Harold Smith

Myrna wrote: Where is Harold?

Gordon Smith wrote: He lives in Brookside subdivision in Springville.  He just got out of the hospital, and a rest home.  He is starting to get his strength back.


Myrna wrote: I never did ask why he had been in a hospital and a rest home. I wondered but I did not ask. Is his wife dead? I missed that, if it is so. 


Gordon wrote: Harold was not really in a rest home, it was a rehab center.  He is doing better now.  However, he in fair condition.  His wife died several years ago.
His oldest son, and his wife, are living with Harold now.

Myrna wrote: Thanks. Tell me, when did his wife die? I am sorry that I missed her funeral. I should have been there. 

Gordon wrote: She died April 30, 2003

Dane's Prom Photos Sent by Kimberly

Garth's Plaque

Melanie wrote: Alyce posted a picture of the plaque that is in honor of Garth.

Myrna wrote: The family used to email me and now they do not. Thanks for letting me know. I guess I need to pay more attention to Facebook. I guess, rather than send email, everyone just relies on Facebook postings. I need to step up.

Kim's House Burned

Kimberley Pitts commented on her home which burned to the ground..

Kimberley wrote: "We are all ok.... I had a bad headache and was at the emergency room when this happened. The kids were at my parent's house. We are ok...just shaken up. Been through a lot of drama from some family members that I am no longer speaking to, as they got my 80 year old father all upset telling him stories that we were bragging about losing our house. That is just crazy talk. Just adds to our stress right now.....and I know its hard to imagine but I have a so called brother and his children that would talk bad about us and wish harm to our family after we have been through so much this week. If the shoe were on the other foot, so to speak, I would never, ever be so vicious as to try to harm them or talk bad about them in thier time of need. That's why we are Christians...and sadly, they are not. God will see to all od our needs, I have Faith in that! Thanks to those who have cared and been praying for us...it means more than you will ever know!!!"

Kimberly Pitts' Trailer Burned

Melanie wrote: Kimberly Pitts' trailer burned to the ground. It was in the Pilling Trailer lot. She posted the news article on her Facebook. Just thought you should know.
Mel

Myrna wrote: Oh, great! Thanks for letting me know. Is she going to live with Uncle Bob?

Melanie wrote: I am not sure. She didn't say what she was doing. I wasn't sure she actually lived in the trailer. I thought maybe she was renting it out.

Myrna wrote: She lived there and it was her home. I wonder what could have happened. I had better get in touch. Thanks. I love you, M

Cousin Kim Pitts' Home Burned to the Ground

Ravenous blaze leaves trailer unrecognizable

The bare bones are all that remains after a fire demolished this trailer in Pillings Trailer Court off carbonville road, early Thursday morning.

Price City Fire responded to a ravenous blaze just after 1:00a.m. Thursday morning. 73 was not salvageable, but no injuries and no other damaged property was reported. Residents on Carbonville Road reported the huge blaze as if it were in their own backyards. Luckily the owner was not in the home at the time the fire began.

Price Fire Chief, Paul Bedont, and investigators were present on the scene later that morning to discover the cause. After learning of certain electrical problems in the trailer, the team believes it was an electrical fire possibly caused by a problem in an electrical outlet. Bedont reported it was hard to pinpoint when barely any of the structure was left standing and only part of one appliance survived.

Fire Chief Bedont recommends if you are having electrical problems in or out of your home, waste no time in hiring a licensed electrician to investigate.

Tooth

I went to the dentist yesterday (here in town) because I thought I had an abscessed tooth. My whole jaw was sore and there was a really sore spot by a back tooth on the left side where the mouth and the gum connect. Dr. Peterson said that I had a cold sore (type) on the inside of my mouth along the tooth line. It is just a type of herpes, he said, and would go away. He took an x-ray and showed it to me and said the teeth look pretty good. I have another appointment in two weeks to see if it has cleared up. He gave me some PerioRx but said that was mostly for bacteria and not viruses but thought it might help anyway. He did say that the tooth they pulled and put back (Lohner) looked like it had a spot that Jared might want to look at. He said the tooth may be eating itself from the inside out but he was not really certain.

I think this is really funny! Dad (LHT)

Wedding reception shocks family, possibly Rick Santorum, too

By Steve Eaton , For the Deseret News

Published: Monday, April 23 2012 3:53 p.m. MDT

Up until now weddings have been the kind of thing that happened to other people, but not to me.

I was married many, many years ago but I never expected one of my kids to get married. Both of them have acted like children most of their lives and two of them spent years being outright teenagers. They were not the marrying kind. They played too many video games, drank too much milk and kept their rooms far too messy to ever be the type to go out in public and get married.

In retrospect, I think there were some clues that my daughter, Sara, was thinking of marriage that I overlooked. Right after she got engaged, for example, she got that ring and started going through wedding magazines, started talking about matching colors. Then she bought this ridiculously expensive wedding dress and my wife was happy for her.

(At first I thought this might be a sign that my wife was loosening up on the financial reigns and that I could finally buy French bread pizza whenever I wanted. Instead, she tells me we are poorer than we have ever been before and that it's so bad that we may have to go to other people's wedding receptions just to eat.)

I found this wedding bliss stuff all more stressful than joyous. If you've ever watched any television or movies, you know that weddings attract disasters. Nothing ever goes right. Even Julia Roberts has trouble getting married and she seems reasonably attractive to me. And while I know that some of the disastrous TV and movie weddings I've seen are pretend, they can't all be pretend.

I wasn't so much concerned with the actual wedding part because I'm LDS and temple weddings are all done very quietly in a temple. The part that concerned me was the wedding reception.

As it turns out, wedding receptions cost way more than you think. You might expect it's like springing for Little Caesars pizzas for a room full of people, but it's not like that at all. I know that normal people, the kind of people who go out to dinner all the time and get to vacation in Hawaii, are unfazed by the wedding costs. But because I actually make less money than anyone I know, throwing a giant reception party for everyone was no small thing.

And it wasn't just our lack of money that had me worried. We don't have people over for barbecues or dinner because we only know how to make chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and how to make change at Pizza Hut. Actually, my wife, Barbara, has learned to make all manner of things chocolate and that's what people got who came to my daughter's wedding reception.

Barbara, who is a good person who can work for days and days for other people, stayed up all night several times before the reception making chocolate food for it. The Klingon in me wanted to just show my manhood and throw a first-class wedding by using our credit cards. She would have none of that and our guests didn't seem to mind.

I did invite this nice but crazy guy from the gym who has several times made up rules for me to follow so that I could be skinny, young and strong.

He would have not understood this wedding.

I was worried he'd come in and see all the chocolate decadence and smash everything, but he didn't come. That left us all free to have fun playing in the chocolate fountains and eating truffles, cookies and cake bites. There was chocolate on everything and everyone. I liked that part.

One thing I had forgotten about wedding receptions is that everyone who comes brings gifts. What a nice thing. Lots of people came and they all brought gifts.

The other thing I forgot is that none of the gifts go to the poor father and mother of the bride, the people who need them the most.

(There may be some of our friends who read this who will think that they were slighted because they didn't get wedding reception invitations. We followed the process we have developed over years and years at the end of the year when it comes to Christmas cards. We either sent out the invitations at the very last minute or plan to send them out soon. If you didn't get an invitation, your invitation will probably be in the mail by July.)

We didn't mean to offend anyone but we keep discovering key people we overlooked. We forgot, for example, to invite any of the Republican presidential candidates, which is kind of mean when you consider some of them are going through very difficult times and could use all the friends they could get. I hope it wasn't my fault that Rick Santorum just up and quit the race after my daughter's celebration. He looked like his feelings had been hurt.

I would have liked to invite the president himself because I like him, but there are lots Utah people who are sore at him for making changes he believed in and, of course, you can't just have the Secret Service running around a family event like that.

People still came and it was kind of strange to see my various worlds colliding. I saw people from my church talking with people from work who were talking with my actual family members. There were people from olden times and people from modern times. I don't think I would have been surprised to discover the cast from the TV show "The Office" mingling about the reception and loading up on truffles. It was surreal.

And we were surprised to discover that my daughter's husband, Brad, who my daughter brought with her to the reception, had invited a bunch of his friends and family to come, too. It was sort of supposed to be just a family deal but they acted like family — and they were very likable people. Immediately after the wedding and before the reception that evening, they threw an entire lunch for a houseful of people that featured real, thick cheeseburgers, salads and ice cream for everyone. They either have more money than we do or more credit cards. I suspect they are normal people who probably vacation in Hawaii.

Overall, I found it to be quite the traumatic experience and it took us days to recover. The next morning we stumbled around through enough chocolate-covered, color-coordinated garbage to transform a Dumpster into a work of art.

It turns out, after you have a wedding reception everyone cheers and goes home and then you have to clean up for days and days and take everything home. The good news was that because Sara and Brad skipped the cleanup part we ended up with all the presents, which I think is very cool.

However, we did come across one unsettling and disturbing discovery in the reception aftermath that still has us confused, frightened and bewildered.

It appears my daughter has moved out of the house.

Steve Eaton lives and works in Logan. He can be reached at Eatonnews@gmail.com

Melanie wrote: Wow! I can't wait. I am sure there is a Principal/Father out there who is praying for pay-backs.  

Love you two!
Mel

Re: 1,000-year-old Pilling figurine reunited with collection (Thanks for sending, AnnMarie.)‏

AnnMarie wrote: Are these the figurines Dad talks about seeing at BYU years ago? 

Melanie wrote: Re: 1,000-year-old Pilling figurine reunited with collection (Thanks for sending, AnnMarie.)‏ Mom, is there a link to this?

Sorry...when I sent the reply, it showed up in the missing text. Weird. 

Mel 

Myrna wrote: Actually, these are the ones that Grandma Edna's family owned and donated. She had a photo of the originals. However, the vagabond referred to was a family member of hers. For some reason, I think they started out being donated to the museum in Price but ended up being so valuable that they were transferred to the U and then to their current site. I will check with the sisters and see what they remember.

The link for the Pilling figurines article:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=20117209&title=1000-year-old-pilling-figurine-reunited-with-collection&s_cid=queue-6

LOGAN — One of the nation’s national treasures is back where it belongs.

“I am gonna say it, that we have found the lost Pilling figurine," said Dr. Bonnie Pitblado, director of the Utah State University Museum of Anthropology.

Last year, Pitblado received the object wrapped in a leather cover and a note that read in part: “Sometime between 1978 and 1982 I came into possession of this piece by way of a vagabond acquaintance. He had told of ‘acquiring’ it near Vernal, Utah. I have great interest and respect for this continent's native culture and have always hoped to somehow return this to wherever it had come from. … I am very excited at the prospect of it being returned to its proper place.”

Researchers weren’t initially sure it was the missing figurine. “When we first saw it, everybody had the same response, ‘Oh, could it be? It sure looks like it,'” Pitblado said.

The figurine is believed to be one of 11 remaining figurines discovered in March 1950 by Clarence Pilling in a small side canyon of Range Creek. The figurines, known worldwide as the Pilling figurines, are between 4 and 6 inches in height. They are made of unbaked clay and are decorated with applied clay ornaments. Each figurine is distinctive and shows evidence of red, buff and black paint.

They were all placed together in this particular setting, underneath an example of Fremont rock art with a few other objects as well, and left that way for a thousand years.

–- Bonnie Pitblado, USU

“They’re paired male, female figurines,” Pitblado said. It isn’t known if they actually represent real couples. 

“They were all placed together in this particular setting, underneath an example of Fremont rock art with a few other objects as well, and left that way for a thousand years,” she said.

One of the figurines disappeared while on tour in the 1960s.

Because occasionally people will try to fake the archaeologist, they wanted to make sure it was the real thing so they ran several tests. The figurines have fingerprints on them, so “we collaborated with the crime lab in Salt Lake City to see if we could possibly get a match,” she explained

They also conducted some chemical tests to prove that the clay was the same and that it contained the same protective coating that was placed on the collection during the 1950s at the Harvard Peabody Museum. The back of the figurines also have a very distinctive basketry pattern.

“The energy in the room was tangible when we told our colleagues at the museum over in Price,” Pitblado said. “I know for a fact, I was told that tears came to eyes, folks who were around when it went missing.”

Not having this figurine is like going to see the Mona Lisa and maybe not having the smile or having something across her face, she said.

It’s believed the figurines were made about 1,000 years ago. The Fremont culture is a pre-Columbian culture that inhabited sites in what is now Utah, and parts of Nevada, Idaho, and Colorado between 700 and 1300 A.D.

“Rarely, rarely do you ever have that happy ending,” Pitblado said. “So I am grateful for the person out there who had this and saw that it made its way back to the rest of the collection.”

The figurines were entrusted to Harvard’s Peabody Museum when they were found in 1950. Ten years later, the Pilling figurines went on display at the Utah State University prehistoric museum. The figurines also went on tour across the state and that’s when one figurine disappeared.

The figurine will appear with the rest of the collection at the Price Prehistoric Museum in May.

Pitblado will hold a free lecture titled “Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found?!” on May 5 at 1 p.m. at the Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, 490 N. 300 East in Price.

“To have the collection back together the way that it was originally placed by Fremont folks a thousand or so years ago,” she said, “that’s the most important thing.”

Contributing: Mike Anderson 

Myrna wrote: Do any of you remember the story of how the Pillings acquired these figurines in the first place?

Hey, How's It Going? Brigitta

Kimberly wrote: I'm in Detroit with grandma nonie for her sisters funeral. Sophie died Friday. Kids very sad. 
Call when you can. I don't have your Google # or your Skype. Your Skype numbers comes across at the main number for Skype and not a number I can call back.
Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

Brigitta wrote: Physical address: hwy. 128 mm 17, moab utah 84532

Regular mail through us postal service: Hc64 box 4015, moab utah 84532

Google voice: 801-896-4746

Work number: 435-259-5179 ext 378

Kimberly wrote: Thanks. Have a good week.

Re: Promenade Photos for Alyssa and Kyle

Myrna wrote: Congratulations to Kyle and Brandon. That is wonderful. Which will he do, choir or band or can he choose to do both.

Give your neighbor a gold star from us to her. I actually could send one, I bought a bunch so I could give one to our bishop for getting seats in the conference center for Jared and girls. Did Kyle just not hear you or did he not have a choice?

AnnMarie wrote: He gets to do both, which will be a lot of fun, because there were some venues which were only for band and others which were only for the choir.  He'll do them all.

 

He heard me, he just was too involved making his date happy that he went anyway.

Kyle and Alyssa in Promenade Photos

AnnMarie wrote: Mom,
Our wonderful neighbor took a picture of Kyle and Alyssa doing the promenade.  I think I told you at Alyssa's recognition night that one of Kyle's buddies asked her out last minute because of strange circumstances.  So we told Kyle to wait for us to get to the promenade.  He told us "ok."  And then when we got there and texted him that we were there, he told us "um . . . we already went."  Fortunately for us, our neighbor's daughter had taken their prom pictures in our yard and was able to get pictures of them doing the promenade.  So here they are.  In Alyssa's picture, you can see Kyle in the background.

Also, big news for us.  Kyle was nominated as a Utah Ambassador of Music for 2013 European tour.  We just got it in the mail.  It is for band, and Alyssa told us she just prepared the ones for choir (she is the choirs' president at THS) and sent it in to the UAM office and he will be receiving a nomination for that as well.  So looks like Brandon will get to go with Kyle in July 2013.  I am so excited for both of them.

From: Emily Maude Snow wrote:

These are the photos I snapped of Alyssa and Kyle at promenade—hopefully they somewhat make up for having missed them!

Emily

Permanent Photosharing

MyrnaRae_2008, is a photobucket site which is password protected. The password is the same for all of you. It is something that starts with a T. Yes, it is a capital T.

MyrnaRae_2008 wants to share an album‏

MyrnaRae_2008 wants to share an album on Photobucket with you!

Check out this album on Photobucket!

My guest password is: If you want it, you have it. The clue is a name we all know and use.

Melanie wrote: These are fabulous! Thanks Mom!

Myrna wrote: Do you think this will work for sharing?


Melanie wrote: Braden has been posting his stuff on photobucket for the past two years. It is how we send him pictures from us as well.

I like photobucket.

Melanie

Myrna wrote: MyrnaRae_2008, is a photobucket site which is password protected. The password is the same for all of you. Yes, there is a capital for the first letter.

I Left My Head

I Left My HeadBY LILIAN MOORE

I left my head

somewhere

today.

Put it down for

just

a minute.

Under the

table?

On a chair?

Wish I were

able

to say

where.

Everything I need

is

in it!

David and Kate Childs Bird Had Another Girl

Myrna wrote: Did Kate have a new baby? Is it a boy or a girl? I seem to have dropped off the e-mail list somehow. Thanks, M

Denise Allen wrote: Yes she had a baby girl.I cant remeber its name our how much it weighed.

Myrna wrote: Thanks! I appreciate knowing. I love you! M

Temple Service and Unexpected Blessings‏

I have had a troubled heart for several months. I talked with Julie, Jim and Dad about it one Sunday when we were all together. I have always wanted what was best for my family. I daily pray that I will be a good example to my grandchildren and to the other members of my family. Nevertheless, I have felt uneasy. 

I have prayed many times for a way to convey to all of you the reasons that I so love the temple and my service there, in spite of getting so very tired that, at the end of Saturday, I feel completely done in physically. At the same time, I am renewed spiritually and mentally. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father that I am able to function well at the temple both physically and mentally. I can complete all the tasks that I am given including making it to the tower sealing room with a wedding party in tow. However, try as I might, I have never been able to convey to any of you how serving enriches my life and the life of your father. 

As I opened the Ensign for the first time this month, after a long and worrisome day, it fell open to the following article. I am certain that it states exactly what I wanted to express to all of you. I did have a humble and grateful heart that Heavenly Father had given my ideas words. 

This latest calling, to be one of the shift coordinators who oversees the activities of our shift and the women who work on it, has been a further testimony to me that Heavenly Father does love me and that he does know who I am and that He cares. I don't suppose that any of you have ever noticed that I have not been given many leadership positions in the church. That is a fact that I find most troubling. I question whether or not I live well enough to be entrusted. I see it as a failing in myself. I did serve as Relief Society President for eight years and was the stake speech director when they used to have a stake board over MIA. I have not had other leadership entrusted to me. I have been a teacher. I love teaching so that has been fine. But I have watched others who have only been at the temple for a few months called to the position I now hold. I wondered what was wrong with me that I had never been called. Dad has been nothing but in one leadership position after another. 

At any rate, read the following. Know that what it conveys comes from your mother's heart. I love you all, despite the fact that some of you do not seem to know that. I am so thankful for each of you. Each child was sent to me to teach me to be a better person and I am still learning to do that. I consider you all my friends. Thank you for that.

(I am not perfect, and may never be. I still bumble about on a regular basis. For example,  I am one of only three on our Saturday shift, trained to use the cash register and credit card machine in the temple. A few weeks ago, I checked through a large baptism group. As I was ready to take the credit card from the Bishop, I accidentally cleared the whole transaction. Another worker and I had to run around to the tables and figure out what everyone had taken and then I had to feed that information back into the cash register. I was so embarrassed but I had an hour of service at the cash register left so I just continued on. And we continued to be really busy so I had no time to lick my wounds. I will NEVER push the red button again. I will always push the blue one just left of it.)  

Temple Service and Unexpected Blessings
BY SARA D. SMITH

Workers in the Provo Utah Temple have learned that giving their time to serve the Lord and His children brings abundant blessings. 

Karen Lillywhite slipped into the back of the room and quietly found a seat among her fellow temple workers, who shifted to make room for her. They greeted each other happily and softly, enjoying the atmosphere before the meeting that would begin their Saturday morning shift at the Provo Utah Temple. The meeting’s hymn, prayer, and messages brought a spirit of peace that Karen and the other workers could take with them while participating in sacred ordinances during the next five hours.

Karen, a student at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, USA, volunteered to serve in the temple because she wanted to do the Lord’s work. Even though Karen has had to miss some activities and a little study time while she works in the temple on Saturdays, she does not regret dedicating her time to service.

“I love being able to spend so much time in the house of the Lord serving others,” Karen says. “There are things that you can learn from the perspective of a temple worker that are different from what you learn as a patron. Getting both perspectives opens up a lot of revelation and understanding for me.”

Karen says that every part of her life has been blessed by the temple. Serving as a temple worker motivates her to live the gospel more fully and has brought her closer to the Lord and to those with whom she serves.

One of the things Karen appreciates most about her service in the temple is her association with others. “I’ve gotten to know the other temple workers and the patrons that come regularly to my shift,” she explains. “One sister comes to the temple each week and stays for hours, bringing a beautiful spirit with her. I have met some incredible individuals who inspire me and bless my life.”

Karen is one of thousands of Church members who serve in temples around the world. No matter where they serve, these temple workers learn what Karen and those who serve with her in the Provo Temple on Saturday mornings have realized: temple work brings abundant blessings not only to their own lives, but also to their families and to those for whom the temple work is vicariously done.

Renewal of Strength

The Provo Utah Temple is one of the busiest temples in the world. It serves a highly concentrated population of Latter-day Saints, including the missionaries at the Provo Missionary Training Center and the students of two universities. Many of the workers in this temple are young couples, students, and recently returned missionaries.

One of these younger workers is Jenny Perkins, who started working in the temple soon after returning from her mission in Russia. Jenny works alongside her parents, Jack and Toni, and enjoys learning from them as they serve together. When Jenny considered discontinuing her shift because she was overwhelmed with school, Toni taught her about the blessings that come from temple service.

“My mother reminded me that if I was willing to sacrifice for the Lord and exercise a little faith, He would make up the difference. Now I can testify that this is true,” explains Jenny. “Working in the temple helped clear my mind so I could finish my other work more accurately and efficiently.”

Her father, Jack, has noticed similar blessings. Over the past few years, he has worked extra hours each week in his employment and has held Church callings that required much of his time. But as he has immersed himself in temple service, he has felt his strength renewed.

“I am renewed by the time I spend working on behalf of other people,” Jack says. “Everything else I do in the other six days would be more of a burden if I didn’t spend that time in the temple doing service.”

Happiness in Serving

As a young girl growing up in Brazil, Natalina Durelli would look at pictures of the Salt Lake Temple and dream of visiting a temple herself. She had joined the Church with her family, and at the time there were no temples in South America.

Her dream became a reality when the São Paulo Brazil Temple was built near her home. She was present when the temple was dedicated in 1978.

“I had the privilege of singing in the choir that provided music for the dedication,” she remembers. “It was a wonderful season of my life and helped strengthen my desire to be closer to the temple.”

Natalina wanted to serve a full-time mission but was unable to do so because of family obligations. After she received her endowment, she volunteered as a temple worker, and this service became her mission. She served every Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. while working full time and taking classes.

“I was grateful that I was blessed with the energy to be on my feet in the temple for so many hours,” she says. “I remember coming home exhausted physically and emotionally, but with a testimony of the temple and the work we do inside those walls.”

Thirty years later, Natalina, now living in Utah, became a temple worker once again. She has faced many trials in her life, but serving others in the temple brings her peace.
“I have found that working in the temple helps me overcome discouragement,” she says. “While serving others, I don’t have time to feel unhappy.”

An Extra Measure of Blessings

When they first were called to work in the Provo Utah Temple, Joel and Elaine White hoped to serve in the baptistry on a weekday evening. But the temple president, then Merrill J. Bateman, had something else in mind for them. (As did President Doxy with us. He needed a couple of Saturday Warriors and asked us to work Friday and Saturday, the two busiest shifts.)

President Bateman asked them to serve as ordinance workers on the shift that needed the most help—the Saturday shift from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They were hesitant, both to take on the responsibilities of an ordinance worker and to give so much time on their only free day. But they chose to serve where they were needed and have been blessed abundantly. (We work from 10:30 a.m. to 5 or 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and from 1:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday.)

With their new temple shift, the Whites initially struggled to fit in tasks they usually completed on Saturdays, so they soon dedicated weeknights to chores like laundry and shopping.

“We have been blessed to be more efficient with our time,” says Joel. “Giving our Saturdays may look like a sacrifice, but it has not been anything of the sort. The Lord has given us an extra measure of blessings.”

Now there isn’t any other day they would rather work in the temple. Saturdays are busy, so the Whites look forward to helping hundreds of temple patrons participate in sacred ordinances. One of the greatest blessings the Whites have seen from their service is in their family.

“It has brought us closer together,” says Joel. “We have experienced a bit of what it will be like to be together for eternity. Serving with my wife has helped me see her more clearly, more as the Savior does. That helps me be more empathetic and focused on her instead of on myself. We encourage our adult children to make temple attendance central in their lives because that makes the Savior central in their lives.”

At one point, one of their sons struggled to stay strong in the gospel. The Whites wanted to help him but weren’t sure how. They continued to serve as best they could and turned their situation over to the Lord.

One morning while Elaine was working in the temple, another worker told her that a patron wanted to talk to her. She turned in the direction the worker pointed and was filled with joy as she realized she was looking at her son.

“Surprise, Mom!” she heard him say. He had worked with his bishop to build up his testimony and be worthy to enter the temple.

“He was so happy,” Elaine remembers. “He made a complete change and has developed a love for the temple.”

The Whites have learned that serving faithfully brings blessings.

“Heavenly Father cares about what is important to us,” Elaine says. “That doesn’t mean all of our problems will be solved, but we will receive help. I have learned that when we are serving the Lord, He will hear us and bless us.”

An Act of Love
For ordinance workers in the Provo Utah Temple and throughout the world, serving is an act of love.

“My ability to love has increased,” says Toni. “As a temple worker, wherever I am or whatever I am doing in the temple, I have the ability and responsibility to reflect the love of the Savior. As I practice doing that in the temple, I am better able to reflect on His love outside of the temple.”

All who participate in temple work reflect the love of the Savior by helping extend the blessings of the gospel to all of Heavenly Father’s children.

“The prophets have told us to do temple work,” says Toni. “If you can’t work in the temple right now, you can serve as a patron or do family history work. The sacrifices we make for temple work allow the Savior’s sacrifice to reach more people.”

Step Within the Sacred House of God

“I am satisfied that every man or woman who goes to the temple in a spirit of sincerity and faith leaves the house of the Lord a better man or woman. There is need for constant improvement in all of our lives. There is need occasionally to leave the noise and the tumult of the world and step within the walls of a sacred house of God, there to feel His spirit in an environment of holiness and peace.”
President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008), “Of Missions, Temples, and Stewardship,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 53.
   

From Eva

Hi,  Thank you!  This is really lovely (Jackie Evancho’s voice is a real gift from God !!!)  I have two of her CDs and this is on one.  I do not think it was on the one I gave you folks for Christmas ("To Believe").  Such Talent.  

David and Eulale left this AM for Kansas City to go the open house of the Temple in Liberty.  I wanted to go but my back does not like all of that sitting, walking, etc.  My mission friend surely tried to convince me to come back. It is so beautiful from the outside. It is right next door to the Stake Center he designed.  

They went to Hawaii for ten days and took Chase for his last trip before his mission. He was able to receive his Endowment in the  newly remodeled Temple there and had a very special experience. He goes to Preston, England MTC on August 9th

I enjoyed getting a card and address from Melanie and Howard. Their house looks really nice; a lot different than their beautiful area in Boston.

Not long until Braden comes home.  I have enjoyed his emails.  God. Bless.   Love  you,  Eva.

From Eva

Thanks, I get two at a time.  Tyler's fitst son and Andreria's son Brad and Titan were also born just hours apart. 

We are expecting one more,  JD & Angie on the Ocot.  16th;  They are pretty excited. They wanted to start their family after they both finished their Masters in Engineering.  He has a good job and she  has a part time job she can do at home on her computer.

Alyssa's grad announcement is realy nice.  I received an email from Barry's youngest daughter, Rachel, telling me about her 16h birthday on the 17th and about her first date on the 19th.  She is excited; the school has a great theme for the dance.   

Thank you for this beautiful card; you are always so thoughtful.  Love you both so much,  Eva      

Help for Donovin

Myrna wrote: Donovin hurt his hand quite badly and the school called here because they cannot get any of you. I tried calling you, Arbree, and you, David, without getting through. I don't quite know what to do.

I remember that David sat at the school for over and hour when he broke his arm. I still get angry even thinking about it. There he was, in pain, sitting in the office because I was at a county commission meeting. When I got home from there, I got the message. Meanwhile, he could have been helped. I even had my doctor's number and my permission form filled out. Not only that, buy LHT was just at the his school being principal. I had others on that permission form and NOBODY was called. Then, when I took David to our local doctor he said that his arm was too badly broken and we had to go to Provo to a specialist.

The specialist didn't really set it right because he said that kids of David's age would heal OK and that the bone would straigten itself out over time.

Whew! The reason I couldn't get anyone was because Bree was on her way to the school and David was calling out so that he could get things taken care of and get to the school. That was a relief to know. I am glad that Donovin didn't have to sit there forever. I did give the school David's work number and they did call through on that number so, perhaps, it did help a tiny bit for the school to call me.

Now I just need to wait and find out how badly Donovin is injured. It sounded as though it might be broken.

Grammy's Gleanings: My Aunt, my father's brother's wife.

Grammy's Gleanings: My Aunt, my father's brother's wife.

About the Giver

You were right, Bree. The first book, the Giver, did leave a question, as was intended, on whether they had lived or died. Lois said that she was leaving the ending up to the individual. Did Jonas really find a house with lights, color and music?

I read an author interview with Lois Lowry. However, in the second book of the trilogy, Gathering Blue, fans of the first book should watch out for hints of Jonas. There are descriptive hints of his existence!

I found the first book disturbing and let it bother me for a few days. I do not like to think that society could ever become so Godless. The disturbing thought was, that it many ways, it has. A perfectly healthy baby was left to die in the Giver and today, in abortion clinics, the same thing can happen.

I disliked much more about the book than that and would never give it the time for a second read. I would save that time for things I really like, such as "Little Women."

Tonight's Concert

Dr. Fullmer (Director of Bands) announced that he is leaving Timpview and going to teach at Fresno State University.  So, unfortunately, tonight's concert will be his last.  The kids are pretty sad.  He has done so much good with a first place marching band, first place jazz band, first place symphonic band, band honorary trips to Hawaii and Europe, and he was part of Utah Ambassadors of Music to Europe.  We had hoped he would stay through Kyle's senior year.  The concert is at 7:30, but I am expecting a full house with alumni and others now wanting to be there to honor him.

Hope this is in time, Braden.

It was nice to visit with Benjamin. He came down and went to church with us in our ward and then left to go to his ward. We got to show him off to our ward friends and that was fun. We also had him stand up in class and tell where he was going. We made an Easter basket for him which, I am sure, had enough candy to share with his roomies. Of course, they probably were already sick from the candy their mothers had sent. ;)

The night before, Saturday, we went up to Provo right after the temple. Benjamin and Michael were both there and ate dinner and colored eggs with their cousins (and us). We had a lot of fun laughing together and having a good time.

We had a small controversy in Relief Society on Sunday. The teacher asked, "Which was more important, the Resurrection or the Antonement?" I said that, of the two, the Atonement was the most important because, without it, there would have been no need for a the Ressurection. Man's spirit would have left his body but would have been, basically, evil and could not have ever lived with our Father again. Therefore, his spirt would have gone with Satan. However, Chirst paid that debt for each man so that he could repent and be worthy to live again in the presence of our Father. Several of the sisters took exception to that and said the Atonement and the Ressurection could not be separated in importance. However, I maintained my stand that without the Atonement there could be no Ressurection. I came home and found the following in a Sunday school manual: "Jesus Christ 'came into the world … to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; that through him all might be saved' (D&C 76:41–42). The great sacrifice he made to pay for our sins and overcome death is called the Atonement. It is the most important event that has ever occurred in the history of mankind: 'For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; … yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement' (Alma 34:9)."

I found the following Easter poem and loved it because it reminds me of the talks that were given during conference. I included it in the Easter cards for those here in the states but I sent you a different card that was just picked for its prettiness. 

Love's Garden

by Ellen Robena Field

There is a quiet garden,

From the rude world set apart,

Where seeds for Christ are growing;

This is the loving heart.

The tiny roots are loving thoughts;

Sweet words, the fragrant flowers

Which blossom into loving deeds,

Ripe fruits for harvest hours.

Thus in our hearts the seeds of love

Am growing year by year;

And we show our love for the Saviour,

By loving His children here.

We love you! We hope that you are continuing to enjoy the few weeks of your mission that you have left.

Grammy and Gramps

Hello!

Dear Sister Jensen and Family:

We have a little calendar that I have to change the date on every day. It seems like I just start the month and then the month is half gone and the next time I change it, it is the end of the month. When the Lord said that in the last days he would speed up the time to save the Saints, it seems like he has doubled the speed of time. The next thing I do is look in the mirror and find out, yup, he has sped up the time.

I have been wondering if you are getting some of the snow that I have been reading about in other parts of Europe and England. We have had very little snow, and for a while, the cold was at 0- to 10 degrees far. The ski resorts are hurting. They have about 3-5 feet of snow as compared to 10-16 feet they normally have. I have not shoveled much snow.

I was in the temple a few weeks ago and I was introduced to a couple. Their name was Libbert. I asked them were they where from and they said Canada. I told them that I was transferred from Copenhagen Denmark to Odense and my companion was Elder Libbert from the state of Washington. He asked what his first name was and I said Elder. It took me a few seconds to come up with his first name. I said that it was Dean and he told me he was his brother. They grew up in Canada but Dean's dad moved to the United States.

I told him I would like to talk to Dean and tell him the rest of the story about the Knudsen family in Odense to see if he remembered them. I told him about how they had grown up Catholic but there had been some problems when he divorced his first wife and married another Catholic. They had one son. We did not have the chance to baptize them. They did join the church. Brother Knudsen’s son was a High Councilman, at that time. He may be a bishop or in the stake presidency now.

When were over there for the temple dedication, and we were staying  with a family in Copenhtold Brother Libbert about Else and her family and said that I had baptized her when she was twelve years old. I told him that her name is Else. She continues to carry on her mother’s tradition of feeding the missionaries. Between Else and her husband (Erling), only Heavenly Father knows how many. When Else was old enough to go on a mission, she taught a young girl in Aarhus. That young girl married Brother Knudsen's son and their son served a mission in the USA in the Las Vegas Nevada Mission. Small world.

He gave me Dean's phone number. Before I could call him, Dean called me. We talked for quite a while. He remembered Brother Knudsen and the Catholic Priest and what went on there. He still lives in Washington state.

You will never believe that I have had another experience at the temple. A few year’s past there was a young man called to serve a mission in Denmark. He is from the Nephi North Stake. I saw him when he was receiving his own endowment. I talked to him and his dad, I knew his dad very well. I told him if he was ever in Copenhagen to look up Else and Erling Knudson and tell them hello from us. I told him that there would be a good chance that he would get a fantastic meal from them. I do not remember his first name, however, his last name is also Knudsen. When I saw him at the temple the other day, I asked him if he had been in Copenhagen and he said yes, that he had been there. I asked him if he knew Else and Erling Knudsen and he told me he did and that he at eaten at their home several times, I told him that it has been a two-generation service to many missionaries. It is a small world. 

How are you doing with your pacemaker? My mother had two of them implanted--not at once but a couple of years apart. It made a difference in her life. She lived to be just a few months shy of 93 years old. 

Well! Enough about us. How are you doing? How is the family?

May you and your family have a great year.

God bless all of you,
Leonard and Myrna.

P.S. Takker dig for den Jule cort, det var fint. Se, mine Danske er ikke saa godt.Three weeks ago we started our 13th year as temple workers. We work on Friday Evening and Saturday Afternoon.