Uintah Basin: Messiah Concerts

Watching the Uintah Basin orchestra and choir http://mmboebillywardle.blogspot.com/2013/12/uintah-basin-orchestra-and-choir.html
reminded me of my days in the Basin.  I participated in a couple Messiah concerts during the years we lived in Roosevelt (Ballard).  They were very fun, and introduced me to some songs we had never sung before, including "Surely".  Dr. White always conducted, and we performed in the Roosevelt East Stake Center because they have a nice piped organ.  We never sang with orchestra, but we did have trumpets for "The Last Trumpet."  There would be solos every year, but I never had the courage to ask about singing a solo.  They were fun experiences.  I am a baritone, so the first year I sang bass.  However because there were few tenors, the second year I sang tenor.  There were four tenors, and we always followed another tenor.  However he had a bad cold, and several of the songs had to drop out, so I was the tenor the others were following.  Uncle Jerry sang tenor with us that year.
We made some beautiful music, and this reemphasized my love for Handel's Messiah.

Another Look at Blacksmith Fork Canyon circa 1972

Blacksmith Fork Canyon from Hyrum

Different zoom

From close to our home

Fire safety display, Blacksmith Fork

Elk

My Music: Christmas Lullabye

This is written as Mary and Joseph singing to the baby Jesus.  However it can also be used for singing to children, and is the second most effective put-the-baby-to-bed song in my repertoire behind "I Am a Child of God."  It works effectively A'Capella or with the accompaniment. 
Lyrics:
Mary: Hush thee my babe, hush thee my child
Hush thee my babe you're tender and mild.
Hush thee my babe, hush thee my child.
Hush thee my babe you're tender and mild.

Joseph: Sleep little Boy, sleep through they night
Sleep little boy I'll keep things right.
Sleep little boy you've no need to fear,
For I am always near.

Witness to Elder Monson Receiving Revelation

My memory is failing me, as I am trying to remember the year when President Monson visited the stake conference in Hyrum.  I know we were in the new stake center, out by Hyrum Dam and across from the Junior Miller home.  Grant Norman was the stake president.  So that makes it probably the late 70s.  I was home off my mission, and Charlie hadn't gone on his yet.
The most interesting thing about conference, and the thing I still remember is the old man who said the opening prayer.  After the prayer Elder Monson stood up (he was an apostle at the time) and indicated he was impressed to call the brother who had said the prayer to be a patriarch.  He suggested everyone go home and write about this event in their journals, because they were seeing how revelation works.  As a result, for a time Hyrum had two stake patriarchs.
I just thought of this as I watched the biographical movie of President Monson "On the Lord's Errand" where there are several examples presented of similar type experiences.
http://bwardlehistory.blogspot.com/2013/12/president-monson-biography-on-lords.html

My Dad's Second Marriage to Jewell

After my dad divorced my mother, he married Jewell.  The wedding was in the backyard of a home in Salt Lake City.  It was after Sheri and I were married and living in Duckwater.  The wedding was performed  by a justice-of-the-peace.  Sheri and I were the only family who attended.  As a result, we received a visit from my dad and Jewell shortly after in Duckwater.  I assume this was on their way to their honeymoon.  The honeymooned in San Francisco.

Hyrum Rodeo Grounds

I am 99 percent sure these are pictures I took of the remodeling of the Hyrum Rodeo Grounds which took place about 1976 or 77.  It was about the same time the ball diamonds went in.  I took these for the Hyrum Crusader, but they were never published.  If you recognize anyone please let me know.

I Was In Argentina When the Revelation on the Priesthood Was Announced

http://bwardlehistory.blogspot.com/2013/11/mormon-movie-review-long-awaited-day.html

I heard of the revelation on the priesthood I think on June 2, 1978.  The revelation was announced the day before, and the church did not waste any time in letting the missionaries know of the revelation.   We received a call from our district leader, who was following the chain I am sure, making sure all the missionaries knew of the change as soon as it happened.  Of course this opened to us the possibility of actively proselyting to people of African descent.  However there were not a great deal of people who fit this category in Argentina.  There were a few, and it felt good to treat all people the same.
We attended a zone conference shortly after and during the testimony period another missionary shared an experience.  Shortly after hearing of the revelation and investigator questioned them as he had heard the Church discriminated against people of African descent.  The missionary boldly responded, the Church extends the priesthood to all worthy male members irregardless of race.  It was a great day, a testimony affirming day as we know that prophets still receive revelation for our behalf.

Music (poetry) I like: You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch

Your a mean one Mr. Grinch lyrics by Dr Seuss

You're a mean one, Mister Grinch
You really are a heel,
You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an eel, Mister Grinch,

You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel!

You're a monster, Mister Grinch,
Your heart's an empty hole,
Your brain is full of spiders, you've got garlic in your soul, Mister Grinch,

I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!

You're a vile one, Mister Grinch,
You have termites in your smile,
You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile, Mister Grinch,

Given a choice between the two of you I'd take the ... seasick crocodile!

You nauseate me, Mister Grinch,
With a nauseous super "naus",
You're a crooked dirty jockey and you drive a crooked hoss, Mister Grinch,

You're a three decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich, with arsenic sauce!

You're a foul one, Mister Grinch,
You're a nasty wasty skunk,
Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mister Grinch,

The three words that describe you are as follows, and I quote, "Stink, Stank, Stunk!"

You're a rotter, Mister Grinch,
You're the king of sinful sots,
Your heart's a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots, Mister Grinch,

Your soul is an appalling dump heap overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable, mangled up in tangled up knots!

Music by Albert Hague.  This was sung by Thurl Ravenscroft.  Boris Karloff narrated the story, but he was not a singer.

My Music: Behold the Handmaiden of the Lord: Angel Gabriel and Mary

This is part of the cantata "The Condescension of God" which is a review of the life of Christ through Nephi's vision in the Book of Mormon.

Mary the Lord is with you, thou are highly favored among women for thou shalt conceive in the womb and bring forth a son and call his name Jesus.

But how Lord seeing I know not a man

The power of the Holy Ghost shall over shadow thee and the child shall be called the son of God.
Behold the handmaiden of the Lord, be it unto me according to the word.
He shall be great of of his kingdom there shall be know end and He shall be called the son of the highest.

http://billywardlefamily.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-angel-visits-mary.html
post about this topic with movie

Argentine Mission: Going Home: Trip to the Airport

I stayed up most the night the night previous, and was very glad to have a ride to the airport.  Lucy and Lilly had a friend with a car who agreed to take me. 

Ezeiza International Airport is to the Northwest of Buenos Aires, so it was a good drive.  San Martin, where I was, is to the Southwest of Buenos Aires.  I think Elder Jacobs caught a ride with the Apata family, from Don Torcuato, as they were at the airport as well. 
Elders Lynn, Reed Jacobs, Dennis Lange and I traveled together. 

We flew Aerolineas Argentinas.  We were headed to Peru for a four-day tour on the way home.  I watched the ground as we flew West from Buenos Aires.  It was interesting to watch the lay of the ground below, and how the urban terrain gave way to the rural.  It was my last view of Argentina before I fell asleep.

When President Kennedy was shot.

I was six years old when President Kennedy was assassinated.  I was told what had happened, and understood pretty well.  We had a black and white television, and followed the happenings on this.  Exactly when I heard of the assassination I don’t really remember.  However I must have stayed homesick the day of the funeral, because I remember watching this on television as my mom ironed.  I remember the horse-drawn wagon, and the little boy, John Jr. saluting the casket.  Those things are etched in my mind forever.

Mission Argentina: Area Conference 1978

Hermana Diaz made us empanada sandwiches to eat by the obelisk

President Kimball is in this picture below the stage

One of the highlights of the mission was the visit of President Spencer W. Kimball to Argentina for area conference.  The conference included three sessions that I attended.  Most of the conference was in Luna Park, the large in-door stadium in Buenos Aires.  On Saturday night their was a cultural event portrayed.  This included a reenactment of many scenes from the Book of Mormon.  The visit of Christ was done very effectively.  They had Jesus descend from the top of the arena coming down the steps with the light on Him in such a way that it was very effective.  The show was very well done.  I know Hermana Duarte sang in the choir for conference, as I saw her.  Also many other local members participated.
The large conference meeting was very interesting.  For most of the speakers there were translators.  However Elder Faust did not use translation.  He had served his mission in Portugal.  I remember his mispronunciation of the work Gaucho when he told a story.  Elder Wells has a very deep voice.  He was the area seventy in Argentina at the time.  He talked of the importance of living so as to be worthy of a temple recommend.  It was a very fun conference.  At the time there was a temple in Sao Paulo in Brazil, and many members were hoping for one in Argentina as well.  However this was not announced at this time.  President Kimball talked about the importance of doing things in God's way.
We had at least one meal there.  Elder Steed and I ate milanesa sandwiches sitting at the base of the obelisk.

A letter I wrote home describes my experience of these events:

President Kimball visited Argentina this last Saturday and Sunday for the second area conference in Buenos Aires.  Mormons from all over Argentina came to participate in the two day event.  It started Saturday with a cultural program in Luna Park, probably the biggest indoor stadium in Argentina.  My companion and I went with the parents and grandparents of a girl here in San Miguel.  Her parents etc are not members.  We went in car and arrived rapidly, 45 minutes while in bus and train it take an hour and a half.
The cultural program was something really special.  President Kimball was in attendance while youth of Buenos Aires acted through the Book of Mormon with scenes of Joseph Smith, Lehi and Nephi, conversion of Alma the Younger, Abinadi before King Noah, the 2000 sons of Helaman, the robe of Mormon, the visit of Jesus and the blessing of the children, and the destruction of the Nephites, ending with the challenge of the Book of Mormon and depositing of the plates in the Hill Cumorah.
Then Sunday we went with a couple of person we baptized the other week to participate in the meetings.  There were three meetings Sunday.  The General Authorities who came were: President Kimball, Elder Packer, Elder Hinckley, Elder Faust and Elder Wells.  The first meeting was at 10 and we arrived a bit late to get good seats but the same we enjoyed the meeting.
At 2 we had the Priesthood Meeting while the ladies had their own meeting.  It was really something special.  There was a special spirit while we listened to the prophet and Elder Pack and Elder Wells explain several gospel subjects.
After this there was a special meeting for the missionaries in which all the general authorities talked which we found good seats and waited for the last general session.  There were more than 11,000 people present, member and investigators.  Only the apostles and presidency spoke in this meeting.   The time went too fast and the prophet was on his way to Brazil to dedicate the first temple in South America.

Hunter's Safety Course

It was when I was 13 that I took the hunter's safety course in Hyrum, Utah.  It was a requirement to be able to carry a gun for the annual deer hunt at the age of 14.  I took the course with Weldon, who would actually be able to carry a gun if he passed the course.  We attended the training in the Hyrum Elite Hall.  There is a classroom upstairs above the restrooms and as part of the balcony. 

They spent many days drilling into our brains that carrying a gun was a serious thing, and  you always had to treat every gun as if it were loaded.  Better safe than sorry.  We had to pass a written test to demonstrate that we really new how to handle a gun.  The next part of the test was the hands on shooting part of the test.  I passed, while Weldon got confused and was shooting at the wrong target.  It took him some talking, but the instructor finally allowed him the shots that were at the wrong target, and he passed.  With this we were also awarded the merit badge for rifle shooting.

The Night Before Leaving Argentina

The day before leaving Argentina our companions left us at the mission home as they prepared for transfers, and we spent the day with the mission president.  He served us dinner, and we turned in our final write up and talked about future plans.  We  were dismissed about eight o'clock to go and get our stuff, and then be back to the airport the next day.  This was really strange because we did not have companions.  I jumped on a bus and asked for two tickets before I realized what I was doing.  Riding the bus back was crowded but lonely at the same time. 

Corsi Family, Rosa and Ricardo kids Lucy, Lilly, Ita, Ricky, Teresita

No rule against holding babies

Getting back to San Miguel there were many people I had promised last night goodbyes.  This including the Barrientos who served me empanadas dulces, or empanandas with sweet jam inside.  I also visited the Corsi family who had an evening of tricks for me.  Lucy gave me a big sucker which I never ate, but brought home and placed with my mementos until it became ruined.  I also visited the Diaz family, but after everyone was asleep.  I ran into my old companion as they were out working, and gave them a last goodbye as well. 

getting a little sleep

The Diaz Family

Halloween: After my Mission 1980?

This is a family Halloween activity a couple years after my mission.  Jed was born while I was in Argentina, but Aaron and Dustin are also in the pictures. 

Me, Aaron, Jed, Krista, Dustin

Pumpkin carving with the Buffs

My Eagle Scout Project

When I received my Eagle, there was a rush to hurry us through because the standard was changing from 21 merit badges to 25.  It prompted leaders and boys alike to hurry and finish their eagle award before the end of the year. 
Looking back, I think maybe my eagle project was not what they were looking for, but nobody said anything, and it was approved by our local leadership, as well as the Scout Council.  I made cookies and treats to deliver to all the widows in our ward.  It was fun, and it provided the necessary leadership as well as the hours they were looking for.  The Bishop gave me the list of those to whom to make deliveries.

We hadn't had an Eagle in our ward for some time, but after I achieved the rank there was a flood of boys after me.

Release Paperwork from my Mission

Brother and Sister Wardle,
It is with great reluctance that I forward the release of your son, Elder James William Wardle, from the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission.  He will be missed by all who were blessed with his companionship.  He served honorably and well.  You can take great pride in the many accomplishments he achieved while serving here.
If there is one phrase that might exemplify your son, I would think that phrase would have to something like, "actions speak louder than words".  He has consistently performed at a very high level in the mission field.  He has a true sense of purpose of those things which are important and does them with singleness of mind.  He has been an outstanding missionary and I am personally very sorry to see him leave.  WE shall miss him and his strong spirit.
I thank you very much for having made it possible for him to have had this incomparable experience of serving the Lord through service to the Argentine people.  He will always remember his mission
Warmest person regards, Joseph L. Bishop Mission President.

Bill Sharman Passes Away

Bill Sharman passed away this week.  Most people are remembering Bill Sharman as the championship coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, or executive with the Boston Celtics.  However I remember him from before the Lakers, with the Utah Stars, 1971 championship teach.  He was the coach of the team which featured Zelmo Beaty as the center who could always get a basket when needed, Willie Wise, as the small forward who provided the moves, Wayne Hightower as the defender and rebounder, Glen Combs as the three point specialist, Ron Boone as the sixth man and energy off the bench, Red Robbins as scoring off the bench and Mervin Jackson at the point. 
Weldon and I would follow the games on the radio, on TV when they were shown, and a few games at the Salt Palace.  I remember one game Weldon and I got their early for the game, and went to the Jazz office in the Salt Palace.  They gave us the media guide pamphlets from the year before.  It was a good experience.

Vance Douglas and our Boxing Bout at the Turkey Farm

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hjnews/obituary.aspx?n=randy-vance-douglass&pid=167464326

Vance Douglas passed away this month.  Back when we were both in Junior High School, we both worked at turkey farm.  It was a job that paid one dollar per hour, but it was work.  We fed turkeys, cleaned the turkey pens, gathered eggs, washed feeders, or what ever job we were assigned to.  Sometimes we road a tractor to the pens farther away.  There were also vaccination and de-beaking days.  Those days were hard work.
But back to Vance.  Vincent Olagie was was the Mexican foreman.  One time he had the idea of organizing boxing matches.  I was involved in several, and held my own. These were bare-fisted bouts, no gloves here.  One day Vincent pitted me against Vance.  We were both about the same size, and pretty evenly matched.  I must admit I think Vance got the better of me, but Vance called it a draw.  I never had such a bloody nose in my life, but I was still boxing with the blood dripping down my face.  However Vance gave me credit for one blow I inflicted, however I actually was embarrassed by the blow.  I went for Vance's face and missed, hitting him in the neck.  I guess it was a pretty good blow, but I didn't want to hit him in the neck.  That seemed sort of like hitting below the belt. 
The boxing bout had nothing to do with animosity, but fun, mostly the boss' at our expense. 

Argentina Thanksgiving 1978

I was in Argentina for two Thanksgivings.  Thanksgiving is not a holiday in Argentina.  However my second year, just before I came home, Hermana Diaz wanted to do something special for us.  I suggested banana cream pie would be just the thing.  This is a tradition in our family.  They did not have banana pudding mix in Argentina at the time, but vanilla pudding was very common.  I never helped much at Thanksgiving so suggested putting bananas in vanilla pudding and that should be it.  It tasted very good, but not quite the same thing.

Hermana Diaz with vanilla banana cream pie

Diaz family