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Show 05 Fly 1 ,360 Miles for 1 D'jy Call to Temple 1 -- SEATTLE, WASH. Whe. the Melchizedek Priesthood of Seattle North Stake received an assignment to participate In a recent Saturday priesthood session in the Oakland Temple, it was accepted willingly. But, ihere were a lot of wheels to set In action to fulfill the assignment. , Seattle is 680 air miles from Oakland, and many more by highway. So for the 105 brethren, who accepted the assignment, it meant a sleepless night, chartering a plane, and riding buses on the Oakland end to get to the temple In time for the session. Stake Pres. Heber J. Badger said the chartered plane left the Seattle-Tacom- a International Airport at 3 a.m. on the assigned Saturday. "It was a wonderful experience in priesthood brotherhood to go to the temple with 104 brethren of (he stake, and to be able to return home knowing that we had truly been in the House of the Lord," Pres. Badger said. All priesthood quorums in the stake were represented. Largest participation by wain was the Seattle 5th Ward. The contingent included the entire bishopric, elders presidency, and seventies and high priests group leaders. The stake recorded 313 endowments for the dead during the day. Two of the brethren went through the temple for their own endowments, and then aid two sessions for the dead. Two members of the stake were in San Francisco on business, and joined their brethren at the temple. The contingent went to the temple 'fasting and ate their "breakfast aboard the plane back home, arriving in Seattle at 7 p.m. What's in a Name? Sometimes a Race CHINLE, ARIZ. Whats in a name? Ask "Thunder" Stevens, noted Navajo sand painter, and hell give you the whole story of his full name Fred F. Stevens III. Brother Stevens, his wife, Juanita, and four children, are members of the church. He is busy doing sand paintings for which he, and his sister, who also paints, have commitments with wholesale dealers. Brother Stevens father, brother and wife also do sand painting, and their work hangs m many homes and business offices throughout the country. The type of sandpainting Hie Stevens family does Is for decoration. Brother Stevens father spent 18 years perfecting ways of painting and developing rhe glues to make the sand hold to the board. However, regular sandpainting is done as part cf a hpaling ritual by a medicine man. The painting is done in connection with chant and prayers in healing ceremonies. The ill person tells the medicine man his ailings, and figures depicting the illness and those things causing the illness are painted on the sand. The ill person is required to sit on the completed painting during the clients and prayers, and according to their belief, the illness leaves through the painting. But, how did Fred F. Stevens III come by his name? Its rather funny, explains Brother Stevens. "Many years ago, an Irishman by the name of Fred F. Stevens came into the area where my grandfather, a famed medicine man, lived. My grandfather had a great liking for the Irishmans name, and asked him if he, my grandfather could have it. Later, at some kind of festival, my grandfather challenged the Irishman to a race. Now, the Irishman was known all over the area as a fast runner. FredF. "Thunder" Stevens III, Navajo sand-painte- r, applies finishing touches on a work. f ; '&sgt8ss ; .... r- grandfather wagered all his sheep ana horses against the Irishmans name, with all to go to the winner of the race. My grandfather would race the Irishman to a mesa about five miles away. The one to make it to the mesa and return first would be the winner. My "The Irishman took my grandfather and the race up on the proposition, began. My grandfather was halfway back from the mesa before the Irishman ever ff y . , , fm :, I 5$ ,'-,- - V , ' - - , .V' O i f v'4 1 got there. Thats haw we got the Stevens name," said Brother Stevens. He uses Thunder the name professionally ar.d his sandpainting? are in great demand by wholesalers of Indian goods. His sandpaintings bring several hundred dollars each on the retail market. "I love my work. But the gospel of Jesus Christ has made me appreciate my heritage ard family more than I thought I ever would, said Brother Stevens. Think of Life of Christ, Pres. Lee Counsels As you work behind the scenes, you Continued from page 3 the saints when they held general are doing the things which make it confer-ence-? He urged the church's employes to live and to dress in a manner befitting their employment, and asked, Are we setting our own houses in order, are we saying, like Joshua of old, As for me and my house, we will serve the God of this land? No matter what others may do, we have to set the pace, President Lee said. "This is the time to remember our to canvass our own own weaknesses selves and see how much we have lacking." President Tanner, first counselor in the First Presidency, told the congregation that It was a great privilege for hem to be engaged in their work at the headquarters of the church. ... You are contributing greatly to the building of the kingdom," he said. He then quoted figures on the growth of the church. "Besides doubling since 1961, as of September 1973, we have 4,534 wards, branches, 625 stakes and 110 missions. New units formed during the last 12 months, prior to September, are represented in 296 new wards, 118 new branches, 40 new stakes and seven new missions. 14,015 14 CHURCH possi- ble for the General Authorities, and heads of auxiliary organizations of the' priesthood, to go out and perform their duties and direct the work of the Lord, he told the churchs employes. Turning his talk to the subject of Christmas, President Tanner said, "Well be celebrating two great birthdays while the world will be celebrating only one. Ours will be Joseph Smith, the prophet, and Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Church members should appreciate this season and the significance and blessings of Christmas more than any other people in the worid, because we have the restored gospel. He challenged those in the Tabernacle to think of the message and mission of Jesus Christ as they celebrate Christmas. Quoting the scripture, This is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man," President Tanner said, "and thats what He gave us the plan of he came for salvation, which if we live entirely with those teachings, well be much happier, more successful and will be preparing ourselves to go back and dwell with Him and enjoy exaltaticn ana eternal life. He did Uiis in spite of the fact that He had WEEK ENDING DECEMBER ... 22, 1973 to lay His head. He was ridiculed when He went about doing good . . . Finally, He was crucified. For what purpose? So that He might overcome death, be resurrected, that we ourselves might enjoy resurrection through His great sacrifice for us. How important it is that we strive each day to live worthy of that great sacrifice. no place "Surely, as we realize, as members of this church, the great sacrifice that was made, how important it is that we show gratitude to our Father. We must not set our lives so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men that we cannot enjoy the true spirit of Christmas, and accept and live the teachings of Jesus Christ. We must turn our hearts unto our Savior. President Romney, second counselor in the First Presidency, also commended the churchs employes for the work they were doing. Im happy to know that we who labor here at the church headquarters are literally helping to build the kingdom of God on the earth, he said. "Im honored to be a with you in this great cause. Or.e of the things Im most grateful for at this season is the fact that each one of us has received a witness from the Holy Spirit that the teachings of the are true." President Romney gospel is this "It said, knowledge which enables members' of the church to appreciate and retain the spirit of Christmas, not only during the Christmas season, but also throughout the year. Commending the employes for the sincerity of their convictions and the depth of their understanding of the spirit of Christmas, President Romney reminded them that this dedication is not perfect. There is room and necessity for improvement," he said. "Nevertheless, we do reflect a unique image to the world. That uniqueness is due to our knowledge and testimony to the truthfulness of the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. ... Urging that the true spirit of Christmas be kept, President Romney said that a denial of the divinity of the Savior sweeps away, in one stroke, the spirit of Christmas. "It leaves us with nothing but the impotent, social gospel, he concluded. Prior to the devotional in the Tabernacle, each department in the Church Office Building held an open house, with employes inviting their families to visit their respective departments. |