Surely special

Last winter (February-ish 2011), I was unemployed, snowed in, trying to figure out my life, and searching for things to do to make my life worth living. My lovely Aunt Jolene (Father's older sister) has been our family's main family historian for a long time (since before I was born--she's done a lot of research, travel, connections, etc.). But she had a really serious accident a few years ago and has had complications since. So, when I reached out to her, she passed along a project that she wanted done finished: transcribing my grandpa's mission journal.

Grandpa Whitney Checketts served in the Texas/Louisiana mission in 1948-1950. Grandpa grew up in northern Utah, the youngest of 15/9 children (15, 9 who grew up (or 8?)). His father was a bishop for a very long time and his older brothers had served in WWII. I'm not sure if any of them went on a mission. But anyhow, he came of age in a peaceful time and got to serve.

Grandpa is my only grandparent who I knew very well and that wasn't a whole lot. But one of the things that I have always known about him is that he was always a missionary. He loved to share with anyone about the gospel of Jesus Christ and his church. He'd talk to everyone when we were in public; when he sent us cards or letters, he'd write a note on the envelope telling the carrier to ask us about the church; for several years, while living in Oklahoma, he wrote a weekly letter to the editor, about various gospel topics (like his own little column); and he'd always encourage us to also share the gospel.  These things I knew.

Well, it's taken me well over a year (mostly because I took a many-month hiatus), but this morning I finished transcribing. And guess what I learned? Well, lots of things, but here are a few:

- Missions in 1948-50 had a lot in common with missions today: lots of contacting, working with members, people hiding from you/lying to you, getting sick and waiting while companions are sick, associating with/becoming close to other missionaries, eating with members, helping when people were sick or died or had other problems, ups & downs from news from home, teaching and more teaching (and don't forget more contacting), keeping records, dealing with weather, going to meetings, the joy of watching people accept the gospel, and the sweetness of feeling the guidance of the Spirit guide you.

- Missions then had a few difference. The most common being that they'd go to a fair amount of "shows" (movies). And they called a few things different ("lady missionaries" "cottage meetings"). And they paid for their stuff. They loaned and sold Book of Mormons (which the missionaries bought, not the church; now I understand why he'd send Uncle Thad boxes of Books of Mormon on his mission). But really, 50 years hasn't changed much in missions.

- I learned a lot about why Grandpa did the things he did to share the gospel (for example, he wrote to the paper and helped do a radio program, too).

I got to know Grandpa and to love him. To appreciate the heritage that he passed along. He was a young man then, but his love for and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ shined through. So did his commitment to hard work and diligence. And I'm so thankful he passed that along. I also got to feel his love for his family (simple statements about letters to and from his parents and siblings, the pain he felt when his sister had a miscarriage, etc.); they're my family too and I'm thankful for the extra connections that I feel now.

I'm also thankful for him and the thousands of other missionaries who have worked to share the gospel through the years. Because he served in the rural south, with a small church population, many little things that came up reminded me of both things I've experienced and stories I've heard from good people that I grew up around. If they could see the organization that the church is now! I believe their hearts would swell with joy and I hope they would be grateful for where we've come.

I loved the language of the '40s/a country boy. One of my favorite phrases was his "surely."  "I surely am enjoying this work." "I surely am grateful to be working out here." "I surely do have a strong testimony of this gospel." "It surely was good."  Etc.

This morning I finished transcribing. He spent a couple of days saying good-byes to members and investigators, following up on some people close to being baptized. Then he packed his things, went to the mission home and was released. Got on the bus and went home. His parents met him in SLC and he went to see his sisters. Then he went home and started working on the farm that day. And it was over.

Only it was never really over, was it? It wasn't ever over and I think that's part of why 6 of his 7 children served full-time missions (including his daughters), many of his grandchildren served full-time (one in Texas!), one his sons & wife have done a service mission and two of his children and their spouses are right now working on papers/waiting for calls for more full-time missions. So, no. It's never completely over.

But the full-time part ended. And I cried. I'm still crying.

I surely am grateful for the special experience this has been.