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Show No Order On The (Girls7) Court When most families go to a basketball game, they dont expect to see mom unless shes a member of Mt. playing Olympus (Utah) Stake. Some Mt. Olympus husbands are used to a weekly "time out when mom takes off her apron and dons a colored pinafore to begin senior womens basketball competition. So far, none of the families want to blow the whistle on the Thursday exercise, and one of the players, Mrs. George Gud-gel- l, knows why: "We have a good crowd and they have a good laugh, she explained. Actually, there's more than one point in favor of the program, which supplements the regular girls' basketball. Since most of the players are ward sports directors or MIA officers and teachers, they find their participation is contagious. The girls in the wards draw from their leaders example, and Mt. Olympus reports it seldom has a team default. The stake has four married (only two players are unmarried) teams from its seven wards, which play each Thursday at 9:15 p.m. Before that, the stakehouse is host to a series of games which begin at 4:15 and continue till the "old pros take over. admits Mrs. Gudgell, "it's "Actually, more fun than skill. But the MIA general board sports committee thinks thats as it should be. "Our emphasis is on participation, not skill, said chairman Valoris Webb. Statistics show that in 19G6-69,833 girls throughout the Church competed in ward, stake, and regional games making the program almost as large at the men s competition. Girls select regional winners instead of a single winner, and some of their awards are different, too. Take for example the citations made in one region. "Most Valuable Player for the Other Team was awarded to one dubious winner while another received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in the line of action. housewife version of girls' basketball in Mt. Olympus Stake. Stephan Craig takes careful aim at hoop. Mrs. Mrs. Mary Hill, referee, whistles to stop play. Lincoln Hanks, George Gudgell, Boyd Peterson. Convert Takes 'Moroni's Advice Is Baptized GIBSON CITY, ILL. When two Temple Square guides gave a Methodist minister a copy of the Book of Mormon eight years ago, they hoped the pastor would read the book and join the Karen Jones read Book of Mormon, joined Church. WEEK Church. daughlie hasn't yet, but his ter recently read most of the book and shortly afterwards was baptized. Karen Jones, who lives in Gibson City, 111., came upon the book one day and read some of it. "When I picked up the book I thought it was a book of health laws. I didnt think Mormons were Christians, Karen said. As she read, she was amazed at "the but after audacity of Joseph Smith, praying about the book and its message she began to feel it was the work of God. "Thats when I wrote the letter to the Missionary Department in Salt Lake City, asking for more information, Karen said. In her letter of Jan. 20 this year she wrote: "Upon sorting through old books in our house, I found a copy of the Book of Mormon, which had been given to my father by two Mormons years ago. ENDING MARCH 15, 1969 "I began reading it and was fascinated. It is surely the word of God. I am very interested to know more about Mormon beliefs, especially the connection they have with New Testament Christianity as based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "I will greatly appreciate any literature which can further enlighten me in regard to this subject, which is essentially knowledge of God's work on earth. Her letter prompted a secretary in the Missionary Department to send a packet of missionary pamphlets directly to Karen Jones. She also sent a referral to the Northern States Mission Home. Although no missionaries are laboring in Gibson City, where Karens father is minister of a church with more than 500 members, Mission President Warren W. Henderson sent the referral to a team of elders working in Champaign, 111., 20 miles away. In the few days that elapsed between Karens sending the letter to Salt Lake City and the missionaries calling on her, she applied the promise recorded in Moro- ni 10:4, 5. "I took Moroni's advice," she said. I prayed about the truthfulness of the book. After I prayed, the more I read in the Book of Mormon, the more I felt it was the word of God. I decided the Mormons knew a lot more about religion than any other group, Karen said. The missionaries who called on Karen, Elder Darrell E. Burnett, Sweethome, Ore., and Elder Jay J. Koegler, Salt Lake City, taught Karen the six discussions and made arrangements for her to attend the nearest branch in Rontoul, 111. I was so impressed with the friendliness of the Mormons there, I thought, this is what all churches should be like. On Feb. 15, less than a month after she wrote Salt Lake City for more information, Karen was baptized by Gordon Affleck, branch president of Chanute Branch, Chan-ut- e Air Force Base, Rontoul, 111. In a letter of thanks to the Missionary Department of the Church, Karen told of the wonderful understanding of her parents in allowing her to follow what she felt was the Lords way. I really appreciate everyone who has helped me gain information about this great Church, said Karen. |