Be Ye Lift Up, Ye Everlasting Doors

Recently, we have pondered 
and painted doors.
Jesus taught:  I am the door.  
      So, doors must matter!  
     Our neighbor, Bertie, told us to paint
the door of our heart
with the blood of the Lamb--

 as Moses invited his people 

to do in Egypt

by making choices 

to invite the things

that do not lift and edify us 

(the destroying angel)

to pass by, 

or pass over 

ourselves and our homes. 

We are presently in process of painting 

the "lintels" (or the trim) of our garage, 

     our front door, 

and now the shed--

our current "high mountain"

 where we value engineering 

and knot-tying skills 

which connect and secure us to

our highest objectives.   
Along with this, we love the
(often blind) courage of a spouse, 
to reach, prepare and help to complete them.

Sometimes doors fail to open and close as we wish, 

(This is a photo of our east bedroom window shutters, 
barred closed to protect against the raging Labor Day winds)

so we are learning patience
that effectual doors 
might be opened.  
We are learning that the Lord
 stands at the door
and knocks.  
That He is the Keeper 
of our most important gates. 
 And we join Him 
as we open doors for others.
 Some treasured doors have opened for 
our daughter Maria, 
and her best friend, Jacob.  

Last year, as we wished goodbye 
to a friend, 
Ashley Christensen 
in our Fresno, California mission, 
Sister Christensen exclaimed 
she knew our Maria.  
(“Maria is your daughter!?  I love Maria!)  
I mentioned a challenge 
of not knowing an individual
that this daughter seemed to be interested in. 
“Jacob Peterson? I love Jacob Peterson!”  
Apparently, Ashley’s missionary preparation 
instructor was Jacob—
 “Jacob knows so much 
[about the gospel and more] 
and he is kind!” 
We finally met Jacob, 
over very hot soup at a restaurant, 
(Jacob likes spicy!) 
Then at family gatherings, 
we learned to play 
a favorite family game of Jacob’s, 
Queendomino.  
  During a January journey to visit Amber
 in New Mexico, 

of course, I was all ears. 
(Any news?) 
 No decisions.  

When Maria 
(or any other unnamed Starkey)
 makes up a mind, it is not to be rushed.  
Mid Spring, before our 
Sunday home worship service, 
Maria waltzed through 
the front door, 
sat on the music chair 
and declared:
 “I am determined 
to marry Jacob.”
There it was!  
Corona virus or no. 
Prior to announcing this decision, 
on the final Saturday
that the Bountiful temple was open, 
in March, 

Maria secured an appointment 
and attended, 
receiving her “temple endowment,”
which filled the necessary instruction requirement 

to allow Maria and Jacob 
to enter in July to be sealed--
a wish that others have desired and still await.
“And that they may grow up... 
and receive a fulness... 
and be organized... and be
prepared[!]...”
Above is my happy reminder 
of the blessings of beginnings.
Note from Val:  
"We, the parents of Maria, 
report with joy
 the comings and goings 
around Maria and Jacob's wedding: 
The preparations were good-- 
lots of man hours. 
The temple sealing was very spiritual and lovely.
The open air, masks-required reception 
was beautiful and enjoyable, 

with way more people 
than we ever imagined!
Special thanks to so many who helped, 
who traveled from far.  
We know that many couldn't come 
but sent their kindness and
best regards."
          
(Photo credit above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
A bubbling brook 
at the bottom of Grandma's hill
 on Mutton Hollow
was carefully carved 

with fingers that decide daily,
“I can create beauty out of anything!” 

Just over twenty-seven years ago, 
a reception was held here
for Maria’s parents.  

Only, this year,  it was coupled
with fresh, candid creativity, carrying 
fabric banners, 
(Photo credit above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)

photographs, 

(Photo credits above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)

fabric lanterns 

(discovered in a favorite weekend tradition of frequenting garage sales)

(Photo credit above:  Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)

 antique soda bottles 

(and other "paraphernalia" Maria’s family members

 have scratched heads about, over the years--

(Photo credits above:  Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)

prove there is a time 

to every purpose under heaven!) 

We hope to express joy, gratitude and thanks 

to friends, extended family, 

sisters, brothers, children,
 grandchildren.  All gathered (in masked marvel) 
in a peaceful
setting of tree-canopied outdoors.  
It was the bubbling brook 
that attracted Maria’s nieces
and nephews, 
glad for any reason to be together—
but what can top a wedding?

Like our bubbling brook, 

we overflow 
with ripples of appreciation-- 
first, to a grandmother 
who in January, with her twin, 
marked a 91st year. 

Cherished 
are mornings 
we toiled together 
side by side replanting lilies. 
Grateful we are,
 to Val's sister Marlene 
for her tireless weeding 
and artistic hand 
in creating landscape beauty; 
to his brother Paul and wife Gloria 
(sister Sherryl and her grandchildren) 
for mornings hauling and dumping mulch 
from truck to garden path.
Thanks to Jacob's 
supportive family network, 
who lent house
and home, making signs, 
(Photo credit above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
cutting fabric 
collecting heritage frames
 of marriages past and present, 
-- detailing the story of two unique,
commendable children, growing up, 
chasing dreams and in the process, 
finding one another. 
(Photo credit above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
As preliminaries were stirring, 
I bent my brother’s ear to ask, 
"If you were preparing to meet
your child's new in-laws-to-be, 
what questions would you ask?"
His questions opened the door 
for delightful memories,
shared over delicious fruit bowls 
and Tammy's (Jacob's mother's) homemade
cookies at a lovely bridal shower 
held at dusk in her sister's
back yard, near another babbling brook.

One story of a boy growing up is a
revealing portrait of the young man our Maria 
chose to marry--
Jacob has always loved rocks.   

In his Puerto Rico kindergarten, Jacob noticed they
were NOT studying rocks. 
"Why are we NOT studying rocks?"  
the five-year-old took his teacher aside to ask,
"It is not in the curriculum," 
she kindly replied. 
"But Jacob, you can study rocks and teach us. 
Will you?"
Jacob agreed.  
Four months later, after meeting
weekly with the kindergarten teacher, 
Jacob was ready.
"How much time do you think you will need?" 
the teacher queried, 
thinking he would maybe want  five minutes.  
"Three days," was Jacob's answer.  
Three days came and went.  
Jacob presented his prepared material, 
and as his presentation drew to an end, 
Jacob passed out an exam to
test his classmates.  

Both parents shared this story with a smile.  
Fast forward to another memory,  
this time with a partner at his side.  
a rock on her finger 
was presented in the mountains 
near a waterfall.  
Later vows would be offered
 between sacred granite walls.  
Something there reminded us of a day 
nearly twenty-seven years earlier, 
as her parents exited
 doorways of a Logan, then later Seattle temple.  
It was another place of quarried rock
from which Maria's mom and dad embarked 
as a couple sealed in holy covenant, prepared
 to celebrate the arrival of Maria nearly a year later
amidst seven doting siblings.  

Both Maria and Jacob's individual choices
 in choosing trustworthy friends,
drawing support from family and others
in paths of goodness,
that pointed them toward promises 
they would make
 within stone-cut  holy walls.
The officiator, Brother Richard Adams,  
offered unrushed time, 
helping us each visualize
the magnitude and grandeur of 
participating in a bond
that connects families
(Photo credits above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photograph)

for more than this life. 

Mirrors of eternity 
walled an altar 
where the couple knelt 
in a sacred covenant (or three-way promise)
between Maria, Jacob, and their Heavenly Father,
binding them to each other
and to future 
children and generations.
 The experience was gratifying--
exalting, joyful, blessed.
After this lovely 
sacred hour, 
siblings
(Photo credit above:  Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)

grandmothers,
(Photo credit above:  Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
cousins, 
(Photo credits above:  Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
friends, and family 
(Photo credit: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
gathered 
in the welcome shade 
of Grandma Starkey's back yard patio.

Jacob and Maria's former bishop, 
Brother Page Bennett performed 
the ring ceremony, 
(Photo credit above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
commending both 
for being "anxiously engaged" 
in good causes, 
declaring--
"If you want something done, 
ask a busy person!"
He invited the couple forward 
to a new great cause--
 beginning a brand-new
family--their own!

Special caution 
was exerted 
to honor 
distance guidelines
and sanitary suggestions. 
(Photo credit: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
Siblings 
with children, came from 
as near as Grammy's house 
to as far as traveling from
California, 
(Photo credit above:  Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
others from Arizona,
(Photo credit above:  Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
Washington State, 

(Photo credits above:  Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
and New Mexico, 
(Photo credit above:  Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
offering greetings, well wishes, 
appreciation of flowers

(Photo credits above:  Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
 and for Maria's simple, unique decorations.
Jacob’s family remained 
after the Starkey vehicles 
rumbled away,
carrying yawning grandchildren 


preparing for an early morning 
road trip to Arizona, 

to honor our grandson
 Riley's
high school graduation.

After sending off Starkey grandchildren, 
we scoured Grandma's hollow 
for a ribbon, or bottle, or strand of lights 
to recollect and stow. 
But everything had been collected and stowed! 
Thanks to a family that "just DOES that."
(Photo credits above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
Maria and Jacob finally landed 
(Photo credit above:  Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)
at their Kaysville Main Street cottage 
following a respite picnicking and zip lining. 
Jacob has now passed 
his graduate record exam 
(they are both hoping to be outstanding in their field!)
(Photo credit above:  Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
and has begun working again
with a former geology professor 

analyzing development of concrete.
 Maria continued 
"at home" engineering 
for Hill Air Force Base, 
until recently, 
where she has returned in person, 
newly assigned to manage a project
from which a fellow colleague just retired.   
We relish prospects 
of a year of close connection with them
before they seek further  
adventures elsewhere.
Celebrating, this time in Manti, 
with Maria’s cousin 
Daniel in his response to a mission call
we ran across a description 
adding detail to why
marriage is “ordained of God,” 
explaining that a change in...heart will come 
as [you serve and] feel your faith
in eternal families. 
 It will change your feelings 
about what it means 
to be a [family member.] 
(Photo credits above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
That change in your heart 
will come as you feel your faith grow
and the promise of eternal life
 ... becomes real to you.

“That happened 
to Parley P. Pratt 
when the Prophet Joseph Smith
 first taught him the doctrine 
of eternal families. 
(Photo credits above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
Parley P. Pratt wrote:
“It was at this time 
that I received from him 
the first idea of eternal family
organization,
 and the eternal union of the sexes
 in those inexpressibly
endearing relationships 
which none but the highly intellectual, 
the refined and
pure in heart, 
(Photo credits above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
know how to prize, 
and which are at the very
foundation of everything 
worthy to be called happiness…
(Photo credits above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
“It was from him 
that I learned 
that the wife of my bosom
(Photo credits above: Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)
might be secured to me 
for time and all eternity; 
and that the refined
sympathies and affections 
(Photo credits above: Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)
which endeared us to each other 
emanated from the
fountain of divine eternal love.
(Photo credits above: Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)
 It was from him that I learned
that we might cultivate these affections,
 and grow and increase in the same to
all eternity... 
(Photo credits above: Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)

“I had loved before, 
but I knew not why. 
But now
I loved—with a pureness—
(Photo credits above: Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)
an intensity of elevated, exalted feeling. …
I felt that God was my heavenly Father indeed;
Jesus was my brother, and
(Photo credits above: Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)
that the wife of my bosom 
(Photo credits above: Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)
was an immortal, eternal companion; 
a kind ministering angel, 
(Photo credits above: Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)
given to me as a comfort, 
and a crown of glory 
(Photo credits above: Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)
for ever and ever.”
So, here is our blessing to the newlyweds:  
We pray His hand will be over you for good. 
May eternity be your rock and your covering.  
      
(Photo credits above: Thank you to  Flying Gull Photography)
May doors of education 
add intelligence and light, 
(Photo credit above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)
that lead to (another) perfect day.
Any questions?
Grateful, we are, for that which
gathers in and protects from storms.  

During our recent storm on Labor Day, 
with the summer over,  we weathered
 90 plus miles per hour hurricane winds,
 
we prayed for them (and for each of you) 
 that your faith "fail not."
May you continue to be showered 
(and shower others) 
with blessings small and large
 as you gather, treasure, 
appreciate, and keep one another.

(Grateful we are for moments 
with grandchildren 
that we continue to treasure)
(Photo credits above: Thank you to 
Flying Gull Photography)

Let us cherish the gates and doors 
that offer liberty and good choices.  
As we ponder our part 
in protecting and preserving freedoms
offered by our Constitution, 
how we may best appreciate 
the founding principles
that encourage participation. 
We honor responsibility 
in choosing  “statesmen over politicians,” 
as I remember Grandpa Ivin L. Gee 
supplicating heaven over whole-grain cereal 
 in his inimitable bass voice 
at a tiny Lander, Wyoming 
kitchen table. 

And as we pray for God to heal our land, 
and to quench our fires,  
may we challenge discord  
with kindness, truth, and steadfastness.

Because future doors might be wrenched-- 
like our French back door 
which hung from a single hinge
 during Labor Day’s fierce gusts--  
may each of us fasten our doors securely
 to a solid frame.   

May we remember,
that God is not in the wind or the fire  
but in the still small voice.

And  lift up your heads, oh
ye gates!!
Love, Laurene and Val