Calvin Newby, a retired military veteran from Idaho, was diagnosed with liposarcoma, a rare cancer of the connective tissues, in 2010 at the age of 53. Because of this, he decided to speed up his efforts to finish his lifelong goal of visiting and doing ordinances in 100 different temples.
Joan Newby, a supervisor at a doctor’s office and Calvin’s wife of 35 years, said, “President Hinckley announced in the late ‘90s that by the year 2000 they would have over 100 temples operating. We were in Washington at the military base, and he turned to me and said, ‘That’s what I want to do. I want to visit 100 temples.’”
Calvin and Joan had gone to temples close to wherever they moved for the military, and went on trips to be near a temple. Joan said, “We feel like since his diagnosis, it escalated our goal. We did think that we would go to more temples in our golden years and try to get as many as we could in our lifetime. That was before we had a timeline.”
In four and a half years, their number of temples attended jumped from 43 to 95. Calvin said his favorite temple is the Washington D.C. Temple but he also enjoyed the Laie Hawaii Temple. “It was so magnificent because we had the ocean there, which is a beauty of its own,” he said. “The sweet smell of the flowers, the ocean breeze, and the murals inside - it was beautiful on the outside and the inside too.”
Family and friends have accompanied Newby to visit new temples. “It’s been an experience. I’ve had two missionary companions go with me because I lost a lot of use in my left leg so I can’t carry bags, and I’ve fallen a few times and they need to help me. I’ve got the wheelchair and they got the baggage,” said Calvin.
Jeff Blake, a military veteran living in New Mexico and close friend of Calvin’s, was able to travel to 16 temples on a 17-day trip in October 2013. “The temple was closed on Sunday and Monday, so some days we did at least two temples, and none in Utah,” said Blake with pride.
Calvin added, “The people in the temple were so willing to work with us. When some of them found out what we were doing, they came out and talked to us. Some of them were crying because of the thought that I had cancer, that I would be dying, and that I was going to do 100 temples before I passed away.”
Calvin’s son, Skyler Newby, took his father to the Ogden Temple in Utah. Reflecting on his dad’s goal, he said, “I think with all he’s been through and what he strives to do, it just amazes me. Instead of being selfish, he does God’s will instead. It amazes me he puts God first when he has so little left with his independence. He’s willing to strive and go as far as he can and serve God to the very end. It amazes me how selfless he is.”
Carston Feigleson, a senior from Utah studying business management, said, “I think that when people encounter these difficult times in their life they really reflect on what they want to do the most and what they want to achieve before they die.”
“This is very important to him and it’s cool that he’s going out and achieving that,” said Hiu Wong, a senior studying international cultural studies from Hong Kong. “I think he has a desire and a purpose and it’s doable. It’s not about how long it is, but how he spent his life and that means something.”
Calvin and his family set up a Facebook account, Calvin – 100 temples, keeping friends and family updated on temples visited. Calvin has visited as many temples as personal funds could allow. He has visited more temples by donations given through a fundraiser on Newby’s page at youcaring.com.
Newby and his family are planning a trip to Europe and visit temples there to reach his goal. They plan to have their 100th temple be the Payson, Utah Temple when it opens in June, and they will be surrounded by friends and family.
Update June 9, 2015: Calvin Newby met his goal of visiting 100 temples before he passed away on May 19, 2015, according to a story on lds.net.