27, January 1945


To: our Children

When I was born, my parents lived in a two room house, a little
southwest of our present home. My father had brought logs from the
canyon, laying one log upon another for the outside walls. The roof
was a dirt roof. Bullrushes were gathered from the swamps, placed on
the roof and covered with soil sufficiently to keep out rain and snow.
Mortar was prepared of clay to fill up the openings between the logs.
The floors were covered with boards nailed down with wooden pegs.
There were two medium sized rooms. 

My mother did all her own cooking and baking over an open fireplace.
I well remember the first stove my parents had. It was a Charter Oak,
bought in Salt Lake. It was just a small stove. My father could pick it
up and carry it very easily. My little bed was called a trundle bed, low
enough to be pushed under the bed my parents slept in, so as to make
room in the house. (This was done every morning.)

During my early childhood I went without shoes and stockings the
entire summer. Every night I would wash my feet; often they would be
sore and chappy. During winter I wore stoggy shoes made from heavy
stiff leather. My clothes were made from jeans. My mother spun the
yarn and weaved the cloth. Occasionally a friendly Indian would drop
in and help my mother with her work. She was a good worker and very
kind. I recall two large Indians. They were brothers, John and Jim.
They were friendly and came to our home very often. John often got
drunk and disturbed the peace and often he spent the night in jail.

When I was six years old, my father began to get out large saw logs to
build a better house. It took time and hard work to get out enough
lumber to build a house. I often went with my father to get rock from
the mouth of Green Canyon for the foundation. I was very small when
I went with him after wood. He would often stay overnight As the light
faded from the hills and night came on we would retire with one quilt
under us and one over us. I shall always remember how I would lay
there gazing up at the blue sky and many bright stars which I could not
count The cool fresh air was wonderful.

My opportunity for an education was very limited. What little learning
I have has been through hard study by myself. Observance of the
Sabbath and prayers were never neglected in our home. I do not recall
at any time of our doing any kind of labor on Sunday, only feed our 
animals—weeding the garden or fussing around doing little things
around the home on Sunday was never done in our home. I do not
believe ever a morning or evening came but prayer was observed.
Reading the Bible was a common thing on Sunday. Every principle
and doctrine, with reverence, and in the full meaning for which it was
intended, was fully observed.  (Israel was forbidden to even light a fire
on the Sabbath day.)

During our married life we have endeavored to follow the example of
our parents and hope that the spirit shall never depart from our
descendants. We have lived a home life. Our greatest interest has been
with our children; to care for them and give them what education they
desired. We have had pleasure in sending them on missions and paying
all their expenses. The Lord has blessed us financially in all our
business affairs. Still we have lived a careful life, have not been given
to spending; therefore we have accumulated some means. We have
been liberal with our means in church affairs, also to the needy; and
especially in assisting our children. Some have received more than
others, but we are making provisions that all shall share alike from our
estate.

After our passing it is our decision that each of our children shall
receive $25,000.00. That means if you have received ten, fifteen or
twenty thousand dollars as the case may be, you shall receive
additional means to make up the amount to a total of  $25,000.00.
Mother and I have decided that the balance of our estate shall be given
to the Church Security Corporation. We have given considerable
thought to this question before making it definite. We hope each of our
children shall be satisfied and appreciate what we have done for them
and shall endeavor to manifest a kind, loving disposition to each other,
and be glad their parents have been able to do what they have in
setting aside part of the estate for those who are in need.

Remember, money and the things of this world are not the big things
in life. After all, love, and good will means far more. However, there
are possibilities for all. It was said by Benjamin Franklin that to be
thrown on ones resources is to be cast in the very lap of fortune. 
I find my parents were inspired to aid their fellow men according to
their circumstances. At the time I was born, or a year or two before,
Swen Carlson and family came from Sweden. They were unable to
find a place to stay the first winter here. My parents moved their little
family into the one room and gave the other to Brother Carlson and his
family. A man by the name of Johannes Nielson lived where Mrs.
Mortimer now lives. He came to my father one day and said, "My
family have not bread to eat " My father told him, "As long as I have
bread, your family shall not go hungry." Father told me that tears
rolled down J. Nielsons' cheeks as large as peas when he told of his
family being hungry—So I feel every one who has been blessed with
means should put away selfishness and take to heart that each of us
really is our brother's keeper. We are just as anxious for the welfare of
our children as we were when they were with us in our home and we
wish them well. May our Heavenly Father's blessings be with each of
them throughout their lives.

                                      Very Sincerely,
                                              ((signed) Your Father and Mother, 
                                      John Hyrum and Annie Eliason Anderson