Saturday, October 30, 2010

Trunk or Treat is Halloween Fun

The Primary Trunk or Treat event on the beautiful Halloween afternoon of Saturday, October 30 drew a record crowd of ghosts and goblins . . . and about thirty trunks filled with treats! Witches, space men, cowboys, a princess or two, duckies and a large assortment of other costumed revelers went from trunk to trunk. Thanks to the Primary for arranging the fun and festivities and to all the generous ward members who showed up in the church parking lot in costume . . . and with candy!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Good Morning, Bloomington 7th Ward

It was unseasonably cool on Saturday morning, October 23 when Bloomington 7th Ward friends and family gathered at the church for breakfast prepared by the Activities Committee including Barbara and Doug Schaerrer, Adolf and Taj Becker, and Jim and Ellen Sorensen as well as helpers from the Elders and High Priest Quorums. Despite the overnight rainfall which left the grounds wet and the grass soggy, there were no dampened spirits as participants enjoyed breakfast potatoes, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice and socializing . . . as well as Dutch oven peach cobbler topped with ice cream prepared by Claude Warner and Dave Putnam. Yum . . . and thanks to everyone who took part!!!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Til We Meet Again, Vanetta Johnson

Vanetta Johnson, mother of Anita Williams, slipped from mortality on Thursday, October 14 to return to her sweetheart Harold and her loving Heavenly Father. 87-year-old Vanetta was born and raised in Indiana where, as a young woman, she met a handsome Air Force captain and pilot on a blind date. Two months later, she became Mrs. Harold Johnson and the couple settled down together in Huntington, West Virginia.

In the southern United States, the Johnson’s yearned for a religion the entire family could embrace - a decision which lead them to the LDS Church where Harold served several years as a branch president. They wanted to be sealed, so they saved up to make the cross-country trip to Salt Lake City, only to find the temple closed. Not to be thwarted in their plans, they drove to Logan for the ceremony. Vanetta’s favorite calling was as YM/YW leader for the East Central States Mission which gave the couple the opportunity to travel together in Harold’s plane to meetings throughout Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia.

After Bruce and Anita returned from medical studies in Germany, Harold and Vanetta relocated to northern Utah where they served for several years in the Salt Lake Temple, then followed their daughter and son-in-law to St. George, again serving in the temple while continuing in their role as "active grandparents."

Throughout her lifetime, Vanetta’s favorite hobby was always "mothering," but she also excelled in bowling, oil painting, and water color art. According to Anita, her mother was "an excellent seamstress who made all my clothes when I was a child, has a wonderful eye for colors and fabrics and her porcelain dolls are incredible!!!”

Although Vanetta lost Harold - the love of her life - more than a decade ago, and her youngest son three years ago, Vanetta found peace in the gospel of Jesus Christ during difficult times and always referred to hers as "a great life!"

Condolences to the Williams’ family for their loss. Vanetta will be missed by those who knew and loved her.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Elder Forsyth Says "Zai jian"

Brandon Forsyth, second son of Steve and Tina Forsyth, younger brother to Adam - and older brother to Aubrey, Cody, Emily, Dallen, Noah, Idie and Nathan, entered the MTC on Wednesday, October 13. For the next two years, he will serve the Lord and His children in the Singapore Mission where he will teach the gospel in the language of Mandarin Chinese.

Elder Forsyth, who studied Chinese in high school and has loved all-things-Asian since he was a child, is excited about a call to Singapore.

According to his mother, he frequently uses movie lines relating to the Asian culture, including his most recent favorite, “clearly you’ve never been to Singapore” from Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Following his mission, Elder Forsyth hopes to study international business with an eye on a career somewhere in Asia.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in this tropical rainforest country with no distinct seasons, is still in its infancy. In the second most densely populated country in the world, there is only one mission, 10 congregations and a total LDS population of fewer than 3000 members among more than 5 million residents.

In 1960, there were only four members living in Singapore where this small group of Latter-day Saints from the British military and from Hong Kong met together as often as they could. Missionaries first arrived from the Southern Far East Mission in March 1968. That same year the Church established the first congregation in Singapore and a year later, the Southeast Asia Mission was created. In 1970, government officials restricted preaching and limited visas for missionaries but, through the efforts of approximately 100 local members, the Church continued to grow, and in January 1980, the Singapore Mission was reopened.

Admittedly, growth of the Church in Singapore has been slow, but with Elder Forsyth’s hardwork and dedication to the work, many will hear the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ over the next two years.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Catching Up: Meet the Goldings

Bob and Shirley Golding are newly called as shepherds in the Bloomington Young Single Adult Ward where they will work with 18-30 year-olds to encourage them to stay active in the church. The Goldings, who returned in July from 18-months in the Philippines Manila Mission, are no strangers to guiding young people in the right direction. In addition to their own 3 sons, 1 daughter, 13 grandchildren and 29 greats, she kept a watchful eye on the needs of 24 missionaries while he served as a counselor in the mission presidency. Although they initially found it difficult to leave behind their large family in the United States, they found it equally hard to leave their mission family, including the people of the Philippines, the young missionaries and five other senior couples with whom they had developed a deep and loving friendship.

Missionary work is a comfortable calling for this couple who served two years as ward missionaries, then 3 years in the church’s Addiction Recovery Program before accepting their first mission away from home.

In his working life, Bob was employed with Pepsi Cola in Salt Lake City and in St. George where they were one of the first homeowners in the Vintage. After two years in St. George, Bob accepted employment with CBS Outdoor in Las Vegas where they lived for 21 years before his retirement and return to St. George by way of the Philippines.

Bob, who grew up in the church and Shirley, who stepped into the waters of baptism at age 18, hope to serve another mission together, but in the meantime they are happy to be back in St. George where they are already getting acquainted with those in their neighborhood and in the ward!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Sage is Baptized

Sage Wilkes, stepped into the waters of baptism on Friday, October 1, holding the hand of her father Robert Wilkes who performed the baptismal ordinance after which her Grandpa Hans Wilkes confirmed her.

Through her baptism, this beautiful 8-year-old, covenants - as do all members of Church - to abide by the laws and requirements of the new and everlasting covenant and “to come into the fold of God” - that is, to become the newest member of the Church of Jesus Christ - and to “serve God and keep his commandments” throughout her lifetime.

Sage, the 4th of Rob and Chardell’s 5 children, is in 2nd grade at George Washington Academy. She LOVES to sing and memorizes the lyrics to songs she likes then sings them all day long. She has an amazing spirit. She's been anxiously awaiting her baptism for years and especially looks forward to being an activity day girl.