Church Leaders - Bishop Buchanan

Often you hear people refer to a certain prophet as "the Prophet of my youth."  Well, Bishop Buchanan was the bishop of my youth.  He was called to be bishop as Bishop Kimball (our first bishop in Draper) was released.  I didn't really know him at all, and I don't think my parents knew him well, either.  However, it became quickly evident that he was very focused on the youth, and he implemented several programs to keep us in line.

We started having "Bishop's Firesides" at his home.  All the youth and youth leaders would cram into his home for a bit of instruction, straight from the bishop to us.  I don't remember him saying anything profound, but it was obvious that he cared for us enough to want to teach us personally.  I also remember a lot of laughter after the instruction as we'd all hang out for a while, chatting and eating refreshments.

My favorite thing Bishop Buchanan did was his reward system for carrying the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet.  He enouraged each of us to keep the large copy in our scriptures and the pocket sized copy with us at all times.  He would then ask us to show him our copy as he passed us in the halls of the church or at a youth activity.  If we could produce the copy upon request, he would give us a full-sized candy bar.  He didn't forcefully preach the words of the pamphlet over and over again, but he taught us the importance of keeping our standards close, and I think it made a difference for all of us.

Bishop Buchanan also sang in our ward choir.  One of the moments in my life when I felt the spirit the strongest was when my mom assigned a solo on Where Can I Turn for Peace to Bishop Buchanan.  Every time I hear the lyrics of the first verse, I am transported back to that time, and I hear his bass voice singing:

Where can I turn for peace?
Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart,
Anger or malice,
I draw myself apart, searching my soul.

When he sang those words, I heard the pressures of his mantle as bishop, and it touched me in a way that only music can.  I received a testimony at that time of the calling of bishop, and I have never had trouble sustaining a person to that calling. 

Bishop Buchanan was an excellent example of how to lead by loving others.  He loved every member of our ward, and I know he had a special love for the youth.  I feel blessed that the Lord called him at the time he did, and that I had the opportunity to be taught by such a great man.

Boyfriend - Richard

During my early teenage years, I was in a singing group at Singers Unlimited in Sandy, Utah.  It was there that I met my first "boyfriend," Richard Thorup.  I say "boyfriend," because looking back it was really a very loose definition.

Richard and I started "going out" just before I turned 15.  One day at rehearsal, he sent his friend to ask me if I would "go out" with him.  I told the friend to tell Richard that he'd have to ask me himself.  He did, and I said yes.  I was wearing a black ribbed shirt with a red and grey stripe (still have in my closet today) and a pair of jeans borrowed from my best friend Emilee. 

Since Richard and I lived in different cities, "going out" with him consisted of long phone conversations in which neither of really had anything to say.  Neither of us was old enough to date, so we saw each other weekly at singing group, and that was pretty much it.  I only remember a handful of times that I ever saw him away from singing group.

Once, he called and invited me to go iceskating.  My mom was concerned that maybe this was too much like a date, but we went with a bunch of his friends, so it was really just friends hanging out.  I also remember going to his house once and playing pinball in his basement. 

Another time, we attended the same Halloween party, hosted by a fellow singing group friend.  When my dad got there to pick me up, Richard called me back downstairs for a second.  He kissed me on the stairs, my official first kiss.  On one other occassion, we were at my parents house, and when he had to leave, I walked him outside.  He gave me a quick peck goodbye.

Looking back, my "relationship" with Richard was nothing if not awkward and a little weird.  We went to different schools, we had different friends, and we rarely even saw each other.  After "going out" for about 6 months, I decided I was far more interested in the guys at my own school, and broke up with Richard.  A few months later ended my tenure at Singers Unlimited, and I didn't really figure I'd see Richard again.

That was almost entirely true except for the two times I ran into him at Jordan District choir concerts.  By then, I was dating Nick Miller, and I introduced Richard to Nick.  Just to get under my skin, Nick and his friends insisted on calling Richard by his name's popular alternate: Dick. 

Richard was sweet and kind, and I still have the matching necklace and earrings he gave me for my 15th birthday.  Even if our "relationship" was really anything but, my memories of him will always be fond ones.

Funerals - Emily

The first funeral I clearly remember attending was that of a friend who died of lukemia while we were in high school.

I met Emily when she moved into the Draper 7th Ward.  She and her sister Tessa were both around my age, and their house on 123rd South in Draper was just on the other side of the freeway from mine.  We did not get together often, but I do remember going to their house and playing on a few occassions.  I remember Emily being a very kind playmate; she was always happy to do what others wanted to do and did not have an overbearing personality.

Emily's family didn't live in our ward for long, and I did not see Emily again until high school.  By this point, we had become parts of different groups of friends, and we did not have any classes together.  Occassionally, we'd pass in the halls and smile a friendly greeting.  I did not have any close association with Emily until we were in an interior design class together. 

I was aware that Emily had lukemia, but she always seemed very healthy and her attitude was positive.  Our circles didn't interact closely enough for me to be aware of Emily's declining health.  However, when I learned of her death, it was important to me to attend her funeral.

Many students from Alta High School attended what turned out to be a very uplifting funeral - the type which celebrates life and looks forward to the resurrection. 

I am grateful for the few moments of my life which were brightened by knowing Emily, and I am grateful for the impact her death had on the formation of my testimony of eternal life.

Elections - George Bush Sr.

The first election I really remember was when George Bush Sr. was elected.  I was no where near old enough to vote, but in an effort to each about the importance of voting in a democratic society, my elementary school held a mini-election.

We studied the major candidates and then made a decision for whom to vote.  We cast ballots in a ballot box and awaited the results.

I remember I was in the lunchroom when the announcement was made that our next president would be Bush.  I was proud, because I had voted for him.

I guess the students at Challenger School got it right, because the country elected Bush as well.

Neighbors - The Taylors

When I was a kid, I went to a private school, so I didn't know that many people in the neighborhood.  One family I knew really well was the Taylors.  They lived in the circle right across from our house.  My parents were friends with the mom and dad, Kent & Shauna.  Their oldest son, John, was a little bit older than I, and Jenny was between my age and Lisa's.  Nick was Michelle's age.  During the summer, John, Jenny, and Nick liked to come play in our playhouse and sandbox.  We would also walk over to Bacchus elementary to play on the playground.

I remember spending a lot of time talking to John about the differences between private and public school.

The Taylors are the only family my family kept in contact with after we moved from Kearns to Draper.

Babysitter- Matt & Jason

When I was a kid, my dad was Young Men's president (or in the presidency) so my parents knew a lot of the young men.  Sometimes my parents would use them as babysitters.  Two I particularly remember were named Matt Cheney and Jason Cheeck.  I remember them really well because they used to spend a lot of time at our house.

My parents bought a big jar of fireballs (hard chandy with a firey cinnamon flavor) and Matt & Jason would always come over to eat them.  I also remember that they would sit in our banana chairs and invariably crush their fingers between the chair and the hardwood floor.

One particular time that Matt & Jason babysat, they used the word "funner," which at the time was not in the dictinoary.  Since my mom was a school teacher, I was taught to always use proper English.  Even though Matt & Jason were much older than I, I felt it was my duty to correct their grammar.  Of course the only result was that they would say "funner" on purpose to annoy me instead of because they didn't know any better.