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.