1 My first bike

I remember getting my first bicycle. It was on Thursday, June 11, 1959, my brother Jerry's twenty-first birthday. He was off serving a mission in Canada at the time. (I know the date only because my mom recorded the purchase in her diary.)

I had been earning and saving money, selling greeting cards, thinning sugar beets, and other such stuff a nine-year-old boy was able to do. On our farm we used to get paid for thinning or hoeing sugar beets, something like 25 cents a row, as I remember. And they were long, long rows. I don't think we were paid for anything else around the farm. Except grades. I think in an effort to en­courage Ray and Dale to get better grades at school, my parents used to pay for each A on the report card. I didn't need the encouragement, since my report card was typically filled with A's, but I reaped the benefit since they had to be fair about it.

Finally, after a lot of time and effort, I had accumulated the $50 I needed. Well, I actually had $28, and my brother Gene loaned me $22. We went to the bike store in Nampa to pick out my bike. I chose a blue Schwinn. A one-speed.

And then, to my wounded sense of fair play and justice, my parents pro­ceeded to pick one out for Dale, who was seven. His was a red one. A little smaller than mine. He hadn't earned a penny toward his, and here they thought if I had one he should too. Because he was littler than I was. How unfair can life be?

I didn't appreciate it at the time, but my bike was far more fun to have because Dale had one too.

I don't remember particularly when or where I first learned to ride a bike. But I remember clearly that first day we were home with them, and we started circling the open yard where the cars and pickups and tractors and other stuff parked, and seven-year-old Dale was headed straight toward the side of the barn yelling, "How do I stop this thing?" For­tu­nately, neither boy nor bike was too seriously injured as a result of his collision with the barn.

2 Quote of the week

"The liberties of our country, the freedoms of our civil Constitution are worth defending at all hazards; it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors. They purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood. It will bring a mark of everlasting infamy on the present generation—enlightened as it is—if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of designing men."

— Samuel Adams (1722-1803)

3 This week in our family

Thurs, Oct 28: Andrew born and died 1966 [Kay]
Thurs, Oct 28: Meghan's birthday [Dean]
Thurs, Oct 28: Christopher & Camilla Taylor married 2004 [Dean]
Thurs, Oct 28: Nathan & Amber Thomas married 2006 [Lyle]
Fri, Oct 29: Bobbie Real's birthday [Gene]
Sat, Oct 30: Randy's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, Oct 30: Jeremy Harned's birthday [Gail]
Sun, Oct 31: Jackie Sayer's birthday [Jackie]
Sun, Oct 31: Jaxson's birthday [Kay]

Mon, Nov 1: Dorothy died 1982
Mon, Nov 1: Dylan Rager's birthday [Dale]
Wed, Nov 3: Stan & Patty married 1978 [Lyle]

If ever we are missing anyone's birthday or anniversary, please let us know.

4 Bits and tidbits

Haven't heard much from anyone in the past week or so. Hope you're all doing well. Tomorrow evening, unless it happens before then, our daughter Rachael will give birth to her fourth daughter, Eleanor Hodson. That's when the doctor will induce Rachael since hers is classified as a high-risk pregnancy. Little Eleanor will be Claudia's and my 20th grandchild.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the October and November 1960 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Thurs, Oct 27.  I came home from work & got Kids & took them to school. Ivard was home & gone to do beets again. I ate & went to bed until 2: then I took Jerry in to Dr. he didn't see him, left after sitting an hr & half. I took Jackie & bought her 2 pr. shoes & lad her away a Xmas dress & took her to Primary.

Fri, Oct 28.  I made 3 pumpkin pies & 4 pie shells & Jerry made chilli. I laid down an hr. & got Jackie to sleep then I went to town & got feed & Ray & Dean went & got stuff to decorage for haloween then they decorated front room. My & Ivards nite off. We all went to foot ball game but Dean, Dale & Jackie Homecomeing, beat Twin Falls It really poured on us on & off. had nice half time 26 floats & 11 queen canidates.

Sat, Oct 29.  Jerry - Gene & Kids cleaned the garage most of day. I made 4 lemon pies & washed cloths & iorned all day. This afternoon Jerry & I went to town & got favors & stuff for Jackies birthday party. Gene & Ray went to Stake dance.

Sun, Oct 30.  We all got ready & went to Stake Conference but Ivard & Jackie. It sure was good. Harold B. Lee was up. We came home & hurried & fixed lunch & Ivard & Jackie went with us to afternoon Session. Jerry had to talk this afternoon. Made gum drop men for favors for Jackies party.

Mon, Oct 31.  Jackie is 4 today. I came home from work. I laid down an hr then went to town & got Jackies haloween birthday cake & 2 dz. cup cakes & icecream & came home & Jerry had house all cleaned up. At 2:15 Lynda brought Debbie, Jeff & Kristine to Jackies Party & at 2:45 Helen Kotter came & brought all the other Kids & we had Jackies Party 9 girls & 4 boys they had a lot of fun & got a lot of things. We gave her table & chair set, chrome. gave each girl a watch & the boys a stage coach & they were really tickled. We had a family party & barbacue & Gene took little Kids trick or treeting then him Jerry & Ray went to Mutual Party.

Tues, Nov 1.  I came home from work & Jackie & I went to relief society. then we went to bank & I started a new Pioneer checking account. Jerry washed & cooked supper.

Wed, Nov 2.  I came home from work & Ivard was home & laying down. Jerry & I had a malted milk & I took pick-up in to service station to have brakes fixed. They let me take a pick-up to come home in & I went in at 5:30 & got ours & picked up Gene & neighbor from ball practice.

6 What in the world

World Series
Game 1 of the 2010 World Series begins tonight with the Texas Rangers playing the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco. This is the first time ever the Rangers have played in a World Series.


Football rankings
Boise State is ranked 2nd in the AP, USA Today, and ESPN polls. They are 3rd in the BCS standings. Utah is ranked 7th in the USA Today poll and 8th in all the others.


Groundbreaking for new temple
President Thomas S. Monson, joined by civic leaders and other Church leaders and members from Italy, officially broke ground this past week (on Saturday, October 23) for the new temple that will be built in the suburbs of Rome. First announced two years ago in the October 2008 general conference, the Rome Italy Temple will be the twelfth in Europe and the first in Italy. It will serve some 25,000 members of the Church in Italy, as well as members from other areas throughout the Mediterranean region.

Temple open house in Hawaii
The public is invited to tour the recently renovated Laie Hawaii Temple, the first temple constructed outside the continental United States. The temple was completed in 1919 and originally served the entire Pacific and Asia area. There was not another temple in the Pacific basin until the Hamilton New Zealand Temple was completed in 1958. Today there are five temples in Australia, three in Japan, two in the Philippines (with a third one just announced in the October conference), two in the state of Hawaii, and one each in Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The public open house in Laie runs from Friday, October 22, until Saturday, November 13, except Sundays. The temple will be rededicated on Sunday, November 21.

7 A final word

Last week I shared a piece by Charlie Reese about the mess our politicians have put us in. And then I invited you all to cast an informed vote in next week's elections.

Just consider the following that accompanied Charlie Reese's piece:

Sales tax
School tax
Liquor tax
Luxury tax
Excise taxes
Property tax
Cigarette tax
Medicare tax
Inventory tax
Real estate tax
Well permit tax
Fuel permit tax
Inheritance tax
Road usage tax
CDL license tax
Dog license tax
State income tax
Food license tax
Vehicle sales tax
Gross receipts tax
Social Security tax
Service charge tax
Fishing license tax
Federal income tax
Building permit tax
IRS interest charges
Hunting license tax
Marriage license tax
Corporate income tax
Personal property tax
Accounts receivable tax
Recreational vehicle tax
Workers compensation tax
Watercraft registration tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Telephone Federal excise tax
Telephone state and local tax
IRS penalties (tax on top of tax)
State unemployment tax
Federal unemployment tax
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
Telephone Federal universal service fee tax
Gasoline tax
Utility taxes
Vehicle license registration tax
Telephone Federal, state, and local surcharge taxes
Telephone recurring and nonrecurring charges tax

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the hell happened? Can you spell politicians?

Now, of course, our governments at Federal, state, and local levels need money to operate, but this list seems a bit over the top to me.

Yes, please vote on November 2. Let me say that one more time: VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2! It is one of our fundamental duties as citizens of a free land.

1 Some fun with math

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111 
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111 
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111 
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111 
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111 

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888 
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888 
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888 
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888 
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888 
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888 



Look at this symmetry

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121 
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321 
11111 x 11111 = 123454321 
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321 
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321 
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

2 Quote of the week

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the satisfaction that your vote is never lost.

- John Quincy Adams (1767-1848)

Sixth president of the United States (1825-1829)

3 This week in our family

Thurs, Oct 21: Joshua's birthday [Gail]
Sat, Oct 23: Gena Tully's birthday [Gene]
Wed, Oct 27: James Talmage born 1999 (died 7 weeks later) [Dean]
Wed, Oct 27: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
Lyle called last Wednesday afternoon to report he had just come home from St. Luke's Hospital in Meridian, where he had four stents put in. On Monday, while he was getting potatoes out of his garden, he started feeling dizzy and was sweating and could tell something was wrong, so he called for an ambulance. He had a blocked artery. By the time he called me, he was feeling tired but otherwise pretty good. He said he was told he could not drive a car for three or four days.

Dean's family
The Great Harvest bakery in Everett closed its doors last night for the final time. Chris and Camilla, who will be visiting us here in Utah next week, now move on to the next chapter of their lives. In the short term Chris for about three months will help get a new Great Harvest bakery in Olympia up and going and Camilla will continue as the office manager (or whatever her title is) in the apartment complex where they live.

We forgot to report that nearly a month ago (on Thursday night, September 23) our 19th grandchild was born. Olivia Louann Cleverly was born to Talmage and Louise in Ogden, Utah. She weighed 7 pounds 6 ounces and was 20 inches long.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the October 1960 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Thurs, Oct 20. I came home & took Kids to school. Ivard had come home & was gone to do beets. He got home at 7: Gail & Lynda brought Jerry home.

Fri, Oct 21.  I came home from work & went to bed. got up at noon & took Jackie to bed & never woke up until 4: I took Ray in to help on school float & at 5: & went to church & helped with 70's annual banquet until 8:30. Ivard & Kids came in & ate at 7:30. Gene left for Pocotello at 9: this morning. We heard game tonite & they tied 13 to 13. The banquet really went off good this yr. no confusion like last.

Sat, Oct 22.  Jerry & Kids cleaned yard & he made 4 Jello pies. Ray cleaned house. I made a meat pie with biscuits on top & we ate at 7: Ivard & I took Jerry in to Hennis's to go on a blind date with a girl from Melba they went to square dance.

Sun, Oct 23.  Jerry - Gene and Ray went over to Owyhee ward to Priesthood & sunday school. I came home from work & went to bed. at 3:15 Dale & I went in to church to his Primary class party & he got his top pilot wings. at 6: we all went over to Owyhee ward to Jerrys home comeing. He gave a real nice talk. Ivard & I had to sit on stand.

Mon, Oct 24.  I came home from work & Ivard had already come home & taken Gene to school for 8: test & gone to do beets. I sorted cloths & Jerry washed all day & I went to bed. Gene & Ray went to Mutual.

Tues, Oct 25.  I got ready & Jackie & I went in to relief society at 10: Gene went selling candy bars for scouts.

Wed, Oct 26.  A bad wind came up on way to town & about blew me off road, so dusty I had to turn lites on & it really turned cold.

6 What in the world

Football rankings
Boise State (with a 6-0 record this season) is ranked 2nd in the AP Top 25, USA Today, and ESPN rankings and 3rd in the BCS rankings. Utah (also with a 6-0 record) is ranked 9th in all four of the polls. BYU (2-5 for the season) decided not to show up this year.

Early voting
Two-thirds of the states allow registered voters to vote early. For example, family members who live in Utah can vote early starting yesterday through Friday, October 29 (you can find times and polling places at http://vote.utah.gov/). For those of you who live in Idaho or Washington or other states, check locally to see if that option is available to you before the normal election day on Tuesday, November 2.

7 A final word

The elections are soon upon us. I am not endorsing any specific candidate or political party here, but I was impressed when I read the following piece, entitled "545 People," by Charlie Reese, a veteran journalist for 49 years, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel.

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
           
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
           
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
           
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
           
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
           
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
           
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
           
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
           
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
           
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
           
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
           
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
           
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. . . . The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
           
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
           
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted--by present facts--of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
           
If the Army and Marines are in Iraq, it's because they want them in Iraq. If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
           
There are no insoluble (inexplicable/mysterious) government problems.
           
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
           
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
           
They, and they alone, have the power.
           
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
           
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
           
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Now that's a fresh perspective. Please vote on November 2. And cast an informed vote. It could well be the best thing you could do for your country right now.

1 We're still here

Alert readers have pointed out that it's been nearly a month since the last issue of the newsletter was posted. We missed three weeks (the September 22, September 29, and October 6 issues). Blame it on our travels out of state and then my getting sick, leaving me little energy or interest in publishing.

On Thursday afternoon, September 16, Claudia and I flew to St. Louis (and then drove for two and a half hours) to visit Robert and Rachael and their three girls in Harrisburg, Illinois. We got to see their new home, a 107-year-old mansion on a quiet, tree-lined brick street, which they had just moved into a couple weeks earlier. On Sunday morning of that weekend we saw Claudia Sue (age 7) and Esther (age 6) in their branch's Primary sacrament meeting program. Rachael, who is the Primary president, organized the program. Claudia and I returned home to Utah on Monday evening, September 20. [That little trip wiped out the September 22 issue of the newsletter.]

On Friday evening, September 24, Claudia and I flew to Seattle to visit Chris, Camilla, and Sam in Everett, Washington. The Great Harvest Bakery that they have owned there for the past two and a half years is closing its doors for good on Tuesday, October 19. A combination of Everett demographics and a slow economy combined against the bakery's survival. On Sunday morning of that weekend we saw Sam (age 4) in his ward's Primary sacrament meeting program. Camilla, who is the Primary chorister, lead the children in all the songs they sang, including renditions of "I Am a Child of God" in French and Spanish. Claudia and I returned home to Utah on Monday morning, September 27. [That little trip, plus the cold that developed from burning the candle at both ends, wiped out the September 29 issue of the newsletter.]

And then, still dealing with the nasty cold, on Friday evening, October 1, my right knee became inflamed, red, and painful. It kept oozing some combination of chalky white goop and blood. After visits to two different doctors, I am still not sure if it was something like gout (which I can assure you from previous experience is very painful) or an unusual flare up of the calcium deposits I sometimes get from the scleroderma (an autoimmune disorder) that I have had for many years. The symptoms of the two alternatives are apparently pretty much similar. My best guess, based on the progression of the symptoms compared to what I've researched online, is that it's calcinosis from the scleroderma. [That little adventure, wiped out the October 6 issue of the newsletter.]

So, here we are back again. Later this morning I go to the Wound Management Center at LDS Hospital to see what's up next with my angry knee. Stay tuned. Maybe we'll have something further to report next week.

2 Quote of the week

Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.

— Abraham Lincoln

3 This week in our family

Wed, Oct 13: Christian Reher's birthday [Ray]
Wed, Oct 13: Anniversary of Claudia's death in 2005 [Kay]
Fri, Oct 15: Destiny Jade Harned's birthday [Gail]
Fri, Oct 15: Talia's birthday [Kay]
Tues, Oct 19: Andrea McAllister's birthday [Kay]
Tues, Oct 19: Shawn Burdett's birthday [Lyle]
Wed, Oct 20: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Jerry
Jerry called us Monday evening wondering if the Lorraine Garner Crandall, who died recently in Burley, was the mother of Sheryl and grandmother of Shauna, Richard, Curtis, and Sharae. Jerry also said he has been walking lately, has been losing some weight, and is feeling better.


Kay's family
Kay called last week to report that he was set apart as an ordinance worker in the St. George Utah Temple on Wednesday, October 6. He and Karen were also up in northern Utah over conference weekend. For the general priesthood session of conference on Saturday night Kay attended in Layton with all of his sons and sons-in-law (except, we assume, for the two who live out of state).

Ray's family
Sharae and Eugene DeMartini had a son born on October 10 [as in 10-10-10] at 3:04 p.m. Collin Eugene weighed in at 6 pounds 15 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long. Sharae reported, "Both mom and baby are doing well."

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the October 1960 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. Jerry had just returned from his mission on Monday, October 10, 1960. It was the first time he had seen the family home south of Nampa since the family's move from Oregon in February 1959.

Wed, Oct 12.  I came home from work & Gene & Ray had taken the pick up to school to take Rays stuff in to go up to Church Camp with Scouts until Sat., they leave after school. I made 2 apple pies & a little one, one banna pie & 10 in individual pans & a shell & a Kettle of chilli while Ivard watched World Series. Jerry washed cloths.

Thurs, Oct 13.  Kids didn't have to go to school. Jerry watched world Series Pittsburg won. Jerry fixed stuff ready to put on for supper & at 3:30 I took him in to Dr. Ross & Dean, Dale & Jackie to Primary. Gail, Lynda & Kids came & ate & took Jerry home with them.

Fri, Oct 14.  Kids didn't have to go to school. I came home from work at 8:30, we have next 3 nites off. Ivards nite off too. Gene did fence ect. Dean tended Kids all day. We went to Boise at 5: & went to Bronco Stadium & watched Gene tie Borah 0 to 0. Gene played most of game. After game Ivard & I went to "Louies" & had chow meine, sure good.

Sat, Oct 15.  iorned most of day. Ray got home at 1:30 from scout trip. Ivard took knives in to be welded at 10: & at noon I called & they were done. at 3: I called Stockman & he said he'd be home in half hr. at 6: I drove by & he was still sitting in there. We were supposed to be over to Gails to go to my birthday dinner. I went over & took Jerrys suit from cleaner, for tomorrow. There wasn't anyone home so I came back to Nampa at 8:30 & Ivard was still sitting in Stockman. I went to show (2) & at 11:30 I went in Stockman & really told Ivard off & he came right home, without my money or knives.

Sun, Oct 16.  Ivard - Gene & Ray went to Priesthood & Sunday school. at 11:40 me & little Kids went to sunday school. I was so mad at Ivard I never talked to him all day.

Mon, Oct 17.  I iorned all day & finally got it all done up, even what I washed today. Ray & Gene went to Mutual. Ivard says he still loves me.

Tues, Oct 18.  I came home from work & took Dean to school, Dale rode bike. I made a lemon pie & got ready & Jackie & I went to relief society at 9:40: Jerry called & said his home comeing was this sunday nite at Owyhee.

Wed, Oct 19.  We got paid a day early got a 10-cent raise recoative to Aug. 20. got 2 checks, my back pay was $30. spent all day makeing 11 apple pies & washing. when Dean & Dale came from school we took Jackie in to Kotters & left her & went up & got Dean & Dale a pr. shoes $23. got Jackie, she didn't want to come & came home & she was going to run away.

6 What in the world

Five new temples announced
"We continue to build temples," declared President Thomas S. Monson during the opening moments of the October general conference. "This morning I am pleased to announce five additional temples for which sites are being acquired and which, in coming months and years, will be built in the following locations: Lisbon, Portugal; Indianapolis, Indiana; Urdaneta, Philippines; Hartford, Connecticut; and Tijuana, Mexico."

7 A final word

We are currently studying the marvelous teachings of the prophet Isaiah in Sunday School. He appears to be among those prophets who were privileged to have a panoramic vision from the beginning to the end, from our premortal state in the eternal worlds before this earth was framed until after the end thereof, when the earth will be sanctified in celestial glory.

As I contemplate the teachings of Isaiah, it appears there are two major themes that run through the 66 chapters of his book: (1) a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ and (2) a focus on the apostasy, dispersion, gathering, and healing of the house of Israel in the last days.

The Book of Mormon seems to bear this out. Concerning the first theme, the prophet Nephi wrote, "That I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah" (1 Nephi 19:23; emphasis added).

Concerning the second theme, the story of the house of Israel, the resurrected Savior endorsed Isaiah's words when he appeared to the Nephites assembled in the land of Bountiful, "I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things, . . . for great are the words of Isaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel" (3 Nephi 23:1-2; emphasis added).

The more we understand Isaiah the more we will understand the expansive mission of the Lord Jesus Christ and what the Father is accomplishing and will yet accomplish with His covenant people in these latter days. Little wonder the Lord commanded that we search the words of Isaiah.