May 23, 2009
Dear Ty,
You have been on my mind for some time now. You have also been in my prayers. I thought of you often on your birthday and wondered how you were doing at age 68. That seems so old but it better than the alternative particularly when we have had 11 funerals in our stake the last three months-I think I spoke at three of them. I just finished stake conference and now can now concentrate on other things including writing to you.
Thanks so much for your letter. I have no way to relate to your experience on being confined. I’m sure it is a huge adjustment. I”ve always been impressed with your positive attitude through this whole proceeding. I’m grateful that your work gives you some time to be alone. Will you stay at the same facility the entire sentence? Do you read a lot or watch TV? Are you learning any Spanish? I remember when my father’s sheep herders wanted to teach me Spanish as a teenager and I thought I could never use it so I declined. That was one of my three dumb decisions I made as a teenager. The other two were talking my mother into quitting piano lessons and the other was not taking shorthand in high school.
First, a report on my health. I am doing well. I”m told my voice is stronger. I leave tomorrow for Denver to run (shuffle) my ninth Bolder Boulder 10K Race. I have been preparing for about three months and I am prepared enough to finish the course although my time will not be that good but if I just finish I am satisfied. The doctor said I can not run so I walk and shuffle. Three of my daughters will be with me-they watch out for me. Two good friends, neighbors and fellow ward members will be with me too but I may be better prepared that they are this year. I am wearing a bike shirt designed by one of the young men in my ward when I was bishop-he sells these shirts to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Cancer Fund (over $250,000 raised so far). His wife suffers from breast cancer and is very seriously ill so I am running in this pink and black biking shirt to honor her brave fight against cancer. I may gets some strange looks shuffling in this bright pink shirt but I don’t care that other people think-I know what I feel and that is more important to me. Last summer at youth conference in Wyoming, I walked 14 miles across Rocky Ridge on our handcart trek in honor of people in my stake and other friends who were suffering from cancer. It was a very emotional experience to complete the trek and pray with my walking companions on the hill overlooking Rock Creek and the burial sight for 13 buried in a common grave that the people I walked for would be blessed.
The doctor has increased my Sinemet from two to three pills per day. I held off taking the extra pill for three month because he warned me that when my medication is increased, the possible adverse side effects may become evident. I wasn’t worried that the stronger medication would turn me into a compulsive gambler or a sex addict, but I was worried about drowsiness or dizziness as possible side effects. I have been on the new medication for about a month with no adverse side effects and I have more energy and more control with the increased medication. I also take Requip each day-both of my medications are low dosages. I’m so grateful that these medications work for me.
Ty, you have been such a good friend to me I feel I can share my fears with you. Fears are strange feelings-they may not be justified but they are real to the person who experiences them. I was surprised that I was called to be stake president at age 62- I did not seek the position but I accepted the call willingly and pledged with everything I had to complete my assignment acceptable to the Lord. A couple of years after I was called, the Spirit told my physical therapist and good friend that I had Parkinson Disease. He waited until I was in his office for treatment of a sore muscle or back that I needed to be examined by a doctor because his Dad had Parkinson and he thought I had the disease. The neurologist confirmed that diagnosis a couple of months later. I told my wife, partners and stake presidency but no one else. I was afraid clients would drop me and that the youth at church wouldn’t respect me as a stake president with physical disabilities. I waited a year to tell my kids-some of them saw changes in me and believed the pressure of my stake president’s call had put me under too much stress when in fact my calling is what really kept me going. I had my presidency give me a blessing and after that I realized that it didn’t matter how long I served but how well I served during the time I was stake president. I didn’t think at the time I would make the normal nine year term.
I told my clients-none left. I told the stake in stake conference I had Parkinson by recounting climbing a 14,000 foot mountain a couple of months earlier. At about 13000 feet I recalled that I was tired and it was hard to climb at that altitude because of the lack of oxygen. I decided to quit and use what energy I had left in my legs to get back down the mountain when a clear impression came into my mind-“Kelly, if you quit now you are admitting that Parkinson’s can beat you.” I answered my own statement-“Parkinson’s may someday beat me but not today.” With new courage I made it to the top of the peak. I told the conference that we have to be bold and declare to ourselves that temptation can’t beat us when we are being tempted-don’t worry abut the future but only concentrate on the decision that must be made now. The stake has truly rallied around me and prayed for me. The youth have looked up to me as an example as I walked 14 miles across Rocky Ridge with my disability.
However, the fear has still persisted that I might be released as stake president if church authorities knew of my condition. The mission presidents have all known but I don’t know if Elder Funk, my Area Seventy from Denver, knows I have Parkinson. I never told him and he never asked. A couple of weeks ago a change was made and now Elder Brimhall is my new Area Authority. I don’t know what he knows. I have been worried when Bishop David Burton was to visit our stake conference in May that my movements may disclose my condition or prompt an inquiry. It’s not that I want to be stake president for the honor or title-I do enjoy being stake president most of the time (there are certain situations I would gladly give the call to someone else but that isn’t how it works-I can’t delegate certain things and must do them no matter how uncomfortable or scared I am) but I have a strong commitment to complete my calling and complete a normal nine year term. I don’t want to be a quitter. I want to serve what I was called to do. Once I passed my midterm mark last November I knew I could serve a full term. If I can get to the top of a 14,000 foot peak, I can get to the bottom. I can state that my Parkinson’s has never caused me in any way to miss any appointment or not fulfill my calling.
As I prepared for the visit from Bishop Burton, my voice was good and my movements strong. I didn’t intend to tell him about Parkinson’s. As it turned out, with his artificial knee and extra weight, he had a tougher time moving around than I did. After a couple of visits, he had a private interview with me before we met as a stake presidency. He ask me point blank about my health and the health of my counselors. I was straight forward with him and told me about my prostate cancer and my Parkinson’s Disease and that President Eyring had blessed me with the “health, strength and endurance” to complete my calling. This is the blessing someone needs that has my condition. He never even made a note but went on with the interview. We were in constant meetings from 1:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and we both got up at 5:30 a.m. the next morning and were in constant meetings from 7:00 a.m. to noon. I was with him all the way and talked three times per his assignment.
My wife’s health has been good. She was lost 70 pounds the last year and is feeling much better. She has more energy and is the reason I am able to serve as Stake President. She does all the driving in the large cities like Denver and Salt Lake. She has a strong will.
I feel good about my stake. We have grown 1000 members in the last five years and created one new ward. I have great bishops and each ward feels like a family. There is good love among the saints and a good spirit in every ward. I just wish I could convince the home teachers to do a better job. We have a great relationship with the Monticello Temple and our Denver South Mission. The missionaries like to be transferred to the Western Slope.
I’m sure you get the San Juan Record and read the article about Clarence and Seraphine Frost. They were such good people-you have a great heritage. I will never forget their kindness to me. I was at a church dance when the news came that Bob Barton and Mrs Bennion Redd had been killed in the automobile crash near Greenriver. I was really scared as I started to walk home on that dark cold windy night when they came by and gave me a ride home. Even though their hearts were broken at the lost of a grandson, they still had time to help a scared 12 year old boy.
I’m still trying to put a trip together to come see you. My daughter Connie is in her last year at the University of Texas at Austin getting a PhD in Speech Pathology-her field is determining whether a child has a speech problem or if it is a bilingual problem. I understand you can only have visitors on Friday and Saturday and that you can only have so many visitors on your visitor list. I realize that family comes first on the list.
Do you have any other church members in your institution?
We will miss you at the class reunion. I am grateful that you are my friend. Thanks for listening to me. As my book “Parkinson’s Disease for Dummies” say, “Never Give Up.”
God is good. He is in control.May 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
BISHOP BURTON LETTER-STAKE CONFERENCE
May 27, 2009
Bishop H. David Burton
50 East North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-1300
Dear Bishop Burton,
Thanks for attending our stake conference. We benefited by your instruction, direction, warmth, love and blessings given us. Your impact for good on our stake was evidenced by the large attendance we had at all our meetings. I personally learned much from you by watching your example. I never have met a General Authority that knew so much about what was going on in the Church. Thanks for answering my questions and being so open in sharing your knowledge.
You were very gracious in meeting our proposed agenda so that so many saints and friends could have a chance to interact with you. The Hardy family was very appreciative of your visit and particularly your blessing to Brother Hardy. He is doing better. Three days after our visit to their home, Sister Hardy came by my home to express her appreciation and to show me the little booklet she had prepared which contained her account of the visit complete with developed pictures taken at the event. She wanted to save a report of this experience for her permanent family history. She commended on your thoughtfulness to son John after the miscarriage suffered by his wife and your attention to Devin, the Down’s Syndrome son. I am convinced a leader’s most effective time is visiting in member’s home.
I liked that you saved time to let members ask you questions. I thought the questions asked were substantial and meaningful. I was so proud of our Young Single Adult Ward showing up at 7:00 a.m. to meet and hear from you. Thanks for shaking their hands. They are a great example to me and are so service orientated and help others. I wish they were as faithful in home and visiting teaching.
Your Sabbath Day experience as a teenager was very moving when you addressed the youth. It brought back memories when our children were playing competitive soccer and I would drive them home on Saturday night from Denver when their teams would be playing the next day for the State Championship in their leagues. The Sabbath Day was very important in my family. During the Depression, my father was managing 22,000 head of sheep for the L.H. Redd Sheep Company in San Juan County. Charlie Redd threatened to fire my father because he refused to work on Sunday unless it was an emergency. My father refused and Charlie Redd backed down because he didn’t want to lose my father as a manager.
Thanks for addressing our recent converts and investigators. Last Saturday night I attended a baptism where a father was baptized which joined him in the gospel to his member wife and five member daughters. About 80% of the men who were presented to be made Elders came from families where they can now go to the temple together. June 5 is our annual stake temple day where we ask each temple recommend holder to take a day off work and join their ward for the ward’s special temple session in the Monticello Temple and many of these men will be sealed to their families then or at whatever temple they desire. I am enclosing a copy of the report on converts activity and the Aaronic Priesthood Exception List which I promised. We will put more emphasis in this area.
My father was bishop for sixteen years. I grew up being the “bishop’s son” and was proud of that title. I know the Lord loves his bishops and I thank the Lord that you were sent to our stake so I could feel of your special spirit and love. The highlight of the conference for me was the special blessing you left at the end of all our meetings for our stake presidency. I know that your blessing that our children and our posterity would be blessed because of service in the stake presidency will be fulfilled. God is good. He is in control. It’s great to serve in the Kingdom.
Your Brother in the gospel,
Pres. Kelly Summers
P. S. I returned Monday evening after completing the Bolder Boulder 10K Race the same day. My time was only one minute slower than last year. I ran with four of my daughters and my future son in law, Gabi Olivares. Mark Pulsipher was in our group and completed the race.
Bishop H. David Burton
50 East North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-1300
Dear Bishop Burton,
Thanks for attending our stake conference. We benefited by your instruction, direction, warmth, love and blessings given us. Your impact for good on our stake was evidenced by the large attendance we had at all our meetings. I personally learned much from you by watching your example. I never have met a General Authority that knew so much about what was going on in the Church. Thanks for answering my questions and being so open in sharing your knowledge.
You were very gracious in meeting our proposed agenda so that so many saints and friends could have a chance to interact with you. The Hardy family was very appreciative of your visit and particularly your blessing to Brother Hardy. He is doing better. Three days after our visit to their home, Sister Hardy came by my home to express her appreciation and to show me the little booklet she had prepared which contained her account of the visit complete with developed pictures taken at the event. She wanted to save a report of this experience for her permanent family history. She commended on your thoughtfulness to son John after the miscarriage suffered by his wife and your attention to Devin, the Down’s Syndrome son. I am convinced a leader’s most effective time is visiting in member’s home.
I liked that you saved time to let members ask you questions. I thought the questions asked were substantial and meaningful. I was so proud of our Young Single Adult Ward showing up at 7:00 a.m. to meet and hear from you. Thanks for shaking their hands. They are a great example to me and are so service orientated and help others. I wish they were as faithful in home and visiting teaching.
Your Sabbath Day experience as a teenager was very moving when you addressed the youth. It brought back memories when our children were playing competitive soccer and I would drive them home on Saturday night from Denver when their teams would be playing the next day for the State Championship in their leagues. The Sabbath Day was very important in my family. During the Depression, my father was managing 22,000 head of sheep for the L.H. Redd Sheep Company in San Juan County. Charlie Redd threatened to fire my father because he refused to work on Sunday unless it was an emergency. My father refused and Charlie Redd backed down because he didn’t want to lose my father as a manager.
Thanks for addressing our recent converts and investigators. Last Saturday night I attended a baptism where a father was baptized which joined him in the gospel to his member wife and five member daughters. About 80% of the men who were presented to be made Elders came from families where they can now go to the temple together. June 5 is our annual stake temple day where we ask each temple recommend holder to take a day off work and join their ward for the ward’s special temple session in the Monticello Temple and many of these men will be sealed to their families then or at whatever temple they desire. I am enclosing a copy of the report on converts activity and the Aaronic Priesthood Exception List which I promised. We will put more emphasis in this area.
My father was bishop for sixteen years. I grew up being the “bishop’s son” and was proud of that title. I know the Lord loves his bishops and I thank the Lord that you were sent to our stake so I could feel of your special spirit and love. The highlight of the conference for me was the special blessing you left at the end of all our meetings for our stake presidency. I know that your blessing that our children and our posterity would be blessed because of service in the stake presidency will be fulfilled. God is good. He is in control. It’s great to serve in the Kingdom.
Your Brother in the gospel,
Pres. Kelly Summers
P. S. I returned Monday evening after completing the Bolder Boulder 10K Race the same day. My time was only one minute slower than last year. I ran with four of my daughters and my future son in law, Gabi Olivares. Mark Pulsipher was in our group and completed the race.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
NINTH BOLDER BOULDER
NINTH BOLDER BOULDER
MAY 25, 2009
Today I completed my 9th Bolder Boulder 10K Race on Memorial Day. It was 10 years ago that Clarissa and I went to Denver to watch our girls run in the Bolder Boulder. It looked so much fun that I decided I would run it with them the next year but was told by Carol and Connie who ran it that I should register as a walker. I told them I wanted to run so around the next Christmas I started to train at age 58 to run my first race. I immediately realized I wasn’t out of shape but had no shape at all and could only run from the house to mailbox before I was spent. But I persisted and found out by extending myself further everyday I soon got in shape and that the body is an amazing machine that can adapt quickly. Now , less than 10 years later I completed:
1 Nine Bolder Boulders
2 Ten 14,000 foot peaks.
3 Two Half Marathons
4 One Marathon
5 One Moab 5K Race
As I age, my time completing the Bolder Boulder get longer and I need more prayers to finish. G.J. 1st
Ward prayed for me this time and I had my presidency give me a blessing on Sunday. Dean White and I ran together-it was our least prepared race but a soon 68 year old and a soon 75 year older completed it in 1 hour and 50 minutes, one minute longer than last year. It was perfect running weather, cool and cloudy and we did well, never getting to the “zombie” stage where you run on guts only because you hurt so much and have no strength left.
We had a group of about 15 running and walking. We stayed for a great Memorial Day program where one of Doolittle’s Raiders was honored and we had a fly over by the jets and the sky divers with a service flags followed by the American flag-it was very moving. And then, it started to rain while we were still in the stadium. We were all very wet when we got back to the cars but it still was a great day.
The most important part though was not the race even though I enjoyed my success and with the Lord’s help, beat Parkinson’s Disease for one more year. The most important thing to me was being with my family. I knew that the Waters would be there house hunting and I knew Connie would run because she stayed with us in G.J. and worked so hard around the house. I was really surprised to see Kim fixing the Sunday evening meal at Gabi’s apartment. She had just flown in from Oregon after winning the contest to be the first family member to be in all 50 states. It is so satisfying to run with Carol, Connie, Kim and Catherine-just like climbing a mountain with them. This also was Gabi’s second time running with our family. It was also great to see the grandchildren play. Kate and Aaron feel very blessed to have a contract on their house three days after it was listed.
It was a very fast 30 hours to drive over, eat, sleep, run and then drive back but was a very satisfying trip. I am been very blessed to be able to complete the race. I committed to Dean to run at least 10 times and then see what happens. Carol and Connie had special shirts announcing it was their 10th time. I wore a bright pink biking shirt designed by Eldon Nelson and given to me by his sister Kellene with a sign stating I was running in honor of Susan Nelson, cancer survivor. She is doing poorly.
God is good and I am blessed
K.K. Summers
MAY 25, 2009
Today I completed my 9th Bolder Boulder 10K Race on Memorial Day. It was 10 years ago that Clarissa and I went to Denver to watch our girls run in the Bolder Boulder. It looked so much fun that I decided I would run it with them the next year but was told by Carol and Connie who ran it that I should register as a walker. I told them I wanted to run so around the next Christmas I started to train at age 58 to run my first race. I immediately realized I wasn’t out of shape but had no shape at all and could only run from the house to mailbox before I was spent. But I persisted and found out by extending myself further everyday I soon got in shape and that the body is an amazing machine that can adapt quickly. Now , less than 10 years later I completed:
1 Nine Bolder Boulders
2 Ten 14,000 foot peaks.
3 Two Half Marathons
4 One Marathon
5 One Moab 5K Race
As I age, my time completing the Bolder Boulder get longer and I need more prayers to finish. G.J. 1st
Ward prayed for me this time and I had my presidency give me a blessing on Sunday. Dean White and I ran together-it was our least prepared race but a soon 68 year old and a soon 75 year older completed it in 1 hour and 50 minutes, one minute longer than last year. It was perfect running weather, cool and cloudy and we did well, never getting to the “zombie” stage where you run on guts only because you hurt so much and have no strength left.
We had a group of about 15 running and walking. We stayed for a great Memorial Day program where one of Doolittle’s Raiders was honored and we had a fly over by the jets and the sky divers with a service flags followed by the American flag-it was very moving. And then, it started to rain while we were still in the stadium. We were all very wet when we got back to the cars but it still was a great day.
The most important part though was not the race even though I enjoyed my success and with the Lord’s help, beat Parkinson’s Disease for one more year. The most important thing to me was being with my family. I knew that the Waters would be there house hunting and I knew Connie would run because she stayed with us in G.J. and worked so hard around the house. I was really surprised to see Kim fixing the Sunday evening meal at Gabi’s apartment. She had just flown in from Oregon after winning the contest to be the first family member to be in all 50 states. It is so satisfying to run with Carol, Connie, Kim and Catherine-just like climbing a mountain with them. This also was Gabi’s second time running with our family. It was also great to see the grandchildren play. Kate and Aaron feel very blessed to have a contract on their house three days after it was listed.
It was a very fast 30 hours to drive over, eat, sleep, run and then drive back but was a very satisfying trip. I am been very blessed to be able to complete the race. I committed to Dean to run at least 10 times and then see what happens. Carol and Connie had special shirts announcing it was their 10th time. I wore a bright pink biking shirt designed by Eldon Nelson and given to me by his sister Kellene with a sign stating I was running in honor of Susan Nelson, cancer survivor. She is doing poorly.
God is good and I am blessed
K.K. Summers
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
TWENTY YEARS LATER
May 6, 2009
TWENTY YEARS LATER
When I was a bishop of the G. J. 8th Ward, a lady came to consult with me about the church’s position on abortion. She had grown up in the ward but now was married and was out of the ward. She was pregnant and her non- member husband was putting pressure on her to have an abortion because she had been tested and the baby she was carrying would be born a hemophiliac. I clearly remember the interview and this woman’s struggle to do the right thing. She had the baby. She and her husband eventually were divorce and she remarried and had more children.
A few months ago I was talking to this same woman who now lives in our stake about the great interview I had with her son about going on his mission. He was so excited, so positive and so likeable-fun to be around. She said, “He is the one-he was the child I was carrying when I came to see you when I was getting pressure to have an abortion.”
I interviewed him very carefully about his medical condition. He gave himself three injections per week to control his condition. It cost more than a thousand dollars per week for his medication but it was covered by his mother’s insurance until he was 23. His stepfather’s insurance provided secondary coverage. He was unlimited in his activities although he didn’t play football for obvious reasons. I knew the missionary department may have lots of questions and with his condition he might not be allowed to serve so I made sure his missionary application was very complete with the medical insurance coverage that was available in the United States and that he had a medical recommendation from his local doctor as well as a recommendation from the hemophilia center in Denver endorsing that he could serve as a missionary. I was sure he would be restricted to the United States where he had medical insurance coverage and access to his medication. I was pleasantly surprised that I did not receive a call from the missionary department asking for clarification or more evaluation but he received his call to serve as a Spanish speaking missionary in the United States.
Yesterday, I set him apart as a full time missionary for the church. It was an emotional experience of me and his mother. I referred in the blessing to Hannah who promised the Lord if she could have a son she would give him to the Lord and this sister was like Hannah and was now giving her son to the Lord. The mother mentioned in her testimony when she was struggling knowing she was carrying a baby with a medical condition that could cause her child severe problems throughout his life that the Savior’s peace and blessing came over her and promised her that everything would be okay. Six months after her son’s birth she received an unsolicited call asking her if she would like her son to participate in a study for a new drug that had not yet being approved by the FDA that had the hope of controlling hemophilia. She signed up and her son began receiving the experimental drug which was successful and later approved by the FDA which allowed her son to live a normal life.
God knows. God is in control
K. K. Summers
May 6, 2009
TWENTY YEARS LATER
When I was a bishop of the G. J. 8th Ward, a lady came to consult with me about the church’s position on abortion. She had grown up in the ward but now was married and was out of the ward. She was pregnant and her non- member husband was putting pressure on her to have an abortion because she had been tested and the baby she was carrying would be born a hemophiliac. I clearly remember the interview and this woman’s struggle to do the right thing. She had the baby. She and her husband eventually were divorce and she remarried and had more children.
A few months ago I was talking to this same woman who now lives in our stake about the great interview I had with her son about going on his mission. He was so excited, so positive and so likeable-fun to be around. She said, “He is the one-he was the child I was carrying when I came to see you when I was getting pressure to have an abortion.”
I interviewed him very carefully about his medical condition. He gave himself three injections per week to control his condition. It cost more than a thousand dollars per week for his medication but it was covered by his mother’s insurance until he was 23. His stepfather’s insurance provided secondary coverage. He was unlimited in his activities although he didn’t play football for obvious reasons. I knew the missionary department may have lots of questions and with his condition he might not be allowed to serve so I made sure his missionary application was very complete with the medical insurance coverage that was available in the United States and that he had a medical recommendation from his local doctor as well as a recommendation from the hemophilia center in Denver endorsing that he could serve as a missionary. I was sure he would be restricted to the United States where he had medical insurance coverage and access to his medication. I was pleasantly surprised that I did not receive a call from the missionary department asking for clarification or more evaluation but he received his call to serve as a Spanish speaking missionary in the United States.
Yesterday, I set him apart as a full time missionary for the church. It was an emotional experience of me and his mother. I referred in the blessing to Hannah who promised the Lord if she could have a son she would give him to the Lord and this sister was like Hannah and was now giving her son to the Lord. The mother mentioned in her testimony when she was struggling knowing she was carrying a baby with a medical condition that could cause her child severe problems throughout his life that the Savior’s peace and blessing came over her and promised her that everything would be okay. Six months after her son’s birth she received an unsolicited call asking her if she would like her son to participate in a study for a new drug that had not yet being approved by the FDA that had the hope of controlling hemophilia. She signed up and her son began receiving the experimental drug which was successful and later approved by the FDA which allowed her son to live a normal life.
God knows. God is in control
K. K. Summers
May 6, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
ZONE CONFERENCE APRIL 17,2009
April 24, 2009
RE: ZONE CONFERENCE-APRIL 17, 2009
Dear President and Sister Christison,
Thanks so much for allowing me to attend zone conference at the Grand Junction Stake Center last week. What a great day. I spirit continued to reside with me that evening as I returned home and I thanked my Heavenly Father for the experiences I had at zone conference. Let me summarize some highlights:
1. I love your conferences because I am taught the gospel and I feel the spirit testify to me of the truthfulness of what is taught. President Christison’s teaching on the atonement and the testimony of Elder McConkie was very moving. I had met Elder McConkie when our stake was divided and the Montrose Stake was created and I went to BYU with his son Joseph.
2. Sister Christison’s teachings about the sacrament taught me new principles and added to my appreciation for the Savior. It has permanently changed what I think about when I take the sacrament. I would appreciate if Sister Christison would share with me the sheet containing the comparison of the two prayers when you come to our stake conference together with any reference material.
3. I was touched by the two testimonies given by the missionaries during the breakout sessions on how the atonement had touched their lives.
4. It’s tough to say goodbye to missionaries who have served in my stake so faithfully. Elder Cooper shared with me his desire that his mother join the church and we have added what request in our prayers. He is returning home to the same stake where my son lives so I am going to contact him next time I go to California.
5. Elder and Sister Dean are the first missionary couple to ever serve in our stake . We will miss them-three ward bishops have really relied on them. We will take any couple you want to send.
6. Elder Hansen continues to serve with honor and dedication. Elder Garland will always be special to me. It hurts me to see him struggle because of his brother’s action and his father’s heart problems. In the district meeting when goals were being discussed he set the example and taught other missionaries they don’t work up to the Standards of Excellence but they had the power to meet most of the standards now by just doing it because it is within their power to do so. I am going to visit him in Texas when I visit my daughter who is in graduate school in Austin.
7. I am amazed at the growth I see in missionaries from zone conference to the next zone conference. I marvel at the abilities of those missionaries whose native language is not English. I appreciate you sending such good missionaries to our stake.
8. Thanks for letting the three prospective missionaries from my stake attend. They all gave me good reports and enjoyed the day. Bro. King’s call came yesterday to Dallas, Texas, Spanish speaking-maybe he will see Elder Garland there.
We pray for each of you at our stake meetings. Thanks for visiting us on this side of the mountain. I look forward to meeting with you again in Littleton in May with Elders Funk and Brimhall.
Your brother in the gospel,
Kelly Summers
RE: ZONE CONFERENCE-APRIL 17, 2009
Dear President and Sister Christison,
Thanks so much for allowing me to attend zone conference at the Grand Junction Stake Center last week. What a great day. I spirit continued to reside with me that evening as I returned home and I thanked my Heavenly Father for the experiences I had at zone conference. Let me summarize some highlights:
1. I love your conferences because I am taught the gospel and I feel the spirit testify to me of the truthfulness of what is taught. President Christison’s teaching on the atonement and the testimony of Elder McConkie was very moving. I had met Elder McConkie when our stake was divided and the Montrose Stake was created and I went to BYU with his son Joseph.
2. Sister Christison’s teachings about the sacrament taught me new principles and added to my appreciation for the Savior. It has permanently changed what I think about when I take the sacrament. I would appreciate if Sister Christison would share with me the sheet containing the comparison of the two prayers when you come to our stake conference together with any reference material.
3. I was touched by the two testimonies given by the missionaries during the breakout sessions on how the atonement had touched their lives.
4. It’s tough to say goodbye to missionaries who have served in my stake so faithfully. Elder Cooper shared with me his desire that his mother join the church and we have added what request in our prayers. He is returning home to the same stake where my son lives so I am going to contact him next time I go to California.
5. Elder and Sister Dean are the first missionary couple to ever serve in our stake . We will miss them-three ward bishops have really relied on them. We will take any couple you want to send.
6. Elder Hansen continues to serve with honor and dedication. Elder Garland will always be special to me. It hurts me to see him struggle because of his brother’s action and his father’s heart problems. In the district meeting when goals were being discussed he set the example and taught other missionaries they don’t work up to the Standards of Excellence but they had the power to meet most of the standards now by just doing it because it is within their power to do so. I am going to visit him in Texas when I visit my daughter who is in graduate school in Austin.
7. I am amazed at the growth I see in missionaries from zone conference to the next zone conference. I marvel at the abilities of those missionaries whose native language is not English. I appreciate you sending such good missionaries to our stake.
8. Thanks for letting the three prospective missionaries from my stake attend. They all gave me good reports and enjoyed the day. Bro. King’s call came yesterday to Dallas, Texas, Spanish speaking-maybe he will see Elder Garland there.
We pray for each of you at our stake meetings. Thanks for visiting us on this side of the mountain. I look forward to meeting with you again in Littleton in May with Elders Funk and Brimhall.
Your brother in the gospel,
Kelly Summers
Thursday, April 23, 2009
BOLDER BOULDER-HERE I COME!
April 23, 2009
BOLDER BOULDER, HERE I COME!
One of my goals this year is to complete my 9th Bolder Boulder on Memorial Day. I did some training in the winter and spring with Dean White and Arvin Leany but nothing really serious. I have enough time to prepare after my two week trip to Illinois but I knew I would have to work hard if I was to be ready by race time.
I arrived home Saturday evening on April 11th, I don’t run on Sunday and then I had to fast for the next two days for my 13th colonoscopy which took place on Wednesday. The fasting went very well as did the colonoscopy because I cleaned out good for the first time in three years and the doctor found no polyps. He told me I could wait for five more years to have another examination because I had gone at least four years with no polyps but I told him I would see him in two years-I don’t intend to die of colon cancer when it is so preventable with a regular colonoscopy. I did walk two miles during the week and also four miles the end of the week.
This week I had my appointment with Dr. Burnbaum. We agreed to increase my sinemet medication from two pills per day to three. I shake a little more and shuffle more. My right toes also cramp more often. He had offered the increase three months ago but I turned it down because sometimes there are increased adverse reactions when the dosage is increased. I am not worried about the gambling or sex addict reactions but I am concerned with sleepy or dizziness as possible effects. After my doctor ‘s appointment, I walked four miles, then 5.2 miles so today I decided to walk the full 10k route, being 6.2 miles. I did it without hurting and without the extra pill-I will start that tomorrow. I now have to work on getting stronger and reduce my time by run-shuffling a little. But I do know I can do it. I have climbed ten 14,000 foot peaks, so I want to do at least 10 Bolder Boulders.
Bishop Burton, Presiding Bishop of the church will be our conference visitor. It is going to be interesting-two youth talks are assigned and one talk each assigned for my counselors-that is it. Everything else will be determined when he arrives. I wonder what my talk will be. We will enjoy having him in our home. He gets back from South American at midnight on Friday and must be here the next day at 1:00 p.m.-he is driving.
K. K. Summers
BOLDER BOULDER, HERE I COME!
One of my goals this year is to complete my 9th Bolder Boulder on Memorial Day. I did some training in the winter and spring with Dean White and Arvin Leany but nothing really serious. I have enough time to prepare after my two week trip to Illinois but I knew I would have to work hard if I was to be ready by race time.
I arrived home Saturday evening on April 11th, I don’t run on Sunday and then I had to fast for the next two days for my 13th colonoscopy which took place on Wednesday. The fasting went very well as did the colonoscopy because I cleaned out good for the first time in three years and the doctor found no polyps. He told me I could wait for five more years to have another examination because I had gone at least four years with no polyps but I told him I would see him in two years-I don’t intend to die of colon cancer when it is so preventable with a regular colonoscopy. I did walk two miles during the week and also four miles the end of the week.
This week I had my appointment with Dr. Burnbaum. We agreed to increase my sinemet medication from two pills per day to three. I shake a little more and shuffle more. My right toes also cramp more often. He had offered the increase three months ago but I turned it down because sometimes there are increased adverse reactions when the dosage is increased. I am not worried about the gambling or sex addict reactions but I am concerned with sleepy or dizziness as possible effects. After my doctor ‘s appointment, I walked four miles, then 5.2 miles so today I decided to walk the full 10k route, being 6.2 miles. I did it without hurting and without the extra pill-I will start that tomorrow. I now have to work on getting stronger and reduce my time by run-shuffling a little. But I do know I can do it. I have climbed ten 14,000 foot peaks, so I want to do at least 10 Bolder Boulders.
Bishop Burton, Presiding Bishop of the church will be our conference visitor. It is going to be interesting-two youth talks are assigned and one talk each assigned for my counselors-that is it. Everything else will be determined when he arrives. I wonder what my talk will be. We will enjoy having him in our home. He gets back from South American at midnight on Friday and must be here the next day at 1:00 p.m.-he is driving.
K. K. Summers
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
TOO MANY FUNERALS
TOO MANY FUNERALS
4-22-09
The last couple of months there have been just too many funerals:
1. Sister Marie Santy-2nd Ward-been very sick and old for over a year.
2. Sister Eleanor Palmer-Fruita 4th Ward-natural causes. I visited her in the hospital with Elder Richards and his wife, a General Authority. I spoke about that visit at the funeral.
3. Justin Nye-8th Ward -same age as Kenny-Cancer. Left two very young kids. Too young to die. Kenny and Kyle Dunn drove from California for the funeral. Many of his friends his age traveled for the service-we went out to eat afterwards. They were a very close group. Justin Perry, Allison Hall , Jared Haddock, Kip Thygerson and Darin Case were also there.
4. Adam White-age 34, Fruita 2nd. Died in his sleep-too young to die.
5. Bob Barrett-5th Ward. Cancer and lots of other things-we prayed for three months he would die but he died when the Lord was ready to receive him. Visited him many times including a visit with Elder Snow.
6. Ray Saddoris-lots of problems, former 8th ward member now living in Fruita 4th.
7. Paul Sonda-many issues, 8th Ward-a very good friend-spoke at the funeral. The Spirit told me when I was stake president that I would speak at his funeral.
8. Clint Sampson-pneumonia and Alzheimer ‘s – 8th Ward.
9. Dorothy O”Dwyer, 2nd ward. Wife of our first bishop in G. J.-she treated me like a son and I affectionately called her “Mom.” Natural causes. Spoke at the funeral.
After Clint Sampson’s death, I met Bro. Maurice Jones in the 12th Ward. We hugged and he gave me a kiss on the cheek, told me loved me and said, “I guess I’m next.” I hope not-he gives so much love to the single’s ward.
4-22-09
The last couple of months there have been just too many funerals:
1. Sister Marie Santy-2nd Ward-been very sick and old for over a year.
2. Sister Eleanor Palmer-Fruita 4th Ward-natural causes. I visited her in the hospital with Elder Richards and his wife, a General Authority. I spoke about that visit at the funeral.
3. Justin Nye-8th Ward -same age as Kenny-Cancer. Left two very young kids. Too young to die. Kenny and Kyle Dunn drove from California for the funeral. Many of his friends his age traveled for the service-we went out to eat afterwards. They were a very close group. Justin Perry, Allison Hall , Jared Haddock, Kip Thygerson and Darin Case were also there.
4. Adam White-age 34, Fruita 2nd. Died in his sleep-too young to die.
5. Bob Barrett-5th Ward. Cancer and lots of other things-we prayed for three months he would die but he died when the Lord was ready to receive him. Visited him many times including a visit with Elder Snow.
6. Ray Saddoris-lots of problems, former 8th ward member now living in Fruita 4th.
7. Paul Sonda-many issues, 8th Ward-a very good friend-spoke at the funeral. The Spirit told me when I was stake president that I would speak at his funeral.
8. Clint Sampson-pneumonia and Alzheimer ‘s – 8th Ward.
9. Dorothy O”Dwyer, 2nd ward. Wife of our first bishop in G. J.-she treated me like a son and I affectionately called her “Mom.” Natural causes. Spoke at the funeral.
After Clint Sampson’s death, I met Bro. Maurice Jones in the 12th Ward. We hugged and he gave me a kiss on the cheek, told me loved me and said, “I guess I’m next.” I hope not-he gives so much love to the single’s ward.
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