The Happy Hive

60 years ago, on October 3, 1956, my parents were married. They were married civilly, in a nice little restaurant in Roy Utah, surrounded by their families and friends. Within the first year of their marriage they welcomed my brother, Doug, into the family. Later Dan, Philip and I also graced their life.

My dad told my mom that one day he would take her to the temple. There were many sacrifices that had to be made along the way. My mother stayed home with the children. She made sure he had clean socks and a drink for when he walked in the door. My dad worked hard and learned a lot about his job. For a while, he went on many trips for work which didn’t sit well with my mom. He took a different position that let him be home more with his family. They left their extended family in Utah and went to live the adventure in California. In California, my mother realized that she didn’t know anyone. She decided to go back to church. She really wanted my dad to come too, but it was hard for him to do. She prayed about it. She felt prompted by the Spirit to accept any calling. She was called to the Primary. One Sunday, while my father was home with me and my mother and brothers were at church, someone knocked on the door. It was visitors from a different church, asking my father if he wanted to come to their services. He said that he had better go with his wife. And he did. There was a lovely Nursery leader at church that took me in, even though I was too young for the nursery, so my Dad and the Bishop could have long talks on Sunday. My dad sacrificed. He gave up coffee. He gave up drinking. He gave up smoking. He wanted something better, and he was willing to sacrifice. It was not easy. It took a long time. In November of 1967, my father and mother were sealed in the Los Angeles temple for time and for eternity. This is a ceremony that is performed in Mormon temples that binds on earth and in heaven. Covenants are made between the couple and God that they will observe His commandments and abide in His covenants in order to take their marriage beyond death. I remember watching my mother come into the sealing room. She was as beautiful as a bride. Considering how small I was, (just over 4 years old) it was remarkable that I can even remember that, but I do. They served in the church. They taught their children to pray. They were happy.

My father passed away on February 1, 1969 on a boy scout outing. It was a hard, unhappy time for us. My mother was told that she was not meant to raise her children alone, but that was not the Lord speaking. She dated, but she sacrificed. She would not let someone into her life that would damage her children. She would not let someone in her life who wanted her to break her sealing covenants. She raised us, not alone, but with help from church leaders, family, and friends. It’s been almost 50 years since my father passed away, and my mother remains true to the covenants she made. In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 98:8-9 we read: “Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me. For I, the Lord, will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful tree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream, that yieldeth much precious fruit.” As she looks at her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I think she sees a very fruitful tree in a goodly land.