Dear Aunt and Uncle, For one who was born dead, as I was to frustrate Dr. Stockham I suppose, and revived in his shocked presence through a Priesthood blessing under the hands of my Grandfather, I have an excellent memory, almost a photographic memory, except my negatives don’t develop as fast as they used to. So, Aunt Violet, there are things in my memory that might surprise you.

For example, I remember when you were eleven and baby sat for Mom and Dad when we lived on the Hafen place in Enterprise. Later I remember Grandma taking the cloth strips, and the paper from your hair that gave you such beautiful ringlets on your birthday at twelve. Yes, and we boys remember how angry you were with us on occasion when we accidentally walked in on your newly mopped floors.

Back then, we had only one school building that housed all grades from one to twelve; so I used to see you in the hallways now and then, when you made trips to the supply room, or when you and friends were in transit to the band room. You always had a beautiful smile on your sweet face that simply radiated the joy that shown in your twinkling eyes. Yes, auntie, 1 remember all of that, and how popular you were.

Furthermore, I remember your graduation, and subsequent work at the school as secretary to the principal. Indeed, I remember the days before the school had a Gym; and I remember that it was constructed under the PWA. I remember the Community Sanitation Project in which every family in in town received a new Out-House. I also remember the Community Mattress Project in which every family needing new mattresses was given the materials, cotton batting, and ticking, and were taught how to make their own mattresses. We made three of them; and it was good not to have to sleep on ticking filled with straw.

Yes, Aunt Violet, I even remember your suitors, and how protective Grandpa was, I am also mindful of his remarks to Grandma, when you met Uncle Ferron, and you became serious in making your plans to marry. He said, “I thank the Lord that Violet and Ferron found each other; she is too precious to me to let her marry any of these local boys. Ferron is a good man, I know he will honor, love and respect her. Anyone can see that he is a real gentleman.”

So your knight in shining armor took you away from hearth and home to live with him in a place called Love Lock; and it was there that you two began your eternal journey together. Aunt Grace, who was a confirmed romantic (how do I know? Because we naughty boys, Clyde, Terry and I found her diary and read it.) said, “Isn’t it wonderful that two so much in love live in Love Lock! That beautiful name fits them perfectly!” Now I say, dear Aunt Grace, wherever you are in the heavens above, please forgive our boyish intrusion into that sacred corner of your life.

Eventually you left Love Lock, and moved to Caliente where we were at that time, living first in a small trailer on the back of our lot, while Uncle Ferron sold Educational Encyclopedias for a short time, while waiting for his appointment as a County Agent - I presume. Later, when the appointment came through, you moved into the home on the north side of town.

Now many things occurred in your lives while you were in Caliente, one in particular was a near tragedy. You returned from Pioche one day, holding little Janet in your arms. She fell from your automobile as you were coming down the summit from Pioche. Luckily the Lord had saved her from more severe injury; but I remember the severe abrasions, and the bruises she sustained. What a miracle it was to have her come through that experience without death, or severe trquma!

While you were residing in that place on the North side of town, 1 entered the Navy; and upon my release I worked over the summer and enrolled at BYU. Then, fter my Freshman year, I returned home to enter the mission field. Uncle Ferron, you had a big hand in that, as you know. And I shall ever be grateful for it.

Shortly after my release from my mission I returned to BYU to begin my Sophomore year in the Fall of 1955. Then, over the Christmas holidays, I drove to Illinois to get married. We were married civilly because we wanted to avoid the difficulty that would have developed had we not allowed Virginia’s Father and Mother, and sisters to be present at our wedding. They, of course, were all nonmembers of the church, and were rather hostile toward it.

Later, as you may recall, however, we married in the Temple in St. George; and you were both there, along with my parents to whom I was sealed on the same day. What a joy that was to be married and sealed on the same day with all of you present. That day you saw me break down and cry on the Sealing Alter. Let me tell you why.

Many years ago, when Dad was sent home from the VA Hospital in California to die, our family returned to Enterprise, where Mother and we children could be close to family. Upon our arrival we stayed for a few days at Grandma and Grandpa’s house until the Hiatt house was made ready for us to move in. During the second day there Rhoda managed to slip away and to fall into the irrigation ditch across the street. She floated down stream to the bridge at the corner of First West at First South, where she became lodged in the water.

I do not know how she was discovered, but Aunt Violet picked her up, and raced down the street homeward with her draped across her forearm in such a way as to allow the water in her to drain out. Dad immediately placed her over a keg and rolled her to force more water out. She appeared to be dead, as Dad frantically did what he could do to extricate as much water from her as possible. Then he worked with her with his hands, while the Bishop (Uncle Joseph Terry) gave her a Priesthood blessing.

When the blessing commenced, water gushed out of Rhoda’s nose and mouth in torrents, and when the blessing ended, she began to gurgle, and then to cry, and everyone present knew that a miracle had occurred. It was a virtual Hallelujah chorus that I heard; and from that day on I believed that something magical had occurred.

Now, when Rhoda was nine years old, like Aunt Violet had carried her near death long ago, I found myself carrying her into the hospital near death again from a broken appendix. But, this time she could not be saved through a blessing. She left us, as our brother Connie Kay left us to mourn earlier a few years before,

Yet, as a missionary responding to my Mother’s request, I fasted and prayed for the Lord to open their way for the blessings of the temple. In turn the Spirit of the Lord caught me away to a Sealing Room in a Temple above, where I communed with both Rhoda and Connie Kay who though once dead as to the flesh now live as glorious spirits in the realms on high. They informed me, in ways I cannot tell, of Gods’ love and mercy toward us all, and opened the way for Mother and Father and we their children to be one eternal family.

I kissed them both upon the cheek, and found myself sitting up in bed. I wrote a letter to my dear Mother, explaining all, not knowing that she too had pen in hand that same hour, to tell me of her joy. For that day my Father sat beside her chair; and in solemn words declared, I have no more coffee in my hand, and I’ve thrown my tobacco away. For some reason unknown to me I feel a need to receive the Priesthood, and to prepare myself to take you to the temple.

What words of joy then filled my soul, as blessed assurance came to me that all I had seen would be fulfilled in joyous felicity. Later Mom and Dad approached their good Bishop, yes, one Ferron Bunker noble and true, who set the mark and showed the way to full felicity. And upon a glorious day in June one year later to the temple did they go, Mother and Father and Children too. And there in the grace of God were Sealed for time and all eternity, with Rhoda and Connie Kay firmly placed in the line of an eternal family.

Thus it was upon that day when Virginia and I were sealed as one, and Duane was made my own, and all of my children yet to be, were made one with us under the Covenant so sublime, that I remembered all that had transpired, and found its focus upon that Alter in that Holy House upon that wondrous day. All who had taken part on that beautiful day, and played their sacred roles so welt, were there with me, as in my tears upon that Sacred Alter I fell.

So, my dear Aunt Violet, and Uncle Ferron noble and true, valiant souls along the way of my life’s path, I honor, love and respect you more than tongue can tell. And I wish you well in every way a mortal such as I, can speak through the Spirit of truth divine.

Now I have not meant to take such a detour, but I wanted to share with you some of the things that have become part of the fabric of my life. And you two have certainly played your part in magnificent splendor. I am proud of my heritage, and of my family more than I can say. And I want you to know that I love you, and admire you both immensely. The lifae I saw Uncle Ferron live inspired me, and I have always looked up to him as an example of the kind of person I wanted to be - educationally, spiritually and otherwise.

And you, dear Aunt Violet, whether you liked red hair or not, have always been a classy lady to me, I am sorry you are having the present difficulties you are called upon to endure; but I want you to recognize that you have the courage, the fortitude and the strength to face it head on with exacting certitude. Furthermore, I believe you will make great strides toward achieving the objective of full recovery of all your stamina and strength of will. That is my desire, hope, wish, and prayer for you. And please remember these words from my own dear Mother:

“The Terry Clan never gives up, because we have Terry courage, Terry determination and Terry hearts, and we have Terry blood in our veins. So we can and will triumph over everything that blocks the way, or attempts to impede us and our progress.” God loves you, so be of good cheer, and full of divine hope! I love you both,