JULY 1975
I
lived alone for most of July as my one roommate Philip Stark was gone most of
the time as a salesman for the summer while he was off from being a school
teacher. When he did stay at the apartment he was abrupt with me and very
standoffish. I actually think he
probably had homosexual tendencies that were triggered by me being so
“domestic”.
The Fairmount Square apartments were
mostly vacant during the Summer term and as I could not attend Church socials,
that were usually held in the evenings, when I had to work, I never made any
new friends. I was very lonely in Provo
with Mike Allred having left for home after I had tried to seduce him.
However I began to become close
friends with a couple named Steve and Meg Madsen. Meg was the manager of the
Fairmount Square apartments and she had two small children Steven and Hilary
who I often tended for her. We became close because she was lonely too having
no family or close friends in Utah to whom she could confide in me with her domestic
issues with Steve.
They were both LDS church members
from Florida where they were progressive Democrats and not your typical Utah
Mormons. They were smart and political and yet faithful to church doctrine.
They were the kind of Mormon I wanted to be as my fanaticism in the belief of
the infallibility of church leaders was fading away.
As I was living alone with no one
observing my every moment, I discovered that certain Provo parks like Exchange
Park had isolated spots where local homosexuals cruised.
1
July 1975 Tuesday
This
is the beginning of the 2nd half of the year and I pray to God that
it will be better than what last year was. The Fairmount managers, Meg and
Steve Madsen came down with food poisoning from meat they ate yesterday. They
were so sick that Mike Allred and I helped them some by babysitting their kids
Steven and Hillary.
I paid rent today and made good last
month’s rent check that bounced. Mike checked out of his Summer Term contract
but signed a contract to live here in the Fall. That was surprising but made my
heart glad.
I went out and withdrew my savings
account from Zion’s Bank this afternoon and transferred money over to Deseret
Savings and Loans because they pay a higher interest and I don’t care for how
Zion’s treated me.
Mike stayed until 5:30 this
afternoon to visit with me about life in general. Then I had to go into work
and he left to drive back to Afton, Wyoming.
I worked from 6 to 10 again and when
I came home I checked on the roast I had just bought last Saturday and it was
spoiled already! It’s probably why the Madsen’s got sick also. I called
Albertson’s up to see what they were going to do about it and the store said
they’d replace it. Good! I can’t afford to throw food away.
It was a warm, almost muggy summer
night. Provo is getting ready for the 4th of July Parade downtown.
Everything is red, white, and blue.
2
July 1975 Wednesday
I
went to both my classes today. It makes for a long block on time. I finished
reading “Message From Moscow by an Observer” for my political science class and
It was quite good. I went into work and did my 4 hour shift.
Additional
Material
Message
from Moscow was a series of observations on Soviet-era Russia by an anonymous
westerner who spent three years in Moscow as a student, beginning with his
reaction to the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia and the varying degrees of
apathy displayed by most of the masses and going on to discuss the life and
struggles of the intellectual in Soviet times.
- A volunteer In service training for
Crisis Intervention was held at the Gay Community Service Center in Salt
Lake.
3 July 1975 Thursday
I
turned in my Fall pre-registration at the Registrar’s Office on campus then
took my TV down to Sears for them to give me an estimate on the cost of
repairing it. Since Phil Stark has been gone all this week, it’s really lonely around the place
and I need a form of amusement to keep out of trouble. I worked from 6 until 10
cleaning the rooms on the lower floor of the Wilkinson Center.
4
July 1975 Friday
Today was really a neat day. This
morning Mom called at 8:30 to see how I am doing. She said she hadn’t heard
from me in a while. She also said that Dad would be going into the hospital at
the end of the month for an operation on his stomach ulcers. I guess they have
been flaring up and giving him terrible troubles.
Since I was up because of Mom
calling, I decided to finish getting dress and go watch Provo’s 4th
of July Parade. It’s one the biggest 4th of July Parades in America.
I walked over to 700 East on Center Street and sat under a nice shade tree. I
was able to see all of the parade from there.
Afterwards back at Fairmont Square I
was talking with Meg Madsen and she invited me to go with her family for a
picnic and to see the fireworks this evening. I said sure.
In the afternoon I took a hose and
washed the Pinto in the parking lot, then went to the store to buy some potato
chips and strawberries. I then made a Carrot and raisin salad, and a Strawberry
Shortcake to bring to the picnic.
We didn’t go out to a park
overlooking Provo until 7:30 in the evening to have the picnic. While it had been hot all day when we decided
to eat right them a summer shower blew in and started to rain on us. Steve and
I moved the picnic table beneath a tree and we were just fine to eat.
Afterwards we watched the fireworks
and sky rockets being shot off from the
BYU Football Stadium. After they were over we played with sparklers the Madsens
had brought until we left for home at 10
at night.
Meg was just exhausted and went to
bed because she had been moving all day into the apartment that faces 900 East
out front. Steve and I however stayed up and
talked way into the morning about the Gospel. I didn’t get to bed myself until 2 in the morning.
I found out a bit more about the
Madsens. Steve is a member of his married Branch’s Presidency and is working on
a degree so he can get into law school. Meg and Steve are from Jacksonville Florida
where Steve’s family knew President Harold B Lee quite well. His dad is the
U.S. District Attorney there. In fact Steve said that when President Lee was an
Apostle he called Steve’s younger brother back to life after he had died in a
hospital. Steve is a great guy and visiting with him was a neat experience.
Additional
Material
The
Rusty Bell located at 996 South and
Redwood Road in Salt Lake City opens. Owners are Paul Douglas, Mack Hunt, and
Jim Beveridge.
- Stephen Richard Madsen 1946 ~ 2007
Stephen Richard Madsen, beloved father, son, brother, uncle, friend, and
counselor of law passed peacefully away on the afternoon of Wednesday the
21st of November, 2007 after patiently and persistently battling many physical
afflictions while in long term care. Stephen was born April 9th, 1946 to
E. Coleman and Marion Madsen in Jacksonville, Florida. He excelled in both
sports and academics during his days at Hialeah High School. Stephen loved
animals and exploring the Florida Everglades during his youth. Stephen
married Mae Margaret Evans on June 7th, 1968 in Miami, Florida. The
marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple in 1969. He divorced
in 1997. Stephen Madsen received his Bachelor of Science in 1976 from
Brigham Young University and went on to receive his Doctor of Law from J.
Reuben Clark Law School in 1978. Stephen was an active member of the
American Bar Association and was a charter member of the first American
Inn of Courts. Additionally, he was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court,
the Utah Supreme Court and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Stephen
retired from practicing law in 1993. Stephen was a man who lived through
his example. He was an empathic lawyer who often counseled and represented
people who often could not afford to pay him. He was a man who would
always stop to help someone on the side of the road and a compassionate
listener who never made you feel less of a person for your woes or faults.
He taught his children about equality, justice, and the value of love and
kindness. He is survived by his children Stephen Richard II, Hilary,
Amanda, Nathan and Seth Madsen, his mother Marion Madsen, his siblings
David, Michael, John, Henry, Mark, and Trinka, and his grandchildren Emma,
Sophia, and Ian. He is preceded in death by his father, E. Coleman Madsen.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007 at Olpin-Hoopes
Mortuary in Heber at 11:00 a.m. The viewing will begin at 10:00 a.m. and
interment will take place in Midway, Utah following the services. A
special appreciation and thanks to South Davis Community Hospital for
their loving care of our father over the years. Published in Salt Lake
Tribune on Nov. 27, 2007
5
July 1975 Saturday
It
was another hot day up in the high 90’s. Provo is so beautiful in the Summer. I
wish I knew more people to share it with.
I bought a new color TV today to replace
the old black and white that Sears wanted $60 to fix. I said forget it and went
to K-Mart where I bought a Panasonic for $104.
I then did up most of my washing up
today. Some guy left a pair of his garments in the laundry room. I decided to type up some of earliest memories
of my life story for most of the afternoon.
Phil Stark came back today and
probably will stay here until Tuesday. He’s already taken over my television
set watching whatever he wants. I feel like charging him to watch it except
that it would be most unchristian like.
I received a letter from my Aunt Minnie
Williams and I wrote Mike Allred in which I sent him his unemployment check
that came today.
Tomorrow is Fast and Testimony
Sunday and I will finally be able to attend Sacrament again since we will meet
before I have to go into work. The 9th of July is coming up fast
again. How quick I am to forget the covenants and promises I made to serve the
Lord and not the flesh.
Additional
Material
I
took the pair of garments home and actually tried them on to see how they felt
after seeing so many of my roommates wearing them, I was curious. You are never
suppose wear them until having endowments taken out in an LDS Temple so this
was evidence of my growing disillusion in all the rules and regulations that
burdened us. Also I think garments were a type of fetish for me after seeing
them worn by young Mormon men in the locker rooms at BYU and seeing Mike Allred
in them all the time we slept in the same room.
6
July 1975 Sunday
I
was able to attend Sacrament because it is Fast and Testimony Sunday. During
Sunday School, LaMar Perkins, our 2nd Counselor to President
Thompson called me to the position of Assistant Executive Secretary. I am
tasked with finding out each week who is new in the Branch.
During the Testimonial Meeting, I
bore my testimony. I had to go into work at 6 and I worked until 10 with John
Cannon the red head. Our supervisor Jesse
Judd went to the 12 Stake Fireside so he left us to put up chairs by
ourselves. I like John a lot. He’s a
cool guy and fun to be with.
7
July 1975 Monday
It
was a strange day. I attended both my classes and then came home at 2 in the
afternoon to eat and rest before going into work. There was a bad spirit about
me for most of the day tempting me to sin but by the time I retired to bed the
Lord had sufficiently chastised me to remember the Covenants I made at my Baptism to serve him with all my heart. I have been
heartsick over the fact that I’d been so long without my Savior’s spirit with
me.
Additional
Material
Actually
I was heartsick with Michael Allred gone and having no one to love in my life.
8
July 1975 Tuesday
I
fasted all day to bring my heart closer to the Lord and humble my spirit before
him so that I can have control over my sinful nature. I’ve been typing up my
unremarkable life story because we are admonished to keep a record which I have
done more or less since 1968 anyway.
I helped Meg and Steve Madsen move
furniture into their new apartment. After that I felt very weak especially while
at work. It seems all my strength was completely gone which made me realize how
I am dependant of the Lord and all that I have comes from him.
9
July 1975 Wednesday
I
continued fasting today to purge my soul of sin so I can feel the sweet deposition
that comes from drawing close to the Lord. I reread my Patriarchal Blessing and
my earlier journals to put my journey through life into perspective. O how I
love the Lord but I have grown hard in my heart and haughty after John Wagner
and Jodie Clark broke my heart last year. I’ve hardened it as not to be hurt
again but I must learn to soften it even if it breaks again because a broken
heart is so much more acceptable than a hardened one before the Lord. Jesus
Christ died of a broken heart on the cross from the world’s rejection of him.
When I went into work I picked up my
paycheck and I cleared $83.60. At home I wrote a check and put it in the
Tithing Envelope. I will put $30 in my checking account but the rest needs to
go into my savings to pay for tuition in the fall.
10
July 1975 Thursday
I
wonder if I was conceived on the night of July 10th or 9th
in 1950 and that is why this day has always been significant to me. I was called in by the Branch Presidency to
teach the genealogy class in Sunday School. I am really excited about it
because the Lord must be okay with me to give me this calling. I helped Meg and
Steve Madsen move some more again before going into work. I broke my fast when Meg invited me to lunch
in their new place.
11
July 1975 Friday
I
spent most of the day cleaning up the apartment by vacuuming, mopping floors,
doing the dishes and taking out the trash. It is easy to let yourself and
things go when you are living basically alone.
I saw an ad in the Daily Universe
that the original uncut version of King Kong was being shown in the lounge
area. It’s my all time favorite movie but have only seen in on TV before never
on a movie screen and never the uncut version. I went by myself and it was so
good. There weren’t very many of us
there to see it; just die hards like me.
12
July 1975 Saturday
I
went grocery shopping today this morning and in the evening Mom called to say
that Dad had his operation on his ulcers and had part of his stomach taken
out. She said Grandma and Grandpa
Johnson are out in Garden Grove staying with her while Dad is in the hospital.
I listened to the top 30 hits on the
Radio this evening. My favorite songs right now is Judy Collin’s Send In the
Clowns, Joan Baez’s Diamonds and Rust, and Gwen McRae’s Rocking Chair.
I am so melancholy for my absent or
long gone friends like John Cunningham, Kent Larsen, Ralph Ludders, Jim Dalton,
Bill Hall, Wayne Tuck, Darwin Ross, Elbert Peck and of course Mike Allred. I
have no friends here this summer and am so lonesome. Some of it’s due to
working evenings because I can’t attend Family Home Evenings or MIA
activities. I only work with others on
Sunday and I don’t think John Cannon is interested in becoming friends with me outside
of work.
13
July 1975 Sunday
I
was up at 9 this morning to get ready for church as that Priesthood starts at
10:15. Yesterday it had rained all day
but it’s cleared up and pretty now. I taught the genealogy Sunday School Class
for the first time today and I think I
did a good job because I had the Spirit
of Elijah with me. I sure do enjoy teaching.
When I came home from Church , Phil
Stark was there watching TV. He sure is
strange but then look who’s talking. I don’t like having the TV on while it’s
the Sabbath so I took a nap on the couch after reading from James Tallmadge’s
Articles of Faith. I fell really a sleep so I missed the General Stake
Priesthood meeting that was at 2:30 in the afternoon. Phil won’t attend church
here if he does anywhere, so he didn’t get me up. In fact I slept until 4
before waking up. It was a very warm day and maybe that is why I was so drowsy.
I went into work at 6 and worked
with John Cannon the redhead and my supervisor Jesse Judd. John and I work well
together but because Jesse is an older married guy he doesn’t goof around like
we do but we still get it done.
There’s only 5 more weeks of the
Summer Term. That seems strange. It’s been a long hot lonely summer but in some
ways the time is flying by. My having gone home with Mike Allred and our trip
to San Diego seems like years ago instead of just two months. So much has
changed.
In the news the Russian Cosmonauts
and American Astronauts are getting ready to hook up in space . I wouldn’t
trust the Russians anymore than I could throw Henry Kissinger.
Additional
Material
The Apollo–Soyuz Test Project, conducted in July 1975, was the
first joint U.S.–Soviet space flight, as a symbol of the policy of détente that
the two superpowers were pursuing at the time. It involved the docking of an
Apollo command and service module and the Soviet Soyuz 19 capsule.
14
July 1975 Monday
I
went to my 10 in the morning Genealogy class but not my noon Political Science
class because I had a really bad
headache. In fact I’ve had it all day
but was able to make it to one class.
It’s been raining for most of the day. The humidity has been in the 80
percent and I’s been really muggy and yucky.
I received a letter from Mike Allred
today. It wasn’t much of a letter more of a short note that didn’t say
much. I still think a lot of Mike but I
am tired of caring so much on this one-sided friendship even if the breach this
time was my own fault.
Phil Stark left again to go selling
on his Summer Job . Bye Bye. He gets on my nerves. Gee I am cranky today. I am
in a nasty foul mood.
I went into work at 6 and stayed
until 10 even though my head is just splitting and my bones seem to ache from
all the humidity in the air. The
director of the Lamanite Generation was singing at the top of her lungs over
and over the song “I’ve Been Everywhere Man” then rattled off all the places
she had her group had toured. I thought it was comical but sure she was so
serious.
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Material
I
couldn’t even admit how much I was lovesick over Mike Allred and of course the
“breach” was the incident in California where I let my passion for him overcome
my self control.
15
July 1975 Tuesday
Only
thing I did today was go into work
16
July 1975 Wednesday
I
went to my genealogy class and learned how to access the British Census
records. I like the class but it’s not very useful for me because all of my
ancestors came to America before the Revolutionary War. The more I am learning about the USSR the
more distrustful I am of their communist system which isn’t about equality anymore
but just favoring the party elite.
I get my work done so fast anymore
that I just kind of explore the different floors of the Wilkinson Center. The
place almost seems deserted because it’s the summer term and most kids go home.
Additional
Material
It
was during this time that I found that certain men’s rooms had Gay soliciting graffiti.
The men’s room on the main floor next to the Varsity Theater was especially
active. I was young, it was a hot
summer, and I was 24 and horny and lonely.
17
July 1975 Thursday
All
that is in the News is the Russians and Americans hooking up in Space. It was hot today nearly 95 degrees.
18
July 1975 Friday
I
come home and lie in bed listening KEYY radio in the dark. These are my
favorite songs right now that I really like.
Listen
to What the Man Said by Paul McCartney
and Wings,
The
Hustle by Van McCoy,
I’m
Not in Love by 10 c.c..
Magic
by Pilot.
Love
Will Keep Us Together by Captain and Tennille,
Rockin
Chair Gwen McCrae,
Why
Can’t We Be Friends by War,
Wildfire
by Michael Murphy,
Seventeen
by Janis Ian and
Fallin’
In Love by Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds.
19
July 1975 Saturday
I
helped Meg and Steve Madsen moved the rest of their furniture into Apartment 1.
Steve’s father was in Utah and was at the apartment visiting. I found out that Steve’s
father Coleman Madsen is a Regional Representative for Florida and an attorney
down there. They asked me to go to
dinner with them at the El Azteca Restaurant here in Provo and they paid for my
dinner I guess for all the help I’ve been. I spend a lot of time with the
Madsens because they are special people and Democrats like me.
I haven’t dated since I asked out Karen
Paul. I need to get on the ball again. Even Meg said so. There’s this one girl I home teach named Kamie
Springer that I am thinking about asking out on a date.
Additional
Material
"Listen
to What the Man Said" by Paul McCarthy and Wings is the number 1 song for
the Week.
20
July 1975 Sunday
I
was finally sustained today in Sacrament as the Genealogy Sunday School Teacher
and Genealogy examiner. I am still a Home Teacher and an Assistant
Executive Secretary so I am still trying to remain active in the 43rd
Branch. Phil Stark has been gone weeks at a time so I’ve been here a lot by
myself this summer. In some ways it’s been good for me as I’ve had more time
for introspection and evaluating who I am. What do I want out of life? Who do I
want to be? Things seem so different then 3 or 4 years ago when John Cunningham
and I were friends. The passing of time
certainly makes a difference in one’s life. I am no longer a Southern
California boy but now a Mormon living in Utah. It seems all my friends have
gotten married except Mike Allred and me. I do want to settle down and find a
wife I can truly love but that is such a big step and it’s got to be right and
not just because I am expected to marry.
21
July 1975 Monday
I
haven’t heard from Mom in a while. I guess no news is good news
22
July 1975 Tuesday
Mom
wrote and she said Dad was still in the hospital although Grandma and Grandpa
Johnson left and went back home to Texas.
I guess both sets of Grandparents Williams and Johnson stayed with Mom
for two weeks. She said Grandpa Johnson and Williams played checkers and
dominoes all the time.
Mom sounded tired and said she will
be happy when Dad comes home. She also said that my Uncle R.L. Williams also
had an operation but for gall bladder troubles.
My nephew James Clark Wachs started school next Monday already.
23
July 1975 Wednesday
I
was paid today and cleared $84. I put $25 into my checking account to pay my
phone bill and deposited $34 into my Savings account at Deseret Savings. I
spent $10 putting gas in the Pinto, another $10 on groceries, and I went and
bought some acrylic paints to start painting again. I feel like my creativity
has dried up.
I’ve been in a bad habit lately of just
coming home from work and watching TV until 1 in the morning. Then it’s murder
then get up in the morning for class.
This fall I have to take some 8 in the morning classes so I have to
starting getting to bed earlier so I can get used to it again. I am not a
morning person.
24
July 1975 Thursday
Today
is Pioneer Day and I went to the Scera Theater in Orem with the Madsens and
their kids. We saw two Walt Disney Movies, Cinderella and One of Our Dinosaurs
is Missing. Both of them were good.
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Material
In
Salt Lake the Gays of ‘47 and Pioneer Picnic was held at the Maple Cove
Campground in Mill Creek Canyon as a fund raiser for the Gay Community Center.
25
July 1975 Friday
In
the news they say 200,000 people watched the Days of ‘47 Parade in Salt Lake
City which is supposed to be the 3rd largest parade in the United
States. Steve Madsen said that some people actually sleep on the street overnight
just to have a good spot to watch the parade.
Also The Astronauts splashed down safely
in the Pacific after having docked with the Russians. It’s the end of the
Apollo Era.
Additional
Material
The
following is from 25 July 1975 found on page 14 A in the Ogden Standard
Examiner EQUALITY AT THE END 200,000 Lined Up for Salt Lake Parade SLC (UPI)
More than 200,000 persons lined the two mile route Thursday to watch the annual
Days of '47 Parade, the third largest parade in the United States. Commemorating
the 128th anniversary of the arrival of Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake
Valley, the parade boasted 149 entries this year, including the controversial
float originally entered by Utah's Equal Rights Coalition. END of LINE The float later sponsored by the Young Women
Christian Association was near the end of the line- entrant 138. The goals of
the International Women's Year 1975 were emblazoned on the float-
"Development-Equality-Peace." The parade committee at first refused
to enter the YWCA float until the controversial word "equality" was
dropped. The YMCA and ERC said they both planned to go to court over leaving
the word on the float. The committee reversed itself earlier this month. The
float was tucked in between a Job's Daughters drill team and a marching band
from a local amusement park. The other major problem in getting the parade off
the starting line was finding 13 convertibles for such dignitaries as Rampton,
the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and political
officials.
26
July 1975 Saturday
I
started moving a lot of my household goods over to apartment 2 next to the
Madsen’s facing the street. I will have a lot more sunshine and not be looking
at a parking lot.
Additional
Material.
"The
Hustle" by Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony is number 1 for the week
27
July 1975 Sunday
I
discovered I lost my driver’s license some place. It must have fallen out of my
wallet! Ugh!
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Material
My
wallet probably fell out of my pants pocket while cruising in a men’s room
stall.
- The Metropolitan Community Church
of Salt Lake City interviewed Rev.
Candy Naisbett and Rev. Alice Jones for the position of co-pastorate.
28
July 1975 Monday
Meg
and Steve Madsen invited me over for dinner and to join them in Family Home
Evening. I sure like Steve and Meg. There couldn’t be finer people then they
are. I just love them both. They have been so good to me this summer when I’ve
been so alone and lonely. They also let
me choose which I apartment I wanted to move into for the fall.
29
July 1975 Tuesday
I
was up at 9 this morning after having gone to bed so late. I need to be up so I
could go cherry picking with Meg Madsen. She drove us out to Orem at 10:30 we
thought before it gets hot but while there a storm blew in and it rained cats
and dogs so we went back home.
We tried again when it cleared up
and went back out at 12:30 in the afternoon and we picked 38 pounds of Bing and
Lambert cherries so we can bottle them at 12 and 15 cents a pound. It was wet and muddy in the cherry orchards
but it was fun being with Meg.
Afterwards I spent much of the rest
of the afternoon at Meg and Steve’s place pitting the cherries and sterilizing
bottles in boiling water before leaving to go up on campus. I went to see about
if I’m still being cleared for graduation and evidently everything is looking
fine.
I went into work at 6 and by
coincidence I found my driver’s license finally. I must have lost it in the
photography studio somehow because I found it in the trash can there!
It’s been a funny day. It’s raining
right now.
30
July 1975 Wednesday
I
didn’t go to classes today but rather stayed home and studied out of my text
books. I’m a little behind in school right now but in just 2 more weeks it will
all be over after this week. It sure has gone fast.
I wrote Mike Allred a letter today with
some news although not much is going on. I just am missing him. This afternoon
Meg Madsen asked if I’d watch the kids while she attended a Relief Society
Meeting. I said sure. I love Meg and
Steve’s 2 kids but they can’t take the place in my heart of James, Denise, and
Michael.
I made cookies for the Branch Party
tomorrow like I said I would even though it’s at night and I won’t be able to
attend.
I haven’t gotten a letter from
anyone in a long time. I feel forgotten. I
went into work at 6, did my 4 hour shift and came home at 10. While at work Meg
and Steve had come up to the Cougareat to eat dinner and they dropped by to say
hi. It was a real slow night with hardly anyone on campus. I was so glad to get
off work.
Meg said she’d help me make some
throw pillows for the front room by sewing up some of the material I brought
home yesterday discarded in the Lamanite Generation room.
I don’t know where my money is
going. I only have $333 in my savings and on Friday I will have to pay $33 for Augusts’
rent. I won’t get paid again until August 9th and soon Fall Tuition
will be coming up and that’s $360 right there. I just need to budget my money
better I suppose. The 29th of August is Freshman Orientation and my
picture will be in the presentation. I should go see it for a lark.
July is almost over. I sure like
July in Provo, heat and all.
In the News Jimmy Hoffa President of
the Teamsters has gone missing in Detroit. No one can locate him.
31
July 1975 Thursday
I spent some of the morning studying and also cleaning up
the place. In the afternoon before heading for work on campus I made 4 pints of
cherry jam. It sure took a lot of sugar, nearly 7 cups.
Today is my
sister Charline Wachs’ 5th Wedding Anniversary. I wrote Mom a letter
today instead of calling because my phone bill has kind of been high. It’s been
kind of cool today for the last couple of days at the end of July. I’m afraid
Summer is coming to a close early.
AUGUST 1975
Much of my 1975 summer in Provo was
monotonous, with no roommates to speak of, and no Family Home Evening Group to
attend for a social life. I had very little money to do anything especially
like dating which I wasn’t really inclined to do anyway. I was meeting my young sexual urges on the few
occasions I would cruise on campus. I felt guilty afterwards for not
controlling these urges but for most of the time that summer I was extremely
lonely and growing disenchanted with the allure of BYU especially not having
Mike Allred as my roommate and companion.. I also was quickly becoming aware
that BYU was a secular institution with a façade of religious spirituality. That
the institution was more concerned with indoctrinating than educating. I began
to feel that I was not truly apart of the campus community any longer. So again
I became really lax in keeping up a journal in August consequently that when
important events occurred like finally graduating I barely noted them.
1
August 1975 Friday
Well
July is over and here it’s August already. I didn’t do much in the day time.
Phil Stark asked if he could stay as he didn’t have a place to sleep and didn’t
want to pay rent for August for just a few days. I said sure.
In the evening the Madsen’s had me over
to play Monopoly with them. We played until two in the morning. It’s funny to
watch Meg get so made at Steve when he wins by calling him a cheater. After Meg
went to bed, Steve and I stayed up discussing the mysteries of the Gospel until
5:30 in the morning. I haven’t been this intellectually stimulated since my
days at Cypress College. But ugh!
2
August 1975 Saturday
I
didn’t get up until 1 in the afternoon after staying up so late. I was so
zonked out. In the evening I became real feverish and had a chill. I think I
might be coming down with the flu or a summer cold. I really felt rotten that I
went to bed early and that helped although Phil Stark was playing his music so
loud in his room it was hard to fall asleep.
Additional
Material
"One
of These Nights" by the Eagles was the number 1 song.
- The Sun Tavern held its first
“Groovy Guy Contest”. Kirt Humphrey
won the $50 first prize.
3
August 1975 Sunday
Today
was a blessed and special day for me. I was up at 9 to attend my church
meetings as I was less feverish and didn’t have the chills so I felt that I was
able to attend Priesthood and Sunday School. In Priesthood I sat with Steve
Zobell and we were able to contact some new move ins into the Branch.
During Sunday School, Ed Ham forgot to announce my class so hardly
anyone showed up for Genealogy, but
during Fast and Testimony I was able to
pass the Sacrament which I haven’t for
weeks. I bore my testimony and acknowledge how grateful I am to Heavenly
Father for taking care of Dad and seeing
him through his operation.
After Sacrament President Paul
Thompson called me to his office and interviewed me to advance to a Priest in
the Aaronic Priesthood after all this time. So next week he will submit my name
to be a Priest. Then the following Sunday I will be set apart.
President Thompson also wants me to
work towards the goal of preparing myself to receive the Melchizedec Priesthood
within 2 months by the next Stake Conference. I was so happy that President
Thompson cared enough about me to get the ball rolling. Who would want to marry
me without first being an Elder. Certainly no one at BYU.
In the late afternoon Kent and Tanya
Robinson, this married couple here at Fairmount, came over to see if I had the
Master Keys because they had locked themselves out of their apartment. That is
one of the bad things about being here is that the doors automatic lock behind
you when you step outside so you always have to have your keys with you.
They had tried to get a hold of the
Madsen who were away. They finally did get in and I went to work at 6 this
evening. Today is John Cannon’s last day. I will miss him a lot. He was so much
fun to work with.
Additional
Material
There
was absolutely no reason for me to have had to wait over three years to be made
a Priest. As I was 21 when I was interviewed by Bishop Juchau of the Garden
Grove Ward and should have ordained me a
Priest then. Only being a Deacon, when my peers were Elders, added to the
feeling of inferiority I felt at BYU and the feeling that no one was really
looking out for my well being. I had no champion until President Thompson took
an interest in my advancement.
4
August 1975 Monday
I
went to both my classes and in Bro. Pratt’s genealogy class we are finishing up
British Probate records and finally getting into Medieval records and sources
which is why I actually took the class in the first place.
In Political Science we are now
studying the political system of the Soviet satellite countries in Eastern
Europe.
I’ve had a headache all day so after
classes I came home to get a bite to eat and rest before having to go into
work. I paid my August rent today and the owners raised it to $39. In September it will be $55 a month!
Meg Madsen said the owners approved
me moving the guys to the front apartment next to the Madsens, so I guess I’ll
be moving for sure now to Apartment number 2. I will have to have a new phone
put in and that’s too bad because of another expense. In the evening I worked
my 4 hour shift.
5 August 1975 Tuesday
I went to both my classes today and in my
political science class we had a test. The professor said it wasn’t going to
count as high as the last one did but it was a much harder test.
I
went into work at 6 and I talked to about my hours for next Fall Term.
Hopefully I can get them changed to 2 in the afternoon to six and just Monday
through Friday.
In the
news President Ford pardoned General Robert E. Lee for his treason against the
United States during the Civil War and restored his full rights of citizenship
like that even matters since he’s been dead over 100 years.
6 August 1975 Wednesday
I had the phone disconnected in this apartment
so I won’t get stuck with any last minute long distance call. Lee Russell, my
home teaching companion and I went home teaching before I had to go into work.
We were finally able to get a hold of my home teacher, Floyd Eckels, who has
been elusive all summer.
7 August 1975 Thursday
My Fall preregistration came today and they
gave me only half of my education block so I spent much of the day running
around campus trying to figure out what’s going on. It’s always something.
8 August
1975 Friday
Meg
Madsen said that it was a good thing I’m moving into Apartment 2 because the
owners want to make my apartment 10 into a six person apartment and fill it
with girls. I would have had to move anyway.
I started moving things over to the new
apartment that Meg Madsen is letting me move into right next to theirs. I am
glad to be getting away from Phil Stark even if he’s never really been here for
most of the summer.
9
August 1975 Saturday
It
was a hassle moving all my things along with what Mike Allred left behind. When
we first moved in here, it took two full truck loads to move all our things to
Fairmount Square. Now I have to move it all in my Pinto however I did get my
home teacher Floyd Eckels to help me move the big furniture in his truck. Phil
Stark was really put out because Steve and Meg Madsen would not let him stay at
the Fairmount after the 16th.
Additional
Material
"Jive
Talkin'" by the Bee Gees number 1 song for the week
10
August 1975 Sunday
I
was so tired today that I didn’t make it to Priesthood although I taught my
Sunday School class, but I don’t know why I bothered as only one person came. This
is my last day I have to work Sundays so no more stacking and putting away
chairs. John Cannon is gone so it’s not fun anymore anyway.
11
August 1975 Monday
This
is the last week of summer classes and I went to both my Genealogy and Political
Science classes. I learned a lot from Bro. Pratt. I have finals in his class
and the USSR system’s class on Wednesday.
I was able to get Joanne Jolley who
lived in Apartment 2, to transfer her phone into my name so all I had to do is
pay $6 instead of $22 to hook up a new line again.
I worked from 6 to 10 this evening but
it’s my last week I have to work at night.
Additional
Material
Pastor
Michael England resigned from Metropolitan Community Church of Salt Lake City. England left because of all the squabbling
going on in the church. He left SLC to
serve as f MCC’s Board of Campus Ministries with Judi Whitely. Marshall Williams was appointed MCC/SLC
co-worship coordinators for the interim period. Rev. Alice
Jones and Rev. Candy Naisbett would eventually replace England, who was then replaced by Bob
Waldrop. Rev. Alice Jones and Rev. Candy Naisbett were the first team-ministry
in the MCC church in the US Candy later resigned to move to Oklahoma City.
12
August 1975 Tuesday
I
have the front room in the new apartment about how I want it now with
houseplants and pictures up on the wall. The Madsen let me have a nice stand to
put the TV on. The couch the place came
with is orange but that’s okay because the carpet is a brown shag. Otherwise
it’s looking good. Mom always said that where ever I lived, always hang up your
pictures and it will feel like home so I do that. It’s getting harder for me to go into at work knowing that I will
soon be transferred to the afternoon shift.
13
August 1975 Wednesday –
Today
is the end of the Summer Term and my last day of classes. Both Finals were
fairly easy. In the news the government pardoned 6,000 Vietnam deserters and
draft dodgers.
Additional
Material
McQueen
made Advocate literary history. For the first time, the national gay and
lesbian magazine reported on an experience of a Gay Mormon in an article titled
"Outside the Temple Gates - The Gay Mormon."
Robert McQueen editor of the Advocate Magazine and former LDS missionary
wrote of five Gay men he had known at BYU who had been caught in purges and coerced into aversive therapies,
expelled from BYU, exposed by church officials, and excommunicated. Each one of
the five Gay men tragically killed himself rather than face the oppression and
bigotry of family, church, and society. BYU Inquisition” (The Advocate 170 13
August 1975)
14 August
1975 Thursday
My last day I have to work in the evenings. It
rained and thundered for much of the day. President Kimball is in Hong Kong for
an Asian Conference. There Elder Hinckley told reporters who are criticizing
the church because Negros are not able to hold the Priesthood that it’s God’s
plan. Non member’s have a hard time knowing that the church is true.
15
August 1975 Friday
I
finally officially graduated today according to BYU. It’s during their
Centennial Year although I didn’t go through any of the hoopla or ceremonies. I have more than the 128 semester credit
required now. Officially I have a Bachelors of Arts degree with a Major in
Social Science and a minor in Political Science. Steve Madsen said that I was
“prelaw” ha! I want to be a teacher not a lawyer.
Additional
Material
I received a D Grade in my Genealogy
British Research Class and a B- in my Political Systems of the USSR Class for a
Grade Point Average of 1.85
17
August 1975 Sunday
President
Paul H. Thompson, assisted by Bro. LaMar Parkins, set me apart as a Priest in
the Aaronic Priesthood after Sacrament. He wants me to be prepared to become an
Elder by the next Stake Conference.
Additional
Material
The
fact that I wrote so little about this advancement was that I really didn’t
feel worthy but was just participating in the ordinance as a rite of passage.
Also I think I felt cheated that it took so long as I was now 24 years old.
18
August 1975 Monday
I
started my new schedule as a custodian in the Wilkinson Center. I now work from
2 in the afternoon until 6 cleaning rooms and only Monday through Friday. So no
more working on Sunday and I can also now attend evening socials and Family
Home Evening. It’s a pretty good schedule but I’ve barely enough money to cover
this Fall’s tuition. I will have to take out another loan for the Winter Term.
21
August 1975 Thursday
It was reported in the news that July saw the
biggest increase in inflation this year which is at almost 14 percent. The
biggest increases are caused by food prices and gasoline and wages have gone
down. I could have told them that.
22
August 1975 Friday
Elvis
Presley is not feeling well and had to cancel all his dates in Las Vegas
through Labor Day.
23
August 1975 Saturday
I
have a new roommate. He’s this 17 year old kid named Terry Haake from Ruidoso,
New Mexico where they have the horse racing. He’s also a non member with a very
strong German ancestral background. He’s blond and very Nordic looking. I will
try to get along with this kid as well as possible. I even said I’d even go
with him to Freshman Orientation next week and show him around campus. He will
be roommates with Mike Allred because I had put Mike’s things in the other room
from me because I was not sure what Mike wanted. I didn’t think he’d want to
share a bedroom again with me.
Additional
Material
"Fallin'
in Love" by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds was the number 1 song for
the week
24 August 1975 Sunday
I
took Terry Haake to the 43rd Branch and he seems to be searching for
some meaning in his life. I hope the blessings of the Spirit will be poured out
on him so that when the truth is presented to him, he will know that the Gospel
is true. I met a sister named Holly Hicks in Sunday School who I really like
but she lives in Pleasant Grove and that’s kind of far to go to be dating
someone who lives off campus.
25
August 1975 Monday
This
guy named Stuart Smith moved in today. He’s a 21 year old Returned Missionary from
Long Island New York and is a Junior. He will be my roommate as that Mike
Allred and Terry Haake will share the other bedroom.. I have never lived with a
Northerner before. I hope we can get along.
26 August 1975 Tuesday
In
the news the national teacher’s union want teachers to be able to sign up for
Food Stamps to show how low teachers pay is. The average salary is $11,500
nationally. That seems a fortune compared to what I have been living on the
last couple of years.
27
August 1975 Wednesday
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia died today.
He was 83 years old. He was a descendant of King Solomon and the Queen of
Sheba. Kissinger is trying to make peace between Israel and Egypt. Good luck
with that.
28 August 1975 Thursday
At the New Student Orientation Terry Haake
was surprised to see me in the slideshow type presentation. Ha! In the news a
jury rejected the claims of them who sued Ohio’s governor for the Kent State Massacre
that took place May 4th in 1970. I remember that time so well. It
was such a shock that college students were being shot for protesting the war
in Vietnam.
29
August 1975 Friday
Meg
Madsen wanted Terry Haake and me to come up to the Memorial Lounge in the Wilkinson Center because Steve
Madsen was there for “Meet the President”
as part of Freshman Orientation. Steve
is now in the Student Ombudsman Office. President Oaks gave a brief welcome to
the Freshmen. This was the first time I ever heard or seen President Oaks so up
close. I suppose he’s a great man but seems cold to me not like Elders LeGrand
Richards and L Tom Perry I met a year ago at my graduation dinner with Mom and
Dad.
30
August 1975 Saturday
Mike
Allred came in from Wyoming late today.
I don’t know if he’s excited to be back or not. He can be hard to read. I think
he was surprised that we aren’t sharing a room. I wonder how he will get along
with a 17 year old, “know it all” non member as a roommate.
At Freshman Orientation I went by
myself and sat through the another showing of King Kong; 3 times! Did I mention
that King Kong is my all time favorite movie since my childhood. They showed
the uncut version which had been cleaned up so it isn’t so dark. The censors
made the studio darken the film because it was in 1933 and considered too
frightening. It was great watching it over and over again with Fay Wray the
damsel in distress. “Scream Anne!” I
heard that her family were once Mormon. I wonder if that is true.
Additional
Material.
"Get
Down Tonight" by KC and the Sunshine Band is the number 1 song for the
week
31
August 1975 Sunday
Today
I had a neat experience when Lee Russell and I went out to home teach Kamie
Springer. We gave her a Priesthood blessing and I felt the Spirit very strong
there. It was a good feeling.
I also heard from Bill Hall! He’s
back in Provo off his Mission and he’s living with Jim Lillis of all people at
the Academy Arms apartments. I went over there and it was sure neat to see him
after two years. I still think a lot of him but time has a way of changing all
things.
Classes begin on Tuesday after the
Labor Day Holiday. I wonder what the new school year will bring; joy and
happiness? I hope and pray. Mike Allred and I sure went through a lot together
and I am so grateful that he still is my friend.
Additional
Material
Jim
Lillis lived in the Chipman Dormitory at Helaman Hall with me in 1973. He was
also in love with Bill Hall and saw me as a rival.
- The Sun Club held its annual summer
picnic in City Creek Canyon in Salt
Lake City
SEPTEMBER 1975
The
Fall Term began in September and I had started my education classes to become
certified as a Secondary Teacher in History. My roommates were Mike Allred,
Stuart Smith, and Terry Haake. Mike Allred and I became more estranged as we
were both intensely involved in school and shared little of our personal lives
anymore. I also became less enamored with him as time progressed. I never
really connected with Stuart Smith even though we shared a bed room together
but very little else. He was somewhat aloof and had a girlfriend that he spent
most of his time with and only was home basically to sleep. We never shared
meals together. Terry Haake was a typical immature 17 years old who felt
entitled because he came from a lucrative family. At 24 I was not interested in
his opinions about most everything so we did not get along either.
Actually I was closer to Steve and
Meg Madsen than any of my roommates however Mike Allred and I did try to
sustain our long time relationship.
1
September 1975 Monday
Today
is Labor Day holiday so there wasn’t any classes today although I had to go
into work at 2 this afternoon. Until then Mike Allred and I just sat around and
shot the breeze. I worked my new shift
hours from 2 until 6, cleaning the first floor of the Wilkinson Center. It sure
beats working 6 to 10 at night.
When I came home in the evening I
mainly watched some TV until I went to bed at 11:30 tonight. Terry Haake and I
had a row over use of my TV. He had the nerve to change the channel right in
the middle of a program I was watching. I chewed him up and down saying that if
he ever expects to use my TV gain he better learn to be more respectful. He is
really immature and I think kind of spoiled. He comes from money so used to
getting his way and I have been too nice to him.
2
September 1975 Tuesday
Today
was the first day of classes for the Fall Term although I don’t have any of my
classes until tomorrow. I spent much of the morning mopping the kitchen and
cleaning the front room while the rest were at school. It didn’t too long but
the kitchen was absolutely filthy because it really wasn’t all that clean when
I moved in.
I went into work at 2 this afternoon
and while I was cleaning I came across Carmen who was so in love with John
Wagner from last year, I hadn’t seen her in an entire year and she said she got
married. We talked a while about people
we knew from Park Plaza for a while and she gave me her phone number. She wants
me to drop by and meet her husband some time but I doubt if I will. I like
Carmen but time changes everything.
When I came home from work to relax
I watched some TV for most of the night. The rest were already studying. I went
to bed at 10:30 while Terry Haake, Stuart Smith, and Mike Allred were still up.
I have to stop coming home and just spending the rest of the night watching the
tube.
I had just said my prayers when Steve Madsen, who is a night owl I am
finding out, came over just as I went to bed and asked me to come next door for
some cherry pie Meg had just baked. I wanted to but I said I better not as I
needed to get some sleep for 8 o’clock in the morning class tomorrow. I knew if
I went over Steve and I would start to yakking and it would be after midnight
before getting to bed. Wednesdays are going to be a bear for me and my only
really hard day.
3
September 1975 Wednesday
I
started the Fall Term today and began taking classes for my Teaching
Certification in Secondary Education. I
think I have my schedule completely squared away this time. I am taking 11
units this semester because that is all I could fit into my work schedule. I
have no classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays which is kind of nice but I have 4
hours of class straight on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
My first class is Education 301
Basic Education Principles and it meets in the David O McKay Building from 8 to
8:50 in room 115 with Bro. Henderson the instructor. Actually they have done
away with Education 301 and 377 having combined those courses into a new 287 class. Now instead of being
instructed primarily in a classroom at BYU we are to be sent out to various
schools to observe and participate. This is a brand new experimental program.
Right afterward I have Political
Science 150 Comparative Governments and Politics with Dr. Morrill. It’s about studying the internal politics of several country’s case studies. It’s at 9
until 9:50 in the JRC building room 214. I don’t especially care for Dr.
Morrill’s style but I couldn’t take another class besides this one because the
others conflicted with my work schedule.
I then have another political
Science Class, 170 Introduction to International Politics with Br. Hillam in
Room 25 in the same building but from 11:10 until noon so I have about an hour
between classes. We are especially going to study about the nature of war. I
find this class fairly interesting.
Actually Terry Haake is also taking this class.
I have a two hour break to come back
to the apartment to eat and rest before going into work at 2 in the afternoon.
4
September 1975 Thursday
Since
the Fall Term has begun I’ve seen several of the old chums from 2200 floor of
Chipman Hall while working at the Wilkinson Center like Renn Yoganson, Monte
Schlerf, Steve Welling, Brian Smith, and Bob Dally. It seems like everyone came
home from a successful mission. I’ve heard from the guys that even Wayne Tuck
is back at BYU but I haven’t’ seen him yet.
5
September 1975 Friday
Elder
Marion G Romney spoke at the Dedication of the J Reuben Clark Law Building.
Chief Justice Burger of the Supreme Court
was at BYU for the dedication. I didn’t attend the dedication but I went
with Mike Allred to hear him speak at the Marriott Center.
All that in the news is Squeaky Fromme of
the Charles Manson family cult tied to assassinate
President Ford in Sacramento today. Wow.
6
September 1975 Saturday
All
that is in the news is the assassination attempt on President Ford by a Charles
Manson’s follower Squeaky Fromme. They
say the price of a stamp will go up from 10 cents to 13 cents after Christmas
this year. Everything is going up but wages.
The Irish Republican Army set a bomb off in a Hilton Hotel in London. I
am so glad we are safe in the shadow of the Everlasting Hills.
Additional
Material
"Rhinestone
Cowboy" by Glen Campbell number 1 song for the week.
7
September 1975 Sunday
I
had Wayne Tuck over for Sunday dinner. I saw him up on campus last Friday so I
invited him over so we could catch up. I was so glad to see him and his Mission
hadn’t changed him any. He’s the same old sweet goof I knew two years ago. He
said that his Mission was hard on him though because there were so many rules
and restrictions.
Mike Allred and Terry Haake ate with
us but Stuart Smith went over to some girl’s for dinner. I made a Sheppard Pie
Casserole and a cherry pie for dessert.
I can’t believe I am seeing Tuck
again. It’s like he had never left. Same old good guy.
8
September 1975 Monday
It
was warm and windy today. In my Education class we were assigned in groups to
attend certain schools in the Alpine School District to observe and then assist
in classrooms. I think I am the oldest in my group.
We were suppose to have our first
Family Home Evening tonight but everyone canceled as we are still trying to get
in the swing of things again.
Additional
Material
The
cover of Time Magazine headlined “I am a Homosexual: The Gay Drive for
Acceptance, “ with a photograph of Sgt. Leonard Matlovich Jr. in full uniform.
A Mormon convert, Matlovich had served three tours of duty in Viet Nam where he
received the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and an Air Force Meritorious Service
Medal. Although he had not mentioned his
LDS membership in media interviews about his court challenge against the U.S.
military’s ban against Gay men and Lesbians, his local LDS leaders excommunicated
him in November 1975.
9
September 1975 Tuesday
Only
thing I did today is clean the apartment and studied a couple of chapters for
my International politics class before going into work at 2 in the afternoon.
There was an opening social for MIA but I didn’t go. Neither did Stuart Smith
but Mike Allred and Terry Haake went to meet some of the girls in the Branch. I
stayed home and watched the fall season premier of Good Times that started at
7.
In the news that earthquake in
Turkey killed almost 2500 people. It’s a sign of the times. Also Boston is
having a fit over busing black students to white schools to achieve a court
ordered integration so it’s not just the South anymore.
10
September 1975 Wednesday
We
learned to make lessons plans in my Education class this morning. This is the
letter that I received from Mom that she had written on the 7th,
“Dear son, Sorry I haven’t wrote but
working and going to the hospital every day I sure am getting tired. Your dad
is doing very well I guess. He has lost lots of weight and is weak. He said he
weighs 149 pounds now. Tom and Jean went to see him last night and was shocked
to see him so thin. Did you get the money? I hope got it in time. I sent it
rite away. Mr. Williams is having some tests done. He looks bad. He won’t drive
anymore . Someone has to go and get them now. I don’t look for him to be around
to much longer. Pam is out on a visit. I haven’t seen her. Guess Larry will be
home for Xmas. Bonnie has been sick with her gall bladder. I look for them to take it out. She is working where Marie is. Milton was up to
see your dad and said Stephanie was going to get married soon. He was
tired of fighting it. He might as well
give up. Wright or wrong that’s what she wants to do. So be it. John and Carla
have moved to Farmington, New Mexico. He got
real good job out there. You know Gary Williams is living there too. And
I look for Francis and her husband to move there. Big oil field open up. Guess
the town is rally booming. Mom and Dad are down at the Lake. Guess they will
stay till daddy parks trailer. Guy and Kay still in Lubbock. Charline is going
to school for computer and book keeping. She has to do something. The kids are
fine. Charline said Bruce got busted for dope. Ken and Donna both are working.
Ken will work at Knott’s this winter. Guess they are happy as bug in a rug.
Mother said Aunt Essie was living at Austin, Texas with her granddaughter. Well
don’t know anything else to write. Do write once in awhile. Love Mom.
11
September 1975 Thursday
There’s
a big teacher’s strike in New York City, Chicago, and other cities affecting millions of kids. Congress overrode
Ford’s veto of the Education spending bill but couldn’t override his veto of
the Gasoline price caps so there goes the price of gasoline up again. Why are Republicans always against the common
man?
12
September 1975 Friday
I was sent to Dixon Junior High at 750
West and 200 North in Provo, to observe
students at a middle school, right in the classroom. I am enjoying this facet
of my education so much better than the classroom lecture drag.
13
September 1975 Saturday
The
weather has been so nice lately in the 80’s and the mountains are starting to
turn colors. I love this time of year in Provo. I babysat Meg and Steve
Madsen’s kids while they went for a drive up the Alpine Loop just to get away
for the day.
In the news they say Americans generally
don’t obey the 55 miles an hour speed limit on the national interstates. Ha! It’s
ridiculous for us who live in the West anyway.
14
September 1975 Sunday
I haven’t been keeping an accurate record of
my daily life lately because I am so busy with school and work and everything. However
this afternoon’s Sacrament was so special I need to remember it so I have to
comment on it.
The whole apartment was up between 7:30
and 8 for our morning ablutions to get ready for Priesthood. Four guys sharing
one bathroom is hectic. I don’t know how the sisters in the 6 girl apartments
handle it.
However since Priesthood doesn’t
begin until 10 we all sat around waiting while I did the breakfast dishes. I
was in a sour mood for much of the morning and Mike Allred said to me to read
“and the second commandment is like unto the first. Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you.” That made me more mad than humbling me because they
never do unto me what I do for them keeping the place up.
The underlying problem I feel is my
relationship to my roommates. I have unrealistic expectations of them. Instead of
accepting them as they are, I am upset with them all the time for not living up
to my rather demanding expectations that they pull their own weight around
here. I feel so unappreciated.
But then I am such a child
spiritually. I need to have a more mature attitude that these guys are just
people I share an apartment with and are not my family or even friends.
Stuart taught the Priesthood lesson
and right afterwards at 11:15 this morning was Sunday School. I taught my
genealogy class on Church Parish Records. After class these 3 girls came up to
say how much they enjoy my class and we talked for a long time about Gospel
principles. How I love talking about the Gospel. Because I stayed behind for so long after
Sunday School let out I had to walk home by myself. I fixed lunch for myself
and let the others fend for themselves.
At 2:30 this afternoon Nyla Parsons,
who I home teach came by the apartment to give me a plate of cookies she had
made in appreciation. That was very special and sweet of her. She is Mike
Allred’s friend and is from Star Valley, Wyoming too.
Lee Russell and I went out to Home
Teach Glenn Richards at 3 right before Sacrament that began at 4. Mike, Terry Haake, and I walked together on down
there.
The Sacrament Meeting was one of the best Sacraments I had ever
attended. The entire Branch Presidency spoke and I was especially impressed
with Bro. LaMar Parkins talk. He spoke on making our lives more Christ oriented
and centered. He said we are not capable of achieving the Celestial Kingdom by
our good works alone but also only through the Love of Christ and by his Grace.
Then LaMar remarked o some personal aspects of his life he was struggling with
and the congregation was weeping filled with the presence of the Holy Ghost.
15
September 1975 Monday
I
was up at 6:30 this morning to be out at Lakeridge Junior High in Orem by 8. I was the group leader of the BYU students
who were supposed to teach Mr. Prestwich’s Geography class about Ireland. I
think we did a good job considering the
open classroom experience we had to deal with. I really enjoy working with
these middle school students.
At 10 I went to my Political science
150 class that I have with Dr. Morrill. We are discussing the structure and
function of Political Systems and it’s really boring. My political science
class with Dr. Hillam is so much more exciting. We are discussing the nature of
war and why nations go to war.
After class I came home to eat
before going back on campus to work from 2 to 4 in the afternoon at the
Wilkinson Center. I am responsible for cleaning the first floor so I sweep all
the stairs, dust mop all the floors, empty all the trash cans, vacuum all the
carpets, check the men’s bathroom for supplies, clean the laundry room and
clean the post office.
After I came home, Terry Haake, Mike
Allred, and I went over to the family sisters we have been assigned to for
Family Home Evening. There are six girls who share an apartment here at
Fairmont and the four of us in Apartment 2.
Mike Allred is the group leader so I guess I will have to go although I
don’t think Stuart Smith is keen on being too active in the Family.
We were invited to a dinner they
cooked and we got to know each other better but I have no intentions of getting
as involved with them as I was in the 41st Branch. The girls are all from Salt Lake City and
were camp counselors at Oakcrest a church summer camp in Kamas. They all call each other by their summer camp
names; Daisy, Kipper, Sesame, Keekie, Cricket, and Krinkles. I remember how at
Camp Oaks back in 1972 I was called Benji-Boo-Boo. They really seem like a fun
group of girls however just too young.
For Family Home evening the girl’s sang
camp songs for us. It was really nice and kind of made me nostalgic for the
YMCA camp in Big Bear where I was a long termer counselor.
Back at the apartment I finally
wrote Mom a letter. I am getting so poor at writing in this journal or letters
off to folks. My spirituality is starting to wane again. I can feel it. I need
to start the good fight again and resist temptation. The flesh so does war with
the spirit.
Additional
Material
The
open-space school concept was introduced into the United States in 1965 as an
experimental elementary school architecture where the physical walls separating
classrooms were removed to promote movement across class areas by teachers.
However, in practice this is not typical since teachers, following social
conventions, tend to teach in a traditional manner as if the walls were still
present. If poorly planned or laid out, open classrooms lead to problems with
noise and poor ventilation. In Utah it was a cheap way to build classrooms.
- Without Mike Allred and I sharing a
bedroom we began to kind of drift apart as we were both heavily immersed
into school. Stuart Smith my roommate rarely interacted with me and while
he was an attractive man, his cold demeanor was kind of alienating. One of my responsibilities as a
custodian was to check then men’s room for paper supplies and I noticed in
the stalls Gay graffiti appearing soliciting hook ups. Having been a men’s room cruiser since
my days at Cal-State Fullerton I knew the signs of college men who were wanting
quick anonymous sex.
.
16
September 1975 Tuesday
Elder
LeGrand Richards spoke at our Tuesday Devotional today and I didn’t know about
it until it was over. It wasn’t announced in the Daily Universe. I was so mad
because I love Elder Richards. He is one of my favorite Apostles.
This morning I spent much of the
time cleaning and doing the dishes, In the afternoon I went on campus to the
library to do some genealogical research but didn’t find much at all. I ended up being late to work by 15 minutes
because I lost track of time.
I don’t have any classes on Tuesdays
or Thursdays which makes it kind of nice. In the evening I went next door and
visited with Steve and Meg Madsen to get away from the guys. I wanted to see
how their trip back to Florida was.
17
September 1975 Wednesday
It
was a long tiring and yet fun day. I was up at 6 this morning to be out at Orem
High School. I was supposed to be in Mr. Mascero’s World History Class only to observe but he ended up having me
teach the class. He had to attend a faculty meeting leaving this BYU student
named Grover and me in charge. We didn’t
have a lesson plan prepared or anything and Grover copped out. So I ended up
teaching the class about Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamian Cultures.
I think I did a fairly god job
relating to the high school kids and I did pretty good under the circumstance.
I am more and more convinced that teaching is my calling. I get so much
enjoyment each time I am called on to teach a lesson in class. I don’t get all
panicky like Grover did.
After that I went back to BYU to my
political Science 150 class where we reviewed for a quiz we are having on
Friday. In political Science 170 we watched a film on World War I and had a
quiz on some of our readings.
Mike Allred said he’s been getting into
the family histories of the Allred’s that is almost completely done. I bug him and tell him that I don’t care just
to spear him on to find out more because he thinks it aggravate me but really it’s
my way to get him to start being my friend again.
I went into work at 1:30 today and
worked until 6 to make up for the time I came in late yesterday. We also had a
staff meeting but nothing much was said.
I took Steve Madsen home from school
when he was off at 6 himself so Meg wouldn’t have to come get him. At 6:30 Mike
and I went by ourselves to the Branch’s MIA Opening Social held at Provost
Elementary. The Branch played football and soccer but I just played soccer and
helped serve up the sloppy Joes we were served for dinner. We saw our Family
Sisters there so we went to sit with them and eat. I am so sore and stiff now. When I came back
up the apartment I made some rye bread and baked it before going to bed because
I don’t have classes tomorrow. It was pretty good
18
September 1975 Thursday
Nothing
much happened for much of the day but this evening it was kind of hectic. Wayne
Tuck came over at 8:30 just to gab. He was visiting a girl who was in the
neighborhood.
About 10 tonight just as I was
getting ready for bed, Mom called from California. She said she hadn’t heard
from me in a while so she called to see how I was doing. I was glad she did.
Mom said Dad was home from the hospital now and is doing quite well. He can eat
just about anything he wants now. Mom
also said that Aunt Beulah Danforth was out
visiting from Texas and knows that I am a Mormon because she went to Dad and
said, “So Junior’s a Mormon now?” If Aunt Beulah knows then everybody knows.
Ha! So much for keeping it a secret from the family.
Mom said that my nephew James is
ditching 1st Grade in school already. He misses about one day a week because of his asthma attacks
which he gets at 8 in the morning but is perfectly find at 9 after he gets to
stay home. The little conniver. Mom said
he doesn’t like First Grade because he has the same teacher he had for
Kindergarten and the little fellow doesn’t think he had advanced. But in fact
when the teacher moved to First Grade she liked James so much she requested to
have James in her class. I think that is real neat. In the news
Patricia Hearst was captured in San
Francisco after all these months on the run.
19 September 1975 Friday
Today is my Grandpa Johnson’s 74th birthday. I
attended all my classes and went into work from 2 until 6. In Political Science
150 we had a quiz that was really stiff. In 170 we are studying about Hitler
and Stalin’s psychological profile and behavior as it related to World War II
After work Mike
Allred and I tried to go see Gone With the Wind on campus but the lines were
too long and crowded and doubted if we would even get in. So instead we went grocery shopping and I
spent $20 vegetables at Reams and meat at Albertson’s. We also bought 25 pounds
of flour that was on sale for $2.50 so
that should last us for a good while.
I tried to stay
up and watch the Fright Night Movie but ended up going to bed at midnight.
My favorite songs out right now are I’m
Sorry by John Denver, At Seventeen by Janis
Ian, Dance With Me by Orleans, Falling
In Love by Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds, Brazil by The Ritchie Family, Miracles
by Jefferson Starship, Who Loves You by The Four Seasons and Solitaire by The Carpenters.
20
September 1975 Saturday
Lee
Russell and I drove up to the Genealogy Library in Salt Lake but we didn’t find much. I said I would help him
look. We were back by 5 in the afternoon.
Mike Allred had a date with Donna
Jamison, his old flame from 3 years ago. I just stayed home and watched TV and
ate popcorn. Saturday is the best night
of the week to watch TV because of the CBS shows like The Jefferson, Doc, The
Mary Tyler Moore Show, Bob Newhart, and Carol Burnett. Oh I did go visit Sesame
and Daisy my family sisters for a little bit after coming home from the
library.
Additional
Material
"Fame"
by David Bowie is the number one song for the week.
21
September 1975 Sunday
I
walked to my Priesthood Meeting this morning which began at 10. The lesson was
on gaining a personal witness that Jesus is the Christ. Believe me when I say
that I know that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of Israel and God of this earth.
I should be trembling with trepidation because of the grossness of my sins
because of this knowledge. But Christ has changed my life and I must
continually strive to keep myself above reproach.
Today is the day I must begin to say
I will make the Mountains Ring if not I will make the Angels Cry. There is no
middle path.
After Priesthood, there was the
opening exercises of Sunday School. Mike Allred and I sat with our family
sisters, Shawna Smith, who the girls call Sesame, Daisy whose real name is
Trudy, Krinkles who real name is also Shawna.
The girls went to Mike’s Sunday School class while I taught the Family
exaltation class on Medieval Research.
In the afternoon I fixed a Sunday
dinner of a Chicken casserole, yellow squash, a salad, and a Pecan Pie for the
guys. After eating, I read over poem The
Rime of the Ancient Mariner which lessons I will share for Family Home Evening
tomorrow.
After attending Sacrament I had to
go to a Stake Genealogy Meeting at 6 and after that there was a Fireside where
Bro. Spencer Palmer spoke. He gave a great and inspiring talk on how we must
correct the little things in ourselves that we do wrong in the process of
perfecting ourselves if we hope to stand before God.
After the Fireside was over I walked
home with Daisy, Sesame, and Krinkles, where at their place we visited for a
while They also gave me some homegrown tomatoes to take with me. They are sweet
girls.
22
September 1975 Monday
I
attended all my classes today plus went into work. It was my turn to teach a
lesson in Family Home Evening and I shared The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’s salvation
story in the poem after having grievously sinned. In the news there was another
attempt on the life of President Ford.
Additional
Material
This
was the last entry in my journal for nearly 7 weeks
- U.S. President Gerald Ford survived a second
assassination attempt, this time by Sara Jane Moore in San Francisco.
Moore's assassination attempt took place just 17 days after Lynette
"Squeaky" Fromme's attempted assassination of Ford. She fired a
single shot at him with a .38 caliber revolver. After realizing she had missed, she raised her arm
again, and Oliver Sipple, a former Marine, dived towards her and grabbed
her arm, possibly saving Ford's life. Sipple said at the time: "I saw
[her gun] pointed out there and I grabbed for it. [...] I lunged and
grabbed the woman's arm and the gun went off." Though Sipple was known to be homosexual among members
of the San Francisco gay community, his sexual orientation was a secret
from his family. He asked the press to keep such personal information off
the record, making it clear that neither his mother nor his employer knew
he was gay. The day after the incident,
Reverend Ray Broshears, the head of a gay activist group called the
Lavender Panthers and local gay activist Harvey Milk, a friend of Sipple Milk told a friend, "It's too good
an opportunity. For once we can show that gays do heroic things, not just
all that caca about molesting children and hanging out in bathrooms."
Milk outed Sipple in order to portray him as a "gay hero" and so
to "break the stereotype of homosexuals" being "timid, weak
and unheroic figures". "[T]here was no invitation to the White
House for Sipple, not even a commendation. Milk made a fuss about that.
Finally, weeks later, Sipple received a brief note of thanks." Three days after the incident, Sipple
received a letter from President Ford.
24 September 1975 Wednesday
Additional Material
Hurricane
Eloise is battering the East Coast but the weather here has been wonderful
mildly warm in the day and cool at night in Provo.
·
Patty
Hearst says she was driven to insanity by being captured by the Symbionese
Liberation Army.
26 September 1975
Friday
Additional Material
Senator
Frank Church of Idaho is investigating the FBI which did a lot of illegal
search under J Edgar Hoover’s reign as Director
27
September 1975 Saturday
Additional
Material
OPEC
is raising oil prices again.
- "I'm Sorry" by John
Denver was the number one song for the week.
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