At the beginning of the year when all the tax forms come in, we put them in a basket in the kitchen. When I finally get around to doing the taxes, I go through the basket and sort out all the various pieces of paper. There’s plenty of pieces of paper and I’m hoping we have indeed received all of them because tomorrow morning I’ll prepare the tax returns. We will definitely owe money to the State of Idaho because no state taxes have been withheld from any of the money we’ve received over the past year. I’m hoping we won’t owe the Feds anything … but that remains to be seen.

I belong to one of four Rotary Clubs here in Pocatello, the Portneuf Rotary Club. We hold our meetings on Tuesday afternoons from 5:15 p.m. until about 6:15 p.m., one of the few “evening” Rotary clubs in the United States. My role in the club is to arrange for the weekly program. Most weeks that works out just fine. Occasionally the program is not so very interesting. And, every once in a while, the presenter cancels. Today was a cancellation day. That also worked out since we used the time to discuss some items of Club business. Rotary has been very interesting and I’ve enjoyed being a part of the organization. The programs for the next month have been setup, but it’s now time to begin working on the programs for June.

Entrance into the LDS Temples is by recommend which is obtained by passing a worthiness interview. The recommend is issued for two years when it has to be renewed through another worthiness interview. Of all LDS adults, about half have at one time or another been to the Temple and about 35-40% currently qualify for a recommend. Nina and my recommends expire at the end of April. The renewal process is a two-stage interview, first with the Bishop of my local congregation and then with a member of the Stake Presidency. The questions are very straightforward. There are a few about basic Church doctrine, a couple related to integrity and my relationship with my family, and a couple about moral cleanliness. I suspect the main issues that hinders LDS members are two questions: Do you pay an honest tithe? Do you keep the Word of Wisdom?

An honest tithe means 10% of my income annually. We have been full tithe payers for most of our adult lives, meaning that we have learned to live on 90% of what me make. Something that the Federal Government certainly could take a lesson from.

Keeping the Word of Wisdom specifically means no tobacco, alcohol, coffee, or tea. That health code sets the LDS Church apart from most other religions.

I had my interview with our Bishop on Sunday and then met with a member of the Stake Presidency this evening for the second interview. I’ve been issued a new recommend good for the next two years. It feels good.

TTFN!