“Joe Jessop has contributed to (the) explosive growth (in Short Creek) in two very different ways. With the weathered features and spindly gait of a man who has spent his life outdoors and worked his body hard, he is the community’s undisputed “water guy,” a self-taught engineer who helped with the piping of water out of Maxwell Canyon back in the 1940s. He’s had a hand in building the intricate network of waterlines, canals, and reservoirs that has irrigated the arid plateau in the decades since.

A high respected member of the FLDS, Joe is also the patriarch of a family of 46 children and — at last count — 239 grandchildren. My family came to Short Creek for the same reason as everyone else,” he says, “to obey the law of plural marriage, to build up the Kingdom of God. Despite everything that’s been thrown our way. I’d say we’ve done a pretty good job.”

Bill Cox, the cigar-chomping engineer and insurance man married to our Relief Society president, was a potent force in policing the construction (of a new Mormon church building in Boston). He came every night to see that any slip-shod work was torn out and replaced the next day. Cox reconverted himself to the Church by this building construction and went on to become branch president and later Manti Temple president where he singlehandedly, according to my sources, prevented modernization of that august building. He was one of the category of “Irascible Saint” common in Mormonism.”

“When Amy Antonelli (BA ‘03) felt guided to leave he top job at Apple to work in undeveloped India, she wasn’t really surprised.

Now she reads sotries to children–174 of them–as executive director of the nonprofit organization Rising Star Outreach, which aids members of leprosy colonies in India.

Antonelli’s life course changed when she visited India just days after the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. The devastation and suffering were a shock to her, but more disturbing were the leprosy colonies.

The visit prompted Antonelli to leave her job as a spokespereson at Aple and move from California to India.

Since Antonelli’s entrance, the program has grown from a single house with 27 children to a large campus with 174 children, equipped with a medical van and staffed by many volunteers.”

“Awful as it sounds, this is where curch makes sense to me most. Lending a hand to complete strangers who need help is what I believe the Lord meant when he said, “Come, follow me.” It’s hard to do that on my butt in Sunday School.”

“How fun it was to see their pictures and to hear the wonderful things they have been doing since leaving USU.” Sharon

“It was a beautiful account of this Good Samaritan named Paul with his wife Lorna by his side in giving of their time and talents to a grateful people and a hopeful nation with a brighter future ahead.” Linda

“I really appreciated hearing about the Larsen’s and their work.” Peter

“As a Lebanese myself, I just have to thank the Larsens for what they have done. Reading about their wonderful efforts made my day.” Moudi