The Voyage is Over

Today I got home from my trip out west. I am glad to be home. The conference that took me away from home was well worth the effort.

Thursday the conference got over at noon. One of my coworkers was worried about getting to the airport by herself Friday afternoon so she and I made a dry run to the airport. I guess she was a little nervous since when she got in it took her four hours to get from the airport to her hotel. It should have taken her 30 minutes max.

After I got back form the airport, I went over to look for Susan's nephew who works in one of the casinos. However, when I got there I was told he was training and would be back for another week. I had hoped to get a chance to see him.

I decided I had time to go do a session at the Mesa Temple. On the way, I stopped at a nursery I had passed by all week on my way to my conference. I wanted to see if I could learn what some of the plants were I had seen in some of the landscaping the the conference.

When I got to the temple, I was getting a bit hungry. I thought I would see if there was a cafeteria at the temple where I could eat. I was pleased that there still is one.

I enjoyed very much having the opportunity of going to the temple. It made me remember the members I worked with on my mission and the sacrifices they made to go to the temple in Mesa. I remembered how Sister Gutierrez, the wife of the mission doctor, talked about what a wonderful experience it was for her and her family when they traveled from Mexico City to Mesa to go to the temple. She was so grateful for the opportunity receive their temple blessing. I another sister who was the ward Relief Society president who tatted many doilies to earn money for her family to make the expensive trip from the Mexico City suburb of Aragon. I bought two from her and sent one to Mom and Grandma Spendlove.

Now instead of having to travel to Mexico the members in Mexico have twelve temples. Two of the cities I worked in have temples, Mexico City and Tampico.

After I got out of the temple, I was able to get in touch with Dorothy, a coworker who left Maryland and return home to Arizona. Thu and I met Dorothy, her grandson Andreas, and her niece Sherrie for dinner.

Yesterday I returned home. It was great to finally be home. I loved seeing family and the conference was worth while.

Mesa Temple

This week I flew to Scottsdale. I took the opportunity to drive the Mesa Temple. Below are photos.

Thoughts on the Draper Temple Open House

Saturday started early. We spent the morning talking about stories from family history. There were so many stories related that I can hardly remember even one of them. I will endeavor to write them in the coming months as I have felt the need to write my parents history.

About 1:00 pm, we headed over to the Draper Temple open house. As expected, it was beautiful. The tour started in the wedding waiting room. We went to the instruction room where we saw a 12 minute video on the purpose of temples and the history of the church in Draper. We proceeded to the baptistry. The sister who presented the video mentioned that there are compass motifs in the baptistry and through out the temple. In fact, the oxen are standing on a dial of a compass.

We do baptisms for the dead because it is a necessary ordinance in order to enter into the Kingdom of God. As many inhabitants of the earth have not had the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ or to receive baptism in His church, baptism for the dead is necessary for the salvation of mankind in the God’s kingdom.

We then moved on through the locker rooms, past the instruction rooms, and made our way through the ordinance rooms where the endowment is presented. It appears to me that this temple will have two sets of ordinance rooms and that endowment will unfold in two rooms. The first with beautiful murals of woods and mountains will depict the creation of the world, the Garden of Eden, and the Telestial Kingdom. The next room will depict the Terrestrial Kingdom. It was done in off white colors. The drapery leading to the temple veil was a forest green. We then went into the Celestial Room. This was a most spectacular room. The room was from twenty to thirty foot square and about fifty feet high. A massive crystal chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling. This room reminds us of the potential we have as children of God and the peace we will have when we enter back to His presence.

While baptism is necessary to enter into the Kingdom of God, the endowment is necessary to understand the purpose for coming to earth and to understand the nature of God and our relationship to Him as well as what we need to know to reenter into His presence. Just as an endowment at a university is a gift of money, the endowment in the temple is a gift but of knowledge of God and His power. The endowment starts with the creation of the earth and the condition in which Adam and Eve found themselves when they were in the placed in the Garden of Eden.

The endowment explains the fall of man when Eve and then Adam partook of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil and why the fall was necessary for the progression of Adam and Eve, for them to have children, and thus for the creation of mankind. Because of the fall, mankind became ineligible and unworthy to enter back into the presence of God. As a result of the fall, God presented the plan to send Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, to make us eligible to return to Him and be forgiven of our sins. To be eligible, we must follow Him, pray to the Father, and sacrifice all we have been given to Him. We are taught how to pray and what we need to know to enter back into the presence of God. We are then allowed to enter into the presence of God as we enter into the Celestial Room.

The endowment is an ennobling experience and is beautiful. It is through the endowment as weel as the other ordinances of the temple that we learn what we need to become as our Father in heaven and achieve our full potential.

We reverence what we learn in the endowment by not discussing the specifics of the ordinances outside of the temple. We do on the other hand invite all to attend the temple and participate the ordinances found there. That is the reason we as a church work so hard to preach the gospel and nurture members of the church so they can enter the temple to receive these ordinances.

The next room we saw was one of the ceiling rooms. We filed into the room and sat down. The rooms were like all the other rooms in the temple, simply beautiful. Like the Celestial Room it was done in shades of white. The room was about 30 by 30 feet and about 30 feet tall. There was a crystal chandelier above the alter. There were beautiful mirrors facing each other on both wall opposite the alter much like the one in the Celestial Room but smaller. The mirrors reflect off each other and help us imagine eternity. I reflected that the feeling I felt was much like the feeling I had when I attended each of Richard and Barbara’s children’s temple weddings. The feeling was of complete joy and peace.

How grateful I am of the promises we receive as we marry in the temple. The promise that the familial relationships will continue through eternity; that the love we share one for another will not end.

The tour then made its way to the recommend area or the lobby of the temple. Because Linda and I had taken our time going through many of the rooms, Jan and Richard were ahead of us. I took my time because I wanted to drink in the architecture of the temple. I tried to understand what the designers intended as the temple was designed. When we got to the recommend area, Jan and Richard were seated and waiting for us. We joined them in the conversation as they talked about the purpose of the temple and the Plan of Salvation. Richard explained how after this life if we have not received our temple ordinances that when we go to the spirit world we will be assigned to the spirit prison until we hear the gospel and the temple ordinances are performed on our behalf. I so appreciated hearing Richard talk. As we were growing up, he was the example of our family. He was the priesthood holder who blessed us in many ways. For me, this was one of the sweet moments of the day.We left the temple and went to the stake center across the parking lot and had some refreshments. Richard picked us up in the car and we went back to Richard’s where we met up with Barbara.

We spent the afternoon and then met Mark and Elizabeth at Fong restaurant for dinner.
After dinner we returned to Richard and Barbara’s, to watch the infamous wedding videos of me giving Andy and Ashlee advice. The shot is of me, Elizabeth, and Mark. I was waxing long in my advice. I was giving what I thought was very deep wise advise. You can see Elizabeth looking around waiting for me to finish looking at little bit board. Elizabeth then gives her advise that she should listen to everyone’s advise and then do what in the hell you please. I guess the funniest part is hearing Richard give the introduction to the video segment and then the blow by blow comments. While on the surface one would guess that Elizabeth’s comment stole my thunder, I think it has been played so many times that I would bet that Andy and Ashlee will remember what I said. For that, I thank Elizabeth for helping get my segment played so many times.
We then saw the photos that Richard had scanned of my parents and the early years of our family. We left for Mark and Elizabeth’s place around 9:10 pm.
Sunday morning Mark and I went to the Priesthood Leadership Session of their stake conference. I enjoyed the session very much.

During the general session of the conference their stake president was released.

After conference, we went home, Elizabeth made dinner, then she did studying while I read emails.

Later in the evening we went back to Richard and Barbara’s. Austin and Meagan were there and we had a chance to visit and get to know their two kids, Houston and Taryn. Kelton, Adam and Aubrey’s boy, was also there and we got a chance to see him. Not long after they left Andy and Ashlee came over. They didn’t want their picture taken. So in exchange they promised to come and visit us in Maryland next year.

I am grateful to my cousin Linda for arranging this trip that has been filled with many happy moments. She invited Jan to come for the temple open house and then encouraged me to come. I was fortunate that I could time this in conjunction with the IMAPS conference in Scottsdale. Much good has come out of her efforts.

My Visit with one of the World's Greatest Men and the Woman Who Made Him that Way

The trip continues. Tuesday night I was able to post my last blog entry. Eldon gave me access to his wireless router. Anyway I got to bed after midnight and woke up around 5:30 pm. My body clock said it was time to wake up.

It was so wonderful to spend the evening with Eldon. He was busy getting his school work done. I was glad he did what he needed to do and not get distracted by my being there. Through the evening three of his six roommates came in and out, Richard, Curtis, and Patrick. They seemed like a good bunch of guys. Eldon says he is the closest with Curtis. From their interaction one with another, I can see why that is true.

I got up showered and got ready. Curtis asked if I wanted oatmeal for breakfast. He also made some for Eldon. I was impressed with his thoughtfulness.

As an editorial note, Josiah has taught me a new way to look at the world through photography. The following photo is an attempt to replicate his style. But more importantly it says all that needs to be said in regards to how Eldon and his roommates have decorated their apartment. It is totally utilitarian.
I dropped Eldon off at the Clyde building and headed off to Salt Lake. I called Melvin, Susan’s dad, to see if he was free.

Along the way I passed by the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I stopped to take some pictures. I think the open house is later this month. The workers are doing the landscape. I don’t know why I am attracted to temples. I always have. Before I received my endowments, it was one of my greatest aspirations. Now that I have been a worker in the Washington, DC temple, much seems routine. Never the less, I always feel closer to the Lord when I am near the temple.
Melvin and I went to breakfast at IHOP. We talked about my upcoming assignment at work. He was thrilled at the work I will be doing. I said he wanted to come along with me.

We then headed over to see Tanya. They are all well. John is getting ready to get married to Paige. They have found a basement apartment for next nothing just three doors up from Eric and Tanya’s house. Sam showed me his drawings. He is ready very good. I think he will do well as a graphic artist.

On the way home, we drove downtown to see the progress on the City Creek Center renovation project. Once home, we spent some time just talking.

As I was getting into the rental car, I noticed that the tires were worn down to the wear bars. The rental company, asked me to bring it in and for an exchange. For the inconvenience, they upgraded my car to a Corolla.

On the way the exchange the car, I called Uncle John and Aunt Arlene to see how they were doing. Aunt Arlene invited be over to see them. I was hoping they would invite me. I felt as though I shouldn't ask to come unless invited in case they didn’t feel ready for me to visit.

We had a great time talking telling how the kids were doing, to talk about memories of Mom.

I headed off to Logan about 4:30. I was afraid I would be caught in evening traffic but it moved well all the way to Logan.

I got to Logan after 6:00 pm. Talked to Aunt Reta and Uncle Rex for a bit and Uncle Rex and I headed over the Golden Corral to have dinner.

After we got back, I talked to Aunt Reta and Uncle Rex until nearly midnight. I was rather tired for not sleeping the entire night the night before.

One thing we talked about is my mother. After talking to Aunt Gerta, Uncle John and Aunt Arlene, and Uncle Rex and Aunt Reta, I noticed a common theme when referring to Mom's personality. The all said Mom was sweet, kind, and loving. I think it is true. She was avery kind person.

Yesterday I got up and had breakfast with Uncle Rex. He asked me what I wanted. He offered eggs but I told him I would have what he had. He asked me if I was sure and I said yes. So he pulled out a big bowl about the size to serve a salad. He put Grape Nuts in the bottom, next a scoop of whey protein, followed by Kashi Go Lean, cut up dried apricots, prunes, raisins, and Cheerios. Served with milk. Uncle Rex is in incredible health. He rides his stationary bike in the evening before he goes to bed, he exercises in the morning before he starts his day which includes 100 push ups and up to ten chin ups. He says he has slowed down a bit because he does his push ups with his knees on the floor rather than the standard push up. It hurts his back too much.

After breakfast, Uncle Rex asked me if I needed a haircut. Well, I always go too long between haircuts. In fact, the last person who gave me a haircut saw how long my hair was getting and offered to cut it again. During the haircut this person asked if they were the last person to cut my hair. I said yes and the this person thought so. Anyway back to the story. Uncle Rex took me to a sister in his ward named Dana. Her husband has a tumor in his head that is growing. He has not been able to work and needs someone with him continuously. Dana cuts hair to make ends meet as her husband can no longer work. Uncle Rex has made it a point to have the brethren in the ward go to her for haircuts. Uncle Rex had his hair cut first. I don't think he really needed his hair cut but he did anyways. I on the other hand was due. Uncle Rex gave the sister many times what the haircut was worth. She was so appreciative. This was a wonderful expression of Christian service to a sister in the ward.

We then went down to the Foundation. A group of farmers were in and Uncle Rex needed to make a presentation. After the presentation, we all went to lunch at the Peppermill, a restaurant located in the refurbished Penney’s building downtown.

At 83, Uncle Rex is still heavily involved in scientific research. A couple of projects they are working on is to solve the high cost of health care and green house gases. Uncle Rex’s foundation has developed a test procedure for multiple diseases at once. Current technology is to screen for one disease in a micro well (or cell). Uncle Rex is proposing to put multiple receptor sites in an array of wells and test for multiple diseases. Currently one test cost $15 dollars to run. Using Uncle Rex’s method, it would cost 71 cents per test. Under his proposal, people would get screened for diseases twice a years. By catching diseases sooner, the treatments are easier and more cost effective to treat. This would alleviate much suffering.

The Foundation has a fuel additive that will improve fuel efficiency and therefore will decrease green house gases.

They are also working decreasing ammonium nitrate particulate emissions in the air. In Cache Valley, there is a good amount of NOx emissions in the air. Combine that with the ammonia generated from farmer spreading manure in the fields and ammonium nitrate is formed. Uncle Rex’s proposal is to digest the manure in covered lagoons that capture methane as a fuel source the farmer can us. The nitrogen compounds are then harvested in the lagoon sludge.

Uncle Rex’s aim is solve today’s problems with technology. His motivation is to improve the world and relieve suffering. He is not motivated by profit.

We had a conversation about waking up early and working on problems. He says he gets his best insights at that time of day. He attributes that the enabling power of the atonement. I believe receives revelation on how to proceed with his work. The problems are great and the obstacles are immense. I believe he is going to continue doing great work in the next ten to fifteen years. This is why I have voted him one of the greatest men who have lived.

So what about the woman who made him one of the greatest men who have lived? She has enabled him to do his work. She has raised their family. Being an extremely bright woman, she has counseled him on his difficult problems. I find it more than a coincidence the her middle name is Brite.

I am grateful for her influence in my life. I went to live with Uncle Rex and Aunt Reta as I started down paths that would lead me to a wretched life. She set the course that has enabled me to choose a better way. Much of the success I have achieved with my family I can attribute to her. Our family will be blessed for three and four generations because of what she has done for me.

This morning I got up, read my scriptures and had breakfast. Uncle Rex didn't ask me if I wanted the same cerial mix he prepared yesterday. He just made it up. I spent the rest of the morning writing my blog entry. Aunt Reta came downstairs and later on Cheri, Lisa, and Lori came over and we spoke.

After Uncle Rex came home, We talked more and I returned to Salt Lake and had dinner with Richard and Barbara at Goodwoods. We went to Richard's and Barbara's house looked at old pictures, had cake and ice cream and went to bed.

Richard and I stayed up a bit and talked about what should go into a history and I am going to write about Dad.

Dad's Most Wonderful Las Vegas Adventure

As you know, I am now on a most wonderful adventure to the West. Saturday Susan dropped Eldon and me off at the airport to catch planes to our respective destinations, I to Las Vegas and Eldon to Salt Lake to resume the semester at Brigham Young University.

I got into Vegas and to Jennifer's, my niece, about 10:00 pm. Sunday morning Jennifer, Tiffany, Madison, and I went to church. They are still meeting in the Pecos and Osage building because the 8 th and Franklin building is closed. Apparently during the last remodel they didn't engineer the dropped ceiling properly and now the trusses are failing. The chapel roof is at risk of collapsing. The church is trying to figure out if they are going to tear the building down or repair it.

It was wonderful to be back in the ward that I grew up in. I was able to see so many of the members who were there when I was a kid.

I felt I should get up to bear my testimony. As I looked down in the audience, I could see Sister Kathy Simpson smiling back at me. I took the opportunity to sit in front of her in Sunday School. As we talked before the class started, she asked me questions about what I am doing. I could tell from her questions and her reactions to my responses she truly thought I was something special. I think every guy needs someone to think they are special now and then. I guess she liked me as I was growing up.

After church, we had a bit to eat. I then went to Danny's house and spent the evening with his family. On the way over to his apartment, I drove the old neighborhood. So much is different. I can hardly find the houses of the people I knew growing up. The yards seem so unkempt, not watered, and generally run down. The synagogue, Temple Beth Salome, is no longer a synagogue. The Huntridge Theater is closed. The post office is closed. The First Naitonal Bank where my mother banked and had her mortgage for nearly twenty years is now a pawn shop. There is and abundance of payday loan shops and places where one can take out a loan on the equity of their car. The Larkin's home has been foreclosed and is now empty. It looks like it had been converted into an assisted living center with ramps, fire alarm pulls, and pipes running on the ceiling for fire sprinklers.

Yesterday morning I got ready to go to St. George to visit Aunt Gerta. After Jennifer got Dylan and Tiffany off to school, I helped get her registered on the New.familysearch.org and ward web sites. Jennifer is truly interested in researching her father's lines as well as her kid's father's lines.
On my way to St. George I stopped to pick up a Dad's death certificate for Linda but I went to the wrong offices. I went to the county offices. I needed to go over to the Health Department on Shadow Lane. I will try again tomorrow.

I got to Aunt Gerta's about 2:00 pm. She is doing well although she is dizzy and unstable on her feet. She is still living in her house at 94 and taking care of herself. She gets out and walks down her side street and then down the front of the house to get the mail every day. She needs help with her walker but is able to do it anyway.

After awhile, Beverly, Aunt Gerta's daughter came over to see me. It was a great visit. We talked of memories of Mom, Grandma, and Grandpa Spendlove. I find myself being grateful for the memories I have of dear family and friends.

Jennifer asked me how Aunt Gerta fills her time. Well, I can say that she probably fills her time better than I. She crochets afghans for the humanitarian efforts in the ward, she reads two chapters a day in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the New Testaments, and her temple recommend is current. She isn't able to get out to church because she is too unstable and I imagine the crowds are too much for her to deal with.

I was thrilled that Aunt Gerta gave me an Afghan. I will think of her everytime I wrap up in it.

She made me dinner. Isn't that shameful but I let my 94 year old aunt make me dinner but I insisted on washing the dishes even though she told me she would do it.

I left about 7:00 pm. On the way out I stopped at the temple. I visited the Visitor's Center to learn more about the construction of the temple. I then walked around the grounds. This is where it all started for Susan and me on September 28, 1982. It has been a wonderful twenty-six and one half years.

This morning I went with Jennifer to drop Madison off at her second day of pre school. Later I was able to get over to the Health Department and pick up Dad's death certificate for Linda.

I had lunch with Greg Larkin my good friend when I was growing up.

When we were walking out to his car to go to lunch, I realized that he had driven the 1967 E type Jaguar that belonged to his dad when we were growing up. This was a treat to drive in the car. It reminded me of the trip we took our senior year to Long beach, California to see cruise ship the Queen Mary. I was writting a research paper on the Queen Mary and wanted to tour it. I asked Greg if we could go and our parents gave us permission. It was great to travel to California in a sportscar to boot. On the way we found a long, straight, empty stretch or road and Greg opened it up. We did better than 100 mph for a few minutes. CHILDREN, DON'T TRY THIS IN MY OR YOUR CARS. GREG WAS A TRAINED HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AND WE WERE BOTH INDESTRUCTABLE. We stayed on Greg's family's sail boat in New Port Beach, toured the Queen Mary, went to church in Laguna Beach (if I remember right), and drove up the coast with the top down. It was a great feeling that our parents trusted us enough to go on this trip. In no way, was I going to do anything that would break that trust. We did nothing that they would disapprove of or that they wouldn't have done.

During lunch, Greg and talked about our families, the state of the country, and how Las Vegas had changed since we grew up. I invited Greg and Juliana to come visit us in Maryland. I think he was serious about accepting the invitation. Although I haven't seen him for about friendship is as strong as ever.

After lunch, I hurried back to Jennifer and Kevin's to load my stuff in the car and head for the airport to catch a flight to Salt Lake. The flight however was two hours late getting off. Even though I got to the airport too late to have garentee that my luggage got on the flight, they all got there with me.

I drove to Provo to drop of the suitcase I brought for Eldon. I asked him if I could stay the night and then had second thoughts. I had forgotten that single students don't go to bed until after midnight. I will let you know how the turned out.

By the way, Eldon made me the most wonderful PB&J sandwich made from Susan's homemade bread for dinner. It doesn't get any better than this.