tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16730596541438013402024-02-19T17:39:27.479-08:00Jay and Lavona Richardson Family History BlogFamily History Stories, Poems and Tidbits of the Jay and Lavona Richardson FamilyMelvin and Tami Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16208571423668680437noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-76894930378104057632021-12-24T07:57:00.003-08:002021-12-24T07:57:45.334-08:00Why the Bells Chimed - A Favorite Christmas Story of Irene Flake<p> Why the Bells Chimed</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There was once, in a far-away country where few people have ever travelled, a wonderful church. It stood on a high hill in the centre of a great city; and every Sunday, as well as on sacred days like Christmas, thousands of people climbed the hill to its great archways, looking like lines of ants all moving in the same direction.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When you came to the building itself, you found stone columns and dark passageways, and a grand entrance leading to the main room of the church. This room was so long that one standing at the door-way could scarcely see to the other end, where the choir stood by the large altar. In the farthest corner was the organ, and this organ was so loud that sometimes when it played, the people for miles around would close their shutters and prepare for a great thunderstorm. Altogether, no such church as this was ever seen before, especially when it was lit up for some festival, and crowded with people, young and old.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But the strangest thing about the old building was the wonderful chime of bells. At one corner of the church was a great, grey tower, with ivy growing over it as far up as one can see. I say as far as one can see because the tower was quite grand enough to fit the grand church, and it rose so far into the sky that it was only in fair weather that anyone claimed to be able to see the top. Even then one could not be certain that it was in sight. Up and up climbed the stones and the ivy, and, as the men who built the church had been dead for hundreds of years, everyone had forgotten how high the tower was supposed to be.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Now, all the people knew that at the top of the tower was a chime of Christmas bells. They had hung there ever since the church had been built, and were the most beautiful bells in the world. Some thought it was because a great musician had cast them and arranged them in their place; others said it was because of the great height, which reached up where the air was cleanest and purest. However that might be, no one who had ever heard the chimes denied that they were the sweetest in the world. Some described them as sounding like angels far up in the sky; others, as sounding like strange winds singing through the trees.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But the fact was that no one had heard them for years and years. There was an old man living not far from the church who said that his mother had spoken of hearing them when she was a little girl, and he was the only one who was sure of as much as that. They were Christmas chimes, you see, and were not meant to be played by men or on common days. It was the custom on Christmas Eve for all the people to bring to the church their offerings to the Christ- child; and when the greatest and best offering was laid on the altar, there used to come sounding through the music of the choir the Christmas chimes far up in the tower. Some said that the wind rang them, and others that they were so high that the angels could start them swinging. But for many years they had never been heard.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was said that people were growing less careful of their gifts for the Christ-child, and that no offering was brought great enough to deserve the music of the chimes. Every Christmas Eve the rich people still crowded to the altar, each one trying to bring some gift better than any other, without giving anything he wanted for himself, and the church was crowded with those who thought that perhaps the wonderful bells might be heard again. But although the services were splendid and the offerings plenty, only the roar of the wind could be heard, far up in the stone tower.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Now, a number of miles from the city, in a little country village where nothing could be seen of the tower when the weather was fine, lived a boy named Pedro, and his little brother. They knew very little about the Christmas chimes, but they had heard of the service in the church on Christmas Eve, and had a secret plan, which they had often talked over when by themselves, to go and see the beautiful celebration.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Nobody can guess, Little Brother,” Pedro would say, “all the fine things there are to see and hear; and I have even heard it said that the Christ-child sometimes comes down to bless the service. What if we could see Him!”</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The day before Christmas was bitterly cold, with a few lonely snowflakes flying in the air, and a hard white crust on the ground. Sure enough, Pedro and Little Brother were able to slip quietly away, early in the afternoon; and although the walk was hard in the frosty air, before nightfall they had trudged so far, hand in hand, that they saw the lights of the big city just ahead of them. Indeed, they were about to enter one of the great gates in the wall that surrounded it when they saw something dark on the snow near the path, and stepped aside to look at it.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was a poor woman who had fallen just outside the city, too sick and tired to get in where she might have found shelter. The soft snow made of a drift a sort of pillow for her, and she would soon be so sound asleep in the wintry air that no one could ever waken her again. All this Pedro saw in a moment, and he knelt down beside her and tried to rouse her, even tugging at her arm a little as though he would have tried to carry her away. He turned her face toward him so that he could rub some of the snow off it, and when he had looked at her silently a moment, he stood up again and said:</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“It’s no good, Little Brother. You will have to go on alone.”</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Alone?” cried Little Brother, “And you not see the Christmas Festival?”</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“No,” said Pedro, and he could not keep back a bit of the choking sound in his throat. “See this poor woman. She will freeze to death if nobody cares for her. Everyone has gone to the church now, but when you come back you can bring someone to help her. I will rub her to keep her from freezing, and perhaps get her to eat the bun that is left in my pocket.”</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“But I cannot bear to leave you, and go on alone,” said Little Brother.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Both of us need not miss the service,” said Pedro, “and it had better be I than you. You can easily find your way to the church; and you must see and hear everything twice, Little Brother, — once for you and once for me. I am sure the Christ-child must know how I should love to come with you and worship Him; and oh! if you get a chance Little Brother to slip up to the altar without getting in anyone’s way, take this little silver piece of mine, and lay it down for my offering when no one is looking. Don’t forget where you have left me, and forgive me for not going with you.”</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In this way he hurried Little Brother off to the city, and winked hard to keep back the tears as he heard the crunching footsteps sounding farther and farther away in the twilight. It was pretty hard to lose the music and splendor of the Christmas celebration that he had been planning for so long, and spend the time instead in that lonely place in the snow.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The great church was a wonderful place that night. Everyone said that it had never looked so bright and beautiful before. When the organ played and the thousands of people sang, the walls shook with the sound and little Pedro, outside the city wall, felt the earth tremble around him, for the sound was so great.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the close of the service came the procession with offerings to be laid on the altar. Rich men and great men marched proudly up to lay down their gifts to the Christ-child. Some brought wonderful jewels, some baskets of gold so heavy that they could scarcely carry them down the aisle. A great writer laid down a book that he had been making for years and years.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And last of all walked the king of the country, hoping with all the rest to win for himself the chime of the Christmas bells. There went a great murmur through the church as the people saw the king take from his head the royal crown, all set with precious stones, and lay it gleaming on the altar as his offering to the holy Child. “Surely.” everyone said, “we shall hear the bells now, for nothing like this has ever happened before.”</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But still only the cold old wind was heard in the tower, and the people shook their heads, and some of them said, as they had before, that they never really believed the story of the chimes, and doubted if they ever rang at all.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The procession was over, and the choir began the closing hymn. Suddenly the organist stopped playing as though he had been shot, and everyone looked at the old minister who was standing by the altar holding up his hand for silence. Not a sound could be heard from anyone in the church, but as all the people strained their ears to listen there came softly, but distinctly swinging through the air, the sound of the chimes in the tower.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So far away and yet so clear the music seemed — so much sweeter were the notes than anything that had been heard before, rising and falling away up there in the sky, that the people in the church sat for a moment as still as though something held each of them by the shoulders. Then they all stood up together and stared straight at the altar to see what great gift had awakened the long-silent bells.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; margin: 24px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But all that the nearest of them saw was the childish figure of Little Brother, who had crept softly down the aisle when no one was looking, and had laid Pedro’s little piece of silver on the altar……</p>Melvin and Tami Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16208571423668680437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-13146022498135648702019-05-27T07:23:00.001-07:002019-05-27T07:23:06.037-07:00JAY AND LAVONA RICHARDSON MISSIONARY SERVICE IN THE JAKARTA INDONESIA MISSION<div align="center" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">JAY AND LAVONA RICHARDSON MISSIONARY SERVICE IN THE JAKARTA INDONESIA MISSION</span></b></div>
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<b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">July 2003-January 2005</b></div>
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Joseph Smith who was an instrument in the hands of the Lord in restoring HIs Church here upon the earth was told that his name would be known all over the world.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>In Bogor, Indonesia where we served our mission there is a plaque with his quote that says,</div>
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“A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world anxious to bless the whole human race.”<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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We experienced this love in Indonesia where we served for eighteen months as humanitarian missionaries in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission. We have seen love expressed by the members of the Church in the Bogor Branch where we were privileged to serve , <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>in<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>the love of a Bapak in the Darussalam Orphanage, in Ibu Faisal, a devout Muslim who gives her all in helping others, in a sewing <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>teacher who devotes her time to teach children that have no opportunity for an education, in <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Roeland and Lily who were always there just wanting to help make people’s lives better, in our branch leaders and their dedication and devotion and in the lives of the wonderful people in Indonesia who have so little and yet give so much. .<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We saw that love expressed as we worked with the members in their callings as branch and district leaders and interacted with the other missionaries.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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During our missionary service The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had been established in Indonesia for about thirty years and had three districts.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>All but two of the twenty one branches were located on the Island of Java where we served.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We were assigned to the Bogor Branch where about a hundred people attended and also a little group in Jasinga about two hours up in the foothills of Mount Salak for four families didn’t have the resources to be able to meet with the larger group.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We learned so much from the wonderful members of the Church in Indonesia who are strong and committed since they live in a nation which was 85% Muslim.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We provided shadow leadership and learned so much from the dedication and testimonies of the great leaders.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Elder Richardson was also blessed to baptize Hartika and Acay who are wonderful people whom we introduced the gospel to and first met through our English classes.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>These members and converts are now eternal friends.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We were able to help two different families prepare and go to the temple with is a great sacrifice because they had so far to go to the Hong Kong Temple.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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Edi Rochadi was our driver and translator and such a help to us in our various activities.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>While we were serving our mission he married Lisa, his eternal sweetheart.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>What a thrill for us to help them go to the Hong Kong Temple to seal their marriage. <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>They later had two children who we are privileged to have named for us- Jay and Lavona.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We think of them as our grandchildren and are thrilled to correspond with them through e-mail several times a week.</div>
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We were privileged to have a wide variety of activities that we were involved with.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We were welfare missionaries and were able to write up projects to help orphanages, children’s operations and hospitals.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>While we were there we were privileged to receive a container about the size of a railroad car of medical equipments which we sorted and gave out to hospitals, nursing homes, and wherever we found a need.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>People would ask who we were and why we were there and we told them we were in Indonesia to bless people’s lives and help them have a better life.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>It didn’t matter what religion or race t hat they were.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We told them that the people from America loved them.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We had in our home the Latter Day Charity Warehouse and had handmade quilts, used clothing, new born kits, school kits, and other items to give out.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Jay retired from dentistry and so was able to help with some dental health fairs all over the Java Island for those people who couldn’t afford to see a dentist.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Doctor Richardson taught a functional orthodontic technique to the faculty members at the University of Indonesia and the Dr. Maestopo Dental School which was well received and provided lots of good results in the patients he worked with.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>I taught conversation English to the dental school professor s.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We made lots of good friends.</div>
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One of our last projects was a Neonatal Resuscitation project where we had two doctors f from America come and train the doctors in Indonesia on how to help newborn babies breathe. Indonesia had a high infant mortality so this training was well received.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>The doctors were trained one day and then were able to train a group of midwives the next day in both Bogor and Bandung<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>It was a blessing for us to be involved with this great project and the lives it helps save.</div>
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We tried to not just give a “man a fish” but teach him to fish so that he could bless his family.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We taught English at five different locations and also set up computers in our home for a computer school.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We organized sewing schools and fish horticulture schools so that people could learn a vocation that could bless their lives.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We made many friends through our English classes taught by us who were “native speakers”.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We were also privileged to visit every branch of the Church in West Java where Doctor Richardson taught a disease prevention class.</div>
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We had two favorite projects.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>One was children’s operations where we were able to work with doctors who donated their time to give surgeries to children who had life threatening diseases.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Dahlan and Risky and the others that we helped now have the opportunity for a new life.</div>
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We delivered a hundred wheelchairs to mostly children and had some life changing experiences.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Many of those needing wheelchairs were unable to come to us so we went to them sometimes taking three to seven hours to travel to where we had arranged with our contact person to deliver the wheelchair.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We witnessed love of the caregivers as fifteen year old Sadin’s mother carried him on her back up to where we were delivering wheelchairs because she couldn’t wait for us to get to her.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Maryati cried as her brother placed her in her wheelchair after being in bed unable to move for five years and we all cried.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Us, a thirty-five year old father with no legs who had to crawl on the floor was able to have his five children around him and hold his youngest on his lap for the first time after being placed in a wheelchair.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Another wheelchair we took to ten year old Ellis. When we arrived at the village where she lived no one knew her.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>She had been kept in her home because she had no legs but now her father said that he world see that she attended school.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Fourteen year old Ani crawled up the street to meet us and we had our wheelchair ceremony right on the street since we were in such remote area where there was no traffic.</div>
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There is hardly a day goes by but what I think of these wonderful friends we made in Indonesia. <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>I am grateful for the leadership skills the leaders of the church taught us and for their testimonies and dedication to living the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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I know that in Indonesia the work that we were engaged in is the work of the Lord.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We felt His hands in so many miracles that we were able to witness.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>I was grateful to have a wonderful missionary companion.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We enjoyed so much working and sharing together our love for our mission and the people we worked with.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We are blessed with a wonderful posterity.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We have thirteen children with eleven living children.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We lost two sons as infants who are with their Dad.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>My missionary companion Jay passed away eight years ago.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Nine of our children that are married were married in the temple giving us sixty seven grandchildren and sixty three great grandchildren.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Our five sons and one daughter served missions and now we have thirty one grandchildren that have served missions with more to come, all twenty four of our children that are married were married in the temple and up to now thirty eight of our grandchildren have received their temple endowments.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>We feel so blessed</div>
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I have a testimony that we have a Father in Heaven who knows and cares for each one of us and is mindful of his children in the Isles of the Sea and their special needs. <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>I am grateful for Christ and His atonement making life as eternal families possible.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>I bear my testimony that we were representatives of His Church restored in these latter days and that we have a living prophet who direct His church here upon the earth.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>I am grateful to belong to a church that reaches out to all people to better their lives.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>I know that happiness is found through losing ourselves in serving others.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>I am so grateful for the opportunities that Jay and I had as we served together in Indonesia.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>My prayer is that for the rest of my life I can show by the life I live my love for the gospel and our wonderful friends in Indonesia.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Lavona F. Richardson</div>
Melvin and Tami Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16208571423668680437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-5615372806670030512018-03-06T21:09:00.001-08:002018-03-06T21:09:23.579-08:00Lavona Flake Richardson Mexican Missionary Experiences 1955-1957<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Melvin and Tami Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16208571423668680437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-11604814151256057212018-01-01T20:28:00.002-08:002018-03-06T21:04:24.926-08:00Christmas Memories - by Lavona Richardson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Melvin and Tami Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16208571423668680437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-22788695650577640382017-12-04T19:35:00.002-08:002017-12-04T19:35:54.917-08:00Irene Stratton Flake (some verses from her life history) <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Irene Stratton Flake (our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother) compiled an extensive life story. I want to share with you the opening paragraphs that she wrote:</span><br />
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Story of the Life of Irene Stratton Flake</div>
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Born March 18, 1907</div>
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"As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I know a record should be kept of this life that our posterity may know of our accomplishments, our desires, and of our activities. Also as I realize the changes in travel, transportation and communication that have come about in my lifetime, I know I should write of these things. I am impressed with the strides forward that the Church is making. I realize that many important things have happened during my lifetime. </div>
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I feel that I am greatly privileged to live in this dispensation of the fullness of times with the gospel restored. I am grateful for the priesthood my husband holds and honors. I am grateful that I can share these blessings with him if I am worthy. </div>
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I am grateful for my companion and for the eight children we were privileged to have come to our home. I hope we can live worthy to be again with Layne Kent. The Lord called him home when he was just ten days old. I am grateful for the privilege of the seven children had had of receiving their endowments and of being married to good companions in the temple for time and for eternity. They have all had the privilege of completing full-time missions and working in the Church positions to which they are called. All of the children have graduated from college. I am grateful that I can say at this writing that each of our children with their companions and their families are faithful Latter-day Saints." </div>
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Following this introduction, she included the following in narrative of her life story:</div>
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Life is God's gift to you. What you do with life is your gift to God.</div>
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Life is for learning, improving, repenting and serving</div>
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One life and one alone, we have to live upon this earth.</div>
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One life in which to learn so much - to seek, find and prove our worth.</div>
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So many dreams there are to dream - and many things to know and o.</div>
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So many peaks to climb, so many pathways to pursue.</div>
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So waste no time on fruitless quests that get you nowhere in the end.</div>
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The gift of time is your's to squander, or with care to use and spend.</div>
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It's folly to postpone good deeds. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_784377496" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tomorrow</span></span> never comes, they say.</div>
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The future times belong to God. Your only chance is now today.</div>
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She then wrote the following, putting her picture to the side:</div>
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"So let me live that when I died,</div>
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A tear will come to every eye.</div>
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In every heart, there'll be a spot,</div>
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An empty place where I am not.</div>
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So let me live that when I'm gone,</div>
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Kind thoughts of me will linger on.</div>
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And folks will say with grief inside, </div>
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I sort of wish she hadn't died." </div>
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(Irene doesn't give reference for these sayings and poems.)</div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-60927073318080051152017-11-19T19:59:00.001-08:002017-11-19T19:59:07.961-08:00Minnie Kartchner Stratton<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">MINNIE KARTCHNER STRATTON, daughter of William Decatur Kartchner and Elizabeth Gale, was born December 26, 1870 in Overton, Nevada. The family moved to Panguitch, Utah and then to Snowflake, Arizona. Minnie often recalled the hardships the family endured. She told of grinding their own wheat, which was often scarce, to make biscuits each morning, sewing, and doing the washing by hand.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Minnie r</span><span class="m_-8084960852858782497m_5491884219763685205gmail-m_-4593360785664099845gmail-text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px;">eceived a limited formal education but worked diligently through life to educate herself. When she was young, she was constantly singing while she was working. One day her father said, "Oh, Minnie, for goodness sake give us a rest." After she married and returned home he said, Minnie, it's been so lonesome. Sing us a song. I'll never get tired of your singing again."<br /><br />In October 1886, Minnie married the neighbor across the street, William Ellis Stratton. They made the two-week trip by team to the St. George Temple. Their 54-years of married life would hold its challenges. Minnie and Ellis had 13 children but lost 5 of them in infancy. Minnie honored Ellis' two-year mission call by remaining home and caring for six young children.<br /><br />Irene, Minnie's daughter and the 10th of the 13 children, wrote" "Mother was intelligent. Ordinarily, she was gentle and considerate in every relationship but she could be firm. No one could bring about unity and harmony in a family of varied personalities like she could. She was tender, loving, and had true compassion and charity for all."<br /><br />There were hard times as the younger children were growing up brought about by scarcity of money, the economic depression, and the loss of life savings when the bank in Snowflake suddenly closed. For nearly fifteen years, the family took in boarders, 68 in all, to supplement the family income.<br /><br />Irene continued, "Mother's life was that of a true pioneer. Sharing her substance was part of living. Many came to our door. Friend and stranger alike surrounded our table and partook of its goodness. Life was full of farming, cooking, children to get to school, ironing and washing, church work, family home evenings and singing together. Our parents worked together to accomplish the necessary tasks of each day. When sorrow came, hand-in-hand they comforted each other. Were were taught well in the gospel truths. Tithing and family prayer were never forgotten."<br /><br />Irene described her mother as, "teaching patience because she was patient. She never shouted or lost her temple. She stressed honesty and square dealing."<br /><br />Minnie served in the ward and stake Primary organization and for several years was the president of the Snowflake Ward Relief Society.<br /><br />In 1940 when Ellis passed away, she did not realize that she would go on alone for 29 years more. During all those years, she lived with her daughter, Mabel and husband Jesse, in Mesa during the wintertime. She spent the summers in Snowflake moving every two or three weeks from one of her children's homes to another. It was always special for the grandchildren to have Grandma Stratton in their home. Into her advanced age, she would help with the dishes, she would sew, and be part of everything that was happening. She was pleasant, grateful for her blessings and never complained even though, due to macular degeneration, she was legally blind for many years. Her mind was quick and she had the ability to show a special personal interest in each one of her posterity. With her beautiful silver curly hair, her ready smile and a bright twinkle in her eye, we were proud that she was our Grandma.<br /><br />Minnie kept a daily journal for over 30 years. Even after she couldn't see clearly, she was still writing in her journal. She wrote poetry and honored many with special poems on birthdays, other special occasions or just to give a word of encouragement or advice. One of her friends wrote a poem to Minnie, in return:<br /><br />"Sweet winsome lady, cultured and elect,<br />So gentle in the things you say and do.<br />Of all the epigrams that could be framed,<br />The title "Ladyship" was coined for you."<br /><br />Minnie passed away on December 24, 1969 - just two days before her 99th birthday. Her posterity of 366 - including 7 great-great-great grandchildren - at the time of her death called her blessed knowing how through the years they had been privileged to have her as their dear Grandma.<br /><br />Irene, wrote on Minnie's passing, "She endured with faith and humility to the end. She discovered happiness in toil. She chartered the course for all of us to follow. </span>mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-77134371188399477662017-11-19T19:57:00.001-08:002017-11-19T19:57:54.942-08:00William Ellis Stratton<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
WILLIAM ELLIS STRATTON was born on January 28, 1862 in Virgin City, Utah (near the entrance to Zion National Park) to Anthony Johnson Stratton and Martha Jane Layne. His school was limited but he became self-educated as he enjoyed reading throughout his life. His parents were of modest means and he worked with his father to sustain a large family. When he was fifteen, they accepted a call from Church leaders to help establish Mormon settlements in northern Arizona.</div>
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The Stratton family arrived in Snowflake in early 1879. The Silver Creek Valley had been purchased with an improved breed of cattle from Utah. Ellis helped William J. Flake and others to drive cattle and horses to Arizona. Ellis participated in nine different cattle drives over the next several years. These drives usually originated in Beaver in southern Utah down to the Colorado River where the cattle were pushed on to ferry boats to cross the river then by the Tuba City area and across Navajo Indian lands then crossing the Little Colorado River and on into the Silver Creek Valley.</div>
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In 1886, he began to notice a curly haired girl that lived across the street. He was eight years her senior. He would go to see Minnie Kartchner whenever possible. On October 20, 1886, Ellis and Minnie were married in the St. George Temple. They made the trip by wagon over the 300-mile "honeymoon trail," with chaperones. It usually took about ten days each way. Several couples would travel together and be married the same day in the temple. Ellis recorded that he was 5 feet 7 inches weighing 130 pounds on his wedding day. He remained pretty much the same throughout life always being of slight build.</div>
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William Ellis and Minnie started housekeeping in a log house in the southern part of Snowflake. He earned a living mostly from farming and freighting. For many years, he had a contract to move freight by team and wagon from the railroad siding in Holbrook to the Bureau of Indian Affairs offices in Ft. Apache. His children said when he would return home, he would open a sack of sugar and give each of them a teaspoon and let them eat as much as they wanted.</div>
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Ellis built a beautiful red brick two-story home that stood on a corner lot on Main Street a block south of the Church meetinghouse. He and Minnie made it a special place for their children and grandchildren. Later, many of the single school teachers boarded with the Stratton's.</div>
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In 1899, Ellis went to the post office for the mail. Without any prior notice and to his surprise, he received a letter from Box B in Salt Lake City calling him on a mission to the Southern States. He accepted the call and thought it an honor. He served for two years spending most of his time in eastern Kentucky. Minnie faithfully carried on alone at home caring for six children.</div>
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The Stratton's had their trials. After one month in the mission field, Ellis received word that one of his eleven-month twin daughters had died. This was hard for him to accept but he was determined to continue in the work. That was not their ony sadness. Prior to the mission, they had lost an infant son then, in 1903 after he returned, two more children died on the same day from dreaded diphtheria that struck many of the families of Snowlake. A fifth child, six years old, passed away in 1910. Their family of 13 children was reduced to 8 that lived to maturity. Four children between Lena (born in 1895) and Irene (born in 1907) passed away. It was as if there was an older family of four - Mabel, Zella, Raymond, and Lena and then, a younger family of four - Irene, Lorum, Leona and Lynn. These eight children were devoted to one another and to their parents.</div>
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William Ellis Stratton was mild in nature, tender hearted, and completely converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He did not become bitter from the trials of life but always acknowledged the will of his Father in Heaven. He honored his priesthood. He and Minnie were widely known for the love and devotion to each other. They were united in all they did.</div>
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In 1935, they began spending their winters doing temple work in Mesa. They lived with their oldest daughter, Mabel, and husband, Jesse. They would return to Snowflake to spend their summers. In June 1940, Ellis passed away. He has always been remembered by his children and grandchildren as a man of love was was always kind and considerate to all.</div>
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Their daughter, Irene, wrote of her parents, "Hardships, joys, tears, laughter, determination, devotion, prayer, and plenty of good hard work are the material from which great lives are fashioned. From these qualities, William Ellis and Minnie Kartchner Stratton fashioned their lives serving as examples to their descendants."</div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-14605248710191114402017-03-13T19:24:00.002-07:002017-03-13T19:24:19.779-07:00The Legacy, by Jay Richardson<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">THE LEGACY<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">My life is like a legacy,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> A gift from other lives.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is what I do with who I am,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Why I believe and strive,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A legacy that lifts and loves <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And lets me find my way;<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is a gift to keep and hold<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">To keep and hold today .<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A legacy is having faith<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> To that I cannot see;<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A quiet voice compels my feet<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Down paths of sharp degree,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I take a step, but not alone,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I know he stands nearby,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">His legacy is love.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">As legacy is ours to share,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> It resonates within;<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">It carries on from where we are,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The future to begin,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">There is for each this legacy<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> That comes from holy spheres,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The blessedness of this great gift<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Will carry through the years.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Remember, oh remember,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Remember and renew,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Remember, remember<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The blessedness of these great gifts<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">That God bequeathes to you.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> --Jay M. Richardson</span></div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-91576778386512095092017-01-12T16:13:00.003-08:002017-01-12T16:13:23.055-08:00Missionary Journal entries by Jay M. Richardson<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
JAY’S MISSIONARY JOURNAL ENTRIES </div>
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January 8, 2017</div>
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June 20, 1956 Salt Lake City Owen Lunt drove me to the mission home in Salt Lake. Got registered this morning and assigned to my dormitory room. Attended first class at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_150622677" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:00 am</span></span> in Barrett Hall where President Childs of the mission homemade assignments and gave us a good talk on what it means to be a missionary. In the afternoon we had a less on the missionary plan by Elder Cottrell, had a group picture and instructions on going into temple. At night Elder Lynn McKinley of BYU gave a very spiritual talk on preparation for entering the temple. We well all filled.</div>
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June 22, 1955 Spent a wonderful morning going through the Salt Lake Temple. Elder Mark E. Peterson addresses us in the chapel session and explained things pretty w ell. Enjoyed a regular guided tour of Temple Sq are and a class on directing singing in the evening.</div>
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June 27, 1956 I went on a tour of temple square and attended the <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_150622678" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">noon</span></span> organ recital with Elder LeBaron. Went to setting apart meeting on 3<sup>rd</sup> floor of church office building. Saw many general authorities. Elder El Ray L. Christiansen set me apart, tell me to keep busy, obey the mission rules, be optimistic, keep myself clean and he blessed me with health to fill my mission. Elder Sterling W. Sill addressed me afterwards. Boarded train at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_150622679" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:30 pm</span></span> for Denver. </div>
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June 28, 1956 Spent a hard night on the train, arrived in Denver about <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_150622680" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">8:30 am</span></span>. Ate breakfast after meeting Pr4sident and Sister Ellgren. The house is as mansion built by a beer dealer long ago. We sleep above the garage. Elder Kleinman and Campbell pt us through the Godhead lesson and door approach and assigned us scriptures to memorize. </div>
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July 6, 1956 -Denver We traded all day got 6 meetings, 3 good ones. Our last meeting in the evening was with a dear old lady Mrs. Ogle, form a hard-shelled Baptist family from Tennessee. She’s almost 80 years old, but as friendly and big hearted as can be. She’s crippled but still works in house and yard, while her grown daughter works in town. Bought a Book of Mormon and welcomes us back any time.</div>
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August 17, 1956 Walked up to Mrs. Chervrout’s and gave her the Book of Mormon lesson. Received it very well. She is going t o be stubborn about quitting her coffee though. Attempted some call backs on Lincoln Street. Still no luck. Gave Godhead and Book of Mormon lesson to a Catholic family. Gave two Godhead lessons in the evening. Just before the last one we were very rudely excused from the door of a fellow watching the convention speeches. Feeling hurt, we almost turned to go home, but the next door was Mrs. Whyte and two boys, who seemed t o be “waiting” for us. They really seem like good contacts. We’ll see. Anyway, it always pays to go to the next door.</div>
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August 28, 1956 Gave Apostasy lesson to the Wallace’s. She thinks we’re too “sneaky”. Said they wanted to hear about our Restoration before they would argue. People just can’t help contradicting themselves in the lessons if they don’t want to go along with us and we present t hem clearly. </div>
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September 5, 1956 Our best day yet, as far as points go. Gave two apostasies and two restoration lessons. We still lack something, though can’t seem to get their testimonies started. Seems to me that we shouldn’t wait so long between meetings. We give them too much time to cool off.</div>
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September 17, 1956 I read in the book of Judges in the Old Testament. The Old Testament, just as the New, contains more gospel and good sense than we realize. Hope a little of it will sink in. </div>
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Oct 12, 1956 Colorado Springs Had a very good day. Gave three Apostasy lessons this afternoon. One of them took, at least. We knocked on the door of an insurance salesman this morning who works for New York Life and know Elder Sterling W. Sill very well. He was just leaving and didn’t have time to talk, but he said when we get through with our missions to look him up for a job. Said we have a “good approach”. His isn’t bad either. Stopped to talk with Brother and Sister Barrett this evening. She is going to try to help us get Mrs. Davis (a contact) out to Relief Society. She’s really a good gal. I surely appreciate working with Elder Tueller . He’s so good natured and not afraid of doing too much work. Am learning al lot from him. Thant handshake after our evening prayers is mighty warm.</div>
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Oct 15, 1956 Held a Godhead meeting with Mrs. Phebing and it turned out well. She met with missionaries several years ago and said she agreed with practically everything they said, but she’s a staunch Lutheran and the message just didn’t sink in. We’ll have to shake her up with an apostasy lesson, really forcible!</div>
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February 23, 1957 Received another special delivery letter today saying that I’ve been called to open up the missionary work with the Jewish people. It’s a wonderful privilege. Hope I can do it justice. </div>
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May 3, 1957 Denver Finally got another Jewish lady who’s the real agnostic type and she wouldn’t budge an inch either. I think that by concentrating we will improve the firs t lesson a great deal to give it more punch for everyone we talk with. It‘s just like the Godhead lesson of the Gentile plan. It must be made to stimulate some life in its hearers. Learned today that Mrs. Granger (the invalid wit h arthritis) has asked for baptism. I’m surely thrilled. Will have to write Elder Judd, I guess. ``</div>
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Sept. 5, 1957 Went to see Mr. Jultake the florist with Sister Rose Marie Reid as my companion to make a date for her to speak to his men’s club sometime this winter. A visitor who was there got all shook for fear she’d convert some of their “ignorant” people. She surely bragged up the job we had done in Mr. Jultak. Drove her, President and Sister Elggren, Elders Hebdon and Smith to West Denver to hear her speak to a Hadassah group. She was marvelous. President Elggren really enjoyed it. Elder Hugh Pinnock, former second counselor of the mission was here as a visitor and spoke to us. Sister Reid is on a campaign to get an integration program organized in the church. Won’t she ever quit?</div>
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September 6, 1957 Had testimony meeting all day. Long, but wonderful. Sang a solo “Beside Still Water”. My voice is in good shape. Former companion Elder Teller said he’d rather work with me than any other companion he’d had. Got my new companion Elder Verl Smith tonight. He’ll be good.</div>
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September 28, 1957 Elder Verl Smith baptized Bobby and Billy Jorgason of the member family just moved in from Georgia. They‘re shipping out to San Antonio tomorrow. A great family! After the baptism we cleaned up and found ourselves locked in. Had to go out through a window. Hope no trouble comes from it. Our district had seven baptisms, west Denver three. Hope things we’ll pick up. </div>
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April 1, 1958 Had quite a round with Elder Counder this morning. He's so big and likable and so convincing. Has had some poor companions though that haven't been the best for him. I think he's going to do all right now. Went on up to Albuquerque and worked with Elder LeBaron and Draper this evening. Elder Draper has a good spirit and I think will make good. Elder LeBaron has had difficulties at home, and was in bad spirits for awhile, but is picking up now. Is still as unorthodox as always, but a terrific missonary. Baptized a former Presbyterian minister last Saturday and is really proud! Who wouldn't be?</div>
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April 22, 1958 Went down to the train station this morning to meet 7new elders and 2 new lady missionaries. Sister Crawford is as small as a 10 year old girl, but is eager to learn and work as anyone. Sister Spell from South Carolina isn’t much bigger, and is awfully homesick. Worked till <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_150622681" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">midnight</span></span> getting out a very complex transfer. Why mission presidents go gray! Had a lot of fun training them today. Elder Wells is very good as enthusiasm and propaganda of the beneficial type.</div>
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May 13, 1958 Seven new elders and an elderly couple, the Brinkerhoff’s, came in today for training. Elder Wells and I should get good at this, but it’s hard to do much with such a large group. It’s lots of fun though and this is as very good group! A large transfer went out tonight, one of the largest ever. So we sit back and watch the repercussions! Wish that all missionaries could have this experience.</div>
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July 3, 1958 New missionaries went out to work, and we stayed home. Worked on material for Wes state News, etc. Held the regular sacrament and testimony with the new ones this evening. I’ve being blessed with lots of farewell testimonials here. Guess these compliments won’t hurt me as long as I don’t believe them.</div>
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July 4, 1958 My mission ends today. It has been a marvelous experience, much different than what I’d expected. I’m blessed at every turn – surely have a big debt to pay to Savior. Hope I will soon be settled and able to be normally active. My biggest mission is ahead now. I’m charged with the job of finding a wife and making a home. May I be as well blessed in this calling. Didn’t celebrate much today for Independence Day. New missionaries were trained, the office very busy. Went out this evening and said goodbye to Dr. Abrams and wife, our Jewish contact of last fall. We’ve made a good impression, there and it may yield fruit.</div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-19964283362569667342017-01-11T15:24:00.001-08:002017-01-11T15:24:38.051-08:00Missionary Journal Entries by Lavona Richardson<br />
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MISSIONARY JOURNAL ENTRIES FOR DALES FLIP CALENDAR</div>
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Lavona Richardson</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">January 8, 2017</span></div>
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October 11, 1955 – Tampico, Mexico I was thrilled beyond words this morning as Brother Anthone R. Ivins laid his hands jupon my head and set me apart as a missionary in the Mexican Mission. It was the realization that my lifelong dream had come true and I know it all came about only through the power of prayer.</div>
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October 16, 1955 President and Sister McKay were visitors at the Lamanite Conference at the Mezona today and what a spiritual feast. After the meeting Mother and Daddy and Leona and I got to shake hands with President McKay and talk to him for a few minutes. He remembered staying in Daddy’s home.</div>
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October 17, 1955 Never have I heard the temple ceremonies explained so simply and yet so beautiful as they were this morning by President McKay in the chapel service at the temple. I know his talk will stay with me forever. His talk was mainly to not be blinded with the physical actions of the ceremonies and fail to grasp the spiritual symbols.</div>
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January 28, 1956 We had a total of eight visits for the day. I gave the first lessons in Spanish today without a big of help from my companion. I must have done okay because she understood and accepted. </div>
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January 29, 1956 I came home tonight knowing that we are not alone in this great work. This afternoon a lady asked us if we would start visiting her. She had got a hold of one of our folletos and was very interested.</div>
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January 29, 1956` My first baptismal service here in the mission field. What a happy occasion. After <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1151531701" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> School the majority of the rama boarded busses and later the train for the Playa. There they had a short meeting with the baptisms following. The spirit of our Heavenly Father was certainly there in rich abundance. I ‘m so happy for these six wonderful people who have now taken the necessary step of baptism.</div>
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February 2, 1956 I don’t think I’ll ever get warm again. Last night and all day today it’s been just freezing. Today has been the realization of another mile stone reached. I gave the Apostasy lesson to my companion at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1151531702" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">noon</span></span> and evidently passed the test because I gave it this afternoon without any help from her too. Of course, I want to get it a lot better but it’s a start. Each day feel more as part of this work as I learn so that I can help more. I’ve got to work and study harder to be able to serve Him better.</div>
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February 5,1956 Imagine my surprise when after the second song the counselor got up and said first we’ll hear from Hermana Flake. I was scared stiff but I know I was blessed in having the words I wanted to stay. I talked on the responsibilities we have as members of the church and how the marvelous work did come forth quoting most of Section 4 in the Doctrine and Covenants. I finished by bearing my testimony. I felt so good when the members came up afterward and sincerely told me how well I had done. I came home and thanked the Lord because it was only through His help that I was able to do it.</div>
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February 6, 1956 I gave four of the seven lessons today. I know of a surety that the Lord is our companion here in this wonderful work if we but do our part. It is only through His help that we are able to do these things. Today has been one of those days that I wanted to tell everybody how happy am and my testimony of this work.</div>
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February 17, 1956 You sure find that every investigator r is different and must be taught the gospel in a different manner. One of our investigators today had to show us all of her two little girls’ dresses before we could go on with the lesson. </div>
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February 19, 1956 I think we’re doing a little bit of good in this wicked world. At least things are really looking up. We had eight investigators out to meetings today. We walked out to Morelos this morning and showed another Senora the way to the capilla. She tried lat <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1151531703" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> and couldn’t find it.</div>
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February 23, 1956 We have more visits right now that we have time for. We have been leaving earlier, taking a shorter <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1151531704" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">noon</span></span> break and still we haven’t made it to all the places where we have appointments. The people seem ready to hear the gospel and it’s a real wonderful opportunity to be able to take it to them.</div>
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February 25, 1956 This morning when we visited the mother of Regina she was making tortillas so we pitched in and helped her. The tortillas were so good. I wouldn’t mind eating like that all the time. For Primary this afternoon the room where we usually meet was occupied so we had to meet in a separate room without any benches or chairs. What a job to keep the 44 children ranging in age from two to twelve interested and quiet.</div>
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February 29, 1955 With my scrubbing board and bucket I washed and ironed all of my clothes and all of my companion’s clothes. I am so tired tonight.</div>
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March 22, 1956` It’s surprising the opportunities you have to preach the gospel if you are but looking of them. We gave the first lesson and a tract of Joseph Smith to the place where we get out shoes fixed. T he man seemed very interested. We were commenting today on the friends we’ve made in the different professions of Tampico.</div>
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April 21, 195 6 Rain, rain I’m so tired of it. It’s rained all day and we’ve waded around in the mud. We tracted here b the house this morning. This afternoon we left early for Col Morelos to track for awhile before Primary. We knocked on ten doors before we finally got in but it was a good visit so it was worth it. </div>
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May 9, 1956 Today when we told one of our investigators that the casa de oracion had been moved she said “you mean the other church isn’t the true church?”</div>
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June 15, 1956 Conference was just wonderful and really gave me the desire to go forward striving harder to make a good missionary. I know this work down here is the work of the Lord and that we are being blessed. Early this morning we went to each house where we have been visiting and with pictures of the General Authorities reminded them of conference. The conference for the district started at 7 in the evening. I had just arrived at the church when I was met by Apostle Kimball and without introductions or anything he said that I looked like Sister Flake from Snowflake and that my sisters in Mexico sent their saludos. He said that he remembered his stay in our home and to send his love to the folks. Our investigators were arriving so I didn’t get to talk with him more at from that time on I was his personal aid and called on to translate for him and be his side. ..I was so thrilled that so many of our investigators came out. Just as the meeting was ready to begin President Bentley mentioned for me to come up to the stand and told me he was going to call on me to say a few words. I had never dreamed of being called on and was really surprised. I was the first speaker and the building was packed. The spirit of Heavenly Father was r ally with me and the only way I was able to say the things that were in my heart and express my testimony of the truthfulness of the work. ..I could have listened to Apostle Kimball al night and not t ire. It seemed like he talked for one minute and I was really surprised to find he talked for close to an hour. He gave a very good talk for investigators and almost half of the large group were investigators and a lot of them were ours. Each member of the Novara family was out- eight in all. The old couple that owns the store left the store open because it didn’t have a lock with enough faith that the Lord would watch over it for them if they both came out to her His servant. I know they will be blessed for their faithfulness. ..It was as thrill that I will never forget to translate for Elder Kimball and for our investigators and members as they had an opportunity to meet and talk with Elder Kimball. I could hardly hold back the tears when they said that they knew he was an apostle of God and that this church was the real church. Elder Kimball congratulate d me over and over again on the good work we are doing here and the numbers of investigators that came. He said that President Yanez said that every time that Sister Flake came out she had more investigators that came. I think about the most wonderful; blessing that I’ve heard was the blessing Elder Kimball gave a crippled member from Col. Valles. </div>
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June 16, 1956 We were up bright and early this morning and all ready to be at the church at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1151531705" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">8 o’clock</span></span>. The conference was in English for Elder Kimball and so I translated everything into Spanish for the other three sister missionaries. I was kept real busy but I was thrilled to help others understand and was thrilled to be able to translate almost word perfect. The only regret is that I didn’t get notes of the talks. Elder Kimball started out the day giving a wonderful talk on the importance of meeting together and bearing our testimonies. President Bentley also bore a strong testimony after which we all gave our reports and bore our testimonies. I haven’t spoken much English for the 6 ½ months and also I was about the last one and had been translating into Spanish all morning. I just couldn’t express myself in English and find the words in English to say what I wanted to say. I felt almost worse that the first time I spoke in Spanish. Elder Kimball said I spoke English like he spoke Spanish. I felt real bad but President Bentley and Elder Kimball seemed pleased that I was so into the work. Elder Kimball was pleased with my detailed report for 6 ½ months here and copied it to take to Salt Lake and commented on it to the other missionaries. I am copying the report for my journal. It seemed like all day I was called on to do everything- play the piano, help by being the investigator in the demonstrations and then translate for the interviews de mis companions. But it was a big thrill. When Elder Kimball interviewed me he said he didn’t have to ask if I was happy because he knew I was by the kind of work I was doing. President Bentley said the members had said to please not change Hna. Flake but that he needed me in the home. So I will be there in the next week or so. </div>
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At <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1151531706" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">noon</span></span> the mission served refrescos, sandwiches y ice cream. Then they had to leave to meet another schedule for conference in Victoria. Hna. Villinuevos had never seen the ocean or playa so we went cut there for a little while. They left on the bus at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1151531707" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">9:30 pm</span></span>. </div>
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January 12, 1957- Monterrey , Mexico I had dinner all ready when President and Sister Bentley arrived with Elder and Sister Mark Peterson at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1151531708" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">noon</span></span>. It was as real honor for me to cook dinner for an apostle. They enjoyed it and commented on my homemade bread so I felt good. I, along with all of the missionaries chose to fast until after our testimony meeting. I especially enjoyed the advice of Elder Peterson. I could certainly feel the spirit of the Lord with us and I know his words were inspired. It is a real experience to associate so closely with an apostle of the Lord. He stressed many times the responsibility to give everyone an opportunity to hear the gospel to all who will accept. Afterwards we had our testimony meeting during which I was called into the president’s office for a personal interview with Elder Peterson. H congratulated me on the good work I was doing and encouraged me. </div>
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January 30, 1957 We had a good visit with an investigator that we hadn’t met with for a long time. I really felt inspired to give her an overall view of the gospel plan. </div>
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Septembert11, 1957- Aguascalientes.-We were tracting out in Saint Marucs this morning when we had another experience to add to our growing list. We finally got in one home and were giving the lesson when some people in another room started making fun of us and yelling in bad things. The lady was interested though so we finished the lesson, bore our testimonies, gave her the tracts, and left . We were up the street knocking on another door when I turned back just in time to see the tract flying back at us. I went back to pick them up with a street full of Senoras watching me.</div>
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September 27, 1957- I’m now a good missionary because I’ve had as pan of water thrown at me. Missionaries have always talked about it but until today it had never happened to me. We went on tracting and got it he next door and had a good visit. </div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-11742419897252203312017-01-08T18:43:00.002-08:002017-01-08T18:43:31.852-08:00Our Legacy<div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> James Madison (1815-1850) and Agnes Haley Love Flake</span></b><b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 16pt;">(1819--1855) </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Each lived only to be 35 years old</span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James and Agnes Flake would not have opened their Mississippi door to the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Saints?</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James and Agnes would have decided to not be baptized yielding to pressure of family and friends to not do so?</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James and Agnes would have not sold their home and land at a sacrificed price and freed their slaves to move more than 670 miles to join the Saints in Nauvoo?</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James and Agnes, after two years in Nauvoo, would not have left a new home to move again over 300 miles to Winter Quarters, Iowa?</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James</span></b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and Agnes would have said in Winter Quarters after losing three of their six children, “We won’t move again, more than 900 miles to the Salt Lake Valley.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">James and Agnes would have said to Brigham Young after two years in the Salt Lake Valley, “We are just getting started and James can’t accept your call to look for where Church members can settle in California”?</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Agnes, when informed of the death of James would have said, “That exempts me and my children from the prophet’s call to relocate in San Bernardino; another move of more than 600 miles?”</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Agnes would have accepted the offer of her brother to return, with her children, to the family home in North Carolina agreeing to, “All you have to do is give up your Mormonism.” She assured him that would never happen. Her dying counsel to her children was to always live true to the faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now, nearly 175 years later, more than 15,000 descendants honor James Madison and Agnes Haley Love Flake for being steadfast and immovable, for keeping their covenants, and becoming the foundation of our eternal Flake Family.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Will we,</span></u></b><span style="font-family: sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> their posterity, carry the torch they so brightly carried? Will our testimony of the gospel continue to sustain us as it did them?</span></div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-60353848334579630362016-10-18T16:51:00.000-07:002016-10-18T16:51:05.451-07:00Special memories of Nauvoo and Carthage<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">NAUVOO AND CARTHAGE MEMORIES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lavona Richardson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am
grateful for the opportunity Jay and I had to serve together in Nauvoo and
Carthage. I have so many special
memories of serving at Carthage, walking down Parley Street, visiting the old
Nauvoo cemetery, seeing the temple on the bans of the Mississippi every day,
serving at a different historic site every day, making gingerbread for the
bakery, morning devotionals, the huge flowers at the Family History center,
making bread at the Family History Center, the re-enactment of the founding of
Relief Society at the Red Brick store, being a narrator for the wagon rides,
delivering the mail, carving pumpkins for the Halloween Walk,, directing the
choir of missionaries as we sang on the steps of the Nauvoo Temple at Christmas
time, serving as an ordinance worker at the Nauvoo Temple and so many more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have a
special memory of serving in Carthage and giving tours there of the jail. I always felt a special spirit in the
martyrdom room as I testified of Joseph Smith.
Jay and I served a mission in Indonesia before serving in Nauvoo. We felt as urgency to put in our mission
papers again to serve. I didn’t put on
my papers that I served as a missionary in Mexico fifty years before and spoke
Spanish. Jay wasn’t fluent in Spanish
and I wanted to go to a mission where he would be more comfortable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One morning
we were serving in Carthage when a family from Spain came that didn’t speak any
English. The site leader turned to me
and said “You were called for such a time as this”. I prayed fervently that I could teach them in
their native tongue to help them feel the spirit of Carthage. As I gave the tour I was saying words in
Spanish that I didn’t even know and they understood. These were words that I
didn’t use as a missionary when I served in my youth. It was truly the gift of tongues. I was an instrument in the Lord’s hands in
bearing testimony. We all could feel the spirit so strong as I testified of
Joseph Smith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A short time
later while we were still serving in Carthage a bus load of people from the
area where I served in Mexico came and I was able to give them a tour in
Spanish. I saw more of my friends I had
known on my mission that day than I could have ever seen visiting Mexico.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After that
for the rest of my mission I was already assigned to be a narrator on the wagon
ride or at a site when someone would come usually without scheduling ahead of
time that needed to have their tour in Spanish.
Sometimes I would go with them to the different sites to give them the
tour in their native language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another
favorite memory is translating for a sister that didn’t speak English at the
Nauvoo Temple for Sister Wirthlin as she visited with her before her temple
marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-39025089484959330742016-09-24T14:11:00.000-07:002016-09-24T14:14:05.547-07:00Early life of James Mark Nelson<h1 class="story-title" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: museo, serif; font-size: 25px; line-height: 31.25px; margin: -10px 0px -5px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
EARLY LIFE OF JAMES MARK SR. Compiled by Lavita Nelson Bingham</h1>
<div class="story-author" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #333331; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">
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Приносим извинения за неудобство.","write_message":"Напишите сообщение","write_subject":"Напишите тему"},"zh":{"send":"傳送","cancel":"取消","remove":"移除","undo":"復原","message":"信息","new_message":"新信息","to":"致","subject":"主旨","error":"很抱歉,與伺服器通訊時發生問題。 請稍後再試,如果問題仍然存在請聯絡技術支援。 很抱歉造成你的不便。","write_message":"填寫信息","write_subject":"填寫主旨"}}"></wc-i18n-src><cedar-dialog id="dialogBox" modal="" style="display: inline-block; position: absolute;"></cedar-dialog></birch-message><cedar-dialog arrow="" id="dialogBox" style="display: inline-block; position: absolute;"></cedar-dialog></birch-contact-card><span class="artifact-meta-bar-contributor-wrapper">Contributed By: <a class="artifactUploaderName" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #b3467c;">normanchris1</a></span> <span class="dot">·</span> <localized-date data-session="USYS6CE1AF43275FE884636AEA9A614322F5_idses-prod06.a.fsglobal.net" value="1391555948000">4 February 2014</localized-date> <span class="dot">·</span> <span class="comment-count" style="white-space: nowrap;">0 Comments</span></div>
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In 1867 when James Mark was two years o1d, his father Price Wi1liarn who was living in Logan, Utah was called to help settle St. Thomas on the Muddy River in Nevada. Again when he was a litt1e past eight years of age, they were advised to go to a place called Glendale in Utah which had been vacated five years before on account of trouble with the Indians. It was a long hard journey which required six weeks. When they arrived, they were given the homes just as the people had left them plus a small farm in addition.
Price Wi11iam, the father, went into the shingle business in the nearby mountains, taking the family with him. When deep snows came in the winter, they all moved back to the va1ley. Price William did fairly well in the business for several years. He took livestock in trade which netted him quite a herd of cattle. They stayed in Glendale for seven years. By this time, a large part of the family had married and left the family home. Many people were leaving to settle in Arizona, so father Price took his family to Moencopi, Arizona. They were among the first settle there. They stayed here for a while and then moved to Payson, Arizona for a short time, then on to Pine, Arizona.
James Mark and his brother Hyrum helped their father build the first grist mi1l in the Payson- Pine district. The original split 1og house the boys helped their father build is sti11 standing and is stil1 occupied today, but it has been covered with lumber and roofing which was before 1970. The apple orchard planted at that time was bearing fruit up until 1970 when the farm was sold to a man who wanted to commercialize it, so he grubbed the poor o1d apple trees out.
In February, 1887, the Nelson family decided to go to 01d Mexico. The government had issued grants of land to be colonized by the Mormon people. They were welcome to help develop their country. After leaving Pine and Payson with teams and
wagons, they traveled through the Gila Va11ey by way of Safford and Thatcher. They started with quite a herd of cattle. When reaching San Simon, they decided to sel1 them. They had been warned to be careful as a plan was underway to get their money. Price William Senior, along with sons Mark and Hyrum took the money for the cattle and left at night in a light wagon or "rig" as they ca11ed it, drawn by a pair of sma1l mules
ca11ed “rats” for they were very sma1l but traveled fast. The rest of the company followed in a few days and soon they were together again. Mark was now twenty-one years of age.
The family decided to make their way into the well- timbered Sierra Madre Mountains of Chihuahua, Mexico. Building the road as they went was a hard and slow process, so it took them quite a long time to reach their destination. They finally reached Cave Valley named for the many caves and cliff dwellings.
A man by the name of Campbell put up a sma1l saw-mill and Mark and Hyrum hauled logs from the mountains for him. They also freighted lumber to a railway station at Ascencion where it was shipped to other parts of the land.
The Nelsons put up a grist mill, on which they ground corn for bread and also for corn meal mush which was the main diet of the people for some time after they settled there. They manufactured a turning lathe with which they made the legs and rounds for chairs and tables and other furniture using oak and maple from the nearby forests. They sold these products to others who came there to live.
Colonla Diaz was the first colony settled by the Mormon people. Even before they came, there were large cattle ranches very near. The Diaz people added to the industry. That could be more enticing to a young man living in the mountains where opportunities were few, than to go to work on a large cattle ranch? That is what James Mark did. He got a job on the Henderson and Gruel Ranch. He was a good cowhand, but when round-up came no one was a better cook than James Mark, so he traded his saddle and bridle for the dutch ovens and the bean pots. His campfire biscuit baked in large dutch ovens left little to be desired when served with steak and brown gravy.
It was here in Colonia Diaz near Christmas time In 1888, that he met Hannah Bothelda Mortensen. Mark fe11 in love with her right from the first. He asked for her company during the holidays, but waited until Hannah was sixteen the following August, before asking her father for her. To his request, Martin Peter Mortensen replied, ” I’m too poor to give a girl away”. But Karen Katrina, her mother, spoke up and said, “You’re poor now because you have so many girls.” Martin Peter gave his approval and consent, but said "Im afraid you will never give Hannah a home." These are almost the exact words that Lydia Ann’s father said to her when she was married to Mark’s father.</div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-1335325464745218322016-04-19T10:25:00.002-07:002016-04-19T10:25:37.103-07:00Ray Lot Richardson family reunion 1970s<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-61592337475162754912016-04-11T09:31:00.000-07:002016-04-11T09:31:05.996-07:00Dad's famous basketball move! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZMc2OIMj25qQ8SovldJFseFZF8_FEUzMHZA0avEx9T_KZxFd6Li7xjYU48zRddYIIhnDo9a7bHJ_Q625gMAVXM-YCKqEVNgLn4N4xUEk68arTxEyQe98mW9ODc7HAFgOtZubjVK-taZv/s1600/Resized_20160411_091307+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZMc2OIMj25qQ8SovldJFseFZF8_FEUzMHZA0avEx9T_KZxFd6Li7xjYU48zRddYIIhnDo9a7bHJ_Q625gMAVXM-YCKqEVNgLn4N4xUEk68arTxEyQe98mW9ODc7HAFgOtZubjVK-taZv/s320/Resized_20160411_091307+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
This brings back a ton of memories....good times! mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-61027708731147439582016-03-21T16:24:00.001-07:002016-03-21T16:24:10.186-07:00Remembering Irene S. Flake on her birthday<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
Dear Brothers and Sisters, my children and grandchildren,</div>
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My mother, Irene Stratton Flake's birthday was on March 18th. She would have been 109 years old. I want to preserve her memory. Here are some of my memories of my mother that I am thinking about on her birthday. These are in no particular order but just as I think about them. </div>
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Celebrating my youngest brother's birthday on the same day as our Mother's birthday and the day after the Relief Society celebrates it's birthday.</div>
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<br /> The great love that Daddy and Mother had for each other and the joy they had being together. They liked to go on trips together and my memories are that Daddy always came first in her life. Mother always did everything she could to make Daddy happy—fixing special meals when he had stomach problems, traveling with him, being his scribe, etc. ·<br /> <br /> Mother was a great helper to Daddy when he served as Bishop—she helped with tithing settlement from the big desk in our living room, gave parties to the servicemen when they came home on furloughs, etc.<br /> <br /> Mother had several businesses that she ran from our home where she could first be our Mother and then add to our family income and give service to others—bookstore, picking up and delivering dry cleaning, writing for the newspaper, ordering movies for the twice weekly ward theatre, etc. ·<br /><br /> Mother was always interested in our activities—I remember all her help when I was married and coming back to Chicago to help our when my first baby was born. She was always there for all of us when we needed her.<br /> <br /> Mother was the one that wrote us each week while we were on a mission, at BYU, and away from home. Daddy would sometimes tell her to tell us something but she was the one that kept the correspondence going.<br /> <br /> Mother and Daddy came and picked all of us up from our missions when we had successfully fulfilled our missionary assignment. They let us know how happy they were that we had served well. </div>
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One of the biggest motivations that I had to do well was the motivation to make my mother proud of my activities. I always enjoyed reporting in to her and wanted to make the report a good one. Even at 95 years of age she was interested in each one of her children, grand children and great grandchildren. She knew each one of us and our activities. She loved to visit about what we were all doing. <br /> <br /> Mother had a keen mind—just a month or so before she died she was saying the Articles of Faith and naming the presidents of the church. She would go down listing all her grandchildren and great grandchildren and knew them all by name. She graduated top of her class out of High School and in those days not many went on to college. She worked hard at NAU to put herself through to get her teaching certificate. <br /> <br /> Mother was a people person. She had lots of friends and always remembered what they were involved in and would visit with them about their interests. She knew everyone. I could ask her about anyone and she would know if or how they were related and their interests, etc. <br /> <br />Mother loved the temple. She enjoyed her temple friends and being involved. She especially liked to help with the new brides, and liked to help with the temple weddings of her daughters and granddaughters. Even though she didn’t speak Spanish she learned the temple ceremonies in Spanish and made lots of friends with the Mexican people that would come to the temple. <br /> <br /> Mother loved books. She enjoyed her home bookstore and always provided good reading material for all of us as we were growing up. Whenever I had been away from home for a length of time one of my first stops upon returning home was to see what the new books were and made plans to read them. ·<br /> <br /> I can remember of always having family prayer as we were growing up and home night before it was promoted by the church. I remember cookouts on the hill, taking lunch to the cowboys, performing for the family in the “lodge”, etc. Christmas and Thanksgiving were big holidays in my growing up years. The races to the tree have been carried down to our children and grandchildren. I remember the big Thanksgiving dinners. <br /><br />Mother was a good cook. She made great rolls, pies, carrot pudding and cinnamon rolls. I remember the <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1825199705" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday</span></span> night cinnamon rolls after the house was clean and ready for <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1825199706" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> and we had our <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1825199707" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday</span></span> night baths and maybe a movie at the ward movie theater. I remember coming home to the aroma of freshly baked bread.<br /><br /> Some of my family has commented that I am looking more like my mother every day. This is to be a great compliment. My hope is that I can live my life so that Mother and Daddy will be happy with my activities and that I can endure faithfully to the end of my life like they did and that all of our posterity will honor their name and their lives by the way they live their lives. Thank you Mother and Daddy for your great example and for the great heritage you left all of your posterity. <br /><br />I hope that my brothers and sisters, children and grandchildren can feel my love for each one of you.<br /><br /> Lots of love now and forever, <wbr></wbr> </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Lavona Flake Richardson</span>mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-27088680228739383192016-01-28T10:07:00.000-08:002016-01-28T10:07:02.062-08:00Remembering the birthdays of two great men<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif";"> I am thinking of the two great men who have birthday anniversaries today. Granddaddy Flake <b>(Bruce Merlin Flake)</b> was born on January 27, 1907 and our son, <b>Donald Bruce Richardson </b>on January 27, 1972.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif";">I wish more of you could have known my Daddy. </span><span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif";">I am so grateful that he is my Dad and for being born into an LDS home where Daddy and Mother taught me the gospel both in our home nights and by their example. I am grateful for the great influence Daddy has been in my life. He taught me to be honest, trustworthy and dependable. . </span><span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif";">Raising a good and righteous family was the top priority for my Daddy and Mother as they worked together. I have so many memories of a home where I felt loved. I had and continue to have a great respect for my father and a desire to make him happy with my choices in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif";">Some of his teachings I remember are, "<i>Remember Who You Are</i>", "It is darkest just before the dawn", and “<i>Hold Tight to the Willows</i>". He taught me to be dependable and to be completely honest in all of my dealings. Daddy taught me the joy of missionary service as I remember all the missionary experiences he shared with us and his great love for the Mexican people, Daddy taught me the importance of temple work with the example he and mother showed to travel to Mesa to the temple so often and to sacrifice whatever to be there to fulfill their assignments. Daddy taught me leadership as he served so faithfully and well as bishop in Snowflake ward and in the high council. Daddy taught me the love of family. He made me want to make him happy with the choices I make in my life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif";">Donald only lived for seven hours. It was such a great blessing for him to come to our home. . I think of the quote of Joseph Smith that says, “The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrow and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice.” I take comfort in knowing that Donald is with his brother Dale, his, Dad and Grandparents. I like to think that they are missionary companions .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif";">Almost every day I think of these great men and the principles of the gospel that they taught me. I am a better person because of the lives of my eternal companion, Jay M. Richardson, my father, Bruce Merlin Flake and my son, Donald Bruce Richardson. They all make me want to strive to better live the gospel so that I can be with them again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif";">Lots of love now and forever,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif";"> Mom, Grandma, Lavona</span></div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-3600879476397950022016-01-19T20:58:00.000-08:002016-01-19T20:58:15.697-08:001984 pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-14076465235059007002015-12-14T19:04:00.003-08:002015-12-14T19:04:35.219-08:00James and Agnes Flake<div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> James Madison Flake (1815-1850) </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 16pt;">and </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Agnes Haley Love Flake</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 16pt;">(1819--1855) </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Each lived only to be 35 years old</span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James and Agnes Flake would not have opened their Mississippi door to the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Saints?</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James and Agnes would have decided to not be baptized yielding to pressure of family and friends to not do so?</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James and Agnes would have not sold their home and land at a sacrificed price and freed their slaves to move more than 670 miles to join the Saints in Nauvoo?</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James and Agnes, after two years in Nauvoo, would not have left a new home to move again over 300 miles to Winter Quarters, Iowa?</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James</span></b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and Agnes would have said in Winter Quarters after losing three of their six children, “We won’t move again, more than 900 miles to the Salt Lake Valley.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">James and Agnes would have said to Brigham Young after two years in the Salt Lake Valley, “We are just getting started and James can’t accept your call to look for where Church members can settle in California”?</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Agnes, when informed of the death of James would have said, “That exempts me and my children from the prophet’s call to relocate in San Bernardino; another move of more than 600 miles?”</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What if</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Agnes would have accepted the offer of her brother to return, with her children, to the family home in North Carolina agreeing to, “All you have to do is give up your Mormonism.” She assured him that would never happen. Her dying counsel to her children was to always live true to the faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now, nearly 175 years later, more than 15,000 descendants honor James Madison and Agnes Haley Love Flake for being steadfast and immovable, for keeping their covenants, and becoming the foundation of our eternal Flake Family.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Will we,</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> their posterity, carry the torch they so brightly carried? Will our testimony of the gospel continue to sustain us as it did them?</span></div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-67795573626745123782015-09-15T14:23:00.003-07:002015-09-15T14:23:25.142-07:001964 pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSQ1vJPRjeCzQs6m0oXGnCE7436enlfXycia8KaXC8YbdrBqln984K1S40HgM1mYb3UxTznxeGwYHIvJf6rXlOOgD_B7qksQmqObhvt7LWFFsxtj-BlzAocWmxgFI6jsCAdDwBdTO6Wrc/s1600/1964-Mar+3+Miriam+watches+as+Rauna+tries+eating+her+birhtdy+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSQ1vJPRjeCzQs6m0oXGnCE7436enlfXycia8KaXC8YbdrBqln984K1S40HgM1mYb3UxTznxeGwYHIvJf6rXlOOgD_B7qksQmqObhvt7LWFFsxtj-BlzAocWmxgFI6jsCAdDwBdTO6Wrc/s320/1964-Mar+3+Miriam+watches+as+Rauna+tries+eating+her+birhtdy+cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Rauna's first birthday!<br />
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Our trip to Washington DC!<br />
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<br />mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-17075315906324184082015-08-30T12:16:00.000-07:002015-08-30T12:16:03.202-07:00The Mule<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 22pt;">The Mule</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">William Jordan Flake, who founded Snowflake, believed a deal is a deal.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">He also believed in returning kindness. He made a deal with</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">James Stinson for the purchase of the Stinson ranch that became the</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Snowflake town site in July, 1878. The purchase included land, water rights, a grain crop ready for harvest, farm equipment, a small home and six mules. In exchange, Flake gave Stinson 450 head of Utah grade cattle, delivering 150 head each</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">fall for three years. </span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">When<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> the deal was completed, Flake asked Stinson if he was satisfied. Stinson said, “I am perfectly satisfied but I want to keep a special saddle mule.” Flake responded,</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">"No, the mule was in the trade. It belongs to me so pull your saddle off.” Stinson said, "Let me </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">keep the mule and you pick out five cows that you want to keep. "No, a deal’s a deal,"</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">said Flake, "the mule is mine.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">With tears in his eyes, Stinson pulled off the saddle and</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">handed the neck rope to Flake. Then as Stinson walked back to pick up his saddle, Flake stopped him and said, "Stinson, we have done a lot of business the last three years</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">and all of it was done without the scratch of a pen. Through it all you have</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">shown that you are a man of honor. For a long time I have wondered</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">how I might show my appreciation to you for all you</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">have done for me and my people. I want to present this mule to one of</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">the squarest men I have ever met." Flake handed to rope back to</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Stinson who saddled the mule and rode off without a word.</span></span></div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-40285820258640869792015-08-04T08:00:00.003-07:002015-08-04T08:00:36.709-07:00James Madison Flake's final words, posted by Braden<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
I read this today on FamilySearch. It's James Madison Flake's "final words" to his descendants. I rather enjoyed it, so I thought I'd post it here. We had a very grounded, spiritual, and well-spoken grand-/great-/great-great-grandfather.</div>
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A PARTING WISH<br />To my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and their descendants</div>
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Dear Children,<br />I would like to tell you how much I love you and how solicitous I am for your welfare and happiness in this life and the life to come. It has been my sincere wish to live long enough to superintend your education and see you fairly well started on this perilous journey of life. This I have been able to do for my children, for which I am thankful. The coveted pleasure of doing this for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be denied me. I do not wish to leave you any great patrimony, and even if I did it might prove to be a curse rather than a blessing. Since I leave you nothing more substantial, I felt it prudent to call out of my limited wisdom and experience some plain and simple maxims which, if practiced, I am sure will make you estimable members of society and prepare you for that eternity whose shadow ever encompasses your footsteps.</div>
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First I want you to revere God and keep his commandments. Unite with the Church and attend faithfully to your religious duties. Avoid all pomp and bigotry in religion. All true religion is embodied in one word…Charity; the charity that embraces God with one arm and all humanity with the other. All else is counterfeit. Above all things be truthful, then you will be honest, and these two constitute the cardinal virtues of a good life. Be industrious. Labor assiduously and complete with thoroughness whatsoever you undertake. Indolence is the mother of poverty, unhappiness, and crime.</div>
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Practice economy, without being miserly. Give according to your means worthy objects of your charity...and be sure they are worthy. Pay as you go. I repeat... pay as you go. This is the true secret of success. The percentage you give to your creditors will make you bankrupt if you go into debt. If possible, secure for yourself a competence, without striving to become rich, Get no wealth at the expense of your conscience. If fortune should favor you, in your prosperity do not forget the poor and the needy. Be temperate in all things. Touch not Tobacco nor the intoxicating bowl. It is full of vice, violence, misery, and poverty. I beg you, touch it not.</div>
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Govern your temper. It is a fiery steed, and unless put under severe discipline, will carry you into all manner of difficulties. Coolness is the beliast of a wise head. Avoid all affectation and dissimulation. Be natural and sincere. Have the courage to say "NO" where your honor and integrity may suffer. Economize your time; do not procrastinate. Remember you cannot recall a single moment of your life. There are no pauses in the steady ceaseless revolutions of the ponderous wheel that hurries you onto the end. Make sure then, of each moment, and out of it extract something from your moral, intellectual, or financial progress. Recreate your minds with manual labor and your bodies with study. Remain at home nights. Let me entreat you not to mingle with the gossiping crowd on street corners or in some other den of iniquity. It is of such company that bad habits are contracted and moral depravity has it's origin.</div>
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Obey your Mother in all things. She understands your rights and duties, and will make no unreasonable demands of you. Strive to make her happy and her life in this world pleasant.</div>
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Last of all revere your country and obey her laws. Cherish her institutions of freedom and the rights of man. If those should be threatened, sacrifice your lives rather than see them perish.</div>
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I might multiply indefinitely the minor duties of life, but I hope that by the observance of these maxims, a higher faith, a broader patriotism, and a sublimer philanthropy than my own might be actuated. I am sure they will. God knows how sincerely I yearn for such a consummation. If only I knew that you would grow up into perfect manhood and womanhood I would die content. On each recurring anniversary of my death I desire you to read this creed and obsolve that you will observe these simple maxims and precepts renewed with fidelity, and as you read them, may they be to you as a message direct from my celestial home in that eternal city where I hope to take up my everlasting abode. May God bless you who read this and preserve you from all harm and save you finally in Heaven is my parting benediction. Farewell...</div>
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Your affectionate Father,<br />James Madison Flake</div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-41326371011684658942015-06-07T17:35:00.000-07:002015-06-07T17:35:16.372-07:00Charles Edmund Richardson<div class="utdU2e" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #663300; font-family: Helvetica;">Charles Edmund Richardson</span></h1>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">Charles Edmund Richardson was born 13 October 1858 in Manti, Utah.</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">His high purpose in life was set very early by the fine example of his parents & the magic of his mother's stories. At three years of age, his favorite story was of the "Disappointed Devil". In response to his often-repeated request for the story his mother related, "When you were nine months old you fought off attacks of several bad diseases, just like a big man. But when Brain Fever sneaked in, it almost got the best of you. When Patriarch Isaac Morley came to administer to you, he said, 'The devil stands with outstretched hands to snatch this child off the earth because of the good that he will do.' But Heavenly Father healed you, & the Devil was disappointed. My son must keep the devil disappointed by always doing what is right."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">Many other times during his life, Charles Edmund had occasion to know that his life was spared by a power superior to his own. Once he heard a voice say, "Don't let it kill him." Upon one occasion his life was preserved through inspiration given to Frederick Walter Cox (his biological father) of Manti. It happened en route to Brigham City, Arizona. Brother Cox gave him a bottle of consecrated oil & said, "There was a special manifestation at the temple today during the consecration of this oil & I was inspired to give it to you, as it would be needed."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">The need arose in Circle Valley Canyon, Utah, when a cow caught Edmund with her horn, & ripped a great gash in his lower abdomen. When no one felt equal to sewing the wound, Edmund did it himself, using some eight stitches. Just before closing the wound, he filled it with the oil, the only remedy he had. The next day, after administration, using part of the oil, Edmund was able to resume the journey. Again, the devil was disappointed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">From the Brigham City United Order, Edmund & his brother, Sullie, learned the art of community living, & mastered skills in many trades, which later proved useful in Old Mexico.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">From Brigham City, Edmund was called to fill a mission to the Indians. Here he learned to speak the Spanish language. He translated the hymn, "O My Father", into Spanish. This translation is still used by the Church (1968).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">After filling a second mission & marrying two wives, Sarah Louisa (Sadie) Adams & Sarah Rogers, Edmund moved to Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico. In January 1896, he received a mission call to England. However, this call was subsequently changed to that of acting as Legal Advisor to the Colonists in Old Mexico, & at the same time preaching the Gospel to the citizens of the Mexican Republic.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">In answer to this call, Charles Edmund enrolled as a law student at the University of Mexico. According to his brother, S.C. Richardson, he completed a four-year course in two years & graduated with honors.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">Through a series of circumstances, Edmund became the only attorney for the colonists. This required much travel between widely scattered colonies & between Municipal, State, & Federal courts. All transportation between the Municipal headquarters of Casas Grandes, Janos, & La Ascencion, was effected by means of team & buckboard over 60 or 75 miles of ungraded dirt roads. There was train service to State & Federal offices at Chihuahua City & Mexico City, but from Colonia Diaz, the nearest railroad station was at Guzman, 40 miles distant. To take Edmund to the train & meet him on his return meant a 160-mile drive with team & buggy. All of this was in a manana (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2037196209" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">tomorrow</span></span>) country, where it was most difficult to get a case through court without many delays.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">This is what Anthony W. Ivins referred to, when he said that Charles Edmund Richardson, who had all the qualities of a great leader, would have gone far in the Church, if his mission had been such that he could have remained in one place long enough to execute routine Church duties.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">Many testimonies are given of Edmund's ability as a lawyer & of his fidelity to his calling. A fellow colonist said, "As a lawyer in old Mexico, Edmund Richardson knew his stuff. I have heard the Mexican lawyers say, "If Edmund Richardson is on the other side we will not take the case." He could quote more law & give them the volume, page, & paragraph, than they could read." Because of his great memory, Edmund could study his cases as he drove back & forth between destinations & have them prepared both carefully & prayerfully, when he presented them at court. Thus his name grew to be received with deference as the "Jefectura".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">Brother Dan Skousen said, "No one will ever do for the colonists what Edmund Richardson has done. He filled his mission faithfully & well. He knew how to handle the Mexicans, & they knew that -right or wrong- they would receive justice." True it is, that his cases were so technically set up that when used as precedents, they make it possible, even now (1968), for the colonists to live in Mexico. On this & other missions Edmund served some 20 years, never missing an opportunity to preach the Gospel.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">Edmund successfully applied his ingenuity & resourcefulness to many other facets of the Mexican Colonization Project. He taught both day & night school, the night subjects being Spanish & points of law. He operated a blacksmith shop, as it was so necessary in those days to keep farm machinery in operation. Here he manufactured everything from wheels & wheelbarrows to fool proof hobbles for animals. The windmill he built, including the pump, worked successfully for years irrigating his & his neighbors gardens & orchards. He built the first water-powered grist mill in Mexico; operated a shoe repair shop, a drugstore, & a cheese & butter factory, which were modern for those times. He was reputed to be the second largest cattleman among the Mormons in the District.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">He surveyed, engineered, & built a canal with enough fall to bring the underground water to the surface like a spring, then deliver it to his ranch. When the canal was destroyed by the largest flood ever experienced in the valley, he installed the first gasoline pumps used in Northern Chihuahua.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">Yes, Charles Edmund Richardson stood tall among the other stalwarts who pioneered the settling & maintenance of the Mormon Colonies in Old Mexico.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">The following character sketch volunteered by Brother Frederickson of Colonia Diaz is worthy of attention: "Brother Edmund Richardson, a student of merit, utilized all his spare time for study. His overland trips were made with a team, buckboard, & a book. He never forgot what he read, & could quote the book & page of his source material. He spoke both Spanish & English fluently. I remember that his interesting & enlightening sermons were second to none, & were enunciated clearly & loud enough to be heard by all. He had the best control of his temper of anyone I ever knew. Once while he was fencing his property, an angry stockman, who favored open grazing, reviled him with abusive language & used every foul name at his command. Richardson went calmly about his work, remarking, 'If you get any pleasure out of calling me such names, just go ahead.' Even when the cattleman threatened to strike him with a shovel, he laughed him out of it. He was regular in his habits, going to bed early & rising early, & he liked his meals on time. He was a friend to everyone, the poor, the sick, & especially to the young people. He often helped them materially, as well as with counsel & advice. Many a poor family enjoyed Christmas better because Brother Richardson helped Santa put dolls & other toys on the community Christmas tree."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">Above everything else, Charles Edmund prized his testimony of the Gospel, his membership in the Church, & the Priesthood, which he held. He also considered it a privilege to follow the counsel of those in authority over him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">Edmund Richardson was a family man. In Mexico, he married Caroline Rebecca Jacobson & Daisy Stout. He had 36 children of his own, & raised two orphan children. That his four families loved & enjoyed each other, & lived with a minimum amount of friction was due to their fervent religious convictions, unselfishness, & the wise counsel & just dealing of the husband & father. The love & harmony he fostered remains with the family.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">Even now (1968), after the death of all the parents, the children remain united in deep bonds of affection & high purposes in life. The Richardson families sponsor an annual family reunion, where they fraternize socially & also stress temple work for the dead & encourage genealogical research. The children stand proxy for hundreds of baptisms for the dead. This makes them temple-minded, so that there are few marriages outside the temple.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">At one of these reunions, a visitor spoke of his surprise & satisfaction at not finding any drinking, smoking, profanity, or vulgarity among the 500 family members assembled. He said he found doctors, lawyers, college professors, schoolteachers, successful farmers & businessmen. Along the religious line, he found Stake Presidents, Bishops & Counselors, missionaries, & workers in all organizations of the Church.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 13.6pt;">If a man's success can be measured by the love, devotion, esteem, & high ideals of his family, then Charles Edmund Richardson is highly successful. His four wives, thirty-six children, & his numerous posterity, down to the third generation, say, like Nephi of the Book of Mormon, "We are born of goodly parents."</span></span></div>
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mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-8929601567700872502015-05-17T14:36:00.001-07:002015-05-17T14:36:47.944-07:00life history: Family visits to Church Pageants and Historic Sites<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">FAMILY VISITS TO CHURCH PAGEANTS AND HISTORIC SITES</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Jay and I were always looking for wholesome activities for our children. One of the things that we enjoyed during with our family was attending the Church Pageants and visiting the Church Historic sites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Our first summer while in Dental School in Chicago we took advantage of a short vacation to travel to Nauvoo. The Nauvoo Restoration was just beginning and we heard about the Heber C, Kimball home being restored to how it originally looked by the grandson of Heber C. Kimball. We also saw the Flake home belonging to my great great grandfather James M. Flake who was the first from the Flake line to join the church. The home was just across the street from the temple and needed lots of repair. The home was torn down shortly after we were there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">We left dental school in 1963 with three little girls and spent the next year in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania which was close to the Susquehanna River not too far from where John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and restored the Aaronic Priesthood and the authority to baptize. We returned to Lewisburg on our “M & M” trip in 1977 on Ray’s 8<sup>th</sup> birthday. He was baptized by his Dad in the Susquehanna River. Another memory of that same “M & M Trip in 1977 is that when we visited the Aaronic Priesthood monument we went down to the Susquehanna River. Rauna lost her shoe in the stream of water and went running after it. We were afraid she was going to fall in the river too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">On our way to Pennsylvania in August 1963 we stopped in Palmyra to attend the Hill Cumorah Pageant and then got to see it again on our way back to Arizona after our year in Pennsylvania. We attended the Hill Cumorah Pageant with our children in 1977. We visited Nena and Arnold in Missouri and left Margie, Melvin and Dean with her. We met them at the end of our trip at the Nauvoo City of Joseph Pageant as it was then called. We purchased the soundtrack from the City of Joseph Pageant and played it over and over with our family. We had all of the songs memorized.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">We visited Council Bluffs and Winter Quarter’s when we went out on June 25, 1982 to an engagement party for Miriam and Tony. The Becks took us over to the Cemetery and Visitor Center. This was a good opportunity to show our children the faith and dedication of the grandparents who sacrificed so much for the church. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> We went from there on June 30, 1982 to the World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. We enjoyed the flag raising ceremony. We enjoyed the Exhibits from the various countries, especially the Japan Exhibit. It was a wonderful family activity and an opportunity for us to teach our children about the various countries in the wonderful world in which we live. </span>Jay and I attended the World’s Fair in 1964 in New York City. This was where “Man’s Search for Happiness” was first shown and was the theme of the pavilion focusing on the plan of salvation. </div>
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Easter 1983 Vernon auditioned for the Easter Pageant held on the grounds in front of the Arizona Temple. He was selected to be one of the angels. He had a wonderful experience. The following year Margie and I auditioned to be in the pageant with him. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> We were selected for a special tableau at the end of the pageant that showed Margie kneeling at my knee as I helped her with her prayers. I made a special lilac and white stripped dress for her to wear at the Pageant. I can still remember the thrill of being with my cute daughter highlighted in the Pageant. The following year we auditioned as a family and all of the children that were still at home were in the pageant. Vernon was serving his mission, Ray and Kenneth were angels, Jay was selected to be the apostle James and we were all part of the apostle’s family. Margie, Melvin, Dean and Amy all have pleasant memories of the Easter Pageant. Amy loved the donkey and Dean wanted to be a Roman Soldier. For the next several years we all participated in the Easter Pageant. A special memory is the time that the wind was blowing so hard that we had to have the missionaries in their dark suits hold down the curtain. Another year we prayed that the weather would allow us to continue with the pageant. The wind calmed down on the Pageant stage and we had a wonderful performance. Across the street at Pioneer Park we could see the flag waving back and forth in a very strong wind. Another year Marlene’s BYU friends came to Arizona to see the Pageant. The one night that they were here is the only time that I can remember that the Pageant was cancelled. They were so disappointed. Participation in the Easter Pageant was a wonderful way to teach our children the Easter message. As we listened to the scriptures telling about the life, atonement and resurrection of our Savior night after night our lives were forever changed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Jay and I felt it was important to help our children have as many church pageant experiences as possible. We made an effort to take them all up to the Manti Pageant on a quick trip. We delivered the newspapers before leaving for the pageant and were back in town the next morning in time to deliver the newspapers. Melvin and Tami had tickets for the Martin Harris Pageant just before they were married. We went with them to the Manti Temple where Tami took out her endowment. They decided to not go on up to the Pageant so gave Jay and I the tickets so that we could have the experience of another Church Pageant. We attended the “Come Home to Kanesville’ put on in Miriam and Tony’s area several years. The last year (2014) that they put on the pageant our grandson Kyle Ellingson was invited to stay with his Uncle Tony and Aunt Miriam and be in the Pageant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Almost all of our children with their families visited us while we were serving our mission in Nauvoo and Carthage from 2005 to 2007. Jay and I enjoyed bearing our testimony to our children and grandchildren in the Martyrdom room at the Carthage Jail. We enjoyed taking our family to the various historic sites in Nauvoo and giving them the script about each site. I especially enjoyed taking them on wagon rides where I was the narrator. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">The summer of 2014 Robert and Joann and family auditioned for the Hill Cumorah Pageant and invited me to audition with them. What a wonderful experience we had camping in an RV in Zion’s Camp close to the Hill Cumorah where we could walk over to the area where the Pageant was performed. Derek returned from his mission just in time to be in it and was chosen to be Nephi that built the ship and came to the Promised Land. I told him he got the lead part because he still has that missionary glow. I enjoyed being in the opening number of the Pageant where everyone came on stage. I loved the scene when Christ comes to visit his other sheep in America. I love watching him heal the blind man, calling his twelve disciples, blessing the children one by one and asking to see the records. I love the quote at the end of the pageant when Moroni says, “<i>The world will know that in this land thee was a nation that saw the face of Christ.”</i> I was also cast as a harvest worker where I planted seeds after Nephi and his brothers and families arrived in the Promised Land. Another scene I was in a tableau when two hundred years of peace and happiness were enjoyed after Christ’s visit .</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I was privileged to again be in the Easter Pageant this year (2015) with Mark and Marlene and their family. Participation again in the Easter Pageant brought back lots of memories of participating in the Pageant with our family thirty years ago. I enjoyed being a follower of Christ and listening to the scriptures telling about the life and mission of Christ over and over. Mark was cast as one of the apostles and Quinn was an angel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I am grateful for the Church Pageants and historic sites that we were able to visit. Jay and I and our children’s testimonies were strengthened by these wonderful experiences as well as our love for the scriptures and Church History.</span></div>
mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673059654143801340.post-67119669398977935672015-05-12T18:52:00.002-07:002015-05-12T18:52:11.485-07:00Wash day memories, by Lavona Richardson <div class="utdU2e" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wash Day Memories</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">By Lavona Richardson</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We would have wash day about once a week and do all the laundry at the same time. We used home made soap that we made from tallow after Daddy butchered a cow and gave us the t allow. We would make soap outside and use lye being careful to not get it in our eyes.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">How well I remember washing the different batches in the washer with the whites first and ending with the work pants. After the clothes agitated in the washer we would put them through a wringer to a rinse water and then a second rinse water that had bluing in it to make the clothes whiter. We took great pride in having white clothes. Finally you would put the clothes through the wringer for the last time and put them in a clothes basket to take out to the clothes line. I would always hang diapers together, towels together and sheets on the front lines. Sometimes the clothes would be frozen stiff almost before you got them on the line. If it started to rain we would rush out to bring it the dried clothes before they got wet again. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">After bringing in the dried clothes we would sprinkle the clothes to iron and roll them up and put them in the washer where they would wait for us to iron them. We couldn’t wait too long or they would get moldy. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Wash day would usually end by draining the water from the washer and wash tubs and then mopping the floor.</span></b></div>
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mamabluffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00874345466816113460noreply@blogger.com0