Education Week: Having fun with the Joseph Smith Papers | Mormon Times

Education Week: Having fun with the Joseph Smith Papers | Mormon Times

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Buddy Youngreen is everywhere | Mormon Times

Buddy Youngreen is everywhere | Mormon Times
OREM, Utah — Of course Erwin Paul "Buddy" Youngreen isn't actually everywhere, but it certainly seems like he is.

One minute the 71-year-old theater icon is directing the American Fork/Highland Arts Councils' production of "The Music Man" for a packed house that included international visitors and an appearance from the award-winning American Fork High School Marching Band.

The next he's in Hawaii delivering a fireside about the Joseph and Emma Smith story. (He speaks 50-100 times a year all over the world about the Smiths.)

After that he's headed off on a cruise for some rare downtime with a gospel music group he enjoys.

For the past 50 years, he's been an actor, producer, director, playwright, historian and author. He's been involved with more than 200 live productions either as an actor or director.

He was head yell leader and the BYU Cosmo in 1961-62 (and still has the bad back to prove it).

He taught acting at the Pasadena Playhouse in Southern California and suggested the Sundance Theater to Robert Redford where he wrote and directed for several seasons. For four years, he directed shows at the Pink Garter in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

He brought Lorne Greene to Utah for the Salt Lake Saga in 1986.

He's studied the life of Joseph and Emma for 40 years, organized the first-ever family reunion between the disparate factions and has been unofficially adopted into the Smith family as well as named their CEO for 33 years.

He proofread the lesson manuals about Joseph Smith for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Now he's hard at work trying to get the Joseph and Emma love story made into a major motion picture.

He's a father of two, grandfather of eight. He's the high priest group leader in the Geneva Heights 3rd Ward in Orem.

"You might say I've been everywhere," Youngreen said in a sit-down interview with Mormon Times. "I love it all, but my preference? It's directing."

Born in Chicago and raised in California, Youngreen discovered he liked being in plays in elementary school. In junior high, he was writing and recording little radio shows that were broadcast throughout the school.

By the time he hit high school, he knew he had to be involved in theater.

"I quickly learned that if you're going to get into this business, you get in the stream and you go where it takes you," Youngreen said. "It isn't the goal so much as the path you traveled. You do one production and it leads to another."

In junior college, he was taken under the wing of Burnett Ferguson — a drama teacher and institute teacher — who not only introduced and baptized him into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but pushed him to attend BYU on a drama scholarship.

"As I listened to him teach, I knew he was telling the truth," Youngreen recalls. Youngreen today is the only member of his family who is a Mormon. He's also the only Youngreen to be welcomed into the Smith family.

"I'm not related to Emma and Joseph Smith. I was smitten in the '60s with the idea of their story. When I wasn't busy I'd go read at the Huntington Library about the Smith family. I gathered all of these old photographs and all this information."

Eventually he wrote "Reflections of Emma: Joseph Smith's Wife" and "Joseph and Emma: A Love Story" and started working to bring the Smith family together. They'd been divided for 126 years before Youngreen brought them to the same place in 1972.

"They are good people. Emma was a good woman. She adopted her second husband's illegitimate son. We had vilified Emma and her children because we assumed things," Youngreen said. He tells of one instance when a local church leader came in and removed Emma's portrait from the wall of the Relief Society room, an act that made him determined to learn more about Emma and Joseph.

"People had vilified Joseph. I knew all of the salacious rumors and gossip before I ever studied Joseph and decided a man who's dead at 38 couldn't possibly have done all those things."

J. Samuel Park, a longtime friend of Youngreen's and a former mission president, said he always had Youngreen speak to his missionaries. "He can move people. He's got a tremendous spirit. He's got a very strong testimony. He's a magnificent communicator. Buddy always has time to help."

Park said Buddy's enthusiasm, creativity and dedication to the project is legendary.

"He's kind of a no-nonsense director, extremely detailed and meticulous. He puts in a lot of time," he said.

Though Youngreen's resume is full and list of accomplishments long, he has plenty he still wants to do.

"I've just gotta live long enough to do it all," he said.

Striking A Familiar Chord

"14-year-old Scout believed missing in the Uintas is found at home"
I read an article in the Deseret News, online. I could not help but to respond and make a comment.

It seems that a fourteen year old boy, a Venture Scout very likely was on a trip with his father who was the leader. He told him to "go away" because he was having a disagreement with one of the other five boys on this trip.

The boy decided to walk out of the camp in the Uintas, call his mom and go home. Well, the boy was missed and the area was searched. The boy, in the meantime was picked up by a family and taken to where he could call his mother to pick him up.

All this time, though no one knew where the boy was. His father, by now was probably frantic and not wanted to call his wife to tell her, his son was missing, right?


Well, reading this article brought back a memory of an experience I had with one of Michael's Venture Leader, David Broadbent. The following comment tells briefly my recollection.

I can remember as a single-mom, one scout leader telling me when my boys were that age, "Dead or Alive, we will bring back your son." That was NOT funny, (to me). This was the day before a 14, 15 year old group of boys were going to Wind Rivers.

I woke up the next morning hearing those words in my mind. I bolted out of bed and told my 14 year son. I told him how I felt, but left it up to him to decide of whether to go or not.

He knelt by his bed and I went to my room. He came back about ten minutes later and gave me his answer. It was to get a priesthood blessing from his oldest brother. I called him and we went @ 4:30 am to the brother's house.

He was safe,and felt much divine guidance,a great experience after all.

This was a spiritual experience for my son and he learned to listen and pray over his life situations, and his mission.


Michael told me that he felt his grandpa McIntire there with him on his trip. He wore Grandpa's hat on the trip to protect him from the sun. I think Grandpa did more than protect him from the sun. I know he watched over him and gave him guidance as Michael told me, he knew where to make each step as his group moved up and down the hills and steep inclines on the trail. The clouds were circled around leaving an open space for the sun to shine and not rain on them a lot of the time.

I am grateful that my prayers were answered, my son was safe and had a great spiritual experience at the same time. Michael grew a foot taller that day spiritually and I was so grateful I let him make his own decision of whether to go with his leaders and friends on that trip.

Making Right Decisions

I had a realization come to mind while I was not expecting to have any kind of spiritual insight. It was such an amazing thing. I hope it does not sound like I have all the answers. I don't. Nor do I pretend to have them.

It was a subtle thought, yet profound. The choices we make in life are ones that come from being where we need to be to get the right results.

Case in point. Having the children I have, I know they were sent to me and our family as I had prepared myself spiritually to know when they would be a part of the family. Thoughts come to my mind during the many times that I administer the words of the temple ordinances, I say them with meaning and with preciseness. There is NO rote to my doing this important work.

Nevertheless, it has much meaning to me and to those who hear and receive them. It was quite astounding. The thoughts that came to mind was when my young daughters, Tanise, Tara and Tracie made comments about their yet, unborn and or thought of brother, Michael. It touches my heart as I know the blessings of the spirit in my home during their growing up years.

I relate this as I remember pondering as I rocked my toddler, Tana as she lie in my arms. I became drowsy and thought I would just take a short nap after I took her to her bedroom to sleep. It was mid-afternoon. I walked back to my bedroom and felt that perhaps Tana was following me. I went to my room and shut the door, and didn't think about it. I wanted to get some rest until the rest of the family needed me. Grandma McIntire was visiting us from California. She and Grandpa McIntire had come for one of their quarterly visits.

When I awoke from that short nap on a hot Arizona afternoon, I remembered to ask Grandma Mc about whether Tana went back to bed. She told me no one was up and Tana had stayed in her bed. I thought a moment and then it struck me, that perhaps it was a child in the Spirit, that was following me. I then felt so bad that I may have shut the door on a sweet little Spirit wanted to come.

I went to my knees and begged forgiveness if that was the case, I would welcome a new little one who was visiting our family. The girls, around that same time had been asking me, "Where is Michael?" I didn't know who or what they were asking about. But with the incident of feeling like Tana was following me, and it was not her, it made sense. This was in about March or April before Tana turned two.

The reason I can recall this time, is that when I was nursing her, I had to quit nursing her after three months when I was expecting Michael. How it all came together was the hand of God in our lives, once again. I know this to be so, and true.

I am so thankful for the gifts of the Spirit that assisted me throughout my life at the times when it was most needful.

"Discipline is the Soul of An Army"

The above quote was stated by General George Washington.


What General Washington would look like in a military uniform today. . . Would we recognize him if we saw him like this? Wig and all.



Introduction from The Power of Discipline
By Brian Tracy

Why are some people more successful than others? Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great majority?

I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future.

And then I began asking, "Why are some people more successful than others?" This question changed my life.

Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way. One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, "Success is tons of discipline."

Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four.

A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit.

With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch.

It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer. As it happened, I immediately knew who he was. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement. Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study. I had read all four books from cover to cover, more than once.

After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask, "Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?"

He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating, "The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, "Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not."

He went on to say, "There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work."

Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.

In the pages ahead I will describe seven areas of your life where the practice of self-discipline will be key to your success. These areas include goals, character, time management, personal health, money, courage and responsibility. It is my hope that you'll find a few "nuggets" that will help make your dreams come true. Harvey

A new Way to Play Dominoes

Mexican Train. That is what they call it. I heard about this game of dominoes just the other day for the first time. Bestafar, aka Pete, played that game endlessly and up until the last few days before he passed. It was his favorite board type game to play with anyone and everyone who would face his challenge.


After dinner at Hank's the kids, Lynn and Linda brought out the game. I never knew what they called Mexican Train. I had played Chicken Foot, as Tara's months ago for the first time around Thanksgiving last year. The rules are a little different. Each player has a small train for their dominoes to identify their turn.

It was fun and think I could actually get the hang of it. I will look for one of those games. Not to be left out, I will get one and teach it to Aaron and the kids. He said he didn't know how to play Dominoes. How neglectful can that be?

The future is bright to teach him and have him become a champion at it. I like the idea of getting the kids interested in playing the "Mexican Train," game.

Top Ten Songs from my High School Days~

1961--It was a very good year to remember. The year I graduated from Fullerton Union High.

1.

Surrender
Elvis Presley

2.

A Hundred Pounds Of Clay
Gene Mcdaniels

3.

Apache
Jorgen Lngmann

4.

Calcutta
Lawrence Welk

5.

Dedicated To The One I L...
The Shirelles

6.

Exodus
Ferrante and Teicher

7.

Hello Mary Lou
Ricky Nelson

8.

I Don't Know Why But I D...
Clarence 'Frog Man' Henr...

9.

I Fall To Pieces
Patsy Cline

10.

I Love How You Love Me
Paris Sisters

I thought I would post these from my high school class of 1961. I will see if I can get them posted as the music selections on this blog to reminisce the "oldies."

Remebering Bestafar, aka Glenn W. Burt

A great man, patriarch, and loving individual. He was known as "Bestafar" by my grandchildren, and all of the rest of our family. Will not forget his sense of humor. I am thankful my own Father(and Mother) got to know him. His life has come and gone, and now takes him into the eternities. I cherish the memories of him, and his dear, eternal companion and wife, Esther. They were the maternal grandparents to Lori (McIntire), my oldest son's wife. My condolences to his children, grandchildren etc. Until we meet again, my friend, at the feet of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thought by Abraham Lincoln

I liked this saying by Abe Lincoln and wanted to share it today.


"I feel the hand of God on me leading me down better roads than I would have taken alone."

"Even better shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." Psalms 139:10

Turning the Page of A Life Well Done

Remembering Bestafar~

Glenn Burt, 1919-2010, patriarch of his family. He turned 90 in October last year.


Today, can be said was perhaps the end of an era in the lives of some of my grandchildren, who have had to let go and say good bye to Bestafar. Their Great-grandpa, Bestafar passed away this afternoon, in peace, surrounded by his loved ones.

I know the influence he and Bestamor in life was great. Their close knit family always made me and mine feel a part of their family circle and the love they have for one another. The first time I met Esther, aka Bestamor, which means great-grandmother in Norwegian was a a bridal shower for Lori, her granddaughter who married son, Hank back twenty two years ago this month.

She welcomed me with open arms, literally and a kiss on the lips. She always had such an endearing way about her, that I liked/loved her instantly. She and "Pete," as she called him, were the perfect example of charity and service. He was a non-member when I met them. They had been married almost fifty years at the time.

Pete was so attached to his great-grandchildren, that he made up his mind he did not want to go into eternity without them. So, he was baptized a member of the Church and made his family forever, and were sealed in the temple. What a joy for Esther, I am sure. Such a great pair, always loving and kind to one another.

I appreciate the life he stood for. He was the same age as my own father. They became acquainted as well and always welcomed him into their home when we would visit.

He is now with his sweet wife, Esther. I can only imagine their great reunion after being apart of almost 2 1/2 years.

Know Angels Were Watching Over Us All

The other day, I received a text with a photo from my daughter, Tara of their van.

She and her family and been in an accident on the interstate, 1-15 around 5:00 pm.

They were hit from the rear and had been sitting still in traffic.

Not even five minutes before, one of the kids told Tara that Allie didn't have her seat belt on. Tara immediately had her buckle up. She had just done that when a few minutes later, booooooommmm, came the crash from behind.

Tara also mentioned how the week before one of the girls had gone in for a physical and the family practitioner had taken the time to talk, really talk to them, like a "dad" would to his own children.

Interestingly enough, he went into great length about how important it was for then to ALWAYS wear seat belts in the car to be safe. What an inspired doctor, looking after his patients like he would his own child.

I counted my blessings many times, for the safety of ALL my children and grands, greats that day for sure! I know, I pray morning and night for the protection and safety of my children and theirs each day. I know my prayers were heard.