I was a healthy baby boy born Tuesday, 16 May 1939, in the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah; the first child of Ellen Ferris Hixson age 25, and Sterling King Hixson age 26. My mom and I stayed in the hospital for 10 days and dad had to rake up $50.00 to get us out. They tell me I was long and all eyes and not too good-looking.
My early years, growing up with my three younger siblings, Judith Ellen, Robert Lee, and Joan, was in southeastern Idaho on the Bear River. They were years of no worries, just knowing I was loved. I still remember the emphasis on the strict rules to stay away from the river, but during the summer I loved going down to the riverbed by the school to jump rocks, as well as climbing trees to discover birds’ nests with so many colors and sizes of eggs. In the winter time we would sleigh and toboggan down the hill by our house and afterwards warm up with hot chocolate and a bowl of mom’s home made chili.
My first school was a one-room school where each row of seats was a grade – from one to eight. When I was in the fourth grade the school district consolidated and I found myself in a big school with a room for every grade – from one to eight. We would ride the bus to town. It was a small, yellow bus we named the puddle jumper.
My mid teen-age years began in Utah, when dad was transferred with his work. Country life gave way to city life. It was a sad experience leaving all I had ever known. As we drove out of town on December 10, 1953, I turned around, knelt on the back seat, looked out the back window and watched Grace, Idaho fade away. I felt like my world had crumbled. We had a beautiful little copper colored cocker spaniel named Penny, and when we moved Penny didn’t move with us.
Soon I found my self in the “I can hardly wait until” stage of life. Ages 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 were ones I particularly yearned for. 12 meant I would get the Aaronic Priesthood, become a deacon and pass the sacrament. Age 14 was also BIG because in Idaho you could have a daytime driver license. Becoming a Priest at age 16 meant I could bless the sacrament, and becoming 18 was a door to adulthood. I graduated from Bountiful High in the spring of 1957, in the first graduating class.
In my late teens, I faced the choice of being drafted or joining the National Guard. I became a member of the Utah National Guard’s 144th Evacuation Hospital unit. I left for my mission while in that hospital unit, and while gone the unit was activated because of the Berlin Crisis. When I returned I went into the Linguistic Unit at Fort Douglas.
Life seemed to move faster now. I received my mission call to leave in June of 1959 to the Netherlands Mission. I secretly hoped I would go to the same mission as my dad, but I hadn’t really planned on it. I’m not sure who was the most excited when I read ‘Netherlands’, Dad or me.
When I returned I worked at Saint Mark’s hospital as a surgical orderly. I left Saint Mark’s to be a surgical technician at the LDS Hospital. 34 years later, after early retirement at Utah Power and Light Company, I worked for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Missionary Travel and became a Certified Travel Associate, retiring from the work world in 1995.
When Luan came to the door my first thoughts were she is pretty and attractive. That blind date resulted in our marriage in the Salt Lake Temple on 16 Aug 1963 by president N. Eldon Tanner. Eight children blessed our lives, with 26 grandchildren to follow. The eight children are 2 girls and 6 boys, all married in the temple and the boys all eagle scouts and returned missionaries.
I Attended the Salt Lake Community College in 2000 and earned an Associate of Science degree, with high honors.
I knew several days ahead before President Rendell N. Mabey issued the call to serve as bishop. I served as a high councilor and member of the stake presidency afterwards, completing 20 years of wonderful experiences.
The later years included Luan and me serving in the Belgium Brussels/ Netherlands Mission, The Hague Netherlands and Bountiful Utah Temples, and now in the Family and Church History Mission.
I have a testimony the Church has been restored to the earth in our day, when God and His Son appeared to the boy prophet Joseph Smith. We have living prophets walking the earth again, gathering, teaching, and blessing us. I am grateful for my blessings, especially for the Atonement of the Savior.
No comments:
Post a Comment