HISTORY

A Little History:
Our story begins in Pocatello, Idaho, circa 1972, when the lovely Debby Christensen agreed to a first, though fateful date with admirer, David Croshaw. Long story-short, he bade her follow him, and they went arm-in-arm to the Logan, Utah temple for establishment of an eternal family unit, Generation 1, on May 23 1973.

From their first blissful summer in Salt Lake City, educational pursuits took them to Provo/Orem, Utah, birthplace of Leslie and Rebecca, and to San Francisco/Oakland California, birthplace of Colin and Matt. Then, for establishment of livelihood, expansion of the tribe with Abby and Dana, and for raising/unifying of Generation 2, it was back to the roots in Pocatello for a rewarding sojourn.

In time, driven by a raging, but commonly shared sense of adventure and independence, one-by-one, Generation 2 escaped the homeland to distant regions of the country and the world, each ultimately developing their own tribal expansions by pairing with worthy mates and initiating Generation 3.

Now sensing fulfillment of their purpose in Pocatello, Generation 1 has also left those roots and transplanted to Cascade Idaho, from which base, they anticipate more abundant contact with The Posterity, Generations 2 and 3, in the future. That contact however, awaits fulfillment of a call to LDS missionary service in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, wherein they hope to help the state of the world by sharing the love of Jesus Christ.

So now, including Generation 0 (Grandma and Grandpa Christensen) home base includes Yuma, Arizona, Pocatello, Idaho, Cascade, Idaho, Vancouver, BC, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spokane, Washington, Boise, Idaho, Los Angeles, California, back to Boise, Idaho, and on and on (Generation 3+) to infinity.

Our Mission Statement:
This is the blog of our eternal family unit. Initiated years ago, it served well as a journal, but even more so, as an archive of our personal interaction. It was a gathering place, a confabulation instrument, a unifying force for four generations of widely dispersed and progressively prolific posterity, and their valued associates. Though it served these purposes well for many years, it eventually took a back seat to new-kids-on-the-block, Facebook, and Instagram, and was sadly forgotten.

We now move to resurrect this blog with an added functional purpose of archiving the missionary experiences of Generation 1, of their movements and activities as they participate with The Gathering of Israel in the land northward. In so doing, we hope that via their own comments and posts, this blog will again serve to gather and unify the posterity and their friends.

As in the past, that the young and vibrant may know the old and tired, that enduring bonds may be fostered and maintained, that experience and encouragement may be openly shared, that posterity may embrace truth, and that hearts may be knit together, we must resist detachment despite our geographic divergence. We shall do so here.
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Friday, June 24, 2011

Ft. Lauderdale Groundbreaking


When I was in Florida I went to the groundbreaking.  It was at 10 a.m. at Leslie and Alex' building.  I had never been to a groundbreaking before, so I was especially excited to go.  I kind of felt sorry for the people at the actual site because it was so hot that morning.  Anyway, wanted to share a few factoids from the meeting.

Walter Gonzalez presided.  He also had a couple of young (I would guess 2 and 4) darling grandchildren there.  I won't list the speakers individually, just some of their thoughts.  There are 134 operating temples, 26 under construction.  This temple was announced in 2009.  Groundbreaking is a symbolic beginning for the temple.  The Orlando temple was dedicated in 1984.  There are 136,000 members in Florida.  420,000 in Arizona.  They believe the first member of the church to be baptized in Florida was in 1857.  Florida was officially dedicated for missionary work in 1895.  In 1930 Joseph Fielding Smith dedicated the first building in Florida, the Miami branch.  

We go to the temple for revelation.  We learn the laws of obedience and then obey them.    We honor our pioneer forefathers as we stay faithful.  We come to the temple because we love Him.  The sunshine state will be brighter because of the temple.  The temple is a reminder to focus our lives on the Savior.  Elder Gonzalez said we should be men and women of our word.  Then he referenced the scripture in 3 Nephi about let our communications be yea, yea and nay, nay.  We should do what we say.  As we keep covenants and help others we are working out our salvation.  Of course, many mentioned the eternal nature of families.  

We are all so blessed to have temples so close.  This site is right by the freeway.  It will be a light to the citizens of south Florida.  Leslie heard they are going to call it the South Florida temple. I thought I saw somewhere that it said Ft. Lauderdale temple, but I am not so sure now.  Anyway, it was a wonderful way to start the day.  

I was talking to a lady from Leslie's ward before it started.  She has lived in the area for 31 years.  She said before Orlando was built, they traveled to the Atlanta Temple.  It was a two day trip.  They were so elated to have the Orlando Temple built, because it is only about 3 1/2 hours away.  Now, she said, to think that it will be in our own backyard.  If you hang around long enough, great blessings come.  She is a temple officiator, and they get up at 3 to be at the temple.  I think that is about when my mom and dad used to get up when they worked in the  Idaho Falls Temple.   We are so blessed to have temples again on the earth.

I love all of you.

Mom


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2 comments:

Crystal said...

I thought of you all in Miami last week when the groud-breaking took place. I thought getting a new stake center was incredibly exciting (and it WAS), I can not imagine the excitement, relief and blessing of having a truly local temple ;-) What a service to the good people who want to be there more-frequently.

That was great to read and I, myself, will try more to say yea, and not nay.

Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 3:26:00 PM MDT
David and Debby said...

Might I suggest that Debby mainly feels connected to this temple because it's at DAVIE, Fl - has nothing to do with Leslie and Alex and Lola, or any of that other stuff she feigns to be interested in.

Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 12:41:00 AM MDT

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