Murals

Dear Folks at Home:

   These murals are on the walls of a classroom building. They are at least 20 feet wide. 

The reference on the one above is Joseph Smith History 1:28

 "During the space of time which intervened between the time I had the vision and the year eighteen hundred and twenty-three—having been forbidden to join any of the religious sects of the day, and being of very tender years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends and to have treated me kindly, and if they supposed me to be deluded to have endeavored in a proper and affectionate manner to have reclaimed me—I was left to all kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God. In making this confession, no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins. A disposition to commit such was never in my nature. But I was guilty of levity, and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had been. But this will not seem very strange to any one who recollects my youth, and is acquainted with my native cheery temperament."

Called to Serve

D&C 31:3

 Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation. 

Sunday Evening

Dear Folks at Home :
We have arrived in Provo. It is a wonderful winter day here. We are looking forward to tomorrow morning when we will enter the MTC.

A couple of thoughts as the day ends. Sheila is an exceptional organizer. Below is a picture for our Buick after we had it loaded. I went in the house to see if she had packed the kitchen sink. It was the only thing we’re not taking.

Last night when President Hawker set us apart he made a very touching gesture. He took off his tie and placed it on me. He told Sheila this was for her as well. The symbolism is wonderful. He had set us apart using his priesthood keys. The stewardship we have been given as well as the promised blessings are ours because he “turned the key” on our behalf. I wore the tie today out of respect for President Hawker and the keys he holds.

The only person with us last night outside of our family was Jana McBride.  
As a young mother 23 years ago she and Scott moved into our Ward. She was called into the Young Women’s Program. Her son Keyan was an infant and Sheila offered to watch him on Sunday mornings when Jana attended meetings. That began their journey of friendship and love that has lasted throughout the years. They have ministered to each other on a daily basis and have always been there for each other.

They have been early morning walking partners for the past 13 years. My first assignment when we get to Pennsylvania is to buy a Treadmill for Sheila to use. She will FaceTime Jana and they will continue to “Walk and Talk “. 

The Adventure Begins

Dear Folks at Home:

This is our first day as missionaries. Perhaps I should explain the title of this letter. My grandfather Lewis Fackrell moved to Thomas with his father in 1907 when he was 11 years old. He joined the army in November of 1917 and served in France during World War One. He wrote 110 letters home and they all began with the title “ Dear Folks at Home “.  Grandpa contracted spinal meningitis and was in a hospital in New Jersey for a lengthy period. He returned home on crutches. He was married to my Grandmother ,Amanda Dance , one month after he was home.  Grandma passed away in 1982 and for the next couple of years I spent time together with Grandpa until his passing in 1985. He shared with me some of the lessons he had learned in life. Grandma was his one great love in life. He told me that when they were married he was on crutches and the Doctors had told him he would not be able to walk unaided again. She married him anyway and he was able to prove the medical community wrong. He recovered from the effects of his disease to the point that anyone who knew him years later would have been surprised that he had been disabled. He had a little bit of a stubborn streak and in the early years , while still crippled from the disease,he would crawl on his hands and knees down the ditch bank to tend water. He ran a successful dairy operation and they lived a good life. After He had lost Grandma he told me one day that Grandma married him when there was no hope for him to recover. I’m firmly convinced that it was her faith in him that helped him to recover. And so out of tribute to Grandpa I will begin each letter Home. Pictured below is a file photo of the Salt Lake Mission Home in the 1970s.

 This is where I began my service in 1976.  My memories of those few days are vivid. We had a wonderful group of General authorities who spoke to us. We did back to back sessions in the  Salt Lake Temple with time for a lecture in the assembly room. It is also pictured below.  

Last evening Sheila and I were set apart by President Tracy Hawker. One of the blessings of the evening was that each of our boys were able to stand in the circle with us as we were blessed by our Stake President. We had a family dinner afterwards and it was touching as each of our sons and daughter in laws shared with us their impressions and feelings. As we leave today we don’t feel that we are leaving our family behind. In a spiritual sense they are going with us. Much of what we are and the strength we will need in this journey comes from their faith.