An Easter message

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Our Savior: A Family Man

Somehow it is very important that we have chosen Easter weekend as the time for our family reunion this year—appropriate because Easter celebrates the most glorious event that has ever happened in the history of the earth, appropriate because families are the most important thing on the earth. The mission of the Savior and the glorious eternal destiny of the family are so much a part of each other that prophets can tell us to "seek first the kingdom of God," but at the same time tell us that "the greatest work we will ever do for the Church will be within the walls of our own homes" and also that "no success can compensate for failure in the home."

Every couple in our family group has now been sealed for time and all eternity; every child has been sealed to his parents or born in the covenant. What a glorious opportunity can be ours to live together eternally if we prove worthy of such a great blessing. But have you stopped to consider the role of the Savior has played in making all this possible? He is the one who in the councils before this life advanced the plan; He is the author of our salvation. He is the one who created this earth for us to come to live on. He is the one who gives us the commandments we need to know and obey to be able to return to our Father's presence. He is the one who is the source of the priesthood, the power and the authority to bind us on earth and in heaven, to seal us together as families. He is the one who suffered for our sins, gave His life that we might live, and was resurrected that death might have no ultimate victory over us. He is the very God who gives us our life, our breath, our very being. All that we are, and ever hope to be, we owe to Jesus Christ, our Savior and God and King.

Now Jesus Christ is a family man. His sole work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of his Father's children. When we enter the celestial world, we will be perfectly organized into families. God the Father will be there. And if worthy of our exaltation, we will be there as joint-heirs of Jesus Christ, gods in our own right, able to people worlds of our own without end, becoming Heavenly Fathers and Mothers to our own spirit children. Such is the eternal destiny that awaits us—all because of our beloved Redeemer.

I am grateful that the Savior we worship is a living God. Not all people do worship Him that way. When I was in Brazil on my mission, for example, I noticed that there the big holiday is not Easter Sunday but Good Friday. And it is not celebrated as a happy day. They remember the crucified Christ, not the resurrected Christ. I'm sure Kay noticed the same thing on his mission in Peru, and Dale is probably seeing it now in Bolivia. The difference was graphically shown at the New York World's Fair, which I visited in 1964. The Catholic pavilion showed the dead Christ, the famous Pieta. The Mormon pavilion showed a representation of the living Christ, the Christus which now stands with out-stretched arms in the Salt Lake Visitors' Center.

The beautiful hymn sums up what I'm trying to say:

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives, all glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same;
O sweet the joy this sentence gives:
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

Yes, I know that my Redeemer lives. And I'm grateful to share that witness with all of you, my beloved family members. May we share that knowledge and faith with all we know—our families, our neighbors, with all the world. And may our lives reflect the joy and happiness that comes from living the gospel of our Savior—a family name.

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

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.

Supporting Dale on his mission

Dear family,

A letter came yesterday from Mom that now prompts this open letter to you. She doesn't know we're sending this out, and we guess she doesn't necessarily need to.

For the past few months Gene has been in an unusually tight financial bind because of his new job and moving expenses and a new baby. His $30 a month towards Dale's mission has been paid by Dad and Mom, along with their own $20. This accounts for $50 of the necessary $100 a month. We add another $30, bringing the total to $80. We don't know how much any of you are regularly paying, but Jackie gives much of what she earns, which may account for the remaining $20.

Now this is a big sacrifice for Dad and Mom, and properly so, and one for which they will be blessed. But we think it is a sacrifice greater than they alone should be asked to bear. We think everyone should have opportunity to reap some of the blessings that surely come to those who support the Lord's program. From our own experience, we can testify gladly that such blessings do indeed come. Sacrifice brings for the blessings of heaven. Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it (Malachi 3:10).

If each brother and Jackie were giving a mere $10 a month, that would be $80 (and leave the $20 for the folks, not to mention the car payments they assumed on Dale's car). Ten dollars would be a light load for anyone. That much is easily wasted on not so important things each month.

There is still another dimension. Dale will be supported now, whether we as a family or the ward does it. Aside from our opportunity to have the blessing is a responsibility to honor our parents. We are so indebted to them, for they have given us life and no person short of the Savior can give us any greater gift. We cannot readily think of a way more meaningful to show them that we do honor them. Words can tell them we love them, but doing something is where the action is.

Now we hope you receive this in the spirit we intend it. If you're willing or able to help, forward any money to Mom around the first of any month. You can make a check to the Nampa LDS Fifth Ward and send it with a donation slip filled out like this:

[A sample donation slip was shown]

If you do it this way, you will receive a receipt and the donation becomes tax deductible.

May God bless you all. And may you know the peace, the prosperity, the joy that a loving Father has blessed us with.

With all our love,
Dean & Claudia


The Cleverly Newsletter, Feb 12, 1974 [Vol 1 no 3]

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]