Thursday, February 22, 2024

Traces of Time . . . February 19-25, 2024

Traces of Time . . . .

{Last week: Scroll to end and click "Older Posts" at bottom right.} "Time moves slowly, but passes quickly. The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, 1982

"The magical, supernatural force
that is with us every second is time.
We can't even comprehend it.
It's such an illusion,
it's such a strange thing."
— Anthony Hopkins
Note from Eileen: You will notice I call my blog: "Traces of Time..."
On this blog I share with family and friends my daily thoughts, doings, what interests me, and--at times--tributes to my eternal sweetheart, Walt, who graduated to heaven on 8-21-2020 at age 86.

Dedicated to our seven children--Janie, Gary, Steve, David, Julie, Brian, Jen, their spouses, our 39 grandchildren, 9 spouses married to our grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 1 due in April and posterity to come.
So our posterity now numbers 66. Number 67 due in April.
THIS WEEK
FEBRUARY 19-25, 2024

Family Birthdays this week...
19 - McKell Rae - "27"
20 - Aimee - "36"
21 - Ben - Elder Brewer - "19"
25 - Taylor - "21"
25 - Phyllis - 1932-2014 "82" in life, 92 now

MONDAY,FEBRUARY 19, 2024
Family is Everything.. Sunrise: 7:16 a.m.

Sunset: 6:07 p.m.
...this Monday
Last Monday to compare to...

Happy Birthday, McKell
"27"
2001
2009
2009
2009
Cousins and siblings
at her play
"Into the Woods"
April 2011
Uncle David with
Josh, Anna, Sam
at her play
"Music Man" as Marian.
2011
Born to be in theater
2011
2013 March
2015 May
Graduation - Westlake High

May 4, 2019
Utah Valley University
Graduation
Theater Performance
2020's
McKell, hope you've had a
wonderful birthday.
* * * * * * *
Presidents' Day
UESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024
Family is Everything...
Happy Birthday,**

Aimee “36”
February 20, 2024
Birthday greeting attached below.
Love, Grama Petersen
…and Grampa Petersen from heaven

Oct 2010 - Home from
Oklahoma Tulsa Mission
June 2011
Aimee Fisher becomes
Mrs. Michael Mecham
June 25, 2011
June 25, 2011

2022
Aimee & Michael
Aimee with Mickey and M.J.
Friends celebrating Aimee's birthday...
Happy Birthday, Aimee.
Their darling home in Florida that they just sold.
Bungalow in Florida where they will
live till Captain Mecham's transfer comes...

Aimee, we hope you've had a wonderful birthday.
Love, Grama Petersen...and
Grampa Petersen from heaven.
* * * * * * *
Congratulations to Sam Black Petersen --

birthday February 26 "18" --

on opening his mission call

tonight at 9:23 p.m. MST.

MARYLAND BALTIMORE MISSION -

Spanish Speaking

Beginning Date: July 29, 2024

Soon to be: Elder Sam Petersen

We are so happy for you!

You will be a great missionary

testifying of The Savior, Jesus Christ.

* * * * * * *
Earlier today was...

Institute
Betsy Jones continues
the new course of Instruction:
"Women in the Scriptures"
Tabitha, aka Dorcus
Emma Hale Smith--
an Elect Lady

We had a guest
teacher today--
Karen Lester--
who has been a
Church History guide
for 39 years.

* * * * *
Dental Cleaning
and
X-rays
Dr. Dale Greenwood,
the Dad of the other
two dentists, found...
No cavities...
Hip Hip Horray!

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2024**

Family is Everything...
Happy Birthday, Ben...Elder Brewer
Honduras San Pedro Sula West Mission
January 29, 2024 to
January 2026.
MTC in Provo to learn Spanish.

2013 - Yummy homemade potato salad

Oct 2018 - came to
see Grampa Petersen
in Rehab Center after he
fell and broke his hip.

Got Grampa out of Rehab
Pointe Meadows for a brether...
Grampa loved being with his
grandsons from Minnesota--
Josh and Ben.

2019 - Age 14

17th birthday 2022
Running...2022
Senior photo -
Class of 2023
College life begins...

...at BYU Idaho

Messages at BYU Idaho

Mission call, then
home with family a
short time...
Mission farewell...
Rochester, Minnesota
Home MTC for 1 week...

Airport to fly to Utah
for Provo MTC...

Mama hug...

MTC in Provo...
Elder Brewer, you will be a
great missionary for the
Honduras San Pedro Sula
West Mission
Jan 2024-Jan 2026.
* * * * * * *
Lunch Bunch was at
Culver's today...
Nadine, Tammy

Jennie, Kaye

Shauna, MaryAnn

Eileen, Shauna
They have the best
North Atlantic cod...

Seven could come...
clockwise from bottom left:
Eileen, Shauna,
MaryAnn, Jennie,
Kaye, Nadine, Tammy.

Kaye, Jennie, Nadine...

Gary came to take me
to my eye appointment at
Rocky Mtn Eye Care.
He said:
"So this is the famous
'Lunch Bunch'."

* * *
My appointment with
Dr. Goff

Cece was the
technician today.
My vision was better by
one line each...

Dr. Goff said my
right eye looks great
and no injection is
needed.

Check back in 4 months.
Great news!
We got treats at the
Arctic Circle just
down the street.
Gary got a double
cheeseburger and tots,
and a Snickers shake.

My favorite is a
Raspberry milkshake
I always appreciate
Gary driving me to
these appointments.
Thanks, Gary.
* * *
Movie Night with Gary...
was postponed to next week
because he had a
dealine come up for work.**

* * *

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2024**

Family is Everything…
Full moon tonight...
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2024

Family is Everything…
Forecast from today...

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2024
Family is Everything..
Jacee performed at the Conference
Center in Salt Lake City today at the
Winterfest - with the
BYU Ballroom Dancers.

Jacee's family supporters...
Dad hug...

Grandma Vicki...

Grama Eileen...

Maddie, her sister...who is also a
ballroom dancer.

Jackson, her brother, who would
never think of sticking out his tongue.

Jacee and her roommate, Mina.

Jacee and Mina with

Curt Holman, Ballroom Dance
Company Artistic Director

Jacee and her family.

Jacee and her family and Mina.

Jacee and her family and
Mina and her Mom.

We love to watch Jacee dance!

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2024
  Family is Everything…
Happy Birthday,
25 - Taylor - "21"

2009
2019
Oct 2020
Doing homework

Oct 16, 2020
In that charming Nashville
Candy Store



25 - Phyllis - 1932-2014 "82" in life, 92 now

Graduated from Wendell High School 1950

Married Dale Bunn - July 1950

They had six children:

Don, Matthew, Mitchell,
Clifford, Brenda, Beverly.

20 Grandchildren

* * * * * * *
Saratoga Springs Utah Stake Conference

STAKE CONFERENCE – FEB. 25, 2024

SARATOGA SPRINGS UTAH STAKE PRESIDENCY,
Since March 28, 2021.
President--Jordan T. Erickson, current age 49
First Counselor: J. Dayne Petersen, current age 50
Second Counselor: J. Ryan Woodbury, current age 45

Presiding - Elder William K. Jackson

William K. Jackson

Elder William K. Jackson was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2020.

Church Service

Elder William K. Jackson was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2020. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a bishop. He served as an Area Seventy and a member of the Third and Eighth Quorums of the Seventy in the Asia and Australia/Pacific Areas from 2003 to 2009. He is currently serving at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, as Assistant Executive Director in the Missionary Department. He is also serving as the chairman of Missionary Health Services and the Medical Advisory Committee.

Elder Jackson has served in a number of Church callings, including as full-time missionary in the Bolivia La Paz Mission and president of the India New Delhi Mission (2009–2012).

Professional Life

Elder Jackson attended Brigham Young University for three years. He was awarded a bachelor of science degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and received a doctor of medicine degree from the University of California, San Francisco, in 1983. He worked at McKay-Dee Hospital from 1983 to 1986 for his medical residency and became a certified family physician. He worked and lived overseas with his family for 26 years as regional medical officer for the US State Department and medical doctor for the Department of the Air Force. At the time of his call as a General Authority, he was serving as medical director of Valley Family Health Care.

Personal Life

William King Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., on March 29, 1956. He married Ann Kesler in 1977. They are the parents of eight children.

Nadine Fletcher, on the left, is in our ward.

She sang with the stake choir.

Lisa Miller, from our ward, played

flute for the stake choir.

The stake choir also had Dean Fletcher,

and Allen Andersen from our ward.

Speaker 1: President Erickson

Immerse yourself in

The Book of Mormon.

Speaker 2: President Woodbury

Watch our thoughts and words.

Our greatest work is to

declare His Word.

Speaker 3: Summer Sanders

Christ can calm our storms as

He calmed the Sea of Galilee.

Speaker 4: Bethany Crowther

Angels speak the words of Christ.

Speaker 5: Matthew Hall

How the Atonement of the Savior

brought him out of addiction.

Speaker 6: Colleen Terry Scorsbey

Merits of Seminary

11:13 - Intermediate Hymn

Speaker 7: Elder William K. Jackson

Elder Jackson spoke for

39 minutes...

11:18-11:57

about Member Missionary

Workers.

The Holy Ghost will do

the heavy work.

He also quoted this poem by Edgar A. Guest--

*Sermons We See***
by
Edgar Guest

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.

One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language which to every one is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,
I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.

This poem is in the public domain.

"Edgar Guest (1881 - 1959) was born in England, but moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan, when he was ten years old. He worked for more than sixty years at the Detroit Free Press, publishing his first poem at the age of seventeen, then going on to become a reporter and columnist whose work was featured in hundreds of newspapers around the country. Edgar is said to have written some 11,000 poems during his lifetime, most of it sentimental, short, upbeat verse. Critics often derided his work, but America adored him. He was known as the 'People's Poet,' served as Michigan's poet laureate, hosted a long-running radio show and TV show, and published more than twenty books."

Stake Conference was

uplifting and inspiring.

* * * * * * *

For my review:

A year ago...

Saratoga Springs Utah Stake Conference

STAKE CONFERENCE – MARCH 12, 2023
Presiding Stephen K. Christensen, Area Seventy
The Area Seventy who presided at our Stake Conference was Elder Stephen K. Christensen, who was called at the last April General Conference, 2022.
Twelfth Quorum (Utah Area) – Called April 2022 General Conference
Stephen K. Christensen, 65, Farmington, Utah; attorney, Nelson, Christensen, Hollingworth & Williams; currently serving as Sunday School teacher of the Farmington 10th Ward; former bishop, bishopric member, high councilor, mission president and stake president; wife: Marilyn F.; nine children.                               Called as Mission President in 2017
Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission –        July 2017 to July 2020**                                       Stephen Kohler Christensen, 60, and Marilyn Farr Christensen, nine children, Farmington 1st Ward, Farmington Utah Stake: Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission, succeeding President David J. Crapo and Sister Teresa Crapo. Brother Christensen is a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, stake and ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Costa Rica San José Mission. Attorney, Nelson Christensen Hollingworth & Williams. Born in Salt Lake City to Joe Junior Christensen and Ida Barbara Kohler Christensen.*
Sister Christensen serves as a ward organist and is a former stake and ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Primary president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, and missionary in the Canada Montreal Mission. Born in Salt Lake City to Lionel Miller Farr and Odetta Jeane Bramwell Farr.
Eileen's Personal note: It was Elder Stephen Christensen's father, Elder Joe J. Christensen, who presided at our Burley West Stake Conference November 1992, who released Walt after 9 1/2 years serving as stake president and called Paul Young to be the new stake president. Joe J. Christensen was also a president of Ricks College.
* * * * * *
Saratoga Springs Utah Stake Conference
STAKE CONFERENCE – MARCH 12, 2023
Presiding Stephen K. Christensen, Area Seventy

STAKE CONFERENCE speakers:
Our stake president was the first speaker, followed by 5 other speakers before the presiding Area Seventy and his wife spoke.

I am putting the highlights of Elder Christensen's talk first.

Elder Christensen said that the main concern he sees with this stake is that there is too much
leadership. He mentioned the City of Enoch.

He cautioned us that the time has come one more time to "fort up" after he described Fort Lehi, Fort Cove, Fort Cedar and how the early saints went back to the fort each night for safety.

[Katy said after conference: "When I heard him say 'fort up' I hit record."]

Everything is under attack. About every 8 years there is a recession. Right now the economy is bad.

Quoting Doctrine and Covenants Preface 1:17 "Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments...

v. 24 "Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me..."

Elder Christensen continued, calamities and perilous times will come in these next years before the Savior comes again.

What can we do to be prepared? Nothing more than follow the Lord. What has He told us to do for years now?

I am going to focus on two things. The first one we haven't heard about for a while:

1. Temporal Preparation

The Lord has asked His Prophets for many years to tell us to store food and water, and other basic items. Stay out of debt.

The Church does not have wheat or other commodities stored to feed the whole Church. Each family has been warned to have their own food storage plan and have it stored in their own home.

As long as we have been obedient to what the Lord has asked us to do, that is our 'insurance policy.'

[Eileen's personal note: Many years ago, like the 1970s, a General Authority at our Burley Stake Conference said: "If you have been obedient to the Lord's counsel to have sufficient food storage, and in time of need you share it with your neighbors and you run out of food, or if the mobs come and steal it, because you were obedient, that's when the Lord will have the quail come to your back yard."

I have never forgotten that.]

Elder Christensen then gave us his second point:

2. Strengthen our Spiritual Foundation

Make our home a Spiritual Sanctuary
The basics, as we all know, are daily personal prayer, family prayer, and scripture reading/study.
When he and his wife and nine kids got busy on the farm on Saturday and forgot to have family prayer and family scripture reading, often one of the kids would remember in the middle of the day. When they stopped and did those two things, the rest of their day went better.

[Eileen's note: Elder Christensen is an attorney in Farmington, so he must have had a small farm to help his kids learn how to work.]

What do we do on the Internet? A recent study shows that 13-year-olds spend 9 hours a day on screen time.
What movies and TV do we watch?
He added that this is all a big challenge for us.

Elder Christensen closed with his testimony and witness of Jesus Christ.

* * *
The 5 speakers in addition to Pres. Erickson,

the sustainings, ward choir, and intermediate hymn took until 11:33, so Sister Marilyn Christensen took just one-minute in sharing a
sincere, strong testimony, to leave her husband almost 30 minutes.
* * * * * *
President Jordan T. Erickson
Seven Ways to Increase Spiritual Capacity
1. 1. Be Intentional of Time and Space…to read scriptures which is to listen to God’s Voice
2. 2. Recognize Spiritual Gifts –     D&C 46:8-9, 11-12
3. 3. Take Charge of Your Testimony
4. 4.  Teach Diligently – D&C 88:78
“Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain to the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand:”
5. 5.  Defend Truth – Duty with Readiness
6. 6. Be Enthusiastically and Anxiously Engaged in the Work of Salvation
7. 7.  Be in the House of the Lord
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SARATOGA SPRINGS UTAH STAKE PRESIDENCY,
Since March 28, 2021.
Jordan T. Erickson, current age 49
J. Dayne Petersen, current age 50
J. Ryan Woodbury, current age 45
(March 28, 2021) President — Jordan Tuttle Erickson, 46, Infuse Medical founding partner and new business development; succeeding Mark R. Wilkinson; wife, Heather Michelle Rudy Erickson. Counselors — Jason Dayne Petersen, 47, NuVista Plastic Surgery president and owner; wife, Melinda Jean Muse Petersen. Jon Ryan Woodbury, 42, Fishbowl Inventory LLC product manager; wife, Laura Janette Oliver Woodbury.                                       ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ I also met Kent & Ruth Demke who were humanitarian missionaries in Beijing in2018 and 2019, coming home in January 2020 just before the Covid pandemic hit the U.S. I wish I had taken a photo of them.                           * * * * * * *   Here are Alan & Katy Christensen We loved having them in our ward since last May. They are moving March 27 to Santa Clara near St. George.
I drove around the temple after
stake conference.
The Open House is April 15 to July 8.

The Saratoga Springs Temple is 6 blocks

from Julie & John's home,
Here's the official announcement:
After a media day (April 10, 2023) and a private open house for invited guests (April 11–14, 2023), a public open house will begin Saturday, April 15. From then until Saturday, July 8, 2023 (Sundays excluded), anyone can walk through the temple.
The Saratoga Springs Utah Temple will be dedicated on Sunday, August 13, 2023, in three sessions (9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. MDT). President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency will preside at the dedication. The dedicatory sessions will be broadcast to all units in the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple district. Additional details regarding the temple dedication will be announced at a future date.
Former Church President Thomas S. Monson first announced the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple in April 2017.
Construction began in October 2019.
At 7:15 it's still light...
Sunset was a 7:31 on our
new Daylight Savings time.
8:00 and still a little light...
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Back to now:

Steve's Supper preparation

the day before...

shopping...

...carrying everything up

the 20 steps to his...

...second floor apartment

and getting it all organized.

Steve, thanks for all...

...you do to provide and...

...prepare this delicious dinner!

Gary drove me to Steve's.

I'm so thankful for all the

help each one of our seven

kind children give to me,

plus their caring spouses.

How blessed I am.

And I know Walt appreciates

them watching over his

sweetheart as he sees

them from Paradise.

Michael gets there early to

help his Uncle Steve.

Table is set...

Six could come today.

Grama, Steve, Michael.

Carter Bird, Sarah's friend--

her very good friend, Sarah,

and Uncle Gumby.

Rotisserie chicken,

cheesy potatoes,

baked beans--not just any

baked beans, but Aunt Phyllis's

recipe--and on her very birthday!

Rolls.

The first course was salad.

Dessert--Ice cream,

brownies, and

raspberry pastries.

Gary is going to bring a

taste test next time...
...at Carter's request.

Steve's question for tonight:
Dinner #3 – Sunday, February 25, 2024
For dinner on Sunday, Feb. 25, please be thinking about this:
“What is something that you have learned recently that has
made a difference in your life.”
Then he added:
Also, just a thought about the discussion question. There really are no limits on where you want to take your answer. The answer is only part of the purpose. The other part is connection and inclusion...

...But one idea might be answering the question with
orientation towards your mental health
(e.g. what have I learned that has
meaning in my life about my own mental fitness).
Look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Answers to the Question
included...
"I have realized that other
people don't respond to
what I do as much as
I used to think they did."
"I have let myself feel my
emotions more and when
I am sad I don't get upset
at myself for being sad."
"I am getting better at
being my authentic self."
"I learned in a recent class
to take a risk--like ask someone
for their phone number--rather
than have the regret
of not asking."
"Phases of our life are either
comfort, stretch,
or overwhelmed."
"I need to have something
planned to look forward to."
..to which someone responded:
"I revel in a day when
nothing is planned."
Gary, Michael, Steve...

...Sarah, and Carter B.

  Everyone helped clean up,

I'm glad Steve got
Dad's painting of
George Washington
praying at Valley Forge.

He has a great world map.

Part of my response was:
"Knowing there is a Mother in Heaven
helps me feel even more grounded,
and looking forword to
thanking her."

There's an old song:

♪♪♫♪ The more we get together,

together, together.

the more we get together,

the happier we'll be... ♪♪♫♪

This is kinda what one of the

comments meant tonight...

* * *
*I am so thankful for The Plan of Salvation and the Atonement of Jesus Christ that makes this Great Plan operational.**

At the end of this February 25th,
I pray you have had a
restful , peaceful, and spiritual
Sabbath Day...
I share these truths as my testimony to you...

Heavenly Father lives and knows us each by name. He loves us and wants us to return to Him and Heavenly Mother when we leave this mortal existence.
They love us just
as we are at this very moment.
They know what our potential is.
* * *
Jesus Christ came to earth as The Only Begotten of the Father and fulfilled the Atonement. He is the Redeemer of all.
* * *
I am thankful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost as the third member of the Godhead.
Walt said to me once: "I look forward to thanking the Holy Ghost in person when I get to Heaven. I don't think we give Him enough credit for all He does."

* * * * *
Joseph Smith was foreordained to be the Prophet of the Restoration. He is the Restorer of all things.
* * *
President Russell M. Nelson is the Living Prophet today for all the world.
* * *
The Bible is "the Word of God as far as it is translated correctly" and is a Testament of the Divinity of Jesus Christ.
* * *
The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is the most correct book of any book on earth.
* * *
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the True Church on the earth today. Because of the restored Temple Ordinances families can be sealed for eternity.

* * *
Of these truths I testify in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Eileen Petersen
February 25, 2024

Next week FEBRUARY 27-

March 3, 2024...

* * * * * * ***

For Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024
January 26, 2024
To: General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; Stake, District, and Mission Presidencies; Bishoprics; and Branch Presidencies
Meeting Schedule: Easter Sunday and a Sunday near Christmas Day
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Each year, Church services and meetings should be limited to sacrament meeting only on Easter Sunday and on a Sunday before or after Christmas Day. If Christmas is not on a Sunday, stake and district presidencies decide whether to hold this sacrament meeting before or after Christmas.
In addition, stake and district presidencies may consult with bishops and branch presidents to determine if there is a need to adjust start times for sacrament meetings in order to best accommodate the needs of members.
Please know of our love and appreciation to you for your dedicated service.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
Russell M. Nelson
Dallin H. Oaks
Henry B. Eyring
The First Presidency

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