EPILOGUE April 22,
2015
Well we have now been home about four months since our
full-time missionary service in the California Irvine Mission. It has only been
the last few days that we have been able to feel some part of the adjustment
expected upon one’s return. The first few months were extremely difficult for
us feeling like a fish out of water and longing to be back with those we came
to love so very much in the mission field.
This adjustment has been surprising to me. It has been much
more difficult for me than in was as a young missionary returning from the
Eastern Atlantic Mission in 1963. I believe I had assumed that with some
expected maturity in the intervening fifty-two years that it would have been
easier. But not so. Indeed we found it much easier to leave family and friends
to serve as Seasoned Missionaries that it has been to leave our dear ones in
Lake Forest, Aliso Creek, Altisima, Foothill Ranch, and Irvine.
Fortunately with communication avenues far broader than
snail mail of my earlier mission we have been able to stay in touch, probably
hearing from 2-3 families a week which has helped to ease our longings.
We received several calls for prayers in behalf of
individuals and even some to pray with them on the telephone. One such was
Brother Two interacting with a co-worker whose wife was at a crossroads with an
addiction to alcohol. He requested our faith and prayers in her behalf. Later
the co-worker sent a note that he felt our prayers have been the answer and
offered his warm thanks.
So what’s happened since we have returned? Here is a brief
capsule of those events.
Sister Haddock sent to the Twenty-one family, “We miss the
hug and kisses! How are you feeling? Who replied, “We really miss you guys too.
I have been good, I did have a little scare and was in Labor and delivery
January 4th. They put me on modified bed rest and a lot of wonderful women at
church have helped me. Otherwise everything with the baby is great, I get to
have an ultrasound today. Shortly we were excited to learn that baby Cody was
born. From Dad, “Funny thing so last night after we got into our recovery room.
I decided to try and pass a kidney stone. Fun times’
Sent an Easter card to the Seventy-six family who replied, “Thanks
for thinking of us! Please know our lives have been enriched by your friendship
and our testimonies deepened because of your teaching. What a blessing it was
to be associated with such wonderful Latter-day Saints!”
From one of our minister friends I received this question,
“Are we baptized into the true church or into Christ's death?” I replied, “Actually
the question you asked cannot be answered because the word "or" is
misplaced. It is not an either or question between the two. Rather LDS theology
teaches that we are baptized unto the death of Christ, we are also raised in
the newness of life in Christ, baptized for membership into the true church,
and to signify our willingness and obligation to live by the precepts of His
church and kingdom upon the earth. The Apostle Paul got it right (see Romans
6:3-6).”
Brother Six, our evangelical minister following through with
the Joy in Christ Christmas choir after we left, joining his congregation,
Saddleback and the Aliso Creek Ward in singing to nursery homes. And operation
poncho when his congregation and the Aliso creek Ward distributed ponchos to
all the homeless in Santa Ana. Next up is a distribution of sleeping pads in
the same area.
Shortly before we left the mission field and with a meeting
being cancelled on us, Sister Haddock decided she wanted to eat dinner at
In-N-Out. For some unknown reason I didn’t drive to either of the two closest
restaurants but instead drove to the one in Foothill Ranch. While on the way
there felt impressed to stop by and give the Six family copies of some talks,
Elder Oaks, “The Only True and Living Church,” and Elder Packer, “Only True
Church,”, and President Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Stone Cut Out of the
Mountain.” We enjoyed a nice visit with Sister Six and the husband’s daughter.
They had some questions that we were able to immediately answer. As we left we
said to each other, “Well, we were in the right place at the right time.”
As we left we headed to the Foothill Ranch area but instead
of going directly to the restaurant felt impressed to stop at the See’s Candy
holiday store temporally set up in the outdoor mall there. We had hoped to see
Brother Fifty-five who was the manager. Not seeing him we asked the cashier and
she told us he was taking a break to eat dinner and immediately went behind the
curtain to get him. He was overjoyed to see us. As we were paying him for our
gifts his face lit up and he said, “Oh, you need to see my dad (Brother
Seventy-nine) and talk to him about the temple. I’ll have him give you a call.”
We had met dad the first time we visited with the Fifty-five
family as we did the temple preparation lessons in their home. He was there the
first week, but work schedules didn’t permit him to attend any of the other
sessions. The young couple lived in the apartment of the father. That first
time Jan cleverly roped the father into staying and being part of the lesson as
well. We covered the first two lessons for temple prep and the atonement as
they didn’t want us to leave, so we were there nearly two hours. The father had
a question about sealing that had been answered before a couple of times but so
different as to cause more concerns than they solved, even pushing the son and
father into inactivity for several years. As they asked the question the answer
quickly came to my mind, one if living and another if dead, which I gave to
them regarding sealing. There was an audible sigh of relief from both the
father and the son. It was one of those occasions where you are hearing
yourself answer a question but it is as if you aren’t involved in the process.
A couple of weeks later we briefly spoke with the father as
he was leaving and urged him to come back to church, “The Lord needs you and
you need to be in the temple with your son and daughter-in-law as they are
sealed for time and eternity.” As June was ending and we rolled into July,
three appointments were cancelled in succession giving us some concern. We were
later to learn it was just scheduling conflicts and they had been reading and
studying the many handouts we had provided to them along the way.
On 21 August we met with the couple for 1½ hours to finish
their preparation for the temple. We notified the Bishop of their progress and
arranged for their temple recommend interviews. They want to attend the San
Diego Temple for to receive their endowment and have invited another young
couple, the wife of which had been baptized about a year and one-half before to
be their escorts. But they wanted to hold off on the sealing at the husband’s
mother’s request who is out of state and trying to get her life in order. We
cautioned them against waiting too long. Going September 2 in San Diego. They
are holding off on the sealing at his mother’s request who is trying to get her
life in order. Cautioned them against waiting too long. They said they had set
a December deadline for her.
On September 2 Sister Haddock and I drove down to the San
Diego Temple for family Fifty-five to receive their endowments. It was good to
be in the San Diego Temple again. With all the history involved in selecting
the site, serving on the Temple Open House Committee, being an ordinance worker
in the temple with my folks, our son and one daughter both marrying here, this
temple has a different or rather special feel for us. I am sure it is the
coloration from history.
The session was wonderful. The couple wore blinding smiles
throughout, were very appreciative of the preparation they had received and
that we would come all this way to be with them. They said they were touched
that we changed our schedule and made the trip down.
The next day I received an email from Brother Fifty-five. “Hi
Elder Haddock, I was talking to my dad this evening and he raised a great
question. As far as Temple Recommends go, do my parents need to have received their
Endowment or can they attend a sealing with a limited use recommend?” I replied
that they cannot witness a sealing with a limited use recommend which only allows
access to the baptistry or those under 18 to be sealed to their parents.
By October the father, Brother Seventy-nine, was
occasionally coming to church. The son Brother Fifty-five sent me another email
in mid-October. “Hi Elder and Sister Haddock! My wife and my dad said that you
gave a talk in church today. I had to work, and I was wondering if you could
email it to me, I would love to read it. They said it was really powerful.” I
replied, “Absolutely I'll send it to you in the morning.”
About mid-November Sister Fifty-five told us at church, as
we were r As the day drew to a close Jan said she wanted to eat dinner at
In-N-Out. For some unknown reason I didn’t drive to either of the two closest
restaurants but instead drove to the one in Foothill Ranch. While on the way
there felt impressed to stop by and give Kay Skinner copies of two talks, Elder
Oaks, “The Only True and Living Church,” and Elder Packer, “Only True Church,”,
and President Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Stone Cut Out of the Mountain.” Had a
nice visit with Kay and Julie.
Now back to the See’s candy store. Brother Fifty-five said
his father wanted to know if he had to meet with the bishop. I told him no, only
for repentance, not inactivity and wanting to come back. But would have to meet
with him for the temple recommend. Said we would make whatever schedule was
needed to meet his father’s needs to prepare him. As we left we both were
stunned with all the changes, feeling, stops and directions we traversed to
make this visit possible.
Later after attending the sealing with the Two family we,
along with the Two’s and the bishop and his family went to Fuddrucker’s to get
a bit. While there Brother Seventy-nine called me on the phone. I went out in
the parking lot to speak with him. He told me of a matter 20 or more years ago
asking if he needed to speak with the bishop and I told him he did. He then
asked how a bishop handles things and I shared with him what I did as bishop.
“I can do that,” he said. I told him the bishop was at the restaurant with me
and did he want to talk with him right now. He answered in the affirmative. So
I briefed the bishop and put him on the line. They set up a date the next night
to visit.
Our last Sunday in the mission field, Brother Seventy-nine
came to church and as we visited I invited him to sit with us which he
consented to do. Said he had talked with the Bishop and is getting things in
order even if it takes longer that his son and daughter-in-law need for their
sealing. He is committed. Wanted to thank me for counseling him and getting him
on the right path. I told him I wanted to know the rest of story, so “please
keep us informed of your progress.”
After returning home we learned the sealing date had been
moved to February 17, 2015. On the evening of February 12 I received a very
excited call from Brother Seventy-nine. “Elder Haddock, this is Brother
Seventy-nine. Guess what I have in my hand. I have a temple recommend. I am
going to the Newport Temple on Saturday to receive my endowment and on Tuesday
for the sealing of the kids. My ex-wife also has her recommend and will be at
the sealing as well, coming all the way from Louisiana. I can’t thank you
enough for all you have done for our family. Our lives have been changed
forever.” I told him how excited we were for them and hung up the telephone
nearly overcome with joy.
Part of Brother Fifty-five’s inactivity had been working
Sunday’s at See’s. His wife has had some tough health issues preventing her
from much activity herself. We were fortunate to be able to give her a blessing
for her health. Between the time of their endowment and being sealed, her
health has improved, she found employment and is pregnant with their first
child. He has found a new job, at the same place as his escort, and is no
longer working Sunday’s.
We have also heard from Sister Fifty-one who went to the
temple the first time this month of April. She recently wrote, “Well I finally
made it to the temple. 13 including me. It was great, Diane was down from San
Francisco and Tania and Kent up from San Clemente. Bishop Robinson and his wife
Michelle were able to come too. Will let you know when I head up your way.
Thank you both for helping me. Miss your smiling faces every Sunday.”
That makes the tenth individual we served who has now been
to the temple and where possible, been sealed for time and eternity. I feel
like Ammon, “Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea,
let us give thanks to his hold name, for he doth work righteousness forever”
(Alma 26:8). And to think, we were privileged to come along for the ride.
