BYU Family History Conference

     This past week I attended The BYU Family History Conference in Provo, Utah. It was an inspiring week with my good friend Mary Morrow, also from Mesa, Arizona.

     It was if I traveled back to my youth and back in time. We stayed in the dorms at Helaman Halls on BYU campus.  I was accepted to attend Brigham Young University back in 1979 after I graduated from Ricks College, now known as BYU Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho. I did not attend BYU as I was a young newlywed and my first husband Steven Wayne Dawson had also been accepted to BYU. We mutually decided that I would work and Steve would attend the university. That however, is a story for another time. 

     It was heavenly to be back in Utah and on campus for this conference. It was four days jam packed with remarkable keynote speakers and five classes each day with accredited genealogists and others who shared their expertise in various genealogical areas. I was thrilled to hear the story of Jeff Marks as he traveled to Haiti, Wyoming and Yugoslavia experiencing many miracles along the way as he searched for and found his ancestors. We were also blessed to here from George Durrant  a favorite of mine from the past.  He is a former BYU professor with a humorous touch and spiritual depth. Susan Easton Black is married to George Durrant and she spoke with him. She taught at BYU for 37 years and has written 160 books.

     I learned so much and I can't wait to implement what I took away from this conference.  I just don't think there are enough hours in the day to get it all done.  

     We couldn't leave Provo without attending the Provo City Temple.  After the last class on Friday afternoon Mary and I took an Uber ride to the temple.  It was a sacred experience and the temple is absolutely stunning. We did sealings and our temple sealer was A. LeGrand Richards the grandson of LeGrand Richards an apostle of God. The battery on my phone died so we were unable to get an Uber ride. We ended up walking back to our dorms. Mary was barefoot because her shoes were giving her blisters. She enjoyed walking barefoot through the green, lush grass in Provo.

     We walked miles and miles and miles while on campus and off.  Every evening after our classes and dinner at the BYU Commons we took a 2 mile walk on campus and most of the pictures below were taken as we walked around campus. We even saw an obviously intelligent deer grazing on campus as we walked. We trekked from our dorm to the Commons where we had our meals. We hoofed it to the conference center each day for our classes. We ran to the BYU bookstore so we could shop.  I didn't make it to the gym this week but I managed to meet my exercise goals.

     "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Malachi 4: 5-6 Searching for our kindred dead, uniting families and having their ordinances done in the temples around the world is THE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH.

Question #3 My Testimony Of Prayer

     When I was young I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting,the topic I was given was Prayer. Now this wasn't the only talk I was asked to give as a youth but I can honestly say it is the only talk that I still remember anything about.While preparing for this talk I had an "Ah-Ha" moment. The spirit bore witness to me that the words I spoke were true.
   
     Prayer is the proper communication between God's children and himself. When this communication ceases spiritual decay begins. I have always remembered this statement from my talk and I have a testimony that it is true.  Our Heavenly Father knows us and loves us. He knows all things. Just as a parent knows when their child is suffering,knows their hopes,dreams and heartaches they are powerless to help if there is no communication between parent and child.
 
      If we want answers,comfort or help we need to ask our Heavenly Father. In Sunday School class today a comment was made in regards to this. We must ask with a sincere heart, faith and real intent. If our prayers are not answered we have not asked in the proper way,with proper intent.

     And when ye shall receive these things,I would exhort you that ye would ask God,the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true, and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Moroni 10:4

     A young boy, Joseph Smith, searching for the true church read this verse of scripture. When he acted upon what he had read the restoration of the gospel came about. He asked of God.

     If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5

     I know that my Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. My prayers have been answered,not always how I would have wanted but I have been comforted,prompted and blessed.

     I will share something personal about me. You know how people talk to themselves? Well, I talk in my head constantly but I'm not talking to myself, okay sometimes I am, mostly I'm talking to my Heavenly Father.  This is such a habit for me that I didn't consciously recognize that I was doing this until a few years ago. I guess this would be considered having a prayer in my heart at all times.

   

Question #2 Describe how you spend a Saturday

     I have always loved Saturdays. Reflecting on this question I realize that for the most part the way I spend my Saturdays today as a 59 year old grandmother (G-Mama) is how I spent my Saturdays as a child,a young adult and a mother.
     Saturdays are fun days filled with activities and family.  As a small child it was my father's day off. When I started school it was a break from the classroom. When I began working a day off for me. As a young mother my husband's day off. As a retired mother and grandmother Saturday is a day that my children and grandchildren have activities and time off from school and work.
     Growing up it was family drives. Eating out at favorite places like Sir George's,Mr. G's Pizza where I would always order a hamburger, Fosters Freeze,A&W,Jamar's, The Ivy Barn,Sizzler,Kips Chineese,Oscars, and iHop just to name a few.It was attending sporting events for my brother's Paul and Craig. For me attending Westwind Riders Horse shows with my Appaloosa mare Kawitchee and my brother's Quarter Horse gelding Apache Warrior. As a family we would often go to the beach, the San Diego Zoo,Sea World,water skiing at Mission Bay,picnics,visiting with friends and attending birthday parties.
     When my children were young we participated in similar activities in Arizona instead of California.  We moved to Arizona when my oldest son Brinton was 4 and Trey was 18 months old. Now I was the parent enjoying Saturday's involved with my children's endeavors.
     Present day I still participate in similar activities as a wife, mother and grandmother.  As of this writing, between my husband Steve and I, we have 17 grandchildren.  There is always something going on somewhere!
     I still ride my horses. Now that I am retired I don't have to wait for Saturday to ride. Often times I do venture out on Saturdays.

My Appaloosa mare Kawitchee and I at our first Westward Riders event which happened to be a Halloween costume event. This was our version of Arabian Nights. I did win a ribbon.

Question #1 What is your secret for happiness?

     This first question is like jumping into the deep end. I'm ashamed to admit, I was hoping for a shallow question to start this process. Taking the bull by the horns here we go.

     Over the years if I had been asked this question periodically I would have given several different answers. You know the saying, "If only I knew then,what I know now.........". Having said that, I now know the secret to my happiness and what I write here will not change.  

     I know that I am a daughter of God and that he loves me. I am never alone. I can pray to my Heavenly Father. I can testify that he hears and answers my prayers. The Holy Ghost is there to comfort me,guide me,warn me, teach me. My elder brother Jesus Christ died for me(for all) and atoned for my(for all) sins. I can repent of my sins,I will have eternal life and my family can be together forever. 

     I have a special testimony of the Book of Mormon. I know this book was written for our benefit.  Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. He translated the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ. I know that this humble young farm boy could not have done this without the guidance and inspiration from our Heavenly Father. He is a noble spirit chosen in our pre-mortal life to be a leader a Prophet of God and to bring forth the Book of Mormon.

     My secret for happiness includes living the commandments,loving and accepting others with a Christlike love,serving others in their time of need and serving in my callings at church.  When I read and study the scriptures I draw closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and I have a greater understanding of the plan of happiness.

     I'm not perfect,I'm far from perfect. I have made many mistakes and committed more sins than I want to admit to here. I have had days filled with much happiness and days filled with great sorrow. I testify that happiness comes with living the gospel. It is a quest. I strive everyday,I falter everyday. I am blessed to have the knowledge I do. I will keep trying,I will endure to the end. This is my prayer.

     I posted this picture of my family because one of the biggest secrets to my happiness is my family. I love them with all my heart. When they are happy,I am happy. When they mourn,I mourn. When they are living their life in accordance with the gospel plan I am happy.  I am blessed.

Front row left to right-Maxwell,Miller,Mallory,Cash,Cole,Crew holding Evan,Brexton,Harlee,Nixin,Montana,Presley,Jenna holding Bradley Back row left to right_Martin,Carrie,Scott,Ryan holding Gracie,Julie,Amanda,Brannon,Steve,Rhonda, Brinton,Allison,Trey

INGREDIENTS AND RECIPE

I have been serving as the 1st Counselor in The Young Women's Presidency of the Boulder Mountain Ward in the Apache Junction Stake in Mesa Arizona for the past 3 1/2 years.  I work with the MiaMaids who are 14 and 15 years old.

I enjoy my calling and love my girls.  As I teach these young women and we share activities I feel strongly that I should not ask them to do something unless I,myself, am prepared to do what I have asked of them.

One activity we challenged the MiaMaids to do was a journal in a jar. We gave them a jar filled with questions on a slip of paper and a composition book. These questions when answered will help them begin writing their personal history. On the front of the composition book it read: My Life In A Jar.

INGREDIENTS:
Life was not meant to be bottled up forever! This jar is jam packed with deliciously interesting questions to inspire you to celebrate something very important......You!

RECIPE:
Combine a generous slice of your life history with a dash of nostalgia and several cups of facts and feelings. If you follow this recipe you will soon find that you have a very delicious, personal history finished. Draw out a slip of paper,tape or staple it to the top of the page. Spend a few minutes thinking about the question, and write a detailed answer.  Don't worry about spelling,handwriting,etc. Just tell YOUR story! This jar was prepared to preserve your stories. Enjoy the scrumptious memories.

I have accepted this challenge and I have decided to answer my questions of this blog entitled "Rhonda's Journal in a Jar".

I was born November 30,1956 in the city of Orange,Orange County California. I came into this world a little earlier than expected.

My parents are George Paul Wimsatt Jr. and Ina Mae Wadsworth Wimsatt.

They named me Rhonda Loie Wimsatt.

A few fun facts about the origin of my name.

My mother loves to read and when she was a young woman she read the book- Gone with the Wind.  In this book ( not in the movie) there is a character named Rhonda.  This was the first time my mother had heard the name Rhonda and she liked it. One of the  grand southern plantations in Gone With the Wind was called - Tara. She was vacillating between the two names and obviously Rhonda won.

My middle name is very special to me.  My maternal grandmother,known as Granny by her grandchildren, was Lois Stewart Wadsworth.  All those who knew her and loved her called her Loie. She was a wonderful lady and I loved her. The sound of my granddad calling out to his wife with love -Loie, is etched into my brain. I have always been proud to be her namesake. My beautiful first born granddaughter is named Nixin Loie Colburn after me. I love it.

Let the journal in a jar journey begin............