TODAY WE OFFER THE GRADUATION PROGRAM OF THE LDS JUAB STAKE SEMINARY OF 1931

                                                                       PART ONE

We just came across a 12 page program that detail events for Seminary graduation which was for LDS students in JUAB COUNTY, Utah back in 1931. This writer is unsure if they still have Seminary classes in conjunction with high school classes or not. Many years ago the Juab Stake Seminary in Nephi was in a building that stood just north of where the Utah Community Bank is now. That first building had been there for many years, but Mormon official's built a new one north of the Nephi/Juab High School, that is now known as the Juab County Building. Back then, the School officials thought the school was too old and crowded but some of us knew it was built to last a 100 years and it has now surpassed that. But DC politician's and other elected and selected officials make a truck load of mistakes and still do. The new Seminary building was built, but now occupied by the Nephi City Police Department, but too small for invaders to what used to be a small town, so their is a plan to build a new one, somewhere to the South. If one walks by the present cop shop, you may smell the drugs where they keep confiscated items, but it is more difficult to get in, as it is better than Fort Knox, and from what I hear, there is no gold Fort Knox! The first Seminary building was determined to be unsafe when Highway 91 had too many kids running over there with drivers-like today, won't stop or slow down. But students never got run over to the Uwanna to play the pin ball machine or to the bakery on a burntblack run! Anyway, the program is here, but we will try to put it from the back first, so hopefully we will proceed in reverse first, but don't do that in your cars as kids run down 7th North and downtown and today's drivers won't give people the right away! I watched one of our local walkers cross Main on First South and I didn't think the walker could move that fast, but he did and the Salina Truck Driver didn't seem to give a rats ass about it. Now I hope James H. does strike me dead from above. In one of these blogs, I think I put a photo of that first Seminary building with students. I know that James H. Ockey Sr, taught on the top floor and a gal taught in the basement. In those earlier years, the LDS Church wanted only men holding the Melchizeadek Priesthood as the teachers, who had the room upstairs and a female teacher was in the basement. She may have made Church history as women didn't teach Seminary for salary, but they did it as a volunteer only. Men could teach, but had to get permission from their wives and when I asked a former Nephite who taught in a Seminary south of here, I asked him how his wife is doing as I set them up together years ago. He answered something like "It better be good or the church will fire me". They are still hitched and moved to another County. But like Nephi, which used to be a small and great town, it ain't like what it used to be, so all things change and we must accept it. If the reader is younger than Methuselah, who died at age 969, and the grandfather of Noah, you may find a family member in the program. But even in 1931, some of the participant's had already graduated from High School and Seminary(some good for nothings called it Cemetery) but I have repented after each time I referred to that. Graduates still liked to attend graduation and be a part of that event. The computer folks have changed these programs, and my brain damage from the Vaccine poison which was forced on us so my efforts to put this together may not come out clean as a whistle. Mr. Corbett and Vaugh Paxman can check the breath of this Jones Boy, as coffee has kept me going through this multi-day writing. If you don't find your family in the program, they will still go to heaven, or they just may be at one of the listed stores who helped finance this pamphlet. And I remember the Venice Cafe, as I used to be an assistant to the Assistant of the guy who ran the movies at the Venice Theater. One day I walked down the old wore out wooden steps to peer into the cafe when they closed it and left plates and cooking items there. And no I didn't eat that left over Steak. And remember, the gals that were listed with their maiden names. I recognized my mother's name of LaVon Harris, then a Jones, and she was on the program and finished High School three years before. And her nieces were Aleta Harris, who become a Mona Swasey;  then Blanch Harris who married an Orem Anderson and she was an excellent cook, then I wonder why Glade Sanders was an Apostle in 1931, but when younger, he was just High Council, and wonder if Beth Lunt was teaching for or against Adultery! Check the great stores Nephi had, with Allen's Cash Store, where you could work there if you could whistle; Nephi Cafe is where Kens Army and Navy store was and the flour mill, where I worked with King Sidwell and Sam Winn, and fell asleep the next day in History, and Mr. Brough warned his next class to come in quietly and finally woke me up and wondered where all my classmates went. It was the laugh of the year. 

PARLEY P. PRATT WAS AN LDS APOSTLE THAT WAS LATER MURDERED PART TWO

                                                                     B.H. Roberts Part Two

Many students of the history of the Mormon Trek to Salt Lake, which at the time-was claimed to be the property of Mexico. But if we study all history, we find that the land of Utah and western States were claimed by the people of Spain, who sought ownership by killing or ravaging the women here and those invaders claimed to be the new owners until the Texasans who fought to their Alamo death to retake what they claimed was there's. Still others would site that what would become California and Texas were owned by the Aztec's; Fremont's and other  Ancient Ones. Even in today's history of America, governments of their own still practice Manifest Destiny and take what they believe is there's, if "it is for the good of the people". I watched in person as the State of Utah claimed Antelope Island as there's, and it remains as such, although the sheep owners disagreed. When I spent a week digging with professional's at the Anasazi State Park, it was considered legal, but  Federal Law was changed since then. When Fur Trappers and the Mormons set their wagon wheels down in Utah, they offered to just purchase all the land from the Native  Indians here. The Ancient Ones said "How do we sell land that only belongs to God". In Juab County, there was no Chief Yuba. and after me taking on the Utah Director of the Division of Natural Resources, she caved in and admitted it was just easier to call it U.B. rather than Utah's Biggest Dam, as it was at the time that farmers built it. Besides, they didn't want to go after taxpayer dollars to change all the pamphlet's and maps. I accepted that and took off the boxing gloves. The murder of Parley P. Pratt was committed by Hector McLean, who was estranged from his wife, and he thought, much like folks in the British Isles while I was there- that Mormons only came to marry more than one wife. That didn't happen to me, as I was asked that, and my retort was short and not so sweet, as I would shout, "Hell No, I don't want even one". Well, there are times when our thoughts change, as mind did, at least for awhile. Now back to Parley P. Pratt. One of things that may have tricked the Van Buren, Arkansas madman off, was that in 1857, a group of people were traveling through the area near Mountain Meadows, west of Parowan, Utah, and along with them were haters of the Mormons, and announced to the Saints in Parowan that they were a part of the ones that murdered Joseph Smith; his brother Hyrum and helped funnel the flames that slaughtered men, women and children of the Mormons that kept the killers from attacking them. And some no accounts followed them to Utah and many say they have remained. The brother of Parley Pratt was also an original Twelve Apostle of the latter days, and continued in that position along with various other church assignment's, and buried in Spring City, Utah, where my brother Weston and I have visited. After Parley Pratt was murdered, nobody was brought to justice, similar to what many other politician's didn't do, in Ohio, Illinois and Missouri. But B. H. Roberts was not about to leave the slain body of Parley Pratt down south to be ridiculed. Another Apostle dressed down in the clothes of a Tramp and off he went and brought the body home, and buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery like many other LDS Leaders. He served several Missions but not to Arkansas. Parley's Canyon above Salt Lake was named after him for how he helped and well as a road from Highway 89 to the Freeway South of Beaver, Utah which was first traveled by Father Escalante. That's all folks.

WHO IS THIS MAN? IS HE A TRAMP OR AN UNDERCOVER MORMON? PART ONE

In the history of Utah and other places, some folks are amazed to find the hidden person under the exterior clothing or his habits. Such is the case of this photo which was found in the many photos and papers of the boxes of artifacts collected by myself and my family of those that have lived and died in our family of Tolley's; Jones' and Harris folks. The Nephi abode I was raised in was built in 1885, and various family members lived there when it had several different entrances and rooms that bedded family folks that would make their cots in the place they they were well taken care of as they were about to take those steps to  our real homes up the stairwells to Heaven's gate. That Nephi home is still a stable home for our younger sister-Jaynette Grimard, but the constant overloads of Semi Trucks and loud and speeding vehicles up and down to and from Schools and the new Gym are causing emotional and structural damage. As a youngster, it was a common occurrence that Hobo's would jump on & off the railroad trains that would stop at the Train Station in Nephi. There they would wander over to the Salt Creek that was behind the wandering eyes of those going and coming to the Utah Poultry. Over there, those free loaders could bath and clean up for their next criss cross on the rails. Then during the Ute Stampede and on Sundays, local folks would bring them a hot meal. When this want-to-be Historian first found this photo, my first thought was that it was held by the Nephi Jones residents which arrived in Nephi during 1852. The first Jones was Edward Jones, who had a son by the name of Edward Jones, and then he had two sons with the names of Willian and Edward, who was called "Uncle Lenny by my father Alma". Those two  brothers married the twin daughters of William Fisher Tolley, who was trained in driving railroads in the British Isles, and directed by Brigham Young to help build a road and railroad between Nephi and Ft. Green. He did just that, and eventually ended up with Brigham Youngs approval to take up three more wives, with the backing of  the first wife. The first Edward Jones in Nephi became a Blacksmith and built a home down where Wade Garrett now resides. Another home closer to the wagons going out to York(by Doc Steeles), and so his Blacksmith Shop was being built on First East and just south of where the Old Hollow runs. In  many regards, B.H. Roberts reminded this writer of Paul H. Dunn, who I became friends with in his latter days. As a General Authority, he wrote a letter to my Mission President in England and wanted to know how me and my Missionary Companion held the the record for more Baptism in the British Isles. My letter back to him told that he was under the heavenly inspiration as I was and to seek and find out himself. Later on when I worked with convicted Felons in Utah, I took Paul H. Dunn to various Prisons and Jails to encourage the convicts to take a different route in life. We became great friends. Back in the Mission Field, as the Mission President was so busy with Members of the Church, I was then promoted to the Proselytizing Assistant to the President, and Set Apart as that, and the Mission President authorized me to handle all matters of the Missionaries', including transferring Missionaries' as necessary. My new position didn't meet the standards of Spencer W. Kimball, who spoke firmly and with authority to me and the Mission President. Kimball authorized new carpets in the Mission Castle but not my office or sleeping quarters, but did direct me to be he and his wives Driver, then gave me an extra month to seek out Baptism for the Dead, and to use the Church car without a companion and on the promise I could be found without my earthly body if I dishonored that covenant. I remained faithful to that end and on my return to Juab County and with the help of a professional Genealogist- Lorraine Hayes, dozens and dozens of family member's names were taken to the Manti Temple for baptism by proxy. Kimball also sent a letter to my Stake President-Ross Garrett, who was also a grandson of Wm. Jones, who I believe paved the golden road for me as I traveled where he did, carrying his Journal with me. This story of truth will continue in Part Two, after I soak these arthritic typing fingers in Epsom Salt.

                                                          

                                                            WHO ART THOU REALLY?

IN ITS DAY, THE FORREST HOTEL OF NEPHI WAS THE PLACE TO STAY

The first real hotel in Nephi, Utah was the Forrest Hotel, which was located on 1st South and First  Prior to that, Nephi visitors often stayed in the Goldsbrough home, which was located at 1st North and Main Street, and in the 1960's, Shine Starr lived there, and his brother-Albert lived just north of that place. As Nephi became the stopping place for folks from all over the world, a team of horses pulled a buggy up to the railroad loading and unloading Dock, and the folks would take them where they wished to go. The Goldsbrough place was where a lot of folks would go, as it had a "Sample Room", where travelers could get a taste of fine wine. When strangers couldn't find a place to stay. "Uncle Harry" would make room for them by giving them a blanket and room on the floor. The Forrest Hotel was built in about 1880, and it was where the Forrest family lived as well as the travelers. They then built the new hotel on the corner of first north and main, which had excellent food and quarters to house any of the "High Brow" folks that wanted luxury and not sleep on the floor.  There should be two photos attached showing both the old and new Forrest Hotels, and this writer had the job to shovel coal in the furnace rooms and clean out the clingers that were there. Me and brothers Weston, Hal and Gary would take turns doing that. I don't remember the name of the owner back then, but my brain recalls, he looked like and dressed like  a gangster of Chicago, and we started calling him "Mr. Capone" behind his back. He paid the Jones Boys good wages but he made sure we went out the back door, so his customers didn't see us. When there wasn't enough beds for travelers, he built the "Annex", which is still there and although it has a Halloween story about it, they keep in nice and good place for folks just arriving with no place to live. On the South portion of the Annex, their is a different brick residence that used to be a home where gals would stay who are having babies, their waSa "Mid-Wife" there who knew how to gently take a breeched baby out okay. In fact, Gerusha ,ov

JUAB COUNTY HAS LOST ANOTHER VIET NAM HERO

I have always found it difficult to talk or write about our American Hero's that were called to fight for freedom in a land we couldn't even spell or pronounce at Juab High School. But history is there to learn about and learn from. For many of us, the United States Miltary "minds" of Washington D.C. didn't do what they should of done before we let 58,000 Americans die in Viet Nam, as we neglected to talk to the soldiers of France, who invaded Viet Nam in a previous war and didn't get the facts of that war they fought with the Viet Cong "fight til you are killed". Glen Williams was born in Levan, then called Mills his hometown, and found a bed at his father's-Charlie Williams who relocated in Nephi where he could work out of his Blacksmith Shop, when not driving the bus from Mills, Levan and to Nephi, then return to Mills after school. I worked with Charlie during the summers of 65 and 66, and considered him as a great friend, and also became friends with Glen's brother-Arlo, in search of an accidental shooting and burial of a member of the John C. Fremont expedition in the Juab County area. Out side of Saigon, the capitol of South Viet Nam(our "friendly" folks), the Viet Cong built the CU CHI Tunnels, which were gopher like tunnels underneath the ground, much like earthworms or gophers. Our Troops could not tell where the enemy may come up and spread their mine field around, or kidnap a friendly mother and give her a gun to kill Americans or else her kids would be slaughtered in a room under the ground. Rather than the 1st Calvary rolling into a dense forest with horse's, the Troops came by way of helicopter's being deployed in late 1965 through 1972. Glen didn't know it at the time, but he had the body that was slim enough to get in the tunnels and kill off the enemy, who were called VC or Victor Charlie, and Glen was named after his Dad, so he wasn't called Charlie. If you ever want to see the pure Hell our boys went through, see the movie "We were soldiers", where Colonel Hal Moore led the 1st Battalion in Nam. The Helicopter guys were called Sky Troopers. I have only touched on part of Viet Nam, but when my brother-Hal Jones returned from Nam, he and I went on an educational tour of schools in Salt Lake to teach what that war was all about. Brothers Weston and Gary were also in the Miltary during the Viet Nam Era. Nobody but God kept track, but total numbers of casualties of that war are guessed between one to three million and that doesn't include Cambodian's and Laotians. Hal was there as a 9th Infantry Medic, but was hit by shrapnel when another medic was killed. I went there in 1998 on a "Humanitarian" mission and to recover any remains of where some of our MIA's were buried. One of our teams did retrieve the remains of a soldier from Taylorsville, and his mother attended his proper burial and I felt saddened for what the Army kept hidden from her. Glen seldom spoke of his time "over there", and that is like most of the GI's that don't like to talk about, but it often hits them during their nightmares! Glen was hit in the head with mortar fire that split his helmet and head open, then suffered from blood disorders including Agent Orange and for Glen, it was Malaria. Purple hearts are fine and dandy but don't take care of the nightmares of the past. Please, Please, treat all Vets with care and announce your presence. Shell Shock and PTSD or now hitting Middle East Troops. Donations to American Legion is always appreciated.

FUNERAL AND LAST RITES FOR VIENNA JO DEMERS

I don't think I ever met Vienna Jo; her family or friends. But something moved me to attend her funeral at the LDS Chapel west of the Vine Bluff Cemetery in Nephi, Utah. I was told she lived on or near 7th North and since that has been my birth and last 78 years I have always called home, I thought it was only fitting to pay my respect to another 7th North neighbor. Neither did I know most of the folks that were there. This wasn't the first time I have attended a funeral of somebody I didn't know on earth, but sure felt I knew Vienna Jo, at least somewhere in time. I found myself writing notes of what I felt when I read her poem of "Winters Whispers" on the back of the program. Her words were chilling and yet I felt the heart felt love within her soul. Although Vienna Jo may never have heard of Robert Frost, her words reminded me of "The Road Not Taken" by that American Poet. I had memorized it sixty plus years ago, and recited it to myself as I continued to re-read and feel the words of Vienna Jo and her inner soul of love. Some day their will be a time when I hope to have the Heavenly chance to meet Vienna Jo, as I felt the warmth of her heart, and the joyous occasion she has already felt for the love and life of the Savior of this world, who undoubtedly greeted her at our real home. My heart and soul weeps for all her family and friends that knew her on earth. She was and remains one of God's most choicest of all.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WE PAY PROPERTY TAX....OR SHOULD WE?

It is hard to believe, but it's time to pay property taxes again, even if you own the home. Needless and late to say and write, we have tons of it in Washington DC, where Politian's have wrongly taken our money and used it for them selves; friends or family. There may be only one person that could change this and it is President Trump. During his first run, after he won, I showed the letter and check to friends and foe, but they only booed me. Unless you are dumber than a knot on a fence post, you should now know that Trump has been doing the right things for Americans. When I said that personal observation to Nephi Council Members prior to our Hearing, I was told I wasn't thinking correctly, as that the President was "swearing" too much and not even moral. I couldn't help but respond to say he was the US President and not a Prophet or Pope. Anywho, when I got my tax notice last year I complained to the Juab County Tax man, and I could immediately hear he was a typical tax man, so I gave in, as I am no longer fit to jump through the loops. That County Tax man "Stood Fast" on the tax notice, then admitted the nearly 400 percent increase was for future development. I thought how DAM stupid, as those future land or home owners or Developers should be paying for that. We also discussed a dry land farm I owned and how we used to have it in grain before the deep wells were dug to rob or "take" from the ancient Aquifer's below the ground. He then lost his cool and said I should sell the ground to a local millionaire for ten thousand an acre. I then asked if the tax man was working a part time job as a real estate broker, and our dialogue soon ended after I commented on other folks in Nephi who may consider potential civil or criminal charges, but in contact with a friend at the Utah AG Office, I was informed the AG is not interested in that until Congress enacts into law or until a City or County gets sued. In the Juab County Tax Notice for 2026, I see more and excessive taxes I have heretofore mentioned. As I have spent a total of 46 years fighting Politician's on a Federal; State and Local level, I am too wore out from the battles I fought, so I will say the same words of the great Indian Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever". That was in 1877, when we the Pale Faces of America massacred that Tribe out of the Rocky Mountains toward Canada and stole their land. I became friends with the original painter of the portrait that is now at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. I hope local folks here and in other rural Counties will fight and encourage President Trump to legally abandon Property Taxes and put pressure on each State to do so. As I believe the Utah Governor is not interested in the people of Utah and only for himself, I will not write a letter to him, as I spent several years as a Constitution Affairs writer for four different Governors, and don't believe anybody will do anything about Taxes until we have another Trump type person as our Utah Leader. If I can figure out how to attach it, I will add a computer print of Chief Joseph and of a typical tax notice of the past. I gave many of the large prints to kids that toured our local DUP Museum in the past, and still have the negative for more printing, but will send it to what is left of the Nez Perce. Rather than pay property taxes on a 17 acre dry land farm on the south side of Nephi, I will send letters to such as a religious group; Miltary official's; Animal Groups for Pet Cemeteries or other Tax Except folks, as paying a few dollars a year to thousands could even make folks from the Boston Tea Party arise to revolt, but I no longer have the fight to give into the Scandal's, both locally; Utah and DC. As I am a local, with Nephi ancestor's who built it, but not with present Elected and Selected Rural Leaders! If things don't improved, Trump could make our Governor a Newsome and take away Grants, which is not freebies as Nephites keep saying. The Feds earn zero dollars. Grant money comes from taxes, so where is the hard working dollar of us Seniors really going!