"I never worked for Dad after all that, it was pretty disheartening to be a part of such a difficult time, it caused us a lot of stress not only because we worked there but seeing how difficult it was for Mom and Dad. Dad tried hard to shield Mom from how bad things were but she knew. I wrote in my journal one day during that time that Mom had started crying to me because of all the problems that were going on and the frustration she felt toward Dad. it really scared me because my mom never cries, in fact, I only saw her cry one other time in my life.
Dad did his best to make the project work, but too many things were working against him, he didn't have a chance. Constantly putting more money in so they could get it done and get out. Those who were involved with him, his investors, those who stayed close to what was going knew it also. Even through all that, even through the money the investors lost, and the fiasco of the project, his investors, his clients, still think the world of him. Once the project started, there was no quitting, it had to be seen through to the end. He couldn't have walked away if he wanted to, there were so many loose ends that needed to be tied up for any of the partners to walk away, it wasn't just Dad, they were all stuck like glue to the bitter end. It was definitely these projects that financially ruined Dad.
Interestingly enough though, the worse things got, the more Dad read and shared his insights and testimony. When I was having a difficult time with money and he felt bad that he had none to give, he had great wisdom to share instead. He always stayed positive in his views and was a wonderful example of perseverance, integrity, and courage.
My Dad may have died penniless, but he was wealthy to me, wealthy in all the things that mattered."
I found this from a talk that James gave in 2001. I think it is beautiful the way he talked about Richard's testimony. The talk was on Testimony.
"In preparing for this talk I thought of my Dad who passed away a few years ago. He lived a successful life in business and as a father and as a husband. He enjoyed a full life of boats, cars, dream homes, and dream vacations. Yet toward the end of his life, his business was not as successful. His net worth was dismal and his car was less than desirable. Yet I believe his last years he spent reflecting on his life. Wondering at times if he had done all he could. Wondering at times if he had accomplished all that he should have.
A few years before he passed away he was called as a Temple worker. He told me when he was first called he was concerned that he didn't have time, with his business being less than optimal, but he had never turned down a call. While at the Temple often his thoughts were focused on his life. The example he had lived, the people whose life he had touched and served. He was a great missionary who bared his testimony often. I think of what he left and what he took to the other side. He left his testimony. And he took his testimony. And today he is still busy about his Father's business."
Linda gave a wonderful Father's Day talk a few years ago and included a little about Richard's background so I am including it as well as her thoughts about him to show how it probably influenced how he became the charitable and kind person he was.
"To give a little background of my Dad, his own father passed away when he was just 11 years old. He was the youngest of 3 brothers and his mother worked very hard to raise 3 boys alone. Money was scarce and life was hard. I think that at some point in my father's life he made a decision that his own children would never have to experience the same hardships he did. And he did accomplish that goal. My father worked very hard to provide his family with the things that he so desired as a child. But at the same time, it was also very important to him that we knew that the material things we enjoyed in this life in no way made us better or worse than someone else. I received very few scoldings from my father but I do remember him being very disappointed in me when in my youth I didn't want to give someone a ride to the dance. He made it very clear that as long as I was living in his house and driving his cars that I would give this person and any other person that called a ride to the dance. He was a very generous and non-judgemental person. If we spoke unkindly about someone's behavior or looks he would point out that we don't know enough about that person's background to make assumptions about this person and the things he does or doesn't do.
He was never too busy to help someone who needed him and I never heard him speak unkindly of anyone. He owned his own business and often hired people not because they would be an asset to him and his company but because he could provide an opportunity to train this person and give them some skills they couldn't get somewhere else. I remember one young man that he hired who had no desirable work skills. But my father gave him a car to drive and simple tasks and errands that he could perform. This young man was not very responsible and at one point he even stole from my Dad. But my father never got angry or talked poorly about him, and he did not let him go. He knew he was a troubled youth without a father or anyone to guide him, and he saw a chance for him to make a difference in someone's life. His attitude was that if someone stole from him, they probably needed it more than he did.
My Dad was a great example of a person with charity. He was always more concerned with other's needs than his own."
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