Sunday, July 29, 2012

Hooks Serve for the 5th Time

For the 5th time in their 26-years of married life, Dean and Margaret Hooks will leave their home, three sons, a daughter and 9 grandchildren behind to serve the Lord as two of the church’s nearly 6000 fulltime senior missionaries.

Their first mission together took them to the Dakotas where Elder Hooks served as Mission President (1991-94). After moving from Tucson, Arizona where he had retired after 36 years as a petroleum jobber for Chevron, the Hooks’ served their second mission in the Family History Center in St. George - he for 4 ½ years, she for 5 ½ years.

They had hoped, their 5th mission would be an 18-month call to Guyana, South America to replace the Sappington’s as PEF missionaries – an assignment they know well after back-to-back PEF missions (their 3rd and 4th) to South Africa. Alas, the Lord had other plans for them!

On July 30, the Hooks will leave for one year to serve a different kind of mission. They have been called to provide “member and leader support” to new or struggling branches in the Missouri Independence Mission.

Toward the church’s goal to have 25,000 seniors serving in any of hundreds of assignments in 334 missions around the world, an enthusiastic Elder Hooks encourages other seniors to consider this "adventure of a lifetime. There are calls to ‘preach the gospel, perfect the saints and redeem the dead’ in every part of the world - including welfare and humanitarian service; in temples, family history centers, mission offices, and historic sites . . . and, your grandchildren will still be here when you get back! Just go!!!"

Scout Camp A Memorable Adventure

In mid-July, ten scouts and 3 leaders from the Bloomington 7th Ward enjoyed an excellent experience at Camp Tifie, located along the Manti LaSal mountain range in Sanpete Countym approximately 7 miles southwest of Mt. Pleasant. At Utah’s newest scout camp, the Scouts participated in flag ceremonies, campfire programs, merit badge courses, and camp wide competitions. Approximately 55 merit badges were earned. The troop won the coveted Spirit Stick on the second day of camp with a creative cheer developed by Raven Patrol Leader Bryce Nelson. The word of the day which had to be utilized in the cheer was “Rottweiler."

In addition to camp programs and events, these scouts developed camaraderie and learned how to work with one another, with Jake Stokes as Senior Patrol Leader and Bryce Nelson and Matthew Clarke as Patrol Leaders.

Heavy rain on Monday evening and again on Friday did not dampen the boys’ spirits as they eagerly attended scheduled courses, evening programs, competitions, and the favorite activity – “our patrol’s own capture-the-flag activity.”


This high-energy activity got the boys in shape to compete with the entire camp in what they called “Sneaky Buffalo” – a kind of capture-the-flag on steroids! Leaders determined the rough-and-tumble event must have been successful since no one sustained any injuries.

Everyone agreed, the favorite merit badge was Horsemanship and Ollie, the horse wrangler was the favorite camp personality. All the boys were given a nickname by Ollie – who surprised them all by remembering their names correctly for the whole week (ask the scouts about “Flip Flop” and “Shiny Boy”). Nine boys earned the Horsemanship merit badge.

Lessons learned during the week include the difference between square boxes and wide open places – the boys agree they like wide open spaces better. There were also great patriotic stories, told around the campfire, of men who gave their lives for our freedom. There was also a lesson on understanding “our spirit and the spirit of the earth, animals and trees.” The evening was made particularly memorable as it ended with music played on a native Indian flute.


Other learning experiences included working together as a troop . . . “we will long remember how NOT to float your boat,” states Scoutmaster Mat Chappell and Assistant Scoutmaster Steve Gwilliam. “As leaders, we saw huge steps taken by young men to meet challenges, conquer fears, assume responsibility for actions, and work on leadership skills. Thanks to our ward family, Bishop Goldhardt, the scout committee, and to Moms and Dads for ongoing support and help to make this Scout camp a success!”

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Montana Heads to South Dakota

On Wednesday, July 25, Montana Hollowell, 3rd of four sons of Bob and Carol Hollowell, will enter the MTC in preparation for two years of service in the South Dakota Rapid City Spanish-speaking Mission which encompasses North and South Dakota and “bits and pieces” of Wyoming, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. 

“Why would any normal man take this extraordinary leap of faith?” asked Montana in farewell remarks to Church members of the Bloomington 7th Ward.  “Especially a young man who has been inactive for more than 8 years.  Why would 52,500 young men and women commit to a complete change of lifestyle – no dating, music choices limited to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a boring uniform of white shirts and ties – for two years?  It’s because of our testimony and our love for our Savior!”

Calling the Bloomington 7th Ward “an oasis in the desert,” Montana credits the love of ward members for rescuing his family.  “You were not asked to be missionaries to us (his family) when we moved here, but you were!  You encouraged me and supported me in many ways.  Thank you especially, Bishop Goldhardt and Peter Bown.”

Montana admits he was very surprised to receive a call to serve in the United States.  “My mom really, really wanted me to serve a foreign mission so I think she was more disappointed than I was, but in a way as a Spanish-speaking missionary, it is kind of like a foreign mission.”

Montana will remain in the MTC until early September before traveling to his field of service.                     .

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Finding Love in the B7 Ward




Longtime Bloomington 7th Ward members Sharron Miller and Perry Keller were united in marriage on Saturday, July 21.  The ceremony in the Relief Society room was conducted by Bishop John Goldhardt who quoted from the Proclamation on the Family as he also reminded both, "marriage is a partnership of equals."  The ceremony was witnessed by a room full of family and friends all excited to share in this memorable moment.  The happy couple – both widowed in the past several years – first met in 1996 over the back fence on their common property line, proving, once again, friends make the best spouses!  

Friday, July 13, 2012

Farewell, Daniel Clinger


Daniel Clinger, 92 – Billie’s best friend, supporter and companion for 63 years - stepped into eternity surrounded by his beloved family at the couple’s Bloomington home on the beautiful summer morning of July 11, 2012. 
Dan, the eldest of 11 is remembered by his four remaining siblings as a dutiful son and the adored big brother to a large family of four boys and six girls.  After returning from military service in the U.S. Army Air Forces at the close of WWII and serving in the Eastern Central States Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Daniel married Billie Marie on June 20, 1929 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.  They made their home together in San Fernando, California where they lived for 43 years and reared their family, now including 6 children, 33 grandchildren and 26 greats.  They moved to St. George in 1993.
With a personal motto of “family and church first, service above self and excellence in all I do,” Dan earned a degree in mechanical engineering from UCLA.  He spent his working years as a design engineer and scientist for McDonnell Douglas and the Atomics International Division of North American Rockwell In his lengthy career in the aerospace and nuclear industry , he was involved in the design and testing of components for commercial aircraft and nuclear reactor systems for space applications and commercial power plants.   He also developed many talents, including mechanics, project design, welding; cutting, grinding and polishing semi-precious stones and design and fabrication of silver jewelry.  This tall, handsome gentleman, who considered himself an artist at heart, spent his leisure time in several hobbies such as genealogy, gardening, lapidary, silver smithing and oil painting.  His Church service has also been lengthy and varied.  Baptized in 1928, he served as a bishop’s counselor, twice as a bishop, patriarch, high priest group leader, assistant ward clerk and "even on a high council or two!”  His favorite assignment, however, was always that of teacher, which service he believed “assists in saving souls and refreshing my own knowledge of the scriptures and of Church doctrine.”
Brother Dan Clinger’s gentle good nature and service to Billie, his neighbors, friends and the church will always be remembered as the outward demonstration of his heartfelt love of his wife and family and his faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ!  Brother Dan will long be missed as a member of the Bloomington 7th Ward.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Aloha to Tom and Jackie Malm

Tom and Jackie Malm began their 18-month mission – which their family and friends say is more like an extended vacation – to the Hawaii Laie Temple Mission in early June.  They spent a week in the MTC where each of them “gained about 10 pounds because our schedule was ‘work, eat, eat, work, eat, work, eat, and eat’.  In our two weeks of instruction we heard from Church leaders and Temple Presidents sharing stories about the brethren and about temple doctrine.  We treasured every moment of it.  That was worth the time and effort to serve a mission by itself!” notes Sister Malm.

The decision to serve a mission did not come easy, according to Elder Malm.  “We had lots of reasons why we couldn’t go.  In General Conference, Church leaders asked seniors to serve a mission, if they could.  Ed and Linda Sappington pleaded for help where they were . . . with no response from us because we didn’t think we could do it.  At Ward Conference Bishop Goldhardt and President Anderson made a presentation asking for seniors to consider going.  At the end of the meeting, we looked at each other and said, ‘let’s do it!’”
We submitted our papers, wanting the Lord to know we would go anywhere and do anything.  We put down our Church and Temple experience and thought we would be called to a Spanish speaking area.  We bought Spanish programs and started to study together.  Then the call came.  Jackie found me in a planning meeting in the Temple where I did the Toyota jump.
After meeting with the temple president in Laie, we knew for certain why we had been called to this beautiful place.  President Workman told us they had prayed us here and as he spoke, he used the same words we had put on our paper work.  The Spirit bore witness to us and we were humbled.  We have been in leadership roles for several years in The St. George Temple but feel totally unprepared for this.  It is a huge responsibility with special challenges. We have faith the Lord will help us.
This week our ward here in Laie will host a Hukilau.   The town’s people come to the beach and put out huge nets. Everybody helps pull the nets in full of fish( sometimes) then they have a fish fry and party.  Our Church people here originated this as a fund raiser to build the first Chapel here in Laie, and it remains as a great tradition.”
The Malms are happy in their service and invite others to serve wherever the Lord has need for your skills and talents.

Farewell to Jim Reid



Our beloved Brother James Luther Reid slipped into eternity on June 8, 2012 with Patti, his wife of 21 years at his bedside.  This multi-talented father of 4 and grandfather of five – who lived more than 50 years in Portland, Maine and 17 years in Las Vegas, Nevada before relocating to southern Utah in 2005 - was an artist who loved drawing and painting – particularly water color.  He was also an accomplished jazz drummer and singer, a golf fanatic, a former substitute teacher at Dixie Middle School and Dixie High School, and a recovering alcoholic who had been sober for 39 years at the time of his death.
 
Jim graduated from Maine Central Institute in 1957 and from Emerson College in 1961, then joined the U. S. Army, serving in Germany.  He was a long time member of the Kiwanis Club and an active participant in the South Portland Thaxter Theatre. His working career included ownership of an advertising agency and later Reid’s Furniture Store in South Portland.

The Reids joined the Church in 2007 after hearing the missionary lessons shortly after moving to St. George and together enjoyed five years as members of the Bloomington 7th Ward.

"The ‘hook’ for me was the lesson on the pre-existence," Jim said of his conversion. "What they told me just made sense . . . there was a beginning, there is a middle and there will be something even more wonderful on the other side when this life ends!"

As his health deteriorated he was unable to attend Church on a regular basis, but remained constant in his faith in Jesus Christ and particularly in that “something wonderful” waiting for him on the other side. 

Brother Jim will always be remembered for his talent and unwavering good humor, despite debilitating health issues in the last few years of his life.  Condolences to Patti and to the other members of Jim’s family!