Salt Lake City's Opinion Question - Vote No Please!

If you live in Salt Lake City, and are registered to vote, you received an opinion question, that has the likeness of voting by mail.  I've noticed many comments on Facebook, and others who have stopped to ask me questions and the response is the same puzzled look, why?  Inclination is to simply throw it away, but if you think it's a waste of your time and tax dollars, still vote no and either send it in, or deliver it to the City Recorder's office.  If you need a stamp, I'll personally deliver one to you.  The only thing more frustrating about this process is for it to have a majority affirmative vote.

The only thing consoling to me is that as I've explained the history of this question and process to many, including my 13 year old daughter, they have asked a fundamental and thoughtful question of why?  For the record, I didn't vote for it, didn't encourage it and DO think of it as a waste of money.

Having said that, the group, Move to Amend, did go through the process of placing a question through the initiative process on our ballot as outlined by State law.  While they did meet most of the qualifications of an initiative ballot question, they discovered after the fact an important omission. They missed a fundamental part of initiative law, asking for an actionable ordinance or resolution that the city council could actually take.  The courts concurred, yes they did take us to court but my colleagues were still sympathetic to their cause.  Some wanted to hold a separate election, but that would have cost us $450,000, which would not have been good, and illegal.  Some wanted to do vote by mail, near the election, but the county clerk indicated it would be too confusing to voters, which is true.

Many recognized, including me that time to time, either the council or a group of individuals may have questions that they would want to be asked, so we did develop a process, which had a high threshold and while not likely to be used often, is legitimate and could have value one day.  This group did meet that requirement, which is why you received the question in the mail as a voter.  The question, which seems harmless, is fraught with many potential and legitimate challenges if ever acted upon by the Federal Government.  However, that would be the proper forum for the discussion, not the forum of Salt Lake City and the City Council.  I voted no on placing it on the question, you should vote no to indicate that it's not the forum you would have chosen as well.

Happy Anniversary Robert & Verda Mae - September 1, 1949

Robert & Verda Mae during honeymoon to Sun Valley, ID

Yesterday was the 64th Wedding Anniversary of my parents, Robert & Verda Mae Christensen.  While they have both passed away, my faith teaches me that their marriage is for eternity and so for me, I feel it continues on, beyond their deaths.  The life they began together and the children born of them, continues and hopefully our commitment does as well.  My parents were lined up by my father's sister, Ora Nell Christensen Folkman, who was a friend of my mother.  After a few years teaching school, Mom became a writer & producer for KSL Radio, where she had her own show.  She also wrote for KSL, their first TV commercial.  She was 27, had lived through World War II as a young lady, and was ready to raise her family.  My father, had recently returned from a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Denmark, where he served just after World Ward II.  Due to his size and flat feet, he was unable to serve during the war, but became one of the few who had gone through and had completed most of his schooling.  My father, who had not dated, or at least more than once, fell in love with my Mom, and were engaged a few months later, and then married about four months after that, on September 1, 1949.

My parents just before their Marriage

My parents cutting their
Wedding Cake

Dad was nearly done with his schooling, and took a job as the manager of the Coke Cola Plant in Vernal Utah.  Mom, as traditionally done, quit her job at KSL and they were off to start their family.  Dad's plans were to finish his schooling by correspondence, but it would take a few years later before it actually occurred.  Life in Vernal had it's challenges, and the demands on my Dad were a lot, and his health took its toll. It would be one of a few times, during their marriage, that his health would be in question and my mother, who lost her own father at age six, wondered if she would be a widow herself.

Dad & Mom in front of their first
Rose Park home on 900 N after
he completed his schooling ( about four kids later)

After a brief period with my father's parents in Richfield, my parents moved to Rose Park, where my Dad had secured a job working for ZCMI Department Store.  While the eldest son Elliott had been born during their Vernal years (although Mom came to SLC for the birth), the rest of the children were born while residing in Rose Park.  In this home, Clayton, Milton and Maribeth were born.

Family photo without Carlton

As the family grew and the evaluated locations to expand, Rose Park came back as the place to stay.  My parents found a two year old home at 810 N 1500 W, belonging to someone from our church who had built it, but decided to move.  Spencer, Bradley, Nancy and Carlton were born while they lived here.  It became known as the family home, and my wife Cathy and I own it and still live in the home today.  My older brother Milton became ill at age 11 and died from blood disorder, that was a form of leukemia.  Milton only lived a few months after being diagnosed and my mother found herself expecting her youngest, Carlton Jay Christensen (that's me) to be born about six months later. Subsequently we have no photo with the whole family.

Carlton at age 1

Life in our family was a typical family experience and my parents were blessed to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, the marriage of Elliott & Jennifer, their eldest son and the birth of their eldest grandchild, Evan.  

Mom & Dad in front of their home at 810 N 1500 W

A few years later, on the last day of our summer vacation, my father became ill.  He was diagnosed about a month later  (August of 1975), with Hodgkins Disease, a cancer of the lymph system and died in January of 1976.

Dad dictated to Clayton his autobiography in
his final few months of his life

My parents had always been active in the community and in our faith, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving both in numerous capacities, and Dad had just been released as the Stake President of the Rose Park Stake, due to his illness in November of 1975.  It was a pretty hard time for me, I was only 10, and I struggled with his loss for many years.

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While no family photo was every complete and my mother who became widowed at 53, would live nearly another 30 years, their marriage proved to be a living example of good people who love their savior and demonstrated an endless commitment to each other.  While our family is far from perfect, and we have all had our struggles, we were blessed with good parents who we knew loved us and did their best under the circumstances.  While yesterday came with little fanfare and celebration, I am thankful in my heart for their commitment to each other and in particular having that one more kid!  Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Family Photo taken in celebration of my parents
40th Anniversary

Transitions in life create new opportunities

This last week has definitely been a week of transitions for both me personally as well as my family.  Jessica headed back to Utah State as she continues her effort to teach elementary school, Sarah started High School at Innovations High and I started a new job with Salt Lake County.   Cathy as usual is the stabilizing force!  After 8 1/2 years with Zions Bank, I took a position in the Cabinet of Mayor Ben McAdams for a newly created position as the Director of the Office of Regional Development for Salt Lake County.  You may have remembered the blog about Ben that I wrote in the 2012 election cycle and while we don't share political parties, we do share a hope and desire for good government and bi-partisan effort to make Salt Lake County a regional leader in the State of Utah.  Looking for better ways to use precious resources more wisely as well as lead out on discussions that help shape a county destined to double in size in the next 20 to 30 years, with limited land space to do it.  We both recognize that if we wait for that future to come without planning for it, we will get a future we don't really want.  Being smarter, more innovative and resourceful in working with other regional partners will be crucial in moving forward.  Mayor McAdams campaigned on it, and I'm grateful he has given me an opportunity to work with many others to see it gets done.

It was with great thought and appreciation that I parted with Zions Bank.  They've been extremely supportive of my public service and I have the utmost respect for them as an organization and the people who I had the honor of associating with during those years.  They have and will continue to play a vital community partner in many ways for years to come.  I am especially grateful to Scott Anderson, Zions President and CEO who has been such a community leader in so many ways.  It's not by chance that he and Harris Simmons were recently chosen by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce as Giants in the City.

After week 1, I've learned much, still pretty much lost in the halls of the Government Center of Salt Lake County, but as I work to get my hands around things, I look forward to taking 16 years of public service and continue to use it for all the residents of Salt Lake County. Supporting Mayor McAdams in his initiatives and with the County Council and their policies will be a new role for me, but one which I feel very comfortable.   It will be a busy four months as I finish my term on the Salt Lake City Council and will miss my daily associations with many at City Hall, but will be glad to work with many in a new role with not only Salt Lake City, but the other fine cities and unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County.

Flying Flags For a Long Time!

U.S. Flags flying along Jordan River Parkway prior to Youth Parade
Flags provided by Verda Mae Christensen!

I've been flying flags for a long time.  Of all the things you don't anticipate having a long involvement in, but can't imagine doing anything different, for me, it is flying flags.  I've always loved the flag and frequently hung the flag at our family home on holidays.  However in the mid 90's when I was serving as Bishop of the Rose Park Ninth Ward, is really where it got started for me.  After a successful effort by our ward one year, along with others in the Stake that had done a similar breakfast for the 4th of July, the Stake decided to have a 4th of July Breakfast the next year for the whole community.  As part of the planning for it, President Keith Stepan suggested a children's Parade from the Library (following a flag ceremony) to the Lions Bowery which was our location for that first year.  President Stepan thought it important to line the parade route with flags and had suggested to the Bishops that we line the route and venue with flags scheduled to be placed up in front of homes and then later after the event, go place them up in front of homes again.  None of the Bishops, including myself, were big on having to do that twice.

I went home and a few days later got, talking to my mother, Verda Mae Christensen about the dilemma and while I should have known, she came home later that day and presented me with about 35 flags she had found at NPS Market Square.  She loved that place and was always looking for a bargain.  I attached them to PVC poles and low and behold we had our first set, which provided us a source to get from the Library to the Lions Bowery.  Also that first year, a tradition that would last for decades, Peter Lassig started assisting me in putting up the flags that morning, something that would continue for many years to follow.

The next year, it was apparent we had to move to the Large Bowery at Riverside Park to accommodate the large crowds that were coming.  Once again, I went home and was talking to my Mom, and lamented that I needed nearly double the flags because our distance to the Bowery had doubled.  A day or so later, she called me up and had me come over to her house, and there they were, about 35 more flags or about 70 in total.  I mounted those on PVC poles, and once again Peter Lassig met me at 6:15 in the morning and he and I put them up along the route.  This was an assignment that continued on for me for about another 12 years, even though no one formally asked me to do it.  It was ok, I had a lot of joy and pride to see those flags flying each year, and Peter was a faithful comrade in helping me get it done.

Then in 2008, Peter and I both happened to be gone over the 4th of July Holiday for family outings.  I had tried to ask the ward in charge of the kids parade if they wanted access to the flags, but couldn't get a response.  I had wondered if maybe I had made the wrong assumption all those years that people wanted or needed them, but just before leaving, I showed my neighbor and Bishop, Paul Fullmer how to get into my garage and where I stored them in case someone needed them and then went on a my trip.  A day or so before the 4th, I had a message on my phone from a member of the Stake Presidency asking where they could find my flags.  I instructed them that Paul knew the location and where I hid the key and that they were welcome to use them.  Every year after, that assignment to place those flags has come and in the last few years, an assignment to help me has also been given. The only minor sadness for me, is that Peter's health has been such, that for the last couple of years, he hasn't been able to help.  He was my true friend in it all.

On September 11, 2002, a year after the terrorist attacks on the United States, I wanted to do something to pay respect and remember that day.

Backman Elementary, September 11, 2002

 It had been a hard experience for all of us, including myself.  I was traveling when the attack happened and had been scheduled to come home that day.  It took me four days later to finally get a flight, but at least I was coming home.  I still tear up thinking about it, and am grateful for the many who have fought, some of whom have given their all, to keep us free and safe.  I remember family friends who lost their lives that day and the innocence of life, that never returned, leaving my children a different experience than what I knew to expect.  My flags were even used the Sunday following September 11, 2001 when the Rose Park Stake Center was lined with flags and more were needed to remember that tragic event.

Flags were placed along 600 N during
the Olympics - sponsored by residents

My friend Ray Morgan came the morning of the February 8, 2002 to
watch the Torch Run along 600 North

In 2002, an idea that I got from another community, decided to encourage the elementary school where my daughter attended, Backman Elementary, to do a flag project.  Residents donated $10 and sponsored a flag, that we mounted to PVC poles and placed along the fence line each morning preceding the games, and through the closing ceremony.   For fear of losing them, we put them up early in the morning, and then took them down at night.  A number of neighbors helped us, but especially Paul and Heidi Fullmer.  It was great to have one of the local TV stations recognize that effort on that morning during one of the live shots and those flags still fly in the entry way of the school today.    The video clip below tells that story a little.  I will have to say, I didn't have much white hair and different glass frames!

For my neighbors who live near by, my home is included in the flag arena, we have a Flag that flies 24 hours a day on a lighted pole and I've been known to fly flags in my yards for subsequent holidays, like Pioneer Day (with flags that represent our heritage or where we served LDS missions) or I still love the Olymnpics, so I usually do something during games that have followed ours.  Needless to say, I love flags, and they represent some of the more emotional parts of my life and are grateful for those memories.  I've been flying flags for a long time!

Invitation to learn more..

Family photo following April General Conference

I've written about a wide variety of things on my blog, everything from community to politics, my wallet to Father's Day.  However I've never written directly and invited my readers if they wanted to know more about my belief as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or maybe more importantly how they might know more about getting closer to God and why my faith plays such a significant role in not only my own life but that of my family.  I've been a little envious of my brother's courage, his website www.claytonchristensen.com (which receives a lot more visits than mine), openly talks about his own belief and readers frequently do inquire of him. I worried for years that in my public service realm, that maybe for some reason, it wasn't appropriate  for me to do so in a public way.  However the reality is that this is my blog, and why is it that I wouldn't want to share something which makes me so happy and gives me the opportunity to help others, with those whom I care or even better yet, those whom I haven't even met yet, is beside me!

I do have a public profile on www.mormon.org but I'm sure it gets lost in the many who participate.  I've found in my life of trying to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, such joy and satisfaction in not only trying to serve others, like the Savior would, but true happiness in enjoying the love and joy of my family.  Having answers to some of life's most difficult questions and knowing that God loves me personally has helped me through some very challenging times.  I don't think it takes anyone very long, who knows me to acknowledge that I'm not perfect, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't afford friends and others from having the same opportunity to know more.

If you have questions you would like to ask, or simply are interested in knowing a little more about the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, feel free to drop me a note or catch me on the street some time (or come on over to the house).  Cathy, Jessica, Sarah and myself would love to chat and if you later decide you're not interested, we hope you'll stay our friends and please know, we will not be offended.  We invite you to know more!

Best Father's Day Gift Ever!

Two years ago, I started my blog and 7,000 views later, it still gets a few hits.  Interestingly enough, that first entry was on Father's Day 2011, when I wrote the piece on Father's Day - I probably haven't done a lot right, but my girls are the exception.  Today those exceptional girls and Cathy gave me the best present ever, the first four volumes of scrapbooks about my life.

The meaning of the scrapbooks go back a ways, but for me, represent an important part of what I was hoping to leave for my girls.  In high school and during my LDS mission to Japan in 1985-86, I kept a pretty thorough journal of my day to day activities, but when I returned it became less and less until a year or so into my marriage, entries became more like annual paragraphs.  Activities in my life became more comlex. At age 23, I was called as Elders Quorum President of my LDS Ward, I was married a year a year or so later and at age 25, was called as a counselor in our Ward Bishopric.  Then at age 27, I was called as Bishop of the Rose Park Ninth Ward where I served for just over four years, at which point I was elected to the Salt Lake City Council and shortly released as Bishop a few months later.  Here I am nearly 16 years later, and much has passed in my life, but little of it was documented.

As Cathy and I talked about what gift I wanted, I dreaded the fact that maybe the Salt Lake Tribune (or even the Deseret News) would be the only chronicled history of my life and that if I died or passed away, my girls would know very little about me.  To a lesser extent, my blog entries, have been a public documentation of some experiences but even it doesn't always reflect a lot of life's events, and certainly not some of the stuff that matters most.  It would be difficult to go back and document in any detail the kind of narrative a journal would have provided me, but these volumes do provide a start.  Sarah mentioned to me that she's learned so much more about me, since she started the project and Jessica has actually been going back and transferring my mission journal to a digital format and reminds me of stories that I would have long since forgotten.

Mine hasn't certainly been a perfect life and some things I wish hadn't been documented so well, but there is value in them.  I can certainly do better and look forward to making a better attempt at keeping a written journal.  I remember the day my father died, his autobiography that my brother Clayton assisted him in writing had come back from the printer that day.  Matching almost entirely his life and a valuable asset for his descendants in knowing the history of his life.   I cherish his final testimony and his counsel to us as children on what's important in our own lives.  Lessons I look back to almost daily.

Thanks to Cathy, Jessica and Sarah for not letting me be forgotten.

Cathy - Happy Mother's Day!

Family Photo after April General Conference 2013

Cathy, you know better than anyone, that I'm pretty mediocre when it comes to cards, but for some reason I like to write about it and tell the whole world.  So this year, rather than send you a card that someone else wrote that says, "I wish I could tell the whole world what a great Mother you are..." I thought I would!  I don't think I ever imagined in walking down this path together, that while it would definitely have bumps, we've also enjoyed some beautiful vistas together.  Probably the two greatest joys for both of us have been Jessica and Sarah and I see you coming out in them more every day (mostly in a good way)!  I just thought it appropriate to share a few pictures and comments of that journey together.

Cathy & Jessica mowing the lawn together - always working side by side with the girls

I have always loved how you work side by side with our girls, sometime with a little persuasion and sometimes more willingly.  I think as they grown older, they appreciate that it makes the difference and the skills that some think are rare, have become commonplace for them.  As Jessica moves away from home, it's been fun to see how much of the patterns of life you've taught her show itself in so many ways.

Mother's Day Message from Jessica on YouTube

While our children did not come as expected, the joy that came from having Sarah also join our family was such a welcome news after eight years of waiting, that words can not express was joy that brought to my heart.  It was almost like starting over again, as we got use to the changes, but can't think of what life would be with out her or Jessica.

Cathy holding Sarah on her blessing day

Mother's Day Message from Sarah on YouTube

I know one of the joys of our girls is how well they work together on things.  Jessica has been a great example for Sarah and her willingness to be patient in that relationship has truly been a benefit to both!  She continues to be such a great example to both girls and each brings a special joy to our hearts.

Jessica pushing Sarah in the Children's Parade

I think one of the things I most admire in you, is your love for your own mother. I see so many qualities of her come out in you each day and it's been fun to see those pass down to our own girls.  I know you're grateful for the trial and challenges faced by those women in your own family and fun to see those traits emerge in our own girls.

Cathy, Jessica with her mother Lois Nielsen & Grandma Greaves (four generations)

I would also be remiss if I didn't express my thank for the love you showed to my own mother.  You allowed me to live next to her for those first fourteen years of our married life, doing much for her and appreciating what she added to our family.  You allowed her to join us and be part of many activities, for which I will be forever grateful.

Final leg of the Torch run that began at Backman Elementary
Carlton, Verda Mae Christensen, Cathy holding Sarah and Jessica holding the torch

I thought about including the pictures that we took shortly after our girls birth, but sixteen years of politics has taught me that sometimes that best things said, is the stuff that never leaves your lips or in this case, never posted publicly!  Thanks for this journey together and for being such a wonderful mother and example to our children.  Happy Mother's Day, love Carlton.

On Top of it All!  From the roof line of the Salt Lake City & County Building
Sarah, Jessica, Cathy & Carlton