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Show One Referral 20 Are Now The Church In By DELL VAN ORDEN Church News Assistant Editor Fred Fike, and his wife, Peggy, moved to Pa. in 1965, little did they know in this small town of 6,000 persons on the western border of Pennsylvania their lives would be unalterably changed for good. Nor did they realize that the lives of Freds parents and of three of his four brothers would also be changed because a friend, who had been in the Church for only a month, aorepted the responsibility of even member a missionary. We had li'd in Sewickley for only a year and a half when this friend, who had just joined the Church himself, invited us to come over to his house and meet the missionaries, Fred explained. When Ard from this invitation occurred a mushrooming effect, resulting in the conversion of Fred and his wife; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gilmour Fike; three of his brothers, Blaine, Roy and Ted and all their families making a total of 20 persons who are in the Church today through one referral. We accepted the Invitation, said Fred, because we were curious. We had membership in another church, but we werent pleased with it. We were looking for something. We had visited several churches, but hadnt found what we were looking for. f- - Fred said he and his wife received the first two discussions of the missionary lessons the first night. I felt ready to join that night, he said It seemed too good to be really true. Within a week, Fred and Peggy received all six discussions and were baptized in April, 1967 on the first baptismal date that could be scheduled. Fred then referred the missionaries to his brother Blaine, ar.d his wife, who live in Fairmont, W.Va. I admired the missionaries, but I didnt go along with the Joseph Smith story. I enjoyed talking with the missionaries, but I wasnt too interested in the Church, Blaine said. But over the weeks as the missionaries met with us, we became convinced of the truthfulness and we joined the Church in October, 1967. Fred then referred the missionaries to his twin brother, Ted, who lives in Baltimore. Ted, who is single, had been acquainted with Mormons in the service in Seattle and had mentioned that he was impressed with thorn. He met wi h the missionaries for about a month and then joined the Church in the latter part of 1967. The parents, who live in Eglon, W.Va., were next to join the Church. I had had contact with the Mormons for nearly five years and had visited Mormon friends in Salt Lake City before, said Mr. Fike. The missionaries were then referred to Roy and his family, who live in Parkersburg, W.Va. My brothers and father made me curious. In January, 1968, the missionaries came and visited us. We were looking for the tiue Church, but we had to be We had always been active in our church, but we were discouraged because of some of the things it was not doing. In December, 1967, 1 was interviewing a lady for a job in her home. The elders were there. After the interview, they wanted to interview me, but I told them I was too busy and that I would get in touch with them later. I never did, but they inquired around and found my home. My wife and I were both home and I told them to come in and lets hear about it. convinced. We were partly active in another church, but were very discouraged. There was a lack of reverence; they smoked in the church house and drank coffee in Sunday School. The third time the missionaries met with Roy and his family, they were pretty well assured of the truthfulness of the Church. In about a month from their first contact with the missionaries, they were baptized on Feb. 17, 1968. By the time the missionaries had given the discussions, we knew it was true and we were baptized in February, 1968. Fred played an important part in the conversion of his parents. I wanted them to find out for themselves, but I constantly praised the missionaries and built them up in my parents minds," he said. When the missionaries knocked on the door of Mr. and Mrs. Fike, they were ready to receive the elders. In June, the Fikes, with the exception of Ted formed a caravan, consisting of four cars, three trailers and 19 persons, and traveled across the United States to the temple in Manti, Utah, where they took out their endowments and had their families sealed to them. "The Chuich has been everything to us, the Fike family agreed. This has been the happiest year of our lives. ' LDS Scouts Enjoy Thrilling Time At Jamboree Continued from page 8 were giants because they are 0God. children of He also said scouting, as far as the Church is concerned, is an inspired program. Elder Hanks spoke to the scouts fol200 lowing the passing of the sacrament by deacons. He told the Scouts to talk to the boy he who is. alone.. Help the lonely guy, friends vissaid. Hundreds of ited the service. Luke Templin, a Quaker from Cinna- niinso.i, N.J. attended the Mormon service, like. just to see what it was today I had never met a he said. Arthur W. Sadler, 78, from Altamont who claims he has been a Ward, Utah Scout longer than any other man alive, was at the jamboree and LDS services. I was a member of the first troop ever formed. It was organized in Colchester, England in 1908. Ronald Tehei and George Tuau, Church members from New Zealand, made their first trip to the United States to participate in the jamboree. Mike Williamson, Jacksonville, Ark., only LDS boy in his troop said Sunday morning, This is the largest priesthood meeting I have ever attended. I think its great being here and mak- - ing all these new friends, Mike said. Speaking with a Brooklyn accent, Andy Jensen currently from Rock Creek Ward, Silver Spring, Md., said he was having most of his fun trading patches. Paul Livingstone from Orem, Utah, had his first experience at skiing on a special Until Mormon, 'WEEK' feNDlNG JULY 26, 1969 ramp 700 feet long. I was scared but it was a lot of fun, Paul said after skiing down the foam cov- ered ramp. The Scouts displayed their Scouting skills at four huge jamboree Paul and Harold Leavenworth, Church members from Gresham, Ore, taught Other scouts how to cook salmon so it almost melts in your mouth. skill-a-rama- s. -- Bishop Jerry Thorne from Bellingham Ward, Bellingham, Wash., spent most of the jamboree as a life guard at Lake Pend Oreille. Im enjoying the jamboree and getting to know theboys, he said while keeping his eye on the swimming boys. Robert L. Nite, from Anue Nue Ward, Hawaii, in a talk before thousands of boys in Priesthood meeting told of his gratitude for the Church and its sponsorship of the Scouting program. Im grateful to be a Scout and a member of the Church. Im so thankful that the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America are the same as those taught in the Church and to priesthood holders," Roger said. |