Grantsville

Do you ever think about the random events that drastically alter the course of our lives?

My 3x great-grandfather, Isaac Brockbank was converted to the gospel in Liverpool by Parley P. Pratt and his wife at the time, Elizabeth Mainwaring, was a devout Methodist, who very much opposed his joining the Church. See ultimately agreed to accompany the rest of the family to America, on account of their children, but became separated from the company near Fort Laramie and was never seen again. He married my 3x great-grandmother, Sarah Brown, a few months later.

My 2x great-grandfather, Oran Lewis married a woman named Ellen Gillespie. Less than three weeks after they were married, she was leaving for choir practice and was somehow mistaken for a fugitive that law enforcement was looking for and was shot and killed. Four years later, Oran married my 2x great-grandmother, Laura Larsen.

My great-grandfather Glendale Mouritsen married my great-grandmother, Nettie Maybell Crane on December 23, 1914 and died mere months later from a burst appendix on July 12, 1915, almost three months before my grandfather was born.

If those events don't happen, I don't exist, or at least not as the same person I currently am.

When I was born, my parents lived in Kaysville, Utah. My mom had grown up in Layton and had graduated from Davis High School so we lived near her old stomping grounds and near to her parents. We also lived in the same neighborhood as my Uncle Robert and his family, who lived in a cul-de-sac just across the street from our house. We could have lived there for many years.

But when was six, my dad, who had graduated from BYU with a degree in finance and was working for First Security Bank, applied for and was hired as the manager of the Tooele Branch of Zion's Bank, which sat at the southwest corner of Main Street and what is now Utah Avenue in Tooele.

My parents began looking for a home to purchase in the area and after looking in Tooele and Stansbury Park ultimately purchased a red-brick home on the corner of Main Street and Eastmoor Drive in Grantsville.

Looking back, things could have easily gone differently. A branch manager position could have opened up in another part of the state, or in another state. My parents could have easily decided to buy in home in Tooele since it would be closer to my dad's work. [Shudder]

If things had gone differently, I may have never met the love of my life. I would have never met the guys who have been my life-long friends. Sure, it's easy to say that I would have met other friends and married someone else, but it's hard for me to imagine that I would have loved that person as I much as I love Jeanell. Or that the friends I would have made in this alternate scenario would have impacted my life in the same way.

Suffice it to say, I'm glad we ended up in Grantsville. Grantsville has had a profound impact on my life and has become a place that I love dearly, and hope to never leave again.

Prior to moving here, I guess the one familial connection we had to Grantsville was that my Grandpa Mouritsen and Uncle Robert both had profound respect and admiration for J. Reuben Clark, a Grantsville native. My dad's oldest brother was named Dale Clark and two of Uncle Robert's sons, Stephen Clark and Joshua Reuben, also got their middle names from Grantsville's most famous son (Ron Johnson and Bart Hamitake were both in Independence Day, Amy Christiansen Palmer was an Olympian, Ray Barrus an All-American runner, but I'm still going with J. Reuben).

Why do I love Grantsville? It's obviously not without its Quirks (see what I did there). For starters, we have the gnats. In total, I've lived here about twenty-five years and I've never been able to figure out why Grantsville has gnats, and the other cities in the valley, only a few miles away, do not. But every spring, from about mid-April to the beginning of June, the town is beset by gnats. And while a cap of nylon or Avon Skin-So-Soft can help mitigate, to a large extent the residents of Grantsville just deal.

When I was in elementary school, we had to shutdown for three days due to a lice epidemic. Mayor Keith Brown used to shoot dogs if they were wandering around unattended. In the early 80s, the high school was burned down. Center Street in Grantsville is technically 200 West. My mom, who lives on what you'd expect to be a quiet corner in a rural community, has had not one, but two multiple homicides within half a mile of her house. In 2019, USA Today determined Grantsville to be the worst city in Utah.

But I love the people. I love the sense of community. I love that I went to school from first grade through high school graduation with the same hundred or so kids. I love that we have that shared history and greet each other warmly when we see each other around town. I love the traditions like the Old Folks' Sociable (now the Grantsville Sociable) and the Junior Prom and egging in the weeks leading up to Prom (This no longer a tradition, but when I was in high school the fields south of town where South Willow Estates now is were called Hollywood and we'd all go up there and throw eggs at each other. It was great!).

I guess the best way to say it is I love feeling like I belong somewhere. While I wasn't born here and don't have ancestors who lived here (unlike Jeanell, who has forty-seven direct ancestors buried in Grantsville Cemetery. By contrast, the most ancestors I have who are buried in any one cemetery is 13 in Spanish Fork), I feel welcomed and embraced by the community. I routinely see people who I knew thirty or more years ago and think about the interactions I've had with them and the impact they've had on me.

I love that my mom is here. I love that all of my brothers and five of my six siblings are here. I love that Jeanell's parents are here and for the deep roots they have in the community. I love the members of the extended Jefferies family who are still here.

While circumstances caused Jeanell and I to live away from Grantsville for the first 13 years of our marriage, I'm glad that we made it back. I hope to be here until I die.

Heading south on Cooley Lane at sunrise

Deseret Peak from my backyard

Snow-capped Deseret Peak from my backyard

Stansburys in the distance on a sunny day following a snowstorm

 

The Cougars

A tough day to write this post, after last night's heartbreaking loss to end the undefeated football season, but that's how life, and sports, sometimes go.

I've been a BYU fan for as long as I can remember. Both of my paternal grandparents attended BYU, which is where they met. Neither graduated from BYU, but obviously it played a large role in how the rest of their lives would play out. Most of their ten children would graduate from or at least attend BYU. Both of my parents are BYU graduates, which is also where they met. It seems reasonable to say, that without BYU, I would not be here, as in anywhere.

My earliest BYU-related memory is my first trip to California and Disneyland. While I didn't go to the game, the main purpose of the trip was for my parents to attend the 1984 Holiday Bowl, which BYU won to win the National Championship.

I'm not sure what season it was, but I have a memory of being over at my buddy Dave's house and watching a game and every time BYU scored a touchdown we'd go running through the house hollering. Dave's Uncle Bjorn was doing some work in the dining room (and listening to the game) and would get a big grin on his face every time we'd run through.

A less-fun memory was our deacons' quorum advisor, Jerry Lees, inviting us over to watch the BYU-Utah game in 1988. As I recall, BYU was somewhat expected to win, but Scott Mitchell and the Utes blew them out that year. Never fun to be watching in a group as your team gets destroyed.

I don't remember what year it was or what game we went to, but I remember one year for my birthday party I asked a bunch a friends to bring $10 to help pay for a ticket rather than getting me a gift and we all went down and my dad bought tickets from scalpers so we could all go to the game.

We had the book, "And They Came to Pass" by Lee Benson that I read multiple times. It covered the careers of Gary Sheide, Gifford Nelson, Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, and Robbie Bosco. Later, my family obtained a VHS entitled "The Passing Years." I don't remember that as well and it has since been misplaced. If anyone has a copy or knows how to obtain one, I know a couple of my brothers would pay more than you'd think to get a copy.

Probably my next big memory was BYU beating Number One ranked Miami in the first game of the 1990 season. I remember the whole family being so excited and piling into whatever vehicle we had at the time and driving up and down the street honking and then going somewhere to get some ice cream. I had recorded the game onto a VHS and on Monday I took the tape to school and asked Mr. Rockwell if we could watch it during class, which he allowed.

That season didn't end up as fun as it began. BYU was upset by Oregon a few weeks later, and then at the end of the season, on the day Detmer won the Heisman, they were destroyed by Hawaii. My dad got my brother Scott and I tickets to go to the Holiday Bowl. We went with Sunnie Titmus and his brother-in-law Steve Howard. I remember the trip being fun, but BYU lost the game against Texas A&M by some ridiculous score, like 63-14. As I recall, Detmer separated both of his shoulders in that game. That was less fun.

I was also a BYU basketball fan, but really the only memory I have of basketball was the team that featured Michael Smith (now a TV analyst for the Jazz), Marty Haws, and Jeff Chapman and coached by LaDell Anderson. That team won their first 17 games and was ranked number 3 in the AP poll, but again, the rest of the season didn't go as well as one would have hoped.

I was on my mission during the 1996 season when BYU finished 14-1 and beat Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl, but was able to watch the BYU-Utah game from Mexico.

As I've gotten older, I haven't been as intense of a fan as I was in my youth. I still follow the games, but I don't necessarily watch every game. Jeanell cheers for the Utes and Devin and Kareena both graduated from the U so at times I am left as the only BYU fan at games we'll go to together. But periodically attending BYU games with family has continued to be a part of my life.

At times, my role as the only BYU fan in my immediate family has generated some sympathy. One year, Carol (Jeanell's mom) bought me a bunch of BYU gear because she felt bad that I was always cheering by myself and always wearing the same BYU shirt. Another year, I had an expected package at the door, and Jeff and Krista Hutchins had left me some socks and other BYU items.

In December 2015, Jeanell and I, our three older boys, Collin, my parents, and some of my brothers piled into a 15-passenger van and went to the Vegas Bowl where Utah played BYU. Driving for that long in a 15-passenger van was not ideal, but the game was fun (even though BYU lost).

The following September, my parents and most of by brothers drove down to Phoenix to watch BYU's season-opener against Arizona. BYU won that game, which made the drive home much more enjoyable than it otherwise would have been.

The next September, Jeanell and our boys went to the BYU-Utah game at Lavell Edwards Stadium. I believe I was the only one cheering for BYU by that point. BYU lost, but we had a good time.

In November 2018, my brothers and I went to visit my parents, who were serving a mission in Connecticut. During the trip, we went and watched BYU beat UMass at Gillette Stadium.

The following September, I made a trip out to Tennessee to see my good buddy Aaron and we drove up to watch BYU beat Tennessee.

In September of 2021, just days after my dad passed away, my mom, my brothers, and others drove to Vegas to watch BYU beat Arizona, again. The following week, Jeanell, Devin, Kareena, and I went to the BYU-Utah game at Lavell Edwards Stadium, where BYU ended the Utes several-game win-streak against us.

In October of 2023, Scott, Brent, my mom, and I traveled to Texas and stayed with my brother Kevin to go to the BYU-Texas game. That game didn't go too well for the Cougars, but we had a good time.

And then just last week, Jeanell and I were able to go to the BYU-Utah game at Rice Eccles and watch BYU snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the final seconds.

So while I'm not as passionate of a fan as I once was, and don't follow the program like some of my brothers do, it continues to be a part of my life, and has generated many memories, both pleasant and painful.

Go Cougars!

 

Politics

I used to be more vocal about politics, but decided a while ago that I didn't feel political arguing or posturing, particularly on social media, was very effective...or healthy. Unfortunately, the in-person conversations where these difficult and controversial topics are best discussed, seem harder and harder to come by. And so we're left with a political discourse consisting of memes and a goal of dunking on the other side, rather than a goal of genuinely trying to understand another person's point of view.

Consequently, I have been hesitant to broach this topic. In fact, I still have twenty-five draft posts that I could have taken on today, but I belatedly opted to add this one. (I originally set the goal to write once a week for the duration of 2024, but I think I will at least try to cover the draft posts I have already laid out, but perhaps at a slower schedule after the first of the year). But I decided I wanted to express some feelings on the topic and lay out in general what my politics are. (My goal is definitively not to argue politics, particularly over Facebook or as comments on my blog. If we have occasion to speak in person and there's a conversation you want to have, I may be open to it).

I feel that my politics are largely out of step with the majority of the community I live in. I have never (and never will, shouldn't have any more opportunity) voted for Donald Trump. Even before his entrance into politics, his was a persona I had no appetite for. I think I watched The Apprentice once or twice, but couldn't even tolerate him there. While never a Trump guy, my biggest hang-up by far at this point is his refusal to concede and accept the results of the 2020 election and participate in the peaceful transfer of power. I feel that stance and the resulting decline in trust in our elections did a lot of damage to our democracy. If everyone who loses an election immediately turns to attacking the integrity of the election, I don't see how our democracy can function. I guess we're just lucky the Democrats forgot to steal the 2024 election or who knows where we'd be?

I'm not really all in on the progressive agenda though, either. I don't like the emphasis on so-called identity-based politics and the desire to constantly be finding discrimination, even where none exists. I don't really agree with the idea that what we need discrimination now to undo the discrimination of the past. I don't find a politics where everyone focuses on their victimhood and what isn't fair for them rather than their potential and what they can accomplish to be very helpful.

I think we need secure borders, but also think that immigration has been a boon for the United States and is part of what has made our nation what it is today. I think that legal immigration should be expanded and we should make efforts to attract capable people to come here, to start businesses, and contribute to our communities. I think we should also try to keep families intact to the extent that we can. I realize that implementing these policies is not simple.

I'm concerned about Trump's tariff proposal and am concerned about the effect that would have on our economy (if those tariffs are in fact enacted). I also think that attempting to deport millions of people from our country would have more negative effects than positive.

I think the problem with housing affordability is a supply problem and that the best way to combat it is to reduce the burden and expense of building new housing. At the local level, I think that means allowing for different types of housing to be built and recognizing that only allowing for 4,000 sq ft homes on 1 acre lots is not going to help housing affordability. I also don't agree with the Democratic proposal of $20,000 or whatever for first-time buyers or whatever, as I think that impacts the demand-side rather than the supply-side and will only drive prices up further.

I am very much pro-Israel and that is an area where the progressive movement has lost me completely. I'm not an expert on the Middle East and for sure do not claim that Israel is infallible, but I don't understand how a country can be expected to live in peace side-by-side with terrorists whose organizations' stated goals are to annihilate Jews and eradicate Israel.

I'm also pro-Ukraine and think it's important for the US and EU to support that nation's sovereignty.

I am a fan of Governor Cox and Senator Romney (again, unlike many I live among). Just putting it out there. One of the the counterfactuals I like to think about is if Romney had won in 2012. Would Matt Ryan have just been elected to his second term? How different would the country and the world be?

One of the things that drives me crazy with politics is the double-standards. Bill Clinton was a bad person for his extra-marital affairs, but Donald Trump is not (and vice-versa). Something I find particularly amusing is the accomplishments of the Trump and Biden administrations that neither side wants to acknowledge. Under President Trump, Operation Warp Speed which produced safe and effective vaccines against Covid-19 in record time was a huge success. But Democrats don't want to give Trump credit for that and Republicans don't really want to talk about it either.

On the flip side, US oil production has reached record levels under President Biden. But again, neither Republicans nor Democrats want to acknowledge that fact.

But after all that exposition, I guess my main wish is that we'd all let politics mean a little (or a lot) less in our lives. Which party sits in the White House does not have nearly the effect on our day-to-day lives that I think we sometimes allow ourselves to believe. I'm almost 48 and have lived roughly half my life under a Democratic president and half my life under a Republican president. As I reflect back on my life, and the highs and lows, the good times and bad, who was in the White House at the time had zero effect on the quality of my life.

I've made no secret about the fact that although I grew up in a very religious family and was very religious myself, I have since become an atheist. I plan to get more into that journey at some point, but something that I wanted to highlight here is that my decision to separate myself from my previous faith has had no impact on my relationships with friends and family who have known me in both instances. I feel the same love and support that I felt while part of the Church that I do now. I believe that's a credit to the people in my life. But just like I believe that religion shouldn't be something that damages or severs a relationship, I also believe that politics shouldn't either.

One other thing on the topic is that I believe that this life is all there is. And with that belief there is nothing more important to me than the relationships I have with friends and family. We're all here for a short time, so let's focus on being kind above all else. Give others the benefit of the doubt, assume good faith, try to understand a different point of view (whether or not you agree with it). We'll all be better for it.

Grateful to live in the greatest country in the history of the world or for the freedoms and quality of life I enjoy. I hope we will all work together to continue to improve and strengthen as we move forward.

I love you all.

 

Kareena

I first met Kareena in May of 2013. Jeanell and I still lived in Elwood at the time, but were in Grantsville for Devin's graduation. As we were taking pictures afterward, Devin suddenly asked Jeanell if she could take take his picture with this girl who had suddenly materialized beside him. That was the first time we met. It's that strange phenomenon where I can hardly believe that was more than 11 years ago, but at the same time, it feels that Kareena has always been a part of our family.

Kareena fits right in in that she has the same perfectionism and "go big or go home" mentality that Jeanell and Carol have. Her home is always beautifully decorated, she entertains often and always prepares a beautiful spread when she does, and her makeup is always perfect. I love that she throws herself into being a part of our family and is always willing to help prepare for and take part in family events. As just a couple of examples, she did a makeup tutorial for the Soelberg Sisters (Carol and her sisters) and she learned how to make Grandma (Barbara) Jefferies potato salad and makes it as well as anyone.

Kareena is driven and works hard to be successful. She graduated from the U in accounting, then earned a Masters of Accounting from SUU (while working), and is now a CPA. Besides being driven and successful herself, I love that she challenges Devin and pushes him to be the best version of himself as well. (Devin also graduated from the U in accounting and earned a Masters of Accounting from SUU).

I've never been much of a handyman, but Kareena's dad (Ray) is and with Kareena's encouragement and Ray's guidance, Devin has been able to complete projects that I would never take on.

Kareena is tough and will speak up when she doesn't feel a business is handling a situation correctly. On one occasion we were planning to eat at Olive Garden before going to a play. We had called ahead and been told that we could get right in, but when we got there, they told us there was a wait. Kareena went after them and told them that was unacceptable and that we were going to go somewhere else (which we did). But my favorite part of the story is getting a text saying that our table was ready before we even got out to the car to go somewhere else. We still left.

On our recent trip to Cabo, there was one restaurant at the resort that we hadn't yet been to yet, but wanted to (the steak house Toro). We went to get on the list a couple of hours before it was supposed to close but they told us we wouldn't be able to get in before they closed. It was the last chance we'd have to eat there so Kareena went and (nicely) talked to the resort management and a half hour later we were seated at Toro.

I love that Kareena is always game and up for anything. She's been on a road trip to Phoenix with us to the Fiesta Bowl, attends and is passionate about musical theater the way we are. She'll participate in family karaoke. Last year, we were doing karaoke on my birthday and I told Jeanell and each of the kids they needed to pick a song to sing with me (that was my birthday wish). Kareena could have easily just said "pass" but she not only participated, she picked a great song (Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You", which she knows I'm a fan of).

Most of all, I love how Kareena loves and takes care of her little family. She's supportive of Devin and encourages him in all that he does. And she's a loving and attentive fur mama to their little Bella.

Grateful to Devin for bringing Kareena into my life. I love you Kareena.