Food memories and Seminary

When I was thirteen I was adopted by my mom and dad - Harry Havelock Smith III and Viola Hansen Smith. My dad served as a Bishop for over 20 years. He was very committed to the youth of our small ward and determined to have all church programs in place for our blessing. One of those important programs was the early morning seminary scripture study program.

Seminary is a four year course of study for high school students. Each year is devoted to a book of scripture with the Old Testament one year, the New Testament another, The Book of Mormon for a third year and The Doctrine and Covenants/Church History for the fourth. Seminary was held very early before school classes began each morning. In southern Alberta winter, this means that the sun hadn't even thought of showing it's face when we would gather to learn the great truths of the holy books of scripture. AND the temperature was often well below freezing. Brrrrr!

My dad was firm on being where you were supposed to be and being on time! In spite of his very heavy work schedule as the owner of a five office business, and hours devoted to the church as a bishop he served as the seminary chauffeur for many many years. Because we were a large family, we had the largest car - a three seat station wagon with a plug dangling from under the hood on the front of the car. Cars were plugged in overnight to keep the engine block from freezing up. Every winter morning dad would unplug the car and start it so it could warm up for his sleepy crew. Often he had to clean many inches of snow off of the car as well. The Smith kids would pile in and we would then make the rounds of the community to pick up the other students before heading to Seminary in Milk River.

Since Earl Rivers High School (Grade 10 - Grade 12) was in Milk River twelve miles north of Coutts, our seminary was held in the basement of the church in Milk River. Sometimes dad would catch a few more winks of sleep while he waited in the car during the seminary hour so he could take the ninth grade students back to Coutts for school. Other mornings he would spend the time taking a brisk walk.

Seminary Food Memory #1 - My Aunt Norma was a fabulous cook and was truly one of my favorite people in the whole world. It was a great blessing that my cousin Jessie was just a year younger than me and thereby one of my fellow travelers on those early morning jaunts. One morning Jessie came to the car with a piece of hot buttered toast lathered in Aunt Norma's home made apple butter. Wow! Every so often Jessie would bring a share of toast for each of us. How I loved my Aunt Norma and to this day I have never tasted better apple butter!

Seminary Food Memory #2 - I have always been a morning person and so I would often get up extra early to do some last minute studying or to do my hair etc. Imagine my surprise when one morning my dad was up and at the stove! My mother's health was not very good at this time and he had determined we needed a good breakfast to start the day. Groan! I never have been one to manage Red River Cereal without a gag and tons of chocolate chips and sugar BUT burnt Red River Cereal was just about the absolute worst! Thankfully dad threw in the towel on this idea after just a few days and I was back to my bowl of Shreddies and milk.

I marvel at the tremendous sacrifice of my dad all of those years. He knew perhaps the Red River Cereal idea wasn't a winner but in spite of any grumblings from the young and often not appreciative he persevered in getting us to Seminary. He loved the scriptures and studied daily from a cherished red bible and his triple combination. It is not surprising he would give so much to be sure the youth of his ward had full opportunity to discover for themselves the power of God's word.