In April 1980 I made a 3 1/2 week trip to the Arab World and made the following entry in my Journal: I returned from visiting Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Spain. While I had traveled the Middle East before, this long trip was unusual in several ways. One thing for sure, it was long and lonesome.

All over the Middle East there are workers traveling from their homelands---Ceylon, Korea, Philippines, Yemen, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, Pakistan and Palestine refugees---to work in the oil rich nations of Kuwait, Libya, Iraq, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. They were garbed in their native attire, often squatting on their haunches or stretched out asleep, but always surrounded by great bundles containing their worldly goods. What a fascinating study in dress, physical appearance and language sounds! The Lord has certainly created a Babel of varieties.

"The love of money is the root of all evil" came to my mind several times. The trappings of great, and sudden, wealth in the hands of many Arabs has brought out many of the evils---pride, arrogance, condescension, immorality, etc. Formerly they were rather strict and devout, but have succumbed to the temptations of the flesh.

Consumption is paramount, almost as if prosperity and worldly goods will go away, if not enjoyed or consumed immediately. I'm sure most of them remember when they didn't have so much, and may fear that it will disappear again.

Despite huge differances in beliefs, backgrounds, etc., people are so similar in ways they express themselves, react to situations. Consequently they may be influenced in similar ways. People are basically the same everywhere, and always have been. If this is so, and I believe it is, we can learn much from history. Nonetheless, while we can learn, we probably won't, because the present is so overwhelming and dominant. It takes so much personal discipline, and faith, to forego consumption today, for later usuage. It makes the future for our children somewhat bleak. Only a strong, authoritative and trusted person, or group, can convince mankind to live for the future. This supports Joseph Smith's comment in his Articles of Faith---a religion that does not demand everything from its members does not have the power (ability) to save them.

A final observation: the eight children of our family are choice spirits. I'm convinced that the family life and mutual experiences and interactions are powerful training in righteous understanding and living. Each of our children has a good and strong comprehension of the Gospel. Doug's mission and comments have been a very positive influence on all of us. The children are positive influences on each other. Despite their different personalities and attitudes, they (we) have a common and close bond of friendship. Ellen and I need to stay on friendly and a dependable basis with each of the children to prepare them for independent lives.

I'm not sure we (I) know each of them very well. They are definitely individuals. Eventually they will do/act as they please, therefore we all can influence each other through being personal friends, consistent in our behavior (example). Since there are 10 of us, we have an advantage. Each has 9 friends who care what we do and say. In addition, we need to develop close relations with other righteous people, particularly church members, who will add to the group of interested friends who care about what and who we are. There is the genius of living righteously and happily.