Cross E Ranch day

 We wandered over to Cross E Ranch on a gorgeous Friday late afternoon.  All those in town came (missing Alex, Laila and Markus).  I'm always so grateful my family likes each other and wants to spend time together. 

We saw the baby animals and played in the Corn Pit...

Because it's still September and they just switched everything over to Fall and Halloween there was hardly anyone at CrossE.... so we ALL got on the tractor pulled train....

Then off to the CORN MAZE-- we love to do the hardest one in the fastest time.  ALFIE, ADDISON and WAYNE are masters of this.  They can follow the maze map and we never back track or make mistakes.  ALFIE led us through in record time, even when the adults messed up.  At one point Elsie said..."We are lost, we don't know what we are doing."  and Poppy chimed in, "I don't want to live here, there is no refrigerator!"   

Truman cut through the corn and got out first!  He was magic.  Then off to the PIG races.  We cheered for Princess Peach every time..and she never Won.  Oh well..still fun to sit on bales of hay and scream for something.

We love CROSS E Apple Cider donuts...crispy on the outside and melt in your mouth on the inside. 

Then we do the slides and jump on the trampolines and order dinner... it's a really fun time.  Tru wanted to eat his chicken stips in front of the chickens as a warning to be good, or else!

Primary Pres.

 So this just happened....

I'm the new Primary President in our new Forest Hills ward in Layton.  I'm really excited to keep the previous counselors and secretary, who have only been in since last Spring.  This really helps me since I don't know the kids or the ward or primary or pretty much anything.  But, I do bring a lot of LOVE and acceptance, and inclusion.   I'm looking forward to getting to know these ladies that I serve with better.  Jane Merrill, Marilee Ellsworth and Jill Swenson.

My Constitution/Founding Fathers Talk

Divinely inspired Constitution and Founding Fathers talk September 17, 2023

Where were you on Sept 11, 2001?  You ask anyone older than 26 and they will tell you where they were when the 9-11 attacks happened.  I was a teacher at Bountiful High just starting school when a student ran in my room saying she heard something on the radio on her way to school and demanded we turn on the tv…which we did and then all sat there stunned not understanding what we were seeing.  

After the Twin Towers fell on Sept 11, 2001, members of Congress stood side by side on the steps of the US Capitol and sang, “God Bless America.”  It wasn’t because they were united in their views on America.  They came together in patriotism and bonded in the cause of America.  And that made all the difference.

The Feeling in our country, after this horrible thing happened was one of unity,  one of loyalty…like we got each other's backs- we are all in this together.

On September 11, 2001, Americans demonstrated our strength as a nation.  We showed that in times of crisis we can rise above our differences and come together, united as a nation.  

Today it looks/ feels like we have a divided Country ––—  It’s the two extreme sides that make the news– and fill social media. But I believe most of us fall somewhere in the middle, and it’s good to be reminded about the divine beginnings of our country.

We have been asked to speak on the divine origins of the US Constitution and the divine calling of the Founding Fathers. 

So now you may be sitting there thinking….Are you freaking kidding me?  A talk about the Constitution and our founding fathers in sacrament meeting?  I came to hear about Jesus!!  

Stick with us. Jesus is involved in and around all of this.

It’s pretty popular nowadays to “dis” on historical figures, to tear them down…George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the rest owned slaves, weren’t good people etc…….they run the risk of being canceled in today's culture.

Ted Stewart- federal judge, author – shares this thought:  : “ Today it is common to criticize the founders of America.  Judging them by today’s standards of equality and justice they do fail.  Some owned slaves, none fought to give women equal rights.  Most were wealthy white men.  Yes, judging the founders by today’s standards of equality and justice they fail.  But there is just one problem with judging them by today’s standards and it is this: but for those imperfect founders and sacrifices that they made and the instruments of government which they created, there would be no current, enlightened standards of equality and justice by which to judge them.”

 The reason we can freely criticize, protest, vote for change, run for office and exercise freedom of religion or irreligion as we choose is for one reason and one reason only –because the Founding Fathers made it so.  We are part of the greatest democracy the world has ever known.  Elder Tad R. Callister adds this…..  “It seems somewhat hypocritical to enjoy the good fruits of liberty today while at the same time criticizing the very tree that produced such fruit– namely, our Founding Fathers.”

Our Founding Father’s were instruments in God’s hands. And did you know that  Wilford Woodruff records a vision in 1877 of the Founding Fathers along with other eminent men and women asking to get their temple work done?

But….Here’s the thing…back in colonial times George Washington didn’t know he was going to be THE George Washington.  Thomas Jefferson didn’t know he was THE Thomas Jefferson.  They were just men trying to do something new and ispired that benefited all people.  They were flawed humans, just like the rest of us and God worked through them.  

God has a habit of doing this. Joseph Smith was a flawed 14 year old farmboy and God worked through Him to bring about the restoration of our church and the translation of the Book of Mormon.

Moroni was flawed– and God worked through Him.  

Mormon 9:  31 Condemn me not because of mine aimperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.

 …And now he graces the top of many of our temples.

Here’ what’s cool……We are all flawed humans and God can work through us too! 

The Founding Fathers were divinely inspired, and they carved out an inspired document.  Our Constitution.  The first time I was aware that we even had a constitution was as a child watching Schoolhouse rock on Saturday morning cartoons, maybe if you are of a certain age you remember it too. 

Sing: 

 “We the People (of the United States), in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America. “  

As inspired as the Constitution is, the Founding Fathers repeatedly declared that it could not exist as a viable document unless first and foremost there existed a moral people.  They also knew a nationally mandated religion would never work  

Thomas Jefferson wrote;  “Jesus’s moral laws are the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man. “ 

George Washington concurred:  “It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey HIS will.”

He also said…. “OF all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity – religion and morality are indispensable supports.”

The Founding Fathers referenced religion as well as morals because they knew that religion was the best catalyst for fostering a moral people.  They knew that religion was the prime source to inspire morality. Our Founding Fathers understood this principle–the more morality of the people and religion there is, the less the need for government intervention and the greater our liberties.

So how do we stay a moral and religious people? How do we inspire others to want to be moral and religious? How do we take care of, support and defend the Constitution today?   I offer 5 ideas.

1.  We live our religion.  We do this by example.  We let others see that our religion makes us happy, and gives us hope.  It energizes us and we look forward to coming together on Sunday.  We support each other all along our various spiritual paths.  It helps us to become a more loving and less judgmental people.

2. We work on building the spirit of unity in your family, our neighborhood, our ward, and city…We serve in the community.

            We can do this by getting to know our neighbors- even when it’s hard. Even when it’s out of our comfort zone. … we extend our social circles.  Talk to people who are different than you. It doesn’t take very long….like 6 seconds.  In 6 seconds we can put back into the world what fear and hate threaten to take away:   goodness, kindness, compassion, inclusion, acceptance, hope, peace, and love.    

We help others and are patient with them - the man crossing the street so slowly , the cashier at Winco who messes up, the driver who didn’t signal changing lanes…patience and civility build unity.

I would like to share a quote from the Lord of the Rings, the book of Gandolf:  “Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but this is not what I have found.  I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay…small acts of kindness and love.”

3. We turn off the 24 hour news cycle— so divisive, – turn off the one sided- slanted cable news…. it is not good for us. It creates Fear… and GOD wants us to  live in faith and trust, not fear.

4. We don’t pass on digs about politicians and parties, or repeat talking points prepared by people who want to stoke division…  or share “mean,” albeit sometimes funny, memes and tweets.   We unfollow any media that encourages an “us vs. them” mentality, or that constantly tells you “the other side” hates America.  Please unfollow them.

You may be thinking…”but  I’m right. I have a right to act this way and put others down.  They are wrong.  I am right. I’m totally justified.”   As President Benson’s landmark talk on Pride tells us:   This thinking is pride.  “The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.”

Pride gets ahold of our hearts and traps us. When we don’t want to let go of that…when we want to stay annoyed, or bitter or angry with someone else or a group of people, that is pride.  Any time we elevate ourselves above others and seek to diminish others..it is pride.  Judgment of others, Anger and resentment is a win for Satan.  This is not how our Heavenly Parents want us to feel or to be.   This is Satan’s playbook.

 Humility is required to get out of this pride cycle …to do as Jesus wants us to do… more humility to live the 2nd great Commandment:  LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Which leads to… #5.  We fill our lives with Jesus and his teachings and try to be like him…try, try, try.  

The best laboratory for becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ is in our family and church..and our country. WHY?  Because we don’t choose it– beyond our spouse and where we live.  In a family, ward, and country  WE rub shoulders with those who are not like us.  People who don’t believe as we do.  Who do life differently than us.   It’s easy to like the people who are like us.  To talk nicely to the people who think like us and say the things we say, believe as we do.  But Jesus didn’t ask us to just do that.  He asked us to  Love EVERYONE.  Even the ones who are different from us, who disagree with us. When we practice what Jesus taught… we practice becoming more Christian.

Pres Nelson: “ The best is yet to come for those who spend their lives building up others.  Today I invite you to examine your discipleship within the context of the way you treat others.  I bless you to make any adjustments that may be needed so that your behavior is ennobling, respectful, and representative of a true follower of Jesus Christ.”

One of the toughest things to live, is Jesus’ injunction to love our enemies.  It goes against the natural man.  It’s counterintuitive and counter-cultural.  Social media isn’t helping.   We live in a world that glorifies violence.  But the Savior and our prophet preach agape love. Love your enemies kind of love.  It’s hard…and it’s worth it.   It’s a refusal to see the other person as an "other", but as a child of GOD.

Years ago I had such a hard time with a certain politician.  I felt such vitriol for this person.  I was mad every time their name came up, or I saw what was said in the news or tweeted out or on social media.  I was just uptight and mad, and aggressive towards this person all of the time.  I was filled with Judgment. Then I realized this wasn’t serving me and I was not living as a disciple of Christ.  I prayed for help.  Then I realized…My mad- my angst- this politician wasn’t feeling it— only I was feeling it.  It wasn’t ruining their life— it was ruining mine.   

I leaned on my Savior. The spirit spoke to me.   I was reminded we are all children of God— even this person. 

Now when these feelings of “rile” start to boil up I remind myself of what we have in common instead of how different we are.

I repeat:

This person is a child of God and so am I

This person is a flawed human - I am a flawed human.

This person has a mother- I have a mother

This person wants to be loved -  I want to be loved. 

We can do this process not just with politicians who bug us— but with everyone we meet.

It’s called following Jesus. 

Here’s the deal:   You can choose to believe whatever you want to believe.  So believe in a loving God, believe that our Heavenly parents  know what’s going on, believe that it will all work out.  Trust that God’s hand is in all of this.  Because it is.

I hope we can remember the importance of our constitution and the divine calling of our founding fathers.  I know when we focus on Jesus Christ and His beautiful gospel we can all try to be more like him – more loving and united, which makes us better citizens.

I have a testimony of this…and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, My brother and Redeemer…amen.

Wayne's Constitution talk

Ten years ago I had some colleagues from China visit who had never been here before.  They wanted to see some of our world famous National Parks.  We picked them up early in the morning, and as we drove along I-15 There were excited voices coming from the back of the car and the sound of camera shutters clicking.  I didn’t think too much of it but as we passed through Utah county the camera lenses continued ticking away. I wondered what they were taking so many pictures of. As we were nearing Nephi and the lens shutter clicking became more incessant, I had to know.  What are you taking so many photos of?    They informed me that they had never seen such amazing mountains before.  I looked out and for the first time since I had started driving I noticed the mountains.  Mt. Nebo was breathtaking.  In my mind I thought, wait until you see the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon.  There had been an early snowstorm that year and there was snow on the ground and a beautiful clear blue sky overhead as we pulled into the parking lot at Bryce.  I could hardly wait for them to see the beautiful contrast of the white snow on the red rock formations.  We hurried them out of the car and I took off walking.  I soon realized that they were not following me.  They were stooped down picking up snow.  They had never seen it before.  So I went back and taught them how to make snow angels and have a snowball fight. When that was out of their system I thought “finally – we can get to what we came for.”     I started walking again to get to the rim for the view, and I heard shutter noises again.  “Are you kidding me? There is nothing to take pictures of yet.  I turned around and they had their cameras pointing at the sky taking pictures.  They had never seen such a blue sky before.  I’m a slow learner, but the lesson finally hit home.  I had seen and been around mountains and snow and clear blue skies for so long that I no longer noticed them – or took the time to think about them. I had become blinded in a way.
          
Matthew recounts this experience with the Savior:
Two blind men sitting by the wayside when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out saying, Have mercy on us O Lord, thou Son of David
And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
 
My hope is that as we are taught by the spirit today that our spiritual eyes may be opened – and as we talk about things that we may take for granted because they have always been a part of our everyday lives, that we will see our blessings in a new light. And that the spirit will prompt us to act. 
Our Father in Heaven planned the coming forth of the Founding Fathers and their form of government as the necessary leading to the restoration of the gospel. Recall what Jesus Christ said nearly two thousand years ago when He visited this promised land: “For it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth” (3 Ne. 21:4).
The Declaration of Independence which declares God’s natural non-transferable  laws - affirmed the Founding Fathers’ belief and trust in God in these words:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The Doctrine and Covenants states, “We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life” (D&C 134:2). Life, liberty, property—mankind’s three great rights.
The years immediately preceding the Constitutional Convention were filled with disappointments and threats to the newly won peace. Washington was offered a kingship, which he adamantly refused. Nephi had prophesied hundreds of years before that “this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land”
Between the years of 1783 and 1787, an outsider viewing the affairs of the United States would have thought that the thirteen colonies, who were different in so many ways, could never effectively unite. The world powers were confident that this nation would not last.
But Nephi taught that “The Lord knoweth all things from the beginning, wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men”
Four months after first meeting, the Constitutional Convention delegates had completed their work on September 17, 1787. Exactly 236 years ago today.
I met my Chinese friend Adrian Zhao in 2005.  On June 4 , 1989, Adrian was a college student in Tiananmen Square, participating in protests against the communist government and calling for, among other things greater government accountability, constitutional due process, democracy, freedom of the press, and freedom of speech. He witnessed firsthand the scene many of you are familiar with of the brave student who stood in front of an oncoming tank as thousands of troops killed hundreds and injured thousands of the protestors.  Many of them friends of Adrian, young men and women who wanted the rights that we here in the United States have always had.
Adrian recounted to me many times that he wished that he had been born in America so that he would have the freedoms that we have 
Things we take for granted like how many children can we have in our family 
What schools can we go to and even our career choices - freedom to talk about God outside of our own homes.
What Adrian was really talking about is agency
It was what we fought for in heaven, and was the father’s plan accepted by Jesus Christ and all of us 
The Ideal was expressed in the Declaration of Independence – the God given natural law.  The Founders believed that in a perfect world, positive law would be the same as natural law. In an imperfect world that is impossible, but we should try to make positive law approximate natural law as closely as feasible.
The inspired attempt by the Founding Fathers to codify into man-made positive law resulted in our constitution.  A document which has been the model for the constitutions of 110 countries., As Melinda mentioned, although these were imperfect men, God used them to write this document so His work could go forth.  These inspired men acknowledged God’s hand in the process.  
James Madison 
“It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution.”
Alexander Hamilton, said: “For my own part, I sincerely esteem it a system, which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interest”
In 1833 the Lord said the following:
“According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established;... That every man may act in doctrine and principle…according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, ... And for this purpose I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose.(D&C 101:77-80)
We know that Jesus Christ is the source of freedom upon the earth and its greatest advocate. Nephi taught this truth:
And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon
At a bicentennial celebration Elder L. Tom Perry said the following.
“The source of America’s greatness is not a new doctrine to us. The Book of Mormon has declared over and over again that the blessings of heaven on this land are contingent upon the righteousness of its people. In fact, this teaching has been attested to in almost every age. … in 1831…the famous French historian Alexis de Tocqueville said:
“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” 
So – I would propose that one of the best ways we can defend and uphold our constitution is to do and be good.
What does it mean to be good?  Both sides of the political aisle seem to think that they have a monopoly on goodness.  
I love thinking about the word “Good”  I believe that being good is better than being great.  Think about the use of the word good in the scriptures. 
King Benjamin said:
“Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his.
The Savior said,” Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.
It seems that in these two scriptures the words good and work go hand in hand. So what is this “good work” that the Lord would have us do?
The story of the good Samaritan is a perfect example. You all know it well _ Let’s see if we can view it with different eyes today.  A certain man – a Jew – went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves.  He was stripped of his raiment and wounded – leaving him half dead.  A priest and Levite passed by on the other side. But the Samaritan came where he was and had compassion on him.  
OK – the hatred between the Samaritans and the Jews had begun around 1000 years before the Savior told this story.  That is a long time for hatred and mischaracterizations of each other to fester.  So lets’ apply it to us
Someone we absolutely disagree with maybe even hate (we have only been a country for 250 years, a lot less time to foment bad feelings than the Samaritans and Jews had) this person we despise falls on hard times. How do we react? This person disagrees with us politically, religiously, culturally.
Here is what our living prophet has said regarding this.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be examples of how to interact with others—especially when we have differences of opinion. One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people.
If a friend on social media has strong political or social views that violate everything you believe in, an angry, cutting retort by you will not help. Building bridges of understanding will require much more of you, but that is exactly what your friend needs.
The Samaritan came to where the wounded man was.  That means we try to understand where the person we disagree is coming from – how are their experiences different from ours.  We go to them and figuratively bind up their wounds – pour in oil and wine – set them on our own beast and take care of them - and then we go the extra mile – we ask others to also show compassion – others who may also disagree with our wounded friend- we ask them to also love and care for him, and then we come back and do it again.
One of the names of the Savior is the Good Shepherd.
How do we emulate the Good Shepherd? – We do what he did - and what did He do? Paul tells us He went about doing good – there’s that word again. Modern testimony teaches us the following:
His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead.
So how we do the things He did?  We cannot literally do everything the Savior did, but we can use His life as type.  He walked the streets of Palestine - He went out and look for opportunities to serve - We can do that - we can walk the roads of the Forest Hills ward and pay attention wherever we are for opportunities to serve. 
Healing the sick - we can do this – again not always literally, but by following the promptings of the spirit we can be the words, presence and hands of He who is the master healer.  We can bring His presence with us into the lives of those who are struggling and suffering.
Causing the blind to see - We may not have the opportunity to give literal sight to the blind, but we can help others see Christ through our example and service
And raising the dead - We cannot universally overcome death, but we can make our relationships and our families live. We can give life to our church callings, to our ward and to our neighborhood. 
I believe that our purpose here on earth can be summed up by the 2 great commandments - Love God, love our neighbors as ourselves.  Why? Because on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.  So if you have a question on how you should act in any situation, ask yourself how your actions will fulfill these 2 commandments, and then proceed accordingly.
President Nelson has given us a promise, and I have a testimony of prophetic promises.
 
In the Old Testament we read of Naaman who was a leper. He heard that there was a prophet in Samaria that could help him, so he went with money hoping to purchase the healing
Elisha the prophet sent out a messenger telling Naaman to go and wash in Jordan seven time and he would be cleansed.  Naaman was so angry – he supposed that the prophet would come out to him and call on the lord and heal him of his leprosy.
He was headed back to Damascus,  but his was servants reminded him that if the prophet had asked him to do some great thing he would have surely done it, so why not give this a try.
We all know how it ended – Naaman washed seven times and was cleansed of his leprosy.  Why?  Not because of any magical properties of the river Jordan, but a prophet of God had said it would be so.
Here is what our living prophet of God said:
“Brothers and sisters, we can literally change the world—one person and one interaction at a time. How? By modeling how to manage honest differences of opinion with mutual respect and dignified dialogue.”
One way we can do this is by knowing who we are.  Who are we?  This is one of my favorite quotes by President Boyd K Packer:
You are a child of God. He is the father of your spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many generations in your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line. You are a child of God!
When we see not only ourselves as children of Heavenly Parents, but also open our spiritual eyes and see everyone else that way we will treat them differently.  As Melinda said we need to remember that even our enemies and those we disagree with are children of God. 

I wrote a 4th verse to I am a Child of God that helps me remember this.
I am a Child of God
And so is everyone
This truth helps me to love and serve
Just as His Firstborn Son
We are in a great sisterhood and brotherhood and our challenge is to treat each other as the Good Samaritan treated his wounded brother – for we are all wounded and in need of a Healer. 
One more promise from President Nelson:
As you demonstrate the charity that true followers of Jesus Christ manifest, the Lord will magnify your efforts beyond your loftiest imagination.
The gospel net is the largest net in the world. God has invited all to come unto Him, “black and white, bond and free, male and female.”24 There is room for everyone.
Said another way:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
My prayer is that as we strive to protect the freedom and agency we currently enjoy by doing good, that God will crown our good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

Eric Johnston Obituary/Funeral

Our dear Friend passed away. Eric Johnston was just like all of us amazing and not.  But with his 18 months of extended life knowing there was a quick end in sight...he was AMAZING.  

On September 6, 2023, Eric Christopher Johnston died of pancreatic cancer at the young age of 61. With one last taste of a Nielsen's concrete and while listening to Michael Jackson, he passed peacefully, surrounded by the people who loved him most.

Born June 11, 1962, to Oliver and Nina Leishman Johnston in Brockton, Massachusetts, Eric was the third of six children. He was the peacemaker, having forged and maintained a special relationship with each of his siblings.

Eric attended Cottonwood High School, straddling the line between cool and geek as a cheerleader and member of the Jazz Band. (We'll let you decide which is which.) He subsequently graduated from Brigham Young University. On June 23, 1990, he married his best friend, Kimberly Cannon, in the Salt Lake Temple. Eric earned a Medical Degree from St. Louis University and then completed an Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at University of Kansas in Wichita and a Foot and Ankle fellowship in Seattle. Working at Mountain Orthopaedics for over 25 years, he blessed the lives of many. He was adored by his patients, work colleagues, and other medical professionals throughout the state (except when he was their patient).

Eric loved serving people. He made deep and lasting connections as a missionary in Paris, Bishop of the Canyon Estates Ward, and during his 12-year stint with the Deacons. His infectious smile was a window to his giant, generous heart. Whether it was buying snow tires for a stranger, listing things on KSL only to give them away for free when the buyer came to pick them up, running a free triage clinic in the living room, or sending an extra $2,000 to the seller of the boat he bought because he knew the seller could use the money, Eric lived by the philosophy that money was meant to provide for your needs, make memories, and care for others.

After being diagnosed on February 18, 2022, Eric retired from his medical practice and spent the following 18 months making memories and strengthening relationships with family and friends. He seized every opportunity for a joyful adventure while simultaneously preparing the people he loved for the inevitable. Eric was 31 years old when his dad died of malignant melanoma, and he felt like there were many things that were left unsaid. So, Eric humbly and bravely invited each of his children to talk openly and honestly about the things that matter most. Eric left with the confidence that each of his children unquestionably understood the absolute love he had for each of them.

Despite being incredibly sick the last 18 months, Eric continued to enjoy all wheeled things (bikes of the mountain, road, and dirt variety), traveling (5 national parks, Oregon, Southern California, Arizona, New York, but most notably, a dream trip to Ireland and Scotland where he was able to visit the home of his fourth great-grandfather), and food, especially smoked meats and anything containing sugar.

Eric will be sorely missed by his wife Kim, his children Tanner (Jessicah Starke), Hunter (Savannah Brown), Rachel, Olivia, and William, granddaughter Eleanor, his mom Nina, his siblings Mark (Lynne), Mike, Lisa (Craig Ward), Jeremy (Camille), Scott (Chantell), the Tom and Gayle Cannon family, and the second dog he didn't want (but then loved), Nellie. Greeting him in heaven were his father, Ole, and the first dog he didn't want (and loved even more), Missy.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, September 15, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to commemorate Eric's final months since his diagnosis, complete with sweet rolls and milk. His funeral will be the following morning, Saturday, September 16, at 11 a.m. Both celebrations will be held at the Mueller Park Stake Center, 1800 Mueller Park Road, Bountiful, UT.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Sharing Place or take your family for caramel cashew concretes at Nielsen's in memory of Eric.__________

Diane Lake, Heidi Bingham, Kimi Farley, Kim Johston, Laura Belnap , Melinda Welch

Eric Johnston’s celebration of life and Funeral were this weekend.  Doc is officially put to rest.  Friday night a bunch of us, Si, Laura, Kimi, Diane, Heidi and myself were in charge of gathering 600+ homemade cinnamon rolls and  400+ little milks and water to serve at this celebration.  Diane and Heidi were on Si’s “ roll team” while Kimi and I were on Laura’s “milk team”-- my homemade cinnamon roll game is not good.    The celebration was really nice.  Eric’s body was laid out in a side room with flowers and quiet and the noisy greetings and condolences took place in the Cultural hall.  All of this was at our Mueller Park church.  Eric planned this whole shindig and his funeral before passing.  Eric made a bucket list of 100 things he wanted to do once he found out he had cancer and just months to live.  There were displays all around celebrating his last 18 months…this was so different and really sweet.  Things on his list like teaching his girls how to ride a motorcycle and a stick shift, eating a hot dog at Nathan’s Hotdog in NYC, seeing Adele, Garff  Brooks, and Taylor Swift in concert, taking a lot of family pictures, see Mount Rushmore, climb to as many waterfalls as possible in Glacier National Park, and make sure he has ALL of the good and hard conversations with his kids.  He was such an inspiration for living large til the end. 

The Funeral had 3 musical numbers.  HE asked me to sing, “It is Well with my soul” as the opening song– and by the end chorus I had everyone in the congregation join in the chorus with me.  It was so beautiful–overwhelmingly so.  Not a dry eye…including mine. Bob Farley just figured out the accompaniment to my song…he is so talented.  Eric had all of his kids speak and his little brother Scottie, a middle musical number of his brother playing the piano of “Come come Ye Saints” and then another family friend did a final musical number for the closing song– Untitled Hymn– “Fly to Jesus and Live.”   To top it all off, as soon as the closing prayer was said and we were told to stand, a bagpiper started playing “Amazing Grace” and came into the chapel to escort the family and the casket out.  So powerful.   My friend Kim, his widow, was the epitome of grace, love and caring for everyone she talked to.  I guess this is where you are at when you have 18 months to really plan the ending of a life.  Still so sad..and so much unknown.  Her kids all leave and get back to their regular lives and by the middle of Oct she is alone, and then she will need all of us. 

Kim and Eric with their angels.....