Ancient Writings

Was Jesus Married? I don’t know the answer. However, whatever He did was the way it should have been done. If we needed to know the answer, we would already know. I hope that someday I overcome all of my faults, and through repentance, will be worthy enough to be where He is. If that ever happens, I will find the answer to that question. Until that hoped for reunion, I will just try to become what I need to become, and be what He wants me to be. However, as I approach my eighty second birthday I realize how short my time left here is. I am not sure there is enough time left for me to get that done. I am a very slow learner. Therefore, when we get to the other side, please come down and visit me from time to time. Lots of love, Gordon The topic that might be of interest: The entire article that discusses the discovery of a new text fragment can be found at the Smithsonian and the Smithsonian Channel will premiere a special documentary about the discovery on September 30 at 8 p.m. ET. Top religion scholar, Karen King, just unveiled the discovery of a 1600-year-old Coptic text fragment that suggests that at least some early followers of Christ believed he was married. Myrna wrote: I am just fascinated with ancient writings. More so because Joseph Smith put up with so much from his critics and the church has put up with so much through the years. It seems to me that more and more ancient texts are uncovered and none of them are well-preserved as were the plates. Therefore, it is a little joy to me to know that Heavenly Father saved the record of the Nephites to teach us in our day and did it so well that they were not destroyed by time. Even some of the ancient metal plates discovered in other places have been ravaged by time. Ours were on gold for a reason. Isn't it a marvel? In addition, Joseph Smith was assisted so that he gave the proper translation to the ancient text every time. That is even more of a testimony builder to me. Translators work and work to come up with what they think are reasonable translations and they make errors. They do not have heavenly assistance and did Joseph. You are 81 and I am 71. I have the same thoughts about time rushing past and it being my time to go home. I have no need to come "down" to visit you. First of all, you will be in the "land of light" and of peace and joy and second of all, I am concerned about where I might be. As long as it is not "outer darkness," I will be happy. Can you imagine a fate worse?

I'm Here (Benjamin)

I arrived in Fresno!! All is well, we already went out and did some contacting, we got seven referrals! It was an amazing experience. I don't have much time, I'll write more on Monday. I love you so much, it was lovely talking to you! This is where I'm supposed to be, and I know it! :)

Love you,
Elder Bolton

Shawn wrote: I was just talking to the missionaries that work with our stake last night, and one was from Maryland, the other was from Fresno. I told him we had a nephew that was just called to Fresno. He was excited about that.

David and Bree will be parents again!

David said he was posting this on Facebook so I gave him enough time to get it there since none of you will read this until morning. Isn't it neat? Gramps and I get to be grandparents one more time! That will be 34 for us. The baby will be born at the end of April if all goes well and we will all be praying that it does.

Diabetes Class

Hi Myrna, 

We have a class scheduled this week on Thurs. 9/20 at 6 pm. Topic - problem solving/goal setting. 

Thanks, 

Landon 

Pharmacist Intern, Santaquin Pharmacy and Diabetes Center

I won't be with you on that date. I have another engagement. My daily blood testing shows that I am leveling out at 95-96. I don't know if that is good enough. There are certainly lots of good healthy foods to eat that taste really good. I don't miss sugar nor sweeteners. I have learned that I really like walking. I walk everywhere that I can. I am down 17 pounds. It is going more slowly now but I am losing about a pound a week. My goal is 125 (32 pounds less than where I started).

From: Landon.Hatfield@pharm.utah.edu

Wow, sounds like you are doing great! Thanks for the reply. I'm assuming the 95-96 is a fasting blood glucose reading, that's great! It sounds like you are doing exactly what you set out to do, manage your diabetes with diet and exercise! Keep up the good work. We'll be in touch. 

Open Letter to Denise Patnode

Dear Ms. Patnode:

I was truly shaken when I heard that you were fighting cancer for a second time. However, knowing you, you will take it with the same determination that you showed when you came to the "Old" Juab Middle School with a principal that had a strong commitment to outdoor education.

When I say strong determination, I recognized during our interview, that you had a great desire to do your best. This was because you were truly committed to being an outstanding teacher. Your love for students and the desire to help them achieve the expected objectives was impeccable.

I wish I could have had more opportunities to hike Nebo with the eighth grade. However, I continued to go up there with my scouts for a number of years. I was amazed at how you teachers taught our students out in the wild. I talked with John Bennion, now a BYU professor, who was also hired by me for the middle school staff. He still takes classes of his students into the mountains to hold a class because he, like you, found that to be invaluable.

In so many ways and for so many years you have taught students in our district to love learning. You have taught them to appreciate the gift of education. You have been a wise and caring teacher and have touched and changed many lives. You have always been willing to embrace change and to improve your teaching in every way possible. I commend you for that. After I left the middle school and went to the high school, I saw many students you had influenced for the better. 

Thank you for your dedication to education. It makes me feel good to realize that I was wise in hiring you those years ago.

Know that you will be included in our prayers and that your name will be placed on the Manti Temple Prayer Roll immediately.

I know that Heavenly Father loves you and so does our Savior. When Apostle Bruce R. McConkie was diagnosed with cancer his close friend, a non-Mormon, asked if he had not wondered why me? Elder McConkie's reply was that, no he had not, but that he had wondered why not me?

You had the courage necessary to face down this disease once before. I admire that. 

One of may favorite scriptures is Alma 7: 11-12. It tells of the Savior's love for us.

 

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Love,

Leonard and Myrna Trauntvein

Ground Game and GOP Strength (At least in Utah.) We can do this!‏

At my Republican central committe meeting on Saturday they begged us to dedicate three hours a week at a Romeny call center. It is super easy. We would just call people in the battleground states and ask if they are going to vote in the presidential election and then ask who they are voting for. We would enter that information in on the computer so the Romeny campaign can find out where they should focus their efforts. Apparently very few people are helping do this. If we go in one time, they can set it up so we can make the calls from home, too. If Obama is frightening now (and his attacks on religion scare me to death, and that isn't even talking about his unwillingness to spend within his means and violating the Constitution), wait until he is a lame duck president and not worried about polls or re-election. I hope freedom loving people will be motivated to vote. The socialists are out in full force and own the media outlets, so the people have to really work hard to overcome all of the propaganda. This is one small way. Brandon said people are so funny. They listen to the news and say I am not voting for the Republicans because I don't believe in 5-10% of what they say, so they vote for the Democrats whom they agree with 5-10% but disagree with 90-95%. Hopefully that will change with this election. Brandon is going to go sometime this week to the call center in Orem. They said that teenagers are having a lot of fun there and have competitions for the number of calls they make. Hopefully we can do something in our areas of influence. AnnMarie

About Mom's Success in Fighting Diabetes

Eric wrote: Great going and to top it all off you never got fired for your illness. Keep it up you make me happy, yes I'm choosing that.

Melanie wrote: Congratulations Mom! That is so wonderful. I am so glad that things are working well for you. Keep up the awesome work! Mel

Yum!

Melanie wrote: I actually do this with grape tomatoes, then toss them into pasta, with some chopped basil. Very tasty!

How to Make Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes from "Pretty Prudent"

All you need to do is wash your tomatoes then remove the stems, cut them in half, and lay them on a cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper and toss to coat.

Chop some garden thyme and sprinkle on top. Add a few cloves of garlic, chopped and sprinkled on top.

Now set your oven to it’s lowest setting, somewhere around 225-250 for about 5 hours. They are done when you like the way they taste. Or let them go until they are all the way dry and call them sun-dried tomatoes and store them in a ziploc bag. Or pull them out when they are still slightly moist, but the edges are dried and they have a slightly chewy, sugary, deep, intense, amazing tomato flavor. 

Spread them on french bread with cheese and a few fresh basil leaves or toss them on pasta with olive oil, or eat them on a bagel with cream cheese.

I think the same president may be reelected.

Do you think that Romney is going to lose? Dad and I went to the move, "2016, Obama's America," and we were scared to death. It seems that Obama is an anti-colonialist and he thinks that America is one of those countries that has "raped" other countries of their goods and made ourselves rich on the backs of those countries. He is also a communist. I was telling Julie about it and she was not certain that the documentary was not skewed. Of course, she voted for Obama last time because she and Jim thought that the Republican ticket was just "scary the last time around and we had no choice." At any rate, I have some concerns with Obama being able to become a dictator and stay in office forever: to hang with the constitution. I know that that is on his agenda or that, at least, he would like it to be. He would like us to have an economic collapse because it would level the playing field between us and the other countries that we have been wicked to such as China and the Arabian countries. He was also raised to be a communist by his grandparents and his mother. He is also Islamic. I am a bit concerned in light of revelations about the latter days and the constitution hanging as though by a thread. It looks to me as if Obama is going to win because most people do not know his religious affiliations any more than they know ours. They do not want a Mormon in office. I worry about that. I was reading that the Black ministers from the south are telling their folks to stay home and not vote either way. What is your opinion?

Vivian Farlano-Fi​vecoat

Vivian Farlano-Fi​vecoat said: 8/12/12 

Hi

My name is Vivian Fivecoat and I am trying to put together a family genealogy book and I think we may be related albeit distance wise.  My grandparents on my maternal side were Earl George and Chasta Jean Stevenson.  They had a large family.  My mother Darlene Jean Stevenson was one daughter another was Betty Trauntvien who was married to a Mr. Trauntvien.  They had a son named Neldon Lee Trauntvien who married a woman named Linda.  They had three daughters that I know of Linda Lee, Bridgette and Yvette. 

Can you / would you help me fill in the blanks?  My plans are one or two pages of history bio on each family member along with pictures and copies of birth marriage death certificates.

If we are related, can you / would you please send me any of the above documents (copies of course)  filling in any missing information.

I have a “tree” started on genealogy.com

My contact information is

Vivian Fivecoat

430 Deepwood Trail

Clarksville, TN 37042

1mimif@att.net

9312062729



Myrna said: Family Genealogy

Remember that we spell the surname with a Danish twist. It is Trauntvein (the Germans would have used a "w" rather than the "v" and, unlike English, it is "ei" to get the right sound.

I am your Facebook friend who suggested other family members for you and caused trouble. I am Myrna Trauntvein, wife of Leonard Trauntvein, cousin of Neldon. Eva Dixon, Helen Trauntvein and Don Trauntvein are Leonard's siblings. They are the children of Jens Henry Martin and Gladys Rostron Trauntvein. They had a baby brother, James, who died shortly after birth. In birth order they are: James, Eva, Helen, Don and Leonard. We have eight children: Shawn, Melanie, Todd, Eric, AnnMarie, Julie, Kirsten and David. All of them are married and we have 33 grandchildren. Neldon's father and my husband's father were brothers. Neldon's father was also Neldon (Uncle Ned). He was killed (Uncle Ned) when the mine caved in on him. Neldon, the son, was just a baby then.


From Vivian:

Yes I remember the story  from my childhood.  Young Neldon had a sister named Carol.  I am named after her.  I have a very long journey ahead of me…glad we connected.  Do you have any documents?  I will share whatever I find wherever  and whenever.  Don’t know if you are into this sort of thing or not right now something is pushing me to get this done.

Viv

PS God Bless and thank you