Merry Christmas 2012

Edward J. Brandt Family Established 1962
Twenty Second Annual Christmas Letter – December 2012
“. . . I gave unto you that ye should to the Ohio . . . and there you shall be endowed with power
from on high . . . [D&C 38:32] . . . inasmuch as my people shall assemble themselves at the Ohio,
I have kept a blessing . . . and it shall be poured forth upon their heads . . . [D&C 39:15] . . . I will
retain a strong hold in the land . . . for the space of five years . . . [D&C 64:21].
Forgive me for adapting the context of the scriptures to introduce the report of our experiences in
the Ohio while serving in the Columbus Ohio Temple. Our lives have been endowed with rich
blessings from on high poured forth upon our heads. Our designated assignment in the land was
not five years, but three and we have already passed over two years in service. The challenge is
to provide the blessings of the temple to the eighteen stakes we serve—all but one of the stakes
in Ohio, two in West Virginia, two in Pennsylvania, and one in Indiana. These stakes have 161
wards and branches needing to schedule their youth for baptism and confirmation sessions at the
temple. This brings us a wonderful army of workers and a host of patrons providing the temple
ordinances to the living and the dead.
The special blessing is the “one on one” working with, and serving with, those who come. We
witness lives enriched, countenances brightened, personal revelation, persons who obtain peace
and rest from cares, and families forever. We have enjoyed numerous stake conferences, youth
conferences, women’s conferences, priesthood leadership meetings, and firesides. This is the
work of salvation and the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are very blessed.
We are enriched with many gifts of God to us. David [Sandy, Utah]; Erik, Shari and family [Lehi,
Utah]; Linda, Todd and family [Hailey, Idaho]; Greg, Janine and family [Portage, Michigan];
Michael, Melanie and family [Noblesville, Indiana]; Dan, Helen and family [Sandy, Utah]; Jeff,
Kristin and family [South Jordan, Utah]; Tim, Brittany and family [Bountiful, Utah].
Our association with each of you has added many blessings. We are all brothers and sisters of
loving Heavenly Parents, Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer fulfilling the Father’s Plan of
Happiness. Prophets and apostles preside, direct and teach in the Church of Christ and the
Kingdom of God is restored again.
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
We send our love to you all,
Ed and Carol Brandt
Created with

Kentucky Trip

Ohio Countryside

 

There were many bridges on our trip

KFC Center

Slugger Bat Factory

Slugger Baseball Field 

Louisville Kentucky Temple

Kentucky on a cloud day

October 4, 2012

Dear Family & Friends;

Our lives are busy. We have been shut down for the past week and a half and will be back up and going next week. We have had a "delimiter" installed to regulate the height of the celestial room chandelier, a new back-up generator is being installed, the media is being upgraded, new computers are being installed, and several pieces of upholstery are being redone. It seems like everything else is either being washed, ironed, or touched up with paint, but we are happy to see the improvements. 

Ed and I took the opportunity to go to Louisville, KY. for an overnight stay. President and Sister Lunt of the Louisville Ky. Temple invited us to come for a visit. Their temple is small like ours. When they first arrived in Kentucky there was a lot of confusion in how their temple was organized, so they made a visit to Columbus to see how we did things.  Some of our suggestions they have incorporated. Anyway, they have been after us to come for a visit. So  last weekend we drove down, met them for lunch, did a session, and then stayed overnight in the Courtyard. Got up the next morning, had breakfast, and drove to downtown Louisville where we visited the Louisville Slugger Factory and saw how baseball bats are made.  [Came home with three of them. Two were souvenir gifts they handed out, the third one Ed bought and it has his name burned into the handle just like the “big boys” do it.] They make 80% of the professional bats used by the big league players. We saw Babe Ruth’s bat, along with several other famous player’s bats. They even had life-sized statues of some of the players. Babe Ruth was a good sized man! It was both educational and fun. Afterwards we drove home and continued our “fun” temple activities.  

Sunday we drove to Parkersburg, West Va., for a fireside.  They love Ed around here. They haven’t had anyone with his knowledge and are very hungry for what he has to offer. He teaches in leadership meetings, firesides, stake conferences, women’s conferences, empty-nester family home evenings, seminary and institute pre-school training and anything else anyone can get him to come for. [He loves every minute of it. There is nothing so flattering to an old school teacher as a request to share his knowledge with someone.] The brethren and sisters at the temple are constantly leading him into some subject or another to “pick his brains.” Since coming to Ohio, we have spoken at 25 stake conferences. When you consider that there are only 52 weeks in a year, that’s a lot of weekends on the road.

I think I shared the following with you, but just in case I didn’t, here is a repeat of an experience told by Gordon H. Smith, a member of the Area Seventy, in a Stake Conference in Ohio.

When Elder Smith was serving as a senator for the state of Oregon, he received a call from the then Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf asking him if he could help him with a problem the Church had. The problem had to do with the fact that the Church was not recognized in Italy. Elder Smith told Elder Uchtdorf that he didn’t know anyone in Italy, but that he would check with the ambassador to the U.S. from Italy and see if something could be done. Elder Smith contacted the Italian Ambassador and told him of our desires being careful to mention that we had been in Italy since the mid -1800’s and that we encouraged our people to respect the laws of the land and to be good citizens, etc.  A few days later, the Ambassador called Elder Smith and asked him if he could fly to Rome to meet with the Italian Minister of Interior. Elder Smith assured him that he could and called President Uchtdorf to invite him to go with him.

When they were to meet with the Minister, they were ushered into a large room with a table that seated around 30 people. They were seated in the middle on one side.  A few minutes later the Minister and her Aide entered and sat opposite them.  She inquired what their problem was and what they desired.  Elder Uchtdorf told her how long the Church had been in Italy, the fact that we encouraged our citizens to be good, honorable, law abiding people, and that we had thousands of members in Italy. He requested that we be recognized as a Church and be allowed to purchase property to build chapels, etc. on.  The Minister turned to her Aide and said, “What do you think?”  He responded, “Well, last year my wife and I flew to the United States for a vacation. One of the cities we visited was Salt Lake City.  We went to a place called Temple Square.  We hadn’t been on the property very long before two lovely young women from Italy were called to be our Hostesses.  They gave us a wonderful tour of the grounds and answered all of our questions.  I feel that if those two young women are representative of what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can produce. I would be happy to have that kind of people in Italy.

The result of that interview was that the Church received full recognition in Italy and we are now able to have not only chapels, but a temple there. 

Now this didn't come about because of President Uchtdorf or Senator Smith, but because two young sister missionaries fulfilled their assignment in a quiet, efficient, spirit-filled way. And the Lord was able to do the rest.

Sending our love to one and all,

Ed and Carol

50 Years Together

We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in June.

Our children had this time-line picture made for us.

These pictures all represent our first date, courting

and life of 50 years together.

A Trip to Amish Country

We met the Lauritzen's

(She is one of my temple coordinators

and her husband also serves in the temple.) in Loudonville,

Ohio at the library.

They drove their car and we went in a 150 mile circle around the Amish farming area.

About 2:00 p.m. we stopped at the
 Dutchman and had a great lunch.
All but Dad had roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy,
hot rolls, a veggie and blackberry pie.
Dad had Salmon and all the trimmings.
Our waitress was a cute little Amish gal with bright red hair. She was a lot of fun.
(It was the best chicken I've eaten in a long time.)

We visited the Christmas store in Walnut Creek.

It was located across the street from the Amish restaurant.

They had three floors filled with Christmas items.

At other times of the year they have other displays,

but for now we got the Christmas display.

The whole village is a tourist place, but it was fun to see and the shops were interesting.

Our next stop was at Lehman's which is a

large store down the road a piece,

where the Amish go for their supplies.

They have everything from sour crout crocks

to wood burning stoves: from candles and

candle making supplies to meat and sausage grinders

We purchased some knives for $4.98 that are made of

stainless steel,thin, and very sharp.

I've enjoyed them since we came back.

After we made the circle, the Lauritzen's dropped us off at our car

and we came home by way of Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

When we first came to Ohio we met Dave there for dinner

one night.He had come for his company and we wanted

to visit with him, so we drove up.

It was a very full day, but it was fun.

Bryce Returns from Chile

Our grandson Bryce returned from his mission

on his 21st birthday!

Glad to see his dad.

He meets his sister in law Ashley for the first time.

His family are happy and grateful for his safe return!

He was an awesome missionary!

Giving his brother "rasberries"....

glad to see he still has his sense of humor.

We Love You Bryce!

Heroes In Training

This year the Brandt Family Reunion had the theme of

Heroes In Training. We began with a FHE of scripture heros.

Dave telling the story of Esther

Jeff, Dan and Matt role playing the story.

Lauren role plays Esther

Ahasuerus, king of Persia (Dan) & Haman (Jeff)

Todd rides in his trusty horse "Joseph'...

Haman begs Esther for mercy...

Dave cuts the cake for all of the trainees.

It's Spiderman!

A visit from this Super Hero to invite the family to

Super Hero Training Camp

Great time just being together at FHE!

TUESDAY EVENTS!

Tuesday we gathered for Hero Training.

Each family member chose a name

and super hero power before training began.

Andrew has his power bag made and ready...

Family gathers for teamwork

training and parachute games.

Leah, Hannali, and Michaela get ready

for "Save the Citizen" Training.

Leah returns with the citizen.

Hannali plows through the mine field.

Marian breaks through the brick wall.

Marian runs on to save the citizen.

Eli gets ready to break through the wall..

YEAH! Success!

Eli crossing the Lava Lake with Jeff's help.

Nathanael takes a different approach at the mine field.

Here comes James...

Andy, Jeff and Rachel enjoy a break.

The kids had a GREAT time at "Flight School"...

Uncle Tim keeps things cool...

Lauren helps Hannali down the slide.

Wet and having FUN!

Andrew laughs at Cameron's landing....

Good Times Were Had By ALL!

Can't wait until next year!