Five Wonderful Seniors Graduate from Seminary

Graduates from L to R:  Even Webb, Alysa Webb, Matt Cooper (superimposed over teacher Teresa Sroufe,) Sierra Stewart, and Lindsay Robison

    Sister Teresa Sroufe is an amazing seminary teacher and loves her calling as a teacher for the older students in our stake.  "I love working with the kids, and listening to their testimonies grow," Teresa said. "I loved learning from their great insight. How they put the scriptures to work in their lives is amazing."
  During the year seminary students read the entire Book of Mormon. One of their favorite chapters was 3rd Nephi.  It is also Teresa's favorite. "It is so true and brings the light of Christ easily into your life to empower your testimony."  She said it has strengthened her and had great application in her life.
   At our request, Teresa made a comment about each of the graduating students from our ward.

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EVAN WEBB:  Observing him in fall 2017 when his greatest concern was where he was going to play baseball, to now where his priority is serving his Savior, has been a great joy.  The transformation has been wonderful to witness and to feel his joy and enthusiasm!

ALYSA WEBB: She will take the world by storm and share her love of the Gospel wherever she goes!  It has been and will be amazing to see her reach out to those she sees that need prayers, and help in any way.

LINDSAY ROBISON:  I have learned from her through her sensitivity to receiving answers for herself through study, prayer and feeling the Holy Ghost in her life.  She is amazing!  She will touch many lives with her talents and capabilities.

SIERRA STEWART: This young woman has turned to the Savior and the scriptures to overcome major challenges in her life.  She is watched over, led and protected in very special ways because she makes amazing choices.  Her "sphere of influence" is blessed to have her in it.

MATT COOPER:  When you finally get the words to come out, he can teach all those around him of the scriptures, and the Holy Ghost being active participants in our lives through his experiences he shared.  He will be another amazing missionary in the near future.

Austin Kidd & Kaitlyn Taylor Marry in Sacramento Temple

   Austin Kidd and Kaitlyn Taylor have known each other and been friends for a long time. Now they are in love and married! Saturday, June 2 was the big day as they were sealed in the Sacramento Temple. That evening a ring ceremony and dinner were held at Mark and Vicki Kidd's home in Acampo.
    Austin and Kaitlyn aren't new to us. They are on the header of this blog!  Austin baptized Kaitlyn  in the Mokelumne River in 2010.
   Their plans are to live in Austin's grandmother's home and help care for her.  Edie Van Noy suffered a stroke several years ago and needs help with ordinary living.  Austin and Kaitlyn also want to finish their degrees at BYU-Idaho, and will do part of their classes on the Internet. We are proud of them for choosing to be married in the temple and wish them well in all their future endeavors.

Austin and Kaitlyn pose at the Sacramento Temple the day of their wedding.

Recent Convert Jen Tovar Welcomed to Ward

   Jennifer (Jen) Tovar had been taught by the Sister missionaries, who were transferred before they had finished teaching her. The Sister missionaries had been great and Jen really felt the spirit during their lessons. Then Elders Yazzie and Manley took over and with help of Curtis and Wendy Weight continued to teach her.  When she was ready she was baptized and confirmed by Brother Weight.
   Sister Weight said Jen's baptism service was beautiful and very spiritual. A special and beautifully touching song "Lord, I Would Follow Thee" was sung by Evan Webb and Elder Manley.
   Jen works as a dental office manager in Manteca and loves music. Her favorites are hymns and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  We are delighted to have her in the Mokelumne River Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and welcome her with open arms.

L to R:  Elder Yazzie, Curtis Weight, Wendy Weight, Jen Tovar, and Elder Manley

Youth Have Amazing Temple Trip

   Over 30 Young Men and Young Women and their leaders enjoyed a Saturday evening trip to the Sacramento temple to do baptisms for ancestors who have passed away.  Some of the names they did were ones that they had researched themselves. Others came from ward members who had names that needed the baptismal ordinance.
   Several of the Young Men who are Priests performed all the baptisms.  It is only recently that youth have been permitted to do this, and it was a special experience for them. Girls can also help in the temple by recording ordinances and helping with baptismal clothes.
    This is the first time the temple trip has been made in the evening and it seemed to be an better hour for most of the youth, as well as the leaders.  It was a very successful evening.  Bishop Holden and Counselor Joseph Stringer accompanied the group to the temple.

 Mokelumne River Ward youth and their leaders, Saturday, June 9, 2018 

Joseph Stringer Called as Second Counselor in Bishopric

L to R:  First Counselor Tyler Burton, Bishop Eric Holden, Second Counselor Joseph Stringer

    When the Church recently combined the Elder's and High Priest's quorums, the leaders of those groups were released and a new presidency was formed.  The Elder's Quorum President is Don Daley who has been serving as the second counselor in the bishopric.  Joseph Stringer has been called to take his place and serve in the bishopric. 

   Brother Stringer said this about his new calling:  I feel very humbled and honored to serve the Mokelumne River Ward members because the nature of this calling in its true form is "service." Since I’ve been called I’ve met a lot of members that I haven't been introduced to before and these have been great experiences for me.  I love this new calling as it allows me to be there for members whenever they ask.  My goals for the ward are simple.  I would like to echo the Prophet Russell M. Nelson’s counsel to "stay on the covenant path," for as we do, all will be well with each individual.  Our Ward is truly blessed by its members who are dedicated and magnify their callings each day.   

Achievement Girls Learn About Gardening

Picking Strawberries

     A yearly tradition for Achievement Day girls is to visit the Kerr farm and have a "working" tour of the garden. Their first stop was the strawberry patch were Brother Kerr taught them which strawberries to pick and how to pick them.

More Lessons to Learn

  Next the girls picked (and ate) from the blackberry patch, tried some green peas, pulled onions, dug up potatoes (the most exciting event of the day,) picked cherries, and fed the cows.

Strawberry Shortcake and Swimming

  Dottie Bernhoft (not pictured) was there to help, and washed the strawberries while the girls were checking out the rest of the garden. Then using paper plates for cutting boards, they sliced the berries and served up strawberry shortcake.  Even more happiness happened in the swimming pool.  Everyone had a great time, and went home with a bag of garden goodies.  Ginny Shull is the Achievement Day leader and says it is the best calling in the Church.

Group Photo Under the Cherry Tree

FHC Honors Dedicated Computer Specialist

Tom Robison

At home in the Family History Center

    Tom is a non-member who has been working hard for many years in an ongoing job to keep the Lodi Family History Center's PCs up and running--as well as updated.  He served a weekly shift in the center, in addition to all the hours needed to keep the computers going.  He has worked to help clean up and organize the FHC.  At one point he donated a whole new set of computers. Since then he has worked TWICE to change out to newer computers from Salt Lake.  In addition, he hooked up two scanners and did training for staff and patrons on how to scan. Tom has played a vital role in making the FHC what it is today.

   Led by Cathy Leonard, several Mokelumne River Ward members worked together to honor him at a delicious gourmet dinner.   After the dinner Cathy expressed thanks from all the attendees, followed by President Joseph Anderson also thanking Tom and giving a history of the Lodi Center. He was presented with a 16x20 print of his portrait (see first picture) taken by Ann Kerr during a photo shoot several weeks before the event.  Following the dinner everyone took a tour of the FHC which has just recently been newly carpeted and rearranged.  It looks beautiful.  Cathy says it has the feel of a temple, and is the beginning of the work performed there.

Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Celebrated at Outdoor Event

   In commemoration of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood on May 15, 1829, an evening of enjoyable camaraderie was had at Mark and Vicki Kidd's home by men and boys of the Mokelumne River Ward.

   Opening and closing prayers bookended a rousing song "Called to Serve" directed by Evan Webb, a spiritual thought by Joseph Stringer; and a lot of fun fellowshipping by all.

   The young and middle-aged kids had fun swimming, throwing the football, swinging, playing basketball, and just enjoying one another's company. Lots of great food topped off the evening.

New Mokelumne River Ward Elders' Quorum Presidency.  R to L: Don Daley, President; Adam Sroufe, First Counselor; and Eric Fairbanks, Secretary.  Not pictured: Neil Anderson, Second Counselor.

   Bishop Holden and President Daley both expressed feelings of gratitude for this opportunity to come together as a new ward and to get to know each other better.  Thanks were expressed to all who made this wonderful evening possible.

Family History Strong in Mokelumne River Ward

   Nearly 100 people attended the combination taco dinner/ family research event held recently in the Ham Lane Building where the Stake Family History Center is located. The event was themed with a clever play-on-words since it was held on May 4.

   Shawn and Liz Kirkley, who are over the ward temple and family history consultants, chaired the evening.  Before dinner Liz showed a PowerPoint with Eric VerSteeg and his children Gillian and Jackson participating.  Eric spoke about the importance of family history, Gillian expressed her happiness in participating in FH work, and Jackson told how he enjoyed his Eagle Scout project "Find A Grave" at the Woodbridge Cemetery. Sister Kirkley showed a short video called "Will I Do My Part?" that she would like everyone in the ward to see.  You can watch it here:

    "It was fun, exciting, we felt the spirit," commented Cathy Leonard who coordinated the taco meal. She also said the youth consultants were wonderful, and worked well with adults. "The spirit of Elijah took hold, and when that happens you can't stop it," she explained. Sixteen computers in three rooms were used, as well as laptops and mobile devices. The pictures below are of some of the participants.  

(Photography by Brant Moon)

Robert Stanley, center gets help from Mark Wilcox and Betty McOmber (right) while Mark and Nancy Stoltenberg  (left) work on research for their families.

Upper left: Olivia Currington and Samantha McGhie; Upper right: Andie Stewart, Conner Weight, and Wendy Weight; Lower left: Andi Stewart and Caden Webb; Lower right: Steven Aberle and Marcia Ramos

Ward Historians Explain Importance of Keeping A History

 

   Bishop Eric Holden asked ward historians, Cliff and Ann Kerr, to use the fifth Sunday in April to educate and inform members about the importance of keeping a ward history.  The Kerrs were trained by Ward Andrus who is the Area History Specialist.
   Brother Andrus explained that ward histories (1) Bring members closer to Christ, (2) Document continually the history of the Church, and (3) Present leaders and missionaries with an opportunity to reflect on the work they are doing. The slide in the picture above explains how the ward history consisting of words and images is saved as a .pdf file and sent to church headquarters in SLC on a flash drive.

   Bishop Holden wanted to bring the ward history to another level, one that would unite the ward, help members have an appreciation for each other, grow in spirituality and in particular enhance missionary and family history work. Thus it was decided to have a blog containing the stories that were going to be sent to Salt Lake.  That way everyone could be up-to-date on what's happening in the ward, and enjoy the experiences and testimonies of others.

Elders Quorum Works to Ready Guy Condor's House for Sale

  Guy Condor recently passed away (see previous blog post) and Kitty Tippets, who cared for him before his death, needed some help cleaning up the house and garden so the house could be sold.  Cliff Kerr called new Elder's Quorum President Don Daley and he took it from there.
   Several of the Elders responded and Don brought his son Owen to help as well. The basement was cleaned of very old food storage, some dating back to 1979.  Old weeds and fallen fruit were removed from the back yard. "Shade from the lemon, cherries, and grapefruit trees, along with beautiful poppies made a pleasant scene," Cliff observed. "We all worked hard and in the process gained a better appreciation of each other."

Piling up a truck load of garbage to take to the dump are Owen Daley, Stephen Parker, and Don Daley.

Left picture: Brad Parker
Right picture: Ted, Goodsell, Owen Daley, Tyler Burton, and Don Daley.
 Not pictured: Kitty Tippets and Cliff Kerr (who is taking the pictures.)

Travis and Cathy Leonard Enjoy "Ministering" in Palo Alto

   When Travis and Cathy saw a need, they stepped in to fill it. Cindy and Glenn Franks live in the Vintage Ward.  Cindy and Cathy both work in the Family History Center, so the Leonards were aware that Glenn had had a double lung transplant at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto.  After the surgery he was required to live in the city for 90 days to have close contact with the doctors, necessary tests, help with an emergency, etc.

   After a few weeks of them being confined to an apartment, Cathy saw that Cindy needed a break to come back to Lodi, get some rest, and take care of things at home.  So she and Travis volunteered to go to Palo Alto and stay with Glenn for a few days.  They enjoyed their stay, and the Franks were very appreciative of it.  This is what ministering is all about.

   

Left:  Travis makes some soup for lunch. He also took Glenn to the hospital when he needed tests.
Right:  Cathy spends some time giving Glenn a few family history tips.