The Mount of Transfiguration

This is A J Collins.  He is our Elder's Quorum President.  He is a mainstay in our branch.  He works as an accountant at a precious metals mine office.

This is Brad Allpin.  He too is a mainstay.  He and A J are both return missionaries.  Brad is the Wells Fargo Branch manager a couple of hundred yards down the road between our apartment and the church.  He credits his re-activation to Amanda Mosher who also works at another Wells Fargo branch.  Amanda joined the church in June.  She chided Brad that she was more active than him and it caused him some reason for thought.  I don't think he has missed a thing we have done since we have arrived in Juneau.

This is Elder Knudsen.  He is from Kansas and is a vocal music education major at Kansas State.  I think that's the Wildcats.  He sang "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" for us at the close of our home evening on Monday.  He has a wonderful voice and a very wonderful personality.  His companion is Elder Springer and they are assigned to our YSA branch.  We were sorry to learn that Elder Franks was transferred but are happy to have Elder Knudsen with us.

This is Jamie and Zak Kirkpatrick.  Jamie is the daughter of our Branch President, David and Jerilynn Olsen.  Zak is the son of our seminary teacher Bernie Kirkpatrick.  She is teaching the juniors and seniors.  They are students at the U. of A. S.E. 

Landon Goodman is another of our stalwarts in the branch.  He lives with A J and Brad.  Landon has recently become active and is attending Temple Preparation classes that Sister Waldron is teaching.  He is going with others in the branch to San Diego next week.  They are doing a temple trip and staying with the Schindlers.  The Schindlers were the CES missionaries here in Juneau prior to our arrival.

We met Michael two weeks ago at Institute.  The missionaries brought him.  He has been with us since.  He has asked the missionaries to meet with him each lunch hour to discuss the gospel.  He is a Tlingit Indian and has plans to become a dentist. 

Diane and I are very grateful to have this health fitness center not too far from our apartment.  It is about a 5 mile drive but it gives us a chance to take care of our fitness needs. 


Last evening in Institute we discussed "It Is Not Got Goes Into the Mouth That Defiles A Man, But That Which Comes Out."  After a very wonderful discussion on that and "As A Man Thinketh" we moved into the next chapter, "The Mount of Transfiguration."  I think I learned more studying this subject than I expected too.  I more fully understand this event paralled what happened to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple in Ohio.  There is a tremendous amount of preparation put into being ready for this Institute class.  I know I way over prepare, but I have to be ready for what direction the discussion may take us. 

Diane fed them some chicken coleslaw, some grapes, rolls and a raspberry delight dessert that was scoffed up very quickly.  She is so creative when it comes to this assignment.  She hasn't repeated a food presentation yet. 

Tuesday was a big day for her as she also went shopping and did the wash. 

The snow is creeping down the mountain side.  It appears a bit lower each morning and is now only a couple of hundred feet above us.  Our temperatures are usually in the mid to upper 30's in the mornings and seldom get above 42 degrees during the day.  I wore my trench coat this morning just to get a feel for it.  I am going to like it.