JANUARY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Hi everyone.
      We had regional Stake Conference today with a televised meeting in many different locations to accommodate about 50 stakes here in the Los Angeles area.  We went to our ward building; there were talks by Sister Linda Burton, Elder Arnold of the seventy, Elder Neil Anderson and President Henry Eyring.  Elder Anderson told of a time in Rio de Janeiro when he was driving Elder Eyring to a large missionary gathering and he wasn't familiar with the area.  A large bus stopped and to his surprise, the driver rolled down his window and asked if he needed help with directions.  After telling him the location of the church, Elder Anderson began driving, only to see this same bus on the corner.  The driver opened his door and said he would block traffic and again guided him as to his route.  They made it to their destination and it was a very memorable event for many missionaries that day. Elder Anderson said that the driver was like an angel.  He said the Lord is involved in the details of our lives.  Elder Eyring today spoke of how even little children can feel the spirit and need to be taught about the nature of God.  As we teach others and bring them back into activity, they will need humility as a little child to help them make changes in their lives.  This is a scripture from the Conference to remember as we serve others:
     "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." (D&C 84:88)

Korean dancers

Korean drummers

     Last night, for the adult evening meeting, after some talks by the Stake President and a few others, there was a demonstration of some lively dances with the dancers in the native dress of Korea, Peru and Mexico.  They represented some of the Spanish and Korean wards and branches in our Stake.  Here are some pictures.

Peruvian dancers

Mexican dancers

    

Mary in the sculpture garden

Max at the sabre-tooth cat exhibit

     A week ago last Wednesday Max and Mary went to the La Brea Tar Pits, a museum on the very site where they found a lot of animals that had perished in the Ice Age - woolly mammoths, saber-toothed cats and dire wolves.  They must have stepped in tar and their bones are preserved and are now on exhibit.  We had a couple of docents who explained this well.



    A missionary broke his foot so President Weidman assigned him and his companion to spend their time while he recuperates in the family history library.  As well as doing indexing, they took the classes in the 3-day intensive and are, hopefully, now up to speed in doing genealogy.

     We love to walk around the temple up and down the walkways and see all the beautiful flowers and trees.  The gardeners use burlap to lay on the ground and then throw all their trimmings in; then they gather the corners to  throw the refuse away.  They are trimming the tall palm trees now the lights are down.  They always edge the lawns.  Most of the flowers are perennials.

     Mary is going to take a water aerobics class.  While she is in class on Thursday mornings, Max will do a mail delivery of packages to four locations in two zones which the elders will pick up at their local church buildings. They are some distance from here and it will take him about 2 hours.  

    The ancestor of Mary's that we will focus on today is: James Wheatley.  He was born 9 May 1770 in Norwich, Norfolk, England to his parents, James Wheatley and Sarah Lincoln.  When he was 4 days old, 13 May 1770 his parents had him baptized or christened in Saint James Pockthorpe Church.  James served in the military; he was a sergeant in the 15th Regiment of Light Dragoons.  After he got out of the military, he married Hannah Rogers on 4 March 1799 in the parish of St Mary, Marlborough, Wiltshire.   They moved to London and had 4 children:  James born 18 April 1800 and christened on 25 Nov 1805, Catherine born in 1802, William Lewis Wheatley born 26 August 1807 and christened 16 Sept 1807 in the parish of St Botolph Bishopsgate, London, England.  (He was our ancestor) and Sarah Maria Wheatley born 4 July 1814 and christened in Saint Leonards parish, Shoreditch, London, England.  James made out a will in 1825 and left everything to his wife, Hannah and provision made for his daughter Sarah Maria who was still young.  His occupation was listed as fruiterer.  He also stated he wanted to be buried in Bunhill Fields, London which is a nonconformist cemetery.  He died in 1846 at the age of 76 in Shoreditch, London and was buried 1 Nov 1846.  His wife Hannah died in 1849.  Hannah and James appear in the UK Census in 1841 with their daughter Sarah Maria, her husband Thomas Chote and their son Thomas James Chote living with them.