A MESSAGE FOR THE FAMILY OP FRANK D. AMD RHODA E. TERRY May 30, 1982
Our Father and Mother, Frank D. and Rhoda Elizabeth Terry, have left us but they live in a new and wonderful sphere of their existence. Many of their children are with them and enjoy a continuing family relationship as they preside and conduct the affairs of their family. There are only four or their twelve children here and they expect us to look after the needs of their posterity.
They are pleased that we have organized their family as a family of families. They want their family to continue through¬out all of the coming generations and be united, through the great heritage they left us. They want us to strengthen our family ties and foster a spirit of love and friendship so we can be together eternally. They want us to compile complete and accurate family records and maintain a strong bond as members of their family organization. Every family and each person who is a part of their family is important to them. They want us to make the most of our opportunities while we are here.
There is rejoicing in the heavens over those of their pos¬terity who are living up to their true heritage and are reaching for their potential. This means that each or our homes and families must build upon the foundation laid by them for us. They want us to know that that foundation is the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is their greatest interest and concern. That is why they made sacred covenants with the Lord to do His will and keep His commandments so they could start their family with a marriage in the temple. They wanted their family to be a family forever. They knew this could only be so if they led the way. It was our father (grandfather) Frank Terry, who wrote in his history, “I was 21 and Libby was 17 when we journeyed to St. George and was united in marriage for time and all eternity by a servant or God in the LDS temple on the 21st of December, 1893.” He relates, “Our life together has been a wonderful experience… Our treasures have been richer than gold and silver. I am speaking of the 12 fine sons and daughters the Lord has blessed us with. Seven girls and five boys.” When our mother died Father said, “I am very lonesome without her. I don’t know what I would do if it wasn’t for my nine children, 5$ grandchildren, and the 25 great- grandchildren.” Well, we have multiplied far beyond that number since that day and these words of his still echo in our hearts, I don’t know what I would do if I can’t have all of my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and on and on through each of the coming generations. It would be so lonesome without them.” He wanted us to have a heritage in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He said in his life history, “I haven’t mentioned my work in the Church yet, but I would like to say that religion (the gospel) has been the thing our home life was centered around. My wife and 1 have always tried to fulfill every call made or us in the different organizations and taught our children to do likewise.”
From Mother’s history we read, “prank and I have had many experiences in raising our children. We have been so thankful for the priesthood and the great blessings of the Lord.” She continues by saying, “Frank and I are back where we started many years ago. Frank is good to me and our love is wonderful. Our prayers now are for our children (posterity) to remember what we tried to teach them. That they will be prayerful, pay their tithing, keep the Sabbath day holy, yes, keep all of the commandments of our Father in Heaven and to also teach their children to walk uprightly before the Lord so that when our life here is over we can all be together in eternity.”
Our family was started eighty-nine years ago at that sacred alter in the 3t. George temple. They looked forward to a great and noble posterity. They want us to be with them eternally. They knew that there was only one way and that was through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. They set the example for us when they were married in the temple and made “religion the thing our home lire was centered around.” Now they want us to go and do likewise.
We are truly blessed with a great and worthy heritage and we are living at a very important time. We are living in the last days. The last days are the days spoken of by the prophets as the time just preceeding the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign personally upon the earth for the thousand years. It is the time when the earth will be cleansed of all wickedness. The Lord said, “I will reveal myself from the heavens with power and glory…and dwell in righteousness with men on the earth a thousand years and the wicked shall not stand.” (D&C 29:11) It is a time of great judgement. It will require a generation that is strong physically, mentally and emotionally. The Lord has said that these last days will be a time of trouble as the earth has never known. (Daniel 12:1) “The love of men shall wax cola and iniquity shall abound. “(D&C 45:27) and “all things shall be commotion and people shall be afraid.”(D&C 88:91) We can expect more in the way of earthquakes, disease, famine, pestilence, great storms, lightning and thunder and hail storms that will destroy the crops of the earth. Yes, there will be wars and rumors of wars until the great and final war which will be the most des¬tructive the world has ever known. Our prophets have told us that in the midst of this war the Savior will appear. The Lord has given us much knowledge of these last days. He wants us to be prepared. He has given many signs so that we may know the time or His Coming. He has said, “Be not troubled, for when all of these things shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you have been fulfilled. “(D&C 45:35) he goes on to say that the righteous shall not be destroyed when He comes, “but shall abide the day and the earth shall be given them for an inheritance.” The earth shall be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. We are now in tne days of trial and temp¬tation. We see the gravest of crimes, including adultery, for¬nication, abortion, killing, stealing, lying, etc. all very common in our society. we must resist all or these evils and make our homes secure, our homes must be places of refuge, where there is love, peace, contentment and happiness.
Let us heed the counsels of the Lord and of our parents and grandparents. Let us unite in our challenge of becoming a posterity in which they can rejoice. Truly they gave us a birthright and a privilege of becoming a member of their family throughout all eternity. it is important that we prepare the way for those who will follow us. we must make the gospel of Jesus Christ the most important thing in our lives. That is the only way we can fulfill our potential and find peace, love and happiness that was planned for us. That is the only way we can truly honor our father and mother and make our days long upon the land that the Lord has given us. Let us prepare for “the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Let’s make our family a family forever.
A message from: Gilva Myers—President Athna Terry—Vice President Verona Christensen—Vice President Violet Bunker—Secretary, Treasurer Prepared by Ferren W. Bunker