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Category Archives: Faith

Refreshing our Family’s Focus

18 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by bonksearing in Faith, Nurturing family relationships

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

family discussion, goals, imagination, perspective, potential

Whenever the “generation gap” (can I still use that term?) wedges itself between members of my family I need to remind myself how to refresh our focus on what’s important to all of us together in the long run.  Depending on our age and interests, we tend to have varying goals and pastimes, sometimes at extreme odds with each other, but we are still a family and the ultimate goal is the same for us all.  Awhile back I was inspired to initiate a discussion with my family that turned out to be enlightening and resulted in a state of awesome, silent, deep reflection that, as a parent, you hope will counterbalance the multitude of frivolous default activities in your children’s future.

As nearly as I can recall, here’s how it went:

I began by asking my family to tell me what they would wish for if there were no obstacles or limitations to what they could have. At the top of their list were things like the latest electronic equipment and toys they might have put on a Christmas wish list.  “That’s it?”  I egged them on, “I mean, really, the sky’s the limit.”

They switched over to their “if I had a million dollars” list. TVs in every room, a house with an expansive library and garage to accommodate the nicest cars and boats; vacations; no school; their own media store. That still wasn’t what I was looking for.  “Come on,” I urged them on, “Really let your imagination loose and tell me what you’d like if there were truly, absolutely no limits to your greatest desires.”

Imaginative, impossible gadgets were added to the list. Then someone asked why we should need any gadget at all. Wishing for maintenance-free vehicles that flew immediately turned to wishes of instantaneous travel without use of any vehicle, and the desire for immediate-access-to-everything-smart phones morphed into all-knowing, all-powerful access through their own minds. Every imaginable superpower flew through the air between us, from breathing underwater to healing powers to a free automatic transfer of intelligence between human minds. They were energized by ideas of the most amazing things they could think of being theirs, all without limitations of money, time, physical or mental abilities.

When everyone’s imagination had been set free of the restraints of reality, when the thrill of unlimited possibilities of not only having, but also becoming free and powerful beings had rejuvenated all of us, We acknowledged that all of these ideas had come from our own hearts and minds.  Then I read them this verse:

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

(italics added)

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Children’s Songs of Christmas

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by bonksearing in Faith, From the Heart (About Heritage and Gratitude), In Celebration (Traditions and Holidays), Nurturing Children, Nurturing family relationships

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Tags

Baby Jesus, children's music, Christmas songs, Christmas traditions, Picture a Christmas, The Nativity, true meaning of Christmas

I love to spend Sundays in December with the Primary children at church. Yesterday I was asked to fill in on the piano while they learned The Nativity Song.  Picture a Christmas is another of our favorites.  The links will take you to a page where you can download a pdf version of the sheet music for piano and an mp3 recording of children singing the songs.  I hope you’ll love these songs, and feel the reverent spirit of Christmas as much as I do!  And when you do, please share it with the children in your life!  Isaiah 54:13 (KJV) ~ And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Picture a Christmas

IMG_1615
1. Picture a stable in Judea.
Picture a sacred, silent night.
And can you hear
The angels near
And see the star so bright?
IMG_1608
(Chorus)
Picture the little baby Jesus.
Think of his life and words so dear.
Sing praise to him;
Remember him,
As you picture Christmas this year.
IMG_1611
2. Picture the kind and gentle Joseph.
Picture the mother, Mary, fair.
And can you see
So rev’rently
The shepherds kneeling there?
(Repeat Chorus)

Words and music: Patricia Kelsey Graham, b. 1940. (c) 1983 IRI

The Nativity Song

1. This is the season beloved of the year.
Sing a rhyme; Christmastime soon will be here.
Tell the true story of Jesus’ birth,
When, as a baby, he came to the earth.IMG_1596
2. This is the new star, shining so bright,
Lighting the world on that first Christmas night.
This is the angel proclaiming the birth,
Singing “Hosanna!” and “Peace on the earth!”
IMG_1616
3. This is the stable, shelter so bare;
Cattle and oxen first welcomed him there.
This is the manger, sweet hay for a bed,
Waiting for Jesus to cradle his head.
IMG_1590
4. These are the shepherds, humble and mild,
Hast’ning to worship the heavenly child.
These are the wise men who followed the star,
Frankincense, gold, and myrrh brought from afar.
Christmas 2001 Scott and Shannon as Joseph and Mary
5. See the sweet mother, Mary so fair,
Joseph, who guided the donkey with care.
See the dear baby of Bethlehem,
Little Lord Jesus, the Savior of men.IMG_1617
Words: Patricia Kelsey Graham, b. 1940. (c) 1980 IRI. Adapted from the poem “The Nativity Story” by Avon Allen Compton.
Music: Patricia Kelsey Graham, b. 1940.

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Children’s Music: Songs of Thanks

25 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by bonksearing in Faith, From the Heart (About Heritage and Gratitude), In Celebration (Traditions and Holidays), Nurturing Children

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Tags

ASL, beauty of the earth, Gratitude, music, prayer of thanks, Primary Songs, sign language, Thanks, Thanksgiving

Songs are amazing teaching tools in the hands of a teacher and engaging to children.  Words set to music can help children remember facts and ideas even before their minds fully can grasp them.  Songs also provide them the words to express feelings in their hearts that they don’t know how to explain–like gratitude and love.

From the time I was three years old, until I turned twelve I went to Primary class one afternoon a week, every week, at the church.  I’m sure I had many dedicated teachers and good instruction since I don’t have any negative memories, and always looked forward to Primary day.  But for the most part, I don’t remember who my teachers were, and can’t recall a single lesson.  I do, however, remember the songs we learned.  I love the music of Primary!  I credit the songs of Primary with many moments of peace and assurance, conviction, confidence, and the encouragement to make many good decisions throughout my life.

My Heavenly Father Loves Me-ASL

IMG_1564 IMG_1565 IMG_1566 IMG_1568

I have now spent many years teaching Primary children.  They have new beautiful and insightful songs now, and I love learning and teaching them along with the old ones.  I’ve made a large file of “flip charts” to illustrate many of my favorite songs of Primary as reminders of the words.  Actions, whether made up spontaneously or official sign language signs, have also been effective and a fun way to commit songs to memory.

Here are a few links to recordings of Thanksgiving songs that I remember from long ago, including two that have the American Sign Language videos.  I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I do.

For the Beauty of the Earth- ASL

For Thy Bounteous Blessings

Thank Thee Father

Children All Over the World

Beauty Everywhere

Be sure to check back again in December for some of my favorite children’s Christmas songs!

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Remembering Thanksgiving

23 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by bonksearing in Faith, From the Heart (About Heritage and Gratitude), In Celebration (Traditions and Holidays)

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Tags

Christmas, Giving Thanks, holiday, Thanksgiving

I used to work in retail.  I always had to laugh about how the seasons were all mixed up. Swimsuits arrived in January.  Back-to-School started almost before kids got out for the Summer. Winter coats went on sale in June and were scarce as hens’ teeth if you needed one in winter.  The only one that really bothered me was when the decorations and elevator “Holiday Music” came out, accompanied by the hype and panic to “get your shopping done” right after Halloween.  They don’t wait that long, now.

#gratitude

It’s not that I’m Scrooge.  In fact, I have been known to crank up the Christmas music at any time of the year. Real Christmas music–I’m not talking about Rudolph, Frosty, or Santa-Baby.   I don’t need snow and a limited-time sale  to get me in the mood to celebrate Peace on Earth and Good Tidings of Great Joy that Christ, The Savior Is Born! I’m all for keeping Christmas year-round.  It’s just that  I get tired of rushing past Thanksgiving because society has to maximize the calendar of shopping days.  When Thanksgiving traditions are replaced by the frenzy of the newest National Holiday:  Black Friday, something’s wrong.

Certain holidays have a purpose that’s more than just an excuse to overindulge on sugar, party, or to line the pockets of the opportunistic.  My soul needs the regular nourishment of remembering things that offer inner peace and happiness and a refuge from the rat race for a day or two.

If I find myself wishing I had time to recuperate after the holiday, it should be an indication that I’m not celebrating it right.  I read this from an unknown source: “If you find yourself a little irritated or overwhelmed it’s a sign that you’re spending less time with God and more time with this world.”

Inspirational Quote Series... Sunday Sentiments 5x7 free printable - Giving Thanks by Thomas S. Monson #mycomputerismycanvas

So for now, I need to breathe it in, slow down, refocus on counting a few of my blessings and remind myself where happiness really comes from.  I love Thanksgiving because it’s not about getting dinner out of the way so I can focus on the other business of the day.  It is the business of the day, at least one day a year, to acknowledge that because of the bounty of God’s gifts, my family and I have the privilege to work together to prepare and enjoy a delicious meal together, and to spend some time to take notice of other generosities of His loving hands to us.

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Lasagna Garden Method, Season Two: Fall Time Garden Soil Preparation

18 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by bonksearing in Faith, In the Garden, In the Yard

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Tags

compost, Gardening, lasagna gardening method, leaves and grass clippings

I’m no expert, but I’m not a dummy, either.  The concept is grasped, it’s just the implementation that’s difficult.  The idea of Fall soil preparation is not new to me, it’s just that I lose steam when everything freezes.  It’s always been a little depressing to go out and wade through all the dead and dying leaves. Gardening, it seems, should be done with the warm sunshine at your back, on one of the first jacket-free days, not in wet, half-frozen mud.  I prefer to wait until Spring to renew my faith and hope for a better garden.  But I know.  I know what I need to do in order to improve.  I’m always hoping to become a better gardener some-year. Maybe it’s this one.

I got a late start last Spring, and I stumbled upon the lasagna gardening method too late to really do a good job of it.  I spread straw–since that’s what I had available–instead of newspapers and leaves or grass clippings. Turns out the straw took root and thrived better than anything planted intentionally.  I harvested eleven potatoes.  That’s right.  To break it down for you more precisely, that would be seven large reds and four small ones.  Only one of my squash plants came up, and I wasn’t sure whether it was zucchini or yellow squash until I got one.  Yellow. Who knew?  It’s some kind of dubious honor that I can’t even grow zucchini, now, don’t you think?  I got a few cucumbers, and the tomatoes were large, juicy, and plentiful, but came on so late that I was just getting used to having a regular supply of them when Jack Frost found them.  That was the extent of it–a flash in the pan.  But I’m not about to give up yet.   IMG_1553

(This picture was taken before the last layer of leaves finished covering all the newspaper.)

I’m committed to doing it right next year, and to prove it, I’ve started collecting ingredients early.  The first (weed prevention) layer includes a towering stack of newspapers about four feet high and a half dozen or so large flattened cardboard boxes.  I will be surprised if a single weed dares poke its ugly head above this armor!  Next, the enrichment layer is made up of the remains from all the tomato, cucumber, potato, and squash plants (not to mention loads of straw) all left to decompose under more layers of newspapers and leaves–approximately eight bags full of leaves from my yard and another seven or eight I got from neighbors.   A half bushel of bruised and wormy apples, our dilapidated Halloween pumpkins, and a number of other organics were thrown in for extra nourishment.

Until the rain started making it sag, this was piled up to my knees.  The precipitation we’re expecting the rest of the week is just going to get the chemical decomposition process jump-started for the winter.  Once it gets really soaked, I plan to cover it with a black layer and let it “cook” all winter.   Looking forward to next Spring and planting time!

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Family History Fair and the Legacy of John Ellis, Mormon Pioneer

25 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by bonksearing in Faith, Family History/Genealogy, From the Heart (About Heritage and Gratitude), Nurturing Children, Nurturing family relationships

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Book of Mormon, Brigham Young, faith, family history, Familysearch, John Ellis, Joseph Smith, Mormon pioneer, religious persecution, Scarborough Canada, succession of the presidency, Utah settlement

For the past couple of months I’ve served on the committee for a Family History Fair our church hosted for the community last weekend. There were three planned events.

Friday night we had an “Indexing Party” where folks could bring their own laptop computer and get help logging in to Familysearch.com and getting started on indexing photographed records into a searchable database.

Saturday we had three hours of workshops, presenting several class choices each hour, followed by a catered lunch. Classes covered everything from computer resources and access to scrapbooking and blogging your personal history. There were classes on photographs, both ancestry and descendency on the family tree (roots and branches), international research tips and technology. There were classes presented in English and Spanish. We had a few hundred people, I’m guessing, and everyone I talked to said it was really helpful and inspiring.

Sunday topped the weekend off with a fireside with the temple president and his wife speaking to families about eternal families and other blessings of temple worship.

I wasn’t able to attend any of the Friday or Saturday classes, because my involvement was in the children’s program. We provided nursery for children from 18 months to 3 years, and a rotating schedule of classes for children ages 4 to 11. There were craft projects, games, activities, songs, and stories of inspiring historical figures.
Of course, the children’s program was geared to their level of understanding and interest, but I am so glad I was able to share a little of my passion for family history with them.

During the course of our plans, I delved a little into some of the stories and life histories I have in my possession and learned (or re-learned) a few things about one of my ancestors, John Ellis. This is the grandson of the elusive one I wrote about in a past post.  He chose the more difficult path to leave his home and family, to leave his parents’ tradition in favor of following his heart on the subject of religion.  Whatever you may think of his choice, it’s undeniable that he left a legacy of unyielding faith and determination to follow the man he believed to be a modern prophet of God.  He went to his grave firm in the faith and confident that he had lived his life in such a way that he was prepared to meet his maker unashamed.

John Ellis was born in 1814 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; the oldest of twelve children of John Ellis and Hannah Stoner.  I love his story, as expressed in his own words beginning with what he considered the pivotal event in his life when he was twenty-two years old:

“The true Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth by a Prophet of God, and we are here to teach you the true principles, as were taught by Jesus Christ, when He was upon the earth! May we come in?” I heard these words and saw the two missionaries at our door in Scarboro, Ontario, Canada. But then I heard my father turn them away. I looked at my mother but she, too, was unresponsive to those words. I couldn’t believe it! Didn’t they have a strange burning within their hearts upon hearing those powerful words, as I had? . . . I was still curious about why I had that “burning feeling” when I heard their words of greeting, so I attended their meetings and I investigated their claims thoroughly by reading their Book of Mormon before I asked for baptism in November, 1836. I had not told my parents . . . I knew their strong “anti” feelings toward the missionaries, and their activities in our community.
So my secret baptism had been a joyous time for me to be able to declare my true feelings to my Father in Heaven and to commit myself, for the rest of my life, to living His laws and commandments. But it was a sad time, when my family found I had gone against their wishes, and had actually given up their professed religion, to join another. Their bitter feelings made me realize that I could no longer be happy in their home, so on that winter night in 1837 I bade good night to my family . . . I knew that I would never see any of them again in this life. I skated around Lake Erie and into the United States, where I eventually made my way to Far West, Missouri, where the Saints were advised a temple would be built. (Note:  this was a journey of 1089 miles)

The missionaries had promised that we “would find friends and loved ones” if we had to leave our homes, to follow the dictates of our hearts, so I was most happy to join with other families from the Scarboro area, who were living in Far West when I arrived there.

1870 John Ellis and Harriett Hales

The Hales Family, Stephen and Mary Ann, were very good to me and took me into their home. It was there, at Far West, that I first saw the “Mormon-hating mobbers” gathered to drive us from our homes. Joseph Smith and five companions were imprisoned in Liberty Jail for six months. Much of the time they were in chains, food not fit to eat, and even poison was given them in food, making them very sick, and only through the blessings of the Lord, they were preserved, and at last freed. With all three of the Presidency in prison, the burden of removing the Saints from Missouri was placed upon Brigham Young. He showed his leadership ability in arranging and devising plans for every soul to be helped in their move to Illinois. I was able to help the Hales in their move and then returned, time after time, to take other Brothers and Sisters to Quincy, Illinois.
We were received there with a friendly welcome and the residents voiced their disapproval of the treatment we had received from Missouri mobs. The Hales purchased a farm, and many other Saints chose to remain in Quincy. The Prophet had purchased land for $14,000, on long-term notes, of a place called Commerce. It was about 50 miles up the River from Quincy, and an excellent site for a city. The Mississippi River made a half-circle around the place, giving three fronts on the River. After draining the swamps, and much hard work, it became “Nauvoo, the Beautiful.”

At Quincy, on 31 October, 1839, I was married to the lovely Harriet Hales. I guess I fell in love with her upon first sight. . . It was a double wedding, as her brother Charles Henry and Julia Lockwood were married that day, too.

Our first baby, Mary Ann was born there on 10 December 1840.
Then the trouble began again. . . So we moved to Nauvoo, where our second child, Hannah Isabella, was born 31 December, 1843.
At Nauvoo, I became a body guard for the Prophet Joseph, and also a member of the Nauvoo Legion. The Prophet vowed that “we would never be driven from our farms and homes again.” He organized the Nauvoo Legion, an army of men, who were trained to protect our city, our families and homes, and the farmers of the surrounding countryside, which we were called to do many times. I served as Quartermaster in the Legion. When Joseph was to be arrested, for the so-called attempted murder of Missouri Governor Boggs, he went into hiding, and I helped with his seclusion, but soon he gave himself up and proved he was not guilty of the attempt. He urged the people to work longer and harder to finish the Temple, as he predicted his own fate when he said in Conference, “I shall not be sacrificed until my time comes, then I shall be offered freely. The Kingdom of God was set upon the earth from the days of Adam to the present time. They will never have the power to kill me until my work is done.” Nauvoo had risen from a swamp and wilderness in 1839 to a commonwealth of twenty thousand Saints in 1844. In June, 1844, threats were made to exterminate the Saints and utterly destroy the city, by Missouri and Illinois mobs. The city was placed under martial law and the Legion called out to serve in self defense.

As the Prophet stood before us in the uniform of a commanding General, he said, “It is thought by some that our enemies would be satisfied by my destruction, but these men are moved upon by the adversary of all righteousness, and he is out to destroy every man, woman, and child who believes the doctrine that God gave me to teach to this generation.” On 22 June, Joseph and Hyrum decided to save the people of Nauvoo from the fate of being driven from their homes again. They had been told that the officials wanted only Joseph, but Hyrum refused to leave his side, knowing he also would be killed. Both planned to leave the city to go to the West and seek a place of refuge for them all, at a later date. However, his wife Emma sent a letter to Joseph saying the people thought him a coward in deserting his flock for the wolves to devour again. He returned, saying, “If my life is of no value to my friends, it is of none to myself. . . I go like a lamb to the slaughter.” They were taken to Carthage jail to stand trial, but were murdered on 27 Jun, 1844. We had lost our beloved Prophet!


A meeting was called to determine who was to lead the Church, on 8 August, 1844. Sidney Rigdon gave his revelation as to the Lord appointing him “guardian of the Church”; then in the afternoon Brigham Young spoke, telling us of the power given the Twelve Apostles, and all the Keys of the Kingdom: they stood next to Joseph Smith. We saw his whole being changed as the mantle of Joseph fell upon him, and his stature grew to the form of Joseph, and his voice became that of Joseph’s, even to the slight whistle from a broken tooth that distinguished his speech from any other. No one could doubt his power, through this transformation before our very eyes! We were absolutely convinced that Brigham Young, as the President of the Twelve, was the lawful successor, and we raised our hands to sustain him.

Again we were ordered to prepare to vacate our City and leave our homes for the mobbers to plunder. At a Conference, in Oct. 1845, Elder Parley P. Pratt spoke to us. The Lord has another purpose to bring about and fulfill. We know that the great work of God, must all the while, be on the increase and grow greater. The people must enlarge in numbers and extend their borders. They cannot always live in one city, nor in one country. They cannot always wear the yoke; Israel must be the head and not the tail. The Lord designs to lead us to a wider field of action, where there will be more room for the Saints to grow and increase, and where there will be no one to say “we crowd them”. . . And where we can enjoy the pure principles of liberty and equal rights. One small nursery may produce many thousands of fruit trees while they are small, but as they expand toward maturity, they must needs be transplanted, in order to have room to grow and produce the natural fruit. It is so with us. We want a country where we have room to expand and grow; in short, this people are fast approaching that point which ancient prophets have long since pointed out as the destiny of the Saints of the Last Days.” In January, 1846, it was announced the exploration of California and regions west of the Rockies showed a good valley in the mountains, and that we were to depart in the spring, so water and grass would be available for teams. By February 6, the mobbers struck, and the first wagons, loaded with only the necessary things for life, started crossing the Mississippi River, bound for the unknown. I helped to move my family to Garden Grove and then returned many times to bring those Saints who had no teams or wagons and were destitute from the robbings of the mobs.
1890 John Ellis and Harriet Hales Ellis Family

Harriet and I went on to Fort Madison, Illinois, where our first son was born, Stephen Hales Ellis on 18 October, 1846. It had just been two weeks before Harriet’s father Stephen had gone out to look for oxen that had strayed and he drank some poisoned water and died. I had loved that man as a father, and mourned his passing.
We moved across the river to Appanoose, Hancock County, Illinois, where our second son John Henry was born, on 19 March, 1849. Shortly after that event, we went to Garden Grove to live until the following spring. Homes had been built there and gardens planted for those families who were unable to go to the Salt Lake Valley in one season. We started for that place in 1850.

1850 first home John Ellis built in Utah, Woods Cross

At the end of the long and arduous Journey we finally arrived at our destination. At last we would be able to choose where we were to live and not fear that we would again be driven from our homes. We could enjoy family life and the association of our fellow Saints in worshiping and living the Gospel, as it had been given us. Daniel Woods had made a settlement in 1849, just north of Salt Lake and just south of Sessions’ Settlement. We decided to settle there. I had land to clear and farm, and good neighbors who needed my trade as cooper. I made barrels, churns, buckets and wash tubs. The large one I made for Perrigrine Sessions became a “traveling tub”; neighbors from miles around borrowed it for their laundry and baths. Many stories were told of this tub. I built a small home for our family and there acquired two sites for molasses mills. I purchased from Heber C. Kimball his grist mill on Millcreek and ran it for many years. The molasses mills were the first in the community and my sons, as soon as they were old enough, helped with their operations. I also raised cattle and sheep.

1860 2nd home built by John and Harriet Ellis, Bountiful

As I look back over my life, I have many memories. Some of the sad ones were of being forced to leave the home of my parents and family yin Scarboro, Ontario, Canada. I never obtained forgiveness for listening to the Missionaries and being baptized. My testimony of its truthfulness was never listened to nor understood by them, but I am ever thankful for being led to the Hales family, who gave me the love and family life I needed. I was sad to see them both succumb to the ravages and harassments of the mobs, and to be buried on the plains, en route to the “Promised Land” they’d looked forward to. I am thankful for my lovely wife, who has always been at my side, through all our hardships and persecutions. She bore twelve children, ten of whom we reared and saw married to fine mates.

I am thankful for those many trials and tribulations that we had to endure, as they served to strengthen my testimony and bring me closer to the Lord and Master. I am most grateful for having known and been a personal, close friend to the Prophet Joseph, and to his brother Hyrum, who blessed and ordained me an Elder, at the time of trouble in Nauvoo. I was ordained a Seventy and hold that office today. After our arrival in the Valley I was called to again be in the Militia (which was organized from the old Nauvoo Legion) in Salt Lake City. We were called to check Johnson’s army in 1857. Because of false reports from conspirators in Salt Lake City to the U.S. Government, an army was sent to Utah, “to put down the rebellion.” The command was given to General Johnson, who was from the South, proud and haughty. He looked upon the Mormons as “rebels” and his troops, while on the march, boasted of what they would do when they arrived in Salt Lake City. They planned to pick out the houses they would inhabit, and farms and property, and women were to be distributed among them. “Beauty and body” were their watch words. President Young ordered out the Militia to maintain the pass, by force of arms, against any attempted invasion. He sent a letter to the army, then camped at Green River, Wyoming, forbidding them to enter Utah Territory. We were instructed to annoy the troops, stampede their cattle, set fire to their trains, burn the countryside before them so there would be no feed, keep them from sleeping by night attacks, blockade the roads, but strictly avoiding the taking of life. These troops were forced to face the snow and sleet of the most severe winter weather. Colonel Kane, an old friend to the Mormons, interceded, and the new Governor Cummings sent word back to Washington of the true circumstances, and that there was no rebellion. The army was to enter the Valley, but refrain from stopping in the city. However, President Brigham Young took no chances, and ordered us to fill our homes with straw and place straw in our gardens and fields, so that everything could be burned if Johnson’s army did not keep their word to leave our houses and fields alone. We were ready to be driven from our homes again, but this time it was to be on our terms. We would leave the desert as barren as when we found it. We would not leave them our homes and crops another time! With the knowledge of our decision, Johnson proceeded on to the Fort, and our homes were saved. The United States appointed governors and judges, who gave us much opposition and trouble, but the Lord pulled us through it all, with our religious freedom intact.
I shall miss my loved ones, for they have all brought me much Joy. I journeyed to Salt Lake yesterday, by freight train, to see a doctor there. He examined me and then said I had cancer of the face, and there was not anything he could do to help me. So I know my days are numbered. My 57 years on earth will not be in vain, if I can leave my fervent testimony with my posterity. I know that we have the only true Church of Jesus Christ on the earth, and that it is led by a chosen Prophet of the Lord, and will continue to be so led, until He comes again in the flesh. I am ready now to meet my Lord and Savior, with love in my heart for Him. I leave my testimony upon you all in His name.

198005 Boutiful marker of John Ellis and Harriet, also two last babies buried here

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February 2019
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