Monday 13 May 2013

Dear Mom,

Your great grandson, Isaac, spoke in church yesterday.  It was Mother’s Day.  He said that we should all write letters to our mothers.  A great longing came over me to be able to do so.  I haven’t seen you for 31 years now; but I’ve no doubt that you see me, and know what I do.  I think that if I was to write you a letter, you’d probably read it.

I used to kiss you goodnight every night.  As I thought about you yesterday, I wished I could do that again.  I’m grateful that I wasn’t embarrassed to do that.  I’m grateful that you knew I loved you.  Everything that I am today I attribute to you.  The fact that I’m a member of the Church is attributable to you.  You taught me as a little boy to stay away from harmful things like tobacco and alcohol.  I took that to heart.  I remember promising myself at about the age of six that I would never touch those things.  I’m 66 years old now, and I never have.  That’s made all the difference.  When the gospel was offered to me, I was able to recognize it and to feel the Spirit.  I didn’t have any harmful substances in my life to interfere with the testimony of the Spirit.  That had to be because of you.

I’m sorry that it took me so long to have your temple work done.  Ellen wanted to be the one to do that, but Philip is still standing in the way of her activity in the Church.  When Dad passed away and it was time to do his temple work, we all felt that you and he should have your work done together.  Aaron was baptized for Dad prior to his taking out his own endowment.  Katie was baptized for you.  I then acted as proxy for Dad as he received his endowment, while Katie acted as proxy for you.  We then went into a sealing room in the Boise Temple, sealed you and Dad together, and then I was finally able to be sealed to you.

We’re a forever family now.  I know that you’ve accepted the work that we’ve done for you.  I know that you’re not far away.  I know that you know I love you.  You’re possibly anxious for me to get over there.  I’m anxious to see you again, but I still have lots to do here.

Eli still needs me.  He’s going on a mission in four months, and then Margie and I are going on a mission, too.  Eli never got to see you here in mortality.  You died 12 years before he was born.

Katie was just nine years old when you died.  You attended her baptism in the new meetinghouse.  You passed away the following year.  Adam, our seventh child, was the baby.  Danny, Ivy and Eli never met you in life.  That’s a loss for them, but I’m sure you know them intimately.  I don’t know what all you do over there, but I’m pretty sure that watching out for your posterity is one of your favorite assignments.  I’m grateful for whatever you do.  I’m sure you’re more interested in us now than you even were in life.

You were our on-call babysitter every time Marjorie went to the hospital to have another baby.  Thanks for watching our kids.  Thanks for making an inviting place for them to come visit you.  You and Dad always kept “bait” at your house like jelly beans and ice cream so that they’d walk up the hill to see you.

Katie lives up there now with her family.  That’s appropriate.  She has eight children.  Isaac is her second son.  They’re all great kids.  All of my grandchildren are great kids.  I feel about them like your father felt about his grandchildren.  He always said proudly, “…and not a dumb one in the lot!”

I’m very happy, Mom.  I owe it all to you.  I had a happy childhood.  I saw how worried you and Dad sometimes were about my siblings, and resolved not to cause you such worry.  I didn’t do bad things, consequently, but I just now realized that I probably became your biggest worry of all.  I never thought of this before.  I got really depressed as an older teenager.  That must have caused you great worry.  We can look back now and know that it was a necessary step toward leading me to the Church, but I’m sorry for the worry I caused you.

Thanks for being my mother.  Thanks for all you did and continue to do for me.  Thanks for praying for me.  I know you did that in life, and I’m sure you’re doing it now.  I’m looking forward to seeing you again.  I want you and Dad to come get me when it’s time for me to go over there.  You ushered me into this world and showed me what to do, and I expect you to do the same the next time around.  It’s such a comfort to know that our relationship is eternal.

I’m still working on our eternal relationships, and I have a request.  I have our family sealed back through your great grandparents, but I can’t figure out the parentage of Andrew K. Adams.  I think his father and mother are Andrew H. Adams and Lydia Temperance Mills, but I can’t get any information so that I can get their temple work done.  Could you please help me?

I’m still depending on you.  A parent’s work is never done, is it?

Your loving son,

James