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to get God the Father and Christ the Son back into God's Work. Some of
these Board Members were astounded--not only by Mr. Armstrong's recovery,
but by the insight that he had as to what was needed in God's Work. But
though astounded, they were happily astounded. Some might have been a
bit incredulous, unbelieving but also happily so. One person was resentful.
Thi:it one person shocked the others by his open and naked hostility and
his unveiled and all too revealing disrespect. But Christ's Apostle was
equal to the occasion. He calmly reemphasized his points, gave overall
directions to the others to carry out the policies that he had enunciated
and to keep in touch with him over the ensuing months.
The next morning Mr. Armstrong's son sent his wife and an assistant to Mr.
Armstrong's home and they pleaded that Mr. Armstrong make no mention of the
open rebellion that had occurred the day before and to make no mention of
the momentous decisions that Mr. Armstrong had made, when he, Mr. Armstrong,
was scheduled to speak within the hour at the opening of the ministerial
conference in Pasadena, California. A few moments later Mr. Armstrong's
son pleaded with his father on his own behalf to make no announcements
about the decisions that had been made and to make no mention before the
ministers of the rebellion. Mr. Armstrong decided once again at that point
to give his son one more chance. One more opportunity was thus given his
son to do the right thing in God's eyes.
Mr. Armstrong consented and said nothing about the rebellion and said
nothing about the decisions. Mr. Armstrong was assured that he need not
remain for the conference because he was further assured that doctrines of
this Church would not be discussed and would not in any way be involved
at the ministerial conference. Mr. Armstrong and I returned to Tucson
after we each addressed the ministers. Mr. Armstrong related much of what
I have now told you about his miraculous recovery and I spoke on the need
for unity, love, harmony and cooperation in God's Work.
Since January, 1978, Mr. Armstrong has point by point reported all subse
quent events to you in personal letters, in articles in the Good News and
in sermons in Pasadena, Tucson, Phoenix and Big Sandy. He has literally
poured his heart out to you. He has revealed much of what he hoped would
never have to be made known to many. He has been literally heartbroken
over the loss of a physical son in whom he had placed so much hope and
from whom he has suffered so much--so much pain and so much anguish. Don't
think for one moment that it was easy for him, don't think for one moment
that he has not suffered, don't think for one moment that he has not been
sorely grieved and disappointed. I know better, I've lived with him every
day for all practical purposes as he just said a few moments ago for the
past ten years. And I myself have never worked so hard and so futilely,
so unsuccessfully to bring about a contrary result.
What has not been told in my opinion is that there were two miracles as
I view the events of the past fourteen months. The first miracle of course
was as I already stated--Mr. Armstrong was restored to life and to vigor,
restored with his faculties so necessary to carry on the work of the Living
God, faculties which were bestowed upon him by the Living God, undiminished,
and Mr. Armstrong has been given the opportunity to continue as Christ's
Apostle in this end time. But the second miracle was one that we did not
foresee and we did not envision. God struck down Mr. Armstrong in such a
way as to permit him after being restored to life to see firsthand what the
Work would be like if he were no longer here, if, in fact, he were dead, if,