My Friend and Brother Curt Kindred

February 13, 2021

To Curt's Children:

I would like to share just a few observations and experiences I had with Curt. We met many years before we started the Franchise Development Group.  He was a loan officer for Zions Bank, and I was an attorney with some expertise in Truth in Lending Laws. Curt and I worked together on some of the bank’s Truth in Lending Disclosure Forms. We decided that we should do some seminars on Truth and Lending, so we did a few of them, had a great response and made a little money together. It was my first experience seeing Curt teaching others. I was so impressed, and came to see his teaching skills many times later.


I called him one day and asked if he would be interested in working with me to start Franchise Development Group. It was at a time in his life when he was looking and he agreed. So we filed a new business entity under the name Franchise Development & Marketing Group. That was the beginning of not only a fun business venture together that paid our bills, but the making of a remarkable friendship that I would describe as more like brothers.

While we enjoyed the work that we did together, of which Curt was the key, we enjoyed the endless discussions we had together about life experiences and more importantly about the word of God. I began to teach Curt, or rather, unteach him. By that I mean he was very much steeped in the traditions that have crept into Mormon Culture. But as we began to talk and discuss, he was the first to acknowledge that while he had read the Book of Mormon more than 30 times, he missed most of the important teachings that are revealed there. I had been there before him, so I understood how hard it was for him to see beyond the traditional gospel.  It can only be done by searching the words of God, not by just reading them. He was so receptive, like a sponge, but even then the traditions would sometimes be a hurdle for him. But he was so persistent and soon came to see the word of God and the sole source of truth and light in his life.

He was teaching the High Priests in his ward at the time, and later the Gospel Doctrine class, and he would come to me with his lessons and ask for insights in teaching them. He was so effective at taking what he was learning and teaching it to others. His gift of teaching, when coupled with the word of God, was a blessing to those that he taught. And also a blessing to me.

I loved to hear him tell me about his experiences with Larry Miller, and he shared them with me willingly, and I didn’t mind that he told me about them over and over again as if it was the first time he was telling me because he was so animated.

One of our favorite things each morning was to go to the Maverick to get a drink, and we would take turns buying. I remember one time it was his turn and he got to the register with a long line behind him, and he could not get his wallet out of his pocket. I mean it was stuck and the line kept getting longer.  The look on his face with everyone watching him was priceless. I was laughing so hard.

I will miss Curt. He was a devoted friend and brother. When we moved to Arizona we stayed in touch and would go to lunch when I came to Utah to visit. I will miss our lunches, our visits and our opportunities to learn together, and I will miss his generosity and kindness. I am grateful that he shared many of his joys and challenges with me. 

One thing that Curt taught me changed the way I see the word of God.  He came to me one morning after he had read D&C 18. He asked to see my scriptures and he read D&C 18:34-36 to me. It was such a profound learning experience because while I had searched His words, the truth of His words as found in this passage had not yet been revealed to me. It changed when Curt read this to me:

These words are not of men nor man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man; for it is my voice which speak them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them; wherefore you can testify that you have heard my voice, and shall know my words.

I know he would want you all to know that he had heard God's voice in His words. I am so grateful that Curt taught me this.

I am sorry for your loss. Curt was a terrific dad and loved each of you so much. He spoke of each of you often and shared so much of his love for you with me. I am grateful, however, that he and Pat can be reunited and begin another journey together.

Clark Burt

 

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