Adams

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If They Will But Serve the God of the Land

This is the year of the Semiquincentennial of the United States of America. I have wondered multiple times about this moment in time. I am fortunate to be alive to experience this year. I have heard others tell of their experiences with the Bicentennial and what a special occasion it was. I don’t recall reading much of the 1926, 1876, or 1826 celebrations. Although I know there were some in 1826, as there are references to them especially trying to get Thomas Jefferson and John Adams to attend events for that occasion.

Massachusetts State House – April 2026

From all I have read and reviewed for this year, I have a profound sense of achievement and pride in how these things have come to be and how we mostly still are as we should be. I feel that much since Independence has also been inspired. Earlier this year, I was fortunate to go to Boston. For the Semiquincentennial, I was excited. In the evenings after classes, I would walk all over Boston, with friends, to see the sights.

It is with that, I share this address from the April 1976 General Conference. This was given by N. Eldon Tanner for the Bicentennial. What he spoke of on that date seems as timeless as it fully applies even today. He took his title from the Book of Ether, given to the Jaredites as they first reached this continent:

“Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ.” (Ether 2:12)

“This being the first general conference in the bicentennial year of the United States of America, I have been doing much pondering and contemplating of this event as it relates to the gospel and the great plan of life and salvation. We are all reading and hearing much concerning the events connected with the founding of this country, and with the modern devices available to us today, the news media reach throughout the world, and we are all aware of our interrelationship with one another’s countries.

“We would expect every man to be loyal to his native land—the land in which he was born, the land in which he lives, works, and rears his family. I think of the words of Sir Walter Scott in “The Lay of the Last Minstrel”:

“Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,

“Who never to himself hath said,

“This is my own, my native land!

“Whose heart hath ne’er within him burn’d

“As home his footsteps he hath turn’d

“From wandering on a foreign strand!

Old State House – Boston – April 2026

“During the last few weeks I, with President Kimball and others of the official party, have had the privilege of attending area conferences in New Zealand, Australia, and the beautiful islands of the South Seas. New Zealand claims to be a choice land and favored by the Lord, and the night before we left Tahiti, one of the Brethren said, “Well, tomorrow we will be driven out of the Garden of Eden.”

“We were most favorably impressed by the beauties of the countries wherever we went. Sister Tanner said, “We surely live in a beautiful world.” Yes, all countries are greatly blessed by the Lord, and each is uniquely different in its beauties, its people, customs, and traditions.

“Today, however, I should like to confine my remarks to a discussion concerning the Western Hemisphere, and particularly to the United States of America, and to point out the destiny of America in the Lord’s eternal plan. The discovery of the Americas was not an accident. The event had been foreordained in the eternal councils. The prophets of old had it in view. Jacob foresaw it when he blessed his son Joseph, calling him “a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall … unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.” (Gen 49:22, 26.)

“Moses too made promises to the tribe of Joseph, whose land, America, was to be precious for the things of heaven and of earth, and who would “push the people together to the ends of the earth.” (See Deut 33:13-17.) These are just some of the biblical prophecies, and we have the Book of Mormon record which tells of the Jaredites who were the first to come to America. They came at the time of the confusion of languages during the building of the tower of Babel.

“Just as Noah was directed, these people too were instructed to build ships to carry them on the waters. When all was in readiness, they boarded their vessels and “set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God.” (Ether 6:4.)

“The account states, “And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.” (Ether 6:12.)

“Then, six hundred years before the birth of Christ, a prophet by the name of Lehi, who had been crying repentance unto the inhabitants of Jerusalem, was commanded by the Lord to depart with his family into the wilderness. Because of the things which he had testified concerning the wickedness of the people and the pending destruction of Jerusalem, he was mocked and scorned, and the people sought to take his life. In obedience to the Lord’s instructions, he departed with his family and others, and after a period in the wilderness, they too were instructed to build a ship and sail for the promised land. We read, “And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land.” (1 Ne. 18:23.)

“While in the wilderness Nephi, the son of Lehi, was permitted to see in vision the things that would transpire concerning the destiny of America—the promised land. He said, “And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.” (1 Ne. 13:12.)

“This, as we know, refers to Christopher Columbus, who was impelled by the Spirit of God to cross the ocean for the rediscovery of America, thus assisting in the furthering of God’s purposes.

“Columbus himself, in a letter to the Spanish hierarchy, wrote, “Our Lord unlocked my mind, sent me upon the sea, and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my emprise called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed. But who can doubt but that the Holy Ghost inspired me?” (Quoted in Mark E. Petersen, The Great Prologue, Deseret Book Co., 1975, p. 26.)

“During the voyage, after weeks of sailing with no sign of land, mutiny raised its head. Finally, Columbus promised the captains of the Pinta and the Niña, both of whom wanted to turn back, that if no land was sighted in forty-eight hours, they would turn back. Then he went to his cabin and, in his words, “prayed mightily to the Lord.” On October 12, the very next day, they sighted land.

“Nephi saw in vision also the coming of the Pilgrims, who came to escape religious persecution. He foresaw the coming to America of peoples from many nations, their wars and contentions. As Nephi said, they did humble themselves before the Lord and “the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.

““And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.” (1 Ne. 13:18-19.)

“Thus the American colonies attained their independence and set up the government of the United States, all under the divine intervention of God in preparing this land for its divine destiny.

“At this point we pay tribute to those great men who accepted and met the great challenge to establish a constitution for the government of this so-called new land. That this too was divinely inspired is attested by the word of the Lord when he said, “According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;

““That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.

““Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.

““And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.” (D&C 101:77-80.)

Old North Church – Boston – April 2026

“No constitution on earth has endured longer than this one. We seek, and usually find, the answers to today’s questions in this document of yesterday. It was and is a miracle. Both Washington and Madison referred to it as such. It is an inspired document written under the guidance of the Lord. James Madison, commonly called the father of the Constitution, recognized this inspiration and gave the credit to “the guardianship and guidance of the Almighty Being whose power regulates the destiny of nations, whose blessings have been so conspicuously dispensed to this rising republic.” (Petersen, Prologue, p. 95.)

“We believe that the Constitution was brought about by God to ensure a nation where liberty could abound and where his gospel could flourish. Joseph Smith said, “The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard—it is founded in the wisdom of God—it is a heavenly banner.” (Petersen, Prologue, p. 75.)

“Among other things, the Constitution guaranteed the religious freedom that allowed the Reformation to continue and flourish. Many of these great reformers stated that their effort was to reassert the basic Christian teachings of the Bible—but they acknowledged that they possessed no authority to administer the ordinances of the Church, or to reestablish the original church of Jesus Christ. Luther said, “Christianity has ceased to exist among those who should have preserved it.”

“Roger Williams, founder of the Baptist Church in America, said, “There is no regularly constituted church on earth, nor any person qualified to administer any church ordinances.” (LeGrand Richards, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Deseret Book Co., 1973, p. 29.)

“We believe that both freedom and the continuing reformation that flourished here occurred in preparation for a restoration from heaven of the full gospel of Jesus Christ. That restoration began in the United States of America in the 1820s through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who was chosen by the Lord and who, through personal manifestations from heavenly messengers, received pertinent records which contained the authentic record of early American peoples and God’s dealings with them. He received the priesthood and authority to reestablish the church of Jesus Christ in these latter days.

Paul Ross and Paul Revere statue – Boston – Old North Church in background – April 2026

“At the time of this restoration, God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ actually appeared to Joseph Smith, as they had appeared to leaders of previous dispensations. They announced to him that Christ’s church would be reestablished upon the earth, with a restoration of the same principles and ordinances and organization which existed in the primitive church, from which there had been an apostasy as documented by irrefutable evidence. This restoration was the greatest event in the history of mankind since the birth, death, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Significantly, the early Americans to whom we have referred were aware of the birth, death, and resurrection of the Savior because they saw the same signs and wonders as those in the Old World foretelling the coming of the Lord, his life, mission, and subsequent death and resurrection.

“Referring to these same early Americans, the Lord said, as recorded in the New Testament, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (1 John 10:16.)

“In the Book of Mormon we have a beautiful account of Christ’s visit to these “other sheep” following his resurrection, when they heard his voice and recognized him as he showed the nail prints in his hands and feet. We know these were the “other sheep” because he said, “Ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold.” (3 Ne. 15:21.) He taught them the gospel. He instituted the sacrament and ordained disciples. He gave authority to confer the Holy Ghost, healed the sick, and blessed the little children. He prayed unto the Father for them.

“We read, “The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;

““… and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.” (3 Ne. 17:16-17.)

“Now, what of America’s future? How can we best show our appreciation to God for these marvelous blessings of freedom, of a place where his true and everlasting gospel was restored, of the preparation and divine guidance in every event leading to that most significant event? We must remember what the Lord told the Jaredites when they were first brought to this land: “Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.” (Ether 2:12; italics added.)

“Many years ago in a volume entitled Beacon Lights of History, Dr. John Lord, referring to the discovery of America, said, after speaking of her great potential, “The world has witnessed many powerful empires which have passed away and left ‘not a track behind.’ What remains of the antediluvian world? … What remains of Nineveh, of Babylon, of Thebes, of Tyre, of Carthage—those great centers of wealth and power? What remains of Roman greatness even, except in laws and literature and renovated statues? … What is the simple story of all the ages?—industry, wealth, corruption, decay, and ruin. What conservative power has been strong enough to arrest the ruin of the nations of antiquity?

““Now if this is to be the destiny of America—an unbounded material growth, followed by corruption and ruin—then Columbus has simply extended the realm for men to try material experiments. Make New York a second Carthage, and Boston a second Athens, and Philadelphia a second Antioch, and Washington a second Rome, and we simply repeat the old experiments.

““But has America no higher destiny than to repeat the old experiments and improve upon them and become rich and powerful? Has she no higher and nobler mission? If America has a great mission to declare and to fulfil, she must put forth altogether new forces, and these not material. And these alone will save her and save the world. … The real glory of America is to be something entirely different from that of which the ancients boasted. And this is to be moral and spiritual—that which the ancients lacked.”

“We are all a part of America’s future. Our job is to learn and benefit from the past and to go forward in righteousness, keeping the commandments of God. In this connection the prophet Lehi said, “Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.” (2 Ne. 1:7.)

“As we pray daily to God for guidance, we should all make the same plea as George Washington did in his prayer for our country:

““Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage, we humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will.

““Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning and pure manners.

““Save us from violence, discord and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way.

““Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought out of many kindreds and tongues.

““Endue with the spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be peace and justice at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.

““In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail.

““All of which we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

“We encourage our people to be good, loyal, law-abiding citizens. “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.” (A of F 1:12.)

William Prescott statue – Bunker Hill Monument – April 2026

“Also, it is our duty to seek diligently for and support and uphold good, honest, honorable, and wise representatives to govern us. Let me reiterate the message left with the Saints nearly sixty years ago at the general conference in April 1917 when Elder Anthony W. Ivins, after discussing religious liberty and the Constitution, said, “I feel authorized to say, here this afternoon, that these liberties which have come to men, both religious and civil, have not been established by the Lord to be destroyed, but that they are here to remain until liberty shall prevail from the rivers to the ends of the earth, until God’s kingdom shall be established among men, and his will done upon earth as it is done in heaven. Until the universal Fatherhood of God, and brotherhood of man shall be recognized, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of Christ, who shall reign as Prince of Peace.” (Conference Reports, April 1917, pp. 54–55.)

“And I bear testimony that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God here upon the earth, with the Lord directing the work through our prophet, President Spencer W. Kimball. May I urge everyone everywhere to help bring to pass righteousness, in whatever country you may reside, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. If you are active members of the Church you will know what they are. If you are not, may I invite you to avail yourselves of the opportunity to investigate and gain a knowledge and testimony for yourselves that the gospel in its fulness has been restored, with the authority to administer the ordinances thereof, and is here upon the earth.

“Only as we accept and live the teachings of the gospel can the destiny which God planned for America be realized and the world united in peace and brotherhood. That this may speedily come to pass I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Union Oyster House – Boston – April 2026
Oysters at Union Oyster House – Boston – April 2026 – Holly Sutherland – Tecla Druffel
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A short history lesson for Moon, Labrador on ranked-choice voting

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1972 Burley High School Commencement

I was trying to find some photos and stumbled upon my Mom’s graduation pamphlet I had scanned a few years ago. Thought maybe it was time to share it, especially where I have seen some of her classmates have passed away recently.

1972 Baccalaureate and Commencement – Burley High School – Burley Idaho

These programs courtesy of the following Public Spirited Business Concerns

Amalgamated Sugar Co.

Burley Processing Co.

Burley Reminder

Cassia National Bank

First Federal Savings & Loan Assn., Burley Branch

First Security Bank

Guys ‘N Dolls

Idaho Bank & Trust Co.

Idaho First National Bank Burley Office

McCaslins

Ponderosa Inn

J. R. Simplot Food Processing Division

South Idaho Press

Class Officers

President Garth Beck

Vice President Bud Hoffbuhr

Secretary Jill Hinz

Executives Peggy Wood, Peggy Larson, Kaye Dawn Larson, Jeananne Gruwell, Jean Graham

Class Adviser Mr. David Peck

Baccalaureate Sunday, May 21, 1972 2:30 P.M.

Mr. Tom Gruwell , Principal, Presiding

Processional High School Band Mike Chesley, Conducting

Welcome Garth Beck Class President

Invocation Bud Hoffbuhr

Special Number Bel Canto Choir Elden Wood, Conducting “Battle Hymn of the Republic”

Address Dr. Walter R. Peterson

Cherubim Song Senior Octet

Benediction Calvin Pearson

Recessional High School Band

Commencement Monday, May 22, 1972 8:00 P.M.

Mr. Tom Gruwell, Principal, Presiding

THEME: “I Dream Dreams that Never Were and I Ask, Why Not” – George Bernard Shaw

Processional – High School Band – Mike Chesley, Conducting

Invocation – Connie Smith

Welcome Address – Garth Beck, Class President

Greetings from Austria – Marianne Koch – Exchange Student

“Man and His World” – Senior Choir

Valedictorian – Julieann Kerbs

Trombone Solo – Doug Nichols

Salutatorian – Edi Lou King

“The Halls of Ivy” – Senior Sextet

Presentation of Diplomas – Mr. Norval Wildman, Mr. Albert Klink, Mr. Dave Peck, Mr. Tom Gruwell

Class Song “Crescent Moon” – Class of ’72 – Gwen Bowen, Conducting

Benediction – Wayne Johnson

Recessional – High School Band

Adams, David Ratelle

Allen, Kathryn Marie

Allred, Anthony Jon

Allred, Howard Lynn

Amen, Joanne Marie

Andersen, Debra

Anderson, Roxanne

Anderson, Jerald DeLayne (1954 – 2017)

Anderson, Jay S

Anderson, Todd Michael (1953 – 1972)

Angus, Joyce Ann

Baker, Cheryl

Baker, Rell Dean

Banner, Marc

Barkdull, Marlene

Bewan, Lynnette

Beard, Patrick Scott

* Beck, Garth Warren (1953 – 2002)

Beck, Reid Belliston

Beckham, George Benjamin

Bedke, Douglas Herman

Bell, Larry W

Bench, Michael R

Berkenmeier, JoAnn

Bishop, Gregory Lynn

Black, Don Reid

Bodily, Ted O (1954 – 2019)

Bowcut, Bruce V

Bowen, Gwen

Bowers, Gloria

Bradshaw, Bill A Jr

Breeding, SHelly Marie

Briggs, Larry

Brill, Russel Dean

Brown, Julieann

Burgi, Lysene (1953 – 2016)

Burton, Arlen Lynn (1954 – 2014)

Call, Milo Jay

Campbell, Debra “Debbie” Kay (1954 – 2019) Johnson

Cargill, Elwin Verl II

Carey, Mirian June

Castillo, Yolanda Hernandez

Christian, Debbie Lynn

Clark, Bradley Hales

Clark, Antone “Tony” Lee (1954 -2015)

Coleman, Rick Lynn

* Crane, RoZann

Cunnington, Gaylene

Darrington, Jerilyn

Davids, Michael Lynn (1953 – 2020)

Davis, Donna Emily

Day, Debra E

Dayley, LaNae

Dayley, Lee K

Delaney, William W

Dille, LuRene

Draney, Rex Leonard (1953 – 2007)

Duncan, Rocky Gale (1954 – 2020)

Dunn, Rodney K

Dunn, Roger

** Eames, Lou Ann

Eldredge, Debbie

Farwell, Albert Michael (1952 – 2023)

Fairchild, Aleta Ann

Fenton, Wayne J

Ferlic, Beth Anne

Ferlic, Robert James

Filger, Thomas W

Fillmore, Louise

Fletcher, William Kent

Forschler, Laura Lynn

Forschler, Melody

Frazier, Lon Mitchell

Frost, Verlynn

Funk, Barbara Elaine

Gallegos, Linda K

Garcia, Don J

Garrard, Vickie Lynn

Goodwin, Irene Cecilia

Goold, Gary

Graf, Becky Ann (1954 – 2011) Moats, Kloer

Grafft, Duane Brian (1953 – 2006)

Graham, Jean

Green, Michael Dan

** Green, Sharon

Gregersen, Denice

Gruwell, Jeananne

Guiles, Randy Andrew (1953 – 2015)

Gunnell, Brent Udell

Hanks, Gary Thomas

** Hansen, Rae

Hansen, Sondra

Harper, Leslie C

Hatch, Karol (1953 – 2004) Kerr

Haycock, Con D

Hazel, Stanley Jarvis (1953 – 2008)

Heiner, Paula Jean

Hepworth, Linda

Hess, Steven Lerlan

Heward, William Alex

Hill, Michael Gordon

Hinz, Jill Marie

Hinz, Kathleen Ann

Hobson, Sheryl

Hoffbuhr, Vernard “Bud” Standley Jr (1954 – 1997)

Holm, Steve D

* Holmes, Thomas J

Holt, Phillip L

Holyoak, Kenneth Reid

Hunt, Timothy Lynn

Hunter, Richard A

Jackson, Kelly Ann

Johnson, Becky A

Johnson, Jack Wesley

Johnson, Mary Beth

Johnson, Wayne Richard (1953 – 2008)

Jolley, Patricia

Jonas, Sandy (1954 – alive)

Jones, Steven

Judd, Rockland K (1953 – 2012)

Karlson, Kerry

Kawamoto, Becky

Keen, George E

Keen, Vickie Rae Funk

Kelly, Pat

** Kerbs, Julieann

Kidd, Cory Vaughn

** King, Edith Louise

King, Gary

Knight, Robin Daniel (1953 – 2014)

Kober, Glen R

Koch, Marianne

Koyle, Garth H

Koyle, Shanna

Kunau, Nancy Rae

* Lamb, DeEsta Marie

Larsen, Brent

* Larsen, Scott William

Larsen, Vickie Esther

Larson, Vickey Irene

Larson, Kaye Dawn (1954 – 2019) Silcock

Larson, Peggy (1954 – 2016) Stirland

Lee, Roxanne

Lopez, Manuel Campbell

Loveland, Cynthia (1954 – 1981)

Loveland, Kevin R (1954 – 2008)

Lynch, Gary D

McBride, Anita Marie

McMurray, Susan Mary

* Mackley, Sally Irene

Mai, Kelly

Malloy, Michael John

Manning, Roger D

Marston, Della Kathleen

Martin, Gregory Max (1954 – 1975)

Martin, Stephanie Lyn

Martin, Stephen William

Maselter, Denise Ann (1954 – 2022) Rollins

Matthews, Ennis Eugene

Merrill, Kaye Ellen

Miller, John Edward

Moore, Debra Lynn (1954 – 2002)

Moorman, David Edgar (1953 – 1997)

Navejar, Oscar

Newcomb, Kathy Lorene (1954 – 2020) Bailey

Nichols, Doulgas Arthur

Nielson, Alice Ann

Nielson, Allan (1954 – 2020)

Obermiller, Cynthia Jean

Olsen, Ricky Ross

Olson, Donna Gaye

Ostrander, Diane Kay

Ostrander, Greg

Osterhout, Rex Dale (1954 – 2017)

Otte, Royce Oliver

Page, Linda Marion

Patteron, Peggy Ann

* Pearson, Calvin H

Peterson, Edith Victoria

Pitchford, Debra Faye

Poulton, William Arthur

Powell, Leslie Dean (1953 – 2005)

Priest, Roger Kirk

Ramirez, Adelita

Ramsey, Glenn Douglas

Randall, Steven Grant

Redder, Karen Lea

Reedy, Pamela Hannah

Rehn, Scott Leonard (1954 – 1994)

Rendla, Gary M

Rich, Diane S

Richardson, LuAnn

Rickert, Janice Norene

Ritchie, Neil B

Roberts, Kelly Jo

Robinson, Beth

Ross, Norman Clyde

Russell, Patricia B

Sager, Kent Leslie

Sandmann, Michael Remund

Schorzman, Anne

Severe, Rhonda

Short, David G

Silcock, Richard Donald

Simcoe, Steve Bryan

Sivley, Mary

Smith, Connie Sue

Sowers, Bill A

Spann, Debora

Stephenson, Julia

Taylor, David A (1953 – 2009)

Taylor, Russell Price (? – alive)

Thaxton, Stephen Craig

Thompson, Carlene Diane

Thornburg, Deborah

Telley, Marsha Ann

Tolle, Kent Ray

* Tollefson, Kathryn M

Tracy, Perry Alan (1953 – 2005)

Vannatian, Frances Ruby

Vorwaller, Kristine

Wardle, Diane

Wardle, Pamela Kaye

Warr, Dee Ann (1954 – 2013)

Warr, Paul K

** Weirich, Yvonne Denese

West, Monte M

Wetzstein, Lynette Kay

White, Kristine

Whittle, Ferol Kristine

Wickel, Lee Roy

* Winward, Brenda Arlene

Wolf, Richard Patrick

Wood, Peggy Ann

Woodland, Kirk

Woolstenhulme, Steven Leo

Worman, Barbara Ann

Wright, Edward R

Wyant, Ronald Lee

Wyatt, Marla Jean

Young, Richard LeRoy (1953 – 2022)

Zollinger Janene

National Honor Society Members

** Gold Cord – with 3.8 average or above

* Blue Cords – with 3.5 average to 3.8

The sketch of the Burley High School on the front of the Diploma case.

Sandy Jonas Burley High School Diploma

Mom’s actual Diploma.

Burley High School – Burley, Idaho

This Certifies That Sandy Jonas has satisfactorily completed a Course of Study prescribed for Graduation from this School and is therefore awarded this Diploma.

Given in the month of May, nineteen hundred and seventy-two

Tom Gruwell – Principal

Harold W Blauer – Superintendent

W B Whiteley – Chairman Board of Education

Here is a copy of Mom’s Senior picture – 1972

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A Defense of the Imperial System of Measurement in Law

I read this article in the Utah Bar Journal. It struck me as accurate. Enough so that I wanted to share it with others! I thought the metric system in the United Kingdom was not intuitive, especially where most things had metric and imperial side by side.

In 1975, the United States enacted the Metric Conversion Act, amended by the Omnibus Trade Act of 1988, attempting to compel American citizenry to adopt the modern metric system as their official system of measurement (i.e., the International System of Units). The United States later directed all U.S. agencies to “take all appropriate measures within their authority” to convert to the metric system. Exec. Order No. 12770, 56 FR 35801, at 393 (July 29, 1991). Less than fifty years earlier, the consensus view of the U.S. Congress had been that “the metric system is inferior to the English.” Congressional Hearing Relative to the Compulsory Introduction of the Metric System, on H.R. 10, Cong. 237 (1926) (statement of Samuel S. Dale to the Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures).

Questions about whether weights and measures should be expressed in the imperial system or the metric system in evidence, statutes, and case law have never been fully resolved. In many states, legislation arbitrarily reverts from the imperial system to metric system within subsections of the same statute. See, e.g., Utah Code Ann. § 58-37c-19 (outlawing distribution and possession of methamphetamines in ounces); id. § 58-37c-20.5 (outlawing purchase of pseudoephedrine in grams); see also, e.g., 18 V.S.A. § 4231(a)(3), (outlawing possession of cocaine measured in ounces); 18 V.S.A. § 4231(a)(2) (outlawing possession of cocaine measured in grams). The Supreme Court also appears to have vacillated about how best to express weights and measures. See, e.g., Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 579 U.S. 582 (2016) (expressing distance in miles using the imperial system); Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007) (converting evidence presented in the imperial system to metric system units). And although the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) technically requires applicants to use the metric system, it does not enforce this requirement.

Academics have long advocated for adoption of the metric system as a way of resolving this conflict, while blue-collar American works have resisted the same. Emerging evidence further discussed below appears supportive of the blue-collar workers’ reluctance.

Historical Controversy

Pressure from continental Europe to adopt the metric system began when the metric system was invented in 1791 during the French Revolution by Pierre-Simon Laplace. Thomas Jefferson rejected European pressure to convert, predicting the metric system would fail. U.S. Dep. Of Comm., A History of the Metric System Controversy in the United States, Nat’l Bur. Stand. Spec. Publ. 345–10. John Quincy Adams was forced to write a 117-page report in 1821 on weights and measures, concluding that the metric system was unnaturally contrived. He said, “[o]f all the nations of European origin, ours is that which least requires any change in the system of their weights and measures.” John Quincy Adams, Report Upon Weights and Measures, p. 93: U.S. Senate (1821). Even Napoleon himself ridiculed the metric system and prohibited its use in the First French Empire, which had created it. “Napoleon didn’t personally admire the metric system that Laplace invented, saying, ‘I can understand the twelfth part of an inch, but not the thousandth part of a metre.’” Andrew Roberts, Napoleon: A Life (Viking 2014). Following enactment of the Metric Conversion Act in the United States in 1975, the USPTO issued a directive requiring that weights and measures submitted in U.S. Patent applications be presented in the metric system and codified this directive in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure § 608.01. As a result of these laws and regulations intended to “metricate” the American people, nothing changed. Patent attorneys simply ignored § 608.01 and courts in our system of jurisprudence have largely done the same.

Laymen across the country have resisted pressure to adopt the metric system whenever it is applied. The National Cowboy Hall of Fame director sued the National Bureau of Standards in 1981 for spending $2.5 million per year to promote the metric system but had certiorari denied by the U.S. Supreme Court when he lost the case on standing. The Supreme Court Today Rejected an Effort by Two Champions, U. Press Int’l (Nov. 30, 1981), available at https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/30/The-Supreme-Courttoday-rejected-an-effort-by-two/8345375944400/ (commenting on case No. 81-780). The Ford Motor Company refused to switch to the metric system and authorized articles critical of the metric system. Henry Ford, Moving Forward (1931). Francis Dugan, representing the U.S construction industry on the U.S. Metric Board, promised that U.S. construction would “be the very last sector [in the U.S.] to implement conversion to metric measurement – if at all.” U.S. Metric Board, Summary Report (Jul. 1982). To counter the popular resistance to the metrification of the United States, the National Institute for Standards and Technology established the U.S. Metric Program and the U.S. Metric Board for metricating America in the 1970s. The U.S. Metric Board was disbanded by Ronald Reagan in 1982 while the U.S. Metric Program employed one person from 1982 until 2013. In 2013, when the sole employee of the U.S. Metric Program retired and was asked why nothing had been accomplished in thirty years, he blamed the failure of the U.S. to convert to the metric system on incorrigible semi-truck drivers whom he alleged were incapable of understanding overpass heights and prone to ramming their trailers into overpasses across the country. Carrie Swiggum, Meet the Sole Employee of the U.S. Metric Program, Mental Floss

(Mar. 20, 2013), https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/50160/years-ken-butcher-was-sole-employee-us-metric-program.

While singling out truck drivers for ridicule, actual confusion was taking its toll among America’s more educated demographics. NASA’s Mars Climate Orbiter was lost in 1999 because NASA scientists misconverted feet to meters. An Air Canada plane crashed in 1983 after its pilots misconverted pounds to kilograms, and a patient died in 1999 when given 0.5 grams of Phenobarbital instead of 0.5 grains.

Modern Chaos

Progressive thinkers continue to demand that the U.S. convert. Hollywood’s Cate Blanchet asked on Jimmy Kimmel live in 2018, “Explain to me how the country that can send a man to the moon is still in gallons and inches?” Jimmy Kimmel Live, Cate Blanchett Thinks Americans Should Use the Metric System, YouTube (Sept. 14, 2018), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1FBYgk3svU.

In spite of the Metric Conversion Act and a directive in 1984 from the Department of Transportation that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) switch to the metric system, the FAA largely failed to transition, insisting pilots could estimate runway lengths and approach speeds better in customary imperial units. The National Transportation Safety Board switched to the metric system in the 1980s, then abruptly switched back – actually printing interstate speed limit signs in the metric system for several months. The FAA’s refusal to switch Federal Aviation Regulations, airworthiness directives, and traffic control practices to the metric system forced the rest of the world to switch their avionics and traffic control systems back to the imperial system and continue calculating altitude in feet, speed in knots, and distance in miles and knots, rather than in kilometers. To the chagrin of its detractors, the imperial system

is adopted by every country in the world for aviation-related functions as a result of U.S. dominance. Additionally, U.S. dominance in aviation resulted in the worldwide adaption of English as the exclusive language of communication between pilots and air traffic control towers.

Is the Imperial System Illogical?

What are we to make of this chaos? Is the United States acting illogically in resisting metrification that reformists insist is inevitable? The imperial system bases its units of measurement on organically evolved common artefacts thought to be common to human observation and intuitively understood, whereas the derived units of metric system are defined as arbitrary fractions of scientific constants. For instance, a foot in the imperial system is about the length of a human foot. The meter, on the other hand, is defined as being 1/299,792,458 of the distance light travels in a second. In the imperial system, a cup is about a cup. The volume of a barrel of oil is, it turns out, about a barrel. An acre is about the amount of land a farmer can till in a day using an ox. A mile is 2,000 paces (i.e., 1,000 left and right steps). An inch is the width of a human thumb. The same intuitive observations underlie the units of teaspoons, tablespoons, bushels, grains, lightyears, and candlepower. Even the Fahrenheit temperature scale of the imperial system was created roughly to define zero degrees as the freezing point of seawater and 100 degrees as body temperature (while Kelvin defines zero as the temperature at which molecular motion ceases for any adiabatic process). We must ask ourselves whether it is easier to understand the power of your car in horsepower or in kilogram force in meters per second.

Scientists say that the metric system has more “coherence” than the imperial system because the derived units of the metric system are directly related to the base units without the need for intermediate conversion factors. In layman’s terms, scientists say the metric units makes more sense because you simply multiply everything by ten. They do not think anyone can remember there are sixteen ounces in a pound or twelve inches in a foot. But if you times nonsense by ten, don’t you simply end up with ten times as much nonsense? Do we not use the imperial system of weights and measures for the same reason we speak an organically derived language? Despite its irregular verb conjugations and spelling, most of the world would consider English to be preferable to contrived languages such as Esperanto. Why are some units of measurement, common to both the imperial system and the metric system, indivisibly correlated to human observation – for instance measuring time using twelve months to a year and thirty days to a month, corresponding to the phases of the moon and seasons?

Evidence Supportive of American Claims

Preliminary results of studies being done for the first time only in 2022 seem to confirm that because the base units in the imperial system are intuitively derived, those who use the imperial system are better able to estimate distance, temperature, speed, volume, and weight than those who use the metric system. This finding holds true for layman and scientists alike. According to one study, even among those with degrees in hard sciences, baccalaurei educated using the imperial system were better able to estimate distance in feet than their counterparts educated using the metric system could in meters – by nearly an entire standard deviation. See Steven Rinehart, Cross-Sectional Study on the Ability of Those Educated Using the Imperial System of Measurement to Estimate Weights and Measures Relative to those Educations Using the Metric System, Auctores (Aug. 10, 2022), https://www.auctoresonline.org/article/cross-sectionalstudy-of-the-ability-of-those-educated-using-the-imperial-systemof-measurement-to-estimate-weights-and-measures-relative-to-those-educated-using-the-metric-system. Study participants were also better able to estimate temperature and speed in the imperial system. With the exception of physicians’ ability to estimate small units of volume, every demographic estimated weights and measures more accurately in the imperial system than the metric system. See id. This is of consequence in the law where juries are tasked with interpreting and understanding evidentiary data presented to them. It is also important where witnesses, such as law enforcement officers, are regularly tasked with estimating distance, speed, and other measurements in the courts of the land.

Metrification Justification

The two justifications perpetually advanced for 250 years for converting to the metric system have always been: (1) that because Europe, as the center of scientific and economic power in the Western world, uses it, the U.S. must also use it or fall behind economically and scientifically; and, (2) that the metric system is easier to understand for the unlearned masses because it defines every unit as consisting of exactly ten of the units smaller than it.

A review of editorial opinions published by major news outlines and scientific journals from 1996 to 2015 shows that of 1,110 cited publications during this period about metrification of the United States, essentially all advocated American transition to the metric system by relying on these two arguments. Published Articles about the Metric System, Metrication, and Related Standards, U.S. Metric Assoc. (Aug. 10, 2022), https://usma.org/publishedarticles-about-the-metric-system-metrication-and-related-standards.

Since the arguments upon which proponents of the metric system rely were originally formulated, however, America has grown to overshadow Europe in economic and scientific power; and emerging studies seem to support the claim that the imperial system may be the more intuitive and readily understood of the two systems. Consequently, rather than being moot, both arguments exclusively advanced over two centuries for converting to the metric system would appear now to prescribe the opposite course of action than that for which they were proposed (and Cate Blanchett has her answer). Is it possible that Jefferson, Adams, Reagan, and Napolean were right all along? Do the proponents of the metric system bely ulterior motives in their insistence the U.S. convert? Is there an element of academic snobbery in the hype about the metric system? Is it even possible that the metric system itself comes to us as some kind of political artifice born in protest of British imperialism? Has the time come to repeal the Metric Conversion Act?

Conclusions

There may be reason for judges and attorneys crafting local rules – or even the rules of civil procedure – to require that weights and measures in evidence be converted into customary units when supplied to juries. Could verdicts rendered by juries presented evidence in the metric system be collaterally attacked on the basis the metrics were not converted? In fact, it appears they have been. See Commonwealth v. Rivera, 918 N.E.2d 871, 874 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009) (finding non-harmless error where jury required to apply metric system without testimony about metric unit conversions). Despite all the advocacy over the years in favor of the metric system and denouncement of the imperial system as anachronistic, the belief in the superiority of the metric system might still be argued to be a large-scale example of groupthink. Perhaps there is still wisdom in the old Latin maxim, via antiqua via est tuta (the old way is the safe way).

STEVEN RINEHART is a patent attorney employed by the firm Vested Law LLP.

He regularly deals with questions of weights and measures in preparing patent applications.

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Wilford Woodruff and Founding Fathers

Wilford Woodruff’s vision of the Founding Fathers requesting Temple Ordinances

We are moving soon, but the Burley 11th Ward gave me another chance to address them. Since I received a number of requests for a copy of the talk, which is really just a collage of various items I could find online, the Journal of Discourses, the Saints second and third volumes, and other various histories. Here is the text of the talk I wrote, that does not mean it is the talk I gave…

I first addressed the freedoms we have as contrasted in the Saints third volume related to Germany. I said the word Jew and Israel from the stand and did not fear reprisal. I listen to free radio anytime I want and even seek out British radio from time to time and there is nothing illegal. Lastly, we could congregate without the worry of those in our midst about what was said or in the actual act of meeting.

Then to the following:

Declaration of Independence – We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

George Washington: “The success, which has hitherto attended our united efforts, we owe to the gracious interposition of Heaven, and to that interposition let us gratefully ascribe the praise of victory, and the blessings of peace.”

Alexander Hamilton: “The Sacred Rights of mankind are not to be rummaged from among old parchments or musty records. They are written . . . by the Hand of Divinity itself.” “For my own part, I sincerely esteem it a system, which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.”

Thomas Jefferson: “The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time.”

John Adams: “As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation.”

Benjamin Franklin: “The longer I live the more convincing Proofs I see of this Truth. That God Governs in the Affairs of Men!—And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?—We have been assured, . . . in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House, they labour in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this;—and I also believe that without his concurring Aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than Builders of Babel.”

James Madison: “It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution.”

Samuel Adams: “Revelation assures us that ‘Righteousness exalteth a Nation’—Communities are dealt with in this World by the wise and just Ruler of the Universe. He rewards or punishes them according to their general Character.”

Charles Pinckney: “When the great work was done and published, I was . . . struck with amazement. Nothing less than that superintending hand of Providence, that so miraculously carried us through the war, . . . could have brought it about so complete, upon the whole.”

On May 4, 1842, he called to his side nine of the most faithful of his brethren—Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Newell K. Whitney, and others—and later their wives came with them to the upper floor of the Red Brick Store in Nauvoo. 

Joseph was seeking to fulfill the promise from D&C 124, given in 1841, which the Lord would reveal to Joseph “all things pertaining to this house, and the priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built.” 

He had started, “If it should be the will of God that I might live.” Then he corrected and said, “It is not the will of the Lord that I should live, and I must give you, here in this upper room, all those glorious plans and principles whereby men are entitled to the fulness of the priesthood.” He proceeded in an improvised and makeshift way to do so.

We have from Brigham Young that after they had received these blessings the Prophet said: “Brother Brigham, this is not arranged right. But we have done the best we could under the circumstances in which we are placed, and I wish you to take this matter in hand and organize and systematize all these ceremonies.”

Brigham Young later said, “I did so. And each time I got something more, so that when we went through the temple at Nauvoo I understood and knew how to place them there. We had our ceremonies pretty correct.”

While the Nauvoo Temple was started in 1841, the first endowments were performed in the winter of 1845 and into 1846.  Baptisms had started in the Mississippi River prior to the temple and moved into the temple baptistery soon after it was completed and dedicated, well before the rest of the temple was done.  Brigham, leading the church, was personally overseeing the organization and perfection of the endowment and other ordinances that started in Nauvoo. 

After arriving in Salt Lake City, the church used the top floor of the Council House, starting in 1852 until the Endowment House was completed in 1855.  It was in this building that endowments, prayer circles, some missionary training, and some setting aparts were conducted.  The use of the Endowment House ended in 1877 with the completion of the St George Temple.  That building stood until Wilford Woodruff heard that unauthorized sealings were occurring there and ordered it razed in 1889. 

The St George Temple was the only one completed during Brigham Young’s 30 year tenure as President.  It was dedicated on 1 January 1877 in three dedicatory prayers under the direction of Brigham.  The baptistery by Wilford Woodruff, the main floor by Erastus Snow, and the sealing room by Brigham Young Jr.  Wilford Woodruff served as St George Temple President from 1877 to 1884.  Brigham had to be carried up the stairs, but he stood and spoke in the Assembly Room. 

“When I think upon this subject, I want the tongues of seven thunders to wake up the people,” he declared. “Can the fathers be saved without us? No. Can we be saved without them? No. And if we do not wake up and cease to long after the things of this earth, we will find that we as individuals will go down to hell.”

Brigham lamented that many Saints were pursuing worldly things. “Supposing we were awake to this thing, namely the salvation of the human family,” he said, “this house would be crowded, as we hope it will be, from Monday morning until Saturday night.”

On 9 January 1877, the first baptisms for the dead were performed in the St George Temple.  The first endowment for the dead was performed on 11 January 1877.  Brigham and Wilford personally oversaw the ordinances being performed.  Wilford began wearing a white suit, starting the trend that continues to this day. 

All endowments to this point had been done and passed by word of mouth.  It was in St George, far from Salt Lake City, that the ordinances were first written down.  Brigham also wanted to make sure the record was preserved and that they were standardized.  They were read to Brigham time and time again who would then approve or continue to revise the ordinances.  Brigham went home to Salt Lake City in April 1877.  He stopped and dedicated the spot for the Manti Temple on the way home.

Wilford Woodruff then wrote in his journal on Sunday 19 August 1877, “I spent the evening in preparing a list of the noted men of the 17 century and 18th, including the signers of the Declaration of Independence and presidents of the United States, for baptism on Tuesday the 21 Aug 1877.”

His journal entry for August 21 reads, “I, Wilford Woodruff, went to the temple of the Lord this morning and was baptized for 100 persons who were dead, including the signers of the Declaration of Independence. … I was baptized for the following names.” He then listed the names of one hundred men.

Elder Woodruff continued his journal entry: “When [John Daniel Thompson] McAllister had baptized me for the 100 names, I baptized him for 21, including Gen. Washington and his forefathers and all the presidents of the United States that were not on my list except Buchanan, Van Buren, and Grant.” (The work for these presidents has since been done.)

“It was a very interesting day,” Elder Woodruff continued. “I felt thankful that we had the privilege and the power to administer for the worthy dead, especially for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, that inasmuch as they had laid the foundation of our Government, that we could do as much for them as they had done for us.

“Sister Lucy Bigelow Young went forth into the font and was baptized for Martha Washington and her family, and seventy of the eminent women of the world. I called upon the brethren and sisters who were present to assist in getting endowments for those that we had been baptized for today.” (Wilford Woodruff’s journal, typescript, vol. 7, Church History Library; spelling and punctuation modernized.)

The first public mention of these events was made nearly a month after the baptisms were performed. In an address in the Tabernacle on Temple Square on 16 September 1877, Elder Woodruff first told publicly of the visitation of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

“You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God. (Conference Report, April 10, 1898; Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pp. 160-61)

During the 68th Annual General Conference of the Church which was held in April 1898, President Woodruff recounted the sacred experience:

I am going to bear my testimony to this assembly, if I never do it again in my life, that those men who laid the foundation of this American government and signed the Declaration of Independence were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. They were choice spirits, not wicked men. General Washington and all the men that labored for the purpose were inspired of the Lord.

Another thing I am going to say here, because I have a right to say it.  Every one of those men that signed the Declaration of Independence, with General Washington, called upon me, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Temple at St. George, two consecutive nights, and demanded at my hands that I should go forth and attend to the ordinances of the House of God for them.  Men are here, I believe, that know of this, Brother John D. T. McAllister, David H. Cannon and James S. Bleak.  Brother McAllister baptized me for all those men, and then I told these brethren that it was their duty to go into the Temple and labor until they had got endowments for all of them.  They did it.  Would those spirits have called up on me, as an Elder in Israel to perform that work if they had not been noble spirits before God?  They would not. (Wilford Woodruff, Conference Report, April 1989, pp. 89-90.)

“They waited on me for two days and two nights,” he said,

“I thought it very singular, that notwithstanding so much work had been done, and yet nothing had been done for them.” (Journal of Discourses, 19:229.)

I was also present in the St. George Temple and witnessed the appearance of the Spirits of the Signers….the spirits of the Presidents….and also others, such as Martin Luther and John Wesley….Who came to Wilford Woodruff and demanded that their baptism and endowments be done. Wilford Woodruff was baptized for all of them. While I and Brothers J.D.T. McAllister and David H Cannon (who were witnesses to the request) were endowed for them. These men… laid the foundation of this American Gov., and signed the Declaration of Independence and were the best spirits the God of Heaven could find on the face of the earth to perform this work. Martin Luther and John Wesley helped to release the people from religious bondage that held them during the dark ages. They also prepared the people’s hearts so they would be ready to receive the restored gospel when the Lord sent it again to men on the earth.” (Personal journal of James Godson Bleak – Chief Recorder of the St. George Temple.)

In 1986, some of the staff of the Family History Library’s LDS Reference Unit were assigned to compile and computerize all the existing genealogical data on the founding fathers, to identify their families, and to document completed temple ordinances for each. For purposes of the project, a founding father was identified as one who had signed one or more of the following documents: the Articles of Association (1774), the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Articles of Confederation (1778), or the Constitution (1787).

The library study of 1986 revealed that there were no sealings of children to parents performed at the time the baptisms and endowments were performed. As a note, the ongoing revelation related to sealings to parents was not revealed until 1894.  It was then that the Law of Adoption, or sealing to prominent church leaders, was discontinued and we were encouraged to do genealogical work to compile the pedigree of the entire human family.  It was then that the Utah Genealogical Society was founded that has snowballed into the fantastic work of FamilySearch and all its appendages. 

He also recorded that George Washington, John Wesley, Benjamin Franklin, and Christopher Columbus were ordained High Priests at the time.

Temple work was performed on behalf of the following well-known and respected men and women in the St. George Utah Temple in August 1877.

Founding Fathers: William Hooper (NC), Joseph Hewes (NC), John Penn (NC), Button Gwinnett (GA), Lyman Hall (GA), George Walton (GA), Edward Rutledge (SC), Thomas Heyward Jr. (SC), Thomas Lynch (SC), Arthur Middleton (SC), Samuel Chase (MD), William Paca (MD), Thomas Stone (MD), Charles Carroll (MD), George Wythe (VA), Richard Henty Lee (VA), Thomas Jefferson (VA), Benjamin Harrison (VA), Thomas Nelson Jr. (VA), Francis Lightfoot Lee (VA), Carter Braxton (VA), Robert Morris (PA), Benjamin Rush (PA), Benjamin Franklin (PA), John Morton (PA), George Clymer (PA), James Smith (PA), George Taylor (PA), James Wilson (PA), George Ross (PA), Caeser Rodney (DE), George Read (DE), Thomas McKean (DE), Philip Livingston (NY), Francis Lewis (NY), Lewis Morris (NY), Richard Stockton (NJ), John Witherspoon (NJ), Francis Hopkinson (NJ), John Hart (NJ), Abraham Clark (NJ), Josiah Bartlett (NH), William Whipple (NH), Matthew Thornton (NH), Samuel Adams (MA), John Adams (MA), Robert Treat Paine (MA), Elbridge Gerry (MA), Stephen Hopkins (RI), William Ellery (RI), Roger Sherman (CN), Samuel Huntington (CN), William Williams (CN), and Oliver Wolcott (CN).

Note: Temple work was not done for John Hancock or William Floyd as it had already been completed previously.

Presidents of the United States: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James Knox Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, Abraham Lincoln, and Andrew Johnson.  Temple work was not done for James Buchanan, Martin Van Buren, or Ulysses S. Grant.

Other eminent men baptized by Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Utah Temple in August 1877 include: Sir Edward Gibbon, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Oliver Goldsmith, Henry Grattan, Humboldt, Alexander von Irving, Washington Jackson, Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Johnson, Samuel Juarez, Benito Pablo Kemble, John Philip Liebig, Baron Justus von Livingstone, David Macaulay, Thomas Babington Nelson, Lord Horatio O’Connell, Daniel Peabody, George Powers, Hiram Reynolds, Sir Joshua Schiller, Johann Christoph Friedrich von Scott, Sir Walter Seward, William Henry Stephenson, George Thackeray, William Makepeace, Vespucci, Amerigo Webster, Daniel Wesley, John Wordsworth, William Parepa, Count Dimitrius, Martha Washington and her family, John Washington (Great Grandfather of George Washington), Sir Henry Washington, Lawrence Washington (Brother of George Washington), Augustine Washington (Father of George Washington), Lawrence Washington (Father of Augustine), Lawrence Washington, Daniel Park Custis, John Park Custis (Son of Daniel and Martha Parke Custis), and Martin Luther.

Eminent Women baptized include: Jean Armour (1767—1834) of Scotland, Jean Armour Burns (Wife of Robert Burns) (1759—1796), Jane Austen (1775—1817) of England, novelist, Mary Ball (1708—1789) of America, Mary Ball Washington (Mother of George Washington) (1732—1799), Sarah Bernard (1800—1879) of England, Sarah Barnard Faraday (wife of Michael Faraday (1791—1867), Charlotte Bronte (1816—1855) of England, novelist, Felicia Dorothea Browne (1793—1835) of England, Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806—1861) of England, poet, (wife of Robert Browning) (1812—18?), Martha Caldwell Calhoun (d. 1802) of America (mother of John Caldwell Calhoun) (1782—1850), Martha Parke Custis (1755—1773) of America (Daughter of Martha Washington) (1732—1802), Martha Dandridge Washington (1732—1802) of America (wife of George Washington) (1732—1799),  Rachel Donelson Jackson (1767—1828) of America (wife of Andrew Jackson (1767—1845), and Abigail Eastman Webster (1737—1816) of America (mother of Daniel Webster (1782—1852), to name but a few. Temple work was performed for a total of 70 eminent women.

During most of our national history Columbus and the Founders were considered heroes with determination and foresight.  Cities, rivers, and many other places were named after them.  More recently there has been a wide spread effort, designed especially to indoctrinate young people, which slanders Columbus, the Founders and their accomplishments.  Columbus is held personally responsible for centuries of mistreatment of Native Americans.  The Founders are portrayed as being greedy and motivated by selfish interests. All of this is as astonishing as it is misleading.  

From the Lord’s perspective among the most important events of the history of the world was the discovery and founding of America.  1 Ne 11-14.  Nephi was referring to Columbus when he wrote:  “I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land” 1 Ne 13:12.  By the Founders “the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation…even on the face of this land.” 1 Ne 22:7.

Go on to life and history of George Ross of Pennsylvania, signer of Declaration of Independence.  

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Heyburn Train Depot

Heyburn, Idaho Train Depot

This photo popped up a while ago on an Idaho History Page. I downloaded the photograph and wanted to share it. The photo is of the Heyburn Train Depot in the very early days of the City.

Growing up in the area, I never thought much of Heyburn. It was just in the middle as we were going somewhere. Now that I am the City Attorney, I have learned much more of Heyburn, its past and its future.

Heyburn’s name was changed from Riverton as apparently the Post Office thought there were too many. Senator Weldon Brinton Heyburn represented Idaho in the United States Congress at the time. He was a big man and had served Idaho since 1903. He collapsed on the Senate floor in 1912 and died some time later.

As an interesting bit of history, I thought I would share this Bureau of Reclamation contract with Heyburn from 1910.

As you can see, the contract is between the unincorporated Town of Heyburn and the United States Reclamation Service. I am not entirely clear how an unincorporated town signs a contract. Minidoka County had not been created yet, that is 3 years later, so this is in Lincoln County. Acting for the now Bureau of Reclamation was Charles H Paul, the project engineer for the construction of the Minidoka Dam and delivery system. As you can see, the contract is dated 19 February 1910. The City of Paul is named after Charles Howard Paul (1875-1941).

This was the agreement for the Bureau to delivery water for irrigation to the City each year. This contract is still in place.

Heyburn was incorporated in Lincoln County, Idaho on 18 January 1911.

Lincoln County Board of Commissioners Minutes, Book #2, pages 285-286:

“In the matter of the incorporation of the Village of Heyburn.  This matter came on regularly to be heard and it appearing to the Board that a petition signed by a majority of the taxable inhabitants of the proposed Village of Heyburn, Lincoln County, Idaho, has been presented and duly filed, praying that they may be incorporated as a Village, designating “Heyburn” as the name they wish to assume and describing the metes and bounds of the proposed Village, and the Board being satisfied that a majority of the taxable inhabitants of the proposed Village have signed such petition, and that such proposed Village has not heretofore been incorporated under any law of this State, it is therefore ordered and declared that the said Village proposed in said petition be and the same is hereby incorporated under the name of the “Village of Heyburn” with metes and bounds as follows:

5 miles to the northeast corner of Section 1, thence south 10 miles to the southeast corner of Section 24 Township 8 South Range 15 East, thence west 6 miles to the southwest corner of Section 19, thence north 2 miles, thence west 1 mile, thence north 1 mile, thence west ½ mile, thence north 1 mile to the quarter corner on the north of Section 2 Township 8 South Range 14 East, thence west ½ mile to the place of beginning.

Lincoln County Board of Commissioners Minutes, Book #2, pages 287:

“In the matter of the appointment of five persons as Trustees of the Village of Heyburn duly incorporated and this being the time of the incorporation of said Village and for the appointment of Trustees for the same pursuant to law; therefore it is ordered by the Board that the following named persons possessing the qualifications provided by statute be and they are hereby appointed Trustees of the said incorporated Village of Heyburn to hold their office and perform all the duties required of them as such Trustees by law until the election and qualification of their successors: T. J. Smith, F. H. Adams, B. F. Kimerling, Lee St Clair, and George E. Schroeder.

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Paul Train Depot

Paul Idaho Train Depot

Another old photo of Paul, Idaho.  To the left, center of the photo is the Paul Train Depot.  The depot was located about half way between Main Street and 1st West Street on the north side of West Railroad Street and south of the tracks.  This photo was very early on, probably before 1917 as the Amalgamated drainage ditch does not appear in to be running through the photo.  Also, the buggy in the front and no parked cars elsewhere provide some hint.

Immediately behind from this view and across the tracks is the Watson Farm Supply Building.

Watson Farm Supply

Looking east down Idaho Street you can see the back side of Merrill’s Food Market.  On the following photo, you can see the north side of that building on the right side of Main Street before the bricked Adams Building.

Main Street near the tracks looking South in Paul, Idaho

If you look out to the very far left of the photo with the depot, you can see the first school in Paul.  That school was located on James Ellis land.  I don’t know when that school was built or when it was replaced with a school virtually in the block behind where this photo was taken.

Paul Idaho Train Depot

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Father’s Day 2020

For Father’s Day this year, I thought I would reach back to 2011.  My grandfather, Milo James Ross, turned 90 on 4 February 2011.  For that grand event, the Ross/Donaldson families, and Plain City community came together to celebrate.  I have loaded most of the photos from that day on to FamilySearch, I only share a few of the family pictures from that day.

Whole Ross Clan: (l-r) Cindy Adams, Milo Ross (holding Daniel Constable), Andra Ross, Jeffrey Ross, Milo Ross, Tanisha Adams, Cody Adams, Caroline Gallegos, Jerrett Ross, Becky Patterson, Mercedes Ross, Matthew Ross, Scott Ross, Paul Ross; Front Stefanie Hadley holding Gavyn and Kayden Hadley.

This photo holds a good portion of the Ross descendants.  A couple of four generations in this photo.

The celebration was held in a building that Grandpa helped orchestrate construction from the original donation of the land (stretching back over 70 years) to its actual erection.  He was a ardent supporter of the United States flag and the Boy Scouts rewarded him accordingly.

Plain City 2/7/8 Ward Building at 2952 North 4200 West decorated for Grandpa’s 90th Birthday Party

Family and friends came from Oregon and Washington, I came from Oklahoma, others from Colorado.  Most came from nearby in Idaho and Utah.

Ross Boys: Paul Ross, Matt Ross, Milo Ross, Daniel Constable, Jeff Ross, Milo Ross, Jerrett Ross, Scott Ross (holding Gavyn Hadley) and Kayden Hadley

Here is a picture of Dad, Grandpa, and Caroline.

Milo Paul, Milo James, Caroline

 

Kristy Neilson, Tanisha Adams, Cody Adams, Jeneal Adams, Bret Adams, Cindy Adams

And to wrap up, the one that seems to be the best.  Grandpa’s big smile.

Million Dollar Smile

An interesting side note, Grandpa had shrapnel in his face.  As time continued its march, some of his teeth started to die and break off.  He had a bridge and various other problems.  But this smile has a piece of shrapnel behind his upper lip that bothered him his entire life.

Milo Ross, Jeneal Adams