Jimmy Parker First Piano Recital 1947 - 8 yrs old

Click here to listen to Jimmy Parker's first piano recital

Mrs Leavitt's piano recital students 1948

Testimony of Jimmy Parker

Proclamation and Challenge

December 2004

When I first heard the Joseph Smith story, I knew it was true. I knew that he was an honest young man who read in James 1:5 that if any lacked wisdom, the could ask of God and get an answer. I knew that when he said he went in the grove near his home to inquire about what he was to do, that he was instructed by God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I still know that story is true. I am so grateful that I have never doubted that story.

The gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and is the standard by which we should live. Even when we make mortal mistakes, we must not become discouraged and give up. That is Satan’s wish for us. We must repent of what we have done wrong, or of what we haven’t done that we should have done which is right and move forward. We need to be “anxiously engaged” in looking for opportunities to serve others and to proclaim the gospel to anyone who will listen.

In 2005 we will celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the man who has “done more for the salvation of man on this earth than any other, save Jesus Christ” (D&C 135: ).

My challenge to you for the year 2005 is this:

1.       Read about the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith and get to know him as your personal friend and brother.

2.       Read and study from the Book of Mormon daily.

3.       Pray to know that these things are true. Heavenly Father knows each of us and will answer our honest inquiries about spiritual things.

May we move forward individually and as a family toward the goal of eternal life with our Father in Heaven and with those who have earned that great reward, is my prayer and most sincere hope for each one of us.

By Jimmy Parker

Bompy and Dobby First Homestead

So.....I have had the feeling for awhile now, that I should start posting some little stories about our Ancestors, for all of our family. Here is the first.

This is a story about Cora Edna Gertrude (Dobby) and Roy Roland Tilford (Bompy), my great grandparents. It looks like part of an interview that dad had with them. Dobby tells of when her and Bompy were first married and were looking for a place to homestead. They had heard of some land in South Idaho. She says: "There would undoubtedly be a chance for us to get a home. So, I stayed with my folks and Roy and a friend went to see about it. It seemed like the right thing to do, so Roy decided to stay and work until he could learn more about the best place to homestead. He got a job and sent for me to come. It was March and I went by train to Parma where he met me. He had a team and wagon, since it was till cold when I left and as we got farther and farther on the then desert, I got so warm I complained about the warm dress. He asked if I didn't have any cooler dresses and I said, "O yes, but where would I change?" How he laughed as he looked all directions and no one in sight and asked who I thought would see me!" She went on to say that that fall she went to stay with her parents while Roy worked in the harvest fields. They bought a covered wagon, Roy had a horse and her daddy gave her a colt and it was traded for a horse old enough to work. When they were ready to go, with a very small amount of money and supplies, but a world of adventure in their minds, she said, "I can still see my mother, leaning against the gate post crying, when we were ready to leave. "Why was she crying so when we were so happy?" Only years of experience could teach us that." I have thought about this story and how we have all probably gone through that time in our lives, when we were young and thought we had the world at the tip of our fingers....thinking that we could conquer all, but then reality comes and teaches us that it wasn't as easy as we thought it was going to be!

Dobby with Eleanor