Letter from my Grandpa

I'm on the bus on the way to work (which I almost didn't make today, because I somehow turned off my alarm, so I woke up about 15 minutes before I had to leave for the bus stop.  So if you see me today, you'll see what I look like with only 15 minutes to get ready.  Hopefully it's not too bad! :)  Anyway, I could have driven today, but I hate driving, and I love being able to take the bus and get things done.  So I'm really glad I made the bus this morning.

This morning I've been working on formatting my 2007 journals.  I have already printed out January through May, but had never finished June through December.  So, since I love the place that I took my other journals to so much, I decided to have the last half of 2007 printed and bound.  These are much easier because they are all done, but I just need to format them for printing.  But I'm hoping to get them formatted in time so that when I go to pick up my other printed journals, I can drop my 2007 ones off.  (I have to drive in order to go to the printing place.  I really do hate driving to work, and so I do all I can to minimize driving time).

After that long explanation, I thought I would get to my actual post.  My parents 40th anniversary was in November of 2007, and as part of their celebration, I read out a letter I'd found that my Grandpa wrote years before.  I read it again this morning, and was so touched by it that I wanted to post it.  My Grandpa Spendlove was the most amazing man.  I've read many of his letters, and he just had such a way of writing sweet things to help promote faith and to show his love.  So, here is the letter.  It was written when my parents were pregnant with Emilee (their 8th child), and I'm sure were nervous about how they would pay for another baby, and were struggling with raising lots of little kids:

Dear Corilee and Joseph,

Before I begin what I want to say, I want to remind both of you that you are covenant children of God, the eternal Father, our Lord and our God.

You have been endowed with covenants and promises which the Father cannot break, which only you can break. You have the power in you to come forth in the morning of the fist resurrection clothed with glory, immortality and eternal lives. You have been given the right to preside over your posterity which may increase til they are as numerous as the sands on the seashore.

However, you, like every candidate for this sublime and glorious blessing, must be tried and proven in the fiery furnace of tribulation which refines and purifies—where the gold is gathered but the dross is cast into the darkness.

I hope you are able to weather the storms of adversity. No one ever said it would be easy—but nothing good or worthwhile ever came easy to anyone.

What I have pointed out you already know but sometimes we lose sight of these eternal verities and we need to be reminded.

I know how desperate the situation sometimes seems. But please let your father assure you that our Father is mindful of you. He is fully aware of all your challenges (I like that word better than problems), and he loves you with a Godly love. Let me quote you a short poem:

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Must Jesus bear the cross alone?

And all the world go free?

No there’s a cross for everyone!

And there’s a cross for me.

Be faithful, have courage. If you are faithful over the stewardship you have been assigned, you will receive the wonderful promise from the Saviour, “Ye have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many.”

As I have pointed out to you many times—depression, discouragement, doubting, unhappiness, resentment, murmurings—all these are directly and emphatically from the adversary. If he possibly can, he will destroy you. Determine in your minds that he will not find lodging in your heart. Make certain that all of your thoughts will be lofty and uplifting. Thank the Lord, we can control our thoughts. Remember that every good thought comes from the Lord. He never ever inspired anyone with a bad thought.

Lucifer, on the other hand, will do all in his power to give you negative thoughts. He will do his best to undermine your faith and thwart your onward progress to the Celestial Kingdom.

Having children is in compliance to the very first commandment ever given by the Lord to “multiply and replenish the earth.” God will most assuredly honor and bless those who keep his commandments, and as he lives, I testify in deep solemnity that he will open the way for you both financially and spiritually that this baby will have all the advantages of this wonderful life.

You have such a wonderful family. All of your children are so cheerful and happy. You are certainly to be commended for the way you are teaching them. I have never seen a more happy, optimistic person than little Jonathan; nor a more intelligent, sincere person than Joseph David. Your two lovely daughters are so sweet and cute—and the younger lads are following the example set by their older brothers and sisters. It’s perfectly obvious to me why our Heavenly Father wants more spirits to come to your family in such a spiritual environment. As one who has had his share of trials and sorrow, I can sympathize with you, but I also thank God that you are having them because growth and development of the soul can come in no other way.

You two are very special spirits, and you are very special to me. Oliver Wendell Holmes writes these lines which mean a lot to me—“Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,” and Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” The work of raising children is building more stately mansions for you.

God bless you, and may he “guard the furrows where the precious grain is sown.” Continue to look up. Be not cast down. God lives! The gospel is true! Your family loves you—and especially your father—I would do anything that is possible for me to do to help you. You are not alone.

Hang in there! Weather the storm. God’s mercy knows no bounds. Behind the clouds “ye so much dread,” lies a smiling providence. I pray for you daily and I know everything is going to work out alright for you. 

Isn't that great? (Of course, when I read it out to the family on my parent's anniversary, Jon teased that he was only cheerful and optimstic, while Dave was intelligent and sincere.  Trust my brothers to make jokes)

As I said, I was just so touched again this morning when I read this letter, and I'm so grateful for what my Grandpa wrote, which continues to help me in my life now.  I'm grateful for the legacy of faith that I have recieved from my parents and grandparents.

Well, we are almost to my stop, so I'd better get this posted