At 103, Provo woman is young at heart

Alder was also a supervisor over several schools in the Mormon colonies in Mexico. Call remembers Alder riding horseback up to 80 miles between the schools and carrying as many books for the children as she could. "She had a traveling library," he said.

Alder was married at 39, but Call revealed that his sister was proposed to 17 times before marrying. He said when he reminds his sister of this, she will say, "yes, Eran, but you should have seen some of the men."

"She has a great sense of humor," he said.

Alder recalled serving on the General Sunday School Board of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 20 years, working closely with former church President Gordon B. Hinckley.

"He was a marvelous man to work with," Alder said of President Hinckley. "I never saw Gordon Hinckley that he didn't hug me. He was a man of the century."

Alder also served two temple missions with the LDS Church, one in Peru and one in Guatemala. She was a worker at the Provo Temple until age 99.

Her son, Lynn, said once when his mother was helping an older woman get around the temple, the woman said to his mom, "Just wait until you're 80." His mom was 93 at the time.

"She always has looked younger then she is," Lynn Alder said. "She's young at heart."

He said his mother is still quite energetic and was embarrassed to say she could outwork him until she turned 85.

At Alder's 100th birthday party, her son said more than 400 people came. People would think at her age that most of her friends would have died already, but Lynn Alder said his mother continues to make friends with people of all ages.

"If you could picture the mom you'd want to have, that's what I think of my mom," Lynn Alder said. "She's just the greatest, most kind, selfless woman. She would do almost anything for anybody if they needed it. She's a hard example to follow."

While Lorna Alder told her life stories, she said she is busy everyday.

She continues to crochet hats for the Humanitarian Center. She cooks for herself and does her own laundry. Alder said someone from her LDS ward will drop off a bag full of teddy bears every once in a while, and she will make felt vests, shoes and ties for the bears to give to the Justice Center for Abused Children. But Alder wishes she could do more to serve the community.

"My motto is now is the time," Alder said. "Get busy and do it."

E-MAIL: slenz@desnews.com