Regardless of where we live on earth, we learn from people who helped us through life. But all to often, we don't appreciate or even recognize them. Some of us believe that our earthly father and mother or grandparents may be the ones that got us walking the straight line and not to wander towards that giant cliff below us. Some may even get help from the other side, calling them Guardian Angels. If you have not found your hero or heroin, seek them for a visit. You may never ever know who they are, but you just may feel their presence. Some of mine were on both sides of the Jones; Tolley and Harris kin that helped to forge the way to Nephi during Pioneer Days of yesterday. I once was asked to assist in an Archeology dig at Martin's Cove. We did so with the cooperation of the University of Wyoming; the LDS Church and Bureau of Indian Affairs. I had previous experience in those digs which often reveal more than most would want to know, as many of those Handcart pulling families departed a little too late and caught in a severe snow blizzard. I sat on the side of the Sweetwater, but tears came when I could feel my ancestors going through sheer terror with the frozen ice cutting their legs, and wolves would dig the snow graves of people they lost. Although I am a sinner, I often feel grateful that Nephi and Martha Jackson made it as they were and remain my family. Although I sin, I have fervent knowledge that God hears prayers. I think back of the people that I worked with in Nephi and give thanks to friends, neighbors and the great teachers all through the good times and the difficult times. For me, when our Class of 65 graduated, I felt bad for the three classmates that may have walked with us, but their lives were cut short from wars; gunshots and cancer just before graduation. My parents didn't have the money to pay for Scout and FFA Uniforms, so us 5 kids learned early in life that if we wanted to go on to college; LDS Missions; fish or hunt, it was up to us to earn the money that was needed. Often, it was more of a gift not to have the money for gifts and each of our parents repeatedly said the best gift they could receive was the non money gift of a letter to them when we were working or serving God or our country. I was once trying to make it on the University Swim Team and swam in the lanes between classes, and what a great experience to have two armored federal officers come to where I spent time teaching kids from the American Fork Training School. Those kids had real joy in splashing in the water, something they cherished more than swim champs. The two men pointed to the man standing at the window watching, and wanted to chat with me. I put a towel around me and had a twenty minute chat with Jesse Owens, the 1936 gold medal winner who defied Adopt Hitler. He was a real life hero to me, and challenged me to keep competing as that in and of itself makes a hero to somebody. I didn't make the swim team, but felt honored, especially when he told his two guards to leave us alone for a chat. And another Hero that will last forever is the time I meet Gene Fullmer, who had been the Middle Weight Champion of the world in Boxing. I was his driver and took him to a law enforcement conference and then twice to the hard core inmates at a prison. I then had a similar experience with Paul H Dunn who was a gifted speaker. I once yelled at President Harry S. Truman and he yelled back at me. I have tons of hero's and so has each of my siblings. With no gold nuggets in our overalls, nobody could be more lucky to live in the era we did.
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