1 Ballot Initiatives

Tomorrow's elections contain opportunities to decide on a variety of public policy issues. We summarize here ballot initiatives in some of the states where members of the family currently live.

Idaho
There are no statewide initiatives on the ballot in the Gem State. Supporters of three measures (on animal rights, judicial reform, and business regulation) failed to obtain enough signatures by the May 1 deadline to get the issues on the ballot.

Utah
The Beehive State has five constitutional amendments on the ballot:

- Amendment A revises various provisions affecting succession of executive branch officers.

- Amendment B makes changes to the permanent state trust fund.

- Amendment C changes the start and duration of the legislature's annual general session.

- Amendment D clarifies the time when the legislature is required to divide the state into congressional, legislative, and other districts.

- Amendment E allows the state to invest money in private stocks or bonds if the money comes from the State School Fund or from land granted by the federal government.

All five seem to be reasonable updates to the state's constitution. No arguments have been submitted against any of them.

Washington
Three initiatives are on the ballot in the Evergreen State:

- Initiative 985 is on transportation and would open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all traffic during specified hours, require traffic light synchronization, increase roadside assistance funding, and dedicate certain taxes, fines, tolls and other revenues to traffic-flow purposes.

- Initiative 1000 deals with aid in dying. It would permit terminally ill, competent, adult Washington residents who are medically predicted to have six months or less to live, voluntarily to request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician. Supporters refer to the measure as the Death with Dignity initiative. Critics refer to it as the Assisted Suicide initiative. The initiative is based on a measure Oregon voters passed in 1994. Oregon is the only state to have enacted similar legislation.

- Initiative 1029 would revise examination, certification, and professional discipline standards and requirements for long-term care workers for the elderly or disabled.

California
Twelve propositions will appear on statewide ballots in the Golden State, in addition to 380 local ballot measures. The statewide issues deal with transportation, animal rights, health, abortion, law enforcement, the environment, election reform, and a bond issue.

Arguably the most controversial and most publicized of the measures is Proposition 8. It deals with the definition of marriage in California. A lot of time, effort, and money has been spent by both supporters and opponents of this measure. If passed, the proposition would amend the state constitution to prohibit same-sex couples from marrying in California and would state that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." The proposition would restore a state law approved in 2000 by 61 percent of California voters until it was struck down in May 2008 by a 4-3 vote of the state supreme court.

Texas
There is no referendum or initiative available in Texas. And no constitutional amendments this year. Hence, there are no issues on statewide ballots in the Lone Star State.

Nevada
Four initiatives are on the ballot in the Silver State:

- Question 1 would eliminate an unconstitutional requirement that a person must reside in Nevada for six months prior to an election in order to be eligible to vote in that election.

- Question 2 would prevent government agencies from using eminent domain to take land from one private owner and give to it another private owner.

- Question 3 deals with tax exemptions.

- Question 4 deals with sales tax and voter approval.

New Mexico
Five proposed constitutional amendments and four proposed bond issues are on the ballot in the Land of Enchantment. The constitutional amendments deal with details of governmental administration and election issues.

Georgia
Three constitutional amendments are on the ballot in the Peach Tree State:

- Amendment 1 encourages protection of Georgia's forests through special assessment and taxation of forest lands and assistance grants to local governments.

- Amendment 2 allows local governments to use education property taxes to fund development projects.

- Amendment 3 authorizes the General Assembly to provide for the creation and regulation of infrastructure development districts.

2 Quote of the week

"Many areas of the world have experienced difficult economic times. Businesses have failed, jobs have been lost, and investments have been jeopardized. We must make certain that those for whom we share responsibility do not go hungry or unclothed or unsheltered" (Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov. 2008, 60).

3 This week in our family

Mon, Nov 3: Stan & Patty married 1978 [Lyle]
Tues, Nov 4: Andrew's birthday [Dean]
Tues, Nov 4: Vince & Mary married 2006 [Dean]
Tues, Nov 4: Election day
Wed, Nov 5: Liz's birthday [Gail]
Thurs, Nov 5: Angie's birthday [Gail]
Fri, Nov 7: Dayvis's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, Nov 8: Michael Duay's birthday [Gail]
Sun, Nov 9: Paul Challis's birthday [Dean]
Sun, Nov 9: Garrett Reher's birthday [Ray]
Mon, Nov 10: Next issue of the newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

√ We have become aware of a couple new blogs in the family: Brian and Kate (Gail and Lynda's family) have a blog called Cleverly Invested, which you can link to at: http://cleverlyinvested.blogspot.com/. Brandon and Nicole (Kay and Claudia's family) discontinuted their old blog some months ago because of virus problems but have recently started a new one called Clev Clan, which you can link to at: http://www.clevclan.blogspot.com/.

√ This past week I received an e-mail from Judith Siu, who is a cousin of some sort, from the family of Sarah Cleverly Grange (Sarah was one of Ivard's sisters). I think that's how it all fits together. Anyway, here is Judy's e-mail: "Since living so far from relatives, I have not kept much contact. Last time I saw anyone from your side of the family, it was Gail, so you know how long ago that was.

"I am still working at Caesars Palace, Leonard is retired, David and his daughters are living with us, Tom is computer security manager at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio; Mike is doing his computer hardware stuff at Analog Systems in Santa Clara, and Ruthann is still flying for United (in fact, she just changed planes and will be flying the new Boeing 777 internationally). Arlene is living in West Bountiful, and as you may or may not know, both Howard and Michael have passed away."

This update on that branch of the family will probably make most sense to people like Lyle, Jerry, or Kay, who will know the people she is talking about.

√ We talked to Jackie on Halloween night to wish her a happy birthday. Rex had taken a night off from work, and they went up to Cascade and McCall (up in the mountains north of Boise) to celebrate with an overnight getaway.

√ Brian and Kate and family have been in California this past week and went to Disneyland, the beach, the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and other such fun stuff. You can check out the pictures Kate posted on their blog site, Cleverly Invested.

√ Last week we previewed some Halloween shots of family members. Now that the big day has come and gone, you may want to check out some of the cute kids in the family: Claire Rager as a pink poodle in Texas, Peter Challis as the cutest lion in Georgia (this lion is especially cute, even if he is our grandson), the Burdetts in Washington, Chad and Nicolle Higley's family in Utah, Chuck and Andrea McAllister's family in Utah, and a slide show of Halloween fun at Chad and Melissa's in Utah.

5 Our family 50 years ago

What our family was up to during the fall of 1958, based on entries in Dorothy's Diary during November 1958. The full text of her diary can be found online and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on an 80-acre farm in the Big Bend area of eastern Oregon. Lyle and Barbara lived in Sacramento, California. Gail and Lynda lived in Centerville, Utah. And Jerry was on a mission in Canada.

Mon, Nov 3. I got up & took Kay & Gene over to Seminary & came home & got little Kids off to school. Ivard & Jackie went up to Hickmans & got eggs then went to Nampa to see about getting corn picker fixed & I iorned all morning. I iorned until Kids came home then Dale, Jackie & I took Ray selling light bulbs for scouts & Xmas cards for him. Gene went down & did Tom's chores & did ours. Kay went to Adrian to dance practice at school.

Tues, Nov 4. I got up & took Kay & Gene over to Seminary then came home & cooked little Kids breakfast & they went to school and I cleaned up & started to iorn but didn't get much done, Ida came relief society teaching & the guy from Parma came out & fixed my washer & dryer. The guy came out & fixed corn picker. We went up & voted then I had a bath & Ivard got Jackie ready & we went to relief society & he went to work. Ray got supper. Gene & I went over to school & Gene was initiated into F.F.A. Went back to work tonight.

Wed, Nov 5. I came home from work & we went to Adrian & I washed 2 batches of clothes. Me & Jackie went to bed at 1:30 & Ivard came home & went to work & never woke us up. When Ray came from school we went & sold some more light bulbs & cards. Kay, Gene & Ray went to Mutual. I went to work at 11:

Thurs, Nov 6. I came home from work & ate & we went to Caldwell & mailed Jerrys money for this month then went to Simplots & borrowed $270. from Credit Union to pay taxes. Came home & went to bed & Ivard tended Jackie. she woke me up in a couple of hrs & Ivard was asleep & she had everything out of Kids, really went to town.

Fri, Nov 7. Kay took car & went & got Claudia for foot ball game. Ivard, Gene & I went in Pick-up. Adrian's last game of year. Beat Marshing 55 to 0 to win S.R.V.B. Championship. Kay made 4 T.D but only 2 counted. He made a 95 yrd. run & referees blew whistle, thought Hatch had ball & had been tackled.

Sat, Nov 8. I came home from work & went to bed I was so tired. Ray tended Kids and scrubbed & waxed floors. Kay took off in car & got home at dark & Kids came & took him to show at Nampa.

Sun, Nov 9. I came home from work & put a roast on & went to bed. Kids went to Priesthood & sunday school. Jackie had such a cold Ivard stayed home & tended her. He did up dishes & cooked potatoes & carrots & I got up & made gravey & we ate when Kids got home. Ivard left for work at 3: I spent all afternoon until 9: writeing 14 page letter to Lyle, 10 page letter to Gail & I didn't get mothers finished.

6 What in the world

√ The 2008 World Series, a best-of-seven series played from October 22 to October 29 between the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League and the Tampa Bay Rays of the American League, ended after five games. The completion of the final game was delayed by weather and was completed two days later, the first game in World Series history to be suspended. The Phillies won the series four games to one. It was their second win in their 126-year history. The first was in 1980.

√ Way back in 1983, Utah's Hogle Zoo offered free admission thanks to ZCMI and welcomed 17,696 visitors, which set an all-time one-day attendance record. That record stood for 25 years, until a week ago Saturday, October 25, when the zoo shattered that record as 23,497 guests attended Boo at the Zoo. Our daughter Rachael and her three girls, down from Malad, along with our grandson Hyrum and me, were among that number. (Hyrum, who is 2, belongs to Cade and Rebecca, who were spending the week in Hawaii.)

Boo at the Zoo at Hogle Zoo has become a Utah tradition for families and little trick-or-treaters 12 and younger. The zoo bills it as "Utah's premier family-friendly and safe Halloween event." And perhaps its most crowded.

√ In football games played away-from-home on Saturday, Utah beat New Mexico 13-10 in Albuquerque, BYU struggled but ended up with a 45-42 win over Colorado State in Fort Collins, and Boise State beat New Mexico State 49-0 in Las Cruces. Boise State and Utah are 9th and 10th in the various polls, and BYU is 16th, 17th, or 18th, depending on which poll you're looking at.

7 A final word

Tomorrow is election day. Finally. For most of us, I suspect, political fatigue set in weeks or even months ago. We want to shout, "Enough already!"

Yet it would be a monumental shame, after enduring the verbal shelling that has bombarded us over the past year, if we did not step into the voting booth and exercise our right and fulfill our responsibility to vote.

And while it matters a great deal whether Barak Obama or John McCain is sitting in the White House come next January, it matters every bit as much, or perhaps even more, who will be sitting on our city councils and in our county commissions, who will be representing us in our legislatures and in Congress, who will be elected as our mayors and governors. It matters whether amendments and initiatives pass or fail.

The Lord revealed in 1833 what sort of person we should seek for in public office: "Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold" (D&C 98:10).

Candidates who are honest, wise, and good—if those are among our choices—"otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil" (D&C 98:10).

We believe the Constitution of the United States was inspired of God. Under the umbrella of that inspired document, our whole system works, for better or worse, insofar as we care to abide by the foundational principles that undergird it and insofar as we elect honest, wise, and good people to administer it. And while there seem to be notable exceptions on both sides of the aisle, I have come to conclude that neither of our political parties has any monopoly on honesty, wisdom, or goodness. Sadly, these traits all too often seem to be in short supply.

So, we are to act "according to the laws and constitution of the people, which I [the Lord God] have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;

"That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.

"Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.

"And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood" (D&C 101:77–80).

The bottom line? As we were reminded in last week's newsletter, we are "to study the issues and candidates carefully and prayerfully, and then to vote for and actively support those you believe will most nearly carry out your ideas of good government" (First Presidency letter dated Sept. 11, 2008). End of story.