Friday, March 1, 1974

Family reunion will be in Nampa April 12-13

Yes, mark your calendars right now for the third annual Ivard R Cleverly family reunion. April 14 is Easter and the weekend corresponds with spring vacations in most schools. The actual reunion will begin around noon on Good Friday (April 12) and continue through Saturday or Sunday, depending on when people need to start leaving.

Ray has volunteered again to be in charge of the reunion. A little closer he will send out a letter giving all the details you'll need to know. As far as we are aware now, everyone in the family (except Dale) will be there.

Food storage

A lot of family members have been talking food storage. Some appear a little too zealous; others don't even know where to begin. So here are a few basic principles that will help all of us. Our late prophet, President Harold B. Lee, said in the Church welfare conference, October 1, 1966:

"We have never laid down an exact formula for what anybody should store, and let me just make this comment: Perhaps if we think not in terms of a year's supply of what we ordinarily use, and think more in terms of what it would take to keep us alive in case we didn't have anything else to eat, that last would be very easy to put in storage for a year . . . just enough to keep us alive, if we didn't have anything else to eat. We wouldn't get fat on it, but we would live, and if you think in terms of that kind of annual storage rather than a whole year's supply of everything that you are accustomed to eat, which, in most cases, is utterly impossible for the average family, I think we will come nearer to what President [J. Reuben] Clark advised us way back in 1937" (Ensign, Sept. 1973, 71).

Now what did President Clark say back in 1937? Listen: "Let every head of every household see to it that he has on hand enough food and clothing, and where possible, fuel also, for at least a year ahead" (Conference Report, Apr. 1937, 26).

So the prophets teach (1) that preparedness is important and (2) that we should first store the basic items that will sustain life and after that, if we can, store foods we normally eat. The following basic items might be considered for storage:

Grains (wheat, rice, or other of the grass cereals) - 300 lbs.
Powdered milk (nonfat) - 100 lbs.
Sugar or honey - 100 lbs.
Salt - 5 lbs.

These amounts would sustain an average woman for one year if no other foods were eaten. Men would need more, children less. The quantities would be reduced proportionately as other foods are added.

Storage must be approached wisely. The Church specifically counsels us not to go into debt to buy food, not to participate in panic buying, not to become stroage faddists. Each family must carefully, calmly, and prayerfully assess their own resources and their own needs and plan accordingly. Here are a few broad guidelines:

1. Top grade prodcuts store better. Buy the best.
2. Metal storage cans or heavy plastic containers with air-tight lids are usually best for storage.
3. Foods store best at 40-60 degrees. Shelf life diminishes in proportion to any temperatures higher than this.
4. Good rotation prevents spoilage or loss of food value, so store in areas that allow easy access and usability.

Local government agences, colleges, or universities can provide specific information regarding food storage. Elder Ezra Taft Benson gave an excellent talk on this subject in the last general conference. Read it (see Ensign, Jan. 1974, 68). Among the things he said was this: "The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah."

So this is very important. But let us keep calm; we are expected to be a positive light to the world. As President Joseph F. Smith said years ago (and it now seems so appropriate in the midst of Watergate and an energy crisis and food shortages and wars and rumors of wars and the increasing wickedness in the world):

"Leaders of the Church . . . should be men [and women] not easily discouraged, not without hope, and not given to forebodings of all sorts of evils to come. . . . If men standing in high places sometimes feel the weight and anxiety of momentous times, they should be all the firmer and all the more resolute in those convictions which come from a God-fearing conscience and pure lives. Men in their private lives should feel the necessity of extending encouragement to the people by their own hopeful and cheerful intercourse with them. . . . It is a matter of the greatest importance that the people be educated to appreciate and cultivate the bright side of life rather than to permit its darkness and shadows to hover over them" (Gospel Doctrine, 155).

If we live righteously, pay our tithing, practice thrift, avoid debt, and have a willingness to work, we need never fear. The Lord Himself has promised, "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear" (D&C 38:30).

For anyone who is interested, Ray can get hard turkey red what at $11.50 a hundred or potato granules at $5.00 a hundred. The wheat comes in 50 lb. bags, the potatoes in 100 lb. bags. Orders must be made immediately before the supply is gone. The wheat must be paid for when ordered. Money for the potatoes can be paid later (like at the reunion).

Message to descendants

Ray submitted this as what our grandparents Henry William Cleverly and Olive Ellen Ritchie could be saying to us, their descendants. It comes from a dream that he had.

Beloved children (for you are all our children; what does it matter wheter it's grandchildren or great-grandchildren or second or third great-grandchildren; we are all one family), we want you to know that we are pleased with what you are doing in gathering as a family and looking to your forefathers with respect and honor. We are glad to have come in remembrance before you.

Many loved ones wait in the prison section of paradise. You are their hope. Baptism opens the gate, endowments enable them to progress, marriage for eternity and sealing of children allow them to continue in the family unit until they attain exaltation.

If you hurry, more of us can come with the Savior when He arrives in the Millennium. If you neglect us, you must take your place at the end of the line when He comes.

Our thanks go out to Ray, Jerry, and Dean, and the rest who have helped so many over here.

We must not speak of things over here other than to say that now you're on a journey and you'll be coming HOME before long. When you cross the gulf, you'll leave the earthly things behind. There are three items you can bring: your character, the things you know, and all the good and bad you've done.

Oh, remember us, remember us. Walk not the selfish way. We rejoice in heaven that you are met together on this day. And now, our children, farewell until we meet again.

Grandma & Grandpa

Another family member

Curtis Page Cleverly (6 pounds 9 1/2 ounces and 18 1/2 inches) was born to Ray and Sheryl in Burley on Tuesday, December 4, 1973. Ray blessed him on January 6, 1974. Young Curtis had doubled his weight by his six-week checkup. Richard and Shauna are proud of their new little brother.

Spring people

The following twelve people celebrate their birthdays between March 21 and June 20:

April 1: Lynda (age 35)
April 7: Ivard (age 59)
April 7: Ike (age 9)
April 18: Marc (age 6)
April 19: Rhett (age 2)
April 21: Jeff (age 15)
April 30: Kristine (age 14)

May 4: Kelley (age 5)
May 6: Terry (age 18)
May 15: Kyle (age 6)

June 7: Shauna (age 3)
June 11: Jerry (age 36)

Harry and Hazel Pledger will celebrate their first wedding anniversary on March 1st.
Gene and Cheryl their eighth on May 25th.

What we're doing in the Church

Kay was set apart January 17, 1974, by Hartmon Rector Jr. as one of the seven presidents of the 190th Quorum of Seventy.

Dale is working in Bolivia's capital city, La Paz. He is assigned to Branch 9 and reports there are twelve branches in the city. His address will always be the same, no matter where he is stationed: Casilla de Correo 4789, La Paz, Bolivia. In one of his first letters he wrote: "The people are really neat. Fast Sunday I just cried because of the humbleness of these people. They'd do anything for the Church."

Sheryl's brother, Scott Crandall, has received a mission call to the Alberta-Saskatchewan Mission.

Kristine is first counselor in her second year Beehives class.

Lyle was called February 3, 1974, to serve as first counselor in the Sunday School presidency of the Bellingham 1st Ward. Barbara has been serving for over a year as secretary of the Primary.

Lynda was called December 9, 1973, as second counselor in the Primary of the Ogden 67th Ward. In January she was released as MIA activity and service advisor. Gail serves as Explorer committeeman.

On January 13, 1974, I was released as second counselor in the presidency of the BYU 11th Branch and then resustained as first counselor.

Stan, Terry, and Dave all played on the senior basketball team of the Bellingham 1st Ward. The team captured fourth place in the stake.

Lynda was in charge of a daddy-daughter date on January 18 that followed an early-1900s theme. Gail and Angie attended as daddy and daughter.

Ray's research report

The past year I have read 172 rolls of microfilm at a cost of $128. I collected $45 at the reunion last summer, so you can see the amount I've paid out of my own pocket. There is much more I could do if I had the money to spend. I am almost ready to hire a researcher on the Cleverly lines.

Last month I found access to Aunt Louisa's records and have been copying them. I have been able to add four generations of grandparents from these records. I added seven pedigree charts on Dad's Horton lines. There are 1,239 names ready to be processed. I am presently planning on putting them in the family file of the Provo Temple. Would anyone else like some names put in the other temples close to you so you can have the joys of doing work for your ancestors? If so, let me know.

Finally, for this year I have spent $20.50 for films and for pictures for this year's renion.

Ouch!

Some kids never know when to quit. And young Rhett Cleverly, one of Kay's and Claudia's boys, seems to be one of these. This particular incident started back in the end of November when older brother Ike had baked a cake for his Cub Scout pack meeting. Year-and-a-half-old Rhett spied the cake way up on the stove and decided he'd have a taste. So up he climbed, salted and peppered the cake, and started playing with the buttons on the stove. It took only seconds to start a potholder on fire and to thoroughly burn his hands.

Five days later, with hands still bandaged, Rhett was playing in the kitchen again when, before anyone knew what was happening, he pulled two-month-old Chad off the counter onto the floor. Chad's arm was broken and he had it in a cast until Decmeber 28.

We need each other

Ray submitted the following:

If it were possible for a life to be lived without parents, brothers, sisters, or without association with any other person, the deplorable state of such an individual would be almost beyond comprehension. So we need each other. First our parents, brothers and sisters, and friends. Then wives, husbands, and children. We also need others to supply employment, to manufacture, to furnish things we need. Thus life is made more bounteous and enjoyable.

Life is a continuous round of doing something for someone else and they in turn doing something for you. Nevertheless, we hope to be self-sustaining. If we owe a debt, we want to pay it. We do not want to live on the fruits of another person's labor. But for man to try and live altogether independently of one another is against the law of achievement. What greater way to pay our debts than to work for those who have preceded and had our way prepared for us.

The family bond should always be maintained. Reunions are necessary that family ties be not forgotten, and also that through united effort certain obligations will be taken care of, friendships renewed, and the unity of the family maintained. I believe the will of the Lord to be that we all united that we can more effectively discharge our responsibilities and establish a lasting bond of friendship and love among us.

With all my love to family members that we may keep the faith always.

Bits and tidbits

Lyle is going into his third year with Transcontinental Refrigeration. For 1973 he was their number five man in sales. He placed second in their Christmas contest, which won him a nice cash prize. Evidently he has a few problems getting gas, but nothing severe yet. He's thinking of adding a second regulation gas tank to his car. If the fuel situation get bad enough, they are considering moving from Ferndale when school is out in June to some place more centrally located.

Dale left from the Salt Lake International Airport for Bolivia the day following Christmas. Harry and Hazel Pledger, Dad and Mom, Jackie, Gail and Lynda, Kay and Claudia, and families were all there to see him off.

Jackie is keeping busy these days. Besides going to school and early-morning seminary, she works part-time at the Dairy Queen, takes piano lessons (and cleans house to pay for them), is first counselor in the MIA program, is Primary librarian, and tries to get in her service hours. If all that's not enough, she's thinking of taking dance lessons.

Randy and Scott play city Little League basetball every Saturday and do pretty good at it.

Kyle was recently honored at "Someone Special" week at school. He shared his baby pictures, a favorite record, and some pictures he had drawn.

Claudia (mine) is pregnant again. We're expecting another boy August 19, two weeks short of Michael Adam's first birthday.

Stan is living at home again. He hasn't had any luck so far with his job hunting but is hopeful of getting on at the big Fred Meyer's complex opening in May.

Jackie spent a week in early January in southern California with the Don Carrolls of Nampa.

Ike received two lumps of coal for Christmas. Although intended as a "mischievous boy" present, it's not such a bad gift in these days of fuel shortages.

Lyle and Barbara started off the year with Scott in the hospital with a severe sinus infection and inflammation. He spent a total of six days there, hooked up to the IV bottles the whole time, getting massive doses of antibiotics through his veins. He is alright now, except for occasional headaches.

Jerry is now a full-time student at Boise State College (which officially became a university on February 22). He works weekends and two nights a week besides. Sometime in June he is scheduled for an operation.

Dad has made a rug since Christmas.

A few weeks into this semester, I decided that trying to go to law school part-time along with everything else I had to do just wasn't working. So I dropped the two law classes I was taking and it has made life so much easier.

Barbara is in a bowling league again this year. She bowled her first 200 game ever in January and followed up two weeks later with a second 200 and a 534 series. She even beats Lyle once in a while now!

Lessons from our children

Claudia submitted the following:

Elder Boyd K. Packer once said the only significant lessons he has learned in life have been taught by his children. I too find Michael Adam is one of my best teachers. I would like to share something I've learned from him just over the past two or three weeks.A couple of weeks ago he learned how to roll over from his stomach to his back. To watch him struggle though just tore my heart out. He wasn't sure what he was doing—it was all so new to him—and sometimes he would get so frustrated at his struggles. I wanted so much to pick him up myself and turn him over—to save all that trouble and heartache—but I knew I couldn't. The struggles made him strong, and he couldn't learn if I did it for him.It occurred to me one day while I was watching him try that our earth life is but a type and shadow of eternity, a testing ground, and that parents have a very similar relationship to their children as our Heavenly Father has to us. With all this in mind, it came to me that the Lord watches over us too and sees our struggles. But like parents here on earth He sometimes has to just let us struggle so we can learn more effectively through our experience and grow stronger."Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (D&C 122:7)."My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee over all thy foes" (D&C 121:7-8).How well the Lord has said it. And realizing my own love for Michael Adam, I now have a deeper understanding of the Lord's love for us and of why He gives us trials and tribulations. I am very grateful for these things and for a loving Father who would care to give us these learning experiences that we might grow.

God bless you all. We hope to see everyone of you at the reunion in April.