Chris (Carlson) Clark

Shalom Everyone!

It is hard to condense 35 years (can’t believe it!) in a page, but here I go. When I returned from our semester abroad experience, Mark and I were married in August of that year. We both continued our education at BYU graduating in elementary and secondary education. We are now both teaching after several years of job changes for Mark and me spending 15 years at home. Mark is at a junior high school in Bountiful. I am doing a job share in a third grade classroom in Centerville. We definitely have a lot to talk about around the dinner table.

I was a volunteer during the 2002 Winter Olympics. My assignment was with the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at Rice Eccles Stadium working in the area of rehearsal operations. I did everything from shoveling snow, moving people, making coffee (new experience), and setting up and helping run rehearsals. It was a wonderful experience. Something I had always wanted to do.

We have three children - two sons and one daughter. They are all married and have given us the greatest blessing in the world – 9 ½ grandchildren. Our three children followed us into service oriented careers. We have a dentist, corrections officer, and a nurse.

We have lived in North Salt Lake since our graduation from BYU and live in the same home we built (with a few minor and major upgrades and additions) in 1976.

One of my most memorable experiences of our semester was a private personal one. My Grandpa Weed on several occasions had discouraged me from leaving on the semester abroad. He couldn’t put into words his hesitations. I was so close to him and his opinion meant a lot to me, so I was a little hurt that he wasn’t excited. While we were staying at Kefar Vitin I was told that I had a phone call waiting for me. I ran across the lawn to the little office shack and answered the phone. It was my mother telling me that my Grandpa Weed had passed away. I ran crying to the beach and sat on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It was there that I came to understand the Savior’s love for me and the power of his resurrection.

Brother Berrett and Brother Meservy are my heroes! I am still in awe at all the places and countries we were able to visit. The trip probably had the strongest influence on my life than any other experience. I constantly reflect on it. As I study the scriptures, it becomes a wonderful visual to enhance my learning. Thank you to both our instructors for such a memorable and faith promoting experience.


With love,
Chris Carlson Clark