Mom's Story -- Church Callings and Community Service

Church Callings and Community Service

            November 24, 1961, Bill was released as Bishop after nine and a half years.  It was with mixed feelings that Saturday morning that we realized his service as Bishop was over.  He had served so well. Quietly he had done the Lord’s work as he saw it, never sparing himself of details and drudgery.  He had worked for and established a cannery, and for many years it operated well --helping people get needed supplies at a nominal cost; he had personally kept the little cold swimming pool open for the children each summer, cleaning it and maintaining it when there was on one else to do it.  These were only a few of the many things he did.  Many times he and I helped Dr. Heywood weed and clean the Church yard.  During his time as a Bishop, we learned to love the dear people of Snowflake.  It was a blessed opportunity for not only Bill but for our family to serve.  

            I had been elected to serve on the School Board for the Elementary School, and in 1961 I had completed my third term –eight years.  There were serious problems to be met  in the schools with the increase in enrollment due to the construction of the Paper Mill.  Snowflake Schools stood to gain everything as far as tax base was concerned while our neighbors Taylor, Show Low, and Heber would be strapped with increased enrollment and no industry to help share the tax burden.  So, our School Board began a series of town meetings trying to educate the public to the idea of consolidating the school district.  Hy Hendrickson was the principal of the High School and could see the vision of what needed to be done.  Through his leadership and brains we were not only able to consolidated the little schools around, but could build the new Junior High School which would accommodate 325 more students.  The bond issue cost was $350,000 and passed 197 to 95 in Snowflake and 89 to 70 in Taylor.  I worked tirelessly for the schools during those years. 

            It was the Christmas of 1961 that I opened my home for a Christmas House Tour.  It was cold and snowy, but over 150 people came and the proceeds were used to help establish the Josephine Goldwater Hospital.  Also during this time I gave a series of little afternoon receptions for the new women in town, inviting some of the ladies who were long-time residents also.  It proved to be one of the sweetest experiences of my life for I made life-long friends.  I entertained dozens of women over several months time. 

            Bill had only served a year as a High Councilman when he was called to be a councilor in the Stake Presidency.  Uncle Jess had been called to be the President of the Arizona Temple, so was to be released.  The years that followed this call are too bitter for me to recall.  The school problems had stirred up so many hard feelings in the Stake and Hy Hendricksen, who had been called as the new Stake President was unjustly blamed for many things.  Unkind rumors were spread like wild-fire.  Each rumor was added upon by the next person telling it until it was too much to bear.  The Hendricksen family had more sorrow than can be told.  There were years of unhappiness and blight as the vultures relished their tidbits of juicy gossip.  Finally after many sessions trying to work out the problems, the Stake Presidency was released and Bro. Hendricksen went to Phoenix to take another job.   Elder Spencer W. Kimball came to help resolve the problems but our enemies persisted.  President John F. Taylor was put in as the new Stake President.  Bill was released after serving a little more than two years under President Hendricksen.  I wept many bitter tears about the entire matter.  There were so many innocent people hurt.

            I was called to be the Primary President of the Snowflake Second Ward and what a great calling that was.  I served nine years in the Primary, five of which I was President.  I learned to love the children and the wonderful teachers I worked with.  There were many faith promoting incidents which I have recorded in my journal, and which told me again in no uncertain terms that the Lord loved me and answered my prayers.  Each Christmas while I was President, I made each of my teachers some Christmas gift;  can you imagine making fifty aprons at a time; however, the teachers soon got on to my little trick and the year I was released they presented me with a beautiful friendship quilt.  How they ever kept it a secret from me I’ll never know.