We have known for several months about how we would soon be in charge of the Oquirrh 5 Branch when it would be changed to the Currant Branch, so we were thrilled our assignment to speak there showed up on our calendar one week before the change in leadership.
Unlike Olympus, which meets in a small multi-purpose room for their Sunday meetings, all the Oquirrh groups meet in a designated chapel--complete with stained glass windows.
I had to laugh when we were told the date of when we would be "installed" (the word Glen kept using) as leaders of the new Currant Branch. It was May 22nd--Glen's birthday. It's definitely a date we will remember.
At the end I have included more detailed information about what happened inside the prison that day.
After the meeting, our fine group of people posed for a photo for that memorable moment in history when the new Currant Branch was formed.
Glen and I were sad we had to miss Rachel's missionary farewell talk in church that morning. We drove straight from the prison to Andy and Amanda's home so we could wish Rachel well on her mission and show her some love.
Natalie (sitting behind her--so sad I didn't notice it was her and didn't wait until she turned toward me to get her in the photo...) had spent the night with Rachel and had been able to attend church to hear her speak.
We brought Natalie back home with us when we were finished eating the delicious brunch that had been prepared.
It was fun to see the newest addition to the family--Savannah. She is the daughter of Preston and Danielle and she is such a perfectly beautiful baby.
Going to the prison was not the only way we celebrated Glen's birthday. The day before we went to see a play with my parents and Nani and had a Red Lobster meal afterward.
The day before that we went to dinner with Glen's sisters Maurine and Ray and Barbara and Rich.
The day before that we went to lunch with Glen's sister Bonnie and Dave. We also took Natalie with us to enjoy the El Matador food that Dave and Bonnie can't seem to get enough of.
Abe's family sent Glen a very cute video wishing him a happy birthday. It was done in a prison theme and was so very cute. Magnus is missing because he was with Klarissa's sister.
Here's another very cute Abe Thomas family thing--located right inside the front cover of the May Friend magazine in the lower right corner.
Glen's sister Barbara saw it and sent the photo to us. I sent Natalie to the bookstore to buy a magazine so we could have our very own copy. What a cute photo and write-up.
CREATION OF THE NEW
CURRANT BRANCH -- May 22, 2022 (Glen’s Birthday)
Glen
and Kim Thomas — Branch President/Relief Society President
Dave
and Sylvia Webster — 1st Counselor/Relief Society 1st Counselor
Don
and Barb Kopenhefer — 2nd Counselor/Relief Society 2nd Counselor
Lowry
and Kim Redd — Elders Quorum President/ Relief Society Board Member
Mike
and Linda Error — Executive Secretary/Relief Society Secretary
Bob
and Brenda Briscoe — Branch Clerk/Relief Society Board Member
Clark
and Leah Burbidge — Addiction Recovery Specialists/Relief Society Board Member
The
week before the creation of the new Currant Branch, Glen and I had been
assigned to speak in the Oquirrh Branch as part of our district council
responsibilities. We thought it very wonderful that we could speak to Oquirrh 5
in the morning as that is the group that we will now be responsible for.
When
we arrived at the prison at 7:45 a.m., the gate officer told us that we would
not be able to go in for a while as there had been an incident in the adjacent
Wasatch building and the officers from Oquirrh had been called out to help with
that incident. No one knew how long it would be until we were let in.
We
stood out in the parking lot for an hour and a half waiting, waiting, waiting…
President
Andrizzi paired his new people and our new people off with each of our respective
counterparts and we held a parking lot meeting that way. It was good to have
that time to talk with President Andrizzi to try and figure out exactly what we
are supposed to be doing. As we are finding out, there are a lot of little
details we need to know (both from the Church side of things and also from the
prison side of things).
Once
we got inside, we had a short council/sacrament meeting, which was nice so we
could see how they do that in that building. Then we went into the chapel and
awaited the inmates’ arrival for their worship service (which had been
postponed an hour). Although we were unable to meet for two hours with the men
and see how they do their classes during the second hour, it was beneficial to
at least get that one hour with them and get a feel for the group.
At
the end of the meeting, President Andrizzi announced to the Oquirrh 5 men there
would be a change in Church leadership for their group. He told them the change
would happen the following week. Let me just say how it broke my heart to see
the look in the faces of the men to learn they would be losing all the leaders
they had grown to know and love. A few of the men were sobbing. So sad!!
We
came home for a two-hour break to have breakfast and then went back for a
three-hour session in the afternoon where we spoke two more times to two
different groups which they call the lower Oquirrhs. I was a little nervous
about that as we were told they are the gang members—which have to be separated
or they will kill each other.
My
nervousness was unfounded as they were very well behaved, with the exception of
two older men sitting right in the middle of the chapel who talked through the
entire meeting until one of them got up during Glen’s talk and left. At that
point another man slid down the bench and took over talking in his place.
I
got very nervous when I saw Antonio walk in. He’s the one who was so very
disruptive in the Olympus Branch. He had been moved to another area after only
having been in Olympus for a short time. I thought he had moved to Bear and was
shocked when he walked into the Oquirrh worship service. He sat next to Sister
Clark and didn’t raise his hand or shout out a comment through the entire
meeting. I was pleasantly shocked!!! Perhaps she was a calming influence on
him, or perhaps the other inmates called him out on it and now he’s gotten
himself under control. Who knows?? All I know is I was grateful for a calm
atmosphere for giving our talks.
The
afternoon session has a Sunday School hour between the two worship services, We
chose to attend the emotional resilience group where there were eight inmates
attending. In that small environment, it was so easy to see the goodness in
those men as they were sharing their feelings and recognizing what they need to
improve in their lives.
At
the end of the class, we heard the most beautiful testimony of one of the men
who said he was challenged by his bishop to read the whole Book of Mormon and
he did it in a week—writing two things he learned on each page. He testified of
the truthfulness of that book.
The last group of inmates only attend a one hour worship service.
It
had been a long Sunday for us spending the majority of the day at the prison
and speaking three times. I felt good about my talk. I decided I wanted to
share with all of them my “Unfulfilled Expectations” talk that I had already
given in the Olympus Branch.
Glen
gave a different talk to each of the three groups. With the last group he
shared his shrimp story, which illustrates how Todd Brimley listened to the
Spirit and blessed Glen’s life when he brought Glen a little platter of shrimp
right after he had had his neck fusion surgery.
Glen was feeling horrible,
hadn’t been able to eat much, and the only thing he had been craving was
shrimp. I had failed to get him some shrimp when I went to the store thinking he was on pain medication when he asked for it and wasn't in his right mind, because who in the world wants to eat shrimp after surgery??
And then there were the Brimleys knocking on the door with their get-well gift of shrimp
with a card that read, “Here is some shrimp from the shrimps (they are all very
tiny, short people). Get well soon.”
******************************************************************************
Fast
forward a week to May 22nd when we, along with the six couples who will be
serving with us, were announced to the men of Oquirrh 5 that they would be
splitting off from the lower Oquirrhs to form the new Currant Branch.
When the
prison moves out west of the airport, the men in the Olympus Branch will join
with them to become part of the Currant Branch. So, we will get to be with all
our original group of inmates once again at that point.
At
the beginning of the meeting, President Smith announced the change in
leadership. I was touched by the young man who gave us a huge smile and a
little salute when our names were read and we stood up to face the
congregation. He did that with each of the other six couples. What a welcoming
gesture!
President
and Sister Andrizzi were given a few minutes to share their thoughts. Two of
the inmates sang “Come Thou Fount.” Then Glen and I were given the last few
minutes to speak. We didn’t have much time, but I was thankful we got to speak
even though we spoke the previous week.
President
Andrizzi had reminded the men of the talk he gave about tender mercies and
encouraged the men to look for tender mercies in their lives.
When
I got up to speak, I said I was thankful for the tender mercy of having the
assignment of speaking to Oquirrh 5 the previous week. That assignment had been
made at the beginning of the year and turned out to be a huge blessing for us
to be able to see and speak to all of them the week before the change was made.
I
told them that I had noticed how very sad they had been to learn of the change.
I could see how much they love President and Sister Andrizzi and all the men
and women who had been serving with them. I shared the following quote:
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
(Progress Through Change, Oct. 1979)
“For many Church members it is often difficult to accept change in
leadership. Stake, ward [and branch] leadership changes are necessary and,
oftentimes, too frequent for our convenience and comfort.
“Some of us are inclined to resent and resist changes, “Why can’t
they leave him in?” Or “Why do we have to have her?” Or “Why do they have to
divide our ward [or our branch]?
“Our vision may be limited. Seldom are changes made that do not
bring needed progress to a person or a situation.
“How often in retrospect have we thought, “I didn’t understand why
that change was made in the program or why that person was given such a
calling, but now I can see that it was just what was needed for the time.”
(Then I emphasized this advice Elder Ashton gave) “During
transitional times … patience, love, and long-suffering are needed. A permanent
part of our philosophy should be, ‘Never allow yourself to be offended by
someone who is learning his job.’”
As
we were singing the opening hymn “I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go,” I noticed
Leah and Brenda were both very emotional. I know none of us volunteered
for a prison ministry (even though everyone at the prison calls us volunteers…),
and it feels very overwhelming at first.
I
shared with the men that I can testify that the couples serving with us were
chosen with care through prayer and divine inspiration. A lot of them were
serving in callings they absolutely loved and were very sad to have to give
that up. But, I have felt of their dedication and commitment to serve in this
capacity and give it their all to serve these men.
In
closing I shared with them a scripture from this week’s “Come Follow Me” lesson
that we were listening to on our way to the prison. One particular verse stood
out to me that I felt worth sharing with them.
Joshua 1:9 “…Be strong and of a
good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is
with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Glen
shared with the men 3 Nephi 9:14 "Verily, verily I say unto you, if you come to me, behold my arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the son of God."
With that scripture as a foundation, he talked about his vision of inviting all to come unto Christ.
