Several years ago, former LDS member Ken Clark ["...Worked full time for the LDS Church Education System (CES)  for 27 years.  He also served as a bishop; a calling he enjoyed as much as full time instructor and Coordinator for the Church Education System."] wrote a copiously-researched screed on the non-official, but well-used doctrine of “Lying for the Lord”.

I first heard of this concept in 1982 as a BYU student, when my religion professor Joseph Fielding McConkie presented it to the class with a chortle of approval as he told the story of his great-grandfather, church president Joseph F. Smith, lying to Congress during the Reed Smoot hearings.

Interesting and helps explain why the concept of lying is so institutionalized. I sometimes feel like I was the only member of the church who wasn’t lying to get a temple recommend, go on a mission, etc.

If only I had known…

Actually, my inherent honesty came from my father and predates my church membership.

And so begins the Christmas season.

We have a company “holiday party” this Friday, before I jet off to Brazil again for a week and then I’m home again and off of work until January 2nd.

Lots of gatherings, colder weather (though no snow accumulating yet), Christmas lights and tree are decorated and I have the urge to spend.

Also, my honey and I devote our efforts to helping others.

Today was Halloween and we had our usual costume party/chili cook-off at work, which was a lot of fun. To top it off, I received the information about my annual bonus (payable next week), which was happily larger than expected. Even after anticipated taxes and 401(k) withholding, I expect to be able to buy my choice of Apple products with impunity.

I’m leaving for Brazil on Friday, which makes my eleventh trip in eleven months. I’ve already booked a week in December, so will be 12/12 by years’ end. I’m not sure whether I will be expected to continue this travel after the new year, but am happy to do so, if asked/needed. I’m still not sure that I would want to live there for an extended period without my honey though.

The weather today was beautiful (mid-70s) and clear. Not so much for those affected by “superstorm” Sandy in the New York tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT). There has been nothing but 24-hour coverage of flooded streets and buildings, houses washed out to sea (or inland), cars destroyed and a tally of some 60+ deaths to-date. Definitely one for the record books.

“Ever since my Mom died three years ago, he’s been saying, ‘Why can’t I die? Why can’t I be with her?’”

I heard this from the daughter of my aged Stake Patriarch last night at his viewing. It made me very pensive and sad — but mostly for this reason: Why would one waste the here-and-now for a future that doesn’t exist?

Faith is a great thing that differentiates we humans from [most] animals and I know that it’s comforting to think that we will see our loved ones again; that this life is merely a precursor; that the trials and tribulations we face now are but a tiny piece of eternity.

Personally, my faith leads me to make the most of this life, of relationships with people, of seeing, experiencing and enjoying this beautiful world. I understand why we want to imagine that there is more and that we are not finite, but the sad truth appears to be just the opposite.

Another of his daughters said this to an older couple in the receiving line:

“Dad is up there with Mom working hard right now, because as you know, there is even more to do there; it is a busy place.”

I’m looking forward to a rest — the final one.

When we’re done, we’re done.

I woke up in São Paulo to a very foggy morning and even though it is now noon, the haze has not completely burned off.

I spent a couple of hours walking around Parque de Ibirapuera and taking photos. Many great shots incorporated the fog, so this set of photos is not just more of the same.

Yesterday I had a meeting at the HQ building for my company’s parent company and got to experience a different part of the greater city. The area was an older town with small, narrow streets and many corporations have built (and continue to build) large modern buildings there. It’s amazing to see the amount of construction going on in this city!

An old Brazilian mission buddy of mine has sent me a message saying that he will call me tonight after he gets off work. Elder Fóz was laid up in the mission office for several weeks in 1979 with knee surgery and we became friends at that time. I haven’t seen nor spoken to him since then, so it will be interesting to see where he is in his life.

Many old mission companions and friends are on Facebook and I see their incessant posts bragging about children on missions, temple marriages, their callings. etc. Reminds me of old friends who are still “dragging Grand” in Laramie — something they did in high school but without ever outgrowing those “glory years”. I feel like I have graduated and moved on. Many in Brazil have contacted me and want to talk, but I really have nothing to share with most of them and am not really ready to rehash the mission and “what happened to you since?” question.

He not busy being born is busy dying.
–Bob Dylan

Not sure (actually, pretty sure there’s not) of any significance to today’s date, except to note that it only happens once in a century.

Enjoy!

Fall has arrived in full force, with almost-freezing temps every morning and jacket weather during the day. We had our first snow on October 7th, which was way too early for my tastes, but nothing since. Many of the trees are still green and fully-leafed, so I’m not sure what that means.

The weather patterns are disturbingly different year after year. We were still having snow in May this year and June was the rainiest month in my recollection. The Snowbird ski resort remained open for skiing until July 4th (probably not the best of skiing that late, but certainly an abundance of snow allowed bragging rights).

“Summer” lasted a scant 2-1/2 months and we reached 100 degrees F exactly once.

Beautiful and dramatic leaf colors changes in the mountains this fall probably stem from the abundance of precipitation.

I’m hoping that snow is scant at least until December, but won’t be surprised at any outcome.

A married LDS couple with whom we work invited us to the wedding reception of their son the other night.

Now, I want to note here that I am not a big fan of being asked to celebrate (e.g. contribute financially or gift wise or in most cases, even attend) something in which I can not legally partake. Also note that we had never actually met the couple, but I acquiesced to attending because I like and respect the parents.

Like any social being, I can show up and smile and make witticisms and be my normal charming self, but I personally begin to bristle when asked to swallow my pride and ignore the fact that my 23-year relationship would not only be unacknowledged by this particular group, it is essentially considered immoral, if not illegal by many of them.

We arrived at the evening gathering to the sight of what appeared to be an entire LDS ward plopped into the backyard: Small children, babies, older people, young couples, singles. A multi-million-dollar building overhead and industrial carpeting underfoot and we could have been in any LDS chapel in the world (except for the exceedingly “white and delightsome”-ness of the prevalent skin tones).

My honey always makes me do the writing whenever faced with a joint task, so I signed the guestbook, “At least yours is legal. Best wishes….”

I felt much better.