Cinderella at the Ball

 I was thinking today about my formal dances at High School and thought you might get a good laugh and/or realize that your mother or grandmother was young once when you saw these pictures from my High School dances. I know you are going to love the hairdos for sure.

I didn't turn 16 until December 30th of my Junior year in High School so I didn't go to any date dances before that time.  My first date was with Bill Baliff, a senior, to the Junior Prom which was just before Christmas Break. When he asked me to go I was going to tell him I couldn't go because I wasn't 16 yet but my mother said,"You can go. It will be okay for this one dance."

So I told him yes.   We were friends at school and I had a little crush on him so I was pretty excited to go. 

The next thing you need to know is that my dad was out to sea with the Navy and was not around and my mom was doing the best she could to provide for us with whatever money my dad sent to us.  We didn't have a lot and it was many years later that I realized that because I never had a lot growing up but I never really felt deprived.  My mom always made sure we had clean clothes and food to eat.  I didn't ask for things because I knew she didn't have extra.  Growing up I wore a lot of hand me downs from cousins or others but I was always grateful for them.

When I realized I would need to get a formal, I didn't know what we were going to do but my mother must have said something to my Aunt Maurine, who lived in California, because before I knew it we received a package from her and inside were two formals.   They were from a movie star actress that she knew.  She told me I could borrow them.   I remember how excited I was and felt like a princess, especially to think I was able to wear a star's gown.  They fit perfectly and I didn't have to have them altered or anything.  What a blessing this was in my life.   It made me feel like Cinderella at the Ball. 

Bill Baliff and Vickie Hayes for Junior Prom

When we went to dances, it meant getting your hair done during the day.   My best friend's sister was a hairdresser and she did my hair for me.  It was pretty fun to go to her beauty shop and have her do my hair.  Look at all that hair.  It was all my mine.  She did lots of ratting and there were lots of curls.  It was pretty fancy.  I felt so pretty that night. 

 Bill was very much a gentleman and we had a wonderful time.  I think he took me to the bowling alley for dinner.  I was so nervous.  It was had to eat.   Maybe I should tell you I was living in Preston, Idaho, and there really weren't restaurants in town but the bowling alley's restaurant was a pretty good place to eat.   The dance was decorated nice and I had a good time dancing the night away.   

Bill Baliff and Vickie Hayes Senior Ball

The next dance I went to was the Senior Ball with Bill Baliff.  We had gone on a few dates inbetween these dances and I guess in some ways he was my first boyfriend.  My friend, Betty Jones's sister did my hair again.  I am sure she charged me a fair price.  This time not so much piled up on top.   I think this was the other dress she gave me.  Apparently she just told me to keep the dresses because I wore them a couple of times.   This dance was towards the end of the school year.   

Bill went on a mission to South Dakota and I wrote him the whole time he was gone.  

Randy Sharp and Vickie Hayes for Jr. Prom

I am pretty sure this was the Junior Prom of my Senior year.   I was asked by Randy Sharp, who was also a senior.  It looks like I wore the same dress to Prom.  

Information on Vickie:

Vickie Lynne Hayes Paxton:  b. 30 December 1953, American Fork, Utah, Utah

A Missionary Multiple Times

Young Carl Magnus Nelson

You may not understand why you feel impressed to do something but you do it and the later the reason becomes clear.  This story is taken from my great grandfather Carl Magnus Nelson's journal which was transcribed by his granddaughter, LaRene Mary Jenson Braegger.  This story has impressed me on how I need to learn to listen to what I am being prompted to do because the Lord may have a plan for me.  The following are excerpts taken from that autobiography.   If I have calculated this correctly, he served a mission to multiple assignments for 3 years.   He was 18 when he started his first mission and 21 when he was released.

"I was baptized September 26, 1861, by Elder Blodqauist, confirmed by Elder H. P. Miller.  November 3, 1869, was ordained a deacon by Elder Sorenson.  August 10, 1870, was ordained a teacher by Elder J. O. Thommasen."

"During the month of October, (1870), I was moved upon to give up my work.  I was working with masons and on a Saturday payday it worked on me to tell the boss when I got my pay that I was not coming anymore.  But was afraid of giving up my work and did not dare.  Going home and not feeling well, half way home some power took me back to my boss and telling him that I would not come back anymore.  Going home then I felt happier than I had felt for sometime."

"The Copenhagen branch choir had practice on Saturday night and being a member of the same, I went there.  Coming into the hall Brother Sophis Peterson who had been sent on a mission at the October conference, came to meet me and said, "Carl, the brethren had decided to send you out to take my place, they want me in the office."  Then I understood the moving of the Spirit in me and the next day, Sunday, my name was presented to the congregation by President W. W. Cluff and I was fair and ready to go."

First Mission 1870-1873 or 1874

Carl Magnus Nelson 

"I was called a missionary to West Sjaelland Branch under Elder I. J. Nielson.  I was ordained a priest by President Madsen on November 29, 1870,  On Thursday, December 1, 1870, left Copenhagen by train to Slagelse, was met by Elder Nielson.  Same evening held prayer meeting where I met some of the Saints.  I slept first night in Slagelse."

"In my first venture as a missionary in company with Brother Nelsen, we traveled 38 towns, held 18 meetings, traveled some 300 miles.  My first Christmas was held at Brother Bergs in Skaelskor."

"April 8, 1871, in company with Brother Nelsen, left Soro went to Ringsted and took the train to Copenhagen for conference.  Mother was glad to have me.  I was released from West Sjaelland Branch and was ordained an Elder and called to preside over South Sjaelland Branch."

"April 9, 1871, left for South Sjaelland mission, was welcomed by Brother Larsen and family who entertained the missionaries.  Next day met Brother Johnson whose place I took.  He was called to another branch.  In company with me, we visited the saints and held meetings until the 22 of April when he went to Vordinborg and parted.  Brother Johnson went to his mission.  I visited the Saints and friends and attended to the business of the branch."

"On July 16, 1871, I had the privilege to baptize the first person into the Church.  His name was Christian Hansen.  On the 26th I baptized Julias Jacobsen."

"The first of November took the train to Copenhagen for conference.  Saw Mother again.  At conference I was released from laborer in South Sjaelland Mission and appointed to labor in Bornholm.  In my labors in South Sjaelland Branch, I traveled over 500 miles, held 15 meetings and baptized 2."

"On the 17th of November in the morning at 7 a.m. in company with Brother L. Larsen, (an elderly man who spent his time as a missionary, he was to preside in Bornholm) went aboard the ship and came to Ronne at 6:30 p.m.  Had a pleasant time.  Sunday the 19th held meeting in Ronne the largest city in Bornholm, where I met some of the Saints."

(The missionaries traveled without purse and trunk.  So they never knew where they would be able to sleep or food to eat.)

"It was decided by the office at Copenhagen to release Brother Larsen and they appointed Brother Myers of Copenhagen.  I went to Ronne and in the evening of December 9, Brother Myer came on the boat, stayed a night over in Ronne and next day Sunday the 10th we went to Arnager and met Brother Larsen.  Said farwell to the Saints and Brother Myer was introduced."

"Among the saints in Arnager was Brother and Sister Poulsen whose home was always open for missionaries.  Christmas Eve 1871 was celebrated in their home and also New Year's Eve.  January 1872 was spent between tracting and visiting with the Saints."

"March 4, held meetings in Roone and in evening baptized 2 - Andrew Nielsen and Hanssine Caroline Lund."

"On March 30 at 4 a.m. took the ship to Copenhagen for conference.  During the Copenhagen Conference, Brother Myer was released from his labor as missionary and appointed President over Bornholm Mission.  Took the boat to Ronne, took it from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. because of bad weather and snows."

"The 12th of May after meeting, I baptized Helene Bindita Johnansen in Arnager."

"Sunday, July 21st, 1972, held a meeting in Arnager and in the evening went to Ronne and baptized Marie Caroline Jansen."

"August month was spent occupied among the Saints.  Received some money of P.O. Parker at Wallengoas for Emmigration.  Brother Parker, a young boy at that time, later was known as P.O. Hansen, President of the Bear River Stake.  I baptized him on 13 August 1872 before he emigrated.  August 30th emigrants sailed to Zion."

"I received word that Brother Carstensen who had come from Zion was coming to Bornholm to visit.  I met him at the boat on the 19th (September ?) Having not seen him before, I picked him out among the passengers.  He was surprised and asked me how I knew him.  I said the spirit in me said so."

"On the 29th September, received a letter from President P. Madsen that I should come to Copenhagen.  Having done according to instructions and made preparation to leave Bornholm where I had many friends.  I had traveled about 1000 miles, baptized 5 and held 49 meetings.  The 2nd of October we sailed from Ronne to Copenhagen."

"The reason I was sent for was that Brother Johnsen who was President over Northeast Branch committed sin and was released, and Brother Larsen in Copenhagen was appointed to take his place.  And after one round of the Branch gave himself up sins had him in transgression before he was called."

I went home and Brother Carstensen wen to the office.  In the afternoon I went to the office and had a talk with the brethren.  It was decided that I should take the place on Northeast Sjaelland, which the two brothers had vacated."

"On 5th of October 1872, Brother Larsen consented to take me around the Branch and we started to take the train from Sjarlottenlund then we began to travel from village to town.  Traveled, walked from 16 to 24 miles a day.  Saturday 12th came back to Copenhagen.  Sunday went to Kalundberg and to Weborg and held meetings.  Went back to Copenhagen to meeting in the evening.  I spent a couple of day in Copenhagen in the company of Brother Carstensen.  My birthday the 17th of October 1872 was spent visiting the Saints.  I had now spent 2 years as a missionary and being 20 years old."

"On November 8, Conference was held in Copenhagen for 3 days.  During conference, Brother Ole Petersen was appointed to travel with me."

"We tracted from town to town.  The 28th of November held meeting in a barn which belonged to a woman who kept a saloon.  I told Brother Petersen it was all right.  He went and invited people to come.  When I got there, I saw the situation.  They had invited us to hold a meeting so they could get the folks together to make fun of us.  But we had invited them so they had to be faced.  About 100 people came.  We sang a song, Brother Petersen offered prayer.  I tried to explain the principles of the Gospel.  Having spoke about 3/4 of an hour, I thanked them for listening and their good order.  Some man spoke up and said, "Say some more."  But as I spoke further it started to get unruly and they tried to blow out the candles.  I grabbed the candle and went among the people and tried to prevent them from fighting, which I did."

"In March 1873 we had 10 new baptisms.  On April 11 at conference in Copenhagen, my missionary helper was released so I returned to work alone."

"On the 15th of May in Copenhagen, I met Apostle Erastus Snow.  He was the Lord's man that brought the gospel to Schandinavia in the year 1850.  Apostle Brother Johnannes Borgesen went to Gadevang to hear Sister Hansen's case that a man, Jens Jorgensen, had used bad language to her in her home.  They excommunicated him.  But it had a good aspect.  Her husband's folks believed and trusted her after that."

"I helped the emigrants to get ready and the 27th of June started them to the train.  Among the emigrants was my mother and a step-sister Ann.  I had the privilege to send them to Zion to live.  The next day, the 28th of June, went ot Blovstrod and held meeting."

"Sunday, August 27th, 1873, held branch meeting.  Elder L. A. Hansen who accompanied Apostle Eratus Snow in 1850 when they brought the Gospel to Scandinavia, had come back on a second mission and was sent out to help me.  On the 29th August, I went to Copenhagen to say goodbye to another company of Saints going to Zion."

"September 5, 1873, baptized Sister Anna Jensen of Hillerod. On Sunday, September 5, held branch meeting in Blovstrod, had visit of Brother Ole Petersen.  Ander Christensen, who had been excommunicated, came and asked to be forgiven and come in the church again which was granted by baptism."

"October 8, 1873, baptized Christen Jensen and his daughters, Amalie Bolet and Jensine Jensen of Fillerai.  On 17th of October, my 21st birthday, I stayed in Gadevang.

"On the 15th we went to Copenhagen.  We had a Priesthood meeting and had an enjoyable time.  My brother, Julius, was appointed as a missionary."

"On October 27th, in a Council Meeting and there I had the grief to listen to a complaint against my brother, Julius.  He was not there and a decision was not rendered.  Next day, I wrote him a letter told him about the meeting and gave him some good counsel.  Sunday I went to meeting and I took farwell of the Saints with whom I had labored 1 3/4 years.  I love them and Brothers Hans Jonson and Justin Jacobsen.  20 Saints were baptized and I traveled 1991 miles and held 53 meetings."

(According to a LDS Biography I found on him, it said he was released in June 1874 but according to the dates here, it might have been 1873.  The June 1874 date makes sense because of the following explanation of his emigration.)

Emigration

He emigrated to the United States in 1874.   The following is from his  autobiography that has been quoted above.

"Making preparation for Emigration took our baggage to the ship.  Next day I left Copenhagen and it took 4 days to reach England.  Had some bad weather and many of the Saints were seasick."

"We landed and I was taken to the railroad station and started for Liverpool.  We arrived there at 7:30 and were transported to the ship "Idaho".  But the ship was not ready, had to sleep on the deck the first night.  Next day we came down and got our beds."

"Next day we started for America.  Got organized into 6 districts with a President and Vice-Captain over them.  I was appointed to that place.  Each President had prayer in his District morning and evening."

"The journey over the sea went pretty good.  Little problems and some unpleasant things would come on a journey like this.  July 6th we came to New York and was taken to Rostil Garden.  Next day went to railroad station and started for Utah.  Rode 8 days and saw many different landscapes."

"Came to Ogden.  Met my mother and went to Salt Lake City." 

He arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 15, 1874.

Second Mission 1882

In 1882 he filled a mission to the Indian farm, "Washakee".  

Third Mission 1906-1908

Carl Magnus Nelson

"When President Fyelsted came home from his last mission to Denmark, he sent word to me that he wanted to see me.  I went to Logan the next day.  But being sick, he was going to Salt Lake City so I did not see him.  But a couple of days after, I received a letter from Box B saying that my name had been given for a mission to Denmark.  Brother Fyelsted was dead when we got to Salt Lake so I think my name was the last name he gave to President Joseph F. Smith."

I made arrangements to go.  My son Francis promised to take care of the farm and July 23, 1906, I said goodbye to the folks and Francis took me to the train.  Stopped at Brigham City and was treated royal by the folks.  They helped me financially and the next day, I went to Ogden.  Was met by Brother Stevens who took me to his home to see all the folks.  Took leave of them and went to Salt Lake City.  Made ready for the journey.  Was set apart for my mission to Scandinavia by J. G. Kimball and in company with 6 others started for the East at 6 p.m. on the 27th July 1906."

He traveled across the country by train stopping in Omaha, Nebraska, Chicago, Illinois, Boston, Massachusetts and finally to board the ship Arabia.  He left on the ship on August 2, 1906, at 8 a.m. in the morning.   Arrived in Liverpool, England on the 10th of August.  Then on the 15th of August took another ship to Esberg where he was met by Elders who were laboring in the Esberg branches.  He boarded a train for Copenhagen at 11 a.m. and arrived there that evening.  The following are excerpt from his autobiography.

"Was met by Victor Madsen.  We went to the President's office and had supper.  Next day we took in sight seeing in Copenhagen.  Visited many places I remembered from my boyhood days.  I'd been away 32 years.  I find that missionary labor is different when I have been away for 32 years.  In my boyhood days we labored in the country.  Most of the Saints were scattered in the farming towns and as a general thing had to travel many miles a day.  Now most of the Saints are located in the city.  Instead of hunting your lodge and a place to sleep and a place to hold meetings, now hall and lodge are cleared and you know where you are going to sleep.  Of course, we have to pay for it.  It was different in my boyhood days when we traveled without purse or script.  We had to because we had not money.  We had not been to Zion and been blest and didn't have to travel from town to town."

"Brother Francis Jenson and myself were appointed to go to the island Samso and visit the people.  Found them liberal and entertained us.  Found an old couple Johannes Nielson who had been in the church for many years.  Gave away 242 tracts and 25 books.  Sunday had the privilege to hold a meeting, 14 came together to hear the gospel.  It rained for several days and it was hard to be out, so we said goodbye to the island."

His missionary journal showed he worked in the office some of the time and they traveled around searching out his relatives to teach them the gospel.  

"Having visited all my mother's brothers children and visited Nels Holmberg, my father's cousin.  All my relatives were sociable and treated me fine, but did not care about religion.  I did not push it, but left some books with them, and hope to visit them again.  Had dinner at cousin Magnus, bid them farewell and thanked them for their kindness to me at my visit.  One year had now passed for me in Denmark."

The above was in his birthplace of Helsingborg, Sweden, and traveling around Sweden meeting relatives. 

"Received word my time had come to be released and make ready to go home.  Wrote letters home and bought some feathers for the girls at home.  Visited Saints and friends, gave away tracts, and spent the evening at the Circus.  Went to the Mission office and visited the Brethren.  Went to the cemetery and hunted the grave of Emelie Ryberg, my wife's teacher.  I had promised her to try and find it and place upon it some flowers.  Did not find it.  Visited in the city and in the evening went to Trevol, a big garden.  The King and some of his family were there."

Took the ship for Helsingborg.  Arrived there a little before noon.  Went to the mission office but nobody home." 

He spent the next few days traveling around visiting more friends and relatives before he left.  He had his picture taken at his birthplace, where his cousin Anna lived.  Then had pictures made up to take home.  He was given a great send off and given a present, a token of love and good feeling towards him and as a remembrance of his association with them. 

"Got up at 5 a.m. and packed my trunk.  Said goodbye and went to railroad station.  Went to Esberg.  Spent the evening and in the morning boarded the ship.  Started for England.  Blowing and a rough sea.  Most everyone was sick most of the time.  Arrived in Liverpool and went to the Continental Hotel."

"The trip home was pleasant with good weather.  One evening we had a concert.  Reached land at noon on Sunday and very busy to meet the 4 p.m. train.  Stopped at Buffalo to see the Falls.  Chicago, took in the town.  Came to Omaha.  Visited the town.  Came to Ogden and Salt Lake City.  Took the train for Cache Valley and came to Logan at 8 p.m."

"Brother Oluf Nelsen took me home in his buggy.  Found the folks all well.  Took the responsibility from my wife of running the farm, which she had done masterly, assisted by our son, Frances.  Paying our obigations and sending me 15 dollars every month.  While away, my girls assisted me too and several of my friends in the ward not to forget my Brother Franz who lives with us.  I had a glorious time while away.  Never in strain, always free and able to labor in spreading the truth."

His mission was completed on July 31, 1908.   He was 53 when he went to the Scandinavia Mission on July 25, 1906 called from the Greenville, Cache, Utah, set apart by J. Golden Kimball.   He would have left four children home.  His son, Frances, was about 21 and unmarried, and three girls with the youngest being 12.   He had two children married when he left on his mission. 

Fourth Mission 1929-1930

Carl Magnus Nelson

"Read a letter from President John Widstoe.  The European Mission needed some older missionaries.  Some that had experience.  I offered myself and was accepted.  Received my appointment 20 November 1928.  Visited the Mission home in Salt Lake City on January 21 to 31, 1929.  Slept at Imogene's, who lived in Salt Lake at that time.  My wife was down there too.  Was set apart by Robert Wells and on the 31st of January said goodbye to my wife and the folks.  In the evening, started for the East in company with 80 missionaries.  We had a fine send off.  The Salt Lake station was full of people.  The Netherlands Choir was singing our farewell song.  The train stopped in Ogden and we received another send off."

"In New York we stayed at the Hotel National.  We set said on the ship, Leviathan.  Had a good trip to Europe where it was beginning to be winter."

"Went to the Police Station and registered."

"Visited members and attended an open air meeting.  The first held for some time in Alborg.  Permission had not been given for a couple of years.  All the missionaries spoke.  I opened with prayer.  It went off good."

"Went to the German Counsel to get visas to visit Germany.  Took train for Berlin, Germany.  Arrived there 8:40 p.m.  Was met by Brother Hillam.  Went to Potsdam and spent most of the day.  Visited a couple of families and was entertained fine.  We had a fine time.  Visited the Kaiser's Palace which was very grand.  Visited many interesting places.  Took the train to Leipzip.  Met Ella and Hyrum Valentine and other missionaries."

While in Germany he helped make preparations for a celebration of the Aaronic Priesthood which went from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and then he went to a concert and a banquet at night with 179 people.  He went to Dresden and then Konigstens by train and saw the 12th century fortress there.  Then he traveled by boat at Arissecht to Rathen and walked up to Bastse, then took boat at Kongstens down the Elna River which was a 2 1/2 hour ride with beautiful scenery.

Took a train with Brother Valentine to Meissen.  During Sunday School he spoke in the Danish language and Brother Valentine translated.  Then he went back to Dresden and went to a meeting that night and spoke in English and Ella translated for him.

He was able to visit the baptismal place of Dr. Carl A. Maeser and visited the place where Mr. Maeser and Apostle Franklin D. Richards had manifestation of tongues.  Dr. Maeser spoke German and Apostle Richards spoke English and neither spoke the other language but understood each other.

He then was taken to the railroad station and returned to Copenhagen.  He was released as traveling Elder and appointed to preside over the Copenhagen District.

On January 1st they had a meeting for dedicating the cornerstone for their new church on the grounds.  Reporters were there and took pictures.

"Went home in the evening.  Took a ship to Malmo and visited Sister Lundberg who is getting my genealogy in Sweden."

He received the unpleasant news that Elder Lund had drowned.  Received a letter from President Widstoe and President Larsen and he was appointed to go home with the corpse of Elder Lund.  He was so disappointed that his mission was ending early and sad to hear of Elder Lund's passing.

He started to make preparations for returning home by writing letters home telling them he was coming and visiting Sister Lundberg in Malmo to arrange for his genealogy.  When he got back from there they had his ticket to return home for him.  After the saints gave him a farewell party where they gave him a costly present.  He felt so loved.  He loved his time there.  After making all the arrangements to leave he boarded the ship and left Copenhagen.

He said the two previous days on the ship were fine and warm but today is cold and blowing.  The ship was rolling and many got sick.  7th and 8th still raining and blowing.  9th raining and very unpleasant.  10th a little better weather.  Next day they started for New York.

They went to the Mission Home in New York and he got Elder Evans to help him get the corpse and start for home.  They had some trouble before he could take the corpse home.  The coffin had not been made proper.  He had not seen it before he came to New York.   It was sent from Aalborg to the ship in Copenhagen so he had nothing to do with it before he got to New York.  He finally got started to Utah but I got the wrong ticket which sent him to Gunnison, Colorado instead of Gunnison, Utah.  So it caused him some more trouble but he made it in time for the services.  Apostle Melvin J. Ballard met us and attended the meeting in Gunnison on the 20th of July.  Went to Salt Lake City in the evening, did some business there the next day and then the following day he went home.

He found out that when he got home his wife had taken care of things and that she had speculated on going to Denmark before he came home but that didn't happen because he had to come home early.  He felt bad that she wasn't able to do that after she had sent him on two missions to their homeland.

When he left for his mission, he was 76 years of age.   His mission was from 29 January 1929 to 19 July 1930.  He was called from Logan, Cache, Utah and set apart by Rulon S. Wells. 

Person this blog is about:

Carl Magnus Nelson, b. October 17, 1952, Helsingborg, Sweden; d. March 19, 1941, North Logan, Cache, Utah

Conversion of Andrew King Sr. (1829-1910) and Eliza Buckley Lewis (1832-1929)

Have you ever been ridiculed or pressured about your belief in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?  If so, read this story and see if you stand strong and firm in your belief what can happen.  You never know who or how you may be influencing your friends and/or family members around you.

The following story was written by Venetta King Gilgen, his granddaughter.  

Andrew King Sr.

"Andrew had a chum, Hugh Adams, who joined the LDS church.  Andrew thought he was crazy and often told him so, and told him the wild tales circulating around about that group, but Hugh had a testimony and didn't pay any attention  to his pleadings to leave the church."  

"One season these two friends went to England to work in a coal mine.  One evening they went for a walk together.  Andrew began again to try to persuade him (as he thought) misguided friend."

"Hugh was given a vision and the power to prophesy.  He stood still and raised his arm saying, "Don't make fun of my church any more, for I now prophesy to you, under Divine Inspiration that you will yet be one of the greatest advocates of Mormonism that this country will ever see."

"Andrew investigated, was convinced of the truthfulness of the gospel, was baptized in 1850, and from that time until his death he labored hard to build up the church and kingdom of God."

"He was president of the CowdenBeath branch for twenty years, which office he held until he came to America."

"He was baptized a second time on June 11, 1885.  He was a gifted speaker and could hold an audience spellbound because of his great knowledge of the gospel and of the scriptures.  Prayer and religious devotion were part of his every day living.  This habit he learned from his parents, who were Baptist.  They believed in Bible reading in the home."  

Andrew was about 21 years old when he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

I tried to find out when Eliza Buckley Lewis was baptized and joined the church but what I found is the following excerpt from her life story written by Venetta Gilgen so not sure which date might be wrong but needless to say, she did join the church by missionaries contacting her too.  The following is from her life story.

Eliza Buckley Lewis

"Eliza couldn't remember the year she joined the church, but said that Jessie was a wee lass when the missionaries first brought the gospel to them.  She did much to help her husband when he later was called to preside over the branch where they lived."

"One day, shortly after the family had accepted the gospel the minister came to talk with her.  He told her what a terrible mistake they had made and that they were surely going Hell.  She gave him a very clever answer, which hasn't been recorded.  She talked to him for some time about the church, asking him many questions which he couldn't answer.  He was ready to leave before she was ready to stop talking.  As he backed away she followed him, bearing her testimony to him."

If the Jessie she referred to, is her child Janet, who was born in 1853, then they would have had to be baptized sometime after 1850 as recorded in Andrew's story.  Because this information confused me, I looked up on family search for baptism dates for Andrew King Sr. and Eliza Buckley Lewis.   This is what I found. 

• Andrew King Sr. was baptized on 8 June 1855
• Eliza Buckley Lewis was baptized on 11 November 1855

So I believe the baptism date recorded in Andrew's story of 1850 is probably wrong and they both were baptized and converted to the gospel after they were married and that the Jessie she was referring to was her daughter, Janet, whom they called Jessie.  I think this information is more correct and the story about Andrew's friend is still true just the baptism date was later.  They stayed friends throughout their life and it appears that Hugh also emigrated to America living in Logan where the King's lived.  He is mentioned in Andrew's life story at gatherings.  

 Andrew married Eliza Buckley Lewis (b. 23 August 1832, Musselburgh, Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland; d. 3 August 1929, Logan, Cache, Utah) on 19 May 1951 in Inveresk with Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.  

People in story

• Andrew King Sr. b. 1 June 1829, Craghall, Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland; d. 8 July 1910, Logan, Cache, Utah
• Eliza Buckley Lewis King b. 23 August 1832, Musselburgh, Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland; d. 3 August 1929, Logan, Cache, Utah

Conversion of Jons (1802-1863) and Ingar (1813-1895) Nilsson to the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1853

Have you wondered who was the first in our family lines to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?  I found this story about my great great grandparents in Sweden and their conversion to the gospel.   I am grateful to my ancestors for taking this important step so that I had the privilege of being born into the church.  They went through so much to accept this new religion but they were able to see the truth when it was delivered to them. 

When you read these stories, put yourself in their shoes. What would you have done?  Would you be able to give up family, friends, and home to accept this wonderful gospel? 

Think of the sacrifices you feel you are making, if any, for the gospel and remember our ancestors have shown us the way.  May you enjoy learning about their conversion story as brief and simple as it may be.  I am grateful that their conversion story was preserved for you and me. 

Conversion of Jons Nilsson and Ingar Jonsdotter as told by their son, Carl Magnus Nilsson

Story taken from the Autobiography of Carl Magnus Nelson written in his own handwriting and compiled by his granddaughter, LaRene Mary Jenson Braegger;

"I (Carl Magnus Nelson) was born October 17, 1852, in Helsingborg, Sweden, of good and Christian parents.  In the latter part of the year 1852, a missionary of the Latter-Day Saints came to Helsingborg.

"There being a group of women, some was dissatisfied with the Lutheran religion, had come together and studied the Bible.  The lady that took the lead they called "Milke Ingri".  The missionary was introduced to the group and delivered his message.  After which the leading lady said, "I am done now, here is what we have been waiting for."

"My mother was one of the women and in time was converted and together with my father was baptized early in 1853.  But the missionary had not the authority to lay hands on for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, so they had to wait until June 1853 when the first conference was organized in Sweden.  They traveled all day from Helsingborg to Lund and the meeting was held in Carl Capson's barn in the night."

"They (my parents) pushed me in a baby wagon.  The meeting was held in the dark and without singing because of the mob.  My parents were anointed into the church and I was blessed as a baby - 8 months old."

"My parents were forced to leave their native land because of persecution.  They crossed over to Copenhagen where the family was raised."

This story touched me.  In 1853 his father, Jons Nilsson,  would have been approximately 51 years of age, and his mother Ingar Jonsdotter was approximately 40 years of age.  They would have already buried two children leaving them with four living children, Anna Sofia Nilsdotter age 11; Johanna Augusta Nilsdotter age 7, Frans Ludvig Nilsson age 4 and my great grandfather, Carl Magnus Nilsson, a few months old.  

Can you imagine uprooting your family because of persecution, walking approximately 35 miles in a day pushing or pulling a baby in a baby wagon with three other children in tow in order to attend a meeting and be confirmed to the gospel?  That would be like walking from Cedar City, Utah, to Parowan, Utah and back to Cedar City, Utah, just to go one way.  Then to return home you would do that same distance again.  That is a long ways to walk.  I don't even make an effort to get out and walk a couple of miles a day.  I never walk to church, which is only a few blocks away.  I take my car wherever I want to go.  I would say I am pretty spoiled.   They were special people to recognize the truth when they saw it and not turn away from it.  

They also had one more child born in Kobenhavnm, Denmark to them in 1855 after joining the church, Julius Nilsson.

Information relating to the people in the story.  

• Jons Nilsson (father in the story) b. 28 November 1802, Faltabacken, Helsingborg, Malmohus, Sweden; d. 25 November 1863, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavn, Denmark 
• Ingar Jonsdotter Nilsson (mother in story) b. 10 February 1813, Filborna, Helsingborg, Malmohus, Sweden; d. 17 January 1895, Logan, Cache, Utah
• Carl Magnus Nilsson (son, who told story in his autobiography) b. 17 October 1852, Helsingborg, Malmohus, Sweden; d. 19 March 1941, North Logan, Cache, Utah

After coming to America, the spelling of their last name was apparently changed to Nelson.

Fun times at Grandpa and Grandma Hayes's House

I always loved being around my grandparents.  They were the best and I always felt loved.  My children loved going to Grandpa and Grandma's House in Glendale, Idaho, when they were young and so I have written a few of the memories of my children being up there.   What are your memories of time spent with your grandparents?   I hope they make you smile.

Horse Ride

My father had a couple of horses.  One time when we were visiting them, my dad, Robert Eskelson Hayes, decided to give the kids a ride on the horse.  He put all three of them on the horse's back without a saddle and told them to hold on to each other as he walked Big Mama around the yard.

Grandpa Hayes (Robert Eskelson Hayes) with Bryan, Christie and Scott Paxton on Big Mama at his home in Glendale, Idaho.

They were having such a good time as grandpa was leading the horse around until one of them leaned over, I assume to look at the ground better.  Because they were all holding on to each other, they started to fall sideways off the horse.  The horse stopped and grandpa tried with all his might to catch them.   They fell on the ground as the horse stood still and none of them got hurt.  I guess they got a good look at the ground.  This is a memory that they have laughed about through the years.  Good thing Grandpa's house was a good horse.

Wagon Rides

Bryan loved riding a little tractor that Grandpa and Grandma had.  He loved to give Christie rides in the wagon behind the tractor.  I remember a time after Bryan was married that he wanted to have a tractor and live out in the country.  I wonder if his love for a tractor started here.  They did have lots of fun.

Fishing at Grandpa and Grandma's

One time we left the kids with grandpa and grandma while we went to Yellowstone Park with my brother, Bob, and his wife, Joene Johnson.  Grandpa and Grandma's property touched on the banks of Glendale Reservoir and so they built a dock to use for fishing or boating.   In the evenings they would go down to fish off the dock for trout.  

So this one night when they were tending the kids, they took the three kids, Bryan, Christie, and Scott down to the dock to fish.  Grandma sat Scott on a chair and told him to sit still while they were fishing.

Apparently Scott wanted to look in the water and so he leaned over and fell in the reservoir.  (Maybe it was Scott that leaned over on the horse too.  Ha ha).  

Grandpa Hayes was getting ready to jump in to get him when Grandma said, "Wait, he will come right back up."

Scott came right back up and Grandpa grabbed him and pulled him out.  Grandma hugged him and took him up to the house to get out of his wet clothes and get him all cleaned up.  

Scott says he remembers this and says he remembers the big whales or fish under the dock.  (There were big styrofoam columns that helped hold up the dock.)   He loves the water to this day.  If there is water, he will find a way to play in it.  

I think the kids first fish were caught at Grandpa and Grandma's house. It was a fun experience whenever we went to visit in the summer.  This is Bryan holding his fish he caught at Grandpa and Grandma Hayes's house.   He has a pretty big grin.

People in above stories:

• Bryan Lee Paxton b. Sept. 16, 1976, Aberdeen, South Dakota
• Christie Lynne Paxton Perkins b. November 28, 1978, Murray, Utah d. April 26, 2018, Cedar City, Utah
• Scott Anthony Paxton b. February 12, 1980, Murray, Utah
• Robert Eskelson Hayes b. July 29, 1930, Rupert, Idaho; d.  April 22, 2013, Swan Lake, Idaho
• DeVola King Hayes b. March 21, 1930, North Logan, Utah; d. October 11, 2007, Layton, Utah

Did You Take All My Blood?

Christie Lynne Paxton Perkins born November 28, 1978 and died April 26, 2018.

When Christie was about four years old, she needed to have a hernia operation on her belly button area.  I, her mother, had to take her to Cottonwood Hospital to fill out the pre-admission papers and have her blood test and urine test run before her surgery.

After the nurse took the blood from her arm, she looked up at her and asked, "Did you take all my blood?  Is my belly button fixed now?"  Oh the innocence of youth.   Oh if it could be just that simple, it would be so nice.

ID 154492833 © Studio Grand Web | Dreamstime.com

The nurse suggested I should bring her back that night to a CottonBear Party to help familiarize her with what was going to happen when she went to the hospital for her surgery.  So I took Bryan and Christie to that party at 7 p.m.  When it was over, Bryan thought it was pretty neat.  Christie on the other hand, wasn't too excited about the whole thing.

Three days later she had her surgery.  Before her surgery, she kept complaining about a stomach ache.  The doctor checked her over but she didn't have a fever, she wasn't throwing up and she didn't have diarrhea so he decided she was just nervous.  

When they gave her some medicine in her bottom to make her sleepy, she was not happy.  She cried a lot and I tried to calm her down.  She finally went to sleep.  I loved her so much that it made me feel bad when anything hurts her.  

The doctor came in to tell me at 8:15 a.m. that everything went well and that she should be out of recovery in about 15 to 20 minutes.  She didn't get out of recovery until 9 a.m. and I was starting to worry.  

She had an IV in the hand that she sucked her thumb on.  She kept pulling at it and asking for her Popsicle because they had told her she could have one when she woke up.  About a half hour later they finally let her have a Popsicle because she wouldn't relax and go back to sleep.  After she ate her Popsicle, she fell asleep for about an hour.

When she woke up around 11 a.m., she asked for the apple juice they had promised her and she told them she wanted to go home.  She kept telling me that I could sit down.  I was standing up by her bed watching her.  She was finally released from the hospital to go home.  She was so excited and so glad they didn't take all her blood and that her belly button was fixed and it wouldn't stick out any more.  She did well recovering after her surgery.  

Person in above story

• Christie Lynne Paxton Perkins b. November 28, 1978, Murray, Utah; d. April 26, 2018, Cedar City, Utah

Our South Dakota Baby

Bryan Lee Paxton:  Sept. 16, 1976

A year after we were married, Marv got transferred to Aberdeen, South Dakota, employed as an Air Traffic Controller with the FAA.  This was our first official assignment outside of Salt Lake City.  Marv and I were excited to start this new adventure.  We had to pay our own way out there and take care of all our travel expenses.  The FAA did not help us with any expenses.   We packed up a U-Haul and left all our family behind.

We arrived the end of December 1974 to what appeared to be the coldest place on earth.  We looked all over for an apartment and finally decided on purchasing a mobile home.  Our mobile home had three bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, dining room, living room and a place for our washer and dryer.  We had a small deck off the front door. 

I may have thought the winters were miserable but I soon found out when summer arrive there were new challenges such as humidity and tornadoes. It was very flat where we lived.  You could see for ever it seemed.   When I was pregnant with our first child, Marv purchased a window air conditioner because I was so miserable.  He installed it in the living room.  I have never been so happy for air conditioning.

One time Marv and I were at the hospital taking our classes on childbirth when a tornado was coming through the area.  They made us all go down in the basement of the hospital.  It was where all the pipes ran overhead and just cement floors.  Not a very nice place but I guess it was safe.  I was beginning to wonder why anyone would want to live in this place.   We were happy but it was just different than Utah.

I was able to get a job working full-time which helped a lot with expenses.  Because Marv's hours were shift work, he worked different days and hours.  During the time we lived here, I got pregnant with our first child.  We were both so excited.  I missed having my mom close by but I could call her on occasions and I had made friends at work and in the branch at church.  I was the happiest pregnant woman you ever met.  I was so happy about the prospect of having a child that it didn't matter how I felt because I knew it would all be worth it. 

My job insisted I quit work on my due date which was September 4.  I guess they didn't want me to go into labor at work or something.  So I was stuck at home waiting for my baby to be born.  The wait seemed like an eternity and I was wishing I was back at work.  I had a couple of friends from work that insisted on coming and sitting with me after they got off work when Marv was working at the airport at night in case I went into labor.  They even came on the weekends when Marv was working.  These friends were not members of the church but they were really good friends to me.   I had lots of contractions but nothing was hard enough to take me to the hospital.

I remember going to see my doctor for another appointment and she did something to me that she said would help the baby come.  My doctor was a lady from India and she couldn't say Vickie so she called me Wickie.  She was really nice but she believed in natural child birth.  That kind of made me nervous.  It was times like this that  I wished my mom was here.  I remember my mom called to tell me she felt she needed to tell me that if my water broke, I needed to get to the hospital.

This particular night one of my friends was bowling on a league and said,  "Come watch us bowl so you can get out of the house."  She said, "My husband's a police officer so if you go into labor he will know what to do."

So Marv and I went and watched them bowl for awhile and then I was feeling more contractions so we headed home.  We stopped and got a hamburger, fries and a soda.  I had been trying hard to eat healthy but now I was like I guess it doesn't matter so I am going to eat this stuff.

When we got home, Marv started watching a movie that was on TV.  About three-fourths of way through his movie, I felt this weird sensation. When I stood up, I thought, Oh no  I wet my pants. But that is not what happened, my water had broken.   I was pretty excited.  I called my friend, she told me to call the doctor so I did and of course they told us to head to the hospital now.  Marv was not too happy with me because he wanted to finish his movie but I told him, they said I needed to go to the hospital.  This was probably about 9 p.m.

So we headed to the hospital.  He wanted to run red lights but I told him don't you dare.  I want to get to the hospital not pulled over by a policeman.  We arrived and they admitted me to the hospital.

Finally after many hours of labor, it was decided that I needed some help because the baby was in trouble.  They wheeled me into an operating room and I was given some Ether in a mask on my face and then the doctor used forceps to deliver my baby.  I remember how upset I was that I couldn't delivery my baby on my own because I had been so convinced that I was suppose to do it without help.  The cord was wrapped around my baby's neck so this procedure was needed to help get my baby here safely. 

When I came out of the gas they had given me, they told me a had a beautiful healthy baby boy.  So my baby that was born 12 days after his due date arrived on September 16, 1976 at about 5 a.m.  He weighed 7 lbs 2 oz. and was 18" long.  His father, Marvin Lee Paxton and his mother, me, Vickie Lynne Hayes were the proudest parents around.  There was another Brian born at that hospital when he was in there.  Their first names were spelled different from each other.   I thought he was the most beautiful baby ever.  He had brown hair, olive skin and he appeared to be very strong and alert.  He was always trying to hold up his head.  I remember how I immediately loved this baby in my arms.  What a special gift it is that God gave me the power to be a mother.  What a blessing it was that both Bryan and I were healthy. He was a really good baby.  He wasn't a fuzzy baby and he slept through the night by the time he was 6 weeks old.  He loved to be held and loved. 

I stayed in the hospital for a few days after he was born because that is what you did back then.  My mother came to take care of me and that was so nice.  She would get up with Bryan and  bring him to me so I could nurse him and then rock, burp and cuddle him until he went back to sleep so I could get some sleep.  He was probably about a week old when we took him to a show while my Mom was staying with us.  He slept through the show and was not a problem at all.  Maybe that is why he likes movies.

We had a dog, Muffy, when he was born and she loved the new baby too.  She would sit by him and watch over him and was very gentle around him.

Bryan as a new born.

Bryan with his Daddy on the couch in our mobile home.

Grandma Hayes (DeVola King Hayes) with new born Bryan.  She flew out to South Dakota to help me with Bryan for a week.  It was so fun to have her with me.  Bryan was her first grandchild and she was a pretty happy grandma.  She sure loved her grandkids.

Bryan's first Christmas with our dog, Muffy.  She loved Bryan and was so good with him.  I felt bad when we had to give her away when we moved from South Dakota back to Utah.

Bryan's Christmas presents.

Marv, Vickie, Bryan and Muffy in front of our Christmas tree in our mobile home in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

People in above story:

• Marvin Lee Paxton (father) b. April 21, 1948, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Vickie Lynne Hayes Paxton (mother) b. December 30, 1953, American Fork, Utah
• Bryan Lee Paxton b. September 16, 1976, Aberdeen, South Dakota
• DeVola King Hayes (grandmother) b. March 21, 1930, North Logan, Utah; d. October 11, 2007, Layton, Utah

Boy or Girl?

Back in the day when I was having my children, they didn't tell you if you were going to have a girl or a boy.  It was a guessing game until they were actually born.   We had a little boy, Bryan, who was 2 years old, and I wanted a little girl but would have been happy too if Bryan had a little brother to play with.   I just wanted a healthy baby.   So all the preparations went in to welcoming this new baby to our family.  Could I possibly love this child as much as I loved Bryan?   What would he or she look like?  Would he or she be a good baby?  I had been spoiled because Bryan slept through the night by the time he was 6 weeks old.   I didn't know all babies don't do that.

My doctor, Dr. Clover, decided to schedule me to be induced because he was going to be gone for a week and he knew I was very nervous and wanted him to be there.  So I went to the hospital on or shortly after our baby's due date.   Things progressed along as they should.  At one point, they decided to give me a drug to help with the pain and shortly after they did things moved along very quickly and the baby decided it was time to come.

I was rushed into an operating room and Marv had to put on all kinds of hospital attire so he could witness the birth.   I remember hearing the doctor and nurses talking about the drug they had given me and hoped the baby would be okay.  The baby needed some help so Dr. Clover used forceps to help deliver the baby.  She was born sunny side up and was having a hard time wanting to be awake because of the drug they had given me.  It apparently went right into her system.

I was so excited to know did I have a boy or a girl.  I was told I had a beautiful little girl.  She didn't want to cry at first and so they just held her up for me to see and whisked her to a place in the operating room to work on.  I kept saying, "Is she okay?"  but no one would answer me.  They finished taking care of me and I guess they took her off to the nursery where they could take care of her because they said I would see her in a little while.

So our sweet baby girl, Christie Lynne Paxton,  was born on November 28, 1978,  at the Cottonwood Hospital in Murray, Utah.   We her parents, Marvin Lee Paxton and Vickie Lynne Hayes were so excited to have a little girl because now we had a boy and a girl.   She had blonde hair and not very much of it.  She also was very pale.  She weighed 6 lbs 12 oz and was 21 inches long.  She was a sleepy little baby.

It was a very long time before I ever got to hold my new baby girl.  They kept telling me it would be awhile.   When I had my first baby, Bryan, I was able to hold and snuggle him from the start and he was given to me really soon after I had been put in my room for as long as I wanted him there.  This was a new experience for me not to see my baby.

When they finally brought her to me many hours after delivery, I was finally told that she had been having a hard time because of the drug they had given me and it had caused her to be sleepy.  They told me to try to nurse her but she wasn't too willing to do that either.  I totally unwrapped her to make her wake up but to no avail.

We stayed in the hospital for a few days until they thought it was safe for her to go home.  Even after we got home we had hospital nurses calling to check on her a few times a day to see if she was starting to wake up more and nursing.   After we got home, she was starting to do better every day.  Maybe that is why she hated drugs so much throughout her life.  Ha Ha!

One funny experience I had while I was in the hospital with her was that Al Hunt, a good friend of Marv's, came to the hospital with a big bouquet of roses for me.  They let him back to see me thinking he was my husband.  I was so surprised to see him.  It was a fun surprise.  Back then the only people who could come to your room was your spouse but I guess when he had the bouquet of flowers and they didn't ask if he was my husband, he didn't have to say it wasn't and got to come say hello. 

Her big brother, Bryan, was so excited to see her when she came home for the hospital.  He was a good big brother and loved her.   See how sweet he is to her.  We lived on Carl Circle in Bennion, Utah, when she was born.  I think my mother was at our home when  I went to the hospital because she would have known that I was being induced on a certain day.  Always so grateful for a mother that came to help.  I don't know what I would have done without her.   She always stayed at least a week after I had the baby to help me get some rest.

The answers to my questions at the first of this post were definitely answered.  Yes, I could love her as much as I loved Bryan.  She came with her own unique qualities but I found a mother's heart has plenty of love for all her children.  What did she look like?  Well she was very fair in her skin color like her Dad and Bryan had more of an olive tone to his skin, more like me and my side of the family.  So they were both very different but both very special and loved.  Was she a good baby?  She was pretty good and she did start sleeping through the night by the time she was 6 to 8 weeks old.  She did cry more than Bryan especially if she was hungry.  All in all she too was an easy baby to have around.

Bryan with Christie when she came home.  He sure loved his new little sister.

Mom with Christie and Bryan just home from the hospital.  Flowers are from Marv.

The above picture shows her Uncle Michael (Hayes) holding her with Bryan standing and her Great Uncle Les smiling by Bryan.  She is loved by many.

This was her blessing day.  Her dress was given to her by a lady I worked with at the attorney's office.  It was white with little pink flowers on it.  She looked so cute.

Marv, Vickie with Bryan and Christie on her blessing day at their  home in  Bennion, Utah.

Bryan and Christie with Grandpa Robert E. Hayes and Grandma DeVola King Hayes after Christie came home from hospital.  They lived in Preston, Idaho at the time.

  

Grandma Hayes (DeVola King) with Christie.  Why are you crying Christie?  You loved Grandma Hayes.  It must have been dinner time because she always got cranky around dinner time.  

Christie and Bryan with Aunt Vi (King) and Uncle Les (Nuhn).  Aunt Vi is her Grandma Hayes's Sister.  Vi raised Grandma Hayes from the age of 2 when their mother passed away so she was more like a grandma to us then an aunt.  This was right after she came home from the hospital.  They lived in Layton, Utah.

People in the above story and pictures

• Christie Lynne Paxton Perkins b. 28 November 1978, Murray, Utah; d. 26 April 2018, Cedar City, Utah
• Vickie Lynne Hayes Paxton (mother) b. 30 Dec 1953, American Fork, Utah; 
• Marvin Lee Paxton (father) b. 21 April 1948, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Bryan Lee Paxton (brother) b. 16 September 1976, Aberdeen, South Dakota
• DeVola King Hayes (grandmother) b. 21 March 1930, North Logan, Utah; d. 11 October 2007, Layton, Utah
• Robert Eskelson Hayes (grandfather) b. 29 July 1930, Rupert, Idaho; d. 22 April 2013, Swan Lake, Idaho
• Michael David Hayes (uncle) b. 15 Dec 1967, Logan, Utah
• Violet King Nuhn (great aunt) b. 15 September 1914, North Logan, Utah; d. 18 Mar 2006, Roy, Utah
• Leslie Carvel Nuhn (great uncle) b. 20 July 1920, Providence, Utah; d. 14 January 2004, Layton, Utah

.  

Scott Finally Arrives

I was beginning to wonder if I would ever deliver this child.  His original due date was January 15 and now it was February 12.   I guess he wanted to do things on his own terms and I believe he must have been busy enjoying family on the other side and learning so much and trying to teach his mother patience.  Scott has a fun loving personality and so I am guessing he was in the middle of some amazing game or activity, when they finally said, "You need to go now."

For about a week before Scott was born I had been having dreams that he and I would die during his delivery.  It seemed that every time I would close my eyes I would have that horrible dream.  I really wanted this baby and I wanted him to be okay.  He and Christie were only 14 months apart in age but I knew there was a reason for him to come to us.

My parents were visiting me from Idaho a day or two before he was born and I told them about my dreams.  I asked my father to give me a blessing and he did.  The dreams went away and I knew he was going to be okay.  My mother had come to help with the kids because the doctor was going to induce me if I didn't have the baby in the next day or two.   But after the blessing, I started having contractions in the middle of the night and so we went to the hospital in the morning.   Do I believe in the power of priesthood blessings?  Yes, I do!

When we got to the hospital, there was a lady before me that her baby had died inside of her and she was still having to go through all the delivery process.  I felt so bad for her and at that moment, I didn't care how bad it was going to be because I knew my baby was alive inside of me.   They tried to send me home and so I had to walk the halls even though my contractions were about 3 to 5 minutes apart.  I was determined not to go home.  They finally admitted me and got hold of my doctor, Dr. Clover.  With the help of forceps he eventually was delivered.  Thank heavens for doctors and equipment to help with my delivery.

So our Scott Anthony Paxton made his grand entry into this world on February 12, 1980, at the Cottonwood Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the help of Dr. Clover.  He weighed 7 lbs 13 oz. and was 21" long.

He and I were both relatively okay.  His head was cone shaped but that would return to normal and I had a few problems because my uterus did not want to contract like it should and so I had a few bleeding problems.  But we were both alive and going to recover. 

So glad my mom was there to take care of the kids and to stay to help me when I came home from the hospital.  I don't know what I would have done without my wonderful mother.

Christie, Scott on Bryan's lap in our house in Bennion, Utah

Bryan Lee Paxton, Scott Anthony Paxton, Christie Lynne Paxton sitting on Grandma Dee's lap (DeVola King Hayes)

I remember when Vauna and Lisa came to see Scott and me in the hospital, Lisa made the comment that I didn't look like I had had the baby yet because my stomach was still huge but that was because of the problems I was having.  I felt bad but there was nothing I could do about it and she had never had a child and didn't know any better.  Eventually things returned to normal.  I know all the relatives were worried about Scott's head but I guess I just couldn't see it and didn't know why they were worried.

Grandma Paxton (Vauna Leany Paxton) with Scott

I was so excited to welcome this little baby boy into our home.  He was a good baby and very loving.   He was welcomed by a big brother, Bryan, age 3, and big sister, Christie, age 14 months.  It seemed any time I needed to feed Scott, Christie wanted to be sitting in my lap too.  Bryan was a good big brother and helped get diapers and things for me.  I was a very busy mom with three little kids at the age of 3 and under.

Christie, Bryan and Scott with my Aunt Vi King Nuhn  (whom I call Grandma) and Uncle Les Nuhn

People in story and pictures:

• Scott Anthony Paxton b. 12 February, 1980, Murray, Utah
• Christie Lynne Paxton Perkins (Sister) b. 28 November 1978, Murray, Utah; d. 26 April 2018, Cedar City, Utah
• Vickie Lynne Hayes Paxton (mother) b. 30 Dec 1953, American Fork, Utah; 
• Marvin Lee Paxton (father) b. 21 April 1948, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Bryan Lee Paxton (brother) b. 16 September 1976, Aberdeen, South Dakota
• DeVola King Hayes (grandmother) b. 21 March 1930, North Logan, Utah; d. 11 October 2007, Layton, Utah
• Robert Eskelson Hayes (grandfather) b. 29 July 1930, Rupert, Idaho; d. 22 April 2013, Swan Lake, Idaho
• Violet King Nuhn (great aunt) b. 15 September 1914, North Logan, Utah; d. 18 Mar 2006, Roy, Utah
• Leslie Carvel Nuhn (great uncle) b. 20 July 1920, Providence, Utah; d. 14 January 2004, Layton, Utah
• Vauna Mae Leany Paxton (grandmother) b. 30 May 1923, Hurricane, Utah; d. 14 December 2014, Salt Lake City, Utah
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