Jawbreakers

When I was growing up I enjoyed many a jawbreaker.  They were big round pieces of candy.  And they were very hard.  In fact, I believed that if you tried to bite through one, you would break your jaw.  Hence the name.

 

Yesterday, I learned that such was not always the case.  Jawbreakers were not always round hard pieces of candy that you could break your jaw on.  I learned that in the early part of the 20th century, jawbreakers were actually marbles covered with taffy.  Who would have thought.  How I learned this is an interesting story.

Two days ago I got a new, old book in the mail.  New to me and old in that it was written in 1985.  I guess that's not so old.  The book was entitled Some Days of My Life, written by Rendell Noel Mabey, a nephew to my Grandfather Cash (Charles Cash Rampton.)  Actually they were a generation apart but were born within a couple of years of each other.  Rendell Noel Mabey's father, Charles Rendell Mabey was governor of the state of Utah from 1920-1925.  His mother was the older half sister of Grandfather Cash.  The two young boys grew up in Bountiful, Utah, their houses less than a stone throws apart.

Grandfather Cash's father, Charles Hyrum Rampton (who was affectionately known as Pa) owned a three story building in town many referred to as the Opera House.  Actually the first floor of the building was a store while one of the upper ones was a large recreational hall where dances, musical performances and plays were performed.  I believe there was even a mortuary in the building.  Below is a drawing of the building.

 

A beautiful buiding indeed.  The following is from Rendell Charles Mabey's book, Some Days of My Life:

 

 

This is a picture of Grandfather Cash about the time this story happened.  His younger sister Wilda is with him.

 

 

I'll never look at a jawbreaker the same way again.  Nor will I accept any when I go trick or treating in a couple of weeks.

Carol Wilda Rampton

March 16, 1957.  I was four years old at the time and our family (Dad, Mom, one and a half year old Richard and myself) lived in Salt Lake City while my Dad finished his Masters Degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Utah.  We were about four months away from moving to California.  On this day, Mom gave birth to a little girl in Salt Lake's Holy Cross Hospital.  Same one I was born in.  They named her Carol Wilda Rampton.  This name has always puzzled me.  I understand Wilda.....that was my Dad's grandmother's name, Wilda Cash Rampton.  But Carol....the only Carol in our family that I know of was my Mom's younger sister and I was led to believe they never got along very well.  Perhaps I'm wrong.  Little Carol was not a healthy baby when she was born, having heart and lung problems.  She lived but twelve hours and then passed away.  Before dying my Dad was able to give her and name and blessing.

A few days later she was buried in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Salt Lake City in a family plot my Grandpa Cash had bought.  For 37 years she laid there alone until Grandpa Cash died in 1994, followed by my step-grandma Virginia, my Uncle Judd and finally my Mom in 2009.   Six or seven years ago, my son David and I made a visit to Mt. Olivet Cemetery, a beautiful place with deer and squirrels and birds roaming at will.  We found the big Rampton marker and the head stones of Grandpa Cash and Virginia.  But we could not find the headstone of Carol Wilda.  I got a stick and started poking in the ground until I finally hit something solid.  I pulled away some grass and there was the headstone covered by two inches of grass.  It had been a long time since it had seen the light of day.  We pulled out the grass and today the sunlight shines on the baby booties engraved in the polished granite.

 While Mom was still in the hospital the Patriarch from the Bonneville Stake where we lived came and gave her a blessing.  He said (and I paraphrase) Sister Rampton, I bless you that if you will be faithful in keeping all the Lord's commandments and if you will be faithful in all of the callings the Lord will give you;  if you will do these two things then I promise you that you will be able to raise this little baby in the hereafter.

That blessing was a source of strength and motivating force throughout her life, as well as my Dad's.  She held many callings in her life:  Counselor in the Primary, Cub Scout Den Mother, Relief Society Homemaking Leader both on the Stake and Ward level, Young Women's President, Ward Primary President and finally Stake Primary President.  She was faithful in each calling and blessed the lives of hundreds of our Heavenly Father's children.  In fact, she mentioned the blessing several times during the last few months of her mortal life.

I am confident that for the last three and a half years, since she died, she has been able to raise little Carol Wilda.  I don't know exactly what that entails, but I am sure she is doing a good job as she did in everything she undertook.

One final thought:  I wonder if my three grandchildren, Jude, Creed and Lizzy had a chance to know little Carol Wilda in the spirit world before coming to this earth.  I like to think they were friends there and enjoyed each other's company.  Perhaps all three had a chance to meet Mom and gain a little insight into the family into which they were being born.  Perhaps.....

Merry Christmas.

Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee

Our memory is an unpredictable gift given to us by our Creator.  Sometimes we can't remember something we heard five minutes before.  Other times we can remember something we heard fifty years earlier.  Such is the case with a song that was released in 1957 when I was five.  I remember a small record player that Mom and Dad had bought my brother Richard and I to play children's songs on.  Dad's HiFi was reserved for his jazz music.  He had a great collection of records (78s).  More than 50 years after we played that song on our small record player, I can still remember the words.  The song is "Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee" (no relation to Crocodile.) 

I know a wee squirrel who lives in an oak.

He loves a good lunch and he loves a good joke.

There's a wee bit of Scotch in his family tree.

He's Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee.

He's Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee.

Of chestnuts and acorns he's gathered a store.

Although he has plenty he still gathers more.

And he has them for breakfast and luncheon and tea.

Young Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee.

Young Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee. 

His brothers and sisters and uncles and aunts

Quite often will gather and have a fine dance.

And they leap through the air with hilarious glee.

With Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee.

With Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee. 

Once while they were dancing a hunter came by.

And all of the squirrels the hunter did spy.

And he lifted his rifle and aimed carefully

At Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee.

At Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee. 

The rifle went off with a terrible blast.

But Angus MacFergus was faster than fast.

And the bullet went deep in that poor old oak tree.

But it never touched Angus MacFergus Dundee.

But it never touched Angus MacFergus Dundee. 

The hunter looked round but the squirrels were gone.

Of all of those dancers there wasn't a one.

They were all safely hid in that friendly oak tree

With Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee.

With Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee. 

I often imagine that I'd like to be

A bonnie wee squirrel and live in a tree.

Pay no rent and no taxes and get my lunch free

Like Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee.

Like Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee. 

Why I remember this song, I do not know.  From this same period of time in my life I remember a poem Mom had me memorize so I could recite it in Jr. Sunday School.  But, that is a story for another day. 

Today I went on the internet and did a Google search on Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee.  There it was, on You Tube.  The song was sung by Burl Ives.  For those of you who want to hear it, here is the link.  And, yes, I did correctly remember the words. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO_UpAaltQc

Listen and enjoy.  I have enjoyed the song for over 50 years, at least in my memory.

Missionary Farewell of Charles C. Rampton, Jr.

On May 26, 1949 George Albert Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints signed a letter calling Charles C. Rampton, Jr. to serve a mission for the Church in the Canadian Mission.  He was to report to the Mission Home on June 20, 1949, a Monday.  At that time, Grandpa (Charles C. Rampton, Jr.), Aunt Janet and Grandma Blanche lived on 15th East in Salt Lake City and were members of the Yale Ward.  I will include some photos of the ward building taken about this time.  I have vague recollections of it from my first 5 years when we lived in Salt Lake City.  Most prominently is a stained glass window of the Savior knocking at the door.  The Yale Ward was a remarkable ward.  Its membership included Joseph F. Smith, George Albert Smith, Ezra Taft Benson, and host of other apostles and general authorities.  At the time Grandpa went on his mission, there were 37 other missionaries from the ward serving throughout the world including the sons of Ezra Taft Benson and Aavard Fairbanks (world famous sculptor whose works include the statues of Peter James and John ordaining Joseph Smith to the Melkizedek Priesthood and of John the Baptist ordaining Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, both of which are on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  I also had a run in with his bees, but that is a story for another day.)

Yale Ward Building on Gilmer Drive in Salt Lake City



Foyer of the Yale Ward Building looking into the chapel (see stained glass window in back above stand)

Jesus Knocking at the Door Stained Glass Window above stand of Yale Ward

Grandpa's missionary farewell, as they called them in those days, took place at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, 1949 at the Yale Ward Chapel.  It was indeed a remarkable meeting.  Below is part of the printed program.

Missionary Farewell Program

The prelude music was played by Alexander Schreiner, one of the most famous organists in the world.  He later became the chief organist for the Tabernacle Choir.  He studied in Paris, taught at UCLA where he was also organist for the First Methodist Episcopal Church and music director for the Jewish Wilshire Blvd. Temple.  1n 1939 President Heber J. Grant asked him to work with the Tabernacle Choir which he did until 1977 when he was diagnosed with cancer.  Pretty remarkable that he would play at Grandpa's farewell. 

Alexander Schreiner

The invocation was offered by Tom Greene, one of Grandpa's best friends.  He was a remarkable man despite having a withered arm.  In 1985 he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan as a district court judge and was confirmed by the United States Senate that same year.

Tom Greene

It is interesting that the Sacrament Song was sung by the ward choir and not the congregation and ward choir.  I wonder if that was standard procedure or just happened for this meeting.

After the administration of the Sacrament there was a vocal solo by Lee Sanders.  Lee was a high school classmate of Grandma's (Lois Fae Linnebach) and had an outstanding voice.  The song he sung is not listed on the program, but Grandma and Grandpa used to talk about it.  By today's church standards, one might consider it an inappropriate song to sing in Sacrament Meeting,  "Old Man River"  from the Broadway musical Show Boat.  It's a beautiful song but probably not for Sacrament Meeting.  I wonder what the concluding speaker thought?

The next speaker was Charles R. Mabey, former governor of the State of Utah and Grandpa Cash's brother-in-law.  He was also  poet, writing an epic of the old west called The Pony Express.

Charles R. Mabey

After Alexander Shreiner played another organ solo, John Fetzer spoke.  I remember Grandpa talking about him and my recollection is that he was Grandpa's scoutmaster when he was a boy scout. 

The next two speakers were the bishop (don't know his name) and Grandpa.  On the program, Grandpa would have been the final speaker.  But such was not the case.  At the beginning of the meeting, George Albert Smith, President of the Church walked in.  And so, as was custom, he was always the concluding speaker.  I would like to have known what he talked about. What an honor to have the Prophet speak at your missionary farewell.

President George Albert Smith

So that was Grandpa's missionary farewell.  Pretty remarkable.

Spiritual Experiences and Henry Jolley

Several weeks ago the Sunday School Teacher in my ward asked us to think about a spiritual experience we had had.  I didn't get an opportunity to share one because so many people raised their hands.  But I immediately thought back to my college days and the first temple sealing I was ever invited to attend.  It was the wedding of my roommate Chuck and his bride Cindy in the Salt Lake Temple.  We were all seated in the sealing room when the sealer walked in.  I do not remember his name or what he looked like; but, I do remember most of everything he said:  "Brothers and sisters, there are angels present in this room today."  At that very moment, the spirit bore witness to my soul that what he had said was true.  I looked around but I didn't see any.  But I knew they were there.  The sealer continued by quoting from memory the first ten verses of Job chapter 1.

 1. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

2.  And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

3.  His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

4.  And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

5.  And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

6.  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

7.  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

8.  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9.  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10.  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

He explained that in these verses Satan was complaining to the Lord that he a was not able to temple Job because the Lord had made a hedge about he and his family and Satan could not get through.

The sealer then quoted from memory 1 Peter 4:8.  However, hew quoted from the Joseph Smith Translation which says: "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall prevent the multitude of sins."

He then asked Chuck if he knew the connection between the two scriptures.  Chuck was too nervous to speak so the sealer gave the answer.  The charity mentioned in 1 Peter was the hedge mentioned in Job 1:10.  The reason Satan could not influence Job or his family was the charity or love that existed there.  He then encouraged Chuck and Cindy to build such a hedge around their family.  As he spoke these words the Spirit again bore testimony to my soul that they were true and I have never forgot them.  May you all remember them also.

I had another experience this week that I consider spiritual that I would like to share with you all.  On Wednesday, I had a PET Scan scheduled at the City of Hope Hospital.  My daughter-in-law, Melissa, who is about 25 weeks pregnant, took me, as she charitably has to all of my appointments there.  We arrived at 6 a.m.  I went in to get set up.  One of the first things the technician did was take my blood sugar.  It was way high, over 300.  (Too many chocolate milk shakes, I guess.)  They told me they could not do the test unless it was under 200. We were sent home and I was scheduled to come back at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday.  Friday night I stayed overnight in the hospital to have some more chemo.  Arrangements were made for my son David to pick me up Saturday morning.  At the end of my PET Scan (blood sugar was 163) the technician told me I would be radioactive for 5 hours and not to be around any pregnant women.  No one said anything about that on Wednesday.  I believe the Lord was watching out for Melissa and her yet to be born little girl.

I will now relate what I consider to be an spiritual experience that involves Henry Jolley, years after he died.  The following is from the Jolley Book that was given to me by Grandma Ethel. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------

In the end, the mortal body of Henry Jolley was given the respect it deserved.  It was not plowed under to become the end of a cul-de-sac.  Rather it was buried  in the Provo City Cemetery near other deceased family members where one day it will rise in resurrection with those other family members who are buried near by.  Indeed, it will be a great reunion.

My Mother - Lois Fae Linnebach Rampton

I don't know whether or not it is appropriate to share the contents of your Patriarchal Blessing, especially in a public forum.  But I am going to do it to make at point.  My Patriarchal Blessing says that I was able to choose my parents in our pre-mortal existence.  I don't know if that is true for everyone (the scriptures are silent on the subject) but for me it is.  This fact teaches me three things.  First:  I knew my mother before coming to this earth.  Second:  she was a great person (at least I thought so), so much so that I chose her to get me started on my mortal probation and teach me good from evil.  Third:  having agency, she cared enough about me to accept the calling as my mother.  The same goes for my Dad.  I wish that when I was growing up I had that same perspective.  Indeed, my mother, Lois Fae Linnebach Rampton, was a great woman in the pre-mortal existence.  She was a great person during her mortal existence.  And I am sure she is doing a great work in the afterlife. (There are probably many things that need gold leafing there.)

A few weeks ago when cleaning out the rumpus room I found an old photo album that had pictures of Mom that I had never seen before.  Also, I found some old 3 x 5 cards that had recipes written on them in her own handwriting.  So, to honor her on this Mothers Day, I share with you below, those photos and recipes.  Be sure to try them out.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lois age 2

Lois Age 8 3rd from left with siblings and cousins (Uncle Glen is standing next to her)

Lois in middle early teens



Lois 2nd from right early teens

Lois and her brother Gary

Lois on left with two girlfriends

Lois and girlfriend (Bonnie Manley ?)

Lois on right

1957 Lois holding Richard and Charlie in fire truck

Lois back row on right holding Jim.  Roger is on right in front row.  Picture taken at Grandma Ethel's house

Lois in middle

Grandpa holding Richard.  Charlie on right. 1956.

Easy Dessert from Lorainne Johnson

Aunt Janet's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Jello Cottage Cheese Salad

Layer Bars friom Grandma Ethel

Lois's Oatmeal Cookies

Lois's Zucchini Bead

Sunt Louise's Zucchini Bread

Aunt Maureen's Oh Henry Bars

Marci Meyers Rocky Road Fudge

Xmas Feuit Cake from Grandma Ethel

Zucchini Cookies

Zucchini Drop Cookies

Henry Jolley - Pioneer and Settler

I spent four days this past week in Utah for the graduation of my youngest son, Kevin, from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.  It was a great experience.  Little did I realize at the time that this was Henry Jolley territory.  He lived the last few months of his life in Pleasant Grove, Utah, just north of Provo.  On 20 December 1850 he died and was buried near his home.  His burial and future exhumation are interesting in and of themselves.  I will write about that next week.

Here is the conclusion of Henry Jolley's autobiography.  In it, he gives vivid details of crossing the plains, life in Salt Lake City, and his call to settle the modern day town of Pleasant Grove, Utah.  He died two months after settling there.

----------------------------------------------------------

We pushed our way across Iowa and finally reached Council Bluffs where we set up our camp at Winter Quarters. . Great streams of immigrants from Europe as well as from the Eastern and Southern states were coming to join, which made Council Bluffs a pulsating community. But this was not our destination. Our Prophet, before his death, prophesied that the Saints would become a mighty people in the Rocky Mountains, and there they would build a new Zion.

Brigham Young and the first company of Saints headed west in the spring of 1847. Many more would follow. The Jolleys were good farmers and were advised to remain where they were to supply food for those coming and going through Winter Quarters. A Dutch immigrant and  convert named Barbara became Henry’s wife at this time. He described her as a good woman but not entirely reconciled to a harsh life on the plains.  In the spring of 1850, the time had come for us to start for the Valley. There was my wife Barbara, young Sammy, and my daughter Diana and her daughter Lina Maniza Jones in the company. Sammy was twelve now so he was quite a help. My youngest daughter Lina Maniza married John Parris and they remained in Iowa. We had many trials and hardships along the way. It was a large company and the roads were often muddy from the spring rains which slowed us up. Some days we were able to make only a few miles. I came close to losing my wagon and oxen when we crossed the Platte River which was then at flood stage, but God was with us and we were able to master the torrent.  There were many fascinating experiences on the plains. The  scenery was different and fascinating—no mountains as far as one could see. Waving expanses of bunch grass stretched out in every direction. The wide open spaces were beautiful and inspiring. After the days travel, evening socials and dances were enjoyed. The young folks had much fun and enjoyment, although at times they had to walk. The road generally was not too bad. Many people had traveled on to Oregon and California ahead of us. We were overjoyed to see trappers and Saints returning from the Valley to Winter Quarters. They would tell us intriguing stories about the beautiful canyons and valleys of the new Zion. These would be our refuge from our enemies. Occasionally, we would see a buffalo herd and some Indians which caused some anxiety, but our company was large and our scouts were always on the lookout for any sign of danger.

What a thrill when we first sighted the snow-capped Rockies! The spiraled peaks looked like far away sentinels, and we encountered some snow over the great South Pass. At Fort Bridger we rested a couple of days, and shoed our oxen because the road from here on would be rockier and rougher. There would be deep canyons and streams of water to cross. But these beautiful canyons would lead us to the place of our dreams.

Oh, what a breath-taking scene at the sight of the beautiful Salt Lake Valley. The wide stretching plain with the lake as a background was thrilling to see indeed. We were welcomed by the Saints who had arrived ahead of us and made us feel at home. We had heard so much about the country before we arrived that we did not feel as strangers among our friends. The city had been plotted into 10 acre squares, with wide spacious streets, so the ox teams could easily turn around. Beyond the plotted area were the fields. I obtained a lot on 2^nd South and Main Street. I still had a few means, but the wealth we had when we left Tennessee was pretty much used up.

In July, my daughter, Temperance, and her family arrived in the Valley, and on September 15, my daughter-in-law, Sarah and her children arrived. I met them at the mouth of Immigration Canyon. My cows were dry so I traded the Southwest corner of my lot for a cow that was milking so Sarah’s children could have milk to drink.

There was much pioneering to be done to reclaim the land.  Here we must build our empire, far away from our enemies.  According to Brigham, it was to stretch Northwest and South many miles. Settlements were to be built in every direction from Salt Lake.

We were chosen to move South into Utah County, to a place we called Grove Creek1 at the base of a high mountain called Timpanogas. We were four days on the road, and arrived there on October 13, 1850. The season was late and we had to build our cabins before winter set in. Timber was quite plentiful.

Cottonwood trees lined the banks of the two creeks that flowed from the mountain to the east. Everybody was busy and it looked like an army of ants the way the men, women and children worked to have shelter before snow fell. The work was carried forward in relays, groups of men and boys joined together. In this way they could make better progress than each working alone.

One day we had a cabin nearly to the square. The logs for the rafters were in a pile close to the building. Sammy, (the little negro boy we had brought because his parents died) and the other little boys were playing on them when the logs started to roll. One big log struck Sammy and he was killed instantly. He was a fine, obedient little fellow and we mourned his loss. Although his skin was black, truly his spirit was white just like ours. We buried him on a spot just north and east of our main settlement.  The fall was open and beautiful with some rain, but otherwise pleasant so we finished our cabins before winter set in.  We felt our food supplies were adequate and, now, we were ready to turn our attention to our church duties and planning our new settlement for a permanent home.