Thoughts and stories, by Pal

I read this today in Latter Day Light Daily Devotion.  It is so comforting, and gives all of us hope for our children!  I hope you enjoy it. Latter Day Light DAILY DEVOTION _________________________ Securing Our Children Nauvoo, Illinois June 18, 2014 SCRIPTURES OF THE DAY: Doctrine & Covenants 138:58-59 "The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God, and after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation." QUOTE OF THE DAY:   Lorenzo Snow "God has fulfilled His promises to us, and our prospects are grand and glorious.  Yes, in the next life we will have our wives, and our sons and daughters.  If we do not get them all at once, we will have them some time, for every knee will bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is the Christ.   "You ...

New post on  Brian Mickelson.... Are Mormons Being Excommunicated for Questioning? by  BJM A screen grab from Kate Kelly's Facebook wall... The news media has reported that two Mormons are facing excommunication for questioning the LDS Church's policies, doctrines, and history*. I'm certainly not privy to the details of their situations, as I don't know either of them, nor do I know their local congregational leaders (not that they would share any details since they are under an obligation not to divulge those details to other parties). But, I think there are a few misunderstandings floating around out there about these, and related, situations that I'd like to discuss... First of all, I wish all the best to Kate Kelly and John Dehlin. I don't know their hearts, and only hope that their stories are eventually full of faith and happy outcomes. Secondly, I don't think either one of them is facing the possibility of excommunication for ...

34. Dad's autobiography, early 1900's to World War I, by himself      (By Ruth, his wife, my mother) :  "There are two memories Pratt has mentioned that occurred at the Red Hill home.  (It was just north of the Post Office on 2nd north and Main, a house or two going north on Diagonal Street.)  Both have to do with accidents, and both included a certain girl, Hortense McQuarrie, who later moved east and became a millionaire.  In memory of her time in Dixie she donated the money for the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Memorial Building Museum here in St. George, which contains many relics and pictures of the early Dixie Pioneers.      Pratt and Hortense were playing as all children loved to, up in one of the hay lofts in a barn.  Pratt fell through where some boards were broken and as a result, his arm, as well as the boards, were broken.  He remembers going home and then to the Doctor, who set it, not in a p...

Haden Wells Church continued:   (Most of this written by Pal's aunt Sarah Miles Wallace, -- a granddaughter of Haden and his wife Sarah, and the sister of Pal's brother Orson Pratt Miles -- Their mother was Paralee Amanda Church.)  Sarah Ann is fondly remembered in Pioneer Dixie as one of the special mid-wife doctors.  Her skills and services in this critically needed specialty are mentioned many times in the early historical records.  She received some of her training under Loudice Perkins.  The mid-wives and nurses were set apart to serve in this area.   "A general use of herbs and medicinal teas were used by all.  Among them would be found Yarrow, Tansy, Slippery-Elm, Spearmint, Catnip, Peppermint.  Sulphur and molasses were used and given as a spring tonic, and also for skin sores.  Poultices of bacon and black pepper were used for sore throats.  Warm olive oil was used for earache.  Pine gum was the regular resort for "draw...

I wrote about my great-grandfather Haden Wells Church in blog # 23, last December 3, 2013. That was about the day the original pioneers arrived in St. George, Utah, and he was among their number.  In that blog there is a very brief history of his life.  In this entry, I will tell more details.  He was a great pioneer, and went on 5 missions, the last of which was in Tennessee, where he died of typhoid fever, and was buried next to his father, in his home town of Shady Grove, Tennessee. Haden was a member of the Mormon Battalion, and this story begins with their arrival back in the Salt Lake Valley on July 27 or 29th, right after the very first company arrived with Brigham Young, when he said "This is the place!"  The battalion members were listed as being mustered-out of the army on July 16th since their year's enlistment ended on that date.       Little is known of Sarah Ann and her baby, Hyrum , before they were reunited. But it is kn...