Welcome to the Church and the B7 Ward, Wylie Whitmer

Wylie Whitmer, son of David and Robin Whitmer and sandwiched between two sisters, became one of the newest members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at the Bloomington Stake Center.  Baptized and confirmed by his father David Whitmer, Wylie was surrounded by loved ones there to witness this important day in his young life.  “It was wonderful,” notes Dad.  “It was an A+ event.”

Wylie is a 2^nd grader at Bloomington Elementary.  His family doesn’t hear many complaints about school – except when his dad is late picking him up - but he particularly likes math.

 

The 8-year-old enjoys soccer and Legos when he’s not in the classroom and according to his Mom “Wylie is helpful, fun, energetic and loves his family.”

 

About baptism, Nephi taught, “Wherefore, do all things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter.  For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

 

“And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.”  (2 Nephi 31:17-18)

 

Congrats, 2022 Graduates

Thomas Larson, youngest son of Aaron and Rebecca Larson’s five children, donned a cap and gown and graduated – with high honors - from Dixie High School on May 27, 2022.  Besides school during the day, this hardworking young man has been building his lawn care business around his Bloomington neighborhood while also attending night school for the past year to earn his pilot’s license … and taking flying lessons with a goal to one day fly commercially. 

To achieve high honors, Thomas needed to score 22 of higher on his ACT; have a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or above; complete two years of Spanish, 4 years of science and math … “and other requirements I don’t remember.”

What drew him to what he hopes will be a long career in aeronautics?  “I don’t like to sit down and be still … and I love the idea of vacationing around the world!”

Oaks Hendershot, son of Steele and Sarah Hendershot, collected his Dixie High School diploma in ceremonies held on May 27 and is now eagerly anticipating a week or two in the Provo Missionary Training Center beginning on August 29 where he will finalize his preparations to serve the Lord and His children in the Missouri St. Louis Mission.

In his high school years, Oaks attended Merit Preparatory Academy in Springville and Maple Mountain High School in Spanish Fork before moving to St. George last year with his family.  His favorite high school class was seminary … his least favorite was math.  He considers himself “an ordinary student” with a GPA of 2.9-3.0 and while he doesn’t consider his a “super exotic” mission field, he feels certain it is where the Lord needs him (see more about his mission field after August 29 at https://bloomington7thword.blogspot.com). 

     

Andrew Evans, oldest son and 2nd of Joel and Alissa Evans five children and grandson of Howard and Jeannie Evans, started his high school experience while living with his family in Saudi Arabia where he attended the international school.  When they returned to the USA and specifically to St. George, he enrolled at Tuacahn High School where his favorite class was ballroom dancing.  When THS left “the canyon” he decided to complete his senior year at Dixie High School though he admits three schools in a year was not easy. 

After graduation on Friday, May 27, 2022, Andrew will attend BYU-Hawaii where he plans to study marine biology – combining his love for animals and the ocean - rather than any of several Utah universities.  This decision came after he and his dad explored the Honolulu campus during a father/son vacation and where he hopes to work at the Polynesian Cultural Center. 

 Claire Walker, oldest of JJ Walker Jensen's three children and a recent move-in from Flagstaff, AZ, graduated this week with high honors and with an honors certificate from Dixie High School.  She was also happy to have earned a scholarship to the University of New Mexico, a public research university located in Albuquerque.  But even though she has found her school, she is yet "undecided" as to what major she plans to pursue.  

Her favorite class at DHS was U.S. history ... her least was math.  What will she miss most?  "My friends and sports," she notes.  What will she miss least?  "Having to wake up every morning at 6 a.m." 

Also members of Dixie High School’s Class of 2022 are Traci Clem, daughter of Peggy and the late Dennisearle Clem and Beecher Field, son of Wade and Erika Field. 

 

Congratulations, young men and women of the B7 Ward for achieving this important milestone which gives you the opportunity to earn a higher income and gain access to better living conditions, healthier foods, and health care services. Overall, high school graduation has the potential to improve your financial, social and employment health.

Ryker Denny is Baptized

Ryker Denny, 2^nd of Jessica and Emanual Zevallos’ four sons, stepped into the baptismal font next to his stepfather on Saturday, March 26, 2022 to show his Heavenly Father his willingness to “come unto Christ” and keep His commandments from this time forward.  Baptized and confirmed on his 8^th birthday Ryker was surrounded by grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, his Dad, a stepbrother and a stepsister, all who had traveled from northern Utah for this important event. 

 Ryker, a 2nd grader at Bloomington Elementary School, is very social, sweet and caring and loves learning about Jesus. In the classroom, he enjoys science, drawing, arts and crafts but isn't crazy about math.  Outside of school, he very much likes soccer, basketball, getting to know new friends, making people laugh ... and helping his Mom as her biggest helper with his one-year-old brother.

 

In the words of Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Entering into the kingdom of God is so important Jesus set the example to show us ‘the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which [we] should enter.” (2 Nephi 31:9)

 

“Then each week in sacrament meeting we promise to remember the atoning sacrifice of our Savior as we renew our baptismal covenant.  We promise to do as the Savior did – to be obedient to the Father and always keep His commandments.  The blessing we have in return is to always have His spirit to be with us.”

 

As ward members, it is now our responsibility to help his family guide Ryker in whatever way possible, on his journey as a new member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.