Family
The Matter of Lineage
One’s lineage has significance. It is noteworthy that Jesus gave power to the twelve and sent them forth to preach and to heal, but “commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.
Read MoreMultiplicity
I am going to give you a lesson in math. Rather than put you to sleep, I think that it will be eye opening.
I’m going to center my remarks around the word “multiplicity.” Multiplicity means “a great number.” It might also mean “innumerable.” The word is used just once in scripture. In D&C 104:42 the Lord says, “I will multiply blessings upon him … even a multiplicity of blessings.” I’m enchanted with that word and its implications.
Journal Entry, 7 July 2024
Ivy and Joseph and their six children moved in with us this week. They then went to a 4-day, 3-night family reunion at Dayton, Washington. As they left, Nathan and Leslie and three kids came for a 4-day visit.
My main goal these days is to maintain a “simple and consistent environment” for Marjorie. Her mind is deteriorating. This week has been confusing for her. Some of her questions this week are disturbing:
Conversations, Verbal and Unspoken
From the Holy Ghost, unspoken: “It’s 6:35.”
Spoken, to Marjorie: “Oh, my goodness, it’s 6:35. The missionaries invited me to participate in tonight’s lesson with Michael Townsend. I told them that we were probably going to the temple today, and wouldn’t be back in time. Because of the snow we didn’t go. I just have time to get there. I don’t want to go. It’s so late. A sense of responsibility is an awful thing. The elders appreciate me. I’m going to leave you for a bit.” (I put on my shoes, and am out the door).
I Have Enough
As I sat waiting for the endowment session to begin, I thanked the Lord for providing three temples within a range that makes it possible for us to attend weekly. The closest is a two-and-a-quarter hours’ drive away. The farthest of the three is a two-and-a-half hours’ drive.
Read MoreMy Ancestors Were Slaves
July 4th, 2023. Independence Day. Much was said in testimony meeting two days ago about our independence and freedom.
I am truly free. I am free from debt. I can do each day as I please. No one is persecuting me. I can worship as I please. I am free from sin. I have no addictions. I am not subservient to anyone or anything. I live in the United States of America, the only country in the world governed by a Constitution written by men who were raised up by God for that very purpose. (D&C 101:80)
Education
Education is part of the legacy and cultural heritage of the Kerns family.
It began as far back as William Brewster, born 1567 in England. In an age when almost no one had the opportunity to go to school, William Brewster attended Cambridge University. He was the presiding elder among the Saints on the Mayflower, and was, therefore, one of the very first Europeans to immigrate to America. William Brewster is my 11th great grandfather.
My Brother Don—by Marjorie
My brother, Don, was always very good to me. He could fly off the handle at the slightest provocation, but he never did with me. He was very good to me. He was protective of me. Johnny Richards and an older boy were chasing JoAnn Lewis and me on our bikes. They got us off our bikes and twisted our arms behind us, and Don came along and scared them to death. He told them they were never to touch me or he’d beat them up. They got out of there and were never a problem for me again.
Read MoreAstute Questions
Marjorie, concerning our current relationship, and our eternal future together:
“How are they going to be able to improve upon this?”
Our Status—Our Miracles
It’s almost Christmas 2022. This time last year we were in trouble. Marjorie was in a rapid slide into dementia. The temple had reopened after being closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Marjorie discovered that she could no longer remember the veil ceremony. We had to be released from our temple assignment. That was in the summer. It was all downhill from there. Nathan and Leslie were to arrive for a visit in August. Marjorie asked me 19 times when they were coming. She may have asked the question just a few minutes earlier, but she couldn’t retain the information.
Read MoreWatching the Glacier
Yesterday was Sunday (12 December 2022). Church was wonderful. I especially appreciated being able to take the sacrament to renew my covenants and to feel clean again. I also got to hold a great grandchild through much of the meeting. How many great grandfathers get that privilege? Emmy is here for a visit with her family with 5-month-old Emma. Emma is the most good-natured baby I’ve ever seen. A stranger can take her, and she won’t fuss. She sat through the entire meeting on her uncle Gideon’s lap, my lap, or Marjorie’s, and was perfectly happy. She wouldn’t look me in the eye, though, except when I was singing the hymns. She thought that I was singing to her, so I had her complete attention. She is as cute and as chubby as a baby can be.
Read MoreTwo Acts of Service
Today I learned about and observed two beautiful examples of service.
First was Adam’s mentioning that he’d been to Bremerton, Washington this past weekend. He flew his plane to Stanfield and picked up Aaron. They continued on to Bremerton arriving there at 1:00 or 2:00 Friday afternoon. By 7:00 in the evening they had Nathan’s new septic system in place and working.
Is It Happenstance?
I’m up each morning in time to observe the sunrise. I live where I have an unobstructed view of a range of high mountains to the east over which the sun rises. I watch as the sun reaches its farthest point of rising to the north on June 21st, the day summer officially begins. It then starts a slow march back to the south, rising a minute later each morning. On December 21st, winter has set in, and it reaches its farthest point south. It then begins its march back to the north.
Read MoreThoughts from General Conference
The just-completed general conference was most impressive. President Russell M. Nelson ended the conference by exhorting Church members to follow through with the impressions that they had. This article is to help me do that.
The last impression I received was that in his closing remarks 98-year-old President Nelson was telling us goodbye. This is surprising and upsetting. He has been so vital and energetic and such a wonderful leader that we have all expected and hoped that he’d be leading the Church well past his 100th birthday.
Mac Kerns Memorial Service
I am grateful for this opportunity to speak and to be the family representative at my brother’s memorial service. But I’m a poor choice. As I’ve searched around in my mind for memories of ever living with my brother, I can’t find a thing. Mac is 13 years older than I am, and he left home and got married before my memory kicked in.
Read MoreUncle Bob
Marjorie served us an avocado with our dinner today. She said, “I remember the first avocado that I ever tasted. Uncle Bob brought it from California. None of us had ever tasted avocados before. He said it was really good. I liked it right away.”
Read MorePre-earth Service
In the terrestrial room of the temple yesterday a thought went through my head that I’ve never had before. Since I wasn’t even thinking of such things at the time, and because of where I was and what I was doing, I have to think that it was a revelation to me. I haven’t heard or read anything that the Brethren have said on this matter, so if it is so, the “revelation” was just for my benefit, and is not something that I should be preaching.
Read MoreWhat Has Jesus Done For Me?
I was asked in general conference to write a one-page summary of what the Savior has done for me.
He brought me from darkness into light. I hadn’t even known that I was in darkness. The contrast is extreme. Because of my rescue, the possibility exists that none of my posterity will ever experience that darkness. I fervently pray that may be so.
Birthday Gifts
A month ago Jim Fuller wrote a letter asking me to write a page about our relationship and my conversion. We exchanged letters updating one another about our lives. I mentioned to him that we had had a new baby added to our family every year since 1993; but that I was worried because we were already two months into 2021, and no one had announced a pregnancy.
Read MoreAmy and Shawn Geese
What lessons have you learned from birds? This is a valid question that should be asked of every birder.
I, myself, am not an avid birder, but have spent a lifetime watching and learning from birds. I have been interested, for instance, to have observed changes in local avian populations and their habits.
The First Convert
While reading the story of king Lamoni’s conversion, it occurred to me that he was likely the first Lamanite convert to Christianity in their 500-year history. His conversion was the catalyst that led to the conversion of thousands more.
Read MoreWilliam and Delilah
Yesterday (7 November 2020) I completed my family history research for the family of William and Delilah Frizelle. They were my 3rd great grandparents. My objective was to find all of their children, and to check and correct the vital information of each. I traced each descendant in all of their lines down to at least the year 1910. I made sure that each person either had all of his or her temple ordinances completed, or was put on my own reservation list where I could see to it that the work is done. I sifted through hundreds of people, made scores of corrections, and am now in a position to offer the precious temple ordinances to dozens of people who have not yet had their temple work done.
Read MoreThe Necessities of Life
Recently as I was praying I found myself thanking the Lord for the necessities of life. As popularly understood, the necessities of life are food, clothing, and shelter. Some people in the world lack one or more of those things. I feel badly for them, and was expressing gratitude that I have those basic things.
Read MoreChildren of the Evangelist
This morning in my study I found this:
“And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven, and abode with him.
Family Letter, October 2020
At 2:20 I sat bolt upright in bed when a bull elk bugled right above the house. I wasn’t able to see him in the dark, but he bugled eight times before resting for a while. Periodically he’d tune up again. After 4:00 I put my sweat suit on, wrapped my blanket around me, and went out into the back yard and stood under the aspen tree. By the light of the three-quarter moon I imagined that I could see two cow elk eating potatoes about 50 yards away, and two more above them. The bull was over by where the old barn stood. He bugled about once every minute for the 15 minutes that I stood there. In the morning light, the cow elk turned out to be the wheels to Adam’s pivot.
Read MoreLadders
President Russell M. Nelson says that “most people do not embrace … truth–either because they do not know where to look for (it) or because they are listening to those who do not have the whole truth or because they have rejected truth in favor of worldly pursuits.” (Ensign, May 2020, 89).
Read MoreRemember Mr. King
This story happened before my time. It may have been 50 years before my time, I don’t know. Considering that I am now 72 years old, you’ll know that I have no firsthand knowledge of the affair, and I doubt that I ever knew anyone who did.
Read MoreLiving Life in Crescendo
I began life as a shy child. As a teenager I was nervous, and scared of crowds and the future. I wasn’t happy. I wanted to be, but everything looked dark. I wanted to be a good person. People thought I was good, and thought that I was happy, but I really didn’t like who I was. I had no idea how to change things.
Read MoreImmersing Ourselves in the Scriptures
The first law of thermodynamics says that energy in a system cannot be created or destroyed. It can, however, be converted into another form, or transferred to another system.
Read MorePriorities
Many years ago there was an article in the newspaper about a dog race in England. The greyhounds had spent their lives chasing a mechanical rabbit around the track. The newsworthy thing about this race was that on this particular day a real rabbit had run across the track in front of the dogs—and the dogs gave it not the slightest notice! I thought to myself, “What foolish dogs, chasing a false rabbit that they can never catch.” My next thought was, “How fortunate that we’re humans and have our priorities straight. We have more sense than to chase uncatchable mechanical rabbits.”
Read MoreDefining Moments
I took my son to the temple for his marriage. He and his bride were taken away by a temple worker to review paper work and have a preliminary interview. I was left to sit and wait near the top of the stairs inside the entrance to the Boise Temple.
Read MoreThe Gospel Purpose and Plan
24 October 1994
Katie received a blessing in which she was told that her life was fitting into the gospel purpose and plan. As she has reflected on that statement, she asked if I would write about how my life does that. I agreed to think about it.
Kindness
The very basis for all of Jesus’ teachings may be summed up in His oft-repeated admonition to “love one another.”
Read MoreHelp From the Other Side
I often wonder about my deceased parents and parents-in-law. What are they doing? Where are they?
Read MorePrinceton Field Trip
I have always wanted to see the southeast corner of Oregon. According to the map, there’s not much there other than the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
Read MoreBlessings Unbounded
I want to tell you how the temple has blessed my life.
As a convert to the Church it has been my privilege to seek out my ancestors and to see that their temple work is done.
Temples and Ordinances
I don’t believe that any of us can appreciate or begin to comprehend the full significance of the monumental blessing that it is to have temples.
Read MoreEnvironment
As I prayed this morning, waiting for the sunrise, I thanked my Father in heaven for the beauties with which I’m surrounded.
Read MoreMy Ancestors and The Mormons
Teaching a Primary class about the exodus of the Saints from Nauvoo to Winter Quarters, I realized that the Saints went right by Osceola, Iowa where many of my ancestors settled.
Read MoreOctober Morning
It’s 5:50 on the 6th of October. Time to put on my shoes and walk down the road to my sister’s house. Why do we do this?
Read MoreHow the Wiegman Family Came to Be
As I scanned the list of 250 youth who will be going on the stake handcart trek, I was surprised to notice the names of two out-of-stake youth,
Read MoreWorld’s Most Blessed Man
I am 70 years old. At the age of 69, due to the changes I felt in my body, I became an old man. Yet I’m healthy.
Read MoreThe Book of Mormon—The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
I had made the 8-hour drive from Oregon, U.S.A. to Provo, Utah to see my girlfriend at Brigham Young University. She took me to the fast and testimony meeting…
Read MoreMy Purpose on Earth
I frequently contemplate and puzzle over the question of why I am so blessed. Surely there has never been anyone with so many advantages as I.
Read MoreMy Blessed Life
I have been blessed with a long life filled with joy, love, service, and family. I have been blessed with the opportunity to make every covenant…
Read MoreThinning or Thriving
All my life I have been associated with, loved, and cared for 200 acres of trees. It is a forest of pines, firs, larches, spruce, and aspens.
Read MoreEndangered Species
Lately as I’ve perused the World Book Encyclopedia, several articles have intrigued me.
Read MoreHomemakers
Young Women general president, Bonnie L. Oscarson, put a novel twist on the term “homemaker” in the April 2015 general conference.
Read MoreTo This End Was I Born
In answer to a question posed by Pilate, Jesus said, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.”
Read MoreWeaning, Part Two
Jacob says, “But wo unto him that…wasteth the days of his probation…” (2 Nephi 9:27).
The world is filled with time wasters.