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“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses.”

—C. S. Lewis

Fair Play

It’s a country fair! The Young Women of the Midvale Fort Union Stake decided to help celebrate the sesquicentennial by making handmade items such as stitchery, quilts, cooked goods, art, photography, hand-sewn items, and crafts and then displaying them for their annual celebration. Ribbons for first, second, and third places were awarded to the nicest articles, and the occasion was made more festive by a display of banners made for the sesquicentennial. There was also a display of antiques, tying past and present together. Each young woman received a pioneer bonnet and then attended workshops. A luncheon of old-fashioned, down-home cooking topped off the fun day.

Our First South American General Authority!

Elder Angel Abrea of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was recently appointed a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He is the first South American to be called as a General Authority and is currently serving as mission president in the Argentina Rosario Mission. After completing his three-year term as mission president, he will serve as president of the soon-to-be-built temple in Buenos Aires. Elder Abrea and his wife Maria Victoria Chiapparino have three daughters.

S. Dilworth Young Dies

Elder S. Dilworth Young, an emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, died of congestive heart failure on July 9 at the age of 83. His death came just five days after Elder Young and his wife returned from serving as directors of the Los Angeles Temple Visitors’ Center.

Elder Young worked for 22 years as a Scout executive in Ogden, Utah, where thousands of Boy Scouts knew him as “Uncle Dil.” He was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy on April 6, 1945. After 30 years of service and facing new responsibilities as an emeritus member of the quorum, Elder Young said, “My arms will extend in the wide world, as far as I can find the strength to extend them, and my upward reach will be as high as I can see.”

Student-body Standouts

It’s a brother and sister team! John and Kathy Cropper of the Orinda Ward, Oakland California Stake, have both set outstanding examples to their 2,000 high school classmates (only 11 of whom are Mormon). Kathy, a junior, is junior class president, and John, a senior, is student-body president. Both are honors students and active in various school organizations and in sports. John plans to attend BYU this fall before he goes on a mission.

Bookworm’s Delight

If you ever need dating ideas, exactly 766 are listed in Dee Hadley’s UpDate: A Guide to Successful Dating (Deseret Book, $4.95). In addition to suggesting some dynamite dating ideas, Dee Hadley emphasizes the importance of developing good relationships with people and learning to communicate. Who you are has more to do with the success of your date than what you do, he says, and he gives some suggestions for making a date a growing as well as a fun experience.

Mormon Athletes by William T. Black (Deseret Book, $6.95) lists the accomplishments of 24 outstanding Mormon athletes and tells in their own words how being Mormon has affected their careers. The book highlights athletes such as Danny Ainge, Gifford Nielsen, Becki Hamblin, Marc Wilson, Kresimir Cosic, Paul Cummings, and others.

Youngest Pilot in Canada

by Scott Richards

Brian Rasmussen of the High River Ward, Calgary Alberta South Stake, recently became the youngest commercial airplane pilot ever licensed in Canada.

He received his commercial license on March 18, 1981, the day of his 18th birthday.

Brian first enrolled in flying lessons when he was 16 years old, and since that time, he has proven to be a very dedicated and talented pilot. By the time he turned 17, Brian had flown 35 hours and had passed five exams and a flight test to qualify for his private pilot’s license. In receiving his private license, Brian set a record by becoming the youngest private pilot ever licensed in western Canada.

After achieving that goal, Brian set his sights higher and kept on working. Between his 17th and 18th birthdays, Brian logged another 115 hours flight time to bring his “in air” total to 150 hours. He also passed another flight test and written exam and participated in 30 hours of classroom instruction. By the time his 18th birthday arrived, Brian had qualified to become Canada’s youngest commercial pilot. In addition to his flying, Brian also finds time to work on his dad’s farm and participate in Church activities. When he turns 19, Brian plans to serve a mission.

The Great Debater

Karl Powell, a priest in the West Jordan Utah Stake recently placed second nationally in the extemporaneous speaking contest sponsored by Future Farmers of America. Karl has won many honors for his skills in debate and speech and is planning to attend Southern Utah State College on a debate scholarship.

Scout Hero

Michael Tompkins takes his Scout training seriously and was recently able to put it to good use. A Star Scout who has earned the swimming skill award and first aid skill award, Michael heard cries for help from a group of friends he had just left wading in a flooded river. The water current had caught his friend Danny Smith, who could not make his way back to the riverbank. Michael threw off his hat and jacket and jumped in, pulling his friend to safety. He is currently a member of the Cleveland Ward, Conroe Texas Stake and is working to become an Eagle Scout.

100% Seminary Class with Class

An early morning seminary class in the San Jose California South Stake adopted three goals at the beginning of the year: 100 percent of the class would (1) read the New Testament, (2) memorize all 40 seminary scriptures of the New Testament year, and (3) accomplish all of the goals by April. And they succeeded! To help celebrate, a recognition banquet was held, which 100 percent of the sophomore class of the Camden chapel attended, along with members of their bishoprics and the stake president and his wife.

Click! Click!

David Adams Winters, 15, is a shutterbug. This talented Eagle Scout from the Kaysville Eighth Ward, Kaysville Utah East Stake, recently received a $1000 first-place Kodak photography scholarship in the color category and a certificate of merit in the black-and-white category in the Scout Photo Scholarship Awards sponsored by Eastman Kodak Company. The Scout Photo Scholarship Awards for this year are open to 11- to 15-year-old Scouts who have earned the photography merit badge by the entry deadline of October 1, 1981. An entry blank/rules folder can be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope to Scout Photo Scholarship Awards, Boy Scouts of America, P.O. Box 61030, Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport, Texas 75261.

A Super Saturday In North Carolina

How can 125 seminary students in a newly created stake get to know each other fast? Spend a Super Saturday at a branch president’s holiday resort—and that’s just exactly what the young people of the Asheville North Carolina Stake did, at the invitation of Branch President Jim Cooper of the Cherokee Branch. The participants were excited about meeting more young Latter-day Saints. President Cooper turned over his new recreation complex to the young people, and they were soon swimming, playing handball, dancing, playing foosball, Ping-Pong, and electronic games, and enjoying the saunas and whirlpool. After an enjoyable meal of Navajo tacos (fry-bread topped with chili, lettuce, tomatoes, and a mound of grated cheese) and a game of basketball, the group went to the Cherokee Branch chapel for a lesson on parent-youth relationships, a scripture chase, and role-playing activities. It was a great Saturday, and everyone made a lot of new friends!

The Council That Took Counsel

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that Church members should be involved in political affairs, vote, and learn to govern themselves wisely. And many of the young men and women of the Hyrum Utah Stake and Hyrum Utah North Stake are learning that at an early age—they ran for the offices of youth mayor and youth council members and were elected! Hyrum, Utah, citizens between 14 and 18 years of age are eligible to vote in this special election, and 9th to 11th graders may run for office. Goals of the elected officials included initiating city clean-up projects, youth activities, and projects for senior citizens. Congratulations!

Art by Richard Hull