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Chapter 23: Family in Lafayette

When we returned to California in the fall of 1959, I went with Ja-
net and Richard to enroll them in Acalanes High School. The student
counselor there wanted to have the two repeat the school grade that they
had just completed overseas. He assumed that their education overseas
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would do well at Acalanes. He reluctantly agreed. In point of fact, they
both did very well academically. They did encounter social problems
because most of the students had known each other at least through
junior high and had formed their own group friendships as a result. For
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friends through association with kids in church in our ward. Richard
gradually formed a circle of boy friends with common interests. Both of
them attended morning seminary before high school. Ken Jensen was
our Stake President and he had a great relationship with our youth. Dur-
ing the time we lived in Sunset Village, he picked up Richard and Janet
and they attended seminary with his daughter. Seminary was taught by
Neil Holbrook and was held in their home. Neil and Colleen were great
people and our kids developed a warm relationship with them.

On our second Sunday in Lafayette, Bishop Edmond Y. Wells
asked me to become the Priest Quorum Advisor. In about 1961, I was
called to be Second Counselor and later First Counselor to Bishop Wells
in the Lafayette-Orinda Ward. I shall forever be in his debt. He was a
successful business manager who had a wonderful feel for people. He
went to work very early every day and drove home at about 4 p.m. He
would then shower and change and devote himself to bishopric work
until 10 at night. He radiated love and respect for people and had a deep
feeling for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Each Tuesday evening, when we sat around the Wells’ dining
room table for our weekly bishopric meeting, he had a written agenda

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