World Series ends
After six games the New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies in this year's World Series. The Yankees have won their share of World Series championships through the years, 26 times if we calculate correctly since the first World Series back in 1903 (in 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and now 2009).
And college football continues
This week's polls have Boise State in 6th place nationally after their 45-35 win Friday at Louisiana Tech. Utah is ranked 14th (USA Today poll) and 16th (AP Top 25 poll) after their 45-14 win Saturday over New Mexico. And BYU is ranked 22nd after their 52-0 win Saturday at Wyoming.
Election results
Democratic governors lost in last Tuesday's off-year elections in New Jersey and Virginia, the only two states in the country voting for governors this year. And that was after President Obama personally campaigned in each state for the Democratic candidates.
In Maine voters sensibly rejected a measure that would have allowed same-sex marriages. In every state where such an issue has been on the ballot, it has been rejected by voters. The handful of states that currently allow it have done so either by judicial decree or legislative enactment, but not by a vote of the people.
Monday, November 9, 2009
7 A final word
It seems to be the nature of life that challenges and temptations and burdens are never in short supply. If we aren't currently experiencing them in our own lives, we don't have to look around very far to see them in the lives of others.
One of the Brethren in general conference last month observed, "Life presses all kinds of burdens on each of us, some light but others relentless and heavy. People struggle every day under burdens that tax their souls. Many of us struggle under such burdens. They can be emotionally or physically ponderous. They can be worrisome, oppressive, and exhausting. And they can continue for years" (L. Whitney Clayton, "That Your Burdens May Be Light," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 12).
A week ago Sarah Rager, Dale and LeAnn's daughter, posted on her blog:
Haven't we all felt that way at times?
Some burdens, such as illnesses or loss of loved ones, are public and observable. Other burdens are less noticeable but every bit as real. That suggests a lesson or two for each of us. First, we need to be careful about judging or misjudging those about us, even those people we think we know so very well. Second, we need to be kind and generous and thoughtful to those about us so that we are helping to lift and not add to the burdens they are carrying. Third, the crosses we bear may be for our own good, or the good of those about us, and may in fact be blessings in disguise. And perhaps finally, there are few pains so exquisite as seeing the people we love have to suffer or mourn or shoulder the burdens we wish they did not have to carry. But that is what life is about and appears to be a part of this marvelous test we refer to as mortality.
One of the Brethren in general conference last month observed, "Life presses all kinds of burdens on each of us, some light but others relentless and heavy. People struggle every day under burdens that tax their souls. Many of us struggle under such burdens. They can be emotionally or physically ponderous. They can be worrisome, oppressive, and exhausting. And they can continue for years" (L. Whitney Clayton, "That Your Burdens May Be Light," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 12).
A week ago Sarah Rager, Dale and LeAnn's daughter, posted on her blog:
I have been going through one of the toughest times ever in my life. My spirituality has definitely not been what it should be in these last few months. I have felt as though I am lacking? Of what I have not been too sure.
Things have just been hard in general, it has seemed like one bad day after another. I've tried hard to stay positive and overcome, but it's been hard. Because I've been having what seems to be like more bad days than good days as of late, I have been really hard on myself, and thinking there must be something wrong with me. I really thought I must being losing it. Normal people aren't angry and mad like I have been. Normal people don't have consecutive bad days.
Haven't we all felt that way at times?
While attending stake conference today I heard some of the most inspired words, it was as though they were just for me, the speaker was quoting someone as saying that it was normal to have highs and lows in life. It's normal to have bad days and periods of depression. This is one way we are tried by our Heavenly Father. It's who we choose to become during these periods that proves who we are.
I know that these hard times won't last forever. I know that there is peace and happiness at the end of this dark tunnel. Most of all, I know I have a Heavenly Father who loves me. Who inspires those around me to guide me through this maze of life. And sometimes when I feel I am so lost, He provides the light to help me find my way.
I am truly blessed to know the bitter and the sweet.
Some burdens, such as illnesses or loss of loved ones, are public and observable. Other burdens are less noticeable but every bit as real. That suggests a lesson or two for each of us. First, we need to be careful about judging or misjudging those about us, even those people we think we know so very well. Second, we need to be kind and generous and thoughtful to those about us so that we are helping to lift and not add to the burdens they are carrying. Third, the crosses we bear may be for our own good, or the good of those about us, and may in fact be blessings in disguise. And perhaps finally, there are few pains so exquisite as seeing the people we love have to suffer or mourn or shoulder the burdens we wish they did not have to carry. But that is what life is about and appears to be a part of this marvelous test we refer to as mortality.
Monday, November 2, 2009
1 Leaving England for America
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 eighth of nine installments (see Batt & Lee Ancestors, 11–13). Eliza was the mother of William B Batt (1888–1959) and the grandmother of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982).
As soon as we were baptized, the spirit of gathering took possession of us. When I first read and began to see the gospel light, I prayed earnestly that if it were true that, after we were baptized, the way might be opened for us to gather to Zion right away. And surely my prayers were answered, for we were baptized on the 22nd of May and we sailed on the 18th of June [1887]. Many were the long talks and arrangements made for the eventful day.
But there were many trials to be met and trials to be overcome. My neighbor and very dear friend, when I told her I had joined the true church and gave her a tract, looked at me and said, "You, you joined such disrespectable people as that! I am ashamed of you!" She would scarcely speak and never visited me again until the day we left. Then she came and invited us to dinner, but we felt we would have harder trials to face for the gospel's sake.
Then came the day we left Boscombe Manor Lodge with its green lawns and beautiful trees. Good-byes were said to friends, one last look at the lodge, and off to catch the train at Pokesdour for Winchester, my home where brothers, sisters, and friends were gathered to say good-bye. Through my head ran the tune and words of the anthem—
O Zion, lovely Zion, thou city of the faithful,
How often with rapture thy praises we sing.
At times the terrible thought would come, "Suppose you leave mother, brothers and sisters, your native land, then this gospel is not true?" One short prayer to Father to keep us faithful and all was peace again.
My mother felt so terrible. She was really ill to think her youngest girl was going to leave her and go to America. It was really more than she could stand: she could not eat; she cried most of the time, which made it hard to part. My brothers made me promise I would not break down and cry when the time came to part. I promised, but never dreamt what it meant to keep that promise.
At last the dreaded day arrived when good-byes must be said to one and all. The morning was bright and beautiful. No one hardly spoke. Our hearts were sad at the thought of parting. Good-byes were said to brothers and sisters. I never spoke, but picked up my little girl, threw my arm around my mother and kissed her, and walked away and never looked back until I reached the gate, which was quite a distance from the house. Then came a turn in the road; I looked back at Mother waving her handkerchief—one last look at the dear old home and all was lost to view.
And then to Winchester to catch the train for London for a three days' visit with some of the Batt family. Good-byes were once more said, but we expected to see Sister Batt, Charles’s mother, the following spring.
We left London in the morning on the nine o'clock train going to Liverpool to get our tickets. About ten o'clock on a Saturday morning, we left the pier. There were 150 Mormons on board, and with crew and other passengers about 900 people altogether. As the ship began to sway as she was loosed from her moorings, the pilot came to take us out of the harbor. Brother Rigby, who had charge of the company of Mormons, gathered us all together, and we sang—
O Babylon, O Babylon, we bid thee farewell;
We’re going to the mountains of Ephraim to dwell.
All went well for the first two days when nearly all on board were confined to their bunks with seasickness.
On our sixth day out, one of the firemen died, which cast a gloom over all on board. We witnessed a funeral at sea. The man was sewed up in a sail, a clergyman read a few prayers, the ship almost stopped, and he was let down over the side of the vessel into the sea. All the passengers went to the side of the ship to see him buried, which seemed almost to tip the vessel on one side.
About the seventh day out, a large vessel going to England passed us. We were so glad to see someone. How we all waved and yelled to them. And they returned the compliment.
On the ninth day out, the pilot met us. We were so glad to see him come in his small boat to take us to the harbor. We reached the harbor about nine o'clock in the evening. We all seemed to forget the day and time; everybody got mixed up. After we had landed, we left a few hours later for Norfolk, boarding another ship which was very different from the Wisconsin.
As soon as we were baptized, the spirit of gathering took possession of us. When I first read and began to see the gospel light, I prayed earnestly that if it were true that, after we were baptized, the way might be opened for us to gather to Zion right away. And surely my prayers were answered, for we were baptized on the 22nd of May and we sailed on the 18th of June [1887]. Many were the long talks and arrangements made for the eventful day.
But there were many trials to be met and trials to be overcome. My neighbor and very dear friend, when I told her I had joined the true church and gave her a tract, looked at me and said, "You, you joined such disrespectable people as that! I am ashamed of you!" She would scarcely speak and never visited me again until the day we left. Then she came and invited us to dinner, but we felt we would have harder trials to face for the gospel's sake.
Then came the day we left Boscombe Manor Lodge with its green lawns and beautiful trees. Good-byes were said to friends, one last look at the lodge, and off to catch the train at Pokesdour for Winchester, my home where brothers, sisters, and friends were gathered to say good-bye. Through my head ran the tune and words of the anthem—
O Zion, lovely Zion, thou city of the faithful,
How often with rapture thy praises we sing.
At times the terrible thought would come, "Suppose you leave mother, brothers and sisters, your native land, then this gospel is not true?" One short prayer to Father to keep us faithful and all was peace again.
My mother felt so terrible. She was really ill to think her youngest girl was going to leave her and go to America. It was really more than she could stand: she could not eat; she cried most of the time, which made it hard to part. My brothers made me promise I would not break down and cry when the time came to part. I promised, but never dreamt what it meant to keep that promise.
At last the dreaded day arrived when good-byes must be said to one and all. The morning was bright and beautiful. No one hardly spoke. Our hearts were sad at the thought of parting. Good-byes were said to brothers and sisters. I never spoke, but picked up my little girl, threw my arm around my mother and kissed her, and walked away and never looked back until I reached the gate, which was quite a distance from the house. Then came a turn in the road; I looked back at Mother waving her handkerchief—one last look at the dear old home and all was lost to view.
And then to Winchester to catch the train for London for a three days' visit with some of the Batt family. Good-byes were once more said, but we expected to see Sister Batt, Charles’s mother, the following spring.
We left London in the morning on the nine o'clock train going to Liverpool to get our tickets. About ten o'clock on a Saturday morning, we left the pier. There were 150 Mormons on board, and with crew and other passengers about 900 people altogether. As the ship began to sway as she was loosed from her moorings, the pilot came to take us out of the harbor. Brother Rigby, who had charge of the company of Mormons, gathered us all together, and we sang—
O Babylon, O Babylon, we bid thee farewell;
We’re going to the mountains of Ephraim to dwell.
All went well for the first two days when nearly all on board were confined to their bunks with seasickness.
On our sixth day out, one of the firemen died, which cast a gloom over all on board. We witnessed a funeral at sea. The man was sewed up in a sail, a clergyman read a few prayers, the ship almost stopped, and he was let down over the side of the vessel into the sea. All the passengers went to the side of the ship to see him buried, which seemed almost to tip the vessel on one side.
About the seventh day out, a large vessel going to England passed us. We were so glad to see someone. How we all waved and yelled to them. And they returned the compliment.
On the ninth day out, the pilot met us. We were so glad to see him come in his small boat to take us to the harbor. We reached the harbor about nine o'clock in the evening. We all seemed to forget the day and time; everybody got mixed up. After we had landed, we left a few hours later for Norfolk, boarding another ship which was very different from the Wisconsin.
2 Quote of the Week
Success is going from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm.
— Winston Churchill
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