A week of reflection

A few days after Maddie's birthday I had a week to reflect through a series of events of my life over the last 40 some odd years. The first event was on January 8. My mission president Robert P. Thorn passed away on January 2nd and his funeral was on the 8th. He had not been well for a while and was unable to often communicate these last few years. This was so sad for a man who was so eloquent and gifted in speech for many years. Sister Thorn took such good care of him. Our last mission get together was three years ago when President. Thorn turned 80. The event was one of those good days when he could address us all. I first was introduced to president Thorn by letter in 1974 when he wrote me congratulating me on being called to South Africa. He stated that he wanted to make sure that we came to the mission prepared because he started "preparation proceeds performance". For the next two years I learned great lessons from him on leadership, discipleship and striving for excellence. You knew after an interview when he said he loved you that it was heart felt.

left to right- me, Mike Petterson, Dale McKinnon, Steve Oliver, Sister Thorn, President Thorn, Jan Christiansen, Jay Hanson, Jeff VanWorkam, Steve Keck, Gary Lundstrom- leaving the mission Feb 1976

 His influence did not stop after those two years. There were years of get togethers at the Lion House with the other missionaries who could make it. We would have a dinner and then talks from such people as Elders James Faust, Nathan Eldon Tanner, Thomas Monson, Paul Dunn, Spencer W. Kimball, Aurthur Haycock who was secretary to three of the prophets. Such was the meetings we had. Other later meetngs did not have church leaders but they had the ambassador from South Africa or a performance from the Drakensburg Boys Choir Africa. He was 45 when I met him as my mission president 37 years ago and has been an influence in my life ever since. He even expressed sympathy when Gaven passed away since he also had a young child die in their family.

Part of the Elders at the funeral

 Those elders who could attended the funeral. Some traveled from great distances since he had meant so much in their lives. They had all of us who were there sing the mission anthem as part of the service. Afterwards we gathered at a luncheon and reflected as a group on his influence in our lives. It was a very emotional and gratifying gathering and as I reflected on the group that was gathered together I was grateful to be part of that group and to of had the experiences I did. There are still a wonderful group of not so young men that I have a special bond with. As we took the group picture of some that were in attendance Sister Thorn quipped as there were groans from those bending down, "Who is going to get you up because it won't be me."

The Elders with Sister Thorn and her family Michelle, David and Camille

 Two days later there was a dinner held at Weber High for the 1971 State Championship team. That was 42 years ago. It was bad weather that night but most of the team made it. We really did not know what to expect but it was a nice dinner and they had the present Weber High teams and their parents there. That meant the Kyler Weaver and Shelly and Jason were there. Shelly said she thought that the dinner would be kind of strange to have all these old people there and then she found out at the dinner I was one of those "old people."  It was a nice evening and good to see how everyone was doing. They showed a video clip of the team back then and everyone laughed at the short basketball trunks we wore. They could not believe it. They probably would also laugh if they knew that there was no such thing as a three point shot and that dunking the basketball would be a technical foul. It was interesting comparing the two reunion groups that I met with over the last two days. While the basketball group was a good group the missionary group had a strong bond and concern for each other.

2013 Picture left to right- Ron Buhrley, Coach Jerry Coggins , me Ron Montgomery, Rich Haws, Mark Hodson, Chad Green, Dennis Montgomery, Kirk Dickamore, Kevin Lewis, Ryan Jones








 The final event was on the following Monday. I received an award from the City of Ogden for working there 30 years.It was a nice luncheon and Cindy was able to attend with me. It is hard to believe I have been working with the City that long but then again everything over the last week and their beginnings longer than 30 years ago. It does not seem to have been that long ago for any of these things.

Tom Christopolus- my boss, Cindy, Greg, Mayor Caldwell and Mark Johnson C.A.O.