~by Michelle (and her dad)

My dad recently sent out some notes to our extended family from a lesson he gave on the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I responded to the group, asking if anyone wanted to share thoughts, feelings, or experiences with the Book of Mormon.

This story from my dad’s days as a missionary is one I treasure.

I grew up as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, faithfully following its precepts, beliefs, and the example of other wonderful members. My testimony was always strong, but as I approached accepting a call to serve as a full-time missionary for two years at age 19, I found myself praying often for a very personal and strongly spiritual confirmation that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet and the Book of Mormon is true.

Late one night, while at the Church’s Language Training Mission [now called the Missionary Training Center; the Language Training Mission link is from 1971], I got up and went to one of the classrooms and knelt in solemn prayer. The scriptures tell us that one of the ways to receive answers from God is through a “burning in the bosom.” That was my experience! The Spirit let me know that Joseph Smith, a prophet of the living God, did, in fact, translate The Book of Mormon, by the gift and power of God. It is ancient scripture, like the Bible, and is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Because of that answer to prayer, I knew then and know now, from very personal and sacred experience, that these things are true… and also that The Church of Jesus Christ, with Him at the head, has been restored and is on the earth today.

One of the wonderful things about the Book of Mormon, which truly carries a special spirit of its own, is a promise at the end that anyone can know of its truth. If you read, ponder and, “ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” That happened to me!

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My nephew recently arrived in the country where he will be spending the next (almost) two years (minus the time he spent in the Missionary Training Center) as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It brings back tender feelings as I read his letter about not being able to speak the language and wanting so desperately to be able to communicate fully all that the gospel of Jesus Christ means to him. It’s an interesting irony that new missionaries in foreign countries are so limited in the words they can say and understand. But that’s why the letter I received meant so much.

The person who wrote had been a teacher and coach in junior high and we’d kept in touch during the years. (Her nickname was ‘B.’) To this day, over 20 years later, I’m still moved by the fact that she had the foresight and love to have a letter waiting for me when I arrived in Argentina. She’d also served a mission in a Latin American country and knew how much I would love the people and how much love I would feel from them. But she also knew what a transition it can be for a new missionary.

I still have this Aerogram. It’s priceless to me. I’m sad to say that I didn’t have the foresight to send something like it to my nephew, but in his honor, I wanted to share what my dear friend shared with me.  (And now, dear nephew, there are more than twice the number of people praying for you!)

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This is Gladys. She is a Mormon Woman, lives in Canada, and today is her 87th birthday! (This picture was taken nearly 5 years ago with one of her great-grandsons.)

Gladys was born the youngest of 11 children –today, she is the only living sibling in her immediate family. Her parents came from Utah and settled in Canada before she was born. She has been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life, and she loves the gospel.

Gladys worked as a phone operator for 10 years, in a bank for 1 1/2 years in Salt Lake City (Utah), taught in schools as an aid in Idaho and Canada, and managed an LDS (Mormon) bookstore for 12 1/2 years. She retired at the age of 70! But her longest career so far has been that of a mother. She has 6 children, 21 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren (with 2 more on the way), and 1 great-great-grandchild.

For 43 years and 8 months, Gladys was married to the love of her life. He died nearly 11 years ago, but she says she still feels close to him in the Temple. One time, a grandchild asked her why she didn’t visit her husband’s grave at the cemetery. Gladys responded: “I know he is not there in the cemetery. His spirit is elsewhere; that’s just his body. When I want to feel close to my husband, I go to the Temple. That is where I can feel him and feel his love for me. Going there reminds me that I will see him again, soon.”

Gladys has many hobbies and talents. Some of them include: playing the organ and piano, singing, dancing, making angel food cakes and chocolates from scratch, and traveling. Dancing was always a part of her life. For decades, she would attend dances nearly 3 times a week. She even met her husband at a dance. “That was a different time,” she says of the dances. “We danced real dances back then; it was exercise!” Another hobby Gladys enjoys is visiting as many Temples as she can. To date, she has been to 19 different Mormon Temples. She loves to travel and has been to Lima, Peru; Jerusalem; Hawaii; and all over the United States and parts of Canada.

When Gladys was in her late 20’s, she had the opportunity to serve a mission for the Mormon Church. She was called to labor for 20 months in the Eastern United States Mission from 1948 to 1950. Of this experience, Gladys says, “Serving a mission strengthened my testimony greatly. We would track every day and usually I was the only one who could play the piano in the branches and wards (congregations). I served a month in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), and then did the Hill Cumorah Pageant (A Witness for Christ) in Palmyra, New York, and practiced every day. Being around the Sacred Grove and places where the Church was restored really strengthened my testimony. Afterwards, I went to Norwich, New York for a year to serve…”

Recently, Gladys was a Visiting Teaching supervisor in her ward [congregation], and she served as a Temple Patron for 2 years (Temple Patrons are asked to attend the Temple twice a week during their call). When asked what she loves the most about being a Mormon Woman, she said: “Families can be together forever because we have Temples. I know I’ll see my family again. Also, we are taught from a young age the law of health (Word of Wisdom) which has given me health for life. I truly believe I am healthy because of it!

I’m 87 years old and doing great. I’m still active. I still love to be in my kitchen dipping 50 pounds of chocolates a year. I also make 150-200 cakes a year. Also, because we were taught to stay physically active, I was able to dance for many years. I know the gospel is a gift, and I’m grateful to have it in my life.”

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For more Portraits of Mormon Women, please click here.

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