Sept. 11, 2011

Can you describe a place and a time when you remember feeling happy to be alive?

Where were you and what were you doing?

Oh this has happened far too many times to single out one experience. Several times it has been in the hospital as my children and grandchildren have been born. Many other times have been as I have seen nature in it’s purest form as I have been out on ward, scout, Timberline and Young Women’s camps. I get supper excited as I get to see mother nature strut her stuff and especially when I have been there with my wife and children. I have felt it many times as I have watched the family on Christmas Morning’s and at least 6 times as we have been in the Temple for our children’s marriages. There have been times when I have been on special trips with the ward and stake for treks and youth conferences. Oh I have enjoyed many, many, times when I have been so happy to be alive and with my family.

Sept. 10, 2011

Have you ever met any famous people? Describe what happened.

This person is somewhat famous if you are LDS. Marie and  went tot an adult overnight activity to Sundance Lodge owned by the church and ran by BYU. It was an evening of dinner and then a special guest speaker, overnight stay and breakfast the next morning before returning to our families

Well one of the church’s general authorities was in attendance since he was the brother of Sister Janet Christensen and Brother Paul Christensen was in the bishopric so they invited Elder Marion “Duff” Hanks to be the special guest. I was seated across the table from Duff as I came to know him since that was how Paul and Janet referred to him. He and I got to talking and of course he asked what my current position was in the church and I explained that I was the Varsity Scout Leader and Teacher’s Quorum advisor.  I told him how many young men I had in the quorum and that we were getting fairly good attendance and then he related how as a young men’s advisor they worked until they had 100% activity from every boy. He then challenged me to do the same which was a goal I had established for myself as well prior to that time. It was fun though to get to know him and not just his name because of the talks that he gave in general conference. I enjoyed our chat very much and have never forgotten it.

Sept. 9, 2011

Mom and Dad's anniversary Married 1941
                            and
Alma and Loyle's anniversary Married 1966

 NOTABLE LIFE EXPERIENCES section

Have you ever received any special awards or recognition in your life? What were they?

I received several awards in High School for math and science and a scholarship to Snow College but the award that I have always cherished from that time period is my Eagle Scout Award that I received on my 18^th birthday. It was the same day that we, Lynn, Leesa and I went to Snow College for my freshman year. I was still in my scout uniform when Lynn informed me that we were going to dinner at Ross Findlay’s home. Ross was the registrar at Snow and also the BSA Utah National Parks Council Training Chairman. He saw me with the new Eagle Badge on my chest and quickly recruited me to help with the Merit Badge Pow Wow at Snow. I did it for two years while at Snow and he also asked me to go to Woodbadge but that took 10 years before I actually went and Ross was still the chairman and visited our course.

The second award that took me totally by surprise when I returned from a week long scout camp in 1992. I was awarded the Silver Beaver award which is the highest award that a scout council can award to a scouter for service to youth in their community and scouting. I was pretty excited since the only other Silver Beaver that I knew personally in my family was Grandpa Charles S Hansen. He receive the award in 1940 and I was the first grandchild to also receive it. Uncle Lynn had received Grandpa’s Silver Beaver  because he was the first grandson to receive an Eagle Scout Rank so I always wanted to be able to earn one if it were possible. Since you can’t earn it by doing specific requirements it has to be awarded to you upon recommendation from someone else. It is an honor to receive and I am thankful that someone felt I should also receive it.

Sept 8, 2011

How do feel about the future? What advice for the future would you give to your posterity?

I feel uncertain about it but I know that it is only following what has been revealed by the Prophets so my best advice would be to follow the prophets and make that primary song a part of your life not just a part of your memory. Then the last piece of advice would be to love life and live it to the fullest because no matter what happens the Lord will look after you and give you a great life if you will but believe in Him and live as close to Him as you can and never not do something that He has asked you to do through His prophets and other leaders.

Sept 7, 2011

What are some of your favorite books?

The Book of Mormon.

Clair’s books , all of them.

How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnagie.

Og Mandino’s books (The Greatest Salesman and others.)

Old Yellow and Black Beauty

This is only a start and there are many that I can’t remember now that I have enjoyed reading through the years.

Sept 6, 2011

What are the funniest practical jokes you ever played on someone or had played on you?

I worked for three years at a chocolate company. One year for April fools I was given an Oreo cookie. I ate the whole thing and thought that there was a little bit of a peculiar after taste from the white filling in the middle of the Oreo. Well it wasn’t long before they informed me that they had removed the center and filled it again with white toothpaste that was mint flavored. Yes it was a bit of a shock but actually it didn’t taste too bad.