Monday, January 11, 2016

Faith in the Lord's Chosen

This letter was received by my family on the passing of my Grandma, Mary Gingell Tolman. President Thomas S. Monson was her Bishop when my Grandpa was a student at the University of Utah. Grandma was pregnant and was having a very difficult pregnancy while raising two very rambunctious little boys Devan William and Dallas Eugene, one day Bishop Monson saw her struggling to pull them in a wagon home from the grocery store. He helped her get them home and then bought her a double stroller to make shopping and errands easier. He then counseled them that if they wanted her pregnancy to be better they needed to stop school and move to Idaho to be with family who could help take care of her and their little boys. They had faith in the Lord and the counsel of their Bishop and moved to Idaho. Their beautiful baby girl Nancy Louise was born, followed by Ella Rae, Del Leslie,  Dean Louis, Darwin Clarence, and Mary Vilate. Love was the most prominent value taught to their children.  Love of family, love of their spouse, and especially love of the Lord, His Church, His Prophet. This love was evident by not just by teaching but by the way they lived their lives. And my life has been blessed for the better by having them in my life. And I sure do miss them.