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Show Many Struggles Writer Succeeds In Finding Gospel CASPER, WYO Through different lives as a talk, show host in Washington, DC., to a radio announcer in Florida, to a tree-lanc- e writer in Wyoming, the fullness of the gospel lias come slow ly but fully into the life of John Hightower. and Sister Hightower began to attend church together. I told him the Sunday after we were married that I wanted to Sister go to the Mormon Church, Hightower said. We didnt make it that Sunday, but we went the next and have As they begin 1976, Brother High-toer and his wife Phyllis reflect on the blessings that have come to them during the past few yeors and how their happiness was climaxed last December when they were sealed together in the Brother Hightower began taking tne missionary lessons along with his wife and her son Richard Levitt, 17. Sister Hightower and Richard were both soon baptized. Provo Temple. Brother Hightowers baptism into the Church came in 1966 when, as a bachelor, he was host of a suecesstul talk show in Washington, D C., called Checkpoint 11. Brother Hightowers testhe gospel remained during timony the next seven years, he vacillated between activity and inactivity in the Church due largely to W'ord of Wisdom problems and the transient pattern of Although been going ever since. Although John had been inactive in the Church, he always had a deep desire to be strong in the Church, Sister Hightow er said. She attended Relief Society and she and Brother Hightower were both given teaching positions in their branch in Florida. of his life When his television show wrent olf the air, Brother Hightower commuted between the east and west coasts doing work on motion picture productions. Later, he moved to Florida and began w oi k in radio broadcasting. One evening in a nightclub in Tampa, Fla. he met a waitress named Phyllis. They began to date, and although Brother Hightower was inactive in the Church at that time, he began to tell Phyllis about the gospel In December 1974 the Hightowers decided to move to the West. When they got to Casper. Wyo., their car broke down and refused to go any further. So we decided we would settle there, Brother Hightower said. Bi other and Sister Hightower are now both Sunday School teachers m the Casper 1st Ward, Casper, Wyoming Stake. Brother Hightower is a writer specializing in articles about history, archeology and antiques. He is also the custodian of his w "rd chapel. Although he said the position is much different from any job he has ever had, Brother Hightower said he enjoys making my Heavenly Fathers house free-lanc- e look nice. Phyllis, who then belonged to the Jewish religion, was very interested in the Mormon faith because she felt it had much in common with Mosaic law and other aspects of Judaism They were soon married and Bi other they are making their best effort" to live the precepts of the gospel, Brother Hightower said. Now Tithing was the haidest commandment for us," he said, but weve discovered that the biggest blessing of the knowledge tithing itself that the law ready can be lived if one has faith. Being in the temple gave me a great feeling of coming When home, Sister Hightowei said we were there, we both had the feeling that that is where we belonged." John Hightower and wife Phyllis found peace and joy through the gospel. tithing is Brother Hightower added, W'e felt an indescribable feeling of peace and harmony with our Heavenly Father. An added joy for the Hightowers is that Richard, who nad been living in Atlanta, Ga. with his father, arrived in Casper last month to live with his mother and stepfather. "This seems to be an added blessing for living the commandments, Brother Hightower said Large Model Temple Helps Spread Gospel BY KEN CROWLEY WASHINGTON, D.C. Missionaries in the Washington D.C. Mission have found the temple here such an effective tool in spreading the gospel that they take it with them wherever they go Five full-tim- constructed e a missionaries have high portable model of the Washington Temple, which has become a symbol of the Church on the Washington skyline The model is used as an intormation booth at public gatherings. missionaries. Elders LaVor Geoffrey Richards, Berry Reed, Alan Henderson and Brent Owens, built the model temple booth The Haynie, model of Washington Temple. 14 CHURCH over a WEEK ENDING JANUARY 17, five-wee- 1976 k period. The booth was first used at the Bowie, Md., Oktoberfest, a community festival, in early December. Since then, it has been used in shopping malls around the Washington area to attract attention to the Church. is high, according to the missionaries. A lot of people recognize the temple and drop in to talk to us. said Elder Reed. "Everyone who walks by is built this in reponse to a challenge from our mission president to change the pace in the mission by using more innovative contacting techniques, said Elder Hayr.ie. two people, We Mission Pres. Glenn E. Nielson said the display is "the best mall display weve had by far. There will be a lot ot places this can be used, he said. N. Public interest in the temple display impressed. The model, which can be handled by can be broken down into smaller units to be carried in a single station wagon. The display takes about two hours to assemble. The replica is lighted by spotlights and includes displays inside about the Churchs programs. Missionaries plan to use the booth at local universities, state tairs and other community events in the coming year. |
