2013: Lehi 5th Ward family builds community

Sisters Elizabeth Childs, left; Relief Society Pres. Becky Greenwood behind Sis. Jade Rodabough, right; along with fellow 5th Ward Relief Society members, work on a miniature float for the Lehi Round-Up Miniature Float Parade in Lehi on Thursday, June 13, 2013. The theme for the floats was "You Saw What?" and the 5th Ward response was "Nascar."

Lehi 5th Ward 

The Utah Lehi Stake 5th Ward is typical of many ward families for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah County. Several of its auxiliaries participate in monthly activities, each year there are traditional events like the Christmas Party, Trunk-or-Treat, the city celebration, service projects, spaghetti dinners (and auction), a few picnics, barbecues and more.

What is different are its members, each individual unique and valued as part of a larger family. Within structure of the 5th Ward is found a vibrant community of brothers and sisters supporting and strengthening each other. The history is abridged by auxiliary and leadership below. 

Bishopric

We begin with the father of the ward, Bishop Rob Garner. He was sustained and set apart as the Lehi 5th Ward bishop in December 2012. Garner said he recalls several things that strike him about 2013.
"I'm not sure I can think of just one big highlight, but here are a few thoughts that come to mind that I think were cool. We had three missionaries out last year, we went on a trek with the stake as a youth activity -- it was great. Then there are the typical events like the pool party. And the Christmas party were great," he said.

High Priests

High Priest Group leader is Bro. Kent Braithwaite, who is known for his good sense of humor. When asked about 2013 he responded, "I'm still trying to remember what I had for breakfast, I don't know."
And then proceeded to comment on the High Priests.
"I've enjoyed how then brethren respond when there is a funeral, taking the chairs up and down. We had socials and one when Roger and Paula Thaddis talked about their experience at Martin's Cove. That was pretty good," he said.
From his point of view, Braithwaite said much of what they did in the ward was pretty routine and then the brethren not so routine.
"I remember when they called me to be the High Priest Group leader, I was wondering why they called me to do that; and then getting the inspiration to call the assistants -- that was pretty neat to work through that process," Braithwaite said.

Elders

Tragedy brought the ward elders together.
"Really the only [thing] that is coming to mind right now for me is the passing of Kent Hollingworth who was a member of our quorum," Elders Quorum 1st Counselor Clancy Anderson said.
Hollingworth died just 20 days shy of his 36th birthday. He grew up in Newhall, California as a member to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a two-year fulltime mission in the New Jersey Morristown Mission. This 5th Ward member had made Lehi his home while pursuing his education at UVU in multimedia technology.
He was very good at digitizing and re-mastering old phonograph records. He also enjoyed working with television cameras while broadcasting UVSC Basketball games. He learned to convert home movie films to DVD. Funeral services were March 15 at the Lehi 5th Ward building.
There were two others, Sisters Pat Whipple and Betty Christiansen, who also died and were well loved in the ward.

Relief Society

Becky Greenwood released from her calling as Relief Society president in February 2014.
"We had great lessons from our teachers who hadn't been teaching before. Sis. Emily Mortimer was phenomenal as was Sis. Megan Jan who was replaced by Sis. Shauniell Dearing, and also Sis. Vay Graham over the teachers," Greenwood said. "And Susan Taylor, she was amazing."
She said one of the goals for the Relief Society leadership for 2013 was to see every sister on their birthday, wish them happy birthday and gift them a candy bar.
"We did pretty good at that; we got almost all of them," Greenwood said.
Taylor get a monthly record of the activities. In January, the sisters enjoyed a spa theme with feet waxing and hand waxing and other spa treats; March was the Relief Society party dinner and the sisters created gift baskets for those sisters who were being spiritually, emotionally or physically challenged in their lives. April had a gardening theme and Sis. Lori Lowe taught about flower beds while Bro. Marv Graham taught about vegetable gardens.
There was the float assembly activity in June with Sis. Laurie Busk and in July, the sisters served the ward youth and helped them prepare for the Lehi Stake Youth trek. September was all about kids and tips for adjusting back to a school schedule again with education, daily chore helps, activities and easy recipes. The super activity in late fall was full of crafts for the upcoming holidays.
Taylor said she has a testimony of the Relief Society as an organization.
"I've seen it touch people and reach people, reaching sisters," she said. "I just love the sisterhood. I think that it's an inspired organization."

Young Men

The first part of June there was a Young Men's activity hosting a ward social/fundraiser that brought many of the members together for a barbeque.
Brothers Dave Mortimer and Danny Patton brought a tractor and a truck as a backdrop for the photos and Bro. Tim Irwin took the photos for those families who wanted them. The Young Men set up and served the food.
"From that fundraiser the Deacons were able to go down to Zions National Park and the Teachers and the Priests went to Arches National Park," said Bro. Travis Yates, Young Men's first counselor.
"I'm just there to help guide them along. These men are so spiritually mature, they are probably the ones teaching me. I know that sounds cliche, but they really strengthen my testimony just by their actions," Yates said. "I don't think that I have as much of an impact on them as they do on me."

Young Women

Lehi 5th Ward youth at the Stake Trek last summer. 

by Sis. Barbara Irwin
Young Women's leader
Missionary Nights ~ Every year our youth have missionary nights and they love it. They receive a call in the mail assigning them to a mission and explaining their assignment. Then the first night we have an MTC night where they prepare for their night as "missionaries." They go out with a companion and teach a family in our ward a discussion.  The family feeds them dinner and also shares experiences from their mission experiences or any traveling they may have done.  We then have a testimony meeting that is always an awesome ending to our missionary nights.

Girls Camp ~

Camp was a great experience. This year a zipline and ropes course were added to our activities at camp. The zipline was a new experience for most of the girls and leaders. It required you to climb a "telephone pole," and walk across a tightrope before you then ziplined down to the ground. It was a test of courage and faith for a lot of the girls. But one they are all looking forward to again! 

 Mia Maids talked about temple marriage and posed in wedding dresses.  

Another highlight were the speakers the stake was able to schedule. One was a lady from Sierra Leone that shared her heart breaking story of the civil wars and her survival and then conversion to the gospel. They wasn't a dry eye in the camp. Hank Smith, also came, and there wasn't a dry eye then either. We were all laughing and crying from his hilarious and occasional sad stories. I greatly appreciate the time and effort the Stake Young Women put into making camp an awesome experience.

County Jail Visit ~

Last March, our youth were able to visit the Springville County Jail. We were taken on a tour of the jail and shown the conditions the inmates had to live in. The highlight and favorite part was when they had a couple inmates come speak to the youth. Each inmate shared their story. Why they were there, what led to them being there, and their goals and hopes for the future. We were then able to ask them any questions we had. I think it was an eye-opening experience for all of us. Their stories were so powerful, none of the youth were ready to go when the night was over. They all wanted to have one more inmate come speak to us, but there wasn't time.

Sunday School

Sunday School was anything but typical in 2013. The Church started a new program called "Come Follow Me" for the youth at the beginning of the year moving away from using a lesson manual and providing resources online for the teachers with 4-5 topics to teach each month.
"It's been fantastic. I think that is something historic, that is a change," Sunday School President Tim Finley said. "I think it's totally inspired."
With the bishop's approval, the Sunday School leaders have begun a relatively new program to go out and invite those who are less active. "And if nothing else be friends with them and encourage them," Finley said.
Some classes for the youth, everybody in that age group attend; and for some classes like the 13-year-olds, they don't. He said he hopes to see a difference from the fellowshipping the youth and leaders are doing.
"Other than that there is nothing that is outstanding, nothing gee whiz. We're just working in the background trying to make a difference," Finley said. He later wrote:

"I am so thankful to be serving in the Sunday School Presidency.  I have the privilege to sit in each class and see the light of the gospel burst forth from individuals of differing ages.  I wish people could observe through my eyes and see the miracle of the Saviors teachings manifest through students and teachers. A shy teenager who tries in their own humble manner to share an answer to a simple gospel question. A teacher struggling to recall lesson content they had prepared and their faith manifested by the Holy Spirit strengthening them.  These things happen every Sunday and we miss recognizing the Lord and His Holy Spirit at work.  As one who did not attend church for various reason a few years back, I have since developed a great need to attend church and look forward to the comforting message the Lord’s spirit brings by attending the meetings.  I have gained such a testimony of the new Sunday School program “Come follow me”, and how, if we let it, understand who Jesus Christ is.  He is our friend and is there to help us if we let him.This is my testimony and in his name Jesus Christ, Amen."  -  Bro. Tim Finley

Primary

Lehi 5th Ward Primary outing to the Mount Timpanogos Temple in June.

Primary President Michelle Green has several memories of the 2013 year.
"One of our primary activities for 2013 was taking the primary children to the grounds of the Mount Timpanogos Temple June 2013.  Our Primary theme for 2013 I Am A Child of God, went well with taking them to the temple grounds.  Each of us have been given a body, which is the Temple for our spirits.  It was a beautiful experience for us to share together," she said. 
"The theme for the Scouts Blue and Gold Banquet was Warriors of Light and we learned as children of God we each have a light to hold up and shine for others to see," Green added.
Six boys -- Jace Jones, Shayden Schoonover, Jed Sorenson, Ethan Kirkham, Daniel McAllister and Zane Smederovac -- received their Arrow of Light in Cub Scouts.
The Primary theme was "I'm a Child of God" and focused on remembering we are loved and how to make it back to our Heavenly Father. There were seven baptisms: Theo Jan, Jaxon Loftin, Casey Garner, Isabelle Mowrey, Hyrum Southworth, MacQwire Madsen and Kimber McMullin.
Green knows each child in Primary by name and with reason.
"For me, I realized a lot how important each child is to our Father in Heaven and He truly has saved His most valiant for the last days," she said.

Missionaries

Elder Kevin Kirkham and Sis. Whitney Luft returned from their missions. Sis. Courtney Schow, Sis Jenilyn Allred and Elder Kalin Taylor are serving in the mission field.