Oklahoma sports report

Here's another Oklahoma sports report.  Football bowl games are just around the corner and Oklahoma teams will figure prominently in some of the major bowls. 

Oklahoma State University Cowboys vs. University of Oklahoma Sooners

It was a big week for the two Oklahoma powerhouse football teams.  OSU played at home in Stillwater against OU in an annual game they refer to as "Bedlam."  The teams have been playing since 1904.  OU holds a big lead in the series, with 82 wins to OSU's 16, with 7 ties.  Wikipedia reports a story from the 1954 game where mobsters threatened and paid off a cook to slip laxatives into a soup eaten by many OU starting players, causing them to fall violently ill in the days leading up to the game.  OU was victorious in the end, but their 14-0 win did not cover the 20-point spread they had in their favor.  True story?  Hard to say but it adds to the legend.

Saturday's game was huge, since OSU came in ranked no. 10 in the BCS standing, with OU close behind at no. 14.  At stake was an opportunity to play for the Big 12 championship and a better bowl bid.  The game lived up to the hype.  OU prevailed 47-41 in a thriller, which included a fourth quarter when both teams scored two touchdowns apiece in a 92-second stretch.  OU quarterback Landry Jones passed for 468 yards and four touchdowns, including touchdown passes of 86 and 76 yards just 29 seconds apart in the fourth quarter.  With the win, OU moved up to BCS No. 9, while OSU dropped to BCS No. 14.  OU will play BCS No. 13 Nebraska for the Big 12 championship on December 4 in Arlington, Texas.  OSU will await the bowl selection process.

University of Tulsa Hurricane

In a defensive struggle (cough, cough), Tulsa eked out a 56-50 victory over Southern Miss (no, I did not get the football score mixed up with the basketball score).  The teams combined for 1,197 total offensive yards.  Unfortunately for Tulsa, its playoff hopes required not just a victory over Southern Miss but also a loss by SMU.  SMU refused to cooperate, defeating East Carolina and advancing to the C-USA championship.  Tulsa's football season is over.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Since the last sports report, the Thunder won three games and lost two, falling a game and a half behind the Utah Jazz in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.  Last Monday, they beat Minnesota 117-107, followed by a 111-103 loss to Dallas two days later.  They then defeated Indiana 110-106 on the road before being edged in Houston 99-98.  Returning home, the Thunder defeated New Orleans last night, 95-89.  Thunder forward Kevin Durant still leads the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.3 points per game, a slight drop from his previous average of 28.0.  Guard Russell Westbrook is having a very good year statistically, ranking high in league standings in assists (7th), double-doubles (6th), efficiency (5th), points/rebounds/assists (2nd), scoring (7th), steals (8th), and (sadly) turnovers (4th).

Elliot's November 29 email

Here is the latest message from Elliot.  We’re glad he had a good Thanksgiving and is being well taken care of in Oklahoma.

Hola!

So I hope you all had a very awesome Thanksgiving. Just so you know I did eat a great dia de accion de gracias dinner. The Ramirez family made tamales, some kind of bird, ribs (mexican not barbecue), corn, and potatoes. I ate until I really could eat no more it was that good. We also played some volleyball and soccer as a group of missionaries in the morning. We weren't supposed to tract or make visits when we didn't have appointments, so we didn't.

So my new companion is Elder Graham Whipple from Ojai, CA. He was at BYU this past year studying theater. He's a good guy and this should be a good transfer.

This past week we committed a wife and daughter of a part member family we've been teaching to baptism! The wife, Nohemi, and daughter, Gizelle, are planning on being baptized on New Years Day, January 1st. The wife and husband really want to be sealed in the temple, and now are on that path! It's just really awesome to know that I'm able to be there to help them reach that same peace and security that comes from knowing your family can be together forever, like I know mine can. It's so rewarding to see and I can already tell that I was called to be here to help them out, and others, specifically.

So everything is fine out here right now. I've been eating like a king lately; all of the members just can't stop feeding us, so that's awesome. It is starting to get cold, making bike riding a pain, but that's okay. I've got enough stuff to bundle up with. So no worries.

I'm glad to hear everyone is doing okay. Alyssa will get in to BYU, I have very little doubt. So then we can be in the same grade together when I get back! And that's awesome that Keith and Kim will be driving around the van. I hope all is well!

Love,

Elder Elliot Adair

Elliot's November 21 letter

Elliot sent a four-page letter with several pictures, some of which I posted with his November 15 email.  (You might want to go back and re-read the post about November 15 email.  I added his notes from the back of one of his pictures that I didn't have before.)  His letter is posted below, along with the new pictures.  Much of letter discusses personal details of his experiences with investigator families he is teaching currently.  Out of respect for their privacy, we decided not to expose details of their private lives for all the world to see on the internet, so we redacted the specific discussion about those families.  Hope you don't mind.  Here is the letter and the pictures.

[Text redacted.]

Oklahoma religion news: Update on Sharia law amendment

A week ago I posted a story about State Question 755, the Oklahoma constitutional amendment that would prohibit courts from relying on international law or Sharia law.  Yesterday, November 22, Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange conducted another hearing to determine whether to grant a preliminary injunction that would further delay implementation of the amendment.  While she did not reach a decision on the preliminary injunction, the judge extended her November 8 temporary restraining order an additional seven days to allow herself time to decide.  Here's an interesting video featuring a couple of the key participants, including Muneer Awad (pictured), executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Oklahoma.

Elliot's November 22 email

Here is Elliot’s November 22 email.  We’re going to miss him on Thanksgiving but it sounds like he will be well taken care of.  Turkey tacos!  He promises a long letter with pictures, so I’ll post that when it arrives.

Hola!

Happy Thanksgiving!

That'll be way fun with the Torgesens [Thanksgiving dinner] and I'm glad everybody will be able to be together. It's just weird to think that I won't be getting up early to play in the N1 Turkey Bowl. That's okay though. We have a member family that is going to feed us, La Familia Ramirez. I wouldn't be surprised to be eating tacos instead of turkey this Thanksgiving, but that's perfectly fine with me!

I did get the package! I show the family pictures to basically everyone that we teach and stuff. It's awesome, along with the Clifford story book and everything. Thanks!

Everything is just fine out here right now. We just got transfer calls yesterday and Elder Ortiz is going to Enid with my MTC companion, Elder Phillips. My new companion will be Elder Whipple. I don't think I've ever met him but I heard he's from California! So that's pretty cool. I'll be staying in the same place, the Southwest side of Oklahoma City, which is great because the work really is picking up lately, and I'm not ready to say bye yet.

I just wrote a huge long letter with all kinds of information about investigators, how everything is going, and pictures! Hopefully you enjoy it. I'll be sure to send it out soon.

I hope you all have a great turkey day!

Love,

Elder Elliot Adair

Oklahoma sports report

A time-honored tradition in the Newhall First Ward (Elliot's home ward) is the weekly sports report offered by Brother Gene Broman (pictured) at the beginning of our Sunday School class.  Brother Broman keeps us up-to-date on sports news from BYU, Utah, USC, UCLA, the Lakers, Hart High, and anything else that might be newsworthy (or not).  I'm not sure this will become a regular feature of Elliot's mission blog but I thought it would be fun to offer an occasional Oklahoma sports report.  I'll try to keep up with the major college and professional teams and maybe some of the high school sports.  Here goes.

Oklahoma State University Cowboys

BCS No. 10 OSU dominated Kansas 48-14 in Lawrence, Kansas.  OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden led the way, completing 31 of 43 passes to 12 different receivers for 389 yards and three touchdowns.  OSU's record is 10-1 overall, 6-1 in the Big 12.  Next up: OU Sooners at OSU's Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.

University of Oklahoma Sooners

BCS No. 14 OU traveled to Waco, Texas, where the Sooners handily defeated Baylor 53-24.  Landry Jones passed 39 times, completing 26 for 325 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.  OU is 9-2 overall, 5-2 in Big 12 games.  Next up: OSU Cowboys in Stillwater.

University of Tulsa Hurricane

Unranked Tulsa edged UTEP 31-28 in Tulsa.  Damaris Johnson had a great game for the Hurricane, becoming the NCAA's all-time leader for kickoff return yardage.  He ended the game with 280 all-purpose yards, including 146 receiving yards, 87 on kick returns, 25 on punt returns and 22 yards rushing, and he scored a touchdown on a six-yard run.  Tulsa is 8-3 overall and 5-2 in Conference USA action, keeping its bid for a C-USA West Division title alive. The Hurricane will face the Southern Miss Golden Eagles of the C-USA East Division next Friday at Chapman Stadium. A Tulsa win and SMU loss would put the Hurricane in the C-USA Championship Game on December 4th against the East Division champion.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The 9-4 Thunder went 4-1 this week, losing 117-104 to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday before reeling off four consecutive wins, defeating the Utah Jazz 115-108 on Monday, the Houston Rockets 116-99 on Wednesday, the Boston Celtics 89-84 on Friday, and the Milwaukee Bucks 82-81 on Saturday.  The Thunder are currently in first place in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the NBA, a half game ahead of the Utah Jazz.  Thunder forward Kevin Durant leads the NBA in scoring with 28.0 points per game, followed closely by guard Russell Westbrook, who is seventh in the league with 23.9 points per game.

History of the Church in Oklahoma

I found this history of the Church in Oklahoma fascinating.  The source is the Church News, February 2, 2010.

Oklahoma

Jan. 1, 2009: Est. population, 3,643,000; Members, 41,547; Stakes, 7; Wards, 58; Branches, 25; Missions, 2; Temples, 1; Percent LDS, 1.1, or one in 88.

In the late 1840s, George Miller, a former bishop who had delayed going to the West, traveled from Winter Quarters, Neb., to visit his son in Texas. He and two other members of the Church with him, Joseph Kilting and Richard Hewitt, worked for a time in the Cherokee Nation in the borders of present-day Oklahoma. They arrived in Tahlequah on 9 July 1847. They taught others about the Church, but antagonism forced Miller to leave in December. Hewitt and Kilting remained to work.

In 1855, Orson Spencer (pictured) and James McGaw visited the Indian Territory from St. Louis, Mo., and on 8 April, five more missionaries were sent from Salt Lake City and four from St. Louis. The Indian Territory Mission was created and placed under the leadership of Miller on 26 June of that year. The missionaries met and re-converted followers of Lyman Wight. One of these was Jacob Croft, who had met missionaries earlier and started for Utah, but met an apostate group that told the Croft party untruths about conditions there. The discouraged Croft party settled in Indian Territory and built a gristmill.

As early as July 1855, missionaries preached to about 400 Indians, and the Cherokee Branch was started at Croft's Spavinaw Creek mill. This became mission headquarters. Croft later led a party of 56, including other former followers of Wight and some re-converted "Strangites" (followers of James J. Strang) to Utah.

Later in the year, missionaries were sent from St. Louis to southern portions of the Cherokee Nation. In 1856, the Princess Creek Branch was organized. The Lehi and Nephi branches were organized in 1858.

Illness was a problem in the mission for many years. At least four missionaries died including Orson Spencer.

In 1858-1859, the remaining members migrated to Utah. By 1860, all the missionaries but John A. Richards, who had married an Indian wife, returned to Utah and the mission was discontinued. Disorder brought on by the Civil War ended what was left of the Church in the Indian Territory. Members and leaders were scattered.

When Matthew Dalton and John Hubbard returned to begin missionary work in 1877, they found John Richards was still faithful, and they received assistance from him. Elder Hubbard died later that year and the mission was closed. In 1883, Matthew Dalton and Elder George Teasdale of the Quorum of the Twelve reorganized the mission. Tracts in the Cherokee language were printed.

Andrew Kimball (pictured), father of President Spencer W. Kimball, presided over the mission in 1885. Although he contracted malaria, he carried on the work and was assisted by John Richards, and later by additional full-time missionaries. In 1892, the first meetinghouse was built in Manard. Another was built in Massey.

On 29 March 1898, Oklahoma became part of the Southwestern States Mission, and on 4 April 1904 it was included in the Central States Mission. On 7 November 1911, a branch was established at Gore, with 113 members but was later dissolved. It was not until 1 May 1960 when the branch was again organized in Gore. A Sunday School that began in Bartlesville in 1924 became a branch on 13 October 1945. Membership increased slowly as many converts moved to Utah.

Membership increased in the 1950s and 1960s. Two stakes were created, the Tulsa Stake on 1 May 1960 and the Oklahoma City Stake on 23 October 1960. Additional stakes followed in 1970s and the 1980s. The Oklahoma Mission was created on 10 June 1970. It was renamed the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission in 1974. A second mission in Oklahoma, headquartered in Oklahoma City, was created in 1990.

The Latter-day Saint community reached out to those in need after a bomb destroyed the nine-story Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on 19 April 1995.

The Oklahoma City Temple, the Church's 95th temple in operation, was dedicated on 30 July 2000 by President James E. Faust (pictured) of the First Presidency.

In 2002, membership reached 35,369. In 2005, membership reached 38,772.

Sources: Lynetta K. Bingham, et. al., A History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Eastern Oklahoma from Oklahoma and Indian Territories to 1980, 1980; Central States Mission, Manuscript history and historical reports; Oklahoma Mission, Manuscript history and historical reports; Indian Mission, Manuscript history and historical reports.