What Is the "Essence" of My Grandpa's Life?

I went to a family history seminar the other day and listened to Clive Romney who defines his job as a professional songwriter.

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Since he became interested in family history, he writes songs about the stories of his ancestors.  He started writing a song about his grandma and grandpa.  The only thing he remembers his grandpa ever saying directly to him was, "You missed a spot" while he was mowing his grandpa's lawn.  He never felt like his grandpa was very approachable.  His grandma, on the other hand, was always warm and loving.

He started writing a song about his grandparents and had a hard time finishing it.  He had to stop.  He felt like the Spirit was telling him that he would not be able to finish that song until he found out more about and understood his grandfather better.  As he started doing research about his grandfather, he discovered he was a very generous man.  After he died they found hundreds of checks written to help people who were struggling financially.  Neighbors, ward members, family members.

Clive was able to finish his song and said it turned out to paint a much different picture of his grandfather than the original song did.  He says that since you have to be very conservative with words in a song, you are only able to capture the "essence" of a person's life.  And he was grateful to discover that the essence of his grandfather's life was very different from what he had thought it was.

I started thinking about my own Grandpa Jones, Harold Guy Jones.  I have always thought of him as a harsh man.  I was sometimes scared of him when I was a child.  But is that the essence of who he really is?  I've decided to try and learn more about him.  I'm hoping my heart will be turned.

I know that he was a bishop in Tabiona, but I never knew he was on the high council.  I found his name in this newspaper article.  Do you see it in the 3rd paragraph?

http://udn.lib.utah.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/udr2/id/32429/show/32459/rec/1

Who's Named After Who?

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Time for another challenge!  This time the challenge is to find out who in Harold Jones' (your grandpa) family was named after another family member.  This one will be pretty easy if you go onto familysearch.org, click on Harold Guy Jones who is your great grandpa and find out the names of his kids.  Then look at their parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to see who was named after a family member.  I found 8.  In the comments of this post put the name of Grandpa Jones' brothers or sisters and who they were named after.  Don't forget to include your Grandpa Jones too!  Middle names count as well as first names.  Good luck!  And may the best niece or nephew win!! The prize is a $10 gift certificate to one of these eating places, you choose: Arby's, Domino's Pizza, or Olive Garden.

Do you know who YOUR mom and dad are named after?  Go ask them!

The Ranch

The Riverside Livestock Ranch near LaBarge, Wyoming has been a gathering place for our extended Jones family for years.  My brothers and sister and I spent most of every summer there when we were kids.  My grandpa, Harold Guy Jones (known as Guy Jones), bought the ranch in 1946 with another family named the Taylors.  I don't know the history of how the Jones family acquired the entire ranch but I know we have owned it for many years...at least as long as I've been alive.  Guy's four sons, Grayson, Harold, Bruce, and Cecil bought the ranch from their dad and 2 families (Bruce's and Cecil's) stayed up there year round to ranch.  The background picture of this blog is another picture of the ranch.

Thanks to my cousin, Chirelle Weaver, for the picture

Last weekend much of the Jones family once again gathered at the ranch for a huge family reunion.  There is a great deal of strength and love in this large family.  My first cousins know each other quite well because we were often taken to the ranch when we were kids...even the California and Texas cousins visited quite often.  It's estimated that there were about 140 people in attendance.

Jones Missionaries

Since Daniel got his mission call today (Wahoo!!) I thought I'd write about some other missionaries in our family...missionaries that went before Daniel.

My dad, Harold Jones, wrote this in his mission journal on November 4, 1950:
"There was a game to play so I went to play.  It's a good thing I played only 5 minutes because I can sure get tired.  After the game a group went downtown, cashed a cheack (his spelling isn't always the greatest :), brought a scarf, 6/6.  Then we had a missionary study calss.  We went through the presetation at the door.  They tell me that I am the only one that don't smile and I don't act natual at the door or in front one of the Elders.  Good thing I am not seen at the doors.  After this study class their was a Union Meeting.  In these meeting they talk about the differance offercis that they saints hold and how they should teach.  I am writting this in bed laying allmost flat with the book proped up on my chest.  Elder Campbell has not came up yet."
He went to England on his mission.  Did you know that your mom or dad has a copy of your Grandpa Jones' (Harold Jones) mission journal?  Ask them if you can see it.

Here is a picture of Guy Jones (Harold Guy Jones) on his mission.  He is the one holding the horse's reins.

My grandpa, Harold Guy Jones, wrote this in a letter while on his mission in Canada on December 12, 1917:
"I have got my little finger broken or out of place and cannot write very good yet it has been done almost three weeks now it look like it would be getting better.
I seen in the papers last night where Germany had taken enought wheat in Russia to last her 15 more years.  So no telling I might go before it is over (to World War I).  And America may mourn her loss of good men by the hundreds of thousands yet.  But it has got to be downed and people have to have a chance to worship as they please.
My companion is looking for his release anytime now.  He has been away from his wife and babys for almost to years.  He is a good fellow to."
Guy Jones, my grandpa, met his future wife, Mary Grayson, while he was serving a mission in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Ask someone at your house who has served a mission how they felt when they opened their mission call and share it in a comment for the rest of us to read!