Patriots and heroes are continuing to serve
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Just as the patriots and heroes of 2,000 years ago offered their lives before gladiators, and those of 150 years offered their lives in conquering a desert and building a civilization, so today the patriots and heroes give of themselves in silent, selfless service, said Elder Cree-L. Kofford.
Speaking in the Tabernacle on Temple Square during the 56th Annual Sunrise Service of the Days of '47 sponsored by the Pioneer Chapter, Sons of the Utah Pioneers, Elder Kofford of the Seventy remembered the patriots and heroes of the past and present.
"Here in this sagebrush-covered desert in the years following 1847, our people carved out a spiritual nation," he said. "Their faith stronger than the powers of all that was unleashed against them, they survived, and finally, they prospered.
"All of this was made possible by the sacrifice of men and women who gave to others before they gave to themselves. They can appropriately be called patriots and heroes."
Elder Kofford, president of the Utah North Area, recounted how, "Within a relatively short time, thousands upon thousands. . . followed [Brigham Young's] trail to the tops of the mountains. They came from distant lands. They came bearing the burden of family rejection. They came with memories of loved ones left buried in hurriedly prepared trailside graves. They came penniless. They came exhausted — but, they came."
Elder Kofford then turned from the past to the present. He told of "Mary Katoa, daughter of Tongan parents who were among the earliest members of the Church in their country. She immigrated to the United States in 1973 and raised eight children, frequently working full-time to help provide the basics for the family. In 1993, Mary's parents had increasingly failing health. Mary took them both into her home and cared for them. This required nighttime vigils of feeding, bathing, dressing, and overseeing medications.
"In 1995, her husband developed a rare disease. For the next six years, he required constant care, and had many stays in the hospital. In 1999, she brought her sister into her home and nursed her through the final stages of brain cancer until her death.
"While caring for her husband and her sister, her brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and came from Tonga with his family. Mary also took him, along with his wife and five children, into her home. She rarely slept, but was caring, patient, and dedicated."
Elder Kofford told of Alden Higgs of Bountiful, Utah, who served in World War II and then filled an honorable mission.
"He acquired a local business only to find it facing bankruptcy for unpaid debt owed by the former owner. To me, Alden qualifies as a hero and a patriot for the simple fact that he refused to take the easy way out. Eschewing bankruptcy, as all too few are doing today, he repaid over many years of diligent effort the unpaid debt.
"For over 53 years, he has guided young men in the Scouting organization, and at last count, I am told, some 105 have received his tutelage on their way to the rank of Eagle Scout."
Roy Bodily of Layton, Utah, qualifies because of his character in the face of adversity, he continued.
"Roy was born with a learning disability which made it difficult for him to learn to read and write. Because of that, he was sent to a special school which the neighborhood kids often referred to as the school for MRs, meaning mentally retarded.
"Roy was so hurt and ashamed by the thoughtless acts of the other young people that he tried to hide his circumstance," Elder Kofford said. "He would take the bus to the regular junior high school every day, then sneak out the back door to catch another bus to the school for those with learning disabilities.
"In time, his secret was discovered, and the taunts of 'stupid' and 'mentally retarded' grew even louder. Roy spent time in his home hiding in his room and crying over the hurt inflicted by the other children, but . . . he rose above their taunts, their epithets and insults. With the help of his local Church leaders, he learned to forgive them and to deal with his limitations.
"Today, Roy is an active, learning, vibrant, contributing member of our community. He has been gainfully employed for approximately 30 years, raised a family, and has been an active participant in the literacy action center. Sometimes, being a hero just means doing ordinary things under very extraordinary circumstances."
"And so," said Elder Kofford in conclusion, referring to the pioneers, "meeting in a house they built, living in a society they founded. . . , as well to the patriots of today whose lives touch our lives, whose deeds build our communities. . . , this is, indeed, the right place."
E-mail: shaun@desnews.com
