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Show The Ogden Valley news Volume XVII Issue IX Page October 15, 2009 Letters to the Editor Latter-day Preparations: What We Learned at Conference An Inspiration to All Steve Roberts was a man of the people. He was a visionary, capitalist, and humanitarian. His faith in God and his giving nature is carried in the hearts of all of us and especially our troops and their families. I have enjoyed being a part of his “Wolf Creek Family.” As I listened to his family and our community, it became apparent that he was more multi-faceted than we all realized. What an inspiration Steve Roberts was By Gary C. Lawrence to us all. Theresa McCall, Wolf Creek Utah Roberts’ Actions Spoke of His Love for the Valley Last week it was my pleasure to attend the beautiful Celebration of Life for Steve Roberts. I hope that many of you in the Valley enjoyed the fireworks display. The Wolf Creek employees knew that Steve loved having fireworks at the resort. So instead of flowers, that’s what we all bought to celebrate Steve’s memory. One comment that was repeated over and over was Steve’s love for this valley and his “Wolf Creek Family.” He fell in love with this valley a few years ago and knew it would eventually be developed. His goal was to put together a team that saw it like he did and wanted to develop it in a way that would hopefully not change the valley too much. Like not having a stop light! or realizing water is a precious commodity, yet was needed to support a development. He wanted to conserve, enhance, and build up the amenities that the Valley was losing. I feel so blessed having worked for and with this wonderful, spiritual man! Vicky Gooding, Wolf Creek Utah Roberts Will Be Missed Steve Roberts interviewed me five years ago and I remember his bright, blue eyes full of passion and fire for Wolf Creek Resort. He explained his vision for the resort and then asked me what I thought my strengths were. He immediately decided that being his secretary was not really the best job for me. He decided that his marketing director would best be benefited by having me assist her. It was a perfect fit. That is the sort of thing Steve was so good at. He wanted to use his employees to the best of their abilities, and he wanted the development of the resort to go the same way. Steve never walked past an employee without smiling and saying, “Hi, how’s it going?” Even though he had many days of pain, most of us never knew it. He just kept on keeping on. He inspired us to do our best for the resort and this valley, ourselves and our families. He often quoted his favorite scriptures in our meetings, and all of us knew how much he loved the Lord and his family. Steve was just special. I miss him very much. CERT TRAININGS cont. from page 1 checklists of operating an emergency shelter. You may think that there is no way we would need anything like this, but when the mud slide happened in Logan, this procedure was used and with the help of volunteers (the Logan CERT), the process helped those in need. There will be refreshments served, so please RSVP. For more information and to sign up, please contact Wayne Hillstead at 745-1561, whillstead@msn.com or Darla Weston at 745-2365. is called Partner Agency Shelter Operations Workshop. The local Red Cross Disaster Director is coming to personally train whoever wants to be trained. This training is not limited to CERT members. Anyone who wishes to take this training is invited. The class will be held October 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the Ogden Valley library. The class will go over the processes and Janice Mize, Wolf Creek Utah Gotta Dance! The sixteen-piece Junction City Big Band, directed by Dr. Earl Ericksen, presents their first WSU Friday Dance Date Friday, October 23 in the Shepherd Union Building Ballroom. Downbeat is at 8:30 p.m. but for those who need it, professional dance instruction by Margene Anderson will be offered at 7:15. Jazz stylist Ruth Stevenson will be a featured performer with the Big Band. There will be no charge for lessons or for dancing for this first dance date event. (Tickets are generally $1 for lessons and $7 per person for dancing.) An intermission entertainment will be provided while dancers have a chance to catch their breath and enjoy some light refreshments. Expect to hear some Big Band versions of famous songs for lovers at this dance. Bring your special dance partner and see what happens. The band was organized in 1987 under the Guest Commentary direction of Dr. K. Earl Ericksen, then chair of the Weber State Department of Performing Arts. The Swing Era style dance band was formed specifically to give local musicians with big band experience an opportunity to continue playing for personal enjoyment as well as for community functions. Donating their time and musical skills, they have helped to keep the community “jumpin’” with the music of Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Sammy Kay, Freddie Martin, Harry James, and other great swing era sounds. Best dress is recommended, which includes shirt and tie for men. Lessons will begin promptly at 7:15. No one will be admitted to the lessons after that time so please make plans to come early and be included in this fun and fantastic experience. For more information about the band, contact Dr. Ericksen at 876-3009. Remember General Conferences when we were told to grow gardens, put in a supply of food, prepare 72-hour kits, get out of debt, and put our houses in order by preparing every needful thing? The Church’s instructions on provident living still stand, of course, and there are wonderful resources available to help us. But when was the last time such counsel received significant attention in General Conference? As best I can recall, there was a turning point when President Hinckley, after an extensive sermon in a priesthood session on financial preparations, said, “Now that’s all I’m going to say about that.” It may have been the last time he mentioned physical preparations in a General Conference address. During the five sessions of conference just completed, I attempted to write down every admonition, instruction, exhortation, suggestion, or recommendation given by the speakers. I collected 430 items of counsel in all. But no one talked about food storage. No one advised putting together emergency kits. No one exhorted us to get out of debt. No one said to grow a garden. There were only three references to financial matters (Elder Watson, Bishop Burton and Elder Christofferson) and all of them were warnings against excesses and greed, not about preparations. Many sense that things could soon break loose—that it wouldn’t take much to put many prophesied events about the last days into motion. At this time of turmoil throughout the world—a roller coaster economy, crime, thugocracies, natural disasters, looming inflation, and even nuclear threats, it would seem a natural time for our leaders to talk about nuts-and-bolts preparation— to tell us what we should do next. Well, they did. But not in a direction some may have expected. We’ve been hearing about food storage and other preparations since 1936. The way I see the talks this conference, those days are over. Members who haven’t prepared physically are not very likely to start now simply because two or three more General Authorities plead with them. This is not to suggest we’ll never hear counsel about physical preparations again in General Conference, but rather it appears the emphasis is shifting from physical preparation to spiritual preparation—to build strength of heart, mind, and spirit for whatever is com- ing, and especially to become more proficient at receiving personal revelation. Those who watched conference hoping for a fish found that they instead were instructed how to fish. Of the 29 individuals who addressed us, 16 of them spoke about the Holy Ghost—how we can cultivate the gift of the Holy Ghost, how to improve our sensitivity to promptings, how to purify our lives so we can hear gentle spiritual communications, and related counsel—in other words, how we can gain personal instruction to guide us through coming events from the Source that knows everything. In speaking order: Elder Scott: Consistently strive to recognize and follow the feelings prompted by the Spirit. Sister Matsumori: Help others become more familiar with promptings of the Spirit. Elder Clayton: Be humble so you can hear the word of the Lord. President Uchtdorf: Listen for the Father’s voice for it leads to the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Elder Oaks: Listen and feel of God’s love. Elder Hales: Yield to the influence of the Holy Ghost. Elder Watson: Be temperate in all things as guided by the Holy Ghost. Elder Anderson: Turn away from pride, anger and impure thoughts. President Packer: The Holy Ghost communicates to our spirit with promptings and impressions. President Eyring: Learn to follow inspiration. President Monson: Refrain from anger so you will have the Spirit with you. Elder Perry: Listen to the Spirit for guidance. Bishop Burton: Let virtue garnish your thoughts. Sister Dibb: Use the safety equipment of scriptures, prophets, and the Holy Ghost. Elder Nelson: Cultivate spiritual discernment. Elder Ringwood: Be sensitive to the Holy Ghost. The emphasis on these basic principles suggests that we haven’t been following them as we should, which brings to mind the wellknown story of Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers. Every COMMENTARY cont. on page 9 “The world’s reigning male chorus” – New Yorker Chic Style Clothing Boutique Look chic at affordable prices! Chic Style Supports Breast Cancer Awareness! With any Pink Item purchased in the month of October, we will donate $1 per piece to the Susan B. Komen Foundation. 2595 Hwy. 162 Suite 5, Eden 801-590-4379 Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Late Night Hours Friday & Sat 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. November 7, 2009 7:30pm Austad Auditorium $15/$12 video and links to artist’ websites and tickets at: weber.edu/culturalaffairs/ Tickets at the Shepherd Union Info Desk or Dee Events Center Ticket Office 801-626-8500 |