Feeling Fine and Lookin' Good - a letter to a curious inquirer

(Orginally posted 4/27/04)

After 9 surgeries and the removal of a cancerous left kidney, I returned to work in late January of 2004, and now am continuing my quest for workplace justice, as well as happily harassing all my coworkers with all my goofy stories.

By the way, on my first day back to work, Maryland Governor Ehrlich (a good Republican, of course) called me to see how I was doing, and if he could do anything for me.

The rumor is not true that I asked him to sweep my porch.

Let's see.
Perhaps you also could add that I'm now one of the coolest Super Heroes in the League of Justice.

The happiest man in town is the village idiot, and I'm feeling just fine (and looking good, too!).

LDS Leaders: Called by the Lord

As the brethren rejoiced in General Conference today about the wonderful counsel given by President Monson during the Priesthood Broadcast, I found myself anxiously looking forward to further studying his words in the May issue of the "Ensign".
I remember when I first heard him speak many, many years ago, and how I was not much impressed with whom I considered just a garrulous storyteller.
Since then, however, I have repented of this foolish and misinformed opinion, and now love and revere him as God's Prophet, Seer, & Revelator.
His final conference remarks today were pure "Monson", and so full of Christ's love for all of us.
Among the other General Authorities, Brother Uchtdorff probably is my favorite, although Brother Eyring also really stirs my soul and deeply touches my heart.

Past Prison Praises

The following 2008 letter, sent from from Roy Gilleo to WJEJ Radio in Hagerstown, Maryland for their "April Volunteer Recognition Month", was a wonderful compliment:

Mr. Scally,
On behalf of Mr. Larry D. Kump's close friends and co-workers, please accept my request to include him as an April Volunteer Recognition nominee.
Larry has been a long time proactive member and leader of the independent Maryland Classified Employees Association (MCEA), working many hours towards improving employee job justice and prison safety issues within the Maryland Division of Corrections.
MCEA is an independent employee association representing state employees, whose leaders are state employees who are elected and serve without compensation.
As a Maryland Correctional Case Management Specialist at the Roxbury Correctional Institution (RCI) located in Hagerstown, Maryland, Larry meets with nearly 200 inmates assigned to his case load to assess their individual programming needs while also volunteering to facilitate prison Cognitive Behavioral Restructuring Programs.
Larry previously organized and currently serves as the President of the MCEA Public Safety Non-Custody Employees Local Chapter without compensation. This tireless advocate of workplace justice and liberty also serves in the unpaid positions of MCEA Western Maryland Area Governor and member of the Statewide Board of Directors of MCEA.
The only true satisfaction that Larry will admit to is receiving "Thanks" for helping fellow state employees fight for fairness and equality. Along the way, Larry also was instrumental in getting meaningful salary increases and work week hours flexibility for his fellow prison case managers.
In closing, I'm certain that Larry would like everyone to know he is, and has always been by his own admission, the proud father of David and Sarah and a High Priest within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sincerely,

Larry's Friend and Co-Worker,
Roy Gilleo
RCI Case Manager

Addendum: Larry D. Kump worked as an RCI Prison Case Manager from 1991 through 2008.

Remembering

Elder Robert C. Oaks, one of the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), recently reminded me once again of our eternal personal worth and destiny.
He said: "Satan seeks to convince us that we are so bad that even the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ is not sufficient to reach down to our lowly depths and draw us up to our Savior...Satan does not want us to understand our divine potential, but the Lord certainly does...Remembering is a very important principle to help us keep in mind our true identity ...may (we) ever remember who we are: sons and daughters of a loving Father...".
Source: "Ensign" magazine, April 2008 issue, "Your Divine Heritage", pages 46-50". Full text of article available at http://ensign.lds.org.