Brother's Arbon and Ririe

Brother Harold Arbon-the 1st Ward Senior, now 94, was admitted to the hospital last Thursday with a heart problem.  I, along with Brothers' Terry Smith and Dan Von Forell, administered to him that same day.  He was blessed that he would recover and that the doctors would know what to do.  Both pronouncements have been verified.  An angioplasty was performed Friday and two 80% blockages were found in the arteries surrounding the heart.  Two different solutions were presented:  open heart surgery or stent implants.  The latter was preferred and that procedure was performed yesterday with excellent results.  He will be able to return home either today or tomorrow.  What an amazing, wonderful man whom, with his wife Lael,  have blessed our Ward for so long.  To say he is doing fine is an understatement.  He is of sound mind and body but just cannot hear anymore.  The loss of hearing was due in part to his WW2 assignment as a bomber pilot trainer and flier over the Pacific Theater.  The prolonged 'drone' of the big engines has taken its'  eventual toll.  But...he is alive with the spirit of the Lord within.

Brother David Ririe was given emeritus status as a Patriarch this past Sunday at Stake Conference and Brother Robert Jensen, former Stake President, was called and sustained as the new Patriarch.  For me, it was a bitter sweet announcement as Patriarch Ririe has laid hands upon all my children, as well as  many hundreds of other Saints both young and old, and given solemn and sacred guidance as dictated by the Spirit of the Lord.  He has, in effect, opened the 'windows of heaven' and been the conduit for the pouring out of blessings too numerous to mention.  For those privileged to know him, there is a spiritual aura that envelops him and he is revered and honored by all.  He emanates love and kindness, and I suppose I could simply say he is a Man of God.  To be in his presence is to be inspired and uplifted.  At age 91, he is now suffering from lymphatic cancer and is receiving radiation therapy on his neck, which is a very courageous action at his age.  He loves life and is trying to prolong his sojourn here on the earth.  Of course we must move on eventually, but I am praying that this wonderful man can stay with us just a little longer.  I do truly love this man!