A lighthearted, virus-free story

I read a fun story about President Spencer W. Kimball and the late U.S. first lady Betty Ford while I was reading the history of the Washington D.C. Temple.

During the original open house for the temple in 1974, President Kimball hosted a tour for Ford. During the tour, U.S. Sen. Wallace F. Bennett, a Latter-day Saint from Utah, produced his temple recommend to show it to Ford. All the other church members on the tour quickly began to do the same.

President Kimball fumbled with his wallet, apparently struggling to find recommend. This went on for a moment or two. Finally, he was the last to locate his recommend and show it to the first lady.

She laughed.

“I’m so glad you’ve got one, too,” Ford said to the president of the church. “You had me worried.”

Church leaders still regularly show their temple recommends today to dignitaries who visit temple open houses. It’s a good visual aid for describing to people how temple attendance works.
You can read the story about President Kimball and Mrs. Ford in “History of The Mormons in the Greater Washington Area, 1839-1991.”

What I’m Reading ...

I’ve joked on my Twitter and Facebook accounts that the ESPN app is really boring right now, since there are no games to watch or read about. ESPN wisely produced this story to show what is available. Some of these are things I intended to start but never have. I’ll definitely try “Peyton’s Places.” As for the movies listed, I highly recommend “Invincible,” “The Sandlot,” “Miracle,” “Remember the Titans,” “Free Solo” and “The Rookie.” I need to rewatch “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” too.
Yes, Tom Brady and the Patriots broke up. One of my sons said he hoped I had saved up some bereavement leave. Fortunately, the very readable and smart Bill Barnwell produced this analysis of how Brady’s skills are holding up and what may await him as he apparently joins the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (That was weird to type.)
So far, there are three major terms we’ve learned with the coronavirus, as I see it:

A Washington Post article supplies four simulations of how quickly a virus can spread based on scenarios about how well the public practices social distancing. It’s fascinating.
Read how one leader helped a quorum of young priesthood holders follow President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation to “Hear Him,” by my friend and colleague Boyd Matheson.

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