the real reason I recorded so little was that I was breaking up with Linda Prindle. After going to her home in Kelso and meeting her family I knew that I wasn’t really in love with her. I cared for her but wasn’t in love, I was just trying to live the commandment to marry and hoping that would suppress my homosexual desires.

I was in love in reality with Mike Allred and I had my emotional needs met, if not my physical ones,  somewhat by living with him.  We were sleeping in the same room again and emotionally sharing our lives again.

Also I wasn’t writing as that I began to frequent homosexual cruising area again on the Campus men’s rooms again mainly located in the Jesse Knight Building where I had a class and in the Wilkinson Center.  They were always quick anonymous encounters and I dissociated myself from these brief encounters from who I was really trying to be, a faithful Latter Day Saint. However the two sides of my nature were incompatible and there was no one I dared confide in about my internal conflict. I dared not take the chance of being expelled from BYU before getting my diploma. I learned from the debacle I had by confessing to C Terry Warner in 1974, that  I could jeopardize not only my standing in the church but also my academic standing at BYU.

In May financially I was mainly living off of my student loan. Neither Mike nor I could find work that paid anything. In America the unemployment rate peaks at 9.0% ending the Post-War Economic Boom that my family had experienced for over30 years. Between unemployment and high inflation it was a difficult time for everyone.

 

1 May 1975 Thursday

I don’t know where Linda Prindle and my relationship is heading anymore but I don’t see it heading towards marriage.. Maybe it’s just not meant to be. Not through any fault on Linda’s part but a basic and tragic weakness in my character that I must overcome if I am to be of any worth to my Heavenly Father. I just can’t play the game anymore and that is what I’ve been doing with Linda. The Lord is tired of my making commitments and then breaking them. I am on the road to hell and Satan is laughing at me My inner integrity is my only salvation from ruining two lives. Is it too late for me to overcome sin?

Additional Material

Once established back at BYU I realized that marriage to Linda was just a fantasy that I thought would cease my desire to be with males. I was never romantically attracted to Linda and our non physical relationship was viewed through the lens of being a chaste person. I thought my homosexuality was simply something I did instead of who I was as a person.

 

2 May 1975 Friday

All that is in the news is the exodus from South Vietnam by thousands in rickety Junk boats that are overloaded. Hundreds of people have drowned trying to escape.

 

3 May 1975 Saturday

Our new roommate Phil Stark wanted Mike Allred and me to go to the movies at the Varsity Theater with him in the Wilkinson Center. We saw Airport. It was on Television a few months ago. I knew I shouldn’t have gone with so much to do but I needed to get out of the house.

            Phil said that he did his student teaching in Spanish Fork where they have this funny accent. They pronounce Spanish Fork as “Fark” and the kids there made fun of his name thinking he was named Stork like the bird because of their Spanish Fork dialect. They say Lard for Lord and Carn for Corn. It’s hilarious. They say crick instead of creek but that’s kind of statewide.

Additional Material

"He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" by Tony Orlando and Dawn was the number 1 song for the next 3 weeks

 

4 May 1975 Sunday

I went by myself to Priesthood in our new Branch because Mike Allred was in Salt Lake meeting his folks and Phil Stark didn’t want to go. Priesthood  was at 10 this morning and the Branch is meeting at St. Francis, the old Catholic School building which BYU bought and turned in an extra law school. It’s funny that as Mormons we meet at a place called St. Francis.

            Linda Prindle’s roommate Sue called me and said that Linda was too sick to attend Fast and Testimony meeting today so just Phil and I went. After it was over I went back home and fixed a turkey breast for Sunday dinner.

            Around 3 in the afternoon I went over to see Linda and she looked really ill because she had an elliptic seizure last night because she said she was depressed and feeling rejected because I hadn’t seen her all week.

            This really upsets me because it makes me mad that she would let herself get so sick that she had a seizure. It really made me start doing a lot of thinking about our marriage. If everything isn’t always going her way all the time would she punish me, and herself as well, by getting sick?

            She wanted to go to the Fireside tonight but I told her I just could not go because I had a paper due in English tomorrow which I had to finish typing. She was very upset about that which made me even madder. I think it was kind of selfish to guilt trip me.

 

5 May 1975 Monday

I have a paper due already for my English 302 class already but I was able to finish typing the rest of it this morning before turning it in.

            After class I went to the administration office and was cleared for graduation this August because I am making up the class that Rodney Turner gave me an incompletes in last year. I also went to the Education Department and got the okay for doing my Student Teaching for the Fall.

Additional Material

While I was struggling with my homosexuality within the confines of Provo, Utah, in Salt Lake elections of officers for newly formed Gay Community Service Center took place with Articles of Incorporation drawn and adopted. The Gay Community Service Center was located at 11 South 400 West SLC in a building next to the Sun Tavern where I went into looking for John Wagner in the summer of 1974. Joe Redburn owner of the Sun Club helped established the center by securing the Taylor Restaurant and Grill south of The Sun Tavern as a meeting place. The building had a coke machine, some couches and a reading room.  Meetings were held Mondays at 7 p.m.. The Center established a Gay Help-Crisis line with the phone number being 533-0927. It was the  first listing in the Salt Lake telephone book using the word Gay for an organization. The Gay Crisis Line was funded from  profits from the coke machine.   The Gay Community Service Board Members were Chairperson Dorothy Makin and as Acting Director her lover Billie Hayes. Dorothy had emigrated originally from England and met Billie H. in Salt Lake. They lived together for eight or nine years and lived in South Salt Lake. Billie worked for the Board of Pardons. The  Vice Chairperson and Assistant Acting Director was “Don S”. Most people listed did not use their last names for fear of repercussions. The Board Secretary was “Katherine K.”, the Treasurer was Joe Redburn. The Advisor to the Committees was “Kip L.”  The Chair person of acting committees were Ron Hunt of the by-laws committee, Herb Davis of the Social Alternative Programs committee, “Jim C.” of the Publications committee, Alan Blaich of the Public Relations committee, Virgil L. Hyder of the Budget and Finance committee, “Marty M.” of the Grants and Funding committee, Ken Kline of the Gay Rights committee, “Terry J.” of  -. The Procurement committee, and “Dave B” of the Volunteer Services committee. Most of these committees consisted of only 1 person.

 

6 May 1975 Tuesday

I had an appointment to be interviewed at the Social Service Office to see if I qualify for food stamp. I suppose I will get them because I am so destitute although I did received $83 in the mail from Don Giovanni which really surprised me because I wasn’t ever expecting to see a dime from them.

Additional Material

That was all the money I ever received from the $500 they owed me for working for them in December 1974

 

7 May 1975 Wednesday

The first week of classes was a bear for me. My English 302 Later English Masters class was really demanding with so much reading. Sister Blanch is really piling on the work, I was so busy with school was all I could do was attend classes, come home to eat and read for the rest of the night before going to bed.

            Linda Prindle and I had a real serious talk today. I told her how different I feel now than I did a month ago and how I thought things were just not working out between us. I felt really miserable inside and breaking up with her. I feel so unworthy.

 

8 May 1975 Thursday

I don’t know if I can keep up with all the reading required this Spring term

 

11 May 1975 Sunday

I made an appointment to see my new Branch President, Paul H. Thompson and we had a very good talk about my breaking up with Linda Prindle. I really like him and he said it was the right thing if I wasn’t sure of my feelings.  I was called upon to give the opening prayer in Sacrament.

It was  Mother’s Day  so in the afternoon I called home. Mom said everybody is happy and fine out there in California. I guess the garden that Dad and I planted is like a jungle now. Even the raspberries are bearing fruit.

 

14 May 1975 Wednesday

I had a test in my Doctrine and Covenants Religion Class and got 107 out of 120 questions right which was 89 percent

 

15 May 1975 Thursday

I had my first test in English 302 and it was really rough. This 2^nd week in May was a bear again and my social life didn’t help any either. As for my social life I have none.

            Bill Hall of all people called while I was out of the apartment. That was very upsetting that I missed his call. He’s probably almost done with his mission. I’ve been so wicked that I am not worthy of any blessings.  I wonder if I will ever see Bill again.

Additional Material

I was referring to clandestine encounters with other BYU homosexuals in various men rooms especially in the Harris Fine Arts Building and the Jesse Knight Building

 

16 May 1975 Friday

I was so tired from staying up so late last night that I missed going to my English 9 in the morning class. Mike Allred was getting ready to go up to Afton, Wyoming to drive his brother’s car home for him. Before he left we went out to lunch and I had to cash a $10 check to buy gas and pay for lunch. The Pinto was completely on empty. I put 10 and nine-tenth gallons in my car and the tank only holds 11 gallons so I was running on fumes.

            After eating at Jerry’s Burger I asked Mike if he wanted to go to Salt Lake to do some genealogical research. He said sure so we went in separate vehicles sp he could leave straight from Salt Lake for home afterwards. I helped him find a little but most of his is done already as the Allreds were pioneer Mormons.

            After he left I spent much of the rest of the time hunting down the Rushton Family. Grandpa Williams Grandma was Rebecca Shelomith Rushton Williams. I couldn’t find anything in Alabama on that family but to my surprise I found that Grandpa’s great grandfather William Green Williams’ family has had all their Temple work done from off the 1850 Census of Pike County, Alabama. It’s not very accurate but it’s quite surprising to find his temple work done.

            I stayed in the library until 8 then left to go try and find my Peacock relatives who were living in Holiday. J.R. Peacock is my Dad’s 1^st cousin once removed. He’s Grandma Williams’  first cousin but dad’s age. In Holiday I got completely lost so I had to come home after wasting do much gas. That was disappointing.

 

17 May 1975 Saturday

It rained and thundered for much of the day. The electricity even went off for a while when I was shopping at Albertson’s Supermarket. It felt weird being in the dark as the lights in the store kept going on and off.

            I typed up my second paper for English 302 today on Andrea del Sarto The Faultless Painter a poem by Robert Browning that deals with themes of religious combining body and soul.

            I haven’t  really done much today other than writing my paper and getting caught up with my journal that I’ve neglected.

            I realize that this beautiful land that the Lord has brought me to is also so full of temptations. How quick am I to leave the commandments of my Lord and Savior when I am lonely.

 

22 May 1975 Thursday

This evening Mike Allred and I was in a mood to get out of Provo and go on a road trip since Memorial Weekend is coming up. On an impulse I said I would go with him even although I knew how foolish that was having so little money and so much school work to do.

            We decided to go to Southern California  since Mike had never been there before in his life and we could stay with Mom and Dad on the cheap. We left at midnight taking his Volkswagen Bug.

Additional Material

KSL had aired a series on Homosexuality in May and The Gay Community Service Center’s Newsletter printed interviews of people at the Sun, Radio City, and Perky’s bars. The following comments were quoted: “The KSL series on homosexuality was conducted like so many other subjects which are controversial-in order not to offend anyone, it must be treated with so much caution and delicacy that it also fails to do anything substantial like inform, enlighten, educate, or elevate people to a higher level of understanding. This ignorance only adds to the already tremendous waste of human resources. Sorry KSL but the attempt was somewhat impotent”. “It was good that KSL had the guts to air this type of show, but their bigotry and hypocrisy exposed its ugly head somewhat.”  “The KSL series on homosexuality reminds one of something called depression soup- damn little meat-lots of water-hardly any substance- and served lukewarm in a cold bowl.”  “Visions of Clock Work Oranges! I think Dr. Card and others like him ought to be subjected to his own therapy for treatment of his aversion to homosexuality.”  The Dr. Card referred to was Robert Card who was administering Shock Electrotherapy on Homosexuals at BYU.

 

23 May 1975 Friday

Mike and I drove all night only stopping at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas to eat breakfast. We arrived in Garden Grove at 9 this morning. Mom and Dad had already gone to work but I still had my house key. We slept for about two hours and then went to Knotts Berry Farm where we walked around and looked at all the exhibits in the Ghost Town. We stayed there from 11:30 until 3:30 after seeing most of the things I wanted to show him.

            Back at the house, Mike went back to bed while I waited up for Mom to come home. She doesn’t get too surprised anymore when I pop in from Utah. Later Charline came over with the kids  so I got to see  the little monsters. Michael Louis is getting so big and strong and not even 6 months old.  I woke Mike up to come and meet Mom and the kids.

            When Dad came home from work he was a real grump, growling at Mom because she didn’t register the letter to me that contained the Car title after I had paid it off. I never did receive it. However the last thing I wanted was to hear Dad growl so I had Mike go with me into Los Angeles.

            We first went down to Huntington Beach so he could see the Ocean and we walked along the pier. I also showed him where I had worked at Don Giovanni that was now vacant. We then drove into Long Beach to see where the Queen Mary was docked before heading to Santa Monica Boulevard to show Mike the L.A. Temple. We drove by Beverley Hills and from there we  drove on Sunset Boulevard into Hollywood where we parked and walked around looking at the concrete footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theater and then looking at the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard.  We didn’t get back home until after midnight.

 

24 May 1975 Saturday

Mike Allred and I slept in until 9 this morning sharing the bed in the front bedroom as the other rooms were filled with junk.  Mom and Dad were heading down to San Diego for the weekend to get away and he said something about us meeting them there. I thought he said to meet them at the Zoo but actually he meant Sea World so we never did connect.

            The Memorial Weekend traffic was simply unbelievable along the Pacific Coast Highway but we first stop to walk around the Mission at San Juan Capistrano. I just love seeing the place and was happy to be there with Mike.

            After that we drove down to San Diego to meet Mom and Dad at the Zoo but we couldn’t find them so we just walked around some to see the animals. We didn’t stay very long because there was too much to see and I wanted to take Mike into Tijuana, Mexico. We parked on the American side and walked the little concrete culvert. Mike was happy to use some of his Spanish he learned in Argentina but he said he had gotten pretty rusty at it. We walked through some of the vendor areas and looked at the main Catholic Church there before walking back to the car.

            We arrived back in Garden Grove at 5 in the afternoon and as Mike had never been to Disneyland before we spent the rest of the night there. It was super crowded and I showed him where I worked at Carnation Gardens and was kind of his tour guide. We went on Pirates of the Caribbean and through the Haunted House but not on the Matterhorn as the lines were too long. We went on the Cups and Saucers and other rides in Fantasyland and ate at the Casa de Fritos in Frontierland.  We even went on it’s a Small World ride. I think Mike was really having fun being there but it was kind of nostalgic for me.  We stayed until 12:30 in the morning and I was completely exhausted.

Additional Material

The places I took Mike Allred to, was all the places that John Cunningham and I visited during the summer of 1969. I was thrilled being with Mike but I was also melancholy over seeing these places and being reminded of John and the love I lost.

• "Shining Star" by Earth, Wind & Fire was the number one song for the week.

 

25 May 1975 Sunday

Mike Allred and I slept in until 9 this morning and he was the first one up. Mom and Dad had come home from San Diego last night and I was able to spend some time with them although not much as we were back on the road to Provo by 10.

            It was very hot crossing the Mohave desert and Mike drove all the way back only stopping for gas in St. George. We reached Provo and was home by midnight Utah time. We were completely exhausted.

Additional Material

When Mike Allred and I were sleeping together, I aroused him and then masturbated him without his consent. There is no way to excuse for what I had done molesting him. I can only say it was compulsive of me because I was crazy in love with him. I had snuggled up to his body and I just wanted to be physically intimate with someone I loved and not just an anonymous stranger. Mike was appalled by what I did but we never spoke about it. However  as we drove back to Utah mostly in silence, at one point he did say to me, “I can see why you are such a disappointment to your father.”  He might as well have hit me.

 

26 May 1975 Monday Memorial Day

Mike Allred left this morning to go home to Afton and go work for his dad as he couldn’t find work down here.  We won’t be spending the summer together after all. Things have changed so drastically  between us.

Additional Material

Mike Allred left because of the unwanted sexual encounter in California

 

27 May 1975 Tuesday

I am so miserable and heartbroken.

Additional Material

Utah’s first newspaper for Gays and Lesbians published its first issue. A copy of it is in Special Collections Marriott Library, U of U campus. The newsletter was published without a name as a “Contest to name paper” was held and announced at the Center’s “Grand opening Kegger”.  

 

28 May 1975 Wednesday

I dropped my two English classes today and changed my minor from English to Political Science. So the cycle is complete. There’s no Linda Prindle in my life and no Mike Allred, and no English Minor.

            The direction of my life has completely changed since April but I am grateful to my heavenly Father for giving me the opportunity to have a fresh start and begin again to keep God’s commandments and serve him the way a person that has received so much from His Grace and love  should.  Please help this sinner realize the covenants I have made at my baptism to serve Thee, the only true and living God, I pray.

Additional Material.

I now was only taking one class at BYU and that was a Doctrine and Covenants class that I had to make up in order to be cleared for graduation in August.  My personal life was such a mess with breaking up Linda Prindle and Mike Allred leaving me, that I was unable to concentrate on academics.  The thought of spending the summer and living with Michael was what had sustained me and now I was left alone feeling abandoned with no former friends and my family being 700 miles away in California.

 

30  May 1975 Friday

Additional Material

The LDS First Presidency sent a letter on May 30 to church leaders about the "unfortunate problem of homosexuality" which occurs from time to time among our people” encouraging them to not label people as homosexual because it makes the problem seem beyond solving “this both discourages and tends to make the matter seem beyond solving.”

 

31 May 1975 Saturday

Additional Material

"Before the Next Teardrop Falls"  by Freddy Fender is the number one song for the week.

 

JUNE 1975

1 June 1975 Sunday

A new month and prayerfully a new life for me free of sin. A commitment to serve God and keep His commandments seems awfully shallow when I didn’t attend any of my meetings today. I was really tired from going to bed so late last night and staying up doing genealogy.

            I didn’t wake up in time for Priesthood and then I didn’t know the new times for our Fast and Testimony Meeting. My roommate Phil Stark was not up himself until noon having been out all night so I couldn’t ask him. I don’t think he was feeling well today.

            It was a bright, warm, beautiful Sabbath day. The irises outside my front door and blooming and are so gorgeous.

            I wrote Grandma Williams today concerning what I had found on her grandma Maggie Roden Wilson.  I think I have located her in the 1880 census of Lampasas Texas. Afterwards I worked on my genealogy some and then read from the Bible about the life and letters of Paul. What an inspiration it is to fully serve Christ as that man did.

            Mike Allred returned from Wyoming back to the apartment at 1 this afternoon just to retrieve some of his clothes and things he had left to take back with him. He didn’t stay but left to spend the day over with his brother and will go back to help his father on their ranch in Afton. We didn’t get a chance to really talk and I felt a little strain because I didn’t know what he was thinking.

            This evening I went to the 12 Stake Fireside in the Marriott Center and heard Elder N Eldon Tanner of the First Presidency speak. What an inspiration he is. I went by myself and sat near where the Missionaries were seated. He spoke about the growth of the Church and the duty of the members of the Kingdom to it. If we are to be Saints of the Most High, we must act in accordance to His commandments. We must live so that the Lord may depend upon us and use us as he wills. It was a very inspirational talk.

            After the Fireside, I went over to see Ron Taylor who is a genealogist working on some of the same distant lines as I am. I stayed visiting with him until about 11:30 tonight.

            I was out walking in the warm night air and it felt good to talk to my Heavenly Father as I did. The evening was sweet though, because I felt more of the Spirit of God then I had in a year. With the help of the lord I will get my life in order.

Since today was Fast and Testimony Sunday, I think it is appropriate to bear my testimony on these pages of the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel. Nothing could ever purchase my membership in this Church. Where would I be without it but a despicable sinner. The glory and majesty of the Gospel , in the fullness is powerful in deed and not simply words. I’ve felt the sweet presence of the Holy Ghost as a fire in my bosom. It is real.

            I’ve heard the prompting of the spirit within my life and I’ve talked with my Heavenly friend, the Lord Jesus Christ. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true and of God. I do not lie for the praise of men. I know that Christ, our Savior works through Spencer W. Kimball receiving direction and guidance for this Church. I say these things in the name of Christ. Amen.

Additional Material

The June Issue of the Ensign published an article by Presiding bishop Victor Brown which addressed parents stating that the "lack of proper affection in the home can result in unnatural behavior in their children such as homosexuality."

• The Gay Community Service Center officially opened its doors and staffed a 24 hour “Gay Crisis Line”. The  answering service was staffed by trained volunteers to aid in crisis intervention, alcohol and drug related problems, emergency food and housing, employment, medical services, legal aid, and other referrals. Other than providing human services, the purpose of the Center was to educate “the Gay individual and the general community. It is felt that educating the Gay person seeking to learn about him or herself is needed as much as educating the general community. The Gay person will be aided in defining his /her sexual orientation toward a positive self concept that will confront the negative ideas transferred by society, family, and church.  The general public will be educated by publications, the electronic media and a proposed Speakers Bureau that will be available to any interested groups. In this manner it is hoped to dispel the myths associated with the Gay life style and promote community relations unifying the Gay community by providing social alternatives in addition to the Gay bars and churches will be a further purpose of the center. Proposed activities will be canyon party dance marathon, art shows, and other fund raising events. Anyone wishing to volunteer services particularly in the area of counseling should phone the center after June 1. Also needed are furnishings for the center.” Celebrating the Grand Opening Utah’s first  official Gay Freedom Day was held at City Creek Canyon Site Number 10 sponsored by the Gay Community Service Center with ”better than 400 people in attendance”. The festivities began at noon with beer, food, and soft drinks provided by various bars and beer distribution companies such as M&M-Coors,  General-Bud, and Better Brands-Millers.  A “donation” of $2 per person bought tickets that were available at the Gay bars and churches. All the proceeds went to the Gay Community Service Center.  Included in the day’s activities  was volleyball, an all day “do your own thing” talent revue and sing a-long, games for prizes, and a white elephant auction. Artists and craftsmen set up booths in areas to display their wares for sale or to show. A shuttle service ran from the site at two hour intervals at 12:00, 2:00, and 4:00 for those who didn’t have transportation. The pickup points were the Radio City, The Sun, and Perky’s. 

 

2 June 1975 Monday

Mike Allred was up early this morning to leave for home. He left me a note saying he had to help his father on his ranch and he wouldn’t be back for two weeks.  We didn’t communicate at all the time he was back here and I sorely miss his company but life must go on.

            This morning I baked a banana cake for Family Home Evening. I also paid my rent of $32 for June before going off to my one class left. In my Doctrine and Covenant class, Brother Anderson is so inspirational. He makes the Gospel truly come alive for me.

            I wrote Grandma Johnson a letter and mailed it today. I also wrote Mike later in the evening saying I missed him and sorry for being a bad friend to him.

            For Family Home evening I was asked to give the lesson and I prepared a talk on Charity being the Pure love of Christ according to Paul the Apostle. In my lesson I stated how it’s not our right to withhold and qualify our love for anyone. We must learn to love unconditionally. We had a good discussion afterwards and everyone enjoyed the cake I made. 

Gordon Cain was called to be our “family” group leader. Chris Steele, my new Family sister sure is a sweet girl and has such a pleasant spirit about her.

            I am slowly regaining a peace of mind over my former wickedness and I’m getting it from drawing closer to my friend Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father. I’ve strayed long enough and want to come back and feel the love of God.

            It was a warm and pretty June day.

 

3 June 1975 Tuesday

Today is my Mom’s 46^th birthday and I was up at 7:15 this morning to call her and wish her a happy birthday before she left for work. She said that her cousin Elmer Peters wrote and sent me a packet on all that genealogy of Grandpa Johnson’s Johnson and Patton families. Other than that she said everyone in California is fine.

            It rained for most of the day and after attending my Doctrine and Covenant Class while on campus, I went to the Bookstore and bought a Fall Catalog that was out now. I also tried to buy a D & C study guide but they were out so I had to order one. I have a test tomorrow . Bro. Anderson is a great teacher but his tests are really rough.

            When I came home from school, I noticed that my rear tire was going flat. I am just thankful that I was able to make it into the parking lot.

            I received a graduation announcement from my cousin Stephanie Williams who is graduating from Esperanza High School in Anaheim.  I am going to send her a copy of the Williams Genealogy for her to have. I spent much of the evening typing it up.

            In the news a man in Texas was convicted of slaying two Mormon Missionaries. He shot them and then cut up their bodies into little bits. Their reward is glory. I feel sorry for the man who did this awful thing for what a price in hell he will have to pay.

Additional Material

Robert Kleasen killed his victims, Mark Fischer, 19, and Gary Darley, 20  on 28 October 1974. Kleasen joined  the LDS Church of Latter-Day Saints, after a to lifetime of drifting, psychiatric treatment and trouble with the law. Missionaries Darley and Fischer told friends and family they were going to have dinner with Kleasen at his trailer, despite warnings from the church leadership that their new convert seemed dangerously unstable. That was the last time anyone spoke to them. Their bodies were never found. He was convicted from evidence found on his taxidermy band saw.  His conviction was overturned on a technically and he was set free in 1977. He died in 2003. 

 

4 June 1975 Wednesday

I went to my Doctrine and Covenant class today but did little else. In class we had another test which I thought was easier than the last one on which I did really well.  Yesterday my tire went flat and this morning I tried changing it but the lug wrench cracked and I could not loosen the lug nuts to take the wheel off. So I had to drive it to a nearby gas station have them change it and fix it. I have to get some new tires as they are almost completely bald.

            I had to walk home from Center Street and 1^st East where I left the Pinto and then walk a mile up to campus. After class I had to walk back down to pick up my car as I didn’t have anyone who could have driven me now that Mike left.

            My registration for the Summer Term came today and so that’s another $160 for tuition. I just have to find work. There’s no question about it.

            In the evening I spent time typing up more Williams’s genealogy for my cousin Stephanie Williams.

 

5 June 1975 Thursday

I decided to spend the day up in Salt Lake at the LDS genealogical library doing family research. The first half of the day wasn’t too fruitful but the last half was. I found the names and dates of Maggie Roden Wilson’s parents, Grandma Williams’ great grandparents. I was so excited and thought what a scoop. Maggie Roden’s parents were John Roden Wilson and Elizabeth Jane Sexton who were married 8 May 1861 in Cook County, Texas just at the start of the Civil War. They had two daughters, Susan and Maggie but by 1866 John and Jane were either divorced or separated.  Jane then married John C. Bilberry on 24 February 1870 who raised the girls. Jane and John were married for the rest of their lives. I was thrilled with this find.

            I realize now that I am on a Mission; that I was called on by the angel Nashebaum, though I didn’t know it at the time, to seek out my dead just as faithfully and diligently as any Missionary in the field could the living. The preaching of the Gospel to the dead however is in more capable hands than mine but I can do their temple work so that it is done for them when they are ready.

 

6 June 1975 Friday

I went on campus to look for work and I was hired as a night custodian in the Wilkinson Center. I work 4 hours from 6 in the evening until 10 at night, Sunday through Thursday. I really didn’t want to work on Sunday but someone has to do it. I was trained today by my supervisor Lynn who was a fantastic and warm older individual, a true Latter Day Saint.

I worked from 5 until 10 cleaning the Photography room, the Student Ombudsman Office, and the Lamanite Generation Office. I think I will enjoy the work as it’s not too taxing like the Cougareat was.

Additional Material

The Lamanite Generation was an all Native American performing group organized by Janie Thompson. The organization was first formed in 1971 and their first tour was across Indian reservations. They toured the Eastern United States in 1974 and they toured in Central and South American the following year in 1975. Thompson was a professor at Brigham Young University and the founding director of the BYU Young Ambassadors and the Lamanite Generation  performance groups.  She never married and died at the age of 91 in 2013 in Orem Utah.

 

7 June 1975 Saturday

I finally did my laundry today after running out of clean clothes. It’s nice that Fairmont Square has a laundry room here on the property. I then went shopping for some groceries even though I hate eating alone.  All week I have been eating burritos and drinking soda pop; mostly Root Beer. I fixed a mess of burrito filling of refried beans and ground hamburger and eat on that all week.  I have been pretty much  alone here in the apartment all week as I haven’t seen Phil Stark in a week. I have no idea where he’s been as we rarely talk anymore.

            I tried calling home but no one answered so Mom and Dad must be out doing some shopping. I’ve been expecting some genealogy coming in the mail all but nothing has arrived yet from Mom.

            Denise Smith called this evening to get the gossip after hearing that Linda Prindle and I broke off our engagement. I just told her that it just wasn’t right for either of us. She’s pretty thick herself with this one guy from Nampa, Idaho, herself she said. She said it looks like they might get married.

            I watched some Summer reruns on TV by myself for the rest of the evening. About 7:30 a storm cloud came up fierce and poured down rain. It seems strange to be basically living alone in this apartment after all the plans I had made earlier in the year. 

"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by John Denver was the number 1 song for the week. 

Additional Material

Linda Lea Prindle was born 9 July 1948 in Seattle, Washington to Virgil and Patricia Prindle. She had a twin sister. She was raised in Kelso, Washington and went on a two year mission to New Zealand before attending BYU where she graduated in Elementary Education. She worked in Wendover, Utah for a time before marrying Donald Brian Gardner 11 June 1977 in the Provo Temple. She was 29 years old and he was 36 years old. They must have had their Temple  marriage annulled as that she was remarried to Daniel Pack 20 April 1983 again in the Provo Temple. They had two sons and two daughters and lived in Umatilla, Oregon before she was died from a car accident 4 November 1995 in Portland at the age of 47.  Her station wagon was struck by a truck on 27 October 1995. Linda suffered from a mild form of epilepsy. She is buried in the Sunset Hills Cemetery in Umatilla 

8 June 1975 Sunday

I was up this morning at 9 to get ready for Priesthood. Before heading over I fixed a breakfast of sausage and eggs. I then walked to Priesthood at St. Francis of Assisi at 300 North and 900 East but I was really early because Priesthood was now changed to 10:15 and we didn’t begin until 10:30. We sang “High on a Mountain Top” and Bro. Tom Perry our Temple Coordinator gave the lesson.

            Afterwards I went to Sunday School’s opening exercises where I took the Sacrament but didn’t attend any classes. I just walked back down to the apartment and typed up my Grandpa Williams’ life story.

Phil Stark didn’t attend church at all today. He really has a poor attitude and is always criticizing BYU to me. I know BYU isn’t perfect but still it isn’t right to be so critical and running it down all the time. He’s kind of a negative person.

            For lunch I fixed hot dogs and ate the potato salad I made yesterday while listening to the radio. Songs that are out right now that I really like are Roger Whitaker’s “Last Farewell” and the Doobie Brothers “Take Me in Your Arms and Rock Me”.

            At 6 this evening I went into work. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do until Jesse Judd, my supervision, finally went and found out what we were to do as all the offices weren’t being used today. I guess on Sunday evenings all we do is put up the folding chairs in the areas of the building that are used for Sunday meetings.

            I worked with this kid from Uruguay named Raoul Brasil and a tall redhead kid named John Cannon. The guys were really friendly and nice and we all got along well. We were done by 10 tonight and I took Raoul to his apartment so he wouldn’t have to walk home after working all night.

            I am missing my pal Mike Allred. I miss having an active social life especially with the Summer coming on. Maybe I will meet new friends at work.

 

9 June 1975 Monday

This morning I went up on campus to Xerox off the genealogy that I’m sending to my cousin Stephanie Williams.  Then at noon I attended my Doctrine and Covenant Class and received the results back from my last test, I really did poorly this time. I only got a C which really depressed me to no end because I thought I had gotten an A on it.  I am starting to hate the D & C.

            The day was further depressing as I didn’t get any mail from anyone, I’ve been waiting for the Johnson genealogy from Elmer Peters for so long now,

            I spent the afternoon straightening up the apartment. It’s pretty messy and needed vacuuming. Phil Stark used to be so clean but now he doesn’t even bother to do his own dishes. Oh well. I have enough faults to ever be critical of others. I went into work and worked 4 hours mainly emptying trashes and vacuuming offices.

            Today is my sister Charline Wach’s 28^th birthday. She was born in Los Angeles while Donna and I were born in Texas.  She lives at 700 Poplar Street in Corona, California with Dennis, James, Denise, and Michael who is only 6 months old.

 

10 June 1975 Tuesday

I had the strangest dream  last night that left me sad all day. It had a profound effect on me. I dreamed that I was with the Saints when all of a sudden many of them left the rest of us. They were happy, singing, and joyous. We that remained could not understand what was happening, but I knew, and it made me sadder than I ever was in my life. For I knew that Christ had called and the ones who departed had heard his voice and went to be with him but I was left behind. The sad, bitter feeling of knowing that I was left behind was very upsetting.

            We who were left behind went to our churches and sat inside the buildings for protection. We could hear the earthquakes and destruction of the wicked all around us. We thought we were safe but destruction came to us also by the Angel of Death and I was so afraid.

            When I woke from what could only be a vision, the dream stayed with me all day. The dream made me vow to serve the Lord more diligently so that I might not be left behind at the Advent of the Lord.

            I finished putting the genealogy for Stephanie Williams together and wrapped it in brown butcher paper to put it in the mail. I then spent much of the rest of the day paying bills and getting that all straight. I am awful at keeping track of my spending and I have another $160 in tuition coming up fast.

            I wrote to several states today for their vital records to send me the birth and death records of some of my relatives. I can’t do much more on these folks until I get more information.

            I went into work at 6 and worked until 10 by myself. My work isn’t hard at all just boring. There’s nothing in the news or letters in the mailbox. I just wish Mom would hurry up and send me that genealogy on the Johnsons and Pattons. I am just so keyed up over the prospects of getting it.

 

11 June 1975 Wednesday

I’ve been working a lot in my Doctrine and Covenants Study Guide because it is due this coming Monday. I need to get a better grade because I can’t afford not to pass this class if I hope to Graduate this August. So I worked on that mainly before attending class. Afterwards I went to the bank and pulled $250 out of my Savings to put in my checking account. The money sure goes down in a hurry,

            I was so excited that I finally received the packet containing the Johnson and Patton genealogy. After perusing it, I’d be thrilled if it’s all true but I’m very skeptical over it. Mom’s cousin said we are related to some wealthy Pattons from Virginia because he claimed we are related to General Patton from World War II and I just can hardly believe it as our people were basically hillbillies from Tennessee. I’m going to have to go over it with a fine tooth comb but it will be really neat if it is true.  Grandpa Johnson will be almost entirely of Scottish descent.

            My old roommate Ken Lewis dropped by to use the phone. We visited some and I guess he and Nancy are all moved into his house in Spanish Fork.

            My home teachers came by at 5 this afternoon but I ended up teaching them more than they did me. They wanted to know how to go about doing genealogy. Naturally I spent our whole time talking about the subject because I love it.

            I went into work from 6 to 10 and I am finding that I just don’t like it as I work alone and I am basically alone at home too. Well I will give it a month before I decide to look for something else.

            I received a note in the mail from Mike Allred saying not to forward anymore mail to him because he’s coming down this weekend to discuss with Meg Madsen about not staying over the summer.

 

12 June 1975 Thursday

In a sense this has been a fruitful day because of the information sent to me concerning Grandpa Johnson’s daddy, Luke Johnson. This morning I was up early so I could spend some time in the Harold B Lee Library before going to my Doctrine and Covenant Class. I was able to find Luke Johnson on the 1880 Census of Putnam County, Tennessee. Luke was an orphan so I didn’t find anything about his parents but I found his siblings. Luke was the youngest child of his mother who probably died shortly after he was born. She was married twice, first to James McHenry and secondly to Thomas Johnson. By her first husband she had James McHenry born 1853, John McHenry born 1857, and Octavia McHenry born 1861. By her second husband, she had Eliza Johnson born 1864, Penelope Johnson born 1865, and Luke Johnson born 1866.

            From the death certificate of Luke I found the names of his parents were Thomas and Millie Johnson. Luke Johnson married Pearlie Polina Elizabeth Patton the daughter of Frank Patton and Margaret Stone. That’s more than I ever knew before about my Mom’s side of the family.

            I stayed looking at microfilm in the library until 3 in the afternoon then came home and fixed some burritos for my supper. I had to go into work at 6 and worked until 10. The time went pretty fast for a change. When I came home after work I was too keyed up so I went out into the warm night air and jogged down to 300 South over to 1000 East than back up 900 East to get some exercise. I’ve got to start running again even as much as I hate it.

            Phil Stark and I aren’t getting along as roommates at all. It’s not as if we argue or fight but he’s so self centered that it’s hard to communicate with him. He acts like John Wagner did last year sometimes. There’s just this personality conflict between us.

            I am sure he thinks me a slob the way I leave my genealogy research around but I do try to keep it out of the way. Phil won’t help keep the apartment up. He won’t buy dish soap or ever empty the trash. Oh well.

            I am thinking about moving in with some other guys here at Fairmont if Mike Allred does not come back to live with me again. I’ll move from this apartment even though I have a room to myself but I am so lonesome and that is no way to live. Maybe Phil will go home and move out. Yeah! Shame on me.

Additional Material

I suspect that Phil Stark was a closeted homosexual dealing with his own issues and was put off by my religious fanaticism I used to deal with my homosexuality.

 

13 June 1975 Friday

Today was truly Friday the 13^th with nothing but bad luck happening. This morning I went up on campus to pick up my time card and to make good on 2 checks that bounced. One was for $2.10 and the over for $5. But they said I had to wait for the checks to come back and pay $5 each for the returned checks! That was outrageous so I went to the accounting department at First Security Bank to get my checking account straighten out. I transferred $25 into the account so that should cover everything.

            Then I went to Zion’s Bank to withdraw some money so I could buy new tires and shocks for the Pinto. On the way over I was stopped by the Provo Police for speeding. I was doing 38 miles in a 25 mile zone. There was no speed sign posted so I was really mad as it was a speed trap. Plus I got a ticket for not having a Utah Inspection sticker on my car! The guy said since I was a BYU student I had to have a Utah Inspection sticker. California never required a car inspection so how was I supposed to know I was supposed to get my car safety inspected in Utah? So anyway I received 2 tickets instead of one. I have to appear in court next week.

            Then I went over to Sears but they didn’t have the tires or shocks for my Pinto so since I was planning on going up to Salt Lake anyway, I went to the Sears there downtown and had two tires put on. They also didn’t have my shocks either so I had to order them in and have them put on later.

            I didn’t get my Pinto out of the tire shop until 3:30 this afternoon and then I went to the Genealogical Library on North Temple in the Church Office Building where I spent the rest of the day and evening trying to locate information on the Johnsons and Pattons in Putnam County, Tennessee. The only substantial find was some of Great Grandma’s family in the 1880 Census of White County. Her folks were listed as Benjamin Franklin Patton and Margurette Patton.

            When I came home from Salt Lake at 10 tonight Mike Allred was already at the apartment and we talked for a while. He’s leaving to go back to Afton tomorrow.

 

14 June 1975 Saturday

Mike Allred and I were both up early this morning talking about what is going on with us since it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. He said he just came down to collect his unemployment checks but they hadn’t come in yet.

            I went to the grocery store and bought some groceries to fix Mike and me some hamburgers for lunch. About 3 in the afternoon he left to go back to Wyoming. He said he wanted to be home for Father’s Day which is tomorrow.  He also said before leaving that he will probably come back down at the end of June to decide what he’s going to do for the rest of summer and into the Fall Term.

            After Mike left, I called Mom about what I was told about not qualifying for Food Stamps because I was considered a dependant and she said that Dad and she weren’t claiming me this year on taxes so the Food Stamps place must be really mixed up. I will have to go down this Monday and get it straighten out.

            Then another screw up happened when I received a notice in the mail that my June Rent check bounced. I know something is really screwy because I had put over $50 in the bank to cover that check. I’m really mad about it.

            I also received a letter from Grandma Williams today saying they are all fine. She also wrote that she would help me do some research for Grandma Bilberry by contacting her Aunt Ruth.

            At 4:30 this afternoon I left the apartment and went to the microfilm room in the Harold B Lee library on Campus. I looked in the 1870 censuses for Overton and White Counties of Tennessee. I was looking for the Johnson, McHenry, and Patton families but could not locate them there.

            Back home, I typed up my notes on the life story of Luke Johnson so that is something positive I suppose.

            It’s becoming more and more like summer. I really love it here in Provo but I am sad at being all alone. Phil Stark doesn’t count. I started running again about 8 city blocks all together. I hope to keep it up. I do it at the exact same time at 10 at night. It’s getting to be warm out at night.

Additional Material

"Sister Golden Hair"  by America is the number 1 song for the week.

 

15 June 1975 Sunday

I was up at 8 this morning because I had an interview at 9:30 before Priesthood to be called as a Home Teacher. Right afterwards the ward served sweet rolls and juice to both Relief Society and Priesthood before going to our respective meetings. Bro. Palmer, our High Council representaive from the Stake was present and I talked to him some. He sure is a great man  and an old-time Mormon.

            The lesson in Priesthood was on Temple attendance which is a  subject that really doesn’t affect me right now in my present state. I have to get prepared to go to the house of the Lord because I am so unworthy right now.

            After attending church, I came home and tried to call Grandma Johnson to wish her happy birthday which is tomorrow but I couldn’t get a hold of her. They must still be down at  Lake Stamford.

            I went into work at 6 this evening putting up chairs until 10.  It was just John Cannon and me tonight.  I have to finish my Doctrine and Covenants’ study guide tomorrow or else!

 

16 June 1975 Monday

Today is my Grandma Johnson’s 76^th birthday, I wrote her a long letter and included in it the life story of her parents Roderick and Mary Ellen Fenter McLeod and also the life story of Luke and Polina Patton Johnson. I also sent off a copy of the Johnson’s history I have found on Census records to Mom’s cousin Elmer Peters and to Grandpa Johnson’s sister Aunt Alice Lippard.

            It rained today when I went up to my Doctrine and Covenants class where I had to turn in my Study Guide that I finished this morning.

 

17 June 1975 Tuesday

It rained again today. I didn’t go to my Doctrine and Covenants class but rather I stayed in the library today going through the various census records of Overton, Putnam, and White Counties in Tennessee.

 

18 June 1975 Wednesday

I took my Doctrine and Covenants class’ final today.  At work this evening, the guys in charge of doing Freshman Orientation this Friday needed an extra body for a picture they wanted to take showing college life so I was asked if I would pose like a registrar. I almost feel like going to Freshman Orientation just to see my picture. Ha!

Additional Material

The Advocate Magazine, beginning with issue 166 of 18 June 1975 called “Mormons Show Fear“, published three articles about the BYU purge.

• Disco Diva, Gloria Gaynor appeared at The Sun Tavern 3 years before her break out song I Will Survive becomes a mega hit.

 

19 June 1975 Thursday

In my Doctrine and Covenants class I received my Study Guide back and we graded our midterms. Today was the last day of the Spring Term and since I don’t have to register for the Summer Term this weekend, it’s hard to believe school will start again this coming Monday.

Additional Material

I received a B- in my Doctrine and Covenant Class with a term grade point average of  2.70 which cleared me for Graduation in August.

 

20 June 1975 Friday

I had an appointment at the Food Stamps office to determine my eligibility but since they said I made $235 a month and the limit is $215 for a single person, they said I didn’t qualify. The lady there said to come back in the fall when rent and tuition goes back up and then I’d probably qualify.

            Right afterwards I drove up to Salt Lake City to work on my genealogy at the church’s library. I’ve been concentrating mostly on Grandpa Johnson’s side of the family for now because I know the least about them. However I think I’ve gone as far back as I can for the time being. At least I’ve found out more about Mom’s side of the family than I have in years.  So I think the bulk of my genealogical work is done. Now it will be a little by little process, gleaning what I can. My children will have to go back and document all that I have done but at least the original sources are recorded. If my grandparents had passed away before beginning this work, I couldn’t have had nearly as much information  that I do have.  I only stayed at the library until 6 this evening before driving home to Provo. My TV is on the blink again. I think something is wrong with the aerial. I so wanted to watch The Boyfriend so I drove up to Deseret Towers and watched it on their TV in the commons area.

            While at Deseret Towers I began talking to this nice girl for awhile. She’s been on my mind a lot but I didn’t know who she is or where she lives. I think I’d like to go out with her on Saturday.

Additional Material

The Boy Friend is a 1971 British-American musical comedy film directed by Ken Russell and starring Twiggy, Christopher Gable, Tommy Tune, and Max Adrian with an uncredited appearance by Glenda Jackson. It is an adaptation of the musical The Boy Friend by Sandy Wilson.

• Universal Pictures released Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Peter Benchley's bestseller Jaws.  It is considered to be the first modern summer blockbuster.  

 

21 June 1975 Saturday

I spent much of the day cleaning up the apartment this first official day of summer. I did go shopping today and bought a roast. I don’t know what for because it is way too big for me to eat by myself. I am not getting along that well with Phil Stark to ask him. It’s a personality clash.

Additional Material

"Love Will Keep Us Together"  by Captain    & Tennille  was the number  1 hit for 3 weeks on the radio,

• Lovers Billie Hayes and Dorothy Makin appeared on Joe Redburn’s KUER FM radio show to present information on the newly formed Gay Community Service Center.

 

22 June 1975 Sunday

I didn’t attend any of my meetings today. I went into work at the Wilkinson Center at 6 this evening and worked with John Cannon and Jesse Judd. I heard that Raoul Brasil quit school. I’m just now starting to really getting to open up with these guys and I really like working with them. However I still don’t like working by myself during the rest of the week.

            When I came home after 10, I finished typing up the family histories of the Johnsons, McHenrys, Pattons, and Stones. I didn’t get to bed until 2 in the morning and Monday is the first day of Summer Term.

 

23 June 1975 Monday

I added a class to my schedule today. It’s Dr. Mabey’s Political Systems of the USSR and I really like it. It’s from noon to 2 Monday, Tuesday Wednesday, and Friday in the MARB.  I already have to be a part of a panel report on Yugoslavia. I think I will add a genealogy class tomorrow and take Political Science 150 by home Study. It was a beautiful warm summer day. I went into work at 6 and worked my 4 hour shift. Tomorrow is payday.

Additional Material

I did not take political science 150 until the Fall Term. I just carried two classes of 6 units, British Research and Political Systems of  the USSR

 

24 June 1975 Tuesday

I was up at 9 this morning to be up on campus by 10 to see if I could get into a genealogy class and I was able to add Essentials in Researching Wales and England  taught by Bro. Pratt. He said it was okay for me to take the class. It meets from 10 to noon also Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, in the MARB building right before my Political Science class.

            This morning before going to Bro. Pratt’s class, I picked up my Activity Card sticker. After class I went and bought my textbooks and picked up my paycheck. I cleared $58. Afterwards I came home and studied some.

            Meg Madsen, the Fairmount’s manager, came by to give me the Master Key to the apartments while she and her husband Steve are gone for the weekend. We have become friends and she knows I can be trusted. When she returns this Monday, I’m moving out of apartment 10 into apartment 7 to get away from Phil Stark. I will stay there for the Fall Term also.

            I went into work at 6 and when I came home after 10, I baked a cherry pie from the bottle of cherries that Meg gave me.. I gave Meg a jar of apple butter I made from Grandma Williams’ recipe.             Cherries will be coming into season soon and I’ll have to do some canning.

            It was a warm summer night. Tomorrow is my sister Donna’s 26^th birthday. My, we are getting old!. Charline is 28 now, Donna will be 26, and I’m 24! Me! I thought I was 19 just yesterday and when I was 19 I thought I was “it”! I need to get married before I become an old man set in my ways.

 

25 June 1975 Wednesday

I went to both my British Research Genealogy and my USSR Political Science classes. I am still eating sandwiches from the Roast Beef I bought last week. I’ve been eating on that mainly.

            My TV hardly works anymore and I am so disgusted with Provo businessmen for want a fortune to fix it.

 

26 June 1975 Thursday

I don’t have any classes on Thursday. So I took my car to Sears and had them put new shocks on my front tires. I did all my laundry up while they were working on the Pinto. When they were through, I went downtown to Penny’s Department Store and bought 3 new shirts and a pair of corduroys. I also bought some houseplants again to replace the ones that died when I went home last November and no one took care of them.

            Meg and Steve Madsen, the Fairmount Apartment managers, are leaving again to attend a Student Executive Council Retreat in Rexburg. They have asked me again to keep the Master Key so as to let in anyone who might lock themselves out of their apartments.

            I went to work from 6 to 10 and when I came home I phoned my sister Donna to wish her a happy birthday because I forgot to do it yesterday.  I also went over to Deseret Towers and asked Karen Paul, the girl I met last Friday out on a date tomorrow. She said she’d go. The days are cool for late June and not as warm as they should be.

 

27 June 1975 Friday

It was really warm today and I spent much of the day after coming home from class getting some odds and ends taken care of.  I had to show up in Court today to pay for my speeding ticket. That was $25 that I don’t have, but the judge reduced it to $15 and dismissed the inspection sticker ticket because I had the Pinto inspected at Sears.

In the evening I went to Deseret Towers to pick up Karen Paul for our date. We went to see The Wizard of Oz on campus. After the show we went to the Cougareat where I bought her a drink. I took her home by 10:30. Karen is a nice girl but I don’t think we hit it off.

 

28 June 1975 Saturday

I went up on campus to look through the 1880 Census in the Microfilm room of the library. There I found both Grandpas Samuel Patton and William Stone were still alive and living in the county. They were Grandma Polina Patton Johnson’s grandfathers. In the evening I just watched TV  some of “Moses the Lawgiver” with Burt Lancaster playing Moses

 

29 June 1975 Sunday

I was up at 9 to get ready for Priesthood. The lesson this week was on planning and organizing your time. I don’t get much out of these types of messages. Afterwards was Sunday School which had a 4^th of July theme. I went to the genealogy class that Gordon Cain taught this week since Tom Perry has left school for the summer.

            Then I came home after church and fixed me a little supper. It was so warm in the apartment I decided to take a little nap before going into work. I worked with red headed John Cannon as I always do on Sundays.

Additional Material

A Lesbian Sunstone Picnic was held in Salt Lake City with a $3.00 donation that included food and beer.  The Sunstones were a softball team composed of Gay women who played in two leagues. The Donations were used as a fund raiser funds for jackets and to attend out of state tournaments.

 

30 June 1975 Monday

I attended my Genealogy class this morning but didn’t stay on campus for my political science class. Instead I came home and fixed me some lunch when surprisingly Mike Allred came in. It sure was good to see him. We talked for a while and then he went down to the food stamp office to see if he was qualified but he was disqualified like me because he barely made too much money.

            We ate some supper then I had to go into work but hated to leave him. When I came home a little after 10, Mike was in bed already so we didn’t get to talk at all so I just went to sleep, glad that he’s here.  My favorite song out right now is 10cc “I’m Not in Love.”