MY PRAYER IN MY SEARCH FOR MY ANC ESTERS THAT I WILL HAVE AN INQUIRING MIND A WILL TO WORK, LONG AND HARD THE STRENGTH TO PERSEVERE IN THE FACE OF DISCOURAGEMENT AND GIVE "THANKS TO THEE, THAT I MIGHT HELP THEM ETERNALLY COMPILED Nell B. P. Bair NELL ] PARKIN Compiled By This is a thought that I learned many years ago, and I have tried even though Nell B. Parkin, Bair THOUGHT FLOWERS I have been ill many times and had to spend months in bed, I have thought of these times as opportunities, and a blessing, for during The heart is the garden these times, my mind has been clear and I have Where thought flowers grow, The thought that you think kept a clip board and pencil handy, and have written many of these histories while in pain, Are the seeds that you sew. and the accomplishing of the poems and histories have helped to keep my mind off of the pain, and Each kind loving thought Bears a kind loving deed. at the close of each day, I have felt that the day wasn!t lost, for now these testimonies, mingled While a thought that is with my determination and great testimonies, that Selfish just like a weed. God lives and answers prayers, and heals our bodies if we but give Him the credit, I feel that I have lived We must watch what we think and known my ancesters, of whom I am prowd, and The live-long day and pull pray that they will be prowd of me. Out the weed thoughts and You whom I have written to and begged for a Throw them away, and plant picture, or information, and you sent it, I am most Loving seed thoughts so Thick in a row that weed grateful, you can now share these things,But you NELL and HOWARD BAIR who failed to answer, or would not send pictures Thoughts will have no room or information, and it is missing, don!t you wish you To grow. had taken the time to answer ? THOUGHTS Nell Betts Parkin Bair Thoughts are funny little things 8th child of Heber Brown Parkin That walk across your face. and wife Mary Jane Betts, The bad one's come with dragging steps, Married Howard Ray Bair They leave an awful trace. 11 April 1929, Salt Lake Temple The good thoughts have such happy feet I am most grateful for my husband and his kindness to Time That smiles grow where they pass. me in letting me spend the great amount of money to The face where they come to play have these histories published. As he has said, "Mom, May we have our feet planted deeply in the past, Looks lovely in the glass. you have been denied so many things, a chance to our minds keenly absorbed travel and see your loved ones, your devotion while I with the present and our was Bishop and the many hours, days and weeks that vision directed unafraid to ward the future. you have spent alone, never keeping me from an A liar may lord it an hour on earth assignment, I feel if this work will make you happy, A lie may live for a day; you use what money we can get to accomplish this work, One comes, finally, to believe what ever one repeats to one's self, whether But a truth that has lasted you have paid for it in your illness so pleasantly and the statement be true or false* A million years, is good for a accepted, and uncomplaining, always seeing a blessing — Napoleon Hill Million more each day*.' MY DREAM when you would open up the gates to help them on their way1.1 By Alice S. Redden My heart was very heavy as I looked those people oTer. I dreamed my Father called me home The blinding tear ran down my face across the great divide, I turned to Him once more. I was very much bewildered, Please blessed Savior send me back I thought surely I had died. I'll make another try; Saint Peter met me at the gate, HI do the work for all my kin, He said; "Come follow me, iTm not prepared to die. there is something I must show to you I will not miss a single one something you must see. " I'm so ashamed Dear Lord. Then I saw rows of people, I'll try to do each ordinance standing in a line according to Thy word. When I looked them over, Then I awoke, the dream was gone they were relatives of mine. I had not passed away, HOW LONG IS LIFE? Some among that massive crowd, but I made a resolution I could remember well, to start that very day. Suppose you live to be seventy. How long is it? How many some had lived long years before Baptisms, Endowments and Sealings years of that span will really count? Allow for eight hours I came to earth to dwell. I found were not a few. out of twenty-four in which you lie unconscious asleep in There were my great grandparents, The more I searched ancl searched, bed. Subtract your kids days and your old age. Deduct the Whom I was pleased to see, The more I found to do. days when sickness puts you out of the game, and seventy But when I walked toward them But I will keep on hunting years is not very long after all, is it? But it is all the time they turned awa}r from me. and searching all the while. you've got. What are you going to do with it? Life is time. Then I saw my cousins, my uncles and my aunts, Next time I meet my ancestors Kill time and you commit suicide. Footprints in the sands they said to me accusingly, Til meet them with a smile. of time are not made by sitting down. When the great Re we did'nt have a chance feree calls time, have something worth while to show. to do the work that must be done to start us on our way, When the Savior was only twelve years old he said " Wist To gain for us Eternal Life ye not that I must be about my Father's business" so here we have to stay. Luke 2:49 My father and my mother too, Were standing far apart nLay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where They looked so disappointed, moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break it made the tear drops start. through and steal; I turned and saw my Savior, On his face there was a frown, But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where !tI died upon the cross for them, neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do and you have let them down. not break through nor steal: Behold your noble ancestors waiting for the day For where your treasure is, there will your heart be alsof.T Matthew 6:19-21 "THE DIARIES OF PIONEERS CONTAIN MANY ACCOUNTS OF TRYING HARDSHIPS. BUT IN NONE OF THESE JOURNALS ARE HARDSHIPS VIEWED AS UNBEARABLE, NOR IS THERE COMPLAINT AGAINST THE PROVI DENCE OF GOD IN WHOM THESE PIONEERS TRUSTED. ALWAYS THERE IS A SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND GRATI TUDE FOR BLESSINGS RECEIVED. HOW MUCH WE NEED A REBIRTH OF THESE VIR TUES TODAY WHEN SO MANY VIEW LIFE'S PROSPECTS AS EITHER DISMAL OR HOPE LESS. HOW MUCH WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT HARDSHIP, DEPRIVATION, EVEN SUF FERING, NEED NOT NECESSARILY CAUSE UNHAPPINESS. Elder Ezra Taft Benson ' . i'A.l> Art by Dale Kilbourn. Early-day converts' counted the cost in loss of home, friends, occupation, and loved ones. Qof^P But having made the choice ... ia "ft THEIR HEARTS WERE ON THE ALTAR Compiled By Nell B. Parkin, Bair substitutes. Boiled potatoes with wheat often took the place of bread; and much time was spent in look ing for sego lilies and other edible wild plants. Some Saints were poisoned and died from eating water parsnip. Such plants as thistles, watercress, and pigweed were also used. John R. Young tells us that he used to eat thistle stalks while herding cattle. Later he writes: President Brigham Young said: Sisters, if you do not know how to milk a cow, you can soon learn. If you do not know how to feed the chickens, get them and learn how, and . let the husband plant fruit trees and shade trees, and let wives help their husbands that they may be encouraged. / THESE PIONEERS Despite their many hardships, the Pioneers made few complaints. Spirits were kept up by CONQUERED THE LAND Church leaders. Hunter writes of Brigham Young: Few were able to resist their leader's enthusiasm. BY MERLIN J. SHAW Life was engendered in men as he strode among The clean, spacious towns and cities which are scattered throughout them. The camp was transformed into a group of busy men, singing as they labored, like boys in a the western' United States testify of their founders—a hardy breed strange and new playground. Day after day the of settlers. These Mormon Pioneers braved nearly every known col little pioneer group resembled honeybees busily at onizing problem: weather, water, transportation labor, food, and work.8 supplies; and they established an empire of industry and progress. We discover that it is not really the hardships LDS cities flourished and became models for other western cities.