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Show - N E W S Spanish Fork Covering what matters most Celebrating pioneers There and Back Again Shirlene R. Ottesen Your chuckle for the week: After hearing the story about Noah and the Ark in their Sunday School class two young boys were discussing it on their way home. One asked the other, "Do you suppose Noah did a lot of fishing while on his Ark?" The other replied, "No, how could he with only two worms!" July is one of my favorite months. On the Fourth of July we are reminded of the difficult journey this country took to achieve freedom and Independence from England. It is a time to reflect what could have happened had some very brave and determined people decided that war wasn't worth the price to pay. We all know that freedom isn't free and we are reminded of that each day we listen to the news from the MidEast, So we need to teach our children the meaning of the Fourth of July and what it has meant in our lives here in America. . Then, on the 24th of July our state celebrates Pioneer Day - that monumental day when the pioneers arrived in the valley of the Great Salt Lake in 1847. The following is taken from an article that appeared in the July 1997, Ensign, page 26: " Knowing whether or not the Great Salt Lake Valley settlers could produce a reasonable first harvest in untested land was essential to the Church's future. Until the summer of 1848, the pioneers would have to rely on food and equipment brought in their own wagons. The ingenuity of every man (and woman) was taxed to the utmost." I don't think many, of us can appreciate what it must have been like to enter this huge valley with only sagebrush covering the valley floor and the rivers coming from the canyons. Weary and tired from months of arduous travel, they just stopped and said, "This is it. This is where we will live!" Quoting again: "They plowed some 5,000 acres of land and planted 872 acres of winter wheat. The population of the city was 1671 with 423 cabins. That winter was surprisingly mild, but by mid-winter, hunger became a serious problem. Leaders rationed provisions to about a half pound of flour per day for each person. Residents ate crows, thistle top, bark and sego lily bulbs. They gathered wild onion and thistle roots. A. J. Allen wrote, They were not pleasant, but hunger made them taste good. Cabin life in the fort was primitive. Mary Isabella Home said the first log houses were small and lacked doors, windows and floors. The ground was full of snakes which used to crawl around our houses, but they were soon killed or frightened away. The timber was so full of bugs that it was years before they were entirely subdued. The mice also were very numerous, running over us by day and by night destroying consid- erable clothing. "The crops looked promising the next Spring of 1848. Barley, oats, rye, buckwheat and other grains looked good, but by the end of May the desperately needed crops were suffering from frost, lack of water, trampling by cattle and the crickets that came by the millions. Seagulls are native to the area but winter in California. In June they returned and feasted on crickets for.about three weeks. By July, the gulls and summer heat had diminished the cricket menace and new plants grew. "On August 10, the Saints celebrated their first harvest with a thanksgiving feast. The Saints they had enough to subsist on till another harvest and determined that valuable crops could be raised in this valley." Their trials and suffering continued after reaching the valley and so as we celebrate Pioneer Day this year, I hope we remember what these stalwart people have done for each of us.- What you did right today Life After Birth Janene Baadsgaard Adolescents are the most maligned age group in our culture. In six years they have to go from being a carefree child to taking on the responsibilities of an adult. It wouldn't be so bad if nature wasn't playing tricks on them. First their nose, hands and feet start sprouting. Then hormones blast throughtheir body like a run-away freight train. It's easy for us adults to shake our heads and roll our eyes when the teens in our life make mistakes. It helps to remember that4 adolescence is not a terminal disease — it is an incredibly vulnerable time for young people. We adults can make a huge difference if we try to ease their way through this sometimes painful passage to autonomy. I taught English 1010 at Utah Valley University on Tuesday evenings. One fall semester, I noticed a quiet young man on the back row. He never said a word, never made a comment and never smiled. I worried about him. My assignment was to teach everyone enrolled in my class how to write several different types of Janene Baadsgaard to prove to his wife that she would have a decent future with him. Going back to school had been a rough go and he was ready to quit. At mid-term I had a private conference with each student to go over their work. When this quiet young man sat down in the desk next to mine, I took out the writing he had turned in and began discussing his work with him. I pointed out specific places in his essays that were beautifully written and expressed my sincere confidence in his potential. Quite unexpectedly this young man burst into tears. Obviously embarrassed, he didn't say anything for a while. essays. I told the students to write about what was important to them and encouraged them to be honest. Many of the papers I read and critiqued were incred"You're the first teacher ibly personal. One student I've had in my whole life," wrote about being raped; another about his drug ad- he said haltingly, "that told diction. This quiet young me something I did right." I was stunned. This man on the back row wrote young man had gone an essay that helped me unthrough his entire school derstand why he seemed so career without even one unhappy. He had dropped out of high school when he adult telling him one posigot his girl friend pregnant, tive thing about himself. It had to go to work full time broke my heart. Years later I was sitting after they got married and at a restaurant when an oldwas now providing for a er gentleman approached family all before he was old enough to vote. The couple me. "You don't know me," was having a hard time makhe said. "You were my son's ing ends meet. His marriage was on the rocks and this English teacher. Your class enrollment at the local col- inspired him to continue lege was a last ditch effort his education. The positive experience he had with you BUILDER OF CUSTOM HOMES FOR 30 YEARS Building lots with a great view starting at $89,900 Reserve your tot NOW Buttd Your Plan or Ours Rudy for Cnutructtoa influenced his decision to become an English teacher so he could do for other young people what you did for him. Thank you." It's so easy to look at our adolescents, especially those who have made mistakes, and only see what they do wrong. They are already acutely aware of their failures. Our young people need to be told they can accomplish their dreams even after set-backs. They can't do this if we don't take the time to tell them how wonderful they are. Because of this young man I always look at the teens around me and wonder, has anyone told them what they did right today? Then I make sure I'm that person. Janene Baadsgaard is the author of many humorous and heartwarming books for families including Families Who Laugh . . . Last, On the Roller Coaster Called Motherhood, Winter 's Promise, Financial Freedom for LDS Families, The LDS Mother's Almanac and her most recent publication 15 Secrets to a Happy Home - available at local book stores or on-line at HYPERLINK "http://www. springcreekbooks .com" www.springcreekbooks. com. She can be reached at janenebaadsgaard@juno. com. WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2008 • A3 Safe on the 4th 'Round and About Benjamin Kathleen Olsen Our best wishes go to Weston and Emily Kaye Wing Williams who were married on Friday, June 20,2008. A lovely garden open house honored the couple that evening in Springville. Weston is the son of Wendell and Jana Lee Williams and the grandson of Richard and Janet Erickson, all of Benjamin. ••• Many of the Young Women of both Benjamin wards enjoyed their annual Spanish Fork West Stake summer camp at Camp Koholowo at the top of Santaquin Canyon, from Tuesday, June 17 through Friday, June 20, 2008; The girls participated in many activities including hiking, crafts, games and several very spiritual experiences with special speakers. On Wednesday evening, June 18, 2008 bishoprics of the various wards made a visit to the camp, enjoying supper with the girls and other activities planned for the night. It appears from listening to the girls, they had an excellent camp. They appreciated their ward and stake leaders for making it a memorable experience. After the girls' departure from Koholowo, the Aaronic Priesthood members and their dads enjoyed their turn with an overnight outing. ••• On Wednesday, June 25, several Benjamin Relief Society members enjoyed a special day in Salt Lake City, visiting a number of LDS church sites. The group attended the movie about Joseph Smith at the Joseph Smith Building. From there they had lunch at the Lion House and then toured the Beehive House and the Brigham Young Historical Park. The last stop of the day was a visit to the Museum of Church History and Art. The Second Ward Relief Society presidency includes Phyllis Brock, president, and Pat Ivy and Maren Chandler, counselors, and Christine Stubbs, secretary. ••• We wish everyone a very happy and safe July 4th. Please take time to contemplate the day, its reason, and how it affects us today. Without the incredible foresight of the founding fathers, we could be experiencing vastly different lives. Even though there are some pretty big challenges going on, this is still a blessed place to live for which we should be grateful. Madison's Avenue by "Big Al" and "Famzy" PORTERS HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING • Service • Furnace Replacements • A/C Add Ons • Green Sticker • Financing OAC EDUCAf(H WHATEVER bryant Nebo School District £ SecurityHomeMortgag is proud to salute the, great educators andi administrators in Nebo, chool District and o mmunity. Thank you. H—Ung & Coaling System* IT TAMES 798-1700 • N E W S Spanish Fork SPONSORED BYt SECURITY HOME HbfcTGAGE 798-1581 IT'S OUTTA THIS WORLD! |