The Temple Trips

Grandpa and Grandma Hawks had a different kind of family vacation in mind this year. Instead of taking everyone camping, they took their grandkids, in pairs, on temple trips. Their grandkids range in age from 1-17 and although most are not old enough to participate in temple ordinances, they all participated in temple service.

They have visited almost every temple west of the Mississippi. The Cowboys and Indians Temple trip took them to temples in Manti and Monticello, Utah; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Mesa, Arizona with stops for fun at the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde and Aunt Marge's home. The West Coast trip took them to the Portland, Oregon Temple dotted with temple stops in Idaho. Other trips included the California Trip, the Church History Trip (Nauvoo and Winter Quarters). One-day trips to local temples have been made with the youngest of the grandchildren. Currently they are on the Palmyra Trip with their 16 year-old granddaughter.

Armed with a list of duties from the grounds keeper, temple visits have found them weeding flower beds, sweeping sidewalks, washing windows and cleaning light pots (the small lights found in the flower beds) followed by fun detours to historical attractions, ice cream shops and hotels with swimming pools. Grandma and Grandpa also banned all electronic devices, so they have played the alphabet game, I Spy, and sung many, many songs.

President Ezra Taft Benson said, "Our responsibility to organize our families at the immediate family level begins when a couple is married. The grandparent family organization develops as the children from the immediate family marry and have children. Through such family organizations, every family in the church should become actively involved in missionary work, family preparedness, geneological and temple work, teaching the gospel, and cultural and social activities." (Ensign, Nov. 1978)

Grandma and Grandpa-we need your organization and support! The world shouts louder and louder to follow its ways. We need your experience, your example, your leadership. The Family: A Proclamation to the World states, "Extended families should lend support when needed." What are the needs of your children and grandchildren? How can we know their needs and how to meet them? I have a favorite phrase from Sister Julie B. Beck, Relief Society General President, "You have knees and you have scriptures. What else do you need?" You also have sons and daughters who know their children's needs and have tried to meet them but are out of time or patience or both.

Grandpa and Grandma Hawks wanted to teach the importance of the temple and eternal family relationships. As a result of those trips, the grandkids have testimonies of the temple and temple service planted deep into their hearts. Ethan, 8, wants to be a temple architect and his cousin the temple general contractor.

Here are some additional ideas to "turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers." (Malachi 4:6)

In 1977, Elder Marvin J. Ashton suggested, "I challenge grandparents to foster reading programs with your grandchildren. If you are close enough to be with them, read the books to them that will help develop character and ideals. If you're a distance away, send them books, old or new, with a personal invitation to read them and report how they like them." (Ensign, Nov. 1977, p. 72) Now, thirty-one years after his challenge, you could record yourself reading favorite books for your grandchildren for download to their IPod or MP3 players. Challenge everyone to read the Book of Mormon and celebrate with a family party and testimony meeting. Start a family book club.

Write your life history, one vignette at a time and have your grandkids illustrate it. Then you have two pricless treasures in one-your life story and their precious artwork (displayed in a better place than the refrigerator door!)

Many grandparents host a Family Home Evening once a month with activities ranging from a standard lesson to hiking a favorite trail to games or family talent shows.

Be a master teacher. Teach your grandchildren the things you know how to do and love. Granddaughters should learn how to sew, crochet, knit, make bread, scrapbook, and study the scriptures. Grandsons should learn how to fix a car, finish a basement, plant a garden, fish and honor the priesthood.

Plan a special time with each grandchild each year, perhaps near their birthday. Presents are great, but your presence is better and lasts an eternity.

"We need to strengthen the individual family unit. We must not turn the hearts of the children to the grandparents if it means turning their hearts away from their parents. In fact, if we have concentrated on a good relationship with our children, they will spontaneously and joyously turn their children's hearts to us." (Ensign, "Makers of Moons and Testimonies", Caroline Eyring Miner, p. 68)

As you seek inspiration to know how to organize and help your families, remember to strengthen your children. Think of strengthening in terms of "extras." Extra hands, extra ears, extra patience, extra brain power, extra testimony, extra love.

Not all grandparents have time or means to take all of their grandchildren on a temple trip. However, all grandparents can share their "extras" and bless their families.

Keep a Cow, Part 2

Last summer we brought home a calf from my dad's ranch. My daughter learned how to care for and love an animal. She fed her, provided water for her and played with her. In the fall, we sold her and Chloe learned about paying tithing and saving money. We had had a great time raising our "Pink Bow" calf last year.

(To see "Keep a Cow: Part 1", click on this link:
http://seeklearningyourldsneighborhood.blogspot.com/2008/05/keep-cow.html)

This year, in the latter part of June, a calf was born on the open range. It was struggling and Grandpa decided to bring him back to the ranch. We decided to bring this calf home as well. My daughter and her cousin named him "Dillon".

Dillon continued to struggle. We tried to feed him with a bottle and from a bucket. We bought calf manna and oats, but he didn't want to eat. It became the daily struggle to force him to eat. Without enough of the proper nourishment, he lost strength and two weeks later he died.

Sometimes when you "keep a cow", the lesson for you and your child is not one of work and its associated blessings, but one of life, death and the plan of salvation. This summer, keeping a cow became a tutorial in the plan of salvation and I witnessed again the tender mercies of a loving Heavenly Father and a loving husband.

I married a wonderful man who has a profound love for all of God's creatures. As Dillon continued to struggle, I watched my husband watch over this calf with greater attention and love. He built a small pen for the calf so he would have shade from the 90-plus degree heat and better access to water and the calf manna. He helped the calf to stand and made him walk. He took buckets of water and scrubbed the scoury poop off his hind quarters and worked and worked to get him to eat. As it became apparent that Dillon was not going to live, my sweetheart led our family in prayer to ask for a mortal release for this animal.

The death of this calf brought memories flooding back to me of Russell and his dad. Russell learned his love of animals through the example of his father. Russell's father loved all animals and fed every stray that came his way. Three years earlier, my father-in-law passed away from leukemia, just two weeks after his diagnosis. My husband took care of his father the same way. Showing greater love and attention; applying lip salve to cracked, dry lips; washing off his body; helping him to walk; giving him sips of water; making him comfortable; praying for an earthly release.

Doesn't our Heavenly Father also take care of us like this in the midst of our trials in this earthly existence? "My work and my glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man," says the Lord in Moses 1:39.

Then why do we insist on doing it alone? Isn't He trying to help us walk, encouraging us to eat, applying salve to our wounds, finding shelter for us? "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)

We were able to teach our four-year old about Heavenly Father's plan-the plan of salvation. As she cried about Dillon, she also cried about Grandpa and missing him. We know and testify, "the grave must deliver up its captive bodies and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel." (2 Nephi 9:12)

Although Dillon is gone, some new chicks (Leah, Sam, Sammy, Chicky and Rayla) have joined the family. I was hoping for some fresh eggs in a few months, but I need to remember-I'm raising a daughter-and I'm afraid we have roosters!

To Volunteer

I have had the opportunity to be a member of panels and boards that award scholarships and recognition to high school students. Each time I review applications, resumes and interview potential candidates, I am amazed at each applicant's preparation, dedication and diligence. Almost all of the applicants have impressive school transcripts, extra-curricular pursuits and work experience, but the area which usually determines the student who receives the recognition or scholarship from the one who does not is... community service.

Summer is a great time for teens to serve. They don't have homework; they may have fewer extra-curricular demands; they are watching too much television and playing too many video games. Hopefully your teen has altruistic desires to serve, but if resume building is where it starts, hopefully it will end in the warm glow of helping others. Doctrine and Covenants 58:27 states, "[young men and young women] should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will."

When helping your teen find meaningful ways to serve capitalize on the things they enjoy and ways they need to grow. For instance, my grandfather was in a nursing home for the last few years of his life and he enjoyed those individuals who shared their musical talents. Perhaps your teen could share his voice or instrumental talent on a weekly basis. Check with your local senior citizen center and see what needs they have. Perhaps they could teach "how to" classes for computers and software applications, cell phones, MP3 players and IPods, digital cameras and scrapbooking, or organize activities such as a Wii tournament or a real "senior" prom.

Is your teen interested in city government, law or politics? Most cities have a youth city council and youth court which are volunteer positions. Youth city councils plan city activities for youth; youth courts determine judgments for low-level offenses by juveniles. Many political campaigns, local and national, are in full swing and in need of volunteers.

Does your teen like books and love to read? Your local public library is looking for assistance with storytime, book clubs, activities and always re-shelving books. Although school libraries are typically closed for the summer, school library media specialists work throughout the summer to prepare newly received materials for use during the school year. As a former library media specialist, the help and the company was valued.

Maybe your teen loves to build or fix things. Habitat for Humanity has thousands of local affiliates and they are always looking for people who want to help.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and participants in the Young Men and Young Women organizations, youth have a plethora of opportunities for service. However, Utah youth beware! Every application will have raking leaves for the elderly and singing at the local rest home. If your teen wants to stand above the rest, he needs to show a true commitment to community service. "As you devote yourself to serving others, you will draw closer to Heavenly Father. Your heart will be filled with love. Your capacitites will increase, and your life and the lives of those around you will be blessed." For the Strength of Youth, p. 38.

A Family Vacation

Family vacations lasted one day when I was young. Dad and Mom would take us on a whirlwind tour of both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. The adventure would begin at the Lunch Counter Rapid on the Snake River where we would watch the whitewater rafts and kayaks come down the river. We would lunch on sandwiches made from Ritz crackers, squeeze cheese and pimento loaf bologna. An hour or so later, my father would announce "Look, the majestic Tetons!" and we would cruise into Grand Teton National Park for a dip of the toes into Jenny Lake and a challenging Name-the-Teton game. Next, we would zoom into Yellowstone National Park to watch Old Faithful erupt and sometimes-depending on what time it was-we would swim in Firehole. Then as Dad drove back to the ranch, we would fall asleep listening to a late night radio show, the Midnight Cowboy.

What vacation memories are you making with your kids? Research by Susan Shaw, a sociologist at the University of Waterloo, shows "that parents treasure their memories of the vacations their own parents took them on, and that this inspires them to try to create similarly happy memories for their children." The Family: A Proclamation states, "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." In my experience, a family vacation puts all of those principles into practice.

With the price of gas and food, a one-day vacation may be the only possibility this year, but one day is better than none. Need some ideas?

• Elder L. Tom Perry shares an interesting "vacation" in his hometown of Logan, Utah. "I designated nine stops in Logan that I wanted my family to see. With each stop I selected a scripture to teach a lesson on the importance that particular location had in my life." (Ensign, Sept. 2006, p. 8-11) Where did you learn important lessons? What particular locations changed your life? Perhaps your children need to learn more about you and the events that shaped you. Where would I take my kids? My childhood home and ranch, the cafe where I worked as a teenager, my high school, USU (Go Aggies!), Aix-en-Provence, France, Clearfield High School, the University of Utah, and the home we now live in. France is not a realistic destination at this time, but a scrapbook, a bottle of Perrier, a croissant and a stop in Paris, Idaho would create some atmosphere!
• Visit local attractions. For a ward youth conference, we visited the local Church sites. I was surprised at the number of youth who had never visited the Beehive House, Church History Museum, or Temple Square (in the summertime). What local attractions have you and your children missed? Explore and enjoy!
• Book a hotel in a neighboring city to spend the night and go swimming. My sister and her family have done this for years and it is one of their favorite activities. On this vacation the focus and fun is the swimming.
• Load up in the car and make sure you have a coin. At each intersection, flip the coin. Heads turn right and tails turn left and see where you end up for lunch.
• Volunteer. Find a local charity that could use some free labor and elbow grease for a day. It may become a family tradition.
• Get physical. Several years ago, my roommate and I decided to try a new sport each season. That was the year I learned how to snow ski and how to dodge a racquetball. What activities would your family like?
• How about a week of vacation at home? Melanie from Utah structured a week where each family member was assigned a day and a budget. The person of the day chose the meals and activities. They finished with a day that included mini-golf, swimming at the local Aquatic Center, take-out for dinner and a silly string war with cans and cans of string. And-no friends, no phone, no door, no email, no texting; after all, they were on vacation.

My sisters and I like to give Dad a lot of grief for the one-day vacations of our youth and now we take our own families together on this vacation every year. Why, the grandkids have even talked Grandpa into spending three days-Yahoo!