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Personal Life Journal — December 2023

  • December 1, 2023:  We had some wonderful experiences at the new Orem Utah Temple this week, participating in the Open House for the temple.  On Tuesday, November 28th, Susan and I 14 hours at the temple, working on the ‘facilities committee’.  That meant that we clean restrooms, emptied garbages, hauled away used ‘shoe covers’, vacuumed, and other household chores.  It was a long day but it was gratifying to serve in this way at the open house.  We were paired with Mike and Penny Stephenson from the 6th Ward.  We were tired and fatigued at day’s end, but also very grateful.  On Friday, December 1st, we actually served as ushers in the temple itself as guests came through the open house.  We were stationed on the main floor.  I had a wonderful time, being stationed by a wonderful painting of the Lord ordaining his twelve apostles.  It was easy to pick out Judas among the Twelve, and I had a great time showing this to many of the guests.  It was a cold, snowy day, so we were grateful to be inside the temple.  We are so blessed to be in the new Orem Utah temple district, and to have this incredible house of the Lord just minutes from our home.  I am so blessed to be able to serve as an ordinance worker in the coming days and weeks, and I look forward to that opportunity with great anticipation.  We heard of some sweet experiences as we mingled with the other hosts.  As a visiting family was preparing to leave the temple, their little 3-year old daughter did not want to leave.  She said over and over that she wanted to stay in “these rooms”, pointing to the inside of the temple.  She refused to put on her coat and shoes, so they hauled her out to their car as she was!  Susan talked to a young 6-year old boy as he and his family were preparing to leave.  She asked him if he enjoyed the temple.  He said he loved it, because it was a “house of beauty”.  Another usher heard a young boy tell his father that he wanted to drink out of the temple’s drinking fountain so that he could taste “holy water”.  Susan also saw a little toddler keeping pointing to the inside of the temple and saying “Up, Up” as her parents tried to get her to leave the temple.  Such is the sweet influence that this holy house of the Lord has on old and young alike!  The interior of the temple is beautiful beyond description, but it is the feeling that one has while in the holy house that makes the most lasting impression.
  • December 21, 2023:  I saw Dr. Stan Phillips on this day, hoping to get some help with my right foot pain and lesions.  Here is the sheet I prepared for my visit with him:
    History of right foot ulcers and inflammation, Michael Taylor (04/24/1952)Background:
    1. I have been an active hiker and jogger my entire adult life, with no foot or leg problems resulting
    2. Pain and redness in the lateral aspect of my right foot started in July or August 2023
    3. Two white lesions appeared in September 2023
    4. The symptoms and lesions have slowly progressed over the ensuing months, with no improvements
    5. I am now almost incapacitated with the pain.  Walking is painful, the pain disturbs my sleep every
    night, and I can no longer wear regular shoes.  I am getting by with lidocaine cream, Tylenol, and
    Advil.Current therapy:
    1. Lidocaine cream around the clock
    2. Mupirocin ointment
    3. A herbal wound treatment salve
    4. Xeroform gauze
    5. As little pressure as possible on the wound
    6. A dermatologist prescribed a compounded ointment, but it made the pain intolerableSuggested therapy:
    1. A wound specialist at Revere Health in Provo has suggested that we debride the wound

    Past therapy and studies:
    1. Steroid/bupivacaine injections twice, with no change or improvement
    2. Two courses of oral antibiotics with absolutely no change in the lesions (Cephalexin and Cipro) or symptoms
    3. Vascular ultrasound of the right leg – normal
    4. MRI of the right leg – normal
    5. X-rays of the right foot – normal
    6. Angiography dye studies of right leg – normal
    7. Nerve conduction studies of right leg and foot – suggestive of idiopathic peripheral neuropathy
    8. Culture of the lesions – normal skin flora
    9. Biopsy of the lesions – generalized nonspecific inflammation

  • December 17, 2023:  I continue to struggle with a very painful lesion on my right foot.  I have seen several practitioners and have tried a plethora of remedies, but the problem persists.  I continue to pray for a miracle.  I am grateful that I no longer am dealing with swelling in my left foot and the numbness of my right foot has abated.  I am also now dealing with persistent lower back pain.  Old age is difficult.  I had the opportunity to speak in the Grandview 5th Ward today, being assigned as a companion to one of our high councilors.  The topic was ‘covenants’, and I shared the story of Parley P. Pratt’s mission to Toronto and the miraculous events that occurred due to his unflagging covenantal discipleship to the Lord.  I was able to give my talk without the use of any notes, and I felt that the Spirit bore strong witness of my message.  I felt very blessed.  We also attended the farewell Sacrament meeting for Gene and Lori Nelson today, as they prepare to embark for their 2 year mission in Toronto, Canada.  Jane and Trevor attended, and my prayer is that they were listening with not only their ears, but their hearts and souls as well.  The Spirit was strong, and the Nelsons gave powerful messages.
  • December 24, 2023:  I work with some wonderful brethren in our stake presidency, currently serving as assistant stake financial clerk.  I invited President Robert Lesa and President Brian Miles, the two counselors in the stake presidency, to give me a priesthood blessing regarding my present foot ulcerations.  They were kind to come to my house, and President Lesa gave a beautiful blessing which I so much appreciated.  In the blessing he said the following: 1) The Lord loves you, your sweet wife, and your family.  2) I bless you that you will see the hand of the Lord in the healing of your foot problem.  3) I bless you that you will be inspired as you seek help for your health problems.  4) I bless you that you will heal and recover completely from this problem.  5) I bless you that you will increase in your love of divine help and the atonement through this ordeal.  A sweet and inspiring spirit accompanied the blessing, for which I was so grateful.
  • December 2023:  We were delighted to attend a choir concert at Provo High School this month in which our grandson Houston performed.  We were so pleased to see him interacting with wonderful young people doing righteous and worthwhile things.  The leader of the various choruses is phenomenal, and very inspiring to the young singers.  On a personal note, I became enraptured with two of the songs that were sung that night, namely “Where Shepherds Lately Knelt” and “All For The Love of One Sweet Little Baby.”  The music was transcendent and thy lyric testimony-building.  I ordered the sheet music for both songs so that I can learn them on the piano.  I am trying to memorize the words to both songs, and remarkably, I have written two additional verses to “Where Shepherds Lately Knelt”.  Following are the 6 verses, the first four by Jaroslav J. Vajda, and the last two penned by myself:
    • Where shepherds lately knelt
      And kept the angel’s word,
      I come in half belief,
      A pilgrim strangely stirred,
      But there is room and welcome there for me,
      But there is room and welcome there for me. In that unlikely place
      I find him as they said:
      Sweet newborn babe, how frail!
      And in a manger bed,
      A still, small voice to cry one day for me,
      A still, small voice to cry one day for me. How should I not have known
      Isaiah would be there,
      His prophecies fulfilled?
      With pounding heart I stare:
      A child, a son, the Prince of Peace for me,
      A child, a son, the Prince of Peace for me. Can I, will I forget
      How love was born, and burned
      Its way into my heart
      Unasked, unforced, unearned,
      To die, to live, and not alone for me,
      To die, to live, and not alone for me?And in this hallowed place
      I gaze into His face,
      I see the glow of God
      In reverence now I trod,
      I realize eternal life is sure,
      Because of this sweet child, divine and pure.

      With trembling legs I kneel,
      The Spirit’s light I feel;
      Love lifts my very soul,
      Because of Christ I’m whole!
      To God be given glory for this Son,
      The Way, The Truth, The Life, The Only One!

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