An Old Friend

Daniel - 29 March 2010

Recently my mind went back to an old friend of mine from a number of years ago. He and I became acquainted through the work I did for him, but over years our acquaintance turned into true friendship.

He was born & raised in Missouri and came to Utah on his way through working in the CCCs. He met a young lady in the Ogden Valley, who he later married. As he told it, their marriage took place in the Bishop's field, with the Bishop in his work clothes, as my friend insisted it be done, as I recall.

He was a Missourian, through and through, and often talked about living his life among the 'Saints'. He had little positive to say about "the church" and its members in general, and his least favorite question of all was when he was asked "Are you LDS?".

He was a little partial to David O. McKay who was from the valley up there, and additionally once told me the story of when he was in the hospital for some surgery, and in the night he said he had all sorts of visions, things like seeing Moses part the Red Sea and such. He said that at first he thought it was a bad reaction to the medications he was being given, but the next morning he heard that "That Kimball Man" was in the room next to his, and he then said that he figured they had "just piped it into the wrong room".

He could talk up a storm with language that, well, that was very, uh, well, you get the idea. I told him once that I didn't think that they had those words back when he was a kid. He looked at me and said "Daniel, back then was when we knew HOW to use words like that". He did have a unique style of phrasing things.

Over the years he and I knew each other I think we talked about pretty much everything. He was proud to be a Democrat, and spoke openly about his feelings on politics. Because I generally find myself on the more conservative side of things, we had many lively discussions - sometimes even heated discussions - but in the end, we were friends. I think the best of friends.

I know I offended him often in those discussions, and he didn't hold back on his side of things either - not even a little.

I'll never forget how he told me that he knew the Book of Mormon was a fake. He said he read the first few pages about an angel (Moroni) coming to Joseph Smith through a 'conduit'. He said that anybody who knows a (blank) of a (blank) about anything knows that it's water that travels through conduits and not angels. What can you say to that?

One day we were discussing the president at the time, and some of the things that were flying around in the media about him being a draft dodger. I'll never forget him looking at me, pointing to the picture of his son who was killed in Vietnam and saying, "Wish to God that my son had been a draft dodger".

He loved Johnny Cash - and sometime before his death he asked me if I would sing two of his favorite songs at his funeral, "Don't Step on Mother's Roses" and his all time favorite song "The Caretaker". I've never sung Johnny Cash songs in public before or since, but was proud to do so for my friend.

Thank goodness for good friends like that. Anyone who knows me soon sees where I'm at on a number of subjects of some controversy. Generally, however, when hearts are right and intent is sincere, even the most different of people can be the best of friends. I look forward to seeing my friend one day and telling him thanks for all of the kindness and wisdom he shared with me over the years of our friendship.

I'm so grateful for good friends, wherever they may come from.

Repairer of the Breach

Daniel - 14 March 2010

A few days ago I heard about the engagement of a former student. Its always fun to hear about these events, and to see a young person become an adult, and a smiling one at that.

This one caused me to take an additional second to pause and be grateful that there are young people who can take what life gives them (sometimes of the most difficult things that life has to offer) and to turn around and make something good out of the chaos - something very good.

A favorite scripture of mine is found in Isaiah 58:12. In this chapter, Isaiah is speaking of those who, despite being handed afflictions, are able to quietly make the sacrifices required to hand the next generation a better life than the one that they were given. He wrote to these individuals:


Unfortunately, in our society, there seem to be breaches everywhere anymore. Just in the last week or so I have had multiple students quietly come to me and talk about some of the breaches that they are dealing with. I suppose such things have always gone on, but it seems like few of the youth escape anymore.

Many would seem to do just the opposite of what Isaiah suggests. They justify personal dishonesty (the most personal of dishonesties at that) because, after all, they were handed some significant problems from the generation and generations that preceded them. In assuming this privilege, they simply make the breach larger for the next generation, who will be handed the same decision - "Do I repair or widen the breach?"

At some point the breaches become so large that the final generation is left with little to no hope, and civilization collapses with privileged away civility.

This young lady, this week, gave me hope. She knows the source to where she can look to gain the power to build the wall of safety around her new family. She, a few years ago, was blessed to have another family - a new family -show her how it's done.

May there always be families who will reach out to show those who live without safety and stability that these things are possible. That there are happy families out there, that life is good when good is invested into it, and that the most important things in life aren't things.

Thanks Rachel - proud of you kid!