I came across an off-duty Trooper who was just finishing up changing a flat tire on his personal car near Provo Center Street. He did a great job of "Playing it up", as the angry motorist, for the video camera.
04 April 2024
16 November 2023
06 November 2023
A Prophecy Long Foretold
A prophecy which had long been foretold
Of a falling away from the Savior’s True Fold
By the deaths of His Apostles o’er a number of years
And authority taken from earth, and truths changed by itching ears
How in Latter-days, Satan’s chain of darkness, with links not a few
Would become dismantled, and then all things again become new
When in the Spring of 1820, a young boy so humble, yet so bold
Would enter a sacred grove, to petition the God of which he’d been told
And humbly knelt, and for the first time began to pray
When immediately darkness bound his tongue, and words he could no longer say
Exerting all strength, the boy within called out for deliverance from evil unseen
While so near to abandoning himself to destruction, as it seemed
Heaven’s windows long ere closed, so sure, and so tight
Had suddenly opened, from which descended a Glorious Light
Two beings before the boy stood in brilliant, eternal flame
When the God of heaven then called him by name
“Joseph, this is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”,
Hear Him”- the boy’s burdens now began to be eased
The boy asked which of all the churches to cast his lot
The reply came back, the Savior’s true church on the earth, at that time was not
But the fullness of the Savior’s Gospel, so peaceful, so pure
Soon would be set inplace, eternally solid, and forever sure
The time of refreshing, prophesied by ancient prophets who sought
Was now to begin, and put an end to centuries of spiritual rot
The Savior’s restored Kingdom would vanquish spiritual dearth
And continue to roll forth, until it has fill the whole earth
Angels with priesthood, and keys to restore
Soon would appear, and upon man’s head place them once more
A prophecy which had long been foretold
Had now come to pass, as the Savior restored His True Fold
20 June 2023
A Retrospection: “Go See Your Friend”
Sometime ago, I was talking with a longtime friend on the phone and listening to him as he described a number of the challenges that he was facing at that time. In my prayers that night I had asked Heavenly Father to please bless this person with the things he stood in need of at that time. A distinct impression of the Spirit then came to me which said: “Go see your friend”.
The next morning I let work know that I would not be in for few hours, and then went to see this friend. When I arrived I found that he was at home alone, which made it easier for us to have a good visit with each other. He once again rehearsed, in more detail, all that he had been going through. As part of this conversation he also mentioned that he previously had some frightening thoughts and had been considering making an abrupt exit from this life, but was now in control of those thoughts, but was still facing some very great challenges otherwise. Drawing upon lessons that I had learned over the years, I was able to offer reassurance and faith in Christ to my friend. I also decided that work that day could wait a while longer, and I stayed an extra hour just so that we could talk about memories from our younger days.
A day or so later, when I called to check in with him, he thanked me profusely for coming that morning, and told me how much it meant to him. He also said that others had also been randomly been stopping in at the perfect moments, all of which served to provide reassurance to him that that his Heavenly Father and Savior were both mindful of him and that all was going to be well!
The lesson: We often pray to be guided to those who may stand in need of our assistance, and then miss, or dismiss the impressions of the Spirit which follow (at least that has been the experience for myself). But, if we were to immediately follow through on a Spiritual impression, we will often find that we were correct in following it!
11 June 2023
Retrospection: My Jobs
With changes in my employment happening, I thought that I would post on all the jobs that I have worked at over the years:
Jimba’s (1978-79)
I was in 8th grade when I started this restaurant job-primarily on weekends (Fridays & Saturdays). The business had a 1920s theme. I started out as a busboy/dishwasher, and when I finished working there about nine months later, I was cooking at the grill. It was located at about 250 West, Center in Provo.
Allen’s Super-save (1979-80)
Two of my friends, Duane Halladay, and Mike King, both worked at this grocery store, what time is located episode 100 N. and 500 W. in Provo. The building no longer exists. I was only 15 years old when I applied, but I told the manager that I was 16, and was eventually hired and started working there on March 25, 1979. I thought I was coming on just to be a bag boy and stock shelves, at my first night there, they had me in the checkout stand bringing up groceries for the customers. The manager eventually found out that I was only 15 but he kept me on anyway.
Central Square Movie Theater (1979)
One day-
175 West 200 North
Through one of my friends a group of learned that the opening of the new movie theater was running behind in preparations. On the day it was to have its grand opening (later that evening) a call went out for young workers to come in and assist with clean-up. It lasted only a couple of hours and was worth a few dollars.
Wendy’s (1980-83, 1985-86)
1444 South State Orem
This was a fun place to work as a teenager. My friend, Harold Scott, was working there at the time that I was hired. I very rarely ever dated any girls from Provo High, and I just found it easier to ask out the girls that I worked with there. I ended up with the nickname of "Bowser" which was given to me by one of the managers.
One night after closing, and as we were all walking out the door together to our vehicles, and man crouching near the dumpster of the adjacent business yelled out to draw our attention towards him, while at the same time pointing a gun towards us. He yelled "Throw the money", meaning the night deposit back with one of the managers was holding. The bag was thrown over to him, and then he told everyone to get back into the store. The Orem police were called and they couldn't find any trace of the guy.
I worked at Wendy's up until the time that I went out on my Mission.
(Mission (1983-84)
Little Giant Ladders (1986-91, 2013-20, 2021-23)
I started at the Provo plant of LGL on Larsen Parkway. After a few months most everyone moved over into the new Springville facility on Industrial Circle. My brother, Randy, was already employed there and he helped to get on.
In 1991, I left LGL to start working for the UHP Protective Services. Returned back in 2014 a few months after retiring.
Protective Services
Totally hated my time there!
UHP
After graduating from POST, and finishing a couple of weeks of UHP training, I went to work out in Section 8- Tooele County. My first Sergeant was Ron Kirby and he assisted us with living arrangements by putting us in touch with the landlord of the rental he and his family just moved from at 492 Utah Avenue in Tooele.
On my very first morning of work I rode with Steve “Odie” Myers’s and we immediately responded to and car/horse crash south of town. My actual FTO was Brad Clayton, but since the crew was small I ended up riding with everyone- with the exception on Dean Rogers.
Tooele was a good section to begin my career in as I learned a lot about crashes and DUIs. I was told by Sgt. Kirby that if I ever hoped to move back to Utah County that I would need to start putting in requests for transfer as it may take a couple of years- this would alert HQ that I wanted to move eventually. Well, the first request was accepted and we were gone within about nine months.
Utah County is where I worked the bulk of my career. I really loved it during the early years, but as time moved on I started to feel the burnout.
I got into the PI&E program and remained there for three years. Then ended up with the PIO position and stayed there for another three years until retirement.
When I was set apart as the Elders Quorum President in 1997 By President John Chamberlain he included blessing of protection on the job as a Trooper. When I last saw him at the funeral of Mike Strauss’ dad I brought up that blessing and let him know that I was indeed protected during my entire career.
Lawn service
Late 1990s into 2000s.
Jeff and Russell went work with my mowing lawns. It was primarily to assist us in making ends meet financially. We did if for a few years until I became totally burned out with it.
Provost
To keep the 6th grade boys from fighting, for a few months I would show up at lunchtime and hangout and participate with whatever they wanted to do each day.
UPS (Nov-Dec 2013)
Having given a number of safety talks at UPS, I became excited at the prospect of working for them after retirement. I was hired on for the holiday rush that season. I struggled with the electronic DIAD device that was used, to the point of being completely stressed out. Finally, I went over to our neighbor, Brian Shouman's house and he gave me some good instruction on how to operate the device. I was hoping to be kept on after the holidays but then it was difficult to land a full-time job there.
LGL (2014-2020)
I made a phone call to Doug Wing looking for work, and eventually his brother Art called and offered me the position as his executive assistant. It was fun and fast paced. One of the first things that Art did after I came on was to had me a large envelop containing $20,000 in cash. He told me to take care of it until he would ask for it later. I hit it well until he asked for it back. Soon after I got to thinking that perhaps he was testing my trustworthiness, so that he could trust me with more things moving forward.
UHSO (2020-2021)
I sometimes start to twitch whenever I think back on this year. I was told that I was doing well, and personally felt that I was doing well until after my bout with Covid-19. At any rate, I was let go.
LGL (2021-2023)
Came back on this time in the Security role and then eventually took on Safety as well. In May 2021 I tripped in the manufacturing area and hit my head on a cart as I went down. Things seemed to change for me after that day as my neck has constantly had a feeling of discomfort.
The new company owner (IOP) put in a new management team who eventually decided that the Safety position was no longer needed, and I was laid off.
Provo Parks and Rec (April-June 2023)
It was good until the temps started to rise.
Amazon (June 2023-????)
28 May 2023
My Early TV Shows
A list of some of the TV shows that I grew up with during my younger years. Each has an IMDb link, and some also include a link to the shows intro:
Saturday Mornings:
Regular:
22 May 2023
Brother Durrant’s Institute Class
George D. Durrant was a popular LDS fireside speaker back in the 1970s-80s. I personally met him in Kahului, Maui after he had finished speaking at a "Know Your Religion" fireside. Later, after the mission, I had him as an instructor in an Institute "Book of Mormon" class out at UVCC.
Bro. Durrant
Brother Durrant was one day prior to class starting talking with Kam Jarman, a Provo High basketball player from the previous year, about the previous game that he had gone to at PHS as they hosted Timpview. My brother, Don, was a starter on the team and he had the game of his life that night against Timpview, helping Provo to come away with the win. Don also wore #35 on his jersey- the same number as Devin Durrant, whom he idolized, and who was the son of Brother Durrant. Brother Durrant told Kam that he had really enjoyed watching #35 play that night. I piped up and told them that #35 was my brother. From that point onward Brother Durrant and I were buddies! In fact, a year or so later while he was serving as the President of the Provo MTC, and after our family had said our goodbyes to Don who was heading to serve in Hong Kong, our family came across Brother and Sister Durrant in the hallway, and they were nice enough to stop and say hello to my parents. He asked about their missionary and where he was headed to? My Dad, of course, had to throw in that Don had played basketball for PHS and wore the same number as their son Devin. Bro. Durrant then said: "Where's my friend?" and then looked over at me. It made me feel good!
Brother Durrant would only use the scriptures as his teaching source material, and always taught while reading from them. He also had a way of holding your attention as he would slowly sidestep from one side of the classroom to the other, and then quickly walk back to his starting point- just like an old manual typewriter. Also, during each class period he was regularly heard to say: "And now we come to my favorite part of the Book of Mormon", which told us that the entire book was his favorite part!
During that time in my life I was struggling with finding answers to a couple of personal questions- one dealing with a gospel principle, and the other with wanting to know if Heavenly Father was still mindful of me, just as He had been while out on the mission?
In one of the following classes, while he was reading and commenting to the class, he changed gears for a moment and started talking about things not necessarily related to the course of study for that day, and as he continued speaking he had answered my two questions very clearly and distinctly, and then he went back into his regular teaching.
The lesson here is what we've been taught all along- sometimes our prayers are not answered while we are on our knees- but they can often be answered by someone else, even if they have no idea that they are providing the answers for us at the time. The key is to persist in prayer until we receive the answers. Also, if we are in tune with the Spirit, we too can possibly provide answers to another person's prayer.
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