Happy Birthday Glenn Frazier!

Glenn Frazier was born 104 years ago today.

Two days following Christmas always called for his birthday party!

 In the 1980s Glenn inserted his picture and testimony

into over a hundred Book of Mormons and gave them away.

Glenn was a widower for the last ten years of his life. 

He spent most of his time during those years serving others.

He gave this volume to his friend Sylvia for Christmas in 1987.

Ultimately it belonged to his daughter Susan Frazier.

I discovered it in a box of her belongings yesterday.

Sylvia Stringham also lived in South Salt Lake, on Whitlock Avenue,
through the block to the south of Glenn's Oakland Avenue home.

 Before Glenn passed away on July 4, 1992

Sylvia moved to the south part of Salt Lake where she

lived with her daughter until she passed away in 1993.

Bessie Morgan Rex letter to Harold. February 20, 1938.

Randolph Ward Chapel

Sun. evening at home

Feb. 20, ’38.

My dear faraway Lad,

It is 10:30, but I must send a few lines off in the morning, so will write this now. Have been to church, & meeting after. Hence, the lateness. We didn’t receive a letter from you last week. Hope we do this next. I suppose you are all settled in your new home.

Bob Wamsley spoke in church tonight. He got home last Monday. [illegible] Smith was here also & spoke. 

Bob is pretty good. Rather rambling, but I think he was nervous.

Winnie was home yesterday & today. It was so good to have her here. She is a darling. We do talk so much. Your father thinks you will have to take a week to stay in & talk to me.

How do you like my pen.  I like it. Fountain pen & magazine for 3 yrs. for a $. I’ll  tell you next week if my $ was wasted.

We still are waiting for snow. Not much has fallen so far, but we have had no cold weather.

I am longing for Spring. I shall plant my flowers, pick them & see them fade,

and then my boy will be home.

I think Winnie is getting homesick to stay here for a while. I think It has been a rather hard row for her. I hope it will only be a means to an end. She loves music. I should love to see her study it.

Next week is our dedication day. Everybody is so thrilled about it. I wish Winnie could have made her visit a week later.

I just read “As a Man Thinketh.” You better get one when you get home. It is fine. I am reading “Wake up & Live” now. It is also very fine.

Morg is building a gas model. Oh it is fine. That boy is mechanically minded. And Maeser has two baby beef. Don’t worry if they haven’t one for you. I think we will manage some way to get you in the winter quarter at school. You must go. These calves seem scarce. Maeser got the best one.

Well here, I didn’t get your letter finished so I must get busy.  It is Monday night & Daddy & Measer have gone to Mutual. Morgan would

rather work on his airplane, but as they have no class, and play basketball all the time, I thot it was all right. He is a pretty good boy.

Have you heard from Helen. She has written several letters to you, so I surely hope you have written to her. She feels rather slighted I am afraid. I think she is getting some of the weather you have. It rained for 19 days without stopping. But she doesn’t complain.

Uncle Will was in today & we discussed world afairs. Things are in a bad mixup I am afraid.

Did Winnie tell you about Aunt Bess’s sister dying. Sarah Pond [Sarah Ann Smith Pond 1878–1938]. She was a very lovely woman.

Has anybody described the church to you. Well, the carpet will be dark maroon—up both aisles, back & across the front & covering the stage or raised part, & under all the choir seats. They are upholstered. Isn’t that nice. The drapes at the windows

are green with gold lining. The ceiling is cello-tex marked off in little squares. The lights—well, they are lovely & so bright. There are the doors on the south that open outside. The old stairway to the basement is torn out. A stairway goes down the north side of the vestibule downstairs. A hall in the center & 7 classrooms leading off. A font room opening into a large classroom that can be used for services. Linoleum on hall downstairs. A big furnace & ventilating system. Doors out to the south & cement steps to upper & lower floors. Oh it is lovely. Everything varnished & looking like new. You wont know it. Come to the dedication next Sunday.

Write & tell us about your work. Myron is glad he is on a foreign mission so he can stay six months longer.

I must close. We think of you so much, and pray for your success. And don’t ever think I am not proud of you. Be a good boy, & write often. All send their best love & an extra large allotment comes from Mother.

 

Randolph Ward, exterior and interior chapel pictures, taken February 2011.

Bessie Morgan Rex letter to Harold. February 13, 1938.

Randolph, Utah

Feb. 13, 1938.

My very dear son,

Who is so very far away from us, and I’d give a week’s rations to see him.

We received your very welcome letter yesterday written Jan. 11. First since Jan. 16.Oh my dear, were we shocked to hear you had had so few letters from us. Do you know, I think It is three times we have missed writing to you in the week since last Oct. Whatever can be the matter. And I oftimes wrote when it was a real effort. It made me sick at heart when I read your letter. Don’t think we don’t think of you, & I have missed but one week since Helen left. And you don’t mention your father’s letters and have you got the letters I have sent since you got down there. Oh, dear, if you haven’t.

Bob Wamsley arrives home tomorrow. I shall be so happy when you are headed this way. Of course I wouldn’t hurry your time. I know you are enjoying it.

I just cant think what to say, there are so many things I thot you knew. Helen has been patiently waiting for a letter and she thinks her brother is pretty slow. She is a grand girl. Winnie is coming home next Fri for the weekend I am so happy. I get so homesick to see one of my three wanderers from home & I’ll be so glad next fall when two are home for a little bit.

You will be delighted with the church, when you come home. It is so beautiful. Hope you got the picture of the Amusement Hall.

Here it is the next morning. Stopped last night to go down to the Dr’s. with daddy. Stayed & talked so long. I was sleepy when I came home.

The Dr. is a very nice man, and very well informed on current events.

The town is full of mumps and we thot surely Flora had it, but I guess not.

Did Daddy tell you Helen Jackson married Keith Wamsley. That was a shock. There really isn’t much news from here. Life runs along quite smoothly.

Hope you like your new place of labor, and also your work. I thot you would go down by boat. Tell us what they do for a living down there. It isn’t a[s] tropical a climate is it as it was up at Jargua. Why have ranches in a place where so much could be raised? Lack of water? Tell us about it.

California has been having some bad weather. Wind, rain & an earth quake around Frisco. Helen’s health is so much better down there. She has gained 10 lbs. And has no asthma.

Well dearie, I must get this off this morning so think I better be closing. Oh, I have learned half of the Sermon on the Mount. Rather slow I am, but I have a lesson to give tomorrow in R.S. [Relief Society] & I am reading the New Testament, so I keep busy. Have just read “As a Man Thinketh.” It is fine, but I wouldn’t dare send one to you. Never know when you are  going to get anything from us. I should like all my boys to have that book.

Must get Maeser up to send this off. Will register it. Those other letters I mailed to 264. Hope you got them.

Well, love & kisses from all of us, and may the Lord continue to bless you in your labors.

Lovingly, Mother 

Note: "As a Man Thinketh" is a literary essay by James Allen, first published in 1902. In more than a century it has become an inspirational classic, selling millions of copies worldwide and bringing faith, inspiration, and self healing to all who have encountered it. The title comes from the Bible: "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." -- Proverbs, chapter 23, verse 7

1878 Elder Matthias Cowley served with President John Morgan in the Southern States Mission.

From John Hamilton Morgan, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Used with permission. 

When  Heather Seferovich showed this picture during her lecture on November 14, and identified the missionary to John Morgan's right as Elder Matthias Cowley she solved one of my mysteries. Matthias Cowley was student and friend to John Morgan. He attended the Morgan College as a young man and served as a missionary under President John Morgan in the Southern States Mission. He was with John Morgan in 1894 when he died.

From John Morgan's journal of February 18-23, 1878, Salt Lake City, Utah. Have been busy all week getting information relative to the Southern Mission. Bro. Barnett came in from Payson on the 21st and on the 22nd he and Bro. Cowley and Bro. Weeks were set apart the two first to Kentucky, the latter to Illinois, Bro. Cowley was set apart under my hands, my first effort... Bro. Cowley had supper with me. 
 

The 1880 conference reported below by Elder Matthias Cowley may be the conference President  John Morgan was speaking at when he learned his friends hadn’t been able to attend because of an ill child. He insisted he travel to visit them following the meeting. Upon his arrival he learned their child had passed away. The incident was described in the letter posted here previously.  

The Work in the South.

Tilson’s Mill, Blande Co. Va., February 12, 1880.

Editors Deseret News.

Dear Brethren—The following are the minutes of a two day’s conference held in this district at the Litz School-house, Burk’s Garden, Tazewell County, Va., Saturday and Sunday, February 7^th and 8^th, 1880.

Saturday 10 a.m.

Elders present: Elder John Morgan, President of the Southern States mission; Wm. W. Fife and Matthias F. Cowley, traveling elders in the Virginia Conference.

President Morgan addressed the congregation on the gathering of the Saints, in which he spoke forcibly of Zion extending her borders, and the settlement of the Saints in Colorado,

Recommending the Saints to gather to that point and assist in building up the kingdom of God.

2 p.m.

Elder Fife addressed the people present on the first principles of the gospel and bore a strong testimony to the truth of the same.

Elder Cowley spoke of the necessity of the Saints living their religion and as soon as practicable gathering to Zion.

President Morgan followed with a spirited address, principally on gathering, and being governed by the revelations of God.

Sunday 10 a.m.

In addition to the Elders present on the first day, were Elders George R. Hill and Richad A. Ballantyne, from the Tennessee conference.

President Morgan delivered an excellent discourse on the pre-existent, present and future life of man, and the resurrection, by request of the children of Brother Philip Heninger, in honor of their father and mother, deceased members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A large congregation were in attendance and paid strict attention to the instructions given.

2 p.m.

Elder George R. Hill addressed the congregation in a spirited manner on the unchangeable character of the gospel, bearing a strong testimony to the truth of its principles.

Elder Cowley followed on the first principles of the gospel and promises made to the Saints on conditions of obedience to God’s commandments. 

Conference adjourned.

Since the 29^th of last June 51 souls have been added to the Church and 27 emigrated from this district. Prospects are favorable for more baptisms in the near future, and the Saints generally are anxious to gather to Zion. During the past summer the Elders have been going out into the surrounding country and finding openings to preach in different localities. Invitations have been given us to hold meetings in several neighborhoods, where we have not been able to devote any time on account of the limited force of elders in this district.

There are good openings for several more good energetic elders in this immediate section of country, while there are doubtless thousand of people in the surrounding counties, as well as throughout the Southern States who never heard the voice of an elder in Israel. This power of God has been manifest in our labors. The honest in heart are convinced of the truth by “hearing the word of God,” while the Pharises element who seek for a sign, thereby prove themselves to being a “wicked and an adulterous generation.”

John Hamilton Morgan Journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Utah Digital Newspaper Project, http://digitalnewspapers.org/

A Faith Promoting Experience in the Ministry of President John Morgan. From a pamphlet compiled by his son in 1964.

 Faith Promoting Experiences in the Ministry of President John Morgan. 

Compiled and published by his son, Nicholas G. Morgan, Sr. in 1964.

(Continued from here.)

I recognized the letter Heather Seferovich read during her November 14th lecture, "Faith to Persevere; Southern States Mission" in the Assembly Hall. It is included in this pamphlet on pages 27-28. John Morgan's journal for all of 1880 is not included with the rest of his journal at the Marriott Library at the University of Utah.

 December 11, 1946

“Mr. N. G. Morgan

210 McIntyre Building

Salt Lake City, Utah

“Dear Brother Morgan:

“Agreeable to your request, I am pleased to furnish you with following information:

“In about 1910, when I was president of the Western States Mission, I had occasion to visit Pueblo, Colorado, to hold a regular conference. On my arrival at Pueblo, I met a brother who had driven from his home in Victor, Colorado, down to Pueblo, to attend the conference. He was a brother Henager and appeared to be about forty years of age.

“I was much impressed with his personality and during our several meetings of the conference he was constantly in my mind. During the final session, Sunday evening, I felt impressed to invite him to the stand to bear his testimony. He accepted my invitation and in his opening remarks gave expression, substantially, to the following:

“’My Father’s family lived in a mountainous region in Virginia, and during the period that President John Morgan was in charge of the Southern States Mission, he came into our country to hold a series of meetings; one of which was about thirty miles distant from our home.

“’Apparently he had known our family, and when the evening meeting was finished, he made inquiry concerning my father and mother. One member of our family who had gone to the meeting, told President Morgan that his folks were unable to attend because of the serious illness of his brother. “Well,” replied President Morgan, “I have a message for them and we must go to them immediately.”

“’He arrived at our home at about 3:00 o’clock the following morning. In the meantime the boy who was sick had died several hours previously and had been temporarily laid out on a cooling slab. President Morgan went into the room

Where the boy of ten years lay and prayed for him; blessed him and raised him to life.

“’The boy went to school the following morning, and when the teacher arrived, he was sitting on the fence in front of the school. She thought he was an apparition since the word had traveled around the neighborhood that he had died the night before, and she wouldn’t believe otherwise until she had looked for a scar that he had upon his wrist – I was that boy,’

“I may add that several years later I was called to Victor, Colorado, to preach at Brother Henager’s funeral. There I found the funeral parlor packed with local business people among whom he had evidently been very popular. At that time we had but few families of our Church living in Victor.

“I am happy to be of aid to you in furnishing you this information.

 “Sincerely your brother,

“(sgd) John L. Herrick” 

Note: Elder Matthias F. Cowley sent an account of a two day conference held February 7 and 8, 1880 at the Litz School-house, Burk’s Garden, Tazewell County, Va., to Salt Lake City. It was published in the Deseret News on March 3, 1880. Children of Brother Philip Heninger attended that conference.