Remembrance by Anna O Jenkins

Remember how we always looked for sheep as we drove down the canyon from the ranch on the way to Richfield? No matter what the occasion for the trip to town, we kids must keep looking on both sides of the road for sheep. Many times we didn’t see any strays, but sometimes we did and then we would have to stop and Dad and maybe one of us would go out and drive them back up the hill, or sometimes we would have to catch the stray and put her in the trunk of the car or take her back to the ranch and put her in the pasture. Dad would always say, “We’re never in too much of a hurry to look for stray sheep”. And whatever we were playing or telling or singing as we made that trip down the canyon, we kept our eyes on the hills and along the river banks, looking for sheep.

Well, looking for sheep and finding some was what kept us from getting to Richfield in time for church that Sunday. It was not the usual thing for us to go down to town for church – we went up to Marysvale most Sundays. But this was a special Sunday – the day the new Bishopric was to be named and mother especially wanted to be there. So we started in plenty of time but we did see some sheep and Dad did have to go drive them back into the hills and so by the time we got home, it was too late to go to Church.

Mother and Dad sat out on the front porch waiting for meeting to be over and for someone to walk by so they could find out the news of the new Bishopric. After a while, the neighbors came along from church and told us all the news. So, as Mother and Dad sat there talking about how the new men would do, here came the very men they talking about - the new Bishopric. They came walking down the block and Dad said to Mother, “They’re coming here to ask you to be the Relief Society President.”

“Oh, no,” Mother said, pleased any way that he thought she would be considered. “They have a job for you.”

“They had better not!” said Dad, panicky.

Sure enough, the new Bishopric and his Counselors walked right in through the gate and up the walk.

“Well,” said Dad, “They sure know how to pick good men for a big job. Sorry to be too late to get to church today, but we had to chase a few sheep.”

“Brother Walt,” said the new Bishop, “we would like to ask you to take on a big job for us --“

Dad’s face stopped in mid smile and he sort of gulped.

“I don’t know what kind of job I could do for you – I’m just a sheep herder, Bishop.” He said, sort of trembling.

“I know you will do a good job. We would like to ask you to be the husband of the Relief Society President,” said the Bishop.

Well, you could hear the sigh of relief and the gasp of surprise from Dad and Mother at the same time. Of course, both of them accepted and Mother served for __ years (this was blank) in that capacity with Dad being a perfectly capable husband of the Relief Society President