I hope to write more frequently here, now that I’ve made a big change in my life.

Over four years ago, shortly after returning to the United States from my work in China, I was invited to take on a volunteer role with a journal I had come to love, <i>Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship</i>. I was afraid but honored and had some extra time then, so I accepted and began work as a co-editor with Allen Wyatt. His role, now more clearly described as Managing Editor, is an overwhelming one that oversees not just the final stages of production of journal articles (this includes source checking, typesetting, production of printed and PDF documents, and, with Alan Sikes, production of the online version of the journal) but also involves work with many other publications and activities as well. My much easier role of overseeing the peer review process for our many submissions — later given the title of “Executive Editor” — was challenge enough for me. I recently told a granddaughter that serving in that role was like being a bishop over a large ward of numerous papers, almost all in need of some repentance and many of which needed excommunication (rejecting papers was a sometimes painful but necessary part of the process, of course).

I loved working with the many great authors who have published with us. I enjoyed getting an early view of important new discoveries, and also greatly liked working our large group of reviewers who often did much to strengthen good papers or provide wise guidance on papers that needed to be rejected. There was so much to learn and often to enjoy in all these interactions.  One of the best parts of my work with the journal was the frequent interaction with Dr. Godfrey Ellis, a recently retired professor (whom I have yet to meet in person) and author of some terrific works (tip: your knowledge of several aspects of the Book of Mormon, including Lehi’s Trail, may be incomplete and outdated if you haven’t read his works). He approached me out of the blue two years ago and asked if there were any opportunities for volunteers to help with the journal. This came as my life had become more complicated with the need to work more to help with the expanding care-giving costs for my mother. Volunteer? Help? Thank you! He soon became Associate Editor and then an Executive Editor, taking on a large burden at just the right time. He now will continue working with two new Executive Editors, Brant Gardner and Rebecca Lambert, as was announced recently in a notice from Allen Wyatt on Aug. 28.

My work with the journal was highly rewarding, but also much more challenging that I had expected. I loved it and never thought I would choose to step down, but after some surprising and ultimately joyous experiences a few weeks ago involving important activities with local African immigrants, I awoke the next morning with a surprising sentence firmly planted in my mind: “It’s time to step down from Interpreter.”

For some reason in my life, early morning impressions have been a rich source of guidance at critical moments. It came not like the suspicious still small voice that whispers when I’m smelling a freshly made doughnut: “Maybe I really need a doughnut now.” Stepping down was not something I was already yearning for. In fact, I had not even considered it a possibility. I had instant arguments against it. But I chose to listen and turned to my wife and others for their input. I was surprised at how obvious the need had become in their view. Further prayer and reflection moved me to act swiftly and inform the Interpreter Foundation of my desire to step down as of Sept. 1.

At the time, I did not have a clear, specific reason as to why I had to step down, though I could say that the demands of my day job have expanded, my family duties have expanded with fourteen grandchildren, my community duties have expanded (very involved with the African community here and proud to be a board member of Hope and Help Together, a Fox Cities community organization aimed at helping immigrants and refugees in the area), as have the demands of my Church calling (my wife and I have a calling in the Appleton, Wisconsin Stake as “ministering specialists” focused on the African community, which I think has been my favorite calling so far) and our need to make more progress in Swahili. Plus fall is here and I need to harvest apples and make numerous jars of applesauce and other apple products, a hobby and passion for my wife and I. But I actually suspect or at least hope that one reason is that it’s time for me to write more. I’ve been far too quiet on this blog and elsewhere, and yet have much I am dying to say.

So here goes my first baby step in getting back to writing more. Meanwhile, I remain a strong fan of Interpreter and have already begun working on a couple of contributions for it that I plan to submit shortly.

I hope you’ll read and learn from Interpreter. There are so many gems there that demand more attention. I’ll point out some of my favorites in future posts.