22April2001 #0117.html

Winter Quarters

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Dear Paul and Kate, Melanie and Jared, Bridget and Justin, Sara, Ben and Sarah, Heather, Audrey, Rachel, and Matt via hardcopy,

cc: file, Tony Hafen, Pauline Nelson via mail, Sara and Des Penny, Claude and Katherine Warner, Lloyd and Luana Warner, Diane Cluff, Maxine Shirts via mail.

Welcome to "Thoughtlets." This is a weekly review of an idea, belief, thought, or words that will hopefully be of some benefit to you, my children, with an electronic copy to on-line extended family members. Any of you can ask me not to clutter your mail box at any time.

"Kind of a quiet week on the family front. I did talk to Rob for a few minutes yesterday. He didn't want to, and said `How about if next time we talk, I call you.' He looks good. He said he is helping his Mom with things around the house, now that he is no longer in school. After telling him I will continue to come by regularly, he said `The door will always be locked.' I doubt if any of you can realize the pain this kind of conversation causes a father who cares, and who does make a sincere effort to do the right things. I feel sorry for Rob, and how this type of attitude will come back to haunt him if he ever makes it as far as having a family. There is eternal truth in simple principles like `honor your father and mother.' I look back at how I treated my Mother and Father, and have regrets. Yet I am sure that my efforts at weekly communication and support are appreciated and worthwhile. Maybe I need Rob to be Rob so I learn at an emotional gut level how Dad and Mom felt about some of the things I said and wrote to them. I have been very judgemental of some of their choices, and frankly their life is not mine, and I was out of order. I'm sorry Mom. Like kids, we have to let folks make their choices, and then let the chips fall where they will. In regards to Rob, my sense is that we are at `Winter Quarters' of our relationship, and the glories of reaching the promised valley are just a long hard march away.

I don't know if those of you who studied church history remember what happened at Winter Quarters. I have not studied this part of church history as much as I would like to, especially because Grandpa Hafen's Mom's Grandfather, William Atkin, was a handcart pioneer who would have stayed at Winter Quarters. Also, Grandma Hafen's Mom's Grandfather, Nathaniel Ashby, who built one of the nicest pioneer houses that is at Nauvoo today, died in September of 1846 near Bonapart, Iowa, on the way to Winter Quarters. His wife died on May 15th of 1851 in Salt Lake City at 43 years of age. They had 13 children, one who died 6 months after birth, and the next one dying in 1873. Charolette Marie Ashby's father, who was also named Nathaniel Ashby, was baptized in 1843 and endowed on the 11th of February of 1856. There was a lot of history between those two events. As they watch us, their descendents, in our trivial pursuits and trials, I often wonder what they think of their descendants. Especially Nathaniel's father Nathaniel, who paid the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life, that we might decide whether to eat at McDonald's or Burger King, and whether to fill or minds with light and truth or to play with spiritual rattlesnakes.

So, for those who missed this part of seminary, or who have never heard about Winter Quarters, here is a summary from `Ensign to the Nations: A History of the LDS Church from 1846 to 1872,' pages 94 and 95, by Russell R. Rich:

`Although life on the Missouri was made as comfortable as possible, exposure to weather and the shortages of nourishing food, combined with unhealthy surroundings and the already low resistance of the people caused many to succumb to the ravages of nature. According to Colonel Thomas L. Kane, 600 Saints died during the year at Winter Quarters. A massive bronze plaque at Winter Quarters cemetery today bears the names of 600 Saints buried there. And a large statue by Avard Farbanks, depicting a mother and father looking upon the body of their infant child in his grave, has been erected in honor of those who died at Winter Quarters. Many, upon visiting the spot, experience a feeling of reverence and appreciation for those who gave their lives for their religious beliefs. Of those who successfully lived through the winter, a small number who had made it this far but now found the price too high, gave up the westward journey and returned to the East - some of them to disappear from the records of the Chruch and blend into the gentile civilization. But the great majority of the survivors were steadfastly loyal to the Church, suffering many hardships but continuing their rugged journey westward where they assisted in building a spiritual empire, destined to become too sturdy for its enemies to destroy.'

I'll get to why I'm talking about Winter Quarter's at the end. Back on the family front, the following was sent by Paul this week:

`Dad, Interesting thoughtlet. I thought you might find it interesting that the achievement day girls in our ward made unleavened bread for the sacrament. When you were talking about Andrea's Jewish friend that reminded me of Passover and of our sacrament bread today. Looking forward to having you up for Kate's graduation. We are planning on having a B-B-Que in Kate's honor on Friday night, so I hope that you are up for some good Texas steaks. Thank you for being so steadfast and doing your best to show us that you love us. I want you to know that your love is felt and returned. Thanks for all that you do. Love ya, Paul and Kate Nelson'

So Audrey and Heather, Paul and I will be coming through Cedar City about 10:00 on Wednesday morning, and if either of you or both of you are available you are welcome to come with us to take my Mom out to lunch. I hope to take Grandma Shirts and anyone interested out to dinner Wednesday evening, and then to go to Sara's concert at 7:30 at the Middle School out by Fiddler's.

As far as my week, Monday and Tuesday were spent finalizing a process model for Dynamic Resources. I am real impressed with the work, and it will be interesting to see if it proves to be anywhere near as valuable as I anticipate it will be. Wednesday and Thursday were mostly spent working at Hanover homes with Blaine Taylor and Steve Joseph. I ended up building a process model for `Just-In-Time Pre-Development.' These process models can be applied to any business process, and I think they are really valuable. I've called them a Knowledge Backbone(SM) in previous Thoughtlets (../9729, ../9735.html, and ../0049.html).

Wednesday night David Pickerd arranged for Brother Dowd to talk about his 13 years of experience in the Marines. Uncle Lloyd and Aunt Luana, he was pleased to have your names brought back to mind. I forget his first name, and he is Pat Dowd's older brother. It will be fun when the two of you come to visit us and reacquaint yourselves with the Dowd's.

Friday morning I went downtown to II&T. Swede Nelson called. He is back from his vacation, and has several financial leads he is following up on for Dynamic. I ended up talking too long and was 10 minutes late for a meeting in the same room with Hans Osterly from South Africa. He is interested in using Dynamic, and it was an interesting discussion. After this conversation, we worked on the prospects from II&T to be detailed up using Chroma Energy's software. I ended up working at II&T until 2:30. When I got to the house, there were about 10 phone calls, one right after another. It ended when it was time to take Matt to his soccer practice. We got back from practice just in time to go to the ward Family Relations fireside at Burnham's. We host the next one on Saturday evening, May 19th. There was a soccer game on Saturday morning at 9:00, and Andrea and Rachel were downtown doing a Youth Conference service project in the 5th Ward. I was suppose to go to the San Jacinto reinactment, where Ken Turner was getting some recognition. I went the wrong way, and ended up coming back without making it there. Ken came by and we caught up for the first time in a long time. Then it was time for Rachel to to go to the prom. She looked beautiful. I've attached my favorite digital picture (see www.walden3d.com/photos/Family/09_Rachel for the rest of them, and eventually I'll get them renumbered and edited, along with last Christmas's photos).

Last week we went with Matt to see Spy Kids, and the power went out at the theater and so we got a rain check. After Rachel was off, we went back. It is a very creative movie, and I liked it a lot. The parents reminded me of Todd and Michelle Staheli. I spent the evening working on Dynamic Resources Prospect descriptions. Rachel came home about 1:00 AM. I slept in this morning and had a nap after church and lunch. Getting old. I started writing the thoughtlet about 4:00, and then at 5:00 went to the Stake Center to be an usher for the Winter Quarters Temple Dedication. My notes:

`President Hinkley: We don't have a cornerstone like in the old days where a trench was dug and starting in the southeast corner a large stone was set, accompanied by song and ceremony. Today we used reinforced concrete. We place a soldid copper box with some things in before they put a cover on the cornerstone. We will proceed to put a little mud in the joint. We have a lot of experience with this but we haven't learned very much. Mother do you want to do one of these. Then he had the children participate. L. Tom Perry of the 12 Apostles: This visit has caused our family to read a lot about the history of our family. We live in a condiminum and have brothers and sisters above and on the left and on the right so it is easy to call a family counsel. Our ancestor joined the church in 1832. In 1830 an old man with white hair came and asked for a place to stay for the night. He read to us from a book. Two years later the missionaries came and they read from the same book and the family joined the church right away. In the exodus from Missouri his Great-Great Grandmother had a child. There were 5,600 endowments done in the Nauvoo temple the two weeks after the exodus started. There was not time to do sealings. When they arrived in Winter Quarters his ancestors begged Brigham Young to do their sealings. And finally he did this. Gus Davis Perry has 18,000 descendents, and the sealing of those descendants started here. Think about how sacred the sealing ordinances are. Sealings mean there is an eternal link which ties families together. Study the history of your family. Remember what it means to declare worthiness to a Priesthood Leader and to be able to come into the Lord's house. Those in this area no longer have to go to Chicago, St. Louis, or where you have been going. Put on your calendar when you are going to go the House of the Lord. When he was growing up, I think it was in Logan, he could look out of his bedroom window and see the temple lighted up on the hill. He closed saying `I know the Book of Mormon is true, just as Jus Davis Perry did.' Ariel Bydee of the Metropolitan Opera sang `Faith in Every Footstep.' Don Stahley of the 70: There have been 61 temples dedicated under President Hinkley's administration, compared to 47 in all previous administrations. At Kirtland they started building the temple 4 days after the 2nd admonition from the Lord. Brigham Young was so poor he had to borrow boots to work on the temple. Men carried guns to protect the works from the mobs. The early trials were to test the stength of the people and to prepare them for the trials like the winter of 1846 in Winter Quarters. Our challenge lies in how we maximize the opportunity to serve in the temple. Those casually engaged versus those anxiously engaged are shown by their commitment to temple ordinances, the crowning ordinances available to members of the church. If we are faithful to our covenants, great blessings will come to us. He closed testifying of a living prophet teaching us today. President Hinkley: Humbled and ashamed as stand on these grounds sanctified by so many. Flew here in 1 hour and 50 minutes on a flight of comfort. Could see in mind the wagon trains not knowing what they were going to find. Brigham led them to a land he had never seen except in vision. Has a portrait of Brigham in his office, and he talks to it: `You had a lot of courage.' `You had a lot of faith.' `The courage and the faith and the persistence and the utter reliance on the Lord to take people from the ease and beauty of Nauvoo to the starkness of the desert.' It took 3 months to do what we did in 1 hour and 50 minutes. Heart is full of gratitude for those who were driven from their homes in Nauvoo across the ice and in the mud made there way here. No vegetables. They died of scurvy by the hundreds. Some lived and some died. Those who lived went on to find further trials. those who died went to the magesty of God. Every member of the church owes a deep debt of gratitude to those who paused at Winter Quarters. They did it with faith. They know there were angels watching them. They supplied 500 young men to serve a government that failed to protect them. We built the temple in an older part of town, where it is a bit shabby. This is where they were. This is where they lived, and suffered, and died. The Mayor and the City Council deeded the cemetary to the church. Forever this shall be hallowed ground. There were several times when the Prophet broke down in tears. Talked about being with President McKay at the dedication of the temple in Switzerland, and he said he had a feeling there were a great unseen audience watching the dedication. I've had that same feeling today. Next week we dedicate a temple in Guadalajara, Mexico, then one in Perth. However, this place is special. The Hosanna Shout was similar to when ancient Israel waved the palms. The Hosanna Anthem was written for the Salt Lake dedication. The Spirit of God was written for the Kirtland Temple dedication. Today we are joining these three great events: the Salt Lake Temple dedication; the Kirtland Temple dedication; and the Winter Quarters Temple dedication.'

(see ../9711.html and ../9743.html).

Some may ask why attend something, where you end up with tears flowing from your eyes. Maybe it is that once you have experienced the emotions tied to a spiritual experience it becomes addictive. Maybe this is a negative way of saying it feels good, and experiencing the spirit is a fullfilling, building experience. This type of spiritual experience is what gave regular folks the strength to be superhuman pioneers at Winter Quarters. I wish I knew how to teach those I love the importance of this guiding light, to insure you will each have the strength to meet the challenges sure to come to you in your own personal winter quarters. Have a great week."

I'm interested in sharing weekly a "thoughtlet" (little statements of big thoughts which mean a lot to me) with you because I know how important the written word can be. I am concerned about how easy it is to drift and forget our roots and our potential among all of distractions of daily life. To download any of these thoughtlets go to http://www.walden3d.com/thoughtlets or e-mail me at rnelson@walden3d.com.

With all my love,
Dad
(H. Roice Nelson, Jr.)

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Copyright © 2001 H. Roice Nelson, Jr.