Grace and Zachary Are B7 Ward's Newest Members

9-year-old Zachary and his 8-year-old sister Grace, son and daughter of Jon and Jennifer Andersen were baptized by their father on Sunday, May 26 and confirmed by their grandfather Brent Arave of Washington City.  Bishop Eric Christensen conducted with Southgate Stake Bud Swensen presiding. This sacred ordinance took place at the Bloomington Stake Center in a room filled to overflowing with family and friends and neighbors from the B7 Ward, including Primary leaders.

Said Sister Andersen of this important family milestone, "The Spirit was very strong throughout the service and they were given very special and specific blessings by their grandfather. There was so much love and support from family members, friends and the ward with "standing room only" for the program. It was a very special day! 

In the words of President Gordon B. Hinckley, it is now the duty of the members of the Bloomington 7th Ward to help Zach and Grace "become strong and faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - members who love the Lord, who understand the gospel, who fellowship with the Saints and who partake of the beauties and wonders of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Zac and Grace will begin 3rd grade at Bloomington Elementary in the fall. Together they enjoy swimming, bike riding and reading. Zac is also a Lego lover and very interested in all-things-cience. Grace loves cheer, dance and tumbling. 

Jorgensen's Serve Again ... Toblers Are Home Again

It’s Elder Nick and Sister Kim again since the Jorgensen’s have been called for a 2nd time to serve the Lord - this time as one of 10 Church service missionary couples in the Utah St. George Mission.  They’re just beginning to learn the width and breadth of their assignment, but they will live at home and report five days a week – and as needed – to the mission’s Ivins facility where they will problem-solve issues relating to electrical wiring, sound systems, plumbing, and “other duties as assigned” at any of the approximately 75-100 church buildings in Washington County.  

The Jorgensen’s will work alongside paid employees, but are not required to be licensed for this service, since they honed many of these same skills during their year at the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith in the New Hampshire Manchester Mission.  

Throughout the year,  Sister Kim will continue to serve as the ministering secretary for the B7 Ward Relief Society, as well as the Saturday secretary for the President of the St. George Temple.  Elder Nick will continue as the B7 Ward clerk ... and golf at every opportunity!

Many of the members of the B7 Ward have never met Rex and Kathy Tobler, though they have been active in the church and living in the same house on Escalante for more than 33 years!

Newly returned to their home ward the Tobler's were recently released after three years of service to the beautiful young men and women of the Bloomington YSA Ward.  In this calling, Bishop Tobler served as the senior ward clerk and Sister Tobler was the membership coordinator, "keeping track" of the ward's unmarried 18-30 year old - originally from 15 units in the Bloomington Stake - as they served missions, worked out of the area or for other reasons were not attending church.  "This is a very transient group," states Sister Tobler, "but it was an awesome calling among awesome kids ... many who are recently returned missionaries."

The couple, who also served together in the Mexico Mexico City Mission, were home only long enough to speak in Sacrament meeting in the Bloomington 5th Ward - then-their home ward - when they were called to serve in the YSA Ward.  Not long after, the stake was split and although they were now in the Bloomington 7th Ward in the Southgate Stake, they retained their calling as ward reps in the Bloomington YSA Ward in the Bloomington Stake.

In addition to their service in the YSA Ward, they have concurrently served for 2 1/2 years as temple ordinance workers on the temple's only Monday shift.  "It has been a wonderful calling ... we just love it ... and will be sorry to see it end on November 4, 2019 when the temple closes for 3 years."

Welcome home, Brother and Sister Tobler ... and take care of yourselves out there, Elder and Sister Jorgensen.

Congratulations, 2019 Graduates

CONNER WALDEN, oldest of Matthew and Robin Walden’s 4 children and grandson of James and Linda Walden, notes his favorite memory of high school is getting to the Utah State Championship in high school football. “We didn’t win, but it was amazing to be a Dixie High School Flyer in the last few games of the season!”  Following graduation ceremonies on May 23 he will begin final preparations for 24-months of service to the Lord and His children in the Mexico Xalapa Mission. He enters the Mexico City MTC on June 26 where he will begin learning Spanish over a period of several weeks before he begins knocking on doors.  Upon his return, he hopes to attend Utah State University where he has been awarded a scholarship to the Huntsman School of Business.

PETE FRASER, son of Steve and Jill Fraser and nephew of Francie and Randy Cogburn, is a proud member of the Dixie High School Class of 2019. Pete reports one of his favorite memories of high school is being selected as Senior Ball King alongside Senior Ball Queen Sydney Kerr, also a member of the B7 Ward and DHS Class of 2019. Folliowing graduation with his classmates on Thursday, May 23, he will then have only about 3 ½ weeks until June 19 when he will enter the Brazil MTC where he will spend several weeks in Portuguese language training in preparation for fulltime service in the Brazil Sao Paulo Mission. Upon his return, Pete hopes to prepare for a career as an animator beginning with his General Education classes at Dixie State University before enrolling in “BYU’s amazing art and animation” program.

MADISON ANDERSEN, oldest of Jon and Jennifer Andersen's three children, is now a graduate of Desert Hills High School, where she has studied since she and her family moved from Texas at the beginning of her sophomore year. Of her 3 years at DHHS, she says she won't miss the drama but she has loved being on the cheer squad, including cheering on the Thunder football team on Friday nights and being part of the 2018 state high school championship cheer team. Madi, as she is known by her friends and family, lettered in Varsity cheer for three years but was also recognized by our U. S. President for academic prowess.  What does her future hold? She not only received her high school diploma this month, she also now has an Associates of Science in General Studies from Dixie State University.  She has received scholarships - the New Century Scholarship from the State of Utah, which encourages Utah high school students to accelerate their education by earning as associate degree in high school from an institution within the Utah System of Higher Education or completing a specific math or science curriculum - and an academic scholarship from Utah State University where she will enroll in the fall in the nursing program with a career goal to become a nurse practitioner.  

DEREK WALLACE, youngest of Harold and Annette Wallace’s two children, will don cap and gown on Thursday, May 23 graduating as one of the nearly 400 members of Dixie High School’s Class of 2019.  He notes the high point of his years at DHS was attending Senior Ball with a lovely young woman who made the trip to St. George from her Wyoming hometown to be with him for this special evening.  Derek was in line for a basketball scholarship but an injury prior to graduation took him out of the running.  His future plans include a degree in business or psychology from Dixie State University, which he hopes to fund by selling homes alongside his longtime real estate agent parents.

SIDNEY KERR, 2^nd of Charlie and Sarah Kerr’s four children, will be one of nearly 400 graduates of Dixie High School on Thursday, May 23. Her memories of being a Flyer have been “so sweet” and admits she’s sorry to see it end, but she is excited for the adventures her future is certain to hold.  Sidney has been Student of the Month, Senior Ball Queen, and was named “Best Personality” among Preference Royalty. Her favorite high school experience, however, was as a member of the Student Executive Council with responsibility for Amusements where she got to plan dances. Her future plans include a semester of general studies at Dixie State University while she waits for a mission call.  

STEVEN LARSON, tallest of Aaron and Rebecca Larson’s five children, accepted his diploma on Thursday, May 3 and is now a graduate of Dixie High School.  The 6’5” former-Flyer, remembers taking 9^th place in Region 9 golf as one of his best high school experiences, but the absolute most memorable was his team taking 1^st place in the business division of the Regional Skills USA competition – out of 35+ teams!  A few months later his team traveled from Utah to Kentucky where they placed 10^th in national competition. What does his future hold?  Steven plans to complete his general studies at Utah Valley University then earn a bachelor’s degree in business at Utah State University with a career goal to someday be his own boss.

SELWIN LOVELL graduated magna cum laude (at least a 3.8 overall gpa) from Dixie State University on Friday, May 3, a year ahead of schedule, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Marketing.  One of 1828 graduates in DSU’s Class of 2019, the husband of Brianna Teddie Bair Lovell; identical twin brother to Simeon Lovell; son-in-law of Bishop Mike and Lori Bair; and, a favorite son of Linda and Ed Sappington, Selwin has been on the Dean’s List almost every semester and has also been named to the President’s List of students with a 4.0 gpa.  He now plans to continue his studies toward a Masters’ Degree (probably) in Business Administration.

Welcome Home, Elder Hauser Jones

Elder Hauser Jones, the 8th - and final - fulltime missionary in the family of Diana and Corwin Smith is now Haus again after two years of service to the Lord and His children in the Honduras San Pedro Sula East Mission.  Arriving home to the waiting arms of his family, Haus reports his mission was "amazing" but he is "adjusting quickly" although he still thinks and studies in Spanish.

He reports his two years of "helping people understand why we're here and where we're going" in what was once the 2nd most dangerous area in the world "strengthened my testimony." The lessons he learned in Honduras include "if you don't serve, you're useless to our Heavenly Father," "you can't just coast along in life ... or you'll lose your testimony," and "what matters most is families and making it back to our Heavenly Father."

The B7 Ward's most recent RM will begin a summer job search before moving on to the campus of Brigham Young University in the fall where he plans to study finance because "I'm really good at numbers and I think there is the possibility of good career in this field."

Welcome home, Brother Haus ... and we look forward to watching you create a bright future!