Saturday

A day to remember-a day of contracts. Black & white. Carnal & Celestial! Marian & I left early for the temple. We stopped off at the prison in Florence to see Chuck. I couldn’t stay long, but we had a good short talk. He seemed pleasant & resigned. We talked about Shirley. I showed him some pictures I had of the kids and grandkids. Then on to the temple where we saw Penny & Dan Ellis sealed, then Danny sealed to them both. That’s celestial!! After calling my folks-Daddy was the only one home (Mom off on a slavery stint to Carol’s)-we drove home. Worked around the place until time for Stk. Priesthood leadership Meeting. Then Dave & I went to the meeting. After a good opening session, we separated for departments. Going down the hall, I encountered Julie Hinkman. She needed help moving to Phoenix. That’s such a fouled-up deal. I won’t go into any detail. But I finally got Rick-her husband-to help her by driving the pick-up full of furniture to Phoenix for her. I drove with Rick and had a time to talk to him real good, for once. I think I can finally see his point of view a little. They are divorced now. I rode back to Tucson with Dave, who had driven my Datsun up. The two hours back with him was pure profit. We talked of Peggy & the possibility of his marrying her. That’s the best talk we’ve had. It’s a real great thing to be able to talk to Dave again. We got home at 3:30 a.m.

Friday

Tucson Seminary graduation tonight. I presented the graduates to Pres. Elray. It was held in the Tucson North Stake Center. Three of the students spoke. Pres. Elrey spoke to them for a bit. I quoted 2 Nephi 9:42 & told them Seminary & Institute would channel their lives to the gate where the Savior is guard. We are coming along now in Tucson. Finally, after 8 years. I feel like there’s a better spirit. Bishops are more enthusiastic. Kids are more serious about it-and enjoying it more. Parents are finding out there is something worthwhile happening. I feel an excitement now that I’ve been working for all these years. The number of graduates is now climbing back-from the low after we went to 4 year graduations.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Worked solid on the final paper for my class at the Univ. It is “Administration of Higher Education.” I had to take an incomplete for the semester until I get this paper in. I’m doing it on problems of administering church-related colleges. Wednesday PM I went to school and signed up for a Portuguese language test-to eliminate nine hours of otherwise required credits for the Ph.D. program.

Monday

Memorial Day. School out. Banks & P.O.s closed. We don’t celebrate Memorial Day like in old times. It’s just a day when we don’t have school. Almost all business are open. We spent the day with the Nelsons, around the house and shopping. Marian’s parents are really great. They have an enforced idleness-because of their health-that is a little trying at times. Dad Nelson really chafes under enforced idleness. He roams the house & the yard. Mid-afternoon Frank & Bev came by for them. We had dinner, then they left for Phoenix.

Sunday

Don Hansen, my 1^st counselor, is on vacation. We had our Sunday meetings. Mom & Dad Nelson are here from Phoenix, so I came home for lunch. I had interviews with the Norths and with the Cochranes. There are some matters there that need straightening out. Our branch is so small now that it just doesn’t seem the same. So many have left at the end of the semester, and there are more leaving. After I got home we had watermelon & had an evening of talking with the Nelsons.

Saturday

Family outing for Seminary teachers & their families up at Rose Canyon Lake. The Safford, Globe & St. David teachers drove over & we met there at 10:00. Next years’ presidents came, too. They met on their calendar for the next year. We had two armadas reserved so we would have plenty of room. We had games for little kids, potato race for wives, & “old sow” for the men. We ate, then played horseshoes & volleyball. We beat the kids two games straight. It was a grand occasion.