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Show is , Mormon Astronaut Serves Youth Church Activity Important To Spaceman And Family By HAL KNIGHT Deseret News Science Writer ALVIN, TEXAS People who attend the Gospel Essentials r Sunday School class in the Alvin Ward have a real treat. Their teachers an astronaut. Each Sunday, as far as his schedule allows, Dr. Don L. Lind, 39, stands before his group of investigators and newly baptized members and discusses the basic i principles of the Gospel. This Sunday School class is just one aslife led by the Morpect of the many-side- d mon astronaut who expects to be one of the rare men to walk on the surface of the moon within the next three years. Saint, he manages g to squeeze in a assignment, his Sunday School class, lead an MIA mutual interest group and fill speaking dates with Aaronlc Priesthood groups all over the nation, while at the same time A faithful Latter-da- y keeping up with his heavy woik Manned Spacecraft Center. lo-- d at the My schedule doesnt allow me to take most kinds of Church leadership positions, but I try to accept all the Church assignments I can, he said. Lind's responsibilities in the space program would burden two ordinary men. Despite this, he considers his Church activity the focal point of his life and it transcends his glamorous job in space. His work takes him all over the G.S. to research laboratories and firms working on the space effort. He travels widely in foreign countries as well, visiting laboratories and tracking stations. home-teachin- I'm gone 80 per cent of the work he said, and I travel two out of a cirevery three weekends as well cumstance that is difficult for his family. week, "I try to increase the quality of our home life to make up for the quantity, he said. His wife, the former Kathleen Maughan of Logan is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Howard Maughan. Her father is former president of the New England States Mission. The Linds weie married on April Fool's Day 1955 in the Salt Lake Temple. He keeps hi. family well informed about his work and tiaels. His wife and their fixe children. Carol Ann, 13; David, 12; Dawna, 10; Duglas, 8, and Kimberly, are all avid space fans. 6, The talk at a recent Sunday afternoon dinner ranged from aerodynamics to the value of the spate program, with all the youngsters contributing their views. Daddy al-- o tossed out a couple of verbid scientific puzzles for the family to ponder ox'er the mashed potatoes. In the backyard of the Linds attractive home (in subuib stye community where most of the astronauts and major space officials live, near the Space Center) stands a big tent, used for family outings. tw tree-shade- d Bookshelves in the Lind living room are lined with many volumes of Church writings which obviously have had considerable ice. , Lind is a aiticulate man who is net afraid to stand up for the Cuuch aim for his beliefs. But he isnt A strong torrent of humor p eachy. quick-witted- i ins through eveiything he says. J e Kerwin, another astronaut, xvas in Utah recently for a visit and said that' "Don has talked so much about this place tint I just had to tome to see if its really as wonderful as he savs. Like all good former missionai ies, Lind (who was in the New Eigland States Misuses evaiy opportunity to exsion, 1950-5pose people to the Gospel. On the Sunday of the famous noon walk" he brought a Astronaut Don Lind in pressurized suit walks near LEM on simulated moon surface at Manned Space Center. Sxvi - scientist, who was visiting the Space Center, to Sunday School. He has seen the power of the P.iesthord at work in his own lire. A few weeks after arriving in Texas after being named an astronaut, his smallest daughter, Kimberly, was hit by a car on a Galveston beach. The impact cracked her skull badly and it appeared she might not live more than a few minutes. Lind knelt on the beach and blessed his small daughter as crowds of curious onlookers watched. 2 i Don Lind practices use of seismic experiment for moon. WEEK ENDING AUGUST 23, 1969 She calmed immediately and ftom that moment we knew she was going to be all right, even though doctors didnt give her much chance fo- - a long time. Mrs. Lind said. Several weekends a month, Lind climbs into a jet plane and tiles to different points around the country. This is done to keep up his flying time as demanded by NASA, but he also uses it for another purpose teaching the Gospel to young men in the Church. As long as I have to do flying, I use the occasions to speak to Church groups. I might as well put the no- cross-countr- y Conliniicd on page 12 |