Welcome Home to Paul and Carol Archer
I attended a special event this past Sunday that was memorable. The occasion was an invitation from Paul and Carol Archer to attend their program at the Centennial Ward of The Church of Latter-Day Saints. The local couple have just returned from being LDS missionaries to Africa for the last 18 months. They spent time in Kenya working in many African communities.
We became friends when Paul ran for State Representative several years ago. He ran a good race but lost the election. Colorado has become a “Blue State,” even here in Arapahoe County. After the election, he and Carol left their home and a huge family to serve as missionaries for their LDS faith. This meant being away from a thriving business and a host of family and grandchildren.
I have a long history relating to the Mormons as a native of Craig, the last town before entering Utah on U.S. 40. We had a large population of Mormons in Craig with an attractive church and attended by many leading citizens. Publishing the local newspaper, we would always welcome young missionaries leaving home for a year as part of their education and LDS faith. Whenever we had a cooking contest the LDS women would win, but sometimes the Greek sheep women would offer stiff competition.
Fast forward again to Colorado State University and my senior year taking many writing classes. Along with a creative writing class of short stories, I enrolled in a research paper project that would last a school quarter. Hearing about the “golden plates” that led to the Book of Mormon, I chose to do a research project on the founding of the religion in the 1800s by Joseph Smith born in 1805 and murdered at the Carthage jail in Nauvoo, Ill. at the age of 38. It is a fascinating story of his life, and death, and the emergence of one of the world’s fastest growing world-wide religions of our time.
Fast forward again to The Villager in Greenwood Village and the LDS wanting to build a Temple in the area that would serve the many Wards across metro area and the state. There was considerable opposition to structure decades ago over traffic and religious discrimination. Having a strong belief, not only in freedom of the press, but believing strongly in freedom of religion… I penned some strong editorials about welcoming the Temple to the area and this quelled most of the opposition. The local LDS community thanked me to the extent of placing The Villager in the cornerstone time capsule of the Temple. Gerri and I were invited guests to the dedication of the Temple and we sat on the stage with Ezra Taft Benson, one of the top leaders of the Salt Lake LDS church, founded by Brigham Young. I completed my college paper with the death of Smith but followed the leadership of Brigham Young and the church success in Salt Lake City. As I recall, viewing the lake, he said, “This is the place.” I did the research many decades ago, and the growth of the expanding church has been significant, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is world-class. The Angel Moroney rests atop the Salt Lake Temple. The Angel is part of the story of Smith’s life.
While not a Morman, I sent two of my daughters, Sharon and Susan, to volleyball camp at BYU and they both ended up being top-flight, first-string athletes in high school. Sharon even tried out for the CSU volleyball team.
Back to the Centennial Ward service, featuring the Archers as main speakers. They both fell in love with Africa and the people who they came to help and cherish. They loved Kenya and one story from Paul related that on their departure they were missing one of their best female friends. Paul asked her husband where she was? “She has been home crying all day because of your leaving,” he replied. I heard that Americans do fall in love with the African people who have so little and are so loving of others.
I enjoyed the program; a highlight was about 30 of the Archer clan singing a hymn to Paul and Carol. My son, and two of his guests, enjoyed the service and we met numerous friends at the church.
I’ve asked the Archers to write about their adventure that will appear soon in The Villager with photos and commentary. They can share the love earned, and learned, in the African continent. Mission accomplished, and never to be forgotten. WELCOME HOME!