Hansine Rebecca Jorgensen Frost - my Great-Grandmother

My uncle, Vernon Parent, wrote his memories of his grandmother, Hansine Rebecca Jorgensen Frost (1865-1935):

Dear Family,

My memories of Grandmother Frost are fleeting, but I reverence the great work she accomplished in rearing her family and supporting Grandpa Frost in his mission to Denmark with her small family and a farm to manage up in Cache Valley just South of the Benson ward chapel. She had limited help from her Jorgensen brothers, but accomplished most of the farming by herself while tending 3 small children. She was a great help to my mother who had challenges with my older brother, Joseph, and Grandmother tutored Joseph in their Riverton home for a year to allow Mother more time to make a better adjustment to life on our Minnesota farm, and overcome the undercurrents in our Grand Forks branch of the church, from sister who had eyes on dad as a future husband, only to have a Utah girl snatch him up in a surprise manner! Grandmother Frost received inspiration that mother would marry Dad the first time she met him when he came to her Bluffdale home seeking the young lady he had seen in his dream, and she told mother that he was her intended mate to which Mother exclaimed, "Mother, I do not even know the man." She visited our farm home in Minnesota, pitching in to help Mother during 1931 when Virginia was on the way, and so I am blessed to be in a photograph with both of my grandmothers!

Grandmother Parent, Grandmother Frost, Vernon, Elaine, Virginia, and Marilyn Parent

Grandmother Frost accompanied Peter on their mission to the Grand Forks district, and so was able to give loving support to Mother and we children during their 1934-1935 proselyting mission, until a short time before her death in 1935. This last visit was always a great comfort to Mother who felt isolated from her family in Utah!

Aunt Geneva inherited most of the belongings from Grandfather and Grandmother Frost and our cousin helped Aunt Geneva organize and type up copies of some of their family history materials. Now cousin Sherrie Burdick has acquired some of those history documents, and is sharing with the Frost family members. Thus I am forwarding the attachment she shared with me, so you will know and remember what a great and spiritual and loving grandmother I know and appreciate. Not only was she spiritual, sensitive, and caring, she was also one of the hardest workers for her family, but also very caring and diligent to serving others, even hobos who came to their home in Salt Lake City asking for a handout. In fact, Grandfather was continually trying to remove the "good for a meal" markers left on their property, informing the hobos that this house was always good for a kind and generous handout. All of Grandfather's Danish converts also enjoyed Grandmother's good cooking and generous heart staying in their home for extended periods until they established themselves in Zion.

Grandfather Frost, Vernon Frost Parent, Grandfather Parent

The following is a letter from a Benson Ward, Cache Valley, friend Celestia Rogers, who attended Rebecca Jorgensen Frost's funeral in Riverton, Utah:

Logan, Utah, June 26, 1935

Dear Brother Frost and children,

You, no doubt, have decided I was not going to keep my word in writing when I returned home from the funeral of dear Sister Frost. No! Never could I forget. I have had you all in my thoughts and prayers, many, many, times.

My love and sincere sympathy go out as a true friend and comforter. I must say, outside of my own family, she has been more to me than anyone in my life - to encourage me in my trials and sufferings, and strengthen me when weak, giving me hope when faint - a true mother and sister indeed.

I felt during the funeral that half had not been told, and I never felt in my life more of a desire to speak of one's true virtues and goodness than there. Since coming home, I can't think of her as gone from us, for I seem to feel her sweet influence more than before.

I feel as though I had been down there on a very brief visit with you and saw nearly all of your family, and had a few words with you all.  Only she was sleeping, and I dare not disturb her sweet rest, but that sweet countenance is so clear in my mind that it will never be erased from my  memory.

As I told our girls, it hardly seemed that death had come because her spirit was felt so plainly. She has filled her mission here completely, and I feel that her good deeds will ever go on here through her fine family of boys and girls. May each of them remember her good counsel and live over again all the wonderful examples she set for them to follow.

The older they grow, the more they will understand how to follow her footsteps. May they all have that desire and ever pray for guidance to obtain the goal she has won. I feel with all my heart, that I have ever walked by her side, a most worthy husband and father.

May our Father in Heaven, who is all merciful and loving, comfort and cheer us in our loneliness, that we may understand and feel in our souls that he has given us one of the most precious gifts he could possibly bestow upon his loving children.  She was a true, devoted wife and loving mother for time and all eternity, and I feel I have in her a true friend....

Now, I am writing this to all. I hope the children will all be able to read it, for it is my Heart Sentiments and Sympathy and love to all.

I would love to have a short letter of acknowledgment from all of you, for you are all near and dear to our hearts. Mark and our girls join in love and friendship.

From true and loyal friends,
Brother and Sister Rogers and families
Come and see us (Celestia and the girls)
I trust this finds all well.

(Note from Aunt Geneva: Celestia Rogers was our close neighbor in Benson ward. I was named for her - Celestia Geneva Frost).

Elder Elisha H. Davis in Philadelphia - 1839

The following article is about Edward Hunter, the third Presiding Bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was an amazing man from Chester County, PA, right outside of Philadelphia. I am copying an article from the July 2004 Ensign Magazine, archived at lds.org. Elder Elisha Hildebrand Davis is mentioned in the first and third sections. He was my great-great-great-grandfather.

Edward Hunter: Generous Pioneer, Presiding Bishop

By LaRene Porter Gaunt

Prior to serving as Presiding Bishop for 30 years, Edward Hunter opened the way for missionaries in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

When the schoolhouse in Chester County, Pennsylvania, burned to the ground in 1833, wealthy Quaker Edward Hunter offered to replace it on land he would donate if residents “would allow all persons and persuasions to meet in it to worship God.” ¹ This requirement was included in the articles of agreement for the donated land and building. The finished building was called the West Nantmeal Seminary.

Quaker and Scotch-Irish Presbyterian farmers populated Chester County, which is located about 12 miles west of Philadelphia. In the spring of 1839, Latter-day Saint missionaries Elijah H. Davis and Lorenzo Barnes arranged to use the West Nantmeal Seminary building to teach the gospel. When residents became outraged, Edward Hunter reminded them of the agreement made in 1833 allowing people of every religion to have the privilege of meeting there to worship God. He told the people that the “Mormons” would have their rights or he would take the building back. Such were the circumstances that surrounded the first visit of the missionaries to the valley that would eventually become known as “Mormon Hollow,” circumstances that prepared Edward Hunter to be an advocate for these early Saints.

An Ancestor’s Influence

Born on 22 June 1793 in Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Edward Hunter was the second son and seventh child born to Edward and Hannah Maris Hunter (p. 227; see note 1 for complete reference). As a youth, he was strongly influenced by stories of his stalwart ancestors from England and Ireland. Of particular influence was the story of his second great-grandfather, Robert Owen of North Wales, also a man of wealth and power. Ancestor Robert was imprisoned for five years because he refused to take the oath of allegiance when Charles II was restored to the British throne. After his release, Robert immigrated to America and purchased land in Philadelphia amid other Quakers such as himself.

As an adult, strong-willed and tenacious, Edward Hunter was fond of referring to this incident in the life of his ancestor. He would tell the story and then end by repeating, “Oath of allegiance—yes, yes—refused to take it—imprisoned for five years.” Then, lifting up his hands, throwing back his head, and half shutting his eyes in a sort of dreamy ecstasy, he would exclaim, “Beautiful! beautiful!” (p. 228).

No doubt Edward drew upon this example of integrity shown by his ancestor when he stood firm in behalf of the Latter-day Saint missionaries in 1839.

Light Filled the Room

Soon after the missionaries taught the gospel in 1839 in the West Nantmeal Seminary building, Edward heard that missionary Elijah H. Davis was going to speak in Locust Grove, a few miles away, and that there were plans to treat him badly. He mounted his horse and rode over to Locust Grove. Of Elijah Davis and his teachings, Edward said: “He was a humble young man, the first one that I was impressed was sent of God. … He spoke well on the subject [of the Atonement], but before he was through [Robert] Johnson interrupted him and ordered him to quit preaching. I sprang up and said: ‘He is a stranger and shall have justice shown him and be respected; we will hear him and then hear you speak.’ I was informed that there were many present opposed to the ‘Mormons,’ but I resolved as I lived that Mr. Davis should be protected, if I had to meet the rabble on their own ground. I kept my eye on them and determined to stand by him at the risk of person and property. I had friends, though Mr. Davis had none. Mr. J. Johnson, brother to Robert Johnson, came to me as I was going out and apologized for his brother’s conduct. I walked out of the crowd, got on my horse and rode home alone” (p. 229).

After going home and retiring for the night, Edward lay awake for some time thinking about what had taken place. “My reflections were,” he said, “why have I taken such a decided stand for those strangers, and I asked the Lord: ‘Are those Mormons thy servants?’ Instantly, a light came in the room at the top of the door, so great that I could not endure it. I covered my head with the bed-clothes and turned over to the wall. I had exerted my mind and body much that day and soon fell asleep” (p. 229).

Baptisms in Chester County

On 8 October 1840, Edward Hunter was baptized by Elder Orson Hyde. Edward’s wife, Ann, was also baptized. Of Edward’s baptism, neighbor H. W. Vallette said, “I only felt that if a man like Edward Hunter, whose name was a synonym of upright probity, of sound sense and discernment, could be brought to believe in these things, what right had I or others of less understanding to … ridicule them.” ²

Hearts were softened among these Quaker residents, and soon about 200 were baptized, sometimes at the rate of eight to ten a week. The Prophet Joseph Smith stopped in “Mormon Hollow” for about two weeks in January 1840 in connection with a trip to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The Prophet spoke to the Saints at the West Nantmeal Seminary and stayed with the Hunter family. During the autumn of 1840, Hyrum Smith visited Edward. They attended conference in Philadelphia, and Brother Hunter “subscribed liberally to the building of the Nauvoo House and the Temple” (p. 229).

On a subsequent visit, Hyrum walked with Edward along the banks of the Brandywine River, and Edward told Hyrum about the death of his young son George Washington Hunter. Hyrum taught him of the plan of salvation. This brought great comfort to Brother Hunter, who had been “devotedly attached” to his son. About a year later, Brother Hunter had a dream wherein he saw his young son. “In appearance he was more perfect than in natural life—the same blue eyes, curly hair, fair complexion, and a most beautiful appearance,” said Edward. Edward begged him to remain, but George said “in his own familiar voice” that he had many friends in heaven (p. 230).

Exodus to Nauvoo

Edward had found financial success from the time he was a young man because of his hard work and good business sense. But he was also generous. In September 1841 Brother Hunter visited Nauvoo, Illinois, and purchased a farm and several town lots. He then returned to Chester County and sold two of his farms. In June 1842 the Hunter family moved to Nauvoo. Once there, he cheerfully donated $7,000 in cash and nearly $5,000 in goods to the Prophet Joseph for the building of Zion. He continued to donate generously, so much so, that the Prophet Joseph Smith told him he had done enough and to reserve the rest for his own use (p. 230).

In Nauvoo, as persecution against the Saints began to mount, Brother Hunter was arrested with others on the charge of treason and taken to Carthage Jail in June 1843. Now Edward had been wrongfully imprisoned as had his ancestor. Fortunately, the imprisonment was short, and all were soon sent free.

When the Prophet was put on trial in Springfield, Illinois, Brother Hunter was there. After the Prophet’s acquittal, Edward offered his home to the Prophet as a place of safety. Loyal and devoted, Edward became one of Joseph’s bodyguards. During this time, Brother Hunter enjoyed the confidence and friendship of the Prophet.

Among the revelations the Prophet received in the Hunter home were sections 127 and 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants concerning baptism for the dead. Of this time, Brother Hunter said, “The two years I was in Nauvoo with Joseph, it was one stream of revelations.” ³

As a member of the Nauvoo City Council, Edward voted to put an end to the Expositor, a libelous paper created by apostates and enemies of the Saints to encourage mob violence. Soon after the destruction of the press, the Prophet Joseph asked Brother Hunter to go to Springfield to represent the Church’s position to the governor.

“You have known me for several years,” said the Prophet to Edward. “Say to the governor, under oath, everything good and bad you know of me” (p. 230).

Brother Edward and two other men did so. They returned to Nauvoo late in the afternoon on 27 June 1844—about the same time Joseph and Hyrum were killed at Carthage Jail. Of the events following the Martyrdom, Edward wrote: “Next day, [Joseph and Hyrum’s] bodies were brought from Carthage to Nauvoo. We formed two lines to receive them; I was placed on the extreme right, to wheel in after the bodies, and march to the Mansion. As we passed the Temple, there were crowds of mourners there, lamenting the great loss of our Prophet and Patriarch. The scene was enough to almost melt the soul of man. Mr. Brewer, myself and others took brother Joseph’s body in to the Mansion House. … At midnight [we] carried the body of Joseph from the Mansion House to the Nauvoo House, and put him and Hyrum in one grave. Their death was hard to bear. Our hope was almost gone, not knowing then that Joseph had prepared for the Kingdom to go on, by delivering the keys to the Twelve and rolling off the burden from his shoulders on to theirs” (p. 231).

Ordained a Bishop in Nauvoo

Five months after the Martyrdom, President Brigham Young, assisted by Elder Heber C. Kimball and Presiding Bishop Newell K. Whitney, ordained Edward Hunter a high priest. He was then set apart as a bishop of the Nauvoo Fifth Ward. When he was promised that he should “have power to raise up the drooping spirit,” he felt simultaneously “a remarkable sensation thrilled through his being, confirming the truth of the speaker’s words” (p. 231).

Elder Orson F. Whitney wrote of Bishop Hunter’s character: “Honest, straightforward in his dealings, and candid even to bluntness in his speech, his heart overflowed with kindness and he enjoyed the love and confidence of all. Childlike and humble, he was nevertheless shrewd and discerning. He was charitable and open-handed to all. … He was a great exhorter to faithfulness, particularly in the payment of tithes and offerings. His familiar speech at the Bishop’s meetings: ‘Pay your tithing and be blessed,’ has passed into a proverb” (p. 232).

When the Saints were forced from Nauvoo, Bishop Hunter and many of the “Mormon Hollow Saints” left together in the spring or summer of 1846 and joined the main body of Latter-day Saints in Winter Quarters. Bishop Hunter had suffered from sickness in Iowa, but upon arrival at Winter Quarters, he again served as bishop.

Winter Quarters to Salt Lake Valley

As the hard winter of 1846–47 ended and the exodus to the Salt Lake Valley began, President Young appointed Bishop Hunter captain of 100 wagons. The group arrived on 29 September 1847. Once in the valley, Bishop Hunter again served as bishop.

In the fall of 1849 President Young sent Bishop Hunter back to the Missouri River to supervise the immigration of the poorer Saints to Zion. Bishop Hunter played an integral part in the implementation of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund (PEF). Under the direction of the First Presidency and as a member of the PEF committee, he helped “set in motion the vast emigrating enterprise which has peopled with souls from two hemispheres the mountain vales of Utah” (p. 231). Bishop Hunter’s generous donation of $5,000 of his own money literally helped build Zion.

On 7 April 1851, following the death of Newell K. Whitney, second Presiding Bishop, Edward Hunter was sustained as the third Presiding Bishop of the Church. At the time, “they were responsible for Church temporal affairs, for local bishops, and for stake Aaronic Priesthood quorums. Bishop Hunter met every two weeks with northern Utah bishops to coordinate efforts regarding public works, tithes, resources, immigration and immigrants, and the needy. However, the First Presidency, not the Presiding Bishopric, made finance and resource policy and called and released bishops.” ⁴

Two years later, during general conference on 6 April 1853, he laid the southwest cornerstone of the Salt Lake Temple.

Bishop Hunter’s Death

For 62 years Bishop Hunter watched over the temporal workings of the Church. He succeeded in his desire to magnify his calling in the Church and was a loyal and loving husband and father to his wife and children. He once said he hoped his life’s work was acceptable “in the sight of God and those who preside over me in this Latter-day work” (p. 232).

Bishop Hunter died on 16 October 1883 after a long illness. According to Elder Whitney: “His health had been feeble for a long time, though his mind was unimpaired, and for the last month he had frequently been absent from his office. Among those who visited his bedside during his illness were President John Taylor and Apostle Erastus Snow. So passed from this stage of action, where for over 90 years he had acted well and faithfully every part assigned him, a man of God as noted for his uprightness and integrity, as for his genial nature and overflowing kindness of heart. His memory will live as long as the great work with which he was identified, and which he labored so long and faithfully to establish” (p. 232).

Vignette about Grandpa Parent

Uncle Vernon Parent sent this small snippet about Grandpa Joseph A Parent's life:  

Growing up dad would explained to me when others had treated him without integrity, and explain his firm understanding that no one could mistreat a man who honored his priesthood and not face divine corrective action.  Later when the individual would reap his reward, dad  would point out to the inevitable consequence of the individuals less than honorable actions.  It made an indelible impression on me, and I have striven to follow the example of my father.

Dad was only 58 when he moved to Crescent City, California, and from his youth he had cut and fashioned timber  products, so he may have had thoughts of following his uncles into the logging  industry, but many years of long hours tending his hardware store, developing severe veracious veins, and his more recent months of infections and total sick bed confinement, left him unable to venture out into the rough activity of the woods, so dad had to settle for a job in the Crescent City plywood mills.

After suffering allergic reactions for an extended time interval in the mills, he was finally incapacitated and sent to San Francisco for testing, which revealed that he was allergic to almost everything in the plywood mill, from the glues to the wood dust etc.  He was promptly fired from his job.  With a wife and six children still at home dad was in extreme need of a job when he took a job as a night watchman at a local mill.  The dad's supervisor knowing of dad's need for his job, and sensing a vulnerability put the squeeze on dad suggesting that his job depended on a his maintaining a good reputation, to keep his night watchman's job, which would be true if he would supply the supervisor a bottle of liquor a week that he then would be assured of a good report.  Dad was insulted that the man would even think to destroy his integrity, and told the supervisor as much in a polite way.  Needless to say the man soon claimed to find dad asleep on the job and fired him.  Dad's family experienced some hardships because of dad's integrity, but the family quickly adapted, while the supervisor  was himself soon laid off and did not prosper!

Parent Family - Move from UT to CA, 1952

My uncle, Vernon Parent - August, 1952 when the Parent family moved from Vernal, UT to Crescent City, CA

J. A. Parent Family, October 1959

Note from my Uncle Vernon Parent, written December 11, 2006:

Looking for unused Christmas cards I found this photo of myself, ready to depart with our Parent family and all our belongings for California, August 1952. As you can see we traveled in a 1941 6 cylinder ton-and-a-half truck that Joseph and I bought for $15 at a junk yard in Ogden, UT. Not as seen of course, for the bed and aluminum top was from a similar truck that we purchased for $25 with no motor. I guess we should add the cost of the large mill file for $3.50, and $0.70 package of plastigage we used to file down the connecting-rods so we could get the motor quiet enough to run properly, plus motor oil and gas. The sides are made from flooring removed from the old Baize building (Our current 136 Vernal Avenue property) that Dad wanted for the house he was building in Crescent City, CA. 

The cab over hang was filled with remaining used tires and wheels from the second truck, along with hydraulic jack and tools for emergencies. The truck operation was truly a miracle, as it got the impossible mileage of 21 miles to the gallon, and it didn't expire until we reached the hill above Crescent City. The towing charge from there to our lot, was more than we had invested in the truck, so we pushed the truck to the edge of the hill, and we coasted down to the edge of town, where we used a chain from the 1946 Dodge Coupe to pull it onto our 735 Eldorado Street lot. One of the rear tires, had developed a bump such that it wore the lug bolt holes oblong and partially wore through the lug bolts, and the motor connecting rods finally gave out a mere 5 miles from town. We had bicycles and other items wired to the sides (Okie style), and saved room between the mattresses and aluminum shell top to sleep in comfort at night. We used the truck to store items in, while we boys slept in the same 6 man tent we had used in our logging expedition up on the Uintah National Forest, when Joseph and I logged the dry timber and green lumber for our 155 West 100 North, Vernal, Utah, home. Dad finally gave the truck away and it was used for many additional years by a Crescent City, CA, local handy man.

Parent Family and more - Crescent City 1966

This photo was taken in Crescent City, California, on 7 September 1966. It includes the Joseph Anthony Parent family with Mary Porteous, Aunt Vesta, Aunt Leota, and Aunt Geneva.

Ed and Vernon are on the back row. Mary Porteous, Vesta Boyer, Lila Bringhurst, Joseph A. Parent, Margo Bringhurst, Dorthea Parent, Valoie Sax, Marilyn Peterson, Leota Lewis, and Geneva Gilbert are the middle row.  Mary's son and DeWayne Parent make up the front row.  

(My dad, Edward, was 25 in this photo and married my mom about 9 months later!)

J.A. Parent Family, 1941

Joseph A Parent family - 1941

1st row: Sitting on parent's knees from left to right:  Lila Jean & Edward Alphonse

2nd row: Standing: Marilyn, Sitting: Joseph Anthony, Dorthea Rebecca Frost, Standing: Virginia Ann. 

3rd row: Standing in Back:  Elaine, Joseph Anthony Jr., Vernon Frost.

Memories of Grandma Parent

Frost Family Reunion of the past (possibly 1950s?)

Dorthea - 1927

Written February 11, 2005 by Vernon Parent, my uncle: 

Ninety-nine years ago today, Mother was born along side the bear river here in Benson Utah. The 86 acre farm was quite fertile ground and probably the best farming ground that Grandfather ever had, but then I don't think he was not really a farmer at heart, I believe he was an innovative trader, who lived in a rural environment. Mother loved to talk about she being chosen to accompany her dad in making the rounds with his Raleigh's merchandising wagon up in summit county. Since grandfather was a willing trader, Mother said they never knew what he would bring home, since he would take trade for his household utensils, ointments, salves, and household spices, extracts etc.

Grandmother Frost was 120 pounds of dynamic goodness and produced a family of children who were noble, intelligent, loving, spiritual giants. I do not remember her personally, but having been intimately acquainted with all her children, I feel I know of her as a noble person who was spiritually in tune with the needs of each member of her family at all times. Her prophetic comment to mother that Dad "was to be her future husband" at their first meeting, despite the objections of grandfather and older brother Clarence, demonstrate her closeness to the spirit in everyday events.

When Mother retired in 1970 she collected her many journals and calendars from each year of her marriage and commenced writing her personal history, and she encouraged each of her children, to write their life's story, "while they were young and could remember the details". 

East Grand Forks, MN Historical Photos

These are a few historical photos I found of East Grand Forks, Minnesota where my paternal Grandfather, Joseph Parent, had his farm. I found the photos on the Minnesota Historical Society website.

1908 East Grand Forks, MN

1897 - Flood of the Red River, East Grand Forks, MN

1910 - Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Rectory, East Grand Forks, MN

Peter Frost Photos

This is information from my Uncle Vernon about my father's maternal grandparents: Peter Frost and Rebecca Jorgensen were married 6 July 1893 and lived  in a house in Logan, Utah, but I have not been able to locate that house.  They purchased an 86 acre farm in Bensen, Utah, 8 miles northwest of Logan from Rebecca's brother and lived on it for the next 14 years.  This photo displays the house which has since been replaced with a more modern house. They also homesteaded 40 acres northwest of the cheese factory, and that required Rebecca to live in a log cabin on the property for a year and a half before the US government would give them title to the land, and then sell it to help pay for the original 86 acre farm. 

This farm house was the one that Rebecca and children lived in and farmed, while Peter returned to Denmark on a mission of two years during which time he baptized 25 converts.  They had a steady stream of Danish visitors for the next 20 years, and Becky was proficient at feeding all who came with a minimum of supplies. and she trained all her daughters in frugal living.

Peter Frost

Joseph Parent Family Photos from Crescent City, CA

October 1959

Keller Street house under construction.

Grandparents with Bringhurst children

Grandma Parent cooking in the Keller St. home.

Joseph Parent Family Photos from MN

My grandpa, Joseph Parent, and his two children from his first marriage. His wife died of TB I believe.

My great-grandfather's family - Alphonse Joseph Parent

Joseph Anthony Parent Family - March 1966

Joseph Parent Family - March 1966

Back row standing, left to right:

Margo Bringhurst, Deon Bringhurst holding Margo, Ed with hands on Jimmy Jones III, DeWayne with hand on Eric Bringhurst, Reed Parent, Jimmy Jones, Jr.

Sitting Left to right:

Vernon Parent, Lila holding Eron Bringhurst, Joseph Parent, Dorthea F. Parent, Jeanette Jones holding a baby 

Grandma Parent's High School Yearbook

Note from Uncle Vernon: This is a page from grandmother Dorthea Frost Parent's Jordan High School year book for the year 1924.  She was an honor student, with the highest grade points in the Jordan high school 1924 graduating class.   That gives the grandchildren something to strive for!  Oh by the way, the local and school politics gave the valedictorian speech to another young man.

Grandma Parent's Testimony

My TESTIMONY of the GOSPEL -  by Dorthea Rebecca Frost Parent December 20, 1976

Since I was a small child, I have been taught the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not only by precept, but as well as example.

I have been taught the efficacy of' prayer, never doubting that prayers would be heard and answered although not always in the exact way I had thought. they might be.

I think the strongest factor in building my testimony was the very strong testi­mony my mother had of the Book of Mormon.  She as a young girl had read it numberless times.  It's principles must have left a very strong and abiding testimony with her, for she never doubted for a moment it's truthfulness.

She knew the Book of Mormon characters so well, and a good deal about each prophet, and the principles of righteousness are taught there.  

Also, having worked in the Logan Temple as a young woman Her testimony was greatly strengthened.  She had also studied the works of Josephus and often quoted from this source.

My mother read a lot, and was a kind, charitable, and god-fearing person.

My Father, also a convert to the faith, had an unshakeable testimony of the divinity of the work. Both of my parents taught us children by precept as well as example.

The family prayers we had both morning and evening, as we knelt around the table were precious moments or testimony building and thankfulness -- and left an indelible impression on me.  I felt the Lord not only hears but answers prayers.

At one time our family were custodians for the old Nineteenth Ward Meeting house on 4th North in Salt Lake City. One afternoon, several of my brothers and sisters and I were cleaning, the classrooms downstairs, when we heard the upstairs door open, and then a "Clomp, clomp, clomp!" There was a demented man who lived in our area, and we immediately thought it was he! So we children all rushed into the ladies restroom, and locked the door. We knelt down and prayed to our Heavenly Father to protect us. We soon heard the clomp, clomp, coming down the stairs--- We waited-- Finally my father  call out " Children are you down stairs?  What a relief!

While we were living in Salt Lake City, a terrible tragedy happened to my sister, Geneva. She was about seven, years old at the time. On this 4th of July, which was a Sabbath day, our folks had gone to afternoon Sacrament meeting, and Geneva was wheeling our baby sister for a walk. While she was going along, one of our neighbor boys Billie S. came up to her with a lighted sparkler, and shouted to Geneva "I'm going to set you on fire"! And with that he im­mediately touched the glowing sparkler to the back of her dress. It was made of a fine material, and blazed up, burning all of her clothes off from her body!  She was a mass of solid. burned flesh, from. her neck down to her knees, as were also her elbows!

Our doctor didn't think she had a chance to live! But our family and friends fasted and prayed in her behalf! All summer long she lay on her stomach! The only re­lief she got was when Daddy would sometimes boost her up, she would face him and throw her arms  around his neck, and he'd carry her with her feet nesting in his two hands.

Her recovery was a direct answer to fasting and prayer!

Later on, sometime after she was well, she was playing in a trench, the city was digging for a sewer line. It was hand dug, and the soil was very sandy. Our mother had forbid any of us to go near it, but an older girl coaxed Geneva to make a play house for their dolls in it. Soon sand started to sift down into it.  The older girls ran, but Geneva was, completely buried. The girls ran a block to where men were digging on the trench, and they screamed that a girl was buried in the trench!  The workers ran back, and started digging furiously! When they got down to her, she was unconscious, and was spitting up blood and sand, which continued for days after­ward. Through the power of the priesthood in her behalf, and the faith and prayers of our family and friends, her life was again spared. This left a lasting impression on me!  

A few years later, we moved. to a small dairy farm, up in Oakley, Summit County, Utah­. One night our mother became violently ill, and in the middle of the night, our father called all of us children down stairs! We knelt down and surrounded mother's bed. We joined hands while our father prayed, and pled with the Lord to save our Mother's life!

We, were a pretty humble little group, but we had faith the Lord would hear and answer our prayers. Our mother did get well, and lived many years after. She and Father were privileged to go on a six months mission to Grand Forks, North Dakota, when Father was in his seventies.

During the First World War, in 1917-18, there was a terrible " Flu" epidemic.  Our brother, Clarence, was one of the players for the South Summit High School Basket Ball team. As they were champions of our district, they were privileged to go to Salt Lake City to the "State" Tournament, which was played in the old Deseret Gym. All the fellows on the team were required to go to Dr. Dannenburg's office for physical check-ups. Clarence didn't go in with the rest of the fellows, but stayed in the sleigh as he wasn't feeling well.

The team was playing in a tournament game, when Clarence collapsed on the floor! As the hospitals were all filled,  the only place they could take him was back to the hotel. His coach phoned our folks that Clarence was dying! Our mother and five of us children were all sick with the Flu at home, but Mother said she was going to Clarence. His teammate, Gilbert Marchant was also sick, so Dad took mother down to Peoa, where the Marchants lived, and Mr. Marchant took mother to Park City where she caught a train for Salt Lake City.  Mother nursed the boys as best she could, being ill herself!  We all did a lot of praying that the lives of our family wou1d be preserved! What a blessed reunion when they at last returned home, and our family was again reunited.  Many others were not so fortunate, and our hearts went out to them!

One time, while I was teaching school at Indian Springs, Nevada, I took my little class up to a high mountain nearby for a hike and picnic.  Mrs. Harnedy, the mother of one of my students went with us. One of my students,  Mary S., wanted to hike up to the top of the trail.  So I left the rest of the students with Mrs. Harnedy, and we took off.

However, as we neared the top, Mary had a fainting spell, and her face turned black! I moved her into the shade, and then I felt I must get some water for her.  I prayed fervently to the Lord to help me find some water.  I hiked on up the trail, and then came to the north side of a ledge, where there was still a snow bank.  I scooped some, up in my dress, and rushed back down the trail.

By applying snow to her face and giving her some in her mouth, she revived .  I truly thanked my Heavenly Father for his guidance, and His blessing Mary so that she revived.

Later on after teaching school in my home town of Bluffdale, I married and moved to Minnesota, with my husband, Joseph A. Parent.  During my third pregnancy, I became very ill, and had constant nausea and vomited so much, that I lost 50 pounds. One night as I lay trying to rest, my throat swelled nearly shut, and I couldn't breathe. I awakened my husband. He got the consecrated oil, poured a little in my throat and administered to me, blessing me that I would be able to breathe normally, and get some rest, which occurred as promised.

Later on, Dr. Victor S. Quale, who had trained at the Rochester Clinic with Mayo Brothers, came out to see me, and said I must be taken to the hospital immediately.  Joe got our neighbor, Bert Humphrey to drive our big bob sleigh, and they put a couch with seven pillows as a mattress, bundled me up with quilts and a bear robe, and down the river we went, as all the other roads were blocked with big snow drifts.

As soon as I arrived, they insisted on taking me to the X-ray room, and took a series of X-rays. They left me alone in the X-ray room with only a sheet over me and no one to look after me. I took a terrible chilling!

That night I really had to fight for my life!!!  It seemed it would be just so easy to turn over, give up, and die. I fervently prayed the rest of the night to the Lord to spare my life and that of my unborn baby. He must have heard my prayers, for that was the turning point in my recovery. The doctor would not let me out of the hospital until I had gained 15 1bs. I then weighed 85 lbs.  I finally made it, and four months later we had a fine baby girl, Marilyn, born to us.  How grateful I was!!

One day while we were living in East Grand Forks, Minn., I sent Joseph Jr. and Vernon down to the well to get a pail of· drinking water. It was perhaps a half-block from the house. All of a sudden a terrific rain storm came up.  There were torrents of water running between our house and the well house!!! The boys were pretty frightened, and they kneeled down and prayed. It was perhaps only fifteen minutes until the storm subsided, and. the boys were able to return to the house. We were very happy that they had sought the Lord in this emergency!

It is great to know that no matter where you are, and what the circumstances are, you always have someone with you. and can call on His Divine aid, and He will hear you and answer your prayer.

We lived in Minnesota for nine years after we were married, but then decided that we would move to Utah where there were better opportunities for our children to attend the different organizations of the church, seminary, etc.  So in the Fall of 1937,we moved to Utah, settling in Tooele for six months, and then moved to Vernal, Uintah County, Utah. While we lived in Vernal we operated a hardware store. We used to take the cash receipts at the close of the day, to our home for safe keeping. This particular time there was around $700.00 in the envelope.  I placed it on the top of the piano, and got busy with household chores. On Sunday morning, I remembered it, and went to get it, but it was nowhere to be found!  I questioned each of the children to see if any of them had seen it, but none had. I really prayed about it, as during the depression, money was hard to come by, and, losing that, much money would prove to be a disaster.

That night, I prayed to the Lord to help me find it, and I had implicit trust that he would. During the night, I had a dream that it was back of the piano! So early the next morning, I was up and had the boys help me to move it out, and there was the envelope, neatly lodged. between two of the sections on a cross bar. How grateful I was, and I immediately thanked my Heavenly Father. The Lord is ever ready to bless us, sustain, and help us, if we are humble, and try our best to live His commandments.

When our second son, Edward Alphonse, was four years old, he became terribly sick. We called in Dr F. and he doctored him for a kidney infection.  I carried him around much of the time to try to relieve him of his pain. One morning, after I had literally walked the floor with him all night. I prayed fervently for direction.  The answer came -- "get another doctor"!

So I phoned Dr. Hansen at the hospital. He said he was making his rounds, but would come over immediately afterward.

When he came, he took one look at Edward, and exclaimed, "That boy has a ruptured appendix. Get him to the hospital immediately, and we will operate in twenty min­utes!"  We were thunder struck!  Joe hurried down to the Post Office to get Bishop Haws who worked there.  He came immediately and gave Edward a fine blessing, and promised him he would live, that he had a mission to perform on the earth.

The operation was successful, although Edward needed a blood transfusion, and his father was the blood donor. All of our family have blood type A-Rh Negative. How grateful our whole family was for this wonderful blessing the Lord had given us in saving the life of Edward!

How much I appreciate the great blessing of faith and prayers! How we all need our Heavenly Father' s guidance and direction in all we do.  Prayer is the great channel that connects earth with heaven. What a great solace and blessing it is to all that believe!!!!

                        Written by Dorthea Rebecca Frost Parent December 20, 1976 

Joseph A Parent Photos

My Uncle Vernon is good at periodically scanning old photos and sending them out to the family. I usually download them onto my computer, but I thought sharing them on this blog would be the best way to preserve and enjoy them.

Joseph Parent, my paternal grandfather - somewhere between 15 and 20 years old

Joseph Parent in 1941 - not quite a year after my dad was born.

Dorthea and Joseph Parent - 1967 - 40th Anniversary

Parent family photos

My paternal grandfather, Joseph Anthony Parent, October 1, 1957

Parent family, September 1967
Front: Joseph A Parent and Dorthea Frost Parent
Back L-R: Vernon F. Parent, Lila Parent Bringhurst, Deon Bringhurst,
Sydney Brown Parent, Edward Parent

Rebecca Jorgensen Frost's Memories as a Young Girl

I really enjoyed reading the following account of my maternal great-grandmother, Rebecca Frost, that my dad sent me:

Memories of Rebecca Jorgensen Frost (My mother's mother)

Now at the age of sixty-six years I am about to put into effect the thought that has prompted me for many years — namely, to write some of my experiences and also some of the things that have come to my observation during my life thus far.

Before I go any farther, I want to confess my mistake and hope none of my posterity shall do as I have — that is, neglected to keep a diary, and therefore have forgotten many things that might have served as faith promoting to others. I must now trust to my memory, prompted by the Holy Ghost which leads into all truth and brings to the memory things of the past.

I can say, as Nephi of old, that "I was born of goodly parents," on the sixth of March, 1865, in Brigham City, Boxelder County, Utah. I am the sixth child of eight — three girls and five boys. Their names according to age are: Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Anna Maria, Mary Christina, Hansine Rebecca, Joseph Christian, and Moses Peter Jorgensen.

When I was six weeks old the family moved to Logan, Cache County, Utah. My mother took her turn at driving the loose cattle, leaving my sister and me asleep in the wagon. Once on coming to the wagon, she found my sister lying across my face, nearly smothering me.

They located in Logan, being among the earliest settlers in Cache County. Here Father assisted in making canals, building bridges and meeting houses and other improvements required to convert a desert into a fit abode for a progressive community. It was here that my infancy and childhood were spent.

One of my first recollections was the iron pot in which our food was cooked hanging in the fireplace and the Dutch oven in which our bread was baked. I remember the cheerful fire which furnished both warmth and light. My Father always liked a good fire so he furnished plenty of good dry wood chopped in large pieces. Another thing that fastened itself on my memory was the clicking of Mother’s knitting needles at night or before light in the morning when I would awake in my little trundle bed.

Perhaps some would ask what a trundle bed is. Well, it was a small box-like affair that could be hid under a large bed during the day by means of a curtain hung around it, for every space of the two rooms had to be utilized.

Our home seemed to be a place where the children of the neighborhood collected and sometimes after we had frolicked abut the yard, we were allowed to play games in the house, such as "Drop the Handkerchief," "Ring around the Roses," "King Williams," "Jolly Butcher Boys," and others. Other times we would sing songs, such as: "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean," "This Night We’ll Join the Revelry," "I Wish I Was an Apple," "The Drunkard’s Dream," and others.

When Mother’s turn came to entertain, she usually had a Bible story for us. I always enjoyed them — the story of the creation, stories of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph who was sold into Egypt, the Israelites, the kings, and the dividing of the Kingdom after the death of Solomon. She could tell us in story form the contents of the Bible from Genesis to the book of revelation.

Later in our lives we children always knew who to call on when we needed assistance in finding certain passages on any subjects from the Bible.

Father was very entertaining and kept up on present happenings. He always took a paper which was published in Omaha, Nebraska (The Pioneer) in which he was able to keep posted not only on current news, but also news of happenings in Denmark. He could also keep our attention by relating his early experiences in his homeland and also as a pioneer in Utah. Father took pleasure in singing Danish songs and had a very good voice. Mother’s lullaby songs had a charm for me, although she could not carry a tune. She often recited love longs.

About 1870 my parents decided they hadn’t enough land for their five sons and there was land across Bear River that could be homesteaded. So they ventured out, although they knew there would be many difficulties to encounter. I well remember the first time I was taken out to the new claim. We arrived in the evening. On awaking that beautiful morning in May, I could see the rays of sun pouring through the cracks of the door of our little shanty. We youngsters soon dressed and went out to survey the surroundings.

The first thing that took our attention were the pretty flowers raising their heads above or nestling among the tall bluegrass that had been left to grow and dry out in the fall without being disturbed for centuries perhaps, although there were some wild Texas cattle there. We wandered on for about a quarter of a mile along the hill until we reached a clump of trees in a cozy nook in the bend of the hill. This drew our attention at once to the haw berries, choke cherries, service berries, and other wild berries that interested us. At the foot of the hill ran a clear, sparkling stream. Here we later spent much of our leisure time, hunting birds nests, making playhouses, and so far.

How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood,

when fond recollection presents them to view:

The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled wildwood,

and every loved spot that my infancy knew.

[The document written by Hansine Rebecca ended abruptly at this point and I don’t KNOW where the rest of her story is. I found this while searching through my files for something else so please Help me find the remainder!