Joseph's mini-vacation and "Remembering Who They Were and Learning Who We Are" Part II 7-30-06

Last Week Joseph escaped to Las Vegas for a few days. Elizabeth, his respiratory therapist from LDS Hospital Rehab managed to arrange a time share condo for Joseph, Matt and Marci Smith and her friend, Melissa Harmon, for a few days. . . so off they went on an adventure. It was hot but Joseph was comfortable. It was great to take a road trip and to have a break from the routine. Joseph has never been a great fan of 'the strip' but enjoyed looking around and lounging about the poolside etc. It was great to go and great to get back. On Saturday He went to the Salt Lake Real soccor game with friends (He's taking Dad to the Real Madrid game in a couple of weeks).

Things have been progressing very well with physical therapy and slow progress continues on the right arm. We are all so grateful for the continual blessings and answers to all your prayers in our behalf.

Remembering Who They Were and Learning Who We Are. Part II

A couple of weeks ago Dad went to St. George to speak at his Uncle John Lambert's funeral. John and C.J. are the last remaining children of Alma and Molly Lambert, Tim's mother's parents (thus his name Timothy Lambert Taggart, carrying the mom's maiden name is a family tradition). The cute photo of the kids on the pony named 'Bird' is Tim's mother Mary and her big brother Cannon and little brother John about 1921. My how the generations flow.

John was one of the "Greatest Generation" who were willing to give everything to protect our freedoms and provide freedom to the people of the world in WWII. He served in North Africa and Italy. He and his lovely wife Lois and their children carry on the faith and family values of the past generations. It was an honor to be at his 'graduation ceremony' from mortality.

In his funeral talk Dad talked about John (and Joseph's) ancestor Charles Lambert. As we remember the pioneers this week it may be of interest to just mention a couple of experiences and traits of this family founder. Charles was a stone artisan and mason who joined the Church in Yorkshire, England and left family and friends to come to Zion. When he arrived in Nauvoo he immediately went to work on the Temple. He relates an experience when the Prophet Joseph came to the temple site: "I think it was on or about the 6th of May, 1844, the Prophet Joseph came up to the Temple and clasping his arms around me, lifted me off my feet, then said, 'The Lord bless thee, and I bless thee, and I bless thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ'. It went through my whole system like fire."

Charles carved the first Sunstone, following the Prophet Joseph's exact instructions, then carved eleven others in addition to other work on the temple. When Satan appeared in the form of a wealthy client who offered gold coin for Charles to leave his work on the temple, His reply was, "I told him it was the work of the Lord I was engaged in and live or die I was for the Lord"

His experiences coming across the plains included being fed by the quail as they were starving in Iowa; a cow running him through a creek and soaking his trousers, when drying them they discovered coins to the exact amount needed for wagon iron miraculously sewn in the waistband where none had been before; discovering a new pair of shoes in direct answer to his morning prayers, just his size, as if newly delivered from a shoe shop in England. In his old age having no use of his right arm for many years, He went after an apostate who was verbally attacking the Prophet Joseph, as he lifted his arm to shut him up, the full use of his arm and side were restored and were useful to the end of his life.

From examples of faith, perserverence and trusting in the Lord come a heritage of nobility in common people who did their duty, and loved the Lord. They lift our vision and motivate us to "Carry On"

To read the autobiography of Charles Lambert see http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/Charles-Lambert.html