May 7, 2025 • 25 mins
Ron Bazzelle was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. He is the 2nd oldest of 7 siblings. His mother was a stay-at-home mom and daycare provider for hundreds of children over her more than 50 years of being a daycare provider. His father spent most of his career as a carpenter. During his youth he enjoyed anything outdoors, playing sports, climbing trees, camping with family, fishing and hunting. He also enjoyed helping his father with projects around the house and helping other family and friends with projects.
After graduating from Wichita North High School in 1983, he attended Pratt Community College on a baseball scholarship. His focus that year was improving his baseball skills, strength and conditioning to help propel him to fulfill his dream of being a professional baseball player. After one year of playing baseball and earning all-conference honors, he left PCC with the GPA to prove his focus was on baseball. In 1985 he prepared to serve a full-time mission with a desire to serve anywhere in the world, except California. So, in early 1986 he was called to serve in the California, Santa Rosa mission. There his faith and testimony of Jesus Christ increased, and he very quickly grew to love the people of California and would not have wanted to serve anywhere else.
In 1988, 6 weeks after returning home from his mission, he married his high school sweetheart, Karen McCalla, in the Denver, Colorado temple. They have been married for 37 years and have 5 children and 4 grandchildren. They love spending time with their family and traveling to visit their kids and grandkids.
After his mission and wedding, Ron returned to school at Wichita State University and earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and started working right away in public accounting and then transitioned to private accounting for local companies in Wichita. He has worked in the accounting field for 33 years, the last 25 at the same company where he is currently the Chief Financial Officer. Karen has spent most of their married life as a stay-at-home mom loving, teaching and inspiring their 5 children.
His church service has included serving as Counselor in ward YM Presidency, Ward YM President, Ward Clerk, Sunday School Teacher, Counselor in Bishopric, Bishop, High Councilor and currently servings as Counselor in the Stake Presidency.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Hi friends, welcome to the Wichita, KS State Podcast.
I'm your host, Paul Kitchen, a state history specialist.
This podcast is intended to helpbring followers of Christ closer
to him. And to promote unity.
Within the body of Christ, by listening to our state leaders
share their personal stories of faith, by reflecting on faith
promoting experiences, we can strengthen our individual faith
(00:20):
in Jesus Christ together. Welcome to our next episode.
I'm here with President Ron Bazell.
Ron Bozell was born and raised in Wichita, KS.
He is the second oldest of sevensiblings.
His mother was a stay at home mom and daycare provider for
hundreds of children. Over her more than 50 years of
being a daycare provider, his father spent most of his career
(00:42):
as a Carpenter. During his youth he enjoyed
anything outdoors, playing sports, climbing trees, camping
with family, fishing and hunting.
He also enjoyed helping his father with projects around the
house and helping other family and friends with projects.
After graduating from Wichita North High School in 1983, he
attended Pratt Community Collegeon a baseball scholarship.
(01:06):
His focus that year was improving his baseball skills,
strength and conditioning to help propel him to fulfill his
dream of being a professional baseball player.
After one year of playing baseball and earning all
conference honors, he left PCC with the GPA to prove his focus
was on baseball. In 1985 he prepared to serve a
(01:26):
full time mission with a desire to serve anywhere in the world
except California. So in early 1986 he was called
to serve in the California SantaRosa Mission.
There his faith and testimony ofJesus Christ increased and he
very quickly grew to love the people of California and would
not have wanted to serve anywhere else.
(01:48):
In 1988, six weeks after returning home from his mission,
he married his high school sweetheart, Karen McCullough and
the Denver, Co Temple. They have been married for 37
years and have five children andfour grandchildren.
They love spending time with their family and traveling to
visit their kids and grandkids. After his mission and wedding,
(02:10):
Ron returned to school at Wichita State University and
earned his Bachelor's degree in accounting and started working
right away in public accounting and then transitioned to private
accounting for local companies in Wichita.
He has worked in the accounting field for 33 years, the last 25
at the same company where he is currently the Chief Financial
(02:30):
Officer. Karen has spent most of their
married life as a stay at home mom, loving, teaching and
inspiring their five children. His church service has included
serving as counselor in ward Young Men's presidency, ward
Young Men's president, ward clerk, Sunday school teacher,
counseling Bishop, Rick Bishop, high counselor, and he's
(02:51):
currently serving as a counselorin our state presidency.
Welcome, President Buzzell. Thank you.
Excited to talk with you today. Me too.
All right, well, let's let's start with your early life.
Of all the things that you learned from your parents, what
do you feel was the most important?
(03:13):
Well, obviously, I mean, we all learn a lot from our parents,
and I learned a lot from my parents.
I was blessed to be raised in a good family and with good
parents. And I mean, they instilled early
in me importance of faith and a testimony.
(03:35):
One of the things my dad taught this is actually my brother, one
of my brothers. It's his story, but it applies
to all of us that he asked my dad one day what was kind of the
most important thing to him, expecting him to say you or your
mother or something. And, and he said my testimony
and it kind of surprised him and, and he he said, well, why?
(03:59):
And he said, well, because without that I wouldn't have you
or your mother or anything else.So.
So that was all that still does Senate in an early age.
The importance of faith and testimony and and then the
importance of family. You know, they it was one of the
things my parents always wanted was a large family.
And so they had seven kids and they adopt.
(04:24):
Well, they didn't adopt, but they were foster kid foster
parents for children along the way.
So there was always seems like other kids in in our home.
My mother had that, you know, daycare for she started in her
20s and retired in her 70s and based of half the city of
Wichita. Yeah.
Yeah. We meet strangers on the street
(04:44):
and they hear our last name and they ask if we're related to
Kathy Bozell. Yeah, we know her.
So. So family, that was always
important to them. And they sacrificed a great deal
for us. And so looking back now, I
realized how much they sacrificed and how important
that is for our family. A specific lesson I remember
(05:10):
from my dad as a young, I was very young, I say very young.
I was 9 or 10, probably the closer to 9 the time I remember
to this day. But I when I was young, as said,
read in the my bio that I love to be outdoors and just, I was
active. I didn't want to be stuck
indoors because there was nothing to do back in those
(05:31):
days, you know, we, we didn't have the Internet or any of that
stuff to keep us busy inside. So I always wanted to be outside
and was always wanted to play and do those kinds of things.
And so so church wasn't one of my favorite things to go to
because that was a lot of sitting, sitting reverently, be
(05:52):
quiet, don't run in the halls, don't run out of church.
Don't. So it wasn't one of my favorite
things to do. And so sometimes, so I would
just one particular time I was spending the night at my
cousin's house and they, they were rumors of the church where
they kind of came in and out of activity.
And, and at this particular time, I knew they weren't going
(06:13):
to go to church. So I was spending the night with
them and I wanted to, or I wanted to spend the night with
them on a Saturday night becauseI knew they weren't going to
church Sunday. So I thought, well, that's my
way out of church. So I called Saturday evening
after dinner. I called home, talked to my dad,
asked if I could spend the night.
(06:35):
And he said, I don't know exactly what he said, but
something along the lines of, well, that's fine, but what
about church tomorrow? And I said, well, do I have to
go? Kind of hoping he would give me
permission to break the commandment.
And then it's on him, not on me.But he said, well, but are you
(06:57):
going to go to church? And I said, well, do I have to
go? And he said, well, let your
conscience be your guide. And I remember thinking that he,
he was supposed to tell me it was OK for me not to go, not but
the put that responsibility on me.
But I said, well, this is my opportunity.
So I said, no, I'm not going to go.
(07:18):
I'm just going to say it's been the night.
So we spent the night. The next day we didn't go to
church. And I felt horrible all day.
And even as a 910 year old kid, I just felt like I knew that I
didn't do what I should have done.
And so anyway, I learned my lesson, so to speak.
(07:39):
And so the next couple times that happened, I would kind of
call my parents asking and hoping that they would say no,
you can't spend the night if that ever came up food.
But so that was a lesson I learned early on.
And again, as a parent, I look back on that and I think I
don't, it would been hard for meto let my 9 year old make that
(07:59):
decision because I would have just said no, you're called us.
Or even if I would have made that decision for them, but they
had the wisdom to put the responsibility where it
belonged. And I was, I was over 8, so I
was 9. And like I said, 9 or 10.
So anyway, it was one of those lessons I learned early on.
And it's, yeah, it's me. Yeah.
So anyway, we've learned I had agood childhood and was taught at
(08:27):
the way I should go. So it was good.
Great. Thank you.
Was there an experience that hasnurtured your testimony during
your adult life? Would you like to?
Share So I've had a lot of I guess I can remember the general
(08:53):
authority talk, but it was talked about rays and rays of
light versus the pillars of light.
And sometimes we expect pillars and get raised.
I've had a lot of rays. I don't haven't really had that
pillar of this great spiritual experience, but I've had a lot
of. Little.
Experiences throughout my life and probably the I mean the ones
(09:19):
in my adult life that have meantthe most or had the biggest
impact on me or probably being sealed in the temple to to
Karen. And obviously that experience
has stuck with me for 37 years and short will for for eternity.
(09:41):
But to that experience really strengthened my testimony, you
know, as coming off a mission and and then we got married just
really quickly after I got home from a mission.
So the other thing that I think looking back is the Lord really
(10:03):
knew me and Hillard Karen gave that talk about the you know,
the gods in pursuit of us relentless pursuit.
And I I really as I look back, Ireally feel like the Lord has
been in relentless pursuit of mebecause after my mission, we got
married quickly and I think he knew that's what I needed, you
(10:25):
know, to keep me on that path. I'm keeping progressing, keep me
moving. And so so that was a a big, big
impactful experience, spiritual experience in my life.
And then again, it's just a lot of little things.
Callings have been one that's again, when I look back, I mean,
I think the Lord's been a relentless pursuit of me because
(10:48):
there's times when I've struggled with, you know, am I
just going through the motions? What I'm being, I've known.
I don't feel like I'm getting anything out of church.
So why, you know, why do I need to go to church?
I'm not getting anything out of it.
And then there would be a calling that would come along
that one of them was when you called me to be your counselor
and your, your bishopric. That was one of those times
(11:10):
where I was like just strugglingwith going through the motions
and, and just just just kind of a, that time of life.
But that calling helped me refocus and, and rededicate
myself. And, and there's been other
callings like that, that that have helped me to like Siri
(11:31):
focus and kind of rekindle that testimony and strength that and
then goes on and on. Again, probably one of the it's
just a one of those rays of sunshine of light, not a pillar.
But just when Karen and I started to regularly attend the
temple and not just come sporadically when we could, but
(11:51):
that regular temple attendance help strengthen my testimony to
the point, you know, to where itmade sense.
And the kind of the eternal nature of the temple covenants
and ordinances made sense. And enmity began to be impactful
in my testimony, in my journey along the paths and part of who
(12:15):
you are. Yeah.
So you we had mentioned in your file that you have five children
and four grandchildren. What are some things that you
guys like to be together for fun?
Really, we just like to be together.
We don't have AI mean we all enjoy the outdoors.
(12:37):
And so we we like to get together.
And one thing we've started recently is kind of getting now
that our kids are grown and they've got their kids and, and
our kids kind of scattered around the country a bit and
it's harder for us to get together.
We, we set a time and a place and we all meet, you know, in
the summer, usually near a lake and spend that time together as
(13:04):
family and just have fun on the water and have fun together.
We all just, we like to be outside.
And so we'll just go for hikes or go fishing or get out on a
boat and go skiing or whatever, then kind of do those kind of
things. So it's been, that's been a lot
of fun. You enjoy that?
(13:25):
Outdoors of the other. Yeah.
So you'd also mentioned going toschool to eventually become an
accountant and. What?
What are some things that influence take that direction in
(13:46):
your professional life? So one of my fears of going to
college and getting a degree wasto graduate, have his degree and
not have a job. That was.
So one of my big motivating factors and ultimately choosing
and counting was that I wanted ajob when I graduated.
(14:09):
And so when I came back from my mission at the time, kind of
really ended up being one of my mentors, but he was counselor
and the bishopric and he invitedme to lunch.
So we went to lunch and he askedme what my plans were and I told
him I'm going to go to school. And he said, well, that's good.
(14:29):
And So what do you get a degree in?
And I said, I don't know, probably business or something
and basically said, well, that'snice, but that's a worthless
degree that's not going to help you.
And kind of offended a little bit that he did that.
He didn't like my plan, but he said, but if he told me, he said
you need to get a degree that somebody will hire you for.
You need to get a skill that somebody can use and somebody
(14:51):
will pay you for. And, and he happened to be an
accountant and he was actually CFO for a company here in town.
It's time. And so he suggested if you're
going to go into business, go into accounting, which was 5.
After I thought about it, that made a lot of sense.
And I had a an accounting class in high school and it was enough
(15:15):
math that it was easy, but it wasn't too much math that it was
hard and kind of made sense. So I looked into accounting.
And then also at Wichita State at the time, late 80s, basically
the two schools that were getting recruited, the graduates
from those schools of WSU that were getting recruited for jobs
(15:36):
as out of when they graduated were accounting and engineers.
So again, accounting was enough math engineer is probably too
much for me. So I stuck with accounting and
and actually had a job before I graduated and I've had one ever
since. So worked out and that was
(15:59):
there. That's how I ended up in
accounting. It's not one of those.
I don't have too many kids who grow up saying I want to be an
accountant when I grow up. But and I wasn't one of those.
I really didn't think about it until I went to lunch with that
mentor who was in the bishopric and kind of all made sense.
You made a. Choice.
And I made a choice. So then, what are some of your
(16:20):
current priorities? So I guess my current priority
really is to, you know, we talked about our, you know,
family and raising kids and, youknow, being an example of them
and helping them. And, and really that's still my
(16:43):
priority. So my priority I get to think as
I think about it is to, is firston myself to make sure that I
stay on the covenant path and make sure my testimony is
strengthened and increased. My faith is increased each day,
each week, each year. And then that priority would be
(17:04):
that Karen and I that our relationship continues to grow
and we continue to strengthen our marriage as we continue on
that covenant path. So that we can be an influence
for good on our kids and help them and, and be an example to
them and, and help them to see that, see the joy and the
(17:25):
happiness, the peace that comes in our life by making and
keeping those covenants and being on the covenant path and
staying on it then doesn't make it, you know, it doesn't,
doesn't mean it's easy, which weall know the covenant path's not
a, not a walk in the park, but it, it is a progression and
(17:49):
things continue to change and hopefully we change and improve
and the conversion process continues in our lives so that
we can become who the Heavenly Father want us to become.
So my, it's my priority is keep myself on the path and help my
family to get on there and stay on there with Pat.
(18:15):
Is there a a recent experience in your life that has brought me
closer to the Savior? So I think, you know, over the
last, well, really last few years thing that's brought me
(18:35):
closer to my Heavenly Father andto our Savior is probably is, is
service coupled with study. So that continued study of the
gospel, just the scriptures and modern day prophets continue to
read and study their words. But but the service added to
(18:58):
that and most of the service that I've done, I guess, or
again over the last few years has been related to my calling
the sick presidency. And, and just that one of the
blessings are the opportunities of that calling that that has
strengthened my faith so much recently is just the opportunity
to work with other members of the state to get to know them,
(19:21):
to work with them, to see their faith, to see their testimony.
And that's been a strength and astrength to me.
And, and strengthening my testimony is that is just being
able to work with others and see, you know, that we're all
kind of in this together. And just cause you're in the
(19:42):
state presidency doesn't mean you're any better or different
than anybody else. Just you have a different
calling. And there's just so many good
members of our stake with their testimonies and their examples.
And so that's what's been, I guess, of a blessing to me and
(20:05):
has strengthened my testimony isthe testimony about hers.
And those the the rays of light.Yeah, I, yeah.
Lots and lots of rays of light. Yeah, those come from a lot of
individuals. It doesn't, you know, those rays
of light. I mean, the the ultimate source,
of course, is our Father in heaven.
But but those lives come throughother people.
(20:29):
As as we serve together and as we're served by each other.
I'm false I've. Enjoyed this time together?
Yeah, me too. Will, will you wrap us up with
testimony of the Savior and of His restored church?
Sure. Yeah, so like I, I guess I kind
(20:52):
of like we began my dad, you know, the story of my dad
telling my brother the most important thing to him was his
testimony. And, and as I've get older and
as we go through this life and things get chaotic and crazy in
the outside world, I learned that the importance of what he
said and the, and the importanceof our testimony.
And, and for me, my testimony isthat anchor in the Savior and
(21:17):
his love for each one of us, hissacrifice, his life, his
mission. I was just talking to somebody
earlier, but about this that I can't comprehend it, the full
meaning of the atonement and howit happened and what it really
means and, and how he took upon us our sins and our afflictions
(21:44):
and the trials and all those things.
But as I ponder about that and how that could happen, I get a
better understanding or a betterfeeling of his love for us and
that he went through that for us.
And so as the world kind of goesis crazy around us and you know,
(22:05):
the good is evil and evil is good and right is wrong and all
of that gets twisted. My testimony keeps me on the the
right path. It keeps me from listening or
being worried and having high anxiety over those things
because with my testimony of thegospel and my testimony of the
(22:28):
Savior and I know the truth. I know, you know, that's like,
you know, we know how the game'sgoing to end.
We know who's going to win. And so as long as we stay
aligned with the Savior and in his gospel and his church and
his prophets, we'll be, we'll besafe no matter what's going on
(22:50):
around this. And so my testimony is, is that
that I know that our Savior lives.
I know he leads this church to be able to work with President
Chandler and President Williams and the other members of the
state presidency. It's I, I know I can testify
that the Savior's leading the church and leading this work,
(23:15):
and particularly in the stake and, and I that gives me great
comfort and I know that the Savior is, is real and that he,
he does love us. And as we follow his
(23:37):
commandments and we keep the covenants and entered ordinances
and keep those covenants, we will be safe from all the, the
evil and the troubles of the world.
And so I'm grateful for the the testimony that I have that and
grateful for good parents that raised me with introduced me to
(23:59):
the gospel and raised me in the gospel and a Good Wife who keeps
me centered and moving forward in the gospel.
And for kids and grandkids who are just good kids and they're
amazing. And they help keep me on the
straight and narrow too. And I just without, without the
(24:22):
gospel and without the Savior and the restored gospel, I don't
know where I would be or I know I would be worse off.
And so I'm thankful for that testimony and thankful to have
that in my life and the blessings of it.
I leave that within the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
(24:47):
I hope that this episode of The Witch Tookie is a Stick podcast
helped bring you closer to Christ.
I invite you to take some time today to write about or record
one of your own faith promoting experiences.
Hi friends, welcome to the Wichita, KS State Podcast.
I'm your host, Paul Kitchen, a state history specialist.
This podcast is intended to helpbring followers of Christ closer
to him. And to promote unity.
Within the body of Christ, by listening to our state leaders
share their personal stories of faith, by reflecting on faith
promoting experiences, we can strengthen our individual faith
(00:20):
in Jesus Christ together. Welcome to our next episode.
I'm here with President Ron Bazell.
Ron Bozell was born and raised in Wichita, KS.
He is the second oldest of sevensiblings.
His mother was a stay at home mom and daycare provider for
hundreds of children. Over her more than 50 years of
being a daycare provider, his father spent most of his career
(00:42):
as a Carpenter. During his youth he enjoyed
anything outdoors, playing sports, climbing trees, camping
with family, fishing and hunting.
He also enjoyed helping his father with projects around the
house and helping other family and friends with projects.
After graduating from Wichita North High School in 1983, he
attended Pratt Community Collegeon a baseball scholarship.
(01:06):
His focus that year was improving his baseball skills,
strength and conditioning to help propel him to fulfill his
dream of being a professional baseball player.
After one year of playing baseball and earning all
conference honors, he left PCC with the GPA to prove his focus
was on baseball. In 1985 he prepared to serve a
(01:26):
full time mission with a desire to serve anywhere in the world
except California. So in early 1986 he was called
to serve in the California SantaRosa Mission.
There his faith and testimony ofJesus Christ increased and he
very quickly grew to love the people of California and would
not have wanted to serve anywhere else.
(01:48):
In 1988, six weeks after returning home from his mission,
he married his high school sweetheart, Karen McCullough and
the Denver, Co Temple. They have been married for 37
years and have five children andfour grandchildren.
They love spending time with their family and traveling to
visit their kids and grandkids. After his mission and wedding,
(02:10):
Ron returned to school at Wichita State University and
earned his Bachelor's degree in accounting and started working
right away in public accounting and then transitioned to private
accounting for local companies in Wichita.
He has worked in the accounting field for 33 years, the last 25
at the same company where he is currently the Chief Financial
(02:30):
Officer. Karen has spent most of their
married life as a stay at home mom, loving, teaching and
inspiring their five children. His church service has included
serving as counselor in ward Young Men's presidency, ward
Young Men's president, ward clerk, Sunday school teacher,
counseling Bishop, Rick Bishop, high counselor, and he's
(02:51):
currently serving as a counselorin our state presidency.
Welcome, President Buzzell. Thank you.
Excited to talk with you today. Me too.
All right, well, let's let's start with your early life.
Of all the things that you learned from your parents, what
do you feel was the most important?
(03:13):
Well, obviously, I mean, we all learn a lot from our parents,
and I learned a lot from my parents.
I was blessed to be raised in a good family and with good
parents. And I mean, they instilled early
in me importance of faith and a testimony.
(03:35):
One of the things my dad taught this is actually my brother, one
of my brothers. It's his story, but it applies
to all of us that he asked my dad one day what was kind of the
most important thing to him, expecting him to say you or your
mother or something. And, and he said my testimony
and it kind of surprised him and, and he he said, well, why?
(03:59):
And he said, well, because without that I wouldn't have you
or your mother or anything else.So.
So that was all that still does Senate in an early age.
The importance of faith and testimony and and then the
importance of family. You know, they it was one of the
things my parents always wanted was a large family.
And so they had seven kids and they adopt.
(04:24):
Well, they didn't adopt, but they were foster kid foster
parents for children along the way.
So there was always seems like other kids in in our home.
My mother had that, you know, daycare for she started in her
20s and retired in her 70s and based of half the city of
Wichita. Yeah.
Yeah. We meet strangers on the street
(04:44):
and they hear our last name and they ask if we're related to
Kathy Bozell. Yeah, we know her.
So. So family, that was always
important to them. And they sacrificed a great deal
for us. And so looking back now, I
realized how much they sacrificed and how important
that is for our family. A specific lesson I remember
(05:10):
from my dad as a young, I was very young, I say very young.
I was 9 or 10, probably the closer to 9 the time I remember
to this day. But I when I was young, as said,
read in the my bio that I love to be outdoors and just, I was
active. I didn't want to be stuck
indoors because there was nothing to do back in those
(05:31):
days, you know, we, we didn't have the Internet or any of that
stuff to keep us busy inside. So I always wanted to be outside
and was always wanted to play and do those kinds of things.
And so so church wasn't one of my favorite things to go to
because that was a lot of sitting, sitting reverently, be
(05:52):
quiet, don't run in the halls, don't run out of church.
Don't. So it wasn't one of my favorite
things to do. And so sometimes, so I would
just one particular time I was spending the night at my
cousin's house and they, they were rumors of the church where
they kind of came in and out of activity.
And, and at this particular time, I knew they weren't going
(06:13):
to go to church. So I was spending the night with
them and I wanted to, or I wanted to spend the night with
them on a Saturday night becauseI knew they weren't going to
church Sunday. So I thought, well, that's my
way out of church. So I called Saturday evening
after dinner. I called home, talked to my dad,
asked if I could spend the night.
(06:35):
And he said, I don't know exactly what he said, but
something along the lines of, well, that's fine, but what
about church tomorrow? And I said, well, do I have to
go? Kind of hoping he would give me
permission to break the commandment.
And then it's on him, not on me.But he said, well, but are you
(06:57):
going to go to church? And I said, well, do I have to
go? And he said, well, let your
conscience be your guide. And I remember thinking that he,
he was supposed to tell me it was OK for me not to go, not but
the put that responsibility on me.
But I said, well, this is my opportunity.
So I said, no, I'm not going to go.
(07:18):
I'm just going to say it's been the night.
So we spent the night. The next day we didn't go to
church. And I felt horrible all day.
And even as a 910 year old kid, I just felt like I knew that I
didn't do what I should have done.
And so anyway, I learned my lesson, so to speak.
(07:39):
And so the next couple times that happened, I would kind of
call my parents asking and hoping that they would say no,
you can't spend the night if that ever came up food.
But so that was a lesson I learned early on.
And again, as a parent, I look back on that and I think I
don't, it would been hard for meto let my 9 year old make that
(07:59):
decision because I would have just said no, you're called us.
Or even if I would have made that decision for them, but they
had the wisdom to put the responsibility where it
belonged. And I was, I was over 8, so I
was 9. And like I said, 9 or 10.
So anyway, it was one of those lessons I learned early on.
And it's, yeah, it's me. Yeah.
So anyway, we've learned I had agood childhood and was taught at
(08:27):
the way I should go. So it was good.
Great. Thank you.
Was there an experience that hasnurtured your testimony during
your adult life? Would you like to?
Share So I've had a lot of I guess I can remember the general
(08:53):
authority talk, but it was talked about rays and rays of
light versus the pillars of light.
And sometimes we expect pillars and get raised.
I've had a lot of rays. I don't haven't really had that
pillar of this great spiritual experience, but I've had a lot
of. Little.
Experiences throughout my life and probably the I mean the ones
(09:19):
in my adult life that have meantthe most or had the biggest
impact on me or probably being sealed in the temple to to
Karen. And obviously that experience
has stuck with me for 37 years and short will for for eternity.
(09:41):
But to that experience really strengthened my testimony, you
know, as coming off a mission and and then we got married just
really quickly after I got home from a mission.
So the other thing that I think looking back is the Lord really
(10:03):
knew me and Hillard Karen gave that talk about the you know,
the gods in pursuit of us relentless pursuit.
And I I really as I look back, Ireally feel like the Lord has
been in relentless pursuit of mebecause after my mission, we got
married quickly and I think he knew that's what I needed, you
(10:25):
know, to keep me on that path. I'm keeping progressing, keep me
moving. And so so that was a a big, big
impactful experience, spiritual experience in my life.
And then again, it's just a lot of little things.
Callings have been one that's again, when I look back, I mean,
I think the Lord's been a relentless pursuit of me because
(10:48):
there's times when I've struggled with, you know, am I
just going through the motions? What I'm being, I've known.
I don't feel like I'm getting anything out of church.
So why, you know, why do I need to go to church?
I'm not getting anything out of it.
And then there would be a calling that would come along
that one of them was when you called me to be your counselor
and your, your bishopric. That was one of those times
(11:10):
where I was like just strugglingwith going through the motions
and, and just just just kind of a, that time of life.
But that calling helped me refocus and, and rededicate
myself. And, and there's been other
callings like that, that that have helped me to like Siri
(11:31):
focus and kind of rekindle that testimony and strength that and
then goes on and on. Again, probably one of the it's
just a one of those rays of sunshine of light, not a pillar.
But just when Karen and I started to regularly attend the
temple and not just come sporadically when we could, but
(11:51):
that regular temple attendance help strengthen my testimony to
the point, you know, to where itmade sense.
And the kind of the eternal nature of the temple covenants
and ordinances made sense. And enmity began to be impactful
in my testimony, in my journey along the paths and part of who
(12:15):
you are. Yeah.
So you we had mentioned in your file that you have five children
and four grandchildren. What are some things that you
guys like to be together for fun?
Really, we just like to be together.
We don't have AI mean we all enjoy the outdoors.
(12:37):
And so we we like to get together.
And one thing we've started recently is kind of getting now
that our kids are grown and they've got their kids and, and
our kids kind of scattered around the country a bit and
it's harder for us to get together.
We, we set a time and a place and we all meet, you know, in
the summer, usually near a lake and spend that time together as
(13:04):
family and just have fun on the water and have fun together.
We all just, we like to be outside.
And so we'll just go for hikes or go fishing or get out on a
boat and go skiing or whatever, then kind of do those kind of
things. So it's been, that's been a lot
of fun. You enjoy that?
(13:25):
Outdoors of the other. Yeah.
So you'd also mentioned going toschool to eventually become an
accountant and. What?
What are some things that influence take that direction in
(13:46):
your professional life? So one of my fears of going to
college and getting a degree wasto graduate, have his degree and
not have a job. That was.
So one of my big motivating factors and ultimately choosing
and counting was that I wanted ajob when I graduated.
(14:09):
And so when I came back from my mission at the time, kind of
really ended up being one of my mentors, but he was counselor
and the bishopric and he invitedme to lunch.
So we went to lunch and he askedme what my plans were and I told
him I'm going to go to school. And he said, well, that's good.
(14:29):
And So what do you get a degree in?
And I said, I don't know, probably business or something
and basically said, well, that'snice, but that's a worthless
degree that's not going to help you.
And kind of offended a little bit that he did that.
He didn't like my plan, but he said, but if he told me, he said
you need to get a degree that somebody will hire you for.
You need to get a skill that somebody can use and somebody
(14:51):
will pay you for. And, and he happened to be an
accountant and he was actually CFO for a company here in town.
It's time. And so he suggested if you're
going to go into business, go into accounting, which was 5.
After I thought about it, that made a lot of sense.
And I had a an accounting class in high school and it was enough
(15:15):
math that it was easy, but it wasn't too much math that it was
hard and kind of made sense. So I looked into accounting.
And then also at Wichita State at the time, late 80s, basically
the two schools that were getting recruited, the graduates
from those schools of WSU that were getting recruited for jobs
(15:36):
as out of when they graduated were accounting and engineers.
So again, accounting was enough math engineer is probably too
much for me. So I stuck with accounting and
and actually had a job before I graduated and I've had one ever
since. So worked out and that was
(15:59):
there. That's how I ended up in
accounting. It's not one of those.
I don't have too many kids who grow up saying I want to be an
accountant when I grow up. But and I wasn't one of those.
I really didn't think about it until I went to lunch with that
mentor who was in the bishopric and kind of all made sense.
You made a. Choice.
And I made a choice. So then, what are some of your
(16:20):
current priorities? So I guess my current priority
really is to, you know, we talked about our, you know,
family and raising kids and, youknow, being an example of them
and helping them. And, and really that's still my
(16:43):
priority. So my priority I get to think as
I think about it is to, is firston myself to make sure that I
stay on the covenant path and make sure my testimony is
strengthened and increased. My faith is increased each day,
each week, each year. And then that priority would be
(17:04):
that Karen and I that our relationship continues to grow
and we continue to strengthen our marriage as we continue on
that covenant path. So that we can be an influence
for good on our kids and help them and, and be an example to
them and, and help them to see that, see the joy and the
(17:25):
happiness, the peace that comes in our life by making and
keeping those covenants and being on the covenant path and
staying on it then doesn't make it, you know, it doesn't,
doesn't mean it's easy, which weall know the covenant path's not
a, not a walk in the park, but it, it is a progression and
(17:49):
things continue to change and hopefully we change and improve
and the conversion process continues in our lives so that
we can become who the Heavenly Father want us to become.
So my, it's my priority is keep myself on the path and help my
family to get on there and stay on there with Pat.
(18:15):
Is there a a recent experience in your life that has brought me
closer to the Savior? So I think, you know, over the
last, well, really last few years thing that's brought me
(18:35):
closer to my Heavenly Father andto our Savior is probably is, is
service coupled with study. So that continued study of the
gospel, just the scriptures and modern day prophets continue to
read and study their words. But but the service added to
(18:58):
that and most of the service that I've done, I guess, or
again over the last few years has been related to my calling
the sick presidency. And, and just that one of the
blessings are the opportunities of that calling that that has
strengthened my faith so much recently is just the opportunity
to work with other members of the state to get to know them,
(19:21):
to work with them, to see their faith, to see their testimony.
And that's been a strength and astrength to me.
And, and strengthening my testimony is that is just being
able to work with others and see, you know, that we're all
kind of in this together. And just cause you're in the
(19:42):
state presidency doesn't mean you're any better or different
than anybody else. Just you have a different
calling. And there's just so many good
members of our stake with their testimonies and their examples.
And so that's what's been, I guess, of a blessing to me and
(20:05):
has strengthened my testimony isthe testimony about hers.
And those the the rays of light.Yeah, I, yeah.
Lots and lots of rays of light. Yeah, those come from a lot of
individuals. It doesn't, you know, those rays
of light. I mean, the the ultimate source,
of course, is our Father in heaven.
But but those lives come throughother people.
(20:29):
As as we serve together and as we're served by each other.
I'm false I've. Enjoyed this time together?
Yeah, me too. Will, will you wrap us up with
testimony of the Savior and of His restored church?
Sure. Yeah, so like I, I guess I kind
(20:52):
of like we began my dad, you know, the story of my dad
telling my brother the most important thing to him was his
testimony. And, and as I've get older and
as we go through this life and things get chaotic and crazy in
the outside world, I learned that the importance of what he
said and the, and the importanceof our testimony.
And, and for me, my testimony isthat anchor in the Savior and
(21:17):
his love for each one of us, hissacrifice, his life, his
mission. I was just talking to somebody
earlier, but about this that I can't comprehend it, the full
meaning of the atonement and howit happened and what it really
means and, and how he took upon us our sins and our afflictions
(21:44):
and the trials and all those things.
But as I ponder about that and how that could happen, I get a
better understanding or a betterfeeling of his love for us and
that he went through that for us.
And so as the world kind of goesis crazy around us and you know,
(22:05):
the good is evil and evil is good and right is wrong and all
of that gets twisted. My testimony keeps me on the the
right path. It keeps me from listening or
being worried and having high anxiety over those things
because with my testimony of thegospel and my testimony of the
(22:28):
Savior and I know the truth. I know, you know, that's like,
you know, we know how the game'sgoing to end.
We know who's going to win. And so as long as we stay
aligned with the Savior and in his gospel and his church and
his prophets, we'll be, we'll besafe no matter what's going on
(22:50):
around this. And so my testimony is, is that
that I know that our Savior lives.
I know he leads this church to be able to work with President
Chandler and President Williams and the other members of the
state presidency. It's I, I know I can testify
that the Savior's leading the church and leading this work,
(23:15):
and particularly in the stake and, and I that gives me great
comfort and I know that the Savior is, is real and that he,
he does love us. And as we follow his
(23:37):
commandments and we keep the covenants and entered ordinances
and keep those covenants, we will be safe from all the, the
evil and the troubles of the world.
And so I'm grateful for the the testimony that I have that and
grateful for good parents that raised me with introduced me to
(23:59):
the gospel and raised me in the gospel and a Good Wife who keeps
me centered and moving forward in the gospel.
And for kids and grandkids who are just good kids and they're
amazing. And they help keep me on the
straight and narrow too. And I just without, without the
(24:22):
gospel and without the Savior and the restored gospel, I don't
know where I would be or I know I would be worse off.
And so I'm thankful for that testimony and thankful to have
that in my life and the blessings of it.
I leave that within the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
(24:47):
I hope that this episode of The Witch Tookie is a Stick podcast
helped bring you closer to Christ.
I invite you to take some time today to write about or record
one of your own faith promoting experiences.
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