I didn't even know she had written this.

Late Thursday night I decided to pull out my old baby book….to see when I had measles 
(since they are so much in the news right now here in California). 
Sure enough, it was June 1958. My Mom kept such good records.

But I also found something in my book that I don't think I'd ever seen before.
My Mom must have put this in there years ago….all nicely typed and slipped into a sheet protector. 
Why had I never noticed it before now?

She wrote this when she was 32.
I have sons older than that now!

She wrote about what it was like the very first time she attended the Mormon church.
The hopes and dreams she had for her children at the time. 
And what it was like the day the Mormon missionaries knocked on our door in 1955. 

My brave little mother. 

The happiness and joy that has spread to all of her children and grandchildren, 
and now great grandchildren,
 since that day in 1955 is immeasurable!



Mom and Dad in front of the St George temple in 1959

Mom and Dad with Derald Bates, one of the missionaries who baptized them in 1955.
She kept in touch with their missionaries all throughout her life.
I am so thankful for my parent's courage. I owe them so very very much.
They chose a life different from their parents, their friends and everyone they knew at the time.



But wait, there's more….
Last month my brother John found some things of Mom's he thought I might be interested in.

These apparently are the very pamphlets Mom wrote about in the paper above….the ones the
missionaries left her in 1955, plus a stack of notes they used to teach her from on her kitchen table. 


13 comments:

Robin said...

Wow what a find. I finished reading this through tears. We were/are lucky to have such a wise and wonderful mother.

Robin

Scrapally said...

What a treasure! And to have the original pamphlets and notes...priceless! How wonderful for her to write down her conversion story for her posterity. I love the Sterling Sill quote...will have to "borrow" that! This is a beautiful story Jill...thank you for sharing it!

grandmapeg said...

I'm sure you have heard this many times over, especially from me, but you and your siblings are so very blessed to have all of these pictures and written stories from your mom! I love that Sterling W. Sill quote! Thanks for sharing this story of your mom's. It truly is inspiring.

Whitney Jay said...

Jill, thank you so much for posting this. I loved reading through it and I especially loved the last line "all the things that are most desirable will be theirs", so beautiful and so true

Karen Mortensen said...

What a wonderful post. Your mom is amazing.

Richard said...

Thanks so much. The older I get the more I appreciate moms courage and conviction! She was one of a kind.

lindsay lark said...

Thank you for posting this! I would love to get a copy of it the next time we are in Clovis. It is especially poignant for me to read grandma's words this morning as I sit here rocking my newborn and feeling so grateful for the gospel.

Grandma Honey said...

I would love to send you a copy Lindsay! Just have your Dad text me your address.

Tyler Heasley said...

This is amazing. I wish I had a copy as a missionary in Arizona. I'm sure this story would have been a great teaching tool. Thanks for sharing! In fact, if I can get a copy that would be wonderful. I hope you know my address.

Grandma Honey said...

You got it Tyler. I'll send it to you. I'm hoping it will be passed down to all her great grandchildren. I know that is what she would want.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this, Jill. Your mother sounds like she was a very good and pure person. You were lucky to have been born to her.
darlene

Anna said...

What a beautiful letter. Her testimony just shines.

Anonymous said...

Gaynor was and is an amazing soul!! Still waters run deep... And best MIL EVER!!

Suzanne

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