Celebrating Family and Gospel Ordinances

I’m sure you’ve heard the paraphrase from Jesus that goes: “I didn’t say it would be easy, but I said it would be worth it!"

That’s the thought that’s been running through my mind after a whirlwind week of driving, family gatherings and church ceremonies.

In just eight days, we’ve experienced one Melchizedek Priesthood ordination, one baptism, one confirmation, three family endowments – two of them our sons – and a sealing of one son to his wife and baby. Plus just a month ago, we were part of another Melchizedek Priesthood ordination and a baby blessing. It’s been a long journey for all of us.

But I think the story really starts almost exactly a year ago. That’s when Nancy and I moved out of our apartment in Sandy when we just didn’t have the money to stay there.

We were in the process of applying for Social Security Disability and had no idea how long it would take, so we decided to store our furniture and accept Bruce Westwood’s invitation to visit and stay with them at their home in Carthage, Missouri. (Bruce is Nancy’s brother). He’s the bishop of the Webb City Ward in southwest Missouri.

On May 22, 2011, just a couple of weeks after we arrived, a F-5 tornado ripped through the neighboring city of Joplin, killing more than 150 people and destroying hundreds of homes, many businesses and even our stake center. (For more details, see the blog I was asked to do about the tornado and the rebuilding of our stake center at Joplinstakecenter.blogspot.com).

For the next several weeks, Nancy helped Bruce with cleanup efforts for the church and for him personally. Three of his apartment buildings were severally damaged. I helped Bruce on his online Westwoods Cabinet Hardware business. (Underlined blue phrases are links I've added that provide additional information and details.) The longer we stayed, the more we felt we had found a new home. Then we were surprised when our appeal for Social Security Disability was approved relatively quickly. That’s when we found we could actually buy a home in the area for less than we could rent back in Salt Lake area of Utah or even down in St. George, Utah, near my daughter’s family in Fredonia, Arizona. So we found a very nice three bedroom home in Oronogo and moved in.

Virtually the same weekend, Jason and his bride, Hannah, had transferred to Kansas City, Missouri, which is two hours north of us, and Jared and his new bride, Heidi, with her two daughters, had transferred to Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is an hour and a half west of us. Just a month ago, Nathan, our youngest son, transferred to Fayetteville, Arkansas, which is an hour and a half south of us. So Nancy and I and the three boys left Utah for our new lives here and within a couple hours' drive.

Jason’s ward greeted him and his bride with open arms! Hannah was called to serve as the Primary president in the ward, and Jason worked toward taking Hannah to the temple. Just after their son, Justin, was born, I was thrilled to be summoned up there to confer the Melchizedek Priesthood onto Jason Lee Hunt, and a couple weeks later, I stood in the circle as Jason gave Justin his name and a blessing. What a great experience! But that was a prelude to the week we just completed.

On Wednesday, May 2, Nancy and I drove to Jared and Heidi’s home in Tulsa. Already there were Heidi’s parents, Cindy and Jerald Boyd; her sister, Brittany; brother, Jordan, and her aunt, Cindy’s sister, Anne. Of course, Heidi’s girls, Kate and Annie, were there. Also present was one of Jared’s new friends, Bart Ball, a member of the stake high council who lives in Jared’s ward.

I was a little surprised at how Jared handled the situation, but I was very impressed. He first thanked everyone for coming, then read a scripture from the Book of Mormon pertaining to his change of heart, and then bore his testimony. That was way cool! Something that I had never heard but one I had hoped I would live to experience.

Jared’s testimony led us into the next step as I laid my hands upon his head. Joining me in the circle were Jerald, Jordan and Brother Ball. I then conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood onto Jared and ordained him an Elder in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It had been a long journey for Jared to find himself.

Heidi’s family has been a great help in bringing him along, but I think his transfer to Tulsa and his ward in Broken Arrow had been instrumental in his transformation. His new friends’ strong examples have been extremely important.

Jared’s ordination was a major milestone in his life, but there’s more….

On Saturday, May 5th, Jared baptized Heidi’s daughter, Kate, and I served as a witness, along with Jordan, Heidi’s brother who just got back from his mission about six months ago. Lucky Jordan was there as a witness: He caught a one word mistake that I didn’t notice. Jared corrected it and then completed Kate’s baptism. Her grandfather, Jerald, confirmed her and bestowed the Gift of the Holy Ghost on her. I said the closing prayer.

Jared has been a great father to Kate and Annie, but they have kept Shea Potter, the girls’ father, closely in the lope.

Also, I need to mention that Brittany and Jordan gave great talks on Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, respectively, at Kate’s baptism and confirmation, which was really special for Kate. They both did excellent.

Then on Monday, May 7th, the whole family went with Jared and Heidi to her doctor’s appointment where they found out Heidi and Jared are expecting – drum roll – a girl. Most of us felt the baby was going to be a boy because of how Heidi’s pregnancy has been so different from her other two. There were so many of us in the doctor’s waiting room that I’m sure they thought we were a pretty strange group, but I’m so glad Jared and Heidi invited us all to be part of the experience!

Later that afternoon, Nancy and I drove to Oklahoma City and picked up Heather, my oldest child, and TJ, her baby, at the airport. Seeing her and the baby, TJ, was so fun. TJ looks and acts so much like Breanna, but he’s all Ty’s son. We got to spend almost four days with TJ, who is almost a year old. The last time we were with them, he was a newborn.

Soon after we arrived at our hotel from the airport, Lena, Leif and their boys arrived. They had driven from Fredonia, Arizona, to be with us for the coming several days. The boys were so excited and hyper! JJ, the baby, is about 16 months old and almost as big as Caleb. The last time we had seen JJ, we were in Fredonia for his baby blessing. Jakob is seven years old and turning eight in August. The first thing I noticed was his two missing front teeth, plus how tall he is getting. Caleb is such a handful – but so sensitive! Love them all! Leif is such a good husband – and so good to drive them all the way out here – just before he has to go to nursing school in southern Arizona.

The following day, May 8, all the adults headed to the Oklahoma City Temple for a very special morning endowment session: Jared was going through for the first time. Many family members were there: Nancy, me, Heather, Lena, Leif, Jared, Heidi, Cindy, Jerald, Brittany, Jordan, Anne, Bruce and Chris Westwood, and Scott Westwood.

Nathan, Shea Potter, Jason and Hannah helped take care of all the kids back at the hotel.

I was Jared’s escort in the temple. We met with the temple president before the session, and he talked to Jared for a good 15 minutes. He also met with Jared for a few minutes after the endowment session. Being in the Celestial Room with so many of the family was really special, especially being able to embrace Jared as he came in – and then Heidi. There were a lot of tears and a lot of embracing in the brightest most beautiful of the temple rooms. We’re looking forward to the time when Jared and Heidi can be sealed – maybe in the same temple.

When everyone came out of the temple, we met up with all the rest of the family and kids and took pictures next to the temple. The Oklahoma Temple is one of the smaller ones in the church but very beautiful.

After pictures, the whole group followed Jared to a barbecue restaurant. There were six or seven tables of family enjoying dinner and conversations!

After dinner, we headed back to Missouri, dropping Heather off at the "Westwood B and B for Wayward Children." Jason, Hannah and baby Justin arrived at the Westwood B and B about the same time that Lena and her family arrived. We had a great time visiting for awhile there and then Nancy and I headed home, about 15 minutes away in Oronogo.

We found out the next day that Bruce, Scott and Chris stayed up with our kids until about 1 a.m. Bruce fell asleep in the chair, and Chris finally got him and Scott to bed. Our kids stayed up even longer visiting. What a special blessing that Bruce and Chris allowed them all to stay at their place and visit so much.

The next day, Wednesday, May 9, everyone who had stayed at Bruce’s home came over for lunch at our home. We had Heather and TJ; Lena and family; Jason and family; Nathan; Bruce, Chris and Scott. Karin and her family – Mike, Joseph and Makayla – came over, too. Trena, who’s been staying with us, had a lot of visitors that day!

We were able to set up tables under our huge backyard tree and enjoy the afternoon as the kids played on the lawn. TJ was fun to watch as he practiced standing up. Lena and Leif’s boys had a great time playing T-ball on the big lawn in back. It was a great family get-together.

Soon after, we headed to Kansas City for the next big adventure and spiritual feast!

We ended up staying at a Comfort Suites in Liberty, Missouri, about five minutes away from the Kansas City LDS Temple. The next morning, most of all the adults headed to the brand new Kansas City Missouri Temple, which is actually in Liberty, Missouri.

Here we were, staying at a beautiful new hotel in Liberty, the same city were Joseph Smith spent months holed up in jail while the Saints were being persecuted by Missourians. (Joseph Smith and five other brethren were held prisoner within its four-foot thick walls from 1 December 1838 until 6 April 1839.) The Saints were eventually driven out of their homes as part of Missouri's Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs infamous Mormon Extermination Order. Liberty was also the place were Joseph received some of the greatest revelations that are found in the Doctrine and Covenants. (D&C 121-123.) Now we were going to the Temple of the Lord in the city that for so many years has been a historical place of infamy in the church. The church has returned, and the temple will be a blessing to the city and area.

Living in Oronogo, we are part of the Kansas City Temple District.

I arrived early, and for half an hour I had time to sit in the temple and contemplate about all the happenings in our lives – especially those in the past few years – and the reason why I was there that day: Jason, my oldest son, and Hannah were going through for their own endowments and then would be sealed together for all time and eternity and Justin would then be sealed to them.

Looking back, I felt like I had for so many years been wandering in the wilderness, like the wayward children of Israel.

Most of that time, 20 years, was spent trying to create something special: Hunt Mysteries. There were so many great moments with Hunt Mysteries and so many struggles and sacrifices – especially family sacrifices. I think the family, and especially the boys suffered during those years. I finally sold Hunt Mysteries, took early retirement from Deseret News, and started to dig ourselves out of the pit.

Now, a year away from Utah and Hunt Mysteries, I was sitting in a Temple of the Lord in a land chosen of the Lord. I was even able to serve as a greeter on the first Saturday of the temple’s open house. What an incredible feeling to realize how far the church has come and that I was there in the Liberty temple.

As Jason’s escort, we visited with the temple president’s counselor and then went through the endowment session. When I walked into the Celestial Room, many of the family members were already in there, including Jared and Heidi, Bruce, Chris, Scott and Jim (who drove down from Iowa in the early morning hours), Karin, Mike, Heather, Lena, David and Michelle Lasiter (Hanah’s parents), Sarah (Hannah’s sister-in-law), and a few members from Jason’s ward, including the sister who had taught them the temple lessons. She was so happy for them! I made it over to Jason and gave him a big embrace (he was careful not to crack my ribs). Then Nancy came through and saw four of five of her children in the Celestial Room and she cried as she embraced first Jared, then Heidi and then Jason. Everyone embraced! Finally Jason escorted Hannah into the Celestial room and the embraces started all over again!

I didn’t see any of my ancestors in the temple that day, but I had the very strong impression that this is what it’s like on the other side of the veil when family comes home – and they are greeted by the rest of their family and ancestors on the other side. The feelings and emotions were amazing and binding!

As I sat there and everyone was trying to keep their conversations as whispers, I thought how this was a beginning for Jared and Heidi and for Jason and Hannah. Now comes the part about enduring to the end. But I have come to realize more and more that that doesn’t mean coasting – it means being converted to the lifestyle of the Gospel and to the covenants we make in the temple.

A few minutes later we all gathered together in the largest of the three sealing rooms in the Kansas City Temple and I was a witness, along with David Lasiter, to the sealing of Jason Lee Hunt and Hannah Lasiter Hunt. What a precious moment when Justin was brought in by the temple matron and his hand was placed on his parents’, and they were sealed together for time and eternity.

I looked at Heather and gave her a smile and a wink when Justin was brought in. Heather was a beautiful little angel when she was brought into Nancy and my temple sealing and was sealed to us. Now she has four children of her own and we’re witnessing Justin’s sealing to his parents.

We even had Nathan, our youngest, in the temple with us for a little while before the session. He took care of Justin in the guest waiting room until Hannah’s sister arrived. I was able to sit with him for a few minutes and talk to him about the book he had picked up off the table in the waiting room: Jesus the Christ. I told him it was written by a great church apostle, James E. Talmadge.

After the sealing, we gathered outside the temple and took pictures. Then we enjoyed a picnic in the temple parking lot. Thanks for the picnic, Michelle Lasiter, especially the M&Ms – and thanks for all the great memories as our children strive to build their lives together in the church.

Four days later, we flew to Maryland to take care of Heather’s girls so her and her husband could go shopping for a new home. We’re on another adventure with three beautiful girls – being raised in the gospel. The oldest gave the best prayer last night!

Amen!