cc: file, Grandma Hafen via Tony Hafen, Pauline Nelson via mail, Sara and Des Penny, Claude and Katherine Warner, Lloyd and Luana Warner. Diane Cluff, and Andrea Shirts
"Before Corvallis (.../9715.html) I had several experiences which laid a foundation for what is now my testimony. One of those events was a brief conversation with my Grandma Nelson on the steps of the Cedar 3rd Ward building (where Southern Utah Mortuary Funeral Home now is, at 190 North 300 West). Emma Nelson died on the 11th of March in 1965 when I was in 9th grade and 15 years old. I expect this conversation was about two years before that. She stopped me and pointing to a spot at the top of the first flight of stairs leading up to the building and said to me
I responded, `What?' I don't remember the exact words of her answer (it was some 35 years ago), and yet I definitly do remember knowing in my heart that Grandma firmly believed and knew what she said to me. The basic experience was that Grandpa Nelson (Roice Bengt) was very short of money one year. He had just been paid for a job, and the Bishop had given a talk about tithing and had promised in the name of the Lord a ten fold blessing to whoever meet their financial commitment the Lord. Grandpa then took the entire amount he had just been paid, and donated it to catch up his tithing, not having any idea how he was going to meet other pressing obligations. As he walked out of the church that day, at that very spot, an acquaintance from out of town came up to him, said he was hoping he would find him there, and that he had a big contract for him, which was exactly valued at 10 times the tithing he had just paid.
I don't pay tithing expecting a blessing, nor seeking a sign, nor as fire insurance (D&C 64:23 `... for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.'). However, at about age 13 I heard my Grandma's testimony that there are definite physical blessings following payment of an honest tithe. When I humbled myself enough to pray and find out there is a God and He loves me, this foundation experience naturally fit my new model of the universe. I firmly believe in the principle of tithing with every fiber of my being. Tithing is the basis of what financial success I have and will have (What success there has been certianly isn't due to my financial management capabilities!). The principle is well explained in Malachi 3:10 where the Old Testament prophet says:
As I reflect on the events of this past week, the concept of tithing was a central theme. Monday morning my sister Sara called, very distressed and in tears over how much Porter's is going to raise the fee for Mom to have the larger room. Money is a limited resource, and with the money Mom has left it will run out next summer at this higher rate. I was able to commit to purchase the house for a fair market price next summer, if funds are needed, which will meet requirements for over 5 years at the higher rate. I believe the success we are now experiencing is because I faithfully pay my tithing.
Monday at lunch I took a new employee to a Japanese Resturant next to the office, where we talked about how the service centers need to run and how everything that goes on in them needs to be documented. It was not unlike a Priesthood Leadership training session, the kind where we are retaught basic principles like tithing. Monday evening for Family Home Evening Rob and I went to the church and sang Christmas Carols. It was fun. When I picked up Rob, Sara asked me if she could have her painting to hang in her bedroom. When I got back to the house Andrea and I talked on the phone until I couldn't stay awake any longer.
Tuesday morning Joe Roberts came over for a meeting about building a portable immersive environment demonstration unit inside a semi-truck. Interesting ideas, and fun to have a long time friend involved. That afternoon four of us worked on an IDEF-0 model of Time Lapse Seismic (4-D seismic). Then in the evening I had dinner with Roger Anderson and Mike Forrest and we talked about practical implementations of 4-D technologies. Nothing came up in any of these conversations directly related to tithing, and yet all of the conversations recognized how much we are given, all of which is completely outside ourselves.
Wednesday was spent working with Roger in our second planning meeting. During this meeting Roger tried to start another company and give me ownership in it. I stopped him, we called Ed Rogers, and Ed incorporated Walden 4D, Inc. as a new company, wholy owned by Roger N. Anderson. It is neat to have someone as smart and well respected as Roger imitating my Walden 3D, Inc. (http://www.walden3d.com). There was a key meeting with partners about Continuum Resources. There was a meeting with one of Roger's friends about a possible new company, beyond W4D. I dropped off Sara's painting on the way home. And I made it back to the house in time to watch both Star Trek shows. Talk about having the windows of heaven opened! It was a fun and enjoyable day.
Thursday was a strategic planning meeting all day with representatives of Boeing. Really interesting meetings, and since everything is a secret at this time I won't go into any details other than to say it is exciting. I got back to the house in time to go to tithing settlement with the Bishop at 8:20. It is a wonderful accomplishment to say I paid a full and honest tithe, and to be able to say I have done so every year since Corvallis. Rob was unable to attend with me because of homework, and Rob, I'll use this Thoughtlet to remind you promised to make your own appointment. I also got my temple recommend renewed, and because of the divorce, this is always a time of serious reflection. I got home from tithing settlement just as Melanie called. Like Sara earlier in the week, she was also in tears. She had two major finals on Friday, couldn't go to the library to study because it is unsafe to take the bus back to her apartment that late, hasn't been eating right because she couldn't get to the grocery store without a car, and wants a car really bad. We talked about the downsides of not doing well on the two finals: psychology and physics, and that she would still exist if her grades are not perfect. Ben, you might tell her there is life on the otherside of a disappointing grade. Melanie, I will repeat to everyone reading this how nice it was to have you call up and talk to me when you were down. I hope I helped some. I told Melanie about my tithing settlement, and she told me she had already gone to her tithing settlement. Then she said how good she felt about it, and thanked me for teaching her to do the right thing. This made it my turn to cry. After we hung up I called Andrea and we talked about all of these feelings. Telephones can be wonderful.
Friday morning I was at the VETL with a famous Virtual Reality pioneer. It was a fun discussion, and I sense a kindred spirit. I took him and three of the students to lunch. I expect there will be some new `windows open' as a result of the conversations. I worked on several things after getting back to the office. The last thing was to build an IDEF-0 model of how to do a trade show. As we were working on this, the Director of New Business Development kept looking at Melanie's painting, which has replaced Sara's in my office since I took Sara's to her on Wednesday. She asked the meaning, and so I gave her a set of the prints and the explaination. She had a hard time focusing on the work we were doing because she was so involved with the painting. When I came back from the printer she was looking at the Family Reunion painting and there were tears in her eyes. Three similar conversations in a week. This was the second time someone has been so touched as they looked at the paintings there were tears. I believe Ken captured a deep spiritual message in your paintings, and I predict the time will come when you will each be deeply touched by other's reactions to your inheritance. I worked until 6:30 and then went over to the West Belt CineMark and watched the new Star Trek movie. I enjoyed it a lot. The jokes between crew members are worth the time and money to see it.
Saturday started with running the rug cleaner over some Einstein memories, and then going to choir practice. Oil change, car wash, working on getting my company car at Westside Lexus, a haircut, getting the Christmas stuff downstairs and the tree set up, and talking with Marilyn about filing took up the daylight hours. It turned out the Ward Christmas Party was this Saturday night, and not next Saturday night like I thought it was. It was a very nice party, and I almost left because of an unexpected visitor. Emotions are still pretty close to the surface. I'm glad I stayed, although I wish I would not let plans fix in my mind and then not check on whether my perception is right.
Today was church, Group Leadership Meeting, Philmont Parent's meeting, and the 5th Annual Epiphany/LDS Christmas Concert. Having participated in all of them, I feel this was the best. I gave my digital camera to a friend and he caught 6 mpeg movies, which I have posted at http://www.walden3d.com/photos/ConcertA13Dec98.mpg and B-F. I didn't give good enough instructions and so they the movies really don't capture how neat the concert was. Ben, Susan Keller just came home from her mission in France. She asked about you, and remembered how you were what made Seminary fun for her. Her homecoming talk is the last Sunday of the month, if you and Sarah have time she asked if you could come. Paul, she couldn't believe you are coming home in just a couple of weeks. Corey Grua narrated the program again. The songs presented were:
In his closing statement, Msgr. Jack M. Dinkins said `Isn't this wonderful. The 4th largest city in the nation and this is the only joint Catholic/LDS choir in town. And the way things are going, there is not going to be Catholics and Mormons, we will all just be servants of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.' I am glad my current calling makes it so I don't have to worry about when all of our neighbors come to tithing settlement. Hope you all have a great week."