Jan. 1, 2012

A Memorable High Council Assignment

Not long before I was released from the High Council of the Mapleton Utah Stake in June of 2003 we had the opportunity for our Stake Conference visiting General Authority to be Pres Packer. We were all excited for the opportunity and even wondered if Pres Harper would be released as Stake President during this visit. As it turned out though Pres Packer told us that it was his responsibility to assign the General Authorities to Stake Conferences throughout the church and had decided he wanted one close to home this time so decided to assign himself to our Stake.  We started making preparations for his visit and received our assignments. I was assigned along with most of the other brethren to be on security during the two days of the conference. I well remember the first day when he arrived and his two security guards were with him as they came from the cars to the building and ushered Pres Packer quickly into the Stake Presidents office where he then met with the Stake Presidency.

Meanwhile we were then taken into the chapel with the two security guards where we were to receive our instructions for the following two days. It was interesting to me because we started with a word of prayer and I had not thought about the fact that it is always helpful and necessary to include the Lord in our instructions especially concerning the safety of one of his senior servants in the gospel. We completed the prayer and introductions were made and then the senior security guard said to us. “I noticed that during the prayer you all closed your eyes. That is good except that during the remainder of the conference you will keep them open and watch the audience.” Generally people intending to do harm will not close their eyes but feel safer in taking action because no one else is looking and none of us had ever even considered that we would need to watch the audience.  I remember being a counselor to a Bishop once who would watch the audience for people who were not closing their eyes during prayers and he commented to me that it was interesting because most of the time when they would make eye contact with him they would quickly close their eyes but every now and then there would be some who would simply stare back in defiance. Anyway we were quickly taught the importance of keeping our eyes open and not just open but searching the audience for any movement or things that might suggest danger to Pres. Packer. We were given the names of several individuals in the Stake for whom we were specifically assigned to watch and also given assignments to patrol the halls and exterior of the building at times as well.

I remember the following two days and the Apostolic blessing that Pres. Packer left with us that day but I mostly remember watching one individual particularly because I had once been assigned as his parents home teacher when he was going through a struggle to get the apostles to listen to what he felt the Lord was doing wrong with the church. He was on the list because of his persistence in going to the church office buildings and seeking audience in various ways with the Prophet and other general authorities.  Well he was there and he didn’t stay in one seat during the conference so it became somewhat of a challenge to know where he was. He was however on his best behavior that day and there were no instances that needed correction or action. I close my eyes again now during prayers but will not forget what is required of those who are assigned to the safety of the Lord’s anointed. 

Dec. 31, 2011

Going into the cellar

There were certain chores that I had as a boy that left lasting scars on my memory. They really were not that bad as I look back on them now but I have had to spend years of effort trying to overcome some of those deep impressions that were made doing those chores. They usually seemed to involve Black Widow spiders as well and I to this day am very respectful and scared of that particular spider. The chore here that I am referring to however is the ones when I was told to go into the cellar and either get potatoes or fruit or other times when I went into it to clean it out for the following winters storage. It was built such that you had to pull open a large door that led to the stairs. It was usually attached to a lot of spider webs since it was dark and dry and a great place for spiders. Then you went down four or five stairs that were not really very sturdy to another door. It was also covered with webs and as you would push it open it led into the darken interior where you had to feel through more webs for the string that you would pull to turn on the light. Well you would think that at this point fears could be rested of having a large spider climb down onto your back but the light would only illuminate the rest of the webs that would have been spun from shelf to shelf. I would have to then tear them down to reach in for apples on the shelf or into the bin for the potatoes. Well I probably only found a few widowed (by choice) spiders in the many years of going into the cellar where the floor were dirt and the side walls lined with cedar slabs to keep the dirt from caving into the interior. But those few spiders were enough to instill a lasting dislike for them.  OK it probably wasn’t all that bad of an experience and I probably had more death defying experiences with skunks but I will always remember that old dirt cellar and the smell of fresh fruit and vegetables in the fall and the rotten unused apples and vegetables in the spring. (Yes I had to clean them out each year.)

Another version:

Going into the cellar

I seem to be on a subject while writing today’s stories. I have written about cleaning the fruit room and preparing bottles for canning. I have mentioned my dislike for Black Widow spiders as well and this story is not much different. Dark places like the well, bottles in the grainery and the cellar just seem to attract those darn spiders. So without any further mention of them I will just say they were in the cellar as well.  I also had yearly duties of cleaning the going to the cellar for potatoes and fruit during the winter to get them for mom to cook with at supper time. I also got to clean out the rotten potatoes and carrots and fruit the next spring or fall before storing more fruit in there the next season. I learned to despise the smell of rotten potatoes and learned it was a had a very distinct smell. The apples were not bed since they seemed to just dry into tiny little balls of no significant mess except the few that were still only half dried when I was removing the rest. The floor of the cellar was just dirt and the walls were made of cedar planks and of course spider webs. It was always a fun experience to open the top door and go down the steps to open the second door where I would then have to clear all of the webs out of the road so I could find the pull string to turn on the light. Other than that fun part it was always the right temperature in there regardless of the season outside. I did like that part.

Dec. 30, 2011

Scouting Positions Held
Guide Patrol Leader	1970-71
Snow College Pow Wow Staff and Instructor	1975
Cubmaster	1981-84
Varsity Scout  Coach	1987-88
Scoutmaster	1988-1993
Timberline Quartermaster	1990
Timberline Asst Scoutmaster	1991-1992
Council Junior Leader Training Staff	1994-2005
Timberline SM/Course Director	1993-1994
Timberline Asst Scoutmaster	1995-1996
Timberline SM/Course Director	1997-1998
WoodBadge Coach Counselor	1999
Timberline Council Staff /Advisor	1999
Woodbadge Senior Patrol Leader	2000
Timberline Council Staff /Advisor	2000
WoodBadge Course Scribe	2001
Timberline Council Staff /Advisor	2001
Timberline SM	2002-2003
Junior Leader Training Area Staff	1999-2003
Timberline Course Director	2004-2005
WoodBadge Coach Counselor	1999
Woodbadge Senior Patrol Leader	2000
WoodBadge Course Scribe	2001
UNPC Council Silver Beaver Photographer	1999-present
District Training Staff Scoutmaster	May-91
Hobble Creek District Eagle Scout Counselor	2005-2009
Diamond Fork District Eagle Scout Counselor	2009-present
Silver Beaver photographer	2000-present
Mapleton 14th Ward Scout Committee Chairman	2011

Dec. 29, 2011

Callings in the church.

I have been blessed through the years to almost always have a church calling since I received the priesthood. It started in the deacons quorum and has continued to this day. Below are listed the callings that I have had as well as I can recall.


Deacons Quorum sec, counselor, President. 1965-67
Teachers quorum counselor and President. 1967-69
Region Youth Conference Committee Member 1969
Region Youth Conference Co-Chairman 1970
Priest Quorum Secretary and 1st assistant 1969-71
Priesthood Music Chorister 1970
Blazer Leader 1970-1971
Gospel Doctrine Sunday School Teacher 1971
Missionary 10/1972-10/1974
Trainer in Mission in Garland 12/1972-03/1973
District Leader in Stephenville 4/1973-8/1973
Co Zone Leader in Midland 9/1973 - 3/1974
District Leader in Pampa 4/1974- 7-1974
4th ward newsletter editor 7/1974-10/1974
10/1974 – 6/1975
6/1975 - 1976
Elders Quorum Second Counselor 1976-78
8 Year old Primary Teacher 1979-1980
Cubmaster 4th ward 1981-1984
Bishopric Executive Secretary 4th Ward 1984-1985
Bishopric Second Counselor 4th Ward 1985-1987
Varsity Coach 4th Ward 1987-1988
Scoutmaster 1st Ward 1988-1993
Bishopric Second Counselor 1st Ward 1993-1995
Bishopric First Counselor 1st Ward 1995/1997
Mapleton Stake High Council 2/1997-6/2003
Troop Committee Chairman 6/2003-10/2004
High Priest Group Instructor 10/2003-10/2004
Primary Valiant 10 Teacher 10/2004-2/19/06
New Scout Patrol Scoutmaster 10/2004-2/19/06
BYU 166th Bishopric 1st Counselor 2/19/06-1/11-09
BYU 3rd Stake High Council 1/11/09-6/19/11
July 24 Ward Coordinator for 14th Ward 7/4/11-7/25/11
Ward Scout Committee Chairperson 714/11- present
There have been some instances where I have held multiple callings but the major calling is the one listed.

Dec. 28, 2011

Family Photographs for 2011 Taken 12/27/2011

Marie and Kent

Gabe, Ben, Sam, Cat

Lori, Jeff

Kinsey, Kasia

Hayden, Greyson, Cheyenne

Leilah, Hallie

Tia and Scott

Brooklyn, Rachelle, Kade, Loren

Brittany, Alex, Jeff

Dec. 28, 2011

Cleaning jars before canning

I wrote about the experience of cleaning out the fruit room and mentioned the cleaning of the jars toward the end of it. Well I was referring to the task of preparing the quart, pint and two quart bottles for the canning process. I would go retrieve them from the Grainery and then rinse them out with a hose on the front lawn and then take them in where we would wash them with soap and water. I hated that job mostly due to the fact that Black Widow spiders loved the bottles. I do not know why but apparently the open bottles stored in a dusty second level of the same building where we stored grain for the chickens had an appeal to the bugs upon which the spiders would live. It never mad sense to me that they could be there but maybe they just slept there and would hunt other places, not likely though since a spider just weaves a web and waits for their food as I understand it. Anyway there was always plenty of dust in the bottles along with the spiders but no bugs, nut have all been eaten which was my greatest fear also. Anyway I would go and get t he box after box of bottles from the grainery and haul them back to the yard, rinse them out and take them into the house. The ones where I would empty the contents from the fruit room were actually harder since I usually had a lot more scrubbing to get the fruit juices and other stuff out with just cold water from the hose. As I think about this I always seem to mention the Black Widow spiders and none of the other species that were also in the bottles but I am sure it is because of my dislike for them the most. 

Dec 27, 2011

BYU 6th ward RS Overnight @ Diamond Fork

For years as I served in Scouting, Bishoprics and High Councils I was always troubled by the fact that the girls were always complaining about the fact that the boys always got to do the fun things like going camping every month. I always blamed it on the fact that they did not have youth leaders that were willing to take them and to have to get out of the house and into a dirty cold old tent. There have been a few women though that I cam to admire because they loved to do it and were willing to go on fourth year hikes and take girls camping but they were few and far between. Well in the 6^th ward at BYU I learned another thing that I have come to appreciate. The Elders quorum had a camp and came back talking about how fun it was and there came from it another special experience for Marie and I here at BYU. The second time the Elders started to plan a camp the Relief Society decided that they wanted to do it as well. The Bishop after consulting with the Stake President determined “Why Not?” as long as the Bishopric and High Council could be there as Priesthood support. I asked Marie if she wanted to go and she accepted quite readily.  It was held in October and during what seemed to be a pretty cold time of the year for camping but more importantly it was the night before the deer hunt. As we were setting up camp I walked past a campfire of what was apparently deer hunters. I stopped and talked for awhile and they apologized for the noise they would be making around 4:30 AM as they would be pulling out of camp to go on the hunt. I told them that it would be no problem since that comes with the experience. I also stopped and talked to a troop of scouts that were there for an overnighter and watched as the young men were surprised that girls were actually wanting to do it. Well later that night as I sat with Marie, the Bishop Patten and his 1^st Counselor Kurt Brian I thought about the poor deer hunters in the next camp trying to sleep through a bunch of very giggly and noisy girls around a camp fire. I also thought about the scouts as I heard screams coming from their direction when someone had scared them. Then I watched as three young college men  walked towards the campfire cloaked in blankets and tried to scare the girls as they had the scouts. One young lady asked me very quietly if I thought that bush by the road was moving. I watched it and sure enough it was but ever so carefully. I meandered out and talked with the young man as two others of his buddies came in from another direction. Bishop was still in camp and noticed that one blanket had a cartoon character on it and told the girls anyone wearing a blanket like that couldn’t do any harm. As it was he was quite right and as they were talking to the girls he was blushing since that was all that he had to use. They were all laughing together about it a few minutes later versus the poor scouts who had been screaming about it. We ended up going to bed well after midnight and the girls were laughing most of that time and rather loudly at that. I guess that explained why the deer hunters didn’t mind leaving the diesel truck idling near camp at 4:30 AM for 10 or more minutes next to the tents. Too bad they didn’t hear the girls response later that morning “What truck was running? I didn’t hear any.”

The next morning was also fun after an excellent breakfast cooked by two of the presidency. We had a campfire morning side and I and the Bishopric talked about listening to the spirit and other like subjects. It was very special. Bishop and Brother Brian and I could tell though that there was an approaching storm and decided to have the girls break camp after which we left. They stayed for another hour and then the rain caught them totally unprepared. They had to take down the tents in the rain which they had not completed before we left. Luckily we had all the stuff in the tents loaded but they wanted to let the tents dry a little longer. They didn’t dry but were hung up around Campus Plaza very soaked for a couple of days. These young women had a great time and also some great spiritual as well as temporal training that weekend.

Dec. 26, 2011

Annual cleaning of the fruit room

As I have had cause to reflect back on my youth and some of the experiences I have had it has become very apparent to me that some of the things that I had to do in my youth really were not as bad as I thought while in the midst of doing them. I have in fact come to realize that I rather enjoyed them over some thing that I probably could have done. Cleaning the fruit room was one of those tasks that I thought I didn’t like but has come to be a treasured memory of sorts instead. Each year as we prepared to put up the fruit from that season we would have to remove some of the age old fruit that hadn’t been eaten and dump it out in the garden or give it to the pigs depending on if we had any that year or not. I somehow got elected to do this task most of the time when I became old enough to get the lids off the bottles. I remember the worst part of the job was dumping out the bottles where the seal had broken and the mold had grown out of control on the top of the fruit. It was disgusting and hard to empty as well. It would require taking a spoon or spatula to the bottle and digging it out at first and then finally being able to let the rest of the fruit run out. There always seemed to be several of those and I didn’t like them. I thought they were going to make me deathly ill if I breathed in the dust from the mold so I always held my breath while performing the dirty task. Well it wasn’t really all that bad but I did learn some important organizing skills since it also required putting the old fruit in front and the newest in back so the old got used first, (except when I went to get the fruit and I liked to dig it out of the back since I usually used it in fruit drinks after school.) It also helped with organizing skills that were needed when I would dig into the attics and clean them or into the barn to clean it. Yes I do think that I probably volunteered for the duty more times than I was really assigned since I did quite enjoy the task. Now washing the bottles after they were emptied, well that wasn’t quite so fun.