In the great covid shutdown, I was in quarantine and a bit bored .. so I asked myself:

• What if there were 13 'months' in a year + 1 extra 'year day' each yearend plus 1 extra 'leap day' every leap year (about 1.25 days/year) Let's call the new 'months' a 'cycle' of 28 days and let's call the extra cycle/month 'newSol' at mid-year Why? Because the earth circles the sun every 365.25 days in a year. 13 'months' x 28 days is 364 .. only short those 1.25 days
• Week numbers 1-52 will correspond to Cycles 1-13. Every few years a 'Week53' will occur, like a 'leap week' ..
• Seasons simplified: A full-year is 52 weeks, half-year is 26 weeks, and a quarter-year (a season) is 13 weeks .. ignoring 'leap week's
• So what would that look like? Say if my week started on Sunday .. like in USA/Canada
• What would an automatic Calendar generating spreadsheet look like?

So glad you asked! My  answer was: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZMQr6RHsOmOtQdB4uDvDGmv51x9MqVCXXeWbvFryj9M/edit?usp=sharing

Three more of our trek family have now graduated from High School here in Magrath – our Grace, Ammon, and Lehi. Pa was released from High Council last fall so doesn’t get to see you much in all your various wards anymore. Ma and Pa are happy to be newly assigned to work together again, this time in ward nursery (most recently with 9 busy toddlers – all girls except one lone fellow). We also have been asked to assist as Ward Shepherding Couple to assist in transitioning graduating students from Grade 12 to YSA at home or at school or where ever they may end up (like you). May you continue to progress and make wise decisions.

We happen to be reading past Helaman chapter 5 again this year in our family scripture – the words of Helaman to his sons Lehi and Nephi. I realized that I had been somewhat mixing up the Book of Mormon family history somewhat – always something new to learn – with Alma (converted by Abinidi at time of wicked King Noah), his son Alma (the younger), his grandson Helaman, and great-grandson Helaman (in Helaman 5) and the great-great-grandsons Nephi and Lehi mentioned therein, not to mention some of their kids, great-great-great-grandsons Nephi and Timothy (called to be apostles under Jesus Christ). I commend his council to his children (and to us) to “remember the words of king Benjamin” .. stating “that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ” (Helaman 5:9). His love for us is constant and unending. It is reflected in the lives of those around us and felt most strongly through the power of the Holy Ghost – a gift which can grow and intensify if we but let it.

Over and over in the Book of Mormon is repeated the promise to Lehi – that if the commandments would be followed, they would “prosper in the land”. You will also only prosper in the long term if you also follow the commandments. If you make and keep covenants, you also will live long and prosper ..

I was also pondering the other day on just how we are guided and helped in all our decisions both great and small. If we could somehow comprehend all the work being done on our behalf. I do not believe we meet and marry by chance, that we find friends and investigators just when they are ready to learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ in our day, or that our family units are created by happenstance. I remember being surprised at Trek with discovering all the behind the scene helpers just over the hill or around the bend helping us with food, water, facilities, emergency services, moving supplies and tents, and more while we all trekked along our merry way. This life is probably much the same way, with countless interested angels (friends/family now passed on, certainly some living today – family, church leaders, others - and even some still on their way) who are doing all they can to encourage and guide us our our daily trek today, all orchestrated by the effects of the Holy Ghost. We recognize their influence most in places like temples and churches and at important events like marriages and funerals, but I would not be surprised to find they really they have assignments to help comfort and guide us minute by minute where ever we are and what ever we are trying to do.

Safe journeys and be Good!

​With much love from your trek Ma and Pa.

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Luke 10:25-29 “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?” 

Over the years I heard this story from time to time, about how my Mom and her brothers received awards for 100% attendance over several years at church meetings (and at school as well). Uncle Lloyd mentioned a picture submitted to the Improvement Era to that effect. I never came close to any such attendance record, but I do have some talent in wasting time finding stuff on the internet, so .. it took a little time reading some very interesting back issues, but eventually found this ..

In the Oct 1954 issue of the Improvement Era page 768 it reads, "A Trio of Winners. Elizabeth Spencer with her brothers (l. to r.) Campbell and Lloyd. All who know them are very proud of this family and the record they have established.

This letter is a copy given to me in Sep 2014 by Rulon Taylor. His father (Paul Taylor) and my grandfather (then Bishop Clyde C Spencer) were next door neighbours and served together in Magrath Ward Bishopric for many years. I had seen this letter before, but now have a copy to transcribe .. 

"A Faith Promoting Incident in my life. 

This incident has been one of the outstanding faith promoting experiences of my life, because it taught me that the Lord speaks through the priesthood and that we must not allow our feelings to influence us. 

The Magrath Trek Recap video was produced and premièred at the Magrath Stake Sat 25 Oct 2014 evening conference session ..

Magrath Sun 26 Oct 2014: "Stayed up to 1am last night telling Ma (because she had to work at DW till 11pm) all about the great talks at the Sat night [conference] session .. Adrien had played her flute as part of the youth choir final number (great job, eh) and Pa was quoted a few times in the Trek video (Ma was too shy to go on camera). Even saw a bunch of our treklings there in the audience and in the choir and in the video! Sweet

Video is posted on the facebook.com/magrathtrek site already at facebook.com/video.php?v=791644410893530&set=vb.558231247568182&&theater

Ma was surprised they got a good shot of the old guitelele .. and of us holding hands on the final walk out of the valley .. and what a great bunch of kids! As Bro Evans said as he started his talk last night, "my trek family was the best" .. I concur - ours was too! No wonder all my talks in July and thereafter reference trek somehow .."

Monday 28 July 2014

My Good Trek Family Children,

Daughters: Hope, Faith, Charity, Grace, Mercy, Harmony and Felicity
and Sons: Lehi, Ammon, Mormon, Mosiah and Nephi

I trust this letter and package finds you each in good health and condition. Three short weeks ago we packed up the family handcart and tent and crossed the bridge out of the valley as a trek family. I know it seems like an eternity ago, but even after all this time, we still we think of each of you often.