Personal Background:

I was born MarGene Fife in Provo while my parents (A. Louis and Ruby Fife) were attending BYU.  I have a rather unique name.  I was named after my dad’s WWII war buddy (Gene Bennett), who was killed near the end of the war.  My parents attached the “Mar” to the front of the name to make it more feminine, but capitalized the “G” to emphasize Gene’s name.  I am proud to be Gene’s name-sake.

My father’s first position upon his graduation from BYU was as a full-time seminary teacher in Vernal, Utah.  After 4 years in Vernal, he was then transferred to Tremonton, Utah, where he was the Seminary Principal for 10 years.  I grew up in that small predominately Mormon town until I turned 16.  Then my father was transferred to Fort Collins, Colorado, where he was the Institute Director at Colorado State University.  It was there I experienced my first date and met my husband, Kenneth Von Forell, Jr.

I am the oldest of 6 children:  Kent, Lynn, Dwayne, Cindy and Tammy.  For 17 years, we were known as “The Five Fife’s” until Tammy surprised us all by entering the world.  We grew up in a very religious home, having Family Home Evening long before Monday was set aside as the night for it.  We learned the missionary discussions in those “Family Nights.”  My mother is very musical, taking organ lessons from famed Tabernacle Organist Dr. Frank Asper.  Therefore, we all learned to play the piano and performed before audiences singing parts at an early age (I was singing alto at age 8).  We had a fun time going on camping trips and other vacations, enjoying each other’s company (which we even now enjoy when we get together—we love being together). 

I graduated from Fort Collins High in 1968 and went to L.D.S. Business College in Salt Lake City.  I graduated from “L.D.” in 1970 as an Executive Secretary.  My “claim to fame” (so to speak) is that I can type 120 words per minute.  With these skills, I’ve worked at various secretarial jobs throughout my life.

After my husband returned from his mission to Japan, we were married 9 months later on March 16, 1972.  We’ve lived in several cities and states during our married life:  Ft. Collins, Loveland, and Denver, Colorado; Edwardsville, Illinois (across the river from St. Louis); Spokane, Seattle and Everett, Washington (where my parents now live—my dad’s last transfer was to be an Institute Instructor at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1970); and currently Salinas, California where we have resided for 12 years.

We have three children, Dan, Jeff and Laurie, all in their thirties and 9 grandchildren, all under the age of 8 as of 2007. Two of our children live in California and one lives near us in the Seattle area. I miss seeing all of the grandchildren on a regular basis--they are all so sweet and I thoroughly enjoy being a grandma!

 Church Experience:

 I’ve been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints my entire life.  I come from pioneer stock who crossed the plains in the 1850’s and 60’s. 

There are few callings that I haven’t enjoyed.  My church callings include:  Jr. Sunday School Teacher, Primary Chorister and Pianist, Nursery Coordinator (over 75 nursery children), Primary Counselor, Ward Young Women Counselor & Advisor, Stake Young Women President & Counselor, Stake Assistant Girls’ Camp Director;  Girls’ Camp YL Leader; Girls’ Camp Activities Director; Gospel Doctrine Teacher, Ward Organist, Relief Society Pianist, Relief Society Counselor, Visiting Teaching Coordinator, and Seminary Teacher.

I have always had a testimony of the Church, but it gets stronger every year.  Teaching seminary and constantly studying the scriptures brings the blessings of the presence of the Spirit so strongly into my home each year that my testimony is daily strengthened.  It constantly amazes me that thoughts continuously flow into my mind as I prepare my seminary lessons.  So I really can’t take credit for the activities that are in the lessons I present.  I have often felt the Savior’s arms surrounding me and giving me comfort—what a marvelous feeling.  I know He is there for each one of us and knows each of us individually.

Seminary Experience:

I have taught Seminary since 1994.  It is my life.  I love it.  My children accuse me of having a “one-tracked” mind and being “obsessed” with Seminary.  Perhaps I am at times, but I make a very concerted effort to be available for them and my grandchildren at the “drop of a hat.” 

It’s interesting how I received my “appointment” to teach Seminary.  When we were living in Illinois, we knew we were going to move to California.  I was asked by the early-morning Seminary teacher to substitute in her class for two days while she went out of town.  I spent an unusual amount of time preparing for those two lessons—it was a scary thought for me.  As I presented those lessons, I had the distinct impression that I would be the seminary teacher in California.  I was rather excited about the prospect since my sister Cindy was then a seminary teacher and loved it.  When we moved to California,  I was somewhat disappointed to discover that they already had a seminary teacher in our ward.  I thought that my impressions must have been incorrect.  However, I was called in the interim as the Gospel Doctrine teacher, which frightened me even more.  However, it was great preparation for the Seminary “call” (I will always think of it as a call rather than an appointment) which was to come a year later.

One day in June of 1994, I received a call from the secretary of the CES supervisor for our region.  She wanted to schedule an appointment with the CES supervisor.  I had no clue what she was talking about.  She asked me if our High Counselor over Seminary had spoken with me about an assignment.  I said that I had not been contacted.  I knew then it was forthcoming.

That night I went to the church for some meeting and saw the two counselors to the Bishop outside visiting with each other.  I approached them and asked them if I was, in fact, going to be asked to be a seminary teacher.  I wanted to know so that I could make arrangements to attend the CES Symposium at BYU.  I was told that I was.  I asked who was the person responsible for extending the “appointment” to me and was told who the High Counselor was.  It was at that moment that the said High Counselor came out of the building (he happened to be in our ward).  I approached him and asked him if it were true.  I was then extended the “appointment”, which I gladly accepted, because I had received confirmation a year earlier that it was forthcoming.

With my father being a retired full-time Seminary/Institute teacher, and my sister teaching Seminary for 13 years, I have a wealth of resources for my lesson outlines.  I have a copy of my father’s files, which offer some interesting insights, newspaper articles and other materials for lesson preparation.  My sister Cindy is a fantastic teacher and has also given me her lesson outlines and additional insights into Seminary activities, organization, etc.  I also pull information from other seminary teachers who have offered ideas and activities on the ldsseminaryfiles seminary e-mail list (and also offered on the http://www.ldsseminaryfiles.com site).  I have access to several old seminary manuals that also give additional ideas for lessons.  I’ve purchased many resource books (object lesson books, activity books, etc.) that are a great resource in lesson preparation.  I have accumulated over 500 games over the years, which I like to utilize in many of my lessons.  But more importantly, I continue to receive inspiration in my lesson preparation.

A little over a year ago, my husband and I decided to move to the Seattle area.  We bought a home in an "active adult community" and love all the activities available to us.  After 11 years of teaching Seminary, I missed it; but soon began substituting for 4 of the classes in our stake.  That didn't last long.  After 1 year and 4 months' absence from teaching seminary, I was again asked to teach early-morning Seminary again, beginning in January.  It has been difficult coming into the class part-way through the year, but I feel at home again.

As I continue to teach Seminary, I continue to improve my lesson outlines with new ideas that come to mind.  I am a firm believer that each seminary class has it’s own uniqueness.  One lesson may work for one class, but not for another; hence the continual editing of my lesson outlines.  That is why the Spirit must be present in lesson preparation so that any teacher can know which available ideas should be incorporated into their own lesson outlines that would be most beneficial to their particular students.

Personal Interests:

I’ve always had a great love for music.  I started taking piano lessons from my mother at the age of 7.  I love accompanying for any group performing.  I have been the music director for a local children’s theatrical group on several occasions, as well as for numerous church productions.  My  newest talent is writing musical arrangements for piano solos, ward choirs and other musical groups.  I also love singing in any group I’m asked to participate.  I was a member of the Colorado Mormon Chorale in Denver for 2 years until we moved out of the state.

I like crafts of about every kind.  I’ve tried most of them.  I’ve recently acquired a liking for Stack ‘n Whack quilts and created 14 of them over the past 7 months.  I don’t do the actual quilting, but like putting them together. 

love doing anything that requires being creative. I’ve created some very detailed, artistic yearbooks for my seminary students each year. I like creating games for Seminary and Girls’ Camp.I love creating music to be performed. I love creating activities for my grandchildren. I’m glad that I have this opportunity to help other Seminary teachers be creative with their lesson plans.