MORMONS SHOULDN'T DRINK, SO WHY CALL A GRAVEYARD "VINE BLUFF"?

In Nephi, Utah, America, there are two cemeteries, one of which is called Vinebluff. If you ask locals, most have no idea why it is called that, and if they think about it, they need a drink, so this local yokel will make a partially educated guess. The Word of Wisdom was added to the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after it was legally founded by Joseph Smith in 1830, although various aspects of it were established about a decade before. Some folks say the wife of Joseph-Emma(via "No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie") wanted a change in the Church Doctrine as she was the one who had to be the janitor to clean up the sputum where she was the janitor and sick and tired being the only one to clean up their tobacy chewin and spittin. Others say that when Joseph came back in to the room, he was  disgusted by all of the cigarette smoke he encountered (From the book "The Restored Church by Wm. Edwin Berrett). The Word of Wisdom became a revelation in 1833, which means no drinking coffee or tea for Mormons and no wine or cigarettes. For the brethren back then, that was a difficult challenge, especially when so many men used each of em including Porter Rockwell, the bodyguard of Joseph and Brigham. There are folks who maintain it was not a commandment, but a suggestion for good health, and non-Mormons say that all things should be in moderation. So, it may be up to the reader for the correct interpretation, but according to D&C Section 89, that may cover even hot chocolate and Apostle Le Grand Richards maintained it included any drink with caffeine, and thus BYU got rid of its Coca-Cola(but now returned). At any rate when Brigham Young lead the Mormon pioneers West to the City of Salt, it is interesting he invited a lot of beer and wine makers to Utah. I recall talking to Sexton Rex Carter of the Vinebluff cemetery in the 1960's, telling me that locals had a vineyard there, with waster coming down from Monument Springs above Reese's Flat, which remains owed by Nephi City. That shut down when they found the hard water ruined the headstones, and about the same time is when wine and beer was interpreted to be against the Word of Wisdom, so they called it "Vine Bluff". According to a real "local" guy and to the Utah Historical Society, some of the best beer makers came from Germany and they also had a variety of money making Business' throughout Europe. We have photos from the Utah State Historical Society to back some of that up below. Even non drinkin Alexander Schreiner became famous as the Tabernacle Organist. Other non drinking Mormons came to Utah from Germany including the Auerbach brothers; miner-Arie Pinedo, who founded Mercur. John Beck not only made Beer, but Beck's Hot Springs; Saratoga Springs in Lehi. German-born Simon Bamberger was the future Governor of State of Utah and served from 1917-1921, and gee whiz, even a Jew and Democrat. Utah's Capitol was designed by German Richard Kletting. Good cheese was developed by Ed Gossner of Switzerland. I wonder which wine goes good with his cheese! German Karl Maser was considered the founder of BYU. Second photo is Vinebuff cemetery. Don't look for wine as it is just a bluff.

Columbia Savings may not like this, but my Heavenly Uncle Grant Jones will love it.

IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL BOOKS TO DESCRIBE THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GRANT L. JONES OF JUAB COUNTY, BUT WE WILL TOUCH ON HIS NEED FOR HUMOR. PERHAPS IT IS JUST ONE OF THOSE JONES TRAITS THAT WE NEVER LOSE. HE IS ONE OF THE MANY SONS OF WM. AND LIZ TOLLEY JONES, AND LIKE HIS UNCLE-HY TOLLEY, SOME WOULD SAY HE WAS MORE OF A SON OF A GUN-KIND OF LIKE THIS WRITER! IN GOING THROUGH SOME OF GRANT'S OLD PAPERS, I FOUND A LETTER FROM A BANK OF SALT LAKE FROM 1928. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN FOR UNCLE GRANT TO WRITE THEM A LETTER BACK ON HIS BEHALF. YOU WILL HAVE READ THE LETTER TO GRANT JONES FIRST, THEN MINE AND THE STATEMENT ABOUT THE ENCLOSED $ 2 BILLS. DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT MY GUESS IS THAT LAUGHTER IS AN ACCEPTABLE TRAIT IN THE NEXT WORLD. IF NOT, I DON'T MIND SPENDING MY LIFE IN HELL WITH MANY OF THE TOLLEY'S AND JONES KIN.

BETH SPERRY IS NOW AT PEACE WITH BILL

Yup, the rumor is true. Beth Kay was a Monaite who joined up with a Nephite, and now both are together once again. Her funeral was today, and one part of it hit me hard in the heart when two violin's and a piano played "Nearer My God To Thee". And just before that symphonic type orchestration, a granddaughter previously asked Beth who would be the first to greet her on the other side. Her family thought she would say "Bill" their grandfather. Nope, not even close. She whispered "Savior". That word, then the Trio musical number could have got Heavens Oscar. I have always adored Beth, as she had that Jones dry wit, but had no idea she had lost two of her own kids as infants. She was a caregiver for her parents, then her husband-Bill, who suffered greatly with a Stroke. I had visited him just prior to his death, as my sister and I did with Beth the other day. All there knew it was her time. We often praise people for some service in the church or community, but Beth did it all as the program will show. A half century of volunteer service to the Juab County Fair will get her the Biggest Blue Ribbon of all who pass. Everybody called her Beth, although she was named after her Grandmother-Elizabeth Jones. But even that woman went by the name of Lizzy. All hail to this Beth! She has been a caregiver for many, and her two daughters have been caring for Beth for the past few years, and they too will be granted Heavenly Halos. After Bill passed away in 2004, Beth was lonely, so in gallops Gil Houghton, who had lost his spouse as well. When they started to mentor each other, the granddaughters took turns to follow them, to make sure he was "good enough" for Beth. He was and another sad day when he passed away. Beth will be missed by all, but odds are that all the other family; friends and Juab High students on the other side will be glad to welcome her Home. And my hat goes off to Beth's son-Steve Sperry, a mighty shout out to he who served his country in various law enforcement agencies' to protect us more than any body else I can think of without James Bond coming to take me down.

REMEMBER GEORGE AND ELSIE JOHNSON-I REMEMBER MORE THAN I SHOULD

In the heartland of Utah, it is Autumn, and snow on Mt. Nebo. If we really look and search around, there is beauty with the people and the history here. Then if you drive up Nephi Canyon to Dad's and Sons, east from where the Johnsons lived, the hillsides look like Persian carpets in the gorgeous colors of red, orange, purple and gold, then accented by the green of the pines. It is better to see it than take it from me. I am blind in one eye and color blind in the other! We wanted to introduce you to the history of a great family that once upon a time lived up the street from Pioneer Park of Nephi City. George Johnson was born in 1912, the son of Christian Willard Johnson(born in 1879) and Ada Salisbury of Moroni. She was the sixth child of a family of three hellions(boys) and eight (pretty) girls, but all were real honest to goodness farmhands. Unlike kids of today, those kids had fun tromping the hay; feeding the chickens and helping do the chores on a family farm. Back in the day, youngins often found themselves dancing at the Bungalow, which my father had showed us when I was a kid. That was where George and Elsie matched up, dancing to their song of "I Love You Truly". And yes they did just that, then and now that they have passed through the Big Veil, not just the Sanpete/Juab County veil. Making sure they had their ducks in a row, they both sought permission from their folks, and got hitched to the same wagon on June 26, 1933. Together, they built a still beautiful home up 6th North, where the son of a "Killer' lives now. If you don't know who that would be, go back to Nephi High and learn it, as that is where the father of George taught and became the Principle, who was actually a lawyer by degree, but loved education, so he taught school for several years. More, about C.W. later. Like most families, everything outside the house may look fine and dandy, but most of us go though times of sorrow, misfortune and severe anguish. Same as the Johnson family, although they would always greet me with a smile when their son(Don) and I would walk to the Central School and back. Their first son was Robert, who served an LDS mission in Pennsylvania; got married, but was killed in an industrial accident when he was 23. George and Elsie lost their second son(Douglas) when three days old. Next born was Kip and died at four months old. Then came Don, whom I have been acquainted with his whole life. He now lives in downtown Pierce City, Missouri with wife Jeannette Allen. They had lived in Nephi at one time and did the same kind of work that C.R. Lomax once did(New York Life). George was a farmer and one of the first to raise turkeys in Nephi; cattleman; City Councilman; and worked for Nephi City. He was always active in LDS activities including in the Bishopric; Library Board and a Scouter. Elsie was not only active in her church, but kept busy being an LPN at the Juab County Hospital(now Laurel Groves), Mt Pleasant hospital and worked for Dr. Boston and at the Colonial Manor-when it was a nursing home. George and Elsie also served an LDS mission together in a country to our north/east, in the Winnipeg area. Now back to the father of George Johnson, who used to live in a house near the old hollow in Nephi. In the 1950's, he used to yell at us kids when we went over there to play "Cowboys and Indians". He didn't like us playing there as it was "Sacred Grounds"  I had no idea what he was talking about until just a few years ago, when I was called by the Assist. State Archeologist, who I had worked with on some digs. He wanted my assistance, but I turned his offer down. A home builder had found the remains of several Native Indians who had been massacred in 1853. As my great grandfather had a Blacksmith shop just outside Salt Creek Fork, I didn't want to know anymore and at the time of 1853, police type affairs were overseen by the Mormon Battalion, and I knew Edward Jones may have been involved or knew of it as did the family of C.W. Johnson. First photo is a photo of Jeannette and Don Johnson and the small one is of Elsie and George, all of which this wanna be writer of history has enormous respect and admiration for. 

Photo history of four years on Nephi City Council

When one makes the decision to be a candidate for a local municipal office, one should be prepared for the time and energy for phone calls and house visits as why their garbage cans weren't picked up the day it normally is, or to listen and understand a citizens concern while they chat with you at church; the grocery store or even over the grave of a fellow hero. I understood their concern, at least all of them except at the funeral while we were paying respect to one of the best leaders around. I lost my cool a little to tell a well known developer why it was an inappropriate place to talk of politics. Although truthful to him I was, I haven't regained his respect, nor do I seek it. I did meet and greet and try to respond accurately to the folks that were respectful on the whys and wherefores of Nephi City action. Today, we thought we would present a pictorial history of some of the good and bad of being in politics. At the start of the campaign  I lost one of my two adult sons, not to suicide as that which was listed on the death certificate. The real cause was not to drugs or alcohol as the government and S/A providers try to convince us that is the root of all evil. Those substances only provide a path they have chosen to get relief of the pain of depression, and that is something the government and provider companies can't make money from. Continued tragedies with the loss of first and a second cousins; a brother in law and  good friends doesn't help. That has a toll that we all go through. Like life it self, tragedies happen like the breaking of a gas line by the contractor with the Nephi Gas crew coming to the rescue and the China Virus and the Vaccine that tried to shut down and scare people. It was fun to deliver hundreds of free meals to the bound in residents, not knowing where the food came from, and reinsuring older Citizens that we would survive the political agenda of American's losing hope. The Golden Spike Assembly went on without a hitch as did the bringing in the Big Boy and without the use of a dime of taxpayer dollar. All in all, the four years was fun for me and no regrets. Fourth grade students; last dance for many at the Boys gym for Class Reunions; helping to clean up Nephi; tours of the museum; DUP cabin and Territorial jail was fun for me and hope it set an example for all. My votes for no further annexation of residential subdivisions was to keep Nephi a small town rather than be sucked in by money lovers; political motives; potential conflict of interest with City Leaders and church pressure to bring the world here while we were not prepared for them as the law requires of us. Here are the photos showing death; and the double rainbow of life hereafter, which was a sign that my son was okay. I will never ever stop being a public servant, but those things can't be done by one person, nor changing the world back to helping each other, as we are all Gods chosen people in a chosen land.

Nephi City Council days are about over.

My days as a member of the Nephi City Council days are about over. Good thing I didn't run for Mayor, as that is a non voting position generally, and I don't have the patience  to bastardize Nephi, like the other Council Members may have done for the past four years. I do have a great deal of respect for Nathan Memmott, the son of Maurice Memmott. He has a great brain and a local good boy...........gone great. I will save my other comments for another time. Last night at City Council, I submitted my letter of resignation, which was about 6 weeks before my term was up. After receiving a China Virus Vaccine shot, it was thought to have given me the Virus by many and after working in the yard without hydration, I slipped and fell, with 3 subdural hematomas, with one turning into a blood clot, which some believe caused my brain injury. Regardless, I saw it as an answer to my prayers, as I was looking for inspiration, and I think that hard sidewalk hit gave it to me. I have been slow to recover, and some medical folks say it may never be quite the same. Attached is the letter I presented to the Mayor and other four Council Members and will leave it up to them for the final decision. I also included a letter to the editor from a non-relative who I agreed with, but the other City leaders thought otherwise.