Lewis

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Plain City Takes Titles in Baseball

I hope some day to find a better copy of this newspaper clipping.

Back (l-r): Ben Van Shaar, Ervin Heslop, Ellis Stewart, Kenneth Taylor, Don Gibson, John Reese; Middle: Frank Hadley, Howard Wayment, Wayne Rose, Ray Charlton; Front: Keith Hodson, Howard Hunt, Wayne Carver, Lyle Thompson, Milo Ross

Presenting the City-County Baseball Champions… Plain City junior diamond athletes romped away with the county title for 1937 and walloped Lewis junior, Ogden city champions, in a title city-county event last week.

Wayne McLean Carver, athletic manager (1923 – 2015)

Ray S Charlton, second base (1920 – 1991)

Don Hipwell Gibson, catcher (1920 – 1975)

Frank Howard Hadley, third base (9121 – 2008)

Ervin George Heslop, center field (1921 – 2017)

Benjamin Keith Hodson, center field (1920 – 2010)

Howard Hunt, right fielder (1921 – 1944)

John Major Reese, principal (1896 – 1976)

Wayne East Rose, first base (1921 – 2017)

Milo Ross, pitcher (1921 – 2014)

Ellis Wayment Stewart, shortstop (1921 – 1940)

Kenneth Paul Taylor, right field (1922 – 1996)

James Lyle Thompson, left field (1921 – 1999)

Howard George Wayment, left field (1922 – 2001)

Bernard Henry Van Shaar, coach (1909 – 2001)

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Wilburn Norwood Jonas 100th Birthday!

Norwood Jonas in the 1960s

I thought it would be appropriate to commemorate the 100th birthday of my Grandpa, Wilburn Norwood Jonas. He went by Norwood his whole life, or Nor to those closest.

Grandpa was born 15 May 1924 in Lewiston, Cache, Utah to Lillian Coley and Joseph Nelson Jonas.  The fourth child of eight to his parents.  He married Colleen Mary Andra 27 September 1946 in Elko, Elko, Nevada.  Three children were born to him and Colleen; Douglas in 1952, Sandra in 1954, and Jackie in 1960.  He died 14 March 1975 in Burley, Cassia, Idaho and was buried 19 March 1975 in Richmond, Cache, Utah.

I was trying to think of a way to commemorate Grandpa. As linked above, I have written of him before. This week, I went through an old book I have that belong to Norwood’s dad, Joseph. Inside were some newspaper clippings and notes. One linked to Grandpa. I share it to show that research is ongoing and can be found anywhere! Just takes a little luck, heaven’s guidance, and you will stumble on them. I will wrote more on the book and other clippings inside later.

Park School was in Richmond. It was only razed in the past few years. Grandpa went to North Cache High School, although he did not graduate. This clipping also has Irwin written in to it. Which tells me he was missed or it is the wrong Jonas boy that was listed. Although, I do have a class picture of Irwin and Norwood together, so I am not clear if that tips it one way or the other.

“Name Graduates of Park School

“The Richmond Park School commencement exercises will be held in the Benson Stake tabernacle Thursday, at 8 p. m.

“The program follows: Processional; Invocation, Bishop J. M. Godfrey; salutation, Garr Christensen; music, school orchestra; talks, Norma Kaye Funk, Margaret Merrill; music, class; class history, Joyce Larson; presentation of class gift, Oral L. Ballam Jr.; awarding of prizes and the presentation of the class. Principal G. G. Merrill; awarding of certificates, Levi H. Allen; class song, class; adjournment to the community building for dancing; benediction, S. W. Allen.

“The list of graduates are: Ivan Anderson, Oral Ballam, LaMarr Carlson, Archie Carver, Garr Christensen, Don Hansen, Warren Hamp, [Irwin written in, referring to Irwin Jonas], Norwood Jonas, Robert Johnson, Glenn Mortensen, Junior Peterborg, Darrell Smith, Gail Spackman, Alvin Spackman, Allen Spackman, James Scott, Boyd Tripp, Olive Biggs, Dorma Anderson, Joy Erickson, Norma Kaye Funk, Bernice Frandsen, Ruth Hutchison, Nadine Johnson, Eva Kershaw, Virginia Kirstofferson, Elaine Lewis, Anna May Lawrence, Joyce Larson, Margaret Merrill, Dorothy Nielsen, Beth Rich, Afton Sorensen, Lyle Wilding.

Here is the class picture with many of these same names. It also includes Irwin and Norwood. I have written about it previously.

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History of Plain City Pt 2

I have two copies of the History of Plain City, Utah. The front indicates it is from March 17th 1859 to present. As far as I can tell, the book was written in 1977. At least that is the latest date I can find in the book.

One copy belonged to my Grandparents Milo and Gladys Ross. My Grandpa has written various notes inside the history which I intend to include in parenthesis whenever they appear. They add to the history and come from his own experience and hearing.

I will only do a number of pages at a time. I will also try to include scanned copies of the photos in the books. These are just scanned copies of these books, I have not tried to seek out originals or better copies.

History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 33 through 38.

Past Bishops of Plain City

Henry J Gardner 1906 – 1910
Back (l-r): Wilmer J Maw, George E Knight, Elvin H Maw, Charles L Heslop; Front: George A Palmer, Gilbert Thatcher, Henry T Maw

Wilmer J. Maw      1920–1926

George E. Knight  1949–1953

Elvin H. Maw        1944–1949

Charles L. Heslop  1936–1944 (Married Milo Ross & Gladys Donaldson April 1942)

George A. Palmer 1926–1936

Gilbert Thatcher  1913–1920

Henry T. Maw     1910–1913

(l-r): Charles L Heslop, Elvin H Maw, George E Knight, Merrill Jenkins, Lyman H Cook, Rulon Chugg, Wayne W Cottle, Orlo S Maw

Charles L Heslop, 1936-1944

Elvin H Maw, 1944-1949

George E Knight, 1949-1953

Merrill Jenkins, 1953-1959

Lyman H Cook, 1959-1964

Rulon Chugg, 1960-1965, 2nd Ward

Plain City Ward – Wayne W Cottle, 1964 –

Plain City Ward – Orlo S Maw, 1965

(l-r) Kent Calvert, Robert Sharp, Kent Jenkins

Kent Calvert, 2nd Ward 1971-1974, 3rd Ward 1974-

Robert Sharp, 2nd Ward 1974-

Kent Jenkins, 1st Ward 1971-

PLAIN CITY BRANCH OFFICER

1859 – 1977

Submitted by Roxy Heslop                  Gilbert Thatcher                      1913 – 1920

PRESIDING ELDERS                                                     Wilmer J Maw                        1920 – 1926

William W Raymond              1859 – 1863                George A Palmer                   1926 – 1936

John Carver                             1863 – 1866                Charles L Heslop                     1936 – 1944

William W Raymond              1866 – 1870                Elvin H. Maw                           1944 – 1949

Lewis W Shurtliff                    1870 – 1877                George F Knight                     1949 – 1953

FIRST COUNSELORS                                                    Merrill Jenkins                        1953 – 1959

Daniel Collet                           1859 – 1866                Lyman Cook                             1959 – 1964

John Carver                             1872 – 1877                Wayne W Cottle                     1964 – 1971

SECOND COUNSELORS                                               Kent Jenkins                            1971 –

Jeppe G Folkman                    1859 – 1872               

~

PLAIN CITY FIRST WARD

John Spiers                              1872 – 1877                FIRST COUNSELORS

CLERKS                                                                         John Spiers                              1877 – 1895

John Spiers                              1859 – 1872                Abraham Maw                        1895 – 1901

William W McGuire               1872 – 1877                Peter C Green                        1901 – 1903

PLAIN City Ward Officers        1877 – 1977                Henry J Garner                       1903 – 1906

BISHOP                                                                        Peter M Folkman                   1906 – 1910

Lewis W Shurtleff                   1877 – 1883                James L Robson                      1910 – 1920

George W Bramwell              1883 – 1906                George A Palmer                   1920 – 1926

Henry T Maw                         1910 – 1913                Elvin H Maw                           1926 – 1936

Gordon F Thompson  1936 – 1944                Abraham E Maw                    1936 – 1944

L Rulon Jenkins           1944 – 1949                Fred L Singleton                     1944 – 1946

Leslie T Maw              1949 – 1953                Llewellyn Hipwell                    1946 – 1949

Elmer Ericson              1953 – 1956                Howard Hadley                       1949- 1953

Rulon Chugg                1956 – 1956                William Searcy                        1953 – 1955

Thad Carlson               1959 – 1960                Rulon Chugg                            1955 – 1956

Carl Lund                     1960 – 1964                LeRoy P Folkman                    1956 – 1959

A Lew Jenkins              1964 – 1966                Kent Jenkins                            1959 – 1964

Darwin J Taylor           1966 – 1971                Delmar L Tanner                    1964 – 1969

G Earl Thompson        1971 – 1972                Blaine R Jensen                      1969 – 1971

Gary Jackson               1974 –                          Steven Miller                          1971 – 1974

SECOND COUNSELORS                                    Gary Jackson                           1972 – 1974

Peter C Green            1877 – 1901                Jerry Bradford                         1974 –

Samuel P Draney        1901 – 1903                WARD CLERK

Peter M Folkman       1903 – 1906                William McGuire                    1877 – 1887

Peter P Green            1906 – 1907                George Carver                        1877 – 1890

William G Rhead        1907 – 1910                Peter C Green                        1890 – 1903

William C Carver        1910 – 1913                William Kenley                        1903 – 1907

Marion Knight             1913 – 1914                William A Kerr                        1907 – 1914

William England, Jr    1914 – 1920                William H Heslop                   1914 – 1936

Elvin H Maw               1920 – 1926                LeRoy P Folkman                    1936 – 1942

Thomas Jenkins           1926 – 1936                Fred L Singleton                     1942 – 1944

Walter Moyes             1944 – 1947                A Glen Charlton                     1963 – 1965

A.Lew Jenkins              1947 – 1951                Gaylen Hansen                        1965 – 1966

Herbert E Barnes       1951 – 1953                Kent Calvert                            1966 – 1971

Blair Simpson              1953 – 1959                Robert Sharp                           1971 – 1974

Glen A Charlton         1953 – 1959                Rodney Roper                         1974 –

Kent Jenkins                1957 – 1959                SECOND COUNSELORS

Willard Wayment        1953 – 1959                A Glen Charlton                     1960 – 1963

Harold Hadley             1959 –                          LeRoy Folkman                        1963 – 1965

Wayne Skeen              1959 – 1965                Denton Hall                             1965 – 1971

Vernon Smith              1965 – 1965                Donald Skeen                          1971 – 1974

Robert Wade               1965 –                          John Stevens                           1974 –

Clair Truscott              1965 – 1971                CLERKS  

                                                                        Walter Moyes                         1960 – 1965

~

PLAIN CITY SECOND WARD                             Lewis Moyes                           1965 – 1974

            Created June 12, 1960                        R John Maw                           1974 – 1976

BISHOPS                                                          Duane Bullock                         1976 –

Rulon Chugg                1960 – 1965               

~

PLAIN CITY THIRD WARD

Orlo S Maw                1965 – 1971                            Created June 23, 1974

Kent Calvert                1971 – 1974                BISHOPS

Robert Sharp               1974 –                          Kent Calvert                            1974 –

FIRST COUNSELORS                                                    FIRST COUNSELORS

Jay Taggart                 1960 – 1963                            David Petersen                        1974 – 1976

Layne Thompson         1976 –

SECOND COUNSELOR

Robert Lewis               1974 – 1976

F. LeRoy Williams       1976 –

CLERKS

Keith Hamp                 1974 –

~

Plain City Chapel. Dedicated 1889. Tore down in 1953. Was built just North of the present chapel.
Another view of the Plain City Chapel of 1889.
Present City Chapel. Dedicated 1954.
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Technology Students Compete

Minico technology students recently attended state competition. Pictured with their winning plaques and dreamhouses are (back, l-r) Instructor Marvin Scow, Paul Ross; (front, l-r) Brian Addis, Rachel Fennel, Aimee Aston, Kody Rathe, and Justin Coleman.

Minico technology students compete in state competition

By Dixie Lee Souza

The Minico Technology Student Association attended the state competition at Eagle High School March 7-9.

The students from Marvin Scow’s class did very well at the meet with the Dreamhouse Division. Justin Coleman and Kody Rathe placed first and Brian Addis took second. The students were presented with two plaques for their scale model homes complete with floor plans.

Competing in Architectural Drawing was Rachel Fennell, Aimee Aston, Nicholas Fletcher and Paul Ross.

In Extemporaneous speaking was Rachel Fennel and Aimee Aston. Again, Rachel Fennell along with Paul Ross placed in Job Interview.

Aimee Aston placed in Prepared Speech while Justin Coleman, Glade Boldt and Kody Rathe competed in Technical Drafting.

The Idaho Skill Championships will be held at Lewis-Clark State College on March 29-30.

The only thing I think I would add is that I remember this competition in the brand new high school in Eagle, Idaho. We got a tour of the new building. It was pretty shiny compared to our little Minico High School in Rupert, Idaho.

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May Melycher K.I.D.S. Dance

Julian Rodriguez, center, performs a 50’s dance step and song while surrounded by several female counterparts Tuesday afternoon in Rupert. Rodriguez joined several youngsters at Minidoka Memroial Hospital’s extended care facility during a Kids in Dancing and Singing (K.I.D.S.) performance for the area’s senior citizens. K.I.D.S. is comprised of 3-12-year-old age grounds from the Mini-Cassia region, said organizer Cindy Capson. Also pictured are: Kambree Franks, May Melycher, Holly Haynes, Alyce Rollins, Bridget Murray, Bekah Rich, and Jennifer Lewis.

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Automotive/drafting medals

Minico High School automotive and drafting students display medals taken at the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) Skills Championships held March 27-29. Awards include: Technical Drafting, first place, gold medal: Glade Boldt; second place, silver: Justin Coleman; Architectural Drafting, first place, gold: Paul Ross; second place, silver: Rachel Fennell; Extemporaneous Speaking, second place: Justin Coleman; Automotive Skills, bronze: Oral Scott; Job Interview, silver: Justin Tate; New State Officer: Justin Tate. Pictured (;-r) are Nick Fletcher, Dustin McClellan, Justin Coleman, Lynn Brown, Glade Boldt, Oral Scott, Justin Tate, Corey McClellan, Rachel Fennell and Paul Ross, (seated on the floor).

I remember a few things about this trip to Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. It was a really long drive, or so it seemed to me. I got motion sick on the winding road to Lewiston from Boise. Multiple times we had to stop so I could throw up. I had let my hair grow longer than I ever had and it was a new sensation and some made fun of me because I kept messing with it. I remember just thinking Lewiston was a run-down town. Which must be saying something for the boy coming from Paul, Idaho!

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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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Missionary Flats

I was working through some old mission photos and realized I have not shared many of those photos. I thought I might start out with the places in which I lived and what photos I have of those locations. This will be a little bit of everything of what I could find.

Our MTC District, I only know four of the 11. From l-r, #5 is Elder Olson, #9 Elder Scow, #10 Elder Young, #11 Elder Ross. The rest were going to Peoria, Illinois if I remember correctly.

Usually the first place a missionary stays is at the Missionary Training Center (“MTC”). I went to Provo for the MTC. I have written previously and shared other photos I have from the MTC. I thought this photo was interesting because the Provo Temple is going to be renovated and will look entirely different.

Once arriving in Manchester, England my first stay was in the posh Mission Home in Altrincham, England. Here is the only photo I have from that occasion. I didn’t go search my journals, but I believe we arrived in England on 22 December 1998.

President H Bruce and Cheryl Stucki, and Elder Paul Ross

My first area in which to serve was Liscard, England in the newly created Moreton Ward. At this point I am focusing more on physical locations. Here is a photo of my sleeping area/space on the third floor of our flat at 6 Belgrave Street, Liscard, Wallasey, England.

My study space, bed with used duvet, closet, and heater. The door on the left went down the stairs.

There were six of us in the flat on Belgrave Street. That wallpaper did not cause any nightmares that I am aware. My companion could not stand my wind-up alarm clock and so it was locked away. I am standing at the foot of his bed to take this photo. Some of my little Christmas presents from the Duncan family are on the shelf. My coat, backpack, it was frigid in that little room. I first read Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People cuddled in that duvet. My companion, Elder Harris snored loud, so I was often fully inside my duvet. I remember such irony that my little clock kept him awake, but yet his snoring must have kept up the whole flat.

Elder Ross, Elder Harris, Elder Mueller, and Elder Lewis at Belgrave Street flat, my transfer day

This is the same flat I arrived at days before Christmas to find more than a dozen boxes of reject Cadbury chocolates given to us by the members. We literally poured ourselves bowls of chocolate and would pour milk over them for breakfast. I still cannot stand mint or orange chocolate to this day. There were six in the apartment, yet only four are shown above. Here is a photo of the six of us going Christmas caroling in our whites.

(l-r) Elders Llewelyn, Lewis, Harris, Mueller, Ross, and Knight

Elder Bert Llewelyn, Lewis, Jeremy Harris (my trainer), Nathan Mueller, me, and Knight. Some day I will have to see if I have Knight and Lewis’ first names and update. Last, here is a picture of the house across the street from my third floor flat window.

1 and 3 Belgrave Street, Liscard, England

Then it was off to Dukinfield to serve in the Hyde Ward and Glossop Branch. Jumping across Liverpool and Manchester headed for the Moors.

Elder John Peters before 37 Dukinfield Road

There were four missionaries in this flat when I arrived. Elder John Peters, Christopher Giddings, and Elder Moreton. This apartment had problems. It was musky, moldy, and only had a bath tub. It had the water storage in the attic and nothing seemed to work right. When the buses drove by you could see the curtains move with the air. Sometimes even dust and such would fly. And the bathroom… Imagine four missionaries trying to bath in a tub presumably every day for years. No amount of cleaning would ever get it clean, and we did not try very hard. I don’t have any photos inside 37 Dukinfield Road. But I found this one that was on the canal walking to church that was not far behind our flat. Which, looking at Google Earth, is no longer a large factory behind our row of homes.

Elder John Peters moved on and both Elders Giddings and Moreton were shotgunned out. Elder Jarem Frye moved in as my companion and we were the only two in the apartment. He had some illnesses and missing limb, so it was a slower time. It was a great time for work though and in the mornings I was able to read the Book of Mormon more than once a month and the entire History of the Church in the downtime.

Elders Ross and Peters on canal between Dukinfield and Hyde England

My next flat was in Patricroft, England serving in the Eccles Ward. This one was in a fairly rough neighborhood. We had a number of issues we had to avoid and had a few run ins with yobs. I replaced a British Sign Language missionary and was paired with a BSL missionary (who was native Spaniard, which made for some interesting mis-translations). I was expected to learn BSL in addition to the more interesting learning some Spanish and Swedish.

Looking at our apartment of 24 Lewis Street, Patricroft, England

This photo is from St. Johns St looking at our apartment at 24 Lewis Street. Ours is the one with the old slatted windows, not the newer windows of those on both sides. This is the flat I learned about my Grandmother’s passing. This is the apartment that crazy kids fired fireworks in through the mail slot of our door on Guy Fawkes Day 1999. This is where we played an epic prank on greenie Elder Theobald. My first bedroom with a sink in the corner which I have desired ever since.

Elder Wood eating a famous kebab in our Patricroft apartment

There were four of us in this flat. I was first serving with Elder Jose Hernandez from Ibiza, Spain. Then my companion was Elder Jason Wood from Roy, Utah. Poor Elder Hernandez is the missionary who got really upset one night on the way home about always talking about the gospel so he sat by himself half way up the bus. I told him we still were supposed to sit together, even if he was upset. He still moved. Somewhere around Irlam a brick came through the window and knocked him out cold. Elder Wood was in love with the Spice Girls, particularly Sister Halliwell.

Elder Hernandez sorting through garbage

As you can see from the above picture, Elder Hernandez accidentally threw something away and thought he would bring the garbage in to sort through it. It stunk and we were not happy with him. I do not recall if he found what he lost.

Zone Meeting in Eccles. Sitting on the floor is Elder Cory Meehan. The four of us in the back are Elders Van Hensen Van Unigen, Klomp, Ross, and Jose Hernandez. Then sitting from Elder Van Hensen Van Unigen are Elders Matthew Dean (face partially hidden), Richard O’Dea, Mark Cutler, Jake Smith (Red), Nick Smith (Black), Jarem Frye, Tracy, and Mark Thatcher with Vicente Garcia kneeling before him.

We had a Zone Meeting in Eccles for some reason. However, we liked to do Zone Meetings in Levenshulme for the Pakistani kebabs there, so I do not know why they ventured up to Eccles on this occasion. My journal probably tells, but I have not spent the time to research it.

Another photo of me enjoying some Jello shipped in by someone from the United States.

Elder Ross eating stateside Jello

And a picture of one of my bruises after a good couple of punches in my arm with an idiot. But you can see the wallpaper at the top of the stairs.

Only real damage after a few punches with an idiot.

Here is a photo of me about to get a haircut by Elder Wright in the front room of our flat, downstairs. That mirror and location are the same in which we blessed a deaf man to be healed. We used the mirror so he could read our lips while blessing him. He began to gain hearing and then I was transferred and I lost contact shortly afterward. Wish I knew the rest of the story.

Elder Wright about to cut my hair over pages of the Church News.

Elders Thaddeus Wright and Viktor Johansson were together when I arrived. Elder Wright was replaced by Elder Brad Theobald.

Elders Johansson and Theobald

The next area was Runcorn for the Runcorn Ward and Northwich Branch. There we lived at 29 Handforth Lane, Halton Lodge, Runcorn.

Elders Ross and Hales at 29 Handforth Lane, Runcorn, England

This one has a couple of photos in it. Here is where we prepped and weathered Y2K. Also, my second Christmas in the UK.

1999 Christmas haul for Elders Ross and Hales. Also see our Handforth Lane kitchen.
Elder Brad Hales opening Christmas gifts at 29 Handforth Lane

This poor area had to put up with me for 7.5 months! Elder Hales for 6 months!

Elder Paul Ross opening Christmas present 1999 at Handforth Lane, still wet from the rains
Elder Paul Ross at Handforth Lane bus stop

The time serving in Runcorn and Northwich was a very prolific time of the mission. There was a time our District and Ward had baptisms every week with ongoing interviews and visits to companionships. We loved this Ward and we believed they loved us. It was a spell of excitement and growth in this area, both personally and for those we served. Very fond of my time here.

Elder Paul Ross and our flat after a heart attack. I still have all these!
Trying on Elder Hales’ present, a Royal Mail Postal Carrier’s bag and jacket
29 Handforth Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire, England

Last area of the mission was off to Scholes for the Wigan Ward. This flat was located at 2 Lorne Street, Scholes, Wigan. This flat was owned by the same owners in Runcorn, the Pass family. They took good care of us even though this flat had a number of issues. You can see the wall on the end had to be fortified and I understand the one that stood beside it had to come down, but I second guess that knowing our flat was #2. Who knows?

Elders Dean and Cutler in front of our apartment and the mission Vauxhall Corsa.

This was my last area. Initial memories was a bed bug problem for Elders Dean and Cutler just in their bedroom. My Romanian companion fighting off a cold with an entire head of garlic in one meal, Elder Gheorghe Simion. Training my last companion Elder Garrett Smith. Some pretty amazing personal revelations, of which both companions also were able to partake. Very blessed in this area.

Elders Wright and Smith goofing off in front room
Elder Gheorghe Simion pondering

Elders Dean and Cutler were shotgunned out the same day bringing in Elders Wright and Hulse.

Elders Ross, Dean, Cutler, and Simion in front of St. Catherine’s on Lorne Street, across from our flat

Here is another shot of our flat looking up the street.

Rose and John Byrom stopped by on their way through Wigan

For the last area of the mission, these 3 Elders became brothers to me. Closer than the other areas in which I had served. Like Runcorn, we engaged well with the Ward. One of the best kebab houses in the whole mission was located here, Kebab King. I tried to stop in 2008, but it was closed both days we stopped. Wasn’t sure it had been open for a while.

Well, there are all 5 areas of the mission. All the photos I could find of our flats in which we stayed. I will have to work on sharing and telling the stories of the other photos I have.