From Deseret News archives:
Blessings of patriarch ease minds
But her fretting was eased the day I was blessed by Eldred G. Smith. In those days, the top leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints set missionaries apart and blessed them. And it was my lot to have the LDS Church patriarch lay his hands on my head. My mother was thrilled.
Among other things, he blessed me with health and safety. And as he spoke, my mother wrote his words down in her schoolteacher's hand on a little scrap of paper. She kept that paper near for two years. When I returned, she gave it to me.
I still have it. I always will.
I am 58 now almost the same age as our "elderly" church patriarch was in 1968. And he as you likely know will turn 100 this coming Tuesday. (There will be an open house for him from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The public is invited.)
Today, I look much different than I did in 1968. Amazingly, he looks much the same. I suppose having the juice of spirituality flow through your veins for 40 years must act as a preservative.
When Eldred G. Smith blessed me with health and safety, it didn't register much with me. I felt invincible. I was about to embark on an adventure. But his words made the next two years a little less wrenching for my mother.
In fact, I would bet given the thousands of blessings Elder Smith has given over the years he has saved the mothers and fathers of the church millions of dollars in aspirin and sleeping pills. I know my mother slept better because of what he said. And I know that peace of mind filtered into the letters she sent to me, which helped me cope.
Sometimes our own faith makes us whole. Sometimes it takes the faith of someone else to do that. And despite the half-dozen diseases I caught in Bolivia and those late-night bus rides on muddy roads in the rain above breath-catching ravines, I did return home safe and healthy. And given how clueless I was about the world, how reckless and inattentive, I think that probably qualifies as a miracle just one of many that have come at the hands of Eldred G. Smith.
E-mail: jerjohn@desnews.com
Comments
- Jazz photo gallery 12:07 a.m.
- Scholars defend 'Messiah' 12:04 a.m.
- Max Hall did right thing after tirade 12:04 a.m.
- Make way for the human mop 12:03 a.m.
- Conference DVD blesses African Mormons 12:03 a.m.
- On the air 12:03 a.m.
- Bloggernacle Back Bench 12:03 a.m.
- Today in the Bloggernacle 12:03 a.m.
- Nauvoo Christmas tree lighting Dec. 5 12:02 a.m.
- Mormon team shows gridiron dominance 12:02 a.m.
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Y. student vanished in China
- Max Hall issues apology
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Boy shot following traffic stop
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Matthews passes new Jazz tests
- U. eyes bowl for redemption
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
898 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Max Hall issues apology
379 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
370 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
316 - Utes won't respond to Hall
257 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
121 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
120 - Religion in politics is tiresome
110
A comprehensive listing of missionary reunions being held this week.
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
There are some games I love not on your list. Arkham Asylum for one.
Our parents made my brothers help kill and clean our rabbits before we ate...
Why would you keep it open? I would understand if there was a lot of amazing...
The government will run our health care well? Read Reader's Digest, November...
TCU stomped on the MWC so they are naturally ready to crush Florida, Alabama...
could you understand Dave Locke any more than my mom does and she is not even...
Attending the ND/BYU game 3 years ago in south bend, a couple of things stuck...
I missed the game, actually i heard a little bit of Locke on the radio (man...
quotes were good: Article was dumb and unnecessary.
I believe the art depicting Joseph looking at the plates may possibly be...



You can be the first to comment on this story.