PETTY FAMILY RECORDS CENTER HISTORIES Linda Karen Petty's Personal History Volume 4.1 compiled by Linda Karen Petty, M.A., MSW Petty Family Records Center The Redwoods, New Harmony, Utah 2016 The Petty Family Records Center Copyright © 2016 The Linda Karen Platt Family Protection Trust All Rights Reserved Manufactured in the U.S.A. INTRODUCTION Over many years the collections that comprise the Petty Family Records Center (PFRC) have been gathered from a diversity of sources and locations. These have been cataloged as they have been received, or in the order that they were initially organized. It was not felt in preparing this final version that a re-cataloging was necessary due to the versatility of the indexing systems used. There are twelve divisions to the PFRC: 1) Documents; 2) Letters; 3) Notes; 4) Family Histories; 5) Diaries & Journals; 6) Manuscripts; 7) Photographs; 8) Maps; 9) Books; 10) Genealogies; 11) Bibliography; and 12) Indexes. The Histories are numbered 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, etc. Copies of these volumes have been given to: 1) Special Collections, Marriott Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah; 2) The Church Historical Library, Salt Lake City, Utah; 3) Special Collections, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah; and 4) The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah. Additional copies have been given to each of my siblings and to some of our children. L. Karen Platt, M.A., MSW The Redwoods, New Harmony, Utah AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LINDA KAREN PETTY Times Present and Times Past: A Legacy for my Children. I would like to say as I begin this writing that the gospel found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and is the most important thing in my life – even beyond my children, because I understand clearly that all joy and happiness comes from our Father in Heaven. I’ve struggled for twenty-five years building my testimony, but have recognized only recently the tutoring and personal interest our Father has had in my life. The gospel’s principles are true and will not only lead us to eternal salvation if we practice them but will make the journey a joyful one. I do not believe that our Father expects perfection as much as He expects that we do our best whatever that is at any given moment. Through His love for us and through the power of the Atonement we can be raised beyond our weaknesses and imperfections to greater and greater heights of spirituality. We have been put here to work out our eternal salvation, to become all that we were foreordained to become. Little else really matters. Once we put forth the effort to live the commandments, either in a small measure (for example, as we struggle with being single and alone), or in a large measure, as we anticipate future blessings, I bear witness that the blessings which come will be beyond our expectations, so much so that they can scarcely be contained within us. Certainly, each one of us is far more blessed, living within the gospel principles in righteousness than compromising our values and standards for short-term experiences of personal gratification or temporary solutions to personal problems. There have been many times when I’ve felt totally alone, unloved and abandoned, both by our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ, and others, including the seeming absence of the Holy Spirit. Now I have been given a witness of the reason for this struggle and have come to recognize the principles I learned in the process. I have been showered with an undeniable abundance of grace, love, understanding, forgiveness and compassion. I had sealed upon me through a priesthood blessing these special gifts and I knew without question that Jesus loved me, had forgiven me of any sins of the past and that my Father in Heaven also loved me. I bear witness that our Father in Heaven loves all of His children, and that He is personally interested in our spiritual progress and our eternal and temporal well-being. I don’t believe, as some profess, that He does not care about us personally and does not have an interest daily in what happens to us. I bear witness that this is not true and can sight several personal examples that indicate the personal loving tutoring our Father had had for me and others. . . . . . . . . . . I am a fifth generation Utahan. My father Elmer Dean Petty was born March 9, 1909, at Hiawatha, Carbon, Utah, son of Elmer Petty and Malinda Stringham. He married Florence Ann Behunin on June 8, 1927, at Castle Dale, Emery, Utah. They had five daughters: LaDean, born August 29, 1933, Hiawatha; married Glen Taylor Riches on April 12, 1952 and has lived in Richfield most of her life; Phyllis, born April 12, 1935, Hiawatha, married December 28,1955, and divorced Herman Atencio, a New Mexican Hispanic, have spent most of her life in Palm Desert, California; Florence Annette, born September 9, 1937, Hiawatha, married August 13, 1955, Orvel Dee Nelson and has lived throughout Utah, currently residing in St. George; Linda Karen, born as above; married Hebert Hall Fullerton, September 15, 1961, by whom I had two sons, Brent Alan and Baird Hall, both engineers, Brent living in Draper, a manager for Becton and Dicken’s plant which produces medical products; married to Emma by whom [as of 2015] he has two step-children: Sophie and Clara; and two natural children, Joseph Hyrum and Violette and Baird living in Chandler, Arizona, with his wife Ann Hutchinson; they have had four children: Jacob Baird, Rebekah, Hannah and Rachel. Baird is a civil engineer and works for a private construction company; presently he is building a university in Phoenix – being the general manager of the project – for Grand Canyon University. Diane, my youngest sister, was born April 7, 1944, at Price; was married September 19, 1964 to Ted J. Christensen, by whom she had all of her children; she has since divorced and is living in Salt Lake City, having just [2015] been called on her third mission. Elmer Dean Petty died April 30, 1988, at the Ferron Rest Home and is buried in Ferron; Florence Ann Behunin died at the Richfield Hospital on January 28, 1997 and is buried beside her husband. Elmer Petty, my grandfather, was born November 11, 1883, at Ferron, Emery, Utah and died there on June 22, 1961. He married Malinda Stringham on October 5, 1905, at Ferron. He was the son of George Albert Petty and Clara Ann Quirk Barton. Malinda was born February 5, 1885, at Ferron, and died at Hiawatha on November 12, 1937. She was the daughter of William Kilshaw Stringham and Diantha Henrie. George Albert Petty was born August 4, 1861, at Manti, Sanpete, Utah, son of William George Petty, born September 3, 1831, at Henry, Henry, Tennessee and died February 15, 1921, at Emery, Emery, Utah. His second wife was Adeline Vorhees, born August 15, 1844 in Hancock County, Illinois, daughter of Elisha Vorhees of Butler County, Pennsylvania and Nancy Ann Leek of New Jersey. George and Adeline were married December 26, 1859 in Manti, Sanpete, Utah. George Albert Petty married on November 4, 1876, at Manti, Clara Ann Quirk Barton, born November 30, 1861, at Manti and who died April 4, 1897, at Ferron. George Albert died December 26, 1944, at Ferron. Clara’s parents were Thomas Quirk, who was born in the year 1805 at Kirk Patrick, Isle of Man, the son of John Quirk and Ellin Craine, and Mary Ann Cowley, of Ballaugh, Isle of Man, born March 20, 1803, daughter of John Cowley and Mary Ann Ennett. Soon after their marriage they moved to Liverpool, England, where Thomas was employed as a steel worker. They were the parents of eight children, five girls and three boys. Two of the daughters and the three sons died in infancy. On January 10, 1852, Thomas, Mary Ann, and Margaret Quirk sailed from Liverpool on the ship Kennebec and reached Salt Lake City in October of 1852. Their home in Salt Lake City was built where the city and county building now stands. They lived in Salt Lake City for a few years and then moved to Grantsville. Their home was built about where George Williams home stood in 1950 and thus Quirk Street received its name. Thomas’ eyes were injured while he was a steel worker in England. In his later life he became blind. He died in 1888 and was the first person to be buried in the Grantsville Cemetery in a “boughten” casket. He brought it across the plains with him and kept it under his bed. Thomas Quirk was ordained a deacon on May 11, 1845 and was ordained a priest on June 25, 1846 in Liverpool, England. He was ordained a high priest on March 12, 1853 in Salt Lake City.1 Albert Petty, father of William George Petty, was the first mayor and bishop of Springdale, Washington, Utah, a former body guard of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, a native of Bourbon County, Kentucky. His wife was Catherine Petty of Dover, Stewart, Tennessee. William Kilshaw Stringham was the son of William Stringham who was born May 2, 1787, at North Hempstead, Queens, New York, son of James Stringham and Martha Willis. He married on January 22, 1846, at Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, Eliza Lake, born April 1, 1825, at Chardon, Geauga, Ohio, daughter of Johnson Lake and Mary Willis. William and Eliza died in 1865 and 1908, at Manti and Ferron respectively. William Kilshaw Stringham was born April 11, 1852, at Mendon, Cache, Utah. His wife, Diantha Henrie was born May 4, 1851, at Manti, daughter of Daniel Henrie who was born November 15, 1824, at Miami, Hamilton, Ohio, son of William Henrie and Myra Mayall, and Amanda Bradley, born January 15, 1829, at Clarence, Erie, New York. Diantha died January 29, 1929, at Ferron. Her father Daniel died in June of 1914 at Manti; her mother Amada died on March 7, 1903, at Manti. Daniel and Amanda were married in Salt Lake City on October 29, 1849. Florence Ann Behunin, wife of Elmer Dean Petty, was born January 26, 1913, at Ferron, daughter of Joseph Henry Behunin and Mary Zwahlen. Joseph Henry was born March 24, 1872, at Rockville, Washington, Utah and died May 18, 1940, at Oakland, Alameda, California. He married December 31, 1895, at Ferron, to Mary Zwahlen, who was born July 31, 1876, at Richfield, Sevier, Utah and died July 16, 1944, at Ferron, daughter of Johannes Zwahlen and Anna Maria Schultheiss. Johannes was born August 14, 1851, at Gsteig, Bern, Switzerland and died June 15, 1939, at Ferron. Joseph and Mary opened up the Couer-d’-Alene, Idaho L.D.S. mission in about 1936 after they left Hiawatha. Joseph rebuilt the little white church there, mostly by himself with some help from the local people. Joseph Henry Behunin’s parents were Mosiah Steven Behunin, born May, 1843, at Nauvoo; who died April 6, 1908, at Ferron, and Caroline Hill, born January 16, 1854, at Salt Lake City and died March 10, 1914, at Logan. They were married December 1, 1859, at Rockville. Mosiah’s parents were Isaac Behunin, who died May 10, 1881, at Glendale, Kane, Utah, and Almira Tyler, born April 23, 1811, at Sempronious, Cayuga, New York, who died September 29, 1883, at Ferron. They were married in October of 1834. Caroline Hill’s parents were Isaac Hill, born September 26, 1806, at Brighten, Beaver, Pennsylvania, who died June 25, 1879, at Fish Haven, Bear Lake, Idaho; and Martha Ann Miller, born September 22, 1834, at Beards, Montgomery, Illinois; who died December 24, 1911, at Thayne, Lincoln, Wyoming. Her mother, Sarah Searcy, wife of James Miller, died in March of 1889, at Washington, Washington, Utah, where she is buried in an unmarked grave in the Washington City Cemetery. This is my Utah ancestry. All of my ancestors were converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and all crossed the plains from Nauvoo with the exception of Johannes Zwahlen and Anna Marie Schultheiss, who came from Switzerland. . . . . . . . . . . I was born November 25, 1940, at the Price City Hospital, Price, Carbon, Utah; I am a social worker, historian and writer; I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; I am Caucasian; I have attended Utah State University, Iowa State University, Brigham Young University, the University of Utah and Southern Utah University. I have two children: Brent Alan Fullerton and Baird Hall Fullerton and am the grandmother of six grandchildren [as of a few weeks after her death], and of eleven step-children; many step-grandchildren; and several step-great-grandchildren. I am the fourth of five daughters of Elmer Dean Petty and Florence Ann Behunin. I was baptized on February 4, 1956, at the age of fifteen, against the wishes of my father, a disaffected Mormon. No one attended my baptism; nothing was said by friends or family. Father had threatened to disown me if I was baptized, but I ignored him and did it anyway because I felt at the time that the Church was important to me. I was baptized into the Ferron Ward, Emery Stake, by Clayton Nelson Berenson, a friend of the family. My bishop was Keith Albrecht. I was raised in Hiawatha, a mining town in Carbon County, until the eighth grade and we then moved to Ferron in Emery County. There were several nationalities living in Hiawatha. Those living in Carbon and Emery counties migrated to the mines to earn their livelihood. It was a rough environment and there were many problems, but Daddy always protected his girls. If anyone fooled around with the Petty girls, they would have my father to deal with and it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience. My father never allowed his girls to dress seductively by showing skin that shouldn’t be shown. We were not allowed to wear shorts, and tight clothes. We were taught to cover up always. After we moved to Ferron we operated a resort on Ferron Mountain. From the time I was a child I loved to learn. I remember one time telling the Hiawatha librarian that I was going to read every book in the library. I developed an innate understanding of people very early, was quick to distill the truth out of complex situations, and didn’t particularly care if I offended those who were hiding truths. The legacy that my father left his girls, in my opinion, was one of a moral code and moral courage. My father, to my remembrance never attended church and I wasn’t raised in a typical Mormon family of the 1950s. Yet, he was honest, he never cheated someone or short-changed anyone; he wasn’t without sin, I’m sure, but he never sinned by commission or omission to hurt purposely another person. His word was his bond and he didn’t vary from that. He and mother did not gossip. My father wouldn’t have it. Members of our family were not allowed to take a partial truth or event, add our own assessment, to embarrass or misrepresent another person's character. He never mistreated a disabled person and more than one would visit with my parents frequently and know that they would be welcome in our home. This and other moral practices were handed down from our Mormon heritage. His great-grandparents, and their involvement in the Church started back in Camden, Tennessee in 1837 when Albert Petty and his family protected the elders that were sent there to open up the Southern Mission. They were jailed and Albert Petty was their jailer. He and the attorney, Ralph Petty, arranged for the elders to escape and shortly thereafter left to join the Mormons at Far West. Albert and his wife Catherine Petty, lost half of their children after they came west. Those who survived remained faithful. William George Petty, my 2nd great-grandfather, was without fault and it was he that my father emulated. He had a reverence and great respect for William George Petty, and George Albert Petty his grandfather. He spent time with them and knew and understood what they represented as far as moral character. It was my grandfather, Elmer Petty, that broke the chain, and he hurt my father deeply. This legacy is almost everyone’s legacy. Generally the pioneers that came to the west, came here to establish the foundation of the gospel; a foundation based on a moral code and moral courage. It was prophesied and our Father in Heaven made covenants with the people that came to this land. We need to be aware of their sacrifices and honor our legacy and keep our covenants. Just a couple of stories to demonstrate what I mean. When my father was a young man, living in Hiawatha, it was a time when the unions were trying to get a stronghold in the mines. He saw first hand, in some instances, the wicked tactics union bosses used to bring the miners into the union code of conduct. These experiences were mean, vicious and in some instances death was the result if people wouldn’t comply. My father vowed he would never join the union. He worked in the tipple, which cleaned and graded the coal and was always challenged to join the union until it came to the point where he either joined or he would be let loose from his job. He wouldn’t join, but later they made him a supervisor which meant he didn’t have to. Eventually when the mine closed, daddy was faced with moving to another mine and joining the union there. He wouldn’t do it and it was very hard on his family. We moved to Ferron, and struggled for many years to survive. Shortly after arriving at Ferron, a neighbor asked daddy to redo their kitchen. He had to borrow the money to buy the supplies. He worked on the kitchen for months, every day having approval of what he did. Then just as he was to finish the job, Mrs. Lemon decided she didn’t like it and refused to pay him for the work. He ended up re-doing her kitchen at his expense, while at the time his family was living with hardly anything to eat. I don’t understand people like that at all, but it happens as most contractors know. My father was hurt deeply by his own father; he protected his mother, Malinda Stringham, and reverenced her and insisted that she be treated well by his father and their brothers and sisters. He, as a young boy bought many Christmas presents for the family because his father wouldn’t do it. He was also hurt by people he trusted and there were several who purposely took advantage of him, including those professing to be dedicated Mormons. But he stayed the course; he never reverted to unrighteous practices. It was hard and I would often speak with my parents about their life and how they felt about what was happening. So I knew what their basic values were. I knew why daddy wouldn’t go to Church. I never did see him in Church and we didn’t go as a family. Even though I learned good, positive, moral practices from my family, looking back, I realize that had my parents gone to Church in spite of the disappointments and pain they experienced, they would have avoided some of their pitfalls they fell into. I was also with my mother when she died. I was the only there except my husband. She seemed confused as to how to leave her body and didn't know how to get out of this world and go to the next. She asked daddy how to leave; he said: “Don't worry, I'll come back and show you.” As she was dying she saw many others of her family and marveled at their being there to welcome her into the Spirit World. She died peacefully and has been dearly missed by her daughters and sons-in-law and grandchildren. She was a peaceful, dear spirit, who cared about everyone and tried to make their lives pleasant. I would like to bear my testimony. We cannot be spiritually prepared unless we read the scriptures daily and follow the principles that allow us to be eligible for the companionship of the Holy Ghost, which is there ready to bless us whenever it can. If my parents had done so, I believe, they would have been warned and protected more from the difficulties of the times. When my parents passed through the veil, I was nearby. Prior to my father’s passing, we had a heart to heart discussion about his life. My father cried for two hours while he told me how he felt. I stayed with him and listened. When he did pass, I heard him call out my name. I felt at the time that he realized rather immediately he had made a terrible mistake. Several years later, I had a dream where he came to me and asked me to do his temple work; that he was ready to get out of spirit prison. I am positive that my father and his family are working out their salvation. I have had similar experiences with his brothers and sisters, asking that their temple work be done. To my knowledge the chain is complete. I would like to say that the Church and gospel are the most important things in my life. I understand clearly that all joy and happiness comes from our Father in Heaven. I struggled for twenty-five years building my testimony. I finally recognized the special tutoring and personal interest our Father has had in my life. Before I married Lyman there were many times when I felt totally alone, unloved and abandoned by our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ, and others, including the seeming absence of the Spirit. Finally, I was given a witness for the reason for my struggle, a recognition of principles I learned in the process of my life, the undeniable abundance of grace that showered me with love, understanding, forgiveness and compassion. These gifts were sealed upon me through a priesthood blessing from Lyman and I knew without question that Christ loved me, had forgiven me of any sins of the past and that Father in Heaven also loved me. I bear witness that our Father in Heaven loves all of His children and that He is personally interested in our spiritual progress and our eternal and temporal well-being. I don’t believe, as some profess, that He does not care about us personally and does not have a daily interest in what happens to us. I bear witness that this is not true and I could tell of several personal examples that indicate the personal, loving, tutoring our Father has had for me and others. I would also like to bear witness that the gospel principles are true and will not only lead us to eternal salvation if we practice them, but will make the journey a joyful one. I do not believe that our Father expects perfection as much as He expects that we do our best whatever that is at any given time. His love for us through the power of the Atonement can raise us beyond our weaknesses and imperfections to greater and greater heights of spirituality. This is Christ’s Church. We are put here in order to work out our eternal exaltation, to become all that we were foreordained to become. Little else really matters. Once we put forth the effort to live the commandments either in a small measure – for example as we struggle with being single and alone – or in a larger measure as we anticipate future blessings, then witness these blessings (far beyond our expectations), we come to realize that we can scarcely contain them within ourselves. Certainly each of us is far more blessed living within the gospel principles of righteousness than anywhere else. We cannot be spiritually prepared unless we read the scriptures daily and follow the principles that allow us to be eligible for the companionship of the Holy Ghost, which is there ready to bless us whenever it can. If my parents had done so, I believe they would have been warned and protected more from the difficulties of their times. When my parents passed through the veil I was nearby. Prior to my father’s passing, we had a heart to heart discussion about his life. My father cried for two hours while he told me how he felt. I stayed with him and listened. When he did pass, I heard him call out my name. I felt at the time that he realized rather immediately he had made a terrible mistake. Several years later, I had a dream where he came to me and asked me to do his temple work; that he was ready to get out of spirit prison. I am positive that my father and his family are working out their salvation. I have had similar experiences with his brothers and sisters, asking that their temple work be done. To my knowledge the chain is complete. I would also like to add my testimony regarding unity. When the theme was introduced in the Church I decided to study it and in doing so was amazed at how important it is. The Prophet Joseph taught it very early, in Kirtland, and most of the prophets after him, including Brigham Young, who immediately after coming into the Great Basin set up communities and organized the people so they could live together in unity. I have learned that it is not just something we might do, or ought to do. It is a commandment and we are not eligible for the Celestial Kingdom unless we learn to live together in unity especially in these latter days. Like my father, if we don’t do so, we are not going to be as prepared as we could be. I so testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. I remember when I was ten years old I was made fun of because of my dirty shoes. I had gone somewhere with LaDean. I wasn’t welcomed in Primary because I was the daughter of the supervisor. In town they were respected, but in the Church they were not. I was baptized when I was thirteen against the wishes of my father and the seeming unconcern of my mother. It was for the most part uneventful. No one attended the baptism and nothing was said by friends or family. My father threatened to disown me if I was baptized. I ignored him and did it anyway because I felt at the time the Church was more important. The ensuing years were uneventful. I tried to understand the Church but had little to go on really. Back then gospel principles were not taught as well as they are now in the Church programs. Sunday School classes were chaotic and it was difficult to learn. I found my best experiences were in seminary. I attended all four years and graduated. When I was fourteen, Sister Ralph, made fun of a Brother Barney because he dragged his foot; and said he didn’t belong in the Church; he had gone with my sister Annette and I felt the criticism was cruel and undeserved. My sister all married; Phyllis and Diane have been divorced and are single at this writing. LaDean (Glen) Riches, lives in Richfield; Phyllis Petty lives in Palm Desert, California; Annette (Orvel) Nelson, lives in St. George; and Diane Petty lives in Salt Lake. From Emery County I went to college at Utah State University. I dated several young men. I spent a summer in Santa Barbara and met a returned missionary. A card from that year, 1959, from this friend, says: "the road that turns off to the right goes to my parent's new home.” The card shows the beautiful highway and scenery through Santa Barbara.2 At this same time I was going with a non-member. Both became prospective husbands, but I chose the non-member because the returned missionary was extremely selfish and self-righteous. When I decided to marry the non-member, I was very concerned about what this would do to my religious beliefs. I asked everyone I knew why I shouldn’t marry him; that he appeared to be a good person. The only answer I got, which at the time puzzled me, was that he wouldn’t hold the priesthood. I had no idea what that meant. Now my testimony contains a reliance on and a firm belief in the priesthood. My prospective husband at the time agreed he would study the Church and if he felt it was true he would join. Two months after we were married and after attending several other churches which I agreed to do if he would study the Mormon Church, I wanted to go to my Church. He refused and told me he would never be a Mormon, nor would his wife and children. Further, under no circumstances could I attend church. I was appalled, frightened and very disappointed. I did not know what to do. I decided to study the church myself and find out for sure if it was true. However, during this time I fell into inactivity. My foundation in the gospel was limited; but I continued to search and study. The first two years after our marriage we lived in Nampa, Idaho with his parents and operated, with his father, the family farm, dairy and other interests. There I had my two boys: Brent Alan (Emma) Fullerton, Draper; and Baird Hall (Ann) Fullerton, Chandler, Arizona. My husband decided to goes to Ames, Iowa to pursue his education and we moved there. From there we spent a year in Thailand. From there we moved to Logan, in River Heights, with my family for eleven years. My husband attended Utah State and completed his Ph.D. in economics. At the time my family was not L.D.S. The first few years we weren’t accepted in the community because of our non-Mormon status. After seven or eight years our next door neighbors, Dean and Evelyn Ellis began friend-shipping us. Later others did also and there came a time, as non-Mormons in River Heights, that we were fully accepted. Through the love and good examples of our friends and neighbors and because of my quest to find a way of life that would lead to happiness for me and my family, I realized one day that the Mormon Church was the answer I had been looking for, even though at the time I really didn’t know why. Over the years as I had searched and tried to find answers to personal problems and develop a way of life to achieve happiness, I gained an intellectual testimony of the gospel. I knew the Church could offer us every opportunity to live the best life we could. Over the years as I had searched and tried to find answers to my personal questions and develop an avenue or way of life to achieve happiness, I gained an intellectual testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Regardless of the criticism from my husband and his friends and others, who continually interjected negatives into any conversations we had, I knew the Church could offer us every opportunity to live the best life we could. I inadvertently read some anti-Mormon literature, which at the time was housed in the regular stacks of the library at the university. This influence, coupled with being totally ignored by L.D.S. neighbors, caused me to become inactive. I did not attend church nor was I associated with any L.D.S. people for several years. During those years I tried in vain to find the way to happiness for my personally, for my family and for my husband and I. I left nothing undone or untried. I studied sociology and psychology, both professionally and because of personal interest. Eventually, in 1985, I was at the point of receiving my Ph.D. in sociology when I met my future husband and did not finish my dissertation. After seven or eight years our next door neighbors, Dean and Evelyn Ellis began friend-shipping us. Later others did also and there came a time that we were fully accepted in the community. Through the love and good examples of our friends and neighbors and because of my quest to find a way of life that would lead to happiness for me and my family, I realized one day that the Mormon Church was the answer I had been looking for even though at the time I really didn’t know why. The turning point came in our lives when Dean Ellis, who everyone else loved and respected, died unexpectedly. Two years earlier, I had received a fore-knowledge of this impending disaster for that family. After his death I tried to explain to my boys who were ten and twelve at the time, what had happened to Dean. We were sitting in front of the fireplace working on a project and Brent, my oldest, asked me to tell him where Dean had gone. I said to heaven to be with our Father in Heaven. Brent responded, saying that he didn’t understand what I was talking about, so I began to explain the concept of God the Father and the spirit world. My former husband interrupted and tried to dissuade me from talking such nonsense. He said that heaven and a heavenly father were clearly my imagination, that there were no such things. We were born and we died and that was all there was to it, and further said that I was foolish and silly to put such ideas into my children’s heads. A strange feeling came over me. I looked directly at him and said, “I have forgiven you a thousand times for all the heartache and cruel, insensitive things you have and said to me and the boys during our seventeen years of married life. I have tried everything I know to make this marriage work – it isn’t working now and it never has. You have constantly degraded me and all that I have cherished and believed were important to happiness. But there is one thing you will never do and that is to teach my boys there is no God.” At that time I clearly understood it was my responsibility to teach the boys about religion and to bring them to an understanding of their responsibilities as children of God. The next day I filed for divorce. We had been in counseling for a year. It hadn’t helped at all. My husband had spent the entire time, one to two hours a week trying to convince the counselor that I was at fault. My former husband’s response to the foregoing situation was the end of my endurance. There was nothing left to be saved in our marriage. I do not believe in divorce; to me at the time it was the worst possible alternative; but it was the only solution to the problem. I still believe that the divorce process can only remove us from a situation where there can’t be resolution to serious problems and where we can then have the opportunity to structure a better life for ourselves; even if, initially, it causes us more problems. I felt I simply had no choice. At the time, I did not know that my husband was a homosexual or bi-sexual, and had been since he had been abused as a young boy. I was first told in a priesthood blessing two and a half years later that he would never enjoy the benefits of a family because he was doing some things that would always prohibit him from receiving that blessing. After much prayer and contemplation, I realized what his problem was and that it had always been his problem and that he had treated me the way he had because of his guilt and inability to respond to women in a normal way. After this information came over me, the evidence of his behavior as a homosexual was overwhelming. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t see it beforehand. You can imagine how I felt physically and spiritually. I was overwhelmed; I was devastated. It took three years to overcome the shock and repercussions of what he was and the implication this meant to the boys and me. Since that time what I now know has been documented. He has never admitted to me that he is, but there is no question in my mind whatsoever that he is and always was. Had I known I never would have stayed married to him. On Friday I filed for divorce. On Sunday I asked Evelyn Ellis if I could go to Church with them. I went for a month without the children. I talked to the stake president, Reed Merrill. He arranged for the missionaries to come to our home and teach the children. Six months later Brent was baptized on September 9th, and on October 29th Baird was baptized. At that point, as we tried to incorporate gospel principles into our lives, we changed completely. Our neighbors were very helpful. They put forth every effort to help us. We were totally accepted into the ward and were friend-shipped by everyone. Those times were very tender and loving for me and the boys. We developed a deep love and respect for our neighbors and have always cherished since then their friendship and examples. . . . . . . . . . . It was a crucial time for me. At that time I made some decisions about the Church and my future as a Latter-day Saint for which I have been daily grateful. The decisions were centered around the following: 1) The Church was the most important aspect of my life and any other way of living was not an alternative. At the time I didn’t understand the tremendous sacrifice which would be required to receive the blessings I was seeking. I had no idea what it meant to be a dedicated Latter-day Saint, nor the depths of meaning my testimony of the Church would reach. Nor did I know that at some time in the future I would know of a surety that I was loved by my Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ; 2) I decided to learn all I could about the gospel. I read constantly, both the scriptures and any books on gospel principles that I could. As I was healing from the devastating effect of my divorce, I was transferring all my energy and sorrow into learning the gospel; 3) I wanted to serve others and the Church unequivocally. Since then that is what I have done; 4) As an attractive single divorcee, I found most people assumed and expected me to be morally unfit. After reading Elder Maxwell’s talk on the seventh commandment and Truman Madsen’s book on love, I realized that the only love relationship I would ever be satisfied with was one that was eternal in nature, with complete commitment and dedication. At that time I committed myself to the Lord to always remain totally clean morally and abide absolutely by His spirit. From then on all I had to do was say no to any inappropriate advances or situations. I was sustained by the spirit as I sought a loving relationship with a righteous priesthood leader. This process would take fifteen years of being alone; 5) I began to study my patriarchal blessing and other blessings to try to understand what my spiritual progress in this life might entail; I obtained a definite understanding of my life’s mission; 6) I began taking religious classes at Utah State University where I learned to love the scriptures and also developed many cherished friends. I began to understand how important the priesthood was and the comfort and power it could bring into people’s lives; 7) I began to prepare myself to go to the temple to receive my endowments. On April 22, 1980, I received my temple endowments. It was a cherished moment in my life and has remained so throughout my life. I’ve always felt that the temple was one place where we can serve others in a totally unselfish way, without expense, and without any social recognition. I would like to say that the Church and gospel are the most important things in my life. I understand clearly that all joy and happiness comes from our Father in Heaven. I struggled for twenty-five years building my testimony. I finally recognized the special tutoring and personal interest our Father has had in my life. Before I married Lyman there were many times when I felt totally alone, unloved and abandoned by our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ, and others, including the seeming absence of the Spirit. Finally, I was given a witness for the reason for my struggle, a recognition of principles I learned in the process of my life, the undeniable abundance of grace that showered me with love, understanding, forgiveness and compassion. These gifts were sealed upon me through a priesthood blessing from Lyman and I knew without question that Christ loved me, had forgiven me of any sins of that past and that Father in Heaven also loved me. I bear witness that our Father in Heaven loves all of His children and that He is personally interested in our spiritual progress and our eternal and temporal well-being. I don’t believe, as some profess, that He does not care about us personally and does not have a daily interest in what happens to us. I bear witness that this is not true and I could tell of several personal examples that indicate the personal, loving, tutoring our Father has had for me and others. I would also like to bear witness that the gospel principles are true and will not only lead us to eternal salvation if we practice them, but will make the journey a joyful one. I do not believe that our Father expects perfection as much as He expects that we do our best whatever that is at any given time. His love for us through the power of the Atonement can raise us beyond our weaknesses and imperfections to greater and greater heights of spirituality. This is Christ’s Church. We are put here in order to work out our eternal exaltation, to become all that we were foreordained to become. Little else really matters. Once we put forth the effort to live the commandments either in a small measure – for example as we struggle with being single and alone – or in a larger measure as we anticipate future blessings, then witness these blessings (far beyond our expectations), we come to realize that we can scarcely contain them within ourselves. Certainly each of us is far more blessed living within the gospel principles of righteousness than anywhere else. We cannot be spiritually prepared unless we read the scriptures daily and follow the principles that allow us to be eligible for the companionship of the Holy Ghost, which is there ready to bless us whenever it can. If my parents had done so, I believe they would have been warned and protected more from the difficulties of their times. When my parents passed through the veil I was nearby. Prior to my father’s passing, we had a heart to heart discussion about his life. My father cried for two hours while he told me how he felt. I stayed with him and listened. When he did pass, I heard him call out my name. I felt at the time that he realized rather immediately he had made a terrible mistake. Several years later, I had a dream where he came to me and asked me to do his temple work; that he was ready to get out of spirit prison. I am positive that my father and his family are working out their salvation. I have had similar experiences with his brothers and sisters, asking that their temple work be done. To my knowledge the chain is complete. I was also with my mother when she died. As she was dying she saw many others of her family and marveled at their being there to welcome her into the Spirit World. She died peacefully and has been dearly missed by her daughters and sons-in-law and grandchildren. She was a peaceful, dear spirit, who cared about everyone and tried to make their lives pleasant. I would also like to add my testimony regarding unity. When the theme was introduced in the Church I decided to study it and in doing so was amazed at how important it is. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught it very early, in Kirtland, and most of the prophets also taught it after him. I have learned that it is not just something we might do, or ought to do. It is a commandment and we are not eligible for the Celestial Kingdom unless we learn to live together in unity, especially in these latter day. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. . . . . . . . . . . In spite of the support many of the ward members were giving to me and the boys, it eventually became necessary for us to leave Logan because of dissentions against us. My former husband blamed me for every failure or wrongdoing he could think of. He went to friends, family and priesthood leaders and made statements about how I forced the boys to go to church; that they were being indoctrinated by me towards the church and against him. That went on for several years. Many people, I feel, either believed him or sympathized with him. I was upset because I felt like people would not believe our testimonies of the church and would think that we had joined the Church for personal attention; some did. I couldn’t quite understand why, because at the time as well as later, we’ve lived beyond reproach. I never dated. I always had a current temple recommend and always lived to the best of my ability the gospel principles. I felt several times during those years that people did not take time to look at the information available. They were more prone to believe rumors and the stereotypes assigned to those rumors than the information available. After trying for several years to find full-time employment in Logan, I decided I had to move elsewhere. There were many who were persecuting us because of the false rumors that were being spread about us. I believed at the time and was advised by priesthood leaders that I should finish my Ph.D. at B.Y.U. The prospects of moving seemed overwhelming and I dreaded it in the utmost way. It meant I would have to leave Brent in Logan to finish his schooling and Baird and I move to Provo. There was no alternative. I was in so much pain and misery from leaving Brent and my friends. I thought I would fall to pieces. The ward helped me make preparation to sale the house. A person wanted to buy it so we moved forward, making arrangements to move. Two days before we were to move, the buyer for my home backed out. I sought priesthood counsel and was told to go anyway, that the house would sale. At the same time I was told that my former husband was a homosexual and that I needed to get away from him. After our move to Provo we lived on $200 a month for three months. During this time Satan tried to destroy us. I will not go into the horrifying details now but I nearly had a nervous breakdown from the stresses, no job, and continued problems in Logan. During those three months especially and to some extent the following two years, I received information again and again about my former husband’s homosexual activities. Finally there was enough information available that I could see the pattern of events which had occurred during our married life. I confronted him. He denied everything and responded by telling more untrue stories about me to anyone who would listen. However, eventually, people – at least close friends – realized he was lying, because they experienced events which were contrary to his stories. They knew the truth. He told everyone in Logan that he supported Brent on his mission and did so while at the same time friends realized that Barry and I were living on $200 a month for three months. The truth was he sent Brent $50.00 for his birthday and $150.00 for Christmas and claimed that was mission support. Brent did use the money for his mission. In addition, he claimed that he gave him $1900.00 savings income which was to go to Brent on his 18th birthday from his parents’ trust. His father had to give him the money and did so, but in turn claimed that he was supporting him on his mission. The cost of Brent’s mission was from $8000.00 to $9000.00, which was paid for by me, by Brent, by the ward, and from the $1900.00. His father also claimed that he had paid for the boy’s education. The money for their education was given to them by their grandfather Fullerton and had nothing whatsoever to do with their father. The three major problems of leaving Brent in Logan, moving away from family and friends, and the knowledge that my former husband was gay, totally overwhelmed me. I had difficulty just making it through a normal day. Two things were obvious to me at the time; I was very close to having a nervous breakdown from the stresses; and Satan’s influence in our lives was profound. In order to maintain my equilibrium, I stayed at home as much as possible and slept most of the time. I avoided stressful situations because I simply could not handle them. I knew Satan was trying to destroy us. From American Fork I moved to Provo for a time and then to Salt Lake City where I worked for the Presiding Bishopric and the Missionary Department as a contract employee. After those jobs I got employment working for the State of Utah at a social worker. Later I got a chance to move to St. George with my job, so my husband and I moved there and lived at 316 W. 500 North in a lovely home for the next ten years. During that time I obtained my second master’s degree through the University of Utah, at Cedar City. In 1999 we moved to Mountain Springs, Utah, in Harmony Valley, where we lived until 2015 [at which point Karen died on September 13, 2015] due to a fall from scaffolding as will be explained below. Academic Degrees and Experience 1966-1970: B.S., Utah State University, Logan, Utah, Department of Clothing and Textiles. 1970-1974: M.S., Utah State University, Department of Behavioral Science, College of Family Life; major field emphasis was sociology. Thesis studied the sociological phenomenon of three groups of women employed in three different status occupations. Thesis title: A Comparison of Perceptual and Personality Variable of Three Groups of Women, The Homemaker, the Home Economist and the Professional Business Woman. 1974-1975: Candidate, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, Utah State University; left with family to fulfill visiting professorship, Iowa State University; completed one year. 1975-1978: Candidate, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, Iowa State University; completed one year; also spent one year in Bangkok, Thailand while husband was fulfilling an AID appointment with Iowa State University. 1979-1984: Candidate, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah; completed all course requirements for my Ph.D.; did not finish my dissertation. 1993-1995: M.S.W., University of Utah; internship was completed at ISAT in St. George, and at Home Health with Dixie Regional Medical Center. Teaching Experience 1977-1978: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Utah State University, College of Family Life. 1979-1980: Instructor, Utah State University, College of Family Life, Department of Sociology; taught several undergraduate classes, both on campus and for extension services out in the Duchesne area of eastern Utah. 1980-1982: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Brigham Young University, Department of Sociology; taught several undergraduate classes in Sociology, one each semester. Summary: completed three years as graduate teaching assistant, teach one class per quarter/semester; spent one year teaching at USU as an assistant faculty instructor. Professional Experience 1981-1982: Research Assistant for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church Office Building, Presiding Bishopric’s Office, Assessment Services, George Armstrong, Supervisor. 1982-1984: Research Associate for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church Office Building, Missionary Department, Dr. William Quinn, Director. Duties involved review of department policies and directives, responsibility for research library, proposal writing for funding of future studies, composing reports, data analysis, and some time in presenting reports and supervising secretarial and data staff. 1985: Assistant to Program Director, Brigham Young University, L.D.S. Foundation. Duties consisted of direct contact with B.Y.U. supporters, arranging for and hosting their participation in campus activities, and other activities around the country; preparing banquets and gifts for past and present donors; arranging employee meetings; and assisting in the budget process. 1986-1995: Treatment Worker II, State of Utah, Department of Human Services, Foster Care; finished a second master’s degree in social work: M.S.W., and passed license test for Certified Social Work; license is current. 1988: Started a business with my husband, called Automated Archives, which digitized genealogy data on CD-ROM. We were the first company to do so. We had to go to music companies to have the CDs copied because no one in the information business was doing what we were doing. The second most important step this company took, based on my recommendation, was to put the national social security index on CD-ROM and include a search engine on the CDs. The cost of the index at that time was $750.00; and it has been developed extensively since then at a much reduced cost. We also traveled together four or five times a year, participating in genealogy seminars throughout the country from Florida to Texas to California, selling products and promoting the CD-ROM industry. 1995: Completed mediation training at Boulder, Colorado. Writings 1997: Life History of Florence Ann Behunin Petty 1997: Memories of Mary Zwahlen and Joseph Henry Behunin. 1997: Family History of Eugene Anderson and Rhea Abigail Stringham (typed and edited). 1998: Grafton: Ghost Town on the Río Virgen. 1998: Behunin Reunion; wrote and directed a family play at the tabernacle in St. George, Utah, on the life of Isaac Behunin; play was video-taped; history was a compilation of previously written histories (typed and edited). 1999: Compilation of histories of Elmer Dean Petty. 2000: Knight Family Historical Collection (typed and edited). 2000: Journal of Isaac Hill (typed and edited). 2001: Journal of William Kilshaw Barton (typed and edited). 2002: History of Albert Petty; his conversion and service to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2002: Martha Ann Miller and Family, Pioneers of Star Valley, Wyoming. 2002: William Stringham and Family. 2003: Life History of Elmer Dean Petty. Church Service 1987-2003: Various callings in Primary, Relief Society and Sunday School. 1999-2000: Home evening parents at the Utah State Prison, Draper, Utah. 2001-2004: Directorship of the Cedar City Multi-stake Family History Center. Development of Socio/Economic/Religious Thought I had an intellectual awakening when I spent a year at Ames, Iowa, working on a doctorate in social psychology. There were several excellent courses and professors at the college that took my thinking beyond the rural ideology which had become a way of life for me. I learned to think in terms of a continuum rather than staunch right or wrong perspectives. Once I understood the variation and patterns of human behavior and social systems, I then developed a framework whereby I could more truly learn to understand others through the process of empathy rather than judgmental right or wrong dogmatic evaluations. At the same time, I began to understand the importance of social order, moral and value systems and ethnic differences. I believe my thinking fully developed when I started working in the field of foster care for the State of Utah. At that time, especially when having contact in the field with real people, situations and problems, I began to learn and understand more fully the various aspects of human behavior. I loved working in the social work field and believed I had a talent and gift in working with people. My experiences since 1985 have been very positive although at times extremely taxing. I tried to capture the opportunity to give clients the option to change their lives for a happier, less stressful life. Most of the time, I believe the intervention was positive for the client, but not always do people take advantage of the opportunity to change their lives. There have been two life-changing events in my life which for which I am extremely grateful from a faith-promoting standpoint: 1) I was directed towards a righteous priesthood leader to be my eternal companion as is stated would happen in my patriarchal blessing; and 2) I learned that my ancestors had been involved in the early development of the Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the true Church of Christ. I am in awe of their courage, convictions and dedication and hope in some way that I can be an example to others and to my posterity in the same honorable way, standing for truth and righteousness. When the St. Louis temple was dedicated, my husband and I felt we needed to be there; we weren’t sure why, but felt it was important. In our session, Elder Russell M. Nelson told us that the day would come when the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings would come back and expect a written and complete history of each family. Then he gave us an apostolic blessing so that we could accomplish that task. The experience for me was profound and changed my expectations about what I was supposed to be doing with my life. Since that time I have compiled several histories of my family. All are incomplete and most have corrections which need to be made. I consider this task will take a lifetime, but I hope to have something written about each one of my ancestors. On that trip we visited some Latter-day historical places. We took the tour from Independence to Far West to Adam-ondi-Ahman and when we visited Nauvoo about that time I started seeing family names that I recognized. I was dumbfounded. I had never been told that my family had lived in Nauvoo, crossed the plains and came into Utah. After I got home, I started checking the origins of my ancestors and realized all but one lived in Nauvoo, and some were involved in the Church from its earliest beginnings, such as William Stringham, who married two of Joseph Knight’s daughters. They had heard the gospel, been converted, joined the Saints and suffered all the persecutions and hardships that are every Latter-day Saints’ heritage, as our noble ancestors fought and sometimes died for their religious beliefs. This knowledge has changed my life and as I have shared it with my siblings and children it has changed their lives also. That is what happens when we come to understand our heritage. It is a life-changing experience. As covenant people, we will come up short if we don’t know our heritage and learn from those past experiences how to better govern our lives. And we have a responsibility to those that follow us to write a history of our lives, particularly faith-promoting experiences. About 1998, when our prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, instructed the Saints to get out of debt, we decided to accept the challenge, simplify our financial holdings and build a retirement home free of debt, where we could work on our genealogy. We sold our mountain home cabin and ten acres at Gooseberry Canyons on the Manti-LaSal and reinvested this money along with some investment money from the software Family Tree Maker on five acres of land and the beginnings of our new home. The property was located at 2191 South 2200 East, Mountain Springs, Utah 84757, just a short distance off from I-15 in Harmony Valley, at mile marker 40 “nie unto Kolob.” We worked on the home until 1999 when we moved in and continued to finish it for a number of years. It includes an archive and substantial office space where we hope to complete our life’s work. Our goal to build the home ourselves as much as possible, pay for it as we go and then dedicate it to the Lord’s work has been accomplished. [It was on July 29, 2014, while Karen was repainting the house after fifteen years of living in it that she fell and caused damage to her brain and insides which ended in her death fourteen months later on September 13, 2015.] Our service mission, as directors of the Regional Family History Center in Cedar City was for three years. It was a very difficult mission because we received very little support from our priesthood leadership. But, as always, when one served the Lord, it was a great blessing to us. We made a difference in the lives of many people by helping them know and understand what we knew and understood about how important family history is to the fulfillment of the three-fold mission of the Church. Our experiences with the Leavitt Family Organization have deepened our understanding of our heritage, both in the family and in the country. Our trip to Canada and New England in the year 2000, and our trip to the Midwest in 2001, wherein we retraced the entire route of the Leavitt family’s migration from Canada to Utah, gave both of us an incredible perspective of what was sacrificed by all of our ancestors to give us the heritage which we now cherish. Our covenant responsibility to preserve the sacred memories of these noble people and pass them on to our descendants who are now in the second and third generation and will soon be in the fourth, weighs heavily on our minds and is a part of our daily activity. We are grateful for the chance to be part of this pivotal responsibility. Our Home in the Kolob Canyon Ward We were living in St. George, at 316 West 500 North when President Hinckley gave a conference address and suggested that there were tough times ahead and he counseled all of us to get out of debt. Lyman and I had been thinking strongly about how we were going to get our house paid for before we retired, which was just a few years away. With Lyman’s self-employment we didn’t want to be in a situation where we didn’t have an income and still owe money on our home. We also had received a small inheritance from my mother which I wanted to invest into something which could remain in the family for many years. I considered that to be sacred money. In addition, we had some mountain property that wasn’t being used and we felt we needed to put that investment to a better use. Since moving to St. George, we seldom had the opportunity to go to the cabin. So we pooled all of our resources and decided to buy as much land as we could for the money we had. We looked all over southern Utah and particularly in Kane and Washington counties, because we wanted to live in a warm climate. We were drawn to the Mountain Springs area and had been for many years. It seemed when we passed the area on our way home from Salt Lake or from the north, that we always were commenting on what a nice place it would be to live. We checked out the area, but didn’t find anything that was for sale that we liked so we decided to buy a new home and an acre of land near the proposed new airport. We were close to signing a contract, had put down earnest money, and then felt impressed to try the Mountain Springs area one more time. We couldn’t see spending as much money for one acre of land as we could buy five acres at Mountain Springs. We decided to see if some of the pieces of land that were not being built on were for sale. We went to the courthouse and found the owners names and called them. About that time, I said to myself, if this is meant to be it will happen and if not it won’t and I will be happy. I repeated that phrase to myself many times as we were purchasing the property and then as we began to make plans to build our home and proceeded to do so doing most of the work ourselves. We figured that if we paid for the property and did most of the building ourselves we could build a home that we wanted for about as much as our home in St. George was costing us. Lyman had had little building experience, but I had built a cabin with my boys and helped my father in his building projects my whole life so I knew enough about building to know that as long as everything was “level, square and plumb,” we couldn’t be too far off. We designed the home ourselves, making plenty of allowance for space, which is important to me and which Lyman needed for his vast collection of genealogy resources. We knew the endeavor would be an act of faith and felt that we would be supported by our Heavenly Father because we were following the counsel of the prophet and because we wanted the home to be a place where people could come and with little or no charge they could do their genealogy. We love our home at Mountain Springs. We love the beautiful views, Pine Valley Mountain and the Kolob Fingers. We love the quietness of the environment and the ability to see wild life every day, breath clean air and see the beautiful sunsets, sunrises and blue sky. We feel peaceful here and protected. We enjoy our neighbors and particularly the war we go to. It is one of the best wards we have ever been to; friendly, and the people are authentic, trying to live the gospel for whatever it takes. This attitude is quite unusual. We have lived in many wards all along the Wasatch Front and feel blessed to be in this ward. We feel that the spirit directed our endeavors to find a place where we could build a home and get out of debt to be free to do what we felt we needed to for the Church. Lyman and I work on genealogy everyday almost all day. He has dedicated his life to developing the science of genealogy and helping people wherever and whenever he can and I have learned by his example. I love family history and reverence my ancestors and feel very blessed to be able to work on things that I really enjoy. Building our home has really been a challenge, one I am not sure I would repeat but one where I would definitely try at least once. We have learned to work together, and learned to disagree and still be friends. There are some things Lyman does really well and some things I do really well, so we compliment each other. However, we are not builders! We are just people with verve! Priesthood Blessings and Journal Entries January 7, 1980. Today Brother John L. Lund, born January 5, 1941, gave me a blessing. He said: As your brother I pray that what I say will not be against what Lord would have me say. Your children will marry well; and although nothing is achieve without a struggle, you will remain together in the gospel and they will be a credit to you. Moving to B.Y.U. is the right thing to do. The house will sell and the Lord will open the way for you to move your family. The Lord will raise up someone to be you eternal companion. He will come forth when the time is right. This will be a natural thing and you will not be forced. It will be a good and natural thing to do rather than a forced situation. The Lord loves you. He has his arms around you and his angels are watching over you. Be conscientious and diligent in your prayers. Study – not only the scriptures, but other books. I am your brother and a holder of the holy Melchizedek priesthood. Afterwards, Brother Lund told me “I love you and want to keep in contact with you;” it was brotherly and sisterly love. Brother Lund’s blessing said: you must get away from your former husband anyway you can. He is doing something he should not do and until be stops he will never enjoy a family life now with his children. This really puzzled me and I thought about it for days. I’ve always suspicioned that Herbert might be different. He has mannerisms that are definitely feminine and he definitely identified with his mother for approval rather than his father. His father was a recessed figure head in his mind – almost like he was ashamed of his father. While we were married I suspicioned Herbert was homosexual, not as if it were apparent, but as if it weren’t and he was trying to disguise something. He would say or do something and it would hit me like “What is he saying; he acts as if he is homosexual.” After the divorce I voiced the opinion many times to friends: “I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if someday I found Herbert was a homosexual because the only person he truly loves is another man.” Cris Lewis was the person I was thinking of at the time. After I had thought about Brother Lund’s blessing for a while, I felt compelled to ask Milse Bertoch, “Is it possible that Herbert is homosexual?” March 27, 1981. John Lewis Lund gave me a blessing at the Logan L.D.S. Institute. He said the follows: 1) that I would be marri3ed; 2) You will know when you see him that he is your eternal companion. The Lord will continue to send people to help you and you in turn will be led to help others; and 3) You and your husband have an important mission to perform – it requires the two of you and your unique personalities to accomplish this mission, based on your past experiences. November 5, 1982. I received a blessing from Elder Neal A. Maxwell which said in part: The Lord will shower blessings upon you and you will know that he loves you; endure well your challenges; you will be cleansed from head to toe by the spirit with God’s love for you; through this cleansing power you will bring others to an understanding of their role and God’s love for them; become assured that your relationship with Heavenly Father is eternal and pure; others will rise up and call us blessed; you will be married; do nothing to bar that moment; that person who you will marry will carry you and your lineage into the eternities forever; your marriage will be a splendid moment; do not concern yourself with temporal things. May, 1983. Elder DeJager. I received a blessing from Elder DeJager as follows: You have the Lord’s blessing. Brent will be protected in coming home. I bless you with a change of heart; receive a witness of him; have the love of the Lord in your life; gain a new outlook on life; I bless you with good health; Brent will receive what he needs to go forward in life; you are an elect lady; you are a chosen spirit; you will be blessed with all the things the Lord requires of you; the Lord will help you build your testimony, faith, endurance, patience and love of others. Understand Brent’s spirituality; be of good cheer; don’t tell negative stories; be the mother in the home; go to the temple; stay close to the Lord. November 13, 1984. I was sitting at my desk contemplating who I might ask about second endowments. Grandma and Grandpa Zwahlen received their second endowments sometime during the early 1900’s. I had heard that the second endowments were recorded somewhere in the Church Office Building. I knew Lyman Platt would know. I had met him earlier – during the winter of 1981. At that time he told me about the records of his personal family. I was impressed. I thought at the time that we should be good friends, but he acted as if he wasn’t the least interested. I talked to him a few times after that and was impressed enough that I remembered him. Many people know him and I heard his name mentioned on several occasions. When his van from Alpine would pass our, his name would be mentioned. At any rate, I was impressed enough to remember him. When I went looking for him that day we talked about second endowments. For some reason I told him about Robert McDougall; said I felt like he was my eternal companion. We talked some more. Finally he asked me why I had come to him. I wasn’t sure other than what I have already mentioned. He saw my spirit and asked me some personal questions and then said “You’ve been through hell haven’t you?” I said yes. And then I asked him about the power of the adversary. He said he could help me with that and offered to give me a blessing. He said he wanted to pray about it. So we made arrangements to meet on Friday at 10:00 a.m. for a blessing. November 16, 1984, Friday. We met as just noted. We talked for a few moments. He very sweetly asked me about Robert McDougall and said that with Robert having had two divorces he didn’t feel like the chances of a third marriage were very good. He also said he perceived I couldn’t stand to be hurt again. I said that I couldn’t. I felt overwhelmed and afraid. He said he would carry that burden fr me and would not let anything happen to me that would hurt or overwhelm me. He also said: “I’m amazed at how much I love you.” So was I. I’ve never been touched like that before – ever. And no one has ever loved me enough to care what happened to me. The truth is that of all my experiences so for with Lyman Platt they are totally unique. I’ve never felt so cared for by anyone. I received a blessing from Lyman D. Platt which said in part: The Lord Jesus Christ loves you entirely. He does not judge you. He knows your pain. He knows how badly you’ve been hurt by unrighteous people. He loves you and would embrace you if he could. You are a noble woman. You are a great spirit. Father in Heaven loves you. Your eternal salvation is partially assured. Service to others will release your pain. Counsel others; bring them to an understanding of Christ’s love for them and of eternal salvation. Surround yourself with righteous people. Do not associate with unrighteous people. Follow Christ’s example. Let others help you. Let others become Christ-like through you. Learn to trust the Lord. Be submissive to his will. Learn to trust explicitly in the gospel. Follow the Lord’s guidance and a protective shield will be over you. November 13, 1984. I inquired of Lyman De Platt about second endowments. November 16, 1984. At the Church Office Building, in the genealogy library, Lyman Platt gave me a blessing. He was in tears, as was I, to the point that neither of us could hardly control our emotions. He said the following: Our Lord Jesus Christ loves you. He looks down on you and your life without criticism or judgment and will do so until the final judgment. He knows of your pain. He knows how badly you’ve been hurt by unrighteous people. He wants you to know that He loves you as I love you and if he could visit you in this temporal world He would embrace you but He cannot; thus he sends me and I embrace and tell you that Christ loves you and accepts you. You are a noble woman in the world of our gospel and among the great spirits. Your eternal exaltation is partially assured because you have returned to righteousness and brought your children with you. Also know that your Father in Heaven sees you, knows you and loves you. The pain of your experiences will leave you as you reach out to others. Bring them to an understanding of Christ’s love for them and of eternal salvation. They will rise up and call you blessed. Service to others will soothe your own pain. Surround yourself with righteous people. Do not let others hurt you. When they mistreat you in an unrighteous way, respond in a Christ-like fashion. Follow Christ’s example always, but do not associate with unrighteous people. Barry will serve an honorable mission. It is a great thing he is doing. He will bring many souls into the gospel. Let others help you and serve you. Give them an opportunity to become Christ-like through you by their service. Learn to trust in the Lord. Be submissive to His will. Follow His guidance and a protective shield will be over you. Learn to trust explicitely in the gospel. I was overwhelmed by this blessing. Lyman Platt and I had the distinct impression we were sent to each other. He said before the blessing that he was amazed at the love he had for me. He said he was totally drained during the last few days and totally drained of the spirit to the point of being physically ill. He had been sick for a day and all through the night. He wasn’t going to come to work, but five minutes before it was time to leave he was awakened by the spirit and told to get up. He remained well so he could give me the blessing. He said he was astonished at his love for me. He told me he would always be there for me. He experienced the pain of all the years I had been hurt with me and I also had the love of Christ for me. He was emotionally overcome and so was I. I cried for several minutes and I might add the rest of the day. No one ever in my entire life has ever told me they loved me enough that they cared what would happen to me and that they would always be there for me and never let me fall out of favor with the Lord – or have me hurt so badly I could not go on or be so overwhelmed that I could not continue. He told me he knew I could not stand to be hurt again and that when I chose someone to love that it should be someone who would not hurt me; someone that sees my eternal spirit and reverences it and understands how important our spiritis are so that we learn to love each other based on our brother and sister heritage, that we are God’s children and that we are all very special. I have the feeling that our eternal partner has more to do with our eternal progression than it does with our love for one person. Loving others is more a day to day affair than it is an eternal search for the answer to our love. The picture of eternal progression is much larger than this and it is not tied to one person but involves many. He told me to be sure my heart and mind were consistent in desire and then I would not be led astray. I have to trust explicitely in the spirit and that Christ will love me and help me always. I don’t know how to bring into my life the comforts of the spirit to help me in these debilitating times. November 19, 1984. I met with Lyman De Platt regarding the blessing he had given me. November 26, 1984. A blessing given over the telephone to Linda Karen Petty Fullerton by Lyman De Platt. A blessing of instruction and comfort. Go see Elder Maxwell – he will give you some instruction; the spirit testifies you should go. He blessed my mind and intellect to be clear about what I should do in the next forty-eight hours. He blessed me that the desires of my heart would come to pass. He told me to feel the love of the Savior as it is expressed through Valerie and me; know that he is watching over you. I was blessed that there would be physical changes as well as assurances in my heart; that I was to keep my spirit free and in tune with the Father so that I would know His mind and His will as He begins to work things in my behalf. I was instructed that as I worked with my bishop if it is done with love and long-suffering I will be blessed a hundredfold. November 27, 1984. I visited with Lyman Platt. On Thursday I realized I loved him and was resisting the spirit. December 3, 1984. I talked with Lyman again about trust and loving one another. December 12, 1984. We visited for an hour – LHVM. 11 JUL 1984 Last night Patty had two dream about her mother dying. Both are recorded elsewhere but are of no consequence. Patty was as involved in the whole psychological milieu the family was in as we all were. 01 AUG 1984 Called Patty and told her about the birth of her sister Natalia. 12 SEP 1984 Patty had an experience with evil spirits this morning which was really frightening for her. She called for me. I left my body, came to her, gave her a hug, told her everything would be all right and left. At that point I then walked physically into the room and Patty and I talked for awhile until she settled down. 03 NOV 1984 Patty is working at Porter's Restaurant in Lehi. 01 DEC 1984 Debbie was baptized today by me. Did my monthly planning, studied Italian, killed 3 rabbits, got a haircut, watched football, worked on doctorate, exercized, did my scripture study, indexed Carhuaz records, prayed with family. Received the obituary of sister Lee from Joan. Took stools to American Fork hospital for Paula. Worked with Danny and Dick Farmer until midnight fixing our new antenna for the television. We can now get 20, 7, 11, 4, and 2 very nicely. 02 DEC 1984 Attended choir practice, gave a report in priesthood meeting, helped with the fast offering collection, continued indexing Carhuaz records, did home teaching, worked on my doctorate, held home evening with my family, studied the scriptures, prayed with the family, studied Latin, Greek, Italian, and did my exercizing. Joe blessed Kallie Jane Platt today. Dad and Irene attended. I confirmed Debbie as follows: Debbie Platt, in the name of Jesus Christ and virtue of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which we hold as Elders of Israel, we place our hands on your head and confirm you a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and say unto you> receive the Holy Ghost. Debbie your Heaven Father is pleased with your desire to be baptized. He love you because of your desire to learn all the commandments. 03 DEC 1984 Exercized, prayer and scripture study, worked on doctorate, indexing Carhuaz. 04 DEC 1984 Exercize, prayer and study, worked on doctorate, attended Greek class. 05 DEC 1984 David Mayfield told me that the Twelve last week approved an amphasis for keeping members personally responsible; using family organizations as a tool not as a scapegoat. He told me there will be re-organization taking place, with his workload increasing. He showed me his plan for his doctorate and I showed him mine. We discussed the developing organization of the Seventy. There was a lot of good spirit passing between us. Indexing will become massive in the near future, on the member level. 06 DEC 1984 Scripture study, worked on doctorate. 09 DEC 1984 Attended choir practice, home teaching, worked on Carhuaz indexing, studied Greek, took Paula to the hospital, worked on doctorate, held family home evening, had an interview with Patty, scriptures and prayers, visited with President Nunley. My weight is at 205 lbs. 11 DEC 1984 Scripture study and prayer, studied Greek, worked on doctorate, took Paula to the hospital. She has an inflammed heart; when we arrived she was skipping every other beat, probably a viral infection. She will need to reat and the problem may last up to five years. As it was when she arrived it could have caused her to die. 12 DEC 1984 Paula still in the hospital. Tests indicated gastroenteritis, stress, heart is still contracting prematurely but much less: paricarditis, all electrolite tests were within normal range, a small ulcer in the stomach, some infection in the stools. Attended Greek class and did home teaching. 15 DEC 1984 Attended the Ward Christmas party with the family and watched a football bowl game. Brought Paula home. 18 DEC 1984 Took Paula to emergency. 20 DEC 1984 All tests for Paula were normal. Attended a school presentation and watched Debbie and Maria Elena perform: O Christmas Tree, I'm the Happiest Christmas Tree, Cactus Christmas Tree, Silver and Gold. 21 DEC 1984 Dr. Dahl came to see Paula. He is a heart specialist. He said the fast heart beat makes her sick but is not damaging her heart. The hormone tests all showed normal. Dr. Greenwood will be checking her today for tracheal, stomach, intestines, etc. Gall bladder is normal. Checked blood pressure, fingers, felt throat, examined throat, eyes, ears, finger test of eyes, lungs, tapping of back, spinal analysis, heart, stomach, breasts, intestines, feet, legs, knees, reflexes, squeezing, ose, touching, eyes closing (balance), walking; conclusions: inflammatory bowel disease (colitis); infection; spastic colitis (caused by irritation of the bowels); giardia has been much more prevalent lately in this area. Heart and bowel problems seem to be separate. 24 DEC 1984 Brought Paula home this morning with orders from the doctor to restrict her activities and try to control her emotions. 30 DEC 1984 Attended tithing settlement. Studied Greek and Latin, extracted Carhuaz names; went home teaching. Faust: Man must strive and in striving he must err. 02 JAN 1985 Attended Greek class. Walked a mile. Took money out of IGHL to print newsletter. 03 JAN 1985 Took IGHL newsletters to press. 04 JAN 1985 Attended Latin class. 05 JAN 1985 The holidays were saddened this year by Paula's sickness. I spent two weeks with her in the hospital. We brought her home Christmas Eve. She has been bedridden since then, getting weaker all the time, having lost twenty-five pounds and not desiring to eat. Her nerves have deteriorated to the point that she cannot sleep except an hour or so each night She has come to accept the possibility that she might die. She has begun writing to each of the children, is anxious to finish her history, has asked the Lord to take her quickly if she is to die, and if she is not suppose to suffer. 06 JAN 1985 We were up all night. Paula released me from my promise of not marrying if she were to die and told me to use my best judgment, to find someone that loved me. I protested but she insisted that she did not want me to try and raise the children alone. She confessed all [as I thought] past and sought forgiveness, mostly from herself. 07 JAN 1985 Took Paula to see Dr. Murdock. She has only slept 4 hours in the last 48 hours. She needs a drug strong enough to knock her out. 12 JAN 1985 Temple experience. Did two endowments and 55 sealings of couples. 13 JAN 1985 Paula continues to get weaker. She feels better generally but this is because she is not eating. We've gone to Dr. Hemmert to see if any reason can be found for her sickness. Today Paula asked me to tell her what Marilyn Deputy is like. After I finished she said: "Well, I guess she would be a better mother for my kids than I am." I told her I had no feelings for Marilyn, that everything that had brought her into my life was the result of her mother's awareness of Paula's health situation. She told me to marry her only if she loved me deeply and if I felt she would treat the children with a lot of love. We discussed marriage generally and concluded with mutual expressions of our feelings, with a desire above all else to do the will of the Lord even if we had to be apart for a few years. Brother F. Leor Griffith cancelled the remaining debt owed him on the house. My sister Irene received her patriarchal blessing today. 14 JAN 1985 Called Karen Petty Fullerton and spent the two and a half hours of Elder G. Homer Durham's funeral discussing the last few days, temple experiences, their possible meanings, feelings about life generally. She is an intelligent, interesting woman and I enjoy talking to her. She has a lot of background experience that can help me with Paula. 16 JAN 1985 Had a dream in the evening. Remodeling an old home. Elevator with three friends. Sunroom in the sky. Paula convalesing. Fence, cemetery. Covey of twelve quail, then only eleven. 17 JAN 1985 The dignity of patience and the virtue of hope revelation was received today. 18 JAN 1985 Took Paula to Utah Valley Hospital. Had her stomach checked -endoscopy - very normal. Dr. feels all problems now are stress related, kicked off in November with a bacterial infection. Paula weighs 110 pounds. I have thought a lot about my conversation with Karen and the experience we had in the temple on the twelfth. I talked to Paula in the evening, confessing my devotion to her, renewing my desires to continue our eternal relationship, and feeling peace of soul for being honest and enjoying a positive response in return. 26 JAN 1985 Today I attended the temple. 29 JAN 1985 I have fasted most of three days to know more fully the will of the Lord. Today I spent a lot of time praying and asking questions. Went to the temple. 30 JAN 1985 Irene and George got their endowments today and were sealed along with James Eric at the Provo Temple. 31 JAN 1985 Stayed home from work. Went to Provo to shop, and to the BYU library to work on my doctorate. 06 FEB 1985 Paula had an operation today to become sterile. She has been recovering slowly from her nervousness. 07 FEB 1985 I talked to Jimmy today about all that has transpired. Diane Deputy called with several dreams about general authorities. Karen Fullerton went to see Elder Maxwell to question him concerning her experiences in the temple. 08 FEB 1985 Paula made a covenant with the Lord that she will do everything necessary to prepare to die and then leave things in his hands. 12 FEB 1985 Paula has had some very rough times with her nerves. She asked me to teach her today what she needed to do if she were to die. I rehearsed my feelings, the revelations she, others and I have received. She became more encouraged with what she will be called to if she does die. 13 FEB 1985 Put Paula back in the hospital, this time in the behavioral health unit. 14 FEB 1985 Had a memorable Valentine's day. Gave Paula a big flower and valentine. 16 FEB 1985 Went to the temple. Had an enjoyable time, beautiful day. 20 FEB 1985 According to Paula my mother appeared to her in a dream at 6:00 a.m. and said: "I don't know why they are doing this to you Paula." Her voice was firm, sweet, and soft. This morning at 12:30 a.m. Casse was born to Kent and Roberta Bylund at Altaview Hospital in Salt Lake City. 17 APR 1985 Life has become too sacred to record for others to read. I can only make brief note to try to retain a sequence of experiences. My life has changed. The less one needs to know the future, the more powerful their faith becomes. 18 APR 1985 Had a personal experience of great and signal import. The voice I knew immediately. 15 MAY 1985 Left for Los Angeles. 19 MAY 1985 Returned from Los Angeles. 07 JUL 1985 Heavenly father, we take this boy in our arms in the manner prescribed to give him a name and a blessing. The name which has been chosen by his parents by which he will be known upon the records of the Church, among his friends and associates is Gordon Alma Platt. Gordon you have been born into a choice lineage. You come through the loins of Joseph and are entitled to all the blessings of the birthright. As you grow to maturity, take that great man as your example. You will have many trials in your life....Spirituality will be your great gift....I bless your parents....I bless you with all blessings to which you are entitled. At the appropriate time you will find a young lady and take her to the Lord's holy house and there be sealed her for time and all eternity. You will live a long and a full life. This and all other blessings I seal upon you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Gordon Leavitt Platt, Edgement 2nd Ward. 18 JUL 1985 Sent off doctorate. 27 JUL 1985 Left at 11:30 arrived 12:08 Los Angeles. 28 JUL 1985 Left at 3:00 arrived 4:08 San Francisco. 30 JUL 1985 Left at 6:10 arrived 8:41 Salt Lake City. 04 SEP 1985 Gave a speech at the Sons of the Utah Pioneers on Early LDS records. 12 OCT 1985 Library closed for moving between today and October 24th. 19 NOV 1985 Cynthia arrived. 20 NOV 1985 Cynthia's birthday. 26 NOV 1985 Cynthia left. 30 NOV 1985 Moved material to my place from Karen's 02 DEC 1985 Karen moved. Paula got my gun and threatened suicide. xx DEC 1985 Chase Hamblin was born this month in San Jose, California to my daughter Patty. He was given up for adoption to the Hamblin family, who have had him sealed to them. 20 JAN 1986 This morning while praying I received an answer that I've been asking about for a year. I wasn't praying about it at the time, nor had I thought about it recently, but all off a sudden a flash of knowledge poured into my mind and I knew that what I had experienced on January 12, 1985 was given to me as a blessing. The answer was then taken from my mind until two days later. 22 JAN 1986 The experience of two days ago was restored to my mind this afternoon and it became even more clear that it is not of my own thinking or doing. Today David Mayfield interviewed me for a position over Latin America which I had seen in a previous revelation. 23 JAN 1986 This morning Paula told me she had a dream in which I was touching and hugging another woman. Paula raised the issue in the dream with my mother, who was in another room. Mother didn't believe it. They both came to see and I reportedly said to mother: "She's just jealous because I don't give her the same affection." Paula perceived that I was perturbed about something and asked me if I had anything to tell her. She persisted until I told her what I had experienced on January 20th. She was shocked and hurt and said several unkind things. She later suggested that we fast and keep our temple appointment. 25 JAN 1986 Last night I was told by Paula that she was through with me in all husband-wife relationships. That afternoon as we went to the BYU/Utah game we talked about our differences. I agreed to repent if I found myself in error and she agreed to support me and trust me to do what was right and if I erred she agreed to stand by me through any repentence process. Through all that I have experienced in the past year and as is noted in the recording of the next few months, I tried to look at Paula, our relationship - unholy as it was - and the possibilities of its continuing eternally as a positive, viable and approved relationship, based on what I knew from the scriptures, from policy, procedure, and teachings of the Church. All that I experienced with Paula what slanted and colored by the fact that she was an unworthy daughter and refused to repent. Satan was continually involved in our relationship and our trials because of this. Much of my reporting during this time, therefore, do not pass the test of time, were false understanding, and show not only the confusion resulting from my unrighteous relationship with my wife, but also how hard I was straining to place righteous meaning into the relationship and in so doing failing to grasp the full extent of what was happening to me. Looking back after years of additional events have clarified that period of time, I am astounded at how much happened on both ends of this spectrum of reality. 12 FEB 1986 Nadine Timothy called me today, thanking me for the blessing I gave her yesterday and saying that Chris was very grateful to me for saving their marriage. 12 FEB 1986 Patty got engaged today to Drew Hamblin. Paula stated she had a marvelous experience with the Lord in which he spoke to her on several occasions with regard to the trial she is passing through. The information is contained in her journal. Blessing given to myself by Jimmy B. Parker. Lyman D. Platt, by the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which I hold and in the name of Jesus Christ, it is my privilege to place my hands upon your head and calling upon the powers of heaven to give you a blessing. Lyman, our friendship and love has deepened over the years and in humility, because of your trust in me I humbly seek the Spirit so that I can say to you what the Lord desires. Lyman, I bless you that your mind, spirit and whole being will be prepared and quickened so that you will receive the full guidance that Heavenly Father will give you to meet the challenges and trials the next few hours will bring. Obviously the Lord trusts you, is pleased with you and desires to bless you. You have the confidence of his servants and they have told you things that are meant to bless you. Keep these things in mind but don't dwell on them. Use them for stability as events transpire and as your life is rocked with the problems that you will need to handle. With that foundation and with the experiences you have described to me in the last few minutes, plus those that you haven't described but have felt and learned from, you will be able to handle all that is given to you. You will be able to thwart Satan and will be able to respond to the Lord as you should. All of these things are for your spiritual good. They are for your knowledge and experience, so that you will be able to handle further events and will be able to use your abilities to counsel others. I bless you with the blessings of the priesthood that are within my power to give. By using that power you will never go wrong in this life or in the eternal worlds. I bless you with a compassionate, understanding, and empathethic heart, to help others along the path to eternal life. One more blessing that you need is that of physical strength and health, to meet the challenges and to have the ability and strength for the daily activities and the specific activities you have to undergo as well. Lyman, the Lord loves you deeply and sincerely and wants you to be told that once more. These blessings I pronounce upon you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 15 FEB 1986 Last night Paula and I went to the temple after a severe trial. I had received information indicating that at the beginning of our marriage we had injected into our relationship an element of unrighteousness that had caused us to grow without a true bonding of our spirits. The Lord has given us one more chance to begin the bonding again, this time centering totally in the Savior. He has brought us both to our basic character, showing us our weaknesses, that we might become strong. This morning as I prayed for Paula I was stopped because of what she said on the 14th: that her trials with the Lord were her concern and she would deal with them. As I have prepared myself spiritually during the last few days, having fasted for the most of three days, I was taught by the spirit, tempted by evil spirits, received visions and came to a perfect knowledge of my standing before God. I learned the difference between the various forces affecting my life: the Holy Spirit - a force of positive spiritual energy; evil spirits - forces of negative spiritual energy; my own positive and negative forces, neither of which have energy flows associated with them that I could perceive. This knowledge will be very valuable to me in the future. A vision opened to my view in which my mother, who has never directly influenced my life since her death, came into my consciousness, beckoning me to follow her, which I did. We were instantly at the head of a seemingly endless field both sides of which were lined with spectators rising in tiers to an unseen height in the dimness. On the right side all were dressed in white, were animated, positive, interested in my welfare and success, the individuals nearest me being my deceased relatives, with mother nearest to me in the front of the viewing area. On the left I perceived a powerless, dark, unseen mass of evil spirits. I was encouraged by my mother to walk forward with all confidence, trusting the Lord, having faith in myself and what I have perceived as truth, that the battle would be won, that the forces of righteousness were awaiting my success. Both the preceeding and following visions were enshrouded in a dimness that the Spirit told me was my own spiritual weakness, that I had passed my trials sufficiently to receive these blessings, but that I still lacked spiritual maturity. Between the first and last vision I had glimpses of several different groups of spirits viewing me. Circles of individuals looking from heaven through conduits, spirits on the western horizon watching and waiting, individual spirits flashing before my mind's eye, one being dressed in white, extending his arm to me to assist me and lead me towards a destination known only to him. The final vision was an answer to my prayers of many months. I was standing at the southern end of a very large cathedral-like chapel, with an unseen high-vaulted ceiling, enshrouded in the dimness. Both sides of the aisle that lay before me down the center of the building were filled to capacity with people sitting in rows, awaiting the forthcoming event. Both on my right and on my left, the ends of the rows were enshrouded in the dimness. At the far end of the aisle I saw what appeared to be a heavenly being sitting on an elevated throne. As I tried to see more clearly through the dimness, for an instant it appeared that there were two thrones and two heavenly beings, the brightness of their majesty being the most obvious focal point in the dimness. I was told by the spirit that this was my coronation and that I was to proceed forward and receive my crown. 16 FEB 1986 Sunday. Paula and I spent three hours reading and pondering chapter two of Elder Maxwell's book All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience. 01 MAR 1986 Spent the day in the mountains, the day being sunny and beautiful. I rested most of the day, cut some wood, did some sledding and generally enjoyed the peace of my surroundings. 04 MAR 1986 Today on the way to work I had a marvelous experience while I was praying. I felt the love of God overshadow me, and a forgetting of all negative experiences with Paula replaced the hurt. I began to know how God can completely forget if a person repents. 07 MAR 1986 Having arrived at a point in my search for the innumerable company of angels, the general assembly and Church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn (D&C 76:67) I have found that I can go no further by anything that I can do and so today I placed my talents on the altar as my bid for eternal life, as is suggested in my patriarchal blessing. Then began the struggle with Satan. Being basically defenseless as to spiritual strength, I had to rely on the will of the body which has learned to submit in all things to the spirit. And although my spirit still resides within me and gives life to the body, it feels powerless to sustain the body in spiritual things. Being this brought to a lowly state of mind where my heart feels broken and my spirit useless and contrite (not in the normal sense of sorrow for sin, but rather of total subjection to the will of my Lord), Satan attacked me in my night visions, making me to feel an absolute reality, of everything being lost, of the falseness of my instructions from the Lord, of the rightness of rebellion and total disregard for all things spiritual. It was thusly that I struggled through the night. With the new day, having overcome his every temptation, I was told by my wife that a voice had spoken to her during the night saying: "You will die within a week." The spirit thus gives testimony to my battle but continues to require more of me as it withdraws and Satan unleashes his fury on my wife. She returns to her old ways of sarcastic, cutting, meaningless tirades that bring my whole being to a point of utter helplessness. In this state I am reminded of the lecture on faith which says: "When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth's sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do his will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, that he has not, nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life." Thus, having placed all that I possess as a sacrifice upon the altar of my heart, I am guaranteed the faith to lay hold on eternal life and through faith to endure to the end and receive the crown that is laid up for those that love the Lord. The battle with Satan left me so weak that I could not pray until Sunday morning and then only one line: "If I am to be saved I must be given strength to continue the battle." These words were accompanied by an outpouring of the spirit. I was nourished, arose, wrote down my experiences of the last three days and then relapsed to my bed. In the afternoon of Sunday I told the Lord I was ready to take on Satan with just my physical abilities. Ten minutes later Ron Newberry came by and I spent two hours fighting Satan. Having been left totally drained from this experience, nevertheless I felt that I had overcome the world and through faith would be enabled to obtain the end of my faith, even the salvation of my soul. 11 MAR 1986 Today I gave Nadine Timothy a blessing which I refrain from recording out of deference to her privacy and her own struggles at the time 16 MAR 1986 17 MAR 1986 Today I received a letter from Nadine as follows: Dear Lyman, there are many things that I need to tell you. You are a blessed and choice person. You have given me strength when I was weak. There have been so many thoughts come to me about you and how lucky I am to know you. Some of the things I need to say to you, I have already said, but I must repeat them. The Lord loves you very much. He only chastens those whom he loves, and if it hurts, he will support you. The blessing you gave me last week, was an important event for more than one reason. I needed to be healed immediately, and I was. I would not have lived through surgery.... Please remember that everything is going exactly the way the Lord has it planned. No matter what you feel for Paula, you cannot change her. Change can only come from inside someone. I know that if you think about her it will hurt, but you cannot blame yourself for the way things have turned out. The Lord doesn't blame you and neither do those people that really matter.... I know exactly where she is coming from, and I know how unhappy she has made you. I don't judge her for it. I pray for her soul, and I pray for the Lord to be merciful to you. I trust you with my life, but I know that you can't trust me completely yet. I am only a newly found friend and you don't really know me. You can't trust me until this is all over. 2 APR 1986 Today I received another letter from Nadine Timothy as follows: Dear Lyman, sometimes I'm not very good at expressing gratitude, especially in verbal terms. And I do want you to know how much I appreciated your time last night. I thought that Karen might have called you and told you the things that were happening in my relationship with Chris, but I realize now that she did not. You gave me all the keys that I needed, exactly when I needed them. You and Karen counseled me through the most difficult twenty-four hours of my life. Things are very strained between Christ and me right now, and he doesn't want to have to deal with my spiritual and emotional growth. He is trying to be righteous, but the more he tries to force me toward his type of spirituality, the further he pushes me away from him. Thanks again, I love you lots. 30 APR 1986 Today I received another letter from Nadine Timothy as follows: Dear Lyman, you dear, kind man. I have held some things in my heart that I must say to you, and now is the time. The Lord has chosen you unto himself as a special son above his other children on the earth at this time. He didn't choose you, nor did he bestow his love upon you because of man. He chose you because you are humble and teachable and because of your great love for him. Because he loves you he has promised to bring you out of this pit by the power of his hand. The Lord is God and he will keep his promise and show his mercy on those that love him and keep his commandments. He will repay those that hate you face to face. Please don't lack in faith. The Lord loves you and will bless you and multiply you I promise. This trial is but a short time, and if you endure it well, He will add glory upon you forever and ever. Remember, better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. For a friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. When I look at you and see the pain in your eyes and in your face it breaks my heart. I have sought to find something that I could give you that would be of comfort, but I have nothing to offer. I can only give you my constant and abiding faith, hope, and charity. Although the journey is long, and the way seems hard, the destiny is within reach and the end is in sight. 19 MAY 1986 The warm season is finally here. The garden has survived and is doing well but all our fruit except the apples has been killed. I've had bronchitis for two weeks and am getting behind. I am doing well on my books - a nine-volume work on Latin America, the Utah Marriage Study, etc. 11 JUN 1986 Paula awakened me at 5:00 a.m. There were no questions about how I was, or whether or not I had resolved feelings expressed in my note. She asked controlling questions: Where have you been? Where is your briefcase? I did not feel love but resentment; no feelings for my welfare, but only for herself. She gave me a nice card but nothing personalized. I gave her nothing but my note on the 7th. 13 JUN 1986 At 9:43 a.m. the phone rang. I answered it. No answer on the other end. The light stayed on after I hung up indicating the other person was still on the line. This has been happening quite a bit lately. I suspect it is Paula checking up on me. Today I loaned Karen $830.00 and she had a cashier's check cut at the LDS Credit Union for that amount to pay for a notice of default on her property: The undersigned, hereby cancels the notice of default filed for record May 23rd, 1986, and recorded in Book 270, pages 890-892, records of Sanpete County Recorder, with recorders Entry No. 284604, Sanpete County, Utah. Which notice of default refers to the trust deed executed by Karen Fullerton, as trustor, and in which the LDS Church Employees Credit Union, a Utah Corporation is named as beneficiary, and in which David A. McPhie is named as trustee, and which was filed for record July 26th, 1984, and recorded in Book No. 254, pages 906-907, in the records of Sanpete County, with recorder's Entry No. 276013. Said deed of trust concerned the real estate which may be more particularly described as: The South half of Lot 96, Gooseberry Canyons Subdivision, as recorded in the official plat thereof, recorded in the office of the Sanpete County Recorder.... Dated this 16th day of June, 1986. David A. McPhie (signed), Trustee. The cancellation was signed by David A. McPhie and a notary public as is found in Karen's Documents, #50. 16 June 1986 18 JUN 1986 Dr. Scoresby indicated again today that I have a serious behavioral problem. The two themes that he identies as being of concern to him are: 1) why the need to resolve conflicts that come into my life internally, and 2) why the emphasis on duty rather than feelings as the motivational force for doing things. 21 JUL 1986 Today I wrote a letter to Bishop Staples as follows: The stake executive secretary called today for an appointment with the stake president. I told him I did not wish to talk to him. I could not explain the the reason to Paul. You told me the stake president had turned this matter over to you. Until you tell me otherwise I do not have any reason to talk to President Stowe. Will you please relay that information to him at your convenience. Thank you. Lyman D. Platt P.S. Dr. Scoresby is working with me. He says I have some problems. Please leave me alone until I work things out with him. 25 JUN 1986 Paula and I met with Dr. Scoresby. Paula accused me of lying, duplicity, etc., having talked yesterday to the bishop (and of other earlier occasions), plus by her own admission, to the stake president. She called Karen's home about six times daily during the four days I was gone and got no answer. She had said she wouldn't go to the leaders again. She had said she wouldn't check on me through phone calls. I told Dr. Scoresby what was happening with my priesthood leaders and asked him to intercede. He said he would. Free agency demands life continue. If it is an unrighteous path that is pursued, it must be pursued until the person ripens in iniquity. 26 JUN 1986 Dr. Scoresby called President Stowe, who has been temporarily neutralized. He told President Stowe that he had to remove the pressures from me. President Stowe called Karen a predator. He promised the bishop would withdraw also. Dr. Scoresby talked to me. He told me that removal of the pressure would cause one of two responses: 1) I would run amuck and tell everyone to go to hell; 2) I would stay steady as problems are worked through. He told me that if I was having any contact with Karen, which I told him I wasn't, to stop it for awhile, so that the emotional process is not cluttered with outside influences. He told me that Paula is bent on proving me wrong. He told me her answers represented her values and desires, that mine were honest, and represented a lot of strong feelings. He said that Paula needs to pay attention to my strong feelings. She is feeling an intense need to catch me and thereby keep me. Dr. Scoresby feels that that will push me away more quickly. He asked me to hold steady. I told him I had no intention of doing anything else. 01 JUL 1986 Elder Lee gave me a blessing today. Among other things he said: "You have been blessed with many great gifts like those possessed by the prophets of former dispensations. Stand valient in the witness of what you have received. These gifts have always been hated by the wicked. They have killed the prophets because of them. I bless you with the gift of faith, faith in yourself, and in the Lord. Do not fear man, but only the Lord. Follow the Savior no matter what the consequences, even if it is necessary to leave your wife, and brothers and sisters, yes, and even your children. For the Lord has said: 'If ye love father & ... ye are not worthy of me. If this course of actions becomes necessary I bless you that you will not waiver. "Forgive all men their trespasses against thee. Don't be colorblind. Use your great gifts to bless all mankind. Cause the blind to see and the lame to walk. "The Church in many parts has lost the power of the priesthood and the gifts of the spirit. It is corrupt. God is very displeased. We are off course in many ways. We must return to the Lord, seek his face and regain his spirit. "From this time forward Satan will have no power in your life." 07 JUL 1986 Bore witness this morning against Paula's position and told her that my sure witness will not change, that if she does not change, we will begin to separate. 08 JUL 1986 Addison [changed to Garrison] Woodbury Platt was born this morning to McKay and Pam. He has a defective heart and is not expected to live long. 09 JUL 1986 Gave a blessing to Jimmy's Joshua. Assisted Ron Newberry with his battle against Satan. Talked to Sister Perry. Derek Metcalf asked Jimmy detailed questions about me. 10 JUL 1986 Visited with Dr. Lynn Scorsby today. The lines between Paula and I are hardening. This evening Paula told me that she had received further witness that her position was righteous, that she has no more obligation to discuss my position with others. I bore testimony one more time of my position: the gift of healing, blessings, what these mean versus her position. 11 JUL 1986 I had an appointment with Janice Kapp Perry but she and Ron Newberry spent all afternoon with Elder Brockbank. Afterwards they came to see me but I had gone home. As she stood and looked at the picture of my family she claims she saw a vision of things as they are and as they will become. She related these things to me the following evening. She told me that Paula had denied her God, that she had influenced several of the children for evil, that if she would repent I might have her again. She felt she would not and she said she saw superimposed in Paula's place another woman who would make things as happy in the family as they had been unhappy. She felt the love and sweetness of the union, the even match necessary for the great mission ahead, which she said she saw affecting millions of souls. As I talked to her she bore a firm assurance that things would be as she had seen, that the marriage would not end in divorce, but that it would end if repentence didn't come quickly. [So much for her prophetic nature.] 12 JUL 1986 Spent four hours with dad bearing testimony and discussing his concerns. Talked for an hour with Herschel Pederson. Talked with sister Perry for several hours in company with Ron Newberry. Certainly Satan is aware of our situations and is laying in wait to entrap us in a snare. He is sending very astute generals to push us off course. Our testimonies must be firm. We are not fallen, corrupt or deceived but are closer to God than at any time in our lives. The fruits of the spirit are plainly manifest. The witness is sure. In discussing things with dad, he confirmed Dr. Scorsby's idea that I have some negative feelings for those who oppose me. He told me grandpa Lyman was an authority; that he (dad) and I learned from him and became authorities ourselves. We have not bowed to anyone. He feels few are my equals but whenever I'm opposed I withdraw into myself and esteem them as an enemy. 15 JUL 1986 On October 24, 1982 I received a vision which culminated several days of opposition. Thus began 1260 days of attack ending on April 4, 1986 with a breaking of covenants. This covenant breaking lasted for thirty days. Then was established the abomination of desolation, the desecration of the temple in earnest, the pleas of the ungodly to Christ, the using of priesthood power to cover sin, and the using of office to exercise unrighteous dominion. Three of those involved were released during this period of time. At the 1335 day the Savior revealed himself in type and saved the condemned. Then began thirty days of mourning for the unrighteousness of the past. 16 JUL 1986 Addison died today about 3:00 p.m. Paula was taken to emergency with an intense pain in her knee. 19 JUL 1986 Held a burial service in Provo for Garrison Woodbury Platt who was born in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington. McKay had decided on this name instead of Addison. 21 JUL 1986 Patty is twenty. She says she's coming home from Fremont, California. 28 JUL 1986 Life is very complicated and sad. I find it hard to want to go on. Every aspect of life is being tested. I have no desire to go on. 30 JUL 1986 Dr. Scoresby corrected Paula today for making evaluation statements in our interviews. He said he felt that I should be able to maintain my integrity without hurting others. However, he wants Paula to give me the freedom to make whatever decision I choose. He doesn't feel revelation from God will ever limit freedom of those to whom the receiver shares it. Dr. Scoresby doesn't feel that Paula has rebelled against my revelations but against my dogmatic stands which took away her free agency. He asked us to continue to see him three times a week. I talked with Paula after the session. She feels more comfortable following the Church than me. She says I am wrong in everything I have received, but says she will continue to pray about things. 01 AUG 1986 Natalia is 2 today. Charlene Hobbs came in to see me today. We talked for two hours. I gave her a blessing prior to her receiving her endowments, at her request. Today I also gave two blessings to sisters Diane and Phyllis Petty at their request. They are Karen's sisters and were in town visiting her. I had never met them and after their visit and the blessings they returned to visit with her. They were impressed, I guess, at Karen's admiration of my love and concern for people in need and they are both experiencing problems. 03 AUG 1986 Today in Fast and Testimony Meeting I bore my testimony to the family and to the ward. 04 AUG 1986 9:40 a.m. Karen received a phone call and a hang up. She called me to inform me that she was being molested again by Paula. She also took the occasion to bring me up to date on her activities: IRS lean, two job rejections, sick, expected to be rejected on another job. Paula is sick with cramps. The bishop hired the three older boys for one week. Natalia is also sick. Paula laid into tonight and stressed that I needed to be more loyal and more righteous. 05 AUG 1986 At 11:15 a.m. Paula called Karen again and hung up. Because of this continual harrassment, Karen called me and told me she was going to leave the area and move where Paula couldn't get ahold of her. Several days later she moved to another apartment somewhere in Salt Lake City. Paula had a bilious attack during the day. Her tongue turned black/green. She said she was disgusted with my conversation of the other day, whatever that meant. In discussing it with one doctor, he said it might be a very bad bacterial attack, or an attack by an evil spirit. He said: "It's disgusting how some people walk around with dead spirits." Despite the fact that I hald told her on the phone yesterday that I was sick, she did not inquire as to how I was feeling tonight. 10 AUG 1986 Paula received her recommend today. She also fought with me most of the day. The buffeting was quite severe. At 6:00 p.m., after she returned from the stake president's interview, I presented to her what she had asked for earlier. She has wanted "in" as she called it, to my supposed circle of friends and knowledge. Knowing her deceitful nature of late, I proposed six questions to her that I felt I had to have answered before I could agree to her request. I asked her: "Will you covenant to keep anything that passes between us to yourself?" If she answered "yes," I would ask her one question; if "no," I would drop the matter. She said she wanted to think about it. 11 AUG 1986 This morning at 6:20 Paula answered my question of yesterday. She is not willing to make a covenant to keep things we discuss between us. She feels sad we cannot, therefore, progress together spiritually in many ways but hopes to in small ways. 12 AUG 1986 There was a 10 minute hailstorm in Highland today that damaged a lot of the crops and in American Fork destroyed or damaged cars, businesses, windows, etc. Paula challenged me today on a loan I have taken out and wanted to know what it was for. I told her it was none of her business at this point. I am recording the following not to validate myself, but to place things that were happening to me in the perspective of how others were influencing me at this time in ways that were not beneficial to my spiritual well-being. Jimmy bore me a witness today of his knowledge. Phil Dunn did the same. He said that on two occasions two hours apart a messenger had visited him and bore witness of me. He was told that I would be a great leader - the thoughts that came to him were "savior," "president of the Church." Both times the experience was accompanied with a great outpouring of the spirit. As he was pondering the two experiences he received a third. He said his thoughts were on me and that as he focused his feelings he heard a voice. The presence reappeared and gave him the same message as before. 13 AUG 1986 John Kitzmiller showed me a study he has been making on royalty. He is a good researcher. 15 AUG 1986 Cynthia Eisenga called and told me that she has to lock me away in her heart, that she needs to stop seeing me to give her future husband a chance. Her bishop knows what is in her future. She will be receiving her patriarchal blessing. She wants to be friends after awhile. The blessing I gave her promising her a husband and children began to change her feelings. The bishop has helped her along that road also. He is a good man. I'm grateful to have helped Cynthia find herself, to have been able to give her the kind of love she needed to get over her past life and begin a new and beautiful future. This is a hard process and many women take charity as sexual love. 18 AUG 1986 Paula tried to seduce me tonight. I withstood her advances. "By his sin of covetousness I was provoked; I struck him and hid my face in anger when he strayed by following the ways of his heart. Yet I have seen his conduct and will recover him; I will guide him and amply console him and those who mourn him." 19 AUG 1986 Paula made her initial move which she says will lead to a resolution or divorce. She moved out of our bedroom. 20 AUG 1986 Paula tried to get back into bed this evening. Julie asked me for a blessing which I gave her. 21 AUG 1986 Diane Deputy asked me for a blessing which I gave her. I later had lunch with Dale. We had an excellent discussion on life and our reactions to it. I saved his life when he was going through his divorce. He is very grateful. Diane Deputy called later and said she had prayed and that the Lord had said: "Paula will never change." She assured me of her support and trust. In the evening Paula forced her way back into the bedroom and said she was going to sleep in the bed whether I liked it or not. 22 AUG 1986 Paula forced a kiss upon me this morning. In the evening she challenged my testimony of events on the way home from Education Week. Karen called me and told me she had received a witness of receiving a job in preparing for her future in helping the poor. I expressed my pleasure at this breakthrough in her life and encouraged her to continue being patient in her trials. I didn't ask her where she was living and she didn't volunteer it. 23 AUG 1986 Spent the day in Salt Lake working on research accounts and talking to friends. 24 AUG 1986 Dr. Smith, University of Utah, gave us six rules for rational thinking: 1) based on obvious fact, 2) helps to protect you from probable harm, 3) helps avoid significant conflict with others, 4) helps achieve short and long-term goals, 5) helps you habitually feel the way you want to feel, 6) helps you to do what you believe is good and morally right. I had a significant fight with Paula and her mother this evening. One of the contentions brought up in the argument was that Paula couldn't accept the fact that anything happened in the temple between Karen and me and wanted me to deny that it had happen. She continues to dwell on this issue even though I have tried to leave it alone and let events take whatever course is right. There are those who feel I am Prince David and this bothers her as well. I have shared all that has happened in this area with her and don't pay any significant attention to it, but she can't leave it alone. She seems to want to make it an issue and to try and prove that it is not true. I hope that it isn't. I have no desire for that kind of a position. I realize I have been wrong in sharing everything with my wife. She is obviously my enemy. 25 AUG 1986 Gave Julie another blessing at her request. A number of people in my life at this time are exercizing unrighteous dominion, trying to control me, are using various means to do so: Paula as my wife, Diane Deputy uses prayer; Ron uses friendship; sister Perry uses knowledge; Nadine uses weaknesses; Jana uses gifts of the spirit. 31 AUG 1986 I feel with all that is happening to me and with regard to those who are fighting against me to say as did Micah (6:8) Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly. I feel impressed that any judgment rendered against anyone should help corret a behavior or it should not be brought to bear. I feel that home teaching will prepare us for the millenium and the divine patriarchal order. I was attacked by Paula tonight: vicious and total. She regrets our marriage. She cannot accept anything I feel or say as having any validity. 05 SEP 1986 Paula nearly forced me into a corner today but then backed off all of a sudden right at the point where she had seemingly won. Although I am not making it a matter of importance in my own life, Paula says she cannot accept any friendship or association with Karen and then says she can accept anything and everything else. As noted on the 31st, it is obvious she is in a tremendous state of fluctuation, and doesn't really know what she is saying or doing. 06 SEP 1986 I spent the day in the mountains by myself trying to understand the events that are surrounding me and contemplating what it all means. 07 SEP 1986 Patty is trying to defend her fornication by praising Drew's virtues. She is not in a state of repentance and it is hard to support her because of that. I had a number of impressions that fill out most of the typologies that I have not understood previously. 08 SEP 1986 I asked Paula to find out what the truth was about Patty. [I have come to understand since that she already knew everything she needed to and refused to share it with me.] 09 SEP 1986 Tonight I had an argument with Bruce. Paula, Bruce, Patty and Juan went shopping and left me without asking whether I wanted to go or not. 11 SEP 1986 Spent the morning on the 22nd floor of the Church Office Building in prayer and contemplation of my problems with the family and tried to get some feeling as to what I should do. One of the things I determined was the all persons have a right to respond to righteousness or unrighteousness on whatever level they choose. Everyone in positions of responsibility have an obligation to help this occur. Some will play games, some will respond in righteousness, some will attack. Some will have an attitude change, some will have a behavioral change. I must ask for forgiveness for any unrighteousness on my part and make restitution where I can. My main problem in all that is happening is that I believe what people say rather than watching their behavior. I have the worst problem in this area with my wife. She is very devious and manipulative and has no feeling of love or concern for me. She is only interested in hiding her past and playing her games. 12 SEP 1986 Other ideas that have come to me since yesterday include: 1) Paula needs a stable emotional environment, 2) the children need quality time with their parents, particularly with me, 3) I need personal alone time to sort through my own problems, 4) I need after work research time, and 5) there are mental and spiritual problems affecting the children, some of which I am not aware of and am not being told. My friend Charlene Hobbs received her endowments today. I did not go, but expressed my happiness at her progress 15 SEP 1986 Paula called at 11:30 about peaches. What a jerk. Doesn't she realize I see through her games all too clearly. 16 SEP 1986 Patty was crying when I got home tonight. Paula was sick and uncommunicative. Her nerves are bothering her but she won't tell me why. 18 SEP 1986 Spent another four hours on the 22nd floor in contemplation, study and prayer. I spent the afternoon with Jose and Michael. Paula expressed to me this evening after I asked her how her day was that she is never happy, is waiting to die even though the Lord does not take her, and finds no desire to live. Ron's daughter was hit broadside by another car. She had to be cut out. She was unconscious. She walked out of the hospital okay. 25 SEP 1986 Patty decided to get married in November. Today we had a family portrait and Lyman Dee's setting. 26 SEP 1986 Paula and I discussed her philosophy of life. She wanted children more than love; she feels she wants to die because she doesn't feel the spiritual union that would give her the physical. She is more concerned about Patty's getting married for Paula's self image. The Dead Sea Scrolls are obsessed with the idea of times of iniquity, a time allotted for Satan to tempt mankind, and times for suffering of various kinds. And there is the cycle: you mustn't hasten the time and you mustn't delay the time - it is always a warning to us. There are times of suffering and times of punishment. All times are exactly prescribed from the beginning: they belong to a plan. OTS 127-128. Measurement is the very essence of creation. Creation is the progressive organizing of material from the center out. 30 SEP 1986 Faye Leavitt walked into my office today and tried to kiss me on the cheek. I told her to leave. She sat down and flirted around for a few minutes. She tried again to kiss me as she left. She kept saying "I know how you feel about me." We will be friends again, etc. I told her I wanted nothing to do with her, that she was a deceiving, malicious, pathetic excuse for a member of the Church, holding a temple recommend, and ready to jump into bed with anything that moved. I told her that I had found out her real intentions and wanted nothing to do with her. 06 OCT 1986 Patty went on a three hour tirade today. I made a call to dad. Paula is totally opposed to my feelings about Patty's unrepentant situation. 07 OCT 1986 Encrustation around festers on the spirit caused by abuse, sin, and negligence, create an inability on the part of the spirit to break through. Efforts must be made to break down the encrustations in order for change to take place. 08 OCT 1986 Elder Lee told Ron Newberry to stay close to me. He set up an appointment with welfare square. He said the brethren are softies; said we would be calling the members to repentance. He said I have an important work in the last days. 06 NOV 1986 I talked to Paula this evening. I told her and Patty, who was listening, that I had decided I would come to the wedding if they still wanted me to come, but that I would only do so as a spectator, not wanting to participate in the ceremony in any way. They told me not to come then. 07 NOV 1986 Patty was married today to Dru Hamblin in the Highland Third Ward by Bishop Staples. I worte a letter to my father. 06 FEB 1987 During the evening I had an additional feeling concerning my relationship with dad. It is very possible that my inability to work with my boys on the farm in a way that is meaningful is associated with this and is an over-reaction to the feeling of needing (being expected) to lead out, to set the standard, the example, for the family. 25 FEB 1987 Dead Dad: February has been the most exciting month of my life in some ways. Despite the trials, the knowledge of my own weaknesses and the reasons for them has given me cause to rejoince. I am particularly pleased with what I see as a major breakthrough in our relationship. Even though it has not been bad, I see a potential for great spiritual strides now. The Lord's forgiveness is always open to us but we many times fail to appreciate the extent we have to go to receive the total cleansing. For example, the things we have discussed lately have all been forgiven technically but we had not taken the final steps to restore as much as possible that which was lost. In your case it was lost spirit and because of this I see some sense now to Dr. Scoresby's frustrations at several parts of my personality. As your eldest son it was natural that I would receive the brunt of your personal turmoil. I speak from experience as I review my own inadequacies and how Patty received the results of my weaknesses. Your feelings of unrighteousness have caused you to request of me a leadership and spirituality that went beyond a normal expectation. As a result I developed a sense of duty that was distorted. Add to the situation my own unrighteousness and that sense of duty becomes further distorted. As these frustrations at you and with myself built over the years I tended to internalize my feelings. These two quirks in my personality have been cause of a good deal of my problems. I do not lay the blame on you any more than on myself, but I see now a chance to try and change our positions and become more truly spiritual. I forgive you dad and love you with all my heart. I want a father who is my spiritual counselor. I have felt that role develop more fully of late and see no reason why it cannot become complete. This letter is undoubtedly simplistic in its analysis but there is a thread of truth that has been uncovered that will continue to become clearer. Thank you for your support. Love, Lyman. February 25, 1987 Dear Patty: I love you sweetheart and I miss you very much. A lot of things have happened in the last few months and I feel a need to write to you. I have not been a good father to you in many ways and I am beginning to understand this finally. Even though I have always felt justified in my position, my spirit has had some distortions to it over the years and my justifications have been founded on these distortions. When we talked before your marriage, I mentioned to you that it was possible you had become the way you were because I had not treated you properly all the time. I have consulted with several psychologists and they feel that it is possible you have experienced sufficient trauma in our relationship to cause you to look at your own life in a slightly distorted way. Patty, I am truly sorry if I have been the cause of your heartaches. I know you have have forgiven me, but it is necessary to be more open with the matter if it bothers you, so that a real healing can take place. I am able to say this because of what I feel towards my own father at this time. Some of the details are on the back of this letter. Drew, my own unrighteousness did not allow me to deal with yours. Please forgive me and take good care of my daughter. If either of you have anything still hidden get it out early in your marriage. Maybe you've already done a better job than we have. May the Lord bless you both in your feelings and spiritual development. May you come to terms with your own unrighteousness and get on with your lives. I will help you any way I can. Right now Patty, I can't help financially because of Dan's wreck. I'm sorry. Please write. Love, Dad. 21 APR 1987 Worked on the Ronstadt account in the morning: 3 hours ($36.00). Obtained a copy of the GLC, March 1987. Found additional censuses for Sonora: 1801, 1852. Called Paula and arranged to see the children tomorrow. Spent the afternoon working on the Holtzman and Carratini genealogies. (2 hours: $24.00). Worked on the Palma y Masa account: 2 hours ($24.00). Went to the U of U and found a number of excellent collections and books. 01 JUL 1987 I wrote a letter with an ultimatum to Paula and told her I was going to file for divorce again if things didn't change soon. 05 JUL 1987 Attended church at Scofield for the first time with Barry and Karen. They had heard about my situation through a mutual friend and insisted that I go with them and get back into the Church. 08 JUL 1987 Took the divorce papers to the sheriff to have a summons issued. They said I had to take it to Provo. On the way to Provo I stopped in Highland. Paula gave me a personal letter. I talked to the kids for several hours about the divorce. They asked me to wait for several weeks. I agreed to wait, effectively cancelling the divorce proceedings. 15 JUL 1987 Spent until 4:30 at the library working on the de la Peña line. Applied for a job in Spanish Fork. Talked to Eloise Cluff about her Yslas genealogy. Reviewed divorce papers for discussion with the lawyers. 16 JUL 1987 Nothing was resolved during the waiting period, so today I filed papers again, this time in Provo and had them served on Paula in the evening. Paid the Utah Legal Clinic $40.00, $77.00 to file the papers (CV-87-1626), and $18.00 for service of summon and complaint. 23 JUL 1987 Brent talked to me this morning and said that Paula had called him concerning her insurance policy and made comment that her lawyer had asked for the information. This supposes that she plans to contest the complain. Talked to Jimmy, Karen, Nadine and Cynthia. Bill suggested I could have the children now and that I should go to immigration immediately and file information on her illegal entry. He also pointed out that I entered into the marriage having been assured of things and being deceived in those assurances. Worked with Jean Eisenga on the Palma y Mesa family. The Zacatecas Informaciones Matrimoniales include very early records from throughout all of Zacatecas. Jimmy $20.00; Nadine $100; Cynthia. Oils $27.32; Slats #52.28; plywood $142.00. 02 AUG 1987 Patty admitted today that she has been living with Drew Hamblin. 06 AUG 1987 Today I hired a lawyer, because Paula has contested the complaint and it is apparent that I cannot solve this matter alone. 07 AUG 1987 Bruce, my son, accompanied me to the cabin where I spend my weekends with Barry and Karen. We spent the day cutting wood and he seemed to enjoy himself. 09 AUG 1987 After taking Bruce home, I took the five youngest up American Fork canyon and spent several hours with them. We had a fun time hiking, eating and playing. 10 AUG 1987 Worked 4.5 hours on the Laurel Account, 3.0 hours typing on the VISTA project, and spent 2.0 hours on advertising and reports. 16 AUG 1987 I informed President Anderton of the Scofield Branch that I had been excommunicated and that I wanted to do whatever was necessary to come back into the Church. 17 AUG 1987 Sent to census books to Harvard College Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts: they owe $50.00. Worked five hours for on the VISTA project and one hour on orders. Paula called to see if I was going to take the children in the afternoon. I told her no, that she had said I couldn't and so I'd made other plans. 21 AUG 1987 I was hired by VISTA Magazine in Miami to begin a compilation of Spanish histories for publication. The contract is for one year. 31 AUG 1987 Received $30.00 from the Phoenix Public Library, $40.00 from the Ventura branch genealogical library, and $30.00 from the Allen County Public Library for census books. 01 SEP 1987 Held a hearing on the divorce proceeding in Provo. 14 SEP 1987 Went to Highland to see the twins for their birthday, but they refused to see me. 15 SEP 1987 I wrote a letter to the children. 26 SEP 1987 Spent the day with the children at the circus and at my place. 28 SEP 1987 Took Bruce to lunch for his birthday. 16 OCT 1987 Went to see Nicolle for her birthday. 20 OCT 1987 Bruce called and said the bishop wanted to know if I would support him on his mission. I told him I could support him after he was out, but that he would have to get himself there. 23 OCT 1987 I took the children to the cabin and spent the time there alone with them. We watched deer, played games, hiked and enjoyed each other very much. Natalia said: "I love you so much Dad because you've been gone." 25 OCT 1987 Patty and Paula were sick today. Cynthia Eisenga received her endowments today. 30 OCT 1987 Bruce received his mission call for the Sâo Paulo, Brasil mission. He is supposed to leave in January. 31 OCT 1987 Nicolle was baptized by her brother Danny. I was not invited. I called the bishop and asked him why I was not invited and he told me it wasn't his responsibility. NOTE: This attitude has existed from the time I was excommunicated until now. I have never been contacted in any way by my former priesthood or quorum leaders since my excommunication. No letter of concern, desire to help me back into activity, or any show of the normal procedures that should be followed. 01 NOV 1987 Bruce was ordained an Elder. I was not told about it. As far as I know he was ordained by President Stowe. 06 NOV 1987 Paula called and we talked for an hour. She was very accusatory but wants to end everything. If we get a divorce, she wants 75% of my income. The things she said, which I made notes of at the time are noted as follows: 1.You are deceived. You left me no choice but to die. I had to do what I did. 2.You are morally responsible to support your children despite what the law says. 3.I don't care about money. 4.I want 75% of everything you make. 5.You are totally to blame for everything. 6.Accusing me of things which happened in the past in un-Christ-like. 7.I'm wating for you to repent and come back. 8.I don't need you, you know how I am. 9.I want this to end so I can begin to heal. 10.I'm ready to fire my lawyer. He was the one who set $5200. He didn't ask me about it at all. 11.I'm ready to talk about a friendly divorce if I can't convince you to get help, to see your errors, and repent. 12.I have copies of your cabin keys and Karen's old and new apartments. You have been unfaithful to me for a long time. I know it despite what you say. 13.Elena and Debbie are very hurt. They know who Karen is and don't understand why you are there. You seem too familiar with Karen's place and appear to be living there. 14.Bruce was very hurt and may never get over it. You called Karen "mom" in his presence and that hurt him very much. 15.I was confused when you wrote me that first letter and needed advise. That's why I went to a lawyer. Everybody tells me you won't keep your word and don't have to pay what you said you would after the kids are 18. I couldn't pay the debts we had and didn't know how to afford insurance for you. 16.Elder Packer has said you have to be wrong or you wouldn't be in the position you're in. You need to submit to your leaders before it's too late. You like to do what you want and aren't humble. 17.I thought about inviting you to Nicolle's baptism, but decided you could come if you wanted. You didn't come to Patty's wedding or Bruce's graduation, so decided to let you do what you wanted. 18.You need to give me half of your retirement money. [I told her it was already spent and how I offered it all to her in the first place.] You never offered it to me. I didn't know you had it. You should give me what's left. I need it badly. We have a $3,000 dentist bill. Grandma had her eyes operated on. I'm having to tend babies to get the extras for food we need. The dryer has been broke. You are being right with your family. I plan to get a job and am preparing for it but right now my responsibility is with my kids and you morally obligated to give us more. You're one and we're ten. You can't make $2,000 and give us just $300 or $400. In your letter you said $500-$600. I don't care. You know I never care about money. Its your conscious I care about. 19.You know I have a right to keep the kids from you because you have broken the law. My lawyer says the judge said you couldn't have a woman present when they were with you. 20.I want to get rid of the lawyers. They're no good. Let's talk and work things out ourselves. [I told her it was no longer just between her and me; that you as my supportive friend, had rights and feelings.] I will talk with you and Karen if we go to a General Authority. [I said no, at least not at first.] Okay, then, I want one friend with me. [Fine, but you and I need to talk about the divorce first. I'm not going to cancel it this time. If we agree to settle it friendly before it goes to trial, fine; otherwise, we go to trial.] Okay let's talk. [When?] Tuesday, 2 p.m. 10 NOV 1987 Paula called again. She said she would not agree to a friendly divorce, that she would fight me every step of the way. She insisted that if I returned to her it would be after giving up all my friends and just working with her through our problems. She accused Karen of wanting me, and deceiving me. She quoted scriptures to me about my duties. The lawyer got a court date today. 16 NOV 1987 I received letters from Paula and Julie today and answered them. 17 NOV 1987 Michael Trevor Hamblin was born today to Drew Hamblin and Patricia Platt. He was born in California 30 NOV 1987 The court heard the complaints that I presented, and granted them. 04 DEC 1987 Ron Newberry was called before the Lehi Utah North stake presidency and accused by the Highland stake president of belonging to the school of the prophets and Ron Lafferty's group. He was accused of giving a Satanic blessing and was ordered not to use his priesthood without permission. He talked to Elder Featherstone about the matter. 06 DEC 1987 Karen and I talked to President Anderton about my pending divorce and told him that we would like to have his advise. After the discussion we concluded it would be best to get married right away. 07 DEC 1987 I called the Membership Department and had Karen's membership assigned to the Scofield Branch. 09 DEC 1987 My lawyer and Paula's lawyer met in Highland to discuss technical objections Paula had raised. They were resolved. 10 DEC 1987 The divorce was granted at 1:38 p.m. I was twenty-two years and three months old when I married Paula and forty-four years and six month when I divorced her, or exactly half my life until this time. I handled the details of finanlizing the papers so that the divorce could be signed before the judge left on a circuit trip. Based on advise from President Anderton and feeling a desire to rid myself of my old life as soon as possible, in the evening I asked Karen to walk with me to temple square and there asked her to marry me. She accepted graciously and sweetly and much of the sting of the past few years was swallowed up in her lovliness and gentle nature. 11 DEC 1987 I called my father this morning at 7:00 to ask him a question. I ask him that if I was single and wanted to develop a relationship with a woman and wanted her to know my children and I was told I couldn't let her see them until after our marriage, how should I feel? Dad said he knew what I was trying to do and supported Paula's right to keep her children from an evil influence. He then told me he never wanted to meet Karen or her children. Then he asked me what I was to do and I told him I planned to get married. When? That is no concern of yours based on your present position. He said I was wrong and welcomed me any time, but said he could not support me. And so the parable of the wedding feast is reinacted in our lives. I called my brother Ed and had a good talk with him. He agreed to come to both the wedding and the dinner. I obtained a marriage license with Karen at the Salt Lake County office and bought a wedding band for Karen. 14 DEC 1987 Karen and I were married at President Anderton's home in Carbonville. 26 DEC 1987 I picked up the smaller children for the weekend. The three oldest wanted to go home early to play with their toys. Natalia wanted to stay with me. 01 JAN 1988 I picked up Johnny, Nicolle, and Lyman Dee. Paula cried when she saw Natalia whom I've had for a week. She told me I was wrong to keep her. I told her I was in my legal rights and that Natalia had wanted to stay with me, and that we had had a very good time together. We drove down to our home above Gooseberry with Karen. Barry took us in from the road on the sled and snowmobile. We had a nice evening except I was sick. 02 JAN 1988 Took the kids back to Highland. Returned home. 05 JAN 1988 Flew to Denver. 06 JAN 1988 Had a meeting at Golden with Coors and GSDM and VISTA. I spent the rest of January 10-12 hours a day in compiling Spanish surname histories. 12 JAN 1988 Ron Newberry stopped to talk. Ernie has totally apostatized and is involved in white slavery. I'm glad I followed my impressions not to befriend him. 16 JAN 1988 George Ryskamp called and invited me to the annual Spanish seminar at Riverside, California on March 19th. 18 JAN 1988 Sent out copies of Vol. 1 of the Revista of the Cuban Genealogical Society. 19 JAN 1988 Patty and Trevor arrived at Highland from California. 20 JAN 1988 Called María Elena and Johnny for their birthdays. Elena refused to see me, so I didn't go down. I called dad. He was surprised and pleased, and he is still of the same opinion regarding my marriage to Karen. He refuses to meet her or her boys. He says he is not taking sides between Paula and me; in fact he has taken Paula's side. I asked him to work with the children for their sake as they were being hurt. I told him the kids needed therapy and that I would go back to court if things didn't change. Dad went to Farmington the other day to see Joe and Sue. Joe and Sue, and Roberta and Kent have moved back into the area in the last ten days. I called Ed. He said Bruce went back to the bishop and they had postponed the mission call because of personal problems. They have not set a new date. Ed says Trevor weighs thirteen pounds. 21 JAN 1988 I wrote two very important letters to Paula and the children, and to dad. They were meant as letters of counsel and warning. They were very poorly received. 22 JAN 1988 Took the four younger children to the cabin. Spent a lovely weekend playing games, reading, coloring, going to Church and snowmobiling. 27 JAN 1988 My brother Ed responded to the letter I wrote to my father. He made accusations of apostasy, etc. I called Paula to arrange seeing the children this evening. Debbie called back crying and said she didn't want to go with me. I insisted. I called Bishop Staples and discussed the children's attitude. He said he would counsel with them. He said Bruce had very negative feelings towards me. I asked him why I had been excommunicated. He wouldn't tell me. I pressed him and he brought out that I had refused to drop my association with Karen. [This apparently was not true, because it has never been mentioned since by any priesthood leader as a reason, and had no basis in fact anyway.] He told me that whatever reason Bruce has for not going he has to discuss it with Paula. He will also be talking with the stake president this week. I called my branch president (Lewis) and he referred me to the stake president, Robert Olsen. We set up a meeting for Sunday at the Helper stake center. I called brother Whitley at confidential records, Church Office Building. He explained all the options of the appeal process. I called dad. With reference to the letter I wrote him he feels blameless. He read it three times and feels I am totally wrong and that the letter was very intimidating. He feels I am not supporting my leaders and that I must support them if I support the Brethren. He says he rejects my beliefs, not me. He refuses to accept Karen, however, which is rejecting me and shows his service to others in not centered in Christ. Yet he says he has done nothing to lose his posterity as I warned him he had. He says Paula is doing everything she can to shut me out of her life. In the evening before I took the children for a few hours, I talked to Patty. We discussed most of what I have just written, and dealt with each family member. She told me Trevor was going to be blessed there at home and so she had to uninvite me. All my family will be there except Gene, McKay and families. 31 JAN 1988 Karen and I had a lovely two-hour interview with the stake president of the Helper Utah Stake, President Robert Olsen. He asked detailed questions and listened to the spirit of our answers. He seemed satisfied. He instructed me to write to President Stowe. Trevor Hamblin was blessed today at the Platt family home in Highland by my father, Gordon Leavitt Platt. 01 FEB 1988 I wrote to President Stowe and expressed my feelings of love and forgiveness -which I had done prior to my excommunication. I asked him to detail for me the charges and evidence used to reach a decision such as had been reached. 04 FEB 1988 Went to visit Uncle Bob Lyman at the Veteran's hospital. He is in very bad condition and has suffered a type of stroke. I talked to Edi and Terry and met Kati Sosie Lyman who Bob married in Blanding on April 25, 1976. During the next week I went to visit him several times. He had no awareness of my visits except the first time when we prayed and talked. He couldn't see but he recognized me and squeezed my hand several times. 13 FEB 1988 Uncle Bob died today after another operation yesterday. His bowels began to die and the operation was too much for his weakened condition. Karen, Barry and I attended stake conference at Helper. We had a singularly lovely evening. The spirit was overwhelming as the speakers bore testimony of the Savior and the Atonement. After meeting President Olsen said he had called Salt Lake and found out that I had been excommunicated for abandonment. He said he had felt impressed not to call President Stowe yet and asked me to wait for the letter one more week. 14 FEB 1988 Talked to Elder Featherstone and Elder Cooper. We were treated with very sweet love and compassion by them and each member of the stake presidency and by our former branch president (Anderton). Went to Ferron in the afternoon and got the old snowmobile trailer from grandpa Petty. 15 FEB 1988 Worked all day at the cabin placing siding around the windows, and painting. 16 FEB 1988 Terri called about her dad's dying and the funeral arrangements. Dad called and said that Dian sends her love and support. He told me about grandpa Lyman's infidelity during grandma Irene's sickness after mom was born and compared it to mine. We talked about my personal situation. Dad made conciliatory moves towards Karen (I supposed). He will be at the funeral. He supported my going to support Bob's family. Dad was shocked at Patty's activities at age fifteen and realized he had been mistaken at supporting her at her wedding. He cut off the conversation to contemplate things. 17 FEB 1988 Called Paula several times to work out arrangements for the children. Natalia and Lyman Dee want to go to Roberta's for a birthday party on Saturday so I'll take them overnight next week. 19 FEB 1988 Karen and I drove to Blanding to attend Uncle Bob's funeral. We were well-received by some and rejected by others and wondered about by still others. Aunt Rene couldn't be there because of Uncle Art's conditon. Uncle Kay and Aunt Velma were very open to us as were Aunt Clessa, Aunt LaRee, some of Albert's girls (Ellen and Gwen), Dolly's girls and most of my cousins. Dad and Darlene refused to even acknowledge our presence. The funeral was lovely. Uncle Kay's testimony and witness were prophetic. Some of the highlights of the talks follow: Uncle Kay: Bob's funeral today is his 71st birthday. When Bob was young, grandma and grandpa checked to see that we were washed and that we prayed all the time. When Bob got an infection on his right jaw, grandpa took care of it. Bob couldn't rest. He lanced it with a razor imbedded in wood. Finally he got relief. Grandpa never laid a hand on any of us, except once, which was when Bob threw a ball on a new lawn at our place in Salt Lake. Dad whipped him with a razor strap. Many people got Bob and I mixed up. In 1935 we went to the Brigham Young Academy for a quarter together. One time we got involved in a boxing contest. Bob and I ended up the lone contestants. Bob once had an employee while mining who got drunk. Bob ran around the truck and give him a right haymaker. One time while he and his family were living at Battle Mountain, Nevada, early one morning while he was cutting wood his horse shied at a rabbit and ran away. Bob walked home from the Mesa. When Bob was in the hospital at Holbrook, Arizona he was very thankful to all who had helped him. When he left the first time for the Veteran's hospital he asked for a blessing. Bob prayed and asked blessings for others. When he got to Gordon L. Platt's place he worried about his brother-in-law Art Morin. Katie's mother, daughters, and grandchildren were all loved by Bob. There was a beautiful love between them. Bob loved the Navajo people as did my father. When Katie went to the Hubble trading post, they were given a shawl for the burial. Moroni 7:44-48 (charity). Testimony. Invitation to the family to come to Christ's church. Moroni 10:2-7; 27-34 (I seal up these records...) Kirk Lyman: Paula [Kirk's daughter] wrote the song she played. [Kirk is a high councilor.] Appropriate to recognize family and friends. Explained the purpose of a funeral: 1) to pay tribute: stories, experiences; 2) console family members; 3) recognize our dependence on life as a gift from God. Dad loved you. He has perservered through thirty-five years of suffering. He wasn't perfect. When he trucked I traveled with him. We slept together in the cab. He hurt a lot but he never complained. He had a good grasp on life. In all the suffering he maintained a sense of integrity and dignity. All pain and suffering has benefit as we become more like Heavenly Father. Discussion on the Savior's suffering. Dad suffered enough that he was aware of life. His concern now would be for us. Months ago my father called and we talked about the Plan of Salvation. He longed to go to the temple and be sealed to Katie and his children. He desired me to tell my sisters that this was his desire. You have your agency. You need to know. He began to change, to make improvements. He was preparing to go to the temple. We have come here to pay tribute. We have done so properly. He has improved his relationship with his Heavenly Father and the Savior over the last few years. By following the Savior's teachings we can all return to our Heavenly Father. He repented. Katie had a great influence on this change. He wanted to thank her by sharing eternity with her. When he met Katie, he found a reason for living. Thank you. Bishop Slavin: Bishop of the 6th Ward. Bob and Katie were the first two marriages I performed: first a Colorado license, and then a Utah license. Before Bob left for Salt Lake City he gave me one of his handmade clocks. He told me his life was in order, compliant to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a full tithe payer. He told me he wanted to go to the temple. I'm grateful that Bob was prepared. He was in good standing when he died. After the funeral and burial, we had a family dinner. Mark gave me a copy of A Short History of Irene Perkins Lyman and Edward Partridge Lyman which he had recently published. 20 FEB 1988 Karen took her state exam today to become licensed as a social worker. We picked up Niki and Johnny and drove to the cabin. Barry met us. After getting settled in we went for a ride up on top. 21 FEB 1988 Karen was called and sustained as second counselor in the Relief Society of the Scofield Branch. Given our present situation, it would appear to be an approval from the Lord and the Church of our standing. I was encouraged by President Lewis to participate in the priesthood lessons because of the few numbers in attendance. Nicolle told me that Roberta and Kent are living in Alpine. 22 FEB 1988 I wrote to President Robert Olsen and sent him a copy of my excommunication letter and information he needs to talk with President Stowe. 24 FEB 1988 In the evening we went down and got the kids and went to Alpine to visit Roberta and her family. We had a nice reunion after three years. We discussed many things. María Elena and I had our best talk yet about the divorce, our family problems, etc. She finally opened up and expressed her frustrations. As an aftermath of this discussion, however, she pretty much refusing to see me anymore. I talked to Bruce about his mission. Gord was in a wreck last night and totalled his car. No insurance. No license. Dislocated his elbow and shoulder. 25 FEB 1988 This evening Bruce called and was very insulting and accusatory. He wants me to begin sending him money for his mission. He finally hung up on me. I called back and talked to Paula. She also hung up on me. Karen then got mad at me for not getting mad and, in her viewpoint, shutting her out. 26 FEB 1988 President Olsen called and said he had talked to President Stowe for an hour on Tuesday. Most of the conversation was hearsay, conjecture, and inappropriate. Some facts were brought out which need to be addressed. President Stowe will not reconvene the court unless certain issue are resolved. President Olsen disagreed with some of these and so stated. One of the central issues appears to be when the marriage fell apart and why. We set up another meeting for 2:30 on Sunday. 28 FEB 1988 Karen and I met with President Olsen for three hours. I was instructed to take off my garments and to stop participating in Sunday meeting discussions, and to begin paying my tithing. All this has been complied with. He will write to President Stowe and ask for specific things that need to be done to be re-baptized. Many of the things he brought up to President Olsen had no foundation in fact. He still appears to be fishing to find something to pin on me. Elder Featherstone feels if I appeal, many more things could be brought into the view of the Brethren and I might be hurt more. Only one in ten appeals is overturned. President Olsen asked about everything President Stowe brought up in their phone conversation. He was very sweet and supportive. Karen was very helpful and at the end of the interview got President Olsen to express his real feelings about President Stowe's positions. He is not at all impressed. Karen was set apart by President Lewis as 2nd counselor as noted on February 21st. 29 FEB 1988 Spent the day flying to Miami and working at my surname studies. Bought a number of books. 01 MAR 1988 Bought several Cuban books. Spent the afternoon at the TV studio recording spots for Sábado Gigante. Went to the Miami-Dade County Public Library and sold several census and CGS books. 02 MAR 1988 Filled out health and dental forms for the children to be placed on Karen's health plan. Filled out Social Security card requests for Debbie and the younger children. Left Miami at 1:00 p.m. for Atlanta and Salt Lake. After I arrived home I took off my garments and asked the Lord to hold those responsible that had insisted on this. I had not done so previously because I did not feel I had broken any covenants, but I am willing to be obedient to this direct request. 10 MAR 1988 Today, having called Evelinda Urhman, I found out that my work contract had been cancelled. I called my boss in New York. He told me to keep working. He said VISTA would pick up my account for the time being. Thus the Lord continues to remove us from unrighteous forces (Coors this time). Tonight I picked up the four youngest children and then went to Alpine and reported the lack of compliance by Paula to the court order. The police made notes. I talked to my lawyer and he is ready to proceed. Karen's boss this week tried to undermine her move out of his office. It backfired on him dramatically. 13 MAR 1988 Sunday. Took the family to Church. Had a problem with the truck. 18 MAR 1988 Friday. Flew to Riverside. Had a lovely supper with George, Peggy and others. 19 MAR 1988 Spent the day teaching at the Hispanic genealogy seminar. 20 MAR 1988 Flew home across to Phoenix and up through a cloudless, beautiful, Utah. 22 MAR 1988 My lawyer called. He said he had contacted Judd Harwood from Provo to appraise the home in Highland. Paula has a new lawyer, Pat Hendrickson, who has complained about medical and dental insurance as well as the retirement money I still owe. I told him the insurance is forthcoming and explained what I had and hadn't paid. I instructed him to contact the Alpine police about the March 11th report. 24 MAR 1988 Received approval for medical and dental coverage for the children. 27 MAR 1988 President Olsen called and informed me he still had not received an answer to his letter sent to President Stowe and asked me to compile this summary of events. 02 APR 1988 Went to Highland to pick up my boys for Priesthood. None was there. Took my brother-in-law, Kent Bylund, Brent and Baird, to Priesthood Meeting at the Marriott Center. 03 APR 1988 Accompanied my four youngest children to Salt Lake to attend the morning session of General Conference on temple square. Watched conference in the afternoon while Karen and Brent attended. 06 APR 1988 Both Karen and I were sick yesterday and today. I called Paula and cancelled seeing the children. 07 APR 1988 Called President Olsen and set up a meeting for Sunday. President Stowe still has not responded. 08 APR 1988 Met with the lawyer and the tax people in the morning. Went to Ferron. Grandpa Petty is in the hospital. Took grandma Petty to Price and back. Attended a party at the branch in the evening. 10 APR 1988 Met for four hours with President Olsen. He asked me detailed questions to his satisfaction. He called President Stowe and was insultingly rebuffed in his efforts to work with him. President Stowe has given the letter to Elder Paul Dunn and does not intend answering it. 13 APR 1988 VISTA called for an update. Patty called. We had a nice visit. She said Bruce told her he is not going on a mission at this time. Yesterday I had called Patty but she wasn't home. Talked to Drew. Got their address. I also talked to Arlene and Sue. 17 APR 1988 I wrote a newsy, conciliatory letter to dad today, trying to break the ice and get our relationship going again. 21 APR 1988 President Olsen called. He has decided not to call Elder Dunn but instead will write a letter to the Area Presidency if that is what I want. I told him to go ahead. The appeal process is really the only option open to me. President Stowe has stated that I won't be ready for baptism for a long time (later I was told that he said ten years at least). President Olsen wants me to document the reasons for my marriage breaking up and to prepare a financial statement from the time I was excommunicated until I was divorced. 22 APR 1988 The four youngest, Karen and I, walked in to the cabin. It took an hour and forty-five minutes. They did very well. Spent a lovely weekend. Paula was served on the 23rd. We attended church at Scofield on the 24th. 26 APR 1988 Dad wrote me a very negative letter, and expressed information about his feelings that are very sad and show a lifetime of problems that have not been resolved between us. 29 APR 1988 Karen and I drove to Ferron. We prayed for Dean to be released from his sufferings. He responded to the prayer even though he has been in a coma since morning with kidney and liver failure. 30 APR 1988 Saturday. Elmer Dean Petty, Karen's father, died peacefully in his sleep at 2:10 a.m. We were awakened at 2:30 by a call from the nursing home. We spent all day making contacts and arrangements. A few minutes after he died he called out Karen's name; before the call came. 01 MAY 1988 Spent the day receiving family and friends. We left for Salt Lake after Annette and Orvel arrived. 02 MAY 1988 Picked up Diane at 10:30 and Phyllis and Jackie at 5:00 p.m. Drove to Ferron. Left the truck in Provo so that Brent, Baird and Ann could come down tomorrow. Our car lost its fuel pump in Salt Lake before leaving. Karen got a new 88 Tempo on loan: $29.00. Our coverage really paid off. The repair would have cost over $500.00 but only cost $50.00. 03 MAY 1988 Attended Dean's funeral. Gave the family prayer. Everything went very well. Feelings were mended and he was paid a proper tribute. He was buried next to his parents at the Ferron cemetery. 04 MAY 1988 Baird and Ann announced they are going to Japan for eighteen months after their marriage in July. Spent the evening with the younger children and had a good talk with Roberta and Kent. Gord has moved to Midway to be closer to his job in Park City. 05 MAY 1988 Today I went to court and got basically what I asked the judge for: compliance of visitation rights or supervised visits, more time with the children, a desist order on slander, extended summer vacation time with the children, and copies of all important documents. 07 MAY 1988 Karen and I drove to Ferron to stay the day. We watched family movies from the 40s, 50s and 60s. A principle of the gospel was impressed upon me today. Suffering is a part of life. Some suffer to damnation, others to salvation. All people can be seen for what they are by how suffering affects them. 08 MAY 1988 We discussed with Karen's sisters Diane and Phyllis the details remaining to settle the affairs that have been left in disarray at Dean's death. Said goodbye to Florence (mother Petty) and brought the girls to the airport. 10 MAY 1988 Today María Elena and I had a serious discussion. My older three girls refused to go with me today despite the court order. Lena was very defiant in the matter. I called my lawyer and asked him to set up a meeting between the girls and the judge. Baird and Ann hit a deer tonight about 10:00 on the canyon road between Pleasant Grove and Highland. Bruce and his girlfriend were the first car to stop. An interesting encounter. 11 MAY 1988 Barry and Ann came up and we went out to eat. Ann discussed the idea of blessings being lost for three or four generations and conversly of some being retained because of the righteousness of a particular ancestor. Mark Lyman and dad met about noon. Dad's opinion: until Lyman comes around and admits his nonesense, I can't support him. If I allowed that woman in my house, it would be condoning what they have done. She is the one who is at fault. He has to leave her and return to Paula. Mark told him: it's not going to work your way. You might as well give up. You have a new daughter-in-law whether you like it or not. Dad realizes things are not going in the right direction. He feels like he has inherited my family financially and celestially and doesn't like it. He is real hung up on being right. He is concerned as to whether or not Mark is blaming him for my problems. Dad is upset at my position of taking the children to court. Mark feels I'm wrong to do so. 12 MAY 1988 Mark called at 6:00 p.m. We discussed yesterday's meeting with dad. I called María Elena. She told me to leave her alone and let her live her life in peace. 13 MAY 1988 Free agency creates accountability and it gives us the right to choose good or evil (2 Nephi 2:26). The choice, influenced by the Spirit or the Evil One, leads to right or wrong, to life or death. The redemption from the fall gave us this right, to act and not to be acted upon. Eternal death is caused by the inherent evil within the flesh which is not controlled by the spirit, thereby giving the Devil power to captivate. Obedience to our Father's laws gives our spirit power to overcome all weaknesses of the flesh. Observance of how one reacts to these laws shows the path they are on. Wrong choices, continually made, lead to destruction. Right choices, continually made, lead to salvation. Roy Dingman died this afternoon at 3:30 of a heart attack, while working on his cat. Karen, the children, and I came in to the cabin about 6:30 and knew something was wrong, but didn't get the note on our car until Sunday. 15 MAY 1988 Branch conference. After the meeting, President Olsen asked me for permission to write a letter to Elder Featherstone of a confidential nature because of the strong wording he felt would be necessary against President Stowe's position. As we discussed the situation we both arrived independently at the opinion that the only thing which constitutes repentence in President Stowe's mind is for me to divorce Karen, remarry Paula, and submit to their ideas of righteousness. We drove to Huntingdon to see Gwen, then to Ferron to let the children meet grandma Petty. As we arrived in Highland, Roberta and Allie were driving by and stopped and met Karen for the first time. 17 MAY 1988 We worked all day and then Karen, Barry, and Ann and I drove to the cabin. The moose were back and waiting for us. 18 MAY 1988 We attended Roy's funeral. I sang a duet: "Snowbird" with Sister Gutmire, and also sang several numbers in the men's chorus. Spent several hours in the evening with the children. I took a load of garbage to the dump from the cabin. 20 MAY 1988 President Marion G. Romney died today, about 8:00 a.m. He has suffered so long. 24 MAY 1988 This morning Paula told our son David that she was not going to help him further in the graduation process. I felt impressed to call Highland, and found this out, and drove down and spent the day helping him work through the problems. 25 MAY 1988 Spent the morning in court with the children. They were interviewed by commissioner Maitani and he then ordered them (Julie, Elena, and Debbie) to receive psychiatric counseling. He waived the order forcing them to see me for the present. David and I went to BYU to enroll him in self-help courses needed to graduate. All he needs is ¼ credit. 26 MAY 1988 Dan graduated from seminary this evening. 31 MAY 1988 Spent the weekend at the cabin with the children and Karen. We had a nice time together, except that Karen was sick most of the weekend. Ed stopped by to visit. He gave me a few pieces of information that were helpful. Dad's caustic letter to me recently was his first attempt at dealing with his frustrations. However, he keeps asking why things have happened, not what can he do now that they have. Dad and Darlene appear to be having marital problems. 01 JUN 1988 Elder Maxwell's secretary called today and told me that he had agreed to perform the sealing for Barry and Ann. I called President Olsen. He said he would have the letter to Elder Featherstone finished by Sunday. He told me that President Stowe refuses to talk to him and that he has said he will never let me back in the Church as long as he is stake president. President Stowe has some very bitter feelings and there is a total lack of cooperation. President Olsen's letter to the Area Presidency is to make President Stowe's position clear to them, and to state my worthiness to be in the Church. I visited with the children in the evening and took Johnny to his ballgame. Bruce was working in the yard. We talked for a few minutes. He told me he had rejected his mission call. I told him that I did not approve of his decision, but that I still loved him regardless, and encouraged him to reconsider the decision. 02 JUN 1988 Danny graduated this evening from high school. 03 JUN 1988 Gayle Heap's father died today. 04 JUN 1988 Finished the cabin ceiling. Went to Scofield to attend a reception for brother and sister Bradfield on their 50th wedding anniversary. 06 JUN 1988 Brother Heap was buried today in a cemetery on Redwood Road down towards where he lived. 07 JUN 1988 Paula called. I wished her a happy birthday. We discussed summer visitations. We discussed tithing. She said I had to pay it all. During the summer I spent six weeks with the youngest four child at our home in the mountains. We had many memorable times together. 10 JUN 1988 Juan, Paula's son, graduated from the University of Utah. Picked up Johnny, Nicolle, and Natalia and took them to the cabin. Karen brought Lyman Dee down in the evening and we had a birthday party. The children and I spent from the 10th to the 22nd at the cabin working, playing, hicking, fishing, reading, going to Church, to a party, visiting neighbors and generally enjoying our time together. We each learned better how to respect life and one another. Karen was with us on weekends and as often as she could be. 14 JUN 1988 Karen received her recommend from the Helper stake presidency along with the reassurance that things would work out and we would be sealed soon. 19 JUN 1988 The children saw Barry and Ann for the last time before they leave for Japan. 20 JUN 1988 Went to Fairview and picked up a ringer-washer with Gwen for our cabin. It belonged to her mother. 22 JUN 1988 Drove to Salt Lake and spent several days and then I took the kids home. 23 JUN 1988 Dad sent me a very negative letter which both Karen and I responded to in as nice a way as we could. 26 JUN 1988 Dad and Darlene had a separarting of the way. It involved her children, the situation of his home, her home, his desire to go on a mission, etc. David got his patriarchal blessing today from Bishop Lowe. Gene and his family arrived from Oregon and spent the day resting at Ed's. Dad stayed at Roberta's. 27 JUN 1988 The children, Ed's and Gene's families went watersliding, toured temple square, and had a family party in the evening. I wasn't invited, nor knew about it until later. 28 JUN 1988 Gene called. We had a nice visit. They're going to New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Talked to Roberta about dad. In the evening Karen and I bought carpet and tile and went to the cabin, worked until 2:00 a.m. on the 29th, slept, got up and basically finished the cabin. A lot of little things remain to be done but it is now presentable. 30 JUN 1988 David spent the day with me working on his BYU study course. Bruce left for California. David told me what happened with Bruce while he was staying at Juan's and why he wasn't worthy or desirous of going on a mission. I laid this all before the Lord and asked for resolutions to the many problems facing my family, me, Karen, our associates, etc. Called Dad and Darlene and offered our love. 01 JUL 1988 Finished the major work on the cabin. In the evening we went to Hutchinson's in Alpine where Harvey gave blessings to Ann and Baird. His position was totally unrighteous, usurping lineages and claiming blessings he had no right to claim. I testified to Ann and sister Hutchinson resisted her husband. 02 JUL 1988 Elder Maxwell sealed Ann Hutchison and Baird Fullerton at the Salt Lake Temple. During the ceremony he testified as to Karen's worthiness. Elder and Sister Bangerter also attended the wedding and were permitted to evaluate the situation. Marianne Ballam and I spent the time in the waiting room of the temple. She chose to do that. Harvey's wife told him to keep his mouth shut today, but still he managed to express his feelings about me. 03 JUL 1988 I called Debbie and Dave and ended up talking to Paula about the children. I decided to take them for only two weeks. I became depressed today, and am not feeling well. Dan had his initial interview for his mission. 04 JUL 1988 Karen is depressed today. I am still sick with kidney and bladder pains. This lasted into the 5th. 06 JUL 1988 Ann and Baird left for Japan. Harvey continued to treat me like dirt. People can no longer attack my reputation so Satan is working through some to destroy me as a person - my livlihood, health, home, life, etc. 07 JUL 1988 Went to see the doctor about my kidneys. 08 JUL 1988 Left for the cabin. Worked on touching up and finishing off the carpeting, painting, woodwork, and so forth. 10 JUL 1988 Dave visited with Bishop Staples about his mission. President Olsen met with the regional representative to discuss my situation. They decided to try and get the Area Presidency to meet with them and President Stowe. I wrote to Bruce and suggested steps he should take to prepare for his mission. 11 JUL 1988 No money. Sick. Karen was almost killed today. 12 JUL 1988 No money. Sick. Satan attempted to throw me off track by bringing an old friend back into my life with offers of money, but I saw through it and rejected the proposal. 13 JUL 1988 Spent the morning having tests run on my organs and systems. Everything appears normal. I called President Olsen and the children. 15 JUL 1988 Dan and Dave played in the regional baseball finals and won both games. We picked up the children and brought them to the cabin. 16 JUL 1988 Fixed back porch, hooked up Gwen's washer. Attended the pageant at Manti. Saw Uncle George and had a very good talk with him. He was loving and kind towards Karen. 17 JUL 1988 Dave got his mission papers. 18 JUL 1988 Karen went to work. I went to Provo and talked to dad. He, Ed and others have spent the week climbing King's Peak. He has plans to sell his trailor to Uncle Darwin. He didn't want to come with me. Roberta said he and Darlene are further apart than ever. Tooks Rob's kids with me. We went to Highland and picked up Dave, Julie and María Elena. Debbie didn't want to come. Dan is working. Drove to the cabin. Had a lovely afternoon and evening. The children seemed to enjoy each other and their surroundings. Julie and I talked about her future, about Bruce, his music, his friends, etc. She said Paula has finally accepted that we will not be getting together and seems happy. Grandma is getting weak and less patient. 23 JUL 1988 Attended the branch breakfast at Scofield. Spent a lovely weekend with the children. Johnny won $5.00 at the branch events and then donated it back. He learned a valuable lesson. 26 JUL 1988 Karen went to work. The children and I hauled wood. 27 JUL 1988 The children and I went to the museum at Fairview and to the libraries at Payson and BYU. In the evening we went to the boys' (Dan and Dave's) baseball game. They won and are nearly regional champions. 29 JUL 1988 At the boy's game tonight Julie rejected my invitation to meet Karen. 08 AUG 1988 Dad's children, excluding me, and the grandchildren, got together for a fun evening. María Elena felt our family was out of place there when I wasn't there. 12 AUG 1988 Karen and I drove up from Thistle to the back door of Indianola, then up to the skyline and over to the Huntington canyon to see the mammoth they had uncovered. We got a piece of wood that was lodged under its preserved body. 13 AUG 1988 The Platts and Morins had a party. I was not invited. 14 AUG 1988 President Olsen talked to President Featherstone and gave him the letter he had written in which it was indicated that he was not being dealt with fairly and that I was not being treated properly because no agenda for repentance was being given to me. Elder Featherstone assured him that the presidency would meet on the matter that week and set up a meeting between the two stake presidents, probably with Elder Dunn. Elder Cooper had tried to work with Elder Dunn, but had received no cooperation and suggested that President Olsen contact President Featherstone directly. An earthquake hit Emery County: 5.6, and was felt throughout the state. 20 AUG 1988 Drove to Ferron with Brent and Karen with a load of wood for grandma Petty. 22 AUG 1988 Robert and I discussed family events. Dad's position is the same concerning Karen. He does not want to meet her. Kent has concluded all the Platt boys have inherited this type of behavioral insensitivity from dad. Dad has coerced the boys into supporting Paula. They are rebelling. Paula is becoming bitter, and resentful. Dad feels he has to do more, but his position is weakened by Darlene's demands. He wants to meet with me to discuss Paula's needs. I told Roberta I wouldn't play that game. Dad is re-defining truth about his relationship with mom and feels I was the only negative between them. Roberta and I discussed how to help dad and came to the conclusion that she had the best chance of making some headway. 24 AUG 1988 Ron Lafferty was judged as having been incompetent at the time he was originally tried. This sheds a very definite light on the way he was treated by President Stowe in his excommunication, and verifies in part some of my original feelings - that he had been pushed beyond his abilities to cope with the pressures and had snapped. 26 AUG 1988 VISTA ok'd a four month contract. 27 AUG 1988 Stake Conference. Karen gave the opening prayer in the Saturday evening meeting. President Olsen informed us of his August 14th discussion. 29 Karen ordered Ron out of the house today. Gary Gillespie, President Benson's private secretary, met me on the street and extended his love and support. 02 SEP 1988 I had a discussion today with Suzanne Scott. She said she had asked Ed about three months ago how I was doing, to which he responded: "I don't know. I don't want anything to do with him." She was shocked. 07 SEP 1988 Karen, grandma Petty and I visited the museums at Helper, Price, and Castle Dale. 09 SEP 1988 Spent the day with Karen working on her genealogy. Visited her aunt Violet, and her Uncle Leland. 10 SEP 1988 Spent the day at Winter Quarters with the children. 12 SEP 1988 It was revealed to me today that the gift of love of ancestry and the motivation to do genealogy and temple work is a specific gift from a specific lineage. Matriarchal lineage is very important in establishing spiritual nature. When a patriarchal line leaves the male and goes into the female line, it is to pick up certain rights and blessings from that lineage that need to be passed on to the next generation. Spiritual gifts and covenants are not lost in lineages when no male heir is present, but pass through the woman. The matriarchal line is also important when certain tribes predominate. The spiritual characteristics of each tribe are specific. Karen was involved in receiving some of this information, as was John, during the last two weeks. 18 SEP 1988 Spent a lovely day at Church. Afterwards we sang for an hour with the BYU students who were there. 01 OCT 1988 Bought coal for the cabin. 02 OCT 1988 The WIN concept of identification of individuals was made clear to me. 05 OCT 1988 The bishopric across the street from our apartment came to see us this evening. It seemed they had been sent by someone because of some of the things they knew. They were very kind and received a witness of our spirits. I asked Bishop Reece to pray which he did and thanked me for the opportunity. Each of his couselors expressed their love and testimony of our spirits. Bishop Reece invited Karen and me to attend the ward anytime we could and promised to keep us informed of ward activities. 06 OCT 1988 My assignment in my private work is to work towards the present from the past, to develop WIN, to concentrate on records not being done by the Church. Information prepared is to be submitted for temple work. 08 OCT 1988 Dorothy Fielding accompanied the children and us to the cabin. 09 OCT 1988 Karen bore a very powerful testimony in Church today. 10 OCT 1988 Spent a wonderful day working on the water, cutting wood, working on my genealogy and reading. 11 OCT 1988 Dad retired today. I wrote letters to the older girls, dad, and Ed. Worked on my Spanish genealogy. 12 OCT 1988 Dad and Irene left for Oregon and Washington. Took the younger children out to eat. Talked to the older girls. Bought Nicolle presents for her birthday. 25 OCT 1988 Received letters from Paula and the girls. 27 OCT 1988 Talked to Kent. He says Paula and dad talk at least daily and dad discusses Paula two to three times a day. He feels responsible for what has happened. He feels he has to take care of the children. 28 OCT 1988 Wrote letters to the girls and Ed. 29 OCT 1988 Karen received her state certification in social work. 08 NOV 1988 Uncle George visited and had a long and intimate talk. Towards the beginning of November Karen and I requested a visit with Elder Cooper because of the inactivity and non-response to President Featherstone by President Stowe of the letter, or of arranging a meeting. He met with us and then contacted President Featherstone who advised him that it was too early for me to consider being back in the Church and that I should set up an agenda with President Olsen and work towards re-baptism at some future point. 16 NOV 1988 Elder Cooper informed us of the conversation above. 29 NOV 1988 President Olsen called. We discussed the situation and concluded that I should write to the First Presidency, as I have already complied with everything Elder Cooper sent in his list of agenda items. I prepared the letter and sent it to President Olsen. 30 NOV 1988 Taxes for the cabin were $83.00 for the 5 acres with trees and $381.29 for the 5 acres with the cabin, accounts 0171320 and 0171312 respectively. 08 DEC 1988 Had lunch with Juan. 12 DEC 1988 Went to Highland. Dan asked me to attend their farewell. Dave is mad at me. Went to the library with Elena and Debbie. Ed and three of his kids stopped by and left gifts. Dad has been in California for a week. His divorce will be final next week. 13 DEC 1988 President Olsen called and said the letter was fine. He will prepare a cover letter and send it to the First Presidency. 18 DEC 1988 Talked to Gary Gillespie again. Karen and I did not attend the boys farewell as we were uninvited at the last minute. Dad, Ed, and Julie spoke. The twins bore their testimony. Much praise and love for Paula. None for me. 19 DEC 1988 President Harold Brown called and we talked for an hour about the present state of affairs. 20 DEC 1988 My lawyer called Paula to discuss financial and visitations for 1989. Her second lawyer has quit. 21 DEC 1988 I talked to Roberta. She felt it was good we were not at the farewell. It was obvious to her that everything that took place was a positioning which tried to justify their support of Paula. Dad is in St. George this weekend seeing Lorraine Ferguson before his divorce is finalized. She is from Annabella. Paula knows Roberta doesn't buy her position. Everybody has felt that Karen would not stand up to the heat, that she would tire of the game and move on. The impression is beginning to build that she must be very special to withstand what's happened and still stick by me. Everybody expected I would have come crawling back in abject humility and repentance, but it's becoming clear that that is not going to happen. 27 DEC 1988 The First Presidency met with staff concerning my letter. It was sent to President Featherstone. I called President Olsen to inform him. He is ready to take a strong stand about President Stowe's position. A hearing should be held because it was an official appeal. 30 DEC 1988 We arrived in Highland at 2:00 p.m. to pick up the children as scheduled. Paula had taken them shopping. We drove to the cabin alone. 31 DEC 1988 Fixed the water. Spent a peaceful, quiet day together, reading, talking and working. 01 JAN 1989 A review of the past year conjures up many unpleasant memories, but it has been a very beneficial year spiritually as these challenges have been overcome. The unkindness of others has hurt a great deal. Being excommunicated without a plan for repentence has caused righteous and unrighteous forces to align themselves. This has caused much agitation of spirit on my part, much pain, as I have had to overcome my own weaknesses and those of others. Karen's valient support has been a sweet statement of her true nature which I will forever appreciate. Because of her it was easier to not succumb to discouragement and to be entrapped in Satan's webs of deceit and ungodliness. Karen taught Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society today. She also spoke briefly in Sacrament Meeting. I asked President Lewis to give me a blessing, wherein he promised me that the issues at hand would soon be resolved. He blessed me with peace and power to do the right things. 02 JAN 1989 Brent came down and spent the day with us. We dug the snowmobile out, cut wood, and enjoyed a quiet day. Drove home. 03 JAN 1989 I called President Featherstone. He indicated he had just received the appeal letter thirty minutes earlier and that it would likely be given to Elder Dunn. I expressed my concerns. They met on the matter in presidency meeting and then his secretary called and told me that President Featherstone would handle the matter himself and wished to see us on Thursday at 10:00 A.M. I called President Olsen, President Lewis, and Roberta to let them know. Each expressed their love and support. Jimmy put the Area Presidency's names on the temple prayer list for us in the morning. 05 JAN 1989 Karen and I met for two hours with President Featherstone. He had the original court proceedings with him. They contained many additional accusations that had not been mentioned to us before. We discussed each one, and we reviewed other worthiness items. It was a very thorough, touching, tender, rending, interview. At the end he told me I had a pure heart and he was going to recommend that I be re-baptized. He said an overturning of the original accusation couldn't be allowed because abandonment, as defined by the Church court, meant I had left my marriage covenants and had placed sealing lines in jeopardy. He said the Church presently considers this worse than adultery. This has never been taught in the Church and I do not understand all of its implications; however, given the same circumstances, I know my decision would have been the same. Therefore, I accept the decision and the punishment and look forward to being re-baptized. I called Roberta and dad and talked to them about the decision. She was elated and tearful. Dad asked some of the same questions as had Elder Featherstone and was apparently satisfied with my answers. Several friends were also told. 06 JAN 1989 Juan stayed in Highland prior to leaving for Arizona. 07 JAN 1989 Juan left for Thunderbird International School. He does not plan to return to Utah. 08 JAN 1989 Tithing settlement. Full tithe payers. 11 JAN 1989 Called Paula to see if we could pick up the children on Saturday. She insisted I take them at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. I told her it was dangerous to take them into the cabin that late at night. She said they could sleep at the apartment just fine. I asked her if she was going to sign the papers my lawyer had sent her. She said no. I tried to reason with her and explain that my intentions were to save her problems and money. She told me she didn't know me anymore and didn't trust me at all, that she was looking for her own lawyer and didn't want anymore advice from me. Then she began getting vicious about how she couldn't live on the money I had proposed giving her. Finally it got so bad, I told her goodbye and hung up. I called my lawyer and told him what had happened and we decided to have the papers served immediately. I called Gary Gillespie and we discussed my present situation. He read me the handbook statements which trail a request for re-baptism from current branch president to stake president to old stake president, to request for original paper, to re-hearing and new material, to letter to new stake president. This whole process could produce another appeal, and take months. (see January 20th) Carlos Hidalgo, M.D., called from Houston and officially invited me to the Houston seminar on October 6-8. 12 JAN 1989 On the way home from the library this afternoon it became clear to me that the personal and prophetic cycles in my life have parallels with the national-international scene and with what I have called the Davidic calling for lack of a better word at present. Behind the scenes today a memo was released to Church Security ordering my name taken off the list of persons to watch, indicating I had full unrestricted access to the Library again and that I would probably be re-hired shortly. My cousin Arden McQueen, from Church Security informed me he had seen the memo. 14 JAN 1989 During the early evening Karen, the four younger kids and I walked into the cabin. During the night I received a revelation that the 103 people who died at the Colorado River crossing on July 17, 1781 are anxious to have theirs and their families' temple work done. Ensign José Salvador Yslas, whose family I am in charge of as to temple work, was commander of the expedition. 16 JAN 1989 Sometime this weekend, Elder Featherstone and President Stowe talked. Based on a phone conversation I had with Paula on the 18th, it appears President Stowe received some correction and instruction and he passed it on to Paula. 18 JAN 1989 Paula and I talked for over an hour on the phone this morning. It was a very unusual conversation. It was obvious that she had been frightened and chastized by President Stowe. She inappropriately called me "honey" on two occasions. She said I was a "neat" guy, and that she wouldn't have married me if I hadn't been neat. She said she wanted to be my friend but wants nothing to do with Karen. She finally admitted to calling Karen a whore on two occasions. She brought up a number of issues she has refused to discuss previously, issues we talked over with Elder Featherstone. She was trying to get me to back down on these issues and take her side. She expressed gladness that I would be baptized again - I didn't bring it up - and commented that she had no jealousy that Karen and I be sealed at some point. We discussed our sealing and she said she didn't want it anymore. She tried in her way to apologize but her narrowmindedness and other problems kept getting in the way. Every time I tried to present my views on things she became argumentative but never violent as recent calls have been. She was particularly interested in defending herself in areas such as her MMPI scores, her past morality, our sexual life which she discussed intimately, and her rights as a mother in keeping Karen out of all her family's activities. She admitted she made errors in judgment over the last several years. She admitted she was sexually inappropriate (I assume she was referring to laughing at my impotence when she tried to force sex during our problems). She admitted to talking to some people but refused to accept responsibility for beginning the gossip. She said she was not trying to destroy our marriage, nor did she have any desire to interfere at all in my relationship with the children. All of these admissions were totally out of character for Paula and clearly indicated she had been instructed to apologize. Another proof of this being a forced situation is in the analysis of what else was said: written and unwritten if you will. She would not accept any of my counsel. She made many accusations, some of which were clearly her problems, particularly her inability to deal with some issue realistically. She was not really repentant. She wants nothing to do with Karen, she overstresses my moral obligations to support her and the children while rejecting appropriate relations. She continues to dominate or want to control. Her love is not Christ-like and many of her feelings showed no spiritual sensitivity. 20 JAN 1989 I called President Olsen to see if he had heard anything about my status. He informed me he received three letters from President Featherstone who had received them from President Stowe which complicated matters. President Featherstone apparently talked to President Stowe on January 10 and after the discussion decided to turn jurisdiction over to President Olsen. He then called President Olsen and told him to had interviewed Karen and me and suggested I could be baptized within two weeks. Apparently right after that President Stowe went through all the letters he had collected several months ago that I wrote to the children, Paula, Ed, dad, and that Karen wrote, and sent three which gave him a chance to raise further objections to my being re-baptized. President Featherstone sent them to President Olsen with a comment that they needed to be considered in his decision, which I believe was his way of keeping the ball in our court. However, it appears to have caused President Olsen some concern because he doesn't know if he can resolve the matter before he's released on February 12th. The apparent reason for Paula's phone call was because President Stowe called her as soon as he found out and told her my appeal had been denied. She called Ed and dad and told them. President Stowe also asked her for any additional letters she had received which she felt could be used against me, because jurisdiction was being taken from him and I would be re-baptized soon if they didn't do something. After she had given him the latest letters, she felt her position was threatened and she became scared and called me. I called Ed and talked to him for three hours. End result: he felt good we had talked but if I'm allowed to be re-baptized he will have a difficult time accepting the decision. I called dad concerning the contract on the house and he said I owed him the second mortgage despite the court ruling giving the house and its debts to Paula. 21 JAN 1989 We decided not to go to the cabin this weekend. Today I finished the VISTA project of 1,000 Hispanic surnames. My old job is now over. 23 JAN 1989 Called my lawyer. Paula had submitted a motion to dismiss my petition. I discussed with him the problems of needing to protect my business, to resolve my loan with dad, to set up a court mediator, conselling for the girls, the financial situation, potentially having a new job. 24 JAN 1989 The First Presidency met and upheld the original court decision. They sent a letter to President Stowe informing him of the decision and told him to contact me. In it they counseled me to follow procedures and I would be back in the Church. 26 JAN 1989 President Olsen and President Stowe received the letter noted above. 30 JAN 1989 My lawyer wrote to Paula's lawyer discussing visitations, counselling and the debt to dad, suggesting alimony be dropped until I pay that debt. 31 JAN 1989 I called President Olsen informing him that I had not heard from President Stowe. He said President Featherstone had told him to proceed immediately with re-baptism once he received the letter from the First Presidency changing jurisdiction. He said I had paid the price and am ready for re-baptism. President Olsen said a court need to be re-convened either in Highland or Helper and that Elder Dunn had instructed him that the new stake president would be told to use him (President Olsen) in getting the matter resolved. I called Elder Featherstone's office. His secretary talked to him and he said that one of the two stake presidents should call him, that it was now out of his hands, that after he made the recommendation to the First Presidency it was out of his hands, that he didn't even know what their decision was. I called President Olsen who said he would call President Stowe and see if he would be willing to reconvene the court and if not he would write a "nasty" letter. He said the one letter left him with the feeling that jurisdiction would remain in Highland. After our Sunday meeting, if all goes well, he will make an official request for re-baptism, if President Stowe agrees to re-convene the court. It appears to me that a recommendation for a change of jurisdiction was made by President Featherstone, but that the First Presidency decided to watch the response of President Stowe. Elder Featherstone will have to report what happens and then they will make a decision. Joe and I talked for two hours. It was a very productive interchange. Dad left this morning for St. George, Arizona, and Nevada, to return February 13th. 05 FEB 1989 We met today with the Helper stake presidency. The results devastated my spirit. President Olsen has had "a very positive talk" with President Stowe and for some reason has sided with him. He chastized me for the contents of the letters I have written and says that they show an unrepentent spirit. Elder Featherstone's letter, which he read to us, agrees with this position. He made other comments which hurt a lot, such as: "it will be a long time before your priesthood blessings can be restored." He said that I should cease all contact with my family insofar as counseling with them is concerned. He indicated President Stowe didn't contact me because he thought President Featherstone had done it. This is an obvious untruth. This meeting greatly depressed me because I was betrayed and not supported. My spirit is very tired of this persecution. Why can we not receive the blessings we desire? During the following week Karen talked to Lyle Cooper and we agreed on counseling. We will see if my actions are correct or not. If I need help then it will be obvious. If I don't then we can place ourselves in a position to be blessed whenever the Lord decides the time is right. 09 FEB 1989 The Area Presidency today apparently met with The First Presidency concerning what we assume was information they received from Lyle Cooper regarding: 1) Pres. Stowe's non-compliance with their instruction to contact me; 2) that he discussed with Paula information concerning Karen's and my interview with Elder Featherstone, and 3) that we had gone immediately from the Sunday interview to a position of counseling. Based on this information The First Presidency ordered that the court of jurisdiction in my case be changed from Highland to Helper. 10 FEB 1989 Today a very wonderful revelation was received regarding the typological relationship between the Ten Tribes and other matters. 12 FEB 1989 President Olsen was released and Don Staheli became our new stake president. Elder Paul Dunn and Lyle Cooper met with the new presidency and officially gave them jurisdiction over my case. 13 FEB 1989 Had my first counseling session and then Karen and I met with Elder Cooper who gave use most of details of the last week. In all fairness to our feelings of total devastation last week, today we are dumbfounded and overwhelmed. It is obvious the Lord is making the best of our situation to test many people. 14 FEB 1989 Blood pressure 124/82. 24 OCT 1989 Seven years ago today a testing period in my life was begun which has led me through many unusual circumstances. These have not all been recorded, as most were too painful at the time to write about. Hopefully, that period is now past and it will be possible to keep a more faithful record. I have reconstructed the past seven years from notes and letters as far as I can, and from those journal entries that were made. As what took place during those seven years had so much of a typological connotation to it, it could only be fully appreciated as a whole anyway, so now that it is over, it can be properly recorded and analyzed. As I begin this period, some historical perspective might be appropriate. My wife Karen and I are living a block and a half northwest of the Salt Lake Temple in the Garden Apartments. She works at the Utah Social Services offices at 7200 South State Street. I work at home trying to develop a business in genealogy. Her son Baird is soon to return from Japan with his wife Ann and will be going to Utah State University in Logan. Her son Brent is at BYU in Provo, in his first semester of his masters program. My oldest daughter Patty and her family moved to Florida the fore part of September. I don't know where they are exactly. She does not have anything to do with me despite repeated attempts on my part. My oldest son Bruce is living at 68 Haas Ave., San Leandro, California and working at a Sizzler restaurant somewhere south of there, in Fremont. He is living with Michelle MacDonald of San Francisco who works with him. They went to London together in March with their boss and one other person. I don't know much about his circumstances. He is not active in the Church at this time but does keep some communications open with me. David is in Concepción, Chile and Daniel is in Iquique, Chile on missions. Both are growing, but are resentful of my having divorced their mother. Julie is at BYU in her first year of college. I see her occasionally. She treats me okay but refuses to meet Karen. María Elena and Debbie live in Highland with their mother and will not go with Karen and me on weekends but occasionally visit with us on Wednesday nights although they prefer not to do so when Karen is with me. Nicolle, Johnny, Lyman Dee and Natalia spend time with us regularly. They like Karen, seem to enjoy being with us, and have adjusted well to their situation. My father lives with Roberta and Kent and their family in dad's and mom's old home in north Provo, or Edgemont. He recently divorced Darlene and broke off another engagement. He is bitter towards me and refuses to meet Karen. My siblings Roberta, Irene, and McKay make attempts to keep in touch, are non-judgmental and have all met Karen and treated her kindly. Joe and Sue are somewhat critical and Sue refuses to meet Karen and Joe hasn't made any effort to do so. Ed has made a number of attempts to befriend us, but is very critical of my situation and at this time has rejected us. Gord and Gene are basically not involved. Gene seems to feel okay about us and Gord is very negative at this time. Karen and I have been attending Church weekly at Scofield in Carbon County. The branch is small and very supportive of us. The Helper stake presidency is in the process of getting me re-instated in the Church. Most weekends we spend at the cabin in the Gooseberry. None of Karen's family know anything about my situation except her boys and all of them interact with us in a limited, but positive way. We have more to do with Annette and Orvel because they are at their cabin next ot ours a lot of the time. Mother Petty would like us to come down more often but we can't. I have almost no contact with my uncles, aunts, or cousins, but for the most part what I do have is very positive. Dad's brother George and mother's brother Kay have gone out of their way to be kind to us. Several of mother's cousins have also been very sweet. As we begin this next phase of our lives, it seems fairly obvious to us that what has happened has all been minutely orchestrated by a loving Father. I will be referring in future references to typologies and cycles that are explained elsewhere. These typologies and cycles have been proven in many ways and have been for our training, protection, and moral support. I do not know why they were given other than for those reasons. We are beginning today what I am calling the Exodus Cycle, but it includes much more than that word describes. I suppose it is best just to let things take their course, and describe them as they occur. Today also begins a new year of the Personal Cycle. I will describe it as it develops. In the Prophetic Cycle we are presently near the end of the second year of Noah's period. It is three years in length. Chaos has been controlled on both the personal and Church levels of this period. Anyone reading the last paragraph without reviewing how these cycles and typologies were revealed and have been tested as to their accuracy would possibly assume I am crazy. I am not interested at this point in my life of trying to justify my position for those people. I will record what I feel is necessary and let time and events be the judge of the end result. I am my worst critic insofar as being in a continual state of review of motives, thoughts and actions. If I err, so be it. I will make corrections and adjustments as soon as it is apparent that I need to. Hopefully, however, most of the mistakes have been cleared up during the seven-year training period just ended. On October 24, 1841 Orson Hyde dedicated the land of Palestine to the return of the House of Israel. Yesterday marked the end of 148 years of covenant curse reversals upon the House of Israel. This has been historically, typologically and prophetically important. This 148-year period was first intimated in the World Cycle. (see 27 AUG 1986) That day marked the end of the Davidic period within the Prophetic Cycle. The Davidic period lasted 148 days. Rhetorical analysis points, therefore, to my personal trial period, or period of purification, and the House of Israel purification period, as both ending yesterday and a significant new period beginning on this anniversary. However, there are still seven years of joint preparation before the key date of October 24, 1996 is reached. At that point the full realization of this preparatory period will be shown. The 24th of October 1841 date was only a type and shadow. The year 1947 was the escatalogical reality of this. From that year there are 7 x 7 or 49 years to 1996. (Daniel 9:25) in the House of Israel Cycle. And just as I have two seven-year cycles, so must the House of Israel have two 49-year cycles. Therefore, beginning at the focal point of October 24, 1996, it will begin its last 49-year cycle, with its leader having been prepared to take it through that period. .......... Today Karen met Lyle Cooper at a seminar. He has been our Regional Representative. He told Karen that President Don Staheli has been in contact with him recently and that everything is progressing well towards re-baptism. 25 OCT 1989 Spent the day working on the Solomon research account, eight hours, and on my journals. Lynn's wife stopped to talk in the Library. She challenged me in my treatment of Paula. I responded appropriately but still became inwardly angry. 26 OCT 1989 Worked on the Viramontes and Peláez research accounts, eight hours, and worked on typing family documents for the Platt Family Records Center. John came over and we discussed his Scottish publications. Karen refused to talk to John but I helped him understand her sensitive and tender spirit right now. It was a very touchy situation for awhile. John has done so much for us. I hate to see him hurt. 27 OCT 1989 President Staheli called me early this morning to inform me that everything was all set for a meeting with the high council and stake presidency Sunday afternoon at 4:00. He said he had talked to President Stowe about it and he was very positive, happy for me, and felt the best resolution to things that could exist does. President Staheli said the area presidency had approved the go-ahead. Dad left this morning for the northwest for a three-week visit with Gene and McKay's families. Ed will be happy to come to the baptism as will Roberta. I talked to Paula about a gravestone for Don Carlos' grave. The family has offered to put one on his grave for his birthday. Called Margery Lewis and confirmed that she could tend the children on Sunday. Also asked her to check on the baptismal font for the first Saturday in November. The four youngest, Karen and I drove to the cabin. It had snowed six inches. Tried new snowshoes. They work very well. 28 OCT 1989 Spent several hours in the morning working on the water and found that one of our valves leaks. Loaded the truck with a chair for Brent, a desk for Baird and a 50-gallon drum to get gas. Karen made cinnamon baked apples and home made ice cream. I worked on knitting a scarf. We watched a snowshoe rabbit for a while. 29 OCT 1989 Johnny typed on the typewriter: "Johnny Platt went with his dad and had fun with his dad and I love my dad." Today is Sunday. I arose at 3:30 to study, pray, and work of assigning identification numbers to ancestral family group records. Today is my review with the disciplinary council in Helper. Karen spoke in Sacrament Meeting on caring. She used some examples from her work to show how caring changes lives. At 4:00 p.m. the stake presidency and high council met for about forty-five minutes and then invited Karen and me in. They asked me to say what I felt like saying, then asked questions; we left; they deliberated briefly and by 6:00 p.m. I had received permission to be baptized. The whole process was very loving despite the pointed questions. They asked me why I had chosen to divorce Paula, about support of Church leaders, about financial support of the family, about my intentions after baptism, about my relationship with Karen and my family -immediate and extended, and about some of the specifics of Paula's indiscretion. After we got home I called Uncle George, Uncle Kay, Roberta, Jimmy, John, and President Lewis. We made arrangements for an interview on Thursday. I called Doug Merrill at Mt. Shasta, California. He was elated and will try to come. We called Brent and arranged to meet him tomorrow. 30 OCT 1989 This morning I called by brothers Gene and Ed, Elaine Walton, Ky Bishop, President Ray Anderton, Don Austin, Joe and Aida Christensen, Phil Dunn, Nadine Timothy, Fran Helsten, Dorothy Fielding, Jo Newton, Brent Scharman, and the Bradfields. Everyone in Scofield already knows. Everyone has been so sweet and supportive. Called Ruth Maness and Suezan Scott. talked to DeAnn and Aunt Rene. Ben and DeAnn are living with Aunt Rene and Uncle Art now. The Morins have a baptism in Salt Lake on Saturday. Called Ilene Buckway. She's sick and was unable to go to Blanding to work on the Indian Cultural Center presentation. 31 OCT 1989 Spent the day working on James Hugo's research account. In the afternoon Karen and I went down to Provo and took Brent out to dinner for his birthday which was last Sunday. Afterwards we spent several hours talking to Roberta and Kent about our situation. 01 NOV 1989 Karen stayed home today and worked on a dress. I worked on the Carattini research account, preparing names for temple work. Called Paula and worked out a visit schedule for the rest of the year. Worked on journals and reading the Secrets of the Lost Races by René Noorbergen. 02 NOV 1989 Worked on the Mitchell and several other research accounts during the day. 03 NOV 1989 Spent the day preparing for the weekend. Drove to the cabin in the evening. Doug and Trudy called from Reno and said they had been delayed and would meet us at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow in Fairview. 04 NOV 1989 Today I was re-baptized into the Church by Brent Alan Fullerton and re-confirmed by him also. My brother Ed and my brother-in-law Kent Bylund served as the witnesses. 05 NOV 1989 Today I bore my testimony for the first time in over two years, and partook of the sacrament with great rejoicing. 06 NOV 1989 Spent most of the day sleeping. In the evening Karen and I went out to eat. 07 NOV 1989 Went out to eat with Doug and Trudy. 08 NOV 1989 This morning I was called over to the Family History Library and was given a contract to produce some of my IGHL Research Series for the family history centers in Latin America. 09 NOV 1989 The dramatic happenings in Berlin have to a head as the people of East Germany have continued to leave there en masse. Began translating my study on political divisions in Mexico. 10 NOV 1989 Worked all day translating. Picked up the children in the evening and drove to the cabin. Spent a fun day. 11 NOV 1989 Spent the day working on the water and got the bad valve taken out. Loaded the snowmobile and brought it out for repairs. 12 NOV 1989 I gave the prayer in Sacrament Meeting. 13 NOV 1989 Finished translating volume two of the research series. Started translating volume four. Karen and I went for a walk downtown. In our discussions today we decided that people do things in the following order: 1) right/right, 2)wrong/right, 3) right/wrong, and 4)wrong/wrong. 14 NOV 1989 The Bank of America called from San Francisco and ordered my Spanish surname list. Went to BYU with Karen. Found an outlet in SLC to buy glue. Linda and John came over. Continued my work of translation. 15 NOV 1989 Finished translating volumn four of the research series. Karen didn't go with me in the evening. The six children went out with me for awhile. Called my lawyer about his bill and told him nothing had yet benefited to me from the court decisions. 16 NOV 1989 David wrote to me today. It was a very positive, mature letter. Began writing volume three of the research series. 17 NOV 1989 Ordered a velobinder. 22 NOV 1989 Gwen Dingman died today. Spent an hour with the children before we drove to the cabin. Gave Karen her birthday pillow. 23 NOV 1989 Drove to Ferron and had dinner with grandma Petty. Brent came down. Spent the afternoon and evening visiting, while I worked on an account. 24 NOV 1989 Pruned grandma's apple, peach, and apricot trees. Drove back to the cabin with Brent. It began to snow in the evening, so we moved the vehicles out to the road. 25 NOV 1989 Spent the day working on the snowmobiles. Went to Mount Pleasant to buy food and supplies. Brent and I went to the top with the snowmobiles and had some troubles but made it back okay. 25 NOV 1989 Dad wrote me the following letter: Dear Lyman, The need, obligation, desire to write this letter arises out of an awareness and realization that many times in the past, when I didn't wrote or phone, has not apparently helped or eased matters or our relationship, and may have contributed in some ways to muddying the waters. Before you read to the end of this letter, however, I hope you can more nearly see my thinking, and into my mind. I do sincerely congratulate you on your being baptized again into the church. It proves as conclusively as anything can, my original and now my current premise that you really haven't repented of what you have done, but have enough ability to direct others thinking into channels which completely exonerate you. It was fortunate for me that I was out of the state and physically unable to attend your baptism, because I would have come away from that ordinance performance more nearly convinced and solidly determined that you have put over still once more one of your charades. You have maintained for some years, now, that some stake, regional and general authorities have done you disservice by assuming you guilty of sins against your wife, family and acquaintences. So, you can find no criticim toward me, if I say that it certainly looks like they have made a mistake in rebaptizing you when to my mind you aren't repentant, not one whit, for if you were, there would be some outward evidence of it. Ask yourself, have you truly and completely forgiven Paula and grandma, me and Ed, of our parts in your original dissolution from the church? You needn't be preached to by me, but I must strongly object to your feining a repentant attitude, when you've done no such. Let me prove it. Where your five older children are concerned, have you lifted a serious finger to make things right with them./ Have you written or called Patty and apologized to her for not coming to her wedding or reception? Have you contacted Bruce or the twins and apologized for not attending their high school graduation, or Julie's either, and have you done any rreconstruction work with Paula or her mother? I know just what you haven't done that you could have done where I personally am concerned. You have told me repeated untruths and never made a solid single move to counter them. You have embarassed your whole family and I don't recall a humble move on your part to counter that. One of the requirements of repentance, and a flag by which it can be recognized, is a realization of guilt and a desire for restitution. There are neither with you. You have told the people in Helper Stake only what you wanted them to know about you and have kept hidden all the things they would need to know to know fully not to sustain you. I'm wrong!! Oh no, Lyman, you are wrong for deluding people, and if I have to be the one to let you know you can't delude everyone, then I'll be that person. You have told George that the beginning of your problems were with Paula and later, with her mother. You will not admit, that until Paula saw her road clear and went to her Bishop, that your marriage was good enough for you to have ironed out your differences and you fully to forgive Paula of her original transgression. You, apparently had, for years forgiven her and lived with her, and it was only when she, with my and Ed's advise, went to the Bishop, that you threatened her with divorce. I can recall that day very vividly, when you told me that in two weeks you were moving out, and would listen to no advise, or harbor no resistance. Now, let me inform you why I cannot accept your present mate. Your traffic and relationship with her while you were married, your intimacies with her while yet a supposedly responsible husband, her agreement to this, knowing you to be a married man, makes this relationship not only evil, but completely unacceptable by any right thinking individual. The fact that she may have gone through hell with her first husband should have dictated to her a right and honorable and moral approach where a relationship with you was concerned. So, you say to me, then, you reject my present wife, and I say to you "yes," most imphatically, then you say to me, "then to hell with you and our relationship," and I say, "so be it." Then your judgment of me that I am totally wrong and not deserving of your love and consideration, all because you made a mistake and won't admit your guilt. You have made statements to me which, when carefully analyzed, have proved to be stupid, asanine and, to say the least non-controversial, primarily because they are ridiculous These numbered into the dozens, but I am condemned before you because I don't believe you. Unless you show by your activities half an effort to rectify these wrongs, not just perpetrated against me, but the family and the enlarged family, you'll estrange us still further. Lyman, listen to me, this is on your shoulders, not on mine, and it makes no difference how much you condemn me for lack of human kindness and forgiveness, it is still on your shoulders, because you have brought us today to where we are. Only you can get us back on track. Love, Dad. 26 NOV 1989 Went to Church, then drove to Ferron to spend the evening with grandma. 27 NOV 1989 Attended Gwen's funeral. Sang two songs, one with Joe Ellison. Took grandma home and drove to Salt Lake. During the following week I spent working long days on my books. Delivered three new ones to the library for distribution. Sent the Bank of America their requested name list and bill them for $400.00. 02 DEC 1989 Spent the weekend at the cabin. We finished the cabinet in the kitchen and I framed in the desk and cabinet areas of my office. Did some work on the snowmobiles. 10 DEC 1989 President Lewis announced they were moving to Indianapolis. In the evening we went to Helper to attend and participate in the stake songfest. Got the children home at 11:00 p.m. 13 DEC 1989 Karen, the children and I went to the Christmas program at the tabernacle in Salt Lake. 22 DEC 1989 Picked up the children and went to the cabin. Spent through the 26th with them. Had a lovely weekend, a sweet Christmas and enjoyed the children very much. 27 DEC 1989 Spent a day in Salt Lake. 29 DEC 1989 Spent the weekend through Saturday with Brent, Baird, and Ann at the cabin and in Ferron with grandma Petty. 03 JAN 1990 Called Paula to discuss it being my right to have the children the next three weekends in a row, because of the holiday on the 15th. She said that was ridiculous, and I quoted the court order. She said she hadn't agreed. I told her I couldn't take the children this weekend because of a funeral. She said I would lose my weekend then and could have them only on the 15th rather than the whole weekend as ordered by the court. I told her to keep them the whole time, then, and that I would so record it. I sent her a copy of the Order to Show Cause. 10 JAN 1990 Called Paula. She said she would not comply with the Order, that it was stupid. 19 JAN 1990 Roberta called and said Paula had called and asked her to call me and tell me the children were ready to go. I told her to tell Paula I wasn't going to pick the children up and just have to bring them back for Johnny's birthday in the morning. I said I would pick them up at noon. I knew she was setting me up. This set up had several angles. She let Johnny bring over his friends without coordinating with us. Had we picked them up on Friday, we'd have met with this unexpected overload, plus a demand from her to bring them home by noon on Saturday - an impossibility from the cabin - or she would have accused me of not giving her a half a day for his birthday. As it was the tables were reversed. 20 JAN 1990 At 11:00 a.m. I called to speak to Johnny and wish him a happy birthday. The first thing he said was that he had been waiting with his friends. I told him because of the problems we'd had the last few weeks, we'd not been able to make arrangements last night. I told him if he and the kids would have their tennis shoes on, we'd be down in an hour to get them. He said he didn't want to go. I asked him why? He said because his mother had made other plans for the day. I told him I'd see him then on Wednesday. Karen called five minutes later and asked to speak to Johnny. Paula said: "He's not here." Karen said: "I know he's there. We just talked to him." Paula said: "It's none of your business," and hung up on her. At 11:30 I called the Alpine Police dispatch and asked to speak to an officer about a visitation complaint. The lady dispatcher took my name and telephone number and said she'd have an officer call me. Officer Fautin encouraged us to record all future conversations with Paula by buying a Radio Shack apparatus, to do so. Paula took her phone off the hook until she left with the whole family about 12:15. Thereafter, there were no answers of the phone ringing. I called Alpine again at 12:30 and waited until 1:00 then Karen and I drove down to register the complaint personally. We met with Lynn Fautin of the Alpine Police Department, and talked to the on-duty supervisor who advised us to make a report today to Social Services in Provo. We drove to Highland where we observed Ron Stutz and Jerry Brooks leaving in their trucks. Brother Brooks told officer Fautin that the family was not home, that he knew where they were but that he did not want me to know where they were. Officer Fautin commented to me on the negative feelings and looks coming from Ron. She told me she had made a note of the apparent non-compliance of court orders. Karen and I returned to Salt Lake, contacted Mrs. Marten, on-duty PIC worker at the Provo Social Services office, and registered an official complaint of emotional maltreatment and possible sexual abuse. She took all the pertinent details, and told me a PIC worker would be assigned on Monday, that each of the children would be interviewed at school, Paula at home, and a report filed in the divorce file. None of this was done. I then called my sister Roberta, telling her that we had proven contempt of court and might require her testimony in court. I asked her to write down what had transpired between her and Paula. She said she would. She told me dad had returned last night and within two minutes Paula had called him and told him about my letter. Roberta told him I had sent a copy of the letter. He said he already knew what it contained. xx FEB 1990 Eugene Leavitt, son of Jeremiah Leavitt IV and Mary Ellen Huntsman, died in St. George, Utah. 02 FEB 1990 Picked up the children at 6:10 P.M. Natalia, Nicki, Lyman and Johnny came; Patty didn't come out to see me. We talked to the children about lying. Johnny admitted he lied to me about his birthday. We told Nicki I didn't approve of her mother because she didn't tell the truth about Juan. Nicki told us that her mother said in Peru they didn't get married. We told her that wasn't the truth. Karen told Nicki that her mother still didn't tell the truth because she didn't go through the excommunication process like her dad had done. 02 MAR 1990 Debbie and María Elena refused to come out and talk to me. Patty and her husband Drew, who have just moved to Highland from Florida, walked past while we were waiting for the children and refused to stop and speak to us. 02 MAR 1990 Upon returning the children I asked to speak to Drew, about a job. He refused to talk to me, told Niki he had gotten a job, and thanked me for my concern. 07 MAR 1990 I invited Patty's son, Debbie and Elena out for a treat with the other children. They refused. 15 MAR 1990 Patty had another (her second) child today. He was named Justin Payne, and weighed seven pounds. He was born at the American Fork Hospital. xx APR 1990 Sometime during April, Paula had Juan take Johnny and her to Provo, where they went through an adoption proceedings. He was told by Paula that he no longer had to go with us to the cabin, and he understood, and agreed that that was okay with him, according to Julie. 06 MAY 1990 This morning at Highland, Justin Hamblin, my second grandson, son of Drew Hamblin and Patricia Platt, was blessed by Gordon Leavitt Platt, my father. Drew and Patty have begun attending Church again and are preparing for temple attendance and blessings. 13 MAY 1990 Uncle Denzil A. Platt died at Mansfield, Ohio today of cancer. 14 MAY 1990 My sister Roberta P. Bylund called this morning to inform me of the death of Uncle Denzil. She said dad had called from St. George and asked her to inform the family. The funeral will be in Richfield on Thursday. They discussed me, as usual, and he said he was not ready to accept Karen into the family yet, but asked for help in trying to resolve his feelings. He announced his engagement to Margaret over the weekend. This same day Baird, Karen's son, wrote us a letter which arrived on the 16th. It was full of well-intended, but very immature comments concerning my standing in the Church, our relationship and his feelings about the cabin. We decided not to respond to it. 17 MAY 1990 Karen and I drove to Richfield this morning and attended Uncle Denzil's funeral. He was buried afterwards besides his parents, Joseph Platt and Clarissa Josephine Leavit, and his brother Eugene. As soon as we entered Magelby's Mortuary, dad came over and shook hands with me, and gave Karen a handshake and a hug, and said: "I've been meaning to do this for a long time." Based on his statements made to Roberta on the 14th we didn't take the jesture very seriously but were kind and responded to him throughout the day in appropriate interchanges. Some of the comments made at the funeral were as follows: [Uncle Roland] He was the best of swimmers. He fought a battle every date against discouragement and fear. Eugene died fifty-nine years ago. Dad died when Denzil was four years old. The missing influence of a father was a drawback in his life and it was with the rest of us. Children were Aleth, Alena, and Shelley by first marriage. Shawn is in Germany. Alisa did not arrive at the airport. [Dad] I didn't know Denzil like an older brother should. I learned more about Denzil on the ride from the airport with Cheryl. [Evan Chidester] He was a good gardner, a good student, a best friend and step-brother. He was comfortable in nature fishing, hunting, and hiking. We had many memorable times. For thirteen years he drove and 18-wheeler from New England to California. One day in Kansas a truck ahead of him crashed and he nearly died. He quit after that. [Uncle George] I had a good relationship with Denzil as a employer. He was a good worker. He fought a good fight. We love you Cheryl for making Denzil's life more full. Denzil would have said the words of a song. "My Way" by Frank Sinatra. 1 Corinthians 15. Denzil had a humility about him. He was shy. He felt meek and lowly. Alma 32:26-27. He lived his life the best he knew how to live. He didn't complain. Pallbearers included Leon Johnson, Evan Chidester and Albert Helquist. Those attending included Gary Platt, Jackie Platt Riggs and husband, Kenneth and Artoise Platt, Janice and husband, Joleen Platt Sherman, Teresa, Hazel and her daughter daughter Diana and husband, Ed and Val Platt, Roberta Platt Bylund, Irene Platt Nielson, Lyman and Karen Platt, Uncle Roland and Aunt Dorothy, Uncle George and Aunt Thora, Cheryl and her daughter Alisa. 18 MAY 1990 This evening we picked the children up for a weekend at the cabin. Bruce has returned from San Francisco. I talked to him briefly and we agree to have lunch next week. 20 MAY 1990 During the last week the interchanges between us and family members, or the spiritual movement they are experiencing generally, has centered on a number of them seemingly coming out of their very critical stances, or apostacy, or hardening themselves in their former positions. This situation has also been accom-panied with an enlightenment concerning the Holy Ghost and how it operates. This has been a revelation to me that has been long-desired, with regard to information I received when I decided to marry Paula back in 1965. The doctrine that appears obvious at this point is that the Holy Ghost never speaks in a voice audible to the physical ears. That is the kind of voice I heard when fasting and praying concerning whether to marry Paula or not. It is clear to me now that I was deceived at that time by an evil influence. Had it been a heavenly messenger, he would have revealed himself and delivered his message. The fact that it was an audible voice, not accompanied by a heavenly appearance, reveals it to be a false revelation. This is consistent with everything I can find on the subject both scrip-turally and from the Brethren. This brings up a question as to why I was allowed to be deceived, and the only answer I can find is that it was necessary for me to be tried in this way, and it was the desire of the Lord that my children have the combined lineage that is theirs through my marriage to Paula. 21 MAY 1990 Went to Highland at noon to pick up Bruce and Julie. We went to Provo to lunch. We discussed a lot of things. David did graduate from high school prior to his mission. Danny is now six foot four inches in height. Dad lied to Julie about his interactions with us during the funeral. Paula has adopted Johnny recently. Julie agreed to work for me one-half day a week. Bruce is leaving shortly for Westchester, New York with Juan, where Juan has received a job at the Latin IBM headquarters. Lyman Dee has problems with concentration, fluid going to the brain when he thinks, causing him to forget. The doctor feels this is due to the drowning he experienced as a child. Patty refuses to forgive me for not attending her wedding. María Elena is working at Kountry Korners in Highland at the grill at $4.00/hour. Bruce feels that a number of the family are now ready to get on with their relation- ships with me and have adjusted to reality. Bruce never did get his endowments, but was only ordained to the office of Elder. Roberta and Kent had some woman claiming to be Roberta disconnect their two private phones with the phone company and give as her own telephone an unassigned number in Oregon. Dad and Gene talked today. Margaret wants dad to come to Oregon immediately to try and resolve their differences before she leaves for Europe. He moved the rest of his things from Roberta's today with Gord's help, and stored some things at his shed in Fountain Green. 22 MAY 1990 Julie came to Salt Lake today to begin working as my secretary once a week. She spent four hours stapling magazines, packaging magazines, addressing labels, and assisting in answering correspondence. We had an enjoyable time together and got a lot done that was back-logged. Karen did a lot of checking around with the courts and found that John had been adopted illegally. 26 MAY 1990 Spent the day planting columbines on the hill, some twenty pine trees on the property line, cutting wood, fixing the basement door, doing genealogy on my Spanish ancestry, and playing with the children. 27 MAY 1990 Attended church at Scofield. Both Karen and I taught Sunday School classes. Afterwards we talked with John and the branch president about the adoption. It was obvious that he had been deceived by Paula in what had happened. President Richardson is more convinced than ever that I should never have been excommunicated. We later talked to John in more detail about what he will not be able to do with us, and the problems with insurance, etc., if things are worked out. 28 MAY 1990 Spent the day working on genealogy, cutting wood, hiking, planting elderberry bushes, and cleaning up around the cabin. Roberta called this evening and then I talked to dad about ar-ranging a meeting between us. I told him what Paula had done. He seemed surprised and said he would talk to her. He is leaving for Oregon tomorrow for two weeks to try and work things out between him and Margaret. 29 MAY 1990 Worked on volume 36 of the IGHL Research Series. 30 MAY 1990 Julie came to work with me for the morning. We got a lot done. Mayra Johnson also came and worked on the CGS magazine and has the four back issues now ready for the printer. She left $90.00 for publishing. Julie told me that John's adoption was final, that Paula didn't want to deprive me of seeing him, and that she would get the necessary insurance to cover the problem. I told her why I was so upset and she seemed to understand the duplicity that Paula had used in the matter. Drew has three jobs, Patty one. Julie went to Las Vegas this weekend to attend a farewell for a friend. She said Allen was very jealous and gave her a dozen roses with a sweet letter. 06 JUL 1990 Bruce called from New York and left me his number: (914) 478-5436 and asked me to call him. (I called him on 15 JUL but they indicated that he did not live at that number - there is a 7 instead of a 6 at the end: (914) 478-5437) 7 JUL 1990 We talked with Bob Radacovich about an easement up to the Bawden property. He told us that when he and Clan Stillson originally exchanged pieces that they had given each other in their contracts easement through each other's properties. He said we would have an easement up his road to the Carbon County School District's property and would need to negotiate with them for an easement across it. 08 JUL 1990 Carbon County School District began making a road across Alpine School District's property, and storing gravel preparatory to graveling the road there. Scofield City began laying pipe across the same are, in back of Alpine's houses, and up to Mr. Radacovich's property line. We informed him of this. Met will Bob and Ellen Radacovich at their home in Scofield. We told them the pipe being laid up to their property line was the new waterline being laid by Scofield City. He said he would need to sign his agreement papers with them right away so that they didn't condemn his property. 09 JUL 1990 Called Mary Lou Seamans (1-225-8767) and left a message to have her call back. Called Brent Bawden (1-637-4744) at work, and (1-637-6999) at home, to talk about his property, but all indications are that he will be out of town for another week. Mr. Oman called me about leasing property up Boardinghouse Canyon, 40 acres at $500.00 per year. Limited useage, not every day, hates dust and how it destroys the canyon foilage. Would be willing to sell after a two years if he likes us. 531-8300 (office); 484-6965 (home). He will call us when he is going down and will show us up the canyon and we can then decide if it would be mutually beneficial for us to lease the property. Ann Bennie, secretary of the Water District at the County Recorder's Office in Price is the person to see to get a share of Scofield Reservoir water ($850.00/share) Thereafter it is necessary to apply to the Division of Water Resources at the State Capitol Building. Advertising and a hearing are undertaken, and if there are no objections, a drilling permit is given. Mr. Radacovich drilled a 135-foot well in the area and struck water at 117 feet. In the evening Mary Lou Seamans called. We had a good discussion concerning her ancestry, her property, and the possibilities for an easement across her property. 09 JUL 1990 Spent the morning working on filing a copyright for the WIN system, and in final typing the The WIN System. Called the Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C. and asked them to send me trademark information. Gerrald Pulsipher, Harold Dawavendewa, and Stan Bronson met with the owner of property south of Blanding that was placed up for bid today. They placed the high bid and the 513.734 acres now belongs to the Abican Indian Center. Stake President Lyman was also there and afterward congratulated them. 10 JUL 1990 Talked to Jay Potter 1-226-6066 in Orem concerning his OCR (Optical Character Recognition) program He has a meeting to further explain it to four of the eight area managers of the Family History Library on the 12th. He will come to see me thereafter. They just released their first CD ($169.00) on marriage records of Louisiana. They will have another five within the month. One disc will hold 500 family histories and is geared to an every word index of those books. He wants to discuss licensing our group, and having us work with them on writing grant proposals for Hispanic materials using their system. Talked to Fred García. We discussed items that needed updating and things we needed to send each other. I will send him information on the seminar, WIN Biographical Sheet, a copy of the WIN proposal, and HAGA 2:1. Maurine Ward also wants a copy of the WIN Bio-graphical Sheet. 11 JUL 1990 Incorporated IGHL with the state today, and sent of the IRS materials to get it tax exempt and recognized as a charitable organization. Joe Tingey called and said he wanted to talk to us. Sent a research report to Toni E. Smith. Applied for a loan from Valley Bank, and one from Deseret First Credit Union. 12 JUL 1990 Spent six hours in the evening with Jay Potter, Karen, and Joe Tingey seeing the optical CD generated information he has generated. Talked to Fred García about in afterwards. 13 JUL 1990 Talked to George Ryskamp about it this morning. Talked to Jimmy, Phil, Eileen, and Mayra. For $2,000.00 he will sell a charter membership which carries with it a Headstart/ Phillips computer, with a 40mm hard disk, a CD Rom reader, IBM compatible, 768k internal memory, microsoft bookshelf and a number of CD ROM products, plus his system, and 20 free CD disks of our choice and 40% off on all future disks. (Present price per disc is $169.00) Copyrights prior to 1920 are public domain. Published materials between 1920 - 1965 had to be renewed and 80% of them have not. If they have been renewed, written copyright permission is required. Compiling lists of books is okay: Spanish, Indian, Cuban, etc. Seeking databases is okay. Negotiations with libraries outside this area is not okay at this point. Electronic databases will be placed on CDs immediately, within 10 days each. 25% commission to holders, 5% commission to me for all contractual arrangements. Possible contacts: Susan Easton Black, Ron Jackson, Maurine Ward's idea, Clayton Library, DRSW, Benson Library, Tulane University, Richter at U. of Miami, Colonel Gijón, Enrique Hurtado de Mendoza, Mexico City AGN, Mexico City personal collections, Colonel Montemayor, Mrs. Cadenas, Waid Starks, Nadine Timothy, John Kitzmiller, Mayra Johnson, George Ryskamp, El Presidio de Tucson, Center for Indians in Blanding, Jimmy B. Parker, Gary Zimmerman, Raul Guerra, David Salazar, Houston Genealogical Society, Los Bexareños, the Valley, Corpus Christi, Los Californianos, Syracuse University. Deseret First Credit Union approved a $2.500.00 loan to Karen and I which we received for IGHL. Checked with Valley Bank and they are close to apparently approving another loan. Ordered an airplane ticket for Fred for $322.00 to leave Houston 2:20 P.M. arrive Salt Lake City 4:13 P.M. on August 14th, leaving 7:54 arriving 11:45 P.M. August 20th. 14 JUL 1990 Karen and I spent the day walking Boardinghouse Canyon and the property surrounding our proposed purchase. We found a natural road entrance into the property through Mrs. Seaman's place which we'll discuss with her if things go right. 15 JUL 1990 Called Roberta tonight. Dad and Margaret are just arriving, she by plane and he picking her up. McKay is in the hospital from a hand infection from the Uintah trip the family took. Called Gene. He was sick with the flu and didn't feel like talking. Julie is in California with Al and his family. Patty has refused to come to the party on Tuesday. Everybody thinks this is a big reconciliation between dad and I, but I told Gene it wasn't internalized yet, just outward attempts. Called Bruce but he had given me a wrong number. 16 JUL 1990 Julie arrived back from California this morning at 3:00. Called her later in the day. She can't come to the party tomorrow. She is working at the Canteen at the American Fork Training School (763-4000). She has been on a few dates lately with Mike Eckle, a returned missionary from Argentina who just came back from California and wanted to get together with her again. This has caused some tensions between her and Al. She asked me to check again on the New Skin watch she lost at the gym - black band with white head. Went down to pick up the children. Paula refused to let me have them. She's punishing me for not taking them on Friday which I didn't do because Nicolle wanted to stay for a Sunday School activity. I reported it to the police and then called her. We had a long discussion. She ranted and raved about my hypocrisy, lack of love, lack of compliance, playing with my hobby instead of working at a decent job, etc., etc. She said she had taken Debbie and Maria Elena to see a therapist and had a letter from him. I asked her to send me a copy. She said she wasn't coming to the party tomorrow and that I was stupid for even suggesting it. We agreed to discuss the children's visitations without getting them involved from now on. She told me I had no right to tell the kids she hadn't repented. She told me Patty had not been contacted concerning the party when I told her she had been invited. I told her Irene had called Patty. I went to Deseret First Credit Union and changed my personal checking and savings accounts to IGHL's business account, with the new Employer Identification Number (87-0477128). That takes all responsibility from me personally now as to the loans, accounting, and so forth. I will create my new, personal account elsewhere. Called Valley Bank to check on the loan request there. Berva said that the tax lien prohibits them from making a loan because it is not fully paid. They is also an outstanding judgement for non-payment from a Murray court or some such thing. She said we might could get a loan just from my own credit rating. Called Denise Bawden. She said Brent was out of town until Friday. I discussed the problems of water, easement, fences, etc. with her and the high price of the initial offer. I told her we would be willing to discuss price, contracts, water share purchase, initial payment, working out problems, and so forth. I told her we wanted to buy the entire piece, that because of easement problems the road into the property would necessarily have to go past where we wanted to build and we didn't want any other property holders (such as Bawdens and Clan Stillson had proposed) using the road; and that in order to get easement, it might be necessary to agree to only one building permit. Denise said they wanted to be out of the area by August 1st, the her husband, brother Reece, and a total of six investors had set up this business for promoting businesses, seminars, etc. Clay Holbrook, 248 East Main, Price, UT 84501 (637-2320) is a title insurance underwriter. Title insurance will be difficult to obtain without a written permission for easement. He indicated that expanded useage of the land, and access by necessity may constitute grounds for easement permission. The Planning and Zoning Commission is behind the courthouse in Price. A visit to them needs to be made to change the property from a CE1 (Critical Environment 1) zoning to a S-1 (Scofield 1) zoning (planned mountain home development which allows one dwelling and 5,600 square feet minimum to any maximum. No structure is allowed on a CE1 zone. Eileen Buckway called. She had talked to Stan Bronson who wants to have me serve on the advisory board in the computer area. I told her to tell him I would work with them anyway they needed me to help, but that I preferred to work through her. She said Stan wants Gerald Pulsipher, CEO for Hyrum Smith's Franklin International, to see the Automated Archives presentation. Then I called Gerald's office and asked to talk to him. Jay Potter called and said he wanted to meet with me this afternoon about 3:30. I told him to come ahead. We met, with Karen, and discussed group rates for charter memberships, Franklin International's involvement with the Indian project, cost of producing a CD directly from a computer database vs. the scanning/editing operation, the total disk space available per CD, copyright laws, copyright letter seeking permission from holders to use their materials, grant proposals, and a sample letter to one database holder. I called Susan Easton Black's secretary to get her address. I wrote her a letter about using her computerized index to include with others to form a master early LDS index. Zoning and Planning Commission, Price (637-4700), David Lavanger, building inspector; Harold Marsten, Zoning Commissioner. Richard Tatton, Chairman Zoning and Planning Commission (637-1848). With three cabin sites, we are talking about developing a sub-division. In order for a subdivision to be approved, a survey has to take place, each of the sites has to have a plat drawn for it, water rights have to be in place, and approval from the Southeastern Utah Health District has to be obtained for septic systems to be put in place. Once these things have been done, all of that is presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission, an open, public, meeting. Approval is usually given. Roads through Alpine and Carbon school district properties are not public roads. There is no record of it at the courthouse. On a private road, only one dwelling is allowed per road. If you deed the property to the county, it could be established as a class three, public road, with no maintenance by the county, and then multiple sites could be placed on it. Otherwise, only one dwelling would be allowed. This law is strictly enforced for reasons of health, safety, welfare of individuals and county's responsibilities to protect them. Richard Tatton does not feel comfortable with the present situation. He suggests off the record we sign nothing until the building inspector checks sewer problems, and the school districts sign an agree creating a C-3 thoroughfare through their properties. David Lavanger is inspecting the property today from the building viewpoints. Richard Tatton says the original plat maps between Carbon County and Bawden show no easement agreements. There would have to be a personal contract between the school district and Bawden. The original selling price was $153,133.00. The original agreement states that Bawden's "may" negotiate with the school district to obtain water. Bob Radocovich (637-2594) Called Ernesto Montemayor. He said the guy was re-writing the proposal and it will be another two to three weeks. Ferron City Hall (324-2350) Mrs. JoAnn Behling. Gave her the death dates for six of Karen's ancestors and asked her to see if her indexes included the burial dates. JoAnn's home phone is 384-2666, and address is 149 East 500 North, Ferron, UT 84123. She called back and did not have any information. July 25, 1990 Met with Brent Bawden. We told him of the C-3 county road problem. He said he'd get back to us. Worked on IGHL Research Series, Volume 16. IRS sent a letter saying they would give a letter of determination within eighty days. July 26, 1990 Called Bruce and Juan. They are both working. Bruce is somewhat discouraged because of hard work and not getting anywhere insofar as school is concerned. I tried to encourage him to stick with it and see it through until his debts are paid. His address is 415 Warburton Ave., Hastings on the Hudson, Apt. 2B, New York 10706. Brent Bawden called and made another stupid offer. Karen and I decided we're about ready to give up on this property. Spent the day working on the IGHL Revista for April 1990. Paid bills from borrowed money. Established a definite break between my personal accounts and IGHL's accounting system. July 30, 1990 Went to Highland to leave Debbie and Niki at home. Went to Orem to Jay Potter's to get the first handouts on Automated Archives, to begin preparing the first seminar for the company. July 31, 1990 Contacted the National Endowment for the Humanities office in Washington, D.C. I finally found the right person - Barbara Paulson in the Division of Research Programs, or Reference Materials Program (202) 786-0358 who handles Access Programs. She will send me materials for both the archival preservation, surnames and printing areas of the grant's development. Maximum grants are limited at $200,000.00. The Office of Preservation has stayed away from CDs because of the constantly changing nature of the technology. August 3, 1990 Helped Jo Newton pack for moving to Fairview. It was an all-day affair. August 4, 1990 Got the materials from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Helped Joe unload some of the things at the farm in Fairview. August 22, 1990 Called Barbara Paulson, NEH, and got further material sent to us. She said our grants will compete with each other, and that Maurine's should be placed in the Division of Interpretive Research. October 9, 1990 Called Roberta today to see how she was doing. She had some problems during the trip to Oregon, but everything is doing much better. She commented that Dad had drawn up an official paper giving his inheritance to the children as of January 1, 1991, and cancelling all back debts. In the meeting he made a point of discussing the situation with the house in Highland, and Paula came unglued, showing her true colors, and stating that the house was hers, she received it in the divorce settlement, and that anything that was owed on it was owed by me. Dad was shocked at her attitude, and asked her about the money that he had given her to pay for the house since the divorce. She told him that he had done that because he wanted to not because he had to and that she owed him nothing. Several days later, Roberta and Dad were talking and he said that Paula had just had her back up against the wall and that if he talked to her one on one things would be all right. Roberta called him a fool and told him that if he didn't see her for what she was now, he'd never see her in her true light. Ed and Joe both defended Paula in the meeting. Irene and Gord were embarrassed and so stated to Roberta after returning to Utah. Gene stayed out of it, but Arlene and Roberta talked about how things were. Ed and Roberta don't speak to each other much anymore because Ed is so much in defense of everything Paula does. Dad and Margaret are living in Oregon in Margaret's home. They are both involved in the ward and stake in missionary work, and after the twins come home in January, they plan on going on a mission. Paula plans on selling her home after the children are raised and spending the rest of her life going on one mission after another. She has recently finished paying for her car and plans now to buy another better one. November 25, 1990 Called Roberta after returning from our four-day weekend at the cabin. She had Eric Cole Bylund on November 20th. He weighed seven pounds, three oz. Dad and Margaret have been called on a mission to San Diego for eighteen months. They enter the mission home in Provo on February 6th. Margaret, at least, will be working in the mission office. Karen and I were called as computer imput typists for the controlled extraction in the Helper Stake today. Today is Karen's 50th birthday. Brent spent Thanks-giving with us. Baird called this evening to wish his mother a happy birthday. November 26, 1990 Spent the morning taking care of bills and get-ting my new glasses. It began snowing again. Got all of my back correspondence caught up and began working on a new book, indexing, and the IGHL Revista. March 7, 1991 Today I was promoted to Sales Manager at Automated Archives, Inc. March 27, 1991 Today I met Linda Stokes and we discussed her desires to promote Indian data collection. March 31, 1991 The last two months have been spent for the most part living at the cabin and commuting back and forth to Provo and Salt Lake to work. It has been an extremely difficult winter. People have shot holes in our gas tank on the snowmobile, we have had a headon collison that nearly killed us, and financially life has been very hard. I have not seen the children sin mid-December as it had become too hard on them to continually be torn between the enjoyment of our associations and the manipulations of their mother after they returned. April 1, 1991 Baird and Ann became the parents of Jacob Baird Fullerton. He was born in Logan, Cache, Utah. He was 7 lbs, 11 oz, and measured 21 inches long. In April we went to Arizona and California on a research and speaking trip. We stopped in San Diego and visited with Dad and Margaret. We owe $1375.31 in taxes on the property with the cabin: $501.60 for 1988; $457.30 for 1989 and $373.41 for 1990. Today I paid $50.00, leaving a balance of $1325.71. April 5, 1991 Jay's and Diane's excessive spending of company money was revealed today, actual stealing of company funds. April 10, 1991 Linda Stokes and I met again. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is a two billion a year business. The Indians are denied acces to their own records. All Indian records, except Rosebud, have been centralized in Denver, Colorado and Ft. Worth, Texas. These records include enrollment and correspondence information. April 11, 1991 We held an open forum staff meeting today where the company's financially jeopardized position because of Jay and Diane's stealing, was further discussed. After the meeting I was made president of Automated Archives, Inc. April 17, 1991 We held a board of director's meeting with Paul, Jay, Dave, Jamon and myself. Jamon's position became increasingly more obvious as to it being one of jealously at my having become president. April 23, 1991 Karen, Sister Cluff, Maurine Ward and I went to Tucson and copied a great deal of material for her genealogy. April 24, 1991 Met with Charles W. Polzer, Project Director of the Documentary Relations of the Southwest, at the University of Arizona. From this we obtained a copy of their files. In the evening we were in Yuma where we met with the Genealogical Society of Yuma. April 25, 1991 Karen and I met with dad and Margaret at their mission headquarters and later had supper with them. April 26, 1991 Spent the day at the Los Angeles Public Library and the Huntington Library. In the evening we arrived at the home of George Ryskamp in Riverside. April 27-28 Attended the Jamboree at the Pasadena Convention Center and stayed at the Holiday Inn there. In May we went to Portland, Oregon for the NGS conference. It was attended by 3,000 people and was very successful. June 12, 1991 I got a very nice letter from Lyman Dee today in response to my birthday card to him. He says he misses me and wants to see me. June 14, 1991 I met today with Paul Debry and AAI's lawyer and we decided to redistribute the shares of the company to reflect the takeover by Paul of Jay's control of the majority position. Paul is going to give me about five percent of the stock. June 24, 1991 Today Paul and I met with J.R. Robert, David Rencher, David Mayfield, and Bill Harten. Later I talked to Jimmy Parker, Eileen Buckway and Phil Dunn. It was a profitable day as far a building bridges between AAI and the FHL, nothing concrete. July 30, 1991 Today I was given 4.52% of the stock of Automated Archives, Inc. for having saved the company from dissolution. Paul was give 50.40% and virtual control as AAI is an S Corporation, with Jay holding 45.07. We were told we could buy shares back when the loans are paid off along with 12% interest. July 31, 1991 I called Weber State today to check on Donald Moorman's unpublished papers. They contain nothing of the Spanish colonial period. Nothing on Utah in the papers, except from the territorial period and later. When he died his papers were at his home. August 6, 1991 Paid $168.92 for back taxes on the 5 acres of timber at the cabin for 1988, $6.40; 1989 $59.50 and 1990 $103.02, account 0171320. August 14, 1991. Karen and I went to the Manti Temple today and were sealed in the Wells Rooms, on the back side of the Terrestrial Room. A number of our friends from Scofield were there, as was Uncle George and Aunt Thora. We invited them all out to dinner afterwards. December 13, 1991 Julie got her endowments in the Los Angeles Temple today with Jason Ahyou, her boyfriend, who is going to Guatemala on a mission. During this trip she contracted clamidia, a sexually transmitted disease, that manifested six months later while on her mission. December 23, 1991 I called Sue today. She was very judgmental and cool and always brought Paula into every thought. She indicated they were having the family party at their place tonight and would be glad to have me come but that the kids were priority. She told me Julie had received her mission call to the Los Angeles East Mission, working at the temple. I called Irene and got more information and had a real nice talk to her about her family and mine. Maria Elena is working at the training school with David and Danny. Patty is working at the University Mall at a hair salon since her graduation. She is expecting her third child. Julie got her endowments in the Los Angeles Temple within the last two weeks and has been called to the L.A. area. She received her mission call Friday. Bruce is still in New York. Gord just finished his first semester at Weber. I called Highland and talked to Lyman Dee. We had a good father-to-son talk. He has grown up quite a bit since last year. I asked him to tell each of the children that I love them and want to invite them to go to the prison with Karen and me next month for a home evening visit. He said he would. I told him we were working on our home and would soon be able to invite them to come a see us. He said he would like that, that he missed me a lot. January 15, 1992 The three principal caves are 41 minutes east of Moroni in the Manti-LaSal on BLM land. They are a ways off the road. You have to be lowered by rope before you get to the steps that lead into the caves. In the cave on the west side there is an area of storage fourteen feet high, by six feet wide by 42 feet long containing shelves, on which are located records in boxes. To get to this cave there is a 200 foot drop. At the 30 foot level it necessary to swing onto a ledge and take steps down from there. The oxygen is very bad in the cave. It takes 1 and a half hours to made a round trip from Moroni to this cave and back. In one cave there are 600 oolite stone and red cedar boxes 8 by 10 inches, and in which are contained metal plates, of brass, iron, and silver. The red cedar is a very dark red and is not from anywhere in this area as far as known stands are concerned. The stone boxes weigh about 65 pounds each. One box is crystal with two inch sides, top and bottom, containing gold plates about four inches by six inches in size. It is locked with a six or twelve crystal locks embedded into the box and almost invisible except to the careful touch. The gold plates are visible through the crystal. The outside of the box contained writings on its various sides. Many of the boxes have intricate locks made of the same materials the boxes are made of. A careful feelings of the locks reveals how to unlock them. Some of the metal plates inside the boxes are also locked together, indicating that they are bound together some way on the other edge. The other cave on the west side of Sanpete valley contains the mummies and some of the pictures in our possession. It is apparent from recent conversations, that some of the photographs in our possession are of materials from the east side (specifically the breastplate-like picture). Yesterday one of the plates was shown to JP. It was made of lead, and was about 1\16 inches thick. It contained circular configurations similar to others we have seen. An attempt had been made to clean the fungus growth from it, destroying some of the original record. Some of the boxes were not air tight and have had some moisture get into them over the centuries. Another artifact, a stone tablet was also shown to JP, rounded in nature, with writing similar to the others. Paul Chessman, who died last month, had sixty-four photographs in his possession of this material, along with several plates. An attempt is being made to recover these. These may be different from the twenty-six photographs in our possession. State archeologists have three of the plates. The original photographer would now be 85 years old and lived in Manti about 6-7 blocks south of the temple on the east side of town. The sword from the male mummy weighs 152 pounds and is 8 feet long. It was taken into Manti and used to split a radiator in two as a demonstration of its capability. The male mummy has red hair. The female mummy has brown hair. The Tibetan cross on the male is on a breastplate. The woman is also wearing a breastplate. The man (Brewer) who knows of the caves has known of them for twenty-five years. He has made every possible mistake he could make with regard to them. He wants nothing more to do with them. There are those suing him trying to get his land on the west side. He has never described the locks to anyone else except JP. The analysis of the descriptions of the records, boxes, etc., indicates that the materials are definitely there and fit other descriptions obtained elsewhere. He lives in Moroni and operates the sewage treatment plant there. Larry Ferguson, John Baker, Joanne Jones, Noel Carden, BWS, PRD, JLS, JP, LDP, LKP, Fred G., Caroline Puckett, the Chessman family, the state archeologists, Dr. Nibley, Mary Lee Scott, a linguist, daughter of Elder R.G. Scott, the photographer who owns the Antique Barn across the street from the Provo City Cemetery. April 17, 1992 Today was the last day of sales at Automated Archives, Inc. Sales now operates out of Dynix Corporation. April 27-May 2 Karen and I flew to Orlando, spent a day with her sister Dianne and daughter Amy, visited Bok Tower, then drove to St. Augustine and Jacksonville for the four-day National Genealogical Society conference in the states, and the second international genealogical conference, at which I spoke. We spent several lovely evenings at St. Augustine. May 6, 1992 Bryant Sioni Platt, son of Gene and Arlene received his mission call today for Belo Horizonte, Brazil. He will enter the mission home on July 29th. July 19, 1992 Letter written to my son Bruce while still living in New York. Dear Bruce: Thank you for your last phonecall - I enjoyed hearing from you even if it was just voice mail. Hey, voice mail is better than no mail, right? Since talking to you last we have been busy with the continuing building of the house. We finally got the hot water system install yesterday. We spent fourteen straight hours and got cold water hooked up the kitchen and bathroom sinks, and hot water to the tub, and the two sinks. After working with it for awhile, most of the leaks were stopped. We nearly have two of the five rooms of the house done now. My office is done except the ceiling. The kitchen is nearly done. We moved in an old wood-burning stove range and took out the heatalator. Both chimneys are now up and working well. So life is beginning to take some semblance of sanity. Scofield celebrated its 100th anniversary on the 4th of July. We had a nice parade, lots of food, bunji jumping, games, and a dance. Karen and I prepared a magazine with the history of the town. It was well received. We went over to the boys softball games several times in early late June. It was good to watch Johnny and Lyman Dee play. They lost both games, but played well. We got some cute pictures. Lyman Dee and I played catch for a while. Natalia is sure growing but she's still just a little squirt. Work is going quite well. David and his fianceé came in again to discuss their wedding and ask for some help with it. They're getting married the week before the big family get-together in the Uintah's. Karen and I will be in Phoenix the week of the family reunion so won't be able to go. I am speaking at the Federation of Genealogical Societies. I guess everybody is excited to have dad home from his mission. Keep in touch. We love you and pray for you always. As ever, Dad August 1, 1992 Karen and I attended Natalia's baptism at the Highland Utah East stake center. As usual we were totally ignored by the local priesthood authorities, not being asked to give the opening or closing prayer in the little meeting where just Natalia was involved. My children were very nice to us today, not having seen us for a long time. Paula even said hello to Karen. Ed and Val were there. Pres. and sister Nunley were cordial as were a few others. Natalia was so cute. She was baptized by David and confirmed by Danny. So the last of my children has been baptized. May the Lord preserve them through all the ordinances. In the evening I received a telephone call from Pres. Staheli, who was in Atlanta at the time, telling me that a letter had arrived that morning instructing me to make an appointment to have my blessing reviewed. August 3, 1992 Early this morning I called Elder Porter's secretary, Bonnie, and asked for an appointment. It was given for 3:00 p.m. tomorrow. August 4, 1992 I called early this morning to confirm the appointment and it was decided that 9:00 a.m. would be more appropriate given the fact that we were on our way to Salt Lake at the time. Karen and I were invited into the office of Elder L. Alden Porter and under his hand I received a restoration of all blessings, under the direction of The First Presidency: Melchizedek Priesthood, high priest, temple, sealing, and others; he reaffirmed all special experiences of the past and promised that more would come as I served in the kingdom. He promised me that power would begin to return to my life over the next several weeks, that I would feel it, and that I should use the priesthood to bless and serve others even this very day. He counseled me to begin to go immediately to the temple, to re-live temple blessings, and to use my priesthood to bless the lives of many individuals. "Be sure to do initiatory work." He counseled me to continue to be worthy by serving. Counseled to reverence gospel principles, study scriptures, pray individually and together. He told me that through my priesthood my children would begin to see a renewed power in my life and would turn to me. He told me to let them feel of my power and position before the Lord. Based on his questions and comments it was apparent that he had read the letter from Karen to President Benson. August 5, 1992 The following letter was written to the family to summarize all of the details that have occurred in the past few years. It was never sent, but is important for historical purposes so is included in my journal. I would ask that this letter be read by each of you during the week of the family's reunion. Hopefully it will be a healing letter rather than a devisive one; however it is taken it will be a truthful analysis of the family situation from my viewpoint. If you are each and all lovers of truth then it should tend to restore some order to our family life. If you are not you will be offended. If this becomes the case, I'm sorry for the offense, but not for the truth. On August 4, 1992 under instructions from The First Presidency, I was restored to the office of High Priest, and all former blessings received under the hands of the priesthood were reconfirmed upon my head in the office of Elder L. Alden Porter. He blessed me with many additional wonderful promises based on my faithfulness. One of the challenges given to me was that I would immediately use the power received from this restoration to bless the lives of my children, you my brothers and sisters, and any others that I can. I was commissioned to use the priesthood to bless my wife, my children, and others, not only in official blessings, but by bringing into each life I touch a renewed sense of the gospel and all that it means. In the evening of August 4th Karen and I renewed our temple recommends and received recommends for sealing. This sealing will take place on August 14th at 5:30 p.m. in the Wells Room of the Manti Temple. Just prior to dad's birthday I wrote him two letters in a last attempt to receive from him a response that would heal the breach between us. I will not discuss the contents of those letters because he did as I feared he would and did not respond. If he chooses to share them he is certainly free to do so. It is my opinion that the only righteous action he could have taken was to immediately address my concerns because of the situation as I presented it to him. Because he did not immediately respond, he has lost the opportunity to ever receive any blessings involving the above restoration of blessings. Also by not responding I believe he has admitted to making serious false accusations in this whole matter. He has already admitted to me in writing that he tried to force me to stay with Paula through the actions he took. Those actions were not appropriate or just, and he must now live with the consequences. Of course forgiveness is always available upon repentence, but blessings have been permanently lost, and as far as I'm concerned the possibility of healing the breach between us has been seriously if not permanently jeopardized. My offers to assist him in coming to terms with his unrighteousness have continually been rejected and will not be made again, although I will remain open to any petitions in his behalf. It was necessary to write to President Benson directly to finally dislodge this matter. I quote extensively from that letter. It produced immediately the desired results. I believe this letter to be an inspired and forthright portrayal of the facts. They are given to you so that possibly you may understand somewhat things as they have been viewed from Karen's and my viewpoint, and possibly any healing that needs to take place between us can be enhanced thereby. "I am writing this letter to clarify some misunderstanding which appears to exist regarding restoration of blessings for Lyman D. Platt, my husband. Lyman applied for his priesthood blessings to be restored and was rejected. The reason given appears to have been a misunderstanding concerning some temple revelation he supposedly had regarding his former's wife health. I will address this in context with things as they happened. First, I have known Lyman for ten to twelve years. We met when I was working for the Presiding Bishopric's office as a research student from BYU. Up until seven years ago, I knew him only from several professional contacts. From common acquaintances I knew that his wife was very ill. During the course of my work, I had occasion to speak with him a total of four times over that seven year period. Prior to his divorce I assisted him from a professional standpoint in trying to help his wife get over the problems she was having. After his divorce five years ago, I became more involved in assisting him with his personal problems. We have been married for four years. "Lyman was excommunicated from the Church in 1987 for abandonment (jeopardizing the sealing blessings in Elder Featherstone's words). There were other reasons which he was not told about until two years after he was excommunicated. These were: 1) claiming to be a latter-day prophet, 2) claiming to have had special revelations in the temple, and 3) claiming that his wife's death was imminent. "I have worked for five plus years as a foster care worker for the State of Utah. My job is reunification of families. I am trained to identify problems and propose treatment to resolve problems. I believe that I have a respectable reputation among my colleagues and have a very good record for family reunification. I have always been deeply concerned about Lyman's former wife and his children because I have always recognized that his former family life and relationships were unhealthy and dysfunctional. I have continually encouraged Lyman to seek professional counseling for himself, his former wife and his children. He did so but the process was unsuccessful because of an unwillingness of his former wife to continue the therapeutic process. The civil courts have ordered the children into counseling but his former wife has refused to carry out the order. We have been willing to orchestrate the process and pay for the children's counseling but the offer has been rejected. I have voiced my concerns several times. Lyman's current and past priesthood leaders have some understanding of our frustration. Lyman personally spent seven months in counseling with positive results. "I am not asking for any special privilege in writing this letter. I am simply offering what I know to be a professional assessment of Lyman's current and past situation concerning his worthiness in the Church, and the welfare of his children, in order to have available something in the record for future evaluation. Some have told me that I have no right to evaluate Lyman's past family situation and no right to intervene currently. I disagree. I believe I have every right to intervene in his behalf if necessary and to help his children and family whenever possible. I also have the right to assess my personal life and his, from an informed knowledge base in which I am involved daily. So please understand my position and please understand that I have suffered daily with Lyman and supported him in whatever avenue he choose to pursue. There are some people I have not been able to speak with directly and in detail, which I'm sure would more fully develop my understanding. Otherwise I believe I understand Lyman's situation better than anyone. "The first issue of temple revelation concerning his former wife's death appeared to be the deciding factor which influenced the decision to reject his request for restoration of blessings. There seems to be some confusion regarding his belief that his former wife was going to die and a temple experience which Lyman and I had seven years ago. The assumption on our part is that the two were considered to be the same thing in the decision that was handed down. They were not. "The issue of death in Lyman's family began in June of 1981. Lyman tells me that his former wife had a dream that he was going to die. Lyman worked through this process and resolved the issue with her. It took several years. "Then followed circumstances in which friends began telling both Lyman and his former wife about her impending death. This was when she was very ill. She had given birth to their last child and it was a very difficult pregnancy. She contracted some sort of virus while on a trip with Lyman and his parent's to Mexico City, to attend the Mexico City Temple dedication. Lyman was frantic with worry and concern. He spent days and nights tending to his former wife and their newborn child. His wife continued with poor health. She was hospitalized for short periods of time with irregular heart problems and then was put in the mental health unit at American Fork hospital for emotional problems. Her health continued to be a main concern for the family for another year. Lyman spent thousands of dollars on trips to one doctor after another. He used all of their savings in this process. Finally one of the doctors told Lyman that her illness was psychosomatic. Lyman did not believe the doctor, but in desperation one day he told his former wife that she wasn't sick, wasn't going to die, and insisted she get out of bed and stop pretending. She did so. That was the end of the complaints. This happened in the fall of 1986. "Previously during the time of her illness, Lyman was extremely worried. He was worried for his wife and for his children. One day while driving to BYU, he asked in prayer if his wife was really going to die. He had a spiritual impression that she was. This happened in 1984 during the month of February. Because of this experience Lyman doubled his efforts to care for his wife's needs. He had a special mother's day and birthday for her where he arranged for a catered dinner at their home and asked each of the children to tell their mother how much she meant to them. Lyman continued with this kind of response even up until the time when the divorce was finalized. He has always demonstrated a deep concern for her welfare, and to this day is concerned for her as the mother of his children. "During this time Paula, his former wife, made several suicide attempts. She would run out of the house in the middle of winter without shoes on or without proper clothing and would be gone for hours. Usually Lyman went after her and brought her back. She would call Lyman and tell him that she was going up to the mountains to die. One time she took Lyman's loaded gun and threatened to shoot herself. She hired a taxi and drove around the community calling him at intervals threatening to kill herself. He finally talked her out of it and told no one at the time of what had happened. "This entire scenario seems odd and out-of-order; however, given a deeper understanding of the type of home life and history this family had experienced it fits a pattern. Any time these kind of issues are day-to-day experiences, one has to assume that there is probably an issue of mental illness in the family and/or family dysfunction. My professional experience would dictate that I look at the underlying reasons why this type of experience was happening. In Paula's history, she tells stories of her childhood as being one of neglect and abuse. In her life history she tells of being tied in a high chair for long hours at a time unattended by any adult. She tells of living in poverty and upon entering school being very sick because she lacked proper nutrition. Her teen years were not discussed in detail, but before she and Lyman were married, and after she was baptized, she gave birth to a child. She was not married at the time and gave the child to the father. Lyman never knew about this until ten years after they were married. When he found out about it through genealogical research in Peru, he challenged her. She claimed that the experience was a conception without intercourse. She also confessed to him at that time that she had had another experience three days before they were married in the Temple, wherein she claimed that she was forced at knife point to allow some inappropriate sexual activity. Lyman insisted that she confess these things to their bishop. Ten years later, in the interviews preceding his excommunication, he was told by her in the presence of their bishop in Highland that she had not told their former bishop the truth; that it was too embarrassing for her. Lyman believed at the time of their divorce that the problems in their marriage were directly related to this issue and would never be resolved without a full and sincere acceptance on her part of what had happened. He was not supported in this viewpoint by his priesthood leaders. They determined that she was in no need of repentance. Therefore, when he determined that it was in his best spiritual interests to divorce her because of their unhealthy relationship, his priesthood leaders concluded that he was acting in an unrighteous manner, and against their counsel. "From the very beginning of their marriage, their relationship was not normal. Paula would have extreme mood swings, where she would be loving and compliant, as a child; and then become extremely angry and hostile. She had a compulsion for having children and insisted on having as many as possible. Even with seven or eight small children around her she would babysit other small children. It wasn't unusual to have ten or twelve children in the home at a time. "A year after their marriage Paula's mother came to live with them. This also caused problems. Paula and her mother would disagree and argue about many day-to-day things and when Lyman would try to interfere, Paula would take her mother's side. At one time, Lyman sent her mother home to Peru because she was accusing him of having an affair with a neighbor woman he was home teaching. He took this matter to their bishop and was absolved, but Paula's mother refused counsel in the matter and he felt it best to have her out of the home. She returned three months later uninvited and continues to live at her daughter's home. Paula simply refused to be without her mother. "Their intimate relationship had problems. Over the years, Lyman had severe struggles with this and finally refused to have any intimate contact at all. He became repulsed by the idea and physically unable to function. He did not believe their personal relationship was spiritually appropriate and he felt it was demeaning. "When Lyman filed for divorce, the stake president at the time threatened several times to excommunicate him if he left home. In obedience he returned home and tried many times to resolve the issues facing him, without any meaningful priesthood support. He and Paula went to counseling but it was not helpful. The counselor cautioned her many times that she had to stop controlling Lyman. She would not let him leave her presence, other than to work, for more than 30 minutes at a time. She had to know what he was doing at all times. This controlling aspect of their relationship was not new. It had always been present, but the magnitude and persistence increased as the years passed. "If I had a client with these kind of experiences, I would have no trouble concluding that there was a serious mental health issue which was underlying all this activity. Because of the childhood abuse and abandonment, plus the fear of being alone, plus the compulsive desires for children and physical intimacy, and the death issues at home coupled with very real suicide threats, I would assume that there had been some very heavy self esteem and ego damage. My initial conclusion would be a diagnoses of borderline personality disorder. I would then look to formalized testing and counseling to verify or refute the initial diagnoses. Given this pattern of behavior, what may appear to be very abnormal to the untrained evaluator, the opposite would be true and would fit a very understandable pattern. My concern is that neither Lyman, Paula nor his children have received proper guidance and treatment given that the family's problems were and are an issue of mental health rather than morality. I realize that there is overlap between moral issues and mental health issues. I have worked with many Church leaders in the Salt Lake Valley and understand the responsibility for restitution for improprieties. However, as an example, we attended Lyman's daughter's farewell before she entered the mission home on March 3 of this year. When Lyman found out she was going he called her Bishop (the old Highland ward where he used to live with his family) and asked to be part of the Sunday farewell meeting, even if it was only saying the closing prayer. He also asked Paula twice and mentioned it to Julie. Julie told him that her mother had planned the meeting and it was up to her. Paula told him the Bishop had planned the meeting and that it was up to him. Paula later told him that the Bishop felt that it was inappropriate for Lyman to participate because he "hasn't a relationship with his children." This, of course, is totally false. At the farewell, every member of Lyman's extended family and his children participated in the meeting. His brothers gave the opening and closing prayers. And the entire family sang but would not invite Lyman to join them. He was totally ignored and never mentioned. In all my years of Church attendance I have never seen a parent treated this way. When Lyman walked into the meeting his twin sons that were there broke into tears because they had chosen not to see him since they had returned from their missions. Two of his extended family said that they were glad to see him. Julie was devastated. She realized during the meeting a grave error was being made and she didn't know what to do about it. She later called and apologized to her dad and promised to spend her last day before entering the mission home with him. She was the only family member that apologized to him. There were people in the audience that realized what was going on and some apologized to him. When Julie attempted to spend her last day with her father, her mother intervened, left her with the responsibility of caring for several children giving Julie and her father only two hours to spend together. Julie expressed her love to her father, and told him that she constantly missed him. Most of the older children in the last few months have done the same. "At the farewell, Paula's concluding remarks were that she was here on earth to make sure each of her children would return to the celestial kingdom and this was the only reason she chooses to live. My perception of the hour's events suggests strongly that Paula is still entertaining suicide thoughts and after five years no one in the family has or is making any attempt to include Lyman in his rightful position as father of twelve children. I am concerned for Paula, for the children and for Lyman's extended family. This type of response to a divorce is not necessary and is very unproductive. It doesn't appear that future response patterns will be much different. I don't know what Lyman can do to help in this matter when he is totally ostracized from meaningfful family activity and treated by his children, their mother, and his extended family as if he is unworthy to be spoken too. If I had clients treating each other like this, especially children I would immediately try to stop it. I insist that the children I work with treat their parents with respect and have contact with them, even if it is supervised, because research and experience has taught that children cannot develop the proper normal self feelings unless they do so. I also would never treat someone mentally ill or someone that has committed sin with such disrespect. Everyone on this earth deserves some honor and acknowledgement as a human being. That is a basic premise for treatment intervention and if it isn't respected, very little progress can be made. I believe this framework is also consistent with LDS teachings. "So that is my major concern. I also feel very hurt by Lyman's unsuccessful attempts to rectify his standing in the Church. Lyman loves the Church with all his heart. He loves his children and his extended family. He has been extremely grieved by the happenings in the last seven years. It has made him physically ill many times. He is currently at a loss as to how he can help, as am I. If I were in charge of this case, I would make some recommendations for counseling and visits with the children at least. I would also insist that everyone receive counsel as to our responsibilities as Latter-Day Saints to treat each other with respect, love and a non-judgmental attitude. I would insist on family counseling and would make sure that any threats or suicide ideations were not disregarded. "Please understand that given the conditions of Lyman's family and the relationship with his former wife the happenings of the last five to seven years fit into the pattern of family dysfunction and serious mental health issues. If I had a case with this type of issues, I would make an initial diagnosis for borderline personality disorder. The scenario for a borderline personality implies that fear of being abandoned by one's parent is constant and very frightful. These persons control and manipulate their environment at whatever cost in order to insure they are not abandoned or left alone. They will control all external forces in their life to assure a positive self experience and yet they have no capacity to develop moral integrity, honesty, positive self-esteem or deal with reality in a self productive way as the mainstream of social life dictates. Suicide and psychosomatic illness is a method used to stimulate attention and control other's actions. It is very serious. These personalities have a higher incidence of successfully committing suicide than the normal population and there is always a fifty-fifty chance it will happen. Lyman's recent response to his revelation concerning Paula's death, from the perspective just noted makes perfect sense in that if the family had continued in the same fashion it was experiencing at the time, Paula was putting herself in a position where death could have been a very real possibility. "Paula's accusations of Lyman proclaiming to be a latter-day prophet and all the other unsubstantiated claims regarding his behavior are typically associated with borderline personalities. They are often found making such claims and accusations about their family members or anyone close to them. Their personality framework says people are either all good or all bad. This is called splitting. They are either idealizing the people they associate with or devaluing them; both of these positions would be associated with very extreme assessments. Their claims would have elements of truth, but would be very dramatic and startling. "Paula's lack of ability to tell the truth about the birth of her first child while unmarried and subsequent sexual experiences is also typical. To a person with a personality disorder, self disclosure of this type would be so devastating they simply could not face the consequences. They would feel so devalued as a human being, embarrassed by the disclosure, that their initial feelings of being unloved and unwanted would escalate into extremely painful experiences. These personalities do not have the ego strength to make such a confession. "There are some productive treatment issues that can be done with these type of family relationships, but it is very difficult. Of all the mental health illnesses borderline personality disorders is the most difficult to change. Many therapists refuse to work with these people because intervention is often unsuccessful and it is very emotionally draining for the therapist. Any personal one-on-one relationship is almost impossible to develop because there is always such a drive for self aggrandizement. "I believe that Lyman did everything he could for his family. I also believe that if he and Paula would have continued their marriage there would have been some very serious consequences and possibly some real casualties. When Lyman entered counseling after his divorce he was told that he had an unusual response pattern to responsibility issues, that he felt responsible for others welfare to the point that his own feelings of self and self respect were deeply buried. He continues to struggle with these feelings although after months of therapy he has done much better. "The temple experience that Lyman and I had in 1985 occurred when we hardly knew each other. I had talked to him about four times previous to that time regarding some genealogy questions I had. We happened to be in the temple the same day and were asked to participate in several of the temple activities. The temple experience we had was an experience, it was not a revelation. I did not understand what had happened and still don't. I asked a general authority about it shortly thereafter and he advised me not to speak about it with anyone. I have not done so and still to this day do not. I believe it was for my benefit and there is no reason to share this experience with others. Lyman, however, shared the experience with his father and with Paula even though I had requested he not do so. He felt obligated to be as open and as truthful as he could, plus he himself did not fully understand what had happened. He naturally would share such an experience with the two most important people in his life at the time, his father and wife. When claims were being made against Lyman prior to his excommunication and divorce, both Paula and his father insisted he believed he and I were somehow sealed in the temple. This is not the case and never has been. We simply do not understand what happened. We were both hurting at the time; Lyman for his wife's health and I had personal problems I was wanting to resolve with jobs and future life direction. The experience did change my life and put me on a path where my patriarchal blessing was honored. Shortly afterwards I began to pursue my interest in counseling. I realize that some insist it was imaginations of the mind. It was not. I kept the experience to myself. It had no effect on Lyman's subsequent divorce and was not related in any way to any revelation or thought processes about his former wife's health. "The issue of Lyman proclaiming to be a latter day prophet is untrue but the rumors had origins in some of his previous life experiences. He is sealed through Eliza Maria Partridge to the Prophet Joseph Smith and he is the eldest in his family. Because of this he has always been told by his grandfather, his father, and others that he will have a special calling in the Church. When these types of issues surface many times throughout one's life, it becomes very difficult to process. I believe that Lyman has resolved these issues in a positive way. He does not in his heart believe that he will be any special prophet or have any special calling in the Church. When anyone approaches him with this type of information, he reminds them kindly that this type of knowledge is unknown, he doesn't want to hear it and that no one has the right to tell him such information. I have asked some of his former friends to leave our home when they have approached Lyman with this type of activity. In our home, we simply will not become a part of this type of thinking. Lyman is perfectly happy serving as a genealogist, and wishes for no other opportunity. In our home, to my knowledge, our lives are in order except that both of us work about ten to twelve hours a day because of our financial position and the demands of our occupations. We don't have time for much else. "There have been claims in the past that Lyman and my relationship was inappropriate and caused by a lustful desire for sexual intimacy. That was not the case. Both Lyman and I had been hurt emotionally and when one is in that kind of framework, intimacy based on lust and passion are the farthest desires from the heart because there is the real fear of being hurt. After we were married it took a tremendous amount of soul searching and effort to establish an appropriate intimate relationship. I was devastated by my emotional response and spent the first few weeks and months in tears. I had been divorced for ten years before I remarried and had never dated. Lyman had ceased all sexual activities with his former wife for over a year prior to the divorce. "There have also been claims that my help previous to his final divorce was inappropriate. That may be so, but my intent was to support Lyman in whatever way I could to resolve the issues with his family. Because he had cancelled the divorce proceeding once in an effort to follow counsel and address the tender feelings of his children, he was separated for over a year prior to the divorce. During that time we became friends as I assisted him. During that time I came to realize that he had been so hurt by what had happened to him that he could never reconstitute his former marriage, which in all my counseling I had tried to preserve as this was his desire. At that point, it was natural for us to marry. He trusted me and I trusted him. We also married because he had no way to visit his children without my help (due to the wording of the court decree) and because our Bishop at the time believed we might end up in some compromising situation if we didn't. "Lyman was criticized by his former priesthood leaders for buying me dinner once when I hadn't eaten for three days because I had no money. My priesthood leaders would not assist me. I would be extremely upset if he had a friend, man or woman that needed to eat or needed some financial help and he did not offer whatever assistance he could. He and I both offer assistance like this all the time and will continue to do so. This is not, never has been, and never will be a negotiable matter. "During the course of the last five years, Lyman and I have had intense discussions about any aspect of our lives that were out of order with Church teachings, common sense, and normal behavior. I have a reputation for being very perceptive and I cannot imagine him committing any type of immoral act that I wouldn't know about. Any issue that was brought up in our discussion that needed to be brought before the Bishop, was done so before Lyman was re-baptized. There is no question in my mind at all that Lyman has ever committed any act of immorality. His life has been out of order. He was doing things inappropriately at times. He is without guile and trusts too many people. Some of his thought processes were not realistic but typical to family patterns discussed above. He is at times impulsive, especially under stress. He speaks his mind and thoughts without forethought at times. Some of these issues he has worked through in therapy. Lyman has changed. He is a happier person, at peace with himself despite the obvious disappointments. Both Lyman and I are very conscientious of spiritual responsibilities to each other, to family members, and to those around us, and when life appears to be out of order, we both make corrections, or assist others whenever we can. "Lyman did not attend the court of his excommunication process because he didn't believe that he would be treated fairly. And he was willing to accept whatever priesthood counsel, right or wrong, that was given to him. His position is still the same. We are aware of the counsel given in the scriptures about people who will not accept chastisement from the Lord. It appears necessary that his faithfulness to the Church and to the Lord is again going to be tested. If it is necessary for the Brethren to withhold priesthood blessings to assure that Lyman doesn't have his own spiritual agenda and that he is really committed to this Church, so be it. We will do whatever is necessary and I will continue to support Lyman always. I know his spirit and I know he loves the Lord above all else and I will continue to support him in that endeavor. "When I have offered my assessment in the past, about what has happened to Lyman, the response has often been, "What did you expect?" Please understand that Lyman and I know right from wrong. We understand Church policy and Church teachings. What I expect is for others to treat this situation at least in the same manner that we would and do treat others. I expect to be treated fairly and I expect Lyman to be treated fairly. I expect priesthood leaders to honor their calling. I expect Church policy to be handled appropriately. I expect family, friends and children to honor and demonstrate love and support for their father, son and brother. In my job, that which hurts my spirit the most is injustice. I expect to act in a Christlike manner at all times and I expect Lyman to do so and I expect people that should know better to do so. "I have one more point I wish to make. We have recently had in our office two experiences similiar in nature but handled differently. Two mothers, both with drug addictions gave birth to a child. In one case the worker was told by an LDS, recommend-holding supervisor, to take the child from the mother immediately even though that person had recent drug screenings that were clean. The other child was going to be removed from the mother by the worker because she knew the mother would never repent. The worker was immediately relieved of the case by an inactive LDS supervisor. She knew that once a child is taken from the arms of a mother it can be impaired emotionally if not physically for the rest of it's life. Before such a drastic step is taken other less potentially damaging treatment services should be provided. There is an important principal here. Intervention in people's lives is a delicate issue and can have eternal consequences. There is almost always benefit to be gained by working with people as much as possible, giving them the opportunity to work through their own life's problems. If they fail, then drastic steps may be necessary, but it is essential to give people a chance. I believe that Lyman's situation could and should have been handled with more concern and care about the eternal consequences to himself, his children, and his former wife. We are advised weekly to be very careful of our position and our intervention in other people's lives. There are certain situations and mental illnesses that can be exaccerbatered if not handled appropriately. I request that this letter become a matter of record and the next time Lyman requests restoration of priesthood blessings that it be read." Shortly after this letter was sent we were informed that our request for restoration of blessings was being reconsidered. However, a new concern had been raised, one which had never been hinted at in the past, and one which was directly placed on the shoulders of family members as to its origin. I was being looked at very carefully because I was still considered to be "dangerous." I was shocked and Karen was furious. She sent a follow-up letter, from which I quote: Last week, Lyman and I received the information, that his petition to have his priesthood blessings restored might be reconsidered. Apparently, there still exists in the mind's of some of those involved in the restoration of blessings, doubt as to whether Lyman is worthy. Other issues have been mentioned that have not been raised in five years. First, let me assure you that Lyman is not a self-proclaimed prophet of any kind. He is not in any sense an apostate Mormon. He never has been. In addition, the "new" assertion that he is a "dangerous person" is absurd. These accusations and all others that have been levied against him are not true. This situation is no different than any persecution process and once those in charge understand that, then maybe something will happen positively. Lyman's father, brother Ed, former wife Paula, in conjunction with his former stake president, President Stowe, created this scenerio from discussions they had one with another. As the discussions circulated and gained momentum and power, the charges against him became more colorful. His father has since made the comment that after five years, he guessed he had misjudged Lyman and perhaps he shouldn't have told the priesthood leaders what he told them. Paula has also said that it was the worst mistake she ever made, but she didn't know what else to do. I'm sure that the events surrounding that time in history, are the source of the accusation that Lyman was a self-proclaimed prophet. If someone wants to get a lot of attention in Utah, there is no better way. The Ron Lafferty issue was still heavy on everyone's mind, in particular, those from Highland where Ron Lafferty lived, and in the ward where both Laffertys and Platts had their homes. So the stories levied against Lyman, were popular for the time. In my job, we face these kind of issues daily. Many times, there are social workers, policemen and women, family members, therapist and friends that go beyond the mark and take a story to an extreme circumstance and ending. A good social worker, will daily be careful of being caught up in circumstances that lead to drastic assertions and conclusions. Priesthood leaders have the same obligation as you well understand. Lyman was previously denied restoration of blessings because of a misunderstanding on the part of those who felt he felt that his former wife was going to die and that he had received this "revelation" in the temple. The implication underlying this false understanding appears to be that some priesthood leaders feel that Lyman had a death wish for her in order to justify divorcing her. That is not true and is so far removed from understanding the historical sequence of things that it is hard to imagine that the idea could even occur to anyone who has any understanding about what has happened. Lyman spent severel years, probably ten or so, hearing his former wife discuss her desire to die. There were times when she reported to Lyman dreams about her dying and leaving him with the responsibility of caring for their children. During the last years of their marriage, particularly when their youngest daughter was born, the subject of Paula dying was an every day occurrence. Lyman spent night after night caring for her and their youngest daughter. He also took Paula to the doctor at least twice monthly and sometimes had to take her for emergency care at the hospital because of heart fibrilations. Twice the doctor hospitalized her in the psychiatric unit of the hospital for rest and diagnosis. The doctors told Lyman her symptoms were psychosomatic and that they could find nothing wrong physically with her. At least three doctors diagnosed Paula as having emotional problems which fit into the category of mental illness and personality disorder. There are people which constantly express desires of dying and do so not because they really wish to die but because they seek attention, and resolution to unfulfilled needs. On one occasion in particular, Paula and Lyman went to Dr. Lynn Scoresby for treatment and counseling. During those sessions, Lyman was told by Dr. Scoresby the results of his and Paula's scores on the MMPI. Paula's scores indicated that she had several problems; primarily that her sense of self was totally based in her children and her role as a mother. She had an obsession for physical gratification and control over Lyman and her children. She scored high in her inability to deal with the truth, understand serious problems, and she was overly concerned about her physical health. I am not mentioning this to be unkind to Paula, only for you to understand that the source of Lyman's family problems, excommunication and apparently the continued accusations against him come from this source. I don't believe that Paula is trying to be vicious or vindictive. She is simply trying to exist in a world that to her is very frightening, confusing and unpredictable. Persons like this have certainly been abused and neglected. This affects their ability to grow normally. People like this do not understand truth as a normal person would. Truth to them is whatever they need to say or do at the time to convince others they are a person of worth. And it is as simple as that. Whatever, bad story she had to tell about Lyman, in her mind's eye assuredly made herself look good, without fault, and in need of protection. When one considers the source of their problems while married, the unresolved issue with Paula's son born out of wedlock, and other matters, I'm sure Paula was making a desperate attempt to absolve herself of the guilt which must have caused her daily emotional pain. Usually in cases like this there are other painful issues which make these people feel worthless. Lyman has always known about Paula deep-seated personal problems. Frankly, he chose to live with her for twenty years and suffer rather than expose these issues with her, because with his limited experience in these matters, he had done everything he knew how to do and nothing worked. To my knowledge, Lyman has never disclosed to any priesthood leader all of the dysfunctional behavior that was occurring in his home. And he won't. That is another reason why I'm writing this letter. Lyman has suffered enough and more than he or I can continue to endure. We have spent all of our resources, energy and time trying to live exemplary lives and because the Church teaches us not to contend with one another. Also, one's personal committment to gospel standards is the greatest testimony one can offer against gossip, lies and poor judgment. In addition, those of us who understand dysfunctional behavior and mental illness are required by the Savior's example to carry the load and not push those that suffer into a state of dispair where they cannot change. Initially when Lyman was aware of his family's stance against him, he tried to explain his position to his brothers and father. They pointedly told him they did not want to hear it. President Stowe also told Lyman he would excommunicate him if he didn't do everything he told him to. Even obedience didn't help, however. The situation became so bad that Lyman knew that nothing he could say or do would resolve the matter. He felt that President Stowe was reliving the Ron Lafferty experience all over. He spent hours patiently counseling his own stake president, without positive results. His stake president was out of control, yelling, accusing, unreasonable, demanding, and totally inappropriate. For these reasons Lyman did not attend the disciplinary council where his excommunication was formalized. He felt that after thirty hours of personal interviews President Stowe was even more determined to take away his membership in the Church, his job and his family if he didn't comply with his wishes, some of which were totally inappropriate and not the right of a stake president to demand. There was nothing he could do besides what he had done to defend himself. Lyman tried to explain things to his children by writing letters, but he was told by our former stake president Olson to stop doing so. Since then we have basically disengaged from any attempts to make the children and family understand. Some of his children, have recently come to him and asked and he answers their questions. Paula as recently as three months ago bore her testimony in Church with the following ending, "The only reason I choose to live is to make sure my children reach the celestial kingdom." The phrase, "choose to live," is something Lyman has struggled with for years. I do not fully understand why Lyman's father and brother Ed have taken such a stance against him. I certainly would never do so with any of my children regardless of what they had or had not done. Lyman was always closest to his mother. He tells me of a time when he was six months old that his father came home on leave from the Army Air Corp and took him out of church when he was crying and spanked him severely. His mother was extremely angry with his father. His father spent two more years away from home which probably interfered with the normal bonding process between father and son. Lyman has never felt close to his father and it has always caused him a lot of emotional pain and dissappointment. On one occassion when Lyman was attending therapy at LDS Social Services he invited his father and brother Ed to talk with his therapist in an attempt to resolve their differences. They spent their time attempting to convince the therapist that Lyman was a bizarre sort of character. His therapist did not understand their point and would not deal with them further. Please understand, that I understand these situations and I don't judge nor do I wish to have any of what I say sound negative. I have worked intensely in the mental health profession and have learned the hard way not to judge. I have a reputation statewide for treating people with "insightful kindness." There have been other accusations Lyman knew that his family was charging him with. At first he couldn't believe them, but as he followed each rumor back to the source, he found they always ended up being his family. He always traced the rumors back when he heard what was being said. He did not know, however, until two years after he was excommunicated that the issues specifically charged in the disciplinary council were perpetrated by his family. He was devastated and still is. He has forgiven his family, but he currently has no reason to trust their relationship again because they continue to maintain a position of self-righteousness and believe he must return to Paula in order to repent. I know that whatever Lyman did, he did without guile and without meaning to harm anyone. He simply is trying to live a life that is truely accepteable before the Lord and nothing else. He serves daily and continually and will continue to do so, regardless of his standing in the Church. His record in the last five years testifies to that fact. To my knowledge all that are currently acquainted with him respect him and can find no fault with his actions past or present. In fact most say he is too kind, too loving, too forgiving and too honest. Lyman continues to worry over Paula's mental and emotional well-being and the effect this has on the children. One of his son's recently told him that he has taken his mother to the hospital several times and the doctors cannot find anything wrong with her but she still claims to be sick. I'm concerned because I wonder if her Bishop and those around her understand how serious this kind of behavior can be. She continues to need understanding and mental health treatment. If there are any questions concerning the foregoing, you may inquire as to the validity of what I have said. Lyman gives you permission to ask Dr. Lynn Scoresby, Lyle Cooper at LDS Social Services, Dr. Tony LaPray which treated Paula when she was hospitalized in American Fork, anyone Lyman worked with at the Family History Library, or anyone he currently works with. You also may call Ron Stromberg at the State Social Services who knows both Lyman and me, Earl Bassett, Jean Nielsen, Jim Wallace or Carolyn Thomas all being my superiors and see me daily. I would ask you to be discrete because I don't share personal problems at work and to my knowledge they don't know about Lyman's current standing in the Church. In addition, it is my understanding that you have a current report and have had a current report from our Branch President in Scofield during the last five years as well as from our stake presidents, President Staehli and President Olson. Also, Lyman and I asked for a personal interview with Elder Featherstone, our Area President, before Lyman was baptized. Besides these, there are numerous people at the Church Office Building that know me personally: Elder Maxwell, Elder DeJager, those that were serving in the missionary department when I worked there in 1985. To my knowledge in the last five years, no one would believe the charges against Lyman or would believe for a minute that he is an apostate, self proclaimed prophet that is dangerous. Please understand, that I'm not suggesting Lyman is perfect or without fault for the failure of his former marriage; nor that everything he and I have done in order to cope with situations has been exactly right. We did the best we could and never were dishonest, immoral or sought our own self-aggrandizement. And up until the week we decided to marry, that was the farthest thing from my mind. After my own divorce, I wasn't about to willfully seek another difficult marriage. It has been extremely difficult for me, but I support Lyman because he simply is not what he has been charged with. Clearly he is the most loving, kind and gracious person I know. He loves his children, he loves the Church with all his heart, he has served in genealogy since age 14 and wishes to do nothing else. He has had an almost impossible job situation in the last five years; but recently has been responsible for establishing new technology to further the genealogy process and has finally after seven years secured a regular monthly paycheck. We have lived in the Scofield area for the last three years because I have property here and a house and it has been cheaper to drive the 120 miles to and from work each day than rent or buy in Provo or the Salt Lake area. We have had a very difficult financial situation but are slowly making progress." If you wish to have a personal interview with Lyman, for resolution of any other questions, he is available at any time. It is my personal experience, that a face to face contact with an alleged miscreant resolves issues quickly. Other than our local leaders, only Elder Featherstone has taken the time to interview with us, and I believe that afterwards his recommendation was immediate baptism. I apologize for the length of this letter, but I have struggled with this issue for too long, and I have always believed and maintained that if the Brethren understood the problem as I understand it, they would make the appropriate recommendation or give us something substantive to resolve. I bear you my testimony, that the foregoing is true to the best of my ability spiritually and intellectually. Respectfully submitted, L. Karen Platt (Mrs. Lyman De Platt) I have chosen to include all of these details in this letter so that you, my brothers and sisters, may have one last look at this situation and make you own decisions as to how you are going to treat me, Karen, and how you wish to interact with us for the remainder of our lives. I refuse to have anything to do with a family that pretends to love and does not, that is hypocritical in its actions and feelings, or that cannot openly admit its errors of the past. Specifically, I have nothing against Irene except that she complains she does not know me and doesn't feel like I am her brother in any meaningful way but hasn't met me half way in the attempts I make to create a sibling relationship. This is not a criticism. I understand the daily struggle to maintain a family has taken precedent. I hope our lives can both settle down and we can be friends. I have nothing against Gord. I sympathize with his pain and struggle. I understand him and love him and know that any problems he has had have been or will be overcome and his life will reflect the same success and dedication to the Lord that we all feel. I have no complaints with Roberta. She has been a good friend during this struggle. I know she has been impatient with me at times but she has been kind in that impatience. I have no complaints with McKay except that he implied in his last letter that the family records were more important that I am. This may have been a false perception, but I raise it to clear the air. I have no complaints with Gene except that he may have listened too much to Paula without fully understanding my viewpoint and may have taken her position too much, but this is only perception, not knowledge. I have a lot of problems with Ed's posiition in this whole matter and will leave it at that for now. I believe we can work things out. I have nothing specific with Joe but do not feel he has been at all a brother in this whole matter and know that he has been somewhat critical although as to facts I cannot state. I am totally and thoroughly devastated with our father. Of the in-laws I have no respect for Sue's actions in all of this, and have nothing specific to say with regard to anyone else except that Pam and Arlene who have been kind and friendly in their limited contacts. Kent has been great. Valerie by association has been tainted with Ed's actions and has not demonstrated any of her own one way or another except on one occasion at a chance meeting she was friendly and polite. Sincerely, Lyman D. Platt August 9, 1992 Stake conference. I gave the opening prayer. President Staheli was released as stake president and President Blackburn, his counselor, sustained in his place. August 11, 1992 We submitted the names of fourteen males and seven females for temple work this morning, all Native Americans, two of them being the mummies found in the Manti cave. Had meetings of the Teguayolmec Media Productions company and began the process for establishing many wonderful teaching and research tools. President L. Alden Porter was released this week as Area President and assumed a position in the executive presidency of the missionary department. August 12, 1992 A great break-through with the Family History Department was experienced today. Paul DeBry and I met with David Rencher and were promised that the first week of September we would have an electronic database and the means to produce it, as a first step towards a working relationship between them and Automated Archives, Inc. This is a marvellous opportunity to prove the value of linking our two organizations in an attempt to serve the genealogical community. The two individuals whose bodies rest in the rock caskets in the seven-mile cave appeared to me during the evening to thank me for submitting their names. They looked lovingly at each other and gratefully to me and undoubtedly are prepared to receive their baptisms and endowments on the morrow. I do not yet fully understand this need, as they were assuredly great priesthood leaders, even prophet and prophetess, king and queen, priest and priestess in their time. August 13, 1992 Joanna Posey and I went to the temple this afternoon and performed fourteen baptisms for males and seven baptisms for females, I baptizing her for the women. Then we were confirmed, and did initiatory work for some of them. We met Karen at 5:00 p.m. and went through an endowment session, where Karen and I were the witnesses and performed the endowments for the two individuals noted above. They were in attendance at all of their ordinances, manifesting that fact through the spirit and through physical testimony. They are the first two Jaredites to be blessed with the ordinances of the temple in this dispensation that we are aware of. Now the great work for that people has begun and the records can come forth and the power of their testimony can be added to that of the other great records of this dispensation. I was impressed that through what we experienced today, these individuals now belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and hold positions of authority in the House of Israel which things they did not possess formerly in whatever positions they held in their day. This gives them rights and privileges in working within the Spirit World that they could only receive through the vicarious ordinances. And also, a record has been established worthy of all acceptation before the Lord, under the law of witnesses, and recorded in the proper manner. Whether that was done in the past or not is not known at this time. August 14, 1992 Karen and I were sealed in the Wells Room of the Manti Temple for time and eternity. Brother Brough performed the sealing. Uncle George A. Platt, and President Richard Frank Lewis were the witnesses. Aunt Thora was there. Joanna Posey, G. Virl Osmond, Dorothy Fielding, President and Sister Carroll Riddle, and the Rigbys, both from the Scofield Branch presidency. Virl also saw three from the spirit world in attendance, and I perceived that mother and Don Carlos were there during the endowment session. August 15, 1992 Karen and I attended another session in Manti this morning and then went over to the Mansion House in Mount Pleasant and had fifteen settings of photographs taken in our regular clothing, and in her wedding dress. During the session two thought merged in my mind creating a truth that I find marvellous in its understanding. All nations of the earth have intermingled with Israel and more especially with Ephraim. All nations, by right of lineage, therefore, may be blessed with the blessings of Israel. This is important because the Lord has ordained no salvation or plan of salvation outside of the covenant with his people Israel. Those nations that lived before Israel, as their ordinances are performed vicariously, such as in the case noted above, come into the House of Israel by covenant, and into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My mission consists of bringing to pass much righteousness, leading to salvation, through the blessings of the temple, and through the restoration and preservation of records, to many nations. August 16, 1992 Today was a special day in Scofield. Keith Smith received the Melchizedek Priesthood. He and Debbie have a excellent change of making it to the temple within the year. The spirit was powerful and strong as the stake presidency talked to us and oversaw the ordination. I accompanied the brethren in the blessing. September 12, 1992 Karen and I drove to St. George last evening and today we attended the temple and toured town looking for a home. We found the one we want. September 15, 1992 David and Holly have decided that they are going to support Paula's ungodly position; therefore, I will not be attending the temple to witness their sealing. September 16 1992 This morning as Karen slept she had an experience wherein she became aware of a group of four women and two men in our living room. She apparently left her body because she was able to describe in detail what they were wearing. They were humble, poor people, of European extraction. The one woman who was speaking was referring to a meeting or gathering of some kind which they had just attended and was excited in her declaration that the gathering had now begun. September 18, 1992 Karen and I attended the Provo Temple. We were finally blessed with knowledge that has evaded us for seven years. Paula's position in our former relationship was one of a covenant breaker. I had to divorce her in order to stop the constant attempts on her part, some successful, to get me to break covenant with the Lord. Now she is using the children to try and get me to break covenant. This is her last option. Once I overcome these attempts, she will have no other way to get try and force me into unholy alliances. She may then turn on the children to a greater degree, but that is in the Lord's hands. I cannot prevent that; only he can. September 19, 1992 Holly Holbrook received her endowments this morning in the Logan Temple. She is David's fianceé. She was born August 6, 1974 at Ogden McKay D. Hospital in Ogden, Utah, daughter of Phillip Ryan Holbrook and Barbara June Bingham. October 1, 1992 Dad and Margaret bought a motor home and left on an extended trip up through Canada and the eastern United States. Uncle George and Aunt Thora went with them. October 2, 1992 David and Holly returned from their honeymoon today and settled down in their apartment in Salt Lake City. October 8, 1992 Karen and I flew to Corpus Christi where we attended workshops and participated in the annual Hispanic seminar on the 9th and 10th and witnessed the quincentennial celebration at the Corpus Christi harbor. October 16, 1992 Dad had a stroke today while the group was traveling in Maine. Uncle George caught him as he fell. It was a small stroke, high colesterol. Some paralysis on the right side. Will be in a wheelchair for a time. No use of the right hand. Home in five days. October 19, 1992 Ted Chadbourne is willing to buy phone discs for AAI for $11,342.00. October 27, 1992 Karen and I left for Nebraska to visit Brent. It was a fun trip. November 4, 1992 Today was my last day working in the Orem office of AAI, and Karen's last day working in Salt Lake. Today we begin a new life, one which will be much less stressful and hopefully will bring some peace into our lives. November 5, 1992 Cut off our phone and began packing and moving. We spent the 6th and 7th moving as well, making the transfer in two round trips. We got settled into our home at 316 West 500 North in St. George, in the 17th Ward. November 9, 1992 Karen began work at her new location today. December 9, 1992 Letter written to Julie Platt, serving in the California Los Angeles Mission, P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Dear Julie: It's been too long since I wrote to you. A lot has happened during that time. On August 4th my blessings and priesthood were restored by Elder L. Alden Porter, Area President of the Utah South Area of the Church. He was under instructions from The First Presidency, according to his own words, to ask only three questions: 1) did I support the Brethren, 2) was I current on my child support, 3) and was I a full tithe payer. He apologized for the way I had been treated and indicated that many injustices had been leveled against me inappropriately. All references to the re-baptism and excommunication were taken off from my membership and the original dates replaced. It made me feel very grateful and humble to have been able to maintain my position and to finally be vindicated. In the process of all that went on I was made aware of a letter written by a friend of your mother's which was full of lies and deceit that had caused many of the problems with the Brethren understanding my true position. The letter called me a "dangerous person" among other things. I was also told that family members had supported these lies with their own. I am devastated and deeply saddened for the way the family and associates have behaved in this whole matter. Elder Porter instructed me to do all in my power to bless my children through my example and through the priesthood. He gave me a wonderful blessing and then assisted me while I blessed Karen. Whereas the blessing I gave you as you entered the missionfield was without the authority of the priesthood and only consisted of the father's right to bless, now I can again sanctify all my acts with that sealing power and feel very blessed to be in that position again. Under instructions from Elder Porter, Karen and I were sealed on August 4th in the Manti Temple. We were counseled to proceed in securing our temple blessings without further delay. I invited my father's family to attend but none of them came, nor have they made any comments about it since. Uncle George, Aunt Thora and our friends from Salt Lake and Scofield were there to support us. It was a lovely experience. We attended a family party a week later and were totally ignored by my father. McKay was decent. Uncle Art was very sweet to both of us and embarrassed at the behavior of Aunt Rene and the others. Most of my brothers refused to come. I guess they are feeling guilty or angry. Whatever the feelings, or for whatever reasons they exist, the fact is that these family members are now in opposition to The First Presidency's position and feelings on what has been done. They are claiming I deceived the Brethren and obtained my blessings by deceit and fraud. I guess they don't believe the Brethren have a right to inspiration anymore. Dad has since had a stroke. He undoubtedly is suffering great emotional stress for the position he and others took against me, which they knew was unrighteous. Please pray for them. They need our love and support. However, they don't need to be allowed to play their games anymore. David and Holly came to see me a few times before they got married. I invited them to have an evening out with her parents the night before they got married, or any other time, and suggested that I would be glad to serve as a witness at the sealing. As is ended up, I didn't go to the sealing and he turned me down on an evening out because he had to spend one with his mother. I never could figure that out. He refused to accept a righteous interaction during the whole affair and I refused to be a part of the unrighteous demands laid down by Paula, as they were totally inappropriate. She conviced David to insist that I come to his wedding and be with her in the sealing room and leave Karen home. He was frustrated and sickened by the whole matter and now he's mad at me because I reacted normally and didn't give in to the whole charade. Someday the family is going to learn that I will not be controlled in anyway by these types of behavior. It has been extremely painful extracating myself from those controls and I refuse to have anything to do with them ever again no matter the consequences. There are forces at work in the family which will have very negative future results as they have in the past. What goes around comes around. Any therapist will tell you that the manipulative, unhealthy relationships that are developing are abnormal and destructive. The fruits are already manifesting. I send birthday cards, the children never respond. I invite them to come with us and they are afraid of what awaits them when they return home. Niki got so physically sick over the way she was being torn that I had to stop seeing the children. There are very defined patterns of behavior that can be categorized and treated if the individuals involved wish to be treated. Be very thoughtful and careful of your own involvement. You have reacted in a healthy way in most situations during the last seven years. I am encouraged that you will have a normal development in your marriage and family. I'm very worried about María Elena, Niki and pray daily for the younger children. I don't mean to unload on you, but I want you to know that I love them and miss them terribly but can't do much to help them with cooperation. I hope you and I can continue to grow together. I will place only one perameter on it. Anything you and I agree to do together must be without will usually include Karen. If your mother objects or has anything to say about how you are to interact with me, there will be no interaction. I expect there will be challenges in the future with marriages, children's blessings, priesthood blessings of your boys, missionary farewells, homecomings, temple blessings, and so forth. I'm there if you want me to be, but I won't be treated and ignored like I was at your farewell. Karen and I both love and want to be a part of your life. We expect to be treated courteously and appropriately in return. Now, all that said, I will never mention any of these past matters again. I'm through with the past, with past unrighteous associations and alliances, and I will react to all future situations as I have indicated. Please remember that well and then hopefully we can have a wonderful normal life in the future. Karen and I are now living in St. George. We have bought a home at 316 West 500 North. Our telephone number is 801 628 4944. You are welcome here anytime you want to come. We have two guest bedrooms. There are three bathrooms. You may live with us and go to school at Cedar City if you wish. They have just started an excellent program in areas of your major, under the supervision of the University of Utah. We'll talk more on that in the future if you're interested. Please feel free to call collect, stop in on your way home, or whatever you wish. I will be glad to provide you free room and board while you study if it fits into your plans. If it doesn't be assured that I love you and am anxious to see you again. Your mission president just send me a lovely letter indicating you have been called as a trainer. He is very pleased with your work. I'm glad you are enjoying a successful mission. Karen sends her love. She is very faithful in praying for you every day. She and I have prayed together and studied the scriptures every day of our married life and feel the blessings deriving therefrom. I have been called to several positions in our new ward. Uncle Roland and Aunt Dorothy and several of my first cousins have been by to visit us. We are looking forward to Christmas with Karen's children. I invited the younger children to spend some time with us but have heard nothing. I hope you have a lovely Christmas and birthday. We love you very much and are grateful for your desires to serve. Always check the spirit in all you do and make sure all of your service is for the right reason. It is easy to be right-wrong and have the appearance of righteousness, but lack the sealing power of the spirit. I know that the course I have taken was orchestrated by Heavenly Father to save my soul. I am now in a position to assist the rest of the family in their quests for eternal life. I feel the Spirit in my life and only want that for each of you. As always, Dad and Karen December 15, 1992 Letter written to Julie Platt, serving in the California Los Angeles Mission, P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Mi Recordada Julie: Recibí tu carta del 12 del presente. ¡Qué alegría ver su fotografía con todos los hermanos que trabajan contigo en la oficina de la misión! Espero que las amistades que estás gozando ahora permanecerán para siempre en esta vida. Tengo el agrado de ver de cuando en cuando compañeros o amigos de la misión y trae buenas memorias de tiempos pasados cuando servíamos en la obra del Señor. I talked to George Ryskamp this week. He told me that he had seen you and passed on my message which I gave him when we were in Texas together at a seminar. He was pleased to meet you and said several nice things about you. We spent three days this week in Utah County. I had to go up to do some business. We attended a Christmas party with some friends and had a wonderful time telling stories of our best Christmases. I told everybody my very best Christmas was the one when my daughter Julie was born. It always has been, still is, and always will be. Thanks for coming into the family and always setting an example and doing what you have done. I don't want you to feel it is necessary to be burdened with that thanks, or to feel that I look to you to set the example for the other children. I don't. I expect each of them to take the teachings they have received and set their own standards. But I'm thankful that you have chosen the standards you have. Thursday we went to Richfield to a boy's shelter where Karen had placed one of the kids from down here. He is a gang leader, age 14, and tough as nails. We had a good visit with him though and got through a little bit to his spirit. He's really a good kid inside, but has parents who don't care about him and have basically abandoned him to his own pleasures since he was ten. The guy in charge of the home is a Huntsman, related back about five generations. We talked some genealogy. We went to the prison Friday afternoon to attend a Board hearing for the prisoner we visit as family home evening parents. It was a very touching moment when the father of the children he had abused got up before the board and asked Lonnie to forgive him for the hatred and bad feelings he had had because of the serious problems his children had been having. As long as I live I will be grateful to have had that experience. Mr. Green's asking Lonnie to forgive him turned the heart of the board around. They gave Lonnie a release date of April, 1993. So we will continue to visit him unless he is released. It has been such a wonderful experience to interact monthly with those men. We missed the Christmas party at the prison on Monday because we had been up there on Friday, but felt it was more important to be at the hearing. Saturday we drove up to Scofield and got a few more things from the house there and turned it over to a realtor who will try and sell it for us. It was such a bad trip home. Below Cedar City there were over fifty semi trucks stalled, and a number of ambulances and police cars taking care of the accidents. The freeway down the canyon was solid ice. We made it okay, but it was a shakey experience. I put up red lights out front this week around the big picture window, and blue lights along the eve of the roof. The contrast is quite lovely at night. The city is all aglow with Christmas lights and decorations although main street doesn't get painted up like some cities. I put in a mailbox out front this week also so that I didn't have to walk to the post office anymore. We've decided to stay here for Christmas and go up to the cabin for New Year's so Brent can visit his dad in Logan before coming down here. I guess Baird, Ann and Jacob will stop by on their way to Alpine from Arizona. It will be fun to see Jacob again. Little children are so much fun to be around. We've made up one of the bedrooms with a crib so he can sleep there. We hope you have a lovely Christmas and a good 1993 as you finish out your mission. I haven't written much because I haven't wanted to upset you or get you to thinking too much about the family, but George says Paula writes every week, so I guess my concerns are of no value. I'll write more often and hope to hear from you when you have time. Enclosed is a little bit to get something extra you may need. I've increased my monthly checks to Paula to over $700.00 so she should be able to continue to support you with the help others are giving her. I'll continue to support the missionary fund and the welfare funds as in the past. It all comes out of a general fund now anyway. Love as always, December 18, 1992 Brent arrived from Nebraska for a few days. He spent some time skiing. December 21, 1992 Letter written to Julie Platt, serving in the California Los Angeles Mission, P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Dear Julie: Greetings again from St. George. Hope you have a lovely Christmas and birthday. I assume you got the check and letter last week. The weather has been cool the last couple of weeks, but we went to the nursery the other day and found three varieties of grapes on sell for $1.88 when they're usually $5.00 to $9.00. We bought nine and planted them up in the garden area. It's so good to have a garden again. I planted some garlic the same day, along with some pecan nuts, and a nectarine seed. I'm starting to dig up the soil for a garden which can be planted anytime I'm ready. Some of the trees around the property also need dead wood cut out of them, so that's on the agenda with the chain saw as I can get to it. It's nice to have a little fire in the stove in the evenings and early mornings. For a Christmas tree this year we bought a live desert pine. It's about seven feet tall. After the New Year I'll plant it somewhere on the place. We have set it outside in front of the big picture window and will decorate it and leave it there for the holidays. I got my bicycle fixed up the other day, so now I can ride around town and do all the little errands that need doing while Karen has the car. Sunday we performed the Christmas cantata in Sacrament Meeting. A number of people commented on how well I sang. My voice has improved since I took singing lessons a few years ago, so it's a good experience to participate again in a choir. I've finally gotten back into having time to do some of our genealogy on the computer. A lot needs to be accomplished. I've identified some Spanish lines on my side of the family back in the 1100 and 1200 that fill up many pedigree charts. So you've got Spanish on both sides of the family. Write when you can. Love you loads. December 25, 1992 CHRISTMAS FROM ST. GEORGE We are finally settled in our new home at 316 West 500 North, St. George, UT 84770; (801) 628-4944. We are enjoying our new home, jobs and the area very much. It is the difference between day and night. The weather here has been cool and we have had a sciff of snow twice, but we are glad we aren't driving to Salt Lake in the snow storms they have had this winter. Our home sits up against the northern hills of St. George - a lovely red backdrop with pinetrees, grapes, palm trees, a large garden area, our own spring, a fun yard with a barbeque, patio, fully-automated sprinkling system for the lawns from the spring, pampas grass clumps with their lovely white tops, flowers in bloom, and much more. The home has three baths, two rooms for my office, and is just a fun, relaxing place to work. Karen got her long-awaited job transfer, and it is going very well. The focus is a little different in St. George and the children she works with aren't as delinquent as they are in Salt Lake. It is a great opportunity to do some preventive social work. She is on the front end of social work now rather than in the middle and end. She is doing a lot of counseling and theraphy, is much happier, not as busy or stressed, and is beginning to improve in her health. This was a good move for her. It appears like she will be going on to get her degree in family and marriage counseling. I'm working at home on my writing and research, and doing some consulting. We attend the temple weekly. We continue to work at the prison in Draper once a month. Lonnie got his release date for April, 1993. We will continue to visit him until he is released. The experience has been wonderful. We have grown to love him and a number of the other prisoners we associate with during home evening each month. They are so appreciative of the little we do to help them. We will be spending some time between Christmas and New Year at the cabin with Karen's son Brent. We miss you all and hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a special Happy New Year. January 6, 1993 Letter written to Julie Platt, serving in the California Los Angeles Mission, P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Dear Julie: I received your letter of December 29th and was happy to hear from you again. It has been two and a half weeks since I last wrote to you. A lot has happened. However, let me first address several issue from your letter. On Christmas Day, Karen and I being alone, had made previous arrangements to go to Zion's lodge and have Christmas Dinner. They had a Christmas buffet. It was lovely. The park, as usual, was like being in heaven. It is so peaceful and refreshing there. Anyway, as we were sitting there talking about the day, our families, the heartache at not having family around us, we talked about you being alone, about Bruce being in Florida alone (he later called and said he spent the day with Juan), and even the parts of the family that were together weren't all together. My dad was in Oregon with Margaret, mother was in heaven with Don Carlos and her parents and brothers probably, but all the different situations caused us to feel and discuss something we had never much thought about. And it gets to a point in your letter where you talk about "I know I've lost my Eternal Father." I'm grateful that immediately following that thought that you were inspired "that everything will be alright" because it will. I love you too, more than you may ever know. Thank you also for your concern about my happiness. You are the first one in the family to ever express any care about my happiness and welfare and I will always be grateful to you for that. But, let me continue with our discussion and conclusions. Heaven, as we understand it, basically will consist of eternal couples creating new kingdoms of spiritual children. You and your husband will be involved mostly in that relationship. Will you spend Christmas with your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? Probably not, except in the wonderful way He has of communicating to all of his children at once, comparable in a way to The First Presidency's Christmas message to the Chruch today. Will you spend it with your mother Paula? Probably not very often. Will you spend it with me? Probably not very often. Will you spend it with your brothers and sisters? Not likely. Why? Because each will have their own kingdom. How many fathers will you have in heaven? If your mother remarries and cancels the sealing she and I have, you will have a step-father. Will you ever love him more than you love me even if you sometime maybe recognize him in your sealing line? I doubt you will. The love you have for me now will probably only increase. You see, we are sealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Eliza Maria Partridge in our sealing line, but our blood line is through Amasa Mason Lyman and Eliza Maria Partridge. Your mother is sealed to her mother and Manuel Acevedo, not to her father Julio Vega. She will never be sealed to her father. Does that mean she will never love him and has lost him forever. Of course not. Nor have you lost me. Let's return to my question, though. How many fathers will you have in heaven? Let's assume a step-father, then let's count me, then let's count Heavenly Father (the father of your spirit), then let's count Jesus Christ (the father of your Eternal Life), then let's count each of your grandfathers and step-grandfather, or sealed grandfathers, and then let's assume for a minute that I don't make it to the Celestial Kingdom and that your possible future step-father does not either. How does that affect you? Julie Platt was born in the covenant of the priesthood. That means that Julie is entitled to eternal parentage if she is worthy. Being born in the covenant never assured you that Paula and Lyman would be your eternal parents. That is conditional on their worthiness. Now, I have been given a priesthood blessing by a general authority, one of the First Presidents of the quorums of the Seventy - L. Alden Porter - in which I have been commissioned to bless you - and the other children - through my priesthood. Nothing was said to me inferring in any way that I have lost you, or that you are not my eternal charge. I am to set a righteous example for you to follow, to continue to bless you when you need father's blessings, to teach you, to love you, to nurture you in ever way I did when I lived with your mother. That is my right and my assignment from the Prophet of the Lord by commission through his servant Elder Porter. Does that sound like you have lost me? I don't think so. And what if I live worthy of the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom? Do I have claim on you as a daughter if you live worthy? Of course I do. Can you see what I am saying? Of course the natural, present-day, environment and teaching of the Church is that we create family units and we try to maintain a family relationship that becomes eternal. But let's analyze what heaven is like according to the scriptures and the teachings of the Brethren in the earlier part of the dispensation. Can we raise the word "polygamy" (heaven forbid) for just a minute. Does polygamy exist in heaven­? Apparently it does. What does that mean as far as how families are constituted? Who does the father live with? Or let's take a real example. Joseph Smith had twenty-seven women sealed to him under commandment of the Lord while he was alive and over 200 after his death were sealed to him that I know of and have record of. Who does he live with? Or putting it another way, how do his children look at him if he does not live in their home all the time? Does that mean that he is not their father? Of course not. So you see my dear, sweet Julie, I will always be your father. I intend to live worthy of Eternal Life in the Celestial Kingdom. No matter who your mother is eventually sealed to I will always be your earthly, blood father. Your mother has taught you children that because I divorced her I lost my place in the family. The Brethren have instructed me otherwise. And your grandpa is still my dad, and your uncles and aunts are still my brothers and sisters. If anyone has lost their place it is your mother, not me, but I am not saying that that is so. I allow her the right to associate with her former father-in-law (which he no longer is) and call him father and allow her the privilege of being blessed by him, of receiving love and nurture from him, and all other opportunities that she may derive from that association. She does not have a living earthly father and needs a father figure. I wouldn't take that away from her. Why then would she teach you children that I have lost my place, or that I will no longer be your father. It is not so. The Brethren, the Prophet, have made that very clear to me. I hope it is now clear to you. Well, I will continue with responding to your letter next week. I believe this one is sufficiently long and has given you enough to think about. Karen and I love you very much. We pray for your health, your welfare, your success as a missionary every morning and every night. We care about you as a person. We respect your maturity of thinking and your love for others. We appreciate your non-judgmental spirit. Charity must be found in all candidates of the Celestial Kingdom. It is our desire to have charity towards all people and hope through belief (if not faith) that all the family who profess to love God and follow his teachings will someday come to understand the true spirit of eternal relationships and how to love with charity, the pure love of Jesus Christ. As always, your father January 14, 1993 Letter written to Julie Platt, serving in the California Los Angeles Mission, P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Dear Julie: Another week has passed. Time sure flies when you're having fun, doesn't it? Karen and I have been to Las Vegas twice this week. The first time we went to visit one of her work associates who was in the hospital. They took four disks out of her back. The next day we drove down and brought her back in the back of our jeep so she could lie down. This week we have also been to visit Uncle Roland in the hospital here in St. George. He had some cancer removed along with the lower part of his colon. He was in really good spirits although in a lot of pain. I spent eight hours during the day of the operation in the hospital with Aunt Dorothy, my cousin Bob, and his wife Lorraine, and my cousin Jackie. We had a good talk. I hadn't seen Bob for thirty years and didn't know his new wife. He is divorced from his first wife. Jackie is also divorced. Aunt Dorothy is getting alzheimers disease and can't remember where she is, although she still has lucid moments and remembers a lot of history. It was wonderful to support them during their trials and be able to show my love for the family. I called grandpa and Uncle George and let them know that the operation was successful. Hopefully, Uncle Roland will be okay now. He has had some rough times in his life and deserves some rest and peace. We have had six days of rain this week. Everything is so beautiful on the desert and around here. I'm anxious, though, to begin gardening. I fertilized the lawns yesterday and it rained on them again today, so the timing was just right. We watched a wonderful movie the last two nights called "A Woman of Worth" It was set in the early 1900s up through the 1940s in England. After all the lady went through, losing her loved ones, great sacrifices, wars, death, etc., she calmly ended the movie with: "The secret of life is to endure." It was so well done. Her children turned against her in part so she willed her immense properties to her grandchildren while still blessing her children to the extent they would let her. It gave me a few pointers as to how to treat those who resent me and continue to treat me poorly. One other line was: "Each person is in charge of their own destiny." This referred to those who were bitter against the women for her money and power, wanted it, but couldn't take it away from her. With the negatives and positives in all their lives, some had become bitter, others positive, each choosing what they wished from what was served them. I'm so happy for you Julie that you continue to choose the positive from your environment. I was impressed the last two nights while reading the 6th section of the D&C, where the Lord is speaking to Oliver Cowdery, how much he loves each of us. It caused me to reflect back on the time five years ago when I was having so many problems trying to keep the family together. I was discouraged, felt alone, wished I could understand the full extent of the problems and how to resolve them. As I was sitting at my desk at work pondering these feelings and what to do, I heard my name called. Oh, the joy that suddenly filled my soul. I knew the voice immediately. It was the voice of a dear friend from whom I had had no word in over forty years. His voice was as real and dear to me as my own dear deceased mother's. It was a voice filled at once with love beyond description, of compassion, of understanding, and in the one word "Lyman" I knew that no matter what happened to me in this life, I would do everything in my power to never disappoint that dearest of friends, because what I felt following His calling of my name was a feeling that is worth every pain, disappointment, sorrow, trial, hardship, and suffering that can be laid upon us in this life. I know Jesus lives Julie. I know that He knows each of us personally and loves us dearly. I am so grateful for that knowledge that shatters the bounds of faith. It is a pure understanding that has lightened every load and brightened every day since then. I'm so pleased that you are feeling of that same spirit in your work. Be assured that you are continually in my thoughts and prayers. We love you and wish you success in training the new missionaries and in filling the lives of your associates with peace, with knowledge, with faith, and with testimony. Help them learn to endure. As ever, your father Letter written to María Elena Platt, January 18, 1993, RR2 Box 216, Highland, UT 84003 at the time of her eighteenth birthday. Dear 'Lena: Happy 18th birthday. I love you and want that to come through first and foremost in all that I say. How does it feel to be officially categorized as an adult? Now that you are legally your own person, and no longer my charge financially, I fear you will continue in the same rebellious, defiant manners of the past five years, based on some distorted misconceptions perpetrated by a continuing sick environment. I hope that you will prove me wrong. I hope that you will soon leave home, get a good job, go to school, begin to develop your own life, and leave the sick, manipulating, grasping surroundings in which you are currently enmeshed. Your mother will hang on to all of you any way, every way she can, but you would do well to get away as fast as you can. I warned you several years ago that to break off all relations with me would be disasterous to you personally over the long haul. Let's analyze that from where you currently stand. I do so simply because I love you, not to try in any way to hurt you. Do you love your father? If yes, why don't you write or call, or respond in a loving way to any of my overtures towards you? If no, you must realize now that that lack of love is affecting you spiritually. Not only are you not developing normally, you are missing experiences where I could be a positive influence for good in your life. You are looking at men with mistrust and will never develop a normal relationship with any man. Or you are having experiences with your boyfriends where you love them blindly, trying to prove me wrong. I guarantee you that until you treat me with love, respect, and understanding, all relationship you try to develop with men will be wrong, will be manipulative on your part, or will be full of mistrust and distorations. I am and will be your role model psychologically whether you accept it, whether you like it, whether you believe it or not. To ignore that reality is to ignore your own self and the rights and responsibilities you have to yourself to develop in a rounded, positive, spiritual, moral, and responsible way. You have rejected my counsel in the past on this matter. Do you see any more clearly at this point what I have tried to tell you? Can you see, for example, how Patty is being hurt and how she is hurting her children by not associating with me? Most children, despite divorce, are able to get over it. Most divorced couples still love their children enough to want what is best for them. Only when one or both of the partners are sick do the children suffer like you children have. When they don't adjust properly or can't it is because one or both parents are hurting the children and trying to manipulate their feelings. You children have not adjusted. That's a fact. Now ask yourself why, after five years you are in the abnormal minority of divorced children. No one can break any one of the Ten Commandments and not suffer negative results. Have I ever told you not to love your mother and help her in every way you could? No, never. Has she told you, either verbally or otherwise, to choose the course you have of ignoring me for five years? You know she has. How do you think you can break God's commandment to honor your father and get away with it? You can't. Enough preaching! Now that you are an adult and are totally responsible for your own actions, despite the negative influences that may have caused you to react one way or another in the past, I am holding you personally responsible for developing a working relationship with me. I expect it, I want it, I need it, and I am asking for it. However, it is your choice. If you don't want anything to do with me, you will have your wish. But I warn you again as a loving father who has been counselled by the Brethren to do what I can to bless your life as my daughter, and to take an active role in influencing you and giving you priesthood blessing when you want them: if you refuse my love and offers, you do so at great peril to your future happiness. You cannot hate your father and develop normally. Let's also make it very clear one more time for the record. I divorced your mother for my own spiritual well-being. I couldn't stand the manipulation and control any longer. I am responsible first and foremost in this life to save my own soul. I had to divorce her to do that. You can accept that or not as you wish but that was the only reason for doing so. I didn't divorce her because I hated my life in Highland, because I had too many kids, because I was bad, because of Karen, because I was an apostate, because I was dangerous, because I couldn't stand the financial responsibilities, or any other lamebrain excuse you may have heard from any other source. I divorced her because she refused to comply with certain basic issues of morality and decency that have to exist between a husband and wife. Therapists counselled her what she needed to do and she refused to change. She manipulated her priesthood leaders, your grandpa and uncles, and others into siding with her. She has poisoned you children against me, for what? In all that has gone on have I ever once said that I wanted you to hate your mother and treat her unkindly. Never! Why? Because she did not have a normal childhood and does not look at personal relationships normally. She needs your love and support. I pity her and feel a lot of pain for what she has suffered because of her unwillingly to do what was right. Do I hate her? No. Have I ever said anything other than that she was sick, which sickness was caused from an abusive childhood? No. So why do you hate me? The answer is very simple. You hate me because I speak the truth. You hate me because you have become like your mother to a degree. You will deny you hate me, but your actions are clearly not actions of love, and if not of love, then hate. We can act in one way only so long before showing what we really are. Your mother professes at times to want to work with me for you children's best interests, and I believe there are times when she really feels that. But then she turns right around and ignores my requests to see the children at Christmas. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it must be a chicken, right? Wrong. It's a duck. A duck is a duck is a duck. You can call a chicken a duck but it's still a duck. When we lived in Spring Lake we had a lamb that grew up with kid goats. It acted like the goats until it got old enough and heavy enough that it couldn't. Finally it had to act like a sheep because that is what it was. If you love me act like it. You can change if you wish. Everyone is the creator of their own heaven or hell. I, for one, am very happy in my new life. I am active in the church, enjoy my work, am serving many people in making their lives better, have fun activities and sports and gardening and reading and other pasttimes. Some of my children love me and are developing a new, normal relationship. You choose what you want to do and let me know. My first responsibility is to love the Lord, then Karen, then you children. My first responsibility is to save myself, then Karen, then you children. The Brethren have made it very clear to me that you are still my responsibility. I am your father and will always be. Love, Dad This letter was finally answered on April 6th. Previous to that Paula had her bishop contact my bishop and warn me to stop writing or she would sue me. María Elena informed me she didn't like any of the letter. Letter written February 10, 1992 to Julie Platt, California Los Angeles Mission, P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Dear Jewel: I am in receipt of your letter mailed January 27. Eight months will fly by way too fast for you and then your mission will be over. I'm so glad you have had the opportunity to serve the Lord in this way. You're right: it's hard work and some times it's not at all fun; but it is a commandment, and there is peace that derives from compliance, as well as long-term blessings. Do like I did and determine that the last of your mission will be the time when you work the hardest and exercize all of your gifts in the greatest possible ways in testifying and bringing truth to those who will hear, including your companions and those you train. The fruits of missionary work are certainly sweet and delicious to the taste. Last night Fred García from Houston called me and told me that he and Jan had decided to get baptized. They have two children. Two years ago they spent ten days at our cabin. We took them to church twice. Karen was in the Primary at that time and had the opportunity to teach the boys to prayer. They had never prayed. After that they wanted to pray all the time and to go where Jesus was (church). They've convinced their parents to take them to church several times in Houston, and finally Fred asked the missionaries to come over. He wants me to baptize them, so we'll be making arrangements to go to Houston or have them come and stay with us here for a few days. We're just so pleased. She's Italian from New England. He Spanish with a lot of Jewish background. The teachings found fertile soil in their lives. The mission sent me a copy of your medical report. It would be nice to know when you're sick without having to get it second hand. What do you think was the cause of your problems? When I visited with the kids last month they also told me you were sick another time in December. Let's not overwork. Remember the Lord's commission to only walk as fast as you have strength. We've had more rain again, another inch and a half. That makes about six inches since the first of the year. Snow pack is 600 to 700 percent of normal around here. The garden is coming up. The cold weather seems to be gone for the year. I've built a compost pile and have been pruning the roses and planting other flowers. We have the prettiest pansies. Do you know the color terciopelo in Spanish, or deep purple in English. I just can't look at them enough. They fill the spirit with their beauty. The lawn requires cutting already. I've planted some fruit trees, asparagus, various types of berries, artichokes, celery, more grapes and continue to dig up the ground for my garden. The soil is so nice to work with here. It that deep southern Utah red soil. I have a large pile of rotted compost that I'm working into it. I've lost five pounds in the last few weeks working the ground, so that's a side benefit. I will be a Golden West College in Huntington Beach the weekend of April 17th and at Pasadena Civic Center the weekend of May 1st for Spanish seminars. I don't know if you have contacts that would be interested in Hispanic genealogy (in the first case), or genealogy in general (in the second case), but as seen above, the long-standing friendship with Fred in genealogy, touched with the Gospel, has borne fruit. If you can work it around your teaching to have contacts there, it would be a good chance to see a lot of other non-members doing genealogy and filled with the Spirit of Elijah. Most of the people that we teach in these seminars are not members of the Church. The main seminar at Pasadena is on Sunday, the one at Golden West on Saturday. Both last all day. We have never received much support from the local Mormons at these seminars but they are such a wonderful chance and are being wasted. Talk it over with your mission president. Maybe it could be turned into a very positive, valuable experience for more than just yourselves. We have the Public Relations people from the Church involved, and it will be broadcast throughout the media, but it's a great opportunity for local wards and branches as well and is being wasted. Pasadena will be about 2,000 people. Golden West will be about 200. Keep up the good work. Love, Dad Letter written February 22, 1992 to Julie Platt, California Los Angeles Mission, P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024 and to Bruce and Cynthia Platt, 635 Collins Ave., Apt 314, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 It's been awhile since we corresponded. We think of you all the time and wonder how you are doing. Hope work and play are going along okay. Drop us a line and let us know. All of my garden is up that I've planted to date. I'm enjoying about a half hour a day weeding and watching things grow. I'm still expanding the area to be planted and getting ready for another series of vegetables. We've had a lot of rain, as you have, and yet everything has come through it in fine shape. The soil absorbs the moisture well and because it has a lot of humus is not compacting like I thought it would. Many of our flowers are growing also and yesterday was the first day that really felt like Spring. On the 15th we attended the funeral services in Gunlock, of your last great-grandaunt on my side of the family. Blanche Leavitt Holt died February 10th here in St. George. Gunlock is where a number of our ancestors are buried. Uncle George and Aunt Thora, Uncle Roland and Aunt Dorothy, Karen and I, and Joleen, my cousin, represented the Platts at the funeral. The little chapel was packed. I love funerals because people say nice things and its a time to examine your own life and see if you're on track. One of the things Aunt Blanche always said to people was "We don't have much, but we're grateful for what we have." She also taught "All of us have an opportunity to be happy in this life and if we're wise we die prepared to be eternally happy." In her humorous way she would always tell people when she left home for a visit "If I don't come back you can have the mule." She was a hard worker and claimed "Hard work covers up a lot of sins." One day when she was so old she had to use a walker to get around, she was out weeding the garden with one hand on the hoe and the other on the walker and she fell. She couldn't get up and couldn't get anybody to hear her so she pulled weeds for fours hours and had the garden weeded by the time she was discovered. She loved everybody and never said an unkind word about anybody. Once when someone was criticizing another person, she said "It's the poor horse that needs bragging on." And when someone commented about another person being fat she said "Well, she'll winter well. It was said of her that she was a woman of unconditional love. It didn't matter where you were from you were welcome in her home. It was a beautiful funeral. I came away more determined to create good all around me. My right eye continues to lose its sight more rapidly that it should. I have an appointment tomorrow in Orem to get new glasses. The ones I have are just over a year old and are useless. I'm continuing to get all of our genealogical data computerized as fast as I have time. I don't know what my later years will be like and I don't want to leave it for anyone else to do. I made some good advances in tracing my own Spanish lines in Spain. I now have over 200 direct ancestors back in the 1000s, 900s and 800s of Spanish descent. I'm also preparing names for temple work as I review the various generations and see things that haven't been done. There's so much to do and even with twelve hour or fourteen hour days it just seems to pile up. We have read a wonderful book the last two weeks on an experience a lady had when she died and went to the Spirit World. It teaches some wonderful doctrines that are in the scriptures, but which are fortified with personal testimony. I want to get a copy of the book for each of you as I can afford it. It's one book you should all have. Above all else, be assured that I love you and wish you the best in your lives. I hope things continue to go well for you, that you get your debts paid, that we get some grandkids one of these days, that we have a chance to see you whenever you're in the area. If you ever come out and want to fly into Las Vegas, it's two hours from here and I can pick you up, bring you to St. George. We have an extra bedroom you can stay in for however long you want. There's plenty to keep you busy around here with sightseeing, gardening, entertainment, etc. February 23, 1993 Karen and I traveled to Orem for my work, and to the prison to visit Lonnie Thacker and back in one day of sixteen hours. I found out what is bothering my eyes. I have posterior sub capsular cataracts in both eyes. I have lost farsight, nearsight and lights causes things to blue. I will need an operation to replace the lenses. February 24, 1993 Karen was accepted into a Masters of Social Work program through the University of Utah, with course work at Cedar City and St. George. Class work begins March 25th. There were several hundred applicants and only twenty were accepted. She is scared and pleased. February 26, 1993 Attended a ward High Priest dinner and dance. It was lovely and we made some acquaintences we hadn't known in the ward. February 28, 1993 Ward conference. President Clove read the following list as typifying apostates: accelerated Second Coming of Jesus Christ; manipulating or taking out of context quotes of former presidents of the Church or Church leaders; three 3 and a half year periods before the Coming of Jesus Christ; Milennium to begin April 6, 1993; Christ to come before the year 2000; trying to determine who has the Mark of Beast discussed in Revelation; the two prophets to die in Jerusalem before October 1996; quoting Church leaders to move to the tops of the mountains; temple or sacrifical alters in the home; praying to a mother in heaven; explicit and dramatic preparations for military invasions of the United States; trying to determine when and where the Ten Tribes will return; Ezra Taft Benson a covered Prophet; the Koyle Dream Mine; time line theories; seven seals theories; Prophecies in Isaiah of a Davidic Servant; New World Order; unauthorized changes of temple ordinances and ceremonies by The First Presidency; claims of revelation above that of The Brethren. March 1, 1993 President Clove of the St. George West Stake presented me with some accusations that had been sent or told to the Brethren and an inquiry and opening of my old file had been undertaken, probably by the Area President. I was accused of translating ancient Nephite records, having them in my possession, belonging to a following of apostates here in St. George, having had sex with Karen before we were married, etc. All of this is coming from Paula. It has to be. She is so corrupt I can't believe it. She's insanely jealous that I finally have my blessings back, have a home, and am happy. She is going to drive herself crazy. I hope she does. Then the kids can be with me. Letter written March 4, 1993 to Baird & Ann Fullerton, 750 West Boston #1021, Chandler, AZ 85224 Dear Baird & Ann: It's good to get your constant letters. My life is finally taking some sense of normality with all my files, books, records, computerized data, etc. organized and findable. The garden is planted in its early things and much of it is up and flourishing. It's healing and refreshing to work outside cutting the lawns, cleaning the yards, pruning the brushes and trees, preparing more garden space, watching the garden grow, planting trees, bushes, vines, etc. We love it here very much and look forward to having you here when you pass through. Well, I'll close for this time. We so enjoy your letters. It was good to get one from both of you this time and love to hear about Jacob. I keep copies of all the letters for future historical reference. Baird, I know your job is frustrating, but hang in there and don't draw lines in the sand that cause you or others to have to take a stand you may regret. Be patient. Love as always, Lyman March 21, 1993 Letter written to Julie Platt, California Los Angeles Mission P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Copy sent to Bruce. Life has not been uneventful since our last correspondence. I hope your lives are progressing well and that you'll drop us a line when you get a chance. You've certainly had some interesting weather in that part of the country. We had a wonderful experience last Sunday. Fred and Jan García from Houston were baptized and their two children were blessed. Fred and I have been friends for many years. His family stayed at the cabin with us several summers ago and we were able to take them to Church, teach the children to pray and talk about the Gospel in more depth than previously. That led to them starting to go to Church off and on. The children liked to go where they talked about Jesus. Fred wanted me to come down and baptize them but I told him it would be better if the missionaries that were teaching him and the local membership were involved. It was the missionaries' first baptisms. About forty ward members were there. It was a beautiful time. I promised Fred I would come to Texas and go through the temple with them next year. This morning, just a week after their baptism, his only sister-in-law died of the flu. He called me up very upset and distraught. I explained to him that if she died it was the Lord's will and that he needed to look positively at the possiblities for teaching his brother and bringing peace to his spirit and possibly the blessing of the gospel. It is also a time where his parents may be influenced. So the gospel continues to spread. I am continually overwhelmed at how the Lord loves his children, but how he uses situations in ways that we wouldn't, or couldn't control, to bring them the greatest chances for happiness. When I went to the eye doctor in Orem last month they told me they couldn't change my perscription and suggested I see a specialist. I went to a specialist here two weeks ago and they showed me how my eyes were deteriorating. Last week they cut my right eye open and took out my natural lens and replaced it with a plastic one. I can now see out of my right eye without glasses as far as reading and close work. Now it's obvious that my left eye has the same problem so next Tuesday when I go in for a check-up I'm going to ask them to do the same operation on the left eye. Then I can get glasses for very close work and for seeing far away, but usually I won't need to wear them anymore in my computer work and reading. I'm amazed at how beautiful things are and how much I have been missing of details and colors. I don't know but what I've had the problem for years. Before I had the operation I got a complete physical as I hadn't had one in ten years. I am in good health. My heart is strong, blood pressure, pulse and those things are very good for my age. The doctor was impressed. I don't have any problems with cholerostol. I do have the beginnings of arthritis, but I already knew that. I think it's a result of my polio having affected my joints. A lot of people that had polio as children are getting it again as older people. If all I get is arthritis, I'll feel lucky. Karen got accepted into a Masters of Social Work program from the University of Utah, with all the classes being held in Cedar City on Thursday and Friday evenings. It will take her two years to finish and then she can be a licensed therapist and counselor. At that time she may quit work and start her own business. There is a big demand right now for family and personal counselling and therapy. She was among a group of 20 out of 250 that were accepted into this program. Professors from the U will travel down here to teach the classes. They're experimenting to see how to get the rural areas of Utah more involved in some of these more intense programs. The U is the only university in Utah to offer these classes, so we feel fortunate that she's been accepted. We're eating out of our garden already. Things are really growing well. It so lovely right now. I finished fixing our patio this week and our grape arbor is just beautiful. The old thirty-year-old grape vine is all pruned and starting to leaf out. It looks like we'll get three or four bushel of grapes just off of the one vine. I sent the kids a cute card for St. Patrick's day and asked them to write back as they promised to do the next time I wrote, but haven't heard anything from them. Uncle George and Aunt Thora had a lovely 50-year anniversary party last week. Dad and Margaret are going to Europe shortly and apparently to Hawaii also. Baird and Ann are expecting their second child, so we're looking forward to having another grandchild to play with. We love you both and pray for you every day. Keep in touch. As always, April 1, 1993 Letter written to Bruce L. Platt, 635 Collins Ave., Apt 314, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Dear Bruce: Received your letter of March 25th. Thanks for responding. I'm sorry you're having mixed feelings. If it's more comfortable for you not to write, that's fine. I don't want you to feel obligated or pained by our relationship. Perhaps I can give you a little perspective of why things are the way they are on my side of the planet. I wrote a letter back in January to María Elena which was not well-receive. It caused some turmoil, but it won't happen again. Maria Elena is on her own now. I've done everything I can for her until she decides she wants a relationship with me. I have left Patty alone for six years now at her request. I have never seen her two younger boys. That hurts but that's what Patty wants. I don't know why. I've talked to Drew several times and offered to talk to Patty but she refuses. So, there's turmoil there, but it's not something I can deal with alone. Dave chose to create a dramatic stand against Karen and me when he got married. That was his decision and he can make amends when he's ready. Dan and I have a speaking relationship. Debbie and I get along fine. Julie and I write each week. The younger children enjoy our times together when we can make them short. I don't know what decisions you're referring to that I made that have caused the turmoil, and I don't know what you mean by "what is are," but I can guess a little. Frankly, though, I am no longer interested in discussing those areas of the past. Nothing I have ever said to anyone in the family has ever made a particle of difference in their understanding my position, so we will let it lie and leave it be. Someday truth, as it really is, prejudices as they really are, blame, sin, faults, shortcomings, etc. will all be revealed if unrepented of. It is not my place to judge anyone that has offended me, but to worry about my own faults and overcome them. That is what I have been doing for seven years. The end result is happiness, peace, prosperity, a lovely new home, a garden and yards that create joy and busywork, contentment in my work, love between Karen and I, new friends, tried and tested old friends, all the things that come of hard work, honest effort, sincere desires to do good, and an ability to not be negatively affected by others actions. I accept your offer of getting to know each other better. I will be glad to take the time and make whatever effort I need to to make that happen. All I ask is that the relationship be one-on-one. Don't share it with any of the rest of the family. Let them come to that desire on their own. If I can't trust you, love will not develop further. Love can only exist after trust has been established. When trust is lost, love is the first casulty. If you want to know me better, know that above all else in this life, I have always and still do base my relationships with others on that simple eternal principle. Try me and prove me. I got my other eye operated on. It went okay. I can now see clearly with both eyes but will need glasses for some things. We spent a day at Zions the other day during a rain storm and immediately thereafter. There were waterfalls everywhere. We walked up under one and just marvelled at the beauty of the cascading, playful waters. It was a lovely day. Keep in touch as you have time and inclination. Your letter didn't mention Cynthia so I'm not sure what's what there. Say hello if she's there. Love as always. Paula called today to say that she has been having serious financial problems since November and can't pay the medical bills which are shots for the kids and bronchitis for Lyman Dee. We spent some time talking. Patty and Paula have been going to counseling. Patty didn't let her children see my letter to them. She is very angry at me but Paula wouldn't tell me why, avoiding my direct questions. Paula has gone to counseling twice and is currently in counseling. She needs someone to talk to basically, according to her, but feels more comfortable just praying. After I sent the letter to Maria Elena she went to the bishop and Patty took the letter to the stake president. Paula told the bishop what she had heard about me translating records. It came to her from one of the kids, from one of my brothers from someone he talked to who supposedly heard it directly from me. Paula said the kids were all writing letters to me: Debbie has, Niki has, Lena will, Lyman Dee and Natalia will. She has been encouraging them to come down and stay for a week or two at a time. They are hesitant. She keeps encouraging them to be positive but has troubles when I write letters and say things to people that make her feel I haven't changed. She warned me not to ever mention again to anyone about her being abused or she would sue me even though she doesn't want to; and claims she can prove she was never abused sexually. She always says positive things to the kids and tells them they need to like Karen, even when they say they won't because she doesn't. She explains that she likes Karen but doesn't like some things she has done, that she likes everybody and feels totally at peace with everything she has done. She feels sorry for me in the final judgment because of the way I have distorted things and keep bringing up lies about her. October 15, 1993 David and Holly had their first child, a girl named Carly Ann Platt. She was born in Salt Lake City. December 8, 1993 Letter written to Edward L. Platt, 228 W. 725 North, Lindon, UT 84042. Dear Ed: It's that time of year when you have a birthday and I have a half birthday. Just a brief note to let you know that I miss our rides to Salt Lake and the wonderful discussions we had about a great variety of topics. It was an enjoyable time in our lives for me. Roberta told me you have moved. It sounds like everything worked out just right in the transaction. She also updated me on your family and the forthcoming trip to Mexico with your children and the folks. Best wishes for a wonderful trip and great memories of doing that which is of most worth in this life - serving others. Life here continues to move on. I am organizing my archives and files so that I can begin to finalize many of the projects I have worked on throughout my life. I now have all of the storage and organizational space I need to do this, and have spent a month getting all my files in order so as to find what is already in them. It will take about ten years to complete this project, and time seems to speed up as we get older. I've joined a barbershop singing group and have really enjoyed that lately. It's a lot of fun to sing with people who enjoy singing. We bought us a really old piano last week that was in nice condition. I'm working extra hours to get the money together to pay for it before the end of the year. It will be nice to have music in the home again. Also when we were up to Provo last month meeting with dad and Margaret we sang some of the old family songs and copied them down so that we had the words. One of them, "The Old Log Barn" was a pioneer song that dad says came down from my great-grandmother Sarah Williams Perkins. She was Welsh and loved to sing. The song only exists in our family that I know of, so I'm going to put it to music and see if we can preserve it that way. The garden is gone for the year, but I've planted a few winter things and am waiting to see if they'll sprout. We had a nice Thanksgiving. Karen's family were all here and we got to see our newest granddaughter. We're having the younger children down for Christmas for three days. December 22, 1993 Karen and I drove up to Highland and got Natalia, Lyman Dee, Johnny, and Nicolle and came back to St. George to spend Christmas together. We talked to Debbie and then had fun on the way home singing, reading Aesop fables, and telling all about what has been happening in school, at home, and in everybody's lives. Bruce isn't going with his old girlfriend anymore, but has another friend. He is being a good young man these days. When we got home we had supper and donuts and went to bed. December 23, 1993 This morning after breakfast we went out to Uncle Roland's and got the rocking chair that he had remade for Karen. Then we got a load of wood, and a Christmas trees, and decorated it, and spent the afternoon relaxing, watching television by the warm fire, playing basketball, reading Aesop, getting the computer printer cable, and shopping. December 24, 1993 Today the kids and I went shopping for food, then Karen, Natalia and Nicolle went out and bought some more presents, while Lyman Dee, Johnny and I played basketball. Then we all went to LaVerkin to deliver some presents to a family. Then we went for a hike up at Pioneer Park and looked at the temple and the city, and walked home. Nicolle worked on her dress and Natalia and Lyman Dee did some crochet work and we watched television and rested. In the evening we played games, watched television, opened a present each, and ate. Today we got Christmas cards from grandpa, Irene, McKay, the Browns, Lonnie, and a visit from our home teacher. December 25, 1993 This morning we got up and spent an hour opening presents. The kids got shoes, clothes, watches, and other things they could use. I got a book, a lovely of Zions, and candy! Karen got a photograph album and some things she needed. Paula called and said Patty wanted to see the children and gave us her address: 482 West 400 South, Cedar City. At 12:45 I took the children to Cedar and then talked to Julie and Debbie for a half hour. Julie is trying to make a decision regarding getting married to Justin Taggart or Jason Ayu. Paula is going to gamble in Las Vegas. December 31, 1993 The year has come to an end. I have spent the last few days working on computerizing data for CDs. Karen has been sewing and knitting. We met with the bishop and paid a full tithing. The Bishop counselled us to get our temple badges as soon as possible so that we can serve as temple workers during the monthly ward temple day. Brent came down for several days. Baird was layed off from his job and we have been in contact with him several times, trying to help him through the emotional trauma. I delivered my marriage database to Maureen Janney to begin CD preparation. January 1, 1994 This will be a good year for us. We are in as good a position as we have ever been to be blessed and to bless others. I am grateful for the Lord's goodnesses and watchfulness in looking over us with a guiding and protective hand. My heart goes out to my children and their problems, and to my father and siblings with their struggles to do what is right. I have been called within the last two weeks, but not set apart yet, as the stake extraction coordinator. I am looking forward to the challenges of this service and expect to meet the goal set by the stake president of providing 8,000 names a month for temple work from the stake. January 2, 1994 This morning I was set about by Abe Young, High Council, to the Coordinator position for the Home Extraction Program in the St. George West Stake. His setting apart blessing was very unusual and beautiful. He told me that my finances would be such that I would not want for any necessities. He repeated this three times. He told me that my posterity would be blessed twice. He promised me that I would be a Savior on Mount Zion and would be in the Celestial Kingdom. He told me I would be involved in changes in genealogy in the stake and elsewhere. He promised me spiritual insights three different times, and told me I would have insights to the technology of genealogy which he said would have the biggest impact in the last days of anything being done in the Church. He commended me to renewing and understanding my relationship with Heavenly Father. He promised me good health on two occasions. He counselled me to have a spiritual interaction with those I serve. He asked Heavenly Father to ratify his blessing. He talked about my tender heart and the softening of the spirit that would come through the work and listening to the spirit, a promise, not counsel. During the rest of the day, I did my home teaching, met with Pat Young and she turned over the extraction materials to me. I talked with the Gibsons further about their property. January 3, 1994 Typed in 50 names with the extraction program. Talked to Jeanne Anderson about being a typist. Went to Central and received some materials from Nancy Cardinal, and helped her with her computer. January 4, 1994 Trained Jeanne Anderson for four hours. Began working on another disc. Worked in the garden with the tiller. January 5, 1994 Spent the morning working with Paul on AAI. In the afternoon went for a hike in the hills above the house. Typed in the late afternoon on the disc and worked in the garden. January 6, 1994 Went to see Karen as the IRS office. She is a senior revenue officer dealing mostly with million dollar problems. She was angry at me for not making an appointment, and then in as obvious a change of heart as I have ever seen she declared that my account was not collectable, that I shouldn't worry about anything, that she would not do anything on it for seven weeks and that at that time we could work something out. Another result of the blessing. Next I went to the company re-financing my home. They turned me down. I couldn't believe the peace and relief that came over me. I asked for the file and got it. That will allow me to tie up other loose financial ends. This is also a blessing. January 7, 1994 I called Blaine about the situation on the house and told him I needed to have his cooperation in releasing the 2nd mortgage on the Scofield house so we could sell it. He and Mary agreed and took five acres of our cabin property on a 1st mortgage in exchange. This is another wonderful demonstration from the Lord of the blessing's fulfillment. January 8, 1994 The last two days I have spent nearly the entire time typing genealogical data into the computer. This evening we went out to Toquerville to visit Mary and Blaine Wood in their new home. We also went to Hurricane to work with a family that is having problems. I went out to Maurine's to take her some materials for our next CD. I realized this afternoon that the blessing I received on the 2nd has healed my left eye. I am amazed at the power that is present in our lives. It is dramatically obvious that we are being blessed in numerous ways. January 9, 1994 This morning I called Joe Northrop in Glendale, California regarding the death of Marie. They had asked that I speak. Mimi Holtzman had served as the messenger. I told her to tell him that we would come and speak. She never called him. This is a second example duplicity in her life since the Texas trip. She is angry at me for not siding with her against her enemies. I called Joe again and we decided that we would not attend the funeral because of the negative things that might happen. This evening my daughter Julie got engaged to Justin Taggart January 10, 1994 Julie called me today and told me about the engagement, that she received her ring today, and that they are planning a wedding for late April, after she finishes her semester at BYU. I was very pleased and felt that she had made the right choice. Today I took a package of material down to Norwest to begin a loan consolidation. Also, we issued a quit-claim deed on the north five acres of the cabin property to Blaine and Mary Wood in exchange for their releasing the Scofield property so that it can be sold. I gave the release letter to Southern Title Company to begin those proceedings. I went out to Maurine's and discussed further developments of our cooperative agreement with her and Mary Darlington of Darlington Purchasing in Salt Lake City. The possibilities are very good. In the evening I began typing all vital records from The Daily Spectrum, for later use on CD. January 11, 1994 Made a few phonecalls on the stake extraction project. Sent the quit-claim deed to Sanpete County for recording. Sent Mary Darlington my vitae, several Spanish surnames samples for negotiations in Mexico, and a sample of the data entry of vital records so that her husband can begin assisting us. February 1, 1994 My daughter Patty called and asked if we might begin having a family relationship again. I made an appointment to talk to her and Drew tomorrow. We discussed a number of issues and made some good progress on the telephone. It was good to hear from her again after such a long time. February 2, 1994 I bought some Valentine's presents for the children and drove to Cedar City, spending two and a half hours with Patty, Dru, Trevor, Justin, and Dyllan. We had a lovely visit and got a number of issue resolved between us. It was so good to visit with the grandchildren. Trevor remembered the quarter I gave him several years ago - the only time I had met with him previously. Patty is expecting in several weeks. January 6, 1993 Letter written to Julie Platt, serving in the California Los Angeles Mission, P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Dear Julie: I received your letter of December 29th and was happy to hear from you again. It has been two and a half weeks since I last wrote to you. A lot has happened. However, let me first address several issue from your letter. On Christmas Day, Karen and I being alone, had made previous arrangements to go to Zion's lodge and have Christmas Dinner. They had a Christmas buffet. It was lovely. The park, as usual, was like being in heaven. It is so peaceful and refreshing there. Anyway, as we were sitting there talking about the day, our families, the heartache at not having family around us, we talked about you being alone, about Bruce being in Florida alone (he later called and said he spent the day with Juan), and even the parts of the family that were together weren't all together. My dad was in Oregon with Margaret, mother was in heaven with Don Carlos and her parents and brothers probably, but all the different situations caused us to feel and discuss something we had never much thought about. And it gets to a point in your letter where you talk about "I know I've lost my Eternal Father." I'm grateful that immediately following that thought that you were inspired "that everything will be alright" because it will. I love you too, more than you may ever know. Thank you also for your concern about my happiness. You are the first one in the family to ever express any care about my happiness and welfare and I will always be grateful to you for that. But, let me continue with our discussion and conclusions. Heaven, as we understand it, basically will consist of eternal couples creating new kingdoms of spiritual children. You and your husband will be involved mostly in that relationship. Will you spend Christmas with your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? Probably not, except in the wonderful way He has of communicating to all of his children at once, comparable in a way to The First Presidency's Christmas message to the Chruch today. Will you spend it with your mother Paula? Probably not very often. Will you spend it with me? Probably not very often. Will you spend it with your brothers and sisters? Not likely. Why? Because each will have their own kingdom. How many fathers will you have in heaven? If your mother remarries and cancels the sealing she and I have, you will have a step-father. Will you ever love him more than you love me even if you sometime maybe recognize him in your sealing line? I doubt you will. The love you have for me now will probably only increase. You see, we are sealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Eliza Maria Partridge in our sealing line, but our blood line is through Amasa Mason Lyman and Eliza Maria Partridge. Your mother is sealed to her mother and Manuel Acevedo, not to her father Julio Vega. She will never be sealed to her father. Does that mean she will never love him and has lost him forever. Of course not. Nor have you lost me. Let's return to my question, though. How many fathers will you have in heaven? Let's assume a step-father, then let's count me, then let's count Heavenly Father (the father of your spirit), then let's count Jesus Christ (the father of your Eternal Life), then let's count each of your grandfathers and step-grandfather, or sealed grandfathers, and then let's assume for a minute that I don't make it to the Celestial Kingdom and that your possible future step-father does not either. How does that affect you? Julie Platt was born in the covenant of the priesthood. That means that Julie is entitled to eternal parentage if she is worthy. Being born in the covenant never assured you that Paula and Lyman would be your eternal parents. That is conditional on their worthiness. Now, I have been given a priesthood blessing by a general authority, one of the First Presidents of the quorums of the Seventy - L. Alden Porter - in which I have been commissioned to bless you - and the other children - through my priesthood. Nothing was said to me inferring in any way that I have lost you, or that you are not my eternal charge. I am to set a righteous example for you to follow, to continue to bless you when you need father's blessings, to teach you, to love you, to nurture you in ever way I did when I lived with your mother. That is my right and my assignment from the Prophet of the Lord by commission through his servant Elder Porter. Does that sound like you have lost me? I don't think so. And what if I live worthy of the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom? Do I have claim on you as a daughter if you live worthy? Of course I do. Can you see what I am saying? Of course the natural, present-day, environment and teaching of the Church is that we create family units and we try to maintain a family relationship that becomes eternal. But let's analyze what heaven is like according to the scriptures and the teachings of the Brethren in the earlier part of the dispensation. Can we raise the word "polygamy" (heaven forbid) for just a minute. Does polygamy exist in heaven­? Apparently it does. What does that mean as far as how families are constituted? Who does the father live with? Or let's take a real example. Joseph Smith had twenty-seven women sealed to him under commandment of the Lord while he was alive and over 200 after his death were sealed to him that I know of and have record of. Who does he live with? Or putting it another way, how do his children look at him if he does not live in their home all the time? Does that mean that he is not their father? Of course not. So you see my dear, sweet Julie, I will always be your father. I intend to live worthy of Eternal Life in the Celestial Kingdom. No matter who your mother is eventually sealed to I will always be your earthly, blood father. Your mother has taught you children that because I divorced her I lost my place in the family. The Brethren have instructed me otherwise. And your grandpa is still my dad, and your uncles and aunts are still my brothers and sisters. If anyone has lost their place it is your mother, not me, but I am not saying that that is so. I allow her the right to associate with her former father-in-law (which he no longer is) and call him father and allow her the privilege of being blessed by him, of receiving love and nurture from him, and all other opportunities that she may derive from that association. She does not have a living earthly father and needs a father figure. I wouldn't take that away from her. Why then would she teach you children that I have lost my place, or that I will no longer be your father. It is not so. The Brethren, the Prophet, have made that very clear to me. I hope it is now clear to you. Well, I will continue with responding to your letter next week. I believe this one is sufficiently long and has given you enough to think about. Karen and I love you very much. We pray for your health, your welfare, your success as a missionary every morning and every night. We care about you as a person. We respect your maturity of thinking and your love for others. We appreciate your non-judgmental spirit. Charity must be found in all candidates of the Celestial Kingdom. It is our desire to have charity towards all people and hope through belief (if not faith) that all the family who profess to love God and follow his teachings will someday come to understand the true spirit of eternal relationships and how to love with charity, the pure love of Jesus Christ. As always, your father January 14, 1993 Letter written to Julie Platt, serving in the California Los Angeles Mission, P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Dear Julie: Another week has passed. Time sure flies when you're having fun, doesn't it? Karen and I have been to Las Vegas twice this week. The first time we went to visit one of her work associates who was in the hospital. They took four disks out of her back. The next day we drove down and brought her back in the back of our jeep so she could lie down. This week we have also been to visit Uncle Roland in the hospital here in St. George. He had some cancer removed along with the lower part of his colon. He was in really good spirits although in a lot of pain. I spent eight hours during the day of the operation in the hospital with Aunt Dorothy, my cousin Bob, and his wife Lorraine, and my cousin Jackie. We had a good talk. I hadn't seen Bob for thirty years and didn't know his new wife. He is divorced from his first wife. Jackie is also divorced. Aunt Dorothy is getting alzheimers disease and can't remember where she is, although she still has lucid moments and remembers a lot of history. It was wonderful to support them during their trials and be able to show my love for the family. I called grandpa and Uncle George and let them know that the operation was successful. Hopefully, Uncle Roland will be okay now. He has had some rough times in his life and deserves some rest and peace. We have had six days of rain this week. Everything is so beautiful on the desert and around here. I'm anxious, though, to begin gardening. I fertilized the lawns yesterday and it rained on them again today, so the timing was just right. We watched a wonderful movie the last two nights called "A Woman of Worth" It was set in the early 1900s up through the 1940s in England. After all the lady went through, losing her loved ones, great sacrifices, wars, death, etc., she calmly ended the movie with: "The secret of life is to endure." It was so well done. Her children turned against her in part so she willed her immense properties to her grandchildren while still blessing her children to the extent they would let her. It gave me a few pointers as to how to treat those who resent me and continue to treat me poorly. One other line was: "Each person is in charge of their own destiny." This referred to those who were bitter against the women for her money and power, wanted it, but couldn't take it away from her. With the negatives and positives in all their lives, some had become bitter, others positive, each choosing what they wished from what was served them. I'm so happy for you Julie that you continue to choose the positive from your environment. I was impressed the last two nights while reading the 6th section of the D&C, where the Lord is speaking to Oliver Cowdery, how much he loves each of us. It caused me to reflect back on the time five years ago when I was having so many problems trying to keep the family together. I was discouraged, felt alone, wished I could understand the full extent of the problems and how to resolve them. As I was sitting at my desk at work pondering these feelings and what to do, I heard my name called. Oh, the joy that suddenly filled my soul. I knew the voice immediately. It was the voice of a dear friend from whom I had had no word in over forty years. His voice was as real and dear to me as my own dear deceased mother's. It was a voice filled at once with love beyond description, of compassion, of understanding, and in the one word "Lyman" I knew that no matter what happened to me in this life, I would do everything in my power to never disappoint that dearest of friends, because what I felt following His calling of my name was a feeling that is worth every pain, disappointment, sorrow, trial, hardship, and suffering that can be laid upon us in this life. I know Jesus lives Julie. I know that He knows each of us personally and loves us dearly. I am so grateful for that knowledge that shatters the bounds of faith. It is a pure understanding that has lightened every load and brightened every day since then. I'm so pleased that you are feeling of that same spirit in your work. Be assured that you are continually in my thoughts and prayers. We love you and wish you success in training the new missionaries and in filling the lives of your associates with peace, with knowledge, with faith, and with testimony. Help them learn to endure. As ever, your father Letter written to María Elena Platt, January 18, 1993, RR2 Box 216, Highland, UT 84003 at the time of her eighteenth birthday. Dear 'Lena: Happy 18th birthday. I love you and want that to come through first and foremost in all that I say. How does it feel to be officially categorized as an adult? Now that you are legally your own person, and no longer my charge financially, I fear you will continue in the same rebellious, defiant manners of the past five years, based on some distorted misconceptions perpetrated by a continuing sick environment. I hope that you will prove me wrong. I hope that you will soon leave home, get a good job, go to school, begin to develop your own life, and leave the sick, manipulating, grasping surroundings in which you are currently enmeshed. Your mother will hang on to all of you any way, every way she can, but you would do well to get away as fast as you can. I warned you several years ago that to break off all relations with me would be disasterous to you personally over the long haul. Let's analyze that from where you currently stand. I do so simply because I love you, not to try in any way to hurt you. Do you love your father? If yes, why don't you write or call, or respond in a loving way to any of my overtures towards you? If no, you must realize now that that lack of love is affecting you spiritually. Not only are you not developing normally, you are missing experiences where I could be a positive influence for good in your life. You are looking at men with mistrust and will never develop a normal relationship with any man. Or you are having experiences with your boyfriends where you love them blindly, trying to prove me wrong. I guarantee you that until you treat me with love, respect, and understanding, all relationship you try to develop with men will be wrong, will be manipulative on your part, or will be full of mistrust and distorations. I am and will be your role model psychologically whether you accept it, whether you like it, whether you believe it or not. To ignore that reality is to ignore your own self and the rights and responsibilities you have to yourself to develop in a rounded, positive, spiritual, moral, and responsible way. You have rejected my counsel in the past on this matter. Do you see any more clearly at this point what I have tried to tell you? Can you see, for example, how Patty is being hurt and how she is hurting her children by not associating with me? Most children, despite divorce, are able to get over it. Most divorced couples still love their children enough to want what is best for them. Only when one or both of the partners are sick do the children suffer like you children have. When they don't adjust properly or can't it is because one or both parents are hurting the children and trying to manipulate their feelings. You children have not adjusted. That's a fact. Now ask yourself why, after five years you are in the abnormal minority of divorced children. No one can break any one of the Ten Commandments and not suffer negative results. Have I ever told you not to love your mother and help her in every way you could? No, never. Has she told you, either verbally or otherwise, to choose the course you have of ignoring me for five years? You know she has. How do you think you can break God's commandment to honor your father and get away with it? You can't. Enough preaching! Now that you are an adult and are totally responsible for your own actions, despite the negative influences that may have caused you to react one way or another in the past, I am holding you personally responsible for developing a working relationship with me. I expect it, I want it, I need it, and I am asking for it. However, it is your choice. If you don't want anything to do with me, you will have your wish. But I warn you again as a loving father who has been counselled by the Brethren to do what I can to bless your life as my daughter, and to take an active role in influencing you and giving you priesthood blessing when you want them: if you refuse my love and offers, you do so at great peril to your future happiness. You cannot hate your father and develop normally. Let's also make it very clear one more time for the record. I divorced your mother for my own spiritual well-being. I couldn't stand the manipulation and control any longer. I am responsible first and foremost in this life to save my own soul. I had to divorce her to do that. You can accept that or not as you wish but that was the only reason for doing so. I didn't divorce her because I hated my life in Highland, because I had too many kids, because I was bad, because of Karen, because I was an apostate, because I was dangerous, because I couldn't stand the financial responsibilities, or any other lamebrain excuse you may have heard from any other source. I divorced her because she refused to comply with certain basic issues of morality and decency that have to exist between a husband and wife. Therapists counselled her what she needed to do and she refused to change. She manipulated her priesthood leaders, your grandpa and uncles, and others into siding with her. She has poisoned you children against me, for what? In all that has gone on have I ever once said that I wanted you to hate your mother and treat her unkindly. Never! Why? Because she did not have a normal childhood and does not look at personal relationships normally. She needs your love and support. I pity her and feel a lot of pain for what she has suffered because of her unwillingly to do what was right. Do I hate her? No. Have I ever said anything other than that she was sick, which sickness was caused from an abusive childhood? No. So why do you hate me? The answer is very simple. You hate me because I speak the truth. You hate me because you have become like your mother to a degree. You will deny you hate me, but your actions are clearly not actions of love, and if not of love, then hate. We can act in one way only so long before showing what we really are. Your mother professes at times to want to work with me for you children's best interests, and I believe there are times when she really feels that. But then she turns right around and ignores my requests to see the children at Christmas. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it must be a chicken, right? Wrong. It's a duck. A duck is a duck is a duck. You can call a chicken a duck but it's still a duck. When we lived in Spring Lake we had a lamb that grew up with kid goats. It acted like the goats until it got old enough and heavy enough that it couldn't. Finally it had to act like a sheep because that is what it was. If you love me act like it. You can change if you wish. Everyone is the creator of their own heaven or hell. I, for one, am very happy in my new life. I am active in the church, enjoy my work, am serving many people in making their lives better, have fun activities and sports and gardening and reading and other pasttimes. Some of my children love me and are developing a new, normal relationship. You choose what you want to do and let me know. My first responsibility is to love the Lord, then Karen, then you children. My first responsibility is to save myself, then Karen, then you children. The Brethren have made it very clear to me that you are still my responsibility. I am your father and will always be. Love, Dad This letter was finally answered on April 6th. Previous to that Paula had her bishop contact my bishop and warn me to stop writing or she would sue me. María Elena informed me she didn't like any of the letter. Letter written February 10, 1992 to Julie Platt, California Los Angeles Mission, P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Dear Jewel: I am in receipt of your letter mailed January 27. Eight months will fly by way too fast for you and then your mission will be over. I'm so glad you have had the opportunity to serve the Lord in this way. You're right: it's hard work and some times it's not at all fun; but it is a commandment, and there is peace that derives from compliance, as well as long-term blessings. Do like I did and determine that the last of your mission will be the time when you work the hardest and exercize all of your gifts in the greatest possible ways in testifying and bringing truth to those who will hear, including your companions and those you train. The fruits of missionary work are certainly sweet and delicious to the taste. Last night Fred García from Houston called me and told me that he and Jan had decided to get baptized. They have two children. Two years ago they spent ten days at our cabin. We took them to church twice. Karen was in the Primary at that time and had the opportunity to teach the boys to prayer. They had never prayed. After that they wanted to pray all the time and to go where Jesus was (church). They've convinced their parents to take them to church several times in Houston, and finally Fred asked the missionaries to come over. He wants me to baptize them, so we'll be making arrangements to go to Houston or have them come and stay with us here for a few days. We're just so pleased. She's Italian from New England. He Spanish with a lot of Jewish background. The teachings found fertile soil in their lives. The mission sent me a copy of your medical report. It would be nice to know when you're sick without having to get it second hand. What do you think was the cause of your problems? When I visited with the kids last month they also told me you were sick another time in December. Let's not overwork. Remember the Lord's commission to only walk as fast as you have strength. We've had more rain again, another inch and a half. That makes about six inches since the first of the year. Snow pack is 600 to 700 percent of normal around here. The garden is coming up. The cold weather seems to be gone for the year. I've built a compost pile and have been pruning the roses and planting other flowers. We have the prettiest pansies. Do you know the color terciopelo in Spanish, or deep purple in English. I just can't look at them enough. They fill the spirit with their beauty. The lawn requires cutting already. I've planted some fruit trees, asparagus, various types of berries, artichokes, celery, more grapes and continue to dig up the ground for my garden. The soil is so nice to work with here. It that deep southern Utah red soil. I have a large pile of rotted compost that I'm working into it. I've lost five pounds in the last few weeks working the ground, so that's a side benefit. I will be a Golden West College in Huntington Beach the weekend of April 17th and at Pasadena Civic Center the weekend of May 1st for Spanish seminars. I don't know if you have contacts that would be interested in Hispanic genealogy (in the first case), or genealogy in general (in the second case), but as seen above, the long-standing friendship with Fred in genealogy, touched with the Gospel, has borne fruit. If you can work it around your teaching to have contacts there, it would be a good chance to see a lot of other non-members doing genealogy and filled with the Spirit of Elijah. Most of the people that we teach in these seminars are not members of the Church. The main seminar at Pasadena is on Sunday, the one at Golden West on Saturday. Both last all day. We have never received much support from the local Mormons at these seminars but they are such a wonderful chance and are being wasted. Talk it over with your mission president. Maybe it could be turned into a very positive, valuable experience for more than just yourselves. We have the Public Relations people from the Church involved, and it will be broadcast throughout the media, but it's a great opportunity for local wards and branches as well and is being wasted. Pasadena will be about 2,000 people. Golden West will be about 200. Keep up the good work. Love, Dad Letter written February 22, 1992 to Julie Platt, California Los Angeles Mission, P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024 and to Bruce and Cynthia Platt, 635 Collins Ave., Apt 314, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 It's been awhile since we corresponded. We think of you all the time and wonder how you are doing. Hope work and play are going along okay. Drop us a line and let us know. All of my garden is up that I've planted to date. I'm enjoying about a half hour a day weeding and watching things grow. I'm still expanding the area to be planted and getting ready for another series of vegetables. We've had a lot of rain, as you have, and yet everything has come through it in fine shape. The soil absorbs the moisture well and because it has a lot of humus is not compacting like I thought it would. Many of our flowers are growing also and yesterday was the first day that really felt like Spring. On the 15th we attended the funeral services in Gunlock, of your last great-grandaunt on my side of the family. Blanche Leavitt Holt died February 10th here in St. George. Gunlock is where a number of our ancestors are buried. Uncle George and Aunt Thora, Uncle Roland and Aunt Dorothy, Karen and I, and Joleen, my cousin, represented the Platts at the funeral. The little chapel was packed. I love funerals because people say nice things and its a time to examine your own life and see if you're on track. One of the things Aunt Blanche always said to people was "We don't have much, but we're grateful for what we have." She also taught "All of us have an opportunity to be happy in this life and if we're wise we die prepared to be eternally happy." In her humorous way she would always tell people when she left home for a visit "If I don't come back you can have the mule." She was a hard worker and claimed "Hard work covers up a lot of sins." One day when she was so old she had to use a walker to get around, she was out weeding the garden with one hand on the hoe and the other on the walker and she fell. She couldn't get up and couldn't get anybody to hear her so she pulled weeds for fours hours and had the garden weeded by the time she was discovered. She loved everybody and never said an unkind word about anybody. Once when someone was criticizing another person, she said "It's the poor horse that needs bragging on." And when someone commented about another person being fat she said "Well, she'll winter well. It was said of her that she was a woman of unconditional love. It didn't matter where you were from you were welcome in her home. It was a beautiful funeral. I came away more determined to create good all around me. My right eye continues to lose its sight more rapidly that it should. I have an appointment tomorrow in Orem to get new glasses. The ones I have are just over a year old and are useless. I'm continuing to get all of our genealogical data computerized as fast as I have time. I don't know what my later years will be like and I don't want to leave it for anyone else to do. I made some good advances in tracing my own Spanish lines in Spain. I now have over 200 direct ancestors back in the 1000s, 900s and 800s of Spanish descent. I'm also preparing names for temple work as I review the various generations and see things that haven't been done. There's so much to do and even with twelve hour or fourteen hour days it just seems to pile up. We have read a wonderful book the last two weeks on an experience a lady had when she died and went to the Spirit World. It teaches some wonderful doctrines that are in the scriptures, but which are fortified with personal testimony. I want to get a copy of the book for each of you as I can afford it. It's one book you should all have. Above all else, be assured that I love you and wish you the best in your lives. I hope things continue to go well for you, that you get your debts paid, that we get some grandkids one of these days, that we have a chance to see you whenever you're in the area. If you ever come out and want to fly into Las Vegas, it's two hours from here and I can pick you up, bring you to St. George. We have an extra bedroom you can stay in for however long you want. There's plenty to keep you busy around here with sightseeing, gardening, entertainment, etc. February 23, 1993 Karen and I traveled to Orem for my work, and to the prison to visit Lonnie Thacker and back in one day of sixteen hours. I found out what is bothering my eyes. I have posterior sub capsular cataracts in both eyes. I have lost farsight, nearsight and lights causes things to blue. I will need an operation to replace the lenses. February 24, 1993 Karen was accepted into a Masters of Social Work program through the University of Utah, with course work at Cedar City and St. George. Class work begins March 25th. There were several hundred applicants and only twenty were accepted. She is scared and pleased. February 26, 1993 Attended a ward High Priest dinner and dance. It was lovely and we made some acquaintences we hadn't known in the ward. February 28, 1993 Ward conference. President Clove read the following list as typifying apostates: accelerated Second Coming of Jesus Christ; manipulating or taking out of context quotes of former presidents of the Church or Church leaders; three 3 and a half year periods before the Coming of Jesus Christ; Milennium to begin April 6, 1993; Christ to come before the year 2000; trying to determine who has the Mark of Beast discussed in Revelation; the two prophets to die in Jerusalem before October 1996; quoting Church leaders to move to the tops of the mountains; temple or sacrifical alters in the home; praying to a mother in heaven; explicit and dramatic preparations for military invasions of the United States; trying to determine when and where the Ten Tribes will return; Ezra Taft Benson a covered Prophet; the Koyle Dream Mine; time line theories; seven seals theories; Prophecies in Isaiah of a Davidic Servant; New World Order; unauthorized changes of temple ordinances and ceremonies by The First Presidency; claims of revelation above that of The Brethren. March 1, 1993 President Clove of the St. George West Stake presented me with some accusations that had been sent or told to the Brethren and an inquiry and opening of my old file had been undertaken, probably by the Area President. I was accused of translating ancient Nephite records, having them in my possession, belonging to a following of apostates here in St. George, having had sex with Karen before we were married, etc. All of this is coming from Paula. It has to be. She is so corrupt I can't believe it. She's insanely jealous that I finally have my blessings back, have a home, and am happy. She is going to drive herself crazy. I hope she does. Then the kids can be with me. Letter written March 4, 1993 to Baird & Ann Fullerton, 750 West Boston #1021, Chandler, AZ 85224 Dear Baird & Ann: It's good to get your constant letters. My life is finally taking some sense of normality with all my files, books, records, computerized data, etc. organized and findable. The garden is planted in its early things and much of it is up and flourishing. It's healing and refreshing to work outside cutting the lawns, cleaning the yards, pruning the brushes and trees, preparing more garden space, watching the garden grow, planting trees, bushes, vines, etc. We love it here very much and look forward to having you here when you pass through. Well, I'll close for this time. We so enjoy your letters. It was good to get one from both of you this time and love to hear about Jacob. I keep copies of all the letters for future historical reference. Baird, I know your job is frustrating, but hang in there and don't draw lines in the sand that cause you or others to have to take a stand you may regret. Be patient. Love as always, Lyman March 21, 1993 Letter written to Julie Platt, California Los Angeles Mission P.O. Box 24089, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Copy sent to Bruce. Life has not been uneventful since our last correspondence. I hope your lives are progressing well and that you'll drop us a line when you get a chance. You've certainly had some interesting weather in that part of the country. We had a wonderful experience last Sunday. Fred and Jan García from Houston were baptized and their two children were blessed. Fred and I have been friends for many years. His family stayed at the cabin with us several summers ago and we were able to take them to Church, teach the children to pray and talk about the Gospel in more depth than previously. That led to them starting to go to Church off and on. The children liked to go where they talked about Jesus. Fred wanted me to come down and baptize them but I told him it would be better if the missionaries that were teaching him and the local membership were involved. It was the missionaries' first baptisms. About forty ward members were there. It was a beautiful time. I promised Fred I would come to Texas and go through the temple with them next year. This morning, just a week after their baptism, his only sister-in-law died of the flu. He called me up very upset and distraught. I explained to him that if she died it was the Lord's will and that he needed to look positively at the possiblities for teaching his brother and bringing peace to his spirit and possibly the blessing of the gospel. It is also a time where his parents may be influenced. So the gospel continues to spread. I am continually overwhelmed at how the Lord loves his children, but how he uses situations in ways that we wouldn't, or couldn't control, to bring them the greatest chances for happiness. When I went to the eye doctor in Orem last month they told me they couldn't change my perscription and suggested I see a specialist. I went to a specialist here two weeks ago and they showed me how my eyes were deteriorating. Last week they cut my right eye open and took out my natural lens and replaced it with a plastic one. I can now see out of my right eye without glasses as far as reading and close work. Now it's obvious that my left eye has the same problem so next Tuesday when I go in for a check-up I'm going to ask them to do the same operation on the left eye. Then I can get glasses for very close work and for seeing far away, but usually I won't need to wear them anymore in my computer work and reading. I'm amazed at how beautiful things are and how much I have been missing of details and colors. I don't know but what I've had the problem for years. Before I had the operation I got a complete physical as I hadn't had one in ten years. I am in good health. My heart is strong, blood pressure, pulse and those things are very good for my age. The doctor was impressed. I don't have any problems with cholerostol. I do have the beginnings of arthritis, but I already knew that. I think it's a result of my polio having affected my joints. A lot of people that had polio as children are getting it again as older people. If all I get is arthritis, I'll feel lucky. Karen got accepted into a Masters of Social Work program from the University of Utah, with all the classes being held in Cedar City on Thursday and Friday evenings. It will take her two years to finish and then she can be a licensed therapist and counselor. At that time she may quit work and start her own business. There is a big demand right now for family and personal counselling and therapy. She was among a group of 20 out of 250 that were accepted into this program. Professors from the U will travel down here to teach the classes. They're experimenting to see how to get the rural areas of Utah more involved in some of these more intense programs. The U is the only university in Utah to offer these classes, so we feel fortunate that she's been accepted. We're eating out of our garden already. Things are really growing well. It so lovely right now. I finished fixing our patio this week and our grape arbor is just beautiful. The old thirty-year-old grape vine is all pruned and starting to leaf out. It looks like we'll get three or four bushel of grapes just off of the one vine. I sent the kids a cute card for St. Patrick's day and asked them to write back as they promised to do the next time I wrote, but haven't heard anything from them. Uncle George and Aunt Thora had a lovely 50-year anniversary party last week. Dad and Margaret are going to Europe shortly and apparently to Hawaii also. Baird and Ann are expecting their second child, so we're looking forward to having another grandchild to play with. We love you both and pray for you every day. Keep in touch. As always, April 1, 1993 Letter written to Bruce L. Platt, 635 Collins Ave., Apt 314, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Dear Bruce: Received your letter of March 25th. Thanks for responding. I'm sorry you're having mixed feelings. If it's more comfortable for you not to write, that's fine. I don't want you to feel obligated or pained by our relationship. Perhaps I can give you a little perspective of why things are the way they are on my side of the planet. I wrote a letter back in January to María Elena which was not well-receive. It caused some turmoil, but it won't happen again. Maria Elena is on her own now. I've done everything I can for her until she decides she wants a relationship with me. I have left Patty alone for six years now at her request. I have never seen her two younger boys. That hurts but that's what Patty wants. I don't know why. I've talked to Drew several times and offered to talk to Patty but she refuses. So, there's turmoil there, but it's not something I can deal with alone. Dave chose to create a dramatic stand against Karen and me when he got married. That was his decision and he can make amends when he's ready. Dan and I have a speaking relationship. Debbie and I get along fine. Julie and I write each week. The younger children enjoy our times together when we can make them short. I don't know what decisions you're referring to that I made that have caused the turmoil, and I don't know what you mean by "what is are," but I can guess a little. Frankly, though, I am no longer interested in discussing those areas of the past. Nothing I have ever said to anyone in the family has ever made a particle of difference in their understanding my position, so we will let it lie and leave it be. Someday truth, as it really is, prejudices as they really are, blame, sin, faults, shortcomings, etc. will all be revealed if unrepented of. It is not my place to judge anyone that has offended me, but to worry about my own faults and overcome them. That is what I have been doing for seven years. The end result is happiness, peace, prosperity, a lovely new home, a garden and yards that create joy and busywork, contentment in my work, love between Karen and I, new friends, tried and tested old friends, all the things that come of hard work, honest effort, sincere desires to do good, and an ability to not be negatively affected by others actions. I accept your offer of getting to know each other better. I will be glad to take the time and make whatever effort I need to to make that happen. All I ask is that the relationship be one-on-one. Don't share it with any of the rest of the family. Let them come to that desire on their own. If I can't trust you, love will not develop further. Love can only exist after trust has been established. When trust is lost, love is the first casulty. If you want to know me better, know that above all else in this life, I have always and still do base my relationships with others on that simple eternal principle. Try me and prove me. I got my other eye operated on. It went okay. I can now see clearly with both eyes but will need glasses for some things. We spent a day at Zions the other day during a rain storm and immediately thereafter. There were waterfalls everywhere. We walked up under one and just marvelled at the beauty of the cascading, playful waters. It was a lovely day. Keep in touch as you have time and inclination. Your letter didn't mention Cynthia so I'm not sure what's what there. Say hello if she's there. Love as always. Paula called today to say that she has been having serious financial problems since November and can't pay the medical bills which are shots for the kids and bronchitis for Lyman Dee. We spent some time talking. Patty and Paula have been going to counseling. Patty didn't let her children see my letter to them. She is very angry at me but Paula wouldn't tell me why, avoiding my direct questions. Paula has gone to counseling twice and is currently in counseling. She needs someone to talk to basically, according to her, but feels more comfortable just praying. After I sent the letter to Maria Elena she went to the bishop and Patty took the letter to the stake president. Paula told the bishop what she had heard about me translating records. It came to her from one of the kids, from one of my brothers from someone he talked to who supposedly heard it directly from me. Paula said the kids were all writing letters to me: Debbie has, Niki has, Lena will, Lyman Dee and Natalia will. She has been encouraging them to come down and stay for a week or two at a time. They are hesitant. She keeps encouraging them to be positive but has troubles when I write letters and say things to people that make her feel I haven't changed. She warned me not to ever mention again to anyone about her being abused or she would sue me even though she doesn't want to; and claims she can prove she was never abused sexually. She always says positive things to the kids and tells them they need to like Karen, even when they say they won't because she doesn't. She explains that she likes Karen but doesn't like some things she has done, that she likes everybody and feels totally at peace with everything she has done. She feels sorry for me in the final judgment because of the way I have distorted things and keep bringing up lies about her. October 15, 1993 David and Holly had their first child, a girl named Carly Ann Platt. She was born in Salt Lake City. December 8, 1993 Letter written to Edward L. Platt, 228 W. 725 North, Lindon, UT 84042. Dear Ed: It's that time of year when you have a birthday and I have a half birthday. Just a brief note to let you know that I miss our rides to Salt Lake and the wonderful discussions we had about a great variety of topics. It was an enjoyable time in our lives for me. Roberta told me you have moved. It sounds like everything worked out just right in the transaction. She also updated me on your family and the forthcoming trip to Mexico with your children and the folks. Best wishes for a wonderful trip and great memories of doing that which is of most worth in this life - serving others. Life here continues to move on. I am organizing my archives and files so that I can begin to finalize many of the projects I have worked on throughout my life. I now have all of the storage and organizational space I need to do this, and have spent a month getting all my files in order so as to find what is already in them. It will take about ten years to complete this project, and time seems to speed up as we get older. I've joined a barbershop singing group and have really enjoyed that lately. It's a lot of fun to sing with people who enjoy singing. We bought us a really old piano last week that was in nice condition. I'm working extra hours to get the money together to pay for it before the end of the year. It will be nice to have music in the home again. Also when we were up to Provo last month meeting with dad and Margaret we sang some of the old family songs and copied them down so that we had the words. One of them, "The Old Log Barn" was a pioneer song that dad says came down from my great-grandmother Sarah Williams Perkins. She was Welsh and loved to sing. The song only exists in our family that I know of, so I'm going to put it to music and see if we can preserve it that way. The garden is gone for the year, but I've planted a few winter things and am waiting to see if they'll sprout. We had a nice Thanksgiving. Karen's family were all here and we got to see our newest granddaughter. We're having the younger children down for Christmas for three days. December 22, 1993 Karen and I drove up to Highland and got Natalia, Lyman Dee, Johnny, and Nicolle and came back to St. George to spend Christmas together. We talked to Debbie and then had fun on the way home singing, reading Aesop fables, and telling all about what has been happening in school, at home, and in everybody's lives. Bruce isn't going with his old girlfriend anymore, but has another friend. He is being a good young man these days. When we got home we had supper and donuts and went to bed. December 23, 1993 This morning after breakfast we went out to Uncle Roland's and got the rocking chair that he had remade for Karen. Then we got a load of wood, and a Christmas trees, and decorated it, and spent the afternoon relaxing, watching television by the warm fire, playing basketball, reading Aesop, getting the computer printer cable, and shopping. December 24, 1993 Today the kids and I went shopping for food, then Karen, Natalia and Nicolle went out and bought some more presents, while Lyman Dee, Johnny and I played basketball. Then we all went to LaVerkin to deliver some presents to a family. Then we went for a hike up at Pioneer Park and looked at the temple and the city, and walked home. Nicolle worked on her dress and Natalia and Lyman Dee did some crochet work and we watched television and rested. In the evening we played games, watched television, opened a present each, and ate. Today we got Christmas cards from grandpa, Irene, McKay, the Browns, Lonnie, and a visit from our home teacher. December 25, 1993 This morning we got up and spent an hour opening presents. The kids got shoes, clothes, watches, and other things they could use. I got a book, a lovely of Zions, and candy! Karen got a photograph album and some things she needed. Paula called and said Patty wanted to see the children and gave us her address: 482 West 400 South, Cedar City. At 12:45 I took the children to Cedar and then talked to Julie and Debbie for a half hour. Julie is trying to make a decision regarding getting married to Justin Taggart or Jason Ayu. Paula is going to gamble in Las Vegas. December 31, 1993 The year has come to an end. I have spent the last few days working on computerizing data for CDs. Karen has been sewing and knitting. We met with the bishop and paid a full tithing. The Bishop counselled us to get our temple badges as soon as possible so that we can serve as temple workers during the monthly ward temple day. Brent came down for several days. Baird was layed off from his job and we have been in contact with him several times, trying to help him through the emotional trauma. I delivered my marriage database to Maureen Janney to begin CD preparation. January 1, 1994 This will be a good year for us. We are in as good a position as we have ever been to be blessed and to bless others. I am grateful for the Lord's goodnesses and watchfulness in looking over us with a guiding and protective hand. My heart goes out to my children and their problems, and to my father and siblings with their struggles to do what is right. I have been called within the last two weeks, but not set apart yet, as the stake extraction coordinator. I am looking forward to the challenges of this service and expect to meet the goal set by the stake president of providing 8,000 names a month for temple work from the stake. January 2, 1994 This morning I was set about by Abe Young, High Council, to the Coordinator position for the Home Extraction Program in the St. George West Stake. His setting apart blessing was very unusual and beautiful. He told me that my finances would be such that I would not want for any necessities. He repeated this three times. He told me that my posterity would be blessed twice. He promised me that I would be a Savior on Mount Zion and would be in the Celestial Kingdom. He told me I would be involved in changes in genealogy in the stake and elsewhere. He promised me spiritual insights three different times, and told me I would have insights to the technology of genealogy which he said would have the biggest impact in the last days of anything being done in the Church. He commended me to renewing and understanding my relationship with Heavenly Father. He promised me good health on two occasions. He counselled me to have a spiritual interaction with those I serve. He asked Heavenly Father to ratify his blessing. He talked about my tender heart and the softening of the spirit that would come through the work and listening to the spirit, a promise, not counsel. During the rest of the day, I did my home teaching, met with Pat Young and she turned over the extraction materials to me. I talked with the Gibsons further about their property. January 3, 1994 Typed in 50 names with the extraction program. Talked to Jeanne Anderson about being a typist. Went to Central and received some materials from Nancy Cardinal, and helped her with her computer. January 4, 1994 Trained Jeanne Anderson for four hours. Began working on another disc. Worked in the garden with the tiller. January 5, 1994 Spent the morning working with Paul on AAI. In the afternoon went for a hike in the hills above the house. Typed in the late afternoon on the disc and worked in the garden. January 6, 1994 Went to see Karen as the IRS office. She is a senior revenue officer dealing mostly with million dollar problems. She was angry at me for not making an appointment, and then in as obvious a change of heart as I have ever seen she declared that my account was not collectable, that I shouldn't worry about anything, that she would not do anything on it for seven weeks and that at that time we could work something out. Another result of the blessing. Next I went to the company re-financing my home. They turned me down. I couldn't believe the peace and relief that came over me. I asked for the file and got it. That will allow me to tie up other loose financial ends. This is also a blessing. January 7, 1994 I called Blaine about the situation on the house and told him I needed to have his cooperation in releasing the 2nd mortgage on the Scofield house so we could sell it. He and Mary agreed and took five acres of our cabin property on a 1st mortgage in exchange. This is another wonderful demonstration from the Lord of the blessing's fulfillment. January 8, 1994 The last two days I have spent nearly the entire time typing genealogical data into the computer. This evening we went out to Toquerville to visit Mary and Blaine Wood in their new home. We also went to Hurricane to work with a family that is having problems. I went out to Maurine's to take her some materials for our next CD. I realized this afternoon that the blessing I received on the 2nd has healed my left eye. I am amazed at the power that is present in our lives. It is dramatically obvious that we are being blessed in numerous ways. January 9, 1994 This morning I called Joe Northrop in Glendale, California regarding the death of Marie. They had asked that I speak. Mimi Holtzman had served as the messenger. I told her to tell him that we would come and speak. She never called him. This is a second example duplicity in her life since the Texas trip. She is angry at me for not siding with her against her enemies. I called Joe again and we decided that we would not attend the funeral because of the negative things that might happen. This evening my daughter Julie got engaged to Justin Taggart January 10, 1994 Julie called me today and told me about the engagement, that she received her ring today, and that they are planning a wedding for late April, after she finishes her semester at BYU. I was very pleased and felt that she had made the right choice. Today I took a package of material down to Norwest to begin a loan consolidation. Also, we issued a quit-claim deed on the north five acres of the cabin property to Blaine and Mary Wood in exchange for their releasing the Scofield property so that it can be sold. I gave the release letter to Southern Title Company to begin those proceedings. I went out to Maurine's and discussed further developments of our cooperative agreement with her and Mary Darlington of Darlington Purchasing in Salt Lake City. The possibilities are very good. In the evening I began typing all vital records from The Daily Spectrum, for later use on CD. January 11, 1994 Made a few phonecalls on the stake extraction project. Sent the quit-claim deed to Sanpete County for recording. Sent Mary Darlington my vitae, several Spanish surnames samples for negotiations in Mexico, and a sample of the data entry of vital records so that her husband can begin assisting us. February 1, 1994 My daughter Patty called and asked if we might begin having a family relationship again. I made an appointment to talk to her and Drew tomorrow. We discussed a number of issues and made some good progress on the telephone. It was good to hear from her again after such a long time. February 2, 1994 I bought some Valentine's presents for the children and drove to Cedar City, spending two and a half hours with Patty, Dru, Trevor, Justin, and Dyllan. We had a lovely visit and got a number of issue resolved between us. It was so good to visit with the grandchildren. Trevor remembered the quarter I gave him several years ago - the only time I had met with him previously. Patty is expecting in several weeks. January 1, 1994 This will be a good year for us. We are in as good a position as we have ever been to be blessed and to bless others. I am grateful for the Lord's goodnesses and watchfulness in looking over us with a guiding and protective hand. My heart goes out to my children and their problems, and to my father and siblings with their struggles to do what is right. I have been called within the last two weeks, but not set apart yet, as the stake extraction coordinator. I am looking forward to the challenges of this service and expect to meet the goal set by the stake president of providing 8,000 names a month for temple work from the stake. January 2, 1994 This morning I was set about by Abe Young, High Council, to the Coordinator position for the Home Extraction Program in the St. George West Stake. His setting apart blessing was very unusual and beautiful. He told me that my finances would be such that I would not want for any necessities. He repeated this three times. He told me that my posterity would be blessed twice. He promised me that I would be a Savior on Mount Zion and would be in the Celestial Kingdom. He told me I would be involved in changes in genealogy in the stake and elsewhere. He promised me spiritual insights three different times, and told me I would have insights to the technology of genealogy which he said would have the biggest impact in the last days of anything being done in the Church. He commended me to renewing and understanding my relationship with Heavenly Father. He promised me good health on two occasions. He counselled me to have a spiritual interaction with those I serve. He asked Heavenly Father to ratify his blessing. He talked about my tender heart and the softening of the spirit that would come through the work and listening to the spirit, a promise, not counsel. During the rest of the day, I did my home teaching, met with Pat Young and she turned over the extraction materials to me. I talked with the Gibsons further about their property. January 3, 1994 Typed in 50 names with the extraction program. Talked to Jeanne Anderson about being a typist. Went to Central and received some materials from Nancy Cardinal, and helped her with her computer. January 4, 1994 Trained Jeanne Anderson for four hours. Began working on another disc. Worked in the garden with the tiller. January 5, 1994 Spent the morning working with Paul on AAI. In the afternoon went for a hike in the hills above the house. Typed in the late afternoon on the disc and worked in the garden. January 6, 1994 Went to see Karen as the IRS office. She is a senior revenue officer dealing mostly with million dollar problems. She was angry at me for not making an appointment, and then in as obvious a change of heart as I have ever seen she declared that my account was not collectable, that I shouldn't worry about anything, that she would not do anything on it for seven weeks and that at that time we could work something out. Another result of the blessing. Next I went to the company re-financing my home. They turned me down. I couldn't believe the peace and relief that came over me. I asked for the file and got it. That will allow me to tie up other loose financial ends. This is also a blessing. January 7, 1994 I called Blaine about the situation on the house and told him I needed to have his cooperation in releasing the 2nd mortgage on the Scofield house so we could sell it. He and Mary agreed and took five acres of our cabin property on a 1st mortgage in exchange. This is another wonderful demonstration from the Lord of the blessing's fulfillment. January 8, 1994 The last two days I have spent nearly the entire time typing genealogical data into the computer. This evening we went out to Toquerville to visit Mary and Blaine Wood in their new home. We also went to Hurricane to work with a family that is having problems. I went out to Maurine's to take her some materials for our next CD. I realized this afternoon that the blessing I received on the 2nd has healed my left eye. I am amazed at the power that is present in our lives. It is dramatically obvious that we are being blessed in numerous ways. January 9, 1994 This morning I called Joe Northrop in Glendale, California regarding the death of Marie. They had asked that I speak. Mimi Holtzman had served as the messenger. I told her to tell him that we would come and speak. She never called him. This is a second example duplicity in her life since the Texas trip. She is angry at me for not siding with her against her enemies. I called Joe again and we decided that we would not attend the funeral because of the negative things that might happen. This evening my daughter Julie got engaged to Justin Taggart January 10, 1994 Julie called me today and told me about the engagement, that she received her ring today, and that they are planning a wedding for late April, after she finishes her semester at BYU. I was very pleased and felt that she had made the right choice. Today I took a package of material down to Norwest to begin a loan consolidation. Also, we issued a quit-claim deed on the north five acres of the cabin property to Blaine and Mary Wood in exchange for their releasing the Scofield property so that it can be sold. I gave the release letter to Southern Title Company to begin those proceedings. I went out to Maurine's and discussed further developments of our cooperative agreement with her and Mary Darlington of Darlington Purchasing in Salt Lake City. The possibilities are very good. In the evening I began typing all vital records from The Daily Spectrum, for later use on CD. January 11, 1994 Made a few phonecalls on the stake extraction project. Sent the quit-claim deed to Sanpete County for recording. Sent Mary Darlington my vitae, several Spanish surnames samples for negotiations in Mexico, and a sample of the data entry of vital records so that her husband can begin assisting us. February 1, 1994 My daughter Patty called and asked if we might begin having a family relationship again. I made an appointment to talk to her and Drew tomorrow. We discussed a number of issues and made some good progress on the telephone. It was good to hear from her again after such a long time. February 2, 1994 I bought some Valentine's presents for the children and drove to Cedar City, spending two and a half hours with Patty, Dru, Trevor, Justin, and Dyllan. We had a lovely visit and got a number of issue resolved between us. It was so good to visit with the grandchildren. Trevor remembered the quarter I gave him several years ago - the only time I had met with him previously. Patty is expecting in several weeks. April 27, 1994. Had a cashier's check cut at Zion's for $3,720.75 and ordered a new computer from U.S.A. Flex. It is a 386 with 1.9 gigabytes of random access memory, a CD-ROM player, both 3.5 and 5.25 inch floppy disk ports, a fax/modem, and all the latest software. January 1, 1995 Dallin Lloyd Taggart was blessed by his father at the home of his parents in Centerville, Davis, Utah. This week Justin and Julie will be leaving Utah to make their home in Cody, Wyoming, where Justin will be taking over the family business. January 6, 1995 I wrote out a check to the Sanpete County Treasurer for $1,400.00 to pay for all of the taxes for 1993, 1994 and part of 1995 on both the north and south 5-acre pieces at the cabin. January 9, 1995 I received another $4,700 today and with it I paid off the rest of my debts. All the remains is to make a settlement on state taxes, and then pay off the house. It is such a good feeling to finally be rid of the burdens of the past seven years. January 13, 1995 Went to Orem to work. January 19, 1995 Went to Salt Lake to the Library. January 23, 1995 Maria Elena came over to see me. She has decided to drop out of school and return to Highland to live with her mother for awhile until she can find and apartment in Salt Lake City. January 29, 1995 Today I was able to secure the original diary of my great grandmother, Mary Ellen Huntsman Leavitt for the year 1939. It is the last diary she kept, according to the family that gave it to me. February 5, 1995 McKay was made bishop of the ward he and dad live in at McMinnville, Oregon. Bruce called me today and asked my advice on his proposing to Cynthia Almeida, his common-law wife of five years. I told him it would be a good idea and encouraged him to proceed. He asked me for $10,000.00. I told him I didn't have it. He said he got $800.00 from his mother for his new apartment. I told him I probably couldn't give him anything because of Karen's job situation. February 6, 1995 Went to visit grandma Petty. February 8, 1995 Today Karen gave her notice to the Department of Human Serivices that she will no longer be working for them. She is starting work at ISAT doing counselling with prisoners who have been charged with sex abuse crimes. She will be working twenty hours a week initially at $5.00 an hour. When she graduates in June they will give her $15.00 an hour which is more than she was making at DHS. She has been very badly mistreated there and it's a relief for both of us to be rid of that period of our lives. February 9, 1995 Went to visit grandma Petty. March 5, 1995: Sunday. Directed High Priest Group Meeting this morning. March 15-19, 1995 Spent in California at my office. March 31, 1995 Today Julie and Justin were sealed in the new Bountiful Utah Temple with their baby Dallin being sealed to them. April 9, 1995: Sunday. Attended Ward Executive Committee representing the High Priests. Direct the Group Meeting during Priesthood Meeting. April 17, 1995 We have been having quite a cold spring but it's finally beginning to warm up a little bit. I've been doing some garden work and have a few things coming up now. Work is very strenuous and there is too much of it. I usually have to lay down for a siesta during the day now because of the stress, but we are developing some good groundwork to have a very solid company in the future. Karen and I have passed off the requirements necessary to be temple workers during our ward temple day each month. Last Wednesday was our first experience. It was a wonderful opportunity. We're looking forward to many more such times. The children are all doing well. We have two more grandchildren on the way. Julie has moved to Wyoming with her husband and son. Bruce is in New York City. Patty is moving to Arizona and David just moved there with his family. Lyman Dee and Johnny are both working in scouting. Johnny just became a Star and Lyman Dee a Second Class. Both Lyman Dee and Natalia are talking piano lessons. All of the children are doing well in school. April 23, 1995: Sunday. Attended Stake Priesthood Meeting in the evening. April 24, 1995: Monday. Drove to the prison and visited with Lonnie. April 28, 1995; Friday. Maria Elena called to tell me that she will be getting married in June. Julie graduated from B.Y.U. May 3, 1995 Bruce wrote me a letter telling me that he will be coming to Maria Elena's wedding and doing some visiting around the family, stopping by here before going to Highland. May 4, 1995 Patty called to say that they still plan to move to Arizona. Paula will not be moving down there. Danny and his wife are going down for a visit with David, and to see what the possibilities are of moving. Karen has been accepted for graduation, and needs only to finish her practicum in order to get her degree. May 6, 1995 This last week I was put on the Internet with a new computer here at home. Today I accessed the Library of Congress and began to learn how to use the system. I was informed yesterday that Banner Blue Software has been sold to Bunderbund Software from Novato, California, a $100,000,000 plus company. We will continue to function as we are, at least for the time being. May 7, 1995: Sunday. Directed the High Priests and gave the lesson. May 20, 1995 Karen finished her schooling today. May 22, 1995 We drove to the prison today and visited Lonnie Thacker for the last time. He will be going to a half-way house on June 13th, and then home in four to six months. I bought Karen a new computer system with a color printer for her graduation. May 26-28, 1995: Friday-Sunday. Went to the cabin. June 4, 1995: Sunday. Attended Ward Executive Committee Meeting, directed the High Priests. June 8, 1995: Thursday. Drove to Salt Lake, checked in at the Inn at Temple Square. Had supper that evening with Brent. June 9, 1995: Friday. Karen graduated from the University of Utah with her MSW. Her mother, sister Diane, and Brent were there to celebrate with us. June 10, 1995: Saturday. Went to the cabin. June 17, 1995 Maria Elena got married today at 1:00 p.m. at 451 West Main in American Fork to Nate Day. Then they are going to move to Missoula and go to school. Nathan T. Day, son of Thomas and Louise Day. July 2, 1995: Sunday. Directed the High Priest's today. Gave the lesson. July 3, 1995 This morning I finally got a hold of Patty. They were a week late in moving into their place in Mesa. They had to stay with David and Holly. Debbie has been rejected from the national guard training because she was underweight. She's back home working and getting ready to go to school. 'Lena is in Missoula and seems to have settled in. The grandchildren are adjusting to Arizona and enjoying their swimming pool. Even Carlie is learning to swim with Patty's boys. Holly is about five weeks away from delivering her baby. Dru is busy driving truck but doesn't have a fulltime job yet. July 16, 1995: Wednesday. This evening we attended the High Priest's social at Dave Davies' place. It was a lot of fun. July 30, 1995: Sunday. Directed the High Priest's today. August 22, 1995 Alixis Ann Platt was born today to David and Hollie. August 25, 1995 I went to the Mesa Temple and did the baptism for Karen's father Elmer Dean Petty. I also did the initiatory work. August 26, 1995 Went to the Mesa Temple to attend Amy Christensen's sealing. She is Karen's sister Diane's daughter. September 3, 1995: Sunday. Directed the High Priests in Priesthood this morning and taught the home teaching lesson. September 6, 1995 What is there to my existence that must be done by me alone for which the world will be better if I do it and worse if I do it not? September 10, 1995Maria Elena and Nate were disfellowshipped today for a number of reasons. They are in a good state of repentance at this point, however. September 13, 1995 Elmer Dean Petty was vicariously endowed and sealed in the Mesa Temple. September 14-15, 1995 Karen and I spent two days at Fremont. September 19, 1995 Called 'Lena and Nathan. They were disfellowshipped on September 10, 1995. There are doing well. Talked to Bruce also. September 20, 1995: Wednesday. Went to Salt Lake City. September 23, 1995Attended a reunion here in St. George for the Platt family from Toquerville. September 24, 1995 Tawni Platt, daughter of Daniel Lyman Platt and Amie Johnson was born in Provo today, their first child. September 26, 1995 My brother Joe had a heart attack today. He is in intensive care, but stabilized. Today from 11:00 to 7:00 I went to Mesquite to picket the porno shop, a Church assisgnment. October 1, 1995 Alexis Ann Platt was blessed in Provo by her father. [Also have a note that it was November 23. Check on which date is correct.] October 8, 1995: Sunday. Directed the High Priests today. October 10, 1995: Tuesday. Got my temple recommend renewed. October 11, 1995: Wednesday. Attended the Ward temple night and participated in the session. October 15, 1995 McKay called. We discussed Joe's situation. His largest vessel constricted and the blood flow was stopped. Many muscles were involved; some of them may have been damaged and may have died. Possible iron overload. October 16, 1995 Went out to Roberta's in the evening for a three hour visit. October 18, 1995 Letter to Nicolle: October 22, 1995: Sunday. Attended Ward Executive Committee and Correlation meeting. Directed the High Priests today. October 24-26 Spent in Salt Lake City, visiting the children, Diane, and having meetings. November 5, 1995: Sunday. Directed the High Priests today. December 23, 1995 Debbie received a ring today from her fianceé. Julie lost her baby. December 29, 1995 Uncle Darwin died in Grand Junction, Colorado. JOURNAL Lyman D. Platt, Ph.D. 1996 Editing 1/20/2004 January 2, 1996 Drove to Richfield to attend to the funeral of Uncle Darwin K. Platt. Many of the family were there including the following: Uncle George Alma Platt and his wife Thora, Roland Evlyn Platt (he left Aunt Dorothy in Washington), Aunt Mary Ellen Platt Frame and her husband Zanaan, father Gordon Leavitt Platt, my sisters Irene and Roberta (Irene had her children James, Jeremiah and Lydia), brother Gordon, sister-in-law Valerie and daughter Noel, cousins Gary (and son), Robert, Jackie, Hazel and husband, Kenneth, Jolene, Teresa (and daughter), Janice & husband, and Greg. Uncle Zanaan offered the family prayer, commenting on Darwin's love and uncomplaining, and encouraged all to emulate his example. Dad gave the opening prayer and commented on Darwin's love and knowledge of the scriptures. Greg read a life sketch compiled by Aunt Ellen. Darwin was born at the home of Aunt Mary Ann Seegmiller in St. George. He suffered from ezcema all his life; he loved western music, leather making, and poetry. He herded cows as a child in Richfield. Fell from the upstairs window as well as through the upstairs floor while his father was moving the staircase. In the army in Italy in 1947, in the Northwestern States Mission in 1949. Loved the scriptures. Loved and cared for others. Moved to California in 1950 living with Ellen and Zan for five months. In the 1960's moved to Huntington Park and worked for North American Rockwell at their Seal Beach Plant. In 1980 he retired and moved to Utah. In 1985 he lost his leg in a car accident. In 1990 he moved to Grand Junction, Colorado. A friend Wilmer Anderton talked about their hikes up to Bull's Head and Lamb's Head, where they had tiny town and a cabin made of rocks. They fished for carp in the canal. They traded leather strips with old Indian Tom Mix who lived behind Jim Jensen's corral. Tom's wife made buckskin gloves and they would trade the carp for the leather strips. He remembers with fondness the trips of the two families up Monroe Canyon: baked beans and potatoes. He related an incident where Uncle Darwin asked him to shoot Grandpa Roy's dog, which he did. Darwin sang in the school choir and in a quartet. He had a beautiful voice. He was talented and a good friend. They loved to get into Roy's beehives. Uncle George talked of Darwin's love for music and mentioned that the songs which had been sung had given a message of life and soothed the soul. His experience with Darwin was limited. He left home when Darwin was very young. Joseph died in 1933. Eugene died in 1930. Roland and I provided a living for mother and the five children. We spent five years in the CCC's. After that Roland went to school and I was called on a mission. My association with Darwin was nil after that. While I was away he went to California. We were deprived of his society by circumstances. I scriptorian he was, knowing many scriptures verbatim. Alot of problems in his life. I've wondered if he could incorporate the scriptures into his life. I believe he's glad to be with his mother and dad and two brothers. I was impressed with his feelings about his grandfather Leavitt. Eugene tended Darwin and Denzil while the family went to St. George. Eugene died shortly after they got back. Greg told me today that as we look on the outward man we many times misjudge and can't comprehend the spirit. We need to leave to God the judgment of the inner man. Uncle George ended his talk with "Come Let Us Anew." Lyman D. Platt gave the closing prayer, blessing his uncle that he might be happy and progress in the spirit world, and find there peace and love. January 4, 1996 Debbie called me today. She is 10 weeks pregnant and will be getting married on the 20th to Richard Russell Gardiner, son of Russell and Lynn Gardiner in the Highland 8th Ward. He has talked to his bishop; Debbie will be doing so shortly. They will live with his parents for about two months, and then moved into a home across from the movie theater in American Fork, which belongs to his grandmother. Debbie is working at Utah Pacific, and going to school at UVCC, in her second semester. One of her teachers is Michael Robinson one of the three missionaries that accompanied me to the missionfield. January 10, 1996: Wednesday. Temple night for the ward. January 20, 1996: Saturday. Attended an all-day seminar in Washington and taught a number of classes. We had about 350 people in attendance during the day. February 4, 1996; Sunday. Attended Priesthood Executive Committee and directed the High Priests. Attended choir in the afternoon. February 11, 1996: Sunday. Attended priesthood meeting. There were some interesting things discussed. Once we have learned the doctrines, we progress through service. Apostasy, economic predatory activities, and sexual predatory behavior and announced to the membership when excommunication takes place, because they are potentially dangerous situtations to the rest of the membership. If what you do causes a weaker person to stumble, your action is likely wrong. There are 152 stakes in the Utah South Region of the Church with 500,000 members. The emphasis is back to basics. Guidelines for allowing missionaries to go into the field who have sinned were outlined. An attempt not to invite outside speakers to Sacrament Meetings is being instituted. February 14, 1996: Wednesday. Temple night for the ward. February 17, 1996: Saturday. Help Nola Whipple move into a new condominium. February 29, 1996 Aunt Ellen died at Grand Junction, Colorado today at her home of a massive heart attack. The viewing and funeral will be from 1:30-2:00 P.M. at Grand Junction, Colorado on March 4th. She was buried at Whittier, California in the Rose Hills Cemetery, Deseret Lawn section. 2990 1/2 Brookwood, Grand Junction, Colorado 84104. March 10, 1996: Sunday. Attended Priesthood Executive Committee and directed the High Priests. March 26, 1996 María Elena and Nate had a daughter this afternoon at 4:15 P.M., named Sunny Letha Day. She was 7 lbs. 13 oz. and was 18" long. Both are doing fine. April 10, 1996: Wednesday. Attended ward temple night and participated as second follower. April 14, 1996: Sunday. Attended Priesthood Executive Committee and directed the High Priests. In the afternoon attended choir. We wrote two letters today, one to grandpa Petty and one to Dave and Holly. Florence Petty, 37 North 500 East, Richfield, UT 84701 Hi Mom, I have tried calling several times but have not been able to catch you at home. Lyman and I will be in California for two weeks with his work. We are going to drive. It will take about 10 hours. I'm going to work on genealogy while I'm there. Lyman will be working most of the time. Our yard is starting to blossom. Lyman picked the first roses this morning. The roses should be real pretty this year. Two weeks ago we went to Arizona to visit with Baird, Ann, Jacob and Beka. We also visited with Lyman's two children. Beka certainly won Lyman's heart. She is a daddy's girl and would only come to her grandma when there wasn't anyone else around. She is two. Her Daddy bought a swing set for Jacob's birthday and Beka wanted to swing 24 hours a day but before we left, she about had it figured out. She is the most independent, sweetest two year old I've ever seen. Baird and Ann are doing fine. Ann is Relief Society president and she does a wonderful job. Baird is doing much better in his work since he got a new job. He likes it real well and is learning allot. When I got home, I got really sick with sore throat. I seem to always get what the children have. Anyway, I've been in the house most of the two weeks. I couldn't talk for awhile because my throat was so sore. The doctor wasn't sure what I had. I thought maybe LaDean and you would enjoy reading this article that came in one of our magazines. It is about Fishlake. Hope you are doing okay. I'll call when I get home. Love, Karen and Lyman 16001 North 25th Street #219 Phoenix, Arizona 85023 Dear Holly, David and daughters; We are on our way to California for two weeks. Lyman has some work to do at the office. I wanted to thank you for the pictures of the children. We have never seen a picture of Danny's baby. It is such a thrill to see all of the children. They are all so cute and healthy! It is a blessing. Lyman and I have been impressed several times about the great parent's the children have. Both your children and Patty's children are lucky to have such good parents. We think about our first children and realize, we had a lot to learn then. I think parents now are better prepared. We also sensed the pressure that everyone was under trying to make a living. My son is also struggling and it seems like jobs and futures are more uncertain that when we were young. Most people our age felt if we could do well at one job for a lifetime, that was all that was expected but I sense that your generation will have to be much more flexible. Sometimes it is hard on families and there is a lot of stress which may cause some difficulties. Remember to focus on what is important and do the best you can. That is really all anyone can do. And don't worry, there are blessings in all that happens to us I believe. We were sorry we couldn't spend more time with you and David. Next time we come we will be more conscious of your schedule and David's. We could have easily stayed through Monday had we planned. We are also hoping that you will some time in St. George with us. We will be traveling some this year but I hope it isn't too often. Lyman would really, really like to spend some time with David. It has been too long. Good luck to both of you with your jobs. Take care and keep in touch. Love, Karen and Dad. P.S. I've got the family letter ready to send but have gotten so busy I'll try to get it off from California. Love you all. Dad. May 5, 1996Went to Orem to be with Nate and Maria Elena for the blessing of their daughter Sunny Day. Blessing of Sunny Letha Day, May 5, 1996, Lakeside Seventh Ward, Orem, Utah, by her grandfather Melvin Thomas Day II, assisted by Lyman D. Platt, Daniel Lyman Platt, Melvin Thomas Day I, Nate's brother and brother-in-law. Father in Heaven, by the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which we hold we take this infant in our arms to give her a name and a blessing. The name which she has been given is Sunny Letha Day. Our father we at this time wish to give her a blessing that she will have health for her mission in life while she is on this earth. We bless her with a desire to return to thee. We bless her to keep unspotted from the sins of the world. We bless her with a feeling of the spirit. We bless her to endure day to day. We pray and bless her that her parents will also help her to be righteous and pure and teach her of thy ways. We pray that her parents will be an example to her in all things. We bless her with an eternal marriage and family and the favor of the Lord's blessings in the beloved name of our Savior, Amen. May 6, 1996Attended and ASI demonstration in Lehi, and then did research in Salt Lake on the Irish CD I am compiling May 10, 1996 Letter to Dan and Amy Platt, 65 East 1100 South #67, Orem, UT 84058 Dear kids: I wanted to take this chance before time gets away from us to thank you for Sunday. It was good to see you and to see Tawni. She wondered who this old man was that was holding her, but for my part I thrilled to hold her and meet her. I'm sorry we didn't have a chance to visit after church. I guess you were anxious to get home and change for the family get-together. Amy, I'd like to wish you a happy mother's day. You're doing a great job in raising your daughter. I'm sure you enjoy her. It was so nice to meet your mother and grandmother. They seem like very nice people. Please write once in awhile. I know you're busy, but we'd enjoy hearing from you. Hope you enjoy the monthly family newsletters. Would you please give the enclosed blessing to Maria Elena. Thanks. Love, Dad May 11, 1996 Went to the San Rafael desert south of Emery with Karen's family, hunting jade, flint, etc. It was a fun day. Orvel and Annette, Diane, LaDean and Glen, grandma Petty, and several of LaDean's children were there. May 26, 1996 Karen and I drove to the cabin and met Brent there. We spent the 27th cleaning, repairing, and burning trash. June 1, 1996: Saturday. Dad and Irene were in town today. June 7, 1996 Letter to Lyman Dee Platt, RR2 Box 216, Highland, UT 84003 Dear Son: Happy birthday! I hope you are recovering well from the accident and that you are enjoying your summer vacation. Enclosed is a little bit of money to spend on whatever you would like for your birthday. It's very hot down here in St. George. We are busy adding a room onto our house and have a big mess on our hands right now, but hopefully it will turn out okay. Please right or call whenever you can. I hope to see you later this month when we come up. I have several meetings on the 26th and 27th, so will be in touch by then. Love as always, Dad. June 8, 1996 Karen and I drove up to Kolob and explored the canyons, looked at property, and then went over to Zion's Lodge for supper. June 12, 1996: Wednesday. At the temple this evening I passed off the first follower requirements and directed my first prayer circle. June 16, 1996: Sunday. Attended Priesthood Executive Committee and directed the and taught the High Priests. June 19-22, 1996 Flew to Fremont, California with Karen and attended three days of meetings at my office. June 26, 1996 Went to American Fork and had Dr. Rosvall repair a couple of broken teeth. No cavities in eleven years since I last went to him. Took the younger children out to eat. Visited Lena, and Danny's families. June 27, 1996 Attended the first public meeting announcing the digital wave technology. Bought Debbie a crib and visited her new place in American Fork. June 28, 1996 Held meetings as ASI for my vice president; with Jimmy Parker, and with Rick Turley the new director of the Family History Department. Did research on the Irish CD I am compiling. The Gordon L. Platt family held a reunion a Bear Lake this weekend. Dad did not attend. He went to Tahiti instead. Gene's family was not there, Gord was not there, and Karen and I did not go because of the other committments we had. July 1, 1996 Brent and Baird spent the weekend with us, went to church with us and assisted us in putting up the framework to a room on the back of our home. We poured a front patio, a west sidewalk also. Baird and Karen and I got into a serious argument because Ann refuses to let the children visit in our home. July 4, 1996: Thursday. Attended the morning breakfast and ceremony for the 3rd and 17th Wards at the chapel. Participated with singing in a quartet. July 10, 1996 Wrote a letter to my brother Ed today after talking to Roberta about the family reunion. Dear Ed: I remember with fondness the years that we traveled back and forth to Salt Lake and the discussions we had about the gospel, about life, about the family, and about how we could better serve the Lord. We didn't always agree, but it was a refreshing time for me. It was the time in my life when I got closer to one of my siblings than any other. Roberta mentioned that you referenced our relationship in passing as you were discussing Gord at the family reunion. Based on your comment, I decided that you needed to hear from me; to hear how I feel; to give you an opportunity to change the relationship if you wish. This is going to be a brief letter, because I don't want to say anything that will offend you. The only purpose of this letter is to open a dialogue. There are issues that I have against you. Some are founded; some may not be. Because we haven't had a discussion about what has happened, I'm sure there are a lot of issues that could be brought up and resolved on both sides. I am willing to take them one at a time. To begin with, however, I would like to apologize to you for any offense that you may have taken against me because of my behavior and actions in the past. Please accept my offer of an open dialogue in the spirit of brotherhood in which it is offered. I am under an obligation to assist each and every one of my family that is willing, to come to terms with their feelings and positions. Your comment to Roberta indicates to me that you are willing. I await your response with interest and love. Your brother, Lyman July 20, 1996 (Friday) I will bring my life up to date through a couple of documents. One is from a letter I just wrote to President Harold Brown, former associate in Latin America, ex-temple president, ex-Regional Representative, who contacted me with a proposal to become involved with him in a scheme to raise money for consecrated matters. I will bring my family situation up to date with a review of where my children and grandchildren are in their lives through a letter I sent to dad. And finally, a resume of my professional accomplishments up to this point in my life is noted. Dear Pres. Brown: The packet of information you sent arrived the day after you sent it. I have gone over it several times. Thank you for your confidence and friendship. In a similar spirit I am responding to your offer. It is not my intention to associate myself with this venture. There are several reasons for this decision which do not include my firm conviction of your integrity and sincerity. I would feel honored to associate with you again, but I don't feel I can in this effort at this time. My life at this point is totally involved in the private sector of genealogy. I spend sixteen hours a day as chief genealogist for Broderbund Software, directing the continuing attempts to acquire and produce genealogical data on compact discs for a principally non-LDS market: only 7% of our customers are LDS. We have sold 650,000 copies of our genealogy software (by comparison for your information only, the Family History Department has sold 260,000 copies of its PAF software). Our computerized index to the sixty + discs we have produced is now at 115,000,000 names. By the end of the year it will be approaching 200,000,000 names. By comparison the International Genealogical Index of the FGD is at 180,000,000 names. The FHD is seriously considering turning most of its data production over to us, or to another company in the near future. We have been told that we have the inside edge on getting the contract. I also have my own business on the side, The Institute of Genealogy and History for Latin America. To date I have published over 100 articles and books on genealogy; thirty-seven books are on Latin American genealogical research, sources, indexes, etc. I have developed a database of over 260,000 Hispanic surnames and almost daily have requests for copies of the historical sketches that I have written on the 4,500 most common surnames. This usually takes at least two hours a day to fulfill these requests. I am also consulting with another company that has developed a neural cube technology - intelligent character recognition. Very soon we will be placing hundreds and thousands of genealogical books on compact disc using this technology. We are working with the Family History Department to computerize the hundreds of millions of extraction cards that they don't have the technology to process efficiently, nor the resources to finalize. And I'm working on several approaches to reading microfilm directly into computerized, digitized images; and in having the ability to submit all of the names to the Church for temple work; and have all the temples connected to the neural cube for immediate updating of all ordinances. This will save untold duplication and allow for tens of thousands of additional ordinances. My whole life and all I do on a daily basis is consecrated to building the Lord's kingdom. I can't do more than I am doing. As to my financial donations, they are all being made to the extent of my resources through the ward level to welfare, missionary, tithing and fast offerings. My growing posterity of children and grandchildren take any surpluses I currently have as they struggle to gain a foothold and serve the Lord. I do very little in the missionary area financially, but continue to see individuals and families come into the Church or repent within the Church, through our examples, prayers, and efforts. We work in the St. George temple, being set apart by Elder Fyans as ordinance workers and feel a great joy in that service. If I could do more I would, but one thing I've learned is that my zeal for service is much greater than my actual abilities, physically or financially, to accomplish a greater work. Zeal in the Lord's service, I believe, requires a view of the long distance run and not the short term advantages. I'm grateful for good health and the ability to measure my strength, resources, and service to maximize the overall effort. If after all of this, there is a point in your presentation of the information that I have overlooked, please do not hesitate to contact me again. Love as always, your brother Lyman D. Platt Dear Dad: Tomorrow Patty will be 30. She went in for exploratory surgery last week. She is probably going to have an operation to remove some of her organs. They seem to be affecting her health. Dru is struggling with school and work, but is a hard worker and determined to make a go of his career. The boys, Trevor, Justin, Dyllan, and Byllie, are all doing very well and growing up fast. Bruce is getting married in February. He and Cynthia Almeida are now living in Miami Beach. They will be visiting here in August. David and Holly, Karlee and Alexis were here for two days earlier this week. We had a very nice visit with them. He is exploring the possibility of moving here and working with the golf course at Entrada. However, he has a very good job where he is and may stay there until a new course opens in Colorado. Danny just changed jobs. He is training in a cellular phone business, six weeks, and then will be selling phones, etc. about three blocks from where he lives. He's excited at the potential for income. We visited with them a couple of weeks ago. Tawni is growing and Amie seems to be a very good mother. Julie is expecting a baby girl in November. Justin is cross-training in police work to be able to serve at the facility where he now works as a guard. Maria Elena and Nate are still living next to Danny and Amie. We attended the blessing of their baby Sunny Aletha Day and have visited them several times since. Debbie and Rick have bought them a home in American Fork next to the church on the Alpine Highway as you start through A.F. It is an older home, with a big yard, and well preserved. We bought them a baby crib for their upcoming expected girl later this month. Debbie surprised me with her determination to continue in library work for the rest of her life. Finally, I have a child that has some of the same feelings as I do about books and learning. She's very happy with Rick, and they seem to be getting along very well. Nicolle is working and becoming quite a young lady. Johnny is not working, but is doing a great job keeping up the yards in Highland. Lyman Dee is working with Elder Tuttle's son Dave, and is making $30.00 a day when he works, which is most days. David Tuttle is a good influence on him and they seem to get along just fine. Lyman and Natalia continue to take piano lessons. Natalia helps her mother a lot and is becoming quite a brain. She has a great memory. She put together a package of pictures for me the last time we were up there and made me very happy. She will be twelve in a couple of weeks. Karen and I are adding a large room on to the back of the house. It's all framed in at this point. We will start roofing and insulating soon. We also added a pad and sidewalk in front and on the west side of the house. I don't know if you'll be here for the Joseph L. Platt family reunion next week, but if you are stop in and we'll go get a canteloupe or watermelon out of the garden and sit outside in the shade and get ourselves all sticky slurping in down. The garden is growing quite well. I've been able to get ahead of the weeds this year and have done a lot of tilling in of wood chips and manure in the part I didn't plant. I'm starting to plant the fall crops. We've had some great grapes and peppers. The tomatoes are just starting to ripen. There's nothing like a hot tomato is there? RESUME Lyman D. Platt, Ph.D., Latin American History PERSONAL DATA Residence 316 West 500 North St. George, UT 84770 Telephones Home: (801) 652-1710; Work: (801) 628-4944 ACADEMIC DEGREES 1965-1974 Bachelor of Arts degree completed at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, in the Department of History, with a major in Latin American History and a minor in Spanish. Studies were also completed at the University of Utah, Southern Colorado State, and the University of Maryland in obtaining this degree. 1981-1983 Masters in Library Science degree completed at Columbia Pacific University, San Rafael, California, in the Department of Library Science, with some classwork taken at Brigham Young University, and additional studies undertaken at the University of the Americas, Miami, Florida; U. of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; U. of San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Tulane U., New Orleans, Louisiana, and the U. of Texas at Austin; and specialized studies at the Huntington Library, San Gabriel, California. Thesis Title: A Genealogical-Historical Guide to Latin America, also written in Spanish as Una Guía Genealógica-Histórica de Latinoamérica. Field work undertaken in all countries of Latin America except Paraguay and Cuba. This thesis brought together for the first time a research standard for Latin American genealogists. 1984-1985Doctor of Philosophy degree completed at Columbia Pacific University, San Rafael, California, Department of History. Dissertation Title:Latin American Records and Publications: An Annotated Historical Analysis. This dissertation contains a general guide to all major archives and libraries in all twenty Latin American countries along with a number of specialized studies, providing the only comprehensive analysis of these institutions for purposes of specialized historical research. TEACHING EXPERIENCE 1969-1995 Linguist: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Latin, Greek, etc. multiple teaching situations. Paleographer: hundreds of seminars on the various styles of handwriting: italic, secretary, court, gothic, etc. 1971-1981 Instructor, Brigham Young University, Priesthood Genealogy Seminar (1971-1977); Family History Symposium (1975); Family & Local History Seminar (1981). 1978-1980 Instructor/Trainer at 290 L.D.S. stake extraction training seminars for Spanish record extraction, throughout the United States. 1978 Guest Lecturer, Panelist, National Genealogical Society's Jubilee Conference, Washington, D.C. 1979-1985 Instructor, Brigham Young University, Division of Continuing Education for two courses on Mexican Genealogical Research, one in English, one in Spanish. 1981 Guest Lecturer, American Library Association, San Francisco, California annual meeting. 1982 Guest Lecturer, National Genealogical Society annual conference, Indianapolis, Indiana. 1982 Guest Lecturer, West Coast Conference of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, Buena Park, California 1983-1992 Guest Lecturer at the Texas State Conference on Hispanic Genealogy and History held alternately at San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi and Ebinburg, Texas. 1984-1992 Guest Lecturer at the Hispanic Family History Seminar, Riverside, California; and at Golden State College, Huntington, Beach, California. 1992 Guest Lecturer, New Horizons: A Conference in the Southwest, Phoenix, Arizona, sponsored by The Federation of Genealogical Societies & the Arizona Genealogical Society. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY 1965-1969 United States Air Force, with service at the Air Force Academy; Ent AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Columbus AFB, Columbus, Mississippi; Tan Son Nhut AFB, Siagon, South VietNam; and the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 1969-1984 The Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City Utah with assignments in the Research Department; Priesthood Genealogy; and the Family History Library. 1984-1987 Private employment, writing, research, and developing further the Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America. 1987-1994 Automated Archives, Inc., as Sales Manager, Vice-President and President. 1995-1996 Banner Blue Software, Inc. a Division of Broderbund Software, Inc., as Acquistions Coordinator and Chief Genealogist. 1996-present Broderbund, Software, Inc., Novato, California, as Chief Genealogist of the Banner Blue Division. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 1969 Consultant, World Conference on Records, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1971-1989 Editor, Revista of the Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America; contributing editor Genealogical Journal. 1972 Consultant to the Organization of American States annual meeting on Latin American Archives, Washington, D.C. 1974-1976 Coordinator of Family Organizations for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1974-1978 Assistant Editor of The Genealogical Society of Utah, responsible for publications in seventeen languages. Member of The Priesthood Genealogy Committe of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah. Member of the Native American Committee of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1975-1995 Genealogist of the Benjamin Platt & Mary Greaves Family Organization. 1975-1983 Genealogist of the Benjamin Perkins & Sarah Williams Family Organization. 1975-1995 Historian of the Jeremiah Leavitt & Sarah Shannon Family Organization. 1976 Coordinator of Instructors, 11th Annual Research Seminar, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. 1977 Assistant Coordinator, 12th Annual Research Seminar, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. 1978 Consultant to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, assigned to assist in compiling the official list of Spanish surnames for the 1980 National Census. 1980 Seminar Chairman; Guest Lecturer, 2nd World Conference on Records, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1981-1984 Town Historian, Highland, Utah. 1981-1984 Chairman, Association of Professional Genealogists' Ethics Committee. 1989-1990 Editor, Nauvoo Journal. FIELD RESEARCH 1957-1968 Utah, California, Mississippi, Colorado, Washington D.C. (4,000 hours) 1969 625 hours of research at The Genealogical Society of Utah Feb-Mar 1970 Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile Jul-Aug 1970 Uruguay, Brazil Oct-Nov 1970 Mexico, two trips; Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras Feb-Mar 1971 Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia May-Jun 1971 Peru, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic Oct-Nov 1971 Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela Feb 1972 Chile, Peru Jun 1972 Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri Jul 1972 Chile Peru Aug-Sep 1972 Washington D.C. Dec 1972 Mexico Aug 1973 Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands Feb 1974 Peru, Chile, Argentina Jun 1975 Peru 1976 Idaho, Utah, Arizona 1977 Colorado, California, Utah, Arizona Sep 1977 Canada Oct-Dec 1977 Mexico 1978 Georgia, Oregon, California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Texas. Aug 1978 Washington D.C. 1979 Washington, Oregon, Georgia, California, Colorado Jun 1979 Washington D.C. 1980 Oregon, California Jun 1981 San Francisco, California Mar 1982 Indianapolis, Indiana Aug 1982 Buena Park, San Gabriel, California PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 1969-1983 Member, Los Californianos 1970 Honorary Member for Life of the Instituto Genealogico Brasileiro, Sâo Paulo, Brazil. 1971-1997 President, founder of the Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America. 1982-1987 Member, Association of Professional Genealogists. 1986-1997 Member, Utah Genealogical Association. 1989-1995 Member, Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research, Huntington Beach, California. PROFESSIONAL AWARDS 1965-1968 Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Medal of Honor, Vietnamese Campaign Medals, etc. 1969 Accredited Genealogist by The Genealogical Society of Utah, in Mexican Research. 1981 Recognized in Who's Who in Heraldry and Genealogy (Savage, Maryland). 1983 Recognized in Men of Success, and Dictionary of International Biography (Cambridge, England). 1986 Fellow, Utah Genealogical Association, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1990 Recognized in Contemporary Authors (Detroit, Michigan). PUBLICATIONS: BOOKS 1. 1975 The Perkins Family History. Provo, Utah: The Benjamin Perkins & Sarah Williams Family Organization, 1975. 331p. [FHL film 0940028, item 1]. 2. 1977 Lista de Revista de las Compañías de Nuevo México, Nueva Vizcaya y Sonora: Correspondientes a los Meses de Mayo a Diciembre de 1818. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. 361 p. [FHL, Latin America Q 972 M2m; microfilm 1149545, item 5] 3. 1977 Padrones del Estado de Chihuahua, México Archivados en el Archivo Franciscano de la Biblioteca Nacional de México, 1778. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. 67 p. [FHL Latin America Q 972.16 A3i; microfilm 1149545, item 1]. 4. 1977 Padrones del Estado de Sinaloa, México Archivados en el Archivo Franciscano de la Biblioteca Nacional de México, 1778-1804. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genea-logical Society of Utah, 1977. 147 p. [FHL Latin America Q 972.32 A3i; microfilm 1149545, item 2]. 5. 1977 Padrones del Estado de Sonora, México Archivados en el Archivo Franciscano de la Biblioteca Nacional de México, 1766-1805. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. 113 p. [FHL Latin America Q 972.17 A3i; microfilm 1149545, item 3]. 6. 1978 Genealogical Historical Guide to Latin America. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, Inc., 1978. 273 p. [FHL 980 D27p]. 7. 1978 Una Guía Genealógico-Histórica de Latinoamérica. Ramona, California: Acoma Books, 1978. 297 p. [FHL 980 D27pl; microfilm 1162420, item 2; microfiche 6062401]. 8. 1979 The Platt Family History. Highland, Utah: The Benjamin Platt & Mary Greaves Family Organization, 1979. 372p [FHL 929.273 P697pl] 9. 1980 1980 Spanish Name List, U.S. Census Bureau. Washing-ton, D.C.: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1980. 76 p. Associate editor. 10. 1980 Nauvoo, 1839-1846, Volume 1. Highland, Utah: Highland Microdata Systems, 1980. 304 p. [FHL 289.309 P697e v.1] 11. 1981 Index to 1851 Census of Liverpool, Volume 1. Highland, Utah: Highland Microdata Systems, 1981. 149 p. 12. 1982 Mexican Catholic Church Directory. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History of Latin America, 1982. 75 p. 13. 1982 World Conference on Records: Latin American and Iberian Family and Local History, Volume 9. Salt Lake City, Utah: Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1982. 200 p. editor. 14. 1983 Consolidated Index to 250,000 Biographical Sketches of Indiana. Bountiful, Utah: Genealogical Indexing Asso-ciates, 1983. 5,525 p. 15. 1983 Ethnic Genealogy: A Reference Guide. Westport, Connecticut & London, England: Greenwood Press, 1983. Contributor of chapter ten "Hispanic-American Records and Research." 16. 1983 Monograph of the State of Aguascalientes. Highland, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1983. 87 p. [FHL microfiche 6030595]. 17. 1989 Investigaciones Genealógicas en Latinoamerica. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1989. 87 p. 18. 1989 Latin American Census Records. 2nd ed., rev. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1989. 151 p. [FHL 980 X23p]. 19. 1989 Mexico, General Guide: Political Divisions. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History of Latin America, 1989. 82 p. [FHL 972 N2p]. 20. 1989 Sudamérica: Guía de Investigaciones Genealógicas. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1989. 54 p. 21. 1990 España, Guía General: Divisiones Políticas. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1990. 148 p. 22. 1990 Spain: Research Guide. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1990. 86 p. 23. 1991 Military Records of Latin America. Fairview, Utah: The Teguayo Press, 1991. 50 p. 24. 1992 Una Bibliografía de Historias Familiares de Latino-américa y los Estados Unidos. St. George, Utah: The Teguayo Press, 1992. 211 p. 25. 1993 Genealogical Research in Latin America and the Hispanic United States. St. George, Utah: The Teguayo Press, 1993. 127 p. 26. 1993 México, Guía General: Divisiones Eclesiásticas. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1993. 162 p. 27. 1994 Hispanic American Genealogical Sourcebook. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, Inc., 1994. 224 p. (Co-author) 28. 1995 Spanish Surnames. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1995. 300 p. 29. 1996 The World Book of Generations: A Genealogical History. Volume 1. St. George, Utah: The Teguayo Press, 1996. 278 p. 30. 1990 España: Guía de Investigaciones Genealógicas. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1990. 86 p. PUBLICATIONS: BOOKLETS & TECHNICAL MANUALS 1. 1970 Major Genealogical Record Sources in Mexico. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1970. 21 p. 2. 1970 Major Genealogical Record Sources in Guatemala. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1970. 13 p. 3. 1973 Life History of Zadok Parker and Mirriam Parker.Highland, Utah: Highland Microdata Systems, 1973. 35 p. 4. 1973 Una Reseña Genealógico-Histórica de Latinoamérica. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah. 45 p. 5. 1974 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Guatemala. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1974. 12 p. 6. 1974 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en México. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1974. 16 p. 7. 1973 Commission Records, Illinois State Militia, 1834-1855. Highland, Utah: Highland Microdata Systems, 1973. 10 p. [FHL 977.3 A1, No. 62; microfilm 0908142, item 9]. 8. 1973 West Moravian Church Cemetery, Green Bay, Wisconsin Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973. 4 p. [film 0908872, item 8] 9. 1974 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Argentina. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1974. 16 p. 10. 1974 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Chile. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1974. 13 p. 11. 1974 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Costa Rica. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1974. 16 p. (co-author) 12. 1974 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Uruguay. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1974. 13 p. 13. 1975 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en El Salvador. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1975. 11 p. (co-author) 14. 1975 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Honduras. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1975. 12 p. (co-author) 15. 1975 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Nicaragua. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1975. 13 p. (co-author) 16. 1975 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Panamá. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1975. 24 p. (co-author) 17. 1975 Jeremiah Leavitt and Mary Ellen Huntsman Family History. Highland, Utah: Highland Microdata Systems, 1975. 28 p. [FHL 921.73 A1, No. 155; microfilms 0940028, item 4; 0928122, item 5]. 18. 1975 The Journal of Bishop Edward Partridge, 1819, 1835-1836. Salt Lake City, Utah: Early Mormon Research Institute, 1975. 32 p. [FHL 921.73 A1, No. 138; microfilm 0908779, item 3]. 19. 1976 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Venezuela. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1976. 8 p. 20. 1977 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Bolivia. Salt Lake City, Utah: Mexico City: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. 14 p. 21. 1977 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Colombia. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1977. 12 p. 22. 1977 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Ecuador. Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1977. 9 p. 23. 1977 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Paraguay. Buenos Aires, Argentina: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. 8 p. 24. 1977 Fuentes Principales de Registros Genealógicos en Peru. Mexico City: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. 14 p. 25. 1989 Centroamérica: Guía de Investigaciones Genealógicas. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1989. 28 p. 26. 1989 Cuba: Guía de Investigaciones Genealógicas. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1989. 15 p. 27. 1989 México: Guía de Investigaciones Genealógicas. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History of Latin America, 1989. 32 p. 28. 1989 Mexico: Research Guide. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1989. 32 p. [FHL 972 D27p]. 29. 1994 Puerto Rico: Guía de Investigaciones Genealógicas. St. George, Utah: The Teguayo Press, 1994. 29 p. 30. 1991 Cuba: General Research Guide. Salt Lake City, Utah: Institute of Genealogy & History for Latin America, 1991. 19 p. 31. 1993 Puerto Rico: Research Guide. St. George, Utah: The Teguayo Press, 1993. 29 p. 32. 1993 Research in Mexico City. St. George Utah: The Teguayo Press, 1993. 42 p. 33. 1995 Central America: Research Guide. St. George, Utah: The Teguayo Press, 1995. 39 p. PUBLICATIONS: ARTICLES & NEWSLETTERS 1. 1968 Jeremiah Leavitt and Sarah Shannon Family Bulletin. Orem, Utah: Jeremiah Leavitt and Sarah Shannon Family Organization, 1968-1976; 8 issues; 28 p.; index of names 13 p. [FHL microfiche 6010524; microfilm 1036426, item 8]; family historian and associate editor. 2. 1974 "Spanish and Mexican Immigration to the United States," Genealogical Journal 3(1974):23-24. 3. 1976 "Family Organizations," Church News, 1976. 4. 1976 "Family Organizations," Ensign, 1976. 5. 1980 "Hispanic-American Records and Research," Latin American and Iberian Family and Local History. Salt Lake City, Utah: Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1980. 8 p. [FHL 929.1 W893, v. 9, pt.7]. 6. 1980 "The Mexican Military," Latin American and Iberian Family and Local History. Salt Lake City, Utah: Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1980. 27 p. [FHL 929.1 W893, v. 9, pt.12]. 7. 1981 "A Selective Bibliography of Hispanic-American Family History and Related Sources," Genealogical Journal 10(1981):147-158; Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 1(1982):7-15. 8. 1982 "The 1845 Census of the Province of Tarapacá, Perú with Index," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 1(1982):50-77. 9. 1982 "Argentine Censuses," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 1(1982):5-6. 10. 1982 "Effective Use of Professional Researchers," West Coast Conference Syllabus, 1982. 11. 1982 "Hidalguías," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico de Latinoamerica 1(1982):78-79. 12. 1982 "Mexican-American Genealogical Sources," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 1(1982):29-49. 13. 1982 "The Terrero Family of Spain, Venezuela and Nicaragua," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico de Latino-america 1(1982):16-28. 14. 1983 "The 1831 Census of Arizona and Sonora: Tucson, Tubac, Santa Cruz," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No.2:9-38. 15. 1983 "The 1897 Census of the Mormon Colonies," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No.1:62-66. 16. 1983 "The 1910 Census of Puerto Rico," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No.2:57. 17. 1983 "Archivo Administrativo e Histórico de la Provincia, Mendoza, Argentina," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No.1:67-69; No.2:73-75; 3(1984):45-55. 18. 1983 "Archivo General de Protocolos de Camagüey, Cuba," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latino-americano 2(1983): No.2:58-70. 19. 1983 "Census Records of the Archbishopric of Lima Perú," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latino-americano 2(1983): No.1:13-22. 20. 1983 "Colombian Censuses," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No. 1:1-2. 21. 1983 "Cuban Family History Collection of Francisco Xavier de Santa Cruz y Mallén," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No.1:3-12. 22. 1983 "Descendencia de los Delgado de Caguas, Puerto Rico," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No.2:46-56. 23. 1983 "Genealogía Paz Soldán de Manuel Paz Soldán Urrutia of Arequipa, Perú," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No.2:39-45. 24. 1983 "The History of Marriage in Utah, 1847-1905," Genea-logical Journal 12(1983):29-41. 25. 1983 "Place Name Index, 1914 Argentina National Census," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No.1:70-91. 26. 1983 "Reseña Histórica de la Audiencia de Justicia de La Habana, 1839-1939," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No.2:71-72. 27. 1983 "Spanish Military Records," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No.1:60-61. 28. 1983 "Voter's Census: Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, 1872," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 2(1983): No.1:13-22. 29. 1984 "The Zela Family History," Revista del Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano 3(1984):81-85. 30. 1985-1995 Hispanic Surname Historical Sketches published on a weekly and later on a monthly basis in Vista (Coral Gables, Florida), 1986-1995, a newspaper insert read by about 4,000,000 individuals. 31. 1986 "The Historical Development of Genealogical Organi-zations in Spanish America," Genealogical Journal 15(1986):162-179. 32. 1989 "1843 Petition to the United States Congress," The Nauvoo Journal 1(1989):66-96. 33. 1989 "Biographical Sketches of the First Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," The Nauvoo Journal 1(1989):41-64. 34. 1989 "Early Mormon Sources, 1830-1900," The Nauvoo Journal 1(1989):4-7. 35. 1989 "Hispanic American Genealogy Association (HAGA)," Nuestras Raíces 1(1989):94-95. 36. 1989 "Index to Members of Nauvoo in 1843," The Nauvoo Journal 1(1989):69-128. 37. 1989 "Lost Mormons,: The Nauvoo Journal 1(1989):19-20. 38. 1989 "Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," The Nauvoo Journal 1(1989):34-40. 39. 1989 "Nauvoo School Records," The Nauvoo Journal 1(1989): 21-32. 40. 1989 "Racial Roots of Africa go Deep in Latin America," Vista, March 5, 1989, page. 14. 41. 1989 "Utah Marriage Index, 1847-1905," The Nauvoo Journal 1(1989):7-18. 42. 1989 "The Win System," Nuestras Raíces 1(1989):40-41. 43. 1990 "1842 Tax Records Index of Hancock County, Illinois," The Nauvoo Journal 2(1990):37-108. 44. 1990 "Commission Records, Illinois State Militia, 1835-1847," The Nauvoo Journal 2(1990):1-12. 45. 1990 "The Mormon Batallion, 1846-1847," The Nauvoo Journal 2(1990):13-27. 46. 1990-1991 "Early Branches of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1850," The Nauvoo Journal 2(1990):115-134; 3(1991):5-21; 40-52; 71-88; 101-123. 47. 1991 "Nauvoo School Records, 1843," The Nauvoo Journal 3(1991):22-24. 48. 1992 "Pleasant Valley Birth Records taken from Certificates of Baptism of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, March 23, 1928-May 3, 1969," The Pleasant Valley Journal 1(1992):28-34. 49. 1992-1993 "List of Church Members in Nauvoo, Illinois taken from 1842 Census," The Nauvoo Journal 4(1992):5-64; 5(1993):1-47. PUBLICATIONS: MICROFORMS, MANUSCRIPTS 1. 1971 Catalogs of the National Archive of Chile. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971. 300 p. {FHL 983 A3p; microfilm 0908437, item 2]; co-author with Ariel Mazzella. 2. 1972 Catholic Parishes of Latin America. 3. 1972-1983 L.D.S. Biographical Index. 25,000 names. 4. 1972-1983 Spanish Biographical Index. 50,000 + names. 5. 1974 Personal Notes of Lyman D. Platt. 6. 1978 Cemeteries of the Virgin Islands. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978. 80 p. [FHL microfilm 1162420, item 5]. 7. 1983 1842 Property Evaluations, Hancock County, Illinois. Highland, Utah: Highland Microdata Systems, 1983. 97 p. [FHL microfiche 6331391]. 8. 1989 Williams Family Group Sheets and Family History. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989. 40 p. [FHL microfilm 1421994, item 6]; compiled jointly with Helem M. Williams. 9. 1995 Irish Genealogical Records. July 7, 1996 I was released today along with the other members of the group leadership from the High Priest Group of the St. George 17th Ward. July 28, 1996 Debbie and Rick had their first child this morning at 2:45 in American Fork. Russel Richard Gardiner was 7.5 lbs., 20 inches long. He is my tenth grandchild. His heart rate dropped from 130 to 50 during birth and the doctor decided to take him C-section to save his life. Debbie had a rough day but was doing much better in the evening when I called. Lena was there with Sunny visiting at the time. Today ended a three-day family reunion of the Joseph Platt/Clarissa Josephine Leavitt family, which was organized with brother Ed as president, sister Roberta and secretary and cousin Hazel as genealogist. They tried to put me in by acclimation, but I asked to be excused because of my heavy work load, and told them I would assist Hazel anyway I could. There were over 150 in attendance. Aunt Jo's family was not represented, nor was Denzil's but everyone else had a good number of their family there. September 17, 1996 Karen had her tonsils out today. September 18, 1996 Karen's uncle Ellis Petty, Roma's husband, died about this date. His funeral was held on the 21st. He was cremated several days earlier. We didn't go because Karen had just had her tonsils out and wasn't feeling well. September 22, 1996 Ed's triplet daughters had their farewell this weekend. The family all got together except us. Karen wasn't feeling up to traveling. September 23, 1996 During the past few days and into October David and Holly had a serious family situation that nearly ended in them getting a divorce. I don't wish to record the details, but David listened to my counsel and was able to correct his course and help his wife through some struggles she was having, some of them originating from the way he has been treating her. September 24, 1996 Tiné Taggart, daughter of Julie Platt and Justin Taggart was born this evening at 10:50 at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. She weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz., and was 21" long. She is my eleventh grandchild. September 25, 1996 Had a three-hour discussion with my father. He seemed to feel better towards me afterwards than he has in a long time. October 10, 1996 Thursday Drove to Salt Lake. Picked up the first fifteen copies of my new book, The World Book of Generations: A Genealogical History, volume 1. Sold a number of copies to friends. Met Gracia, Joseph Smith's descendant for the first time, even though she lives in St. George. She's working with Nadine Timothy and others in reconstructing a list of all of the blood descendants of the Prophet, by special assigment from The Frist Presidency. Cancelled our extraction project and ordered a new one. Had lunch with Jimmy Parker. Had supper with Brent Fullerton for his upcoming birthday and saw his new car. Did some research at the library. October 11, 1996 Friday Did research at the library in the morning. Talked to Phil Dunn, sold him a copy of the book. Left one for John Kitzmiller. Saw Julie and Justin on the street while walking over to the Administration Building. They were looking for Bruce and Cynthia. Had a meeting with Elder Featherstone. Met with Don Staehli, secretary to President Hinckley, and our former stake president in Helper. Met with Missionary Department personnel. Got a copy of Julie's missionary papers. There was nothing there of interest to my concerns. Talked with Bishop Stutz about the family. He feels pleased about Johnny's spiritual development. He's worried some about Lyman. He says that Julie never confessed anything to him prior to going on her mission. She did confess to the MTC President. President Stowe and the other president decided to let her go on her mission. Bishop Stutz said that whatever she confessed they determined was not long-term or serious and for that reason she was allowed to go. Paula has just had another accident and totalled another new car. She wasn't hurt though. Visited with Natalia and Niki. Sang happy birthday to Nicolle and gave her $20.00 for her upcoming birthday on the 20th. Went down to Debbie's and visited with her Rick, Bruce, Cynthia, Maria Elena and the two babies. Debie gave us pictures of her baby. Bruce indicated to us that he had driven through St. George but didn't stop to see us (because we had refused to let him and Cynthia sleep in the same bed while they were with us). As it was late when we left there we decided to drive to St. George rather than to the cabin. October 12, 1996 Saturday Called Julie's former mission president at Littleton, Colorado and spoke with him and his wife for an hour and a half about Julie. It was determined that he had never discussed anything regarding sexual activities with Julie. They were unaware of her medical problems while on her mission with chlamydiae, viral warts, and a seizure resulting from the disease. They cautioned me to be careful in interviewing her, because she will not readily reveal what has happened to her. They felt she was a good missionary and made great personal progress while she was on her mission. Spent the day setting up distributor outlets for my book: one at the Hurricane Museum, one at Log House Restaurant in Springdale, and one at the bookstore at the Cinemax. We spent a number of hours doing research at the library at the Zion Park visitor's center. Found some good information on several genealogies. Went to eat at the Log House, then drove over to Toquerville and came home. Sold a book to dad's Air Force buddy, Sylvan Johnson, who is living in town. Called and made arranged with two ladies in Santa Clara for Monday deliveries. October 13, 1996 Sunday Talked to Roberta about the trip. She told me that Ed and Jolyen had discussed my situation at the family reunion, and Ed refuses to believe he is being manipulated. Roberta tried to get Jolyen to understand that Paula manipulates everyone, and that Karen was the only person strong enough and with the right motives to help me see what was happening in my life. BEGINNING OF ANOTHER SEVEN YEAR CYCLE October 24, 1996 Today marks the beginning of a whole new era in our life, and in the life of our family. Fourteen years of testing are at an end and we have received a witness of the testing. The first seven years were a very negative and difficult experience, but much was learned, and I'm grateful for the knowledge that was given to me during this time. The last seven years have been full of blessings and opportunites to implement those things learned during the first seven years. I am not sure what lies ahead, but all typologies for the year have come to an end as of yesterday. All are fulfilled. It has been a dramatic period, very intense, and hard to write about. I will now try to keep a better record, like I used to. I am very grateful to the Lord for his tender mercies towards us. I am saddened at much that has gone on in my family. It is my personal belief that the lines have been drawn and little will change in the way of relationships from this point on. A review of these relationships and situations would be appropriate as this third phase of our life begins, which I will call The Patriarchal Years. I am fifty-three years old, still a child in some of my feelings and thinking. I have not overcome all of my weaknesses yet, but my life is generally worthy of the blessings of the Lord. Karen and I have just requested a call as temple workers. We are ready to fulfill that part of her patriarchal blessing. My relationships with my children are sweet and bitter. Patty is a joy to me. She is seeking righteousness always, is a good mother and wife, and in her sicknesses has learned patience and longsuffering. She plays an important role in the family and is looked to by many of her siblings for guidance and love. She has had five boys who are growing to be good and strong persons in the gospel. They have a wonderful heritage and will be a great blessing to her and Dru, and to us. Her first son, who was born prior to her marriage, is growing up in Salt Lake City and doing well. He is unaware of his mother or his other family who love him and wish him the very best. Bruce is a great disappointment to me. He continues to live in a fornicated relationship although they now plan to marry in February. Cynthia and he love each other in a worldly way. Their values are of the world. She has much the appearance of her sisters-in-law-to-be, dresses immodestly, but otherwise has a very nice personality. She is from Brazil. Bruce has changed from some of the more negative aspects that he experienced early in his independence, and his general behavior is much improved, but he lacks the gospel and its blessings. I continue to pray for his soul. David and Holly have been experiencing some great trials of late. We were so pleased with his asking for our forgiveness for his behavior towards us, and his general attitude of repentence and desires to improve his life, but lately their marriage has suffered. Both he and Holly are to blame. She has been unfaithful, and he has been un-Christlike in his handling of the situation. They continue to work to resolve the issues, are going to counseling and working with their bishop. The marriage is not likely to last. Too much baggage has been accrued. Their two children are a delight. Danny and Amie are very set in their ways and I don't feel at this point that any meaningful relationship will ever exist between us again. Paula takes pride in Danny's independence from me and lets him and others know her feelings. We have visited them a number of times lately. Danny always wants his daughter to have interaction with us, but then shows forth his own indifference and contempt. Amie is a non-person in her feelings. Everyone says she is a strong-willed influence in Danny's life, but she shows me nothing but a shallow and immature attitude towards life. Their daughter reflects their general spiritual nature. Julie is my greatest disappointment, because she was the brightest star in the family, or at least that was the impression over the years. What I have learned of her lately has left me weeping with bitter tears for her eternal well-being. She had a sexual relationship, probably with Jason Ahyou, just prior to her mission. The MTC President and the stake president let it go with a slap on the wrist. After her mission she and Justin had a sexual relationship and had to get married. She has lied about both as far as I can tell. Her spirit is in a downward spiral. The mother hen attitude she has towards raising her children is spoiling and suffocating them. Maria Elena is full of saddness at her situation in life. She has been excommunicated as has her husband. They were doing so well in Montana, but since returning to Utah, he has not done well spiritually, and she is suffering with a double burden. I love her so much and feel so sorry that she will not let us help her more. She is determined to bear the burden quietly and personally. Her daughter is a pure delight to be around. Note: this was my reflections prior to knowing her changed status as of two weeks ago. See below. Debbie and Rich are doing very well. Their new baby is sweet and wonderful to behold. They have a new home - an old house - and seem to be very happy. Their bishop says they are progressing very well. They also had to get married, but have been much more honest with the whole affair. It shows in their spirits and their attitudes. Nicolle is such a sweetheart. She is so quiet and has such a great spirit about her. I know she gives her mother fits, but I think she does that to get back at her for being such an idiot. Nicolle is a hard worker, a good student, and seems to be determined not to make the same mistakes all her sisters have before her. Johnny is doing very well. He is a hard worker and the bishop feels he has made some excellent spiritual progress in the last while. Lyman Dee has been a problem of late, but is a pure spirit and has had a great burden to bear with his mother's domination and unrighteousness towards him. Hopefully, prayerfully, he will come through it and be a great man. I love him so much. If I have a Joseph, he is my Joseph. Natalia is so full of life and so smart. She loves her music, she loves to learn, she has a great mind and a good memory. She is fun to be with and it could be so much sweeter if we could just see her more often. My father and I had a good talk when he was down her in September, but then after he talked to Ed, or after he talked to Paula, he had no desire to see me again. He returned to Oregon, refused to buy my new book, and has become a stranger. Goodbye, dad, I've done all I can for you. You refuse to change. You are stubborn, bitter, hard-headed, and unloving. You are too much wrapped up in your own problems to be a father, to be a patriarch. I've wanted you to be something you haven't been your whole life and I've come to accept the fact that you never will be. I still love you, but know you can't love me. You are too selfish to love anyone really. Your relationships are based on what you can get out of them. Of my siblings, only Roberta has any positive interaction with me at this time. She has some hangups as to my motives and as to how I deal with my other family members, and she has a hard time with Karen's forthrightness, but generally we have a good relationship, and I love her very much. McKay has been friendly, but is not around much. None of the others want anything to do with us. They are all indifferent, and deserve no further comment. Ed, however, has some very negative feelings towards me and is very angry with himself for the way he has handled his relationship over the last fourteen years, but like dad, will not repent of his stubborn attitude and feelings of being right. So Ed, go your own way. I know you love your family and are doing a lot of good, but I want nothing to do with you at this point. Your spirit is the kind of spirit I shy from and care not to have around me. Karen's boys are good boys, but Baird is having a real identity struggle at this time. He was sexually abused by his father when he was ten and is just coming to terms with this part of his personality. He is angry, frustrated, and jealous. He wants to be a part of a family and Ann's family has given him the only family he has known. He has rejected me and his mother. We have informed his bishop and will inform his stake president and will go to counseling with him and Ann if they will. Jacob and Rebekah are a lot of fun, but we see them no more. Brent is a good man and we love him very much. He is struggling to find a wife, and is involved in his world and wants little of ours, but when we're together we have some good times together. They are too few, but at least they are sweet and pleasant when they occur. Karen is the joy of my life. She is a pure spirit, tenderhearted beyond belief, considering what she has gone through. I love her with all my heart. I want to spend eternities with her and no one else. The thoughts of polygamy at this point turn my stomach. How different from my days with Paula, when I longed for a day when I could love other women. Now I can love them with Karen's blessing, and I do, but it isn't sexual, and doesn't have to be. I am a whole person at this time. I and feel Karen's love, and the Lord's, has healed me from my former imprisoned self. I am at the top of my career at this time in my life. I have been publishing two books a year for seven years now. I'm making good money and starting to save some for retirement. What lies ahead appears only positive. We are comfortable in our home and enjoy our surroundings. I love my work and feel fulfilled in what I am able to contribute to society, to my friends, to the Church, and to the Lord. I have good health, although sitting in a chair for twenty years has put twenty pounds around my waist that have to come off. I weigh 218 pounds and want to weigh 200. I have a great deal to do in organizing my files, compiling my genealogy, and preparing my records to pass on to someone else. This will take years and will fill a great part of my free time over the next decade. This then is a summary of my life as of this date. I miss my mother and Don Carlos very much. I miss the association with my grandparents and am homesick a lot. But life is going very fast and soon I will be reunited with those loved ones once again in sweet fellowship and eternal bliss. May I be worthy in the meantime to receive their prompting when necessary or desired. Today we drove to the cabin and shut it down for the winter. We had a harrowing experience getting out in a blizzard. We got in and out at the very last hour. We lost traction on the hill and nearly went over several times. We set up book distribution outlets in Ephraim and Fairview. We stopped in Richfield and got genealogical records from LaDean, Karen's sister. Karen's mother was asleep at her home. She is losing all her reasoning abilities due to a hardening of the arteries. She will not last long in her independent situation. I left a book with LaDean for her. We then went to Uncle George's place and gave him a copy of my new book, and visited for a few minutes. He told us that Uncle Roland was just diagnosed with liver cancer and has been given six months to live. Got home at 11:30. Bob Morris had done some of the work on our electrical outlets in the new extension on our home, but didn't finish. October 25, 1996 Prayers. Scripture study. Exercize. This morning Maria Elena called back (she tried yesterday) and told me that she is expecting her second child, and that she has been restored to full fellowship in the Church. Nate is coming along and they are anxious to go to the temple. The bishopric gave her a ticket to attend the temple dedication at American Fork. She asked me for copies of the family genealogy which I xeroxed this morning and sent to her, requesting that she assist me in getting some documents from her mother that she's promised to send a dozen times. This morning Nadine Timothy called me from the Family History Library to inform me that Suzanne McDonald Grundvig, died when a car hit her this morning on her way to work. She has been having serious marital troubles, her husband beating her, and she's had a lot of other problems lately. I'm happy she's out of this miserable world and can be free to pursue genealogy in a pure environment. She was a lovely person and suffered a lot in her two marriages. My pay for the two weeks from Brøderbund Software, Inc., where I am the chief genealogist, was $1,130.84. Besides this our yearly bonus from Banner Blue Software, the division for which I work, was $3,333.96. This is basically six weeks of pay as a bonus, very nice by any standards in today's world. We paid off most of our bills, bought some books that we've been wanting, got a table at Deseret Industries that Karen will refinish, along with several chairs, and went out to eat. We visited Uncle Roland and found him with Harold Excell and his wife Ramona Farnsworth. Harold is Aunt Dorothy's younger brother. He has worked for years for Inkley's in Salt Lake. He going to give us a bunch of photograph savers as he has many on hand. Bob Morris and his assistant came out and put in most of the wiring this afternoon on the new extension. They will finish up the rough work tomorrow and we'll be ready for our electrical inspection. We called to find out how much it will cost to fix our jeep's growing problems, and it will be about $1,000. We priced a new car the other day and decided we couldn't afford one yet. I received the 3.4 version of Family Tree Maker today, along with four new CD's: 162 (Virginia Genealogies); and World Family Trees, volumes 4, 5, and 6. October 26, 1996: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study. Arose at 4:30 and began typing into my world family tree project, three pedigrees ascending from the Prophet Joseph Smith found in the book by Earnest L. Whitehead entitled The House of Israel: A treatise on the destiny, history and identification of Israel in all the five branches (Independence, Missouri: Zion's Printing and Publishing Company), page 540. This world family tree project takes my pedigree as a base, to which I have begun adding lineages that descend from common ancestors, and which can then be used to expand the total ancestral base within the pedigree. Thus, to present, the first five presidents of the Church have been linked to a common ancestress of ours and all of their ancestry, descent, and collateral lines can now be placed within the worldwide pedigree. This morning I passed the 4,400 mark in total entries. Neither the Family History Library, nor Banner Blue Software have tried to establish such a linkage, and it must be done, so I am leading the way. Also from Whitehead's book I entered the descent from Rev. John Lathrop to Hyrum & Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Frederick G. William, Wilford Woodruff, Harold B. Lee, Parley & Orson Pratt, and Ulysses S. Grant. (Chart 4, page 544) From Whitehead's book I entered the descent from Joseph Merriman to Brigham Young, having entered it to Joseph F. Smith through a previous pedigree. (Chart 5, page 545) From Whitehead's book I entered the descent from John Gould to Joseph Smith, George Albert Smith, Orson F. Whitney, Stephen L. Richards, and George F. Richards (Chart 6, page 545) From Whitehead's book I entered the descent from John de Mowbray to Brigham Young, William Richards and John Taylor. From Sir William FitzWilliam descent to Wilford Woodruff. (Chart 7, page 546) I spent about four hours cleaning up Karen's computer, taking off a lot of files, reformating it so that it would work better. Parts of it work better now, other parts don't Paid Bob Morris for the preliminary work he did with the electricity: $380.63. Karen and I now have to get it inspected, insulate the room, and put up the paneling; then he can come back and finish the connections. With this work done today, I have lights in the archive building out back. It's been upgraded so that I can now do research on my microfilm reader, have a place to type into my old computer, and it has an outlet for a heater for this winter. With the couch and other niceties out there, I can now do some of my studying and organizing of records. Installed Family Tree Maker 3.4 on my computer. Tried to access the Banner Blue Website with it, but my Netscape software wasn't installed properly. Will have to wait. Holly, David's wife, sent us a letter today, along with a pictures of Alexis and of David and Holly together. Her letter read as follows: Lyman & Karen: I thought you would enjoy these pictures. I wasn't sure if you had any of Alexis. How was your trip to Utah? We've heard the temple is beautiful. We are working through these rough times in our life right now with the Lord's help. I will be leaving for Utah October 26th for a while. Please call and give Dave your love and support. He is going through a lot of heartache and confusion. He is a good and kind-hearted person and has a lot to give; I don't want to lose him through any of this. I'll be in touch. Love, Holly. The newspaper today says that the Cotton Mission Chapter of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers is restoring the old Hebron Cemetery. I believe all of our ancestor's gravestones have been re-done, but they are asking for donations. during October and November, so that they can place markers where they have been lost or deteriorated. James William Huntsman and his wife, Zadoc Parker and his wife, and possibly one other couple are our relatives buried there. In the late afternoon, after a siesta, we went over to Karen's Aunt Dotty's place to visit with her and Uncle Boyd Nethercott. We learned that they are good friends with Todd Compton's parents. Todd is writing a book on the wives of Joseph Smith and has sent me the manuscript to review. They paid me for a copy of my book and we discussed it and other topic. Afterwards we bought groceries, came home and worked on our talks for tomorrow. October 27, 1996: Sunday. Prayer, scriptures, exercize. Prepared my talk and helped Karen with hers. Attended Church. Our talks were well received. Mine was as follows. DOING GENEALOGY IN THIS MODERN ERA The Apostle John tells us, quoting Jesus, "In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." Of course he doesn't do this all alone. He has helpers. And the mansions which are prepared are a reflection of our keeping our part of the bargain. We must be involved during our lifetimes of "bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man," which is the work and glory of Father in Heaven. Let me stress this with a parable. There was a couple who died recently, who had moved to St. George some years ago to retire. They had spent their years raising a wonderful family, serving in the Church, assisting the poor, visiting the sick, and were faithful in everything they did. After coming to St. George to retire they decided that their lives were full, that they could now relax and enjoy themselves. They told their bishop they couldn't accept any callings because they wouldn't be around much. They saw to it that they didn't attend too many Sundays in a row. Sometimes they'd drive to Mesquite for the weekend and attend Church there. They made it a point to keep their recommends current, but hardly ever had time to use them. One day on their way back from Las Vegas, they were killed in a heavy rainstorm that washed across the freeway. As they floated through the long tunnel towards the bright light they were in awe at their rapid change in circumstances. All of a sudden they came to a sudden stop and were met by a lovely, well-dressed young woman who asked them to follow her. She led them to a station where a large, sleek limousine whisked them away through the lovely countryside of incredible colors and marvelous varieties of plants and flowers. As they entered the alabaster city towards which they had been driving they saw it was full of mansions at every turn. They began climbing a hill of even more luxury and opulence. Finally they arrived at the top of the hill and the limousine came to a stop underneath a covered driveway entrance in front of one of the most exotic mansions in the whole city. They could hardly see its massiveness because of their position within the spacious limousine, but they could see the gold inlaid front doors and knew this was heaven. Being ushered inside they were greated by a host of courteous and efficient servants. They were astonished at the incredible beauty and richness they saw everywhere. They turned to their guide and asked: "Hasn't there been a mistake made? We don't deserve all of this." As they raised their hands in a gesture to the surroundings, they realized the mansion had no roof. Their faces turned to expressions of consternation and they looked at their guide with wonderment. She said: "We were working along just fine until you moved to St. George. When you stopped we stopped. This is your home for eternity." Brothers and Sisters, life is not meant to be lived piecemeal. Perhaps this is best expressed in a cartoon which I have hanging on my wall. This large water crane is swallowing a frog and has the body positioned for the final gulp, head first, legs straddling the lower beak, but the frog has grabbed hold of the swallowing muscles and is holding on for dear life. The caption reads: "Don't ever give up!" Karen mentioned the importance of a daily routine in doing our life's tasks. I want to emphasize this with a show and tell. This piece of paper has a paragraph on it which is the result of one day's effort in writing a book that I plan to publish in March. I don't spend all of my time writing, so I don't get a lot done every day. But I do spend every day writing something. For the past nineteen years I have written two books a year. These two are the ones I finished in 1996. This is a compact disc with marriages taken from all of the ward records in Utah prior to 1907 when the Genealogical Form E became a standard recording system throughout the Church. This took me a few years to compile, but was only done a few minutes each day. During 1996 I have been working on another disc, from Ireland. My goal was to enter 100 baptisms, marriages, or deaths a day into my computer. I finished this goal last month and was able to enter genealogical information on about 150,000 people this year. I suppose that this represents more people than have been entered in all the computers of all the members of the stake combined this year. I don't say this with any other intention than to point out what I learned very early in my life as I became involved in genealogy at the age of twelve. It can't be done in a day, and it won't be done at all unless it's done consistently over time. The rhyme we learned as Primary children applies: "Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land." President Joseph Fielding Smith has said: "It is not possible, as some of us have supposed, for us to slip along easily through this life, keeping the commandments of the Lord indifferently - accepting some of the doctrines and not others, and indulging our appetites or desires, and, because we consider them little things, failing to understand and comprehend our duty to them - and then expect to receive a fulness of glory in the kingdom of God." Enquote So, let's be specific about the nature of the promises made to the fathers. What did we promise our fathers that we would do with our time while on this earth? It was the promise of the Lord, which we all agreed to, made through Enoch, Isaiah, and other prophets, to the nations of the earth, that the time should come when the dead should be redeemed. And the turning of the hearts of the children to these deceased and waiting dead is fulfilled in the performing of vicarious temple work, the extraction program, the preparation of our own genealogies, the writing of histories, the keeping of journals, and of remembering and caring for those who have gone before us. We live in a day when we are without excuse if we don't do this work. There are over 300,000,000 names in over 3,500 websites on the Internet. The Family History Library is nearing 200,000,000 names on its indexes. What a comparison! The Internet buildup has surpassed the entire effort of the Church in this dispensation in less than seven years. My company is approaching 150,000,000 in its indexes in seven years. That's over a half a billion names, many of which have not had their temple work done, and which are your ancestors. There is other technology which will soon be available to you, allowing great amounts of information to be entered into the computer without any typing being needed. Scanners are rapidly developing that will soon reach the stage where you will be able to take an old family history, make an electronic copy of it, and then using other new technologies being developed at this very moment, have the computer analyze the data and prepare it into family groupings. Suffice it to say that we need to be about our Father's business. My great-granduncle Francis Marion Lyman, as President of the Quorum of the Twelve, and President of the Genealogical Society of Utah, stated many times that we would do well as a Church if we save half of the members in the Celestial Kingdom. Why so few? I say why so many? The Lord is not partial. He will not draw a line to keep some people out, like on test scores. He wants everyone of us to go in if we will. But there are laws and ordinances that we must keep. If we do not observe the law we cannot enter. In our stake only about half of the members who have received their endowments in the past currently hold recommends. Does that remind you of what Elder Lyman said? And I say that just holding a recommend doesn't qualify us for the Celestial Kingdom. Less than twenty of us attend our ward temple night each month, and less than forty of us attend the temple with any regularity. I leave you with the challenge to ponder our words, to pray about them, and to decide whether or not you are serious about the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ. I very seldom speak of genealogy because I have such a deep commitment to it. I don't want to be looked at as a genealogy nut. I'm here today because I was assigned. Rather, I do missionary work, welfare work, visit the sick and the needy, and try to keep myself rounded in my gospel activity. I study the scriptures daily. My family receives daily attention. These are just the basics and we all need to be doing them. President Kimball said that its all the same great redemptive effort, whether for the living or the dead. Let's not feel we have done enough if we're a good teacher, or a good priesthood leader, or have gone to the temple once a month and paid our tithing. Joseph Smith said it would take the combined efforts of all of us and we would just barely get the work done. Elder Packer twenty years ago said we had progressed one inch on a genealogical football field of 100 yards. Since then we have gone backwards 1/2 inch. Over 50,000,000 a year are dying worldwide and we are doing less than 10,000,000 endowments a year. We must be more committed. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. October 28, 1996: Monday. Prayer, scriptures, exercize. Made a roast and stew for today and tomorrow. Edited my book for the last time prior to final publication. Worked with Jeff Levinsky on a new technology for the company. Helped Karen with some data entry on her family. Took our new softward (FTW 3.4) and with the help of technical support in Fremont, got it interacting with our Family Tree Maker Online website. This allowed me to begin to develop my own web pages within FTO. I did one for my new book. Also it allowed access to the bulletin board online, and the classified ads online, both of which I accessed and placed notices of my book and answered some questions as the chief genealogist for the company. In the evening we attended a neighborhood halloween party or family home evening. It was held this year and Karen and Orvil Fisher's place next to the chapel. We received additional comments about our talks on Sunday and had some nice visits with the neighbors. October 29, 1996: Tuesday. Prepared a memo on a world pedigree that I would like to develop through Banner Blue. Submitted it to seven of the management staff as follows: Author: Lyman Platt at banner1 Date: 10/29/96 7:35 AM Priority: Normal TO: Ken Hess at banner1 TO: Rob Armstrong at banner1 TO: Jeff Levinsky at banner1 TO: Dalit Muzzarelli at banner1 TO: Charles Merrin at banner1 TO: Kim Mullin at banner1 TO: Alma Rodoni at banner1 Subject: Family Linked Trees. This concept has been proposed by me in the past, but I believe it is time to look at it again. With the development of FTO, we now have the capability of allowing for a section of FTO to be dedicated to the development of a worldwide linked pedigree. I would like to propose that the project be set up and that I be assigned as the project manager and data control manager. I would need an FTW access site on FTO, restricted to my input only, but available to all FTO users for review of the index and: 1) free downloading capabilities in exchange for pedigree information that could connect to the Family Linked Trees (FLT); or 2) paid downloading for a non‑exchange situation. I have been experimenting with this concept on my own time for some fifteen years, from the beginning of my computer life, and have developed a pedigree that spreads in many directions rather than just out in the standard shapes. I took my pedigree as a base because it connects to many notable early Americans, and to many royal lines, and because of the years spent in creating documented connections. I have added a number of very illustrious lineages by going up on my pedigree, finding a common ancestor and coming down on the new lines. In this way I have added, as a few examples, eight of the fifteen presidents of the Mormon Church with their expansive New England ancestry (including the current president), General/President Ulysses S. Grant, the Native American lineage of the first Indian to meet the Pilgrims when they arrived at Plymouth Rock, Spanish lineages from a number of Latin American countries and Southwestern states, Inca, Aztec, Maya and Toltec pedigrees, many royal lines from Europe, Egyptian Pharoah lineages, Polynesian pedigrees, lineages from India, and a host of others. We have the ability at this point to be the first organization ever to attempt to reconstruct a pedigree of man. It eventually could be a huge project requiring a great deal of additional manpower and sources, with corresponding profits, but for a few years I could handle it alone. It needs to be controlled so that garbage doesn't get into it, so that all connections are made based on acceptable referenced sources or documents. It would create a dramatic useage of our website, would give us great visibility, provide an enormous service to the genealogical community, allow for a way to eventually replace the world family trees with one tree that would accept submissions that were not duplicated. The WFT project is valuable in some regards (particularly as a reference) and very profitable, but most of the times I use the files, what I access I wouldn't consider putting in my own pedigree. It is a very large and growing database, but it will eventually bite us just like the IGI has created such a negative reputation for the Family History Department. I will eventually market this database on my own if the project is not adopted by Banner Blue. Therefore, if Banner Blue decides to accept it as a core for their project, it won't just be handed over. As it exists it represents a lot of midnight hours and no time paid for by the company. It is a set of clean data from which a solid world pedigree can be built. It has been a dream of mine for many years to see this idea realized. At a point where I had the number three position at the Family History Department, prior to going private, I tried to get the concept initiated there, but the committees that studied it didn't feel the manpower needed to make it a large project could be spared at the time. I felt there was some short‑sightedness involved as well. It is an idea whose time has come, where the technology is in place, and where it will come to pass. I understand why it's been turned down previously and accept the previous reasons. I do not accept that they are still valid, however. I would appreciate your serious consideration of this proposal. I would rather see Banner Blue develop the concept because of our excellent software capabilities, our detail to planning projects, and our user base. However, because it's time to take the idea public, it can start small and grow very large on its own merits. The only question is does Banner Blue want to do it? Thank you. Lyman In the evening we took our genealogy class to the family history center and gave them a tour of the facility and showed them how to use the various collection. Cornelia Dawe got her recommend signed tonight by the stake president. She is Navajo, and this is her first time. We are scheduled to go through the temple with her on November 6th. We attended her baptism last year. October 30, 1996: Wednesday. Prayer. Heavy work replaced exercize. Readings in genealogy, but not scriptures. Entered Charts 7-9 from Whitehead's work into my world family tree, showing descent from John de Mowbray to Brigham Young, Williard Richards, and John Taylor; Sir William FitzWilliam to Wilford Woodruff and John Taylor; from Richard Gobion to John Taylor and Heber J. Grant; and from Elias Giffard to Joseph Smith, George Albert Smith, Brigham Young, Willard Richards, and Heber J. Grant. I finished some yard work this morning and then took the tiller to the garden, and prepared a spot for a fall garden. Planted, carrots, radishes, lettece, kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts, mustard, spinach, and a few others. Karen and I spent the day putting on the outside siding that remained to be put in place and she did a lot of caulking on the roof. In the evening we had a heavy rain and only one place leaked, so we're getting close to being weatherproof. Ken Hess retired as president of Banner Blue Software today, and Alma Rodoni was put into his position. Brent had a birthday today. He is thirty-three. Karen called him to wish him happy birthday. He's working on a project in China for his company. He's thinking of buying a house and likes his new car. He's getting anxious to get married. Karen sent a message to Baird as follows: Dear Family, I talked to Brent last night about 7:00 PM. I hope you remembered his birthday. He spent it home and hopes soon he will have a mate. Lyman got his new Family Tree Maker and successfully put another website on for his new book. Apparently only one website can be done per FTM software. He wanted to do one for the Petty, Platt and Behunin family. Anyone it worked well. He also successfully merged his family file and mine from PAF. We are going to do a little more work and then send everyone a disc. We went to the Family History Library last night with our class. Apparently the Church has a new program coming out with 6 test sites and they showed us the room they have built. They are using recycled computers so we are guessing that the program is probably Internet access. Lyman and I talked in Church last Sunday on genealogy. I talked about family stories, keeping sacred records of one's family and each person doing something everyday for genealogy of their family since as a covenant person we cannot enter the celestial kingdom unless we do according to the prophets. I also talked about pride and the complacent false sense of security it gives. Then I mentioned the ward we attended in Highland and the Bishop that wasn't supported by his congregation and what a dreadful thing it would be to assume that one knows all there is to know about the Church and stops learning and growing. I used the August Ensign which had an article in it about pride. Lyman talked about accomplishing much by doing a little each day. Little drops of water, Little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land ‑ from primary. It seemed like everyone in the ward said something to us about how they enjoyed the talks. It is the first time I have spoken in our ward ‑ I've never felt that the spirit was right so I was surprised. Most of the time, people don't get the message which is to do something everyday towards one's goals all the time. Usually we think we are going to do this or that sometime when we have time and generally it doesn't happen. Bye, Write, Love Mom October 31, 1996: Thursday. Prayer. Rob Armstrong called me this morning about the Ken Hess retirement, noted above. We also discussed my Irish disc: he hasn't had a chance to look at it and needs to in context with all foreign material. We discussed my proposal noted above regarding a world pedigree and he feels like it would entail too much work for us to handle. Rob asked me to check with Dr. Norton as to whether they are prepared to continue negotiations with Banner Blue for data conversion. I called Dr. Norton and left a message. I called Jeff Levinsky and talked to him about it and he suggested that we could implement part of it by highlighting documented parts of our FamilyFinder Index or some such capability. He says there is a royal website. Began working on Jeff's Whole File Search concept. He sent me a file with 1,000 entires of names from my pedigree, and where these may match with data we currently have available on our compact discs. It's an amazing concept, and I've found information on relatives I had no idea existed. Edward Partridge's and Lydia Clisbee's marriage in Ohio for example, was a total surprise to me. Entered Charts 10 from Whitehead's work into my world family tree, showing descent from Edward I and Eleanor of Castile to George Washington, Patrick Henry, Sir Walter Scott, Winston Churchill, Joseph Smith, Joseph F. Smith, Brigham Young, and John Taylor. Spent several hours in the evening reviewing all the messages on the company website and answering the questions from around the country. Received a book order from Frank Lago in Newark, California; and surnames orders from George Baker, Flushing, New York; and A. Martinez, American Fork, Utah. November 1, 1996: Friday. Prayers. Scriptures. Exercize. Re-organized our website at headquarters to show books, projects and families. This took several hours. Continued working on Whole File Search for Jeff Levinsky. Answered morning email from the company. We had a nice visit with our neighbor and her young daughter Allie. We spent about an hour with them. Went with Karen to buy some additional building materials. Gave her copies of Isaac Behunin histories from CD113. She went to copy information for her cousin Marsha. I talked to Ryan Christensen about developments with ASI and then sent Dr. Norton an update as follows: Memorandum TO: Dr. David Norton November 1, 1996 FM: Dr. Lyman Platt RE: Update Ryan says your answering service has been on the blink lately, so I don't know what you've received in the way of information from me in the last three weeks. This is an update for your reference. Jimmy Parker says the Church has decided to play everything close to the chest and retain all rights to their data, etc. They will not accept any offers from outside companies such as the proposal we made to them. However, in a follow-up conversation with him, he indicated that they would be willing to pay for the service. So our next step, when you're ready, is to show them the facility, and make another proposal. I'm ready to negotiate with other major genealogical libraries around the country for what we proposed to the Church whenever you're ready. I know we can get into some of them with the same proposal we made to the Church. They don't have the hangups the Church does. Bob Armstrong called me on the 29th of October, informing me that Banner Blue was ready to deal with ASI if ASI is ready. They have projects that they are ready to process and want to talk specifics. I told Rob I thought the deal was off because of the negative impact Paul had on the meeting. He disregarded the comment and obviously didn't want to talk about it. He just asked me to pass on to you that they are ready to look at the possibility of a contractual arrangement if ASI can produce what they need. The final item for you to consider is that I am continuing to create a World Family Tree, totally linked internally. I now have about 10,000 entries. I took my family as a base because of its wide-spread linkages. Going up line to common ancestors, I have entered into the linkages 10 of the 15 presidents of the Church, George Washington, Winston Churchill, Sir Walter Raleigh, Native American lineages, lineages from India, Egypt, all over Europe, Latin America, and on and on. Many royal lineages are connected. I am continuing to build this as fast as I have time, expecting that you will eventually be ready for it. What I need when the time is right is a portable (laptop) computer, with a neural chip, capable of direct linkage to the cube, and the ability to work on this from anywhere in the country. When you're ready to go full time with it, I can create a website, or you can, in which we begin to allow proven lineages to be submitted, analyzed, and linked to our core database. The service that will eventually be available through this system will be very popular and very productive to the genealogical community. It could grow very large, but no one without a neural technology will ever even try to develop it. Banner Blue doesn't want to touch it, nor does the Church. I foresee a time, however, when we can lease the database, or sell it on CD through these outlets and others, and produce a yearly update. The criteria for accepting data needs to be worked out, but I'm analyzing that at this point. Most people feel that it can't be done, that researchers will never agree on some connections. Possibly a tiered pedigree will be necessary in some cases, but for the most part, I believe we can accept proven sources, one line, and where it differs, stop. I'll wait to hear from you. It sounds like things are moving along in good fashion. Keep up the marvelous effort. Lyman November 2, 1996: Saturday. Spent the day putting the finishing touches on the outside of the new extension. Finished the siding. Put trim around the doors, and along the roof and bottom of the walls. Did some yard work. November 3, 1996: Sunday. Natalia called and told me of our daddy/daughter date on the 13th of November. Lyman wanted to use the cabin. Called Patricia. David sent Holly to Utah. Holly was pregnant when she left. David told her they would have a paternity test. Holly had a miscarriage, and is now on paxil for depression. Sixteen hour a day course for a week. Helped her brother. David is entering therapy on Wednesday. David's going to Utah for a week to visit his mother at her request. He's also confiding in Danny. Downloaded about 5,500 names, being the direct ancestry and children of Platte DeAlton Lyman, from the Family History Library's Ancestral File. Added it to my database. November 4, 1996: Monday. Worked on databases most of the day. Worked for Jeff and sent him a file. Helped Karen clean the house. In the evening we had three couples over for family home evening: the Cornells, the Carys, and the Whipples, all from our ward. November 5, 1996: Worked on getting orders out. Had my Tuesday staff meeting. Took a load of garbage out to the dump. Voted: Perot, Leavitt, Nielsen, etc., mixed ticket. Put in out last window in the new extension. Sealed it with glue. Received CD 224: Marriage Index: Maryland, 1655-1850 from Broderbund today, along with my official version of the software, and an instruction manuel. Also received a working copy of 707 and edited it for content. Talked to Mrs. Helen Wells from Washington about Family Tree Maker and its advantages. She is a non-member. Talked the gospel to her for a while. She was referred to me by Sister Craig. In the evening we went over to Craigs and had family home evening with them and Gail B. Porritt. As much was learned from him regarding information received in the past, I included it here with insertions where appropriate in bracket. JAREDITE RECORDS SECTION January 15, 1992 The three principal caves are 41 minutes east of Moroni in the Manti-LaSal on BLM land. They are a ways off the road. You have to be lowered by rope before you get to the steps that lead into the caves. [Brother Porritt indicated to us that the principal cave is 1.8 miles east and slightly south of the Manti Temple, that Johnny Bruer has made a video and drawn a map to show the exact location, and has placed these in a safe deposit box in a Provo bank.] [Brother Porritt says that standing on the temple mount, Johnny pointed to West Point, to a white silo, and a sagebrush hill next to it, near Wales, and told him that he would find one of the caves there. Effectively Brother Porritt and his son found the cave, but did not enter it. Johnny said that there were seven caves in the Manti area.] In the cave on the west side there is an area of storage fourteen feet high, by six feet wide by 42 feet long containing shelves, on which are located records in boxes. To get to this cave there is a 200 foot drop. At the 30 foot level it necessary to swing onto a ledge and take steps down from there. The oxygen is very bad in the cave. It takes 1 and a half hours to made a round trip from Moroni to this cave and back. In one cave there are 600 oolite stone and red cedar boxes 8 by 10 inches, and in which are contained metal plates, of brass, iron, and silver. The red cedar is a very dark red and is not from anywhere in this area as far as known stands are concerned. The stone boxes weigh about 65 pounds each. One box is crystal with two inch sides, top and bottom, containing gold plates about four inches by six inches in size. It is locked with a six or twelve crystal locks embedded into the box and almost invisible except to the careful touch. The gold plates are visible through the crystal. The outside of the box contained writings on its various sides. Many of the boxes have intricate locks made of the same materials the boxes are made of. A careful feelings of the locks reveals how to unlock them. Some of the metal plates inside the boxes are also locked together, indicating that they are bound together some way on the other edge. The other cave on the west side of Sanpete valley contains the mummies and some of the pictures in our possession. It is apparent from recent conversations, that some of the photographs in our possession are of materials from the east side (specifically the breastplate-like picture). Yesterday one of the plates was shown to Joanna Posey. It was made of lead, and was about 1\16 inches thick. It contained circular configurations similar to others we have seen. An attempt had been made to clean the fungus growth from it, destroying some of the original record. Some of the boxes were not air tight and have had some moisture get into them over the centuries. Another artifact, a stone tablet was also shown to JP, rounded in nature, with writing similar to the others. Paul Chessman, who died last month, had sixty-four photographs in his possession of this material, along with several plates. An attempt is being made to recover these. These may be different from the twenty-six photographs in our possession. State archeologists have three of the plates. The original photographer would now be 85 years old and lived in Manti about 6-7 blocks south of the temple on the east side of town. The sword from the male mummy weighs 152 pounds and is 8 feet long. It was taken into Manti and used to split a radiator in two as a demonstration of its capability. The male mummy has red hair. The female mummy has brown hair. The Tibetan cross on the male is on a breastplate. The woman is also wearing a breastplate. [The male mummy is holding his sword on his chest, with arms crossed, holding the hilt in his hands.] The man (Earl Brewer) who knows of the caves has known of them for twenty-five years. He has made every possible mistake he could make with regard to them. He wants nothing more to do with them. There are those suing him trying to get his land on the west side. He has never described the locks to anyone else except JP. The analysis of the descriptions of the records, boxes, etc., indicates that the materials are definitely there and fit other descriptions obtained elsewhere. He lives in Moroni and operates the sewage treatment plant there. [Johnny Breur originally discovered the cave while hunting arrowheads with a boy who was half negro, raised by Mrs. George Keller in Manti.] [A Canadian Indian has translated some of the plates for Johnny. Gail has a copy of the translation.] Larry Ferguson, John Baker, Joanne Jones, Noel Carden, Bradley W. Steuart, Paul R. DeBry, JLS, Jimmy Parker, Lyman D. Platt, Linda Karen Petty, Fred García, Caroline Puckett, Mark E. Peterson, the Chessman family, the state archeologists, Dr. Nibley, Mary Lee Scott, a linguist, daughter of Elder R.G. Scott, the photographer who owns the Antique Barn across the street from the Provo City Cemetery. August 11, 1992 We submitted the names of fourteen males and seven females for temple work this morning, all Native Americans, two of them being the mummies found in the Manti cave, King Orihah and his wife.. August 12, 1992 The two individuals whose bodies rest in the rock caskets in the seven-mile cave appeared to me during the evening to thank me for submitting their names. They looked lovingly at each other and gratefully to me and undoubtedly are prepared to receive their baptisms and endowments on the morrow. I do not yet fully understand this need, as they were assuredly great priesthood leaders, even prophet and prophetess, king and queen, priest and priestess in their time. August 13, 1992 Joanna Posey and I went to the temple this afternoon and performed fourteen baptisms for males and seven baptisms for females, I baptizing her for the women. Then we were confirmed, and did initiatory work for some of them. We met Karen at 5:00 p.m. and went through an endowment session, where Karen and I were the witnesses and performed the endowments for the two individuals noted above. They were in attendance at all of their ordinances, manifesting that fact through the spirit and through physical testimony. They are the first two Jaredites to be blessed with the ordinances of the temple in this dispensation that we are aware of. Now the great work for that people has begun and the records can come forth and the power of their testimony can be added to that of the other great records of this dispensation. I was impressed that through what we experienced today, these individuals now belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and hold positions of authority in the House of Israel which things they did not possess formerly in whatever positions they held in their day. This gives them rights and privileges in working within the Spirit World that they could only receive through the vicarious ordinances. And also, a record has been established worthy of all acceptation before the Lord, under the law of witnesses, and recorded in the proper manner. Whether that was done in the past or not is not known at this time. August 14, 1992 Karen and I were sealed in the Wells Room of the Manti Temple for time and eternity. Brother Brough performed the sealing. Uncle George A. Platt, and President Richard Frank Lewis were the witnesses. Aunt Thora was there. Joanna Posey, G. Virl Osmond, Dorothy Fielding, President and Sister Carroll Riddle, and the Rigbys, both from the Scofield Branch presidency. Virl also saw three from the spirit world in attendance, and I perceived that mother and Don Carlos were there during the endowment session. END OF JAREDITE RECORDS SECTION November 5, 1996 Continuing with the interview we had with Gail Porritt. He told us of an experience he had on October 23rd, 24th, and 25th concerning Keith Johnson. Keith's grandfather appeared to him and told him to go to the courthouse, to the recorder's office, and to find the information on the old relief mine. In the process he found an old gentleman there who said he had been waiting for the Lord to send someone. He told Keith that those in charge of the mine at the present time are not the right ones. They are involved in illegal activities, stock sales, claims not paid for for fourteen years. He told Keith that someone needed to re-file. Told him what to do. Then David Sorenson, an attorney who died in the 1950's appeared to him and told him that he was an attorney for land acquisitions. The old guy pulled out the original claim, covered Bishop Koyle's name, and made a copy of the record, and they refiled the petition. He was told to file on all lands from Spanish Fork canyon to Nephi. The main cave is 1 1/2 miles south of the relief mine entrance. He was told that the main cave held the sword of Laban, the Liahona, and the Ark of the Covenant. He was told to file patents on the east side of the moutain also, that there was a temple site there. He was told the Gail was to be the keeper of the records that are found. Gail has filed on 240 acres in the area, including the old Spanish mine sight. All of this is supposed to come to a head on November 15th. Plates will be photographed and scanned, put on disc and made available to others. Will be rubbed with oil to preserve them once the cave is broken into. Great land purchases to be made in the desert. Extraction of ores using furs, minerals to fertilize the lands for the raising of seeds. In one of Gail's patriarchal blessings, given in 1990 by the patriarch of Santa Clara stake, he was given his blessing in a chiastic structure, the center point being "I give unto you a Liahona." Great financial troubles... Thou art that servant... Wait for the manifestation... Three blessing since that time. One was by an Indian who blessed him in tongues and another translated the blessing. Blessing given from the fathers. Seven in that council in heaven that are on the earth at this time; you will know them when you see them; mission to unite the dark skin with the white skin peoples. Five and a half hour interview with Hugh Nibley. Told that Joseph Smith was born in the winter, died in the sumer, received the plates in the Spring - to beware of the fall equinox..... The twenty-four gold plates of the Jaredites have to come forth before the destruction of the people in the last days. Inca woman, Fanny, and her son Michael and her husband. Messenger appeared to her in her homeland and told her to look to her child. He had been tied up. Wasn't breathing. Messenger helped her revive him. Another Indian appeared. Headdress, white flowing feathers. Asked to leave. Appeared again. Spear and lance with white feathers aimed at her in great reverence. Asked to leave. Personage in white tunic and white robe appeared, bare feet. Raised his hand and she saw the destruction of the world. A church that was not a church put to death anyone opposed to them. As the messenger sat down his robe fell open to reveal a bright red inner lining. Son Michael to be a great prophet unto the people. First messenger returned and told her to come to the U.S. to find Gail Porritt. Gail took her to the Hopi to meet Monakja, who she wouldn't talk to. Patriarch Namkina of the Hopi and Navajo was then visited and they spent the next hours receiving great instruction and interchange. That night the messenger appeared again. He did not appear to Gail, because he has not been resurrected. Gail told her to shake hands with him and the messenger would not, but indicated that he had a message, that Gail was to be the keeper of the records. He was told that there would be great apostasy in the Church, but that it was not his concern, that the Lord would take care of his leaders. He was told not to take the records to the leaders of the Church, that there was danger among the brethren. Fanny was told to go back to Missouri and select a sight for her inheritance, but not to move there until after the destruction. She was told that there would be ten seasons after she takes her son back. The messenger was later identified as Fanny moved to Idaho and appeared again to her as Alma the Younger. She was not a Mormon at the time and didn't known who Alma the Younger was. See Alma 45:18-19 as to why he didn't appear. Gail says he is accompanied by three spirits, two men, and Lady Rosa, a blond Inca from the 14th century. Terry Blodgett, professor at Southern Utah University has traced the tribes of Israel by their languages. Stan Bronson, from Blanding, is an apostate, involved in the Indian site over there. Bishop Willardson, Ephraim, had a counselor who discovered a cave with artifacts and bodies. The cave has been sealed. Kay Sessions took Gail to Elder Wells, then to Bishop Willardson. An evil man. Stole plates from the Crespi Collection in Ecuador. Self serving. Zona Jackson. You're the one. Out of body experience 28 years ago when having her last child. Went through the tunnel. Met the Savior. Told to look closely at his face and to keep his image in her memory. Great mission was to be to chart all the noble minerals from the Arizona border to Enterprise, and from the Nevada border to the Pine Valley road. The 2nd part of her mission was to locate hidden records for an Elder in Zion. When she met Gail, she said he was the man. She told him of auras around him, and of the three spirits. She identified burial grounds, tombs, and record sites for Gail. She has identified sixteen locations to date. Gail went to the Manti Temple and was taken through the temple by a man in a white suit, with no name tag. Taught him in the Wells Room for 40 minutes. One thing he taught him was the Woman's Resurrection Claim. There are fifteen temples on the banner of God. Cardston, Idaho Falls, Ogden, Logan, Bountiful, Salt Lake, Jordan River, Provo, Manti, Mesa. Oakland - Denver. Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and St. George. After there are fifteen the Lord will come. Gail talked to us about seeking our appointment from the Lord, of the patriarchal priesthood that came with us from the Spirit World. We were shown some of the plates from the Manti cave as well as pictures of golden plates from Mexico. November 6, 1996: Wednesday. Brother Porritt came over in the morning and we had a long discussion about his life and his feelings about where he is going with all that he is receiving. We tried to counsel him to back off on some of what he is doing. He discussed 3 Nephi 16:10, the Gospel of the Father, as being distinct from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and feels he has gone beyond the Church. He discussed a five-hour interview with Hugh Nibley, telling us among other things that brother Nibley told him that the five points of fellowship and the penalties are absolutely essential to the temple ceremony. November 7, 1996: Thursday. Received 300 copies of my book with binding and cover problems. I am to pay for them at $2.56 @ in December. November 8, 1996: Friday. Worked on surname histories and getting all the backlog of my work caught up. Novmeber 9, 1996: Saturday. Worked outside. Finished part of the gutter around the new extension. Put in a window in the archive. Cleaned the archive. Took a computer out there. Set up an indexing program on the computer to begin organizing all of the materials that have come into my possession in the last ten years. Caught my foot in the tiller while doing some garden work. It was very painful. Planted more garden. November 10, 1996: Sunday. Stayed home today. My foot is swollen and hurts a lot. Went over to Roberta's to get a book. November 11, 1996: Monday. Brother Porritt came over in the morning. He read us his patriarchal (October 7, 1990, Santa Clara) and other blessings, and we discussed the situation with his family, and the problems he is having with the Church. He gave us the manuscript to his volume two and asked us to review it for appropriateness. It is entitled Before the Coming of the East Wind. He told us about him being one of the seven from the Council in Heaven assigned in the last days to do important things. His job partially consists of linking the darked skinned people with the Gentile Race. He was told in a blessing on November 21, 1994 that he has the office of Guardian of the Records. Chief Badger from West Valley City, in 1953 was driving on the Navajo Reservation when he rounded a bluff and was met by a woman, strangely dressed. Her name was Alauan. She was a commander of a UFO spaceship. He helped her put the power shaft back in place. She then showed him what would take place on the earth between 1953 and 2000. She gave him a black box. It opened like a suitcase and had on one side a headset and on the other side discs. The discs transfer information into the headset and into the mind. He was told to bury the box and that the incident would then be taken from his mind for a time and that gradually he would remember the incident. As of two years ago he remembered the box but not where he buried it. After he left Alauan he met an old man, standing in the trail. He was told to go no further, that the time to travel down that path was not yet. Several years later the same man appeared to him on a dirt road in back of the Manti Temple while he and another individual were looking for the Manti Cave. He smiled at Chief Badger and told him he was with the wrong kind of person. He told him he was forgiven but not the other man, that he would be punished, then he disappeared. He appeared a third time on January 22, 1995 at Chief Badger's home in West Valley City at 2:00 A.M. one day a few years ago. Chief Badger asked: "Who are you and how can I help?" He was told to write what he saw. He was shown seven individuals, six of whom he knew by name. He was given other information. He then wrote to Brother Porritt and told him he was one of the seven, but that he was in danger from one of the others who was not friendly to him at the present time. Brother Porritt then told us of Joseph Warm Southwind, who lives in Guatemala and who he believes is the Choice Seer of 2nd Nephi, chapter 3, Joseph being a son of Joseph and a grandson of Echa Tah Echa Nah, the Great White Chief of the Chigaraguan Indians of Mexico. Karen had just found that book The Great White Chief and the Indian Messiah at Deseret Book last week, one I've been looking for for many years. It was a limited printing by Norman C. Pierce and very difficult to find. Thus we had further information regarding this track of information. Next he told us about an experience that he received from the spirit that he kept putting off and off. He was to contact a Harwood from Mona. Finally, he went and found out about Amie Avery, who had died at the rest home in Richfield two days earlier. She had died on Tuesday, he arrived on Thursday, the funeral was on Saturday. He contacted Allen Avery, the son who was making the funeral arrangements. They met on Monday. Allen gave Brother Porritt her writings. They included an experience when she was nine years old and her and her father were travelling to their home east of Richfield. They found an old Indian Shaman lying buried in the snow and took him home and nursed him back to health. He lived with them for nine months before he died. She was taken around all the sites in the Sevier Valley and shown their importance and where ancient temples and records were located. She recorded all of this information at her tender age of nine and passed it on to Brother Porritt after his death. Siguard Knoll has a temple on it, and according to the Shaman was where the people of Enoch lived before the Flood. All of Mrs. Avery's writings are in the possession of Brother Porritt. He loaned us a copy of The Porritts of Yorkshire, a family history that he wrote, so that we could review his ancestry for our Worldwide Family Pedigree. Finally he showed us the chiastic structure of his patriarchal blessing. I had never realized that this was a possibility. After he left I got out my blessing and immediately identified that it also was given in a perfect chiastic structure. I then got Karen's blessing and also found that it was chiastic. Then I did Baird's and found it has chiastic structure but it was harder to find. The central structure of my blessing is "Set your heart upon these exalted matters, study them and find out the beauty and simplicity of the order in which mankind may receive a fullness of joy. Parallelisms out from the center in both directions include the following pairs of information: Blessed with susceptibility to the science of these things Turn to them in your heart You will fill important positions in the Church and will be the wisdom, courage, faith and dignity of these callings Emulate their example Serve him and see his face and hear his voice Men and women who have made their calling and election sure Look for and prepare for these things for they will surely come Seeds which will spring up to immortality, eternal life and exaltation Choice gifts which you are to develop to the excellence of usefulness Taught great saving principles in the days of your youth. Honor and bless your father and mother Born of choice parentage Preparing and looking forward eagerly for a long, long time Aspired with all your heart I seal you up unto eternal life to stand with the redeemed of the Lord Favor and love of the Lord Holy Priesthood Holy Priesthood The beauty of this structure, the additional information that it imparts to me at this time in my life is not only a sure witness of the blessing's origin, but is like receiving another patriarchal blessing. I am overwhelmed at what it teaches me and how I feel about what life is about at this point. This knowledge is truly one of the greatest blessings I have received in my life and I feel to praise the Lord and to thank him for his tender mercies towards me and my family. November 12, 1996: Tuesday. Prepared for the trip north. Made the trip. Stayed at the Inn at Temple Square. We went to Legacy for the first time. It was a memorable experience, seeing in vivid portrayal some of the early scenes of Mormonism. In the evening I went over to the Library for a little while and copiedthe Polynesian pedigrees from Israel in the Pacific by William A. Cole and Elwin W. Jensen, a former associate in the research department. November 13, 1996: Wednesday. Early morning breakfast with Ione Ishii. Took her to the library to meet Jimmy and then trained her in usage of the library. I gave Jimmy copies of my last two books for the library and asked him regarding several rolls of microfilm that I need to complete the Hispanic surname project. He referred me to Brian Hulleberg (240-1850). We had lunch with Jimmy and John Kitzmiller and then had a meeting with John. He gave us a lot of new information, including extracts from a book by Robert Wernick entitled Rising from the sea, the mysterious handword of giants; Don Cameron Allen, The Legend of Noah; Orville L. Hope, 6000 years of Seafaring; Anthony Roberts, Sowers of Thunder: Giants in Myth and History; Sir John Daniel, The Philosophy of Ancient Britain; and M. H. Gayer, The Heritage of the Anglo-Saxon Race. Each of these has important data for volume two of the World Book of Generations. Took the old extraction information from our stake back to the extraction center. Went out to the Distribution Center and got new instructions and forms for the new information we have received on death records. In the evening I drove to Highland and had a date with my daughter Natalia. We went bowling with her Church class and then came back to Highland and had a nice evening at the Church, eating, playing the piano together, and telling each other what we liked about one another. Afterwards I had a chance to talk to Nicolle, Lyman Dee, and Johnny for a few minutes. It was a lovely evening. November 14, 1996: Thursday. Went to the library and copied the indexes to four new books by Endika de Mogrobejo, entitled Diccionario Hispanoamericano de Heráldica, Onomástica y Genealógica, which are additions to the Diccionario Heráldico y Genealógico de Apellidos Españoles y Americanos published by Alberto and Arturo García Carraffa. The Carraffa brothers never finished their encyclopedia, stopping in the U's because of death. This is a critical addition to their work. Bought some books at Sam Weller's bookstore, including The Phoenicians by Donald Harden; The Sumerians: Their History, Culture and Character by Samuel Noah Kramer; The Egyptians by Cyril Aldred; The Secret of the Hittites by C. W. Ceram; An Encyclopedia of World History by William L. Langer; Written by the Finger of God, by Joe Sampson; and Nauvoo: Kingdom on the Mississippi, by Robert Bruce Flanders. Traveled home. Arrived at 6:00 P.M. Caught up on the mail and email. Travel mileage 183510.0 to 184192.0 = 682 miles. November 15, 1996: Friday. Caught up on the CCMail: seventeen messages from the company. Linda at Custom Family Publishers indicated my book will be delivered here on Monday. Typed up all the notes from the experiences of that last ten days. Submitted my pay and work reports to Banner Blue Software. Talked to John Kitzmiller about his patriarchal blessing. Between Karen and I we found two chiastic structures within his blessing that greatly enhance the information contained in the blessing. He was very grateful and overwhelmed at what he learned. Karen received a package of information from Marsha Smith on Isaac Hill. She read this and then began studying Written by the Finger of God. She also got an e-mail from her grandson Jacob. I concentrated on the Phoenician section of volume 2, making some good progress. We went out to eat, exercized, and studied until 1:00 A.M. November 16, 1996: Saturday. Prayer, exercize, study of the scriptures. Typed some new Hispanic surname histories and finished several orders that have come in, got them ready and mailed them. Worked on typing Brother Porritt's book, and the book on the Anglo-Saxons. November 17, 1996: Sunday. Prayer, exercize, study of the scriptures. Trevor is nine years old today. Called him and sang happy birthday. Reviewed e-mail, and the BB website. Typed on books. LaVan Martineau called. He is continuing to work on the Moapa and Las Vegas groups of the Piute tribes. November 18, 1996: In the morning I worked for Broderbund and then took the afternoon off and helped Karen finish up the outside of the office, cleaned the yards, preparatory to a city inspection of our building. The inspector pass us off for final work. We went out to eat. November 19, 1996: Tuesday. This morning between 2:00 and 5:00 I finished Written by the Finger of God. Karen finished it yesterday. This morning Karen and I talked to Joe Sampson from Richfield for about two hours by telephone. He is Karen's aunt Blanche's grandson, and has written the book noted above which we have both now read and find has changed dramatically our lives and thinking. Received a book order from Margaret E. Bullock, Woodland, California, along with a couple of search requests on her genealogy. Deposited the money in savings. Paid bills. November 20, 1996: Wednesday. I called Joe Sampson this morning and he faxed me a copy of an article entitled "Equidistant Letter Sequences in the Book of Genesis" written by Doron Witztu, Ellyahu Rips and Yoav Rosenberg, published in Structural Sciences, volume 9, pages 429-438. He also sent me several pages that he and Craig Rosenberg from Washington City have come up with showing a higher level of these structures and showing that the names Nephi and Lehi and encoded within Genesis as the hidden interpretation to the "branches run over a wall" prophecy referring to Joseph's lineage in Genesis 45. It shows that Nephi and Lehi were to go away, to be removed, far off. One of the things he told me about these internal structures pertained to the November 17, 1995 assassination of Rabin in Israel. The Jews read a select number of verses each evening in their synagogues and finish the Torah once a year. Part of Gensis 15, which was read on November 17th last year, points in its higher meaning to the covenant God made with Abraham. The lamp and fire which came down as a sign of the covenant of land given to Abraham, was interpreted in the higher level as "Fire, Fire, evil is decreed upon Rabin by God [who has broken the covenant and is trying to sell the birthright land]." He was shot twice: "fire, fire" as punishment from God for breaking the Abrahamic covenant. In the evening the home teachers came over. Bud Barnum bought a copy of my new book. I gave Karen $10.00 and kept $20.00 for expenses. November 21, 1996: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Had our gas tank fill with 250 gallon of fuel for the winter heating, $236.82. Balanced my checkbook. Received one surname search. Karen got her Christmas quilt from Hursts. Bought paper for the copier. Today I copied all of the pictures from Gail B. Porritt that I needed to complete my collection of photographs of ancient writings and plates. He loaned me copies of Ancient American which has some excellent articles on ancient alphabets that I need for volumes 2 and 3, The Ancient Nations, that I'm working on at this time. In the eveing I went down to Colorland and copied seven negatives from the Manti collection in anticipation of Joe Sampson's visit in December. After returning home, I worked on dechiphering some of the characters from Gail's collection of Manti records. I was able to determine finally the direction the writing is recorded, and possibly dechiphered one vowel and several consonants. It will take a lot of work, studying many languages. These records are unlike any other language ever seen on earth by modern man that I have been able to find. It began raining this evening; solid, heavy at times; much needed. I had to dig a trench in the back to drain the water away from our new extension. Today I identified the chiastic structure of a blessing received from José Calixto López on May, 24, 1985. This shows that the blessing was directly from God and had no motivation from José's own feelings at that time. Because of all that what happening then, I had discounted the blessing as one of those things that had tended to draw me into thought processes that created in my mind an image of myself that was inaccurate. Now I see that in this instance, I was wrong and therefore, I add it here in my history as a foundation stone upon which I am building my current thinking. Brother Lyman D. Platt. By the power of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which I bear, acting in this great calling, I give you a blessing as a servant of the Lord and tell you that the Lord does know your spirit and your soul, that He knows whence you came from and where you are going. He knows the everday of your life and every hour. He knoweth how well and how good you have worked in this calling which you have. He knows you are a good and faithful servant and the only one who could have done what you are doing at this time. Your suffering will be blotted out; all the weight on your shoulders will also be taken away. There has never been a time in your life that you would turn to the right or to the left. He knows you have trained yourself to walk the straight and narrow path to exaltation, to eternal life. He wants you to know that he hears your cries, hears your sufferings and reads your mind; he knows every fiber in your being and you have a purpose in life as all of his children who have been appointed in the councils of Heavenly Father. Beware of Satan, of the Devil. He is still around. He knows you don't fear him. He knows that your only fears are of the Lord. You were known there, you walked rightly - drew a sword, you were one of the great and valient ones. Your work is to the chosen people of the Lord. You also will be like Joshua, a Prince of the Lord, and will draw a sword in defense of truth. Be mindful of the things around you. I bless you with health and strength to finish the job. You will have all the callings placed before you. Trust in the Lord. You will receive visitors from the other side of the veil. You will talk with the prophet and to no one else, and you will communicate to him that which you have received. This is in the wisdom of the Lord. Great joy will be yours. You must be humble and do everything in Glory to Him and to no one else. You will make fools of many, that that which was prepared from the foundation of the world will come to pass. You will see through your eyes great changes, will hear through your ears great changes. I bless you with wisdom and knowledge. I seal these blessings upon you by the power of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. The structure is as follows: A. Power B. I give you a blessing C. He knows you are a good and faithful servant D. Your suffering will be blotted out. E. There has never been a time in your life that you would turn to the right or to the left. He knows you have trained yourself to walk the straight and narrow. F. He hears your cries, hears your suffering and reads your mind. A. You have a purpose in life. B. Appointed in the Councils in Heaven C. Beware of Satan D. You were known there E. You drew a sword F. Your work is to the chosen people E. You will draw a sword D. You will be like Joshua, the Prince C. Be mindful of things around you B. Bless you...to finish the job A. You will have all the callings placed before you F. Trust in the Lord E. You will receive visitors from the other side. You will talk to the prophet and to no one else and will communicate with him D. Great joy will be yours. C. You will make fools of many B. I bless you with wisdom and knowledge. A. Power November 22, 1996: Friday. Prayer, scripture study. It continued to rain all day. Everything is soaked and well watered. We fixed a few leaks in our new extension on the house. Paid bills, mailed several surname reports to people. Bought food. Cooked dinner. Gail. B. Porritt came over. He brought with him some more of his writings, which he gave to us as he was leaving. He was interested in discussing Alma 37, and D&C 86. We also discussed the Pearl of Great Price, Book of Abraham, regarding the noble and great ones. We went into a lot of detail in the discussion about structures, callings in the last days. and roles that various individuals might play in this scenario. He told us that the word interpreters which is found in Alma 37. He told us that the original manuscript to the Book of Mormon, and the first edition called these directors and refer to the Liahona. We discussed Gazelem, spelled differently from Gazelam which used to be in the D&C but has been taken out. He told us about an experience he has had with a man name Mike, Irish by origin, currently living in Alaska. One day he came to Gail's home and introduced himself and told him he had a message to deliver. He said he was a representative of the ten tribes, that there are 6,000,000 of them, that at one time they held the lesser priesthood, but no longer hold any priesthood, that Gail has the responsibility to collect a group of Mormons to receive the ten tribes. He told Gail that they know who they are and are waiting for the signal. They live in the four corners of the earth and in the islands of the sea. He told Gail that they have secreted away many of their records here in Utah, that the records they are currently keeping they keep under their kitchen floors. He told Gail that the Church as a whole will not receive them, just this select group of Ephraimites, who will adminster the priesthood to them. This first visit was about a year ago. One month later he returned. He gave Gail and book to read and a video to watch. Gail did not understand the book. The video was of this people, showing them in many cultures and lands, dancing and worshipping. He told Gail that when the time comes to return there will be a major housing problem. Part of them will go to Jackson County, Missouri, and part of them to Utah. He repeated that Gail's job was to prepare that portion of the Mormons that were to be involved in this endeavor. He returned three or four months after that. Gail told him he didn't understand the book. Mike said he didn't expect that he would. He took the book and the video back with him. He has not been heard of since the third visit. November 23, 1996: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Went for an early morning walk in the clean air and brisk weather. The storm has passed. It is a beautiful day, typical of St. George in November. Spent the day selling books, making about $250.00. Karen spent the day insulating the office extension on our home. November 24, 1996: Sunday. Prepared the Gospel Doctrine lesson. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Morning walk. Attended choir practice. November 25, 1996: Monday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Went to a performance at the opera house put on by a young fellow representing Joseph Smith. Very instructive. Spent the day working on the Internet. Karen's birthday. Her mother called, as did LaDean, and all of her other sisters sent cards. I also gave her a card, as did Brent. Sister Cornell gave her a present after the performance. None of my family bothered to remember. Baird's wife Ann sent a nice card with pictures of the children. Worked on volume 2. November 26, 1996. Tuesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked on the Internet all day doing comparisons between genealogical data there and what Banner Blue has available. Attended to phone meetings with company personnel. Worked on volume 2. November 27, 1996: Wednesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Turned in weekly reports to Banner Blue. Took the rest of the day as vacation and enjoyed a respite with Karen. Valerie called and said Ed has been in Brazil for ten days and she is leaving on Friday to pick up Jared Worked on volume 2.. Received some information in the mail from Gail Porritt regarding dispensations. November 28, 1996: Thursday. Thanksgiving. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. This morning my shipment of 300 books arrived from Salt Lake City, of Vol. 1 of The World Book of Generations. It looks very good Went to Zion's Park and had dinner at the lodge. Worked on volume 2. November 29, 1996: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent a good deal of the day studying and writing volume 2. Ordered a Hebrew-English lexicon from Deseret Book. November 30, 1996: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked with Karen and put up about 1/4 of the insulation in the office extension on our home. Cleaned the yards. Bought food. Worked on volume 2. Karen spent all day shopping and cleaning the house, and doing some repairs. December 1, 1996: Sunday: Prayer, scripture study, exercize. My waist is at 44" full extension, 42" drawn-in. My goal is to reduce it by six inches in the next few months. Updated my book sales list; filled a couple of surname orders from California and New York. Sent an ad to Col. Gijón in Sugarland, Texas. Called Ted Chadbourne to see if his address is still the same. Attended Sunday School, Sacrament Meeting, and choir practice. Lyman Dee called and asked if he and Nicolle could come down after Christmas. December 2, 1996: Monday: Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent the day working on a whole file search routine for the company. Did some work on volume 2. Talked to Maria Elena and Julie. Julie is blessing her baby on the 8th: Tenet Taggart. She will be blessed at the Taggart home in Bountiful. Maria Elena is doing fine with her pregnancy. Sent off a few books and research requests. Bought food. Received $70.00 in surname orders. Sent Christmas copies of my book to Fred Garcia, Houston; and Ted Chadbourne, Saco, Maine. December 3, 1996: Tuesday: Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Filled the last of the surname orders. Karen bought food, stamps, etc., and spent the $70.00. Sent a quilt to Baird in Chandler. Sent a copy of my book to dad. Worked on whole file search and sent off a report. Prepared my yearly review summary for Rob Armstrong. Sent a memo to Banner Blue suggesting they publish my Irish CD if they are having problems getting data. Had my weekly meeting with the staff at Fremont, in Provo, and in Chicago. Talked to several employees about the way the business is having problems with coordinating the production of CDs. Worked on volume 2. December 4, 1996: Wednesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked all day on a project with Jeff Levinsky from California. December 5, 1996: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked on a project all day with Jeff Levinsky from California. Ed Malie called from Toquerville and was very praiseworthy about the book. Both he and his wife have read it through. They are going to brings some friends and get more copies. December 6, 1996: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Prepared a flyer for my book. Paid the local TV channel to run an ad for two months. Paid some bills, bought our Christmas tree (a live one as in 4 or last 5 years that we've lived here). Bought pepper plants for our home teaching and visiting teaching families. Watched a couple of movies in the evening. Talked to Steve Blodgett (240-2312) at the Family History Library. He is ordering two books. His brother is a professor at Cedar City, and is the one who has done a lot on the Ten Tribes as well as comparing Hebrew with Indo-European languages. Work number 586-7959. December 7, 1996: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Finished a project for Banner Blue, and answered queries on the Internet, and CCMail from the office. Went shopping. Got several surname orders and filled them. Karen wrapped our presents for the children. December 8, 1996: Sunday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Attended meetings at Church; attended choir practice. Three of the Goodman family were killed today in a car accident. We knew them from the prison. They are such a choice family. Spent the afternoon studying chiastic structures in the Book of Mormon. Karen did most of the homework. We found one in 3 Nephi 20 and 21 that refers to the Servant. It is structured as follows: December 9, 1996: Monday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Answered email and ccmail letters. Spent several hours on the internet working on chiastic structures. Found several excellent papers. Talked to Jeff and Paul. Received the order from Steve Blodgett for two books. Karen spent the morning baking and doing Christmas things. December 10, 1996: Tuesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked all day on a project for Banner Blue. December 11, 1996: Wednesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked all day on a project for Banner Blue. Went to see Roberta and talked with her for an hour. Delivered some papers to Norwest to finalize a loan request. December 12, 1996: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked all day on a project for Banner Blue. Received an Hispanic book order for $188.00, This came at the very most critical point this month. December 13, 1996: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Finished up work for the year at Banner Blue. Finished two major projects and reported on them. Sent in my weekly report and payroll report. Received an order for one of my new books. Sent out several surname and book orders that were received yesterday and today. December 14, 1996: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Gail Porritt took us to three Native American sites: 1) Winchester Hills where the petroglyphs appears to be very ancient; 2) Bloomington, where the Hopi have their northern boundary marker; and 3) Little Black Mountain, where there were many petroglyphs with a variety of information. Afterwards we went to his home and met his family. Both he and his wife are related to me: Gail is a direct decendant of Jeremiah Leavitt and Sarah Shannon, a fifth cousin, and his wife is descended from Edmund Rice and Thomasine Frost. December 15, 1996: Sunday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Attended all of our meetings. I sang "The Holy City" during Sacrament Meeting. Stayed afterwards for choir practice. Called Vicki Porritt and told her that Brent had said he would like to go golfing with her while he is down visiting at Christmas time. December 16, 1996: Monday. Karen and I have been married nine years today. We spent the day just relaxing and studying together. Finished our mailing of presents to the children and grandchildren. Typed some genealogical information on my lines that correspond to those of sister Porritt. December 17, 1996: Tuesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent the morning until 11:00 studying chiastic structures within our patriarchal blessings and the scriptures. Found an important rhetorical link between the Son of Righteousness and Elijah in Malachi. Karen worked in the kitchen making Christmas gifts and things for us while I did some typing. I began organizing my Family Records Center so that I could begin indexing it again. Borrowed $1,000.00 from Norwest. December 18, 1996: Wednesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Left at 7:30 in the morning with Gail Porritt for Johnson Canyon. Saw the place where Gunsmoke was filmed as a television series. Went up to his cabin site. Unloaded his supplies. Went to Kanab and saw a Native American artifacts collection. Had choir practice in the evening. Studied all of my brothers and sisters patriarchal blessings and found no chiastic structures. December 19, 1996: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked on the Family Records Center. Went out to eat and then visited Roberta and Kent. Kent and I went up to the ancient site north of here and he showed me the other panel that Gail didn't show me. December 20, 1996: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent all day preparing for my Sunday reading. My new website came on-line advertising The World Book of Generations series December 21, 1996: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Attended a Christmas recital at Tuacan with the Craigs given by Michael Ballam. It was one of the highlights of our lives. Went out to eat afterwards. December 22, 1996: Sunday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Gave a reading in Priesthood Meeting on the birth of the Savior. Karen received some important insight during Sunday School regarding covenants which is described tomorrow. I worked out the chiastic structure of Paula's first patriarchal blessing. I sang in the ward choir. Went to the city jail to visit Val Cram but they would let me see him. Called in wife to report his status. Several people came by to get copies of the reading. Patty called and we talked for over an hour about her situation. Dru was unfaithful to her right after their marriage and it has been the cause of ten years of problems between them. He has lost his recommend at present after talking to the bishop. David and Holly returned to Phoenix today. December 23, 1996: Monday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Karen uncovered the secret to our temple experience as she was reading in Dr. Gileadi's latest book on Isaiah. When you look at my patriarchal blessing it is a covenant of grant. Karen's experience in the temple was a covenant she made with me, not I with her, because my covenant is with the Lord in the covenant of grant relationship. Went to the city jail to deliver Val Cram his scriptures. They would not let me in. Talked to Denny, his wife, for awhile. Bought Christmas food and visited with a few friends. Brent was very rude to his mother during a phone call regarding his visit. She was hurt very deeply. Typed some on my autobiography, pulling together all the references from my ancestor's patriarchal blessings that refer to me as a descendant. Turned in my payroll to work Sent the various web indexers reference to my new website. Received a Christmas card from Julie with pictures of her children. December 24, 1996: Tuesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Sent Paula $634.00, her monthly child support payment. Filled several surname orders. Helped Karen cook. Went for a walk. Worked on my Platt Family Record Center. Brent arrived. Went over to Karen's aunt's home in the evening for a visit. Had a nice program with her cousins and Brent's second cousins. Delivered Roberta's family their presents. She came over with the children and visited for a few minutes. Patty called and said that her family and David's family received their presents today. Bonnie sent a ccmail telling me to expect my stock payment on Friday. Full moon in the evening. Opened presents. December 25, 1996: Wednesday. Christmas. Prayer, scripture study, went for a walk with Karen. Mike Sherman stopped by to get a copy of "The Birth of Jesus Christ." Called Sister Cram to see if Val got out of jail; he didn't. Went to visit him in the evening. Was sick all day, in bed. David called in the evening to wish us a Merry Christmas. December 26, 1996: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Went to the library to return some books. Delivered a copy of my book to Doug Cribbs in Washington fields. Went to Springdale to see the cinemax with Brent. Received a check for $8,489.35 from Banner Blue for stock payment. Received a large shipment from Broderbund of their various products. It was half of what I ordered. December 27, 1996: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Paid all my bills. Gave Karen $200.00; kept $300.00. Put some into the vault. December 28, 1996: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Watched a couple of movies. Went shopping. Ordered a Hebrew-English Lexicon. Bought a book on the Book of Abraham. Typed blessings and worked on autobiography. December 29, 1996: Sunday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Attended Church meetings. Worked out the chiastic structure of Karen's blessing in August of 1985 from Kimber Taylor. Attended tithing settlement. Karen talked to Baird for a long time. He starts his new job tomorrow. They were in Utah for the second year in a row without visiting us. December 30, 1996: Monday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Went shopping. Bought some slacks to go with blazer that I got for Christmas. Bought a couple of books: Popul Vu, the writings of the early Christian Fathers, and Women of Nauvoo. Karen bought some shoes. Went out to eat. Bought lights for the extension and the outside of the house. Attended the court hearing of Val Cram. Called the stake president to inform him. Received cards from Bruce and Maria Elena. That makes all the children but Baird and Debbie. Website is up to 40 hits. No orders from it yet. Received the second half of the order from Broderbund of their various products. December 31, 1996: Tuesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Ordered the plywood and insulation needed to finish the extension. Bought a mirror for the bathroom. Went to ZCMI and did a fitting for my suit. Ate out together. Got some movies. Val Cram called and said he was out on bail. Called the stake president to inform him. Had a nap. Went over to Roberta's and spent until 1:30 A.M. with Aunt Ellen and Uncle Floyd Atkins, and cousins Joleen Sherman. Worked on a puzzle; played Chinese checkers. My 401K retirement account received $438.98 of interest for the quarter, with a year end grand total of $11,056.91. Karen's 401K retirement account received $554.90 for the quarter, with a year end grand total of $8,578.59. JOURNAL Lyman D. Platt, Ph.D. 1997 Currently editing 1/13/2204 January 1, 1997: Wednesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent the whole day in bed reading, watching BYU in the Cotton Bowl, and watching movies. January 2, 1997: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Gail Porritt came over for a couple of hours and we discussed the scriptures. Did a couple of new surnames for a client. Handled my work. Did some arranging in the Platt Family Records Center. Took a number of phone calls from customers. Website up to 69 hits. Insulation and plywood arrived. Carried it inside the extension. In the evening it began to rain steadily into the following day. January 3, 1997: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Continued to rain, with over 2.5 inches falling in a twenty-four hour period. Many people in town were flooded. Julie called and brought us up to date on her family. Justin is working at LDS Hospital as a security guard. Talked to Dallin for a minute. Asked Julie to send me the birth and blessing certificates of Tene. Went out to ZCMI and was fitted a second time for my new suit. Bought some more fascinating books, including one on the Manti plates. Gail came over with two taped conversations from Heinerman and Brewer. John Heinerman is planning to write a book. Hugh Nibley and Rodney Turner introduced Heinerman to Brewer. Johnny claims Heinerman never went into any of the Manti caves. H. has 37 plates of copper and brass. He also has other artifacts. John never asked H. for the plates back. John gave information to the high council court that H. had given him. The court lasted from 8 P.M. to 5 A.M. He was disfellowshipped. He, his father and brother cursed Brewer with the priesthood. H. asked a friend of Gail's for $25,000 to publish his book. Johnny's cave is on the east side; west side is the other cave. H. broke into Chessman's office. H. wrote an article on the plates that was published in the newspaper. Johnny feels that the records will come forth very shortly. He helped Louise move from Canada. She taught at a college in Quebec, had a nice career. H. cheated her out of $34,000 and caused H. and Brewer to split. There was a court battle. He moved to Orem and then Salt Lake. Louise claims H. is homsexual. Jennings got 1 box of plates. Johnny's cave is on private land and he now owns that land. You can see the temple from the cave entrance. John Brewer is 59 or 60, probably has been excommunicated. When his son Johnny was killed, the brotherhood, including Ross LeBaron and Heinerman, were involved. John was threatened with his life also. Gail met Johnny through Dell Allgood from Fillmore. There are five people in a group that Johnny claims he is supposed to turn the records over to prior to his death. He feels he will be killed or die when that time comes. He knew four of them, but Paul Chessman was one of them and he is now dead. When Paul died Gail informed Johnny of it and he changed his papers turning the collection over to Gail as the principal holder. The fourth and fifth persons haven't been identified. John has shown Gail seven sites on the map where records are located. The map, tape and golden plates are in a safety deposit box in Provo. The old cave is where the king and queen are, along with 91 boxes as of 1 January 1997. The natural cave also has boxes in it. Johnny says that it was a woman who took sample plates to the University of Utah. She is now in a rest home in her 80's. January 4, 1997: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Took a two-mile walk. Worked on our extension, putting up the rest of the insulation. Cleared part of the attic and placed insulation over our bedroom. Watched a movie. January 5, 1997: Sunday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Attended meetings. Ate. Had a nap. Studied. Attended choir practice. Was asked to prepare to sing at a funeral: In the Garden. Typed. Studied. Discussed the scriptures and other matters with Karen. David called. Talked to him and Karlie. Dru is starting the course on Wednesday that Holly and David went through. January 6, 1997: Monday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Website has registered 81 hits as of this morning. Began working on two projects for Banner Blue, a continuation of one with Jeff Levinsky; a second being an evaluation of an indexing project that needs corrections prior to going to CD production. In the evening we put up some of the wood siding in our extension. Sent Karlie a game from Broderbund. January 7, 1997: Tuesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. 90 hits on the website as of this evening. Worked all day on projects for the company. In the late afternoon went with Gail Porritt to three archeological sites around Santa Clara. Made fajitas for supper. Steven Shaffer called. He exchanged a lot of information about his book. He says his work is not a copy of anything produced by J. Golden Barton [maybe it's the other way around. Terry Carter's research, Orem, comprises some of the rest of it]. He will try and get me a copy of the Heinerman translation. He has the Soper collection of photographs that Milton R. Hunter had taken [not true; he has about 20%]. He has some lead plates from the Paria Draw [probably phonies], along with some plates of copper from the Manti Cave, with characters like the Soper collection. Jerry Mower, Manti, has some of the plates. Gary Taylor, Ogden, has some of the plates. Both Heinerman and Brewer have sold some of their plates. Steven is working with the Epigraphic Society in San Diego on some of this. Dr. Barry Fell is the founder of that institution and Cary Crough, an associate of Steven's, is the go-between. J. Golden Barton has part of the Padilla collection (which he obtained in a compromising situation), David Tomlinson (Bountiful) has the rest [not true any longer; Jerry Aimsley a dentist back East[; Dave Tomlinson also has one of the cement boxes from Manti (broken lid) with copper plates, and the Huomg board from Fillmore [he returned the box to Sister Chessman]. January 8, 1997: Wednesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. 93 hits on the website as of this morning. Gail called to tell me of a phone call he received this morning from Sterling Allen, a young fellow in his thirties, who lives in Mt. Pleasant with his parents, doesn't work, but spends all his time studying and working on his computer. He was excommunicated for trying to get to the stand at general conference. He has reached some conclusions in his studies: 1) lineage is all important; we come with priesthood because of lineage; 2) he has gone beyond some of Joe Sampson's work interpreting meanings in Hebrew in adjacent words to a particular word, including spaces. He has discovered that it can be done in English as well. He has also done some work on Baptism of Fire. Worked all day on two projects for Banner Blue Software. Had lunch with Karen. Worked on the extension in the evening. 96 hits on the website as of this evening. January 9, 1997: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked on a confederate name index for Banner Blue all day. The website reached 102 today. Bought a book on the Bloodline of the Holy Grail and began reading it. January 10, 1997: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent the day working on a confederate name index for Banner Blue. Did some plywood additions to the extension. Dad arrived in St. George this evening and went over to visit Uncle Roland who is dying of cancer. Continued reading the Holy Grail book. January 11, 1997: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked all day on the office extension. In the evening worked on surname histories. Continued reading the Holy Grail book. January 12, 1997: Sunday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. It is twelve years today since Karen and I had our experience in the Provo Temple. Attended Church meetings and choir practice. Continued reading the Holy Grail book. Did chiastic studies on dad's and mothers patriarchal blessings. Talked to dad. He was spending the afternoon with Uncle Roland and Uncle George and Aunt Thora. He plans to stay in St. George for as long as Uncle Roland is alive. It began snowing this evening. Today we received some additional knowledge regarding the temple experience twelve years ago. It appears to be associated with The Church of the Firstborn and the seership. Confirmed several lineages on my pedigree direct to Jesus Christ. January 13, 1997: Monday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent the day working on a confederate burial index for Banner Blue. John Kitzmiller called in the evening. We talked to him for about an hour. I gave him reference to the Holy Grail book which I finished reading this evening and confirmed several other lineages on my pedigree back to Jesus Christ. It snow most of the day. January 14, 1997: Tuesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Called Gail Porritt and updated him on what we had found and he told us what he had been doing. There have been 114 hits on the website as of this morning. Spent the day working on a confederate burial index for Banner Blue. Had weekly unit meeting. Helped Karen with some plywood work. Gail came over for an hour. Karen went visiting teaching. Worked on the Christine lineages. January 15, 1997: Wednesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Continued working on the confederate index. The pine and cedar siding for the extension arrived today. In the evening we went out to eat with dad and Roberta's family. Afterwards we went over to Roberta's and called McKay to wish him a happy birthday, spent time visiting and then played a round of rook. Worked on the Christine lineages. January 16, 1997: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent the day working on the confederate index. Finsihed putting up the last plywood in the office. Began final nailing of all plywood. Worked on the Christine lineages. January 17, 1997: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. In the evening I received a revelation regarding how to interact with people. We have opportunities and challenges all the time when we receive good and bad influences in our lives to be a conduit or a garbage dump. We can be the final resting place for all negative influences: rumors, gossip, lies, etc. We can make sure that we never continue the process. On the other hand we can be a conduit for all things good. Sent birthday cards to María Elena and Johnny. January 18, 1997: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent the day working on the office, putting up pine on the ceiling. Finished one fourth of the ceiling. Karen's 401K fund report received today indicated that $554.90 was earned during the quarter ending December 31st. January 19, 1997: Sunday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Attended Ward Conference. Sang in the choir. Got my recommend from the bishop. January 20, 1997: Monday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent the day working on the confederate index. Assisted Karen in putting up knotty pine. Karen finished the east wall. January 21, 1997: Tuesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Finished the confederate index. Sent it to Fremont for review. Had weekly company meeting. We have reached 1,000,000 total discs sold. Sang "In the Garden" at Mary Barnum's funeral. Put up some knotty pine. Made an appointment with our taxman. January 22, 1997: Wednesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent the day working on whole file search with Jeff Levinsky. Put up some more of the ceiling in the office. January 23, 1997: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Went to Richfield to visit Karen's mother who had an operation today. Visited with LaDean and Glen, Orville and Annette. Had lunch with them and returned home. Talked for an hour with Collette Smith, a friend of John Kitzmiller. My brothers Ed and Gordon stopped by for a visit. They are working with Kent at Entrada, preserving desert plants in a new subdivision. They stayed about an hour. We discussed chiastic structure. I gave them each a copy of my latest book. Received several book orders and surname orders today. January 24, 1997: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked on the ceiling in the office. Filled book orders and surname orders. Worked on whole file search with Jeff Levinsky. Turned in my weekly report to Banner Blue. Called Vernita Meikle for an appointment. Worked on taxes. January 25, 1997: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Went over to Vernita's and helped her learn some Internet, and other software basics. She paid me $62.50. Went to the antique show. Bought a love encyclopedia for $50.00, and one ring and brooch. Went out to eat. Worked on taxes until midnight. Website is at 192 hits. January 26, 1997: Sunday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Finished organizing files for 1996. Left for Richfield to see grandma Petty. Gave grandma a priesthood blessing that she could die in peace. Came home Sunday evening. January 27, 1997: Monday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked half a day then returned to Richfield. Grandma had rallied and had a wonderful day. In the evening we had a home evening with her and sang songs. Slept at her place. January 28, 1997: Tuesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Grandma began to worsen today and in the evening at 11:15 she died. Slept at grandma's after they took her to the mortuary. January 29, 1997: Wednesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. After Orvel and Annette arrived we all went to LaDean's and began making preparations. Came home at 10:00 p.m. January 30, 1997: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent all day working on a book of tribute for grandma. January 31, 1997: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked half a day finishing up the project for Jeff, made my weekly report and then left for Richfield. Karen and her sisters dressed the body for burial. Held a viewing in the evening. Met Joe Sampson. Stayed with Uncle George and Aunt Thora. February 1, 1997: Saturday. Drove to Ferron to the funeral of Florence Ann Behunin Petty, Karen's mother. Afterwards came home. February 2, 1997: Sunday. Attended Priesthood Meeting and directed the music, then can home to be with Karen. Paid Fast Offerings: $10.00. Brought work up-to-date. February 3, 1997: Monday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Filled several surname orders. Gail Porritt came over with some new reading materials. Went out to eat and then over to Uncle Roland's to wish him happy birthday. Uncle George and Aunt Thora were there. We gave Uncle Roland a blessing of peace. He is losing ground rapidly. Got three more surname orders. Karen wrote up her thoughts about her mother's death and funeral. February 4, 1997: Tuesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Filled the surname orders from yesterday. Website is up to 252 hits. Paid some of the bills. Karen spent the day putting her records together. She wrote a letter to Baird that was very pointed because of his inappropriate behavior of late towards us and Brent. Finished the taxes and turned them in.to our accountant. Times & Seasons Bookstore, Manti, wants to begin ordering my book. I called them to discuss terms. February 5, 1997: Wednesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Filled additional surname orders. February 6, 1997: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Filled additional surname orders. Spent most of the day working on a project for Gary Quigg regarding royalty. February 7, 1997: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Filled additional surname orders. Began working on volume 2 again. Turned in time sheets and reports for the week. Larry H. Ward from New Harmony called regarding the Millennium and the problem he was having deciphering a time line given the approaching year 2000. I suggested to him my theory of prophetic time vs. earth time discussed in volume 1. February 8, 1997: Saturday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Filled additional surname orders. Finished the ceiling in the office. February 9, 1997: Sunday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent the day finalizing the taxes for 1996. February 10, 1997: Monday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked on the office wall. Continued to fill surname orders and clean up old files. February 11, 1997: Tuesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Several meetings with work. Began working on Irish database again. February 12, 1997: Wednesday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Uncle Roland died today. Ben, Ed's son, called me and told me he had received a mission call to Brazil. Spent the day working on Irish database. Helped Karen in the early evening with work on office. February 13, 1997: Thursday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Spent the day working on Irish database. Finished index of vital records. Did some yard work. Went up to the spring and did some work with the water system. February 14, 1997: Friday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Valentine's day. Worked on Irish database. Rob interviewed me on my yearly job performance. March 5, 1997: Wednesday. QA Testing 8-12; Jeff 12-1; Charles 1-1:15; QA 1:15-3:00; 3-3:15 King List; 3:15-4:00 QA March 10, 1997: Monday. Drove all day to California to my office. Spent the next two weeks in California. March 14, 1997: Friday. Johnny and four of his friends broke into our house and stayed Friday and Saturday evenings. March 21, 1997: Friday. Returned from California. When we found that our house had been violated, we began a process for officially charging Johnny with breaking and entering. [Note: this has caused the family to blame Karen and reject her totally from their lives. It has caused me to have nothing to do with my family, as I initiated the complaint, and they insist that I have to visit them without her.] March 24, 1997: Monday. Equipment 6.0; QA 2.0. March 25, 1997: Tuesday. QA 8.0. March 26, 1997: Wednesday. King lists 6.0; QA 2.0. March 27, 1997: Thursday. CD175 Intro .25; QA 7.75; Social Security Introduction .30; CCMail .30; Kim Mullin article .25. April 10, 1997: Thursday. Karen received $15,000.00 today as part of her mother's estate settlement. May 1, 1997: Thursday. Sent dad a copy of the family group records he requested for Toni Turk's study of descendants of the Hole-in-the-Rock. I also wrote him a letter as follows: Gordon L. Platt, 2723 Elaine Drive, McMinnville, OR 97128 Dear Father: Enclosed are the family group records for my family and the families of the married children as you requested. I talked to Roberta yesterday and she said she would send you her information. They had a nice trip and are moving today into another office downtown. She said that both you and Margaret had surgery on your eyes. Hope everything is going well for both of you. It's nice to have the cataracts removed. It sure makes a difference in what you can see. Our company had its best month every during April, approaching 2.4 million dollars in sales of our software and compact discs. We now have close to eighty compact discs available. One of the latest ones includes the book Leavitts of America. You're the last child of your parents to be included in that book, but in the Introduction to the CD I got your other siblings and all my children included as an example of how out-of-date the data was. Nevertheless, it's still a good reference book and now it will be available to over a million of our customers and tens of thousands of libraries that didn't have it before. Have you done anything in the way of research in the English records yet on your grandfather's family? You indicated to me that you were going to pursue this matter. With the material available, we need to see if we can push some of those lines back. I feel particular strong about the Standring line and would like to break it open if you aren't going to. If you want to concentrate on the Platts, I'll work on the Standrings. However, it should be yours and Uncle George's call. I don't want to take away blessings from you if you're going to work on any of those records. As always, Lyman I wrote a letter to Gene for his birthday as follows: Gene & Arlene Platt, 1701 Cedar Street, Newburg, OR 97132 Dear Gene: It's been awhile since we had any contact and your birthday seems as good an excuse as any to say hi and let you know how we're doing. Happy birthday. Hope you and your family enjoy the day and that you are in good health, that your work is going well, that your testimony continues strong and that you have happiness in seeing your family grow and become families of their own. I was almost seven when you were born and I don't remember the occasion particularly. Roberta's birth is the first I remember well. It's been twenty-five years this year since you got married, and I've seen you a total of four times in that period of time. So basically we're strangers at this point in our lives. Part of it is my fault. At one point when I was in the area I chose to stay with strangers rather than come and visit you. Karen and I were attending a genealogy seminar and were still being traumatized every time we got together with family. At least that was our excuse for not visiting. I guess we can go on like this for another twenty-five years if that's what we want. Based on recent and past experiences with the family, I expect that Karen and I will continue to live our lives for the most part alone. We enjoy each other, have many family and friends on her side of the family, but mostly are just content to do genealogy, work in the garden, attend to our Church duties, and travel from time to time. My work keeps me very busy. I spent about fourteen hours a day six days a week doing research and attending to my Broderbund Software job. We had our best month ever in April, over 2.4 million in software and compact disc sales. The job is very demanding. We produce three new compact discs a month and that requires a lot of coordination, writing, checking, testing, and other things. After hours I maintain three personal websites: Irish, Spanish and my Ancient Genealogies project. I get over forty queries a day on these sites and some five to ten actual email or letters daily with requests for work. When I'm not doing this I do research on my writing projects. I've now published thirty-eight books and over a hundred articles and continue to index records on a daily basis for my databases of Irish and Spanish names. So far I've compiled over 3,000,000 Irish records and many hundreds of thousands of Spanish records. I've written over 3,500 historical sketches on Spanish surnames and have just begun a second phase of this project, where an expanded research report of from ten to twenty pages per surname is being prepared for those surnames that people request and are willing to pay for. It will be good to move into my new office this month that Karen has built for me on the back of our home so that I can access all the sources more easily than I can at the present time. For the first time in my life I'll have the space and filing capabilities to organize everything for quick access. With over 300,000,000 names in my files at this point, it becomes hard to remember where everything is. This year we have spent a lot of time fixing up the house and adding on the 16x40' office. I've done about 10% of the work. Karen has done the rest. Right now we're finishing up, pouring concrete sidewalks in the back, getting the last coats of stain on the wood, waiting for the cabinets to be made - one of Karen's cousins does a great job with cabinets and we've hired him to make them just the way I want them - and this week we got the electricity installed. We've started landscaping the back yard that's been in disarray for about a year now. And of course the garden and yards need daily attention. As soon as the office is done, we're going to take a trip back to Nauvoo and Missouri for a week and relax a little. In the Church I am the stake extraction coordinator, music director in the priesthood, teach Gospel Doctrine and Priesthood classes as requested, and work in the temple in various capacities. We have an interesting ward with some very sweet older people, and some very knowledgeable students of the scriptures. It's enjoyable to go to Church and continue to learn week after week. We love this area and are grateful to be here. The children continue to grow and multiply. It's hard to keep up with all the birthdays at this point. We see as many of them as we can each time we go north to the library or to meetings. Only Patty and Bruce are out of state at this point. David and Holly just moved back. María Elena is expecting in June, a boy. Well, that's it for now. Got to get to the morning duties. It's 7:00 and I've been up since 4:30 getting the family group sheets ready that dad wanted, and writing to you. Love as always, your brother, Lyman. June 1, 1997: Sunday. Traveled to Manti. Genealogical work on Karen's family. Stayed overnight at Provo. June 2, 1997: Monday. Traveled to Salt Lake City. Did research all day. Left the jeep to be repaired. Went to Lord of the Ring, the river dancers from Ireland. Fantastic performance. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. June 3, 1997: Tuesday. Left for Kansas City. Worked at Independence. Visited Liberty. June 4, 1997: Wednesday. Traveled to St. Louis. Atteneded the St. Louis Temple dedication, last session, 4:00 P.M. King of King = Jerusalem; Lord of Lord = New Jerusalem. Need to prepare our genealogies and present to the Lord when he comes. He said that the land was divided during the Flood and that it was baptized at that time. These comments from Elder Nelson. From President Monson we were blessed for being there and were blessed to be able to put our genealogies together. We sang Adam-ondi-Ahman during the session, and The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning. 1,272 attended the temple on Wednesday. 23,378 attended the dedication total. June 5, 1997: Thursday. Went to a session at the St. Louis Temple. Traveled to Nauvoo. Got a motel in Keokuk. Went to the Carthage Jail, and did some sight-seeing in the evening in Nauvoo. June 6, 1997: Friday. Spent all day in Nauvoo, doing research, taking pictures, and enjoying the beauty of the area. June 7, 1997: Saturday. Spent all day in Nauvoo. June 8, 1997: Sunday. Worked in the morning until noon at the Visitor's Center library. Left for Garden Grove, Mt. Pisgah, and Council Bluffs. June 9, 1997: Monday. Did some research at the Winter Quarters visitor's center and viewed the cemetery. Left for Adam-ondi-Ahman and Far West. Spent the evening in Kansas City. June 10, 1997: Tuesday. Flew home. Picked up the jeep. Did some research at the library and historical society. Called Lyman Dee and wished him a happy birthday. Traveled home. The bishop came by and we talked for an hour or so about the trip, particularly Adam-ondi-Ahman. June 11, 1997: Wednesday. Caught up on back correspondence, bills, and work. Rested some and began to organize what we learned from the trip. Roberta and Kent took us out to dinner for my birthday, yesterday. June 13, 1997: Friday. Maria Elena had a baby boy today. June 15, 1997: Sunday. Attended our meetings. Ate lunch with cousin Joleen and her husband. Went home teaching. June 19, 1997: Thursday. In the mail today I received the following note from my daughter María Elena Day. postmarked the 18th. Dad: I should have called you on Father's Day. I'm sorry. But there is more I needed to say to you, and wanted to write it down. First I need to say - I hope you were not offended I didn't call you when Devin was born. But I was pre-occupied. I didn't call with Sunny either. That's mom's job. She calls everyone so we don't have to worry about anything but resting. What I don't understand is why you didn't call me when you found out. His name is Devin Thomas Day (by the way) 6 lbs. 13 oz., 19" and cute as can be. The second thing I wanted to say is I learned to get along with Karen for you Dad. Because I wanted all the hurting to stop. I wanted a father again. And my father was a package deal. The thing is, I was really starting to respect Karen. But this incident with Johnny was ridiculous. I now see her as destructive to our family and I can no longer accept her as a friend to my family. I'm sorry if this hurts you. The last thing I wanted to say is that you will always be my father & I will always love you. I want you to be a dad to me and a grandfather to my children but I'm afraid Karen is no longer allowed to be a part of our lives. I hope you can understand. The decision is up to you. You can be angry or continue a peaceful relationship with my family and me. You told me there is never a time I couldn't talk to you about my feelings. So I hope you can respect my openess. I hope you will do the same for me. Take care. With love, 'Lena. I responded to my daughter's unrighteousness with a brief comment of love and care for her and her family and let it go at that. What I wanted to write her was the following: Dear 'Lena: Hi! I hope you're all doing well. I accept your apology for not calling on Father's Day. Thank you. Also thank you for your notice of the birth of the baby. We'd love to stop by and see him and you'all if you'd like. We will be through on the 26th of June, on our way to Salt Lake; so if you want us to stop, you'll have to let me know; otherwise, I'll treat the issue just like I did the birth. If I don't hear from you or Nate, I will consider that nothing has happened. When your mother called she told us the baby was a girl, by the way. If you felt the need to rest, as is normal, after a delivery, I understand that. I would have been more than happy to have Nate call me. It was his responsibility anyway. So, just so we're straight, I don't accept the idea that it's your mother's duty to call and I don't want to hear from your mother again on any issue. She obviously didn't get the point of my message when she called, but she will eventually. I'm not asking you to pass that along to her either. I don't wish you to be in the middle of our problems. I'm sorry you have made conclusions and decisions about what happened with regards to Johnny only from what you've heard from your mother and possibly Johnny. I will not discuss it with you at this point because you and the rest of the family need to take your decision and live with it for awhile. All I'm going to tell you is that you have been misinformed - obviously - or you wouldn't have reacted as you have, because you've been taught better than that. You owe Karen an apology for your behavior. I'm sorry that you felt you had to get along with Karen for my sake. Please don't do me or her that favor again. That is not an acceptable relationship in my book. If you don't care to accept her for her own abilities to love, to care for you, to treat you as a person of worth, just as she would like to be treated, then that's your choice. I have felt all along that you loved her the way you did because you were a good person and that you had gotten beyond the divorce and your mother's and my personal feelings. If you haven't, I'm sorry; then your ultimatum will stand; but remember it's your ultimatum, not mine. The only rule I insist on is that where I go Karen goes, and that's all there is to it. My temple vows with Karen are not to be invalidated by my family's feelings or behavior, trying to force me into their framework of thinking. Patty tried it a couple of months ago also, but it won't work. I know full well where that behavior would lead and I want no part of it. How would you like me to say to you that because of what you and Nate went through that I will never allow you to come to my home with Nate and that any association I have with you will be just between us? I would never do that, and have never felt that way, but I point it out to you only to show you the error in your position. It's up to you whether you have an association with your dad or not. I have always been wherever I've been invited, and have always stayed away when I knew there were reasons to do so, or where it was improper to make the first move. I am much more aware of what goes on in the family that you may think. All of your feelings and attitudes are very much with me. It's typical of abusiveness to blame the abused for the problem. Karen and I were abused by Johnny's actions. What we did was very appropriate, very right, and responsible. It showed Johnny that we really care for him as a person and that we will not allow him to behave inappropriately in our association with him. If you want to be mad, be mad at me. I insisted on the actions. I also knew that it would be used against me. I know from the fact that I received no calls on father's day, and no birthday wishes from any of my children, that you had all decided to be offended by what had happened, a conspiracy if you will, and I don't care to have anything to do with that attitude. I'm quite ashamed with all of you for this behavior. You're the only one who has made any effort to correct it. To the extent you have done so I forgive you. Your invitation to speak openly has been accepted. If you're further offended, I'm sorry. I have spoken as I see it. If you wish to discuss this further, in person, let me know and we'll stop by on the 26th. Otherwise, I will not raise the issue again, and your position of no contact will remain in force as long as you choose. I love you way too much to allow you to just make these kinds of statements and decisions without taking an appropriate action and letting you know the results of your behavior, but I've said all I need to on the matter at this point. Love as always, Dad June 23, 1997: Monday. Received a revelation during the evening with regard to mankind in general. Satan tries to destroy the Zion process by cutting off one or more of the four appendages that support man in his Zionist efforts: priestood, God, ancestry, and posterity. The left arm is Aaronic Priesthood, the right arm is Melchizedek Priesthood. The left arm is physical, the right arm spiritual. The left leg is posterity, the right leg is ancestry. June 24, 1997: Tuesday. Bought a book on the codes that are contained within the Bible. Read it through. Fascinating material. It was just published in April. Michael Drosnin, The Bible Code. June 25, 1997: Wednesday. Spent much of the day preparing for the trip and getting the grounds and garden so that they could be left. Caught up on all my work with Banner Blue. June 26, 1997: Thursday. Traveled to Salt Lake. Bought several important books to add to the collection of reference works we are compiling. Had supper with Brent. June 27, 1997: Friday. Attended the wedding of Kathryn Platt, McKay's daughter. She married the grandnephew of President Gordon B. Hinckley, Matthew Bryant Willes, son of Mark and Laura Willes, Mark being the son of a sister of President Hinckley. As President Hinckley came into the sealing room, he greated the Willes family on the one side of the room and totally ignored the Platt side. Immediately after President Hinckley finished the sealing, he stood on the Willes side of the room so that the couple could place themselves at the head of the altar to shake hands with everyone. As he did so he looked at me and I acknowledged his gaze. Two other times after that he looked directly at me in a pensive state. He didn't look at anyone else on the Platt side of the room that I could determine. As he left the sealing room I believe Joe extended his had and received a handshake in return. Afterwards we had a luncheon in the Kirtland Room at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. President and Sister Hinckley were there and he and Mark Willes both spoke. Mark was married by President Hinckley on the day his grandfather, and President Hinckley's father died. The marriage today was on the day when Joseph Smith and Hyrum were killed. Dad and wife were there as were Gene and Arlene, Joe and Sue, McKay and Pam, Roberta and Kent, and Irene. Irene and Gene had some of their children there. Patty and her mother were also there. Many of the family went over and talked with President and Sister Hinckley during this time. Karen and I refrained from doing so, and did Patty and her mother. Roberta kissed him and embarrased him quite a bit. Dad was his obnoxious self with his visit. Gene got some pictures as they were leaving with his son Gordon and others. June 28, 1997: Saturday. Finally found where I could by The Torah, and purchased a copy. Bought some things for the jeep. Did research until 3:15, went to Brent's but he wasn't home so we came home. June 29, 1997: Sunday. Spent the day sleeping, trying to catch up on the energy drain that has left us both exhausted. In the evening began working on compiling my family records into their final format. This will be referenced in the future as working on the Platt Family Records Center collection (PFRC). I hope to be able to do most of the typing this year in honor of my ancestors and in the spirit of the sesquicentennial spirit that is being seen everywhere throughout the state. Did some preliminary study on the Bible codes and how the computer format was developed. Karen called Brent and then Baird and family for Ann's birthday. June 30, 1997: Monday. Prayer, scripture study, exercize. Worked for an hour and a half on the PFRC. July 3, 1997: Thursday. Spent all day yesterday working on a spreadsheet for Banner Blue, detailing which censuses have been placed on what CD's for what time periods, and with how many people. In the evening I studied the book The Bible Code and determined that in 1700's there was an understanding as to what has come to me: that the entire history of mankind, genealogically, is found in the Bible. This morning I accessed a bookstore in Jerusalem and ordered the book Computora by Dr. Moshe Katz, along with the software necessary to study the Bible codes. I also downloaded a sample version of the software along with significant portions of the Bible and did some skipcode searches, and compiled some conversion tables from Hebrew to English, so that I could access the information faster. One of my clients from New Mexico inquired as to whether I would be willing to compile 1,000 Research Reports on the top 1,000 Hispanic names and to quote him a price. I did so: $45.00 retail with a 30% discount for him, or $31.55@. Continued to work on the spreadsheet and the study of the codes of the Bible. In the afternoon we went to Zion's Park to dinner with Orvel and Annette and LaDean and Glen, and showed them some of the family sites. In the evening we watched movies until 4:00 a.m. July 4, 1997: Friday. Spent the day working on the PFRC, and finished typing up to the 100th document in the Document Section. In the afternoon we drove over to Springdale and back. Had lunch at Chuch-a-Rama. July 5, 1997: Saturday. Went to an antique place and bought some books and then went to eat. Visited some people in town about the Pinto pictures I recently received from the State Historical Society. Visited the DUP Museum. Bought some binders for pictures. Continued work on the PFRC typing. Karen continues to work on her genealogy as well. Did some xeroxing and mailing of letters. Filled several Hispanic surname orders. July 6, 1997: Sunday. Attended to our Sunday duties, directed the music in Priesthood Meeting, and in the afternoon went to choir practice. Had a nap. In the evening typed documents into the PFRC database, reaching Document 134 before quitting at 10:00 p.m. Karen worked on her genealogy. Verna Davis called from Kanarraville (586-9275) and wants another copy of The Platt Family History. I told her we needed to come up to show her some of the pictures we have acquired to see if she can identify some of the people. Watered the garden and the yards throughout the late afternoon and evening. July 11, 1997: Friday. The week has passed quickly. Monday, Dave McDonald came by to take the final measurements for the cabinets and desks. He will begin tomorrow to build them for the office. Karen spent the week putting final touches on the office and working on her genealogy. She received a large shipment of photographs from BYU that she ordered last month; good pictures, very clear, taken from Anderson's glass negative collection. She had several of her direct ancestors in the collection. Tuesday she had a visit from a cousin from Las Vegas. They spent the whole day comparing files and getting copies of each other's materials. I spent the week typing documents from the PFRC, getting up to Document 159 and page 200. It was a good week. I worked for the company as usual with several meetings and reviews. Today I picked the first peaches from a tree that I started from a pit. They tell you never to do it that way, but these are the biggest and best peaches I have ever had and they are the first that I have ever harvested from a tree I started myself. Since I was ten, that I remember, I have been planted fruit trees with my father and alone, and never harvested the fruit because we moved too often. Anyway, this year we have arrived at the point where we will sit under our fig tree and eat the fruit thereof; real figs are growing and will be ripe for the harvest in a few months. So, let the Millenium come, the prophecy is fulfilled, at least in our case. This week I began copying my photographs to start the identification process for that collection. I am placing them in a binder and identifying them. This binder can be used instead of the originals for most purposes. I also rebuilt my website and placed my Irish, Spanish, Early LDS, Platt Family Records Center, and Petty Family Records Center on the site for people to review. July 13, 1997: Sunday. Karen and I attended all of our meetings, and I went to choir practice while she did research in the genealogy room. Afterwards the Bishop asked me to give a talk next week as part of our sesquicentennial celebration in the ward on the heritage of faith we have received from our pioneers. In the evening we worked on genealogy and spent a quite evening. I worked on a report for a gentleman in England, as a follow-up to a former report I had sent him. Got it sent off over the internet. July 14, 1997. I was told today that I would be a special guest at the sesquicentennial celebration at San Bernardino in September. Perhaps this was part of the meaning of Karen's night vision where mother, her mother and a host of others were wending their way from heaven to assist us in our work, to defend us, to dissuade others from their courses. Today we finished the glueing and painting of the office extension. It is now ready for the cabinets that are due this week. Karen went to the library to do some research. I worked at my job and began getting some of my new binders ready for the transfer into the new office. I am organizing my materials so that they are in all new and uniform binders, so that I can separate them into useable groups, mark them appropriately, and have easier access to the materials I use in doing research. Got one book order and one order for five Hispanic surnames. Finished up to document 159 in the PFRC typing. July 15, 1997. Valerie, Ed's wife, called and said that dad had been through a 4½ hour cancer operation today, that they believe they got it all, but that he might have to go in for further skin grafting. It was on his nose and was in two places. The garden is growing well. We're harvesting tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and sorrel at this point. Our pecan tree that I started from a nut, has reached six feet and is just starting to put on another round of new growth. Our first nectarines are ripe. This is their first year of production. The grapes are ripe and we eat several clusters a day. As noted the first peaches are off and the second of three are now on. Gary Taylor called today to order a World Book of Generations. We had a good talk about what he is doing with ancient American writings, and he corrected some of my notes about Steve Shaffer. He also told me a story about a Spanish wagon train that was wiped out by the Utes. "My people waited until the wagon train cleared that point," referring to a finger of land that that juts out into the current reservation from the Uintah Mountains, and the pass to the north of where they stood. The speaker, a modern Ute called 'The Keeper of the Gold,' as they stood on a hill called Pigeon Water, continued: "There were 2,500 people in the caravan. It took 4 days to kill them. Many of the Ute attackers were also killed in the battle. We killed the donkies, their slaves, then we burned them and buried them here at Pidgeon Water." This caravan from the top of the ridge down through the valley to Rock Creek was between six and eight miles in length. The Indian slaves were from the Goshute and Navajo tribes at least. The ox carts were the old Spanish-style with the big wooden wheels. The donkies and burros were heavy-laden with gold. The event took place sometime in the later 1700's, Gary estimates around 1776. The Ute guide took him down into the valley and showed him where the massacre took place. Gary uncovered many pieces of metal, a shoe buckle, a sword hilt, and sticking up out of the ground were finger bars of gold, apparently mixed with silver, about one inch square and four inches long, and oxidized to a black-looking appearance. Spent the day working on the census study for my company. Had my weekly meeting by telephone. Bro Ivie called from BYU to coordinate the trip on the 24th. Baird, Karen's son, is being a brat with coming to Utah and not visiting us. The children are not going to know us and it will come back to haunt their parents. Then he expects me to show him around the library in Salt Lake. I wonder about the sensitivity of this up-coming generation. They seem to be without natural affection. My children are all pretty much jerks at this point. They say they love me and then they ask me to break covenant with Karen. July 16, 1997: Wednesday. The new Relief Society President, Elaine Beckstrand, stopped by this morning to visit with Karen. We talked for about an hour. I called Gary Taylor to inform him that I had sent him the book and he informed me he had sent the check plus a copy of the key stone picture which is the key to unlocking the writing in the Soper/Savage collection. He informed me that Duaine Erickson had a maintenance person let him into the Soper/Savage collection - probably the one on Redwood Road - and he took a lot of pictures with permission of the Church and is now in big trouble. He informed me that the Midwestern Epicgraphic Society is doing some extensive work in deciphering the Ogum writing around the country. He also indicated that the cave high on the hills east of the Manti Temple has been totally cleaned out and that the last large six stone boxes that couldn't be extracted were mysteriously taken out in the evening before the people involved came back to enlarge the hole needed to extract them. He says these six boxes have appeared in another cave, but didn't elaborate. Sister Stuart Mills called me today from San Bernardino to inform me that I would be invited as one of the VIP to attend the opening activities of the Sesquicentennial celebration in San Bernardino. We discussed the plans and how I could assist with the Hispanic part of it. They have identified the descendancy of the negro slave woman who belonged to Amasa Lyman that took the Mason name as part of her name and after San Bernardino was abandoned went to Los Angeles where she became very rich and famous. They have also had some Serrano Indians come forth with history of their family's association with the Lyman family and the flour mill run by Amasa and then later by his son after he returned to Utah. All in all it appears that the activities are sparking a lot of interest in genealogy and family history. Karen downloaded all the email from her sons for the last two years and compiled them into the beginnings of a record on her family. I began preparing my lecture to be given in Houston in October on the Berenguer family who were Counts of Barcelona, and the connections of this family to the ancient Jewish family that came out of Babylon. July 17, 1997: Thursday. Today we had our first fig from the fig tree. It was so delicious and sweet, it was unbelievable. Karen spent the day working on the office, sanding, putting up trip, cleaning, and getting ready to do the final staining of the ceiling. I took the jeep down to get the water pump replaced, and struts put on the back door. We also had the radiator flushed and new anti-freeze put it. I worked all day on my Houston presentation due to be sent off next week. Paid Norwest and inquired about consolidating their bill with ZCMI. Eileen Buckway from the Family History Center, now retired, contacted me on the Internet. We sent several messages back and forth. July 18, 1997: Friday. Went to Norwest and consolidated the ZCMI and Norwest bills into one payment. That will decrease my monthly outgo by over $200.00. Paid off ZCMI for past sins and for the new carpet for the office. Bought some new binders for the office. Karen is putting on the final coat of stain on the office ceiling today. I worked on my Houston presentation in the early morning and then on the census study for work. Went out for lunch and then to the D.I. and bought some books. Had a nap. Avis Morris called Karen and the old Tim McGee case in Salt Lake. Received the package from Peru that the U.S. Embassy gentleman sent me containingt eight genealogy books, one on the top 100 families in Peru, the other seven copies of the genealogical institute Revista that I didn't have. I now have 5, 10, 13, 14, and 16-21, which is the latest, published in 1995. This is a great addition to my Peruvian collection. Sent dad a condolance card. July 19, 1997: Saturday. Did some watering. Worked with Karen on the office. Began organizing my files for the move, placing my of them into new binders that I have bought for the occasion. Worked on the Houston lecture. Began organizing my thoughts for the talk tomorrow on the Faith of our Fathers. Received payment from Gary Taylor for the book I sent, plus he sent me a photocopy of the code breaker to the PaleoHebrew collection from Michigan: Soper/Savage. It shows the mystic symbol that stands for Jehovah, broken down into a number of other codes and meaning, which undoubtedly unlock some of the other writings. Did some background reading on the Houston lecture material. Got and answered a number of email from Baird, and some on Hispanic surnames and one of The World Book of Generations. The lady promised to send me a check and thanked me for writing the book. July 23, 1997: Wednesday. Drove to Provo and did some work at B.Y.U. then to Salt Lake City and checked in to the Inn at Temple Square. Worked at the Library on a number of research projects, copying data. July 24, 1997: Thursday. Went to Provo and assisted with the computerized genealogy program at the Harmon Building. July 25, 1997: Friday. Had lunch with Brent and then went to Provo to continue the genealogy operation. After I was finished I went to visit Elaine Walton and we discussed her plight. I gave her a blessing and a book. She told me that Evan Williams, my 2nd great-grandfather, had an uncle, Richard Williams, brother of Edmund Williams, who joined the Church and lived in Scofield, Utah. He and Evan never knew each other had joined the Church and apparently never made contact. July 26, 1997: Saturday. Worked at the Library all morning and part of the afternoon. Visited with Jimmy. Went to Sam Wellers and got some good books for several projects we're working on. Ate and then drove home. July 27, 1997: Sunday. Stayed home and caught up on things. Worked on genealogy and answered letters. Organized my journals on the computer. August 8, 1997: Friday. Spent all day in Mayfield and Sterling visiting relatives, the cemeteries and taking pictures. Got a great deal of genealogy on Karen's family. August 9, 1997: Saturday. Spent all day in Manti visiting family and getting genealogy. Drove to the cabin in the evening and spent the night. August 15, 1997: Friday. Spent the day in Manti doing genealogy at the library, copying information and visiting relatives. August 16, 1997: Saturday. Left the cabin and drove to Scofield. Bought some things at a fair, and then went to Price to visit Karen's cousin, Anderson. She gave us a nice meal and a lot of genealogy, plus a beautiful crocheted handerchief for Karen. We then went to Hiawatha days at Helper and visited with a number of old friends, and family, then drove to St. George. August 21, 1997: Thursday. Dave McDonald brought by the shelves for the lower cabinets in the new office. I installed them. August 24, 1997: Sunday. This morning I was asked to teach the young people in the ward. We met in combined session in the chapel for the first hour of the three-hour block. There were about sixty boys and girls. We discussed the sacred nature of record keeping, why it is important, what the results are, and I gave examples from 2 Nephi 29:11; Alma 37:8, Omni, and Enos to show the Lord's and Satan's plans with regard to the keeping and destroying of records, traditions and peoples. The class was well-received and I felt good for having had the opportunity. August 27, 1997: Wednesday. I did my home teaching this morning and felt it had a good impact on the family. August 31, 1997: Sunday. Today I was asked to teach priesthood, the High Priests, and addressed them on the subject of love. It was a lively discussion, and we all felt rewarded for our attendance. Today the Princess of Wales, Diana Spencer, was killed in a car accident in Paris, along with the driver and her boyfriend Doty Fayed. It was a worldwide tragedy as she was so involved in many charities and good works. September 4, 1997: Thursday. Today I finished the 50,000 entries of Irish records that I had promised to prepare in anticipation of a contract with Ancestry to publish a compact disc. The data is all ready for sending to them. There are approximately 120,000 names in the material. I began typing a second set of data for another disc. September 5, 1997: Friday. The Genealogical Publishing Company in Balimore called today in response to a letter I sent them. They have told me they are very interested in publishing my census book on Latin America and the Hispanic United States. I have told them they will have a revised manuscript by November 1st. This is a thrilling opportunity to share my work with the world again. The volume on Surnames and Family History that we published last year with them has exceeded both theirs and my expectations on sales. It has been well-received and makes them feel like continuing to publish my series. We discussed several other volumes for possible future publication. September 6, 1997: Saturday. Last evening until late and then this morning at 3:00, we watched the preliminaries and then the funeral of Princess Diana. It was a rewarding and touching experience. She was unique in all the world, and was certainly loved by her people and by people everywhere. The impact on the House of Windsor will be felt and it will change the monarchy of England permanently, no doubt. This last week has been filled with activities. I have continued to catalog my microfilms, microfiche, and a few more books. The archive is progressing very well. I am continuing to type the documents in my files and prepare them for limited publication. I continue to type Irish records for compact disc production. My Hispanic database is continuing to grow on a daily basis. I've had about $150.00 in book and surname orders and we have acquired some interesting new books and maps. September 7, 1997: Sunday. Karen turned in her visiting teachers report this morning. We attended all of our meetings. Brother McFee came over and we discussed his life in Carbon County. September 8, 1997: Monday. Worked for eight hours for company. Typed data for Rhea Anderson. Edited part of the census book. Created and printed surname histories for clients. Typed documents for Platt Family Records Center. Karen wrote a letter to Danny chiding for his attempt to enter our life without the slightest indications of apology or remorse. It was very direct and will undoubtedly create a further or permanent schism in the family. Basically, it said that they should repent and make things right with ten years of trust-building relationship, or there will be no relationship at all. September 18, 1997. Contacted Jake Gehring about selling my Irish database to Ancestry. October 10, 1997: Friday. Flew to Houston. October 11, 1997: Saturday. Participated in the Hispanic genealogical seminar. Karen and I both spoke. October 12, 1997: Sunday. Returned home. October 18, 1997: Saturday. Left for San Bernardino. October 19, 1997: Sunday. Gave the key note address at the San Bernardino Museum Sesquicentennial celebration. October 24, 1997: Friday. It has been fifteen years this morning since my open vision of life, where my mission was laid before me by the Lord. Death was stayed and I was told what I should do. Well, another milepost has been reached which is worth noting. Yesterday, Dave McDonald installed two large bookcases on the office wall and Karen and I spent the day bringing into the office all of her genealogical materials and all of the early L.D.S. records that I have accumulated for thirty years. I bought a lot of new binders and labeled them and transferred many of my notes and records to these new binders. We created four new sections to the library: Karen's genealogy, Early L.D.S., the Platt genealogy, and Latin America. That also freed up some of the space in the other part of the library so I brought in additional books from storage. This morning we received from my work our yearly bonus, this year comprising $8,297.40, which we used to pay tithing, credit cards, taxes, office bills, and to prepare for the future: food storage, heating fuel, clothing, some new books and office materials, and equipment. We hung all of the pictures we have been preparing for months on the office walls, cleaned the office from top to bottom, bought floor mats for the chairs where we work a lot, went out to eat, then came home and dedicated the office and ourselves to the Lord with the following prayer of dedication: Our Father in Heaven: In the name of Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which I hold, and which we hold jointly through our temple covenants, on this holy occasion, on this special day of remembrance and thanksgiving, Dean and Florence Behunin Petty having sacrificed to give us much of the money necessary to build this structure, Karen having given up her life's work, having exercized her talents to build this archive, our ancestors having sacrified their all to bring us to this position of security and peace, we both having sacrificed much of the bounties that thou hast given us to the building of a place where we could work, where we could in an organized, systematic way, prepare for the great work ahead of us, we come before thee in humility, in purity of heart and purpose, to dedicate ourselves, our lives, our talents, all that we have to the building up of thy kingdom, to the end that thy children may be linked in their hearts one to another, that the great covenant and blessing of knowledge will be theirs, that they may all be identified and brought into remembrance before thy people in the temples that soon will be built all over the world. We have come to more fully understand the blessings of the priesthood which have been pronounced upon our heads by thy servants from time to time, we have gained glimpses into the marvelous foresight with which thou hast prepared the scriptures and preserved a record of the past generations. We have seen our part in this effort and thank thee for this chance to make a difference in the hearts and minds of thy children who are striving to keep their covenants. As we kneel here before thee in this family archive, surrounded by several lifetimes of knowledge - by the combined efforts of seven generations - with nearly one billion names at our command within the files of the Church and the world, knowing what needs to be done to prepare our family records to fit into a worldwide linked genealogy of thy children, and knowing that we can only lay the groundwork for the future effort of thy Church and kingdom within a Millennial setting, and knowing that we must lead the way in this effort, preparing the family records and the computer files that will give others the direction they need, we feel humbled and anxious to prove ourselves worthy of this task. To that end we renew our covenants and re-dedicate our lives to thy service, praying that thou wilt hear our petition and give us pure hearts and minds, together with the strength, equal to the work ahead. We pray that thou wilt allow those anxious to assist us from the other side of the veil full access to us. We need their help, we request it in all humility, knowing the burden it places upon us to be worthy of it. We pray, holy Father, for thy inspiration, and the help of angels and other divinely appointed agents, as we come to this 150th anniversary of the Saints arriving in the vallies of the west, on this 15th anniversary of our own comings into a new valley of opportunity and understanding, on arriving at this period of a tenth of a tenth in thy timetables of history. We pray that thou wilt hear our pleas and grant us thy favor and accept our offers of dedication and service. Now, though the power of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood I dedicate this family archive to the purposes set forth. I dedicate it to thee holy Father, to the work of redeeming thy children. I dedicate the building, the furniture, the equipment, the books, the documents, the photographs, the microfilm, the microfiche, the compact discs, the fixtures, all and every part of this archive to the end that a true and accurate record of our combined families may be prepared and available when the Lord Jesus comes, that we may present it to him as our bid for eternal life, combined with lives of purity and consecration. I dedicate it to the end that we may begin this very day to prepare the linked families of man into one great pedigree extending out from ourselves at the core to eventually include all of thy children. If we had full access to the records of the past we would begin with our father Adam and our mother Eve, but as we do not, we must stand as proxy for them in reconstructing their family. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. And as we have been shown the pattern in the temple as to how to accomplish this, even so we kneel before thee this day and with this holy oil do consecrate and dedicate ourselves and this place to the purposes laid before thee. With this dedication we pray that thou wilt extend the blessings inherent in this transition, making this place terrestrial in nature, making us also terrestrial in nature, that we may begin the process of change necessary to live into the Millennial era of peace; that the records which we have brought together will be preserved and protected and made safe and holy by this dedication. We pronounce a blessing though the priesthood that this may be so. We ask thee to bless our minds and our hearts, our spirits and our bodies, to be able to do all that is necessary to bring about this transition, both in our personal lives as well as with the records, that their sacred nature will come forth out of their worldly beginnings, as also with us, that we and they may be prepared to come forth into the eternities and fulfill the measure of our creation. To this end we offer ourselves upon the altar of Zion as a sacrifice to this generation, rejecting the world in favor of a more holy life, coming out of the world while remaining in it, following the words of our prophet's counsel recently given to be more holy, more involved in the building of thy kingdom, more committed to works of holiness, rejecting now and forever unholy ties and communications, covenanting again one with another to love and support one another in all ways and in every way possible, working to bring together in one our genealogies past, present, and future, to thy name's glory forever and ever. Praises be to thy holy name, Father in Heaven, ruler of all thy kingdoms, lord of the whole universe, keeper of the all the covenants, our God, our Salvation, our Father and Friend, through the power of the Holy Ghost, and in the name of our Savior Jesus of Nazareth, who died that we might come to this great day, even so Amen and Amen. Began compiling the worldwide linked family database. October 25, 1995: Saturday. Drove to the cabin and shut it down for the winter. Went to Manti and met with Jane Braithwaite and Sue Beus. October 26, 1997: Sunday. Attended our meetings. Put up the curtains in the office. Worked on the worldwide linked family database. November 9, 1997: Saturday. Prepared the land a planted a small winter garden: peas, carrots, cabbage, lettuce, radishes, onions, and garlic. November 9, 1997: Sunday. Attended to our meetings. Did my home teaching. November 10, 1997: Monday. Had home evening with the Craigs and Suttons. November 11, 1997: Tuesday. LaDean and Glen, Annette and Orvil came by and invited us to Mesquite to supper. We drove over, ate, visited, and came home. November 12, 1997: Wednesday. Bought some books at Deseret Industries. November 13, 1997: Thursday. Finished revising my census book and sent it off to Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. for printing. ORS called, at Paula's instigation, getting updated information regarding the insurance. In the course of the conversation it was learned that I am not legally required to carry Nicolle on my insurance nor pay child support any longer as her birthday was October 16th and she's now eighteen. I had been told I would need to carry her until she graduated. So I've asked them to take her off. November 14, 1997: Saturday. Spent the day working on client accounts, getting them ready for mailing on Monday. The garden I planted last week began coming up. The weather has been perfect for germination, the soil remaining moist after the rains we had and it still not having frozen yet. I transplanted all of my pepper plants into pots today and prepared to bring them inside at the sing of frost, but will leave them out as long as possible for blossom development and growth, and to keep them from getting the little bugs they always seem to attract when they come inside. November 16, 1997: Sunday. Attended to our Sunday meetings. Bishop Brown asked to see me at 4:00. He had received a telephone call from Julie who also faxed him a copy of Karen's e-mail to Danny. We discussed the family situation and he was satisfied and will not get involved. Lyman Dee apparently got sick in Florida and this was being used as an excuse to pull me back into contact using no insurance as an excuse, which is a lie. Paula is really nervous about my breaking off all contact with the children and hanging up on her last week. She can't handle not having some control over me. In the afternoon the Owen family from the 3rd Ward came over. He is my 2nd cousin, once removed; she is Karen's fourth cousin. We talked genealogy and traded information. December 8, 1997: Monday. We have had a busy few weeks. Brent came down for Thanksgiving and we had a wonderful two days with him. We have been working on records, typing, organizing, cleaning, sorting, discarding and the like. On the 5th I received a visit from Special Collections at the University of Utah and they took a copy of Edward Partridge's family history that I finished last night, the one written by Albert R. Lyman. Then we went over to Aunt Ellen and Uncle Floyd Atkin's place and had supper with Roberta and Kent. Joe stopped in for a minute, having picked up K.J. and Eric. He wouldn't stay and visit. Last night we went to the Messiah at the Cox Center. Karen and I both bore our testimonies during Fast & Testimony Meeting. Several other projects that I am working on are progressing well. I am nearing completion of a history of Grafton. The linked database on Southern Utah Families is up to 2,100 names. Karen is working on a fireplace in the sitting room, next to the library. We cut and trimmed a cedar tree and she peeled it and stained it this week and we put it in place as a mantel. It looks very nice. We had our first frost this week and so I picked the rest of the tomatoes, having transplanted some of them and the peppers into pots to try and winter them and get an early start in the spring. I received my contract from Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., in Baltimore to publish the Latin American Census Records collection that I've hand published for a number of years. It has been totally revised and augmented, so should be a good seller for a few years. December 12, 1997: Friday. I took the day off today and we went with Bob and Cheer Owens, our relatives, and we went to Zions Park to eat, and to Grafton to take pictures. December 22, 1997: Monday. Vacation has begun and today I cashed the last check of my stock sale of Automated Archives to Banner Blue Software. I received nearly $8,000.00 and with a little from savings, brought home and placed in the safe the entire amount to be used as an emergency fund. Wesley Craig stopped by today and gave us copies of his Washington County Cemetery study, thirty-three cemeteries and everyone that could be identified in them. Holly, David's wife, wrote a cute Christmas card to us, enclosing a picture of Karlee and Alexis. Lyman and Karen. We hope everything is going well for you. I wanted you to know that from the visit last summer you planted a seed in your granddaughter Karlee. She has an interesting love for gardens. It was fun to watch her fascination with our first garden; she talks about you often. Things are going really well for our family in our new home in Layton, 2526 N. 1000 W., Layton, UT 84041. Love David, Holly, Alexis, Karlee. Karlee wrote a note: I  you. Karlee Julie wrote last week and enclosed a picture also, but I returned it to her with a note to Justin about meaning what I said to the family: if they don't include Karen I don't want to hear from them. Kent called today and talked about Todd Compton's book that came out this week: In Sacred Lonliness, the life stories of the polygamous wives of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He said that Justin is selling signed copies of it in his business. I assumed from this that the family met on the 20th for their yearly family Christmas gathering. We weren't invited nor notified that it was being held. I have obtained a Thomas organ from the Deseret Industries that works wonderfully well. Now that there is music in the home again, it will be a much happier place. There is great peace and joy in music. Karen is working on the old office, turning it into a sitting room and is also building a fireplace in the guest lounge. We are working hard to make our place look nice and be a home where people can come and find the spirit of the Lord. I am creating a pedigree chart for her for Christmas from a hand-painted chart that we bought in Houston this year. I wrote to David and Holly as follows: Dear Holly, David, Karlee and Alexis: It was so nice of you to write to us and include that darling picture of Karlee and Alexis and Karlee's cute "I  you, Karlee." We remember with fondness your visit to our home. I'm glad Karlee that you remember the garden. This year I dug up the pepper plants just before the first frost and now have them in pots out front where they get the southern sun in the day but don't freeze at night. We are still eating green tomatoes that we picked and wait for them to ripen; we will have a few until about the first week in January; then they'll all be gone. This year we've been making jelly from our pomogranats for our friends and neighbors. It is really delicious. We also got a good buy on some pineapples the other day and have made some pineapple and lemon jelly. This year I also planted some Indian sweet corn. It isn't a hybrid so I can plant more from the kernals each year. The ears are small and are best used for making tortilla powder and tortillas. Thank you very much for remembering us at this special time of year. We didn't write to you for Christmas because we didn't have your address and weren't sure whether you wanted us to, but I will always respond in kind to all and every appropriate contact from my children. I believe our letters to Maria Elena, Danny and Julie have defined what that is and your card certainly fit the bill. It's good that you've got a new home and hopefully David's work is also sufficient to provide for your needs. What are you doing now David? Drop me a note when you have time. We pray for you all and hope this coming year will be especially kind to you. Love as always, Karen and Lyman December 27, 1997 Christmas eve we went over to Karen's Aunt Elma Palla's home and had a party with the family. We ate and sang and enjoyed the evening together. Christmas evening Brent Fullerton and his friend Trudy Hanson came down and spent the evening with us and yesterday we went to Zion Park and hiked Angel's Landing, ate at the lodge, watched "Alaska" on cinemax and bought a few books. We bought a xerox copier this week which will dramatically change the way we operate. Now we can copy and prepare our files much more efficiently and with less cost. Today's mail brought with it a book on Almon Robison, brother to my great-grandmother, Adelia Robison. It has some excellent material and new information, is well researched and documented, and is a great addition to the family archive. This year has been full of these types of acquisitions. We have purchased a number of books for Karen's and for my side of the family. We have xeroxed others. Each in its turn is systematically receiving attention in the computerization of information. By the end of 1998 it will be reported that most of them have been computerized. This evening we went over to Bob and Cheer Owen's place and had supper with them and Ted and Audrey Shumway and her mother, who is a Grant, descendant of Jedediah M. Grant. She looks a lot like President Grant. They had a book Joseph C. Grant and Mary Jane Parkin which shows a second relationship to the Robison family. So we're related both through Ted's and Audrey's lines. Ted and Bob are double first cousins. We had an enjoyable evening and borrowed the book to copy. Ted is a lawyer and Audrey just retired as the librarian at Dixie College. December 28, 1997: Sunday. Attended Church and tithing settlement. Took Audrey's book back to her. Worked on client reports, trying to catch up on the backlog before my vacation ends. Prepared for our trip north. December 29, 1997: Monday. Left early for Salt Lake to visit Baird and Ann and the three grandchildren and to do research on the Grafton book and several other projects. December 31, 1997: Wednesday. The Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore sold 725 copies of Hispanic Surnames during the year, meaning that we earned $7,250.00 royalties on the book for the year. That's the best year I've ever had on a book, except when I sold some information to Gale for $10,000.00. This books will top that long-term. JOURNAL Lyman D. Platt, Ph.D. 1998 January 1, 1998: Thursday. As this new year begins, and as the Millennium comes quickly to a close, we look with hope and great expectations towards a brighter future. Based on my analysis on the time frame under which the Lord is operating the world, this year, on October 24th, will mark the end of the 6,000 years of the world temporal existence according to solar time, but not according to prophetic time. We still have quite a few years to go before the actual Millennium begins. There are many possibilities before us this year as we try to determine what is best and right for us. One of our primary goals is to reduce our debt so we are freer from financial burden. We need to re-finance the house, consolidate our loans, and improve our earning abilities. We hope to buy machines this year that will allow us to produce our own books and compact discs. We hope to computerize much more of our genealogies and begin to preserve our photographs and other documents in various places besides our own home/office. If the family desires it we hope to make some headway with them; otherwise, we have determined to create a life and identities that do not include them in our feelings. We will trust in the arm of flesh no longer. We hope to reduce our weight and become healthier, to study the scriptures more consistently, to pray more regularly and to do all else that will prepare us to be better people. Went for a walk in the hills, studied, prayed and worked on reports for clients. Typed some of my documents. Typed in some genealogical data. Helped Karen some. She is placing the studs in the wall of the sitting room off the master bedroom. January 2, 1998: Friday. Prayers, exercise, scripture study (PES) from now on. Spent the morning finishing the Amezcua Research Report for a client. Uncle Floyd stopped by to pick up his book. Doug Alder called and then stopped by to discuss Grafton. Received an e-mail from Diane regarding doing Florence's work. Karen responded to her in no uncertain terms. Diane feels it’s her right to decide when Florence’s work is to be done. Karen will be endowed for her and sealed to her parents as soon as possible: the one year waiting period. Typed family documents, genealogy and Spanish index. Finished reading Joseph P. Sanchez's new book on Spanish trails and contacts with the Utah Indians. January 3, 1998: Saturday. PES. Went for a walk with Karen. Typed family documents. Finished a $120.00 research report for the Mussenden family from St. Eustatius and Puerto Rico. Talked to Vaughan Hansen (SLC 278-4049) about my World Genealogy series. He enjoyed the book very much, was impressed with the research and details. He has published Whence Came They, and Discovering Book of Mormon Lands. Todd Compton called also and we discussed his new book In Sacred Loneliness. He told me that Justin, Julie and their kids were at his book signing in Salt Lake and that he told them I assisted in writing the book. One top professor at BYU has criticized the book saying it is Todd's excuse for a failed marriage. Todd has never been married. He used my Nauvoo book and the Nauvoo Journal in his research and wants a computerized copy of the Nauvoo census material. Continued reading a book on ancient languages. January 4, 1998: Sunday. PES. Finished typing Emily Dow Partridge's "What I Remember" compilation on her early history. Began typing the Register of the Papers of Emily Dow Partridge Smith Young. January 5, 1998: Monday. PES. Aunt Dorothy Excel Platt died this morning at the rest home here in St. George. She had been suffering from memory loss for several years and gradually deteriorated health-wise. I'm sure Uncle Roland and she had a nice reunion. Jackie called to let me know. Worked on Georgia marriage record study. Both Infobases and WordCruncher came through today with offers for CD-ROM software: $1195.00 x 2 vs $95.00 plus a royalty. I wrote back on the royalty issue. January 6, 1998: Tuesday. PES. Spent the day working on a king list for work. Went out to eat with Karen. Got reply on WordCrucher Software. Told them to go ahead a draw up a contract for $95.00 plus $300.00 in advanced royalties. January 7, 1998: Wednesday. PES. Spent the day working on a king list for work. Finished up a study on the Lobo Guerrero family for Henry Louis in Djibouti, East Africa. Got a call from Boston regarding some of my books. Newspaper indicated Aunt Dorothy's funeral will be Saturday at 10:00 in Washington, and she will be buried in Panguitch beside Uncle Roland. In the evening I typed family documents and went for a walk while Karen went to Relief Society and participated in a performance. While on my walk a saw a fox three block from home. January 8, 1998: Thursday. PES. Spent the day working on several projects for work and beginning a retyping of the Platt Family History. I also did a study of the extra CD-ROM that I have in my possession and made an offer to the Redlands Family History Center to sell them at discount prices. I went and check on a binder and decided it's not what I want. Went to Herrick Screen and asked for a quote on his screen process printing for book covers. Patty's package arrived with pictures of the children. Karen worked at Dixie College, Special Collections as her weekly volunteer work. January 9, 1998: Friday. PES. Began working on an Irish index for CD production. Typed in a 1,000 names. Began working on a Spanish index for CD production. Typed in 150 names. Typed several pages on the Platt Family History. Wrote a letter to Patty as follows: Patty, Dru & Kids, January 10, 1998, 631 South McArthur, McComb, Illinois 61455. Dear Family: Thank you for the lovely Christmas present of pictures. They are good representations of the children and very much appreciated. They are growing into fine-looking young men. Now that I have your address, I'd like to drop a brief note and wish you all a happy new year. Dru, I hope things go well for you in your change of venue and that the move is not too stressful on the family. It's hard moving so much. It disrupts the spirit and the making of friends, but it gives you lots of opportunities to see new places and meet different people. Patty, I suppose you have a few questions as to my behavior, but I haven't been too worried because I know you are in contact with your siblings and therefore should have gotten the message from several of them. I have broken off all relationships with those who refuse to treat me honestly, who disrespect my wife, and who continue to be manipulated in their relationships with me by their mother. I will have nothing to do with your mother ever again. I hung up on her the last time she called and she knows she better stay out of my life permanently. She cannot be honest in her dealing with me so there won't be any. That incident with Johnny was the absolute last straw with me. She and I agreed on a punishment and then she turned and blamed Karen for the whole affair. It has affected my relationship with all of you children because you don't believe me, so that's that. I am quite happy with my life without all of you. You have all been heartaches anyway. I don't feel any of you have the ability to think through the problems that we have in the family and deal with them appropriately. I understand this and understand the reasons and can do nothing about it and don't expect you to be able to either. It is one of the greatest tragedies of my life, but I won't be a part of it further. This applies as well to my brothers and sisters and my father. You and I do have a very special relationship, but you can't handle your mother any better than I can, and maintain any contact with her, and I am not going to ask you to break off your relationship with her, so you and I can't have any meaningful relationship. I care about you, I love you, I love your family, as does Karen, and we wish the best for all of you, but don't call anymore because I don't want to talk to you. Love as always, Dad. Patty called this afternoon and gave me their new address 2709 Mulberry Ave., Muscotin, Iowa 52761; (319) 262 3746. She indicated they were renting and that Dru was quite unhappy and overworked. She talked to Roberta two days ago and she asked Dru to send her a résumé. This evening we went to Aunt Dorothy's viewing at the Metcalf Mortuary a few blocks from here. Gary, Jackie, and Bob, and the boy's wives were there along with Aunt Dorothy's brother and while we were there Barney Seegmiller and his wife came in. We visited for fifteen minutes and came home. Aunt Dorothy ate a good breakfast on Monday, lost he strength while on the way to her room and while sitting on the bed said "I have to go now." She laid down and died. Her brother said that in the last year she has been speaking to Uncle Roland off and on in an unknown language that was very distinct. Uncle Roland told us it was Adamic. No one recorded any of it unfortunately. It would have helped a great deal in the studies I am doing on early origins of languages. January 10, 1998: Saturday. PES. Typed 1,000 Irish names, 2,000 names total. Diane wrote Karen a very hurtful letter regarding the sealing status of their parents, and the endowment of their mother. Karen responded. We went to Aunt Dorothy's funeral. From my family, Ed and Val, Gordon, and Roberta were there. Uncle George and Aunt Thora were there with four of their children and some grandchildren. I believe all of Uncle Roland and Aunt Dorothy's family was present. Services were held at 10:00 a.m. at the Washington Fields 3rd Ward Chapel, Bishop Russell McAllister conducting. Further details will be contained in the documents section of the Platt Family Records Center. It was a lovely service. We ate immediately afterwards and visited and then the family went to Panguitch in what was undoubtedly a terrible snowstorm for the burial and dedication of the grave. January 11, 1998: Sunday. PES. Attended to our Sunday duties. Came home. Ate. I went for a two-mile walk. Typed 1,000 Irish names, 3,000 names. Worked on Platt Family History. Karen began editing Grafton: Ghost Town on the Río Virgin. January 12, 1998: Monday. PES. Typed 1,000 Irish names: 4,000 in last four days, and some Hispanic names, 400 in last four days. Worked on Platt Family and paid bills. Abraham Young from the high council came over and I updated him on the latest happening in genealogy. He released me as the stake extraction coordinator, having received approval from the stake president to do so. I had been called for two years and have served for four, so it's a good time to be released. Today while doing research for the revised edition of The Platt Family History, I discovered the parents of Mary Radcliffe, wife of Isaac Platt. They were John Radcliffe and Mary, there being two couples by this name, but nevertheless, the names are certain. Both had a Mary during the appropriate time period. This evening we went over to Craigs and had home evening with them and the Suttons. We discussed the Bible code, Dr. Craig conducting. January 13, 1998: Tuesday. PES. Worked on the Platt Family History; typed in 1,000 Irish names, total 5,000; 150 Hispanic names, total 500. Went for a walk along the Virgin River with Karen. January 14, 1998: Wednesday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 6,000; 250 Hispanic names, total 750. Worked on the Platt Family History; finished up to "The Immigrants." Went to the temple with the ward. I had a whiteboard meeting on a new CD. January 15, 1998: Thursday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 7,000; Worked on Platt Family History, finish up to "The Pioneers." Worked on Grafton book. Got a surname order for Anzar: $12.00. Karen's visiting teachers stopped by. I had a whiteboard meeting on a new CD. Karen worked at Dixie College Special Collection as her weekly volunteer work. January 16, 1998: Friday. PES. Received paycheck, but it's already spent so we are without money for two weeks. 1,000 Irish names, total 8,000; 250 Hispanic names, total 1,000. Worked on Platt Family History and Grafton book. Went for a walk with Karen. Assisted Karen installing a door on the walkway from the garage to the back patio. January 17, 1998: Saturday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 9,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 1,200. Worked on Platt Family History and Grafton book. Went for a walk with Karen. Worked on PFRC document typing. Pruned part of the front mulberry tree. Worked in the garden and yard cleaning. Planted peas, carrots, and cabbage. This morning as I was praying I had a marvelous experience in which I understand through an actual witness of it what it means to pray for that which you ought. As I prayed the Spirit instructed me what I should pray for and it was that I would so order my activities that by the time the Church was ready with its computerized indexes to handle the temple work that I am willing to submit, that I would also be ready. Now that my archives is organized it needs to be systematically prepared so that the temple work for all these people can be done for whom I have a covenanted responsibilty while in this life. This experience has left me profoundly changed in my feelings as to my prayers. January 18, 1998: Sunday. PS. 1,000 Irish names, total 10,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 1,400. Went to meetings. Had our home teachers over in the evening. January 19, 1998: Monday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 11,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 1,600. Walked 2 miles with Karen. Paid Norwest monthly bill, bought groceries. Worked on Marriage Study for the company. Talked to Paul DeBry about the changes in management. Alma has been moved to corporate headquarters which will probably mean the Rob will become the director of our unit. Worked on Platt Family History and Grafton book. Karen painted and cleaned the house. January 20, 1998: Tuesday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 12,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 1,800. Worked on Marriage Study for the company. Worked on Platt Family History and Grafton book. Walked. Exercized. Worked in the gardens. This evening as I prayed, I felt impressed to pray for the chance to communicate with my mother in accordance with my blessing that I will communicate with those from the other side in relation to the work of genealogy. Her face came to me through a veil. It was not clear but it was her. She was solicitous but did not communicate. January 21, 1998: Wednesday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 13,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 2,000. Worked on Marriage Study for the company. Worked on Platt Family History. Finished section on The Pioneers. Walked two miles with Karen. LaDean and Glen stopped by. We discussed Diane and her position and Karen's feelings about doing her mother's and father's temple work. Watched the events in Washington regarding President Clinton's sexual affairs. Completed one surname study for the Guerra family. Got a $45.00 order for Irish names from Mavis J. Darcy, Elyria, Ohio. January 22, 1998: Thursday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 14,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 2,200. Worked on Marriage Study for the company. Worked of Royalty Study for the company. Worked on Platt Family History, began the section on The Patriarchs and finished it. Worked on Grafton book. Karen went to Dixie College to do her volunteer work at the Special Collections. Today while I worked I felt my mother's presence on several occasions. It was so strong that it sent heavy impluses of the spirit through me. After Karen came home, while she was in the bedroom and I was in the office, a voice called to me: "Lyman!" It was an audible voice and so I assumed it was Karen and went into the bedroom but she hadn't called. I knew at that point that it was mother calling because it sounded like her. I don't like these kind of experience because there seems to be no point in them. Why do they come if they don't have something to communicate. I don't need the experiences to comfort me or to convince me that they are alive and happy. These things I already have a knowledge of. If they are going to come they should bring information or communicate what they are instructed to say. January 23, 1998: Friday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 15,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 2,400. Worked on Grafton book. Went to Silver Reef and Duncan's Retreat cemeteries with Wesley Craig. January 24, 1998: Saturday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 16,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 2,600. Went to Rockville to attend a farewell party for their out-going mayor and to interview Grafton people. Got some good information for the book. Our heater stopped working this evening; must be out of gas. We've used $300.00 worth of fuel since November. January 25, 1998: Sunday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 17,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 2,800. Worked on Grafton book. Typed some on the Platt Family History. Attended Church meetings. Sang in the choir for ward conference. Typed some on Platt Family History. We were released from our temple ordinance workers positions today. January 26, 1998: Monday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 18,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 3,000. Worked on Grafton book. Typed on Platt Family History. Went for a 2 mile walk with Karen. Got heating oil for the furnace, and had furnace cleaned and a part replaced. Had a Data Standards session with Orem and Fremont. Went to Suttons for home evening with Craigs and Suttons. Rol taught from the first chapter in Brigham Young's new manuel. Karen was offended at a remark I made and we went to bed upset. January 27, 1998: Tuesday. PS. 1,000 Irish names, total 19,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 3,200. Worked on Grafton book. Typed on Platt Family History. Went for a 2 mile walk. Left for Manti. Arrived without incident. An hour or so after arrival Karen's very dear friend from Ferron, her second mother, called and talked to her. It was a strange set of circumstances that allowed her to know we were there. She works in the temple and will assist us tomorrow. January 28, 1998: Wednesday. PS. We went to the temple at 7:15 A.M. and Karen did the initiatory work for her mother and then we served as the witness couple and she went through an endowment session. Afterwards we went into the Emerald Room and were vicariously sealed to each other for her parents and then Karen was sealed to her parents with acting as proxy for Florence and I as Dean. As we were coming out of the temple we met three of our friends from Scofield, Myrna (Jim's wife), Sister Carter (Fran's daughter), and Jennifer Erkla's mother. Sister Rigby died last Thursday. Bishop Carter, Mike Erkla and Brother Finch from the High Top Cafe are the bishopric at this time. In the evening my brother Gordon came over for a visit. He is staying with Roberta for a few weeks during the winter and working with Kent. I received a package of sixty-four surname histories from the Fernando Múñoz Altea collection from Mexico City. I have an agent working there collecting these from the newspapers. 1,000 Irish names, total 20,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 3,400. January 29, 1998: Thursday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 21,000; 400 Hispanic names, total 3,800. Karen went to the college to volunteer this afternoon. I worked on the royalty study for Gary Quigg. January 30, 1998: Friday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 22,000; 400 Hispanic names, total 4,200 names. Worked on the royalty study for Gary Quigg. We got a new dryer today from R.C. Wiley as our other one quite functioning and was ten years old. Worked on Platt Family History and Grafton study. Got one surname order out. January 31, 1998: Saturday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 23,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 4,400 names. Completed two surname orders. Did some yard work. Went shopping at the Deseret Industries and ZCMI. Got two shirts. Prepared a report for President Pace on his genealogy. Picked up pictures of our trip to Manti and two Silver Reef and Duncan's Retreat. Sent a letter to Ed about the Platt Family History re-publication. Got two surname orders out plus a book order. February 1, 1998: Sunday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 24,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 4,600 names. Attended our Church meetings. Went to choir practice. Rebekah Fullerton was blessed today in Chandler, Arizona. We received an e-mail notification of it. President Clove thanked me for my four years service in the stake extraction program. Finished a study on the Anzar surname. February 2, 1998: Monday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 25,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 4,800 names. Began index PFRC books, beginning with Briant Stringham. Worked on royalty project for company. Did some yard work, spread some fertilizer. Got $80.00 in surname and books orders. Filled two of them, began working on the third. Karen bought her health pills. February 3, 1998: Tuesday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 26,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 5,000 names. Indexed names in Briant Stringham book. Took the jeep in for inspection but it didn't pass because of a wiring problem to the brake lights. President Kyle Pace came over and I helped him with his genealogy. Karen has the flu and a high fever; is right down in bed. Began the process to refinance our home. February 4, 1998: Wednesday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 27,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 5,200 names. Paid the yearly taxes on the jeep and had it inspected. Helped Karen with her Relief Society project. Worked on several projects for Gary Quigg from our Provo office. Filled out an application for refinancing our home. Pulled together some papers on finances, etc. for tomorrow. Karen has the flu still. Pruned the grapes. February 5, 1998: Thursday. P. 1,000 Irish names, total 28,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 5,400 names. Spent the day working on the names index for our software. Was sick most of the day, as was Karen. February 6, 1998: Friday. PS. 1,000 Irish names, total 29,000; 200 Hispanic names; total 5,600 names. Continue sick; Karen is feeling somewhat better. Typed part of the Platt Family History. Indexed names in Briant Stringham book. Cut down the bamboo. February 7, 1998; Saturday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 30,000; 400 Hispanic names, total 6,000. Typed part of the Platt Family History. Indexed names in Briant Stringham book. Worked on Grafton History. Filled surnames orders. February 8, 1998: Sunday. PS. 1,000 Irish names, total 31,000; worked on the Grafton History; spent most of the day in bed with the flu as did Karen. It rained most of the day. February 9, 1998: Monday. PS. 1,000 Irish names, total 32,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 6,200. Typed on the Platt Family History, and the Grafton History. It is raining and snowing today. Feeling some better as is Karen. February 10, 1998: Tuesday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 33,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 6,400 names. Went for a walk with Karen. Worked briefly in the garden. Some of it is up and doing well. Bought food. Paid bills. Finished first phase of the royalty study I'm doing for work. February 11, 1998: Wednesday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 34,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 6,600 names. Went for a walk with Karen. Worked in the garden and yards. Wes Craig came over and we exchanged information on Grafton. February 12, 1998: Thursday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 36,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 6,800 names. February 13, 1998: Friday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 38,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 7,000 names. Went up to Beryl Junction, Beryl, Lund, Modena and looked at land. My brother Gordon came over in the evening and we played three games of chess. He one two and I won one. The last one he won by one move. February 14, 1998: Saturday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 40,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 7,200 names. Worked in the garden and yards half of the day. Had a long nap. Watched television. February 15, 1998: Sunday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 41,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 7,400 names. Went to church. Received our home teachers. February 16, 1998: Monday. PES. 1,000 Irish names, total 42,000; 200 Hispanic names, total 7,600 names. Worked in the garden and yards. Went for a walk with Karen. Had home evening with the Craigs and Suttons. Discussed the Atonement. Played Chinese Checkers afterwards. February 17, 1998: Tuesday. PES. 700 Irish names, total 42,700; 200 Hispanic names, total 7,800 names. Received $690.00 for Platt Family History. Typed some on the history as did Karen. Worked on Grafton. February 18, 1998: Wednesday. PES. Worked on Platt Family History, as did Karen. Grafton, and getting Irish and Spanish orders out. Visited Bob and Cheer and gave them a copy of my World Genealogy book, returned their book, and gave Cheer some information on her genealogy. Went to the bank and the post office. Indexed 200 Hispanic names, total 8,000. Typed 300 Irish names, total 43,000. Cut down a large branch from one of the pine trees. Cut it up. Worked on the yards. February 19, 1998: Thursday. PE. Worked on the Platt Family History, as did Karen, Grafton, and answering Irish and Spanish queries. Indexed 200 Hispanic names, total 8,200. Typed 300 Irish names, total 43,300. Cut down some large branches on the trees on the border of the garden so they get full light. Cut them up and stored them in the woodpile. Worked on the yards. February 20, 1998: Friday. PE. Worked on the Platt Family History, as did Karen, Grafton and Irish and Spanish queries. Indexed 200 Hispanic names, total 8,400. Typed 300 Irish names, total 43,600. It is raining today. February 23, 1998: Saturday. Worked on Platt Family History, as did Karen. Indexing Grafton. February 24, 1998: Sunday. Went to Regional Conference. Copied Platt Family History. Typed. February 25, 1998: Monday: Spent the day xeroxing copies of the Platt Family History. Ran out of toner and had to go to Jonatec and get refills. Finished up through Chapter 4 on fifty copies. Went up to the spring to fix a leak. February 26, 1998: Tuesday: Spent the day working on Spanish and Irish surname orders. Filled six of them. Received $300.00 in the mail, one Platt Family History, one large Spanish order and several smaller Spanish orders. Cut down some of the large overhanging branches on the mulberry tree in front of the house. Bought an upright freezer for $40.00. It is in good shape, clean and operating just fine. A fellow re-married and didn't have room for it. February 25, 1998: Wednesday. Took a day off to prepare for the appraiser. Cleaned the yards and house from top to bottom. The house was appraised. Filled two Spanish orders. Karen typed on the Platt history and exercized. Rob Armstrong called and told me to go to Salt Lake on Monday for yearly review and to met the new CEO. Called and made reservations at the Inn at Temple Square. Karen and her companion went visiting teaching. February 26, 1998: Thursday. Worked on the list for CD718 most of the day. Filled one Spanish order. Paid for the appraisal. Did some yard work. Karen went to the college in the afternoon. February 27, 1998: Friday. Worked on a study of the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses of the United States for Rob. He called and arranged for our meetings in Salt Lake. He and Doug are going to talk to Brad Steuart about a merger. February 28, 1998: Saturday. Went to Toquerville to look at some bathtubs. Came home. We had run out of heating oil for the furnace. Went to an auction. March 1, 1998: Sunday. Attended church. Bore my testimony. March 2, 1998: Monday. Drove to Salt Lake City. Visited with Nadine Timothy about Mary Hill. Saw Rose Hinton and many others who are from a past life. The Lord has an interesting way of testing our progress, mostly from a review of our own feelings. March 3, 1998: Tuesday. Had my yearly performance review. Pay was increased 3% to $44,800. Talked to Jimmy and complained to him about his employee Mary Hill who has been spreading rumors about me. March 4, 1998: Wednesday. Had breakfast with John Kitzmiller. Finished xeroxing the Petty Papers. Came home. Wrote a proposal to Rob Armstrong regarding the Genealogy Club concept that we discussed in our interview. March 5, 1998: Thursday. Worked on organzing all of the information we obtained in Salt Lake. Fulfilled several book orders. Pushed the loan people to expedite the loan process. Gave the appraiser some papers that will enhance the value of the property above the $248,000.00 that she initially proposed. Karen went to work at the college, volunteering the afternoon. March 6, 1998: Friday. Received visits for Delores Foremaster Riggs and Glenna Frehner on the Grafton book. Copied a lot of materials from Glenna that will require additions to the manuscript. Got our appraisal today, $260,500.00. Paid $300.00 for it. Worked on king list 718. Had a long, lovely rain this evening. Isaac Hunt had his home in the lot next to us from at least the 1920's for many years. He had a boy and a girl at least. March 7, 1998: Saturday. Worked on Spanish orders; sent off a World Book order received yesterday. Worked on the Grafton book. Worked on king list 718. Went out for breakfast, to the D.I. Did some yard work, cleaning up branches, gardening, and planting flowers. March 8, 1998: Sunday. Stayed home as Karen was not feeling well. Worked on the Grafton Book. Wrote a memo to Rob about book acquisitions. Worked on the king list 718. March 9, 1998: Monday. Glenna Frehner came by and gave us some more pictures for the Grafton Book, plus some more documents. Wrote a memo to Rob about book acquistions. Finished the king list 718. March 10, 1998: Tuesday. March 11, 1998: Wednesday. March 12, 1998: Thursday. March 13, 1998: Friday. Worked on indexing Grafton. Finished it. Obtained three more pictures for the book. Talked to several people about it. Worked on the water system for the garden. March 14, 1998: Saturday. Spent ten hours traveling to and from Price and three hours attending the 90th birthday party of Rhea Stringham Anderson, 1st cousin, once removed of Karen. It was a fun party. Received $120.00 for the Platt Family History. March 15, 1998: Sunday. Karen was very tired from the trip and I had to work on a report for the company, so we didn't go to church. Finished and sent the report. Added Office 97 to the company computer. March 20, 1998: Friday. Aunt Josephine died this morning at 2:00 A.M. March 25, 1998: Wednesday. Aunt Josephine Platt Burd's funeral was held today at Murrieta, California. Uncle George and dad spoke at the funeral. Closed on the refinancing of our home. Borrowed 295,500.00 at 7% paying off all our bills and only increasing our monthly house payment by $40.00, while decreasing our expenses by over $400.00. Not a bad day's work. March 26, 1998: Thursday. Paid bills, worked on Grafton book. Worked on bibliography for work. It rained for a good part of the day. Had Microsoft Office added to my new laptop. Gave Karen $300.00. Paid off credit card and had it cancelled. Karen finished her pedigree picture and hung it up in the living room. Helped President Pace with his genealogy. He has found four new ancestors and many relatives with my help so far. Karen went visiting teaching. March 27, 1998: Friday. My lap-top computer now has loaded onto it all the major files and collections that I have in my other computers. Now we can travel anywhere and do genealogy or work on it while we travel. This is a major step forward for us. It cloudy and cool and good weather for working in the yards and garden. Did some more garden preparation. The almond and peach have set on and are doing well, having made it through the cold weather. The apples, pears and cherries are blossoming. The nectarine and apricot are nearing fruit stage. Worked on the company book bibliography. Went downtown and bought some materials with Karen to finished the back room. Cut some of the grass. Worked on the Grafton book. Worked on thePlatt book. March 28, 1998: Saturday. Went to breakfast. March 29, 1998: Sunday. March 30, 1998: Monday. Today Karen and I drove to Las Vegas to meet with my vice president. He informed us that seventy jobs were being cut from Broderbund this morning and one of them was mine. He paid me through Friday plus two week in lieu of notice plus three weeks vacation, and I signed a waiver in order to get twelve weeks of pay as a separation bonus. April 3, 1998: Friday. This last week has been very busy scrambling to find a job and trying to finish up with the Grafton book. Today I turned it over to Lyman Hafen at the St. George Magazine who is interested in publishing it. We went to Rockville and visited with Vilo Jones DeMille about some photographs and other issues relating to the book, then to Springdale for lunch. This week I've talked to Jimmy about working for the Church, to my sister about working for her, and have applied for a job at LearnKey. Karen applied for one job. April 4, 1998: Saturday. Went out to breakfast. Continued working on the book and listened to General Conference. April 5, 1998: Sunday. Delivered copies of the Grafton book to four people for review. Watched conference. Worked on Grafton book. Doug Alder called me with his critique of Grafton book. April 6, 1998: Monday. Karen called John Kitzmiller. He said a job was open in his area. We faxed him a resume. Worked on the Grafton book. April 7, 1998: Tuesday. Worked on the Grafton book. In the evening I had two interviews and got my temple recommend renewed. April 8, 1998: Wednesday. Worked on the Grafton book. LaDean and Glen came down and we went out to eat and then around town for awhile. I made two appointments for Friday to review the book. Dolores Foremaster Riggs brought over her review of the Grafton book. April 9, 1998: Thursday. Worked on the Grafton book. Ann Leavitt, mother of the governor, called me and we talked for forty-five minutes about the Leavitt Reunion coming up in June. They want to visit us tomorrow. They are impressed with my book on Jeremiah and Sarah. I spent the afternoon, while Karen was at work, compiling a Leavitt database. Planted my tomatoes in the evening. Karen worked on the back room in the evening. Went to choir practice with the 3rd Ward. I am going to sing with them on Sunday. April 10, 1998: Friday. Went to Hurricane and Rockville getting more information for the Grafton book. Had visits from Don Nelson and George Thompson who bought three of my World Generation books for $60.00. Two burial vaults exist in Ephraim and Manti, one at 605 S. 200 E., Ephraim, across the street, and one on the north side of the park at the Hall residence, Manti. Ann and Dixie Leavitt then came over and we discussed the Leavitt Reunion in June and the Sarah Sturtevant reunion and statue unveiling on September 5th, her 200th birthday. Ann gave me several items to read and we discussed the long-term needs of the family. Called Joleen Leavitt Passey, 208 522-2955, P.O. Box 244, Ukon, Idaho 83457, who is the name and address coordinator for the Western Leavitt Family Organization for the Jeremiah Leavitt III descendants, and treasurer of the organization. I offered my assistance. April 11, 1998: Saturday. Called Roberta and asked her to coordinated getting the addresses for the Clarissa Josephine Leavitt family. Checked on a couple of job. Went out to eat, over to Springdale, to the art festival, and home. April 22, 1998: Wednesday. The last eleven days have been spent almost totally finishing the Grafton book. It was finished this evening. May 19, 1998: Tuesday. Death Notice: St. George, Cheryl K. Platt, 67, died May 19, 1998, at her home in St. George. She was born May 28, 1930, in Mansfield, Ohio, to Chris J. Beckel and Nandine G. Beckel. She married Denzil A. Platt May 29, 1977 in Elko, Nevada. He died May 13, 1990. Private family services will be held at a later date, under the direction of Spilsbury & Beard Mortuary, St. George. June 3, 1998: Wednesday. Sold the cabin to the Ludlows from Spanish Fork. They paid us $120,000.00. We deposited $95,000.00 in Deseret First Credit Union. We gave $5,000.00 to Baird and $5,000.00 to Brent, paid $1,000.00 in tithing, and have been using the rest to fix up the house. June 10, 1998: Wednesday. Roberta and her family and Dad and Margaret left for the Bahamas. June 17, 1998: Wednesday. I have spent the last month almost continually, typing the Leavitt Family History and preparing for the reunion. Karen re-typed the Jeremiah Leavitt II/Sarah Sturtevant history and has been working finishing up the room off our bedroom and doing the patio with bricks. June 18, 1998: Thursday. Drove to Salt Lake City and participated in a three-day Leavitt Family Reunion. Made close to $5,000.00 selling materials. Came home Saturday evening. June 20, 1998: Saturday. Roberta and family, Dad and Margaret returned from the Bahamas. They spent ten days at Rose Island, had the island all to themselves and had a great time. June 24, 1998: Thursday. Drove to Manti and attended the pagent with the Suttons and Craigs. Stayed overnight and then went to the temple with the Suttons and came home. June 27, 1998: Saturday. Karen had an overwhelming feeling that Baird and his family were here in St. George. They did not come to see us. June 29, 1998: Did not attend church today. Psalms may be organized on a psalm for year basis. Psalm 1 represents 1901. Psalm 150 represent the year 2050. June 30, 1998: Tuesday. Karen called Anne for her birthday but they were not home. Attended the Leavitt planning meeting. Afterwards Dixie and Anne came over for forty-five minutes. July 1, 1998: Wednesday. Elaine Walton called. She and Emma just got back from Wales. She found that Edward Davis, son of Thomas Davis and Gwenllian Williams died in the Zulu war in 22 January 1879 in Isandhlwana, South Africa. Haden had seen an editorial about Mormons and the mafia joining forces in Las Vegas. He wrote the man a letter. The man's wife, a reporter, read the letter, where he had mentioned the Perkins migrations. They asked Haden for an interview. She wrote an article and came by after Elaine and Emma arrived. Several Perkins called and they will follow up on it. Mervin Cartwright and Haden's daughter Ann have three children. He is a computer person and is out of work. Filled three book orders for the World Book and a Cuban book. Went to the show Armaggedon with Karen. July 2, 1998: Thursday. Karen continues to brick in the patio. I am working on the Larsen genealogy and typing the Huntsman Annals. Received two book orders for the World Book and one Leavitt order. Gail Porrit came over and look at the Soper/Savage photographs. He and several others had been into the Church's warehouse and photographed over 100 plates. He said he would get me those I don't have. Worked in the garden. Karen continued working on the patio. July 3, 1998: Friday. Finished the Larsen genealogy; continued typing the Huntsman Annals. July 4, 1998: Saturday. Went out to eat and then drove out to the southeastern part of the valley and put money down on an acre of property. We later decided not to take this piece. July 5, 1998: Sunday. Called Wendy and had her come over and we made an offer on a five-acre piece of property in Black Hills Ranches, Mountain Springs, in the New Harmony area. Attended to our church activities. Paid fast offerings. Worked on the Leavitt descendants study with Dixie and Anne Leavitt, for the Sarah Sturtevant monument that we're dedicating on September 5th. Harvested our fig tree. Got about fifty figs this year. They are delicious. July 6, 1998: Monday. Spent all day working on a list of children and grandchildren of Sarah Sturtevant and Jeremiah Leavitt for the September monument dedication. In the evening Karen and I drove to Cedar City and gave the list to Dixie and Ann Leavitt and then visited and had supper with them. We reviewed the quotations from Sarah's journal that are to go on the monument. Went to the family history center and found Clarissa Leavitt and Horace Sturtevant in the 1850 census of Barton, Orleans, Vermont. Clarissa is the only one of the children that didn't migrate with the family when they joined the Church. July 7, 1998: Tuesday. Began working with Karen in the mornings to finish the repairs needed around the house and yard in order to sell the property. Laid brick in the patio. Typed on the Huntsman Annals. July 8, 1998: Wednesday. Laid brick. Finished the Huntsman Annals. Finished typing the History of Zadock & Miriam Parker. Our proposal to buy a piece of property at Mountain Springs was accepted for $55,000.00. Signed thepapers to close the deal. It went to the title company for title insurance verifcation. We drove over to the property in the morning just to make sure it was what we wanted. July 9, 1998: Thursday. Harvested a bunch of peaches and froze and bottled them. Worked on the Platt Family History. Laid brick. Faye Leavitt called regarding displays at the September reunion. Dudley Leavitt's family called and reserved a table. July 10, 1998: Worked on the Platt Family History. Laid bricks. Cut lawns. Helped Dixie Leavitt with some last-minute decisions on the plaques. Bill Leavitt called and talked about coordinating the genealogical research in the family. He reserved a table for the reunion. July 11, 1998: Saturday. Picked up Leavitt books from Dixie and Ann. Drove to Manti. Gave a presentation to the Manti Heritage committee. It was very well received. Karen had a revelation regarding our work. The Manti group and the Leavitt group represent our respective genealogies in the work we are doing. Had lunch with Sue and her husband. Visited with them and then drove home. July 12, 1998: Sunday. Received the by-laws and court documents on our property for review and signature. Attended our meetings. The home teachers came for a visit. Typed one of the Leavitt histories. Wrote a letter to Sandy Duncan in San Diego answering her letter about the Platt family. Updated the Joseph Platt family group record. July 13, 1998: Monday. Finished laying the brick in the patio. Cut the lawn in the garden. Harvested peaches, peppers, carrots, and artichokes. Cleaned the house. Sent off a bunch of orders. Had home evening with our friends. July 14, 1998: Tuesday. Ordered a history of Mesquite, Nevada. Worked briefly in the garden. Spent most of the day copying some of my Hispanic books for sale, and the Platt Family History, then bring all the pages into their proper order in the fifty copies. At 2:00 we closed on our property at Mountain Springs, which is in the New Hamony Ward. Patty, Dru and the four boys stopped by in the afternoon. They have just returned from their home in Iowa and have rented a home in Cedar City: 89 West Sunbow; telephone 435-865-7720. Dru is working again for the old company he worked for before, driving truck, deliverying produce from Panguitch to Mesquite. Picked some garden produce for them and had a nice visit. They are looking for a place to settle permanently, and would like to be here in St. George. July 15, 1998: Wednesday. Spent from 4:00 to 6:30 a.m. working on final editing of the last portions of the Platt Family History and copying them ready for printing. Worked briefly in the yard. Went with Elizabeth Adam's son up to the spring and put in a new line from the spring to the box. July 16, 1998: Thursday. Spent from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. at the spring building a support system for the pipe we laid. Worked on the Platt Family History. Did some research for Anne Leavitt for the monument project. Worked in the garden. Heat up to 113 today. At 7:15 this morning we had an earthquake in the area. It caused the ground to crackle with a busting sound and a strong breeze rushed through the house. Karen watched the shades shake but felt no earth movement. Our neighbor Karen Fisher felt the earth move and heard a boom. Karen bottled peaches today and spread fine sand over the patio bricks. Filled several surname orders and two book order. July 17, 1998: Friday. Got up at 5:00 and worked on the Platt Family History until 7:30. Watered. Worked in the garden. Organized files. Karen cooked dinner for a family in the ward. Worked on surname orders. Mailed a bunch of packages and letters. Karen continues to clean, pack and prepare for the move that we know is coming, just not when. She has bought a lot of containers and is storing materials, cleaning out materials and things we don't need, taking them to the Deseret Industries, and generally preparing us and organizing us for a hasty departure if the house sells. We still haven't put it up for sale yet, but our repairs and additions are nearly finished. Ordered The Master Genealogist. July 18, 1998: Saturday. Bought a LaserJet 3100 printer, copier, fax, scanner; bought a cartridge for our copier; bought a table for karen's computer; bought more RAM for my computer. Ate out. Very hot today. Bought bricks. Spent all day and most of the evening trying to get the printer to work. The software was corrupted. July 19, 1998: Sunday. Returned the printer. Went to all of our meetings. Spent the day resting and studying. Heavy lighting storm in the evening. Brought EFC (Electronic Family Connections newsletters up to date. July 20, 1998: Monday. Mailed out letters and packages. Bought bricks. Worked on the Platt Family History. Updated the EFC website. Karen and I went to The Mask of Zorro, a wonderful movie, very entertaining. Dramatic thunder and lightening display during the evening with bolts sizzling through the air close to the house. July 21, 1998: Tuesday. Filled two Leavitt orders. Got my hair cut. Went home teaching and Karen visiting teaching. Took The Platt Family History to have it printed, and my ecclesiastical guide of Mexico. Bought twenty binders for organizing files. Typed some histories. Had a visit from Mary Lucille Tanner, wife of Rolf Tanner, 1119 Kildeer Ct., Encinillas, California 92024. She was born November 12, 1930, Helper, Carbon, Utah, daughter of Jennie Lucille Behunin and Andrew Martin Jorgenson. Jennie was born October 31, 1913 at Bluebell, Duchesne, Utah. She married second Louis Quintin Sims. She was the daughter of George Albert Behunin and Mary Jane Biddlecome, Jane having been previously married to Brigham Behunin, George's older brother. Brigham and Mary Jane had two children Jessie and Eldon and George and Mary Jane had nine children. George became bitter and left the Church because he was forced by his father Mosiah to marry Mary Jane who had been sealed to Brigham. He never felt he belonged nor that his children were his. George was a dreamer, didn't take care of his family, chased after gold mines and lost his former knowledge and testimony of the Church. July 22, 1998: Wednesday. Got the rest of the text on the Platt Family History back from the printer in fifty copies along with the Ecclesiastial Guide to Mexico. Got some printer cartridges for my computer printer and gave Karen back hers. Prepared a letter to the Joseph Platt/Clarissa Josephine Leavitt Family Reunion that is being held this weekend. Had copies of the Sarah Sturtevant and Western Leavitt Family Association information made and gave it to Roberta to deliver to the family. José López, his wife Joan and their son John came down from Provo for a visit. They stayed for several hours. We discussed his mother's death three years ago in Hialeah, Florida. At the end she asked José to tell me that Satan was going to unleash everything he could at me. He asked her how she knew this and she said "I just know." Anyone who has the Prophet Joseph Smith around him like Lyman does, has Satan's attention and interest. She extended her love and thanks for the wonderful blessing given years ago, and told him to tell me that we would meet again in the next life. We discussed the López famiy's trials and struggles with stake president Maynard in Salt Lake and his unrighteousness and membership in the KKK. We discussed the blessing José received from Patriarch Eldredge G. Smith, and from Patriarch Pita from Uruguay and how these blessings were so important in their lives. Vernita Mickel came over and gave me a job typing a book. We made an appointmen for Saturday to go over the museum they are doing in Wyoming to make sure on the floor plan. Worked on the Platt Family History pictures' section and prepared about half of it for duplication. It rained in the afternoon again. While working on the book a note fell out that I had written over twelve years ago giving the names and addresses of two people. Melodie Myler stilled lived in West Jordan when I called. She is the daugther of Catherine Miller who was the genealogist for the Jeremiah Leavitt I/Sarah Shannon Family Organization. She gave me Catherine's address and phone number. Catherine is leaving tomorrow for Utah and still has the old 30,000-name card index of Leavitt that was put together by the family. She is bringing it with her. I called Jimmy to have it left at the library so I could pick it up next time we are in Salt Lake City. That will be a big step forward on gathering information on the family. They informed us at the real estate office that the water certificate for our property at Mountain Spirngs was signed and shipped back yesterday but hasn't arrived. So the property is now ours, but still hasn't been recorded. Wendy Muncy called with the name of a person that will do our septic tank. July 23, 1998: Thursday. Our Mountain Springs property was recorded in our name today. I called for an appointment tomorrow to put in a septic tank. We went for a ride with the Suttons up to Pine Valley, over to Pinto, New Harmony and Mountain Springs, the into Zion Park next to the property. It was a lovely day. Finished putting together the Platt Family History pictures, so now I just need to copy them and I'm ready for binding. It has been a long process but it's good to have the history revised. July 24, 1998: Friday. My father is 78 today. He is at the Platt Family Reunion being held at my cousin Jolene's cabin up on Cedar Mountain. We chose not to go because of the controversies that still inpede normal relationships in the family. Irene, McKay, Ed, Joe, and Roberta are supposed to be there as well. We went up to our property and measured the boundaries and placement of our new home and the septic tank. Don Anderson (435-) dug the septic tank hole. Planted a tree. Worked on surname orders and got three out the door today. The Master Genealogist software arrived today. Began the EFC database. Got a Leavitt order from France. July 25, 1998: Saturday. Went out to Meikles and got a work project indexing a book. Started working on it. Worked on the EFC database. Typed letters from the Platt Family Records center. July 26, 1998: Sunday. Attended Priesthood. I taught the High Priests. Karen stayed home. Typed twenty letters from the Platt Family Records Center into the computer, mostly from grandma and grandpa Lyman. Ordered my new computer from Dell, Marcie 1800291DELL, 42061. It is an R400 Intel II microprocessor with a 16.8 megabyte hard drive, 64 megabytes of memory, a 17" monitor, an 8 megabyte video card; 3.5 floppy disk drive, Windows 98, a 56 kilobyte modem, a Hulet Packard Office Jet 600 Printer, and an Home Essentials package for $2988.10. Customer number 5656750, Order number 172367641. I sent a check to Mellon Bank - Dallas Lockbox, 888 S. Greenville Ave., Suite 200, Department 0795, Richardson, TX 75081. July 27, 1998: Monday. Copied the pictures for the Platt Family History. Collated them into the book. Finished the book and boxed it up ready to take to Las Vegas. Began typing Mary Ellen Huntsman book L.D.S. Family and Individual Record which she bought about 1924 and kept up until about 1945, recording information on herself, her husband, children, grandchildren and some great-grandchildren. Did twenty-four pages of 137 pages. Attended home evening with the Craigs and Suttons. Discussed the Y2-K computer problem that will shut down many systems at midnight December 31, 1999. Gave Marilyn a blessing and received a backwash of garbage into my system that was in hers. It left me sick all night. July 28, 1998: Tuesday. Drove to Las Vegas and dropped The Platt Family History off at Western Binding. Karen went shopping for clothes and shoes. I bought three books, one on the life of Abba Eban and the history of Israel, one on the Dead Sea Scrolls, and one on herbs of the Southwest. We visited Overton and Loganville and got a copy of the cemetery inscriptions for Overton's oldest cemetery. Ate at Mesquite. Got home in the early evening. July 29, 1998: Wednesday. Took a trailer full of garbage out to the junkyard that Karen had pulled together from our storage places. Then we took a load to the Deseret Industries. We continue to clean, pack and prepare to move at a moments notice - whenever the house sells. Worked on the L.D.S. Family and Individual Record and got to page 100. Mailed out bills. July 30, 1998: Thursday. Finshed the L.D.S. Family... book and had it printed for the September reunion. Attended the planning meeting for said reunion. Kevin Dwyer stopped by to discuss the sale of our properties and the development of the software. He is a real estate broker/agent and also sits on the board of directors of a software company in Salt Lake City that look very good for what we want to do. This week I have learned that John Manning, born about 1801 in Virginia, was in the mobs at Missouri against the Mormons and in his autobiography bragged about his involvement in the Mormon Wars. He left Missouri for Willamut Valley in Oregon, then to Sacramento, then to Santa Rosa, California where he built the Santa Rosa Academy. Interestingly enough Governor Boggs was also in Santa Rosa. Is this a pattern of gathering of the mob element? July 31, 1998: Friday. Left for Salt Lake City. Arrived at 11:00 at the home of Catherine Miller's daughter and picked up the old Jeremiah Leavitt I/Sarah Shannon card index, some 8,000 cards with genealogical data. Checked in at the Inn at Temple Square. Went to the library and began working on various projects. Karen talked to Brent, who has decided it's time for him to be sealed to us. He had read an article in the Ensign which impressed him with the responsibility. He will talk to Baird. In the evening we met with the Behunin family to go over the details of the Behunin reunion that we are chairing this year. August 1, 1998: Saturday. Natalia is 14 today. We worked at the library and then drove to Helper for the Hiawatha reunion. Afterwards we drove to Hiawatha and then home. LaDean and Glen were with us at Helper and Hiawatha and we did a little exploring and went to lunch. Arrived home at 11:30 p.m. August 2, 1998: Sunday. Attended meetings. Karen and I were called by the bishop to teach the Gospel Essentials class. In the evening I spoke at a fireside for single adults at the East Morningside Stake here in St. George. August 3, 1998: Monday. Worked in the yards. Took packages to the mail: Canada, England and the Netherlands. Began working on taxes for 1977. Received a letter from Jo and Sue today announcing the mission call for Clay to the Portland, Oregon Spanish-speaking mission. His farewell is August 9th at 1:00 p.m. at the Kaysville South Stake Center. Joseph and Susan Platt, 1002 South Fairway Circle, Fruit Heights, Utah 84037. Clay enters the mission home on August 12th. Worked on surname files. Wrote the August Newsletter for Electronic Family Connections. Watered the garden and picked our first almonds ever, our first apples ever, and our first watermelon of the year. August 4, 1998: Tuesday. Nancy King, Mt. Springs Water Company (435-586-6553: The Leavitt Group) needs to send us a certificate so that the septic tank can be put in. Don Anderson called and gave us his FAX number (435-586-3476) so that we could FAX a copy to him. Worked on the 1997 taxes for a couple of hours. Spent the rest of the day working on surname reports. We visited Doug and Joy Ann Cary and took her a birthday present. Called on my computer; they said it was shipped yesterday. Watered the lawns. Went for a walk and delivered papers for the Relief Society. Visited with the Huntsmans. They are from the Fillmore family. Karen is working on the Behunin reunion materials. I coordinated with Anne Leavitt several times on the Sarah Sturtevant reader's theater. August 5, 1998: Wednesday. Received a call from Connecticut National. They have called Paula three times trying to get information on the children and she refused to return their calls. They have the times and dates listed on their logs. Their number is 800-374-7801. The account number is 0057137795. August 6, 1998: Thursday. Finished one surname report. My new computer and printer arrived. Got them set up and working just fine. We now have scanning, copying, faxing, and OCR capabilities. Brent called in the evening and told us the Baird was not interested in being sealed, but that he (Brent) had decided it was time. We set a date for the 29th of August. Karen went to a wedding shower for her cousin's daughter. August 7, 1998: Friday. Finished putting together the new equipment. Began entering documents into the scanner and saving them as part of the Electronic Family Connections database. Karen had a root canal operation on her tooth. Went to the Deseret Industries and took my old 286 computer and other things. Went out to eat. Sylvan and Jennie Johnson were at Chuck-a-Rama. Jennie is related to Karen through Isaac Hill, 4th cousins once removed. Got gas for the jeep. Bought food. Had a nap. Read. Studied. Turned in the 1997 taxes to our accountant. Worked on the EFC database. Entered document information 1-2. August 8, 1998: Saturday. Worked in the garden, harvesting peppers, tomatoes, squash, and fruit. Weeded. Worked on EFC database. Entered document information 3-5. Went out to breakfast and then drove over to the property. They have put in the septic tank and drain line. Met our neighbor Lorraine Ide, whose husband Bob just had a six-bypass operation on his heart. They are from Michigan and not members of the Church. Watered my tree. Came home and worked on records all day, read, and relaxed. Indexed a hundred pages for Vernita. Karen finished her Visiting Teaching Report and turned it in and she worked on the Behunin reunion. August 9, 1998: Sunday. Wrote a letter to Anne Leavitt about the EFC project at her request. It was couched in terms for Dixie to understand. Indexed a hundred pages. Read from Abba Eben's history of Israel. August 10, 1998: Monday. Applied for unemployment. Went down and registered with job services. My insurance agent called and said Paula will not sign the insurance papers, so I wrote her a letter with a copy to ORS explaining the problem she might put herself in if she doesn't sign them. Indexed a hundred pages of The Beesley History for Vernita. Went to home evening with the Suttons and the Craigs. Entered information for documents 6-7 in EFC. Read Eben's book. August 11, 1998: Tuesday. Worked until 10:30 in the yards. Mowed lawns, weeded, picked peppers, harvested fennel, and the last of the few almonds. Indexed a hundred pages of the Beesley book. Worked on EFC, documents 8-10. Sent out July and August newsletters to EFC subscribers. Entered 100 pages of indexing for The Beesley History for Vernita. August 12, 1998: Wednesday. Worked until 11:30 in the yards. Mowed lawns, weeded, and trimmed. All of the front part of the property is now done and most of the back. Took care of an insurance problem and a telephone disconnection error. Entered information for documents 8-17 in EFC. Read Eben's book. Entered 50 pages of indexing on Vernita's project. August 13, 1998: Thursday. Read until 10:30, being somewhat exhausted today. Finished Vernita's indexing project. Entered documents 18-20 on EFC. August 14, 1998: Friday. Today Karen and I have been sealed for six years. We went over to the property at Mountain Springs and saw the new driveway they had put in. Went out to eat. Went over to Vernita's and collected $500.00 and got a new project, indexing the Teton Valley News, forty-four rolls of microfilm. The whole collections has not been contracted; it's on a go as we go basis. Entered documents 21-23 on EFC. August 15, 1998: Saturday. Karen had a Behunin planning meeting at the home today. We got her manuscript printed and distributed to the group and had an enjoyable time listening to the children sing, and making acquaintences with previously unknown relatives. Received the letter of instructions from the Manti Temple for our sealing date with Brent. August 16, 1998: Sunday. Type note from the PFRC. Entered documents 24-30 on EFC. Went to Church. August 17, 1998: Monday. Worked on the EFC project. Consolidated all the note documents into one file; re-scanned the files that I had reduced, thereby losing pixels, and restored them to their full quality. Entered up to document 32. Typed on Vernita's Teton Valley News project. Karen typed all day long. I drove alone to our property and met with Evan, who gave me the inspection report for the road and I showed him what we wanted done next: roadway into the garage area, and laying a pad for a storehouse. Went to our accountants and signed our tax records for the state and national income tax for 1997. Helped Karen the rest of the day and she got her history of the Behunins printed and bound. Received a research project on a Mexican family, $210.00. August 18, 1998: Tuesday. Left at 6:16 a.m. for Hiawatha, where Karen was raised. Spent the day organizing records, boxing them up and giving them to Karen's cousin Eldon Miller, who was also there as was Glen Riches. We got two excellent maps from the 1940's and 1950's that will help us in the reconstruction of the city. Stopped in Ferron and ordered copies of all the tombstone cards on Karen's families. Karen bought a paper and saw that her dear friend Lucinda Wild had died last week. Visited with Karen Sittrud in Orangeville. Saw Caroline Hill's original journal. She also has a lot of Tyler genealogy that she and Marsha Smith have compiled. She reminded us of the talk that President Monson gave in conference last year about the two volumes of genealogy that were found in Canada, which belongs to Karen's family. She will send us a copy. Drove to Manti and rented a room for the evening. August 19, 1998: Wednesday. Went to the family history center in Manti and copied records of births, marriages, and deaths for the early settlers of Manti. Went to Ephraim and reviewed the Special Collections at the college. Bought some food storage. Drove to Marysvale and Panguitch and visited their cemeteries. Found Aunt Gladys, some Philip Otis Tomney living in Marysvale. Visited the grave of Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Roland in Panguitch. August 20, 1998: Thursday. When we got home yesterday there was a message on the telephone indicating that St. George Magazine was ready to proceed with the publication of our Grafton book, so I spent the day correcting the errors that they had found. Called Vernita and talked to her about her project. She is willing to fund it as up to $4,000 per microfilm. Evan Anderson, our building contractor called and we discussed the further development in our thinking about the storage shed. We are going to put electricity and water in it. It will be plumbed for a kitchen and a bathroom, so that we can do all of our garden and yard cleaning and canning from there. Kent stopped by and we spent an hour discussing the purchase of the property at the Mt. Meadows and other things. August 21, 1998: Friday. Spent all day from 4:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. preparing the Grafton manuscript for publication. We took it to Lyman Hafen and discussed the timing and contract. He gave us the ISBN Number and the LOC number. We went to Roland Lee's art gallery and saw the painting that he had done for the front cover of the book. It will go well with the book. Dixie Leavitt called and invited Karen and me to the Board Meeting of the Western Association of Leavitt Families on October 14th at the Governor's Mansion. We are to be prepared to discuss our recommendations for compiling the Leavitt genealogy. I did not write anything further in 1998. I will try to reconstruct this period from other sources in the future if I have time. JOURNAL Lyman D. Platt, Ph.D. 1999 January 1, 1999: Friday. Last night I received an e-mail from Mark Tullis offering me a consulting job with Ancestry for $6,000.00 a month for six months, renewable. This morning I wrote back accepting the offer and proposing next steps for developing the company. Karen and I went out to lunch and then worked on our various projects in the afternoon. Tonight there was the most beautiful full moon, unusual for the beginning of a year. January 2, 1999: Saturday. We went to breakfast and then to the property where we finished the roof enclosure, enclosed the south end of the eaves and started piece work between the rafters. We worked for four hours and then came home and watched movies until midnight. January 3, 1999: Sunday. This morning began the early block of meetings at Church, 9:00-12:00. I taught the High Priests and Karen taught our Sunday School Class. I bore my testimony. We rested in the afternoon and received our home teachers. I cleaned up my office and prepared for the new life of a working person again. January 4, 1999: Monday. Worked at the farm. January 5, 1999: Tuesday. Worked at the farm. January 6, 1999: Wednesday. Met this morning with Curt Allan and Mark Tullis. We spent two hours discussing how I fit into the company and the parameters of the Millennium Project. Curt’s father developed a taxonomy software which is very adaptable to the innovations I want to make in the current software. In a pedigree there are nodes which in the pedigree itself are offshot in any number of levels: attributes, places, characteristics, DNA, etc., thereby allowing for a GEDCOM type file on over 70 billion people within a range of 16 terabytes of data compression. At lunch Mark asked me to recommend 4-6 advisors for the Millennium Project, with their recommended compensations, by the end of January. There will be a fall conference at the Salt Palace where this will be displayed, to the point it has been developed. It should be along the lines of the BYU seminar and should bring in data from a variety of companies. I am to set up a meeting at the Inn at Temple Square for February 1 with several genealogists. Met with John Tolman, who handles the libraries for Ancestry. Met with Krisene Watson, Rick Weight and Scott Hill regarding the programming of The Millennium Family Tree Project. They are importing GEDCOM 5.5 into Family Tree. In the afternoon met with Jake Gehring and Andre regarding the Irish database. January 7, 1999: Thursday. Prepared a memo for Mark regarding the Irish database. Met with Krisine about the timing of their phases 1, 2, and 3. It was felt they could meet the June 1st deadline of ALA, New Orleans for an initial demonstration. I was asked by Mark to be the Team Leader of The Millennium Family Tree Project and to get non-disclosure agreements in place for the six persons I have recommended: Ted Chadbourne, Fred Garcia, John Kitzmiller, Mike Andrews, Johni Cerny, and Richard Price. January 8, 1999: Friday. Left the motel at 11:30 and traveled home, stopping in Beaver for lunch. January 9, 1999: Saturday. Bought doors and plywood and spent the day at the property working on the garden house. January 10, 1999: Sunday. Directed Priesthood music, taught our last lesson in the first course of our series in S.S. Rested in the afternoon. January 11, 1999: Monday. Went over to the property and put the cap on the roof, the front doors in and enclosed the east eaves. Attended home evening with the Craigs and Suttons. Dave and Jim Craig were in attendance tonight. Dave taught an excellent lesson on the wrath of the Lord. January 12, 1999: Tuesday. Today marks the 15th anniversary of Karen’s and my experience in the Provo Temple, one that changed both of our lives and those of our families forever. Took the car in for inspection. Signed up for major medical insurance. Sent off for 15 trees for our new property. Made arrangements for our trip north tomorrow. January 13, 1999: Wednesday. Rented a car and drove to Salt Lake to attend the quarterly meeting of the Western Association of Leavitt Families. Became a member of the board. Presented the quarterly development of the genealogy and history committee. Drove to Provo. Stayed at the Cottontree Inn. January 14, 1999: Thursday. Had meetings all day at Ancestry. Drove to Salt Lake to meet with Dell Allen and his wife, parents of Curt and Paul Allen, of Ancestry. We discussed software needs. January 15, 1999: Friday. Had meetings all day at Ancestry. Obtained copies of all genealogy computer software currently available on the market, for study. Drove to Salt Lake and attended an evening banquet of Ancestry and the Federation of Genealogical Societies. January 16, 1999: Saturday. Mission accomplished as to my trip. All parties have generally agreed to my proposals for developed The Millennium Project. Now I just need to write it. Drove home. Stopped in Fillmore and Beaver and picked up new books that have been published on the area. January 17, 1999: Sunday. Ward Conference. Directed music in priesthood. Attended our meetings. January 18, 1999: Monday. Spent the day at our farm building our garden house. Worked on the doors and the eaves. January 19, 1999: Tuesday. Worked at home on my contracts during the morning. Bought kitchen cabinets for our St. George home. Went over to the property with a load on our trailer, our two outside tables. Met with Wilma Petty there. She gave us some genealogy books from her mother’s collection, of greatest interest the DUP (27 volumes) and 13 others of a general genealogical nature – collections, family histories and genealogies. Floyd Atkin came over and set the plate for the toilet. He and Wilma, old friends, visited. We drilled some bolt holes to pull the front trusses together. Vernita Meikle called and said she had received more money for the Teton Valley New indexing. January 20, 1999: Wednesday. Spent the day working on contracts and general office work. Karen bought kitchen cabinets and began re-doing the bottom part of the kitchen’s structure. January 21, 1999: Thursday. Spent the day working on contracts and general office work. Karen continued working on the kitchen and went to Dixie College for her volunteer work. January 22, 1999: Friday. Finished cutting the tops for the kitchen and put all the cabinets and tops in place. Spent the morning working on contracts and general office work. Becki Toone stopped by to see the house. She and her husband Paul feel like they want to buy it. Spent the afternoon cleaning yards, pruning graping, burning trash, and at 6:00 a cousin Steve Robison and his wife Darcy and her daughter, stopped and talked for two and a half hours. (435-843-0344) They lived in Nauvoo for seven years and did microfilming for the Church. He gave me a file on Millard County residents (PAF) and I gave them a copy of my World Generations book. It was a good meeting. January 23, 1999: Saturday. Worked on office backlog and Karen painted and prepared for Richard Grimm’s funeral. He was a neighbor and Karen is Joy Grimm’s visiting teacher. Attented the funeral. Drove over to the property with a load of our miscellaneous stuff. Worked on the garden house. Put in the stair supports. January 24, 1999: Sunday. Ward Conference. Choir practice. Directed priesthood music. Team taught Sunday School with Karen. Sang in the choir. Worked on family archive, numbering documents, letters and photographs. January 25, 1999: Monday. Spent the morning finalizing draft 3 of The Millennium Family Tree Project proposal. Sent it to Mark for review. Cut the stair rails for the garden house. Took them over and installed them. Trimmed the east side of the roof. Took a load of our things over and stacked them in the back of the building. January 26, 1999: Tuesday. Spent until 2:00 p.m. working on my papers that will be presented in April at the Utah Genealogical Society seminar in Salt Lake City. Sent them off. Worked on databases for Ancestry. Sent off bibliographic guidelines to the Leavitts. January 27, 1999: Wednesday. Worked until 1:00 on TMP. Worked on other files. Karen is continuing to put the kitchen together here in St. George. She bought the last cabinets. She is packing things. January 28, 1999: Thursday. Worked on files until noon. Bought stairs and took a load over to the farm. Put in the stairs, began laying the floor upstairs. Filled in part of the north wall holes. We have snow on the ground for the first time this year. Received my first check for $3,000.00 from Ancestry.com. It’s a relief to have some money again. I received notice of a doctor’s appointment for Johnny on the 8th. This confirms my suspicions that he has already received his mission call. Too bad the family doesn’t care to share such things. Paul Toone (628-5388) called and offered to buy the back part of our St. George property. I told him we would try and get a buyer for the front but that we can’t sell one piece at a time. McKay called today and invited Karen and me to a family party at Joe’s place next week. He also mentioned that on March 12th and March 19th one of McKay’s and one of Gene’s children are getting married. He also said that dad would be at Roberta’s next week. January 29, 1999: Friday. Paid bills; payed off three; still owe ZCMI and Anderson Lumber about $1,700.00 apiece. Cleaned up back-logs on several piles of paper. Bought insurance for the farm house. It is valued at $43,000, and has cost us about $15,000 in actual expenses, plus our time. Tried to call Sylvan Johnson, 220 East 600 South, St. George, 674-5279, but they weren’t home. January 30, 1999: Saturday. Spent the day at the property. Began laying the upstairs, and working with the eaves on the ends of the house. Paid monthly bills. January 31, 1999: Sunday. Directed music, taught Sunday School. Attended fast meeting. Rested all day. Heather, Ed’s daughter, had her farewell today. Dad came down from Oregon for it. He arrived in St. George this evening and is staying at Roberta’s. February 1, 1999: Monday. Worked on office paperwork; sent tapes to Mark Tullis. Left Karen instructions at the top of the year in case of my death. I am having heavy chest pains. Bought a 24’ ladder. Went over to the property and worked on the eaves, finishing the north end. Called to get electricity and telephone into the property. Dad called. We had a nice talk. He’ll be here until Saturday. Dixie and Anne Leavitt stopped by to discuss developments in the Leavitt organization. Received three book orders for The World Book of Generations from La Jolla, California, Salt Lake, and Etna, Wyoming. Sent off seven surname orders that have backlogged. February 2, 1999: Tuesday. Went over to the property and finished the southern eaves. Sent off the book orders and surname orders. Paula called Dad and told him that Johnny had received his call to the Rome, Italy Mission. February 3, 1999: Wednesday. Spent the day with my father. He came over in the morning. We went out to Santa Clara to the Sarah Sturtevant monument. Kent came and took us to Mountain Meadows where we view the old monument and Kent's and Joe’s property which is adjacent to it on the west. February 4, 1999: Thursday. Worked on Ancestry projects. Indexed PFRC documents and filed many. February 5, 1999: Friday. Worked on Ancestry projects. Drove over to the property and cleaned off the roof as it had snowed and there was water all over inside. February 6, 1999: Saturday. Worked on files until noon and then went over to the property and tar-papered the west side of the farm house. It was very cold but we made it. Karen continues remodeling the kitchen. Indexed PFRC documents. The family had a party at Joe’s place in Farmington this evening. We chose not to go. February 7, 1999: Sunday. Attended church, directed music, taught priesthood, team-taught with Karen in Sunday. Had a excellent Sacrament Meeting. Went to choir practice. Received the home teachers. Worked on the PFRC indexing. February 8, 1999: Monday. Finished roofing the west side of the farm house. Had home evening at our place with the Craigs and Suttons. February 9, 1999: Tuesday. Worked on indexing all day. February 10, 1999: Wednesday. Spent twelve hours working on the Millennium Project for Ancestry. Finished ten node connections February 11, 1999: Thursday. Finished nodes 11-13 on TMP. February 12, 1999: Friday. Worked all day. February 13, 1999: Saturday. Finished the principal part of the roofing on the east side of the farm house and placing the crown on top of the roof. February 14, 1999: Sunday. Went to meetings. Directed music. Team taught Sunday School. Went out to Red Lobster for a $50.00 Valentine’s dinner. February 15, 1999: Monday. Went to the home show. Saw Kent and K. J. Bought trees and took some more of my fruit trees up to the farm and planted all of them. We now have 20 fruit/nut and 20 pine. February 16, 1999: Tuesday. Deposited $2,000.00 in checking and $300.00 in Karen’s account. Visited Ellen and Floyd Atkin and dropped them off the Valentine’s gift Karen had made them. We had a good talk. One of Uncle Albert’s phrases came up: “All joyful to the purpose.” Stopped and talked to Roberta about my visit with dad. February 17, 1999: Wednesday. Drove to Orem and held meetings with Ancestry. In the evening stayed at Brent’s. February 18, 1999: Thursday. Held meetings until noon and then drove home. February 19, 1999: Friday. Bought a greenhouse for the farm which will be set up in April by a Canadian firm. Went to Hurricane and bought some more fruit and nut trees, and bushes. Ordered fifty bushes from The Arbor Foundation, and also ordered a catalog from Lone Pine Conservation in Draper that will sell seedlings of ninety varieties for $.40 apiece. February 20, 1999: Saturday. Went out to eat. In a very cold wind, planted the trees, grapes and current bushes. Watered everything. Came home and got sick. February 21, 1999: Sunday. Sick. Karen went and taught class and then came home. Spent a little time indexing family records. Wrote out a few bills. February 22, 1999: Monday. Still sick. Did some work and indexing. February 23, 1999: Tuesday. Worked all day on indexing my documents. Got to 400. Still sick. Went out to lunch with LaDean and Glen Riches who had driven down from Richfield. February 24, 1999: Wednesday. Worked all day on indexing my documents. Finished: 725. Printed out the index of 2350 entries. Still sick. Karen is working on the kitchen and the newsletter for Washington County Historical Society. February 25, 1999: Thursday. Began indexing additional collections of documents and started working on the letter collection that I have. February 26, 1999: Friday. Continued indexing and working on the Millennium Project for Ancestry.com. February 27, 1999: Saturday. Went to breakfast and then over to the farm. We discussed with a Barlow gentleman working nearby the needs we had for use of his back-hoe and agreed to have him come over on Tuesday or Wednesday. We watered our trees and came home. I continued to work on indexing my letter’s collecton. February 28, 1999: Sunday. Went to stake conference and then over to Roberta’s and Kent’s ward to listen to Kent give a marvelous talk on the Mountain Meadows Massacre. After we got home the bishop asked for an interview. Paula’s stake president had called President Clove and complained that I was not paying my child support. I provided the bishop documents proving otherwise and told him I was sick of the deceit and manipulation, that if it didn’t stop I was going to the general authorities. He called President Clove while I was back home getting the documents and when I returned he said that President Clove had told him that he would take care of Paula’s stake president. I told him that he better or I would. I gave the bishop a document showing Paula’s recent fraud against the State of Utah’s insurance system. We discussed the various details of what is going on in the family, and he was pleased with my actions and position. I continued indexing my letter’s collection. March 1, 1999: Monday. Spent twelve hours indexing, cleaning out old files, throwing away, consolidating the archives. Finished the letters section of the archive as to its indexing. Began on the photographs. March 2, 1999: Tuesday. Wrote letters to my external team regarding the status of The Millennium Project. Bought materials and went over to the property and worked on the upstairs in the garden house. March 3, 1999: Wednesday. Spent the day at the property. We finished part of the upstairs flooring and then two back-hoes came and began digging our house foundation and the foundations for the greenhouse, the cellar, and the barn. Talked to Roberta about a letter that I am sending to dad, Patty, and each of my brothers and sisters. She told me that Paula is working for the state hospital in American Fork and that she told her yesterday that she is not going to worry about child support any longer because she doesn’t want to take me to court again to collect it. This is an obvious reference to her being called by her stake president and told to cease and desist on the lying about the whole matter. It’s her way of getting out of the lie – telling another one. March 4, 1999: Thursday. Called the power company. They are going to put temporary power to the property Monday. Spent the day at the property and got the foundations dug for the big house, finished the root cellar hole, finished the greenhouse base, and the barn base. Piled up dirt around the greenhouse base and leveled off some of the old piles. Created a wind barrier on the north side of the property with some of the excess dirt. Found out that we are entitled to buy into the irrigations rights in the area, a major step forward in our efforts for self-sufficiency. Paid the Barlows $1,300.00 for their excavation work. Received a check for $3,000.00 for my work with Ancestry.com. Indexed another 150 photographs. March 5, 1999: Friday. Paid outstanding bills. Jesse Behunin came over and lacquered the painting that we bought from her last year. Deposited my check and then spent the day working on the Millennium Project, typing in 400 entries. March 6, 1999: Saturday. Worked on the Leavitt Archive. Went to Barbara and Kent Heideman’s in the evening to visit with Perkins and Lyman relatives. Ellen and her husband, Bert, Platte Bayless, Helen Hunt and husband, Marilyn, Barbara and Kent, my sister Roberta, and a few others. We spent a fun evening together. March 7, 1999: Sunday. Went to Church and directed music and taught S.S. class. Came home to be with Karen who wasn’t feeling well. March 8, 1999: Monday. Worked all day on the Millennium Project, software and typing. Patty called in the evening. Went to home evening with the Craigs and Suttons. March 9, 1999: Tuesday. Worked on the Millennium Project. March 10, 1999: Wednesday. Worked on the Millennium Project. March 11, 1999: Thursday. Worked on the Millennium Project. Ed wrote a very unkind letter in response to my family letter. I chose not to read it. Karen spent some time drafting a response and then didn’t send it. March 12, 1999: Friday. Worked on the Millennium Project. Carlie, McKay’s daughter got married today in the Salt Lake Temple. March 13, 1999: Saturday. Ate out for breakfast. Spent the day at the property putting the final piece on the roof and then beginning the siding of the end eaves. Finished the south side. Framed around the front part of the house. Used our electricity for the first time. March 14, 1999: Sunday. Directed music and taught High Priest. Karen taught our S.S. class. We went over to the property and had Craig Sullivan look at our cement needs, to give us a bid later. He is a grandson of Samuel Leavitt from Gunlock. March 15, 1999: Monday. Cut grass and weeds for two hours. Watered the front lawn. Created demonstrations for my meetings later this week. Worked on the Millennium Project. Created some binders to work on The World Book of Generations, volumes 2 and 3 during our vacation. Karen went to the dentist for a front tooth filling and to check a molar. March 16, 1999: Tuesday. Got up at 4:30 and worked on The World Book of Generations, volumes 2 and 3 for two hours. Worked for two hours cutting weeds and cleaning the garden. Worked on the Millennium Project. Drove over to the property and put up the end eaves on the north side of the house. Took a load of boxes full of various storage items over and put them upstairs. March 17, 1999: Wednesday. Worked on the yards for two hours and then worked on computer projects for the rest of the day. March 18, 1999: Thursday. Drove to Orem to hold meetings with Ancestry personnel tomorrow. March 19, 1999: Friday. Jared, Ed’s son, got married today in Manti. We were in Provo but didn’t attend the reception. Had meetings in the morning and then drove home. Concluded negotiations to sell my Irish database to Ancestry for $20,000, plus $.10/name for all additional entries that I provide to them. March 20, 1999: Saturday. Left for Laughlin, Nevada with Karen’s sisters for a few day’s holiday. March 21, 1999: John Andres had his missionary farewell today. He is going to the Rome Italy Mission. The last month has been very busy working on The Millennium Project, being sick, and being involved in the shooting at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. April 25, 1999: Saturday. Went to the property and planted two cherry, two peach, four apple, two pecan, two almond, one walnut and two maple trees that I received yesterday in the mail from the Arbor Day Foundation. June 6, 1999: Sunday. The six weeks have been very eventful and full. We have been so busy that I have neglected my journal entries. Hopefully, the following will summarize what we have done. On May 1st we drove to Chandler and attended the baptism for Jacob Fullerton, Karen’s grandson, and I visited with Eloise Cluff about her genealogy. We had an enjoyable trip, going through the Navajo Reservation down and through Las Vegas and Boulder on the way back. It was a healing trip and effected some good feelings. On May 5th Karen and I made a presentation in the evening at the Visitor’s Center auditorium at Zion Park on Grafton. There were twenty people there and it was a fun evening. On May 8th dad, Roberta, Allie, Kasse, Karen and I went to the St. George Temple and did ten baptisms, ten initiatory ordinances, and six endowments for Leavitt family members. We then had lunch at the temple. It was a very nice experience. Dad came down especially to participate with us. We received the $20,000.00 from the Irish database that I sold to Ancestry. This has allowed us to continue building our home. Our new home in Mountain Springs is now in its beginning stages: we dug the footings for the house, a basement, a pit for a root-cellar and had all the footings poured around the outside and block laid for the first levels of the office and house. Footings have been poured for our root-cellar. Our greenhouse is producing vegetables. This last weekend we went north to attend an Ancestry meeting along with John Kitzmiller from the FHD. Initial discussions with Mark Tullis were held regarding what I will do after my contract runs out at the end of June. It appears that if everything works out, I will be hired by Ancestry. We stayed at Brent’s, had supper with him and Baird who had flown in to work a day with Brent in his yard, and yesterday morning bought 200 pine seedlings, and 50@ of quaken aspens, lilac and oak. We have installed the water in our little house and hooked up the toilet, bathroom sink and are prepared to hook up the kitchen sink. We have taken more storage and placed it upstairs in the little house. I have prepared an additional 7,000 Irish names which have been sold to Ancestry. And I prepared over 500 ordinances and sent to Eloise Cluff on people from Baviacora, Sonora. Karen is working on getting her family data ready for the Behunin Reunion at the end of the month. The Millennium Project is now at 53 nodes, 190 sub-nodes, 9,600 linked names and is becoming a powerful research tool. We have continued to team-teach our Sunday School class, and have nine couples in the class. It is well-attended and the members are learning and participating. I continue to direct Priesthood music and sing in the choir. June 10, 1999: Thursday. Today is my 56th birthday. McKay wrote me an email last night and reported on his family as follows: “Katy graduated in April and moved to Baltimore. She’s 99.5% pregnant and expecting immediately. Pam leaves to help out this week and I follow later in June. Carly got married in March to Jeff Wendel that she met as a missionary in Oregon. We’re adjusting to life in Utah. Our address is 1055 East 40 No., Orem, Utah 84097. We only have two at home now, Eliza (15) and Michael (10). Michael is in a re-hab program for Nintendo addicts or should be.” Our house is coming along fine. The walls to the basement are being framed by our sub-contractors. We have been putting up the block around the office and main part of the house. Yesterday we began digging a footing for the wall between my office and the archive. I have planted 57 Austrian pine to date. June 11, 1999: Friday. Little Katy was born today in Baltimore. She and her mother are doing fine. Today we poured the basement in our new home, and also a pad in front of the little cottage north of the new home. It took forty yards of concrete because the walls had to be one foot thick to support the block we are using. With the rebar inside it is a veritable fortress. We are close to being able now to have someplace to live and store our things if we have to leave our beloved home in St. George. But we do all this that we might follow the promptings of the Spirit and the counsel of the prophet to be out of debt, free from bondage, free from the world. Soon we will be at that point. One of our Sunday School students wrote to Karen and me today as follows: Lyman and Karen. I feel so bad that I left out the two most important people from my testimony! You are both such a great influence on my husband [Ken] and you very much deserve my appreciation. Thank you for your testimonies and your wonderful lessons and examples. We love your class and the way you teach. Thank you so much. May the Lord bless you both and keep you safe and happy. Love you both! Robyn Boren. Today I also received a wonderful letter from my son Lyman Dee. Although six pages long in its original, it is a classic and must be preserved here. My response follows his letter. To my dad Lyman De Platt (I love you). Hey dad. For the first time in a while, I pictured your face in my mind. I closed my eyes to see if I could hold that thought in. But that memory just started to fade. I miss you so much dad. My feelings can’t express in words how much I love you. I try not to think about you, but everytime I do it just makes my cry. I’ve wanted to talk to you for awhile, and I’ve thought that if I wrote you a letter you’d just throw it away before you got a chance to read about how I feel. Not having a dad in the house is very hard. I’ve got in so much trouble that it got me on probation. But I went and talked to my bishop which is Bishop Jonathan Graff and confessed to him my problems I’ve had. He has helped me so much to get in tune with God and Jesus Christ. I’ve got a job working at the Utah State Development Center, working in the canteen cooking food for the staff. My boss is Marua Parke. She’s a great lady, so in having a job I’ve earned enough to get off probation and now I’m off. It was a lot of money, but there’s a price to pay in every bad decision big or small and I learned that the hard way. I saw myself growing up trying to be like I remember you, but I guess I grew up different. And it brings me back to the saying “Do not try to be someone you’re not; just be yourself and try to be that perfectly.” An old man told me that on a bus (a black man) in Miami, when I was visiting Bruce. And it’s amazing that I still remember that. I miss you dad. I miss all the fun times we’ve had picking us up, taking us out to eat, or to sleep in your apartment in Salt Lake. Believe it or not I do still remember that. I love you so much dad. I can’t say that enough. I just wish that you were here in person so I could tell you face to face. It bothers me that I don’t have a dad here with me. It bothers me that I don’t have someone here to tell me right from wrong. Of course I’m old enough to know now but you know what I’m trying to say. I find myself on this Sunday afternoon playing ball with my little nephews and thinking to myself I wish I had a dad here to do these great things with me. I’ve managed to learn, and have been successful in life with sports and break-dancing, but it’s not going to be the same knowing that my dear dad wasn’t here to teach and do all these things with me. This week is our birthday. I wish you to be here with me to celebrate it. But I know you can’t on your busy schedule. And not to mention the drive. I wish you the very best birthday dad from your son’s heart. I love you so much and wish that when I woke up on my birthday you would be standing right there for me, waiting for me to get up and give you a big hug. But I know all I can do is wish. I hope to see a letter from you. I miss hearing your voice and what you have to say. I’m faithful in the Church. I read scriptures two times daily and push myself to say my prayers morning and night; like the prophet has asked us in the last conference: believe it or not I did listen. I wish the best for you dad. I want you to know that you are always in my mind, prayers, and heart. And always will be til my dying days and beyond. Here is a picture of my 11th year as a senior in Lone Peak High School. I don’t have my earrings in anymore so you will be happy to hear that. I’ve changed so much and know for the better. My testimony has grown so large. And I feel now I should bear it to you. I have a testimony that God does live and that he brought his Only Begotten Son to this earth to preach us about the Church. If only my heart and mind and tongue were humble like his. I have a testimony of the Atonement. I have a testimony that Jesus the Christ did die for all mankind’s sins and he didn’t have to die; he died out of his own free will. I have a testimony that each time that I pray someone is up there listening, softly, word for word, what I have to say. I have a testimony that in a while I will go to heaven and be with all my family and friends. I have a testimony that the scriptures and everything about them are true. I have a testimony of the power of prayer, and forgiveness, and many great things that will come of them if you just listen to what the still small voice says, and listen to the prophet for his words come from God. I could go on and one about how much I love the Church and the blessings that it has brought to me. I have a testimony father and you have now heard it. I never believed I had a testimony. If you’d just let me tell you a little story. One day in Sacrament Meeting “Fast Sunday” everybody was giving their talks. And I remember one in particular, a lady, Lili Sumercol, Bishop Stutz’ wife’s mother, a very dear friend of mine, like a second grandma. She told the most wondeful story. It sent chills down my spin all over my body. And that was the first time that I remember ever feeling the spirit. I know that that was the feeling of his spirit that sent chills down my spine and all over my body. This was also the first time that I bore my testimony. And God guided me in everything in what to say. I know that one day dad I will run into you in heaven. And when I do, I will cry and give you the biggest hug. And I will tell you that I love you. I miss you and know that you’ll write me back. I have written these things which are about me out of the kindness of my heart. The spirit prompted me to come in my room alone in peace to write this letter. I hope you’ve learned something about your son. And I hope you will have me in your prayers. I love you dad. Happy birthday on the 10th. Please write back. I will be expecting a letter back. With love, your son Lyman Dee Platt. You gave me this name [Lyman], and this name I cherish. This is my gift to you. It may not be the best thing, but I want you to know that it came straight from my heart. I love you and leave my testimony and feelings with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Lyman Dee Platt. PS Someone does care and think about you. Keep that in mind: me & Christ and God. [What a morsel from heaven is this beautiful prose from my cherished son, from he who has been wrenched from my bosom through circumstances in which I was only a pawn. I weep for joy over him.] Lyman Dee PlattJune 12, 1999 11105 North Alpine Hwy. Highland, Utah 84003 My dear son: Thank you so much for your kind, sweet, heart-felt, and inspired letter. It was one of the nicest presents that I have ever received in my entire life. I would like to respond to your feelings, as expressed in your letter, but before that I want to leave you some of my own. First, let me say that whether I am at home or not does not mean that you don't have a father that loves you intensely, that thinks about you and prays for you every day. In fact, as I read your letter, I feel that my prayers have been answered where you're concerned: 1) you've been protected by the Spirit despite your problems; 2) you've gained a testimony; 3) you've become a person in whom the Lord Jesus Christ can have confidence; 4) you have suffered in order that you might come to these understandings; 5) you have felt somewhat of my yearnings for you and your welfare, because you've answered many of my concerns for you in your letter. As I pray for you I send my love and ask Heavenly Father to assure that you receive it. If you will feel the movements of the Spirit, you will know that I have always and will always love you. We are bound together forever and not circumstances, time nor space can destroy that. It's how I feel for Don Carlos, for my mother, for my grandparents, and for some of my other family who have gone to the other world. Separation has not changed the feelings even though loneliness is an added ingredient to the equation. Let me tell you a story about my life. As I grew up my life was full of many wonderful experiences and blessings. I got in trouble a few times and was arrested once for stealing, but changed my ways and felt that my life was a great blessing. I knew the Lord loved me and the Gospel was very important to me. Before I left on my mission I had read the Book of Mormon eight times and felt confident that my testimony was strong enough, with the help of the Spirit, to convert many people to the Church. I had a good mission. It was very successful. Many people were converted and many have come into the Church since my mission, from association with those that my companions and I baptized. I got married and had a fine family. I had a job that I loved. The trials that we had in our lives were minimal compared to the blessings. It was a good life. However, as I read the scriptures, it was clear to me that my trials were not of the kind that were described in the lives of those great followers of Jesus in ancient times; nor of my ancestors who had accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ as preached by Joseph Smith in modern times. I read in St. Matthew 10:34-39 where it says: Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Of course, as I read these words, I said to myself: Surely, God does not require this kind of sacrifice anymore. He is not speaking to me. He would not require me to give up all I love to follow him. But I felt uneasy because I had no trials of any significance. And I was convinced that only suffering causes great spiritual progress. This subject was on my mind and I studied it and reflected on it for several years as I studied the scriptures. I read in Helaman 3:34: "And they [members of the Church] were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade through much affliction. Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." I asked myself if I was of this kind of Church member: if I persecuted anyone, or if anyone persecuted me. I concluded that neither was the case; but I saw that it was necessary, nevertheless, to try to become more humble, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ. Many other scriptures convinced me that I was still not in a totally right course with the Lord; that something was lacking. Finally, I went to Heavenly Father in prayer and asked him why, if I was a good person, I didn't have some of the same trials and experiences of my ancestors and those people in the scriptures who had suffered for the Gospel's sake. I read in my patriarchal blesssing that I was to emulate their example, to turn after them in my heart and my feelings and gain the same great prize that they had gained, even eternal life. This was a serious concern for me, because I did not feel that with all my efforts, I was on the path that they had been on. I asked Heavenly Father to give me whatever trials and experiences were necessary to find that path. Almost immediately trials and persecutions began. My life for the last fifteen years has been Heavenly Father's response to that request. It has been very hard. I thank Father all the time for my blessings. He has answered my prayers and given me great trials and tribulations. The result is my love for Him grows stronger and stronger. I learn something new and wonderful each day. I try harder to become a better and better person all day, one that is continually centered in Jesus. My daily goal is to meet each day with happiness, thanksgiving, and humility. What I hope you can understand from this story is that I have even a greater love for you than I have ever had; that not being with you daily does not diminish my feelings for you. And whenever you need me to help you be good, to answer your questions, to help you through problems, I'm here for you. Whatever you need that I can give you, I will. Finally, I would say that my prayers were not answered only in my behalf. My family has suffered great trials and tribulations also because of Heavenly Father answering my prayer. This is as it should be. Each of you can then choose to respond to these situations with righteousness or unrighteousness. My prayers are continually that all of my family will become righteous and love Jesus more than life itself, that they won't judge unrighteously the intents of other people's hearts as they try to get through life and become Celestial. It is my belief that your trials have put you on the right path, but the path is a hard one and must be met daily with prayer, scripture study, fasting when appropriate, and always keeping your heart pure through righteous actions, avoiding the worldly sins on television, in magazines, in videos, everywhere you turn. This is the only way anyone can be assured of eternal life and being in the Celestial Kingdom. I wish I could make that judgment and promise as to who will or will not be there, but that is not for me or anyone else to say; that is Heavenly Father's decision only. We must have faith and trust in Him. I am proud of you for going to the bishop and apparently confessing all that you have done wrong. This takes major courage and manliness. You have won my respect and honor for this action. I will write to you shortly about other things in your letter. For each of my children I have a special love. I love you Lyman Dee. You are my namesake and you and I share a unique and special bond because of our names and birthday. Feel after me in your mind and spirit and you will always find me there caring about you, loving you, praying for you, and watching after your eternal welfare. Love, Dad July 4, 1999: Sunday. Yesterday I hurt my back while working at the property, so we stayed home, having cancelled our class for today anyway because so many would be out of town. This last month has been very busy. In my work The Millennium Project is now at 10,000 names, 73 nodes and 361 sub-nodes. The house now has a basement walls and floor. We have spent the last ten days working on getting the interior dirt moved out and/or put into needed areas. Many of the pine trees have taken root and are starting to grow. Our days are spent mornings at the property, home in the afternoon for a nap and then working for Ancestry. During the last weekend we spent parts of two days, Friday and Saturday at Mt. Carmel at the Behunin Reunion. It was a fun two days. Karen found a great document at the DUP museum at Orderville on Elmina Tyler. I found the original prison picture of Benjamin Perkins and Francis M. Lyman for polygamy. July 30, 1999: Friday. Aunt Ellen Atkin called and said that Thora Barton Norton, eldest daughter of Sarah Elizabeth Perkins Barton (Aunt Sade), died on July 27, 1999 probably in Salt Lake City. She was the wife of Wesley Norton. She will be buried in Monticello tomorrow. Time for a progress report. Our home at Mt. Springs is progressing well. This week we poured cement in all the block that we’ve put in place to date and now have walls up to four levels in some areas. We poured a fireplace footing, have dug an interior footing for the house, have brought in gravel to compact a large hole between the basement and the rest of the house, have begun to cut places for the doors, have put in holes through the basement for water, sewer, electricity, telephone, etc. McKay called earlier this week and reported on dad. He starting to lose some of his memory, has a hard time walking, is becoming somewhat hard to live with and gives Margaret a bad time. Brother Gordon is coming to terms with his excommunication and feels he needs to meet the problem head-on. The Millennium Project stands at 12,000 names, 2214 unique surnames, 420 nodes. It is progressing well. Karen is busy working on her Behunin research and seems to be enjoying the work enormously. We are in the monsoon season and are having some lovely rains throughout southern Utah. The property is wet at this time and the pine trees I planted are doing well. August 11, 1999. A tornado hit Salt Lake City today, destroying or damaging over 120 homes. It jumped over the Family History Library coming down inside Temple Square doing a little damage and then working up through Memory Grove and the avenues. Is this extremely unusual and miraculous happening the fulfillment of 1 Peter 4:17-19: For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. This scripture has often been quoted as the beginning of the calamities of the last days insofar as the Lord is concerned. August 17, 1999: Tuesday. A major earthquake (7.6) hit Turkey this morning, killing as many as 10,000 persons. The news this evening called it the worst natural disaster in Turkey’s history. [By Friday, 10,000 were confirmed death with up to 35,000 missing; typhoid and cholera are now breaking out over the area. We spent the day cleaning, Karen working on the kitchen floor, getting it ready for a re-flooring, and I cleaned out the attic, and worked on my indexing projects. August 19, 1999: Thursday. Took a load from here to the property today and packed it away inside the garden house. August 20, 1999: Friday. Earthquakes in Montana (5.3) and Costa Rica (6.7) today. Top story in the U.S., however, is a resistant strain of staff, which isn’t being destroyed by antibiotics. This has been predicted for years as too many people are taking antibiotics when really not needed. August 24, 1999: Tuesday. Tom Mortensen stopped by to look at the place. He lives in Santa Clara but want exactly what we have. He has a lot of antique cars and likes to farm. He is from Emery and knew Karen’s family. It looks like we have sold our place. August 25, 1999: Wednesday. Received $12,000.00 today from Ancestry for past work. August 26, 1999: Thursday. Worked on The Millennium Project and Karen on the driveway. Caught all my bills up to date. August 27, 1999: Friday. Went to the farm and laid down half the flooring on the basement ceiling, or bedroom floor. It went down well, everything is square and it felt good to get the basement partially covered. Ordered 300 more block. Paid Anderson Lumber bill. August 28, 1999: Saturday. Stayed home and worked on The Millennium Project and Karen in the yards. Went out to eat. Went to the library and did a little research. Watched several movies. In the evening I went to choir rehearsal. Dennis Nuenschwander, who used to work in the research department at the Genealogical Society was the visiting Genereal Authority. I went up to speak to him as we were taking our seats. He said he had heard wonderful things about what I was doing in genealogy and asked me about my writing. August 29, 1999: Sunday. Attended stake conference. Sang in the choir. A new stake presidency was called today. Our neighbor, Dr. Rhodes was called as the stake president. September 1, 1999: Monday. Finished putting the floor on our bedroom at the new house. Mark Tullis told me they were going to renew my contract for six months. September 2, 1999: Tuesday. Finished gluing the floor and sealing it. Cleaned the basement, watered the plants, and prepared my report for Ancestry. I did not write anymore during 1999. It was a busy time, working on the Millennium Project, the house and taking care of our St. George home and property. It was good to have a job that I could do at the same time Karen and I were building our home. We had our yearly family gathering with Karen’s sisters and enjoyed the association and activities. We went to Brent’s for Thanksgiving. Christmas was spent quietly. JOURNALS OF LYMAN DE PLATT 2000 Lyman De Platt: This concludes all the journals that I have written up to the time of the publication of this volume of PFRC 5.3. It is good to have them preserved for posterity, and to have been able to make the appropriate and timely commentaries in them that will allow my descendants to understand my life from my perspective. Others may write or comment on my life as they choose in the future; but now my record is complete insofar as I am concerned. Whether or not any further journals will be published remains to be seen. I am sixty-seven, have multiple health problems which could take my life at any time; but I feel the Lord’s protective hand over me, continuing to preserve me for a wise purpose known only to Him. January 4, 2000, Tuesday. Danny called me this evening. He said he had a dream last night in which he and his son Tyler were leaving church as I was entering the same church to give a talk. He said I looked thin, well-dressed and had a spiritual aura about me. As he thought about the dream he decided that if his son for any reason were to not speak to him, that he wouldn=t be able to bear it. He felt that he needed to change his attitude and so called and said he forgives me and wants to develop a relationship again. Of course the forgiveness needs to have some basis. As of 2011 he has not demonstrated this forgiving attitude of which he speaks; and obviously still holds resentments against me for who knows what. He said that he has been working as a postman for the last year, out of Orem, that he lives in Spanish Fork in a 70-year-old home that Amy=s grandfather built. Her parents live in Spanish Fork also. Danny told me that he has a son, Tyler Daniel Platt, born November 17, 1997 in Provo. January 5, 2000, Wednesday. Went to Orem; my contract was extended for one month. It appears as though I will be out of a job again come February. January 6 B January 12, 2000, We have begun moving our non-use things from the home in St. George to Mt. Springs and each day have worked to try and get the walls ready to pour the final cement. January 13, 2000, Thursday. The windows for our basement and bedroom arrived today. We installed one of them. January 14, 2000, Friday. Finalized negotiations on two contracts with MyFamily.com for Utah data and Early LDS Branches and Wards data. They have agreed to pay me $20,000 for the Utah data, but haven=t decided on the other. I have asked for $5,000.00. Both contracts are on-going, as are those signed previously for Irish and Spanish data. So, even though I may not have a job, I will have the opportunity to earn money through my typing of data. Installed two windows in the bedroom. Now all of the windows on that part of the house are in. January 15, 2000, Saturday. Today we finished the walls of our home in Mt. Springs: the second story is ready for the last cement pour. John Kitzmiller called and told us that MyFamily.com had decided not to hire him nor to go with the project they have paid me to do for the last year. January 23, 2000, Sunday. Ellen and Floyd Atkin=s son Curtis died today in Salt Lake City of nephritis. He will be buried in Salt Lake. January 24, 2000, Monday. Uncle George was operated on for his back in Salt Lake today. Paul DeBry called today and apologized for his actions in my being dismissed from Brøderbund. Took a load over to the house and worked most of the day, Karen on plumbing and I on upstairs flooring. January 25, 2000, Tuesday. Bought a couple of cabinets and took them over to Mt. Springs. They work for Karen=s sewing area. It is raining on our house today and getting everything in the north two-thirds wet upstairs and down. Moved our tools, boxes, etc., out of the rain. Took our last $2,000.00 from savings and paid our bills. January 29, 2000, Saturday. Worked on the sewer connections under our bedroom at the new house. Finished indexing the first year of The Teton Valley News for Vernita Meikle. January 30, 2000, Sunday. Attended our meetings. Rested. January 31, 2000, Monday. Finished connecting the two toilets, two baths, and two sinks. Called a truss company and asked them to make a final bid on our trusses. Sent in a request to withdraw Karen=s retirement 401k funds. Patty called. We discussed the family and much of what is going on. Mark Tullis called and told me that a 5:00 p.m. meeting had resulted in a probable cancellation of The Genealogy of Nations Project. He asked me to send a summary to give them a last chance to look at it. April 10, 2000, Monday. Went to Salt Lake to attend the funeral of Karen=s uncle Vaughan Petty. Stayed at Brent=s. April 11, 2000, Tuesday. Spent the day copying Irish names. Copied about 200,000. Stayed at Brent=s. April 12, 2000, Wednesday. Copied about 150,000 Irish names. Attended the Leavitt quarterly meeting. April 20, 2000, Thursday. Finished framing the walls of the second floor of our house. Today was supposed to be the sacrifice of the red calf on Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Did it happen? I haven=t heard it reported. [It did not take place.] April 21, 2000, Friday. Received $1,911.00 from Ancestry for Invoice 2000-3. This evening my son David and his daughters arrived from Las Vegas enroute home. We had a nice visit. Took some pictures together. April 22, 2000, Saturday. Sent off 31,000 Irish names to Ancestry. The roofing was delivered for the middle part of our house and the office area. April 23, 2000, Sunday. Went to Church. Gave a blessing to Doug Keary who is having congestive heart failure. Confirmed the help tomorrow for the roofing project. May 22, 2000, Monday. As I prepared to go to Church yesterday, I decided that my hair is now whiter than it is dark. The last month has been very busy. I have typed 2,000 names a day and created a staff of six workers to assist me. We have submitted invoices 2000-4 through 2000-8 during the last month. We are doing about 3500 entries a day at this point. Karen has done $2,400 worth of indexing of the Teton Valley News. We have put on the metal roof on our house, finished framing the upstairs, sheet-rocked what we can in the master bedroom, and Karen=s workroom. We are doing many odds and ends, trying to finish up as much as possible. We have done some sheeting of wood on the walls in the main house, and the stairs. I have been doing a lot of flower planting and tree planting. About 40 pine trees survived the winter and dry climate and will probably make it permanently. We did not lose any fruit trees during the winter. Ordered the windows for the office, work room, and most of the middle house. June 5, 2000, Monday. Bought 13 Mondale and 7 Austrian pine for $2.00 apiece. Finished another 10,000 entries and prepared invoice 2000-11. June 7, 2000, Wednesday. Bought 20 Austrian pine for $2.00 apiece. Retrieved three of our windows for the new house and put in the two east upstairs bedroom windows. Aunt Ellen called and in the conversation it was learned that Grandpa Lyman and Uncle Albert personally made the tombstone that originally rested on Platte DeAlton Lyman=s tombstone. It was placed there on his 100th birthday. June 9, 2000, Friday. Jessica Elena Day, born June 9, 2000 at 2:00 a.m., 7 lbs, 19 inches, American Fork Hospital. Maria Elena Day, my daughter, is her mother. Dru has gout. Got a job yesterday selling for Cisco. Trevor got a football scholarship. Will go to camp at Lehi High School. Three or four schools days before school was out Lyman got in a bad wreck. It wasn=t his fault, but it totalled his car. He didn=t graduate from high school because his packets weren=t finished. He lost his job with Dru because he just didn=t show up for work one day and wouldn=t get a replacement. Natalia also is way behind on her high school work. She is now working with Dru. Bertha has tried to kick Nicolle out of the house. Patty and Nicolle are starting at UVCC this fall. Patty has decided to get a Ph.D. in Psychology. Bertha is going to Peru next week with Juan and Bruce. When she comes back, Pedro and Olga will come with them. Debbie=s son is Jaden. Joe and Sue are having marital problems. Joe made an inappropriate advance towards Allie – according to Allie – and that is why Roberta told him he couldn=t stay there anymore. They haven=t gotten any therapy for K.J., saying he doesn=t need it. June 26, 2000, Karen went to Dr. Snow today and found that her left eye is dying. The nerve is deteriorating. There is nothing they can do about it. July 18, 2000, Carlie, McKay=s daughter had a baby boy, Carter Wendell, at Utah Valley Hospital. September 10, 2000, Sunday. Left for New England for two weeks. We flew into Boston. It took us all day to get there. We were with another couple, Senator Lorin Jones and his wife Ferrel Leavitt from Veyo. We rented a car and then drove to our first location, White River Junction, Vermont. We spent the evening visiting with the arrivals, had dinner and retired. September 11, 2001, Monday. Today was a free day. Because Lorin had rented a car he agreed to take us and another person for a short drive to Bath and Lyman where my Lyman family originated. We were looking for some family lines: Lyman, Fiske, Parker, and Bedel. We stopped at Bath where they have the oldest country store in operation in the U.S. We bought some delicious chocolate fudge; visited the Congregational Church and the covered bridge at the village square. The cemetery in Bath has many Bedel gravestones. We then drove to Lyman and found several grave sites for the Parkers; and then returned to the motel. We had supper at Dartmouth Medical College where Dixie and Anne Leavitt’s son Matthew has just finished his undergraduate medical degree. He welcomed us and told us a story about the person who operated on Joseph Smith’s leg when he was fourteen. He saved Joseph’s life. The medical instruments he used are housed at the college. Dartmouth was founded by this person so the college is very pleased to have this story as part of their history. We were served dinner at the medical center cafeteria. We dedicated a plaque to the first person that did genealogy on the Leavitt lines – Emily Leavitt Noyes. Some of her grandchildren were there and spoke to us. A very nice booklet3 was prepared for the occasion giving an overview of her life. September 12, 2000, Tuesday. We boarded buses for a trip to Hatley, Stanstead, Quebec, Canada, where we were to dedicate several Leavitt gravesites. The trip took about two hours. We were met by a group from Hatley; went on a tour; dedicated the gravesites and were served a most wonderful lunch. The people there are French and the desserts were divine. Hatley is a picturesque and beautiful place; rolling green hills with trees and beautiful creeks and lakes. The people cried when we left. It was a very emotional and tender meeting. A lady there had done some research on a line long forgotten by the Utah Mormons and gave some new information and leads which were greatly appreciated.4 We returned to the Dartmouth Medical Center for supper and a meeting with some local town historians. We drove with Dixie and Ann in their rented van. We lost our camera in the van, so the next day we were without pictures. September 13, 2000, Wednesday. Today we went to Grantham where Leavitt Hill is located. On top of Leavitt Hill is a cemetery with Leavitt relatives in it. We hoped at the time to ride the bus to the top but it had been raining that day and the bus started to slip off the road so we had to walk about a mile. For some that couldn’t walk, there were cars that went up and down the road until all were at the top of the hill at the cemetery. We dedicated a plaque which Dixie and Ann had arranged to be put on a rock at the bottom of the hill. This was one of five plaques that we placed during the trip. I blessed the gravesite. There were quite a few non-members there, so I explained why we dedicate gravesites. Afterwards, Karen heard one woman say she didn’t care what we did, she didn’t believe in anything, and another man said “well, it couldn’t be worth much; it didn’t cost anything.” In other words, I wasn’t paid for the prayer. The people, however, were generally very gracious. The hil where the first Leavitt’s settled had a pond nearby; really a lake. There were trees everywhere; so thick one could hardly walk. It was great fun, nevertheless. We had lunch near the pond; and explored and found where the old schoolhouse had been where the Leavitts taught their children. After lunch we boarded the buses and journeyed to Sharon, Windsor, Vermont, where Joseph Smith was born, and where there is the large memorial and visitor’s center. The trip and tour were very nice. We visited the first homestead of the family; and the actual cabin where he was born. The commemorative site is a wonderful tribute to the family. We returned to the Medical Center, had a program, supper, and retired to our motel. September 14, 2000, Thursday. We left this location and traveled to Deerfield, Exeter and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We dedicated another monument at Deerfield for Joseph Leavitt and Mary Wadleigh, and toured their old homestead, which is still standing. We then went to lunch at an original home restored by family members. They had restored a huge old-fashioned barn and the home to their original condition. It was a marvelous experience. In the afternoon we checked into our new motel at Yoken’s in Portsmouth and prepared for dinner. We had invited local historians to join us. I was the master of ceremonies. We had a father and his young daughter from Georgia join the tour at this point. They weren’t L.D.S. but wanted to learn about their heritage. She was fourteen and could recite all of her ancestors back as far as we had information. I asked her to talk. She had to do well because she had to be graded on what she was learning. They were later given a signed copy of the Book of Mormon. When we parted at the final day of the tour she was crying because she didn’t want to leave us. It was a very touching experience to get to know her. The supper went well, but one historian talked for over an hour and a half and some people left. But again the people were very nice and friendly. September 15, 2000, Friday. We checked out of our hotel and headed for the Exeter stake center in Exeter, New Hampshire. On the way we toured President John Adams’ home and library. It was really a choice experience. We saw one of the original copies of the Constitution, and learned that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the same day, John at his home and Thomas at his Monticello home. We went on a tour of Exeter. It was very instructive. Then we dedicated the Moses Leavitt monument that had been prepared. We visited one of the old churches in Exeter where some of the Leavitt’s pews and benches were still identified. The minister invited us to Sunday worship. Karen lost the films of these events, but did find the camera. Someone found it tangled around their foot in Dixie’s van. We had looked in the van at least five times. Strange! The stake president at Exeter was a friend of Dixie’s from Cedar City. We also were visited by Terry Fancher, who ancestors had been killed at the Mountain Meadows. Karen and I visited with him under Ann’s direction, to keep him entertained. He had just come from a meeting with our brother-in-law, Kent Bylund, about the Mountain Meadows, so we had a lot to talk about. It was here that Governor Michael Leavitt joined us. All of Dixie’s and Anne’s family was there but one son. It was interesting to meet and talk with each one; they are a wonderful family. At the stake center we had a program and a reading. The governor of Vermont came and talked to us for a few minutes. Ann had prepared her reading of the story of the first Leavitts in America. It was very, very nice. Most of the people in the audience were in tears. I sang with Ann’s boys, replacing their missing son, and we blended very well together. Karen said we were “tremendous singers.” Jackie, the governor’s wife, sang “America the Beautiful.” She is an opera singer. It was very beautiful. We had never heard such a beautiful rendition of this wonderful hymn. She is a very gracious, appropriate, and friendly lady; and much prettier than on television. She is really a nice person and Ann is very proud of her son and his wife. Karen had a part with Jackie and another daughter-in-law on the program. Karen played the part of Dorothy Dudley. September 16, 2000, Saturday. Today we went to the Hingham stake center, had lunch and dedicated another gravesite. We had a program at noon and then drove to the Boston temple at Belmount. We were accompanied there by the governor; and because he was there, Elder Lorin Dunn met with us for a short visit. We got separated into groups so we took Terry Fancher through until the new temple president took over and befriended us. He was very patient and kind, explaining carefully all the things about the temple. The temple was simply beautiful; the inside being a work of art; the colors of blue and white like the clouds and sea. All of the furniture had been especially made out of maple and there was a maple motif used throughout. The stain glass windows were so pretty in blue. In the celestial room there wasn’t one huge crystal chandelier; rather there were seven small ones; it was quite different; the colors were white and blue in the the celestial room. The temple was just amazing! We were very impressed. This was the end of the tour. We were at a motel on the river just outside of Boston. Most of the group left. We stayed on that night, rested on Sunday and prepared for our next week. We were exhausted! Dixie kept us going from six in the morning until ten at night every day. In the afternoon we rented a car. It cost $250.00 for the car and that much for Boston taxes! September 17, 2000, Sunday. Began our week of research in New England. We went to Plymouth and saw Plymouth Rock, the replica of the Mayflower, to the Pilgrim Monument, to the cemetery and to the Hingham church where John Leavitt worshiped. These are all sacred sites to the family. We drove to Maine and stayed with Ted and Kitty Chadbourne, friends and associates with Automated Archives. They were paying for the extended week. He owed me some research money which made it very convenient for us. We stayed two nights with them. They are not Mormons. He is a retired Harvard graduate that is too important, too rich, too smart and too busy to worry about church. His wife wanted him to listen to our discussions about the gospel but he wasn’t interested. He had been really sick, almost died not too long ago, and she was frantic with worry. We felt badly for her. Maybe some of our teachings will stick. He read the Book of Mormon some years ago upon our request. It was fun to stay with them, but nerve-racking. They had piles and piles of books and papers all over the house. It was a brand new home in a beautiful setting but there wasn’t much room in the house because of the books and papers. They helped Karen with some of her genealogy; Kitty was really helpful. We went to see the ship Queen Elizabeth in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire harbor. We spent some time near the ocean. We then went to a bookstore and Karen found a Tyler document printed in 1878, with an original letter from the author of The Descendants of Job Tyler (a two-volumed work which we bought); the letter was from the early 1900s and we purchased it for $12.50. It was quite a find. We also picked up some information on other ancestors. September 18, 2000, Monday. We went to Andover, Massachusetts, where Karen’s Tyler home and gravesites were. She had her picture taken by the first Tyler memorial. September 20, 2000, Wednesday. We left Maine and headed for Williston, Vermont, where Karen’s ancestor, Isaac Behunin, was first married. It was really pretty there. We stayed one night and then spent the day looking for records. We found an original record, with the birth of his first wife and a deed with his signature on it. We looked for the birth records and burial site of the twins but didn’t find anything. There is a lot of history there and someday we need to go back and spend more time. September 21, 2000, Thursday. We headed back to New Hampshire; returned to Bath and Lyman for in-depth research on the Lyman family. Of course we got to buy some more delicious homemade fudge. We spent two days in the area. We found a fun motel built out of logs; really nice and clean. We visited a granite quarry, which was fun, several bookstores where we bought some historic books. We took a lot of cemetery pictures of what we think are family. We traveled down the Connecticut River as far as where the Sturtevants lived at Lyme; and visited all of the towns in between. We went to Haverhill and Grafton; did research at both and at Orford, where the Fiske family lived. We uncovered a great deal on Susan Bedel’s family; although we didn’t make a direct connection to her parents. She married into the Parker family. September 23, 2000, Saturday. We headed for Boston; and stayed on the outskirts of town in a nice motel. September 24, 2000, Sunday. Left Boston this morning at 7:00 and arrived in St. George in the late afternoon. We stopped at the property and watered some of the trees and the greenhouse. September 25, 2000, Monday. Typed 4000 Irish names. Karen’s eye tests came back negative, so the doctor concluded he doesn’t know why her eyesight in her left eye has gone bad. He thinks it was a stroke and if so expects it will improve over time. [It wasn’t a stroke and hasn’t improved.] It is quite disconcerting; but she is grateful that it is only in one eye. She can still see fairly well, but has lost some depth perception. September 26, 2000, Tuesday. Typed 3000 Irish names. September 27, 2000, Wednesday. Typed 2500 Irish names. Worked on the house in the morning, Karen doing mud work in her room, I doing drywall work in the bedroom. Karen went visiting teaching. September 28, 2000, Thursday. Bruce is 31 today. It=s been several years since we have talked. I miss him. October 7, 2000, Saturday. Today mother would be 78 years of age. She is still sorely missed and loved always. I planted a grove of quaken aspens in her memory on the roadway south of our new home. We final-painted Karen=s work room, the fruit room, put in cabinets, and began working in the bedroom. We received payment for invoice 2000-25, giving us over $3,700.00 with which to pay bills and provide for further work on our home. We have been greatly blessed this year with good income. October 8, 2000, Sunday. Today we heard from President Faust his testimony received from James Moyle of his interview with David Whitmer concerning his testimony of The Book of Mormon, the gold plates, and the visit of the angel Moroni. This is a singular event in this generation to have a testimony so close to the source: three generations. This parallels the great testimony from Grandpa Edward P. Lyman that his father Platte D. Lyman had drunk in with his mother=s milk a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith B also a third generation testimony. October 9-10, 2000, Monday and Tuesday. Worked on the house, painting, putting in a screen door in Karen=s work room, putting up cabinets there, and generally finishing that area except for the floor and shelves. October 11, 2000, Wednesday. Drove to Salt Lake. Attended the Leavitt quarterly meeting. Met with John Kitzmiller. Copied about 250,000 Irish names for our work. October 12, 2000, Thursday. Had breakfast with John. He gave us a marvelous study on the last days. Did research copying informational leads from our trip to New England. I found that about 250 names I copied on the Bedel family have not had their temple work done, nor have the Fiske ancestors. It was a good day of work. October 13, 2000, Friday. Started the family reunion with Karen=s family. Went to the Mountain Meadows, the monument, the Platt Ranch, and then over to Pioche. On the way home at Veyo ran into Kent and Joe who were just coming off their property. Had a nice visit while we ate supper. October 14, 2000, Saturday. Left at 4:00 a.m. for Provo. Taught 3 classes at the 3rd annual Hispanic genealogy seminar. Bought family histories and some transcriptions of Amasa Mason Lyman=s early journals. Came home, arriving at 9:30. October 15, 2000, Sunday. Spent the day with Karen=s sisters and brothers-in-law. Went to the Black Hills to see the petroglyphs, then to Fort Pierce where we visited the old fort and the petroglyphs along the river. Ate and went to the dinosaur quarry east of St. George. Said goodbye to the family. October 16, 2000, Monday. Spent the morning buying things for the new house. Went to Deseret Industries and bought a beautiful inlayed roll-down desk for $150.00. Put in a window above the doors in the large living room. October 31, 2000, Tuesday. This morning at 8:50 Danny and Amy had a baby boy: Spencer, born in Provo on the way to the hospital. Danny delivered him, tying off the cord with a shoelace. 8 lbs. 5 oz., 192 inches. Danny now has Tawni, Tyler, and Spencer. He is continuing to work at the post office deliverying mail, remodeling his home in Spanish Fork, and seem to be doing well. Amy had an easy delivery and is doing well. 2001 August 26, 2001. Sunday. Pres. Hinton called Karen and me today onto a two-year plus mission as directors of the ten-stake family history center in Cedar City. October 19, 2001. Drove to North Salt Lake and met with Raeone Stuart and staff and became a contracted employee of Heritage Quest, with a contract to extract 28 rolls of microfilm containing the 1910 census of Puerto Rico, My contact person is Carolyn Starke. In the afternoon we went to Primary Children’s Hospital and visited with Dave, Holly and Holly’s mother, and with Philip, who had just been operated on to repair his bowel. He came through the operation well. November 1, 2001. Today the Connollys moved into our home in St. George, ending an era in our lives [and starting a nightmare which would last for years]. November 2, 2001. Today we finished the brown coat stucco on the house. It is now totally enclosed. They have been working on it for two weeks. During this time I have cut and installed the spacers in the eves and done additional work on the roof, screwing in places that were never done, and finishing the flashing on the drip edges. November 3, 2001. We went to Cedar City and obtained a large amount of shelving from the closing Wallmart store there. November 8, 2001. The following was written by family members as part of the correspondence on LaDean’s open heart surgery: From: Orvel Nelson To: Karen Platt Copy: Phyllis Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2001, 6:07 PM; Subject: LaDean’s surgery Hi, I just talked to Glen and he said that the surgery went perfect this morning for LaDean. They didn’t put in a new valve, they just repaired hers and it was working perfectly. She was awake and they all had a chance to visit with her for a while this afternoon. She was doing really well but was in some pain which is certainly understandable. The bleeding out of the drain tubes in her chest was not slowing down like it should and so they have taken her back into surgery as of about 5:30 to take care of whatever is causing that bleeding. The doctor said that this is not uncommon and is not a big concern. That is easy for him to say. We all will be very concerned until she is okay!!! Anyway, Glen will let us know what the outcome of the second surgery is. Let’s all pray that things go well and they fix the problem. I told Glen that I would let you know how things were going up to this point so he didn’t have to call all of us. If I find out anything else, I will let you know. He may call you guys later, I don’t know what he plans on doing. Take care and pray for LaDean. Love Annette. Thanks for letting us know. I have been checking on the e-mail all day. We are leaving about 5:00 AM tomorrow and will plan to visit with her in the afternoon about 4:00 or so. We are praying for her. Love Karen November 10, 2001. Went to Mesquite and Bunkerville for the dedication of the Dudley Leavitt/wives monument. We sold $1500.00 worth of family materials and had a lovely visit with that branch of the family. In the afternoon we taught leaders of the family regarding the keeping of records. November 15, 2001. Sent the first microfilm from the 1910 census of Puerto Rico, to Heritage Quest. There were just over 21,000 entries. November 21, 2001. Wednesday. Typed 500 names and then we drove to Draper for the holiday. November 22, 2001. Thursday. Thanksgiving. Had a lovely dinner. Karen talked to Baird and the grandchildren. It snowed. November 23 2001. Friday. Spent the day traveling home from Draper. November 24, 2001. Saturday. Brent accepted our counsel and will continue a dialogue with Lisa Shirley, who he obviously likes a lot. Typed 1500 names for the census. November 25, 2001. Sunday. It rained all night until the morning and then snowed briefly. This was the best rainstorm we've had all year. Karen is 61 today. Last night I began hooking up the kitchen stove and this morning I finished it as her birthday present. She has been without a stove for six months. 2002 March 3, 2002, Sunday. The last three months have been very busy building the house and running the Cedar City Family History Center. Today I was updating the family files for the Lyman Family Address List, so I’ve decided to update my journal. Dad and Margaret (Loveland) [born August 3, 1923) have arrived in St. George where they will be living with Roberta and Kent for three months. Two days ago Joe and Sue moved into their home two houses away from Roberta. Dad has had a stroke again, and is in bad shape. He is going downhill quite fast. Nicolle, Lyman Dee and Natalia are still living at home. Niki just moved back after being on her own for awhile. Juan Vecco and his wife Gabriela Dualde have moved to another apartment in Miami Beach. They have a daughter. Patty’s son Byllie was baptized yesterday. They are living in a new home at 11020 North 4875 West, Highland. Dru just lost his job and is looking for a new one. Patty is in college and doing straight A’s. Bruce and Aurelie Regine Dufour (Lily) [born November 30, 1974], are planning a trip to Utah in July. They want to travel a little before they start their family. His work is progressing well. He has started a company with another man importing Italian doors. David and Holly have been through a rough time with their baby Phillip David (born January 17, 2001). Also Alexis is having some rough health problems. They are living at 754 W. 2200 N., Clinton, Utah 84105. October, 2002, During the first two weeks of the month we were busy putting the color coat (stucco) on the outside of our home. It is now finished outside except for the deck and the front porch. We began building the trusses over the front door of the house. Karen is working upstairs in the small bedroom and small bathroom, and has them both ready for painting. We attended general conference with Brent, Saturday afternoon session. We also did research and found some good materials on both sides of the family. October 17, 2002, Thursday. Karen applied for Social Security today, taking an early retirement at 62. She gets her first check in January. We drove to Torrey, Wayne County, and spent the evening, all of Karen’s sisters having arrived for their yearly get-together. October 18, 2002, Friday. Toured Capitol Reef National Monument: goosenecks, hiked Grand Wash, picked apples, saw the Elijah Cutler Behunin cabin and had lunch and supper together. October 19, 2002, Saturday. Went to Notam and saw the grave of Elijah Cutler Behunin, Jr., who was killed while herding sheep, falling from a horse. Went to Caineville and found the Elijah Cutler Behunin cabin, the old church, and possibly the Mosiah Behunin cabin. Got additional genealogical information on Mosiah, on William Stringham, Jr., on Amasa Mason Lyman, Jr., and on the Huntsman family. Ordered a book copied from which we found this data. Went to the cemetery and found nothing on the family. Hiked the hills around the cemetery and found petrified wood, many beautiful agates, and other interesting rocks. Had supper. October 21, 2002, Sunday. Had breakfast together, shared presents and then drove home, arriving at 1:00. Stopped at Fish Lake, as Karen had never seen it. Also stopped at Kingston Cemetery to see if we could find one of the Behunin girls, but the tombstone was not there. Had a flat tire on the way. Slept all afternoon. October 22, 2002, Emails while gone: Long Ago In A Land Far Far Away.......... Hi Dad: How’s life in the desert? Over here it’s allergy season. I had no idea I could get allergies but according to my Dr. this cold that I can’t get rid of is allergies. Work is going good. Still slow, due to summer. Most people are back around the winter months and we’ll see more activity. Still busier than most. Add Bruce Willis & Enrique Iglesias to my celebrity clientel. I guess they have the taste for the finer things. Mom & Natalia arrive tonite around midnight. They’ll spend the next two weeks with us. Very nice to have family around. Lily got a nice promotion to Marketing Manager for Lancome: “Moe Money Moe Work” we hardly see each other anymore. We’re happy though. Trying to build a financial base so we can have babies. What do you think of that Grandpa? Speaking of Grandpa, how’s he doing? Any news from other members, Aunts, Uncles.... Talk to you soon. Say hello to Karen, Bye for now Bruce & Lily. Had an invitation to speak at the Hispanic genealogy seminar in Provo next month on November 9th. Five hours. Sent a list of topics for their approval. Checked into retirement. I need to wait until I’m sixty-two, but if I’m under-employed at that time it would be best to retire then. Today we worked on the front of the house, and Karen painted the small bedroom and small bathroom upstairs, first coat. Bought necessities, copied some photographs, got the photos duplicated that we took on the family trip. Worked on the Puerto Rican census, worked for sister Erb, received sister Mackert, who brought us a book and some articles on polygamy and Book of Mormon/DNA studies. Salt Lake called but we missed the call (240-1000). We had a rest in the afternoon. Karen’s diastolic pressure is at 104, still too high. Her sistolic is in the 150 range. We were supposed to go on a DUP trip but it rained today so it was cancelled. Washington Mutual called in the evening and indicated that the Conleys are two months behind again on their rental payments. I called Roberta to see if they had signed a contract. They haven’t. I called the Conleys and left a message with their oldest son to call me, and to get in and sign the contract with Roberta. October 23, 2002, Wednesday. Spent most of the day at the family history center. Anne Leavitt came in. We discussed a mission and an approach to doing the work that might stimulate the family organization. Helped Martha cash a check. Got a report done for the Tamez family. Finished the account for Anita Erb. Wrote an eviction letter to the Conleys if they don’t get their act together. Duplicated several photos for the Petty sisters. Ate out. Attended Lin’s classes on scanning. Coordinated with Earl Bladh on teaching the class on Saturday. The Church announced and put on-line the 1880 U.S. census and the 1881 Canadian census, part of an on-going effort to cease CD production and place all of their computerized resources on their website. Finished another roll of the 1910 census of Puerto Rico and sent it to Heritage Quest. Arranged with Mecklenburgs to get a load of supplies for the house tomorrow. Karen helped them with his genealogy. I agreed to find a good computer for them. Received back from Provo the list of five classes that I am to teach next month. They asked us to bring our books to sell. Sent the following to Anne Leavitt and Jolene Pasey From: Lyman & Karen Platt To: anne@leavittfamilies.org copy: jolene@leavittfamilies.org Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002, 6:00 PM. Hi you two. Anne it was nice to visit with you today and catch up on things. You probably both saw that the Church put the 1880 US census and the 1881 Canadian census on-line today. There were seven million hits by the 5 o’clock new. This is part of a process that they hinted at at the training meeting we went to during general conference. They are getting rid of all CDs and will have all their data on-line fairly soon. They will be publishing no more CDs. So, Anne, you don’t need to buy the set. Now you can access it from home. And a reminder on the two items you need to register for the on-line temple ordinance database: membership number and confirmation date. Love to you both, Lyman Response from Anne: Thanks! I’ll be online tonight, searching. Dixie had to leave at 5 p.m. for SLC and we are on our way on Friday to Guadalajara to the sealing of Jorge and Elena. Remember them from last summer. They are being sealed on Saturday. We’ll get in Friday night; go to the temple Saturday; to church on Sunday and fly back on Monday. Isn’t that crazy: to be in Mexico and not see anything. But it is how we live and how we have to live right now. During the evening Anne found G. H. Kezar in Lake City, Colorado, working in a silver mine, age 31, from Canada, parents from Canada. So the day was successful in this regard. She didn’t find his brother Lee. October 24, 2002, Made two trips to St. George with Fritz Mecklenburg and got lumber, sheet rock and plywood for the house. Helped Donna Mecklenburg buy her first computer system. Diane Conley called today and said they had made the payments, and were ready to sign the contract. She said she would called Roberta which she did, and made an appointment for tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. Karen and I put up half of the front porch rafters this afternoon. I sent off a roll of the Puerto Rican 1910 census: 1776-2, with an invoice (number 2002-21) for the same. Started 1777-1. Received notice of the overdraft today and went on-line to check my account. We’ll have to deposit money tomorrow. Got a book order today for Mexican Ecclesiastical Guide. October 25, 2002, Friday. Karen and I went into town to buy some more 2/8/14s for the front porch. We got one row of plywood on the roof of the porch in the afternoon. I worked on the census. Just before Conleys met with Roberta the city called and said they were calling a meeting in regard to complaints of water running off the hill onto other people's properties. So Roberta sent the issue upstairs to be researched as to what the legal situation was with the water and property ownership, whether a lien could be placed on the property because of the water problem, etc. Diane said she would get ahold of Jerry Rhodes and make arrangements to pay off the 1/3 cost of the tank replacement. The issue is supposed to be resolved by Monday. November 8, 2002, Friday. Karen and I drove to Manti and did research at the FHC on the Barton and Stringham families. A Stringham funeral was underway at the cemetery, from which we obtained valuable contacts for pursuing the research on William Stringham’s family. November 10, 2002, Saturday. I taught five classes at the 5th Annual Hispanic Genealogy Seminar at BYU. November 11, 2002, Sunday. We Attended church at the Highland 3rd ward. I saw many old friends. Lyman Dee gave a talk prior to leaving on his mission to Eugene, Oregon. Five of the girls, minus Nicolle, sang. Karen and I talked to each of children and had a nice visit with others of the family. Aunt Rene and Uncle Art were there as were Ed and Val, McKay and Pam, Irene and her children, Pedro and Olga (Bertha’s brother), and many of the kids’ cousins, including some of Joe’s and Ed’s children. None of Roberta’s or Gene’s family was there. After meeting David informed the family that he would be having a court next Sunday, that he was in serious moral transgression, and that he had gone to the bishop to confess in an effort to keep his marriage intact. In fact he had not confessed all that he had done. On the way down today, Holly had gotten him to confess additional things, and then she had screamed at him and left him off and gone back home. November 12, 2002, Monday. David called in a very low state spiritually and informed me that he has a church court next Sunday. He has committed adultery and done many other unrighteous things with other women and been abusive to his wife. I counseled with him for about an hour. Then I called Holly and talked to her. I suggested the sexual nature that David had and that the girls had all had was due to the atmosphere in their home environment and that he should stay away from his mother during this repentance process. After my call she called David and yelled at him for many things, blaming him for our conversation. I had asked her and David to both write down all they had done wrong and give it to the stake president. This made her furious, because she wanted to get through this without paying for her part in the unrighteousness. Both she and David are playing games with the whole situation, trying to say as little as possible to the Church authorities. They have both been drinking and doing things they shouldn’t. David called me back and blamed me for the fight he had just had with Holly. He said there was no way he was going against the patriarchal blessing he had received regarding staying close to his mother. I pointed out that historically he had received his blessing after I left home. The patriarch was close to Bertha and possibly had added some of his own feelings in the blessing. Anyway David said he’d rather follow the patriarch than keep the commandment to honor his father. David called his mother and then I got a nasty letter from Lyman Dee. It was very threatening and negative and is recorded here as follows, showing Bertha’s continuing ungodliness in directing the children’s thinking, even to the point they feel it is all their own. Father it’s your son Lyman. I just wanted to bring a few things up, that need to be brought out in the open on my part, personally because I don’t think anyone else in this family has the guts to bring it up. I’m sick with the manner in which you and your wife portray yourselves. Over these 18 years I have seen tears; I have seen diobolic acts of sleazy speaking on your behalf, and to be strait forward, I want to ask you. Where do you think you get off trying to destroy everything my mother has worked for? How dare you come to my farewell and bring that kind of attitude and destroy feelings toward members of my family. Is it recognition you want, you want to feel like you’re part of something? Well let me bring reality to your page, your not, you have not been for 18 years. You put yourself out in the open like your something spiritual and nice, but let me tell you that I can see right through you. I see the way you are, I see the way you act, and personally I think your made up; that women of yours has done nothing but put things into your head; your both sick, and if you think you’re otherwise your wrong. I feel peace I feel comfort when I speak to my mother, and you want to know why? It’s because I have that gift to realize special spirits, and sadly you don’t fall into that category. I see the hurt in the eyes of my brothers and sisters; we growing up independent for 18 years; what makes you think we need you now? You felt like you needed an invitation to my farewell; well in my book since when has a father needed an invitation to be at something like this; or have you forgotten that cause you have not been there for anything else. For once I want to see a little maturity on your part. I saw you and I was happy and excited that you were here; I thought maybe things had changed; but you’re still the same; you always have to cause some sort of affliction with someone in my family when you come around. Does that get you off? Does that make you happy? Because I’ll tell you this much: it pisses me off; it pisses me off that I did not have a father; but I got over it; it pisses me off that every time you were brought up as the subject in this family, that I saw hate; but I learned to deal with it. Some people would say I’m wrong for letting these things out, but I’m just getting started. You want to throw stuff in my mother’s face; keep doing it; but you’re going to hear a little something from me everytime you do it. You say it was wrong that Patty was not invited to my farewell;, open your eyes dad; she was the first one I called to make her a part of it; so people could hear her beautiful voice. You have a way of manipulating things that are so simple into things that are destructive. It took a lot for my mother to accept your wife and yourself being there at my farewell, but she took an act of kindness, in hopes that you might for once dad for once be accepting. She invited you to the house with your wife to mingle with the family. Now whatever fantasy is going through your mind with my mother still is none of my business; but let me tell you that fantasy is not going through her head. When you left, she left you. That’s that; story’s over; the end; nothing more; nothing less. Don’t put things into the mind of my brothers and sisters that should not be there; because you know damn well that mother never ever had the intention when she invited you over with your wife, to plan anything with you. Your mind is twisted and you’re sick; you need to seek help, because you’re never going to find happiness unless its fake; until tell you realize your faults and your wrong doings. I can forgive and forget, but I can’t deal with things that are taken too far. Take this as a note of recognition, that this will not be tolerated. I will do everything in my power to defend my mother for the simple fact that she’s there for me and has been since the beginning. I love you father, but I can’t accept you because of the person you are; and until that person changes I’m going to step back and walk away; because I don’t see any other way. You owe big apologies to this family and especially to my mother. I’m sorry it has to be that way; but I will not be pushed anymore. You mess with my mother’s life and my family then you mess with me. I was grown up to respect, and so I thank you for this wonderful gift you’ve given me; I think this book will help me a lot on my mission, and congratulations on an excellent job on this book. I also want you to know that my mother had nothing to do with this letter nor did I even tell her that I have written you; take note of that and know that these are my feelings alone; I do love you dad with all my heart; and it’s my hope that things can be better; but that’s up to you; take care of yourself; and if things work out or you change I’ll be looking forward to spending a little more time with you when I get home. That’s just my hope though. Good bye for now; with love your son. Lyman Dee Platt November 15, 2002, Friday. Finished a roll of microfilm and sent it off to Heritage Quest. Karen finished sheet-rocking the northwest bedroom upstairs. November 16, 2002, Saturday. We rented a car and drove to Maria Elena’s house in Eagle Mountain, where we left her a computer and visited with the family, had lunch, saw the house and then drove to Brent’s place in Draper. He was still preparing his talk so we went shopping and then over to Mr. Hardy’s where we obtained some good genealogy on the Stringham, Willis, Knight, Jolley, and other Manti families. Brent took us out for dinner. I left my jacket as Maria Elena’s house. Brent decided he didn’t want me to ordain him because I didn’t have my priesthood line of authority. It took me until 11:15 p.m. to get it. The process was a miracle. I couldn’t get Lena’s telephone, so left a message with Patty. Lena finally called Patty and Patty called me. I asked her to call President Nunley and find out where President Jones lived. In the process, Patty told me President Larsen had married Diana Lafferty. President Jones told us they lived in Arizona. I found them in Tucson and called. Diana had President Larsen’s scriptures at her side and read me my line of authority. November 17, 2002, Sunday. Trevor, Patty’s oldest child, my oldest grandchild, is 15 today. I talked to him last night. He told me he has been keeping a journal since he was twelve. Brent went to Priesthood and was voted on as a new high councilman. At 10:00 we went to the stake and I ordained him an high priest, and President Hansen set him apart as a high councilman. We then went with him to his maiden speaking engagement in his new calling. He gave an excellent talk on tithing and offerings. We drove to Maria Elena’s and picked up my jacket and then took the back road home, through the desert west of the lake to Delta. This evening David was disfellowshipped from the Church. The family, in their usual round of vicious rumors had said that I would be sitting on the court to help judge him, that I had forced myself on the court, and any number of other stupid statements said to create division and hate within the children against me. We got a late call from Brent. His singles branch president wrote him a letter in which he thanked him for his work in the branch as his executive secretary and then told him that he would be getting married soon and that with his new wife he would travel to foreign lands, and that he would be in the general councils of the Church. He was overcome with joy and said it had been the best day of his life. November 18, 2002, Monday. Got up at 4:30 and began typing a new roll of microfilm. Took the car back into Cedar. Spent a little time at the FHC solving a few problems. Bought a truck from Fritz Mecklenburg for $1,500. Gave our Chevy Blazer to Patty. Fixed two lights upstairs. Typed 2,000 names. Talked to Roberta. She needs help with her business. I’ll see her tomorrow. She told me Rebecca Platt, Ed’s daughter has a 12” cyst apparently growing on her ovary, the size of a six month old baby. The family had a fast for her yesterday. She will be operated on tomorrow. Called Patty. Her mother came over and lambasted her. She said some of the exact things that were included in Lyman Dee’s letter, showing their real origin. David stayed with Debbie for two days and is now back with Holly because the girls were so distraught. Patty said in their initial therapy in Arizona that they were diagnosed as co-dependent and that David is bi-polar. Debbie called Maria Elena and talked with her about David’s visit. She told her some of the things they discussed and then said: “I knew dad was crazy but I didn’t know he was that crazy.” After I talked to David and Holly, Holly called David, she also called Bertha, as did David. Maria Elena was there at the time and heard the discussion, and came away totally disoriented. The issue of my inviting myself to the court and sitting on the court came out of one of those two phone calls. November 19, 2002, Tuesday. Began working with Roberta in her brokerage business. November 22, 2002, Spent the week basically just working with Roberta. Karen is working upstairs in the northwest bedroom mudding the walls and getting the room ready for painting. Wednesday we went to the FHC and did our shift. Today the firewall arrived to hook our FHC computers to the internet. Also the materials came to create a card catalog for the library. Joe made some great sales at Entrada today: about 1.5 MM dollars on two properties and a house, with another house once they get that section registered. December 3, 2002, Beginning of a new 40-day cycle. The day was intense. We went from one loan to another all day long just as fast as we could. Karen went to DUP and read a poem then worked upstairs. I went to song practice; prepared for tomorrow’s home sale. December 4, 2002, Got up and typed 1,000 names before going to work with Roberta. Today we sold our home in St. George to the Conley family. At work we got our first check since I’ve been working there ($3,800.00) and nearly finalized three loans. This was company money, not mine. Patty called and said that Lyman Dee had felt some additional guilt while in the missionary training center during a session on repentance; decided he was not fully repentant, and called his bishop. He went to the stake president, and his mission was put on hold. A friend of his who was going to Russia told him that if he was guilty so was he and he also talked to his leaders. They suspended his mission for a year. My brother Ed feels Lyman will be six to eight months in getting back on track. Others feel it will be less. [In fact, he never went.] Rebecca, Ed’s daughter, has pre-cancerous tissue in her uterus. She is doing well, but the diagnosis is not good. Anne Leavitt also has cancer of the uterus and will be operated on soon. December 5, 2002, Thursday. Went to the FHC for the morning shift. Bought Bible Code II and spent the day reading it together. Practiced a hymn for Sunday. December 6, 2002, Friday. Spent the day with Roberta. She paid me $590.00 for two weeks’ work, having given me $200 prior to our trip to Arizona. Not much, but a good start at filling the pipeline; practiced the hymn for Sunday. December 7, 2002, Saturday. Cleaned the Chevy Bronco for Patty. Got my check from Heritage Quest. Deposited both and paid a few bills, got some photos copied. Went to the FHC from noon to three. Bought food, gas, and came home for a nap and then work until 9:30. Karen is not feeling well. December 8, 2002, Sunday. Attended the 6:30 a.m. stake correlation council. Presented our quarterly report on the family history center. We went to Sunday School. I sang the hymn that Gary Steinekert, our neighbor, had written. Came home and visited with Patty and her family for a few hours. Had lunch together. Then they went home. They took the Chevy with them. It should come in handy as they are car-short these days. The older boys are not liking the current way scouting is handled in the Church and have dropped out of it. They think it discriminates against non-members, because of the inter-connectedness with the priesthood programs. And they don’t like some of the things they have to learn, like shooting guns. Patty told us a little bit about the three-hour conversation she had this week with Nicolle. Niki is struggling to find her identity and needs validation and love. She has written her mother off and can’t relate to her at all. Patty said that Bertha has started to date now that Natalia is eighteen. She feels that the men in her life won’t affect the children anymore. We discussed Lyman Dee’s situation. His friend that was going to Russia has decided not to go on a mission. Lyman won’t either if he has to wait longer than three months. December 25, 2002, Wednesday. Drove up to Patty’s place; visited with them for a while and then went to Brent’s and spent the evening. December 26, 2002, Thursday. Worked until 2:00 at the Family History Library and then drove home. In the evening we got together at Roberta’s home. All the siblings were there except Gene. Dad had come down with Ed, having flown in two days ago. He’ll be here a month or so. Many of his grandchildren were also present. We had a nice evening together. December 29, 2002, Sunday. I resigned from the Western Association of Leavitt Families board of directors and as chairman of the Genealogy and Family History Committee of WALF. December 31, 2002, Tuesday. The year has come to an end. Today I brought dad over to Mountain Springs to let him see the place again. Karen drove back with us. I did some more work at Mortgage Authority while Karen shopped, then we bought some more building supplies and came home; took a nap; Bruce called in the evening. He’s been in France for two weeks and in Colorado for eight days this fall. He’s having an operation on his knee at the end of January. He sent me greetings from Jennifer Lopez. 2003 January 1, 2003, Wednesday. This morning Karen and I put insulation throughout the roof in the southern part of the house, over our bedroom, and the washroom and bathrooms. It took until 10:00. She then did more insulating upstairs in the walls, while I typed on the Puerto Rican 1910 Census Project. I have 4 1/2 rolls left of 28 that I started with. We went into town and had lunch, dropped off a film, and went to Don Blanchard’s for a brief visit; came home; took a nap. I then worked on the census again from 8:00 until 10:00. Karen rested. Maria Elena called and we visited about Christmas. She had a fun time with her husband’s family. My children sent money to Peru for the second year instead of exchanging gifts. They had supper at Bertha’s and exchanged gifts with her. Pedro got my pictures. Joe Leavitt wrote to us as follows: Dear Lyman and Karen, Anne Leavitt has made me aware of Lyman’s resignation as chairman of the family history committee. I feel sad to see this happen, and hope I haven’t had any part in the decision. I know I’ve not been very cooperative about reports and such. You’ve been very understanding and have filled in for me wonderfully in that regard, for which I’m grateful. Thank you both for your kind and sweet ways, and for your valuable help to the organization. I hope there will be occasions for our meeting again, as I will miss seeing you. I admire the work you do at your family history center, and wish you the very best in that (tremendous) effort, and pray that you will enjoy a high degree of certainty about the right course for future endeavors. My love to you and your families. God be with you, Joe. January 2, 2003, Thursday. Today we tar-papered and roofed part of the front porch. This took most of the day. We had a nap and then Karen did insulation and I typed. The propane tank is at 30%. January 3, 2003, Friday. I went to work with Roberta. She told me the story of the $1,000,000 bribe that she was involved with in California when she was a branch manager there. She turned the guy into the FBI. He was a member of their ward and their families were close. We got four new clients today and closed one file. It was a busy and hectic day. After I got home I typed for two hours. We were invited to speak in a singles fireside on Sunday. Karen received her visiting teacher, baked, wrote letters, and tied up a lot of loose ends from her genealogy contacts. We got a nice letter from Jolene Passey as follows: Dear Lyman and Karen, I received Anne’s email which notified us of your resignation from WALF. I just wanted to write you a short note and say how much I have enjoyed associating with both of you. I will miss seeing you at board meetings and other activities but feel confident that this friendship doesn’t need WALF to be secure. You are remarkable people and I appreciate having the opportunity to meet and get to know you. I would like to get the Jeremiah Leavitt III additions done for the trek booklet. If you could send me a copy by email (I’ve lost the hard copy Faye made for me), then I will send you the suggested additions. I hope you have a great new year. We are well here and looking forward to good things ourselves. Love, Jolene. January 4, 2003, Saturday. This morning I typed 500 names while Karen worked upstairs. Then we finished nailing and placing boards on the southern part of the front porch. In the afternoon I helped our neighbor Ted Crawford put up some of the trusses that he had delivered today. Bill Lane, Dave Vandigraf, Alan Heaton, Jerry Lane (Bill’s wife), Ted and myself worked for about four hours. Karen put tarpaper on the southern part of the porch and I helped her finish. Then we ran the metal strip in the low area for the water to run. Then we finished the trim on the bedroom area. I went back to typing and finished the first half of roll 1779 and sent it to Heritage Quest. It was 943 pages long and contained 15,072 names. January 5, 2003, Sunday. Finished up a report for Larry Ward on his Russian Jewish great-grandparents. Straightened up the office. Began typing names on 1779-2. Sent a copy of my Jeremiah Leavitt III history to Jolene Passey. Edited a poetry/history book for Donna Mackert. Went to church. Watched a movie about the Enron scandal, the biggest bankruptcy in history. Brent called. His girlfriend took him to meet her parents. Typed 1300 names for the day. Finished at midnight. January 12, 2003, Sunday. This week has been very busy with work at the office, and Karen has been busy with the upstairs building. We have put up more sheet rock; nearly finished one bedroom and most of the ceiling in the guest visiting center. The alcove is ready for taping. Friday I went with Roberta out to a party for brother Joe at Entrada. Gene called while we were there. We visited several times with dad this week. Wednesday we went out to lunch with Gordon prior to his returning to school at Weber. We did our two shifts at the family history center, and on Saturday I trained a group to begin the Cedar City Temple Ordinance Index. This evening we went into the stake center and I gave a talk to the single adults on the importance of doing the work for their ancestors, using five prison experiences I’ve had: Peru, Provo, Point of the Mountain, Liberty/Carthage, and the Provo Temple. We discussed scriptures in D&C 138 and Matthew 27. We looked at the work of temple building and how it will surpass the ability to keep them open if the Saints don’t make more efforts in the own research and temple submissions. After the fireside, I sang with the stake men’s chorus who is readying for stake conference. Had a phone call from Patty this week and a Christmas card with pictures of the four boys. Nicolle wrote twice on email. She is typing some materials for me and is progressing nicely. Maria Elena also called and we had a nice visit. I sent a copy of the work I have recently finished on Jeremiah Leavitt III and Eliza Harrover to Jolene Passey for her review, additions, and inclusion in the new Leavitt books that are being prepared for the fall trek back east. January 21, 2003, Monday. The past few days have flown by. Dad went home today. Gordon was down for the weekend. I’ve had telephone conversations with Maria Elena (for her birthday on the 20th), and with Ed, who was checking up on dad. I visited dad before he went north with Allie (Roberta’s daughter), who is in nursing school at BYU. Today Karen and I spent all day finishing the sheet rock on the upstairs ceiling in the big room, and sheet-rocking the stairway. We also put some more tin on the roof. Saturday we did our shift at the library and began a 15-week training course again. We have 12 students, some from the community this time. We also worked on the Iron County Family History database with some of the volunteers. Karen and I are reading a newly released book by Avraham Gileadi entitled Isaiah Decoded. It is very good and is helping us understand some of the trials we’ve been through. Dad read most of it while he was here. I edited several plaque wordings for the Leavitts yesterday. These plaques are the ones that will be placed next September from Michigan to Winter Quarters. Sent some photographs to Nicolle, along with a Church manual and eternal marriage, as she is preparing to go to the temple. Over the holiday I typed 4,000 names on the Puerto Rican census project. February 1, 2003, Saturday. Today tragedy struck with the explosion of the shuttle spacecraft. We heard the sonic boom as it passed overhead this morning about 7:00 a.m. February 2, 2003, Sunday. Spent most of the day at the family history center, teaching a group of elders from the West Stake and a genealogy class taught by Pat Andrews. February 3, 2003. Monday. In our readings of Isaiah Decoded by Avraham Gileadi, we have come to recognize many new and deeply impressive doctrines pertaining to the last days. One of them is the relationship we have to each other in this world as pertains to service. Albeit we have weaknesses that cover various levels of righteousness and unrighteousness, we have determined that on the ladder of Perdition, Babylon, Israel/Jacob, Zion/Jerusalem, Sons/Servants, Seraphs/Saviors, we have achieved to some degree the level of Sons/Servants. As such I have entered into a covenant this day with the Lord as regards my service to those on levels Zion/Jerusalem and Israel/Jacob particularly. In return for this covenant of service and loyalty, I have asked for blessings and protection to be with my family and those with whom we work at the Center and any others over whom we may have stewardship. Nicolle sent me a package today containing her first typing project. It was well done and shows a great deal of interest and maturity in her abilities. She is anxious to start typing my personal history. February 5, 2003. Wednesday. Received a package from Nicolle and sent her one with part of my personal history for typing. February 6, 2003. Thursday. Put some more of the roof on the porch. Finished with the board covering of the big room upstairs. Sent final payment to Providian for one credit card ($800). This will save us $120/month. February 7, 2003. Friday. Busy week. Closed four loans. Got paid $1,085 for the two weeks. Bought a desk today from Jay Lane, whose wife died a few years ago and who Roberta saw with other angelic hosts in their home above hers. The desk has stamps from the old St. George Visitor’s Center, and the Brigham Young Home. It is solid oak. Karen and some of the ladies began cleaning out non-essential items from the family history center in order to expand the room for research use. February 8, 2003. Saturday. Started work at 2:00 A.M. with typing of names from the Puerto Rican 1910 Census. Three and one-half rolls to go. Moved the antique desk into my office. Put more metal on the front porch. Unloaded the old desk from the family history center. Loaded old microfilm readers and other non-essential materials and took them to storage. Re-oriented some of the cabinets and other furniture for research purposes at the center. Attended stake conference in the evening. Went out to eat with Donna Mackert after conference. Today is mother’s death anniversary, 21 years ago. Gene called Roberta today and recommended dad be placed in a care center. We had quite a discussion within the family about that. It won’t happen. Gene admitted to being unemotionally involved in any decisions he has made in these last many years because of his relationship with his wife. He used to be so fun-loving and carefree. Too bad women have such influence on us at times. February 9, 2003. Sunday. Took Donna Mackert with us to stake conference again. Sang in the men’s choir. Excellent talks, great spirit. President Crawford: A sealing ring can be empty if no one is righteous. Hence the phrase “neither root nor branch.” Brother Blackburn: Instant gratification is a violation of the law of the harvest. The testimony of obedience is fulfilled in the law of sacrifice. Those things that hurt also instruct. When we accept life as difficult, then the difficult doesn’t matter. President: quoting Cicero: The first bond of society is marriage. February 13, 2003. Thursday. Went to the family history center. In the evening went to the annual high priest's banquet. Brother Maxwell told me a great genealogy story about his uncle Staker. Brother Staker recently returned from a mission with his wife. We were instrumental in getting them back into genealogy. He and brother Maxwell have common ancestry. They got together and shared some important information. February 15, 2003. Saturday. Busy week. We closed four loans. Finished placing the big pieces of metal on the front porch and began the trim work. Karen finished the upstairs sheet rock except for the big bathroom. We sheet rocked the big stairway. Went to the family history center. Good attendance at the training meeting. Typed names in the evening. March 30, 2003. Sunday. This morning we went over to the Family History Center to teach a class. Karen stumbled across an old plat map of Cedar City from 1902. On it I found the location of the houses for the Perkins and Williams families. We drove there and saw what appeared to be two houses from that time period. This was an exciting find. They lived right through the block from each other on second and third east between first and second south, both on the east sides of their respective blocks. Not much has happened this month. I wrote to Debbie about her husband's call up for the war. He is in Washington state awaiting orders. His call was for a year. I've been working hard on two jobs, trying to finished the Puerto Rican 1910 census, and Karen is just about finished preparing the upstairs center rooms for painting. She's worked so hard on it. She also got glasses this month. Her eyes continue to deteriorate. Roberta left with her family for Arizona to move K. J. to Chandler where he will be taking helicopter flight school. They furnished an apartment for him. April 14, 2003. Roberta’s family: KJ 21 on Thursday. Moving to Chandler to enter helicopter school; Allie is through with school for four months; Kasse is graduating from high school; Eric is entering Jr. High. April 19, 2003. Saturday. This morning Karen awakened with an incredible peaceful and other worldly feeling unlike anything she has ever experienced. At about 8:15, while carrying a table upstairs, I had a heart attack. The pain was so intense that I threw up. I begged the Lord to not let me die and after about ten minutes I told Karen we had to go to emergency. She drove like crazy to Cedar City and they immediately put me into preparation for surgery. The doctor in charge was so good. He called the life flight plane, which had left St. George ten minutes previous, enroute to Salt Lake, empty, and they stopped and got me. Meantime, I received a healing blessing from the priesthood, which gave me great comfort, as I felt the spirit come over me as soon as they laid their hands on my head. They filled me with 27mm of morphine and other amounts of codine and pretty well knocked me out. Nothing they did would break the blockage that had formed in my right artery. But they finally got the pain under control. I don't remember the ambulance or the flight or the operation. Karen called Roberta, our assistant Jan Drummond, and Brent. Brent was waiting for us at the hospital when we arrived. Roberta called the rest of the family. Julie called and we talked but I don't remember the conversation at all. McKay called Gene this evening to discuss the situation. Sometime in the evening Roberta and Brent talked. April 20, 2003. Sunday. Today was a good day. The mending began. There was very little pain. Maria Elena and her husband came in, then Patty, Dru and Nicolle, then McKay and Gord. Natalia tried to get in and Julie called again. Karen's sister LaDean called and expressed her love and concern. April 21, 2003. Monday. They released me this morning at 10:00 and we rented a car and drove home. It was so good to see Utah again and the beauties of the world and to be back in my own bed and in charge of my own life. Many people called. The ward prayed for us, as did those at the Family History Center. Karen's sister Annette called and was very concerned and loving. Baird called this evening and was very solicitous. Karen wrote to Joe Leavitt and explained what had happened. He posted the message to the WALF committee. April 22, 2003. Tuesday. First full day of home recovery. Gene called and we had a nice talk. He insisted on sending us some money, but never did. He reviewed his family: Briant is graduating in May and has moved to family to Memphis where he will be set up in law. Amelia went to church Sunday on her own with them and her 4-year-old; Gordon is graduating from high school and will be going to BYU-Idaho. The youngest is beginning to drive. Gene has his office just a half mile from his home and is now his own law firm and enjoying life. Received loving emails from Anne and Dixie Leavitt, Bill Leavitt, Joe Leavitt and Jolene Passey. Karen wrote to Anne explaining a lot of the details of our lives recently. Dixie called and said he and Anne would be stopping by tomorrow. Rol Sutton called and inquired as to our welfare as did Mary Jo Craig. Sister Turpin brought by a cheese cake. Typed 1,000 names. Bertha’s daughter-in-law, Gabriela Vecco had a daughter today - Antonela - in Miami. Juan has left Gabby and is living with another woman. April 23, 2003. Wednesday. Called Zions and made arrangements to have our $37,000 taken out and put into checking. Called all the creditors and found out which ones were covered by insurance and made arrangements for them to pay their own charges for 2 months. This saves us about $2,000. Got the estimates on the total cost of the heart attack: about $50,000. Sent off an application for Veterans' medical coverage. They won't pay any of the costs up to this point. Debbie called. She sold her house today at 9763 N. 5520 W., Highland, UT 84003 and is building another one about a block away. Rick leaves on Saturday probably for Kuwait. Our neighbor Chuck stopped and offered to help us whenever we had something for him to do. Roberta and Kent came by in the evening for about an hour. Typed a 1,000 names. April 24, 2003. Thursday. Went to Cedar and took all my money out of CDs and paid off all my debts. Bought some health foods. Spent the day resting. This evening I had a revelation regarding the state into which I have become familiar during sleep. There are times when Karen will say: Lyman stop snoring. I will say: I'm not snoring. I'm wide awake and would have heard myself. In fact, I have caught myself snoring at times while in another mind set. I'm calling it a 2nd dimension. It isn't a state where I am seeing spirits or conversing with the spirit world, but it isn't of this world. The spirit is in charge and is unaware of the body. This first happened when I had the vision of not dying, of spiritual Lima, of the great library, and the beautiful blossoming tree with the bee in it. This state is entered into often these days, but only to the extent that the spiritual mind is in charge, not the physical mind. April 25, 2003. Friday. Went to Cedar and had Karen's eye checked. She apparently has glaucoma and the eye which was damaged a few years ago has been permanently destroyed up to about 50%. There has been no loss of vision in the other eye. Bought food. Checked my vitals: 112/73, heart rate 65. Karen ordered new glasses and got a refund because the non-line lenses do not work with her. Dixie and Anne stopped by. Rested. Typed for a while: 700 names. Began calling around to see about getting a contract to publish Amasa Mason Lyman's journals and life history. Deseret Book wasn't interested. Hungtington Library doesn't have the budget but is interested. April 26, 2003. Saturday. Dad arrived in Utah for a few weeks' visit. Went to Mecklenburgs (next door) and tested my blood sugar: 164. Organized my financial file, receipts, etc., paid the telephone, and ate a small breakfast of boiled egg and oatmeal cereal. Began typing the last 100 pages of the 1910 Puerto Rican Census. Did 1600 names today. Annette called to check on me. Julie called and we talked for about an hour and twenty minutes. Our conversation ranged from death to family, school, music, Church callings, patriarchal blessings, her desires to have more interaction with me, the two-way nature of relationships, and so forth. Bruce called in the evening. He returned several days ago from France. Lilly is still there, returns tomorrow. When he was riding home from the airport in the taxi he was checking his voice messages and had two from Patty, one from Debbie and one from Ed's wife telling of the heart attack. He says he nearly passed out. We talked for a long time. He's doing well in his work; has a contract to furnish a five-star hotel in the Dominican Republic (sixty-five rooms) and continues to expand his option. They hope to see us this summer. Karen installed two sensor lights yesterday, on the west side of the bathroom, outside, and continued to work on the tiling in the small bathroom upstairs. Karen and I went for a two-block walk. It was very tiring. April 27, 2003. Sunday. Went next door to check my blood sugar. It was 185 this morning. Not good. Typed for awhile on the census. Went to church: sacrament meeting only. LaDean and Glen stopped by at 2:45. They said Diane and Phyllis had tried to call several times. Brent called and talked to his mom for some time about cars and me. I finished the 1910 project. I had planned to brag about my being the only person in history to have typed every family in a given country, but since the heart attack, I have to give credit to the Lord for me being able to finish at all, so it was and will be a joint venture. There were about 700,000 names types during the project. It's good to be finished. Now I can get on with some other long-awaited other activities. Went for a three-block walk. Brent called. Diane called. She had tried several times Sunday and Monday. She was very solicitous as was Brent. Irene also called and had dad with her. I talked briefly to him, but it was hard for him to hear on the cell phone. Irene's son is getting his mission call on Wednesday. We had a good talk and she was very sweet. April 28, 2003. Monday. Heritage Quest confirmed my numbers, so I sent them my last bill. Worked on indexing my pedigree charts and family group records, a project that I have been doing for several months. It's almost finished. Went to St. George and looked at cars. Talked to Roberta and Allie about possible diabetes. Found out that McKay is taking medicine for cholesterol and has a tendency to high blood pressure. A CT scan shows plaque in his descending artery along with calcium buildup. Gene also has high blood pressure, and Uncle George has diabetes. Dad has global escemia which is causing major brain loss. He has had one major stroke and many smaller strokes caused from hardening of the arteries. McKay diagnosed my back pains as musculosketetal, not prostrate or kidney. Ate at Red Lobster. Came home. Patty called. She got an A and B for this semester. Trevor has grown two inches in three weeks with the therapy drugs he's taking. Dru is working almost constantly with trucking now and making about $2,000/week. Patty asked me to find them a good home in the St. George/Santa Clara area. She may drive to Fillmore with Irene on Wednesday to meet Roberta and bring dad. Got our first bill from the ambulance: $426.00. Paid it. Gary Steinekert came over and offered to help move anything we need. We begged for a few days still. His wife Connie is a nurse and helps operate on the hearts of three to four people a day. April 29, 2003. Tuesday. Spent the day in St. George. Came back with a new car. I paid $2,000 down and Karen picked up the contract: $330.00 a month. April 30, 2003. Wednesday. Worked around home, cleaning, organizing, working on a surname file for a client. Karen is putting in the window sills and working on the tile. May 1, 2003. Thursday. Worked from 1 A.M. to 3:30 A.M. transferring files from old computers to my new one. Although I’ve had my new computer for a number of months, I’ve had no time to do anything with it. Went to the family history center for three hours. Did fairly well. Bought food. Had books copied so I could fulfill another order. Karen had some pictures copied of Albert and Catherine Petty. Continued to clean up and organize my office. Filled another surname order. Joe called and talked for a time. His heart attack seven years ago was in the left artery and only required a cleaning. They just got back from Hawaii. May 2, 2003. Friday. Went to St. George. Worked for three hours with Roberta. Got paid $975.00 for back work. Brought home one file to work on. Karen bought more materials to finish projects upstairs. She is working on the windows and the tile on the small bathroom. Gary, our neighbor, came over and helped move a computer, microfilm reader and several desks upstairs and into my office. My old work station in the archive, where I did the 1910 census is now dissembled. Helped Karen with a window. Feeling badly this evening. Heart palpitations: too much work. May 3, 2003. Saturday. Cleaning office, arranging files, organizing office. Went to get Karen’s new glasses. They work a lot better. Went to the family history center from 12:00 to 3:00. Had lunch at El Gallo. Brother Gonzalez wants me to pursue a loan for him. Worked on files. Went for a walk after a nice rain storm. Connie came over and counseled me about my heart. It was a very good meeting. I definitely have heart disease and will need to change a lot of things in order to stay alive. Because of the 70% blockage in the other artery, I will also need another operation. May 4, 2003. Sunday. We decided to stay home today and rest. I continued organizing and cleaning and uploading files from my old computers to the new one. Created a complete set of files for writing histories of my ancestors, through the ninth generation. Danny called. We had a nice visit. He has been Elders’ Quorum President in his ward for about a year, and a counselor for four years prior to that. His young daughter is doing well. All the kids are fine. He has been doing research on the Tejada line and has found most, if not all, of the siblings of his grandfather Manuel Vicente Tejada. I gave him some pointers for further research and told him I’d send some pictures and documents. Bruce called to check in and see how I was doing. They are hoping to come out during Memorial Day weekend. May 5, 2003. Monday. Gene’s birthday today. I wrote a letter to Pres. Staheli, Pres. Hinckley’s secretary, asking for assistance in finding a publisher and funder for Amasa Lyman’s history. I stayed home and worked on Amasa Lyman’s history. Got all of the various typed sources integrated into one chronological database. Karen worked upstairs on the bathroom. May 6, 2003. Tuesday. Went to St. George and helped Roberta for a few hours. Came home and worked on Amasa’s history. Wrote to Ellen and Floyd Atkin. John McDonald and Ben Fueling from the High Priests’ presidency came for a visit. Gave them some artichokes and lemon balm from the greenhouse. May 7, 2003. Wednesday. Filled out claims forms to get three of my creditors to make payments while I’m off work. May 8, 2003. Thursday. Went to the family history center from 9-3. Worked on client accounts, inputing old computer files into my new computer, cleaning up old files, prioritizing projects. Bought a blood sugar monitor. Blood sugar today is at 111, Karen’s at 70. Karen’s blood pressure is 158/101/70; mine 112/66/60. Maria Elena sent a nice card. May 9, 2003. Friday. Finished filling out claims forms and sent them to the doctor and delivered one to Citifinancial. Worked for 3.5 hours with Roberta. Typed a few Lyman ancestral histories. Dixie and Anne came by and visited. They want us to go back east with them in September on the Leavitt trek. Joe and Sue sent a card. Got the license plates for our new car and a cover. May 10, 2003. Saturday. Helped Karen frame two windows upstairs. Cleaned up the greenhouse. Got the fruit trees out, ready to plant on Tuesday. Continued organizing files on my new computer. Prepared four files on ancestors. Took them in to the family history center and did research on them. Got home at 4:00. Took a nap. Typed. Watched television. May 11, 2003. Sunday. Watered most of the fruit trees and some of the pine trees. Typed on family histories. Went to sacrament meeting. Came home and ate and rested. Went for a walk up in the canyon west of home. Typed some more. Wrote a letter to Maria Elena and to Julie as follows: Dear Julie and family. Thank you for the graduation notice. Congratulations Justin on a goal met and a major milestone accomplished in your life. Good luck to you in your new-found freedom and well-wishes in your chosen profession and daily work. Julie, it was fun to talk to you a couple of weeks ago. It was nice to get caught up on what your family is doing. Keep up the good work on raising your wonderful family. It’s been three weeks now since the attack. Karen and I go for one or two walks a day, most days, trying to build up my energy. I’ve lost eight pounds because of not eating as much and I suppose just the effects of the operation. President Hinton has called four more missionary couples to assist us because he doesn’t want to release us. We spent part of the afternoon working up a job division for the group. It will take a lot of pressure off from us and allow us to have a less stressful mission. We went for a walk up in the canyon west of us this afternoon. We sat by the stream and I forced myself to be patient. It’s so hard! I’m too used to going, going, going, and need to learn to relax again and enjoy the beautiful and sweet things of life. We walked about a mile, so it taxed me, but is what I need to prepare for my stress test next week. That will determine how long I have to remain off work, or if I need another operation. I’ve begun to re-organize my life and downsize my life’s projects. That’s hard because there is so much I would like to do. But, obviously, there are some things that are more important, like keeping in touch with my family. I cleaned out my greenhouse yesterday and brought the fruit trees out, ready to plant on Tuesday. Brother Potter, our ward executive secretary has volunteered to carry them and help plant them. This is the first warm week we’ve had all year and it looks like it’s going to stay warm. We have one cherry on one of the trees I planted earlier this year. Next year we should start to get our first fruit. In a few years we’ll have so much, you’ll need to come and help us bottle and eat it. Hope you enjoy the pictures. Love to you all, Dad and grandpa May 13, 2003. Tuesday. Brother Potter came over and helped me plant two grape and seven fruit trees. May 14, 2003. Wednesday. Lyman’s blood pressure: 120/72/72; Karen’s: 152/90/70. The High Priests came over in the evening and put up the underwood to the front porch. May 17, 2003. Saturday. It has been a busy week. I went to work Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a few hours each day. Karen bought materials for the house. She finished the tile in the small bathroom upstairs and we painted the southeast bedroom upstairs. Saturday she cleaned and moved furniture so that the bedroom was ready for guests, without carpet. We bought a hot water heater for upstairs also. Friday we deposited $7800 in her savings to protect it until we could pay off our last two bills. I worked on organizing files most of the week. I sent packages of pictures to Julie and Maria Elena. On Thursday we had a training meeting with our new missionaries and volunteers that Pres. Hinton has called to assist us with our overload. Saturday we also went to the family history center. McKay called several time, trying to help me get the drugs I need for my heart. It was determined this week that I have diabetes along with the heart condition. May 18, 2003. Sunday. Went to all my meetings for the first time since my heart attack. Didn’t do much else. Planted four lilacs to replace some that had died south of the house. May 19, 2003. Monday. Prepared for my doctor’s appointment and went to the Cedar City hospital to meet the team from Intermountain Health Care that’s here from Salt Lake City. Dr. Lappe confirmed that I had diabetes, Phase 2, and that I should go to Salt Lake City on Friday for another heart operation, probably to put in another stent in the left artery. May 20, 2003. Tuesday. Went to the hospital and had blood drawn for some five tests that Dr. Lappe wanted. Had our hair cut. Went to the family history center for an hour. Karen painted the last bedroom upstairs while I rested and read. Planted some more lilacs and tended the trees. June 5, 2003. Thursday. Compiled the following analysis of my time in Viet Nam as part of an application for veterans disability. During my military service in Viet Nam I worked with the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, the Vietnamese Air Force, and in my normal duties with the U. S. Air Force. The various activities in which I was engaged in these multiple assignments required frequent travel and exposure to military activities throughout the countryside between the Air Force Base at Bien Hoa, to the Navy fire base at Nha Be at the northern end of the Mekong Delta. I arrived in Viet Nam at 1 PM on November 26, 1966. On November 28th I was assigned to the 505 TCMS, PACAF in Siagon. First combat duty off Tan Son Nhut was on February 21st. Participated in FAC airstrike in RSSZ. Assisted an army field sweep and flew over Nha Be, the shipping channels, and Bien Hoa. Low flying. March 14th attack on the base. April 10th: saved a U.S. Army field unit from being hit by our Air Force jets. (Air Force Commendation Medal [awarded November 15]; denied Army Commendation Medal). May 17th, lost responsibility for protection of RSSZ; now only protecting CMD. May 26th, saturation bombing and agent orange defoliation within sight of base. June 2nd, participated in low visual recon by air from Bien Hoa and throughout the CMD. Worked with helicopters in a gun battle with ground troops. First solo flying. More low flying the next day. June 12th, moved our TACP down to the CMD office in Siagon. Began working with Vietnamese and Army personnel, and from 27th of June to 17st of July with the Special Forces along Mekong River. September 6, 2 hour low fly recon of CMD. September 21st, ordered to move to Le Van Duyet (Camp Goodman). A lot of travel during this period between Saigon and Bien Hoa with Lt. Quy (Vietnamese Air Force). During October involved several times in cleaning O1 aircraft spotter planes of chemicals, etc. from low flying involvement with defoliation operations. October 21-November 2nd, assigned to Nha Be on the Mekong River with the Navy (cross training in air tactics). Exposed several times to agent orange defoliant during spraying operations (less than 2,000 feet away) across the river where the Viet Cong were highly concentrated. October 26, received Vietnamese Medal of Honor for work with their air force officers. November 15th, flew last low air support airstrike mission with 2 F4Cs and 4 Blu-27s. 750 lb. Napalm and 500 lb. GP. Left Viet Nam on November 24th. June 10, 2003. Roberta wrote me the following today: Dear Lyman, today is your 60th birthday, a major milestone in your life. I decided to provide a page for your journal instead of a card this year. I feel I know you better than I ever have before, because we have worked together for the past six months. It has been fun to see you on a daily basis and share in many discussions that cover all ranges of topics. Perhaps the most fun has been a different perspective on the family, viewing it from the oldest son rather than the oldest daughter. Since I opened my mortgage company nine years ago, I have needed your skills. Your computer skills and organizational skills are some I have been looking for in the different assistants I have had over those years. But, more importantly than that, is the undying loyalty I have from my oldest brother. This comes through loud and clear in the work place with everyone I work with. Thank you for your love and loyalty to me over my lifetime. I was very hesitant when your approached me about working together, because I already have Joe that I work with on a daily basis as my husband’s partner and I didn’t want to risk the odds of screwing up a family relationship. I can honestly say that I do not feel compromised in any way for having made the decision to take you onto our team. After lunch with Joe today, maybe I even see some progress in that relationship which I felt was futile. A glimpse into my future of possible illness and disease has been brought to the forefront with your recent heart attack and diabetes, but this too has been helpful to know that all of us will have some different trials in our old age, different from the ones we have had thus far. Your attitude and willingness to go forward is how we must all react to these situations until we are separated from this mortal body which is affected by all manner of illness and disease. What I’m trying to say, is simply this... I love you Lyman, and probably always have, but now have a deeper love and respect than I did for you just six months ago. Besides getting a lot of work done, I think we have a good time, at least I know I do, so hopefully we can adjust the stress in your life to still have the opportunity to continue this relationship for several more years to come. I’m glad you found Karen to share your life with fifteen years ago. I know you never would have been able to go through all that you have been through without her love and support. I appreciate her for these things and pray that you can have many more years together. Listen to her needs and concerns, because she loves you and wants what is best for you. She, like myself, knows how important and painful family can be for you, but as you continue to work out relationships with each of your brothers and sisters, and children and step-children, and grandchildren, she will be a big help for you, as she already has, so let her help. She too loves you. Mom has been on my mind a lot lately, and I need to let you know, as I know you do, that she loves you too. She is never very far from our thoughts, and as we advance in years, we come closer and closer to someday seeing her again. Won’t that be fun? I can’t wait! I thought this was appropriate this year instead of a card, because I love to go back in my journal and read my feelings and remember where I was mentally and spiritually at different junctions in my life, so hopefully this will remind you for years to come of this birthday. Again, I love you! Rob June 19, 2003. Thursday. Roberta and I have worked out a schedule of my working with her Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Then on Thursdays and Saturdays we work in our mission, and Friday is a free day. This past several weeks has been quite traumatic. I prepared a detailed and extensive compensation package to send to the Veterans Administration to try and get some financial assistance for the illnesses which have apparently stemmed from contact, while in Viet Nam, with Agent Orange. I’ve been to Dr. Philip E. Smith in Cedar City, and he wrote the following: June 9, 2003: To whom it may concern: re: Lyman Platt. I have been asked to write this letter regarding the medical condition of Mr. Lyman Platt. He is a 59-year-old male who sustained an inferior wall myocardial infarction (MI) in April of 2003. This was treated with a stent in the right coronary artery and he subsequently had a stent placed in the left anterior descending coronary artery. At the time of his MI, he was also noted to be hyperglycemic and was diagnosed with diabetes. He was also noted to have symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Follow-up testing has shown Mr. Platt to definitely have diabetes with early long-term complications from diabetes. He has increased protein in his urine with 1.9 mg/dl of albumin noted. His hemoglobin A1c is elevated at 7.9 and he will need to start oral medication to control his diabetes. He has peripheral neuropathy consistent with diabetes. He has been referred to Dr. Chad Anderson for an ophthalmic exam to see if a retinopathy is also present [test results shows my eyes have not yet been affected by the diabetes]. The MI and the coronary artery disease which lead to the MI is [are] likely contributed to by his diabetes. In addition to the peripheral neuropathy, Mr. Platt has symptoms of an autonomic neuropathy and has developed some impotence due to diabetes. Sincerely, Philip E. Smith, MD. After receiving Dr. Smith’s letter I sent the following to the VA as part of my compensation claim package. Since I sent the package I have received a letter from my recently assigned primary care physician (recommended to me by Dr. Revenaugh who performed my heart operations), Dr. Philip E. Smith. I had requested this letter hoping to have it as part of the package but he was on vacation. Based on his findings, I have done some additional research on peripheral neuropathy and have concluded that I have symptoms of all three types. I have attached a page describing these three types: 1) motor nerves, 2) sensory nerves and 3) autonomic nerves. As it is currently affecting the motor nerves, for the last year and a half, I have developed a shaking of the head, involuntary cramps and spasms of various nerves and general muscle weakness. As it is currently affecting the sensory nerves, I have burning in the feet and leg muscles, swelling under the toes, causing all of the toes to be continually numb; tingling and numbness in the fingers, and extreme sensitivity to touch. I cannot stand to have covers on me at night and will sleep in abnormally cold temperatures rather than have the covers weighing down on me. As it is currently affecting the autonomic nerves, I have bladder dysfunction, feeling the need to urinate when there is almost no urine there, not being able to control the need to urinate, abnormal heart rates, flutters, blood pressure surges, causing headaches and a feeling of the head exploding, and sexual dysfunction. With regards to the diabetes, when I sent you my package, I was unaware of the test results in Dr. Smith’s letter. These results indicate the diabetes has progressed beyond its initial stage and will require medication to control. Please be aware that the normal reasons for diabetes do not exist in my life. There is no history of it in the family, I am not overweight, and have never eaten improperly except for an occasional malt, fries, and hamburger, but these only very infrequently. I have always been active and been careful to eat properly. As I noted earlier in my package, the retinopathy exam showed no retinal damage. Please add this letter and Dr. Smith’s letter to the original materials sent to you as part of the documentation for your compensatory evaluation. Thank you. Lyman D. Platt With the health problems that have developed, I have received phone calls from Irene, Ed, Joe, Patty, Bruce, Debbie, Maria Elena, Nicolle, Lyman Dee and Natalia. Lyman Dee has just got engaged. So apparently has Johnny. Debbie has moved in with her mother temporarily while her new house is being finished. She is pregnant. Natalia is thinking of going to nursing school. Patty continues to do well in school, pulling down a 3.9 overall. Bruce is coming out for a visit in July while his wife is in France on business. Maria Elena is hoping to come down for a visit and assist in getting her mother’s photographs organized. Karen and I have been walking most every day, trying to build up my body and control the diabetes. I’ve been laying a sidewalk on the south side of the house while Karen has been finishing up some of the work upstairs. Yesterday we hooked up the bathtub in the little bathroom, connecting her great-grandmother Petty’s old tub to the pipes. This week, on the 16th, I received a revelation while on the way to work, giving me direction as to what I should do. I have been wondering what to do in genealogy now that the Puerto Rican project is finished. We had written to Pres. Staley (our old stake president), Pres. Hinckley’s personal secretary, to see if he could assist us in finding someone to help us write Amasa Mason Lyman’s extensive history. No response. We have called several companies trying to find another contract. Nothing. While praying about the matter on the way to work, the voice of the spirit told me to take two years and assist my wife in finishing the house and not worry about genealogy. Immediately I felt at peace and knew that this was what I should do. Karen was pleased. August 28, 2003. Joy Lyman Olson, P. O. Box 196, Husum, WA 98623, wrote to me. She is Uncle Almon’s daughter. She was asking for photographs of Adelia Robison’s parents. September 3, 2003. Rick is attached to the 1st Airborne Division at the Airport at Iraq. He may be able to get back to Kuwait in October. Debbie is due on November 4th. New address: 9897 North Yorkshire Court, Highland, UT 84003. 5th Ward. 801-492-6845. Maria Elena is doing well, struggling somewhat with her health. September 12-September 22, 2003. Drove back to Omaha, Nebraska and joined the Leavitt Memorial Trek 2003. We went to Kanesville Tabernacle, Council Bluffs Ward, Winter Quarters Visitors Center, Fairview Cemetery Cemetery in Council Bluffs where we placed a monument, drove to Tinley Park, Illinois, then to White Pigeon, Michigan where we place a monument, to Cambria, Michigan where we placed a monument, to Oak Lawn where we placed a monument, to Twelve-Mile Grove where we placed a monument which I dedicated. September 17, 2003, Wednesday. Dedication of the monument at 12-Mile Grove Before I give the dedicatory prayer this morning, I would like to say a few words as part of the dedicatory process. We are here today to honor grandmother Sarah Shannon Leavitt, Weir Leavitt, and his son Jeremiah Leavitt, who died at 12-Mile Grove. Grandmother Sarah was one of the great matriarchs of this dispensation, along with grandmother Smith, and grandmother Knight, who gave their lives in bringing their children to Zion. It is a wonderful honor, worthy of her sacrifice, that we have each been allowed to gather here to dedicate for the first time her resting place by the power of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood. It was my privilege to attend the 1st session of the dedication of the Mexico City temple a few years ago. My father, step-mother, wife and I, were seated behind the wives of the General Authorities in the celestial room. As President Hinckley arose to address the assembly, he began by looking around the room, and with prophetic eyes and great emotion said: Do you feel them? They are here! Father Lehi, Nephi, Alma, Helaman his sons Lehi and Nephi, Mormon and Moroni. They are all here! Do you feel them? I ask you the same question today. Do you feel them? The following poem was written yesterday, in preparation for this occasion: Sacred places where loved ones rest The glorious morn awaits them there. Sacred groves; reverenced history, Hallowed now through priesthood prayer. Sacred hills, undaunted courage, Death was sweet to young and old. Precious memories, loved-ones departed, Now recalled in stones first cold Then warmed by words of love and spirit Imbued with life: the resurrection; Called forth in arms of love so tender, To live eternal: Oh, sweet perfection! Please join me as we dedicate this monument. Father in Heaven, we are gathered here this morning at this sacred grove to dedicate this monument. By the power of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which I bear, I so do, that it may stand as a symbol of the faith and courage of grandmother Sarah Shannon Leavitt, her son Weir Leavitt and her grandson Jeremiah Leavitt, who gave their lives in pursuit of the truth, who died while enroute to join the Saints. I dedicate it in remembrance of their lives and those who, with them, left Canada to follow their convictions and testimonies. May our own life be sanctified as we remember this occasion; as we remember their sacrifices as the forerunners of this dispensation and of this family. May we be worthy of their trust as we gather the now extensive posterity into a united, sealed, and exemplary branch of the House of Israel and of the Kingdom of our God. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. After the dedication we drove to Nauvoo. On the 18th we placed a monument in the Bonaparte, Iowa cemetery to Jeremiah Leavitt II. We had a lovely day with the people of Bonaparte. On the 19th we attended the Nauvoo Temple and Karen and I were asked to be the witness couple. In the evening we had our final program at the Joseph Smith Academy. We had three days in Nauvoo this time and got to see much more of it than we ever have before. It was a wonderfully spiritual experience. On the 20th we left for Omaha, stopping at Mount Pisgah. After arriving at Omaha, Karen and I took off for home in Dixie and Anne’s car. September 23, 2003, Tuesday. Karen called and told me the VA had approved my disability to 40%. September 26, 2003, Friday. Stayed home and worked with Karen on the receiving room and the grand room, putting up trim and ceiling. Received a letter from the VA requesting more information on my kidney failure. Cleaned up my office and archive. September 27, 2003, Saturday. Wrote to Joy (see above). Began organizing all of my back-log of correspondence, misc. October 1, 2003, Wednesday. Received my first disability check: $2,975.00, because of the delay in processing. October 2, 2003, Thursday. Received a disability check for September: $583.00. Went to the family history center. Talked to Dr. Smith’s nurse about getting some additional tests next week. Began computerizing my family group sheets, adding them to the world.paf database of 24,000 names, creating a place name index, a surname index, and evaluating every name for temple work. Began with the Mary Jane Alexander family, the first wife of my grandfather, Joseph Platt. Went to St. George and got a load of sheet rock. Visited Karen’s aunt and uncle Dotty and Boyd Nethercott, and Ellen Atkin, uncle Albert’s daughter. She gave me all of her son Curt’s documents. His wife doesn’t want them. October 3, 2003, Friday. Worked on the database. Walked six miles. Continued working on the great room, putting up press boards on the ceiling. McKay called regarding my letter about my kidneys and is sending me an evaluation. October 4, 2003, Saturday. Began cataloging the Kolob Family Research Center Archive. Did five books. November 12, 2003, Wednesday. Had another heart attack in the afternoon while carrying a large board. It didn’t last long. November 13, 2003, Thursday. Went to the hospital and met with Dr. Smith. He gave me an EKG and scheduled a full stress test. November 14, 2003, Friday. Worked all day on put up the ceiling in the archive. Karen worked in the foyer and dining room. Patty called. November 15, 2003, Saturday. The family had a baby shower for Nicolle today. We went to the family history library for a shift and did some research. Dave and Holly moved in with Bertha today. Lyman recently moved out and got his own apartment. Pedro and Olga just left for Japan for about six months. November 25, 2003, Tuesday. Karen went to St. George with me and at noon we had a birthday lunch with dad, Margaret and Roberta. November 26, 2003, Wednesday. Brent arrived this evening and we had supper and played games. November 27, 2003, Thursday. Went for a long walk west of our home and then drove to Zion where we had Thanksgiving dinner. Afterwards we hiked up to the narrows. Brent returned home. November 28, 2003, Friday. We continued working on the house. The foyer and front rooms are almost finished. November 29, 2003, Saturday. Framed around the front doorway and placed a nice oval mirror and stand in the foyer. November 30, 2003, Sunday. Went to meetings. Held tithing settlement with the bishop. I am continuing to work every evening on getting all of my close relatives identified and identified as to whether or not their temple work has been done. I am almost ready to start the research process on individuals. This has taken about three weeks to get to this point. I have entered the data into my new computer, into a hard-bound ledger, and into my hand-carried palm pilot. There are a lot of gaps in data and knowledge of my relatives that I need to remedy. It will takes years of diligent work to finish this process and the ten generations of ancestors that I feel compelled to work with. I work on this project in the evening after we get into bed, always helping Karen whenever I can and she needs it, in compliance with my revelation earlier this year. December 14, 2003, Sunday. Attended our quarterly correlation meeting with the stake officers. President Hinton said Elder Ence was coming from St. George that morning to talk to him. December 15, 2003, Monday. Called Randy Bryson about the meeting with Pres. Hinton. He said that we would be pleased with the results; that they had met with him last week and given him instructions regarding the family history center. Gene wrote a letter to us today. It says in part: Enclosed are two histories I have received from members of my stake with direct and tangential relationship to us. I had much pleasure in reading about our Robison side and some of the characters from that family. While I think of it, my wife is of the belief that you may have original documents from our Gene L. Platt family history, such as our original wedding certificate, and perhaps some other things from mom’s files which may have devolved to you as the repository of original family documents. I was not a party to the distribution of any of mother’s stuff, so have lost touch with these things. If you do have any Gene L. Platt originals, would you kindly return the originals to us. We would be happy to pay for the cost of the copying and/or mailing, but are anxious to have the originals in our own records. We are all well and getting better. The doctor declared Arlene formally in remission, but we are proceeding to complete the regimen of treatment we were in when the conclusion was made. One more chemo treatment this week, then the radiation therapy in January/February. Sara Jane has accepted a wedding proposal from Abraham Hanson of our stake. He is a returned Brazilian missionary, presently in his sophomore year at BYU. They are tentatively planning an August wedding. We are all very pleased and happy for her. We will bring Allie down to the MTC the first week of January for the beginning of her Bilbao, Spain mission. She is really excited about the experience. We are too! Unless we engage in the whirlwind trip we are used to in our comings and goings to Utah, we will hope to get down to see you. We will have Gordon with us and may be on a tight schedule to get him back to Rexburg, so we will necessarily not know until rather late in the game. Love, #4 son. December 20, 2003, Saturday. Held our yearly Christmas party at the family history center. About half the volunteers came. We showed them new software and had a good meal. December 22, 2003, Monday. Aunt Rene called me this evening. We had a nice talk. She and Uncle Art just went to visit dad at Irene’s. She inquired about my health and we talked about genealogy. She said she would get me updated information on her 80+ descendants. Karen began texturing the ceiling in the kitchen today. We finished the first two coats of the ceiling and the walls throughout the grand room. We have walked nearly every day for eight months now. We walk about two miles each day in the mountains west of our home, along the creek, and through the hills. It is very theraputic and seems to be giving us strength and better health. Natalia and her mother just returned from visiting Bruce and Aurelie in their new home in Florida. December 24, 2003, Wednesday. Drove to Chandler, Arizona and spent Christmas with Baird and his family. We had a fun time with them. Brent also came down by air. December 26, 2003, Friday. Drove home. Spent the last few days of the year working, walking, plastering the ceiling in the great room, which we almost finished. I have directed an elder’s choir for several weeks, preparing for singing next month. Note: Streams sometimes go underground and pop up only occasionally, but they are still there. 2004 January 1, 2004, Thursday. As we begin this new year, we find ourselves in a much different position than a year ago. For whatever reason, I have been taken out of my life-long work of family history and placed into a situation with my sister, dealing with home loans. It has been our salvation, but at the same time is undesirable beyond words. The basic dishonesty of the industry is grating. I appreciate her giving me the chance to work, but am disappointed with the work environment We’ve had several confrontations, but Roberta doesn’t want to be counseled at all. I have been granted a 40% disability by the government because of the nerve damage, diabetes, and heart problems that I have contracted from the agent orange to which I was exposed in Viet Nam. This gives me a monthly income of $586.00. They are still evaluating additional disability for my continuing heart problems and depression. I have applied for rehabilitation, requesting a chance to go back to school and learn computer programming. The costs of my heart operations and other hospital and doctor expenses are being evaluated by the veterans administration, to see if they will pay for them. The VA is paying for my medications and currently my blood sugar is within the normal range most of the time. I am taking heart medications and those for nerves. Bruce just moved into an older home in Miami Shores and he and Lily are planning to begin their family. Patty, Dru and family are living in Highland and Dru has just lost his job. Danny and Amy are in Spanish Fork, and he was recently called as a counselor in his bishopric. David and Holly have remarried after a divorce this past year, and are living with Bertha. Justin graduated with his MBA from the University of Utah, and he and Julie are living in North Salt Lake. Debbie is living in a new home in Highland, into which she moved by herself this last year, while her husband Rick is fighting in the war in Iraq. Maria Elena and Nate are living in their new home at Eagle Mountain, west of Lehi. She has had health problems this year, but is now feeling much better. Nicolle and Victor are living in Orem and she is expecting her first child in March. Lyman Dee and Natalia are living at Highland with Bertha. Lyman Dee went into the mission home and then confessed something and was placed on hold, at which point he decided not to go on his mission. Natalia is working with Nicolle in Alpine. Karen’s sons are both doing well in their jobs, Brent in Sandy, living in Draper, and Baird and Ann in Chandler, working in Phoenix and surrounding areas. We spent Christmas with Karen’s family at Chandler. Karen and I are trying to walk five to six days a week because of my health. It is helping her a lot with her weight. As we begin the new year Karen’s measurements are: 11.5 arms; 30.5 waist; 21.5 thigh; and 40.5 buttocks. These are all reduced from where they were when we began walking eight months ago. My waist is 37.5 and I weigh 203 lbs. Karen’s goals for the year are waist to 28 and buttocks to 39, which would be her youthful size. In genealogy I am working on identifying all of my descendants, dad’s descendants, grandpa Platt and grandpa Lyman’s descendants, those of the great-grandparents, those of Amasa Mason Lyman, and identifying the first 10 generations of my pedigree. I am also doing the same for Karen’s families. This information is being placed on spreadsheets. The goal is to be able to see at a glance what temple work remains to be done for any person. I am also assigning each person a world identification number of my making, which will allow me to create a file on each person, so that I can organize the records in my possession or which may come into my possession in the future. This will give me the opportunity of assigning out projects to others, publish findings, etc. I have been working on this process for about three months. Today I processed seven family group records into this system. Our home construction is progessing well. We have finished all of the painting upstairs except in the big bathroom, which we have not built yet. All of the four bedrooms upstairs are functional, without carpets, but all have beds. The southeast bedroom has insulation in the ceiling. One bathroom upstairs has water to it but the hot water heater isn’t functional yet. Downstairs we have finished the dining room, receiving room, entry way, except for flooring, and this week we will finish the ceiling in the great room, including the kitchen. Today we sanded the entire ceiling and Karen cleaned the floor, preparatory to painting. All of the walls are up in both rooms. Both rooms need painting and carpeting. We have ordered the cabinets for the kitchen and expect them to be installed at the end of January. They will cost about $9,000. I have $4,000 saved to date. I have begun putting up the insulation and ceiling in my archive. The office is all done except cabinets and carpeting. We have begun landscaping and have brought in several truckloads of dirt for the front. We extended the sidewalk south of the house and created a garden area. It’s been a telling year for us and for family members. Dad’s health has deteriorated and he is currently being shuffled from one family to another while we decide how to handle Margaret’s rejection of him. She refuses to take care of him any longer. She had a heart monitor placed in her this year and we believe this and the death of her son have affected her dramatically. Dad can’t get a handle on his situation, but Roberta has set up a good position for him at her home, with health care, daily visits, and monitoring, and we hope he will come back to St. George after his stay in Utah County. During the time that we were under so much stress, I didn’t realize how much growth was taking place until we began reacting with siblings and children. Some of my children are very self-centered and selfish, particular Julie, who would sell my book collection in a minute and keep the money. She and Bertha have been discussing how to get at it. This has affected others of the children, who wonder what my death will give them. I have been pleased with the visits of Bruce, Nicolle, Natalia and Maria Elena’s family this year. Bruce is very worldly, but I keep trying to stay close to him. We’ve drawn closer to Maria Elena and Nicolle particularly this year. Patty is always there for us despite her health and family problems. Debbie and Danny are more friendly than in the past and David and Lyman Dee have both expressed love this past year. It has generally been a progressive year. Baird and Ann gave me a Christmas present for the first time. Brent asked me to ordain him as a high priest and assist in setting him apart as a high councilman. He is constant in his love and devotion. We had a good yearly visit with Karen’s sisters, going to Kanab, Pariah, Lee’s Ferry, and the Grand Canyon. They apologized to Karen for the first time for their meaness as children. It was a healing time for all of them. Only Diane continues to be very selfish and oriented to her own agenda. Karen’s niece Debra - Annette’s daughter - moved into a new home in Cedar this year. Diane lost a new grandchild. We have made some progress with our mission at the family history center. Salt Lake is working with us to get a new family history center. We have some new equipment and all of the new software that has become available. Our fifty volunteers and missionaries are doing a wonderful job in assisting the patrons. We clearned 27,000 ordinances this year for temple work. We have struggled with the stake financial clerk, but he was released last Sunday. The Kanarraville chapel will be dedicated this week and we will probably start going there [this took until 2011], with a probable ward division coming soon. I continue to teach the 12-13 year course in Sunday School and have been directing an elder’s quorum choir for a special presentation in two weeks. I believe this summarizes the general and basic areas of our lives at this point. I will try to be more diligent this coming year in recording the events at the time they happen. January 2, 2004, Friday. Roberta called and said that David González’ home loan papers were ready for signing. I called David and told him the news. Drove to St. George. Got the papers signed. Prepared four other loans for submission. I planted tulips this morning and finished cleaning off the sidewalks in a light drizzle. Began cleaning up my journals preparatory to placing them on a compact disc. Worked on world identification numbers for Amasa’s grandchildren. Did about 100. Dad and Ed are in The Dalles, Oregon. They’ve been on the road for two days trying to get to McMinnville, but the weather is quite bad. January 3, 2004, Saturday. Continued editing journals. Karen and I put the door on the vault room. She continued cleaning the main room floor preparatory to beginning painting on Monday. I finished assigning world identification numbers to all of the individuals for whom I have birth dates in the computer: about 2,000 names. Ed Lyman wrote regarding the family list for grandma and grandpa Lyman. His study shows 448 family members, including spouses; 330 direct descendants; 43 living grandchildren; 204 living great-grandchildren; 99 living 2nd great-grandchildren; total families 123. January 4, 2004, Sunday. Attended church at the new 9:00 a.m. schedule. I bore my testimony regarding Joseph Smith, prayer, and trials. Directed the men’s choir. January 5, 2004, Monday. Worked during the morning. In the afternoon we went for a walk and I continued typing genealogy files. January 6, 2004, Tuesday. Worked during the morning. Washington Mutual is shut down in Oregon due to an ice storm. Ed is stuck in Oregon. Our business is shut down. Came home and Karen and I went to Cedar and bought ten gallons of paint. Bought 600 file folders. We paid $3,000 more on the cabinets, making a total of $4,000 that has been paid. We both painted during the afternoon. January 7, 2004, Wednesday. Helped Karen with the painting. We also hung the door to the vault. Began creating folders for each individual in the family, living and dead, direct and collateral, having now assigned over 2,000 world identification numbers to many of these individuals. Had some heavy chest pressure. January 8, 2004, Thursday. Went to emergency at Cedar City hospital. Spent two and a half hours being tested. Results were that my heart is behaving normally, but the pressure is still there. Dr. Bleazard recommended I go to Salt Lake and have an angiogram. Called VA and reported emergency visit. Called Salt Lake VA and tried to schedule angiogram. Karen nearly finished painting the grand room. Roberta called and said that Ed was still stuck in Oregon, and that he and Val had received a call as mission presidents to a Portuguese-speaking mission, not identified yet. They enter the mission home in July. She told me to stay home as WM is still closed. Began printing labels for the individual family folders. January 9, 2004, Friday. Karen finished painting the grand room and kitchen ceilings this morning. No more painting in the main part of the house except the walls in the grand room. A gentleman came out to measure the kitchen for cabinets. We went to Cedar City and selected the wood, handles and configurations for the cabinets. Stopped by the FHC and helped Mary Sagers with her genealogy. Went for a walk in the evening. January 10, 2004, Saturday. Spent six hours at the FHC. Karen taught a class. I received a blessing from Earl Blade. I continued to extract temple records, finishing book B of the endowments for the dead for the St. George Temple. Found more family work. Joe is 58 today. Put up some light fixtures in the great room and kitchen. In the evening Brother Blade told the stake president that I was going in for another heart operation. President Hinton asked if he thought we should be released. Brother Blade said “absolutely not. We couldn’t do without them.” We went for a walk in the evening. January 11, 2004, Sunday. Directed the elder’s choir in “Carry On.” Brother and Sister Jon and Ann Smith returned from Portugal and gave their report today. They have been there with their family on a Fulbright for six months. We went for a walk after Church. In the afternoon we went over to Mary and Steve Sagers (he a descendant of Horace Fish and wife Hannah Leavitt) and had dinner and helped them get their genealogy on CD. January 12, 2004, Monday. Went to the Social Security office in St. George and got an application for disability. Filled it out in the evening along with the documentation needed to back it up. Washed the car. Worked with Roberta from 10 to 3. Had lunch with Roberta, Kasse and Allie. Kasse graduates from her beauty school tomorrow. Allie will be done with her nursing school in April. She will be a nurse practitioner at that time. Went for a walk with Karen. Today Kay Briggs (physical facilities) came down from Provo and evaluated the family history center with the stake presidents’ counselors and others. He agreed with our report that the facility is not adequate for a family history center. The LDS hospital in Salt Lake called and prepared its paperwork for my operation on Thursday. In the evening it became apparent to me that we need to have the new stake family history specialist attend the quarterly correlation council. We need to attend that meeting and the regional coordinating council. If the stake president tries to release us, we need to be prepared to insist that it be done through the Area Presidency, so that the new directors start off on the right foot, knowing they report to the host stake president only on budget matters, but to the regional council on multi-stake local family history and to the Area Presidency on training, facilities and other matters. January 13, 2004, Tuesday. Roberta called and told me not to come to work. I called Randy Bryson with the Area Presidency and confirmed the feelings in the paragraph above, made an appointment for tomorrow to get training materials, and discussed with him the happenings of yesterday. He said that Elder Ence had instructed Kay Briggs in committee to proceed with a better family history center for Cedar City, along with other facilities. Randy indicated that based on what had been said yesterday, that we could expect results before the end of the year. January 14, 2004, Wednesday. Drove to Salt Lake. Went to the VA. Checked with the VA Hospital: perscriptions updated and ordered, dental: got an appointment for March 8, optical (tomorrow), and cardiac. Went to records and updated my files. January 15, 2004, Thursday. Got checked for glasses and ordered them. Went to cardiac and spent a couple of hours with a student from the U of U and Dr. K’s nurse practicioner. They did not satisfy us with our request for pre-approval at IHC LDS. Went down to LDS and checked in. Both stents were occluded. Dr. Castarela performed a procedure to clear the blockage and gave me a letter as follows: To whom it may concern: Re: Platt, Lyman This letter is to document the current cardiovascular status and treatment of Mr. Lyman Platt, a 60-year-old gentleman who is an inpatient at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. Mr. Platt has a previous history of coronary artery disease with an inferior myocardial infarction in April of 2003. After failing thrombolytic therapy, he was urgently transferred to LDS Hospital where a stent was placed in the right coronary artery to relieve a complete occlusion. Subsequently, one month later to treat symptoms of persistent angina, he underwent stent placement in the mid LAD for a 70% lesion with successful results. He did well for several months when he began to have recurrent angina symptoms. These symptoms have been accelerating and increasing in their frequency and severity with several episodes of severe pain. He presented to our institution today with complaints of progressive angina and underwent a diagnostic cathererization. His catherization today revealed evidence of 70% occlusion of both stents consistent with stent restenosis. Both stents were treated with angioplasty and brachytherapy (radiation therapy) to prevent recurrent restenosis. Of note: the brachytherapy procedure is not available through the VA system where the patient receives the majority of his care and his insurance coverage. Thus, if he had undergone treatment at the VA, he ultimately would have had to have been transferred to a different institution for performance of the brachytherapy procedure. It is also notable that angioplasty alone for stent restenosis is associated with very high recurrence rates with restenosis occurring in up to 60-65% of patients. The brachytherapy is associated with a recurrence rate of 10-15%, dramatically better than the results of balloon angioplasty alone. The procedure today was successful, yielding no significant residual narrowing. I am convinced that had the patient delayed longer in receiving treatment, he would be at risk for having progressive obstruction of his major coronary vessels and possible adverse events such as myocardial infarction or other complications. Following brachytherapy, antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and Plavix is required for six months. Clinical trials have shown that patients who do not receive extended Plavix beyond one to two months after radiation therapy have a markedly increased risk of late stent thrombosis which can lead to acute myocardial infarction and death. Thus, it is mandatory that he receive six months of Plavix therapy, and hopefully, he will be able to obtain this through the pharmacy services of the Veterans Administration. Once again, the purpose of this letter is to document the findings of Mr. Platt’s evaluation and the treatment recommendations. If there are questions regarding his status and the treatment he has received thus far or his treatment needs following hospital discharge, please contact me at any time. Respectfully, Peter J. Casterella, M.D. January 16, 2004, Friday. Spent the morning waiting to be released. Patricia Hartley, nurse practicioner, finally came, got us a copy of the letter noted above. We ordered copies of our records for pursuit of payment by the VA. Finally left about noon and drove to Brent’s. Spent a quiet evening resting. Orin Bawden, who works directly under Kay Briggs, who is the Director of Temporal Affairs for the Utah South Area, was in Cedar City today. He contacted John Ruesch and asked to see two areas, the family history center and the Green Lakes area east of the freeway, directly across from Wall Mart, in the 19th ward. We have been told that they are planning to build a new family history center for us. January 17, 2004, Saturday. Visited with Brent until 10:30. Drove home. Arrived at 3:00. January 18, 2004, Sunday. Stayed home all day and rested. Typed several letters regarding the heart procedure so that we could begin the process of the VA paying for the operation and increasing my disability. Brent was set apart as 3rd counselor in the Union Fort 9th Branch, Midvale Union Fort Stake. January 19, 2004, Monday. Called Aunt Rene and Uncle Art. They are doing well. Rene Morin, 667 North 800 West, Provo, UT 84601 (375-0838). She said they did the work for Uncle Bob on December 7, 1998 in the Provo Temple and also the work for Alene Cook and had them sealed that day. The IGI says the work was done on November 7, 1998. She also said that Burns was endowed in Idaho Falls on January 25, 1975. She gave me Uncle Kay’s number: 435-678-2622; and Elaine Walton’s: 801-235-9278. I asked her to check on Bob’s wife Lois who was in a rest home in Blanding. Called Arlene, Gene’s wife, and got updated information on their family. Called Nicolle and emailed her requesting information on Victor and his parents and grandparents. Went into Cedar City and bought food, then went to the family history center for a couple of hours. Jan Drummond edited our letter regarding my heart procedure that we’re sending to several government agencies to try and get the VA to pay for it. January 20, 2004, Tuesday. Maria Elena and Johnny have birthdays today. Called Lena and left a happy birthday message. Bruce and Nicolle wrote emails. Nicolle sent me Victor’s birth and parentage information. VA cardiology called from Salt Lake City and confirmed two appointments for March 8th. They told me it is critical that I take the Plavix daily or else the exposed wires of the stents will be considered foreign objects and be attacked and occlude again. They pushed through the Plavix order and got me a general practicioner appointment for February 20th at 2:30. We received VISA credit cards in the mail today from AARP (the American Association of Retired People). Karen activated them. January 21, 2004, Wednesday. Went to work in the morning. Went to the Social Security office and gave them the final documents for my interview tomorrow. Karen finished preparing the walls in the great room for painting. Prepared the fourth part of my history for Nicolle to type into the computer. Worked on the genealogy spread sheet project. January 22, 2004, Thursday. Karen and I went to the Social Security office and had an interview applying for disability insurance. After finishing the interview I was told that it would be three to six months before they make a decision. The monthly benefit will be $1524.00, if approved. Sent off an update to the VA on my heart disability. Went to work for three hours while Karen went shopping. Roberta paid me $500. We bought paint and some trim and then came home and spent the evening resting. January 23, 2004, Friday. Spent the day putting up trim and painting the great room with the base coat. Had a nap. Walked for two miles. Went to St. George and bought more trim and paint. Karen emailed Baird about the responsibility of being sealed to someone, whether it be his dad, if he ever joins the Church, or to us. Combined parts 1, 2, and 3 of my autobiography that Nicolle has typed into one file. January 24, 2004, Saturday. Sent Nicolle part four of my personal history for typing. Went to the family history center for nine hours. Helped several people prepare their names for temple work. Brother Earl Bladh sold his home in New Harmony to the Fontanos in our ward and will be moving to St. George. He’s been a great help as a missionary. Martha Johnson came back from an extended illness. We found out from her today that she was called as a missionary right after we recommended her. Lin Floyd taught the class today or personal histories. She had a lot of good ideas. Finished extracting a roll of film containing the first three volumes of St. George Temple Endowment Records. I now have all the temple work done for our ancestors in 1887 and 1888. Alta Edgel came over and gave me all the information she has collected on Uncle Roland’s son, John Robert Platt and his two wives and descendants. Learned how to create summary ordinance indexes with PAF. Learned how to cut and paste data from the internet to a word processing file. Karen prepared information for the upcoming training by Randy Bryson of all the family history personnel in the Cedar City area. We were told today that St. George is going to get a new family history center also. Got my medicines from the VA, over $1600.00 worth of pills for the next three months. January 25, 2004, Sunday. Attended our three hour block. Came home and rested. Went for a two-mile walk. Typed some of John Robert Platt’s data into the computer. Brent called with a report of his stake conference. Re-doubling temple work, keeping covenants, doing things together within the Church were some of the topics discussed. January 26, 2004, Monday. Went to work. Found out that Aunt Thora was in the rest home in Richfield, having had two strokes. Called her and talked to her and Uncle George. Went for a two-mile walk. Uncle George wrote the following note: We are slow with Christmas this year. Age is creeping up on us and we show it. Thora had a stroke on the 10th [of December]. We had her home for five days and her case got progressively worse. After three days in the hospital we put her in the rest home and she has been there since. Another slight stroke on January 10th set her back some but things are looking up now. She can carry her weight but can’t balance herself to walk. Until she can we will have to keep here there. Her left arm doesn’t function properly in the joints. But her speech therapist has given her an A+ and released her. Now it is a matter of waiting until she get her motor controls working properly. We don’t have to walk far down the hall at the care center before we stop feeling sorry for ourselves. There are so many much younger with problems so much worse. Keep our love before you. Sincerely, George and Thora. January 27, 2004, Tuesday. Spent the morning cleaning up the great room, taking the tools downstairs, washing the windows and getting ready to receive guests. The Relief Society came over for a visit for the first time in a year. Spent two hours. I wrote letters to dad, George and Thora, Ed & Val. Prepared all the documents and letters in my possession on Uncle Bob Lyman’s family and copied them and prepared a package to send to RaeLeen Lyman Hansen. Aunt Rene will take it next month. Printed John Robert Platt’s data preparatory to sending them back to Alta Edgel. January 28, 2004, Wednesday. Went to work. Went for a two-mile walk. Karen’s aunt Violet Behunin Smith died at a rest home in Layton, Utah today. See February 7th. January 29, 2004, Thursday. Prepared packages for RaeLeen Hansen, Alta Edgel, and Jay Bishop. Karen went visiting teaching. I painted the receiving room. Earl Bladh came by and gave me information for a loan. Sent the family update to Ed Lyman for the Edward Partridge Lyman family address list. Karen finished the letter to the VA hospital director in Salt Lake City regarding the problems we had getting them to resolve the heart problems that I had earlier this month. Went for a two-mile walk. January 30, 2004, Friday. Received a check for $586.00 from the VA, and checks for $350.00 and $465.00 from Roberta, or $1401.00 total. Mailed the packages prepared yesterday. Worked with Roberta. Went for a two-mile walk. Received an email from Patty and returned one to her. Karen painted and touched up many spots on the main floor. January 31, 2004, Saturday. Went to the family history center from 9:00 to 6:00. February 1, 2004, Sunday. Took Donna Mackert to church. Afterwards we sang in the ward choir. Did a little work on my family history project in the evening. February 2, 2004, Monday. Bought more gas for the house ($150.00). Exercised. Worked with Roberta from 9:00 to 3:00. Submitted one loan. David González got his certificate of occupancy and is now ready to move into his house in Cedar City. Karen spent the day painting. Finished the final coat on the receiving room. Did a lot of touch-up in the great room. Bruce wrote. I responded. He’s going to Quebec skiing, is enjoying his house and garden. February 3, 2004, Tuesday. Had lunch with Ellen and Floyd Atkin. Aunt Ellen told us that Corry Woodbury, adopted son of Lois and Rulon Woodbury, and a grandson of mother’s cousin Mrs. Urie, is the head of cardiology at the new St. George Hospital. Karen continued working in the great room, doing final touch-up of the paint. Received new glasses in the mail from the VA. February 4, 2004, Wednesday. Clay and Ysenia Platt (Joe’s son) are expecting their first child and Joe and Suz’s first grandchild. Received $1,295.00 for closing the loan for David González. Worked on getting the kitchen ready for cabinets. Karen continued final touches on the great room. February 5, 2004, Thursday. Changed the gas outlet for the stove, preparatory to putting in the cabinets. Painted and touched up all day. Walked for a mile. Created a historical sketch on the Villalón family for the Fresno Public Library. Asked for their assistance in tracing Philo Marshal Behunin. February 6, 2004, Friday. Walked for three miles. Went into Cedar City and paid another $2,000 on the cabinets: $6,000 total to this point. Copied and bound several books and sent an order to New York. Went to the family history center for an hour. Received Karen’s sister Annette’s family group records on each of her family. Typed them into the computer as part of my family history project. Both of us worked on paint touch-up. Bought food. February 7, 2004, Saturday. Spent from 9:00 to 6:00 at the family history center. Aunt Violet’s funeral was held today in West Jordan. She will be buried in San Carlos, California (near San Francisco), next to her husband Glen. [See last entry of the year for her funeral arrangements – page 467.] February 8, 2004, Sunday. Took Donna Mackert to church with us. Had choir practice afterwards. Went into the family history center and re-arranged several computers. Worked on the family history project in the evening. February 9, 2004, Monday. The Phelps cabinet people arrived early and spent all day installing the kitchen cabinets, minus the doors. Karen and I prepared two letters: one to Rep. Matheson and one to dispute the VA not paying for certain bills. February 10, 2004, Tuesday. Work. February 11, 2004, Wednesday. Work. February 12, 2004, Thursday. Spent all day helping to install the kitchen cabinet doors. February 14, 2004, Saturday. Spent nine hours at the family history center and then attended stake conference. February 15, 2004, Sunday. Attended stake conference. Spent some time working on the Philo Marshal Behunin family. February 16, 2004, Monday. Holiday. Went to meet with the Fenns and return some of their genealogy. Received $500. Paid it down on the counter tops for the kitchen. Spent some time at the family history center. Went for a walk. Worked on the Fenn account. February 17, 2004, Tuesday. Went to work for a few hours. Received a package of questions from the Social Security Administration regarding my disability insurance request. Worked on the Fenn and Behunin pedigrees. February 18, 2004, Wednesday. Karen and I drove to St. George and met with Diane Conley and Roberta about our home in St. George. We signed papers to allow the Conleys to try and keep the home from going into foreclosure. They have not been paying in a timely fashion. Went for a walk. Worked on the Fenn account. Sent back to the Social Security Administration their packet of questions. February 22, 2004, Sunday. Had ward conference. Sang in the ward choir. One thing I learned from the Sunday School lesson today was that key events in our lives cause all future events to be colored by them. Our writings, like Nephi’s - after the Tree of Life vision - should be reflective and likened unto the key events that our lives have centered around. February 25, 2004, Wednesday. On the way to work today I had a revelation regarding the Second Coming. It had to do with those waiting in Spirit Prison and wanting to come with the Lord in the clouds of glory at his coming. They will not be able to come if we do not get the work done for them. I felt such a heavy weight and feeling of sadness to see that event and realize that so many would be disappointed. February 26, 2004, Thursday. Attended the annual high priests party at the stake center. February 28, 2004, Saturday. Spent the day at the family history center. Karen continued to work on the Rawles family that is associated with the Behunin family. I got the car worked on, got a haircut, helped her and assisted a few patrons. February 29, 2004, Sunday. Went to Church and then spent the afternoon at the family history center, where brother Davis came and talked to Randy Bryson about the donation of computers and other equipment to the center, which he expects will happen shortly. Richard Nixon arrived and he, Randy and I went to dinner and discussed the evening. In the evening we had about 450 attend a priesthood training on family history and missionary work. It was a good chance for many to understand their responsibilities. March 1, 2004, Monday. Roberta returned from Oregon last night where she and Gord visited dad and Margaret. Neither is happy with the arrangement where he is in assisted living. Dad is lonely. Roberta gave them until the end of March to decide what they would do to remedy it and then, if nothing has been decided, she is going to bring dad back to St. George. Gene’s daughter Sara is going to be marrying Abraham Hanson in August. Roberta’s daughter Kasse has set May 29th, 10:40, St. George Temple, for her wedding. Ed & Val’s farewell to Brazil is in June. My brother Gordon wrote me the following letter: Dear Lyman, I’ve got a little time on this flight with Roberta, so I thought I’d drop you a line. Spending some time with Dad the last couple of days has got me thinking that we all are approaching the end of our mortal probations rather more quickly than we might like. I can’t help but believe that Dad, his faults notwithstanding, will deserve the blue ribbon in the next life. I just finished Stephen Robinson’s Believing Christ and of course one of the themes that he visits time and again in this book is the idea that God doesn’t require perfection - at least not now - just a determined, sustained effort and the acknowledgment that it is Christ’s virtue, and not ours, which accomplishes our task. By this standard, I think Dad has done well, indeed very well. One other thing I’ve been thinking about lately is the idea taught by Joseph Smith (and Boyd Packer, among others), that when a couple are sealed together they have the promise that if they live righteously, then they will have their children with them in the Celestial Kingdom. This is a remarkable promise, I think, since it implies that these children, even if they sin grievously, will be forgiven (eventually) and that the family unit will remain intact in the next life - at least for the House of Israel. If I’m reading these men correctly, there is no guarantee of exaltation, however. Still, the doctrine gives me some comfort. The point, if I have one, is that our family may be slated for eternal togetherness despite its somewhat fractured state the last couple of decades. I hope that’s the case, because there isn’t any of my siblings that I wouldn’t like to spend more time with. Rob has told me a little about your health struggles after your follow-up operation. It sounds as if it’s been a rough patch. I’m sorry. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know. I’ll be in Cedar City fairly often for the next couple of months, so maybe we could get together. Call me: 801-360-7814. Take care Lyman, I love you - despite my absence and inattention. Gord. March 2, 2004, Tuesday. Went to Cedar to meet with Alan Heal for the first time regarding rehabilitation. He is going to try and get me enrolled in school. March 9, 2004, Tuesday. Karen’s aunt Berniece died. March 19, 2004, Friday. We drove to Salt Lake and attended the funeral of Karen’s aunt Berniece. She was buried at Wasatch Lawn where we buried her brother several years ago. March 20, 2004, Saturday. McKay’s daughter Katie had her third child in Murray today. Thomas is his name. We spent nine hours at the family history center. March 21, 2004, Sunday. My daughter Nicolle had her baby in Provo this afternoon at 2:30 after sixteen hours of labor. Isabel Hisako Durán is her name, after her aunt Chabuca and her father’s mother. 7 lbs. 13 oz., 19 inches. March 22, 2004, Monday. Lyman Dee called me this evening and informed me that the bishop had okayed his going on his mission. It has been just over a year. They will call him to a different mission. I’m so pleased! I had given up hope that he would be able to go. We went for two walks today, about five miles. March 23, 2004, Tuesday. We were told today that we won’t be getting a new family history center. This is devastating. With the stake center being shut down on August 15, it will probably shut down the work for a long time to come. Maria Elena and Sunny called today. See March 27. Patty had an operation today to reduce the fat and stretch lines around her waist. They found that when she had her hysterectomy ten years ago the doctors had tied one of her tubes to the other side of the uterus and it had grown into the flesh, thus causing the extreme pain she has had for all these years. Roberta’s daughter Allie had her baby die several weeks ago. It was six weeks into development when it stopped growing. She has a problem with her uterus and may not be able to have children. March 24, 2004, Wednesday. Worked with Roberta. Went for a walk. Karen was in Cedar most of the day with our assistant Jan Drummond, looking at places for a temporary family history center. March 25, 2004, Thursday. Went to the FHC to class. March 27, 2004, Saturday. My granddaughter, Sunny Letha Day got baptized today by her father at Eagle Mountain, Utah, Utah. She was confirmed also. The family got together with her and gave her a lovely party. We were not able to attend due to other commitments. March 30, 2004, Tuesday. Took a group of D.U.P. people over to the upper Virgin and showed them the sights, including Grafton. A CD was made of this trip and is in our archives. April 2, 2004, Friday. Attended Elaine Perkins Walton’s funeral in Orem. She was buried in Pleasant Grove. Visited Nicolle. She was in her last few days of pregnancy. We had a nice visit. Patty came over and we also visited with her. Ordered the appliances for our kitchen. April 4, 2004, Sunday. Baird was ordained a high priest and set apart as second counselor in the Grove Ward of the Chandler Stake. Brent ordained him a high priest and I assisted along with others. We all assisted in the setting apart. Hugh Edwin Dana, Chandler Arizona Stake ordained him to the bishopric. April 14, 2004, Wednesday. I was notified today that Uncle Kay P. Lyman was seriously hurt when a tractor rolled over on him this week. He is in the hospital in Grand Junction. He will be eighty shortly. April 15, 2004, Thursday. Had a 9:00 a.m. appointment with Dr. Turek in Cedar City. He administered a memory test that took two hours. He was working under the direction of the Social Security Administration to see how depressed and therefore disabled I am. Karen and I continued to work on the kitchen. April 16, 2004, Friday. Finished the remaining trim in the kitchen. It is all finished except for the floor and hooking up the gas stove. April 21, 2004, Wednesday. Went to St. George to the hospital and had a cancer test paid for by the Downwinders. April 22, 2004, Thursday. Drove to Salt Lake and had an evaluation by the VA for depression and got additional medications. First time I met with Stella Blight, who diagnosed me with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and chronic depression, apparently involving the deaths I witnessed in Vietnam; we drove home. April 23, 2004, Friday. Sent a claim to the VA on PTSD as follows. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office 550 Foothill Drive P. O. Box 581900 Salt Lake City, UT 84158-1900 File Number: 24 457 401 Lyman D. Platt (ref: 341/211/NM dated February 11, 2004 and 341/212/adb dated November 17, 2003. In your letter dated February 11, 2004 (referenced above), you denied service connection for depression, basically indicating there was a lack of medical evidence on my part, despite all of the medical proof which I submitted of a general nature. I will not re-submit that evidence as you indicated it was not at issue. I now have in your system medical evidence of service connection for depression as secondary to the service-connected disability of coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction, and service-connected disability of diabetes mellitus type II. Also at issue is the diagnosis of Viet Nam era post traumatic stress syndrome, to which I will refer in due course. It is one of the causes of my severe depression. However, it has other debilitating effects as well. If PTSD is considered a separate disease and a service connected disability can be rated for it, I have proof that such is the case and am now making a claim that it be added to my disability rating. If the evidence which I reference is not sufficient, I also refer you to Brent W. Turek, Ed.D., Licensed Pyschologist, whose analysis of my condition was made on April 15, 2004 at his office in Cedar City. His report is not available to me, but can be obtained by you, upon request, at State of Utah Disability Determination Services, Box 144032, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4032. Dr. Turek used to work as a therapist for Dow Chemical that produced Agent Orange. He only dealt with educated, motivated individuals, and his comments do not apply - according to him - to individuals who may not be highly motivated and well-educated. As I am both high-motivated (having written thirty-seven books, created several companies, among many other things) and well- educated (Ph.D.), he shared with me the following. He never saw at Dow Chemical, nor since, in all his professional career, a heart attack patient that wasn’t severely depressed as a result. He also told me that there is a similar correlation with diabetes. He noted the highs and lows in mood swings in hypoglycemia and said that the carryover to diabetes is obvious and observable. His report, created April 15, 2004, was to provide for the State of Utah Disability Determination Services, an analysis of my state of being as depressed or not. He told me personally that I was severely depressed as proven by observation and the test which I took, and counseled me to have the VA increase my dosage of citalopram hydrobromide when I met with them the following week. On March 11, 2004, I was given a prescription of citalopram hydrobromide by Dr. Maylinda R. Reeves, following my initial physical examination by a VA physician at the Salt Lake facilities. This medication is for depression. In discussing Dr. Turek’s comments with Stella Blight, APRN, yesterday, who was assigned to review my medication and review my depression, she agreed with Dr. Turek and doubled the dosage. While I was there she ordered the St. George office to up the time of her second visit with me from August to May, and she arranged for me to immediately begin seeing a therapist in the St. George office two weeks from now. You will find her report in the VA system under my name, dated yesterday. She explained to me that I have dysthymia and have probably had it for more than twenty years. She said the severe depression that I am currently experiencing is a result of my heart attack, diabetes, chronic pain, and post traumatic stress disorder; that it cannot be cured without medication and therapy, and that getting it under control will not cause the dysthymia to go away. She is very concerned that I have been suffering from the severe depression since April of last year. Both she and Dr. Turek said that left alone it will not go away inside of two to three years and then only if nothing else creates more depression. In the Rating Decision you sent me, dated February 10, 2004, it says on page 3: “Whether a diagnosis of depression related to your service connected heart disease has been made is the issue for consideration.” You further stated: “Service connection may be granted for a disease or injury which resulted from a service-connected disability or was aggravated thereby.” Both statements are verified through Ms. Blight’s review of my condition, from Dr. Reeves’ prescribing depression medication (which was agreed to by Ms. Blight, and based on Dr. Turek’s orders, doubled in strength.) The immediate assignment of a therapy counselor is proof of her concern over the state of depression in which I am currently found. As pertain to the comments made by Ms. Blight regarding post traumatic stress syndrome, the following is very pertinent to my situation. Many of the symptoms noted here were brought out in our discussion. The major events that created PTSD in me were because of living next to the area where all the dead veterans were brought prior to shipment to the States. The blood, stench, trauma of seeing so many dead bodies have created permanent damage in me. Other PTSD events were involved with the actual torture we went through in jungle survival: being compressed into a ball in a wooden box that shrunk from all sides, until the pain was so intense that we would do anything to get out; being beaten and interrogated mercilessly; being deprived of food; forced to endure many other events in prison camp that were painful, traumatic, and damaging. The majority of Vietnam veterans experienced, witnessed, or were actually involved in death threatening circumstances. Their response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror all resulting in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Syndrome. With this syndrome comes depression and anxiety. Anxiety sufferers have physical symptoms such as, shakiness, muscle aches, sweating, cold and clammy hands, dizziness, fatigue, racing heart and dry mouth. Emotionally they may feel irritable and apprehensive, fearing that bad things are about to happen to themselves or their loved ones. The most noticeable consequences of anxiety are the way it so often leaves its victims virtually disabled. PTSD victims may suffer from depression also. Signs of this disease are noticeable change in appetite, problems sleeping or waking, sudden loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness and guilt. Clinically diagnosed PTSD survivors exclusively suffer from reoccurrence, avoidance, and persistent symptoms of increased arousal. Sufferers have recurrent distressing dreams of the event. They act or feel as if the traumatic event were reoccurring through illusions, hallucinations, and flashback episodes. Veterans make effort to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the trauma. Along with this, they avoid activities, places, or people that arouse recollection of the war. They have trouble recalling an important aspect of the event, as well as feeling detachment from others. Vietnam veterans have been known to have difficulty falling or staying asleep. They experience irritability or outbursts of anger and hypervigilance. Duration of the disturbance is more than one month. The war has been known to cause clinically significant distress in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. Many Vietnam veterans don’t know one day from the next. Their family has trouble guessing how they will react to even the most mundane happenings. Memories of the veterans are too painful to remember, but too traumatic to forget. Wives reports watching their husband’s tosses and turn at night and reenact nightly patrols. Most veterans living with PTSD were involved in combat exposure and guerrilla training. Experts say that the root of PTSD is the fear of loss and abandonment, leading to the inability to form an emotional connection with another person. Of the 3.4 million American men and women who served in Vietnam, 500,000 live with PTSD, and almost 1.7 million will exhibit clinically significant stress reactions at sometime during their lives. PTSD has many known causes, however, the most significant amount of victims stemmed from the Vietnam War. Many have sought help through support groups and medications, while others live with the disease from day to day. There is no way to completely rid one of PTSD, the only sure way of reducing the amount of PTSD sufferers is by reducing the amount of people who fight in war. The affects of the war concerning PTSD are long-lasting. Symptoms can last for years and victims may be on medication long after the symptoms diminish. The war’s effects aren’t only seen during the first immediate years after; hundreds of thousands of men and women live with stress syndromes decades after the war ended. One extremely popular legacy of the Vietnam War is the psychological affects on both the men and women in combat as well as those who lived through it. April 25, 2004, Sunday. After church drove into Cedar to the FHC. Held a seminar with the volunteers and some of the local family history people. Karen has continue to work on the home. We have finished the pillars in the front room and have begun to work on the front porch area again. I have been planting the garden and more pine and fruit trees. We continue to walk nearly every day for about two miles. May 4, 2004, Tuesday. Had a 10:00 a.m. appointment with Chuck Andrews at the VA clinic in St. George. This was the first time I had met with him, following my meeting with Stella Blight in Salt Lake City. He will be my therapist for PTSD and depression. We filled out a lot of forms and began discussing my feelings. May 14, 2004, Friday. Met again with Chuck Andrews. I have been advised to and will submit an additional claim for disability based on his and Stella’s diagnosis. During the next few weeks I prepared several reports to back up my claims. May 16, 2004, Sunday. I sang a solo in church: “The Holy City.” It was very well received. I am also preparing a men’s choir for singing on father’s day. May 24, 2004, Sent the following report to the VA. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office 550 Foothill Drive P.O. Box 581900 Salt Lake City, UT 84158-1900 File No. 24457401 Reference yours of 341/211/dg PLEASE NOTE: Because of recent developments in on-going therapy for PTSD and depression, I am claiming the following: PRIMARY: 1) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, caused by service in Viet Nam; SECONDARY: 2) Severe depression caused by PTSD as well as by illnesses proven to have been linked to Agent Orange: heart attack, diabetes, and neuropathy; and 3) Dysthemia, or low-level depression, which I’ve experienced since Vietnam and which I started to become aware of when my son died of liver cancer at age two on October 11, 1974. There was no family history that would cause this except my Viet Nam service. I began suspecting from that time that my exposure to Agent Orange had killed my son and might affect my health. I have identified nineteen events associated with PTSD which are fully discussed in the form Information in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In your letter of May 7, 2004 (referenced above), you say: We need specific details of the combat-related incident(s) that resulted in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I have gone through my records and pulled out a chronological analysis of these combat-related incidents which appears in the questionnaire and attached pages of that section. The enclosed questionnaire which you requested has been completed and is attached. I have not been to a private physician for PTSD. I will address a private visit for depression in that section below. I have been diagnosed with PTSD by the VA, attended three treatments so far by VA staff, with a fourth due before the end of May, and will be continuing follow-up thereafter. I also have group therapy beginning on June 2, 2004 at the VA clinic in St. George. On April 22, 2004 Stella G. Bright, APRN, at Intake Building 47 at the VA Hospital complex in Salt Lake City diagnosed me with dysthemia and expressed to me that she felt like I was also suffering from PTSD. I had been diagnosed with depression by Dr. Maylinda R. Reeves at the VA Hospital on March 11, 2004 and she had prescribed citalopram hydrobromide (40 mg) and told me to take 1/4 tablet for seven days and ½ tablet every day thereafter. Ms. Bright reviewed my symptoms and immediately increased the dosage to a full 40 mg tablet daily. While I was sitting there she set up an appointment with Charles P. Andrews, LCSW, at the St. George VA clinic. I first saw him on May 4, 2004 and again on May 14, 2004, and am scheduled to see him again on May 28, 2004, He queried me for an hour and a half at the first appointment and then told me that I was suffering from PTSD. He asked if I would be willing to enter into a rather lengthy group therapy, which begins on June 2, 2004, I told him I would do whatever was necessary. On the May 14th session he spent an hour working on the the treatment plan which I have attached for your review. His diagnosis is noted on page 1, Problem 1: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (prior history, moderate, chronic) as manifested by... and then lists thirty-nine points which substantiated in his mind the diagnosis. We established long-term and short-term goals and therapeutic intervention. Based on his reviews, Stella Bright, on May 20, 2004, via tele-psychiatry conferencing from Intake Building 47, with me in the St. George VA clinic, assessed my medications again and added a sleeping medicine to the mix. Her review of Mr. Andrews diagnosis included a discussion of the symptoms which I am exhibiting of sleep disorder, startled reflexes, difficult concentrating and thinking clearly, trouble with crowds and avoidance of anything to do with PTSD stressors. Your letter, item two, says: you were previously denied secondary service connection for depression on February 11, 2004 because we did not have diagnosis of depression showing that it was related to your service connection coronary artery disease. We need medical evidence of a specific disability or disease and we need medical evidence of the causal relationship between your depression and your service connected artery disease. This evidence should cite the medical or scientific studies or references used in the opinions. The first medical evidence which became available to me was on March 11, 2004 with my first visit within the VA system with Dr. Maylinda R. Reeves, noted above. Her diagnosis and treatment of depression were immediate. The second medical evidence which became available to me was on April 15, 2004, at the office of Brent W. Turek, Ed.D., Licensed Pyschologist, in Cedar City, Utah. His report is not available to me, by law, but can be obtained by you, upon request, at State of Utah Disability Determination Services, Box 144032, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4032. I can give you a summary of what he said. Dr. Turek used to work as a therapist for Dow Chemical, that produced Agent Orange. In his position at Dow Chemical he only dealt with educated, motivated individuals, and his comments do not apply - according to him - to individuals who may not be highly motivated and well-educated, because he has never dealt with them. As I am both highly-motivated (having written thirty-seven books, created several companies, among many other things) and well-educated (Ph.D.), he shared with me the following. He never saw at Dow Chemical, nor since, in all his professional career of over thirty-five plus years, a heart attack patient that wasn’t severely depressed as a result. He also told me that there is a similar correlation with diabetes. He cited the fact of the highs and lows in mood swings in hypoglycemia and said that the carryover to diabetes is obvious and observable. As I have both of these disabilities, this shows medical evidence of the causal relationship between my depression and the service connected diseases. I asked him if there were medical journal studies connecting depression to heart attacks. He said he knew of none but that everyone in the therapeutic profession, that he knew, were well aware of the connection. His report, created from the April 15, 2004 interview and test that he administered, was to provide for the State of Utah Disability Determination Services, an analysis of my state of being as depressed or not. He told me personally that I was severely depressed as proven by his observations and by the test results which he administered to me over a period of an hour and a half. He counseled me to have Ms. Bright increase my dosage of citalopram hydrobromide when I met with her again. On April 22, 2004, I discussed Dr. Turek’s recommendation with Stella Bright (referenced above), who is in charge of controlling my psychological medicines. Depression is a mood disorder. She agreed with Dr. Turek, having already diagnosed me with dysthemia, and suspecting deeper problems. She immediately doubled my dosage. While I was there she ordered the St. George VA office to speed up their time of her second visit with me from August to May, and she arranged, as noted, for me to see Charles Andrews two week from then. She indicated that I had probably been experiencing dysthemia for at least twenty years. She said the severe depression which I am experiencing is interlinked with post-traumatic stress disorder, underlying chronic dysthemia, my heart attack, diabetes, and chronic pain; that it cannot be cured without medication and therapy, and that getting it under control is imperative. She is very concerned that I have been suffering from severe depression since April of 2003 when I had my heart attack, which also triggered the PTSD symptoms that I have had to deal with on a daily basis since then, not being able to bury the problems anymore. Both she and Dr. Turek said that left alone the depression will not go away. Charles Andrews, in his April 14, 2004 therapy session told me that PTSD is an anxiety disorder, that the symptoms are going to increase, that PTSD will never go away, but that some of it can be managed with therapy. It seems obvious from his analysis, that the severe depression which I am currently experiencing will only increase as the PTSD causes are brought to the surface and relived. I can tell you from what I have experienced already in writing this report and in beginning to develop a personal review of the problems that I feel, that it is causing the depression to get worse. In the Rating Decision you sent me, dated February 10, 2004, it says on page 3: “Whether a diagnosis of depression related to your service connected heart disease has been made is the issue for consideration.” You further stated: “Service connection may be granted for a disease or injury which resulted from a service-connected disability or was aggravated thereby.” Both of your statements have been addressed by all of the four individuals that have seen me, as noted above. My request for additional disability because of PTSD and depression is addressed in the Statement in Support of Claim enclosed with this package and in the other form noted below. With the above, I believe all of your concerns have been addressed. I have filled out and signed 4142 so that you can get Dr. Turek’s report. He told me I cannot get a copy. I have filled out, with the information I have, the Information in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. One of the signs of PTSD is trouble recalling important aspects of events. This is true in my chronological analysis below. Much of what I have experienced is only available in notes that I made at the time. May 26, 2004, Wednesday. This month we went to Salt Lake several times to the VA Hospital. I began getting my teeth fixed. May 29, 2004, Saturday. Attended Kasse Bylund’s wedding and dinner in St. George, at the Temple and then at the Dixie Center. She married Justin Blazzard. June 8, 2004, Tuesday. Worked with Roberta until noon. She paid me and I finished paying off the kitchen cabinets. Then we drove to Salt Lake and stayed at the Inn at Temple Square. June 9, 2004, Wednesday. Went to the VA Hospital where they worked on two of my teeth and gave me temporary crowns. Drove back home. We picked our two cherries, the first fruit of the year. The raspberries in the greenhouse are also beginning to produce. Kelly Ward asked me to be in a double quartet that will sing in July. We begin practicing next Sunday. I have been preparing a talk that I’m giving to eight stakes next Sunday evening. June 10, 2004, Thursday. Today we received notice that we are going to be released from our mission as of June 22nd. We were also told that the new family history center location has been chosen. Karen’s work paid off in this regard. It will be at the Iron Mission Church on the north end of Cedar City. They are taking the Spanish Branch and relocating it. This morning I met with Alan Heal at the VA Clinic in St. George. We went over my proposal for schooling. He approved it completely. Then we went over the electronic equipment and software that I will need in order to develop a publishing business and learn how to develop computer software. He said he would be able to get me most of what I need. June 12, 2004, Saturday. Served our last shift as directors of the family history center in Cedar City and ended our mission for all practical purposes. June 13, 2004, Sunday. Went to our last stake correlation meeting. Ed and Val had their farewell today. They are leaving for Brazil (Goiana in southeast Brazil) for a three year mission shortly. Most of the family was there. Patty called me for my birthday. Nicolle sent me a lovely picture of the six sisters, several of her daughter Isabelle, and a nice card. Roberta gave me the original picture in a nice frame of dad which he took when he was called as bishop. Ellen Atkin came over and gave me a nice plate from Peru. Several other friends wished me well. June 15, 2004, Aunt Rene wrote to me as follows: Dear L. D. & Karen. Sorry to have missed your birthday Lyman. The days just rush by me and I never get everything done. How well I remember June 10, 1943, Moab, Utah. What a bright day it was in so many lives. And I was close to you for many years when you were small. Remember when your mom and you and I lived together in Logan and went to Utah State. You Dad was in the Army. That was the time when Uncle Bob’s son Kirk came to visit with us for a while. One day he and you picked some of the neighbor’s fruit and we got after you. We said: “When you do things that are wrong, you have to suffer the consequences.” The next day you wanted to go back to the trees (you were too small to understand) and we heard Kirk say to you something about “suffering the cockroaches.” That has been a favorite saying of our family. Fun, I always felt close to you like you were sort of mine and you still are!!! I haven’t forgotten your desire for family group sheets for us and I am still working on them. I’m slow, slow and always have a long list of things to do. I will make it though. We had a nice get-together with the Platts Sunday after Ed’s farewell. It was nice – missed you both. Hope things are going well for you – maybe we’ll get down that way one day to see you. Love you and Karen. We hear a lot about your wonderful home. Saw a lot of your children last Sunday – nice kids. Take care. Love, Aunt Rene and Art. June 16, 2004, Friday. President Faust and Elder Scott set Ed apart as a mission president today. June 18, 2004, Friday. Went to the university at Cedar City and enrolled and registered for the 2nd semester of summer. I will be taking Algebra preparatory to learning to program computers. I will receive $500/month for full enrollment. June 21, 2004, Monday. Re-submitted a request for disability from the Social Security Administration. They did not consider all of the points we made previously. June 22, 2004, Tuesday. Today I submitted my paperwork for retirement to the Church. I worked for them for 18.5 years (1968-1985) and am entitled at this point to about $400/month. If I wait until I’m 65 it would be more, but the trade-off is minimal considering the time factor. My health is also a factor. June 24, 2004, Thursday. Met with Stella to go over my progress. She ordered a test for sleep apnia, one of the problems that has been bothering me for years. June 25, 2004, Wednesday. Ed, Val, and Tiffany left for Brazil for three years. June 26, 2004, Saturday. Brent, Baird and his family arrived last night. We spent the morning hiking at Kolob, had a nice breakfast and lunch and then they went home. The Behunin family had their reunion in Salt Lake City but we didn’t go. June 28, 2004, Monday. Gene brought his son Gordon to the MTC in Provo today. He is going to the Philippines. Ed and Val have left for Brazil. July 1, 2004, Thursday. Went into the university and got my picture ID and told the VA I had decided I wanted a tutor. Bought supplies for school. Nicolle sent me a lovely picture of Isabelle. Bruce wrote to me. July 2, 2004, Friday. Today was my last day of work with Roberta. We went out to lunch and wrapped up the training with Kasse. I requested from Utah County a certified copy of my divorce papers, required by Deseret Mutual for my retirement from the Family History Department. July 3, 2004, Saturday. Worked around the house. Went to the movie. Bought groceries. July 4, 2004, Sunday. Went to Church. Played piano in priesthood. Wrote to Bruce and Nicolle. Did some studying of algebra. July 5, 2004, Monday. Spent the morning getting used to retirement. I can’t believe I’ve arrived at this point in my life. Karen and I talked at length about many subjects. I watered, picked raspberries, transplanted carnations and then worked on the Fenn account. July 8, 2004, Thursday. Tuesday I began college again. The VA is paying for about a year and a half of schooling. I intend to learn math, computer programming and desktop publishing to the end of being better able to carry out my lifetime goals. I have spent all week in intense learning of algebra. I have finished chapter 1 and reviewed chapter 2 and handed in several tests. Today I got a tutor to assist me twice a week and yesterday I signed up for my fall classes. This morning about 5:00 a.m. as I awoke, the curtain rustled and I felt like someone had been in the room and was startled at my awakening. It was a spirit [see below]. During the day, after I did my algebra studies, Karen and I worked on the archive which we hadn’t done for over a year. She was very surprised, but I felt it was time to start again. I have been in a deep state of depression and she couldn’t believe I was interested again. July 9, 2004, Friday. I awoke this morning and told Karen that I’d had a visit from mom. She asked me what mom said. I couldn’t remember. Karen said: “You’ve got to remember.” Then things started coming back. I remembered the night before and the prompting to finish the archive and get on with genealogy. There may have been more but that’s all I remembered from the 8th. Mother looked like she was about age 38. I only remember her face and the love she felt for me. She asked me if I wanted to go with her and expressed her concern about my suffering. She told me that they needed me to help teach people. (It was at this point I remembered the night before). I told her I couldn’t go, that I had unfinished business here, that my mission wasn’t completed here. I felt they (the relatives) were impatient and didn’t want me to waste any more time; that they’d prefer I not even go to school; but that they were loving and understanding that it was my decision and something I felt I should do. She told me again that I could be through with the suffering if I would go with her. I again told her that I couldn’t go yet. I probably awoke right after that. The visit quickly faded and would have disappeared except for Karen’s coaxing me to remember. This visit was pivotal in my life. It helped me get out of my depressive state and start working again towards finishing my life’s goals; and to be an easier person to live with. After school I worked for an hour with my tutor, Scott Crawford, son of our stake presidency counselor, Alan Crawford. He answered all my questions and worked through a review test of chapter 1 with me. After I came home and we rested, Karen and I put up two more sheet rock on the ceiling of the archive, nearly finishing the back 1/5 of it. We’re going to tape the seams, paint that section and then move everything into that area and cover it and then finish the rest of it. July 18, 2004, Sunday. We had a good week. I went to school three times, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and to group therapy on Wednesday. We finished putting up four more sheet rock, taping everything and stuccoing the walls and ceiling in the archive. It is ready for painting. We received notice from LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City that they are cancelling all of our debt with them ($64,000), and are asking for donations of $50/month for three years in return, plus any insurance money that might come from the VA. I received certified copies of my divorce papers and sent them to LDS retirement (DMBA). They called and said there might be a problem because of the wording to not include Bertha in payment disbursement. They said the Church’s legal department would send us a letter and form shortly. I received a wedding invitation from Natalia. She is getting married July 28th to Travis Dee Johnson, son of Ronald Johnson and Penny Earl. I received a letter from dad giving us his assisted living address and asking all the children to write to him. Last night we attended a dinner of family history center personnel and were presented with our retirement plaque. We had an enjoyable time with the group. Today in Church I sang in a double quartet “Come, Come Ye Saints.” Wrote letters to Natalia, Dad, Bruce, Aunt Rene, and a thank you letter to LDS Hospital. Dad’s and Aunt Rene’s included some of the items in Bruce’s letter. Natalia’s is as follows: Natalia Platt 11105 North Alpine Highway Highland, Utah 84770 Dear Tali: Thank you for the wedding invitation. I am happy for you and hope that you will have a good life with your new husband. Remember that you are always welcome in our home whenever you can get away and come for a visit. I’m saddened about the circumstances surrounding your marriage. Please remember that Heavenly Father loves you despite your failings. Much of what has happened to you is the fault of your parents, who have not been as good of parents as they should have been, and seen to it that you were more closely protected and watched over. I know you have a testimony of the Gospel. Please do whatever you are counseled to do to prepare to go to the temple as soon as possible. Your husband to be comes from a good family. They will help you and be a solid support to you as you work through this process of repentance and preparation. I am not coming to your wedding for several reasons. I am highly offended at not being included as your father on the wedding invitation. I doubt that was your doing. I am angry and offended at not being asked to give you away. I understand the source of these decisions and I will not be a part of the charade ever again. Nicolle’s wedding and Lyman Dee’s farewell were the last straws in my bag of patience and long-suffering. I don’t need the turmoil that these events cause in my life, and I don’t want to create any turmoil in your life by being there. I love you too much to hurt you any more than you’ve already been hurt. I stopped enforcing visits a few years ago because of the pain that it was causing to you children. I only want what is best for you and never want to be a part of making you feel badly or hurt. We come to Salt Lake occasionally to go to the hospital for tests and other things. Please let me know where you are going to be living after you get married and we will make arrangements to see you. Have a happy wedding and know that I will be there with you in spirit. Love Dad The letter to Bruce is as follows: Bruce & Lily Platt 43 NW 91st Street Miami Shores, Miami 33150 Dear Bruce: Hopefully, you’re just busy and are taking a thoughtful pause before responding to my forthright and heartfelt letter to you. Be assured above all else you may feel about what I said and will say, that my motivation is my love for you and Lily. Back a few years ago when you told us about how you came to the conclusion, after much soul-searching, that living a good life was what you should pursue at that time, Karen told you that your feelings were a revelation from Christ. You appeared to be shocked that you would be a recipient of a direct revelation. The Savior loves each of us personally and will intercede in our lives, when necessary, to help us through our trials and ponderings. He loves you as you know. We’ve had a number of changes in our lives recently. Some of this is repetitious but in letter format for your review. I have stopped working for Roberta and have retired from work altogether. I am in school at Southern Utah University full time. This summer I am taking an algebra class. Starting August 30, the fall semester, I will be taking algebra, desktop publishing and introduction to programming. I am not pursuing a degree, but will be in school until the end of 2005, learning all I need to know to write a computer program that I have bouncing around in my head. Also, I will be taking all the courses that are available to know all I need to know about publishing using the latest computer technology. After the course work is done, I will begin to re-publish all of my thirty-seven books, and then start to create new ones that will contain the family history information that we’ve compiled over the years. If any time is left after that, we’ll see about writing some other books. Karen and I were released from our three-year mission three weeks ago. Last night we received a lovely plaque with our picture, a quote from President Kimball: Since immortality and eternal life constitute the sole purpose of life, all other interests and activities are but incidental thereto. Then a little plaque on the bigger plaque: Elder Lyman Platt, Sister Karen Platt, Cedar City Multi-Stake Family History Center Mission, September 2001 to July 2004, The new directors and about thirty of our missionaries and their wives were there. We had a lovely time together. Our high councilman’s wife (Kara) reported she and her sisters had just finished this week the verifying of all 8,700 of their ancestors and families’ temple work. This has taken two years. One couple who are very dear to us from Kanarraville – Marie and Gerald Bryan – reported that they did the work for his father last week and he was with them through the entire ceremony – both could see him the entire time. Everyone was very kind and praised us for upgrading the center, teaching them, and bringing a new stimulus to family history in the region. During our mission we had fifty missionaries that we were in charge of and assisted in providing nearly 100,000 names for temple work. We saw many miracles as people came in and were assisted from the other side by their deceased relatives and friends. One of these happened as follows: one lady from out by Enterprise came in one day and told me this story. Last night I was awakened by my next door neighbor. She was standing there in the room looking at me. I was frightened for a moment because she had died a short time prior to that. Once she knew I had seen her she disappeared. I got up and walked all around the house wondering what she had wanted. Then I saw a pile of papers on my kitchen table. It contained her genealogy. She was not a member of the Church. That’s why I’m here. Can you help me prepare these names for temple work? They couldn’t help me at the Enterprise Family History Center. We had the work entered and cleared within the hour and she was off to the St. George Temple to do the work. In the same week that we received our release papers, our bishop praised a recently returned couple from a “real mission,” and didn’t even acknowledge our service. He called us into his office and gave us the papers and said very little. Some of my siblings have been known to refer to my life’s work as my “hobby” and something that I have played at all my life rather than getting a “real” job. My family have called my office my “jail.” I am extremely offended and angry at those in the family who feel this way. Part of my health problems have stemmed from having to fight for every inch we achieved in our mission. It has nearly killed Karen. In your June 27th email you mentioned Brother Stutz comments to you and your reply: “I’m not afraid of the truth.” I believe that of you. I know you are a truth seeker and I admire you in many ways. In others, I’m disappointed. I expect things from you, because of your upbringing, that I haven’t seen develop. I’m shocked that you would believe that Joseph Smith created his own church. It was revealed to him from heavenly messengers. It was a restoration of the ancient church that Jesus organized. Your comment that there are no true religions makes me wonder what caused you to disbelieve some of the basic components of what you were taught as a child. Your creed to “enjoy life every day, to improve myself everyday, to not judge those around me but to have an understanding that we are all on this plane together, to help each other out, and stay in touch, to grow together through experiences, in this life, the here and now,” is a very good creed. And you are exactly right about placing too much emphasis on the hereafter and not giving due attention to those we love here and now. Yes, it should be our life’s goal. Has it been mine? Yes, it has! Have I been helped by the family in realizing this? No, not for the most part. I don’t want to get into the legal battles I have had to try and create unity in the family, to even enforce court-ordered visits, but if you want to go there, I can document serious battles to do what you have indicated. You comment: “I will always have an open mind and search out the things in life that are good and worthwhile.” And I thank you for your heartfelt statement that: “And if there is a God to greet me at the pearly gates of heaven, he will surely open those gates and let me in and say I’m so happy that you were not afraid of the truth.” Based on that statement, I will proceed with some comments that I feel are pertinent to our relationship here and there. For the first time since mother’s death, she appeared to me the other evening. From my journal: July 9, 2004, Friday. I awoke this morning and told Karen that I’d had a visit from mom. She asked me what mom said. I couldn’t remember. Karen said: “You’ve got to remember.” Then things started coming back. I remembered the night before and the prompting to finish the archive and get on with doing our family history and temple work. There may have been more but that’s all I remembered from the 8th. Mother looked like she was about age 38. I only remember her face and the love I could see that she felt for me. She was not on a friendly visit. There were no personal interchanges. She had come on an assignment and was very specific in what she said. She asked me if I wanted to go with her and expressed her concern about my suffering. She told me that they needed me to help with the work there. (It was at this point I remembered the night before). I told her I couldn’t go, that I had unfinished business here, that my mission wasn’t completed here. At that point I felt (through mother’s countenance and officious approach, that they (she and the relatives) were anxious and somewhat impatient; that they didn’t want me to waste any more time with my physical problems; that they’d prefer I not even go to school, but that they were loving and understanding that it was my decision and something I felt I should do. She told me again that I could be through with the suffering if I would go with her. I again told her that I couldn’t go yet. It made me somewhat uncomfortable that she would even ask me to go at this point after obviously being preserved from death just a year ago. I probably awoke right after that. The visit quickly faded and would have disappeared except for Karen’s promptings. Mother’s comment regarding the great suffering I have experienced because of the waywardness of a number of my children, and the pain and turmoil that associating with the family while working with Roberta has caused me, was one of the motivations for this offer to go with her. She has apparently been made aware of many of the prayers that I have offered over each of the children and others in the family, and the agony of my spirit that has been the trigger for much of what I have experienced health-wise in the last eighteen months and earlier. I told mom, after she told me about the mission that I have to do there, that I was not through with my life’s work here yet, particularly as it pertains to helping my children who have drifted from their eternal covenants. I told her that I needed to help my children who have drifted from their eternal covenants to either return to the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life, or in the worst case, leave with each of them a loving warning of what awaits if they continue on their current courses. I have experienced first hand this warning voice when my grandfather Lyman’s brother, Albert R. Lyman, called all of his posterity together, there being over 120 at that time (inviting mother’s children to also be there), and talked to them about their lives - some good, some wayward - and warned them of the consequences of violating their baptismal and priesthood covenants. I knew beforehand, but saw clearly at that time, how and why the prophets and others have raised the warning voice and cleansed their garments of the blood of unrighteous generations and/or individuals. Unrighteousness, in this context, may be as simple as not living up to the potential that one has to do good in this life or in not keeping the covenants they have made. Anyway, Bruce, it was disconcerting to have mom visit with me because I do not want to go yet and feel there is so much more that I can do here. However, my health continues to deteriorate. All three of my nervous systems are affected by the agent orange that has finally manifested itself in full blown glory. 60,000 vets died in Vietnam; 250,000 have died since Vietnam from the effects of agent orange: not a statistic the government likes us to know about. The VA has granted me a 40% disability, but continues to review other areas of agent-orange-related disabilities. The heart continues to cause problems. The diabetes is temporarily under control, but will eventually worsen as a result of the nerves deteriorating. The neuropathy in my feet and legs is a daily pain that I live with. My doctors have also diagnosed me with chronic depression and severe post traumatic stress disorder from events that I experienced in Vietnam and which I have kept buried all these years (except in outbursts of anger, overwork, emotional disassociation from family members and people generally, etc.): thousands of deaths which I personally experienced, mortar attacks, the Chinese Embassy bombing, physical attacks on my person, killings, part of the jungle survival training that permanently damaged my knees after being compressed in a wooden box from all sides to the point of excruciating pain, war smells (some nineteen specific experiences altogether that they’ve identified), and for which they are treating me. But, back to our discussion, part of which is motivated by your emails and my longing to talk to you about these feelings which I mentioned to mother. I feel strongly that being a good person is not enough. It is also important to understand why we have been placed here on earth and what is expected of us, what our Heavenly Father’s plan is for us specifically. In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi, Chapter 28, it talks about self will vs. God’s will. I had to consider this concept seriously before telling mother that my mission here is still more critical than the mission awaiting me there. After stating my decision I was counseled to get on with wrapping up things here because I’m needed there. Perhaps I was given a few months, a few years, or even fifteen years as was Hezekiah when he pled with the Lord to extend his life rather than take it. To continue, I refer you to Nephi’s final warning to us, to you. After discussing Christ’s mission and his condescending to be baptized even though he was perfect, in 2 Nephi 31: 7-10 it says: “... But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments. Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove. And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straightness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them. And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son. And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.” Bruce, when you were baptized you covenanted to do a number of things. In Mosiah 18:8-9, part of the covenant which you made includes the following: “...willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.” The rest of this covenant is found in the sacramental prayers in Moroni, chapters 4 and 5 (wherein weekly we renew our baptismal covenants): remembering Christ always, being willing to take upon us His name and keeping his commandments. At baptism you received the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost as Jesus just promised above. This gift, which continues with us if we renew our covenants weekly, helps us in many ways. It teaches us in all situations what we should and shouldn’t do. It protects us from evil. It inspires us when we pray as to what we should pray for. The Holy Ghost testifies of the Father and the Son and through promptings over a lifetime brings us back into their presence if we follow the path that he lays out before us. He counsels with us as we study and meditate. Despite your innate goodness and your love of God, you have lost this protection because you are in violation of your baptismal covenants. You were taught as a child how to prayer and how to seek the Holy Ghost’s influence in your life. As I was taught at my mother’s knee, so were you taught. I believe, however, that there were influences in our family life that gave you mixed signals and that caused you to question some of these teachings. The path you have chosen at this point in your life creates several scenarios. One, you will learn by what you suffer. You may be protected through the prayers which are offered in your behalf or you may be required to pay for protection through suffering. Your goodness will protect you and bless you, but you can only be blessed to a point. Beyond that, because you are in violation of sacred covenants, you lose the protection and guiding influence of the Holy Ghost, in your marriage, in your work, in which road to take to avoid being killed, kidnapped, or hurt in other ways, in knowing how to try and raise your children with loving and protective surroundings, and many other blessings. In the Doctrine & Covenants 84:54 it says: And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received.” It goes on to tell us that a scourge and judgment shall be poured out upon those who so pollute this holy land of America. All who live here must worship the Lord Jesus Christ and acknowledge him as their Savior or the time will come when they will be swept off. In vs. 39-44 of the same section it talks about the oath and covenant of the priesthood, into which you have entered. In referring to your previous letter about the personal creed that you have chosen to live by, verses the knowledge that comes through the protective power of the Holy Ghost, there is a scripture in Alma 26:21 that says: “And now behold, my brethern, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent. Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing – unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God [or the covenants of God].” I could go on, and will in further correspondence. However, I am anxious to get this in the mail, so that you know that since my last correspondence I have been studying and praying and thinking upon you and your situation, as also with the other children. I have been invited to go to Natalia’s wedding. However, the invitation did not include my name as her father. I have not been asked to give her away. I am asked to come and participate as an unconcerned spectator, just as with other weddings. I am offended, hurt, angry, and know that if I go, it will be the same as it was when I went to Nicolle’s wedding. I want you to hear it from me firsthand. I am not going. Not because I don’t love and have a relationship with Natalia, but because it would disrupt her wedding and happiness. Sometime in the future I will share with you what was said to me after Lyman Dee’s farewell, and how offended the family was that we came. Please do not ever accuse me of not loving my children or caring for and thinking of them always. There are forces in action about which you understand little. Let’s just continue developing our father-son relationship. Let me love you in my way, with all of my post-traumatic-stress hangups, and keep the channel open, so that whatever happens to me, whenever it happens, you will know that you were loved and will always be loved, that I was grateful to be your father, and happy at your successes and good nature. July 19, 2004, Monday. Karen went to the dentist today and had a tooth crowned. July 27, 2004, Tuesday. Went to Salt Lake and had the final work done on my teeth that the VA can do. July 28, 2004, Wednesday. Natalia got married today in American Fork to Travis Dee Johnson. She is pregnant. The missionary who has been in love with her from the time he left came to the wedding and cried terribly. He was so in love with her, adored her, and all his family adored her. One of my daughters said the Johnson family are down-to-earth, nice people, trailer-trash rednecks, that the grandparents are very nice LDS people, temple-worthy, and have raised Natalia’s new husband. Natalia didn’t look happy. She was nervous. She wasn’t there during the ceremony even though the groom was soaking it all in. They didn’t look at each other, didn’t hold hands. It was a terrible wedding. A bridal shower was held at Irene’s place. Natalia sat with her friends and didn’t associate at all with the family. Travis owns his own home. He’s a hard worker, has a good job. His mother is a drug addict. August 10, 2004, Tuesday. Met with Stella via teleconference. August 14, 2004, Saturday. I’ve been off a week from school, having finished introductory algebra and having bought the books for next semester, ready to start again. Karen and I are working in the archive trying to finish the ceiling and walls. Yesterday I sent in our 2003 tax return. Roberta and her family have returned from Switzerland. Gene’s daughter has gotten married in the Portland Temple. Gordon, my brother, was at the temple with them, first time at a temple sealing. August 19, 2004, Thursday. Had my first appointment with an MD at the St. George VA clinic. Dr. McAnally tested me and took me off one of my heart medicines. August 28, 2004, Saturday. It’s been another two weeks at home with Karen. We have gotten a lot done: finished screwing the upstairs main floor area; finished all the archive except for eight feet; cleaned out the little house and threw away a truckload and four garbage cans of obsolete or no-longer-needed stuff; set up shelves in preparation for vacating much of the little-used things from the archive and office; cleaned my office and emptied it of everything but what I’m using at the present time; received and set up my new computer and printer along with a lot of software from the VA for use in this semester’s and future semester’s classes; drilling through the basement wall and connecting another water line to the east side of the house; canned some fruit; and froze vegetables, made salsa and froze a bunch; went to Salt Lake and got two permanent crowns and had the final work done on my teeth by the VA; went to the corn festival at Enterprise today; went through Pinto and up over New Harmony mountain on the way home. The moon came up full this evening. As I watered the garden and watched it continue to rise above the Kolob escarpments, I knew the evening would be a restless one. Sleep is always hard for me on full moon evenings. Later, as I dosed off the Spirit whispered to prepare myself for another vision. I was reminded of mother’s appearance and discussion the morning of July 9th. It was a fleeting thought and I fell asleep. I awakened many times in the evening. August 29, 2004, Sunday. At 5:00 a.m. I awoke with a start. I had just been shocked back into consciousness at what I had seen and felt. Some details immediately left me, for whatever reason. I laid awake reviewing what I had experienced and fixing in my mind the key aspects of the vision. Members of my family were with me in a van and we had just driven into Patty’s driveway at her present home in Highland. We had come for a visit and something else. I don’t know who was with me in the van, except Karen. As we stopped, there were five women leaving the house. Patty was standing in the doorway. The women were all dressed in expensive clothing and hats. They looked more like prostitutes than women of quality. They were all portly and self-involved. They cared nothing for those around them. They were members of my family. I got out of the van and with some expectation and anticipation, waited for them to address me. That was the last thing they had in mind. Bertha was the third of the five. She appeared to be in charge of the group. I wondered if I should approach her and ask her what was happening, but the Spirit restrained me. As I was standing there pondering what to do, a young man approached. He seemed familiar to me, but was very impish in his demeanor. He said to me: “McKay has died.” As he said this his expression was one of delight that I was so hurt and shocked at the news. My first feeling was one of deep sadness at the scene which had been presented before me. I was also so overwhelmed at the news of my brother’s death that I felt the desire to throw myself to the ground and mourn his loss, but was reminded of the great wickedness that surrounded me and wondered whether it would be appropriate. I was, nevertheless, so distraught that I could not refrain. I threw myself into a prostrate position and cried so profoundly that it awakened me. It occurred to me as I lay there that my mourning was also as a witness, as if in sackcloth and ashes for the wickedness of my family. I was reminded of the cup of gall which I had drunk over the last seventeen years because of them. As I laid there contemplating the vision the thought came into my mind that I had been told that McKay was very sick with a severe infection. I couldn’t remember when I had been told this, except that it had been recently. The next thought that came to me was that mother had come to take McKay because my death had been postponed. The last impression was that these five wicked women should be compared to the five unwise virgins. Thoughts that came during Church were centered around mother’s concern for the unrighteousness of some family members and of the pain and suffering that they are causing in the family. Bertha is the focal point of this evil in the family. Also, the parable of the ten virgins has direct application to the family. They are foolish, going about the ways of the world, not watching for the Savior’s coming. They will be caught unprepared and rejected at His coming. They are procrastinating the day of their repentance. I have been given these two visions to point me in the direction I must go in trying to warn, assist and teach those who will listen. Some will not. They will be as unresponsive to anything I say as the five women were as they walked away from Patty’s house. I have been assigned by the Spirit to judge my father’s house, or at least to stand as a witness to its destruction if they don’t repent. A question: if we could set the scriptures to music, could we bring out the order of the knowledge contained therein? A note: McKay may die before I do; but his part in this vision was typological only, in my opinion. September 20, 2004, Katie, McKay’s daughter, had a son today, born in Salt Lake City. He was over nine pounds. They named him Thomas. September 28, 2004, Wednesday. I sent a package to the VA following up on my original disability claim for PTSD. This is the third of the series. During this week I was called by the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City and told that they had received the results of a test ordered by Stella Blight, who is monitoring my psychological health. She works there at the VA complex. She was concerned that my lack of sleep was affecting me seriously and ordered a sleep apnea test to monitor what was happening to me during the evening hours. The VA has scheduled an appointment at 10:00 a.m. October 25, 2004 at the sleep mood disorder clinic, or whatever it is called. It is my understanding that I am going to be placed on oxygen so that I can get some longer periods of rest. I am also meeting with Stella on October 14th at 1:30 (teleconference) to go over the results of the test she ordered, preparatory to the October 25th appointment. October 24, 2004, Sunday. Drove to Salt Lake and stayed overnight with Brent. He has decided to break it off with Denise because of her self-centered attitude. October 25, 2004, Monday. Went to the VA hospital and received a sleep-apnia machine and was told how to use it. Drove to Provo and filed a lien on Bertha’s property in Highland because of a lawsuit she has instituted against me for monies already paid. She has still to pay dad what he is owed from a loan we made of him. October 28, 2004, Thursday. Went to St. George to have a session with Stella Bright, my psychological therapist, regarding my medicines. She informed me that I had both central and congestive apnia and that the central would not be cured with the machine. We went to the county court house and voted early so that we wouldn’t have to stand in line like it appears will be necessary this year because of the high interest in the election. Went to Roberta’s work and visited with Irene, Gordon, Roberta and Dad. He is now here with Roberta for the duration of his life. While we were in the office Gene called and informed us that he would be cleaning out dad’s rest home room on Saturday, and that Margaret was in pretty bad shape with her eye and knees. Talked to Roberta briefly about the lawsuit Bertha has instituted. She gave Karen some information for the Court Brief and Order to Show Cause that she is preparing to contest the lawsuit. The family seems generally disposed to let Bertha get what’s coming to her. October 29, 2004, Friday. Went to Mountain West and picked up my new color printer that the VA has purchased for me. Hooked it up to the new computer. Everything works just fine. It is a wonderful system. November 3, 2004, Wednesday. We sent off two packages of information to the Wall law firm in Salt Lake, contesting Bertha’s challenge against my retirement money, charging her with a number of things: perjury, extortion, stalking, etc. November 7, 2004, Sunday. While sitting in church this morning, I had another heart attack. We made it to emergency at IHC in Cedar City where they stabilized me and got me ready to go to IHC in St. George. We tried to get into the VA system in SLC but all their beds were full. I had the stent in my left anterior descending artery blocked again at 80% and another blockage further down the artery, also at 80%. Both were fixed with new drug ladened stents that are supposed to prevent scar tissue from forming. November 8, 2004, Monday. Danny’s Amy wrote to me asking for additional information for a project she is preparing for Danny for Christmas. November 9, 2004, Tuesday. Called Patty to inform her of my situation. She will call the other children. Dru is in bad shape health-wise. He is on long-term disability because of a fall he had last year. He’s going to school. Patty has dropped out for a semester to try and stabilize him. November 13, 2004, Saturday. Attended Maury Cragun’s funeral at our chapel. He was a Vietnam vet and died of colon cancer. Spent the rest of the day scanning Bertha’s records for the children. Went for a walk. November 14, 2004, Sunday. Talked to Maria Elena and Nicolle about their up-coming visit to our home in December. Nicolle is having her baby Isabelle blessed by Zachery Fraser, and friend of her husband in one of the college wards (4th), I don’t know the stake yet. Spent the day in church and scanning Bertha’s records for the children. Went for a walk. December 19, 2004, Sunday. Sang in the Christmas program at Church. Began scanning Native American pictures and negatives. December 20, 2004, Monday. Julie and Nicolle sent pictures of their family. Called Maria Elena and talked to her. Began putting up the last of the ceiling in the archive. Scanned Native American materials. December 21, 2004, Tuesday. Finished putting up the plywood on the ceiling in the archive. Decorated our Christmas tree. Talked to Patty about the weekend. Scanned Native American materials. December 24, 2004, Friday. Drove to Brent’s and had a party with Karen’s side of the family. December 25, 2004, Saturday. In the afternoon we drove to Patty’s place in Highland and all the children and grandchildren except David’s family, and Natalia came over for an hour. We took pictures and talked. Drove home. December 27, 2004, Monday. David wrote to me today. December 31, 2004, The last few days of the year have been spent working on the fireplace upstairs and the archive. I have also been organizing my records, scanning, working on Sister Fenn’s genealogy, rearranging the office, and getting ready for next semester. Note from the past: She (Elaine Walton) told me that Evan Williams, my 2nd great-grandfather, had an uncle, Richard Williams, brother of Edmund Williams, who joined the Church and lived in Scofield, Utah. He and Evan never knew each other had joined the Church and apparently never made contact. Mary Violet Behunin Smith 1907 – 2004 Family and friends may call at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 7th, at the Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, located at 1007 West South Jordan Pkwy (exit 10600 South, west of I-15.) Her "Celebration of Life" will immediately follow. Interment will be along side her husband in Greenlawn Cemetery, The Garden of the Good Shepherd, Colma, California, Monday, the February 9th, 2004, Published in the Deseret News on February 7, 2004. 2005 January 1, 2005, Saturday. Karen and I spent the entire day finishing the sheet rock work in the archive and the fireplace upstairs. Got both projects finished. What a relief! We have watched with sadness the continuing death toll in Indonesia and surrounding area. January 2, 2005, Sunday. Transferred files from my old computer to the new one. Went to the church and talked with Brother Maxwell about the family history center. Attended our block of meetings. Worked on computer file transfers. January 3, 2005, Monday. Got paid for school. Bought the rest of my school books. Got a tutor. Ordered several books. Bought materials to finish the archive. Bought food. Worked the rest of the afternoon and evening on transferring files from old computer to new. David sent me a picture of his family. Karen worked in the archive getting it ready for painting. January 4, 2005, Tuesday. Began cleaning and re-arranging the archive. Karen continued working on preparing the archive for painting. January 5, 2005, Wednesday. Went to St. George to PTSD therapy. Paid the car insurance. Went for a walk. Worked on transferring files. Worked on Fenn Account. January 6, 2005, Thursday. Worked on Fenn Account. Worked on Reder Account. Continued transferring files. Karen is still working in the archive. Went for a 2.5 mile walk round trip to the postbox. January 7, 2005, Friday. Finished transferring files: about 3,000 files from my old computer to my new one. Karen finished the second coating of the ceiling and all of the walls in the archive. Went to Cedar to buy food. A blizzard hit our area and shut down the freeway after we got home. Wrote letters to Eloise Cluff and Jeanne Heath on their accounts, to see if they want to pay $1,500 each to finalize them by June of this year. Got notice that my student loan has been approved for this semester. January 18, 2005, Tuesday. Spent all day in school. January 19, 2005, Wednesday. Went to therapy in St. George. Bought food. Went to school. Today we finished the archive and began arranging it into its final format. January 20, 2005, Thursday. Maria Elena’s birthday. Went to school. January 21, 2005, Friday. Maria Elena called. She is having trouble with her heart. We talked a long time. I advised her to go to the doctor immediately. January 22, 2005, Saturday. Bruce and Lily arrived from Las Vegas where she is attending a convention for her work. We ate and then went for a hike west of the house. In the evening we played games. It came to our attention during this evening that Bertha lied to me about Juan in a number of ways. It appears that she didn’t give him up the day he was born and only saw him once on his 1st birthday (as she had maintained); but that she raised him for three years, hiding him from everyone. She and grandma decided to try and snag me and get Bertha to the U.S. and did so. When I found out about Juan, they concocted the story just stated, to hide the fact that she had devised this incredible plan to deceive me. She falsified a birth certificate for herself, and lied about Juan’s birth and his first three years living with them. One of the things that has occurred to me in the last few days is that if Juan’s father had taken him right after his birth, he would have registered the birth. However, it was registered in Bertha’s municipality, where I found it, indicating that she still had the child. I should have picked up on this as a researcher; but I didn’t. January 23, 2005, Sunday. We had a nice breakfast and then went for a six mile walk in the mountains. Afterwards we had lunch and the kids left. Bruce told me that Lyman Dee is planning to get married right away, that he and his new girlfriend have been sexually active, but that they want to go to the temple, so have confessed their wrongdoings. Her father is a stake president; her mother is dead. January 24, 2005, Monday. Went to school. Worked on my programming. Karen bought things for the house construction. January 28, 2005, Friday. Spent the week in school, Wednesday at therapy, and working on the archive. Jeanne Heath sent me $1500.00, per my request, to finish up her genealogy by June. Today I finished arranging the books in the archive. Then, I created files for all of my known ancestors through the 9th generation. They are organized in my computer and are ready to start receiving information. Natalia had her baby today: Gage Dee Johnson, born at the American Fork hospital. He was sick and had to go to Primary Children’s hospital for several days. January 29, 2005, Saturday. Finished creating files for all of my known ancestors in the 10th, 11th, 12, and 13th generations, for a total of 945 files. This is pretty much as far as I plan to go during my lifetime. There are some ancestors beyond the 13th generation that will receive special attention,