In his declining years my father was fond of saying, “I'm a has been.  I has been a better man.”  Similarly it occurs to me that I has been a lot of things in the nearly 56 years of my church membership.

I began as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, and a Russian linguist.  I have been a Primary teacher, and the leader of 11-year-old boys twice.  I have twice been an elders' quorum president, and twice a ward mission leader.  I have held every position in the Young Men organization.  I have been gospel doctrine teacher in the Sunday School several times, and president and counselor of that organization.  I was bishop for six years and three months.  I was a counselor in the stake presidency for nine years.  I was a ward chorister, a missionary, a high priests' group leader, ward  financial clerk, an early-morning seminary teacher for seven years, an institute instructor for six years, and an ordinance worker in the temple for ten years.

In the meantime I was a farmer, and a rancher, a cabinet maker, and, for two years, a loan officer for a financial institution.  I was a full-time father for the 42 years that children were in my home.  I am now a part-time father, and a grandfather to 55, and soon to be 56, grandchildren.  I am a great grandfather to four, soon to be six.  A new baby has joined our family in every year since 1993.

I have been young and strong.  I have been a cripple and an invalid.  I have been a writer and a horticulturist.  I am a husband and a stake patriarch.  Most of all I have been happy, supremely happy, through it all.  The happiness stems from the fact that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.  He it is that made all of this possible.  He it is who made me capable.  Without Him I could have done nothing at all.  With Him I can do anything.

I has been a lot of things.  I'm now nearly 76 years old, and will not be adding too many more things to my resumé.  I've probably received the last calling that I'll have in life, and I'm satisfied.  I'm satisfied being a patriarch and Marjorie's husband.

It has been a wonderful life.