1 Midsummer's Eve

This Thursday, June 24, is Midsummer Day, a legal holiday in some European countries (although some countries have moved the actual celebration to the third Friday in June to give people a three-day weekend).

From ancient times Midsummer's Eve was a celebration linked to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. In northern European countries like Sweden, Norway, and Estonia Midsummer's Eve is considered the greatest festival of the year, comparable to Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

In some eastern and southern European countries the festival merged with St. John the Baptist Day, which is also on June 24. When I was on my mission in Brazil, St. John the Baptist Day was widely celebrated during a week or more of festivities, particularly in northeastern Brazil, where the whole season was referred to as the "June holidays."

In England, where many of our ancestors came from, Midsummer was celebrated on Midsummer's Eve (June 23). These celebrations date from at least the 13th century and were characterized by bonfires, feasting, and merrymaking. According to one report, "because Midsummer was thought to be one of the times of the year when magic was strongest, it was considered a good night to perform rituals to look into the future. Traditionally, young people pick bouquets of seven or nine different flowers and put them under their pillow in the hope of dreaming about their future spouse."

One of our ancestors, Eliza Brazier Batt (1864-1926), shared an account of a Midsummer's Eve from when she was a teenager in England, serving as one of several maids in the mansion of a wealthy gentleman:

"I remember well one Midsummer's night, which night was always looked forward to with much merriment because one thought she could find out who she would marry.

"On this Midsummer's night the back door was left open instead of being locked, and because the house was very large and dark, this made a lonesome and weird feeling. Each girl placed on a table a basin of water and beside the basin a bunch of hyssop, then hung on a line a garment that she had worn many times. As the clock struck twelve, her future husband was supposed to come and sprinkle the garment with hyssop.

"So that night when the clock struck eleven, we were all sitting in a row. Not one word could be spoken or the spell would be broken.

"Tick, tick, tick—oh! how long an hour seemed! What if the housekeeper should find the door open, especially the street door? But, nothing ventured nothing to have gained, was our motto.

"Tick, tick, tick—we never knew an hour could be so long! Five minutes to twelve.

"Hark! What was that? Creak, creak, creak, nearer it came, a lose board in the corridor; creak, creak, closer and closer it seemed to come, but not a word must pass our lips. Creak, creak creak. Sitting nearest the door, I could take it no longer and jumped and ran and broke the spell" (Batt & Lee Ancestors, 6).

2 Quote of the week

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

— Benjamin Franklin

3 This week in our family

Tues, June 22: Amber's birthday [Lyle]
Tues, June 22: Steven Riley's birthday [Lyle]
Thurs, June 24: Midsummer Day
Thurs, June 24: Claudia born 1941 [Kay's first wife]
Thurs, June 24: Aaron's birthday [Lyle]
Sun, June 27: Bradley's birthday [Gail]
Mon, June 28: Keri's birthday [Lyle]
Tues, June 29: Bill's birthday [Gail]
Tues, June 29: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

We hope all you fathers and grandfathers out there in our family had a wonderful Father's Day.

Kay's family

Kay, as he and Karen near the end of their mission to Peru, reported on his visit Sunday to a chapel he helped build when he was a young missionary nearly half a century ago: "I went to the Limatambo ward today. I wanted to go there before we went home as sevaral times as a young elder on my P-day I worked on the chapel. It is so satisfying to see it completed and know that you helped construct it. These three people joined the church at that time.
"The brother was the first counselor to Roberto Vidal, the first Stake president in Lima. The sister in the middle joined the church at that time in Miraflores and the sister on the right joined just after I went home but her Bishop was Isaias Bravo who I know."

In a separate post on Sunday Kay also reported: "Today I attended the Limatambo ward. I wanted to go before I went home and something always came up and we never did make it before today. When I was a young elder I helped with the construction at least 10-15 times and our P-day.

"When I went home they were just putting the trusses for the roof up. This is the oldest chapel in Peru. The overflow area is larger than other chapels down here.

"The walls are trapazodial design.

"This is one of more than 200 chapels in Lima."

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the June 1960 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.

Wed, June 22.  Gail came over & took Pick-up & left his car for few days. Told us Phyllis Bair Mitchell got killed. Kay went to Bishops to a Priest Party & I took Gene over when he got home. Kids did beets until noon.

Thurs, June 23.  We got laid off this morning until fall. I didn't tell anyone. I laid down an hr. & got Jackie to sleep then I got up & embroideried Mike on 2: took Dean in to Perrys to Mikes birthday party. I just got to bed at 10: when I got called back to Simplots for a pkg. line to finish up.

Fri, June 24.  We got through at 7: A.M & got laid off until fall. I got up at 3:30 & Dean & I went to Caldwell to opening of new Albertsons. We went to 4 stores & got their bargains. We were out of everything. Had to borrow $30. I spent from Gene & Kay.

Sat, June 25.  Ivard came home from work & cultivated. Kay went to work & Kids did beets until noon. Ivard came in at 11: & bathed & I bathed & got ready & we to Nyssa to funeral home & saw Phylis then we went & got Gail & Lynda & went to Stake house to funeral, sure was a big one. took Gail home & had straw berry short cake We brought Debbie home to stay all night. Gene took a girl to Stake Dance, went with John.

Sun, June 26.  Debbie & Jackie woke up about 6: & got dressed & were just leaving on a hike when Gene got home from Wallys. We had to watch them like a hawk, they were determined to go. We finally promised them they could go to park for hike. Ivard, Gene, Kay & Ray went to Priesthood & Ivard & Kay came home after, me & Kids went to sunday school. I made barbacue & trimmings & we ate out on lawn when Gail & Lynda came then Ivard & I & Gail & Lynda took Jackie & Debbie in to Park & they all went walking but me & I read & watched baby.

Mon, June 27.  Ivard finished planting garden. We had a dish of icecream & all of us went over to Melba & played ball, the Kids won & so did Ivard but it was a forfite because all their players werent there on time. We got home at 11: & had icecream & went to bed.

Tues, June 28.  Kay went to work before I was up & Kids & Ivard did beets until noon. Jackie was a half mile up road tonite hunting her little dog. She was crying when Kids got her. It came back.

6 What in the world

Lakers capture NBA title

In a closely contested final series that went all the way to seven games, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics by just four points, 83-79. The seventh game, played in Los Angeles on June 17, was very tight and could have gone either way. In fact, the Celtics had a considerable lead as late as the third quarter of the game.

This was the 16th NBA title for the Lakers.


US robbed of goal in the World Cup
The World Cup of soccer is underway in South Africa. Thus far, the U.S. team has played twice, both matches ending in a draw, 1-1 against England and 2-2 against Slovenia. In the 86th minute of the game against Slovenia, the U.S. scored a third goal, but the referee inexplicably disallowed it.

The U.S. plays Algeria tomorrow afternoon in Pretoria, where a victory would put the Americans in the round of 16.

The world explained by graphs

7 A final word

This coming Sunday is the 166th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who was shot by an armed mob in the jail at Carthage, Illinois, on June 27, 1844.

It is by no means an exaggeration that "Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it" (D&C 135:3). That bold statement was written by an apostle and prophet who was eye witness of Joseph's death and who himself "was wounded in a savage manner with four balls" (D&C 135:2) during the attack on the jail.

Why would this prophetic witness claim that Joseph Smith had done more for the salvation of the world than any other person except the Savior Himself? A number of valid reasons come to my mind.

First, as one who had seen the Father and the Son, and who on numerous occasions was personally taught and instructed by angels and by the Savior Himself, Joseph gave the world a true knowledge of the spiritual realms that exist beyond the thin veil that separates this dimension from the eternal worlds. He boldly testified of the literal existence of both the Father and the Son. He restored a correct understanding of Their divine attributes and perfections. He revealed what Their purpose is. "For behold," the premortal Savior declared, "this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). That in a nutshell is what life and the creation of the world and the life and atoning mission of Jesus Christ and pretty much everything pertaining to God's purposes are all about.

Second, through him came more scripture than through any other prophet of whom we have record. These scriptures are now canonized in three volumes: the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. And that does not even include his inspired correction of the Holy Bible, which we commonly refer to as the Joseph Smith Translation. Joseph once observed concerning the events recorded in the Bible, which he had seen in the visions the Lord had given him, that he had seen them all. He was personally acquainted with prophets from all the former gospel dispensations.

Third, he received from these prophets of former gospel dispensations all the keys, powers, and authorities of the priesthood. He was visited by John the Baptist, who restored the Aaronic Priesthood. He was visited by Peter, James, and John, who restored the Melchizedek Priesthood. He was visited by Moses, who gave him the keys of the gathering of Israel. He was visited by Elias, who committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham. He was visited by Elijah, who was sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord (as Malachi had prophesied) to restore the sealing powers. He was visited by Michael and Gabriel and Raphael and others, "all declaring their dispensations, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood" (D&C 128:21).

And thus, as a result of all these heavenly ministrations, Joseph became the first legal administrator, acknowledged and recognized by God, to administer the saving ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ since the curtain of apostasy descended over the ancient church following the death of the apostles.

Fourth, he restored the church and kingdom of God with all its offices and callings and powers and authorities as existed anciently. Through the Church, he made available to all mankind the Father's plan, variously referred to in the scriptures as the plan of salvation, the plan of redemption, the plan of happiness, or simply the gospel of Jesus Christ. Good news, indeed! That plan (which commences with faith in Jesus Christ, repentance and turning from sin, baptism by a legal administrator recognized by the heavens, receipt of the Holy Ghost, and endurance to the end) makes the atonement of Jesus Christ available to all mankind who will receive it.

As a part of what he restored, Joseph let us know that the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ were known and practiced among the Lord's people in every age. Adam, Noah, the Patriarchs, and all the ancient prophets knew of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice, of His death and resurrection, of the requirements of His gospel. That certainly is not clear from the biblical record alone, although it is filled with hints of it. People in the earliest ages of the earth's history are saved on the same basis and in obedience to the same requirements as people in the days when the Savior walked the earth and as people who live in these last days of which we are a part.

And finally, through his latter-day servant the Savior has made that same salvation available not only to all the billions who now live on the earth who will receive it, but also through the great redeeming work performed in temples to even more billions who have died and gone on to the world of spirits without so much as even knowing about Jesus Christ while in this life. What a just and merciful God who makes His salvation available to everyone who will come unto Christ, whether in this life or the next, and partake of His salvation!

These are just a few of the reasons—there are undoubtedly others—why I think we can rightly claim that Joseph Smith has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.