Words Of Wisdom From A Wise And Spiritual Man. . . .

Lois Stewart Wadsworth and James Allen Wadsworth

Last Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting. As I sat listening

to the testimonies that were being borne, I couldn't help but reflect

that as people prioritize the things in their life that are of the most

importance, the things that make them the happiest, some of them

list the material things; possessions, trips taken, and events that

give them instant excitement and entertainment. I didn't share

my testimony and that is not a good thing, but I found myself

hoping that I would never lose sight of what a "true testimony"

really is.

I remembered something I had read a few months earlier that

my father wrote at the end of his life history. In this history, he

shared some of the things he had accomplished in his life that he

considered important enough to make a difference in the lives of

his fellow men. I am proud of these accomplishments, but it is

what my father said at the end that touched my heart. His

children, grand children, great grandchildren and great great

grandchildren need to read this. It is a beautiful legacy left by

a truly wise and spiritual man. It follows:

"Now at 77 years of age and my health not too good, I have been

compelled to give up most of my public work. I am not entirely

satisfied with what I have done. Yet I look back over my life's

work and feel that I have few regrets. I can still attend some

meetings and perhaps do a little talking and discussing, and in

this way still keep up with what is going on and still do some good.

I would not have you think that what I have related is what has

been best in my life. Far from it. The greatest thing in my life has

been my wife and our family; the joy, satisfaction, and happiness I

now have with my wife and family, which now gives me

great grandchildren. I am a thorough believer in God and in his

Son, Jesus Christ. I believe that God is the spirit Father of

every man born in this world, that Adam is the Father of all men

in mortality. We were taught and instructed in the Spirit World

by God the Father and Jesus Christ, his Son.

There is definitely a pattern and a purpose in life, which is to

serve God and keep his commandments, that we might grow

and become like Him. When God created Adam "in his own

image". and gave unto him an helpmate (woman Eve), that it

was for the purpose of bringing children "like unto God" into

this world, all of the spirit children of our Father and Mother,

which art in Heaven. The body and spirit perfected consti-

tute the soul of man. When Adam ate of the forbidden fruit

in the Garden of Eden, he became as God, "knowing good from

evil. His eyes were opened". But Adam had disobeyed,

knowing by the commandment of the Lord and sin came into

the world, the greatest of which is death. Up until Adam broke

the first commandment, everything was peace and serenity.

There was now enmity among all the creatures God had

created "to dwell upon the earth."

As men were born upon the earth, they were to do as Adam

did. They were to take unto themselves a wife and bring

children into the world, the greatest blessing, privilege, and

commandment ever given to man. Now, since these children

had been born into a sinful, ignorant, and cruel world, unless

something was done, man would be lost in sin forever. So,

the Father gave His only Begotten Son, "that whosoever

believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting

life." Jesus was crucified and took upon himself the sins of

all mankind; those now born, those who were born before

he came, and those yet to be born, even as many as there

were and are, spirits in heaven.

So, Christ was born, crucified, buried and resurrected so

that these wonderful things could come to us (men); a

resurrection, to come from the grave; to take our sins

away from us; to give us our agency, and to give us the

Gospel of Jesus Christ through which we might work out

our Salvation in his Kingdom.

Now, I firmly believe what I have written above and have

an abiding faith in these things. So, when I took my wife,

I understood what, at least to a certain degree, was my (our)

mission and purpose in this life; to bring children into this

world and to accept all the responsibility belonging thereto.

When I took my sweetheart to be my wife to love, cherish,

and protect, to be the better part of me, to be one with me

through love and sorrow and to furnish her a home filled

with love, to feed and clothe her and the children she gave

me, I entered upon the greatest career, responsibility and

commandment in all of the whole world. The greatest, the

grandest, of most importance in the church, the nation or

in the whole world. I put myself in a position to have more,

and do more, than it is possible to get in any job, position, or

way, to be had in the world."

Taken from "A brief history of James Allen Wadsworth,

son of Nephi John and Eliza Jane Terry Wadsworth"

In an article published in The Church News in August,

1982, celebrating 65 years of marriage for Lois Stewart

and James Allen Wadsworth, Dad said this, "We

respect each other rights, privileges, and ambitions. We

share each other's love, joys, and sorrows."

Dad died less than a year after this article was published

and three years later, Mom went to be with him. I miss

them so much and can not wait to see them again.

How thankful I am that my Father in Heaven loved me

enough to send me to earth to this wonderful couple to

be my earthly parents and that they loved me enough

to bring me into this mortal life, born under the

covenant, and sealed to them throughout eternity.