One of the most fundamental doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) concerns the gift of agency. A second, equally important, doctrine is consequences are linked inextricably to our use of agency and we cannot choose those consequences. As it follows, one of the most critical uses of agency is how each of us decides to use or misuse the powers of procreation-how we preserve or abandon our chastity. My observations and experiences, during many years of church service, professional life and generally, have made it clear chastity is no longer considered a virtue to be cherished and prized by large segments of our society. Even within The Church, old, young and between are being deceived. Both my current bishop and stake president report a clear majority of the problems they deal with involve sexual transgression in one form or another. This story is about what happens to two characters, Paul Tenter and Sarah Christensen, and those close to them over the course of nearly thirty years. The Title: "Agency and Consequences" is the theme that runs throughout its entire narrative as principles and laws are taught and learned. Choices are presented, principles obeyed and applied and blessings received; or principles are disobeyed and penalties imposed. This is a story for all of us. Do we use our agency wisely? Do we heed the direction of wise guides in our lives? When we find ourselves in the pit of adversity, will we make good choices? Will we find the ladder half buried in the rubble? And if we do, does the ladder represent the best choice? If you or I is a guide, trying with all our heart and mind to help someone in great need, when will you or I give up the quest? At what point do you or I let go and move on and never look back? Or, like Sarah, do you and I let go, bury the remnants of the relationship, move on and still care enough to brave the storm and risk our own safety to seek out the one lost? I invite you to become acquainted with and come to know Paul and Sarah. Travel this 30-year journey with them, their families, friends and associates as each exercises his/her agency, makes choices and reaps the consequences.
About the Author: Gaylen Kenneth Cardwell was born to Daniel Gaylen Cardwell and Vera Hazel Shoell March 4, 1948 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He grew up in Roy, Utah and graduated in 1966 from Roy High School in its first graduating class. He attended Weber State University on a track and cross-county scholarship before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England. Since his mission, he has served in many positions within the Church including Gospel Doctrine Instructor, High Counselor, Elders Quorum President, Scout Leader, Ward Clerk and Executive Secretary to three different Bishops. Currently he serves in the Cub Scout program and as a Temple Ordinance Worker. Professionally, Mr. Cardwell is a 39-year logistics and supply chain professional. Most recently, he was a Senior Consultant with Logistics Management Institute (LMI) assigned to USTRANSCOM at Scott Air Force Base, IL. Previously, he worked in commercial business, as a defense contractor and academia. These included being a contractor through YOH Aviation to the Boeing Company at their Phantom Works Division; eight years with Spectrum Brands, the third ranked manufacturer of chemical products for home and garden use, as Manager, Freight Claims and Inventory; and as an Integrated Logistics Support Manager at ESCO (a former division of Emerson Electric) for the Combat Talon II Radar System. He is the author of four published papers with the International Society of Logistics. For nearly 20 years he was also an adjunct professor and member of the professional advisory boards for the Logistics program at St. Louis University and the Supply Chain Management program at the St. Louis Community College. Mr. Cardwell holds both an A.A.S. in Transportation Management and a B.S. in Management Logistics from Weber State University in Ogden, UT. He also holds a two-year certificate in Traffic Management from the College of Advanced Traffic Management in Chicago, IL and is a Certified Professional Logistician and a Certified Adjunct Professor. Mr. Cardwell enjoys writing poetry, playing the trumpet, singing, camping, hiking, firing his trebuchet, serving in Boy Scouts and his church. He is married to the former Elizabeth Ann Smith. They raised three sons and one daughter and have one grandson. The Cardwell's live in St. Peters, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.