In tabulating my experiences I have omitted many items that may be of interest to my
children and grand-children.  The main reason for writing a brief account of my parents and
some of my experiences is that my loved ones may be inspired to a positive faith in God
and the Gospel of Jesus Christ; that a greater desire may be kindled in their souls to serve
in their church, with a solemn devoted love for the lives of the servants of God: Joseph
Smith, as his Prophet who lived and died for the establishment of this wonderful Church of
Christ, and the noble men who succeeded him as presidents of the Church and Prophets of
the living God, so that our faith, knowledge and love for the servants of God may be so
complete that we shall never find fault with any of the Lord's annointed. Rather should we
scan our own lives and ask ourselves this question.  "Am I acceptable to God, my heavenly
father; were I to be weighed in the balance would I be found wanting ? If so, Oh Lord, help
me to perfect my life, overcome my weaknesses that life and actions may be such as thou,
Oh Lord, can approve of.  " Let us all remember, although we may have attained some
degree of prominence, yet we are poor mortals so dependent upon others and especially
upon our heavenly father. If peradventure the holy spirit should be withdrawn from us,
what would become of us, and what would we amount to ? Therefore, my beloved ones,
seek God humbly; be patient, longsuffering; have hope, faith in our heavenly father and his
divine priesthood, and love for one another, and he will not forsake us; no matter bow
fierce the battle, how dark the night, glorious dawn and rays of light will surely come to us.

There are a number of things pertaining to the temporal affairs of my life that have not
been mentioned. I have greatly enjoyed a modest accumulation of wealth and means, and
have been somewhat successful.  Starting business with meager capital the Lord has blessed
me most wonderfully.  Customers flocked to my store from almost every town in the
valley. By treating everyone with kindness and consideration, whether they were poor or of
means all were treated alike, and my business increased year after year by leaps and
bounds.  I also made a number of investments that proved very profitable. I invested
$1000.00 in the milk factory at Richmond.  After receiving much more in dividends than
my investment, I finally sold my stock for $9000.00.

I invested $2500. 00 in a shoe factory at St. Joseph, Mo. , the Battreall Shoe Co.
After receiving large dividends year after year I sold my stock to Mr. Battreall for
$4800.00.  A few years later this company became bankrupt.  Mr. Battreall, its president
was a multi-millionaire; he went broke and had to seek other employment.

I invested $I2,000.00 in the Utah-Idaho sugar Co. and later sold my stock when it
was at its peak clearing $10,000.  This stock in later years became almost worthless.

I also made other investments that proved profitable.  Some investments were not so
good, but my losses have not been very great.  I have always shunned the "get rich quick"
schemes. I wish to advise my folks to avoid speculation and to be cautious in making
investments; leave mining stock, oil stock, coal stock and big corporation stocks alone.  It
is more or less a gamble; the alluring profits seldom materialize.  Be content with your
occupation and satisfied with a reasonable income.  The man who plods along, satisfied
with a reasonable income, being careful with his earnings, and observing this one safe rule,
"be sure to spend less than what you make" has no need of being sorry or embarrassed.

A contented mind is worth more than wealth, especially if you can face the world and
feel in your heart, "I have wronged no man; my conscience is clear from guilt or deceit.  "
Never repudiate your obligations. Accounts may become statutory outlawed, but with God
no obligation is outlawed.  It must be met some way.

If you should encounter failure, do not be discouraged. I do not know of any of my
relatives who have been known to give up and quit, or shirk from under a moral obligation.
The only time to retire is when our physical bodies are worn out.  Never feel nor think the
church or the government owes us anything.  We must plan and work out our own
problems.

While it has given me a lot of pleasure to make money, yet I do not love money nor
the glamour and riches of this world.  I have not placed my heart in these things, but have
been ambitious in branching out and doing things in a business way.  I have received much
pleasure in contributing for the upbuilding of the church, and in otherwise doing good with
my means; just as much so as accumulating them. I have paid my tithing diligently year
after year.  I have not tabulated the amount, but this has been of no concern to me. Jesus
said the widow who gave two mites had given most, more than all others, for she had given
her all.

I have always been interested in reading good books every day, practically from
childhood, and especially each day have kept informed of current events, local and national
news.  One day in reading the Deseret News I noticed a statement that a fine of $300 had
been imposed upon Joseph F. Smith for living with his plural wives.  That night I had a
dream.  I saw in my sleep Pres. Jos. F. Smith go into a bank in Salt Lake and borrow
money and sign a note for it. Next morning my dream remained with me clearly and
impressively.  I went to the store and wrote a letter to Pres.  Smith stating that I had
observed the statement in the News, and that I felt impressed to enclose a check of $300 as
a gift to him provided he would accept it.  I received a letter from Pres.  Smith where in he
expressed his deep appreciation for what I had done.  I felt sure the Lord had indicated his
desire to me in assisting his servant in this manner.  I have many times had dreams where in
I have seen what would happen the very next day and they have come true.  The following
is Pres.  Smith's letter to me,

The First Presidency of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Salt Lake City, Utah 
Dec. 25th, 1906

Elder John H. Anderson,
Logan, Cache Co.

My Dear Brother Anderson:

Your letter of the 22 inst. with valuable enclosure came to my hand last evening.

I need not say it was a very great surprise to me.  Coming as it does from one almost
stranger to me, makes it no less a surprise and far more wonderful.

I do not know how to make proper acknowledgement to you.  My appreciation for the
generous, noble heart, the kind feeling, and true friendship, manifested in such a liberal
free-will offering and helpful gift, is beyond my power of expression.

Therefore I can only in simple words thank you for your kindness, and I pray God, my
Father, and your Father to most abundantly reward you for your remembrance and
generosity to your fellow servant.  Truly the Lord and my brethren are good and kind to
me.

Wishing you the compliments of the season, and long life, prosperity and happiness forever,
I am your brother in the gospel.

(Signed) Joseph F. Smith

P.S. When I meet you bro.  Anderson, wherever it may be, just a word from you by which I
may distinguish or recognize you as the friend to whom I owe so much, will be greatly
appreciated by me. Again thanking you, I am

V. C,
Jos, F. Smith

Especially after reading his letter was I assured my dream had been given me for a
purpose. However, I never approached Pres. Smith nor explained to him why I had sent the
check.  I had no occasion to meet him, and would not purposely approach him on this
matter, as that to me would seem that I was doing this for a selfish purpose or for
notoriety.  I was happy for what I had done.

On the 4th of December, 1917, a fire broke out in the Logan temple and did
considerable damage. It would require considerable money to repair the damage and
re-beautify the temple. I was impressed to help out in this noble cause.  I sent a check of
$1000 to the presidency of the church to assist in making these improvements.
Pres.  Anton H. Lund was the only member of the First Presidency in Salt Lake at the time.
He wrote me a very fine letter for what I had done.

During the world war we were asked to buy government bonds to raise money for the
war.  I bought $6000 worth of Gov't bonds and one thousand post office bonds and kept
them until they matured.  I know of a number of cases where business men purchased
bonds and at once placed them on the market to be sold to get their money back.  The
market became flooded with bonds and as a result they dropped much below par.

A number of Logan business men were asked to contribute $500 each to the Red
Cross.  I paid my $500 and learned later that most business men had paid only 50% of their
assessments.  The next year my allotment was $265.  I have never regretted anything I have
done for the welfare of others.

It was decided by the Presidency of the Stake and the Bishopric of the fourth ward
that the ward meeting house should be remodeled.  The ward members were assembled to
discuss the matter. A vote was taken authorizing the Bishopric to spend $40,000 on the
meeting house.  I was asked to contribute $500 and the ward membership was assessed
according to their ability to pay.  The remodeling, which was almost a rebuilding, of the
meeting house soared up to the unexpected amount of $67,000. The ward members were
again asked to contribute to the amount of 50% of their first assessment.  After much effort
was exhausted to collect means to pay for the new meeting house the ward members were
called together in a mass meeting.  The meeting was poorly attended and nothing much
accomplished.  A few speeches were made and the meeting dismissed.  I suggested to the
bishopric that if they would appoint a time for another meeting, and in the mean time have
each member of the ward visited, requesting them to be present, and then put the matter of
the indebtedness up in a clear comprehensive manner, that I felt they would get results. My
suggestion was carried out. The Bishopric after a council meeting decided that I should be
the speaker and present the whole matter before the ward members. At the appointed time
a good representation of the heads of families was present.  I had given the matter
considerable thought and began my talk by portraying the wonderful temple King Solomon
built, the great amount of money and labor; then referred to churches I had seen in Europe,
built many hundreds of years ago.  I then referred to our meeting house, that I expected it
to stand until Jesus should come again. We should be happy that we had a beautiful chapel,
well built instead of one that would again need remodeling.  In closing I stated that I was
going to bring my contribution up to $1000, although I had paid hundreds of dollars in past
years on the erection of our meeting-house.

A desire to contribute seized almost everyone present.  Men were so anxious to give
that the clerk could not write the names and amounts of the contributions as fast as they
called out the names and amounts of the contributions they wanted to give. $4000 were
raised that night and the following day the Bishopric contacted those who were not at the
meeting.  In a short time the necessary amount was raised and the meeting house was
dedicated.

When I was called to preside over the Swedish mission I explained to Pres.  Grant
that I would give my services to the Church without drawing the allotment given to mission
presidents.  In like manner had I served as Bishop of the fourth ward for 5 1/2 years,
accepting that call as a mission, and would not accept of a bishop's allotment. I have always
felt that I should not figure how much we have done in the church and for its cause, but
rather how much more we can do.

If we could fully realize what the church has done for us, how wonderfully our lives
have been enriched because our forefathers embraced the gospel, left the old world and
came here to this goodly place, where opportunity has been great for education, practical
experience; opportunity to do real service at home and abroad.  With a correct conception
of the truth and a positive knowledge that God is the Father of our spirits, that Jesus is our
redeemer, the Savior of the world, that Jos.  Smith indeed was and is a true prophet, and to
know that we are members of the only true church in all the world, which has been
established and maintained by the power of the Almighty, should we not be appreciative
and happy ? So, I will advise my dear ones not to place their hearts so strongly on the
things of this world, which will perish in time and by being used, but rather accept of the
admonishment of Jesus, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal, But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also."

President U.S. Grant, the great general, died at the age of 63.  Shortly before his
death be wrote a note to his wife, Julia, and placed it in his pocket. It read in part, "Look
after our children and direct them in the path of rectitude.  It would distress me far more to
hear that one of them could depart from an honorable, upright and virtuous life than it
would to know that they were prostrated on a bed of sickness from which they would
never arise alive. They have never given us any cause for alarm on this account, and I trust
they never will. With these few injunctions and the knowledge I have of your love and
affection, and the dutiful affection of all our children, I bid you a final farewell, until we
meet in another and, I trust, better world."

The sentiments of U.S. Grant with reference to his children, express my feelings
better than any statement I have heard or read.  If our children, or any of them, should
assume a careless indifference regarding a pure life and right living, and go wrong, it would
be the most grevious experience of my life.  However, I am happy the same glorious
expression can be made by us, namely, our children have never given us any serious cause
for alarm.

While on my first mission to Sweden, the second year I was President of the
Christiania branch in the city of Christianstad.  We had a large number of families who were
members of the church.  I brought two large families into the church.  There were quite a
number of children between the ages of six to ten.  I explained the Sunday School system
we had for our children in Utah, and asked them if they would like to have a Sunday
School organized.  They were delighted with the new class.  Often there were not enough
chairs and some had to sit on the floor. After singing and prayer I would instruct them in
the principles of the Gospel from outlines that I had arranged.  These children became so
interested in Sunday School class that whenever I came to the city they would insist that
we have a Sunday School class.  The youngsters would see that their friends were notified
and present.  They became so attached that whenever I entered the homes of our church
members they would pile on my knees or stand by and insist that I tell them bible stories.

When I came home from my mission I was asked to teach a Sunday School class, all
boys from 14 to 16 years of age.  These boys became so interested in Gospel Doctrine that
they expressed the wish to have class oftener than Sunday mornings.  We arranged to meet
at my home one night each week and I gave them a course in theology.  They all came
including one married man.  I arranged my own outline.  These young men thoroughly
enjoyed these studies, which continued the entire winter.

As time went on our home was blessed with sweet babies, precious choice spirits that
had been retained in the heavens until the gospel dispensation was ushered in.  It is a
wonderful privilege to come to earth when the church and kingdom of God is set up, and
furthermore to be born of parents who have received the testimony of Jesus and have been
married for time and eternity; the children thereby being born in the new and everlasting
covenant become heirs to all the blessings and glories our heavenly Father has in store for
his faithful children. To think we have existed in the spirit world all these thousands of
years, and the knowledge we gained there will be restored to us.  Whether this shall be
restored to us while we sojourn in the world of spirits, which is Paradise, or after we again
take up our bodies in the resurrection has not been revealed; but we may be assured that
this knowledge together with all our experiences while in mortality will eventually be
restored to us.  Pres.  Brigham Young made the statement, "I shall not cease learning while
I live, nor when I arrive in the spirit world, but shall there learn with greater facility; and
when I again receive my body, I shall learn a thousand times more in a thousand times less
time; and then I do not mean to cease learning. Pres, Jos.  F. Smith made the statement that
all our former knowledge shall be restored to us. There is no question in my mind that
every act and every word we utter in mortal life will be as an open book to us after living
this probation.  Jesus said, "For every idle word man shall speak he shall give account
thereof in the day of judgement."

A grave responsibility comes to every parent who is entrusted with these precious
spirits sent from heaven, innocent and pure, free from sin. There is a responsibility on all
parents to assist their children that they may maintain that purity of life, and help them find
the way back to God. I fear we as weak mortals do not realise this responsibility.

In a meager way we as parents have approached this great responsibility as our dear
ones have come to us. They were taught to pray, kneeling at their parents knees, and were
taught the best we knew how, to be good and kind.  Faith in God and his son Jesus was
always emphasized, and as their little minds developed they were taught that the church of
Christ and his priesthood were restored to earth.  As they grew older they always took part
in family prayers, which practice has never been omitted in our home.  It has never been
difficult to observe family prayers in our home.  Night and morning it seemed just as
natural for our children to observe this all-important worship as it has been for us as
parents.

As time went on I suggested that we have a little Sunday School class occasionally
during evenings when I was home from other church duties.  The children were delighted
and often asked that we have such a class.  They would listen with great interest to Bible
stories; they were taught gospel doctrine and what the church stands for.  So faith was
developed in their souls from childhood. It has not been necessary for us to urge our
children to attend Sunday School, meetings or other Church duties.  It has seemed just as
natural for them to do these things as it was to come to their meals.

During the administration of Pres.  Jos. F. Smith, he recommended that parents
observe a home evening with their families.  One evening a week was set aside for home
night.  A program should be arranged by the family consisting of singing, reading.
conversation on gospel topics, anything to make the evening pleasant and interesting.  We
observed home evening with our family for a long time.  Pres.  Smith also recommended
that a chapter from one of the standard Church works be read every evening in every
family.  We observed this suggestion in our home many years and I am sure that it meant a
lot to our children as well as to ourselves.

While we have always felt that religious teaching was very essential, still we have
been careful not to overdo this all important question.  We have taken into consideration
that children need enjoyment, pleasure, as well as the more solemn problems.  So our home
has always been open to our children. Our parlor has always been free for them to occupy;
not only our children but the neighbors boys and girls had perfect access to our home, and
rnama always had nice things on hand such as cookies, cakes, candy, etc. for these
enjoyments.  Therefore our love for home is just as deep rooted in the hearts of our
children, for after all, there is no place like home.  It is said of the Swedish Nightingale,
Jenny Lind, who became famous and world renowned for her wonderful character and
sweet voice; she sang before an audience in England of 20,000 people who applauded each
number enthusiastically; that when the program was complete and the crowd still
applauded for another number, she turned her face toward her Fatherland, Sweden, and
sang that lovely song, common to us all "Home sweet home, there is no place like home."
She swayed the entire assembly so that there was not a dry eye in that vast crowd.

So it is with us and our family.  We expect weekly letters from each of our children
who are away.  They also get homesick for parents and the old home, where they grew up
and were loved, and taught to love.  So every once in awhile they must come home and get
a little touch of the old home spirit.

Possibly the family ties become stronger because of our outings and close association
with our children.  I recall as early as 1892 our first canyon trip.  I pursuaded Grandpa
Eliason and Uncle Emil to take a trip to the canyon with their families.  We camped in the
right-hand fork, a little below the boy scout camp site.  We went up in our heavy wagons,
forded the river at the forks, which was very high, the water coming almost to the wagon
box.  We had plenty of bedding and all kinds of food for cooking. We fished the streams
and caught many fine trout and had a real good time. We often took our family on fishing
trips and outings.  A favorite place was at "Big Pete's Pasture, " where we would put up a
big tent for shade.  There was the peaceful big river, green shady willows and fishing for all
who cared to fish.  There is nothing like a camping trip to build ones appetite, and on these
trips the men-folks were always the cooks. Some times we would stay over night, and often
had friends and neighbors with us.  Fish were caught by the bushel, Yes those were jolly
times for us all.

Our numerous trips to Logan canyon were greatly enjoyed by the entire family. I
taught boys and girls to fish and shoot, and ride horseback. Shooting at leaves or cans at a
distance with a 22 was a favorite past time, We often rode to the sheep camps and ate
Mulligan stew with the sheep herders, and spend the afternoon at the sheep camps; then  in
turn the sheep herders would come to our campfire and spend the evening.  After a big
supper we would sit around the campfire and sing songs and tell stories until late into the
night.  The sheep-herders enjoyed these evenings so much that they disliked going back to
their camps.

We would play all kinds of games in the canyon, Come to my pig-pen, Hide and seek,
run sheep run, etc.  Those were enjoyable outings, and long remembered.  Often we would
take our family to Bear Lake for several days.  I think I am one of the oldest scouts, for all
these years I have scouted with our family at various camp grounds.  Temple fork and
Crookstonts pasture were two of our favorite camp grounds.  Aside from our canyon trips
we have made numerous trips to Yellowstone Park (some years three or four times), the
Madison river country where we have caught many hundreds of pounds of large beautiful
trout, rainbow, Loch Levan and natives.  The Madison river in the canyon is very large, and
in places very wide.  The canyon is beautiful, high mountains which are covered with large
pines and numerous flowers.  The nights are cold and the atmosphere grand.  It is simply
wonderful to get next to nature; it is inspiring to get away from the turmoil, rush and worry
of the everyday business of life.

We have taken numerous trips together, often enjoyed the Bear Lake resorts, where
we would remain for days.  There were also the trips to Salt River in Star Valley, Lost
River, Cliff Lake the fisherman's paradise, and Sheridan Lake.  These experiences linger
with us as long as life lasts; there is nothing that compares with childhood days during
which the lives of parents and children are cemented together.  The memories never fade
and the old stories seem as new as oft they are recalled in word or thought, they are
molded into our lives.  Life is wonderful; it is wonderful to live, to love, and be loved, and
to make others happy.  Thereby the divine which is within us is kindled to a flame that is
never quenched.  The many nights we sat around the camp fires, talked and sang, gazed at
the twinkling stars which beckoned peace to our souls, then lay down wrapped in the
mantle of the days memories, we shall never forget.

Home of our childhood! How affection clings
And hovers around us with seraph wings,
Dearer thy hills, though clad in autumn brown,
Than airiest summits which the cedars crown,

That hallowed ward is never forgot,
No matter where we roam;
The purest feelings of the heart
Still cluster 'round our home.

Dear resting place where weary thought
May dream away its care.
Love's gentle star unveils its light
And shines in beauty there.

Home's not merely four square walls,
Though with pictures hung and gilded;
Home is where affection calls,
Filled with shrines the heart hath builded.

Home ! Go watch the faithful dove,
Sailing heath heaven above us.
Home is where are those we love,
And where there's one to love us.

Home's not merely roof and room, 
It needs something to endear it;
Home is where the heart can bloom, 
Where there's some kind lip to cheer it.

What is home with none to meet,
None to welcome, none to greet us ?
Home is sweet, -- and only sweet --
Where there's one we love to meet us.

Sweet are the joys of home
Spread smilingly afar;
But stars approached become more bright, 
And home is life's own star.

The Pilgrim's step in vain
Seeks Eden's sacred ground;
But in home's holy joys again
An Eden may be found,

A glance of heaven to see,
To none on earth is given;
And yet a happy family
Is but an earlier heaven.

Feb. 19, 1939 we experienced our first real sorrow.  The passing of Geneva came
very unexpected, although her health had been poor for many a year, and she had at times
been seriously ill.  The last few weeks she really felt better than she had for a long time; a
marked change of cheerfulness entered her life.  She seemed happy, overwhelmed with joy
and gladness.  Possibly the spiritual part of her being was in touch with powers of the
unseen, which gave that superior gladness to her soul that no one understood.

I do not look upon death as a thing to be dreaded as gloomy dark shadows of night.  I
rather look upon death as the going down of the sun, the twilight, then the dawn of a
brighter day, a day with rays of light and glory.  I do not look upon death as the end of life. 
I rather look upon death as the beginning of a greater and fuller life, enriched with glory.  I
do not consider them who die as losers, having lost and failed, but look upon them as
heros, having won the great battle of life, having overcome the frailties of mortality, and
now prepared for a more glorious abode.  May our heavenly Father's approval and
benediction come to all of us.

There is no death ! The stars go down
To rise upon some fairer shore,
And bright in heaven's jeweled crown,
They shine for evermore.

There is no death ! The leaves may fall,
And flowers may fade and pass away;
They only wait through wintrey hours
The coming of the May.

And very near us though unseen,
The dear immortal spirits tread;
For all the boundless universe
Is life -- there is no dead.

The statement is often made in the L. D. S. church service, "I know the gospel is true,
" If the question were put to a group of church members, "How do you know the gospel is
true, " probably a variety of explanations would be given.  At first thought it would appear
a very easy question to answer.  After some consideration it is a marvelous question.  One
with deep meaning.  One may say I have studied the question with great care, and find the
doctrine taught by the L. D. S. church identical to the teachings taught to the Jews in
Palestine by Jesus, also to the Nephites on this continent.  The organization of the church is
the same as that set up by Jesus.  But that is not an answer to the question, The
reorganized church, and others set up by men that were excommunicated from the L. D. S.
church can make the same claims.