SAINTS IN SIN CITY

The month of July usually provides me with a lot of time to reflect on such things as the contributions of the founding fathers of the United States of America, the sacrifices of the many who have given so much for the freedoms which I enjoy and those family pioneers whose struggles have paid forward to a very grateful progeny. With the passing of a very dear friend and the enjoyment of a mini family reunion with our children and grandchildren, this July has also filled my mind with another benefit which has greatly blessed my life.

As we huggingly greeted those who gathered at the Memorial for Joyce Woodward, I was bombarded with the accumulated joy which had been somewhat put in shadows during the 19 years since we left Reno, Nevada to serve a mission in Colombia. One of the great ironies of my employment with the Church Education System was that although I was daily studying and teaching the gospel of love, I was not allowed to embrace any of those with whom I associated either professionally or socially. It was a wonderful thing in my retirement to find myself encircled in the arms of these people who I love so dearly.

Kathleen and I were invited by George Keele, the presiding Elder, at the Memorial to say a few words about Joyce and our experience with her. From the vantage point of the pulpit as I was voicing how much she had meant to me as we worked together for several years at the Reno Institute of Religion, I was able to look into the collective faces of those with whom I had just been able to exchange a touch of love for the first time. As I was trying to concentrate on the words I was saying about how this faithful secretary had been such a strength to me on so many occasions, I was somewhat overcome by the realization of what the association with so many congregated in the chapel had meant to me in my life. Since I spent almost thirty percent of my life with these wonderful people it should be easy to understand what an impact they have had on my progress.

I will refrain from using their names, but hopefully as I innumerate their contributions to my growth they will recognize themselves and what they have meant in the life of a grateful neophyte.

I looked into the face of one who had been very successful in gaining the means of living a very good life, but I saw one who regarded integrity more than wealth. One who also taught me through example that with accumulation, we inherit the stewardship of becoming a wise, charitable distributor.

I looked into the face of one who taught me that we all must progress at our own pace and that we are all on a different part of the path at any given moment. I was taught that steady pace and direction on the path are more important than position or degree of progress.

I looked into faces of some who had brought an extra special spirit to church meetings because of the musical gifts they shared. They taught me that the spoken word is but one way to help people come closer to Christ.

I looked into faces of those who once sat in classes where I was designated as teacher who little realized in those sessions who was the real learner. Even on that day they were not completely aware of the great influence they were having on me and others.

As I looked into these faces I realized they were but a small representation of all those who had contributed so much to me during the 20 years we were privileged to live in the shadows of the Sierras. There were many others in the congregation as well as many who were not attending who also made great contributions to my passage, but I will have to record their gifts to me on some future occasion.

At the family reunion I spent time with those dear ones of my life with whom there never has been a restrictive absence or lack of hugging. In the desert northeast of Pyramid Lake I was involved with those who have made the deepest and most consistent impact on my life. Dear ones with whom I have spent all or a portion of 70 percent of my mortal sojourn. An account of their meaningfulness in my life will also have to wait for another day.

Kathleen frequently reminds me how good I am at introductions and how I often leave little time to expound on the body of my lessons, so now that you have the introduction let me get to the point.

During the whole intensively reflective month of July which, as I have said, centered on the contributions others have made in my life, never once did a negative recollection enter the stage of my mind. There were no warts, blemishes, nor frowny faces. There were no hurts, harmful sayings, nor hateful accusations. There were no mistakes, misconducts, nor malicious actions. Everyone came into my mind clean and pure with nothing in their scripts except positive words, thoughts and actions.

As I now ponder upon my pondering I wonder if for just a moment I was able to embrace in a flash-by bit of inspired thought the Mind of our all loving Heavenly Father. A Mind which fills itself with all the good and contributive acts of His children and whenever possible erases the errors which accompany their mortality.

A Mind which is preoccupied with progress toward perfection and finding ways to divert us away from destructive detours. A Mind which is continually looking at the saintliness of the inhabitants of all cities and not the sinning.

The summation of my pondering upon this fruitful month, is that I am more convinced now than ever before, that there is no scale in heaven which measures our sins against our service, but Heavenly Father looks solely upon the accumulation of our saint-like acts as he enfolds us in His ever extended arms to welcome us home and bestows upon us that degree of glory merited by the positive contributions of our lives.