Daily Vitals: Wt. 231.4
GMI: 6.9, Steps (previous day): 8,408
BP: 116/72, Pulse: 78, Reported Sleep: 7:00
Journal Entry
Sometimes it's hard to accept that I'm now 80 years old. Most often I don't feel old but more and more I'm reminded that I am. These are times when I have difficulty with balance and feel unsteady on my feet. But once I get going, I do pretty well. I truly feel that I'm among the healthiest 80 year old men still living and I don't feel that I'm approaching the end of my mortal existence though I suppose I am. I think I will make it to at least 90 but time will tell.
My sister, Beth, is older than I and she's buying breakfast for me today at First Watch, one of our favorite eating establishments that opened near here in Pleasant Grove recently. We will be joined by Craig, her son and therefore my nephew, but for the past few decades he's been more like a "younger" brother to me. I'd say "little" brother because he is smaller than I but other than that I don't consider him to be "little" at all. I truly think calling him my "younger" brother is closer to being accurate.
I'm starting my day at the temple with an Initiatory session at 0615, so I need to get going
Come Follow Me - Old Testament
1 Nephi 13:23 And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles.
"The first part of the Book of Mormon, which was written during the Old Testament period, clearly demonstrates the role of covenants in the Israelite history and worship. Nephi was told that the Israelite writings of that period were “a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel.” The books of Nephi make frequent reference to the Abrahamic covenant and to Israel as “the covenant people of the Lord.”
President Dallin H. Oaks, Apostle
Got a nice letter from Adam:
Dad,
Happy 80th birthday! I hope I can live as long, healthy, and accomplished a life as you have.
Since email is your preferred way to connect, I’m sending this note instead of calling. I want you to know how deeply I love and appreciate you. I often speak about you to others, especially about the incredible blessings I’ve received simply by being your son.
It’s hard to rank those blessings, but if I had to, I’d say the greatest was growing up in a home where my dad truly loved my mom. That love gave me a stable foundation from which everything else in my life has flowed. I still remember how, when you came home from work, you would routinely go to Mom first, give her a hug and a kiss. That simple act may have been the greatest sermon you ever preached.
You modeled for me what a man should be: you worked extremely hard, took pride in your work, and provided faithfully for your family. You gave me a wonderful temperamental template—firm in discipline yet kind and patient, slow to anger.
You created a home where family prayer, scripture study, and church attendance were the norm. It was a safe place where I could develop my own testimony. My first independent witness of the gospel came as a young teenager, reading the Book of Mormon quietly in my room—a room that felt like a sanctuary from the world, a room you provided.
You made education a priority. I remember learning numbers and letters before preschool, growing up surrounded by books, and playing dictionary games as a family. Both you and Mom clearly loved learning, and I caught that same passion. My early exposure to the King James language of the scriptures gave me confidence that I could understand anything I read when I started school.
All of my best qualities—my love of the gospel, my fierce devotion to my wife, my pride in my profession, my lifelong pursuit of learning, my patient demeanor—I can trace directly back to you.
I’m also grateful for my health and strong body. (I’d make a joke about bad knees here, but at 46 I’m still running several miles most days and playing basketball regularly, with only the latter causing any real trouble—so I can’t even complain.)
I owe you a tremendous debt for the life I’ve been able to live. I’ve tried to make it one of meaning and purpose: devoted to the Savior, serving faithfully wherever I’ve been called (currently in my second stint as Elders Quorum president, after branch presidencies and other callings—my favorite being seminary teacher, which I’ve done three times). I serve regularly in the temple and volunteer in my community. I’ve been joyfully married for nearly 25 years, and being a devoted husband has brought me profound happiness. Professionally, I graduated magna cum laude from one of the nation’s top public universities, earned my juris doctor from an excellent law school, became a licensed California attorney, and rose to Commander in the U.S. Navy—now serving as a military judge. As an Iraq War veteran with multiple warship deployments, I’ve always strived to serve with honor and distinction.
I share all of this only to say: you deserve credit for every good thing I’ve ever done and will yet do. Thank you for everything I am.
I love you, Dad. I hope you have a wonderful birthday.
Love,
Adam
