Building a Brighter Future

With their sacrifice as a foundation, in 2022, our assignment is to build a temple.

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

A couple of weeks ago, I asked Brother Todd to do some cleaning and organizing in the stake clerk's office. A few days later, he placed a large box on the desk in the Stake Presidents office. As we looked through it, we found pictures from the dedication of the stake center, old programs, and pages of meticulously kept records dating back to the 1950s. We also found photos of prior stake presidencies going back over 30 years.

Looking through these photos and documents, I was impressed by the heritage and legacy of faith we have in Taylorsville. Although I am not a native of Utah, I found that my ancestors were connected to the origins and growth of the church in Taylorsville. I feel deep admiration and reverence for the sisters and brothers who pioneered this area. They were builders. They built homes and schools. But even more importantly, they devoted their lives to building a community. They were building the kingdom of God.

It felt good to stop and contemplate… and appreciate their sacrifices…and admire their accomplishments.

I asked Brother Todd to transfer these items to Sister Connie Taney, our stake historian, so they could be properly preserved. And I asked Brother Bates to scan some of these treasures so we could share them via the stake website with you. If you look under the “Stake History” tab on the welcome page, you will see links to some of the items we found. We will add to these as time goes on. Hopefully, we can all take the time to appreciate the sacrifices of those who came before us.

I thought about the timeliness of this discovery in a year when we are focused on Temple and Family History work.

In a way, the treasures we found, are a significant reminder and parallel for what can happen when we look back at the lives of our family progenitors. Names and dates and places matter, but they become much more meaningful as we learn of their character and their actions. They become real to us.

Unfortunately, it is far too easy for us in 2022 to simply summarize or gloss over the past without appreciating the daily details of lives well lived. When this happens, we see only the end result, without noticing their struggles and sacrifice, their discipline and diligence.

I hope as we continue forward in our efforts and goals this year, that we will seek a deeper appreciation for those who have gone before us. No doubt, they were mortals with flaws and weaknesses... just like ours. But they built and worked and gave of themselves in ways we should try to appreciate and emulate. A long time ago, I memorized a poem that expresses this idea beautifully.

The Bridge Builder by Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man going a lone highway,

Came, at the evening cold and gray,

To a chasm vast and deep and wide.

Through which was flowing a sullen tide

The old man crossed in the twilight dim,

The sullen stream had no fear for him;

But he turned when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.

“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,

“You are wasting your strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day,

You never again will pass this way;

You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide,

Why build this bridge at even tide?”

The builder lifted his old gray head;

“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,

“There follows after me today

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that has been as naught to me

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!”

As we reflect on THEIR efforts, I believe OUR own struggles and sacrifices take on new meaning. Using their gifts as a foundation, in 2022, our challenge is to build a temple in Taylorsville. May we go forward, like they did, overcoming obstacles and working together to build a brighter future.

May we feel our Savior’s peace and His joy as we do.

All my love,

President Gardner