B7 Picnic in the Park

It was noisy, windy fun at Christensen park on Monday, April 15 when almost everyone in the ward showed up - as well as a few former ward members - came out to celebrate the arrival of spring with burgers, hot dogs, salads and desserts.  There was lots of food, socializing ... and a beautiful flag display.  Thanks to all who came out, flipped the burgers, contributed to our delicious repast, set up and cleaned up.

Meet Our New Bishopric

The Bloomington 7th Ward bishopric was seamlessly reorganized on Sunday, April 14, 2019 when Eric Felt Christensen was sustained as Bishop of the Bloomington 7th Ward, called to fill the very big shoes of Bishop Mike Bair.  Brett Peterson will serve as his 1st counselor; Michael Anderson has been called to serve as 2nd counselor supported by Landon Munk as Executive Secretary.

The youngest son of Clark and Cassie Christensen admitted to being "overwhelmed and nervous, but super excited for this new calling. It's been really hard to keep it quiet for the past ten days, so I'm glad its finally here!"

Bishop Christensen has a long history of service in the Church, having served as a scout leader, a leader in the Young Men's program, a nursery worker, Primary worker, a ward clerk, twice president of the Elders Quorum and most recently as the Executive Secretary in Bishop Mike Bair's bishopric.

He is "fluent in Canadian" having served a mission in Toronto, Canada (1995-97) after graduation from Pine View High School.  Following his mission, he studied and graduated from BYU in Print Journalism and worked for the Washington Times in DC but after working at "various jobs" he went back to school to earn a Masters in Education in Secondary Education.  He since has worked at Dixie High School for 13 years teaching Language Arts and coaching the tennis team, during which time he completed a second MEd in Educational Leadership and last year moved to Desert Hills High School where he was named Vice Principal.

He and his wife Kim met "post-BYU" and were married in the Los Angeles Temple 13 months after their first date in February 2004.  The Christensen's are mom and dad to three girls and Max.

First counselor Brett Peterson, who is assigned to work directly with the Primary and the Young Men's organization, spent his early years in Florida and Virginia, graduating from Herndon High School in Herndon, Virginia.  His secondary studies found him at then-Ricks College / BYU-Idaho, Utah Valley University; and, BYU, from which he graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Economics.  He later earned an MBA with emphasis in Information Technology (IT) from the University of Redlands.

Br. Peterson's Church career began as a full-time missionary in the China Hong Kong Mission where he spoke Cantonese.  Since then, he has served in the nursery, as a Primary worker, 2nd counselor in the Elders Quorum, as a ward clerk, YM president, an early morning seminary teacher and as Elders Quorum secretary.

Through his working career, he has earned a living in construction, at gas stations, sold commercial trucking insurance and currently has the position of Chief Operating Officer for a number of different liquid vitamin manufacturers - "rolled into one paycheck" - in Mesquite, NV.

Brett met Briette Storrs while attending BYU-Idaho in Rexburg and they were married eleven months later.  They have five "loud but fun" children - 2 girls and 3 boys - with whom he practices Mandarin Chinese because they are in the Chinese immersion program at Bloomington Elementary School.  He calls himself an advanced beginner and is also still conversant in Cantonese.

Second counselor Michael Anderson, who will have the assignment to work with the Sunday School and the Young Women's program, has "always had an interest in knowing how things work, knowing logistics and how to fix things. I love knowing how to solve problems and my professions have almost always revolved around that."  As a result, he has tried many different means for earning a living, including retail management, product design, logistics and insurance sales, but his current career is as "a one man show" in the small steel fabrication company he owns in Hurricane. "I am a welder who designs, engineers, and fabricates special car parts for vintage Volkswagens." 

"I am self-educated in my field - a little street smarts mingled with college - and now have my own brand. I study AutoCad and 3D design. I love imagining parts and bringing them to reality. I manufacture parts and ship them all over the world and consider myself an artisan in my trade." 

Br. Anderson grew up in California, went to Fullerton, then moved to Cedar City where he studied accounting at SUU later developing an interest in product design, welding and manufacturing.  

In 2006, he met Kristin Maxwell in St George and they were married the same year.  The Anderson's now have 3 children: Carter (11), Ellie (10), and MJ (9), each with unique personalities.  He also has a 19-yr-old son James from a previous marriage. 

Br. Anderson says almost all of his previous church callings have included working with the young men. He has been a YM advisor and a scout master several time. He's also been in several elders quorum presidencies, served as Executive Secretary and as a Sunday school teacher. 

Prior to his call to serve as Executive Secretary for Bishop Eric Christensen, Landon Munk has served as Gospel Doctrine teacher, Elders Quorum Secretary, ward clerk, Elders Quorum President, and as the Stake Young Men’s Second Counselor. 

He is currently employed as the CFO of "two awesome sister companies - Holbrook Asphalt Co. and Integrated Pavement Solutions. I love what I do and the people I work with.  I am intrigued by just about anything.  My latest interest is watching YouTube videos regarding 'how to relocate your child’s arm.'  Griff keeps climbing up the tree on the side of our house and running around on the roof. "

Landon and Britt grew up in the neighboring farm towns of Newton and Amalga, Utah in Cache County.  Both graduated from Sky View High School and Utah State University (not BYU). They went on one date in high school but Landon was a little on the wild side.  However, he shaped up and went on to serve a mission to Zimbabwe in 2004.  Britt and Landon were married in the Logan temple in 2008 and moved to St. George in 2010 where Britt was accepted into the Dixie State dental hygiene program.  She graduated in 2012 and Landon graduated with an MBA from SUU the same year.  They have three awesome kids: Griff (6), Remi (3 going on 13) and Harvey (7 months).

In Gratitude for Your Service, Bishop Mike Bair

Michael Black Bair was released on Sunday, April 14, 2019 after serving the many hundreds of members of the Bloomington 7th Ward as Bishop since March 2, 2014.  During his 1868 days as the ward's ecclesiastical leader he presided over numerous Sacrament meetings, ward councils and 5th Sunday lessons (in between trips to Wyoming to help out on the family ranch); released and sustained countless ward members to callings; twice reorganized the Relief Society, Young Men's and Young Women's organizations and the Primary three times; presided over 6 weddings and 26 funerals; and, saw 34 missionaries - including five couples - return with honor from full-time service to the Lord and His children in all corners of the world.

He has been a close personal friend to Santa Claus; attended probably more than a dozen Youth Conferences / Scout camps / girls camps / treks (usually as the driver), and presented that many - or more - Young Womanhood Recognitions and Duty to God awards.  He loves to dance so twice invited the whole ward to join him - regardless of age; auctioned off donated goods and services to raise money for Girls Camp; flipped burgers and boiled ears of corn in a garbage can at more than a few ward picnics; welcomed many members and non-members into the ward as move-ins or new converts; unloaded enough moving vans to furnish an entire neighborhood ... and has given an incalculable number of his famous "big Bair hugs."

Perhaps the biggest surprise our bishop had  was when, on the morning of Sunday, November 11, 2018, President Dallin H. Oaks strode to the front of the chapel and took a seat next to our very surprised bishop about to begin our Fast and Testimony meeting.

All this was accomplished at the same time he was serving as Vice Principal / Athletic Director at Dixie High School, marrying off his oldest daughter; sending his 2nd daughter off on a mission to faraway Norway; and tearfully saying goodbye to his own mother (who, he says, always referred to him as her "baby boy"), his mother-in-law and a sister-in-law.

During his five years and 53 days as Bishop, he was assisted in the work of the Lord in the Bloomington 7th Ward by four counselors. For the first year or two 1st Counselor Boyd Kanenwisher and 2nd Counselor James Bertschi held up his arms (Exodus 17:12) and later 1st Counselor Jason Schall and 2nd Counselor Mike Foley stood ... "one on the one side and the other on the other side."

His greatest supporters have been his wife Lori, daughters Brianna, Aspen and Cara, son Dakota and son-in-law Selwin Lovell. Sister Bair writes:

We had only been in the ward for a short time when it was announced we would be getting a new bishop. We both thought, "whew, dodged a bullet there" since SURELY the bishop would have  been already called if they are announcing it in church.  About 25 mintues later while sitting in Sacrament meeting, my husband gets a text telling him the stake president wanted to meet with him. Again, we thought "okay, the bishop has already been called" so we should be good - NOPE WE WERE WRONG! We walked into the stake office and were the only people there besides the stake presidency. I started panicking and so did my husband. I thought, "my husband isn't ever home now so when will he ever be home - when will he even have time to do what he is supposed to do?  Do you know Lori swears and is totally out there sometimes and may likely offend people with the words coming out of her mouth - surely she can't be a bishop's wife." I said, "don't do this  - are you sure?  Are you really, really sure?"  President Bown said, "we do not kid about these things. Yes, we are sure and and so is the Lord."  We both cried - feeling very inadequate for the future. We left the church in shock. They told my husband he had 3 days to pray for guidance in choosing his counselors - 3 days!  We drove around the temple (which was closed for 2 weeks of cleaning) and talked and cried. Its been uphill and downhill ever since, but my husband embraced this calling as he does with everything, with lots of love, humor and tears.

It's been a great blessing to the Bair family for my husband to serve as bishop. We have felt everyone's prayers, felt the Lord's support and comfort in knowing this Bishop could and would do amazing things. He has cried with ward members as they opened up their hearts and souls to him. He is never home but he has loved serving the Lord and our ward family. He believes, because of his service, he has been able to maintain a relationship with his own family members who are angry or anti-church because he just loves them no matter what. I am so proud of him and the way he has acted in handling family crises and family drama.  His siblings know where he stands without a doubt but they also know he loves them without a doubt and no matter what.

It will be difficult for our children to not see their dad up on the stand, and making fun of him mumbling and not speaking clearly.  They truly are proud of him and all he has done.  He has worked very hard to unify the ward and find ways to have fun. His favorite or happiest times have been the dances and parties he has made happen and going to youth camps or conferences.

Probably the saddest times were seeing members get their feelings hurt and/or leave the church when the best thing would be for them to swallow their pride or "flush it" (as he has said many times) and to come enjoy the Savior's true gospel and love among the members of the ward.

He definitely hasn't slept much in the past 5 years.  He just feels so deeply for the members who struggle spiritually, financially and in many other ways.  He wants so badly to make everything OK, but knows he can't.

As it got closer to the 5-year mark most bishops serve, he grew anxious and wondered if he had done all he was called to do, asking himself if he could have done more.  He is sad to be released but is pretty confident he did what he could to the best of his ability and knows all is well in Zion. He will support the new bishopric, and continue to love the ward members with all 380 pounds of himself.

Here's what some friends and ward members will always remember about Bishop Mike Bair:

• I’ve loved Bishop Bair’s sense of humor, especially when he jokes about Sister Bair being late for sacrament meeting (Chardell Wilkes).

• I love his fun and happy personality.  He is such a "jolly" person to be around and is always looking for ways to help others and doing it with a SMILE on his face.  I will miss you as our bishop (Janet Labrum).

• No matter what the future holds for you in the Church, you and the Sappington's are bound together forever through Selwin and Brianna's future family.  I'm guessing the day will come when you will go to Bishop Christensen and ask for a calling to the nursery so you can spend time with "our" grand baby ... unless one of us beats you to it!  (Linda and Ed Sappington).

• As "snowbirds", we have always felt like we were valued members of the ward, because Bishop Bair has treated us like we were.  His happy smile and loving arms always welcome us on our arrival and he has seen to our needs with tithing settlement, temple recommends, etc.  We always feel included and valued (and loved).  Thank You Bishop Bair!  We love you, too!  (Paul and Penny Walbom)

• What do I say about a man who is truly an amazing bishop, friend, neighbor and all around great guy. Our family has loved the whole Bair family since the day they moved here and feel so blessed to have them in our lives. Bishop Bair has been such a wonderful leader. His love and concern for everyone in our ward family has always been well known. I was blessed to have been able to work with Bishop Bair for several years as Primary president. He always took time and gave special attention to our Primary children. With his big Bair heart, he taught and showed his love for his Savior and for them through his testimony and actions. He was always willing to do whatever was asked of him and more, from wearing silly hats to joining in singing his favorite Primary songs. I loved working with him and the rest of our bishopric. Thank you Bishop Bair for all you have done. I am so very grateful for your example and what you have taught me throughout the years (Rebecca Larson).

• Our Ward took on a new wave of cheer and friendship because of Bishop Bair. Thank you, Bishop, for the gift of fun. Thank you for caring. Thank you for being our spiritual leader. Your time as bishop seems too short. May all that's positive and grand be part of your future  (Luana Warner).

• Bishop Bair lovingly greeted us when we came into the ward three years ago.  The "meet and greet" after the block made us feel wanted and needed.  The bishopric came to our home shortly after for a visit and the picture of them on the ward Christmas card that year, still hangs on our fridge.  Bishop Bair always asks about my homebound husband and has visited him here in our home.  I have enjoyed his love, warmth and joking yet he is a deeply spiritual man who cares deeply for the members of our family and our ward.  We love you and will truly miss having you as our Bishop (Lee, Carol and Dan Case)

• THANK YOU for five years of wonderful, dedicated, meaningful and appreciated service to our dear Seventh Ward.  Serving as your RS President for your first couple of years was great!  We moved people in, we moved people out, we had funerals and parties and you were always there to help!  I remember you always volunteering Lori to bring a salad every time we did something where food was needed. Sometimes you told her, sometimes you didn’t, but she was a sweetheart to always help, too!! We love your dear wife, your cute daughters, and that special son and son-in-law.  We've felt their support of you and also our ward.  We loved the way you always encouraged us to create memories with our families.  You were such an example of that with your family and made us all want to follow suit.  You know how to throw a “mean” barbeque at Pine Valley and also Christensen Park.  Those are times we will always remember.   The Enterprise corn, the great hamburgers, and the fun times getting to visit and learn to know each other a little better each time.  You are the greatest “Santa” ever!!  (Hope that doesn’t stop!) You always had a “Bair Hug” for the young ones and we loved watching that happen.  What a loving, caring Bishop you have been!  (Dean and Elaine Christensen)

• About four years ago, Bishop Bair asked the leaders during our Ward Council to “pray for families with children and youth to move into our ward.”  Our prayers were answered when our ward was divided and we gained many wonderful families and also from the many amazing young families who have bought homes in our ward boundaries.   Our prayers were heard and answered most favorably.   
     
  Also, the children in the Primary nursery knew who Bishop Bair was because he stopped in each Sunday to say “Hi”. This giant of a man cared for and knew each little nursery child ... the size difference between Bishop Bair and the children was a sight to see as they would have to tilt their heads clear back to look up and see his face.
     
  Thank you Bishop Bair.   We LOVE YOU and Sister Bair and thank you for your love and service to our ward and each of us individually (former Primary President Wendy Johnston). 

YW Auction for Girls Camp

The B7 Young Women's breakfast-for-dinner and auction was noisy, chaotic and fun with ward members bidding against each other for some pretty impressive items. With Bishop Mike Bair as the ringmaster / auctioneer, there was a Martin guitar which went for $700 and an autographed promo picture of Paul Newman and Robert Redford (aka "Butch and Sundance") which someone took home for a surprising $175!  There were some amazing donated goods, services and baked goods, all to raise funds for our YW to travel to San Diego for this summer's girls camp, including but not limited to a trip to the San Diego Temple, the beach and Six Flags.

Thanks to all who came out, enjoyed sausage, scrambled eggs and hotcakes, bid on items and bought things they didn't really need to support our Beehive, Mia Maids and Laurel girls and their leaders.