As I approach my 76 Birthday on April 6th 2020, I have had a great desire to share my story with our children, Loriann, Laralyn, LaReesa, Delton, Dallan, DeLon, Devin, Daniel, Derrel, Kira, Kirsten and their families. I also wish to share the first 18 years of my life with my husband Lary Clayton Walker who has been my true love and trusted companion for nearly 57 years. I have previously written brief histories which did not have much detail. This time I would like to add more details that will hopefully strengthen our family relationships and our testimonies of our Father in Heaven and of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As part of this preface, I would like to pay tribute to my parents and express my gratitude for the example they set for me and the many lesson I learned from them. They made choices that blessed our family from the beginning of their lives. Both my father and my mother lost their fathers early in life but did not let that keep them from being faithful and strong in their testimonies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. They both had wonderful faithful mothers! They were married on October 28, 1937. The Bishop’s wife, sister Lera Clark Maughan offered to drive my parents to Salt Lake City. Because of her kindness, Glen Kofoed & Verla Woodbury and their Mothers Mary Jane Bell Kofoed and Edith Talbot Woodbury were able to be together in the Salt Lake Temple for the Sealing. In addition to their mothers, my mother’s Grandfather and Grandmother Charles Robert and Agnes Bickley Woodbury were able to be in the Temple with them. In those days, many couples were married in a civil ceremony and then went to the Temple a year later. The great effort they went to be Sealed in the Temple has been a testimony to me of their commitment to our Father in Heaven. They also served faithfully in many callings in the Church. My Father was in the Bishopric of the Lava Hot Springs Ward and the Homedale Ward and was the Bishop the New Plymouth, Idaho Ward. My Mother also served faithfully in various music callings and as Primary President and Relief Society President. After the Boise, Idaho Temple was dedicated, they served for 10 years on the Wednesday and Friday Evening Shifts from December of 1985 to December of 1995.
Circumstances in the year 2020
At this time, my husband, Lary & me are living in the old home in Weiser, Idaho which was purchased by his parents, Wendell Holmes and Beth Packard Walker, sometime in in 1961 and was their primary residence. The home has been well kept and remodeled a few times making it a very comfortable home.
Perhaps part of the reason I feel prompted to write at this time is because of the circumstance we find our world in today. Early in March 2020 a new virus, referred to as COVID-19 began attacking people in China and has now spread throughout the world at an alarming pace. Our Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints has followed government advice and health mandates closely. As of March11, 2020, he has temporarily suspended worldwide, all public gatherings of Church members until further notice. Temples are closed except for live Sealings and Endowments and those groups will be met as the Temple doors by a member of the Temple Presidency and will be limited to 8 family members in addition to the Couple being Sealed or the Own Endowment individuals.
As of March 25th , because of the virus, all Temples worldwide were closed until further notice. Many young couples who had plans to marry in the Temple during April, including our Granddaughter Jordanne Walker and her fiancé Jacob Boyle have their plans on hold. We are waiting at this time to see when they will have the opportunity of a Temple Sealing.
Our Prophet President Russell M. Nelson has encouraged us to worship in our own homes and keep the Sabbath Holy. Our Testimonies have been strengthened as we spend more time in study and prayer and partake of the Sacrament in our home away from the distractions of the world.
Realizing that my life has been preserved more than once in the last 76 years and that I am still living at this time to share my experiences, I need to tell my story. I am not a graduate in English writing nor is my memory of events perfect! I will do my best to be accurate and as correct as possible.
