“Ties and Traditions,” New Era, August 2009, 38–41
Ties and Traditions
What holds a ward together? These teens in Solvang, California, say it has to do with building a feeling of family.
Entering Solvang, California, is like traveling through time and space. One minute you are in California, and the next you are in an old Danish village. This unique town is maintained by tradition and by family ties. The Solvang Ward of the Santa Barbara California Stake also has many ties and traditions, and although most of the members aren’t literally related, their ward feels like a family in many ways.
Feeling Comfortable
One thing that makes the Solvang Ward members feel like they are related is how the members feel around one another. “When I come to church I want to see people,” says Sharilyn Millet, 15, who has been in the ward her whole life. “I feel comfortable talking with people and sharing things with them.”
That comfortable feeling is something visitors to the ward also experience. Because Solvang is a tourist destination, the ward often has visitors, who are welcomed with open arms. “When new people come to the ward they are surrounded by members who want to meet and get to know them,” says Bishop Peter Haws. Everyone is welcome in this ward family.
Friends of All Ages
Like a real family, every member of the Solvang Ward is unique. Some are old, and some are young. Some have been in the ward their whole lives, and some have just moved in. But although they are different, they have still become close friends because the gospel ties them together.
And it doesn’t matter how old or young another member is, the youth can make friends with people of all ages. It’s something that Lance Hansford, 14, likes about the Church.
“It’s kind of cool because you get to meet people that you normally wouldn’t,” Lance says. “You don’t just walk up to an older person on the street and say, ‘Hey, what’s up?’ They would have no clue who you are. But in the Church it’s easier because they could have babysat you when you were little.”
Several of the youth in the Solvang Ward talk fondly of older members who are their friends. Robert Park, 14, says that kind of friendship, despite the age differences, helps him to learn more about the gospel and unifies the ward.
Traditions
Katy Leonard, 14, says the best way to make your ward like a family is “just getting together a lot and having fun doing activities.”
In the Solvang Ward, getting together has become a tradition as deeply rooted as the traditions in the Danish village. Every year there are traditional festivals, and there are members in the ward who always do certain things. One sister always makes pastries. One brother always plays in a band. Another member acts as the grandpa of the ward.
“Everyone has their little roles they play,” Sharilyn says. “You know you can rely on people because it’s just built that way.”
Helping Each Other and Getting Along
Another thing the youth of the Solvang Ward say makes their bonds strong is how the members help and care for one another. They know that one role every member can play is helping others.
“That seems to be going on in our ward,” Lance says. “It is like a family because we all help out each other, and we all get along.”
So what’s it like to live in the “Danish capital of America?” For youth in the Solvang Ward it means living in a ward family, enjoying the gospel bonds they have formed with other members.
To Katy Leonard, Jordan McCleary, and Lance Hansford of the Solvang Ward, Santa Barbara California Stake, ward members almost feel like family because of close friendships they’ve developed over the years.
Robert Park appreciates older ward members who have helped him grow in the gospel and who he now calls his friends.
Sharilyn Millet looks forward to seeing ward members every week and welcoming the many tourists who visit her ward while in Solvang.
Photography by the author