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Published in the Latter-day Sentinel http://spokane.latterdaysentinel.com/

 

October 12, 2011

News

Coeur d'Alene dentist brings smiles to Central America

By Gloria Warnick, Sentinel Staff Writer

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October 12, 2011 — Doug Pulsipher, DDS of Coeur d' Alene, and his staff are all smiles, literally.


Dr. Doug Pulsipher, a Coeur d'Alene dentist, and his wife, Sally, volunteer time to a Church humanitarian program called "Smiles for Central America" that provides dental care for departing LDS missionaries in countries like El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. Contributed Photo.

Dr. Pulsipher and his crew been traveling with a group called "Smiles for Central America" to help fulfill a mission statement "to provide dental and medical services for young Latter-day Saint men and women in Central America."

Twice each year, Smiles for Central America sponsors humanitarian service expeditions to Central America for the purpose of delivering medical and dental services for young LDS men and women to help them prepare to serve full-time LDS missions. The group rotates through the countries of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama.


Sally Pulsipher with several smiling missionaries. The Pulsiphers have traveled to Central America four times as part of Smiles for Central America. Contributed Photo.

Dr. Pulsipher has gone four times with this group to Central America. He usually goes twice a year and pays his own way, which costs from $2,300 to $2,800 per person. His wife, Sally, has gone with him each time. He has been to Peru, the Dominican Republic and Belize. He has traveled with his son John (a dentist) to El Salvador and with his daughter, Lindsey (a hygienist) to Nicaragua. Dr. Pulsipher served an LDS mission to Chile 43 years ago.

"This program is the best humanitarian program I've ever participated in," said Dr. Pulsipher. "We know we are changing lives, not just fixing teeth. We are providing the pathway for young people to get out of poverty and into the middle class. Before this program there were 500 participants in the Perpetual Education Fund in Central America. Today there are 5,500. Before this program there were about 1,200 missionaries serving from Central America and today there are 2300."

Being able to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints not only affects the missionary but their posterity as well, as all they teach in the mission field. A missionary is more likely to marry a member in the temple, raise children in the gospel, become leaders in the Church in their own country, leave poverty and move into the middle class.

The same thing happened to the early converts to the Church. Dr. Pulsipher tells of his mother's great-grandparents (Mellors) who were too poor to immigrate to Zion when they joined the Church in the 1840's in England. When Brigham Young established the Perpetual Immigration Fund in 1856, it allowed the Mellors to travel on the ship Horizon to Boston in May of 1856. They were eventually part of the Martin Handcart Company.

Publication in the Latter-day Sentinel

Hayden family employs frugal, ambitious approach to successful business

By Gloria Warnick, Sentinel Staff Writer

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September 13, 2011 — Balance between a business, family and an active church life is sought after daily by the Tanner Family of Hayden, Idaho. They have blended the various aspects of their life in many ways but one that helps daily is something called "extreme couponing."

Tamara and Tom Tanner have a bustling LDS family and business, Hayden Valley Assisted Living. Their three children are 9, 11 and 13. Hayden Valley Assisted Living has 16 residents and is a full house. The Tanners are opening two more assisted living homes this year, Bristol Heights 1 and 2. Within a few years, they plan to open buildings 3 and 4 of Bristol Heights.


With a blend of smart spending, an emphasis on family and a consistent work ethic, Tom and Tamara Tanner have turned Hayden Valley Assisted Living into a successful venture. Contributed Photo.

Add this to busy weekends of camping and four-wheeling with family and friends while maintaining their home in a clean and orderly fashion. How is all this achieved? What is the secret to their balanced life?

"We put our family and living the gospel as our top priority and everything else seems to fall in place," Tom said. "Each member of our family is very involved and our family has grown closer together. My wife and I love being able to work with each other every day. We know we are here for a reason and we feel very blessed."

Tamara agreed heartily but she also talked about the practical division of duties they have agreed upon. She spoke about how she handles the grocery shopping, which can be daunting. It seems providing three meals a day, plus snacks, to 20 people can be a massive task.

"The best advice I've ever received was from a checker at Wal-Mart," Tamara said. "She saw the amount of food Tom and I were buying every week and she suggested CouponMom.com. I go there each Sunday, they have the latest coupons, and their coupons are listed by the area. I check a variety of resources, for example, the local newspapers, and I keep a binder."

Each weekend, Tamara sits down and goes through the print ads. The result is "huge savings."

"During the week when I do my shopping I go to the store that price matches," she said. "Not only does this help me and Tom but we are teaching our children smart shopping techniques that will serve them all their lives."

Everyone at the Tanner home is involved not only in being a part of extreme couponing, but in mowing the lawns and emphasizing service in their family and in their ward.

As a couple, Tom and Tamara feel lucky because they get to spend every day together.

"Our days are one continuous date." Tamara says. "Tom and I go to the movies and lunch together. Then when the children get home, they want family time. Because what they want is important to us, we incorporate this into our days, after homework, of course."

The Tanners acknowledge that saving, dating and grocery shopping do not comprise everything involved in running a business. Tom and Tamara find that dividing duties is important, not only between the two of them, but within the running of their business. They have hired a competent staff with a good administrator.

Balance within a family while running a business is a challenge and has to be worked at every day. Tom and Tamara Tanner say it is much like four wheeling - once you get the power on and the wheels moving, just keep steering.

Fit for the Kingdom

July 26, 2011
http://spokane.latterdaysentinel.com/

News

Hayden youth cycle to Spokane Temple in honor of pioneer

By Gloria Warnick, Sentinel Staff Writer

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July 26, 2011 — Youth in the Hayden Fourth Ward traveled to the Spokane Temple last month courtesy of some pedal power and the remarkable legacy of a Mormon pioneer.

"Fit for the Kingdom" is a program inspired by John Rowe Moyle, a pioneer who arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1846 with one of the first handcart companies. He was later part of the effort led by the prophet Brigham Young to build the Salt Lake Temple, a project that spanned 39 years, beginning in 1853. We see Moyle's work on the east side of the temple in the words "Holiness to the Lord."


Youth from the Hayden Fourth Ward biked from Post Falls to the Spokane Temple on June 29. The trek was part of a program called "Fit for the Kingdom" inspired by the dedication of Mormon pioneer John Rowe Moyle who walked 22 miles each week to work on the Salt Lake Temple. Photo by Natalie Langford

Each week, Moyle walked a distance of 22 miles to the temple, beginning at 2 a.m. every Monday. Each Friday, he would depart Salt Lake at 5 p.m. to begin the long walk back to his farm in Alpine. He suffered dehydration, blisters and even being kicked in the leg by one of his cows. The injury left him with a leg that would not heal and eventually had to be amputated.

Remarkably, none of these physical afflictions caused Moyle to withdraw from his commitment to the Church and building the temple. He took time to carve a wooden leg and, after many weeks of practice, he walked again to the temple grounds. Today, all who view the inspiring words, "Holiness to the Lord" are blessed by Moyle's legacy.

Moyle's unique example of dedication drew attention in the Church when Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf told his story in the October 2008 General Conference. The account was later made into a movie called "Only a Stonecutter" by LDS director T.C. Christensen.

Begun by youth in the Cedar Hills Sixth Ward in Moyle's hometown of Alpine, the "Fit for the Kingdom" program is based on the stonecutter's dedication. Youth in that ward walked the 22 miles from the Provo Temple to the Salt Lake Temple as part of the first effort.


A total of 30 youth participated in the journey from North Idaho to Spokane Valley last month, a distance of 21 miles. Photo by Natalie Langford

The Youth of the Hayden 4th Ward were inspired by Brother's Moyle's story as well as the program originated by the Cedar Hills Sixth Ward. They chose to adopt a similar program. They committed to ride their bicycles from the Post Falls Post Office to the Spokane Temple, a distance of 21 miles. They used the preparation and the bike trek as a metaphor for life's journey.

Memorizing scriptures, eating a balanced diet, getting at least eight hours of sleep a night and participating in physical exercise by cycling was part of the preparation program. Maddie Farris , Laura Petersen, Phillip Schindler, Cory Dan, Breanna Bowne and Rachael Mylroie created a support group and worked diligently for this goal. Weekly bike rides from their homes to Hayden Beach or the Riverstone Mall in Coeur d'Alene were included on the agenda.

Day Three 6.7.11

I had this article printed in the latter day sentinel.



JUne 06, 2011

News

Cda Junior Miss, valedictorian
succeeds with integrity, work ethic

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June 06, 2011 — It's been a time of transition for Rachel Olvera of the Hayden Fourth Ward of the Hayden Lake, Idaho Stake.



A senior at Lake City High School, Olvera ended her reign as Coeur d' Alene Junior Miss 2011 earlier this year and moved onto being valedictorian for her graduating class this month. Rachel officially earned the title of "Junior Miss" on March 20, 2010.

Education and service top the list of priorities for this accomplished senior. Rachel has volunteered as a tutor for the past two years at Lake City in their free after-school tutoring program.

Being elected to the title of Junior Miss, Rachel felt it happened because of her commitment to her schoolwork, her community service and sense of self-confidence. She points to effort and dedication as keys on the path to realizing her divine potential.

"Having a testimony of my Heavenly Father and Savior allows having a sense of self worth," she said.

Olvera added that the competition was a great learning experience.

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