February 7, 2017
July 6, 2012
TESTIMONY OF LAMAR S. WILLIAMS -
The Testimony of LaMar Williams given on
July 1st, 1979 in the Paradise 1st ward Sacrament Meeting.
Brothers and Sisters, I was just thinking that where ever you go in this church you can feel at home. It matters not, you can step into this chapel although we've not been here before and feel like we've always been here. Perhaps it's the spirit that radiates from the members and the fact that you are associating with people that have the same ideals and the same principles. It was rather strange as my wife and I was riding on a bus over in Austria, just sightseeing, from Berchtesgaden over into Austria, and someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Are you a Mormon?" and I turned around and there was a young couple behind us, never seen them before.
As my wife and I stepped off the train in Chicago with our two oldest children to fulfill a mission in Lansing, Michigan, there were hundreds of people stepping off that Union Pacific train; platform was crowded, and two young men came right up to my wife and I and put out their hand, "Brother Williams", I said, "How did you know?" "We've never missed yet!" And you can identify them, my wife and I met several hundred missionaries as they arrived in the mission field a few years ago and you could pick them out every time, they just look different. They have a certain glow about them, a certain appearance, a certain radiance that you can't miss.
I little realized, as a boy, that in a little Idaho farming town, in fact I grew up and graduated from high school without going more than a few miles from my home, except for two occasions. But I little realized as I lived there that I would know some of the prophets of the Church. I was greatly honored as a young man to be ordained a High Priest by Joseph Fielding Smith, a member of the Council of the twelve. I didn't know at that time, in Idaho, that I would live to be his bishop when he was the prophet of the Lord. I was greatly blessed by the Lord to know personally five of the prophets.
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| President George Albert Smith |
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| Pres. Harold B. Lee |
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| Pres. David O. McKay |
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| Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith |
President Joseph Fielding Smith was truly a Prophet of our Heavenly Father. And just six years ago tomorrow, the 2nd of July, it was in a fast meeting similar to this, in the 18th ward, President Smith was seated at my right, I being his Bishop, and we stood to sing the National Anthem at the conclusion of our testimony meeting. And he sang it very vigorously, he loved to sing with Jessie and she was seated, no, she'd passed away by now, he was alone. He was there with his daughter, Bruce R. McConkie's wife, she'd brought him. I walked down the aisle with him, put him in his car, he took his hat off and as he sat on the front seat and the door was open after he'd entered the car, I handed him his black hat. It was upside down and inside in the band was the initials J.F S., Joseph Fielding Smith. He pointed at it, looked up at me and I said, "President Smith, that is a better brand than a Stetson." He smiled and nodded his head and put it on his head at the time. I closed the door and that was the last time I saw him alive. That evening, July 2, I went up to his home where he was staying and there he was on the cot, or the couch, in the front room, everything but his black hat on, his shoes, his suit, his tie, white shirt and all, he'd passed away in a matter of about five minutes and was lying there. They'd put him on the front room sofa. In the next room was President Lee and some of the brethren, the councilors to the First Presidency, and they were arranging for his funeral and being his Bishop, I was invited to come up. Wonderful experience, though, to be where the Spirit of the Lord was. These men are truly Prophets of our Heavenly Father.
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| Pres. Spencer W. Kimball |
All I want to do is testify to you that I know they are prophets of Heavenly Father. They're men just like we are. They may have some failings, but God has chosen them to be his servants. And it is a great honor and a privilege to know them and to sustain them and to love them, and to know in your heart that God has called them to be his servants here upon the earth, each one of them. All of the Presidents of this church have been prophets, and Spencer W. Kimball has been perhaps the greatest since the days of the Prophet Joseph in all the things that he has brought to pass, the new revelations and all that he has done for our Heavenly Father's children because he has loved them all. And he's opened the doors so that all might have a fullness of the Gospel based upon our character. Brothers and sisters, the Gospel is a set of rules, the most perfect set of rules every devised by which we can develop a perfect character and the church is the only organization on earth fully qualified to help us prepare to enter our Heavenly Father's kingdom after having developed a perfect character. We all have a common goal. Let us live the Gospel, let us put our trust in the Lord. Let us exercise our faith and support of our Heavenly Father's servants. I testify that they are truly men of God, and I do it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Post note:
LaMar also knew well President Ezra Taft Benson -
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| Pres. Ezra Taft Benson |
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| Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley |
January 31, 2011
MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES OF LAMAR S. WILLIAMS
I was set apart as Stake Mission President of the Riverside Stake in the 1950’s by Elder Harold B. Lee and Elder Mark E. Peterson who were then members of the Quorum of the Twelve. In that blessing I was compared to father Lehi as it pertains to missionary activity. He referred to my past missionary activity and indicated that it would be influential in the lives of my children and that they would carry on and spread the Gospel accordingly. I was assigned to develop the flannel board presentation which was used throughout the world by all of the missionaries, both State and Foreign. I designed them and Roger put them together while employed by Hiller Book Binding Company on Third West and Sixth North. Dorothy Handley was the artist I employed to prepare all of the colored pictures. I worked for Tom Monson who was then working for Deseret News in printing the pictures and the script used in presenting the lessons.
I had thirty-one missionaries assigned in our stake. For several weeks we met during the evening three times a week and spent our entire time memorizing the lessons and practicing the use of the flannel board. I would pair them off in various areas of the Stake Center for this activity. We divided up the Stake into small areas and indicated the homes and addresses of the non-members on three-by-five cards. We planned a huge dinner with the support of the Bishops and the auxiliary heads for all the non-members in the stake. We knocked on all the doors of the non-members and invited them to attend. One hundred and eleven responded. After the roast beef dinner we had a forty-five minute program of exceptionally good talent. Then Elder Mark E. Peterson spoke for twenty minutes to those who attended which numbered over three hundred. The missionaries followed through teaching these families and at the conclusion of the year instead of the usual seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen baptisms; we had ninety-three. This performance was repeated each year with the least number of baptisms being fifty-six. When I was released the missionary work reverted back to the usual style and the numbering of converts returned to normal.
During this time I was the High Councilman assigned to missionary work and other dealings with the Nigerian program where I was set apart as Presiding Elder of Nigeria by President David O. McKay, Hugh B. Brown and Henry D. Moyle.
I made three unsuccessful trips to this country but met and taught the Gospel too many hundreds, some of whom were baptized and are attending school at the B.Y.U. and elsewhere.
For years I supervised the baptismal services of all the Stakes in the Salt Lake Valley which were held in the Tabernacle. There were more than thirty Stakes each taking their turn weekly in conducting the services. I was asked to make out the schedule as well as submit a recommendation that the service to be held each Wednesday night at six o’clock. There were usually fifteen or twenty baptisms with one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty attending from the various stakes.
On Sunday evening at 8:00 P.M. the missionaries and members would invite their non-member friends to attend a one hour lecture to be held in the Stake Center. I would give a series of seven lessons with the flannel board and then hold a baptismal service for those desiring baptism. One young lady called me on the telephone and asked if she could bring her boyfriend to the meetings after hearing what we were doing in our Stake. I informed her that she would be most welcome even though she lived several miles out of our Stake boundary. After seven weeks I baptized him even though he had been raised in a Catholic convent as an orphan child. She was about twenty and he was thirty-one. The following Sunday they accompanied me to a fireside where he bore his testimony. Then Later that evening out on the lawn, I informed him that in the church they could be married in a civil marriage and one year later be sealed in the temple. He looked at me in front of the group and asked the question, “Shouldn’t something as important as this be done correctly?” I said; “Yes, if you feel you can wait that long”. He said, “We will do it”. A year later I received a knock at the front door of our home on 8th West and there stood this young couple holding hands, and he said, “We only wanted to report that we were married in the temple today as we promised you we would.” Since that time he has been a ward clerk and served in the bishopric in the Rose Park area.
We are holding such firesides also here in the mission field in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On the last Sunday Evening, June 5th, the Second Ward here in Baton Rouge asked me to speak on the same subject as I had previously talked on while giving lessons years ago. There were about one hundred present. We showed two films and I gave a synopsis of the Godhead, Apostasy and Restoration, Book of Mormon, and Plan of Salvation lessons contained in the Pillars of Truth; a booklet that I had published. There were a number of non-member guests who have requested further instruction in the Gospel. Prior to the time I was acting as Stake Mission President and I had a young married man who held the office of a priest as my home teaching companion. One of our families the father was a deacon whose wife was a non-member. She would not let us enter the home, denying that they had membership in the church. I went to their home upon three occasions. The third time she opened the door and said, “I told you we are not members of the church and I don’t want anything to do with you,” and slammed the door in my face. After that my companion John Devrome would not go to the door. About four or five months later I received a note to have the one offering the closing prayer in a meeting to remember Joe Whitaker since he was seriously ill. Immediately following Sunday school I got in touch with my home teaching companion and we went to the home thinking that the wife had made the request. She had forgotten who we were and opened the door and let us in when I mentioned what had happened she said that it was not her request but her neighbor’s request. I had nothing to do with it. I then asked if we could see her husband as long as we were there and she said that she didn’t think that it would hurt. We entered his bedroom only to find that his brother was a High Priest in the church was sitting in a chair beside him. He was suffering from a severe heart pain. I asked him if he would like to be administered to and he said that he certainly would. He said,” anything to get rid of this pain”. Since my companion did not hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, I asked his brother if he did and he said; “yes,” so he anointed his head and I sealed the anointing. Shortly after we left for home and did not hear anymore until the next week when my wife, Nyal, received a telephone call to go to the Whitaker’s. I did not feel the urgency because of their reluctance to receive us as home teachers and so I finished hoeing in my garden and changed my clothes and about an hour later I knocked on their front door with my companion only to find that she was pacing the floor; being very upset that I had taken my time to come when she had called. We went in and administered to Brother Whitaker following which he received a relief of pain. I was informed that shortly thereafter we had done this the week before, the chest pains left and had not retuned until that Thursday evening at which time rather than call the doctor she called the Elders. Thereafter she always called on the Priesthood. Later when we returned on our regular home teaching rounds we visited their home while there was a boxing match on and while the rounds were going on I leaned over to her and asked her when she was going to be baptized and she told me that she had been waiting for me to ask her. I baptized her and later her daughter and granddaughter who lived next door. She became the visual aid director of the 28th ward and held that position until she passed away. Her husband passed away about six months after she was baptized.
I had another experience during the time I was serving in the Stake Mission in Salt Lake. I had previously discovered that the Stake Missionaries had not held a cottage meeting in six months. One of my Stake Missionaries was Girard Kipp, a Dutch convert of the church. He was a grave digger at the city cemetery in Salt Lake and came to our meetings in his work clothes and unkempt hair and most of his teeth missing. He could not learn the lessons and so wrote them on sheets of paper and read them to those who would listen. I received an invitation to go with him one evening to teach a Mrs. Farr who belonged to the Catholic Church. I discovered that she was a well educated woman living in a lovely home in 29th Ward. She wanted me to give her the Book of Mormon lesson with illustrations on the flannel board. At the conclusion of our meeting she turned to me and said; “I don’t want you to come to my place again.” This was rather embarrassing for a few moments until she further explained, “Until I am baptized”. She further stated that, “for the first time I am able to understand what he has been trying to teach me”. She indicated that he would read the lessons to her. She said that it wasn’t I that had converted her but it was Girard Kipp. It was so difficult for him to teach me and he was so sincere that I knew he had to be right; no matter what it was.” She said, “That he would even come to me and ask me how to pronounce the words and I would practically have to teach myself”. He sat there smiling, but I knew that the Spirit of the Lord had worked through him and had touched her heart because of his willingness to serve and to teach under a great handicap. She was baptized and later became the President of the Primary in her ward and is now a very faithful and well read member of the church.
Upon one occasion after mother and I were married and Marilyn was about five years of age and we lived in a ward area with about 1,000 members; 41 of whom were non-members. This was in Iona, Idaho. I wanted to do some missionary work on my own while holding five other jobs down in the ward. I was supervisor of the Aaronic Priesthood and a Sunday school teacher. They would not call me as a Stake Missionary because I was too busy so I decided to do a little missionary work on the side on my own. I had five nights of the week that I wanted to work since it was during the summertime and the farming community did not have any church activity at this particular time. I chose my next door neighbor Ray Burnam who was a Seventh Day Adventist as one of the families. He smoked, drank and used profanity and had fought the church for thirty one years; I also chose the Louck family with seven children, and a Japanese family who had two daughters attending the school where I was teaching. I visited each one of these families at least one night a week without missing and in 32 weeks I had baptized 17 person
I had thirty-one missionaries assigned in our stake. For several weeks we met during the evening three times a week and spent our entire time memorizing the lessons and practicing the use of the flannel board. I would pair them off in various areas of the Stake Center for this activity. We divided up the Stake into small areas and indicated the homes and addresses of the non-members on three-by-five cards. We planned a huge dinner with the support of the Bishops and the auxiliary heads for all the non-members in the stake. We knocked on all the doors of the non-members and invited them to attend. One hundred and eleven responded. After the roast beef dinner we had a forty-five minute program of exceptionally good talent. Then Elder Mark E. Peterson spoke for twenty minutes to those who attended which numbered over three hundred. The missionaries followed through teaching these families and at the conclusion of the year instead of the usual seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen baptisms; we had ninety-three. This performance was repeated each year with the least number of baptisms being fifty-six. When I was released the missionary work reverted back to the usual style and the numbering of converts returned to normal.
During this time I was the High Councilman assigned to missionary work and other dealings with the Nigerian program where I was set apart as Presiding Elder of Nigeria by President David O. McKay, Hugh B. Brown and Henry D. Moyle.
I made three unsuccessful trips to this country but met and taught the Gospel too many hundreds, some of whom were baptized and are attending school at the B.Y.U. and elsewhere.
For years I supervised the baptismal services of all the Stakes in the Salt Lake Valley which were held in the Tabernacle. There were more than thirty Stakes each taking their turn weekly in conducting the services. I was asked to make out the schedule as well as submit a recommendation that the service to be held each Wednesday night at six o’clock. There were usually fifteen or twenty baptisms with one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty attending from the various stakes.
On Sunday evening at 8:00 P.M. the missionaries and members would invite their non-member friends to attend a one hour lecture to be held in the Stake Center. I would give a series of seven lessons with the flannel board and then hold a baptismal service for those desiring baptism. One young lady called me on the telephone and asked if she could bring her boyfriend to the meetings after hearing what we were doing in our Stake. I informed her that she would be most welcome even though she lived several miles out of our Stake boundary. After seven weeks I baptized him even though he had been raised in a Catholic convent as an orphan child. She was about twenty and he was thirty-one. The following Sunday they accompanied me to a fireside where he bore his testimony. Then Later that evening out on the lawn, I informed him that in the church they could be married in a civil marriage and one year later be sealed in the temple. He looked at me in front of the group and asked the question, “Shouldn’t something as important as this be done correctly?” I said; “Yes, if you feel you can wait that long”. He said, “We will do it”. A year later I received a knock at the front door of our home on 8th West and there stood this young couple holding hands, and he said, “We only wanted to report that we were married in the temple today as we promised you we would.” Since that time he has been a ward clerk and served in the bishopric in the Rose Park area.
We are holding such firesides also here in the mission field in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On the last Sunday Evening, June 5th, the Second Ward here in Baton Rouge asked me to speak on the same subject as I had previously talked on while giving lessons years ago. There were about one hundred present. We showed two films and I gave a synopsis of the Godhead, Apostasy and Restoration, Book of Mormon, and Plan of Salvation lessons contained in the Pillars of Truth; a booklet that I had published. There were a number of non-member guests who have requested further instruction in the Gospel. Prior to the time I was acting as Stake Mission President and I had a young married man who held the office of a priest as my home teaching companion. One of our families the father was a deacon whose wife was a non-member. She would not let us enter the home, denying that they had membership in the church. I went to their home upon three occasions. The third time she opened the door and said, “I told you we are not members of the church and I don’t want anything to do with you,” and slammed the door in my face. After that my companion John Devrome would not go to the door. About four or five months later I received a note to have the one offering the closing prayer in a meeting to remember Joe Whitaker since he was seriously ill. Immediately following Sunday school I got in touch with my home teaching companion and we went to the home thinking that the wife had made the request. She had forgotten who we were and opened the door and let us in when I mentioned what had happened she said that it was not her request but her neighbor’s request. I had nothing to do with it. I then asked if we could see her husband as long as we were there and she said that she didn’t think that it would hurt. We entered his bedroom only to find that his brother was a High Priest in the church was sitting in a chair beside him. He was suffering from a severe heart pain. I asked him if he would like to be administered to and he said that he certainly would. He said,” anything to get rid of this pain”. Since my companion did not hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, I asked his brother if he did and he said; “yes,” so he anointed his head and I sealed the anointing. Shortly after we left for home and did not hear anymore until the next week when my wife, Nyal, received a telephone call to go to the Whitaker’s. I did not feel the urgency because of their reluctance to receive us as home teachers and so I finished hoeing in my garden and changed my clothes and about an hour later I knocked on their front door with my companion only to find that she was pacing the floor; being very upset that I had taken my time to come when she had called. We went in and administered to Brother Whitaker following which he received a relief of pain. I was informed that shortly thereafter we had done this the week before, the chest pains left and had not retuned until that Thursday evening at which time rather than call the doctor she called the Elders. Thereafter she always called on the Priesthood. Later when we returned on our regular home teaching rounds we visited their home while there was a boxing match on and while the rounds were going on I leaned over to her and asked her when she was going to be baptized and she told me that she had been waiting for me to ask her. I baptized her and later her daughter and granddaughter who lived next door. She became the visual aid director of the 28th ward and held that position until she passed away. Her husband passed away about six months after she was baptized.
I had another experience during the time I was serving in the Stake Mission in Salt Lake. I had previously discovered that the Stake Missionaries had not held a cottage meeting in six months. One of my Stake Missionaries was Girard Kipp, a Dutch convert of the church. He was a grave digger at the city cemetery in Salt Lake and came to our meetings in his work clothes and unkempt hair and most of his teeth missing. He could not learn the lessons and so wrote them on sheets of paper and read them to those who would listen. I received an invitation to go with him one evening to teach a Mrs. Farr who belonged to the Catholic Church. I discovered that she was a well educated woman living in a lovely home in 29th Ward. She wanted me to give her the Book of Mormon lesson with illustrations on the flannel board. At the conclusion of our meeting she turned to me and said; “I don’t want you to come to my place again.” This was rather embarrassing for a few moments until she further explained, “Until I am baptized”. She further stated that, “for the first time I am able to understand what he has been trying to teach me”. She indicated that he would read the lessons to her. She said that it wasn’t I that had converted her but it was Girard Kipp. It was so difficult for him to teach me and he was so sincere that I knew he had to be right; no matter what it was.” She said, “That he would even come to me and ask me how to pronounce the words and I would practically have to teach myself”. He sat there smiling, but I knew that the Spirit of the Lord had worked through him and had touched her heart because of his willingness to serve and to teach under a great handicap. She was baptized and later became the President of the Primary in her ward and is now a very faithful and well read member of the church.
Upon one occasion after mother and I were married and Marilyn was about five years of age and we lived in a ward area with about 1,000 members; 41 of whom were non-members. This was in Iona, Idaho. I wanted to do some missionary work on my own while holding five other jobs down in the ward. I was supervisor of the Aaronic Priesthood and a Sunday school teacher. They would not call me as a Stake Missionary because I was too busy so I decided to do a little missionary work on the side on my own. I had five nights of the week that I wanted to work since it was during the summertime and the farming community did not have any church activity at this particular time. I chose my next door neighbor Ray Burnam who was a Seventh Day Adventist as one of the families. He smoked, drank and used profanity and had fought the church for thirty one years; I also chose the Louck family with seven children, and a Japanese family who had two daughters attending the school where I was teaching. I visited each one of these families at least one night a week without missing and in 32 weeks I had baptized 17 person
October 7, 2010
LIFE HISTORY OF LAMAR STEVENSON WILLIAMS -
LIFE HISTORY OF LAMAR STEVENSON WILLIAMS
COMBINED HISTORY BY
HIS WIFE NYAL BOWEN WILLIAMS AND HIS SON BRUCE CALL WILLIAMS
HIS WIFE NYAL BOWEN WILLIAMS AND HIS SON BRUCE CALL WILLIAMS
LaMar was born December 4, 1911 in Groveland, Bingham Co. Idaho to Peter Joan and Elosia Call Williams. He was number six in the family and the first son. His mother passed away just fifteen days after his eighth birthday. Her last words to him were, “if I live, I will be your little brother.” He had wanted so much to have a brother. Fortunately, as time would have it, he did have a step brother after his father remarried. He had that dream come true.
As a child he loved to go fishing with his Father down in the river beds at American Falls dam and also on the Blackfoot river. He always valued and enjoyed his father’s companionship as they worked together on their large irrigated farm; planting, cultivating, weeding, irrigating and harvesting their crops. He especially liked to go with his father to get wood for their winter fuel. They cut and hauled it by wagon loads from a far distance away. He used to herd cows through hot summer days on his “Indian Pony, Billy.” They had a dairy herd of 12 cows and he and his sister, Alta would deliver the milk, cream and butter to the customers while their father drove the two seated model T. Ford.
He loved to go “Rabbit Hunting” with his shot-gun out on the sand hills, northeast of Blackfoot. In summertime he often went swimming in the old swimming hole, where he and his friends had rigged up a diving board. Many of the stories sounded much like the Adventure of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. I am sure that to them they were just as exciting.
When he was 12 years old he was given the job of custodian of the ward chapel by the Bishop of the ward. His father became Bishop of the ward while he was still working there. At that time the buildings were heated with wood and coal stoves. They had a small potbelly stove in the chapel and each classroom. LaMar assignment was to arrive early enough in the morning to stoke up those fires and keep them going through the meetings. Of course he was required to be in attendance at all meetings in the cold seasons to have the fires built and the chapel heated and to attend to other matters of maintenance.
He tells a story of the first airplane he ever saw and how the Pilot made a landing about one and a half miles south of Blackfoot. He also told that when it rained hard enough to stop the farm work they could come in out of the field and rest and listen to the rain patter on the roof. These were happy occasions.
LaMar remembers as a child of the whole family and relatives going on trips to Brigham City. They traveled by a Model T Ford and it would take several days to make the trip and would also necessitate camping along the way. They often rode in a buggy which was called a White-top, a two seated horse drawn carriage with a white canvas covering the enclosure against possible inclement weather. It was similar in appearance to the stage coach, minus the high seat up front for the driver.
After graduating from high school in 1930, LaMar entered the University of Idaho at Moscow, Idaho. He was selected to represent the men’s organization of the L.D.S. Institute in the Service organization on Campus called the “Intercollegiate Knights; (“patterned after The Order of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table”) during the 1930 – 31 school years. The following year he transferred to the Southern Branch in Pocatello for the years of 1931-33. While there he organized the first Chapter of Intercollegiate Knights on the campus and served as “Honorable Duke” or President of the chapter for the following 2 years. Only top students and officers were invited to become members.
Jobs were very scarce the summer of 1933 and LaMar signed up with the Civilian Conservation Corps and was sent out to Salmon Idaho; up in the beautiful scenic Sawtooth Mountain Range to a large new encampment at Spring Creek. They worked as Foresters, planting trees, building roads, fighting forest fires and just general improvement and up grading the forest lands.
He met and made many new friends and soon had an M.I.A. organized among the young men of the camp. Some of the V.I.P.s who attended regularly was Dr. Charles O. Rich, Dr. Peginelli, Captain Rogers and Captain Sage.
Before long LaMar was made Mess Sergeant of the group and his duties were the purchasing of all the food, the supervising all of the cooks and K.P’s; making up menus for the camp and the lunches for all the firefighters. There were about 200 to 300 men most of the time.
On their time off the men could go fishing on Squaw Creek or Indian Creek. These creeks were swift running streams and filled with fish. There was also ideal hiking in any direction; (just spot your land marks then don’t lose sight of them!) in this country it wasn’t difficult to get lost. There are many old Ghost towns to explore that once were prosperous and thriving mining towns. Gold mining was once very popular in those mountains. The Salmon river winds in and out through the Sawtooth Mountains like a shimmering silver ribbon and right on through and perpendicular to the main street of the modest but beautiful old town of Salmon City. For certain it is one of the last of its kind still remaining on the Western frontier. LaMar had a whole book of tales to tell about the big fish that were caught in that area.
LaMar was introduced to Nyal by his sister, Janet. Both Janet and Nyal were student nurses and were roommates. After a very short courtship they were married Mar. 2, 1934 in the Logan Temple. They returned to Salmon and resided there at the CCC camp until September when he resumed his studies at Southern Branch in Pocatello. He worked part time at Peterson Furniture Store. On February 23, 1935 Marilyn was born at the St. Anthony Hospital in Pocatello. In the spring we moved to Shelley, Idaho and took over a Wesco gas station. That fall LaMar got a contract to teach in Wapello. Their home has since been taken down. It was a small house with no running water, electricity, or bathroom.
In the summer of 1937 he signed a contract to teach in Iona, Idaho. On October 20, 1937 Laddy was born at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Idaho Falls and shortly after we moved to Iona LaMar was called to be a counselor to Bishop Bruce Olsen while there. LaMar taught at Iona for 4 years and was principal at Dehlin for one year.
When we lived in Iona, as a project of his own and self-appointed; he taught and baptized 17 of the remaining non-members in that community. Shortly afterward was called to the Northern States. The work in Iona created the slogan, “Every Member a Missionary”.
It 1940 the family was called on a mission to the Northern States. This was a short term mission and we took Marilyn and Laddy along to help. Laddy tracked with LaMar on one side of the street in Lansing, Michigan and Marilyn and I on the opposite side. We were convinced that we got the message into many homes because of the children that we couldn’t have done otherwise. This experience gave birth to the main thing that runs through Lamar’s entire life and that is of course Missionary work.
While teaching at Dehlin in late November in the winter of 1941; we were snowed out. We closed the school and decided to go to Provo to attend B.Y.U. We arrived there 7 days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
During this time LaMar had some knee problems so Nyal wrote a letter a friend who was the President of the Alberta Temple.
We rented a small apartment on the 3rd floor of an old student housing complex where I baked bread in a very old camp stove for us and the other students in the building. The B.Y.U. training school was just across the street. Marilyn entered second grade and Laddy, Pre-Kindergarten. He went to A.M. school and in the afternoons went with his dad to his Zoology Lab. on upper campus. He learned very young how to dissect frogs and toads. Remember it was war time and there were no vacancies in Nursery schools. This is the only way we could work ourselves through school.
During the war years LaMar taught Architectural drawing at Utah Vocational School in Provo and worked at Geneva Steel as Chief Filing Clerk for Mid West Pipe and Supply. He also worked for a year as an Engineer in the Drafting Department of Geneva Steel Co. He did all this while he continued with his classes at B.Y.U
LaMar graduated with a Bachelors Degree from BYU and then went to work on his Masters Degree. He did 2 years of graduate work in School Administration and Religious Education during the year of 1940 and 41. Pres. Franklin Harris of B.Y.U. called me to his office and told me I could have free tuition the same as the regular nurse, Lucille Thorps. He said, “Take anything you want just don’t load too heavy.” So I thanked him and went back to school.
On Dec. 21, 1942 Bruce was born at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo. We were living in a basement apartment owned by Dr. Kelly at that time. Later on we moved from Dr. Kelly’s to a two story frame home nearer to the upper campus.
In 1943 LaMar applied for a Seminary job but got a job with Deseret Book Co. in S.L.C. instead. In 1944 on July 31 Gloria was born in Idaho Falls at the Sacred Heart Hospital. On January 29, 1946 Roger Lee was born at the Utah Valley Hospital in Provo.
One of the hobbies that LaMar enjoyed was inventing things. He made many items through the years and would market them. He would also have his children go door to door selling some of these items.
During this time, LaMar’s sister Janet passed away. He loved his sisters so much and since he was the only boy for many years he was especially close to his sisters.
LaMar at this time had invented a Salt and Pepper Shaker and received attention on this invention. These Salt and Pepper Shakers are now in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.
In 1947 “Church Centennial year, we moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. LaMar was still with Deseret Book Co. filming with Frank Wise. We moved to a huge old pioneer home in Sugar House, a house with 5 fireplaces. Bruce recalls as younger children when we went on vacations we would talk about that home. The Landlady’s name was Aunt Minerva. We used to think she was a witch. She was not pleasant to live with or in the same house with. Then we moved into a large house near the old penitentiary. The following spring we moved out of that house and moved into a Red Bricked home LaMar bought on 8th West and 4th North in the Rose Park area. This was our home for many years.
LaMar filmed, “The Stick of Joseph;” which is in the Book of Mormon film used throughout the missions of the church for many years. Roger recalls that they were some of the characters that were filmed in this production. He had been busy constantly upgrading and improving the missionary methods and inventing and creating new missionary tools, equipment and etc., plus helps for the Seventies and missionaries. During this time LaMar invented the first small missionary flannel board to be used for Missionary discussions.
June 8, 1948 Michael Jay was born at the L.D.S. hospital in Salt Lake City. LaMar was still working at Deseret Book in the filming department. In 1949 at the request of Gordon B. Hinckley, LaMar left Deseret Book Co. and went across the street into the Church Offices and became the 2nd member of the Church Missionary Department. Steven L. Richards was President; Gordon was Executive Secretary and LaMar in charge of audio visual aids.
During the years of 1952 -54 he was using his free time building and remodeling our home on 4th North 8th West in Salt Lake City, Utah. The home was white stucco Ranch Rambler with rust color bar tile roof. This he did on his own with the help of the family (Laddy mainly then the whole crew of us joined in putting on the bar tile roof in relay fashion – from stack to ladder to the finisher on top, (LaMar) who laid the tile and fit them together in place). It is a well built home and he designed the struss to support a minimum of 42 tons.
On May 28th 1953 Steven was born 3 months premature and with serious complications. Dr. Jeppson held out no hope unless the Lord intervened, which he did, through a wonderful blessing, pronounced by Elder Spencer W. Kimball. I was very ill at that time and that was the reason for the premature birth. I had Toxemia and quite honestly LaMar and the older children did not expect me to live and they felt very fortunate when I recovered. We are and ever shall be most grateful! You see we had already lost “Little Anne,” born in July of 1949, premature and stillborn, yet I know that someday we will have her again. We were told by Brother Harold B. Lee and Brother Spencer W. Kimball that someday we would have the opportunity to raise her.
LaMar and I spent many years helping in the scouting programs of the church and working with our boys on their scout achievements.
On May 28th 1953 Steven was born 3 months premature and with serious complications. Dr. Jeppson held out no hope unless the Lord intervened, which he did, through a wonderful blessing, pronounced by Elder Spencer W. Kimball. I was very ill at that time and that was the reason for the premature birth. I had Toxemia and quite honestly LaMar and the older children did not expect me to live and they felt very fortunate when I recovered. We are and ever shall be most grateful! You see we had already lost “Little Anne,” born in July of 1949, premature and stillborn, yet I know that someday we will have her again. We were told by Brother Harold B. Lee and Brother Spencer W. Kimball that someday we would have the opportunity to raise her.
LaMar was with the Church Missionary Department for 27 years and a guide on Temple Square 25 years; during which time he was blessed to accomplish many things of great worth to our Heavenly Fathers Children. Missionary work has been his first love and he has truly enjoyed it. Much of his life has been spent in the missionary cause.
FAMILY PICTURES
In 1958 he was set apart by Elders Harold B. Lee and Mark E. Peterson as Stake Mission President of the Riverside Stake in Salt Lake City. Four years later he was sent by President McKay to Nigeria to investigate and see if the people there were sincere in their requests for missionaries. LaMar had written many letters and sent literally tons of church literature, book, tracts, magazines, etc. to them. Upon Lamar’s return from there, Pres. McKay set him apart as Presiding Elder of Nigeria and he was sent there three times to get the work started. On the 3rd trip, things were coming along perfectly, including legal affairs with their Government when without a reason stated he received a cable from the First Presidency which read, “Cease Negotiations immediately and return home.” LaMar was at the Government offices in the National Capitol at Lagos when the cable arrived. Within 3 hours he was on a plane bound for home. LaMar sent his companion on to the South African Mission, as he had been instructed to do. Upon his return home and at the request of President Tanner we met with him. He said, “LaMar we don’t know why we called you back, we only knew it was urgent – there is a reason and we will know.” Three weeks later the Bi Afian war broke out in Nigeria. A group leader was shot in the area where he was working and two ambassadors were decapitated on the steps of the Embassy where LaMar had previously been.
That Bi Afian war was a wicked one, the brutality; savagery, bloodshed and destruction were beyond one’s imagination. The victims were taken totally unaware and had no trained military, ammunition nor equipment with which to put up a defense. The nation was ripped apart. Highways were destroyed, all telephone lines torn down, every means of communication destroyed. When we both later returned we saw much of the results of the destruction and had to travel on many miles of their broken highways not yet repaired. The communication lines for public use are still a hope of the future.
For 13 years he put together Sterling W. Sills messages, combining them with music and songs making up 15 and 30 minute programs. When Gordon B. Hinckley became a General Authority; LaMar fell heir to producing “Sunday Evening from temple square programs.” When he took it over there was one station in the United States carrying that program, KSL. Before he left that assignment he had built it up to 367 stations throughout the United States and Canada.
In 1968 we sold our home and moved to the Eagle Gate Apartments. The reason, to enable LaMar to have 45 minutes more each day to work on his latest projects. One he had been planning for a long time was organizing the “Mormon Youth Symphony and Choir”. Motive for this was one more effective missionary tool to help spread the gospel to the world. This Symphony and Choir are now known, loved and admired internationally. As its members reach a certain age and leave this organization many of them are invited to join the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Utah Symphony.
On the 25th Anniversary of the Mormon Youth Chorus and Symphony, LaMar was recognized for his years of dedicated service to this organization. All of his children and grandchildren were able to celebrate with him this wonderful achievement.
While living in the Eagle Gate Apartments he had the privilege of being able to go to President Joseph Fielding Smith’s apartment which was just down the hall a few doors. He usually cut President Smith’s hair and was assigned to be responsible for some of his personal needs. During this time of 1970-74 he was Bishop of the 18th Ward in the Ensign Stake and he was therefore Bishop for President Smith. He had a close personal relationship with the Prophet.
In March of 1974, he received a personal call from President Kimball to preside over the Gulf States Mission; comprising at that time Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Western half of Tennessee, sections of Alabama and Missouri. It was a great mission. He labored long and hard, spent many sleepless nights and anxious days for those three years and with much fasting and prayer to know the Lord’s will. He tracked with his Elders, taught them and then showed them how. No distance was too far in that huge mission if a call came for help, no hour too late or too early. Allow 10-20 minutes and we were on our way. The welfare of the missionary came first. Responsibility weighs heavy on your shoulders when you know that the parents of 500 missionaries trust you with the physical and spiritual welfare of their most precious possessions. You rejoice with them in their successes and sorrow with some in their grief.
We arrived home from Louisiana in July of 1977 and in December received a call back to Africa on another mission. This time we were called to Ghana and Nigeria as special missionaries of the international missions. This was a work with many problems, but great rewards. Blessings you would not think of nor could you imagine; even sacred blessings that one doesn’t talk about. This is what we were promised if we would accept the call and the Lord always keeps His word.
We arrived home from Louisiana in July of 1977 and in December received a call back to Africa on another mission. This time we were called to Ghana and Nigeria as special missionaries of the international missions. This was a work with many problems, but great rewards. Blessings you would not think of nor could you imagine; even sacred blessings that one doesn’t talk about. This is what we were promised if we would accept the call and the Lord always keeps His word.
The Bus tours, “Salt Lake Valley Guide Service”, all began years ago with giving free guide service to tourists. The prime purpose of which was to spread the word of the gospel. It has now grown into a business, the motive behind it is still the same; missionary work.
In 1981, we received our call as ordained temple workers and in March of 1983 were set apart to do missionary work with the Vietnamese in the Salt Lake Valley.
LaMar created the idea of using films in the temples and spent 2 years assisting with the work; traveling, taking the pictures and helping to bring it all together. One large room in the temple was turned into a workshop and there they labored day and night.
Arnold Freiburg was working on the scenes and costumes of the show film, “The Ten Commandments”. LaMar felt that Cecile D. DeMille should have some knowledge of the true and living God and some basics of the gospel in such a great undertaking. Arnold Freiburg went to Hollywood to work with Cecile D. DeMille and he wanted to teach him and therefore asked LaMar to help him. So two hours before the train took off he came over to LaMar’s office and LaMar gave him the missionary discussion on the Godhead. Arnold would then teach this to Cecile D. DeMille, who was truly a great movie director. DeMille never joined the church in his lifetime; however he did receive the lessons graciously.
I hear messages many times, by great men and students of the Gospel, telling of some outstanding conversions or faith promoting incident. I listen with interest for often it is one with a familiar echo. I recognize names and characters and as they elaborate upon the story and perhaps add a finishing touch of their own. I realize, “this is something LaMar began years ago. LaMar’s motto has always been, “much can be accomplished in this world if you don’t care who gets the credit.”
One very special thing that came to us in place of the daughter we lost was being blessed with a son, Jerry who we adopted in 1983. We just had the privilege of seeing Jerry married in the temple. It brought us and our family much joy. He has been sealed to us. He is dearly loved by all.
Just a few days ago, an old friend whom LaMar had not seen for many years, came up to us at a wedding luncheon of one of our Elders and said, “LaMar, I just got back from my mission, remember when I talked to you about it? I was afraid to go for fear I couldn’t do the job and you told me, “sure you can do it, just go out there and tell them it is the greatest story on earth and it won’t cost them a cent.” “So I did it, and it worked, and those were the happiest years of my life.”
Among the Brethren, LaMar has two titles- “Mr. Missionary” and “The Greatest Missionary in the Church.”
In their later years LaMar and Nyal served faithfully in the temple. LaMar continued to invent various items. He invited a vacuums machine that could be carried on your back and he made and sold a number of them. The Salt Lake Temple has one of thosevacuums. He also was working on a way of cleaning toilets by draining the water out of the toilet during the cleaning. He wasn’t able to complete this project.
LaMar tenderly cared for Nyal during her long illness. He held her in his arms as she took her last breaths. They were truly an example of a Celestial relationship.
After Nyal’s passing, LaMar moved to Bountiful to live with his daughter Gloria in 1993.
LaMar passed away on January 28, 1996 while attending church at his Bountiful Ward. He had just offered his testimony in a Sunday School Lesson and passed away a few moments later.
July 28, 2010
PATRIARCHAL BLESSINGS OF LAMAR STEVENSON WILLIAMS
PATRIARCHAL BLESSINGS
First blessing – October 19, 1931 in Pocatello, Idaho
A blessing given by Patriarch Williams Alonzo Hyde, upon the head of LaMar Stevenson Williams, Son of Peter Joan Williams and Elosia Call, born December 4, 1911 at Blackfoot, Idaho.
LaMar Stevenson Williams, by virtue of the Holy Patriarchal priesthood that I bear, I lay my hands upon thy head to give unto thee a blessing, which is intended as a guide for thee and to sustain and assist thee in the journey through life.
Thou art of the tribe of Ephraim and being of this lineage, thou art an heir to the blessings under the covenant given in olden times and thou shalt receive the fullness of the Priesthood. There is within thee a spark of faith that has come down to thee from thy fathers and this may be fanned into a flame of knowledge and testimony until thou shalt be able to testify of the divinity of the mission of our Lord.
It shall be thy pleasure to proclaim that testimony abroad in the nations of the earth, for thou hast shown by thy desire for this blessing, thy wish to put thyself in the hands of thy Heavenly Father. He will use thee as an ambassador in his cause and I promise thee that in thy travels and labors thou shalt be preserved from harm. Thou shalt be in great dangers, but thou wilt know that a Supreme Power is upheld thee.
Thou shalt stand before men and deliver thy testimony with humility in the confidence of the Spirit that is in thee. There is much promise in thee and ability will come to thee by reason of thy studious disposition and thou shalt be a powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord.
I bless thee that in due time thou shalt have a worthy companion and shall enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. Blessed shalt thou be in thy family relations and thou shalt be established in the earth and have the favor of men.
Thou shalt stand upon the threshold of great events and thou wilt see many marvelous things and I promise thee that by keeping the law thou shalt be preserved. The destroying angel shall pass thee by. Thou shalt have thine inheritance in the land of Joseph and participate in great events concerning which the Lord has spoken in his revelations.
Thou shalt see the foundation laid for the building of the New Jerusalem and thou shalt assist in the work that is there undertaken.
Keep thy lips unsoiled by forbidden things and thy heart clean and pure that the Spirit of the Lord may dwell in thee and thou shalt come safely to the end of thy journey and be received at last in the Celestial Kingdom of our Father, and to his end I bless thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Second Blessing – July 24, 1935 in Rexburg, Idaho
A blessing given by Alma B. Larsen, Patriarch, upon the head of LaMar Stevenson Williams son of Peter Joan Williams and Elosia Call Williams born December 4, 1911 at Groveland Ward Blackfoot Stake, Idaho.
Dear Brother LaMar, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I place my hands upon your head and in the authority of my sacred calling seal upon you a blessing, yea, even a Patriarchal blessing that you may receive inspiration to meet the problems of life. For the will of the Lord shall be made known because of your faith.
The Lord loves you and you were one of his favored sons, yea, choice even before you came into this world, you were tried and proven and were numbered among the favored sons of Jacob for you are of Israel, and foreordained and blessed to come forth in this the greatest of all gospel dispensations.
You have been born of noble parents and because of their faithfulness you are an heir to the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant and I as much, dear brother, as you have not and shall not forfeit that birth right thru sin and transgression your calling and election shall be made sure, for you are rightly entitled to the promises made by the ancient Patriarchs even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For you are a descendant of them thru the loins of Ephraim and because of your faithfulness in the spirit world gifts were sealed upon you. These gifts and talents can only be developed in proportion to your faithfulness in honoring the Priesthood that has been conferred upon you.
It is thru the Holy Priesthood that these most precious and heavenly gifts can be made manifest and therefore, your success both spiritual and physical will depend upon your faithfulness for in proportion to the service that you render for the blessing of our Father’s children the vision of the future will be unfolded before your eyes and under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost you shall lay your plans and they shall have the divine approval of your Heavenly Father.
The comforts of earth shall be given you and the blessings of Heaven shall rest upon you and yours. The spirit of leadership shall be given you and it shall be your privilege to sit in the councils of the church, yea, even as a judge in Israel. Your counsel shall be sought for and your advise shall be followed, and those who follow your advice shall be blessed by the Lord, therefore, see to it, dear brother, that you so live that you may always be worthy of the sweet spirit that shall lead and direct your every act.
I bless you with the spirit of discernment that you may always understand the promptings of the Holy Ghost and thereby escape the snares and the pitfalls that Satan shall place in your pathway. I bless you with strength and power to repel from you His very influence that you may be preserved in purity and that you may be worthy to fulfill every position that shall come to you. For they shall be varied and numerous and each one shall fit and qualify you the better for the leadership that is in store for you.
Your voice shall be heard both at home and in the mission fields in defense of truth, and while at times you shall pass thru dangerous experiences, yea, even accidents you shall escape unharmed for the angels shall be mindful of you, yea, even go before you and prepare the way. And while your influence shalt be felt for good among the living, it shall also reach in the spirit world, for the time will come, dear brother, when you will devote much time in the temples of the Lord.
I seal you up against the power of the destroyer even unto the day of redemption and bless you to the end that you may come forth on the morning of the first resurrection and take your place among the elect of the Lord; as a prince in your father’s house and together with a faithful and devoted wife and companion will labor under the direction of Holy Prophets during the great millennial reign and eventually be crowned as a Priest and King to rule and reign over a kingdom that shall be given you thru your faithfulness, enjoying all of the blessings of the Celestial Kingdom.
I seal these blessings upon you with a promise of their fulfillment thru your faithfulness in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Third Blessing – January 14, 1943 Provo, Utah
Brother Williams:
I lay my hands upon your head and give unto you a Patriarchal Blessing, and with this blessing such instructions and such promises as the spirit of the Lord may direct. You have come with yearning in your heart to receive from the Lord through the Patriarch such words of encouragement and blessings and promises as will give your soul anchor as you trod the pathway of life and will give you a good goal toward which you may strive and to give you an impetus to achieve in the battle of life. This being your purpose and intention the Lord will not turn you away for he recognizes your faith. He has observed your integrity and he has been pleased with your disposition to achieve righteousness in your day and time. He has watched your walk and conversation and he has been pleased with all of your good works. He has not been unmindful of you for he has given you many blessings and He will continue to give unto you that which will be for your welfare here and hereafter.
He has given you a beautiful and worthy companion and sent choice spirits to you that you may have an opportunity of nurturing them and of caring for them and of bringing them up in fear and the admonition of the Lord. It is the will of the Lord that you should do so and exercise all the powers of your body and mind to provide for your family and to safeguard them from the accidents and dangers and ills of Your generation and as you strive toward this achievement I promise you that the spirit of the Lord will prompt you and give you light and vision and refine your judgments and give you wisdom that in all the affairs of your life you shall choose wisely and if you should make mistake as you subsequently, you must remember that the Lord has power to rule and over rule in all of your affairs for your good, and so it will be for your experience that you sorrow, that your soul may be refined, also your judgment, that you may become more Godlike as you increase in experience.
Pray unto the Lord for wisdom and understanding and vision of that which is ahead and by night and by day the spirit, line upon line, will reveal unto you the way of life that will resound to your soul’s salvation, temporally and spiritually, here and hereafter. Your knowledge of the gospel shall be increased and your testimonies, because of that which you see and hear and feel will come to you ultimately you shall know that Jesus is the Christ, the gospel is the plan of salvation, and the shadows of doubt shall flee away and line upon line the light and truth shall take their places.
You are of Israel, of the House of Joseph. You have been clothed with the Holy Priesthood which is power to officiate and to labor and it gives you power with the heavens and through the exercise of this Priesthood you can call down the divine blessings of the Lord upon yourself and upon all your family. You shall see the hand of the Lord in the affairs of your life and the power of priesthood exercised to the deliverance of the afflicted. Indeed, through your faith and faithfulness the sick shall be healed through your administration.
I bless you with lengthened days, with life and health and strength, that the protecting and preserving hand shall be over you that you shall be preserved from accident and danger, that you may properly evaluate all the experiences that befall you for the promotion of your salvation and exaltation in the hereafter.
The Lord expects you to qualify to be a teacher of men, an expounder of truth, a reveler of that which is true and worthy and holy. To this end devote yourself in your study and in your reflection and contemplation that you may know the truth, for in the truth you shall find freedom of thought and action.
Now I bless you that you may live until you fulfill the full measure of your creation here upon the earth. I bless you that you may have means to support yourself and your family and to achieve the worthy ambitions of your soul. I bless you with an inclination to always remember the Lord in your tithes and your offerings that you will remember to keep the commandments even the Word of Wisdom that you may be strong in body and mind, that the revelation of the Lord may be distilled upon your mind as the dews are distilled upon the grasses. I bless you that you may come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, clothed upon with a resurrected body to live and reign in your own dominion as a priest unto the Lord and thus to dwell with Him upon the earth when the earth shall be subdued and the glory of the Lord cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.
To this end I bless you and seal these blessings upon you in the authority of the Holy Priesthood and I do it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, even so; Amen.
-By Amos N. Merrill
First blessing – October 19, 1931 in Pocatello, Idaho
A blessing given by Patriarch Williams Alonzo Hyde, upon the head of LaMar Stevenson Williams, Son of Peter Joan Williams and Elosia Call, born December 4, 1911 at Blackfoot, Idaho.
LaMar Stevenson Williams, by virtue of the Holy Patriarchal priesthood that I bear, I lay my hands upon thy head to give unto thee a blessing, which is intended as a guide for thee and to sustain and assist thee in the journey through life.
Thou art of the tribe of Ephraim and being of this lineage, thou art an heir to the blessings under the covenant given in olden times and thou shalt receive the fullness of the Priesthood. There is within thee a spark of faith that has come down to thee from thy fathers and this may be fanned into a flame of knowledge and testimony until thou shalt be able to testify of the divinity of the mission of our Lord.
It shall be thy pleasure to proclaim that testimony abroad in the nations of the earth, for thou hast shown by thy desire for this blessing, thy wish to put thyself in the hands of thy Heavenly Father. He will use thee as an ambassador in his cause and I promise thee that in thy travels and labors thou shalt be preserved from harm. Thou shalt be in great dangers, but thou wilt know that a Supreme Power is upheld thee.
Thou shalt stand before men and deliver thy testimony with humility in the confidence of the Spirit that is in thee. There is much promise in thee and ability will come to thee by reason of thy studious disposition and thou shalt be a powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord.
I bless thee that in due time thou shalt have a worthy companion and shall enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. Blessed shalt thou be in thy family relations and thou shalt be established in the earth and have the favor of men.
Thou shalt stand upon the threshold of great events and thou wilt see many marvelous things and I promise thee that by keeping the law thou shalt be preserved. The destroying angel shall pass thee by. Thou shalt have thine inheritance in the land of Joseph and participate in great events concerning which the Lord has spoken in his revelations.
Thou shalt see the foundation laid for the building of the New Jerusalem and thou shalt assist in the work that is there undertaken.
Keep thy lips unsoiled by forbidden things and thy heart clean and pure that the Spirit of the Lord may dwell in thee and thou shalt come safely to the end of thy journey and be received at last in the Celestial Kingdom of our Father, and to his end I bless thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Second Blessing – July 24, 1935 in Rexburg, Idaho
A blessing given by Alma B. Larsen, Patriarch, upon the head of LaMar Stevenson Williams son of Peter Joan Williams and Elosia Call Williams born December 4, 1911 at Groveland Ward Blackfoot Stake, Idaho.
Dear Brother LaMar, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I place my hands upon your head and in the authority of my sacred calling seal upon you a blessing, yea, even a Patriarchal blessing that you may receive inspiration to meet the problems of life. For the will of the Lord shall be made known because of your faith.
The Lord loves you and you were one of his favored sons, yea, choice even before you came into this world, you were tried and proven and were numbered among the favored sons of Jacob for you are of Israel, and foreordained and blessed to come forth in this the greatest of all gospel dispensations.
You have been born of noble parents and because of their faithfulness you are an heir to the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant and I as much, dear brother, as you have not and shall not forfeit that birth right thru sin and transgression your calling and election shall be made sure, for you are rightly entitled to the promises made by the ancient Patriarchs even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For you are a descendant of them thru the loins of Ephraim and because of your faithfulness in the spirit world gifts were sealed upon you. These gifts and talents can only be developed in proportion to your faithfulness in honoring the Priesthood that has been conferred upon you.
It is thru the Holy Priesthood that these most precious and heavenly gifts can be made manifest and therefore, your success both spiritual and physical will depend upon your faithfulness for in proportion to the service that you render for the blessing of our Father’s children the vision of the future will be unfolded before your eyes and under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost you shall lay your plans and they shall have the divine approval of your Heavenly Father.
The comforts of earth shall be given you and the blessings of Heaven shall rest upon you and yours. The spirit of leadership shall be given you and it shall be your privilege to sit in the councils of the church, yea, even as a judge in Israel. Your counsel shall be sought for and your advise shall be followed, and those who follow your advice shall be blessed by the Lord, therefore, see to it, dear brother, that you so live that you may always be worthy of the sweet spirit that shall lead and direct your every act.
I bless you with the spirit of discernment that you may always understand the promptings of the Holy Ghost and thereby escape the snares and the pitfalls that Satan shall place in your pathway. I bless you with strength and power to repel from you His very influence that you may be preserved in purity and that you may be worthy to fulfill every position that shall come to you. For they shall be varied and numerous and each one shall fit and qualify you the better for the leadership that is in store for you.
Your voice shall be heard both at home and in the mission fields in defense of truth, and while at times you shall pass thru dangerous experiences, yea, even accidents you shall escape unharmed for the angels shall be mindful of you, yea, even go before you and prepare the way. And while your influence shalt be felt for good among the living, it shall also reach in the spirit world, for the time will come, dear brother, when you will devote much time in the temples of the Lord.
I seal you up against the power of the destroyer even unto the day of redemption and bless you to the end that you may come forth on the morning of the first resurrection and take your place among the elect of the Lord; as a prince in your father’s house and together with a faithful and devoted wife and companion will labor under the direction of Holy Prophets during the great millennial reign and eventually be crowned as a Priest and King to rule and reign over a kingdom that shall be given you thru your faithfulness, enjoying all of the blessings of the Celestial Kingdom.
I seal these blessings upon you with a promise of their fulfillment thru your faithfulness in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Third Blessing – January 14, 1943 Provo, Utah
Brother Williams:
I lay my hands upon your head and give unto you a Patriarchal Blessing, and with this blessing such instructions and such promises as the spirit of the Lord may direct. You have come with yearning in your heart to receive from the Lord through the Patriarch such words of encouragement and blessings and promises as will give your soul anchor as you trod the pathway of life and will give you a good goal toward which you may strive and to give you an impetus to achieve in the battle of life. This being your purpose and intention the Lord will not turn you away for he recognizes your faith. He has observed your integrity and he has been pleased with your disposition to achieve righteousness in your day and time. He has watched your walk and conversation and he has been pleased with all of your good works. He has not been unmindful of you for he has given you many blessings and He will continue to give unto you that which will be for your welfare here and hereafter.
He has given you a beautiful and worthy companion and sent choice spirits to you that you may have an opportunity of nurturing them and of caring for them and of bringing them up in fear and the admonition of the Lord. It is the will of the Lord that you should do so and exercise all the powers of your body and mind to provide for your family and to safeguard them from the accidents and dangers and ills of Your generation and as you strive toward this achievement I promise you that the spirit of the Lord will prompt you and give you light and vision and refine your judgments and give you wisdom that in all the affairs of your life you shall choose wisely and if you should make mistake as you subsequently, you must remember that the Lord has power to rule and over rule in all of your affairs for your good, and so it will be for your experience that you sorrow, that your soul may be refined, also your judgment, that you may become more Godlike as you increase in experience.
Pray unto the Lord for wisdom and understanding and vision of that which is ahead and by night and by day the spirit, line upon line, will reveal unto you the way of life that will resound to your soul’s salvation, temporally and spiritually, here and hereafter. Your knowledge of the gospel shall be increased and your testimonies, because of that which you see and hear and feel will come to you ultimately you shall know that Jesus is the Christ, the gospel is the plan of salvation, and the shadows of doubt shall flee away and line upon line the light and truth shall take their places.
You are of Israel, of the House of Joseph. You have been clothed with the Holy Priesthood which is power to officiate and to labor and it gives you power with the heavens and through the exercise of this Priesthood you can call down the divine blessings of the Lord upon yourself and upon all your family. You shall see the hand of the Lord in the affairs of your life and the power of priesthood exercised to the deliverance of the afflicted. Indeed, through your faith and faithfulness the sick shall be healed through your administration.
I bless you with lengthened days, with life and health and strength, that the protecting and preserving hand shall be over you that you shall be preserved from accident and danger, that you may properly evaluate all the experiences that befall you for the promotion of your salvation and exaltation in the hereafter.
The Lord expects you to qualify to be a teacher of men, an expounder of truth, a reveler of that which is true and worthy and holy. To this end devote yourself in your study and in your reflection and contemplation that you may know the truth, for in the truth you shall find freedom of thought and action.
Now I bless you that you may live until you fulfill the full measure of your creation here upon the earth. I bless you that you may have means to support yourself and your family and to achieve the worthy ambitions of your soul. I bless you with an inclination to always remember the Lord in your tithes and your offerings that you will remember to keep the commandments even the Word of Wisdom that you may be strong in body and mind, that the revelation of the Lord may be distilled upon your mind as the dews are distilled upon the grasses. I bless you that you may come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, clothed upon with a resurrected body to live and reign in your own dominion as a priest unto the Lord and thus to dwell with Him upon the earth when the earth shall be subdued and the glory of the Lord cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.
To this end I bless you and seal these blessings upon you in the authority of the Holy Priesthood and I do it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, even so; Amen.
-By Amos N. Merrill
July 22, 2010
IMPORTANT CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS
1911 Born - 4 December 1911 at Groveland, Bingham County, Idaho
1912 Christening - 4 February by Joseph C. Hart at Groveland
1919 Baptism - 6 December 1919 by Franklin G. Hale, at Blackfoot, Idaho
Confirmed - 7 December by Peter J. Williams
Mother died - 19 December at Blackfoot, Idaho
Buried Mother at Blackfoot Cemetery - 21 December 1919
1924 Ordained a Deacon by Charles w. Hancock at Wapello, Blackfoot Stake Id
27 January 1924
1926 Graduated from eighth grade at Wapello, Idaho - May
1930 Graduated from High School at Blackfoot, Idaho
Entered college at Moscow, Idaho - September University of Idaho
1931 Entered College at Pocatello, University of Idaho southern Branch went
for two and one half years
1932 Ordained an Elder by my father - 1 May 1932
Received My Endowments - 9 June 1932
1933 Entered Civilian conservation Corp. - 13 July 1933
1934 Married Nyal Bowen in Logan, Utah Temple - 2 March 1934
1935 First Child born, Marilyn, Pocatello, Idaho - 23 February 1935
Taught school at Wapello - September
Scarlet Fever - October
1936 Became Principal of Riverside School, Blackfoot, Idaho - Route 2 Sept.
1937 Moved to Iona, Idaho and taught seventh grade - August
Second Child born, LaMar Bowen - 20 October 1937
1939 Supervisor of Aaronic Priesthood in Iona
1940 Ordained High Priest and set apart as 2nd councilor to Bishop Bruce M.
Olsen - Iona Ward - 21 April 1940
Sort term mission with wife and children to Northern States in Lansing,
Michigan - 17 May 1940
1941 Taught Summer School in Mountains at Deblin, Idaho - April
Moved to Provo, Utah with family to attend school at Brigham Yount
University - 1 December 1941
1942 My Wife and I entered B.Y.U.
1912 Christening - 4 February by Joseph C. Hart at Groveland
1919 Baptism - 6 December 1919 by Franklin G. Hale, at Blackfoot, Idaho
Confirmed - 7 December by Peter J. Williams
Mother died - 19 December at Blackfoot, Idaho
Buried Mother at Blackfoot Cemetery - 21 December 1919
1924 Ordained a Deacon by Charles w. Hancock at Wapello, Blackfoot Stake Id
27 January 1924
1926 Graduated from eighth grade at Wapello, Idaho - May
1930 Graduated from High School at Blackfoot, Idaho
Entered college at Moscow, Idaho - September University of Idaho
1931 Entered College at Pocatello, University of Idaho southern Branch went
for two and one half years
1932 Ordained an Elder by my father - 1 May 1932
Received My Endowments - 9 June 1932
1933 Entered Civilian conservation Corp. - 13 July 1933
1934 Married Nyal Bowen in Logan, Utah Temple - 2 March 1934
1935 First Child born, Marilyn, Pocatello, Idaho - 23 February 1935
Taught school at Wapello - September
Scarlet Fever - October
1936 Became Principal of Riverside School, Blackfoot, Idaho - Route 2 Sept.
1937 Moved to Iona, Idaho and taught seventh grade - August
Second Child born, LaMar Bowen - 20 October 1937
1939 Supervisor of Aaronic Priesthood in Iona
1940 Ordained High Priest and set apart as 2nd councilor to Bishop Bruce M.
Olsen - Iona Ward - 21 April 1940
Sort term mission with wife and children to Northern States in Lansing,
Michigan - 17 May 1940
1941 Taught Summer School in Mountains at Deblin, Idaho - April
Moved to Provo, Utah with family to attend school at Brigham Yount
University - 1 December 1941
1942 My Wife and I entered B.Y.U.
Began this Genealogy Record - 26 January 1942
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