1 Days never to be forgotten

Eliza Brazier Batt (1864–1926) wrote her life story sometime in 1917 or 1918 when she was 53 years old. It focuses primarily on her early life in England before she and her husband accepted the restored gospel, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and immigrated to America. This is the third of nine installments (see Batt & Lee Ancestors, 3–5). Eliza was the mother of William B Batt (1888–1959) and the grandmother of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982).

When 14, I was prepared for con­firmation, one of the most seri­ous things of my young life. Twice a week found me and 15 others in a class at the rectory, each one of us having to learn and recite the Apostolic Creed, the catechism, and the St. Athanasian Creed, and having to know so much about the Bible. At last the day arrived when I was to be con­firmed. I walked to the village church with my mistress. Not a word was spoken, this experi­ence being looked up­on as the most sacred thing in my young life. Clothed in a light dress and cap and veil, the gift of my mistress, I arrived at the church. The Bishop of Winchester officiated. Each of us took her place without a word as the organ pealed forth, "Onward, Christian Soldiers, Marching as to War." At the altar rail sat the bishop with his long white gown and large white sleeves. With a feel­ing of awe, I arose in my turn as we walked quietly two by two and knelt down in front of the bishop. How my heart rejoiced! I offered up a prayer that I might always be good. The choir sang—

Soldiers of Christ, arise and put your armor on
Strong in the strength which God sup­plies through his eternal Son.

Never will that day be forgotten. I was not allowed to work on that day. One of my schoolmates, a boy I had known all my life, brought me a lovely bunch of violets, which were taken away for fear my thoughts would be taken away from the serious­ness of my confirmation.

When 17, I left the rectory and went to London to be a kitchen maid in Sir Thomas Waller's family, where 14 servants were kept. My work was in the kit­chen under a French cook. Everything being strange, it took me some time to get used to the ways of the people. The house was a beauti­ful mansion in Eaton Square. My mistress Slessor and the Lady Waller had been girls in the same school and were very great friends—a word of recom­mendation gave me the situation.

Leaving the little country village, never having been in a large city before, I felt almost lost as I arrived at Vauxhall station. There was such a tremendous amount of traffic that my heart almost failed me. I had been told what to do before leaving home (my mother, having a perfect horror of my going to London but not wanting to hinder me from such a good situa­tion, parted from me with oft-repeated entreaties not to speak to strangers). After I ar­rived at Vaux­hall station, you can imagine how very shy and timid I was when up came a stately gentle­man inquiring if I were going to Sir Thomas Waller’s Eaton Square. A fine carriage was waiting; Lady Waller had sent the butler to meet me. He was very kind, point­ing out the places of interest as we drove along. At Eaton Square the carriage stopped at a stately man­sion and a livered servant came out and took my trunk. There among 13 other servants, the little country girl be­came a favorite.

2 Quote of the week

"When faith comes, it brings its train of attendants with it—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, gifts, wisdom, knowledge, miracles, healings, tongues, interpretation of tongues, etc. All these appear when faith appears on the earth, and disappear when it disappears from the earth; for these are the effects of faith, and always have attended, and always will, attend it. For where faith is, there will the knowledge of God be also, with all things which pertain thereto—revelations, visions, and dreams, as well as every necessary thing, in order that possessors of faith may be perfected, and obtain salvation" (Joseph Smith, in Lectures on Faith, 7:20).

3 This week in our family

Mon, Sept 28: Daniel Ricardo Mena's birthday [Ray]
Tues, Sept 29: Anniversary of Dorothy's birth in 1915
Wed, Sept 30: Sharae DeMartini's birthday [Ray]
Wed, Sept 30: David Wilke's birthday [Lyle]
Wed, Sept 30: Corben's birthday [Gail]
Thurs, Oct 1: Mary Elizabeth Oveson's birthday [Dean]
Sat, Oct 3: General conference
Sun, Oct 4: General conference
Sun, Oct 4: Peter Arthur Challis's birthday [Dean]
Sun, Oct 4: Margaret Christina Hodson's birthday [Dean]
Mon, Oct 5: Jordan Reher's birthday [Ray]
Mon, Oct 5: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
Isn't life with a toddler so exciting? Crystal Price thinks so (click here to read more). Shandi reported on some of the activities of their summer (click here to read more).

Gail's family
Kate tells of hiking Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon (click here for part 1 of the story and here for part 2 of the story).

Kay's family
Kay tells of a Peruvian regional stake conference (click here to read more). Nicolle tells of a camping trip she and Chad and their family almost took (click here to read more).

Dean's family
Anna Halverson tells about getting little Miles Peter Halverson here a week ago (click here to read more). Becca Hoff shares a perfect moment (click here to read more).

Claudia and I spent five days visiting Paul and Eliza and their two boys, Peter and Aaron, in Atlanta. We left from the Salt Lake airport early Thursday morning, September 17 (just a week after I had had a pacemaker installed), and flew to Birmingham, Alabama, where we rented a car and drove two and a half hours to Atlanta. (Southwest Airlines flights are cheaper, and Southwest doesn't fly into Atlanta).

We had a delightful visit over the next several days, celebrated Peter's third birthday a few weeks early (he thought we had come just for his birthday party and thought we were going to leave as soon as it was over), baby-sat the two boys while Paul and Eliza went to hear Dave Ramsey all Saturday afternoon, and got to hear Eliza speak in church on Sunday. Monday afternoon, September 21, we drove back to Birmingham, and flew home to Utah. We arrived back in Salt Lake about 10:00 Monday night.

It had rained every single day we were there, and some serious flooding closed I-20 between Atlanta and Birmingham just after we made it to Birmingham.

Dale's family
Keisha mentions that she is officially done with school on October 31 and that Kira is moving to Arizona in a few more days (click here to read more). Kira mentions her pending move and other things she has been up to (click here to read more).

Jackie's family
We know of two members of Rex and Jackie's family that are on Facebook: Jared and Jolene.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the September and October 1959 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Mon, Sept 28. got Birthday card & letter from Lyle & Jerry. I came home from work & read paper & got ready & we went to Caldwell & got milk check & I laid away some stuff for Xmas at I.D.'s sale.

Tues, Sept 29. I'm 44 today. Ray fixed toasted cheese sandwiches & pork & beans & we ate. Ray gave me a jar mixed candy & They gave me a G.E. clock radio, bed room light & my new bed & breakfast set.

Wed, Sept 30. I came home from work & took Kids to school then Ivard, Jackie & I went over to Gails & they were just moving out, over on Enterprise Ave., out from Nyssa. We left Jackie there to play & went over to G. & B & gave them my radio, wouldn't play & they will mail us out one from Boise.

Thurs, Oct 1. got Birthday card & letter from Kay. We took Dean & Dale in to Primary then we went & watched Genes foot ball game. We had to sit quite awhile, Boise didn't show up till nearly 5: & our kids were tired out. got beat 18 to 14. Ray beat Boise. We went & got 83 lbs squash & a bu. of grapes while we waited for Gene.

Fri, Oct 2. We don't have to work tonight. We went to bed early. I was so tired & Ivard had to go to work. My nite off.

Sat, Oct 3. I got up & fixed breakfast & took Ray up to Martines's to work all day. Ivard came home from work & went to bed awhile then got up & watched world series. He cut Gene, Dean & Dales hair. I washed bottles & did 21 qts grape juice with grapes in bottle & put 5 qts cauliflower in freezer.

Sun, Oct 4. Gene did chores & him & Ray went to Priesthood at 9:15. special meeting, Gene is an officer. I made waffles & sausage for breakfast. I bottled rest of grape juice & got pulp ready for jam tomorrow. Gene & Ray got home at 2: & we got dinner. Ray bought some icecream.

6 What in the world

Some football results
Results from some of the collegiate teams we follow: On Saturday, September 27, the Utah Utes beat the Louisville Cardinals 30 to 14. Utah's next game will be against the Colorado State Rams on Saturday, October 10.

On Saturday, September 27, the BYU Cougars beat the Colorado State Rams 42 to 23. It was the Cougars' first conference game of the season. BYU's next game will be against Utah State on Friday, October 2.

On Friday, September 26, the Boise State Broncos beat the Bowling Green Falcons 49 to 14. Boise State's next game will be against the California-Davis Aggies on Saturday, October 3.

Where have all the editors gone?
Some more examples from actual newspapers:

A headline from March 2005: Alton attorney accidentally sues himself

Oh, really? A headline from another newspaper: Fish need water, Feds say

7 A final word

This coming weekend will be another general conference, a time of serious spiritual refreshment for Latter-day Saints throughout the world.

What we hear this coming Saturday and Sunday from those we sustain as prophets and apostles is tantamount to hearing the voice of the Lord Himself. The resurrected Lord declared in a revelation on November 1, 1831, "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same" (D&C 1:38).

In the same month of November 1831, the Lord also said concerning the teaching of His authorized servants, "They shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation" (D&C 68:3–4).

That sounds worth listening to if we want to know what the Lord would have us know and do and be during the coming six months.

1 Childhood in England

Eliza Brazier Batt (1864–1926) wrote her life story sometime in 1917 or 1918 when she was 53 years old. It focuses primarily on her early life in England before she and her husband accepted the restored gospel, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and immigrated to America. This is the second of nine installments (see Batt & Lee Ancestors, 2–3). Eliza was the mother of William B Batt (1888–1959) and the grandmother of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The photograph of the old church was taken in 1912.

Six years quickly passed away, and I was sent to the village school with my sister Jane. Frightened at the other children, I clung to Jane and begged to be allowed to sit with her, but the teacher said no and got angry and whipped me with a cane, which nearly broke my heart. My brothers never ceased to tease me about being whip­ped the first day I went to school.

By the time I was eight years old, I was able to read fairly well. It was the custom in the school that every child who could read a chapter from the Bible without a mis­take was pre­sented a nice new Bible at Christmastime from a lady by the name of Courtray. I re­ceived my Bible and was very proud of it. At eight I also joined the child­ren’s choir at St. Swithun's church. Every Sunday found me in my place in the choir, unless sickness prevented. The choir child­ren were always very neat in appear­ance with brown linsey dresses, black hats trimmed with blue rib­bon, and cloaks of grey.

Time passed so swiftly away. When I was ten years old, I was taken into the par­sonage to learn to work. I was trained to do house­work and cooking at the home of the Reverend J. H. Slessor, rector of St. Swithun's. At the rectory were ten in the family, and five servants were kept. My training began by learn­ing to help wait at table, of which I had such a dread be­cause of my many mis­takes. One circumstance I will never for­get: a dinner party was given in honor of Lady Lucy Wood­house, who having recently returned from South Africa was visiting at the rectory. The dishes were very hot and full, and I accidentally spilled gravy on Lady Lucy's dinner dress. I felt so bad, but Lady Lucy looked at me so kindly and said, "Never mind, Eliza." It was said so quietly and kindly that no one noticed the acci­dent. I always loved Lady Lucy for her kind­ness to me.

After two years' training as a housemaid, I was taken to the kit­chen to learn to cook and where I loved to be. Mrs. Slessor, the mis­tress, took a great interest in me and did every­thing to encourage me. Be­cause Mrs. Slessor was such a good lady, I was brought up almost as one of the family. Every night she saw that I was in bed by half past nine and never allowed me out after dark. Every Sunday morning I attended the Bible class she held for her own children and at eleven o'clock marched with all the other school children two by two to church—no talking allowed.

2 Quote of the week

"We have built temples throughout the world and will continue to do so. To you who are worthy and able to attend the temple, I would admonish you to go often. The temple is a place where we can find peace. There we receive a renewed dedication to the gospel and a strengthened resolve to keep the commandments" (Thomas S. Monson, "Until We Meet Again," in Ensign, May 2009, 113).

3 This week in our family

Mon, Sept 21: LaWanda Packwood's birthday [Gene]
Tues, Sept 22: First day of autumn
Wed, Sept 23: Carson's birthday [Kay]
Wed, Sept 23: Joshua & Veronica married 2005 [Gail]
Wed, Sept 23: Jeremy & Mandy Harned married 2006 [Gail]
Fri, Sept 25: Stan's birthday [Lyle]
Sun, Sept 27: Peter & Anna Halverson married 2006 [Dean]
Mon, Sept 28: Daniel Ricardo Mena's birthday [Ray]
Mon, Sept 28: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

New arrival
John and Morgan (Gail and Lynda's family) had their first child a little over a month ago. Lincoln John Cleverly was born on Tuesday, August 11. He weighed 8 pounds 13 1/2 ounces and was 22 inches long. John and Morgan are currently living with Linda. Their son is Linda's 13th grandchild (of which 7 are grandsons).

When we talked with Linda, she said she is still doing her spices, selling them at farmer's markets and some store outlets that carry them. She also reported that Bill & Kelly have moved down to the St. George area, where Kelly is the manager of the Home Depot down there.

Another new arrival
Pete and Anna Halverson (Dean and Claudia's family) had their first child late Saturday night. After something like 30 hours of labor, Anna finally had to have a C-section. Miles Peter Halverson was born at 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, in the University Hospital in Salt Lake City. He weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces. They are not sure how long he was. Mother and baby are doing fine. He is Dean and Claudia's 18th grandchild (of which 12 are grandsons).

Mission report from Kay and Karen
Edited excerpts from a recent e-mail from Karen in the Peru Lima Central Mission

Monday, September 14 we were invited to go with President and Sister Elmer, their two daughters, President and Sister Manning (South Mission) and President and Sister Leyva (East Mission) on a bus tour of Lima. We arrived at president's house at 8:30 a.m.. We left at 9:00 a.m. and President Manning drove all of us in his new Honda Odyssey.

When we arrived at the bus location, to our delight we were taking the double decker bus tour. We were up on top. The seats were 3 across with a very narrow aisle down each side. Off we went. It was lots of fun getting an almost bird's eye view. The places we drove by, we had already been to, but it was fun seeing them again. We did go by a "Parque de Museos" which is a park of museums that we did not know about and we have added that to a list of fun things we want to do on a p-day, probably with the elders. We stopped at the Catacombs and everyone got off to do the tour. They had changed a few things since we were there before, but not much. There was a Catholic celebration going on and the congregation, who was from Cusco, was singing a song of praise that resounded through the ancient halls below the church. Talk about great acoustics. Wow! Later when we resurfaced into the courtyard, there was a full brass band playing and about 6 men were carrying a very heavy replica of their patron saint beautifully decorated with flowers. The people were taking it to a grand fiesta later. It was interesting in that they carried the saint up to the steps of the church then they would kneel down (did not touch the ground) three times, then back up and repeat it. They did this several times. This could not have been an easy feat as the object they were carrying was very heavy.

We again boarded the bus and to everyone's delight we had a day of full sunshine. That in itself was a blessing as Monday was the only warm sunny day we had all week. We had lots of fun waving to people who waved back and some called greetings. We ended the tour about 1:30 p.m. and all joined at a restaurant for lunch. We ate on a covered terrace. There was a young man outside of the restaurant who entertained us playing a Peruvian flute and at the same time a small stringed instrument a little like a ukulele, only different. President Manning spoke with him in depth and gave him some money. The young man was very interested in who we were and when he explained that we were missionaries he asked to have the missionaries come visit him in his home. Wow! I need to add that when we started the day it was overcast and chilly, however, the sun really warmed things up. That meant that Kay's head and my nose changed colors to bright red.

Tuesday our war on the bed bugs commenced. Kay and I both were armed with our spray bottles of Pounce or permitrina. No mattress was left unturned. We sprayed our clothes, our shoes, the furniture, the carpet, and especially all around the bed. We felt better knowing that at long last we could fight the mangy little blood sucking critters.

Alas, Wednesday morning I had 4 new bites. Yikes! Out came the spray bottles again. Wednesday night when we got home we sprayed the sheets and really sprayed the headboard, which is fastened to the wall. We did not go to bed for about 3-4 hours. We were desperate.

Thursday morning we awoke with NO new bites. We are still a bit leery though, so Kay sprayed a little bit more. We will probably spray the bed again when we wash the sheets tomorrow and then go through the whole bit every three months. Why every three months you ask? They can survive at least 4 months without anything to eat, namely us.

Last night we had an office staff meeting with president until about 7:45 p.m. We were able to finalize the calendar for September and October. Wahoo! October is going to be really busy, especially for President and Sister Tyler. Elder Christofferson is coming to do a Mission Presidents Seminar starting the evening of 18th and going through the 21st. Monday through Wednesday the presidents and their wives have to be there from 7:20 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. This caused a bit of a snag for us since the 21st is our change date. We had to do some juggling of days so we could get our ending missionaries home on the 21st, and still give them their time with President and Sister Tyler at the temple, the ending dinner and the testimony meeting. We have 8 ending their missions on the 21st. Everything is on different days, but it works and that is what matters. We have four sets of parents coming to pick up their missionaries from the US. Most are arriving on Sunday and will be able to attend the testimony meeting on Monday. Our new missionaries will arrive in the mission one day late on Thursday.

We are still in the office as President is coming in to meet with an elder who is here. President has been doing interviews since 9:00 a.m. and he is doing his last one now. It is now 7:30 p.m. We repeat, we believe the hardest calling in the Church is as a mission president, especially in our mission where our mission is split and the areas are so far apart. This president will not be able to stop for 3 years. Sister Tyler will be close behind him at all times. If, by chance, their oldest daughter or son, who ends his mission in October, should get married during this time, Sister Tyler will be able to attend the wedding, but president cannot. Truly, they, as have all mission presidents, bring new meaning to the term "labor of love."

Tomorrow we will clean and I will bake more cookies. I baked Wednesday night and sent 4 dozen cookies to Abancay. I am hoping they will have them for their zone study Monday morning. I need to send cookies to Cusco and Sicuani. Also tomorrow since it is past time for me to get my annual cholesterol blood check we might venture forth to do that. I now know where to go so we will hop on a bus and head out to La Molina. Who knows what other fun things we might find to do along the way.

Sunday is a regional conference satellite broadcast from Salt Lake. We are going to ask president if we can go to the CCM [LTM] to watch it in English. If so, then we will also have lunch at the CCM which is always lots of fun. What is especially fun is that we get to meet the new missionaries coming into our mission.

And that ends this week in our mission. Again we send our love and gratitude to you for your prayers. We, too, are praying for you.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the September 1959 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Mon, Sept 21. At 2:30 we went to town & I went to Superior & had a Shampoo & Ivard & Jackie went & had the car greesed then we went to Gails over by Ontario, they weren't home but we met them in Nyssa & talked a few min. They'd been over to our place.

Tues, Sept 22. Gene went to Dr. with his boil after school, then when they got home he hot packed it all evening.

Wed, Sept 23. Gene stayed home & hot packed his jaw all day. We got about 6 cores out & the swelling is about gone. It looks a lot better.

Thurs, Sept 24. We went over to Kuna & got 4 sacks of red potatoes for $1. a hundred. We came home in rain.

Fri, Sept 25. I went to bed with Jackie & Ivard until 10:30 then we went over to Gail & Lynda's but they weren't home we went on over to Ontario to G & B. & they gave us $100. for oil stove on a breakfast set & six chairs & a big double width bed & head board, it cost 265. They gave us a bed room lamp & 100 lbs sugar. Ivard got a G.E clock radio for my birthday. We came back to Nampa to Foot ball game Gene made 14 points. They beat Caldwell 43 to 0. Had a flat tire on car.

Sat, Sept 26. It really rained hard 2 or 3 times today. Ivard & Gene took my bed down & put it up in Rays room and I washed my wood work, windows & curtains & vacumed rug good then I split a sheet & made 2 sheets out of 3 for my new bed. They brought it about 5: it sure is big.

Sun, Sept 27. Gene, Ray, Dean & Dale went to Priesthood & sunday school & Ivard tended Jackie. I wrote a long letter to Jerry. Ivard & all the Kids went to church.

6 What in the world

Sad day in the Mountain West
Both Utah and BYU lost their football games this week. Oregon beat Utah 31-24. And Florida State beat BYU 54-28.

Where have all the editors gone?
Some more examples from actual newspapers:

From a report of local police action: A deputy responded to a report of a vehicle stopping at mail boxes. It was the mail man.

From another such report: A woman in the 1900 block of 129th Lane Northeast reported Oct. 15 that someone must have stolen her mail, because she did not receive birthday cards from some of her friends.

7 A final word

This week autumn begins for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. But for Kay and Karen in Peru it is the official beginning of spring. Both spring and fall are transition periods and can actually contain some of the most pleasant, most glorious days of the whole year.

But the beginning of the two seasons is also a good reminder that sometimes how we view things can depend a lot on our perspective. And a good reminder, by extension, that it's difficult to know or judge another person's thoughts, intents, or actions because we may not have the whole picture, because our perspective may be different, because we have not walked in that person's moccasins.

The Good Book declares, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:7-9). The one instance where it really does matter to have our thoughts, our ways, our perspective aligned with what is fundamentally right and true is when it comes to matters pertaining to our eternal salvation. Then it matters a great deal that what we think and desire is what God thinks and desires.

The Lord makes this promise to those who covenant with him: "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people" (Hebrews 8:10). He will put his law into our minds and our hearts. To the extent that that actually happens, to the extent that we live by the Holy Spirit, we will see as He sees and think as He thinks. Our perspective will then align with His.

That is our autumn (or spring) wish for all of you.

1 Little English country girl

Eliza Brazier Batt (1864–1926) wrote her life story sometime in 1917 or 1918 when she was 53 years old. It focuses primarily on her early life in England before she and her husband accepted the restored gospel, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and immigrated to America. This is the first of nine installments (see Batt & Lee Ancestors, 1–2). Eliza was the mother of William B Batt (1888–1959) and the grandmother of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982).

In the little village of Head­bourne Worthy (in the county of Hamp­shire, near Win­chester, in the south of England) in the year 1864, there lived a hard-working man named James Brazier and his good wife Mary Ann. They worked hard to make ends meet. Their family was large, but both James and Mary Ann were con­tented and happy as each little one came. They both felt they had none to spare.


Mornings were beautiful in the Itchen Val­ley, where flows the beau­ti­ful River Itchen. The green lanes about the village were resplen­dent with wild flowers and trees. In the twilight the night­in­gales would sing, and in the soft, balmy evenings the old church bells would ring out, calling the people to wor­ship. Their silvery tones would peal out to the weary travel­er:

Lord, thy glory fills the heavens;
Earth is with its fulness, filled unto thee.
Be glory given, holy, holy, holy Lord.

One summer's evening, as the bells ceased ringing, a tired looking man came along the street and entered a gate leading to a well-kept garden where hollyhocks grew five and six feet tall, where peace seemed to reign. James, though tired, was cheered by the feeling of peace and the welcome he knew he would re­ceive from Mary Ann in their humble four-room cottage. As he entered the door, Mary Ann met him with a cheerful smile. Taking from him his dinner pail, she asked, "How are you, James? It is such a long way for you to walk. I know you must be tired."

The humble meal was spread in the well-kept kitchen with its red brick floor and wide chimney corners, with the fire dancing up the chim­ney from an open grate, and the cheer­ful sound of the ket­tle singing, and the table spread with a clean white cloth and light bread and golden butter, and the old grand­father clock tick, tick, ticking away in its corner. The little cricket held its own with its merry chirp, chirps, and the window filled with plants—which seemed always to be in bloom—gave a spirit of peace per­vading. As the family par­took of the humble meal, a prayer of thanks arose to the Giver of all for blessings received.

All retired to rest at an early hour, for James worked in the early morning hours caring for the little plot of ground that fur­nished the good house­wife with the best kind of vege­tables.

On 30 August 1864, another daugh­ter came to their humble home. They named me Eliza, after Mother's youngest sister.

2 Quote of the week

"To you parents, express your love to your children. Pray for them that they may be able to withstand the evils of the world. Pray that they may grow in faith and testimony. Pray that they may pursue lives of goodness and of service to others.

"Children, let your parents know you love them. Let them know how much you appreciate all they have done and continue to do for you" (Thomas S. Monson, "Until We Meet Again," in Ensign, May 2009, 113).

3 This week in our family

Tues, Sept 15: Louis & Bobbie Real married 1995 [Gene]
Wed, Sept 16: Josh Kersker's birthday [Lyle]
Thurs, Sept 17: Constitution Day [1787]
Sun, Sept 20: Nicole's birthday (Brandon's wife) [Kay]
Mon, Sept 21: LaWanda Packwood's birthday [Gene]
Mon, Sept 21: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

We're going a little short on this week's Bits and Tidbits on account of the surgery I had this past week and subsequent recovery. I haven't had the oomph to track anything down.

Last Wednesday morning, just as I was walking out the door at work to go to the hospital to have my new pacemaker installed, I received a telephone call from Peru. Kay's wife Karen was on the other end and wished me well before putting the mission president's wife on the phone to talk to me. It was good to talk to Karen and to know that I was being remembered in their prayers.

Our son-in-law Cade Hoff was in a car accident Friday night not far from where he lives in Layton, Utah. The cars in front of him were stopping at a railroad crossing, and he wasn't paying sufficient attention to avoid smashing into the back of the car just in front of him. His only injuries were on his arm, and they resulted from the airbag deploying.

We were told that John and Morgan [Gail and Lynda's family] had their baby recently, but we have no details yet. We hope to find out more by next week's issue.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the September 1959 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Mon, Sept 14. It rained about all day & really hard part of time. Ivard tended Jackie, she's still sick, & I went to bed. I got up at 2: & took Ivard to work because Gail hadn't brought pick-up home. the streets were so full of water we could hardly get through, some were Blocked off.

Tues, Sept 15. A cow died & By-products came & got her & I had to help keep cows in. He came right after Ivard left for work at 2:30. Simplots called at 4: & said the plant wold be down until Monday nite.

Wed, Sept 16. I took Gene in to school, had to be there early to have picture taken. Droped Dean & Dale off on way home. Ray rode bus. I wrote Kay this morning.

Thurs, Sept 17. Had to patch Genes foot ball suit before he went to school. At 2:30 we took the bore pig home to Merridian & had a milk shake then we went & watched Ray beat Merridian 14 to 0. Ray played most of game. Kay called tonite

Fri, Sept 18. At 1:30 & went to Boise & drew out $100. out of Kays money & mailed to him then we went up to Borah High and watched Nampa get beat 8 to 7. It rained all morning & let up during game then rained again. It was a mud puddle & the mud ran down their legs. Gene played nearly the whole game & really did good.

Sat, Sept 19. Ivard came home from work at 8: & said lets go to Rexburg. I was still in bed. I dressed & packed a bat & at 8:30 he & I were on our way just Ivard & I. rained on us most of way. got to Stadium at 2: just as players were comeing out. We met coach & he took us in gate. It rained a little during game & Kay got to play quite a bit, They got beat 20 to 0 by Montana. after Game Kay & his roommate drove us around town & showed us his room & got gas & went to Idaho Falls & got a hotel room.

Sun, Sept 20. We got up at 8: & went & had breakfast (in Idaho Falls) & left for home. stoped at Mountain Home & had dinner. We got to Boise about 2:30 so we drove up & saw lucky peek Dam them we went on up to Idaho City & stayed until about 9:

6 What in the world

Utah has a new governor
A little over a month ago (on August 11) Gary Herbert, 62, was sworn in as Utah's 17th governor following the resignation of Jon Huntsman, after Huntsman was appointed by President Obama and subsequently confirmed by the Senate as United States ambassador to China. Herbert had been serving as lieutenant governor. He is a native of Orem, a returned missionary who served in the Eastern States Mission, and an alumnus of Brigham Young University. He and his wife Jeanette have six children and nine grandchildren.

Where have all the editors gone?
We wonder if newspapers still employ editors and proofreaders. Here are more examples from actual newspapers.

From an advertisement: Get 50% off [and in smaller type] or half price, whichever is less.

A headline from an op-ed piece: One-armed man applauds the kindness of strangers

7 A final word

A few weeks ago Claudia and I were attending a play at our community theater. It was a comedy farce entitled "Lucky Stiff." The main character is a dead corpse who gets pushed around in a wheel chair throughout the play.

Near the end of the play Claudia glanced at me, and I appeared to have fallen asleep, except that even there in the dark she didn't think I looked quite right. The thought entered her head, "What if he were a stiff here on the back row of the theater?" A morbid thought. As it turns out, I had actually passed out without any warning. After I came to, I felt very sick and became nauseous. It came on so suddenly. Perhaps a touch of the flu.

The very next morning, providentially, I had an appointment scheduled with my cardiologist to review some heart and lung tests I had had earlier the day before. Because a heart monitor had been installed in my chest 15 months earlier, he was able to interrogate the monitor and was amazed to discover that the evening before my heart had actually stopped for a full 17 seconds. The printout from the monitor showed a flat line for that long before a beat reappeared.

Long story short, my heart kept stopping for three to five seconds each over the next little while. And all that lead to my having a pacemaker installed this past week. That should keep things going more steadily now.

I am grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord. First, it would never have occurred to me that what happened to me that night at the theater had anything to do with my heart. But I was scheduled the very next morning to see my heart doctor and discovered that it did. Looking back over the past couple years, there were other incidents of momentary passing out that were probably due to my heart stopping, one of which resulted in my falling and breaking my left hand the same evening we were scheduled to meet our daughter Anna's future in-laws. Another time I passed out while riding the bus home from work and ended up on the floor of the bus. A second tender mercy is that the heart stoppages never occurred while I was driving a car. Not a pretty thought to be sure.

Apparently my number is not up yet. Perhaps I have to keep publishing this newsletter each week. Seriously, however, I am convinced that each of us is here on the earth for as long as the Lord wants us to be. "Thy days are known," the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith during the dark days he spent in the Liberty Jail, "and thy years shall not be numbered less" (D&C 122:9).

1 All I ever really needed to know

School has started again. Hints of fall are in the air. Some years ago, when we still had children at home, I started a tradition of reading the following piece by Robert Fulgham, entitled "All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" (first published in the Kansas City Times, Sept. 17, 1976), before each new school year began. It contains as simple and as fine a summary as I've ever come across about how to get along in this old world as decent, Christian people.

Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school.

These are the things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands be­fore you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Be aware of wonder. Re­mem­ber the little seed in the plastic cup. The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup—they all die. So do we.

And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all: look. Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sani­ta­tion. Ecology and politics and sane living.

Think of what a better world it would be if we all—the whole world—had cookies and milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

2 Quote of the week

"The ultimate purpose of all we teach is to unite parents and children in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they are happy at home, sealed in an eternal marriage, linked to their generations, and assured of exaltation in the presence of our Heavenly Father" (Boyd K. Packer, "The Shield of Faith," Ensign, May 1995, 8).

3 This week in our family

Mon, Sept 7: Labor Day holiday
Mon, Sept 7: Makenzie Reher's birthday [Ray]
Wed, Sept 9: Dean having pacemaker installed
Sat, Sept 12: Debbie's birthday [Gail]
Sun, Sept 13: Richard's birthday [Ray]
Sun, Sept 13: Nathan Jensen's birthday [Dale]
Sun, Sept 13: Noelle McAllister's birthday [Kay]
Mon, Sept 14: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

From Gail's family
The Duays recently spent some time visiting in Yellowstone and appear to have have had a great time. "The trip was incredible," wrote Michelle. "I loved seeing all the beautiful nature that God has created for us to enjoy." Read more.

Kate tells about Megan riding her pony and taking a nasty fall. Read more. She also tells and posts pictures of Corben's preschool orientation. Read more.

From Kay's family
Kay and Karen get a few days off to do a little sight-seeing in Peru. Kay posted a lot of pictures. Read and see more.

Nicolle tells and shows pictures of Easton's first day of preschool. Read more. She also relates an incident of Easton seeing a picture of a new bride and groom kissing each other: "Ewww," Easton declared, "I am never going to kiss a lady." Read more.

And Chuck and Andrea's kids are back in school. Read more.

From Dean's family
I am having a pacemaker installed this coming Wednesday afternoon in Salt Lake's new Intermountain Medical Center. It's supposed to keep my heart from misbehaving, such as it has been the past couple weeks. On Monday night, August 24, while we were at a play, it stopped completely for 17 seconds, and I passed out. Glad I wasn't driving at the time.

Camilla tells of the trip she and Chris and three-year-old Sam made from Everett to visit family in Utah. Chris's brother just returned from his mission in Louisiana. Read more.

Mary took a lot of pictures of her very pregnant older sister, Anna, who is expecting her first baby sometime in the next few weeks. See more.

From Dale's family
Keisha posts about some of the fun she's been having lately. See more.

Kira makes an announcement about moving to Arizona in October. Read more.

Sarah tells of first days at school. Read more both here and here. Our hats off to anyone who teaches eighth graders.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the September 1959 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Mon, Sept 7. I came home from work & sorted all the clothes & Lynda & Ray washed & cleaned the house & I went to bed at 10:30. I woke up at 2:30 & Gail & Kids had gone to town. I'm sick & Gene too, stomach. Ivard & Kids got home from Rexburg at 6:, Kay found a room before he left. Gail & Lynda loaded the car & took Kids & left for Rexburg at 11: P.M. to see about going to college.

Tues, Sept 8. I came home from work & Ivard was home & had chores done & was in bed asleep. I washed clothes & cleaned up & Jackie & I went to bed at noon.

Wed, Sept 9. Gail & Lynda came back from Rexburg this afternoon, he couldn't make enough to go to school. Ivard & Gail went & watched Kids practice & brought them home. Gail took Gene & Ray in to Mutual then went & got them again.

Thurs, Sept 10. Gail & Lynda took off at 10: hunting work, I had just got to bed & Ivard woke me up because he ran out of gas in tractor so we went to Nampa & got groc. & to Caldwell to bank then we went to Homedale to get peaches but they were all gone where we always get them, found some in sunny slope. got 3 bu. for 7.50.

Fri, Sept 11. I came home from work and read paper. I went to bed, & Jackie, & Ivard went out to plow & he woke us up at 1:30 & he left for Marshing to foot ball game. I got up & started doing peaches, did 22 qts. Had to go to school in pick-up & get Dale, he had flat tire on bike.

Sat, Sept 12. I came home from work & Gail & Lynda had gone to Ontario to work. He has a job at a dairy. Ivard peeled peaches & we bottled 14 qts & 14 qts sliced ones. Gene went to Nampa to foot ball game.

Sun, Sept 13. I came home from work & put a roast on and went to bed at 10:30. Gene, Ray Dean & Dale went to Priesthood & sunday school at 11:, time for our new ward. Jackie was sick & Ivard tended her. Gail & Lynda came & we ate at 3:30. and they loaded up their stuff to move to Ontario & left at 5:, they took our pick-up. Ivard hot packed Gene, he has a boil on his jaw.

6 What in the world

Best places to live
Money Magazine has listed Bountiful, Utah, as one of the top 100 "Best Places to Live" in the United States. "This bedroom community north of Salt Lake City," the magazine said, "has become a booming, self-sufficient place." As of the 2000 census, the population of Bountiful was 41,301.

Bountiful has also been recognized by the Utah Taxpayers Association as having the lowest property tax rate of any of the 20 largest cities in the state of Utah. Additionally, Bountiful's utility rates were lower than any of the 20 largest cities in the state.

By the way, my family has enjoyed living here the past 32 years. We would certainly consider it one of the best places to live.

Where have all the editors gone?
We wonder if newspapers still employ editors and proofreaders. The following examples come from actual newspapers. We are not making this up.

A subheading from a Colorado newspaper: Statistics show that teen pregnancy drops off signficantly after age 25.

From a newspaper that publishes a Question of the Day:
Question: What constitutes a millionaire?
Answer: A millionaire is someone who has $1 million, according to Jery Beto, branch manager and senior vice president of investmemnts at AG Edwards and Sons.

7 A final word

Many, many years ago—on a late summer's day in 1973—I first dreamed of publishing a regular newsletter for our family. That was 36 years and 338 issues ago. With this issue of the Cleverly Newsletter, following our traditional summer break, we launch into our 37th year of publication.

In September 1973 I was 24 years old. Claudia and I had been married less than a year. We had just graduated from BYU. The day after we published that first issue of the newsletter we became parents with the birth of our first son, Michael Adam, who was the first of eventually eight children. And now, just in our little corner of the Cleverly family, the two of us have become 35 people (that number counts the two little ones who have died). A 36th will arrive sometime this month.

Similar growth and change have occurred in each of your parts of the family. It has been a remarkable run.

In that first long-ago issue I wrote, "A newsletter keeps people informed; it helps keep families united." We hope through the years we have helped accomplish that.

"But such a project requires everyone's help," I continued. "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." That is still true today.

Today many of you have blogs. Or post on Facebook. That's how you choose to share yourself with the world. We have redesigned our blog site to provide links, organized by each original family, of as many of your individual blogs or Facebook accounts that we are aware of. Check down the right column of this blog to find them. If you're aware of any we might be missing, please let us know, and we can add them.