Written Februay 1997

When the second rescue first started we were asked to write of our experiences.  I wished to write that which was given to me when moved by the spirit and there were no thoughts which came to mind.  I drew a blank and had no thrilling experience which I could relate.  I felt a bit disobedient to the counsel, but did not think that what I could write would be of any significance.  As I pondered this new effort with the Hunt and Hodgett wagon train I felt impressed to write the following:

          The blessings of this event will be to teach members to use the computer and programs for family history.  This will lift them to a higher spiritual plane.  They (the pioneers) came to find Zion.  We must bring Zion to them.  The work of the millennium has started and we are privileged to be a part of it by being obedient.

           If we will do the work and daily read the scriptures and hold family home evening and foster love in our families we will stand firm and help to establish Zion here in this corner of Wyoming.  When we get to a certain point angels cannot be restrained from being our companions and teaching us and helping us in this work.  As we put in order our homes, others seeing our good works and separation from Babylon will want to learn of Him.

          Then will the gospel blossom in the hearts of the righteous gentiles and the separation of good and evil be more clear- cut.  As we do this our desires for those things of the world lessen and we will be less inclined to be carnal, sensual, and devilish.  The veil of darkness will be removed from our minds and we will experience the true joy that comes from a knowledge  and personal testimony of the savior.  We will have a greater understanding and appreciation for the atonement and the prophesy will be fulfilled for us which was given by the prophet.  Because we will know the Lord.

          I have seen that change in the lives of the people who have been touched by this work and hope that they will continue to receive the full benefit of the blessing laid up in store for them.  My wife and I have been the recipients of this blessing, which has been poured out on this stake.  We have been interested in family history for a long time.  We have been sporadic in our research, but have been blessed to know and have more family history than the average member.  Coincident with the time that the Willie and Martin project started we have had many avenues open to us that were not available before.  We have discovered names that we had looked for and not been able to find and have discovered names that we didn’t know existed.  We have more than doubled the amount of physical information that we had in our possession.  This has come to us in remarkable ways.  We can testify that the spirit of Elijah is working on the people to make them more aware of their ancestors and families.  Many of our sources are not members of the church and have shared generously the information that they have had.  In some cases we have been able to help them with information that we have.  The other day I got an idea to see how many of my ancestors crossed the plains, and by what means.  I found that almost all came early and were true pioneers with ox carts, wagons and walking.  I probably would not have taken the time to research this if it had not been for the emphasis that has been placed on this project by the stake.  Truly our hearts have been turned to our fathers and mothers to appreciate what has been our legacy.

 

Experiences that I would like to remember.

 

Experiences that I would like to remember. 

 

We have had some unusual experiences recently and I would like to at least write them down so that when I get around to putting them in journal format I will have them.

 

The most recent was the visit of the prophet and president of the church Gordon B. Hinckley to Russia.  I was asked to prepare for any medical emergency that might occur when the prophet was here.  I was also asked to be in town and to be available with my medical bag at the meeting that would be held.  They were to reserve a place for me to be close to the prophet in case help was needed.

 

I gave the name of the contact doctor at the SOS clinic to Elder Van Dyke and also the name and address of the Kremlin hospital that would be used in case there were to be a problem.  Elder Van Dyke programmed my mobile phone number into three mobile phones that would be given to the party when they arrived and put them on speed dial.

 

I contacted the SOS clinic and talked to Dr. Daniel Poitras and alerted him to the visit and he assured me that he would be available if needed and gave me his mobile phone number, which I put in my mobile phone book of numbers.

 

I also called Dr. Quinton Harris in Salt Lake and asked about any special problems that I would need to be alerted to as far as the prophet’s health was concerned.  He assured me that the prophet was in excellent health.  He said that those in the party (security and the secretary and his wife and daughter) would probably be more likely to be worn out from the schedule than was the prophet.  He just keeps on going and doesn’t worry about a thing.  Since he doesn’t sleep a lot and works while he is on the plane, it wears the others out, because they can sleep while the prophet is awake.  He detailed sister Hinckley’s medical problems so that I would be prepared to take care of her if the case arose.

 

I was prepared and did not have to care for any medical problems while the party was here in Moscow.

 

We invited our Russian teacher Lyda (Lydia) Balba to hear President Hinckley.  She accepted and we arranged to meet her at 6:20 at the Cosmos Hotel.  We arrived at 6:00 and waited for her.  We met members and missionaries in the foyer.  All were eagerly anticipating the arrival of the prophet.  We were looking out the window when the caravan arrived.  It seemed like an old friend was coming to visit.  We have seen him on numerous occasions, both in person and on the TV screen.  We have even shaken hands with him.  The last time was in Frankfurt on our last mission when he was there.  He seemed very alert and active for a 92 year-old man.  Sister Hinckley did not move as fast and was not as agile as he.  They went up to another room in the area and we waited for Lyda and Alice finally found her and we went into the main auditorium and sat in our assigned seats on the second row.

 

I sat next to Alice and Lyda sat on the other side of Alice.  They had very wide aisles in the hall and they had set up folding chairs on each side of the aisle so they could accommodate more people in the hall.  I sat next to a young woman who was from Veronezh.  She looked to me like she was 20 but she had two children 7 and 9 whom she had left at home.  She was there with her husband who was on the other side of the hall.  President Hinckley gave a good talk.  It was simple and not flashy or deep.  He expressed his love and the people felt it.  I think that it is sometimes too commonplace for the saints along the Wasatch front to see and have access to a living prophet.  The people here have not had satellite transmission of conference ever in their lives.  Most have never seen the prophet in person.  When he left he waved and a sea of white handkerchiefs waved back to him.  I felt bad that we were not told to bring a white handkerchief with us.  I later found out that they had instructed all the Russian Saints, but not the missionaries.  A real pity!  As the meeting closed and the prophet left, the young sister next to me was in tears.  Many in the audience were using their handkerchiefs to wipe their eyes.  I was impressed with the significance of the occasion.  In spite of the simplicity of the message the spirit had touched the saints there and given them a feeling of belonging and the knowledge that the prophet loved them.  They also felt for that small moment the love of Christ and his Father.  Most people were reluctant to leave.  Even when they did leave the hall they lingered in the halls visiting with each other and savoring the fellowship of the saints.  Their faces shown and they seemed so alive and vibrant.  The impact of this visit at this time will be felt for some time to come.  It was a privilege for us to be here at this time.  I suppose we will, at sometime in the future, count this as one of the rare treats in our earthly existence.

 

We were privileged to be present at the first satellite transmission broadcast to be received in Russia.  This was the dedication of the Nauvoo Temple.  This was a live transmission and there were many of the Russian Saints that were present to hear the transmission and translation in Russian.  It was held at the Uzney (South) branch building in Moscow.  When we arrived the office Elders from the south Mission were at the door and checking the recommends.  We obtained ours from Elder Robert Orton of the Area Presidency.   We were ushered into a room upstairs in the meetinghouse.  There were just a few who were there for the English session and we sat on the front row.  Once the broadcast began it was as if we were transported through space and were in Nauvoo.  I became oblivious to the surroundings.  I was no longer in Russia looking at a TV screen.  I was actually in Nauvoo and listening to the prophet and feeling the spirit radiating from the members of the audience there.  It was a sobering experience, because I knew that my ancestors had helped to build the original temple.  They had been there also and I am sure that they were among the unseen audience participating in that occasion. Alice and I were so engrossed in the experience that when the transmission ended we wanted to savor the moment.  The sad thing about it was as we were basking in the glow of the spiritual experience one of the Elders said in a loud voice you must leave now everybody get up.  That broke the spell.  We were a bit disturbed.  The reverence was gone.  Moscow returned.  The dirty streets and unkempt back yards, the dirty old dilapidated busses and the roar of the traffic replaced the beauty, serenity and peace of the temple experience that we had just participated in.  We were indeed back in the lone and dreary world.  What a contrast.  It was one that I had never before experienced.

 

We were very privileged to be present at the dedicatory services of the new Conference Center.  We had toured the conference center prior to it’s dedication and were really impressed by it’s size and the workmanship that we saw.  We were given tickets to the conference session when president Hinckley dedicated the building.  We were down on the main floor and toward the front.  We could clearly see the general authorities and also their wives and guests.  I have never seen a dedication of a building outside of a temple where they used white handkerchiefs and gave the Hosanna shout, but they did it at this dedication.  That was impressive enough, but then the choir and congregation sang “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning”.  I was singing and tears were streaming down my face.  I was not the only one with tears.  President Hinckley was also wiping tears from his eyes.  I was standing and singing and a very strong Soprano voice was singing behind me to my right.  I looked to see who was singing so well, but there were only males behind me to the right.  I never could locate the voice, but there were people singing throughout the congregation and it seemed as though the whole hall was filled with people singing.  I do not doubt that there were heavenly choirs participating in the event.

 

 

Korihor is back

 

Korihor is back!

 

We have recently been reading about Korihor and other anti-Christs in the Book of Mormon.

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The Book of Mormon was written for our day to warn us of things to come, by reminding us of what has happened in the past. 

 

We can compare what is happening today to events that were happening at that time. It has been said that history repeats itself. This is is true because people become materialistic and forget God. So far, they have killed only one prophet since the time of the restoration of the Gospel, but there are plenty of people who try to destroy the faith of the true disciples of Christ both within and without the church. 

 

Attacks on the church and its doctrine will continue to escalate to try and persuade the humble members of the church to reject the safety of their Covenants and testimony of the gospel. 

 

A number of years ago the counselor to president Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, made a statement that has stuck with me since I read it early in my time as stake president. He said that the time would come when the individuals would not be able to live on borrowed light. 

 

This means that you, my grandchildren, are under attack by the evil one, who according to the scriptures, seeks to drag your eternal souls down to misery and eternal woe. 

 

The way that the modern day Korihors plant doubt and disbelief into the hearts and minds of the children of men is to divert their attention from the simple things that lead to Christ. They are: daily prayer, daily reading of the scriptures, church attendance, temple worship, paying tithing and offerings and seeking confirmation of the truth by the spirit. 

 

If we are negligent in these simple things, we may not be able to withstand the fiery darts of the adversary. 

It will require work and effort on our parts. Those who do not put in the effort will not gain the assurance that they are on the right track. Without this solid testimony and the need to repent and come closer to Christ we may not stand the day. 

 

Now my dear grandchildren, Who is on the Lord's side, Who?

 

Love Grandpa

What Color is Love?

A number of years ago we belonged to a dinner group with a few friends from Lander and Riverton.  One evening we played a game and one could answer the question that was posed and the person who responded was told that no one could criticize the answer. The question was, what color is Love? Alice answered Pink. In 2001 I wrote this little essay and gave her a Cyclamen.  Now my dear grandchildren, What color is your love?

What color is Love?

The answer is obvious. It is, and always has been for us, pink.  A soft rosy pink. As you know pink is a mixture of red and white.  Red stands for passion, fire and courage.  Love cannot be just red because passion and fire alone will destroy relationships and consume those involved.  White represents purity, chastity and the celestial kingdom.  White light is a mixture of all the colors of the spectrum.  When directed through a prism it is separated into its components and displays for our view a scintillating display, as each individual prism of our lives, when activated by the light of the gospel displays the sparkling glow of the individual soul. Thus your love and mine is a mixture of the red and white.  You because of your chastity and purity and courage and passion have created a love that has the soft hue of pink.  Just enough red to make it interesting and just enough white to keep it from consuming us both. I love you very much so please let this pink plant remind you of that love.  It will one day wither and die, but my love will forever glow pink for you.

Accountability

Everyone on earth has been given the gift of agency. Some people say free agency, but that is a misnomer. Our agency comes with a price. The price was the death and atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ, whether they believe it or not. 

With this agency comes accountability. We are accountable for our actions, our thoughts and our speech, our actions and what we write. It doesn’t matter if we write it on social media or in letters or email or scribble it as graffiti on public buildings. We may not have to account for it in this life, but we will eventually stand before the heavenly bar of God and face a very just God. If we are members of the church we will be held to a high standard because we have the scriptures which contain God’s commandments. 

If you don’t understand them it is up to you to read and pray for understanding. So you,in a sense, are in charge of your own destiny. He gives to all understanding according to their diligence. A lick and a promise will not do. Our eternal destiny depends upon how we keep the commandments and Covenants. 

That is the plan of salvation or the plan of redemption or the plan of happiness as it is called. 

The plan was given to us when we lived with our father in heaven. We had a full understanding in that heavenly sphere. The commandments were given to men here on earth by God and through His angels and prophets.   The prophets wrote the commandments so that we would have them. We call these writings the scriptures. If you don’t read the scriptures and listen to the prophets then you loose your way and are lead to and fro by those around you to believe what is popular. 

We see this today and in the history of mankind. The popular theme is, do your own thing and do not worry about the consequences. There are riots and demonstrations because of some perceived injustice, and these people do not take accountability for what they do or say. They want things their way and do not believe that God will be the final judge. Our commandment is to let the Lord judge and reward (thee) according to their works. 

Will this require discipline and forbearance on our part? Of course! Is it easy? No. But how can we become like our Father in Heaven or His son,Jesus Christ if we fail to keep His laws and ordinances ?

The time will come when there will be a separation of the people who love God and those who love themselves. The tares and the wheat will grow together until the harvest. Then there will be a separation. Like Joshua we ask “Who’s on the Lord’s side? Now is the time to show by gaining a testimony and living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your spiritual life and perhaps your mortal life depend upon it. 

The Priesthood and Me

Clark responded to an email that I sent with the following observation. “I was wondering who the Sylvester Broadbent was who ordained you an elder so I looked on  Family Search and found this: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWCQ-PYH  Note from the mission farewell program that he was called to preside over the West Central States Mission in 1950, so he must have been the mission president.”

Here is the history behind that.

Sylvester Broadbent was the mission president over the mission that Lander was in.  I came home from Weber College for the summer of 1953 to work before going back to Weber College.  Since the mission president had to interview all candidates for the Melchizedek priesthood we arranged to do the interview at the old chapel in Riverton.

We drove over and President Broadbent was conducting some interviews with others, he asked me to sit outside the branch president’s office on a chair and told me to read the 84^th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. He then came out and invited me in for the worthiness interview.  I do not remember if he invited my father in or not.  Dad was the branch president at the time.  He then laid his hands on my head and proceeded with the ordination.  He never asked me if I wanted my father to ordain me.  I was disappointed to say the least, because my father had ordained me to every office in the Aaronic priesthood. I am sure that my father and my mother were disappointed as well, although he never, that I remember mentioned it to me.

With that experience in mind, I always tried to make sure that I remained worthy enough to be in a position to ordain my sons to the priesthood and tried to have the fathers in the stake ordain their sons when it was possible.

Fortunately for me dad ordained me to the office of high priest when I was called to be on the stake high council. because he was a counselor in the stake presidency at the time.

When we were living in Denver my father was a Seventy.  At that time all the Seventies had to be ordained to that office by a member of the First Council (now presidency of the Seventy) of Seventy.  There were only seven of them listed as general authorities. Dad was called to serve as a counselor to Bishop Delmont H. White in the Denver First Ward.  All bishops and counselors in the church at that time had to be ordained as high priests and set apart by a general authority.  Thus they either had to go to Salt Lake City or wait until a general authority came to a stake conference.  Joseph F. Merrill of the counsel of the twelve came to Denver for a stake conference. He was my grandmother Gee’s uncle from another wife than Cyrene Standley.  He ordained my father a high priest and set him apart as a counselor in the bishopric.  He also had dinner at our house in Denver at that time.  That is why my priesthood line of authority goes through my father and directly to an apostle of the Lord. Shortly after this my father was transferred to Lander. 

Since that time all my sons that are high priests or have their priesthood line of authority come through me, have required travel on someone’s part to be ordained to that office.  Clark came to Germany, We went to Frankfurt from Moscow and Joseph flew to Frankfurt. We traveled to Provo, Utah for John, Salt Lake City for Aaron and to Allen, Texas for Philip.

LINE OF AUTHORITY

IVIN LAURENCE GEE was ordained a High Priest 22 September 1968 by Ivin Lafayette Gee.

IVIN LAFAYETTE GEE was ordained a High Priest 17 October 1948 by Joseph F. Merrill.

JOSEPH F. MERRILL was ordained an Apostle 8 October 1931 by Heber J. Grant.

HEBER J. GRANT was ordained an Apostle 16 October 1882 by George Q. Cannon.

GEORGE Q. CANNON was ordained an Apostle 26 August 1860 by Brigham Young.

BRIGHAM YOUNG was ordained an Apostle 14 February 1835 under the hands of the Three Witnesses. Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris.

The THREE WITNESSES were called by revelation to choose the Twelve Apostles and on 14 February 1835 were "blessed by the laying on of the hands of the Presidency," Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, to ordain the Twelve Apostles. (History of the Church, Vol. 2, pp. 187-188.)

JOSEPH SMITH, JR., and OLIVER COWDERY received the Melchizedek Priesthood in 1829 under the hands of Peter, James and John.

PETER, JAMES and JOHN were ordained Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 15: l6.)

Microfilm and me

I have been thinking about events that happened on my mission. One story I heard involves microfilm. There was a microfilm processing facility at the mission office. They would develop the film which they obtained from some members who were what we would call genealogy missionaries today. I knew two of these men. Richard Ranglack and Paul Langheinrich. They would obtain permission to microfilm records both in the East and in the West of Germany and the adjacent countries. 

When I was in Berlin I heard the following story. One man was in the East and had a lot of film he needed to get to the mission. He had contacted the man from the West to meet him on a certain day in a certain city. This was probably East Berlin,but it could have been another city in the East. Of course the police we on the lookout for spies and would be suspicious of anyone who was carrying microfilm. There was a lot of spying going on on both sides of divided Germany. 

The two men did not make specific arrangements because their correspondence was potentially monitored. They just were in the same place at the same time. In the city there was a movie theater. In Germany at that time one would purchase a ticket at the box office and one would be given a certain seat. In America at that time one could go into a movie and sit anywhere in any seat and stay as long as you wanted and see the movie two or three times. 

Not knowing where the other was, the one man felt impressed to go to the movies. He went in and sat down only to discover the person sitting next to him was the man from the East. He got the case with the microfilm and took it back to have it developed. 

After the microfilm was developed it was sent to the church office in Salt Lake. Many of these are in the Granite vaults and are now being digitized. When I was released the mission president,knowing that I was taking a VW bus back to the United States, asked me to take a shipment of microfilm back to Salt Lake City. He gave it to me in Hanover when he met with us. I put it in the back motor compartment of the minibus and stored the vehicle in a garage in Hannover. When I left my companions in Paris after our travels I flew back to Hanover and picked up the minibus and drove to Bremerhaven where I delivered it to the steamship line to be put aboard the US America. We later boarded the ship in Southampton and later landed in New York and drove across America to Salt Lake where I gave up the microfilm at the church office building. 

 

Richard Ranglack and Paul Langheinrich came to Salt Lake City and lived on the Avenues.  Paul was in our ward and we had dinner at their home.  They used to treat our children with chocolate. His daughter Marianne was Alice's good friend.  

 

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