1 Charles Batt's first job at Utah State

Charles Batt (1861–1949) married Eliza Brazier in England before they accepted the restored gospel, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and immigrated to America. Most of his history details their life after they came to Utah. This is the third of six installments (see Batt & Lee Ancestors, 18–19). Charles was the father of William B Batt (1888–1959) and the grandfather of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982).

Charles decided to try looking for a job to get a few things they needed so badly and to pay the midwife who brought Ernest. He left his wife and children with Sister Kemp's promise to call and help with the family. He went to Logan to find a job. It took his team a long time to get there. The only people he knew in Logan were the John Mortimers, so he went to their home. Sister Mortimer gave him a good hot meal while Brother Mortimer took care of and fed his team. Then they sat down and talked over what kind of jobs to look for. Brother Mortimer wanted Charles to go to the new Agri­cul­tural College that was being built at that time in Logan.

Brother Mortimer hitched up his own horse and buggy and took Charles up to the college. The school buildings were about ready to take their first classes that fall, and someone was needed to plant the trees and the lawn. Charles was very backward and was afraid he didn't know enough about it to ask for the job. For­tu­nately, Brother Mortimer had more confidence in Charles than Charles had in himself, so the two of them went in to see the college president.

President Sanborne met with them and indicated they needed all kinds of workers but could only hire one or two at this time. He wanted to know what Charles could do. Charles answered that he could do many odd jobs but his real work was gardening and land­scaping. President Sanborne wanted to know where Charles had learned that trade. Charles told him that he was an English­man and had not been in America very long and that he had learned it in England. The presi­dent told Charles that he would have to talk to a board member about hiring him but to come back the next day.

The next day found Charles at the college before President San­borne arrived. When the president did arrive, he took Charles into his office and told him it didn't look like anything could be done about land­scaping until the next spring. He did want Charles to walk around the grounds with him though and look them over. As they were going out the door, it fell off its hinges, knocking Presi­dent San­borne down. Charles caught the door before it fell on top of Pre­si­dent Sanborne. Charles examined the door and found all the screws in place, but they had never been tightened. He set the screws as tight as he could with his pocket­knife and told Presi­dent Sanborne to have one of the workmen tighten them with good tools. President Sanborne brushed the dirt from his suit and told Charles to go to work at once. He took Charles into his office and signed him up as a handyman, his first job at the Agricultural College.

2 Quote of the week

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

— Charles Dickens (1812–1870), in A Christmas Carol

3 This week in our family

As of today, 25 days until Christmas!

Wed, Dec 2: Talmage & Louise married 2006 [Dean]
Thurs, Dec 3: Hannah Grace Kersker's birthday [Lyle]
Fri, Dec 4: Curtis's birthday [Ray]
Sun, Dec 6: Fast Sunday
Sun, Dec 6: First Presidency Christmas devotional (6:00pm MST)
Mon, Dec 7: Brian's birthday [Gail]
Mon, Dec 7: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
A post last Tuesday by Josh and Crystal Price: "We've begun the process of moving into our new house! Our church has a rental house that they have graciously decided to let us live in. I'm so excited to finally live in a house! We will be offline for a bit, so sorry if you don't hear from me for a while. We will do most of our moving over the weekend and will begin staying there next week. It's an older home (built 1910), with lots of character and just enough space for our family. Read more.

Kay's family
A post from a week ago Sunday by Kay and Karen in Peru: "For my birthday Sister Tyler gave me a pillow case with the mission logo embroidered on it. She also gave me the following message in a birthday card. 'Dear Elder Cleverly, How privileged we are to work beside such a man as you are: Accountant, consoler, good husband, father, grandfather, and surrogate grandfather (to many including the Tyler children), missionary and office manager. More importantly - Our eternal "Friend." We love you.' Actually Karen is the office manager.

"Then a couple of days later we received an e-mail from sister Elmer. She said, 'I wanted to tell you that what you are doing in the office is so important to the mission and to the Tylers and I seriously don't know how we did it without you and Kay for those two years you were not with us. So don't fret if you don't get to go to the provinces, you are doing a GREAT WORK right where you are and the missionaries love you and feel a great security having adults in the office. I am sure you two will go on another mission and you can request proselyting! Maybe we can go together. Now wouldn't that be fun!'

"The reason that I bring this up is every missionary wonders why he was called to that particular mission. President Elmer once told me that he called his very best missionaries, those that he could trust and would work their very hardest into the office. I have always felt that if I could just be of service to the president and his wife and to lighten their load and be an example and help to all the missionaries and at the same time free up the four missionaries that are always called to the office, then our mission would have been a success."

Dean's family
After spending several days visiting Robert and Rachael Hodson in Harrisburg, Illinois, Paul and Eliza Challis returned home to Atlanta, where Paul ran a half marathon on Thanksgiving morning. After dropping him off at 6:40 that morning, Eliza and the boys went home and made signs and then waited for him along the route and at the finish line.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the November-December 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, Nov 30. got letter from Lyle sent Mother & Jerry letter we went to Nampa to get Ivards check but they didn't come on morning train. We borrowed money on car & refinance it & put it in bank sent Jerrys money.

Tues, Dec 1. Jerry called, has been transfered to Santa Fe New Mexico

Wed, Dec 2. I came home from work & passed Ivard takeing little boys to school I hurried & got ready & went in to Taylors at 9:15 & we went to Boise to Dr. Cudmore. My first 2 week check up & I lost 10 lbs.

Thurs, Dec 3. got letter from Jerry. little Kids just got home from Primary when Ray left for his first ball game at Stake house. He went to Mutual after.

Fri, Dec 4. at 4: I went to Caldwell & took my 11 Gold Strike books & got some Xmas presents for Kids & finally met up with Gene & he got all his Xmas shopping done.

Sat, Dec 5. I came home from work & I went right to bed & never got up until 3:30. Gene fixed a fence. Ray cleaned house & got supper & we ate at 4: Kids tried to start car to put gas in & it was dead Gene & Ray started it pulling it with tractor. I took Gene in to high school at 5: to go play their first ball game. They won by one point. Gene made a basket just as the gun went off.

Sun, Dec 6. I came home from work & went right to bed with Ivard. I was froze to death. Gene had to be to Priesthood at 9:30 so him & Ray went & Ivard & little Kids stayed home.

6 What in the world

Christmas devotional
The annual First Presidency Christmas devotional will be held on Sunday, December 6, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Music will be by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. Presidents Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf will be the speakers. The devotional will be broadcast live in Utah, at stake centers in other parts of the country, and via the Internet at lds.org.

Savior of the world
The musical production Savior of the World, based on scriptural accounts of the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ, will return to the Conference Center Theater for its 14th season. It runs from now through January 2. Dates, times, and ticket information are available at lds.org.

Football rankings
Boise State continues to be ranked 6th in the country after its 44-33 win over Nevada on Friday. The Broncos are undefeated this season. They have one remaining game this Saturday against New Mexico State.

BYU is ranked 13th (USA Today poll) and 16th (AP Top 25 poll) after its 26-23 overtime win over Utah on Saturday. Utah is now ranked 25th in the USA Today poll and dropped out of the rankings in the AP Top 25 poll. The regular season is now over for both the Cougars and the Utes.

7 A final word

This past Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I spoke at the funeral of a dear friend and neighbor, a man who for many years while our children were growing up came to our home each month as our home teacher. Some of what I shared in my funeral sermon included these thoughts:

Our earth life is a school. Each of us is a student. We are here to learn and grow and experience and discover. We are here to master the lessons and take the tests that will better equip us to live everlastingly with our Heavenly Father. "For behold," the Book of Mormon teaches us, "this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors" (Alma 34:32).

Elder Neal A. Maxwell has reminded us that "one's life is brevity compared to eternity—like being dropped off by a parent for a day at school. But what a day! There is so much to get done in this mortal classroom" (Ensign, June 1996, 16).

Concerning what we are to get done in this mortal classroom during our day at school, Elder Orson F. Whitney taught: "This earth was made for God's child­ren, his spirit sons and daughters, who take bodies and pass through ex­peri­ences of joy and sorrow for their development and educa­tion, and to demonstrate through time's vicissitudes that they will be true to God and do all that he requires at their hands.

"When we have done the things that we were sent to do, when we have gained all the experience that this life affords, then is the best time to depart. School being out, why not go home? The mis­sion ended, why not return? That is what death means to a Latter-day Saint. The only sad thing about it is parting with the loved ones who go, . . . but it is simply a passing into the spirit world, to await the resurrection, when our bodies and spirits will be reunited—the righteous to enjoy the presence of God. . . .

"If we can be patient and resigned, and by God's help do his holy will, all will come out well. Trials purify us, educate us, develop us. The great reason why man was placed upon the earth was that he might become more like his Father and God. That is why we are here, children at school. What matters it when school is out and the time comes to go back home?" (Improve­ment Era, Nov. 1918, 9–11).

May the Lord bless each of us to pass all the tests a gracious Father has in mind for us during this brief day at school—that we need not lament with those who say, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!" (D&C 56:16). Rather, may each of us return home with honors, celestial diploma in hand, to the loved ones who have gone on before and to our Heavenly Parents who sent us here.