Sacrifice (a Saturday at the Temple)

In the past couple of months a sister in the Nevada City Ward approached Chuck Hemmert and asked if he and his sons would be willing to do four baptisms at the Temple for her. Apparently there was a timing issue and she needed these ordinances done by a certain date.

Chuck agreed and called to identify a Saturday that this could happen. Several things became apparent:

1) The Sacramento Temple is very busy on Saturdays
2) If they could fit him in, he would need 4 Melchizedek Priesthood holders (due to the busy nature of Saturday mornings there are no Temples Workers available).
3) During weekdays this is not an issue. Temple Workers are able to assist families in the baptistery.

Initially Chuck was able to schedule the trip by tagging onto another ward's Saturday baptism trips. Then shortly before the scheduled date, the ward had to cancel their trip. Tapping into his unconquerable attitude, he called around the Nevada City Ward and found that Ken Fransworth and Wendell Clove could go along with Wendel's son, Grant. Chuck then called the Temple again and asked if he could still come if he only had three Melchizedek Priesthood holders. After some discussions, including talking to the supervisor of the baptistery, the Temple agreed.

The Saturday arrived, Chuck Hemmert and his two sons, Quinn and Logan; Wendel Clove and his son Grant and Ken Farnsworth loaded into a car and drove to the Temple together. Another family in the ward provided additional names and the Temple added the balance so that each young man were able to do 15 baptisms.

The six of them along with a "recorder" provided by the Temple spent over an hour performing the saving ordinance of baptism for these 45 people. Something that they couldn't do for themselves. In addition the young men involved, rubbed shoulders with Melchizedek Priesthood holders in action.

Quinn, Logan and Grant received the following for sacrificing 5 hours of their time (15 combined hours) on a Saturday morning :
•Providing service for someone else
•Working arm-in-arm with their Fathers
•Observing Temple Workers assist patrons of the Temple
•Eating at "Mel's Diner" on the way home and discussing what they had done at the Temple

I think that these young men are learning patterns that will affect the rest of their lives. As always, the Lord has a way of paying us for our sacrifices.

Great Grandfather

My Great Grandfather, Charles Cooper, was the only father that my Dad knew.

Dad joined the Church shortly after my parents were married and they were sealed in the Temple before I was born. We attended church as a family until I reached junior high school when our family became holiday Mormons, no longer participating as members of the church.

When I was sixteen (almost seventeen) I developed an interest in religion, seeking to fill a void in my life. Through a miraculous conversion, I became active in church. Afterwards, my Dad asked me to get my Great Grandfather’s temple work done. He told me of a vision he had shortly after he was baptized, in which he saw his grandfather and knew exactly why his grandfather had come; he wanted to be baptized. The responsibility was passed on to me, since I was going to church.

This turned out to be a difficult responsibility. Great Grandpa Cooper’s birth information varied depending on which of his children you talked to. Most believed he was born and raised in Germany. While attending medical school he had a “falling out” with his family, boarded a ship for New York, never to see them again. Upon arriving in New York, he got drunk and joined the Cavalry. He was sent to Wyoming where he met his Scottish immigrant wife. They eventually ended up in Southern California where he ran a drug store and was a pharmacist, or chemist. When WWI was commencing Great Grandpa Cooper got into fights, probably brawls, defending the German position. Eventually he told people he was born in New York. He also decided to become five years younger. I know this because I tracked his whereabouts through census data. He became younger between 1910 and 1920. Maybe he had a secret chemical he never shared!

When I first submitted Great Grandpa Cooper’s information for Temple Ready it was rejected because I couldn’t prove the birth date or the location. Things changed; I no longer needed to prove all the details. In the meantime, some of his relatives provided a different last name. They claimed the original name was Cowper, spelling it to make sure I got it right. Cowper is an English name, not German. So we had him baptized as Charles William Cooper and Karl Wilhelm Cowper just to cover all the bases. (Sister Fulmer informed me that there is a German version of Cowper, it’s Kauper. So maybe that’ll give me a leg up on finding his parents.)

I complained about how hard Great Grandpa Cooper had made it to do his temple work. I said, on many occasions, “When I get to the other side I’m going to give him a real tongue lashing for making this so difficult, and making it impossible to find his parents.” More recently, as I’ve spent some time trying to do family history, I took a moment to complain once again that Great Grandpa Cooper had made things difficult and I was going to lecture him first chance I got. Then I felt the presence of Great Grandpa Cooper, standing right next to me, and he said, not audibly, but in pure thought, “Loretta, I didn’t know, I didn’t know.” My heart melted. I can’t be mad at him. I’ll just work harder. And maybe Heavenly Father will give him permission to help, after all He already let Great Grandpa Cooper talk to me.

Submitted by:
Loretta Farnsworth
Nevada City Ward

What to do on a Sunday afternoon?

Sunday, 11 July 2010, Waskish, Minnesota

We got up in the morning and went to church at the "Big Bog Ecumenical Service" which was held in the park. There were about 100 in attendance if you don't count the mosquitoes (maybe 2,500 counting them). With 20-30 Olsons included there was a real family feeling. The Lutheran Minister read a scripture and discussed it- I can't remember it now, but at the time I thought "Great Scripture!", it would seem that a Lutheran Minister has no more effect on me than do our High Counselors. The Baptist congregation was responsible for the sermon. They currently have no minister, so one of the members gave a wonderful sermon on Challenges. It was on target for our times and taught correct principals. The congregation was well fed, as were the mosquitoes. I have to say that the highlight of the meeting was the Ecumenical Five singing numerous old-time gospel songs. David Leonhardt played "I come to the Garden" on the saw (yes, the tool). There was not a dry eye in the congregation.

We went to Uncle Peter's house after-wards for lunch. It was a family potluck and there must have been 50 people there. Holiday started asking questions about her grandparents and others. We were regaled with many stories that Sunday. As the meal wound down we needed to find something to do that was in harmony with the sabbath. Many of the cousins were either going swimming, fishing, or boating. I asked Uncle Peter where the cemetery was in Kelliher (about 30 min away), and Peter replied that we should go see Ole Admunson's (Holiday's great- grandfather) grave in Shotley- but we would need a four wheel drive. He would be happy to drive us. As it turned out, the grave-site was on an old, abandoned road many miles into a swampy area. Her grandfather John Olson and uncle John Olson had made the headstone. John was a little boy when this happened but remembers that "birth" and "death" were in Swedish. It is a very nice headstone made of actual rock with one surface plastered for the name and dates. Before the day was over we were able to enjoy many stories about the family including one about a great uncle who had drown returning to Waskish with the mail. We got to see the actual creek and hear all about his drinking problem. We also visited the Kelliher cemetery and took photos of many headstones. It was a special day. You should know that because of all the stories we were able to identify several more names to take to the temple.

When you have the opportunity to ask, take it!!

Celestial Realizations

This week I participated in two significant events.

Event #1 was Camp Lazy Dog, which is a an annual family "get-together". Due to some scheduling conflicts, several members of our immediate family couldn't make it; however, there were 15 people in attendance. We all had a great time! Lots of sun, food, and playing with cousins whom we only see once or twice a year. I realized that while we were goofing off with each other, we were also shaping eternal relationships. Over the past several days, I have pondered the feelings that I had during this week. The feelings which I was aware of were as close to the feelings that we must have in the eternal worlds. At least as close to them as is possible in this mortal existence. The other thoughts that I had were how sad I would be if those who missed Camp Lazy Dog this year wouldn't or couldn't come in the future. I think that I will do everything possible to make sure that they come in the future so that they too might enjoy those wonderful feelings that I felt.

In a way, Camp Lazy Dog represents the Celestial Kingdom. Just like we missed those who couldn't make it to the camp, we will miss those who won't make it to the Celestial Kingdom. Our kindred dead can't progress from the spirit world without our help. It is our job, here and now, to do all you can to help them move on.

Event #2 was helping Holiday do Family History today. We agreed to spend 30 minutes working on the Olsen line. 1 1/2 hours later we had to stop and spend time with our living children. During the time that we were doing family history, I could hear the Olsen clan cheering for Holiday as she labored in their behalf. The vale was thin, the spirits were interested in what we were doing.The Lord opened doors for both Holiday and the Olsens who have been waiting in the spirit world.

Please let me know of your experiences doing family history so that I can post them on this site. The ward members need to hear about each others' work- successes and challenges!