First Chrismas (In the Mission Field)

Each Christmas Eve the California San Jose Mission had a mission wide Christmas Conference -- every missionary in the mission gathered at Cherry Chapel, the LDS meetinghouse on Cherry Avenue in San Jose.  Each zone would perform a skit or a musical number.  The Christmas Conference in 1988, when I had been out about a year, was my first.

My zone sang Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains and I Stand All Amazed in Spanish.  The zone leaders of the Eastside San Jose Zone were Span Ams (Spanish speaking elders) and according to at least one of them, I Stand All Amazed is tons better in Spanish.

After each the performances of each zone, we broke for lunch.  My trainer, and an elder who was with us in my first apartment, came and sat with me and my current companion.  My trainer and I had not gotten along very well when we were together, but a few weeks before Christmas he sent me a card in which he thanked me for what he learned from our time together.  That Christmas Eve at lunch we had a nice conversation; I couldn't get over how friendly he was being.  Meanwhile, as part of reaching for a goal I had set to become more outgoing, I tried to take advantage of the opportunity to make conversation.

After lunch we had a surprise speaker, President Howard W. Hunter, who had some family in the area.  President Hunter had an informal, friendly chat with us about some of the neat things that are going on in the church.  For example, while the church did not have official recognition in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), some citizens in that country had found a priesthood leadership manuel and some other church materials and wanted to organize a branch inside the country.  Because the church was not recognized by the government, they could not baptize these people or organize a branch, but the church was looking for ways to help these individuals without breaking they laws of Myanmar.

After his remarks, those of us who wished to lined up to shake his hand.  When I shook his hand I had the feeling that he would be the next president of the church.  At the time, President Hunter was in a wheelchair due to some health issues he was experiencing; at recent General Conferences he gave his addresses while sitting down.  Some of my fellow missionaries were not sure when I told them of the impression I had recieved.  Nonetheless, a few years after I came home from my mission, President Hunter did become president of the church.  While he was the president only a short time, his example and teachings were endearing to many.  President Hunter would pass away not long after the dedication of a temple in my hometown, Bountiful, Utah.

The Christmas Conference was an opportunity to talk to missionaries I had not seen in awhile, from old companions and apartment mates, to some elders who were with me in the MTC.  After the conference, my companion and I went to a dinner appointment with a family in the ward we were assigned to.  After dinner we play Pictionary with the two older daughters who slaughtered us . . . seriously, it was not pretty.

The next morning, Sunday and Christmas Day, we went a combined Sacrament Meeting for three wards.  After the meeting we stopped by the home of the ward mission leader and watched his family open their presents; they found a few candy bars to give to us as presents.  Then it was off to lunch with another member family.  After eating we played another game, Whatzit, where you try to guess names or phrases from jumbled up images.  I had a difficult time with this game because it helps to talk it out as you try to guess, and I'm just not that verbal.  Otherwise, a fun time was had by all.  After dinner that night, with yet another member family, we stopped by the bishop's home on our way back to our apartment.

All in all, it was a good Christmas.

How Deep is Our Commitment to the Gospel?

In the Book of Mormon we read about a dream which was had by the prophet Lehi, in which he partook of the fruit of the tree which represented the love of God.  In his dream, Lehi saw "numberless concourses of people" following the path to the tree only to wander off and lose their way when a mist of darkness arose.  A second group of people was more fortunate as there was a rod of iron next to the path, which the people did cling to as they pressed forward through the darkness.  These people were able to reach the tree and partake of the fruit, but then things went wrong for them; "they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed."  Why did they do this?

In his dream, Lehi saw a "great and spacious building" in which there were people who "were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come . . . and were partaking of the fruit."  The people of the second group then "fell away into forbidden paths and were lost."  They had partaken of the fruit, "which was most desirable of all other fruit", yet they were unable, or unwilling, to "endure to the end."

Lehi then saw a third group which not only reached the tree successfully, but which also did not fall away after partaking of the fruit.  These people had pressed "forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree."  Elder Kevin S. Hamilton of the Seventy said in the October 2013 General Conference of the LDS Church that "The rod of iron represented for this group of people the only safety and security that they could find, and they held fast continually; they refused to let go, even for something as simple as a Sunday afternoon ride in the country."

Elder Hamilton then quoted Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve in regard to this third group: "The key phrase in this verse is 'continually holding fast' to the rod of iron. . . .  Perhaps this third group of people consistently read and studied and searched the words of Christ. . . .  This is the group you and I should strive to join."

In the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we can find stories similar to the experiences of the second and third groups in Lehi's dream.  Some such stories occurred during the Kirtland period of the church where the saints experienced difficulties in building up the Kingdom of God and then enjoyed the Pentecostal experience at the dedication of the Kirtland temple, only to have some then wander off in forbidden paths.  Others went through the same experiences, but remained faithful through the trials that followed in Missouri and Illinois.

I have written before about my great great great grandfather Frederick G. Williams, who joined the church in Kirtland, Ohio, and traveled with Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer Jr., Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson on their mission to the native Americans living in the Indian territories (http://thewholemissionary.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-mission-to-lamanites-and-conversion.html).  Williams was later called to be the second counselor in the First Presidency, he donated land to the church for the construction of buildings to further the work of kingdom, and he saw an angel at the dedication of the Kirtland temple -- the angel was also identified as the Savior.  But there were also trials; there were disagreements regarding his role as a justice of the peace, an argument with the prophet Joseph Smith regarding business affairs of the Kirtland Safety Society, and his daughter married a man who would be less than faithful to the church.

Despite the trials, it could be said that President Williams had success, prominence and spritual fulfillment in Kirtland.  When he left Kirtland, he would lose almost everything.  At a conference in Missouri, members refused to sustain him as second counselor in the First Presidency and he lost this position.  An invalid son, whose healing had been promised if he and his wife remained faithful, passed away.  His son-in-law became involved with other members turning against the church and collaborating with its enemies. Finally, Williams would be excommunicated from the church as the saints departed for Illinois.

A descendant of Frederick G Williams would speculate that he suffered guilt by association as he tried to mediate with his son-in-law and others who were turning against the church, trying to persuade them to return to the fold.  Additionally, Williams was absent when the saints were making the trek to Illinois, and many who were absent at that time were excommunicated.  Williams may, however, have been absent because of his work in settling an estate belonging to a member of the church, for which he spent three days in court in Far West in March 1839.  The business of settling the estate allowed Williams to visit Joseph Smith who was then in Liberty Jail.  In later years, Brigham Young appeared to admit a mistake had been made when he would teasingly ask Frederick's wife Rebecca if she had forgiven him yet.

It is certainly possible that Williams had committed an offense worthy of being excommunicated, but no documentation can be found regarding what that offense might have been.  Even so, when Joseph Smith arrived in Illinois, he counseled Frederick G. Williams to submit himself before the church and ask for forgiveness.  Williams did so in April 1840, and was received back into the fellowship of the church.  There may have been some hard feelings, however, as Dr. Williams chose to set up his practice in the town of Quincy, rather than in Nauvoo.  Still, Williams remained faithful until his death in October 1842, at the age of fifty-four.

Frederick's wife, Rebecca, and his son, Ezra, would cross the plains to settle in the valley of the Great Salt Lake.  Ezra Williams would establish the first hospital west of the Mississipi in 1852, when the Williamses converted their spacious two-story, seven room adobe home, which stood at 44 East North Temple in Salt Lake City.

Despite everything he had lost, despite the difficulties he had experienced, Frederick G. Williams remained faithful to the end.  Whatever disagreements he may have had, even emotional scars, what mattered to him was that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon was the word of God.  His commitment to the gospel was deep enough that he died full in the faith.

Will we be able to say the same thing?  We live in a world, it seems, where personal attacks are okay, but standing up for your beliefs is not.  In the church, "he said/she said" disagreements or other actions by imperfect people drive others from the church because they are offended.  Others, despite such wounds, choose to remain faithful, to continue holding fast to the rod of iron.  What will we do?  How deep is our commitment?


Sources:

Williams, F. G. (2012). The Life of Dr. Frederick G. Williams: Counselor to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Provo, Utah: BYU Studies.

Hamilton, K. S. (2013). "Continually Holding Fast. Ensign, vol. 43 (11).
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/continually-holding-fast

Not For Sale

"What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

This was the rousing finish to the now famous speech given by Patrick Henry in St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia, on March 23, 1775.  Henry was speaking to men who hoped to avoid war between the colonies and Great Britain.  "Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace, but there is no peace," Henry declared. "The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!"  He was very nearly right, for in less than 30 days the "shot heard round the world" was fired at Lexington in Massachusetts.

A few thousand years ealier, a prophet of God explained that we have the ability to choose between liberty and death:

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.  And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself" (2 Nephi 2:27).

Few, if any, would consciously choose captivity and death, but we often face choices that could lead us into captivity.  We may even think we are choosing liberty, when in fact we are choosing the opposite.  Another prophet has warned us that we may be flattered or lulled into choosing captivity instead of liberty.

"For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.  And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well -- and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.  And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none -- and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance" (2 Nephi 28:20-22).

Patrick Henry's words may echo, "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?"  Is anything we may find desirable worth such a price?

For McKay Christensen, the answer was no.  Mckay expected to attend college, serve a mission, and work for his family's business, but all that changed during his senior year.  On the baseball diamond he found unexpected success, batting .500 and stealing 62 bases in 62 attempts.  He was named to the all-American team and was rated among the three or four best athletes in the baseball draft.

When Mckay told the scouts that he wanted to serve an LDS mission, they told him that he would be among the first few players chosen in the draft and at least one team then offered him a million dollar signing bonus to skip his mission.  McKay Christensen answered by saying "My mission is not for sale."  Most major league teams turned their attention elsewhere, but the California Angels took Mckay with the sixth pick and offered him a two year break in which to serve his mission.

While he was serving his mission in Japan, the Angels traded Mckay.  After returning home, the once hot prospect would play for three different major league teams over four seasons.  As the Lord said in 1 Samuel 2:30, "for them that honor me I will honor."

Most of us will not have an opportunity as great as playing a major league sport.  But there will be other challenges and temptations.  Some may have a hard time leaving their girl behind to serve a mission.  Others may settle for a less than honorable person in order to avoid a life of loneliness.  We would do well to remember what Patrick Henry and McKay Christensen said about the choices they faced.


Sources:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/600159905/Closer-to-home-Christensen-hangs-up-cleats-joins-family-business.html?pg=all

http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm

"Let George Do It"

In the Spencer W. Kimball talk I linked to in yesterday's post, Elder Kimball said that at some point missionaries need to speak up when they see other missionaries breaking the rules.  "This is not the program," or, "This is my mission, too."  There was a time early in my mission when I wish that I had spoken up.

One of the rules of my mission prohibited exercising with free weights, which, it turns out, quite a few missionaries wanted to do.  One elder, who hoped to play football at BYU after his mission, wrote to then-head coach Lavell Edwards and asked for a letter that he could show the mission president on the importance of weight training.  Coach Edwards wrote back to say that the elder should obey all mssion rules, including the one against the use of free weights.  I don't know why my mission president instituted this rule when he took over the mission, but, then, I didn't have to know.

While I was still in my first area, at least two of my apartment mates were among those elders who didn't like the weightlifting rule.  A member, who lived close to our apartment, had a home gym and invited us to use it whenever we wanted.  One night, the other three elders decided that they were going to start going to this home gym every night after our 9:30 check in call.

They also decided that I would be the one to make the phone call to the zone leaders to report that we were in for the night – one of our zone leaders was also acting as our district leader at this time.  There is a tradition in the U.S. Navy of having the most junior officer in the wardroom do the menial, even dirty, tasks.  The other officers will say “Let George do it,” George being the nickname for the junior officer.  Well, in this case at least, I was George.

So, I made the call and then we all went over to the member’s home gym.  I went only because I could not be at the apartment alone -- well, maybe I could have, except that my older RM brother had advised me just before I got on the airplace to never leave my companion.  Unbeknownst to us, while we were out the zone leaders had called back, and when we got back to the apartment they were there waiting for us.  While I believed I was in a position where I had had little choice, I still had to admit to the zone leaders that I had lied.

Did I have a choice?  Well, of coure, we always have a choice.  My problem was that for several reasons I didn't have much confidence.  I was allowing myself to feel intimidated by other elders just because they had been out longer than I had been.  I'd had a rough time with my MTC companion, and when I got to my first area was in a mood to be more cautious, so I became even more introverted, which caused problems with my trainer.  When my third companion and our two flat mates wanted to go to the home gym after we were supposed to be in for the night, I believed there was nothing I could do to stop them.

Not long after this I had a conversation with one of my zone leaders, I think he knew that things haden’t been going too great for me. I told him how I felt, that I was discouraged and had a confidence problem. I said that I had come into the mission field with an inferiority complex because I had grown up with heavy persecution in school, in the neighborhood, and even at home. I said that I didn’t know who I was.  My zone leader told me that he, too, had faced a lot of persecution, and that everyone comes out not knowing who they are. He said the best thing I could do is share my feelings with others, particularly my companion. He said that I would learn more just talking about myself with them.

We then went out into the living room to join my companion and the other zone leader, and I told them what I had just told the first zone leader.  The three elders made some comments, presented some good ideas, and even paid me some compliments. They said I had a good jump shot, and if I had enough time I would usually make the shot. One zone leader also complimented my mind; he said I was a good thinker and had a good memory. I didn’t think anybody noticed such things.

Two weeks later we had a zone conference, and during the afternoon testimony session, I got up to speak.  I started by reading 1 Nephi 3:7, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

Then I turned to Helaman 10:4-5, “Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou has not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments. And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.”

I then said that I had committed with myself before coming out to live the mission rules. In the MTC that had been easy, but when I got out in the mission field I was timid of what others might think, so I had not been diligent in keeping my commitment and I considered that to be a transgression. I blamed myself for the lack of anything going on in the area I was assigned to. I apologized to the mission president and then committed with him to live the mission rules. I said that it didn’t matter to me what others thought because I knew that I would be blessed in the long run.

I was worried that some of the missionaries might think I was brown-nosing, but mostly I got comments saying that what I did took guts. My flat-mates said I did a good job, and the mission president thanked me and said that he knew I would hang in there.

Lock Your Heart

While on a mission tour in Latin America in 1968, then-Elder Spencer W. Kimball gave a rather stern talk to a group of missionaries.  If you haven't read this before, read it now.  If you have read it, read it again.

http://missionaryhelper.com/talks/lockheart.html

This advice to lock your heart is important, not just on a mission, but also after you get married.  Certain activities may seem innocent, but if persisted in they can lead to trouble.

One of my district leaders told me a story one day.  When he arrived in the mission field, and had his first interview with the mission president, he found a name tag stuck in the couch in the president's office.  The elder it belonged to had been the highest number of baptisms in the mission, yet he was sent home early for an indiscretion.  This elder had engaged in activities which initially seemed innocent and harmless, but as he persisted he soon found himself in a situation that quickly got out of hand.

Godly Sorrow

I said last week that "Repentance is always possible, but it is not easy, and it would be better to avoid, if possible, making the mistakes that would then require our penitence" (http://thewholemissionary.blogspot.com/2013/11/when-i-have-grown-foot-or-two.html)

Because we are human, mistakes are inevitable, yet some mistakes can be avoided.  General Charles Krulak, the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps in the late 1990s, defined a mistake as an error made when, in the attempt to do something right, someone makes a wrong choice.  God has given us council, in the scriptures and through church leaders, on dangers such as drugs, alchohol and pornography.  If we heed this council, and give it our best effort, we can avoid these pitfalls.

What would not be a mistake is to deliberately make a wrong choice in the belief that one can repent later.  In this case the individual is choosing to do something they know that they should not do.  Rather than a mistake, this would be a willful act.  Repentance is still possible, but in this case it would be more difficult than if an individual, doing their best, fell short because of human weakness.

In his first epistle to Corinth, Paul called the people to repentance, which caused them sorrow.  Paul acknolwedge this in his second epistle to the Corintians:

"For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same espistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow worketh repentence to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (2 Corinthians 7:8-10).

There are two things to take from this scripture: first, the Corinthian saints felt godly sorrow and repented of their sins; second, godly sorrow for sin leads to repentance, while worldly sorrow leads to spiritual death.  It is not enough to be sorry for our sins, we have to find this godly sorrow.  It is also not enough to just stop doing that which we need to repent from doing.  Worldly sorrow, ironically, leads us to spiritual death because it keeps us from true repentance.

“It is not uncommon," said President Ezra Taft Benson, "to find men and women in the world who feel remorse for the things they do wrong. Sometimes this is because their actions cause them or loved ones great sorrow and misery. Sometimes their sorrow is caused because they are caught and punished for their actions. Such worldly feelings do not constitute ‘godly sorrow.'"

President Benson went on to say,  “Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore. This very real mental and spiritual anguish is what the scriptures refer to as having ‘a broken heart and a contrite spirit’ (Doctrine & Covenants 20:37). Such a spirit is the absolute prerequisite for true repentance” 

Look again the image above of Christ in Gethsemane and consider your contributions to the agony and suffering he endured.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has said that "Godly sorrow inspires change and hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Worldly sorrow pulls us down, extinguishes hope, and persuades us to give in to further temptation.  Godly sorrow leads to conversion and a change of heart. It causes us to hate sin and love goodness. It encourages us to stand up and walk in the light of Christ’s love. True repentance is about transformation, not torture or torment. Yes, heartfelt regret and true remorse for disobedience are often painful and very important steps in the sacred process of repentance. But when guilt leads to self-loathing or prevents us from rising up again, it is impeding rather than promoting our repentance."

President Uchtdorf said further, "When we make mistakes, when we sin and fall, let us think of what it means to truly repent. It means turning our heart and will to God and giving up sin. True heartfelt repentance brings with it the heavenly assurance that 'we can do it now.'”

Watch this video (at LDS.org) and consider the concept of godly sorrow:

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-06-2350-godly-sorrow-leads-to-repentance?lang=eng 

Sources:

New Testament Video Guide.  Accessed at LDS.org. http://www.lds.org/manual/new-testament-video-guide/chapter-16-2-corinthians-7?lang=eng

Benson, E. T. (1988). Teachings of President Ezra Taft Benson.  Salt Lake City: Bookcraft.

Uchtdorf, D. F. "You Can Do It Now." Accessed at LDS.org. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/you-can-do-it-now?lang=eng&query=godly+sorrow

"They that Go Down to the Sea in Ships"

In May 1943, the submarine USS Jack (SS-259) was in transit from the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when she encountered some bad weather.  For several days the sub slowed her pace as she rode out the storm.  Jack was a new boat, on her way to war in the Pacific, and many of her crew had not experienced weather like this at sea, thus many became seasick.

Ensign James F. Calvert, fresh out of the Naval Academy at Annopolis, and submarine school at New London, Connecticut, was not troubled too badly by the storm, at least not initially.  On the first night of the big storm, Calvert was determined to not miss a meal, but when he reached the wardroom, where the officers ate, he was suprised to find only one other officer in the cramped compartment.

Lieutenant Miles Refo* was an experienced sailor, having served in the fleet for two years before going to sub school, and his surprise at seeing Calvert was "more than mild."  Calvert stuck it out long enough to get through the main dish of pork roast, but he skipped the apple pie desert.  Even so, he won respect from Refo.

"Day after day the storm went on," wrote Calvert many years later.  "Our speed of advance was well below plan; we were going to be at least a day late getting to Pearl.  Slowly but surely, however, our seasick casualties were getting their sea legs and returning to their watches, despite the continuing storm."

Clavert went on to say, "I have always been blessed with a strong stomach, and seasickness has not been one of my problems.  But there is such a thing as sea-weariness.  You're not sick, but you are so tired of hanging on, so tired of being unable to sleep without being tossed out, or nearly out, of your bunk that you wonder if the storm will ever abate -- and if you will ever feel normal and energetic again."

Calvert pulled out his Bible and read from Psalms 107:

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep.  For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end."

According to Calvert, the psalmist could have written that passage after a walk through Jack during the storm.  "It was strangely comforting for me," he would write, "to read those words, for they reminded me that men of the sea have been going through such storms for centuries -- and most of them survived in ships not nearly as sturdy as ours."

As with the storms of the sea, so with the storms of life.  Men and women have been experiencing adversity for centuries, and most of them survived as well.

"Finally, as will all storms," wrote Calvert, "this one began to subside.  The gray skies, which seemed to have been there forever, began to break and show patches of blue; the wind swung around to the east (a good sign in that part of the Pacific) and eased to a pleasant ten or twelve knots."

Again, so it is with life.  The moments of adversity we experience end.  Sometimes we are called upon to experience an intense challenge of a relatively short duration, while at others the challenge may be less intense it may last much longer.  Whatever their nature, the storms of life will subside sooner or later, though they may be succeeded by other storms.

"Life at sea," wrote Calvert, "is not filled with diversions comparable to those ashore.  Any break in the daily routine is welcome -- even a storm.  But there is nothing, absolutely nothing, so wonderful as the feeling of having weathered a truly bad storm and come out the other side with the ship in good condition, all hands surviving without injury, and normal routine reestablished.  Things are made shipshape once again below.  Wet clothes are dried out and restowed.  Best of all, the platform under your feet once again is nearly stable.  If that experience does not lift your spirits, then they are not liftable -- at least not at sea."

Source:

Calvert, J. F. (1995). Silent Running: My Years on a World War II Attack Submarine. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

*Calvert does not give Refo's rank, only states that he was Annapolis class of 1938.  I presume that Refo was at least a Lieutenant (junior grade), particluarly as he did not like the idea of ensigns without prior sea duty serving in submarines.