I awoke suddenly and looked at the clock.  3:22 A.M..  My mind was full of thoughts--and full of gratitude--for a couple who greatly influenced my life 56 years ago.  I laid there and thought about them for two or three minutes, and then felt compelled to get up and to write about them.

In June 1967 I had just arrived at my first duty station after having graduated from naval boot camp.  I was assigned to attend 37 weeks of instruction in the Russian language at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California.

On my first Sunday there I attended church in the Pacific Grove Ward.  That day I met Bishop Hansen, and I met Carlton H. Darnell.  Carlton was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.  He was serving as the Adult Aaronic Priesthood  Adviser in the ward.  I was an Adult Aaronic, meaning that I was an adult man who did not yet hold the Melchizedek Priesthood.  I had been a member of the Church for just 15 weeks, and had been given the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained a teacher just one week before my arrival in Monterey.  I found myself in a Sunday School class of two taught by Carlton Darnell.

I don't recall whether my classmate, Jim Goodenough, was there that day or if I was initially the only class member; but I remember feeling special because of the attention given to me by Carlton Darnell.  Here I was, a lowly E-1 seaman recruit, and here was Carlton, an officer in the U.S. Navy, treating me like his best friend.

And that is what we became.  I got personalized instruction.  I was invited to Sunday dinner that very day at the Darnell's home.  I met Carlton's wife, Ruth.  I got to play with their five children.  I felt special.  I was intrigued to learn that as newlyweds they had prayed for twins, and that their first childbirth had resulted in Randy and Valerie.  How cool was that!

Carlton and Ruth were the ideal couple.  They loved their children.  They loved each other.  And they loved me.  Because of them my development in the Church did a meteoric rise.

I was interviewed to become a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood.  I'm very sure it was because of Carlton's recommendation.  I asked him to ordain me.

I very distinctly remember standing in the foyer following sacrament meeting as Ruth introduced me to Shirley Pielstick.  Ruth was all smiles, and was obviously very anxious that I should meet the woman.  I thought Shirley Pielstick was the strangest lady I'd ever met.  I shook her extended hand, but she didn't look at me.  She had a far-away look in her eye, and was looking beyond me.  She suddenly jerked her hand out of mine and went running down the hall.

It wasn't until months or years later that I came to understand what happened there.  Shirley was the Primary president.  Ruth was her counselor.  Ruth had received revelation concerning what to do about their problem class of boys.  They were the 11-year-olds.  There were seven of them, and they had run off a string of female teachers.  Ruth told Shirley that the boys needed a man to teach them, and that the new sailor in the ward, James Kerns, was the man.  Ruth purposefully introduced us.  The Spirit told Shirley, "This is right."  Shirley took off running down the hall to find the bishop and excitedly told him what she wanted to have done.

The next Sunday I was sustained as teacher of the Guide Patrol in Primary.  The following Wednesday I was introduced to my class and taught my first-ever lesson.  I was scared to death, but everything went wonderfully well.  Those boys and I loved each other.

I taught from the Primary manual, and learned right along with the boys.  I introduced them to scouting, and taught them some skills.  I remember setting up a compass course for them to follow on the meetinghouse lawn.  I knew nothing about scouting and compass courses, so I was again learning right along with the boys.  I took them all to a movie.  I was invited to Sunday dinners at their homes.  My buddies back at the barracks were envious because I was associating with the locals--even officers and their families--and was being invited to their homes.  Those boys and I became very close.

March came.  The end of March would be the end of my Russian classes, and transfer time for me.  At the end of February I was called into Bishop Hansen's office for an interview to determine my worthiness for ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood.  I'm sure that also took place because of Carlton's recommendation.

I was next interviewed by the stake president.  I was sustained in stake conference to be ordained an elder.  I again asked Carlton Darnell to ordain me.  The ordination took place on March 10th.  I implanted that date in my mind as being one of the most special days of my life.  Fifty-one years later I was ordained a patriarch on the same date.  March 10th became doubly special.

Because of the preparation he gave me, Carlton Darnell was technically responsible for all of my ordinations.

Now that I was an elder, Carlton and Ruth announced that they were taking me to the temple.  Just six days later, March 16th, Carlton was my escort as I received my endowment in the Oakland California Temple.

The temple was beautiful.  The peaceful atmosphere inside was palpable.  All I remember about the experience is pausing my thoughts a number of times to force myself to realize that there was a busy, hectic world outside.  I could scarcely believe it because everything inside the temple was so peaceful and so right.

Carlton was right there beside me the whole time making sure that my experience would be a good one.

My 21st birthday was the next week.  That week would be my last Primary class.  I entered the classroom to a surprise.  My boys had arranged a birthday party complete with a cake baked by the Glade boy.  It was the best birthday party I ever had.

The next thing I remember is getting into a car to leave Monterey and the Pacific Grove Ward forever.  I don't know whether or not I held back the tears, but my special friend, Randy Darnell, one of those 11-year-old boys, was sobbing uncontrollably.  I can still see him.  It broke my heart.

I never saw the Darnells again.  I lost track of them, but I never stopped loving them.  Carlton and Ruth set me on a life path that has been unimaginably happy and productive.  I owe it all to them.

Carlton was very purposeful in his ministrations.  He magnified his calling.  Because of him I am where I am today.

I don't remember anything that Carlton taught me, but I remember everything that he did.  He loved me.  He shepherded me.  He and Ruth showed me what marriage and family could be like.  She was responsible for my first calling.  He ordained me to two offices of the Priesthood.  They took me to the temple.  They set me on the path, and what a wondrous path it has been.  I owe them a debt I can never repay.