Easter Traditions: The Early Years

Easter traditions at our house began when mom and dad started their family. Looking back in pictures it was clear that mother loved Easter! Even before church services were a part of our family's lives, new sweaters and bow ties, dresses and bonnets, set the tone of what would become an important Easter tradition for years to come. 

Baskets, left by the Easter bunny, filled with candy, chocolate bunnies, colored eggs, and toys, were hidden throughout the house and sometimes the yard. Easter was not only a day to wear new clothes, but it was a day of fun. Feasting on marshmallow peeps, chocolate treats, and colored hard boiled eggs before breakfast didn't happen on any other day other than Easter and Christmas.  

Pictures paint the celebration of Easter in those early years.

Patty, firstborn and oldest sister (1954)

Patty, Carol, Bill (1959) Logan

Bill, Kelley, Patty, Carol (1960) Logan

My earliest memories of Easter came when I was 4 or 5 years old. It wasn't about the basket, but the dress, hat, little white purse, and white gloves to wear to church.

back row - Bill, Patty, Carol
front row - Steven, Kelley, Leslie 
(1966) Spring Glen

This year was one of my earliest recollections of having an Easter basket. I would have been 8 years old. Mom made bunny baskets out of Clorox jugs. She spent many days, prior to Easter, making pom poms out of white and colored sheets of plastic, attaching them to wire. and poking them into the jugs. I remember how excited I was to find my Clorox bunny basket filled with candy on Easter morning. I believe my bunny was yellow... or was it pink?

back row - Patty, middle row - Jonathan (Navajo brother), Bill, Carol, front row - Leslie, Steven, Kelley (1969) Spring Glen

Any 11 year old girl would remember how fun it was to wear matching dresses with her sisters! Yellow... the perfect spring color. 

It was in my pre-teen and teen years that I remember Easter outings in the cedars or on the desert. Dad cooked a dutch oven meal once in awhile, but I mostly remember mom's picnic meal of delicious fried chicken, potato salad, cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookies, or brownies. 

We hunted for Easter eggs... the real ones that we colored for the Easter egg hunt. We played in the sand. We climbed rocks and crawled through narrow slots. The landscape was full of unique sand rock formations. Climbing rocks and discovering secret passages and caves were the highlight of all my Easter outings. 

Easter never came without the wind... especially on the desert. I remember the wind blowing sand in my eyes one year. They were sore and red by the time we got home. I couldn't open my eyes up in the morning because they were so full of "junk". For a long time I thought it was the "sand man" who came and put sand in my eyes. After a visit to the doctor, I found out the real reason for my sore red eyes.... "pink eye!" A highly contagious eye infection. I remember having to put some kind of cream or drops in my eye and having to use my own towel to dry my eyes and hands on so I wouldn't spread the infection to family members. Seems like I got "pink eye" more than once on an Easter outing. 

Easter in my early years became the foundation to traditions that I would pass on to my own family. 

Attending church on Easter Sunday and celebrating the Savior's resurrection was first and foremost the most important part of Easter.

A new dress for church and finding a basket full of candy left by the Easter bunny were other fun Sunday memories. 

Saturday picnics on the desert and among the cedar trees, Easter egg hunts, and climbing rocks were activities reserved for Saturday.

One other memory that made a lasting impression on the way I celebrate Easter was the Easter lily that mom bought every year. I always loved the beautiful white petals, delightfully fragrant flower, and the meaning I associated with it. "New life"... just as the resurrection of the Savior provides "new life" for us. Everlasting life! 

Easter became one of my most loved holiday's 

of the year because of the traditions that mom and dad started at home.

Chip off the Old Block!

Mother used to always tell me that I was a "chip off the old block!" Meaning my dad. 

That was a nice sound to my ears because I idolized my dad. He was big, strong, smart, a story teller, cracked jokes, positive, optimistic, kind, listened, a friend to everyone, great teacher of nature and God, and he loved me!

But what mom was referring to when she told me that... I was a "big dreamer, I thought big, I accomplished big, and I wasn't afraid to jump into an investment." That was dad! And that was me!

I always had dreams inside of me but it wasn't until I was single with 5 children that those dreams were able to bust wide open. When I think of those days in that way, my heart fills with gratitude for the opportunities that opened up to me during the most difficult time of my life. I was free to dream and I was free to grow! What a wonderful gift!

My first opportunity came when dad bought me the darling little Victorian house in Logan after my divorce. It put me on the path to dreams... big dreams. Oh... the possibilities ran wild! I was able to decorate and do some minor remodeling (where money allowed). My ideas ran wild! My little house became a beautiful piece of heaven for my children and I. We worked hard in the yard to give it curb appeal. We planted a beautiful and profitable garden. We hatched banny chickens and nurtured them as they grew. I was in college. I was working part time at the University. My kids were good and were a great help around the house. Life was looking up. 

51 East 400 South, Logan, Utah

The first time I realized I was very much my father was when I got an extreme amount of satisfaction out of improving my little home in Logan. Then 5 years later, was able to sell the little house, making a $56,000 profit. That is when the excitement of investing took complete control over me. I saw how a little work, pride in my house, and a little ingenuity paid off... and in a big way! There was no stopping my dreams now.

After I met Dave and we were married, I still looked for ways to improve my surroundings. Being independent for several years changed me. My dreams were not limited as I found ways to remodel a space or room in the house. I always did it when Dave left for a military assignment, so as not to bring him stress nor myself, in having to deal with him. 

After I sold the house in Logan, we bought a 5 1/2 acre parcel of land in Willard to satisfy Dave's dream (and my own) of owning an orchard. I quickly found out that he was just as energetic in investing and taking risks in the real estate market as I was.

Dave could not contain my independent spirit and soon I had him thinking about making some investments, after taking him around town showing him properties with possibilities. We bought a couple of houses next door to us. Renting had its ups and downs but it eventually paid off. 

Dave was called to support the war in 2002. His assignment took him to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. One day I was driving down the Fruitway and saw that the old Willard Grocery store was for sale. It sparked a great deal of excitement in me as I thought about the possibilities the store could offer. I had my son-in-law look at the property since he was in construction. His opinion of the place was... "no way!" It would require too much work. But my heart beat increased at the very thought of the property and I could not get it out of my mind. Dave came home one weekend and I took him to see the building. He bought it for me that weekend and I was free to remodel it. It was a huge project! But I was up to the task. I oversaw the entire remodel of the store front and apartment attached on the back. The remodel of the building greatly improved the desired appeal of main street. The city counsel often complimented me on the new look of the building and the improvement it brought to Willard City. We owned it for a few years until a local professional wildlife photographer came across it and had to buy it. Valerie Taylor, who has become one of my dearest friends, insisted on purchasing it until it was her's. We drew up a contract with a local title company. We sold the building for twice the amount we bought it for. But, even better... we are carrying the contract and earn 6.5% annual interest on it every year. The building is making us a handsome profit. 

Dave was deployed to Iraq in 2008. We put our house up for sale and I prepared to move into the rental property next door. I practically gutted the house and remodeled it, with the help of Dave's uncle, in a short couple of months. The little white house became very desirable as spectators drove by and stopped to see if it were going up for sale. We sold the house in 2010, at the completion of our new home in Willard.

421 South 300 West, Brigham City, Utah

For many years, one big project led to another one. Now that I am in the new house, I am older and more content to just enjoy. I don't have to have my hands in big projects anymore, although I am always finding a new space to re-do in the house. Every Spring comes around and I find myself itching to beautify another corner of the yard or add to Shaniel and Steven's gardens. I suppose it will always be that way! 

When I think about these inherited qualities from my dad, it makes me smile. I often imagine him right by my side as I tackled all these big projects. He loved remodeling and doing projects and investing. I found myself very much like him when the opportunity presented itself. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and looked at properties with "potential". It was the potential that excited me... that made my heart beat faster. Oh... the possibilities just made me so happy!

I remember talking to him one time, after one of my energetic projects, and he told me how when he would drive from Price to Monticello while working, he found himself dreaming and building the most beautiful ranches the mind could think up. 

I am a dreamer. I think big! I make investments... unafraid, because my father taught me I can do anything I want to do. I can become anything I want to be. I am my father's daughter. And I love it!

I've inherited many other wonderful traits from my father which I am very excited to share in another post.

When I Grow Up I want to Be...

The lady in charge of Fashion Shows!

I was in 4-H for several years when I was in my youth. I was in a group with my cousins. We were taught skills by the older boys - Scott and Duane, my sister Patty, my mother, and Aunt June. We learned home beautification and sewing from our mother's and photography from the boys. Although I liked them all, my favorite class was always sewing. I loved to sew! And it was the highlight of every year to model the dress I made in the 4-H Fashion Show. 

My first experiences in sewing came from my mother. She had her mother's sewing machine... a Singer Treadle Machine. 

Mom was patient in teaching me how to choose fabric, prepare it for sewing, alter the pattern, pin and cut it out correctly, and sew it into a beautiful finished garment. I learned to sew on the treadle machine. I remember placing the needle into the fabric to secure it... and then start the rocking motion of the foot on the treadle. If you have never had the rare opportunity to sew on a treadle machine, it is quite an exhilarating experience. The faster you could pump the treadle, the faster you could sew. I got really, really got at it. I started sewing when I was about 9 years old and I was still sewing on that machine when I was 17 years old.

I enrolled in Home Economic courses in school. The machines were pleasantly modern and I could sew quicker for obvious reasons. I must have made an impression on my teacher because she asked me if she could display my Prom dress in the window of the classroom for all to see. And of course, I was happy to let her!

I always had this secret desire to be the lady that helped young girls aspire in clothing construction and modeling. In the back of my mind I would become the county "Extension Agent". The lady in charge of 4-H. I had such a good experience and loved those years that it very much became a part of my life.

But my most important desire was to be a mother. My mother was always home with us children. She was the first person we saw when we came through the door after school. We would often come home to the smell of home baked bread, cinnamon rolls, or cookies. She taught me the skills necessary to be a good homemaker and mother. I truly desired that more than anything. So... being an Extension Agent would have to wait. I wanted to be a mother!

I did become a mother. I married my high school sweetheart 3 weeks after graduation. I became a mother 9 months later. We would add 5 children in all to our family. I loved being a mother. I stayed home with my little ones, just like my mother. I spent countless hours with my sisters, who were also young mothers. We had play time, put on parties, taught our children preschool and took them to the park. Mother was always there for us and became a steady nurturer in mothering. She was a wonderful grandmother. Life was just as I planned!

But then life changed. Choices were made, bliss turned to heartbreak and I found myself alone... raising 5 kiddos on my own. I had to make a choice. I could either curl up in a corner and cry the rest of my life, or I could pick myself up and go back to school to make a new future for the kids and I. It was back to school.

School was not easy to begin with, but as I started to exercise my brain I became more confident. Learning was both challenging and fun. I was persistent in meeting my goals to graduate with a B.S. degree. I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be an "Extension Agent" and put on Fashion Shows! Other career options entered my mind, but I always came back to Family and Consumer Science. I graduated 5 years after entering college for the first time. I had my B.S. Degree in Family and Consumer Science Education and a minor in Food and Nutrition Science. I didn't stop there. I pursued my path in "Extension". I was lucky to be hired as an "Extension Educator" without a Masters Degree. I began my career in Emery County and started my Master's courses. I was able to transfer back to Utah State University to finish my Master's Degree, while being the Family Housing "Extension Agent" on campus. 

I never had the opportunity to be the lady that would do Fashion Shows. Those days were long over with. Getting grant money was driven by social programs, even in Extension. Although I was disappointed in the changes since the days of my youth, the work I was engaged in was very rewarding. My children were all in school at this time so it made going to work a little easier.

Programs that I was in charge of: The family housing gardens, Clover Buds after-school program for family housing students, International Wives club, the Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Old Main, and some 4-H projects. I became the first ever county director for the "Cache County Youth and Families At-Risk" program. I formed many boards and served on many community boards. I was involved in county fairs, which was very satisfying. 

After I was finished with my Master's Degree, the only option was to re-locate to a county within the state. There was nothing available in Box Elder County and Extension sold out to "USU Housing". Hence, my life as an Extension Agent came to an end. 

All in all, going back to school was one of the best decisions I ever made. I continue to use the things I learned in school and as an "Extension Educator" every day. I look back on my college days with fondness. And I value my experiences in work. 

I did follow the dreams of my youth. I became a mother. I became an "Extension Agent". I had a desire to become and I have. I may not have made a career out of work... but I have made a career out of life as a mother and now as a grandmother. That is where my heart lies and where my true reward is. 

Friends

When I think of friends, I think of the memories I have of them. Some friendships were short lived, some have been long lived, but each friend created a memory. Forming relationships in life... whether as friends or in families... is a vital part in experiencing joy in this life and in the life to come.

Childhood friends

The first friend I recall having was a neighbor in Parowan. Her name was Lorna Rowley. We were only 4 years old but we must have been the best of friends! After our family moved from Parowan to Price in 1961, we continued to keep in touch. We exchanged school pictures with each other through the mail. Honestly, that is all I remember about her. 

I made another friend just after we moved to Spring Glen. Her name was Pauline Tervort. She and her family moved to Salem two years after we moved to Spring Glen. We, too, continued to exchange school pictures throughout the years. Even though we were miles apart our friendship blossomed through the years. I spent a summer or two at their house and had many wonderful memories playing in the neighborhood pond. As we grew older, we wrote each other letters. Our friendship continued even into our marriages. We sent yearly Christmas cards to each other and I would occasionally find an opportunity to stop and see her in Payson. The last time I saw her was when Nicole was born. That was 15 years ago. She was the head nurse at the Payson Hospital. We had a wonderful time visiting and catching up. 

My best childhood friend was Lynette Brown. Her family moved into Spring Glen in 1963. We were not easily separated... maybe only by the large wash that ran down the center of the rural route. We would often walk through the fields and through the wash to each other's houses and play. Or we would stop and play in the wash. Our friendship lasted all through our school years and beyond. She was my best friend! I have many fond memories of the entire Brown family. All seven of the kids in their family were our ages and made for a natural friendship. Lynette was my maid of honor at my wedding. We kept in touch through most of our adult years but as our families grew larger, we grew more distant. But I will always think of her as one of my most treasured friend's.

Another good friend I made in High School was Sherry Bean. She moved to Price her Senior Year. We had Home Economics together and hit it off from the beginning, even though she was a Senior and I was a Junior. She had very long blonde hair that went below her waist. I thought she was beautiful! And I thought it was really neat that she had moved here from Southern California... next to the ocean and beaches. She has been a faithful friend since our High School years. We have kept in touch through the years. Not consistently, but we do. Our birthday's are on the exact same day, September 21st, and it has always been fun to send each other cards and visit. Sherry has come to my aid during times of heartbreak and sorrow, which I have been grateful for. The last time I saw and visited with her was at Steven's funeral. I consider her a dear friend and always will. 

Best Friends

After I got married, my best friends became my sisters. Having our children together made for the best of times. We had parties, went on picnics, took our kiddos to the park, and enjoyed special occasions together. We had everything in common! Those friendships included mother! She was there in every thing we sisters did. I considered mother to be my very best friend. She was always there when I needed her. She counseled, comforted, and brought joy and happiness into my life. I could always depend on her! She taught me how to be a mother, and most of all... love to be a mother.Those were wonderful years. I can't think of a better time in life for making lasting and treasured friendships.

Husband's are friends, too. I am lucky because I have had two! :)

Adult friends

I have had many wonderful people come into my life over the many years of moving, settling, and moving again. I can name people from practically everywhere I have lived that remains a cherished friend today. All due to the memories we made together. Here are a few...

Rex and Joy Minchey from Cleveland. Rex was "best man" at mine and Greg's wedding. He and Joy still call and stop by and see me once in a great while. Some friends are forever! 

Sue Stark from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She also moved back to Utah and became an Insurance Agent. We have made it a point to visit and catch up on family matters whenever the opportunity arises. It is seldom, but I will always think of her as a good friend when I needed one. She was always willing to talk and "listen". 

Marlene Kaufman from Logan. Oh... I could tell you so many stories about Marlene and I. She moved in around the corner from me in Logan. She was also a single mother, with slightly older children, and we hit it right off. She was very beautiful. Long blonde hair and the prettiest smile you ever saw! She was always well groomed and dressed so beautiful. We spent a lot of time together... talking about the gospel and just everything, going on nightly walks, and attending church and the temple, along with other activities. She became my dearest and most treasured friend ever. I can still say to this day that she will always be. She was so positive and cheerful all the time. She was a big influence in my life for good. Always good! She actually introduced me to Dave. After our re-marriages, we didn't do so much together. She married a fellow from Ohio, the place where she grew up, but we always kept in touch. I went on a trip back East to see Shaniel and Steven. It was in 1996. I spent a few days with Marlene and her husband. She took me all over the country side. It was so enjoyable being with my dear friend. My favorites were seeing the Amish and how they lived and the beautiful carousal in a nearby park. I was saddened when I found out a few years ago that she had cancer... originating from a strep throat that was not treated. She passed away a couple of years ago, a few short months after Shaniel. I am so grateful I was able to visit with her on the phone a couple of times before her passing. The last time was a few weeks before she passed away. She still had that laugh... that caring personality and asked me how I was and if Dave were treating me good! She felt responsible for our marriage. I remain in contact with her daughters and love them as much as I loved her. Oh... I miss my friend terribly. 

Wendy Lowry from Brigham City. Wendy and I were PAT educators together in Box Elder County. She became one of my dearest friends. Her kindness and visits are among my greatest treasures. 

Peggy Ray was my visiting teaching partner in the Willard 1st Ward. She was always so pleasant and wore a smile on her face at all times. We became very good friends. She was a great comfort to me after Shaniel passed away. I remember the first time I went back to church after Shaniel's death. It was difficult. I was very sensitive to the spirit. I sat next to Peggy in R.S. and she could tell I was tearing up. She handed me a tissue and held my hand. I felt her love and will never forget what she did for me that day. She lost a son in a car accident when he was 17 years old and knew somewhat of the pain I felt. She and Mac have since moved to Pleasant Grove to be closer to a daughter. I have really missed her.

Dick Eskelson 

Valerie Taylor

I consider the brothers and sisters I serve with at the temple my friends. It is a wonderful thing to feel their love and friendship every week.

Family - Eternal Friends

My children are my very best friends! We talk, laugh, cry, reminisce, plan, conspire, encourage, support, party, work together, and have the best ever days together. 

My sisters and brothers are also my best friends. Since mom and dad have passed away, we don't get together as often. I miss those days terribly. But I have found out that sisters and brothers never abandon you! Never! I have been grateful for listening ears and shoulders to cry on with the passing of Shaniel and Steven. I have found solace in their comforting arms, love... spoken and unspoken, spiritual uplifting, compassion, and healing. Bad things happen to good people and I am grateful for a family who loves without condition. Who see's not only their own children, as God see's them, but mine as well. Family is love!

Follow Your Desires and Never Depart

In 1970 the church came out with a new program for the girls in the MIA (Mutual Improvement Association). At the beginning of the year each of us girls received a Personal Achievement Journal. It was a special place to write down the things of our hearts and for setting goals... not just for today, but tomorrow and the years to come. It was a journal designed to help shape our eternal destination.

I was twelve years old at the time, and would turn 13 in a few weeks. I was a Beehive and very excited to write in my journal. My first Personal Achievement Journal had a section entitled "Daydreaming about my future and my eternal growth..." 

This section would shape the goals that I yearned for as a young woman. 

1. I want my wedding to be.... shared with my Father in Heaven in His house, the temple. I want it to be peaceful and spiritual.

2. I want my husband to be... a returned missionary. He will be diligent in work, understanding, honest, and cheerful. A man that will always love me.

3. I want my children to be... like me. I will always try to teach them everything I know. I would like two strong boys and three beautiful girls.

5. Living worthy of a temple marriage can bring the following blessings into my life: Living an eternal life with my family in the presence of my Father in Heaven.

With each consecutive year, until the age of sixteen, there was a section asking similar questions about my goals for the future and what I wanted it to look like. And each year, my desires were the same. To be married in the temple to a righteous priesthood holder and raise a family in the gospel. 

This is very difficult to write about....

I let my dreams be dreams only on paper. I did not follow the innermost yearnings of my heart. I allowed a young man, who was not worthy of a temple marriage, influence my ideals... and my ideals soon became more his ideals, and I did not keep the faith. I made the decision to follow a different path... one that would ultimately bring me heartache and grief. 

I am ashamed. But it is my prayer that in writing about this I can influence, even if only one of my grandchildren, to choose the right path and to never... ever depart from it.

I received my patriarchal blessing when I was about 14 years old. I had many wonderful promises given me, all dependent upon my faithfulness. I was told I would have the opportunity to go the the house of the Lord and be married and sealed for time and for all eternity to one of the faithful sons of our Heavenly Father. I would rejoice with him and become a mother in Israel in bringing choice spirits to the earth to guide and direct their activities and they would be obedient to my teachings and that I would live long upon the earth, as long as life is desirable.  

With that came a warning to be careful in my dating years, to date those young men with high ideals and who are members of the church and hold and honor the Priesthood of God. And if I did I would rejoice through out my life because of these things. I was admonished to support and uphold my future husband in his priesthood assignments and responsibilities to the fullest extent and that we would live a happy life here upon the earth together and rejoice in our posterity.

My soul has often been hacked with pain and anguish over this. To think of the promised blessings I forfeited. And to think of the consequences that have come upon me and my household because of my choices.

I know, without a doubt, that I received that warning because Father In Heaven knew my heart and what choice I would make. But I do know, without doubt, that He loves me... choices and all. I made my life difficult when it didn't need to be. I remember praying to Father In Heaven when I was a teenager, asking for His approval to marry Greg. I saw potential in him and I saw good things. I thought I was in love. I really did. I never really received an answer, or maybe I did. I never really felt like He approved, but I never felt like He didn't. Maybe He knew I would not listen. I didn't listen to my parents here on earth.. why would I listen to Him. I am anguished when I think that I did not trust the Lord. How foolish I was!

When I think of my life and how hard it has been on myself and my children, I am heartbroken. I don't know life any other way because I did not choose it. But I know that the Plan of Happiness is for all His children and that He will make all things right through our faithfulness. Mistakes and all. He waits patiently for us to return to Him. He welcomes us home with loving and outstretched arms when we repent and prove our faithfulness. 

I have never wanted to do bad things... not ever! I have only ever wanted to be good and to what's right. I have a weakness. I see the world through rose-colored glasses. I am an optimist through and through. My faith is simple. I see potential in everyone and in all things. Potential! I see potential in people I love, and that included Greg. I see potential in things, like old houses turned into beautiful places to live. I don't know if that is what cursed me, but I saw potential in Greg and I truly believed he would rise to that potential. Could I have possibly seen what the Lord saw in him? I loved him. He could have been great. He really could have. We went to the temple as soon as we could. We had our first baby girl sealed to us and all those special spirits that followed were born in the covenant. I can't tell you how happy I was during those early years of our marriage. The potential I saw in "my knight in shining armour" was coming through. We had been sealed in the temple and our family was eternal.

But you can't decide what other's will choose to do. You can't take away their agency. I know the Lord loves Greg as much as He loves any of His other children. I know things will be made right. I have had witnesses of that promise. All will be well... all well. The Lord knows what that will be and I trust in His promises. 

In spite of the hard journey in life, I know I have grown in ways that I probably never would have otherwise. I have turned my life completely to the Lord. I love Him with all my heart and I know His ways are perfect. My testimony and faith have increased through trials and afflictions. I have a family that I love with all my heart and am so thankful for each spirit that came to bless my life. They came to me because we were a family in heaven first. I do not know the meaning of all the trials and experiences we have had in this life, but I know they have been given for our good. I trust in His plan and know it will lead us all back home... Home to Him.

I departed from my youthful desires, but those same youthful desires are very much a part of my life today. And they will never, ever depart. I have been sealed in the temple. I have those promised blessings awaiting me. The Lord loves me and wants to bless me and my family. I will continue to look at the world and the eternities through rose-colored glasses! Why would I not!

My Constant Companion

I have a friend like no other friend I've had. I have never seen him, but I love Him with all my heart! I could not live without him. He stays close by my side. In fact, I can call him my constant companion. He is the Holy Ghost; a member of the Godhead. I am in awe of this realization. To have the member of the God Head as my constant companion gives me the assurance that I have infinite worth. I am a daughter of a Living God. I love the Holy Ghost!

He became my companion when I turned 8 years old and was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I remember that day vividly. Not what I wore, but how I felt. I had had my interview with the bishop and passed off the Articles of Faith with confidence and ease. He asked me questions about the gospel that I could readily answer. I felt prepared, even at the tender age of 8. Dad baptized me on Saturday, without incident... I'm sure. I felt so clean and pure. But it was Sunday that I remember so vividly. It was after I was confirmed a member of the church and received the "gift of the Holy Ghost". A warm, peaceful feeling prevailed over me the entire day. I knew I had made the right choice. My desire was to be "perfect" and I was not going to let anything or anyone detract me from my goal. 

After church, our family was gathered in the living room. My brothers and sisters were rowdy and loud; goofing around as usual. Like all kids do, including me! But today was my day! I got out the scriptures and plopped down in the middle of the living room floor and read some verses out of them. I was not about to let the distractions of family life in our house get the best of me. I remember feeling a desire deep within my heart to have the Holy Ghost with me and to feel the love of my Father In Heaven and our Savior. I never wanted this day or these feelings to leave me. 

Life has a way of happening and I wasn't as perfect as I wanted to be. Mistakes were made. Choices could not be taken back. Lessons were learned... mostly the hard way... for many years. Even though I was sealed in the temple to a companion I wanted to last for all eternity; it ended. I had to lean on the Savior and the companionship of the Holy Ghost to help me through... what seemed like endless days and nights of grief, pain, and loneliness. I felt Angels around me, on both sides of the veil, and the steadiness of sandled feet by my side... day after day. My testimony increased as I said my prayers, read my scriptures, and attended my church meetings and the temple. I felt the power of the Holy Ghost and the atonement of the Savior lift me from fear and despair to hope and courage.  

I continued to yearn for heaven and the blessings promised in the temple. I always knew where my heart was and where my desires would lead me. And that would be back home. Home to safety, protection, and peace. 

It wasn't until 2005, when my father passed away, that I can truly say I was born again. Born again of the spirit. And His spirit has not left me to this day. 

When dad passed away I yearned for comfort and peace. I wanted a testimony for myself of the truthfulness of the plan of salvation. I desired a witness... and I received! Not only one answer, but many answers came... from the deepest yearnings of my heart and soul. Even though I had been taught all my days of the plan of salvation and I had always believed, it was at this time that I was able to learn first-hand from the Holy Ghost. 

The Holy Ghost teaches and testifies of truth. He leads us to be humble. He bears witness to the reality of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. The plan of salvation is a perfect! It is marvelous! It is a wonder! It is a loving gift from God. To follow and trust in His plan provides comfort and peace. It allows us to come back into His presence and to live eternally with our families. I have had many wonderful experiences while reading the scriptures, listening to a talk, hearing a testimony, saying a prayer, singing a hymn, participating in a Sunday School or Relief Society lesson, and from Conference talks where the spirit has spoken truth to my soul. I feel it in my entire being. I feel peace and joy. There is not a meeting I go to that I don't feel like the spirit is teaching me something. I may have read it before. I may have heard it before. But the truth is spoken and my understanding is clear and I know what has been said is true! I learn line upon line; precept upon precept. My testimony grows. My faith increases. I am more confident in connecting the truths that intersect with each other, though it may be years apart. I still understand! With every truth I learn, I am more humbled. I am more aware of my imperfections and weaknesses and I desire to be better. I can't even imagine not having the Holy Ghost to teach me. I love Him!

The Holy Ghost comforts and sustains us in affliction and trials. How grateful I am for having His love and companionship at the times of my parents deaths, and my children's deaths. What joy, peace, and healing prevailed my heart and soul knowing that they were welcomed, with loving arms, back home to His presence... because His love is unconditional and all encompassing. Although each loved one's mission on the other side may be different from the other, I have no doubt that they continue in the work in family settings. They are loved and placed where they will learn and grow best. They are given every opportunity to repent and progress. They are put on their designed path that leads to eternal life. That is the way God designed the plan of happiness. I know that I could not bear to lose one child... how can I even begin to comprehend how the Lord feels about each of us, His children. We were created in His image. We are His work and His glory! 

The Holy Ghost provides warning and protection. I have felt the protective powers of angels cushioning my out-of-control car as it careened across two lanes of traffic, hit a mile post marker, spun around, and landed on the railroad tracks at the bottom of an embankment... with no effects from the crash. No injuries; no soreness. Nothing.

Although I didn't know it at the time, shortly before I learned of Greg's unfaithfulness, I felt unseen added strength... a protective power... something I didn't understand. It wasn't until after his excommunication and our family was mortally wounded that I would begin to understand the love that came beyond the veil to protect us from the evil that had come upon our family. I was buoyed up with great faith at that time. How thankful I was for the Holy Ghost!

The Holy Ghost guides us daily. He inspires us. He guides us in the little things as well as the big things. He leads us to do good. It's almost like a nudge, a thought, a whisper, a prompting. After we learned of Shaniel's death and our family was sitting in the funeral director's office making funeral plans, a question came up that involved Scott's family, the Donaldson's. Their only other son was called and the conversation was put on speaker phone. The atmosphere was tense and uneasiness filled the room. I then felt a strong urge with the words "tell him you love them" enter my mind. It was so compelling and so urgent that I could not withhold those words... "We love you!" The Holy Ghost had lead me to do good. To say the words that the Savior would say. It was at that very moment that the spirit ushered in. Tears were shed, hearts were softened, and the healing began. That very second! The joy and love of the Lord wrapped around us... like a warm blanket. I can not dispute the power of the Holy Ghost and His influence to do the right thing at the exact moment we needed to. It changed everything on how we would move forward. The atonement instantly began to work in many lives. Not just us or the Donaldson's, but for extended family and the community. I can't even imagine what things would have been like had I not followed that prompting at that time.

The Holy Ghost is a Revelator. He enlightens our mind and fills our souls with joy. This has been very precious to me. As I have waded through grievous trials and afflictions on my mortal journey, I have sought light and knowledge from the Lord to give me understanding, peace, and comfort. Out of a broken heart, I have asked questions, searched the scriptures for answers, and prayed to know things I did not understand. I trusted that the Lord would hear my pleas. I have exercised faith and yearned much for heaven's help in finding answers. And I have received much! Although personal, I can testify that revelation comes through dreams, visions, and streams of steady light that enlightens the mind. More often than not, one answer leads to another one and more work and effort is required to get the entire picture, or answer. I have been able to put pen to paper and write... and write... and the thoughts just keep coming as rushing water. Before I know it, I have written pages of answers to my questions and my understanding has been made bright and clear as the sun at noon day. Oh... this is such a precious gift to me! I can't even describe what joy this has brought to my soul. I am so thankful for the power of revelation. Revelation has been restored to the earth. I am thankful for revelation that comes through our prophet and eternally grateful for personal revelation. It is through the Holy Ghost that we are able to receive revelation, even daily, if we but ask.

The Holy Ghost is a Sanctifyer. To sanctify means to concecrate, renew, purify. It is sacredness, holiness. It is to be born again spiritually. 

"Now this is the commandment: "Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day." 3 Nephi 27:21

I don't understand sanctification completely, but I do know I want to feel its effect before I meet the Lord. I believe that we witnessed a "sanctification" in mother. As she laid in bed, day after day, in the nursing home, I believe she became pure... as a little child. Her desires were to meet the Lord completely clean and free from all sins. She was holy. Her soul was renewed. One particular day, a few days before her passing, Leslie snapped a picture of her lying in bed. She had a perfectly pure white aurora surrounding her entire body. It looked as if she were in angels's clothes. I knew then that she had made her preparations to leave this earth. Her desires now fulfilled. She became pure before the Lord. She had undergone sanctification. I will never forget that witness borne to me. Mother was my example of what it means to die in the Lord. My love for her is so deep. I can call her blessed... because she truly blessed me with her faith and testimony. It burns deep within my heart.

The Holy Ghost is a friend I can not and must not ever live without. He is everything to me! He teaches me, strengthens me, bears witness of truth to me, comforts me, enlightens my mind, fills my heart and mind with joy and peace, renews my spirit, inspires and leads me to do good, warns me of danger and protects me from evil. And He will sanctify me! I will one day stand before the Lord, as pure and clean as I can be in this life, and thank Him for the precious gift of sending me the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. My dearest and truest friend!

James William “Bill” McKinley Bates

Bill Bates, born of James Ragan and Victoria Bates was the youngest of four children; Luther, Tom, Alma and William. Bill was born on the banks of Cow Creek in Riddle, Oregon; his family were agricultural people growing their own produce and raising their own meat. They probably had an orchard that helped raise income for the family. When Bill was about eleven years old he took ill on a Sunday morning. He went to church with the family and as the service progressed he felt worse. When the family came out of the chapel Bill had some difficulty walking and finally took a fall. He got up and fell down again. His father picked him up and carried him home but refused to call the doctor. James Regan’s family had all died of the fever so it’s easy to understand why he figured his son wouldn’t live through whatever he had. Bill had come down with polio and a fever that left him paralyzed from the neck down. It was one of the first recorded cases in the area. Willie said "when I laid down the corn in the garden was just breaking through the ground and when I looked out again the corn crop had matured and been harvested.” His mother, Victoria who was a midwife and a nurse, took care of Bill but also consulted with a doctor from Portland. Bill was the only person in Riddle to catch the disease. As a result of the disease he laid in bed and couldn't walk for two years. He could swallow but couldn't move. His legs were drawn up against his chest. Their doctor from Portland wanted to cut the cords in his legs to let them down in a more normal position for comfort. Once the cords were cut it was a foregone conclusion that he would never walk again so his mother said NO! Victoria patiently nursed him back to health by applying moist heat and moving his limbs several times a day. It is due to her loving care that Bill regained his health and the use of his limbs. Bill came to Price, Utah as a young man looking for work. He found employment with the Utah Railway where he worked most of his adult life. He married Ida Lucille Richardson and they are the parents of four children. Bill was a kind, gentle man and liked by all who knew him. His pet moniker for Ida was Sally. Bill was an alcoholic and it did cause problems within the family but he was loved very much despite his weakness. His son Jim would often boast of his father’s strength. He loved telling stories of the times his father “street fought” which was like a boxing match out on the street in the coal camps. Bill died at the age of 60 leaving his sweet Ida a widow for 38 years. One day when Annie Jensen’s mother called her “Sally” Ida said, “Bill used to call me that.” Kelley asked grandma if she still missed him. Ida said, “You never stop missing someone you love.”

Ida Lucille Richardson Bates

Ida was short, blue eyed and had white hair. She was quiet and shy, in her words she described herself as slow at subjects but she excelled in art and sewing. She had a great sense of humor but was quiet about it. She had long hair when she was young that she wore in braids wrapped around her head, her brothers pulled her hair and she didn’t like that. As a result when she was older she wore her hair short. Ida had a short pug nose, her mom said she had a “pugger” from falling on it when she was learning to sit up. As a child she like to play outdoor games like hide and go seek and kick the can, jump rope, jacks, baseball, and floating the canal with a tube or railroad tie. She liked picking berries, going on picnics, ice skating, and roller skating. When she got her roller skates she stayed up until 2:00 a.m. skating wildly through the halls of her home. Ida was a pleasant person to be around, she was kind, thoughtful and did not speak ill of others. She loved to share the stories of her youth as she traveled with family, her favorite thing was being with family. For many years she helped Alma Rae in her flower shop and enjoyed the work and family time very much. Ida’s dad was a railroad conductor so the family moved often to different towns along the 65 mile route from Helper to Provo, Utah. Her mother was a mother of the era and worked hard in the home. When Ida graduated from High School she worked for a year as a telephone operator. She met her husband Bill over the telephone. 

"I knew I'd met someone special when I met William Mckinley Bates because he was a very kind man and very quiet. He wouldn't quarrel or argue. "You can't argue alone."

I worked in the telephone company at night. Bill worked at the Railroad Station at night. Bill used to call the operator and talk to her. (And I told Bill I was going to start charging him for his calls, so her started calling me.)

He came down to the telephone office eventually to see who he had been talking to. Bill then started walking me home from Helper to Martin. Our dates were picnics and gathering pine nuts with my family."

Ida and Bill were married November 16, 1927.

"We were married at Price city Courthouse. On the day we were married mom had Thanksgiving dinner and wedding dinner together. My wedding dress was black with rose colored trim. I also wore a hat. (Bill threw away that hat because he thought I had too much junk.) 

Edna Richardson, my mother, and Margaret Lee attended the wedding. Bill had come to Provo Utah looking for work. His family lived in Oregon at the time of the wedding and could not make it.

Check gave us salt and pepper shakers and Ruth gave us glasses.

Bill had to go to work after the wedding and I had to clean a dirt oven."

(interview wit Ida Bates by Leslie (Bates) Nielson) 

 Bill found work in the coal mines and with the railroad. They lived in the mine camps moving where work was available. They had four children. James, John, Dennis who died at birth and a daughter Alma Rae. After Ida’s husband died she worked six summers at the Bryce Canyon Resort in Southern Utah, Nine Winters in Sun Valley, Idaho and five summers in Fire Island, New York. After settling down again in the Price, Utah area she worked 9 years editing and contributing to the senior citizens newspaper. Three areas that Ida felt she truly excelled at was sewing, needlework and painting. Her claim to fame is contributing to the wall murals in the CEU Prehistoric Museum. Ida was a proficient artist passing her beautiful works on to her children and grandchildren where they are cherished as heirlooms.

Elba Charles Bentley

Elba was born in the little mining town of Ibapah, on the border of Utah and Nevada. He was the youngest of six children born to Charles and Emily Jane O’Carroll Bentley. His mother was of Irish descent, her family moving from Ireland to Canada in the mid 1700’s. Even though 6 generations separated Elba from his Irish heritage he spoke with an Irish lilt and sang the tunes like he was born to it. Elba writes of a memory when he was three years old. His mother had inherited some land from her grandfather in Vernal, Utah so the family was moving from Ibapah to Vernal. He remembers riding on the buckboard of the wagon with his father, they had a 4 team horse pulling to help them over the mountain passes. This was the first time he saw a train, he asked his father what it was his father replied that it was an iron horse. Elba thought it was a mighty funny looking horse. Elba went to school until he was about 10 and in the 4th grade. At that time his parents separated. Charles was a rover, wandering here and there shifting from job to job. While he was working at a job in Wyoming he wrote a letter home to Elba and told him he wouldn’t be coming home anymore unless he wanted him too. Elba would take that letter out and read it and have a good cry. His mother was away from home at the time so he showed it to his grandmother. Her advice to him was to follow his heart. Elba loved his dad so much that he chose to leave his mother and wander the western states with his father. In 1904 Elba’s father had a stroke, Elba couldn’t care for him and work too so he left Moab and went to Bennett on the Uintah Reservation near Vernal, Utah where his sister lived. He left his father there in the care of his sister. His brother Ray had a home stead on Antelope Creek on the reservation and he went to work for him, Ray eventually left leaving the property to his brother. This is where Elba met his wife Vivian Hamilton. They were married in Heber, Utah on June 13, 1913. They lived in the Duchesne/Bennett area for about 10 years but eventually moved the family to Price, UT where they settled in a little home on the corner of 300 East and 600 South. Elba was employed at the Carbon Ice Cream Company (1923) and delivered ice to the community. Elba recalls how the little children would run after the ice wagon and beg for ice chips. He started his career in a wagon but finished it in a refrigerated truck. Elba was a jack of all trades. He had a talent for building, working with wood and gardening. His car, woodshop, yard and home were immaculate and kept in good repair. Elba was a jolly person who loved to sing and tease. He loved his family and enjoyed the time he spent with them. In his late years Elba was crippled with arthritis, at first he used canes and crutches to get around but eventually he was confined to a wheel chair which was hard for a hardworking man to take. The day he died he was out weeding his garden in his wheel chair, he was hard-working to the end.