OREM — Having a twin means a lot of different things.
For Chandler and Marcus Sosa, it means always having a teammate for saving the galaxy on their Star Wars game for Xbox.
For Darik and Dylan Chatwin, it means a constant wingman in social situations, on the playing field and in the weight room.
And for the Canyon View 10th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orem, which has nine sets of twins living in the ward boundaries, it means an LDS world record.
Not long ago ward member David Craig — who is the father of two sets of twins — and a member of the bishopric were flipping through "The Skousen Book of Mormon World Records," compiled by church member Paul Skousen, and discovered the existing record, which was also nine sets of twins, but which had been set nearly 50 years ago.
Craig contacted Skousen to tell him about the Canyon View 10th Ward, and after verifying the nine sets of twins, Skousen declared the ward the new record holder.
At the ward's 10th anniversary celebration Saturday, the nine sets of twins were presented with certificates for their achievement.
The nine sets are: the Chatwins (age 17), Tyler and Gregory Winward (age 16), Angela and Ray Bateman (age 15), Robert and Taylor Glad (age 15), Callie and Kelsie Craig (age 14), Nathan and Jordan Mullen (age 11), the Sosas (age 6), Christian and Kaden Craig (age 6) and Evan and Kenna Fry (age 2).
Each set of twins has its own stand-out ability: the Winwards can each read more than 2,000 words per minute and have IQs in the genius range, the Batemans each play two instruments and perform together in marching band, the Mullens are both aspiring ballroom dancers and the older Craigs are both top tennis players.
The outward similarities each set shares are just a sign of the inward bond that exists between twins.
"It's like always having a companion by your side," Darik Chatwin said. "You never feel alone, and he's always understanding. We understand each other perfectly. When we hang out with friends, we're always hanging out with each other, too. We play sports together on the same teams, and it's like a best friend, a best friend that lives with you."
The Chatwins made the record possible when they moved into the ward just a few months ago, and like their fellow record holders, were grateful to those who did the research and discovered the record.
"I thought it was awesome," Chatwin said. "They did a lot of work. I had no idea we were going to be the most twins in the world."
Gareth and Suzanne Fry, parents of the youngest set of twins, were also appreciative, saying Saturday was a huge event in the lives of the young children.
"I was just really excited to see the whole group — just to see them all together," Suzanne Fry said. "It's a bit of bragging rights, and it's a payback for all the hard work."
Gareth Fry chuckled when asked how much work goes into raising twins.
"Let me put it this way," he explained. "We had another one (baby), and he added maybe 10 percent difficulty. So, anyone who complains about having just one child has no idea."
David Craig understands that perfectly — he's had to do it twice now.
"My life is a blur for the first three years of those kids' lives," he said. "I'm not kidding; it's a blur, especially when you have other children as well. I have to go back and look at pictures because I was just so exhausted at the time."
Even though raising twins requires so much work, Craig said it is completely worth it.
"It's so fun to watch them grow up and be each other's best friend," he said.
E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com