A Christmas message

From Ivard and Dorothy Cleverly

We love all our family very much and we're very proud of all of you. Naturally we miss you all when you are so far away, and even though we don't write as much as we should, you are all in our thoughts and prayers every day.

This we can say to you all: read the scriptures, take the Church magazines, and read them. They are our prophets speaking to us, telling us, showing us, helping us back to live with our Heavenly Father as one big happy family. If we go to church and keep busy in the Church and live its teachings, we will be happy and will love each other. Pay your tithing. That's the best fire insurance you can have because you will not be burned as stubble at His coming.

We love you and wish only the best for all of you as we begin this Christmas season.

/s/ Mother and Dad


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

Dale's mission call

In September a call came from the Prophet: Dale was being sent to the Bolivia Mission. He becomes the third in the family to go among those South American Lamanites who are just now becoming such a strength to the missions and stakes of a fast-growing area of the Church. Kay served from 1961-63 in the then Andes Mission and Dean from 1968-70 in the Brazil North Mission.

On Sunday, October 14, in the Nampa Fifth Ward chapel his missionary farewell began at 3:30 p.m. The program was presided over by Bishop Wally Bryson. Here is what happened:

Opening hymn: no. 213, The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning

Invocation: Jerry

Sacrament hymn by choir

Speaker: Jackie (recounted Hugh B. Brown's familiar story about the currant bush)

Speaker: Gene (missionary work, 1 Nephi 3:7, "every member a missionary")

Vocal solo: Darrel Green, It May Not Be on the Mountain Height

Speaker: Dean (history of the Church in South America)

Remarks: Mother (the family, her six sons who have been called to missions, all temple marriages among her children, etc.)

Musical number: choir, The King of Love My Shepherd Is

Remarks: Father (missionary work)

Response: Dale

Remarks: Bishop Bryson (general counsel and instruction)

Closing hymn: to have been A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief (not sung because of time)

Benediction: Ray

Attending Dale's farewell were most of Lyle's family, Jerry, Gene's family, Ray's family, Dean's family, Ivard, Dorothy, Jackie, Gary Horner, Darrel Green, and of course the new missionary—a total of twenty-five family members. Gail's family was unable to come up from Ogden because of sickness. And Kay's family was unable to come up from Bountiful because of a new week-old baby.

On Friday, October 19, Dale went to the Provo Temple with Claudia and me to take out his own endowment. The next day, October 20, he entered the Mission Home in Salt Lake for a week of instruction and counsel. Then on October 24 to Provo for eight weeks in the Spanish Language Training Mission (LTM). His address there is:

Elder Dale Cleverly
Knight Mangum Hall
Box 672
Provo, Utah 84601

On Wednesday, December 26, Dale will leave for Bolivia from the Salt Lake International Airport. Family members are welcome to see him off then. After that mail can reach him at:

Elder Dale Cleverly
Bolivia Mission
Casilla de Correo 4789
La Paz, Bolivia

If anyone is considering giving him a Christmas gift, be advised that he has a luggage weight limit of only 20 kilo (44 pounds), which isn't much. So try to make any gifts practical.

On the Sunday following Thanksgiving (November 25) we happened to run into Dale here in Provo for a few moments. He seems to be happy and enjoying what he is doing. His letters already indicate that the miracle of change—which is what the gospel is all about—is already beginning to happen.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

New additions to family

The family continues to grow and grow. Within the last three months three babies have been born and a fourth (to Ray and Sheryl) is still on the way, due in mid-December. These three new ones bring to twenty-five the number of Ivard and Dorothy's living grandchildren. Of the twenty-five, only eight are granddaughters and seventeen are grandsons.

Michael Adam (6 pounds 7 ounces and 17 1/2 inches) was born to Dean and Claudia in Provo on Sunday, September 2. Dean blessed him September 30.

Chad Anthony (8 pounds 3 ounces and 20 1/2 inches) was born to Kay and Claudia in Salt Lake City on Monday, October 8. Kay blessed him on November 4.

Gena was born to Gene and Cheryl in Nampa on Tuesday, October 23.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

Winter people

The following ten people celebrate their birthdays between December 21 and March 20:

Dec 22: Douglas (age 14)
Jan 13: Lyle (age 38)
Jan 14: Dale (age 22)
Jan 21: William Gale (age 37)
Jan 26: David (age 16)
Jan 28: Gene (age 30)
Feb 6: Claudia (age 23)
Feb 13: Scott (age 9)
Mar 8: Kimberley (age 6)
Mar 15: Cheryl (age 26)

Oops! Last issue we forgot to list Andrea's birthday in October and misplaced LaWanda's birthday. We are using the best information we have, so please let us know of any more errors. By the end of a year we should have all the dates right.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

Anniversary

Lyle and Barbara will celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary on February 23, 1974. A hearty congratulations to them from all of us!


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

Keeping up to date

For all you who are trying to keep updated genealogy sheets, here is a list of any ordinances performed during the last few months that we are aware of:

Jeff ordained a teacher July 8 by William Gail (Ogden)
Billy baptized September 1 by Ivard (Ogden)
Billy confirmed September 2 by William Gail (Ogden)
Michael Adam blessed September 30 by Dean (Provo)
Dale received endowment October 19 (Provo Temple)
Chad Anthony blessed November 4 by Kay (Bountiful)


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

Family directory

Here's an up-to-date, as-far-as-I-know list of everyone's addresses:

Harry and Hazel Pledger, 94 E 500 N, Farmington, UT 84025 / (801) 867-2132
Ivard and Dorothy, Route 3 Box 3274, Nampa, ID 83651 / (208) 466-2190
Lyle and Barbara, 6220 Portal Way, Ferndale, WA 98248 / (206) 384-5513
Gail and Lynda, 1820 E 1950 S, Ogden, UT 84401 / (801) 393-9569
Jerry, 925 N 9th Apt 21, Boise, ID 83702 / (208) 344-0778
Kay and Claudia, 28 E 1500 S, Bountiful, UT 84010 / (801) 295-9717
Gene and Cheryl, Route 1 Box 226A, Nyssa, OR 97913
Ray and Sheryl, PO Box 651, Heyburn, ID 83336 / (208) 678-7058
Dean and Claudia, 1345 N 300 W, Provo, UT 84601 / (801) 377-2490
Dale, Casilla de Correo 4789, La Paz, Bolivia


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

Miscellaneous tidbits

Thirteen-year-old Kristine, an eighth grader at Ogden's Central Junior High, has kept a 3.9 GPA for two years in a row now. She reports that gym is her favorite subject and that U.S. history is her least favorite.

Last April when Ike turned eight, he joined the Cub Scouts. Only a week later he entered the Pinewood Derby and captured first place, beating out everyone in both the eight- and nine-year-old categories. He continues to progress in Scouting and will receive his Wolf badge in the next pack meeting.

Ray and Sheryl are enjoying their new home in Heyburn just out of Burley. More specifically, Ray reports he is busy searching films and researching Cleverly genealogy and has found at least two new names on the pedigree. He promises a more complete report in the March newsletter.

Kay is now serving as Seventies group leader in the Bountiful 36th Ward.

Larrel Palmer, son of Ken and Berniece in Tooele, is a freshman this year at BYU. By coincidence, he is a member of the BYU 11th Branch, the same branch in which Dean serves as second counselor in the branch presidency. Larrel is doing an excellent job as sacrament coordinator.

Last summer Ike placed third in a tennis class he was enrolled in.

Jerry no longer works as a milkman, by doctor's orders, and is now attending Boise State College as a full-time student.

Claudia and I will be traveling to sunny (smoggy?) southern California to spend Christmas with her parents, the Langes, in San Gabriel. If yoy watch the Rose Bowl parade on New Year's Day, look for us in the crowds. We'll probably be there.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

Talk in church

On Sunday, November 25, Ike gave his very first 2 1/2-minute talk in the senior Sunday School of the Bountiful 36th Ward. He based on this little article by Dean L. Maughan, entitled "Road Signs":

All of us know what a stop sign looks like. It is a big sign with the word STOP on it. The stop sign is placed where one road meets another one. It is a danger point. It warns us that danger is ahead. Without the stop sign, something bad might happen.

As we grow up we will see many stop signs. We must stop and see whether the road is clear. Our parents and teachers tell us what many of these stop signs are. There is the stop sign that ways we must not steal. There is a stop sign that says we must not tell a lie.

We must learn to obey the signs our parents and teachers tell us about. They will keep us from harm. I hope we will watch for the danger signs.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

It's great pumpkin time

[A picture and caption from the Idaho Free Press & News Tribune for Saturday, October 27, 1973]

It's Great Pumpkin time and Kelly Cleverly of Melba presented this giant 76 pound, 13 ounce giant to win $10 offered by the Melba Feed and Fuel. The Melba business, owned by Bart Pitman, sponsored the pumpkin growing contest and gave the pumpkin seed to local kids last spring. Other big pumpkin growers are Jan and Joe Barrett, 58 pounds; Brenda Gant, 57 pounds; Bill Bilboa, 50 pounds; and Jesse Torres, 40 pounds. The winner of the contest is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Cleverly.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. A time to pause and reflect on our many blessings. A time for televised football. A time for family gatherings and much, much food. This year for the Thanksgiving holiday Gene and Cheryl hosted Jerry, Jackie, Mom, and Dad in their new trailer home near Adrian. Gary spent the day with his family in Nampa. Darrel went home for a few days to be with his family. Claudia and I spent Thanksgiving Day in Ogden with Gail and Lynda and family. The following day we also visited briefly with Grandma Batt and Uncle Harry and Kay and Claudia. For Thanksgiving Kay and Claudia stayed in Bountiful with the Peterson clan. Ray and Sheryl drove to Provo to stay with the Crandalls. Grandma Batt and Uncle Harry stayed in their Farmington home and had Uncle Ken and Aunt Berniece (the Palmers) in from Tooele.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

What I've been up to

There has been some question about what I'm doing these days. I often wonder that myself. I continue working full-time for BYU as an English author on the TICCIT Project (pronounced like "ticket" and meaning Time-shared Interactive Computer-Controlled Informational Television). Very simply, I'm helping write a computerized, televised English compostion course for junior college freshmen and remedial students.

In addition, I'm attending on a part-time basis BYU's new J. Reuben Clark Jr. Law School, which is in its first year. I have two classes: one in property and one in contracts. There is a policy against part-time students, so I'm the only such one in the law school. That took a little string-pulling, especially since I didn't even try to get in until three weeks after the semester had started. But I'm there now and really enjoying it. Depending on how long the TICCIT Project continues, I plan to go full-time to law school either next fall or in the fall of 1975.

The job I was trying to get last summer in the clerk training department of the Presiding Bishopric's Office in Salt Lake was given to a man with much broader experience than I have yet (and just very recently I also learned that he is a Regional Representative). So nothing there.

Claudia does not plan to return to teaching but leaves all that aside for the more honorable work of motherhood.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

A final word

And now in conclusion, as we look forward to the Christmas season, Claudia and I want to express a few thoughts to all of you, our family. Christmas is a family time, which helps explain why it is such a special time of year. Christmas is also a holy time, commemorating the birth of the Savior, which helps explain why it is such a joyful time of year. We want to express to you our love and our gratitude for all any of you have done to make our life more pleasant and even possible. To our parents, Mom and Dad, come special thanks and love. And thanks to all of you who have so well supported the efforts of this newsletter. May the joys brought by the Prince of Peace fill your hearts this Christmas season and throughout the coming new year is our earnest prayer.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Dec 1973 [Vol 1 no 2]

Introduction

First, a few words of explanation. At the recent family reunion everyone unanimously picked Jerry, Ray, and me to work with genealogy. We were given the go-ahead to organize the work however we wanted. Jerry and I discussed the possible publication of a family newsletter and concluded that my talents could better be used in this area than with specific research assignments. This then is the beginning of the results of that decision.

Now a family newsletter is much broader than genealogy narrowly conceived. A newsletter keeps people informed; it helps keep families united. But such a project requires everyone's help. If the spotlight never shines on your particular family, blame no one but yourself, since I plan to share only that news you send to me. If there are births, baptisms, ordinations, graduations, job changes, vacations—in short, anything you want shared with everyone else—send me the information and it will make the next number of the newsletter.

Expect a copy of the newsletter four times a year—free of charge—in September, December, March, and June. This one is the first.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Sept 1973 [Vol 1 no 1]

Second annual family reunion

The second annual Ivard R Cleverly family reunion belongs now to history. The fun, the food, and the friendshipping should linger as a pleasant memory for all who participated. Ray and Sheryl deserve special thanks for planning and then hosting the reunion in their Burley home. Twenty-three family members came, out of a possible thirty-nine. The sixteen lost souls belonged to Lyle's and Kay's families, neither of which were able to attend.

The reunion weekend began Friday evening, July 13, with a dinner and lots of visiting. Saturday morning featured breakfast, organized games, and more visiting. Following lunch a business meeting was held. Then a swimming excursion and a night picnic. Sunday meant meetings, a final meal, and departures.

In the business meeting: (1) Jerry, Ray, and Dean were appointed as the family genealogy committee; (2) Ray talked about certain items he could get for food storage; (3) Gene forwarded the idea of buying land; and (4) Ray showed a packet of genealogy materials he had prepared for each family. The pictures of early homes and chapels, together with Harry Pledger's story of how he courted Grandma Batt, make this packet well worth its $10 price.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Sept 1973 [Vol 1 no 1]

Next year's reunion

No definite plans have been made yet, but Lyle and Barbara will host next year's family reunion in Washington state. This will coincide with the World's Fair in Spokane next summer.

The Cleverly Newsletter, Sept 1973 [Vol 1 no 1]

Autumn people

The following eight people celebrate their birthdays between September 21 and December 20:

Sept 25: Stanley (age 19)
Sept 29: Dorothy (age 58)
Oct 30: Randy (age 11)
Oct 31: Jackie (age 17)
Nov 5: Angie (age 11)
Nov 8: LaWanda (age 2)
Nov 15: Kay (age 32)
Nov 20: Grandma Batt (age 79)


The Cleverly Newsletter, Sept 1973 [Vol 1 no 1]

Claudia graduates from BYU

Claudia (as in my wife) was one of 2,143 graduates in BYU's 98th annual summer commencement. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor of arts in elementary education (minor in German). She taught second grade in Springville during the past school year and then finished her course work this summer. During her sophomore year (1971) she spent a semester studying in Salzburg, Austria.

Elder Howard W. Hunter, now of the Council of the Twelve and once Claudia's bishop and stake president, presided and spoke at the summer commencement August 17. Wallace F. Bennett, retiring Republican senator from Utah, gave the main address. His theme: We cannot possess that which we inherit from our fathers until we earn it for ourselves.

The two of us spent the week following her graduation on the sunny beaches of southern California as guests of her parents, the Langes. It was a last chance to see her only brother David, who leaves October 13 for the newly created Thailand Mission.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Sept 1973 [Vol 1 no 1]

Anniversaries

Congratulations to the following couples on their autumn wedding anniversaries:

Oct 10: Kay and Claudia (tenth)
Oct 17: Ray and Sheryl (fifth)
Nov 22: Dean and Claudia (first)
Dec 17: Ivard and Dorothy (thirty-ninth)


The Cleverly Newsletter, Sept 1973 [Vol 1 no 1]

A final word

And now a parting observation from Harold B. Lee's closing address in the April 1973 general conference: Go home now to your people, I pray you, and say as did Joshua of old: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). Teach your families in your family home evening, teach them to keep the commandments of God, for therein is our only safety in these days. If they will do that, the powers of the Almighty will descend upon them as the dews from heaven, and the Holy Ghost will be theirs.

That's quite a promise! And it comes from the prophet of God. I commend his counsel to you, with my hearty blessing and love.


The Cleverly Newsletter, Sept 1973 [Vol 1 no 1]