Morinda Part 3

If I had put the paper in the stove I would never have found the caps. It would have blown up the store and half the town.

Bartholomew Harrison and I were married on the 18th of December, 1907, in the Logan Temple at Logan, Utah. We have known a happy marriage and we have been blessed with seven children, Eveard T., Stanford, Blanche, Edris, Fred, Anna, and Ollie Jean. Dear little Ollie Jean, although she didn’t stay long with us, was a dear baby. We loved her so dearly and tried in vain to keep her with us. But the Lord saw fit to take her, but we were privileged to see the other children grow up and go to school, following our teachings and counsel. We are so proud of them all. Some of the great joys were when they each graduated from school, some with special honors. Eveard and Blanche both received special graduation honors during their schooling. It seemed that Eveard had such a time studying, so we would get him up in the early morning. Stanford was our football player while in school. He even broke his nose once he played so earnestly. Edris liked to sew and took honors in doing it, but often needed more patience, which now in later years she seems to have developed and uses so capably for her own children.

The older children always said Fred and Anna were the spoiled ones. I guess it was because they were the youngest. The boys said Fred was a pack rat. It seemed he could gather more stuff around him, but in later years his abilities as a mechanic shows from his tinkering. Anna too graduated with honors and she and Fred both played clarinets in the band. When they were all married we were again proud because they had all followed the teachings and promptings of their parents and were married in the Temple to honorable men and women. The only worry we experienced was when our youngest son, Fred, was drafted in the second world war, but we were thankful for the safe return and honorable release he was given.

I have worked in different organizations of the church as teacher in the Sunday School and Primary, counselor in the YWMIA, as teacher in the Relief Society and also as a member of the Stake Relief Society Board and in genealogy. I feel privileged that I have been able to do work for the dead in the temples.

Bart and I lived in Georgetown for awhile and as our family grew we moved to Bancroft to farm. The ward we lived in was called Ivins. When I was a small girl at home the family used to tease me because I was the tenth child and they said they were going to give me to the bishop for tithing. I told them I knew better than that, but when Bart was ordained Bishop of the Ivins Ward on June2, 1918, the letters began to arrive from my brothers and sisters saying "I told you so." While Bart was Bishop of Ivins Ward, I was the President of the Relief Society. The ward was small and it took us all working to make it a success. Whenever we went to a party in the ward we had to take our children with us as we had no baby sitters. We would bring in some pillows or blankets and put them down to sleep while we danced. I took my youngsters to so many night parties I was sure they would be night owls. We used the school house basement for dance halls and also to hold church in.

When I was a visiting teacher in the Relief Society we had a little buggy which I had to hitch up the horses to. The houses were about a mile or two apart. We made about 6 or 8 visits.

When Bart was bishop I used to cook dinners for all the stake visitors Stake President and his counselors as they had so far to go home between meetings. I would take the family to Sunday School and then prepare the meal after we got home. I also taught religion class in Ivins Ward along with being Relief Society President.

Ivins Ward was small and we had to have lots of parties to keep everyone interested. Every time we had a party the men on the committee would ask the question, "What do we have to eat," and then they were through and we took on the rest of the party, but the ladies finally tired of it so we decided to have the men bring the picnic for once and we sat on the side line and made them even serve it. So the men donned dish towels for aprons, stirred up cakes, made sandwiches, and lemon aid. Then when the evening arrived the ladies sat on the side and the men served the picnic. They did a real good job, but after that they realized the work it took to serve a lunch at a party, but they still liked good things to eat. Ivins Ward is now part of the Bancroft Ward.

When Bart’s brother, Ralph, was killed while working on a combine we moved to Bancroft to take care of their seven children as their mother had passed away a short time before. We stayed one winter and kept them in school. Seven of them and five of my own, ten of whom were in school were too many for me to care for so they were sent to their mother’s folks as my health wouldn’t permit me to carry on any longer.

I was very ill after Anna was born, but I was blessed and was able to recover and raise my family and see them all happy now with their families. This illness is the cause of my rheumatism that I now have and which I try to bear with patience and not too much complaint.

I have a strong testimony of the gospel, the foundation of which was laid by my father. He bore his to us and I never doubted it as I knew he was sincere in his faith, having left home and relations to be with the Saints. I never doubted the truth of the gospel. I think the best way to have a testimony is to study and work in the church and to keep it by working and praying. I believe in prayer. When I was in the hospital in Soda Springs I didn’t seem to get any better. Then a man named Alma Hayes came. I knew him when I heard his voice in the hall. He was Bishop in the Georgetown ward when I was married. He administered to me and that was the first night I really rested all night. I began to recover and was soon home with my children again. Although I was never strong again, I was happy and thankful to my Heavenly Father for the privilege of staying with my family. My advice is "Don’t forget to pray."

Well, Bart and I are back where we started now, just the two of us, and on Dec. 18, 1957 we shared our Golden Wedding Anniversary together. We are so proud of our six children and their wives and husbands and for the 29 lovely grandchildren which we enjoy.

Bart passed away on July 7, 1960. My family begged me to come and live with them. I tried it. They were all so good to me. I stayed with each family a month then I went home. I really was happy to get back. Maybe I was homesick. Home is still home even though I am alone. I like to visit with them, still I feel better at home where there are memories – many happy ones--and James, one of my grandsons stays here to keep me company at nights so I am not really alone.

One daughter, Blanche, has been on a mission. I also have two grandsons that have filled missions, Bart in New Zealand and Evan in Germany. I am surely proud of them.

For pass-time I piece quilt tops and make rag rugs. I can still get around the house with a cane and there are friends that call. I am lonely at times but I know there will be a happy meeting sometime so I am able to get along real well and the hand work keeps my mind busy which helps a lot. I am now the only one left of father’s ten children. The last leaf on the tree at the age of 80 years.

In 1965 three more grandsons were called on missions--Jay Higbee, West Central States; Gary Harrison, West Spanish American; and Frank Harrison.

I asked Grandma Harrison to tell me the story of her life and this is the story I took down in shorthand as it came from her lips.

​Marian Dean Harrison

morinda martina larsen