Later in the evening I had a lovely dinner with the Nashes and we reflected on old times and people we knew. They asked me a lot of questions about Trinidad as most people here do. They gave me a book their son wrote called, 'Lengthen Your Smile' by Richard Nash. While in Monument Park I was pleased to see where we used to live on Laurelhurst Drive, where I attended school at Beacon Heights, and our past ward -- the Monument Park Eight Ward. The Nashes are faithful members of the Church and have worked many years as temple workers in the Salt Lake temple.

Friday, 1st August, 1997. I met Lisa Fleming at the Salt Lake temple. She was attending a friend's sealing. She is active in her studies and at Church -- a member of a singles ward. She made sure to give me some letters to take back for her family. I visited the Distribution Center and Deseret Books after our conversation. Deseret Books can be an enemy to your pocket as one feels like one could buy every Mormon knickknack and 'happy-jack' item available. I then went back to the Church History and Arts Museum where I met President Terry Clegg, my former mission president. Seeing him again was like seeing a fellow combatant from days of yore. I term it that because of the many spiritual battles we encountered in saving souls through Christ. We caught up on 'old times' as he drove to his parents home where I had the special occasion of getting to know the parents of my mentor. His father, a former Stake President, was now rehabilitating himself by trying to walk short distances with the aid of his sons-- today was Terry's turn. This was admirable-- to see Pres. Clegg's concern for those who raised him. Many would rather let a home for the aged carry that burden which in fact is really an honorable blessing. His mother showed me some of their family photos and I noticed one of the women in a particular photograph was of American Indian descent and very becoming. Sr. Clegg senior explained that she was part of the family through the 'placement program' which allowed for Native American Indians to be raised in families that could provide needed opportunities that they would otherwise not be able to have. Somehow I never like to hear about 'programs' so I saw it as one of the 'placement truths' a truth of the Gospel which teaches sharing and caring for one another. Pres. Clegg and I then journeyed to his home in Farmington. Along the way we spoke of spiritual principles and light that I would not mention here as I hold it sacred. However, I can say that I was so touched by this further knowledge imparted to me that I decided to buy a CTR ring of pure silver to wear as a reminder of irrefutable lessons I learned. CTR stands for Choose The Right and silver for the pure thoughts and actions I should always display. At the Clegg's home I met with my mission 'mom' -- still full of smiles and pleasant as ever. Annie and James, their children, were growing like trees and James was already passing my crown. I remember hearing Pres. Clegg tell the poem of a young boy, his father and a dog, I had always wanted it and Sr. Clegg ran off a copy for me. This poem is as follows:

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It was very fulfilling to see the Cleggs again and then Pres. Clegg dropped me off at Temple Square later in the day after discussing some plans for the future. At the South Visitors center Sr. Ramdeen arranged for me to see a film called, 'A Witness for Christ' --a real tear producing five minute feature about the greatness of the Savior's mission.

The memorial site of Brigham Young's grave and the observation deck of the Church Administration Building's 26th floor were my next visits. At a certain time I met Ozwald Balfour, the first Branch President in Trinidad, and his friend, Darius, head of the Genesis group, near the Church Genealogy Library.

To the best of my understanding the Genesis group helps different cultural backgrounds among the membership of the Church find greater ties together as one fellowship. I then went to Br. Balfour's home where I met the rest of his family and to my surprise-- Sheila and Gary Ishmael were both there also. Sister Ishmael was visiting Gary who just graduated with a Bachelors degree in film production. Troy and Arlene Larsen came later in the evening. Troy served a mission in Trinidad and Arlene was a recent convert in the Port of Spain Branch when they met. They both now live in Utah. Sr. Balfour made curry for us and we were not bashful in our partaking of her 'hands'. The table talk was about various people could remember in the early days of the Church in Trinidad. I tried to convince all of them to return to their homeland to build the Kingdom, but I think I only succeeded with a willingness of about two out of ten. I guess that most Trinidadians want the best of both worlds-- the opportunities of America and all the Trini ideals. Unfortunately it does not come that way and once our people go abroad they seldom return.

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Saturday, 2nd August, 1997. I have gone without food for many periods while in Utah-- not that I could not buy or was not offered, but I was just too excited to worry about eating which for me is an unusual thing. I tried to be in the temple every moment I had and today was no exception. At the bus stop I met some German visitors (nonmembers) trying to get to Temple Square. I bid them to follow me and I put them in touch with some German speaking Sisters -- you should of seen their faces when they found out that they could have a guided tour in their native tongue. The Saturday sessions are pretty crowded and there were many families there. In various points of the temple such as the lockers or cafeteria I would always encounter someone speaking to me in their native tongue after viewing my facial features and assuming I could reply. These assumptions were in the languages of the American Indians, Tongans and Hispanics, because of my name French was also sought, but my reply was always in English and thus a conversation concerning Trinidad would ensue. With special permission I was able to see the Sealing room where I was sealed to my parents on the 14th July, 1982. A couple was coming out who was just sealed to each other. They were happy, they were to be together for time and all eternity so long as they kept their covenants that they made today. At Lyndon's I received a call from Reuben Raphael from Trinidad telling me that his mother was very ill and I needed to tell Lyndon who was at work. Lyndon's job at Union Pacific Railroad is very demanding and in my whole stay at his home I would only see him once in awhile.

 

 

Sunday, 3rd August, 1997. Shannon Raphael's parents picked me up for Church. At the Bonneville Second Ward (Salt Lake Bonneville Stake), I attended priesthood meeting which was being held in the Ward's genealogy library. Above the instructor's had in the Ward's genealogy library. Above the instructor's head were the words of the library's motto:

"We are changing the records of man into the records of God"

I thought about these words and I was glad to know I had done a lot of work for my ancestors and there would be so many opportunities for me to help others with their research as well. Although I was in Utah-- the land of Zion , were prophets and apostles walked. I did not hear anything unusual in the priesthood lesson which focus was on home teaching.

"Go do your home teaching !

was the cry of the Elders Quorum President. What I noticed which was unusual, was to see a large stained glass portrayal of Christ in Gethsemane in the Sacrament meeting room. It was beautiful nevertheless, and under it was the words, "not my will, but thy be done". In Sunday School, the teacher took time to mention the Time Magazine article entitled, 'Mormon Inc.' which has a view of the Church from a temporal stand point. It was sacrament meeting that I chose to share my testimony based on Christ and the temple. I expressed to those in the congregation how fortunate and blessed they were to have temples all around them and in Trinidad we have to fly hundreds of miles and save a lot of money to receive the ordinances that they just 'walk down the street for'. Shannon's father helps in the translation of the Book of Mormon into African languages. He dropped me to Redwood Rd. where I went off with some other friends called the Wardles. The Wardles are temple workers at the Jordan River temple. They took me to see it. In Utah you can see Wards at almost every block an right next to this temple was a Stake center.

The Wardles also took me to meet one of my past missionary companions-- Jason Money. It was good to see him again, he was another one of my fellow combatants in the field. Later in the evening I attended the genesis fireside to see what it was like. There were many different cultural backgrounds there. A returned missionary from South Africa said he was glad to see such groups established and wished there were common groups like this in the South African nation. As part of the proceedings we saw a video put together by Ozwald Balfour and Gary Ishmael during the Pioneer Day Parade. They gave me a copy to show the Saints in Trinidad. On the video Gary asks a person taking part in the parade, "Where are you from ?" and the person responds, "The same place as you-- the pre-exsistance". Also at the meeting was a guy from Ghana. He said he knew one of my fellow missionaries from the England Manchester Mission named Elder Kissi.

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Monday, 4th August, 1997. I met Pres. Rusty Snow in his office. Pres. Snow happened to be a close associate of Pres. Clegg's and also the Mission President of the Salt Lake City mission which also included Temple Square and Sr. Shelly Ramdeen. He had high praise for Sr. Ramdeen and her work here. I then went to the Deseret News where I had an interview about Trinidad by Sarah Jane Cannon one of the staff writers. She said the Church News would be interested in learning more about our region and she gave me two roles of film to take pictures (for their use) of Trinidad and the members. As the day was coming to an end I prepared myself for the flight back to Maryland the following day.

Tuesday, 5th August, 1997. My last morning in Utah was spent in the temple where I participated in an endowment and a few initiatories. At the airport I did the usual with a slight variance-- I walked and waited as I found it better that the idea of sitting and waiting. On the plane I met a member from Guatemala who was on her way to see her family there. She also watched my facial features and could not understand why I did not speak Spanish. Herein I was drafted to explain the uniqueness of Trinidad & Tobago and the mixture of races therein.

 

 

 

 

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