Serendipitous story of finding the book Golden Years of the Jefferson Ward

I call this serendipity. I'm the ward historian in my LDS Church ward. Someone brought a history of another ward from 1924 to 1974 I guess as an idea on doing a ward history. Anyway I thought I would just look it over but they wanted me to take it home. So being the pushover than I am that's what I did. I was looking though it and found the wife of my uncle. In fact it even has his name in it after they married. It mentioned my aunt several time and other member of her family. It even has this picture. When this happens, and it happens to me occasionally, I call it serendipity. Could be good luck. Divine intervention. Whatever you call it it brings positive things in your life. Aunt Lois did not even know that this book existed. It is downloadable at FamilySearch.org The Golden Years of Jefferson Ward.

https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE4110656&from=fhd

Mormonism has powerfully impacted art in Utah, speakers say.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865630530/Mormonism-has-powerfully-impacted-art-in-Utah-speakers-say.html?pg=all

This article was originally published apparently Thursday June 11th on the Deseret News website.  It was republished in the following edition of the Church News. 

Philo Dibble is one of my 3rd great-grandfathers.  He is one of three mentioned as having influenced art early in Utah.  Philo had an art show he traveled Utah with and lectured or invited others who were involved in the early history of the LDS Church to help give lectures.  He charged about a fee of twenty-five cents to view his art. 

Philo was not the artist but he was the one who displayed the art and often gave the lecture.  He commissioned artists to do paintings of scenes in early LDS Church History. 

The traveling art show was only one facet of Philo's life.  He owned property in Nauvoo, Illinois where the current LDS Visitor Center is located.  He or his wife has real estate and did some buying and selling. 

Philo was wounded in the Battle of Crooked River in 1833 in Missouri.  He was told by a doctor that he had never seen anyone live with that bad of wound.  He was not expected to live the night.  He was given a Melchizedek Priesthood blessing and immediated coughed up blood, cloth and such.  The next morning he was up and about the countryside. 

When Philo's first wife died Joseph Smith suggested a widow Smith as a candidate for marriage.  Joseph performed the ceremony and Joseph's wife Emma Smith provided the wedding party.

Philo was also present when the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants was given.  He came in after it had started but he did catch a good part of it.  He didn't, of course, see the visions but he did give an eyewitness account of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon as they saw the visions.

One time Joseph even asked Philo for advice.

Another time Joseph told Philo to move from where he currently lived or in two weeks he would be dead.  Philo moved.  

Philo also wrote a hymn which is still in the hymnals of the LDS Church. 

White Horse Prophecy Fulfillment?

Basically the White Horse Prophecy is that in the latter days the constitution of the United States will hang by a thread and the LDS Church or elders or members will save the constitution. This prophecy has been attributed to Joseph Smith. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially denies that this is a revelation of Joseph Smith.  Nevertheless, there are still believers. 

From this quote of Ann Romney below it makes me wonder. The quote is very intriguing: "

I only want to know one thing, Mitt, if you get the nomination which isn't easy," Romney recounted telling her husband. "If you beat Barack Obama, can you fix it? I need to know if it's too late. Has America gone over the proverbial cliff? … I need to know if it's worth to go through all of that and you are going to tell me then it's too late, and he said, 'No it's getting late, but it's not too late.'"

Pioneer Grandfathers

My grandfathers were very different in their background.  Both left a somewhat significant impact in their lives.  Nicholas by being Carbon County Treasurer and active in the LDS Church.  Dode and Joe by being a certain kind of pioneer and the way they lived off the land.   Nicholas was a pioneer in his own right as far as the LDS Church goes.  He has many descendants serving in the LDS Church.  The Curtis family has a rich legacy in the LDS Church but it was basically discarded.  The LDS Church means a lot to me and I am glad for the rich heritage and pioneers on both sides of my family.  Surnames from the paternal side of my family like Dibble, Allred, Whitlock, Buchanan, Curtis and Daley that figured in the early history of the LDS Church.  Surnames from the maternal side of my family like Livsey, Pettersson and Pilkington.  I have to tell the Pilkington story.  I will, later.

Church Today.

Church today was testimony meeting.  We had some wonderful testomonies from new member or potential new members of the LDS Church.  One has a new life from the old one he had involving drugs, gangs and his family.  He gave a great testimony and his testimony is probaby as good as mine or many others.  It was great.  He is truly a pioneer and I told him so.  What deep emotion.  His testimony was followed by a couple of other recent members.  One of the best meeting I have been to in some time.  I will say that it is up there with having a General Authority talk. 

Nicholas Peter Pettersson

I mentioned previously that I was named after my grandfathers.  I talked a little bit about them.  Right now I would like to talk a bit more about my grandfather Pettersson.  I would like to show a contrast between my two grandfathers, who were different in their own ways. 

Nicholas was born in Sunderland England though his ancestry is Swedish.  His father was a ship captain.  He was born a nonmember of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He joined as an adult with his whole family.  He came to the United States and to Utah with his wife and children.  He worked as a clerk in many jobs in Utah.  Some with the railroad and many for the coal mines.,  He was postmaster for a time in Winter Quarters, Utah.  He was County Treasurer in Carbon County for many years.  He served in many callings in the Price 4th Ward of the LDS Church.  He once played on a soccer team. I believe this was in Winter Quarters.  He was chorister for priesthood meetings at 90 years of age.  Eventually he was finance clerk for the seminaries in Price.  He wasn't noted, to me, as an outdoors man though he had the head of a deer mounted at his home in Price.  As I recall it was a deer he had bagged. 

Nicholas was well respected in his church and community and was always cheerful with a "contagious smile."  He was easy going and mild mannered.  His children followed in his footstep and were also clerks both in business and in their church.  Nicholas visited his children often in Salt Lake City.  I remember him taking vacations.  It seems like he was always taking vacations to me but it was apparently only a few times.

Brother Nick

I was named after both of my grandfathers.  My mother's dad is Nicholas Peter Pettersson.  My father's dad is Joseph Augustus Curtis.  Nicholas was born in England though is of Swedish roots.  Nicholas is also a convert to the LDS Church.  Joseph was never baptised into the LDS Church even though he has a rich legacy of pioneers within the church.  There will be many more stories about them later. 

Nicholas served in many bishoprics as a clerk in the Price 4th Ward.  I remember him as the financial clerk.  He always stayed after church to count the donations.  He was frequently or always affectionately referred to as Brother Nick.  After a few callings in the Riverside 1st Ward in Salt Lake City I was called as financial clerk.  I have had this calling for well over 10 years.  I believe 1997 is the year I was called.  One day the bshop that called me as the financial clerk called me Brother Nick.  I was somewhat taken aback.  I didn't know what to think.  It was like, does he know something more than he is letting on because he said it with a certain kind of emphasis.  I have been called Brother Nick a few times since so I guess I am Brother Nick II.