Daughter of Ada and Dallas Hill
By Mrs. Earl J. Thomas
Malad First Ward February 24, 1941
Opening Remarks: Bishop Junius Crowther, in charge.
Brothers and sisters and friends, weare met here to pay our respects to little Geraldine Hill, daughter of Dallas and Ada Hill. The services have been prepared by the family and those who take part will do so at the request of the family.
Opening prayer: Arch Harris
Our Father in Heaven, we, a few of Thy children have assembled here this day to pay our respect and tribute of love to one of our daughters who has been called home in this stage of existence. Heavenly Father, we pray that while we are thus convened together that all that may be said or done may be done in a pleasing manner before Thee. We ask Thee that Thou will bless all those who take part on this program that the words that may be spoken, the songs that may be sung, may be of a consoling nature to those who are called to mourn at this time.
We ask Thee that Thou will bless the parents and the grandparents of this child, that they may be brought up with their faith, that their hearts may be cheered by this assemblage here today. We are thankful for the privilege of having our dear children born unto us, and we realize, Heavenly Father, that Thou art the Giver of all things and that Thou art able at any time to take the precious souls from our midst. We ask Thee to bless each and every one of us assembled here today that we may be helped by this assemblage of friends and that those who are called to mourn may feel better after this service.
We dedicate this service unto Thee, and we do it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Song: St. John Quartet: Lester Tovey, Morgan Tovey, Melvin Yearsley, Ed Woosley.
“Savior, Comfort Me.”
In the dark and cloudy day
When earth’s riches flee away
And the last hope will not stay
Savior, comfort, comfort me.
When the secret idol’s gone
That my poor heart yearn’d upon
Desolate, bereft, alone
Savior, comfort, comfort me.
Thous who was so sorely tried
In the darkness crucified,
Bid me in Thy love abide.
Savior, comfort, comfort me.
So it shall be good for me
Much afflicted now to be
If Thou will but tenderly
Savior, comfort, comfort me.
Remarks: Dr. O. H. Mabey
As in the prayer, I can say we are indeed thankful for this life. But, we ask, “Why this?” and then we say “Savior, Savior, comfort me.” The death and burial of a small child like this, like little Geraldine, brings to our memories many sacred things. We think of the sweet, lovely songs that have come forth from her dear little voice, the innocence and purity of her every day acts, all bring back a flood of recollections that have made this little child dear to the hearts of all those who knew her and have come in contact with her.
It seems rather hard that a child so young, so beautiful should be taken from us at this time. But she is probably like a star that twinkles here and shines for a while, then goes to rest and comes forth to shine upon another place.
We cannot think this is the last of this, our dear child. We Think she has just gone somewhere else to let her light shine and maybe that light that is shining somewhere will be a guiding star, a beacon for us, that we may so live, so adjust our lives that we may be worthy, sometime in the not too distant future, eo enter into the presence of just such a being as we have come to pay respect. We have come to show our love, respect, and esteem for the parents and grandparents of this little child, those good people we have learned to respect in this little community and the community from which the child’s father came.
Such things are hard for us to take; not easy for us all to understand. We find our answer in the words of S. Mark, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.” And he took them in His arms and laid His hands upon them and blessed them, and the blessing was a blessing of love; a benediction of Heavenly Love.
Yesterday as I was in our class in Sunday School, the subject was brought up of why do more people not attend church? Some one said it is because we have nothing new to offer, nothing new to bring to our people. He gave us that Heavenly benediction of love. That was 2000 years ago. We, today are teaching this same love. He who are Mormons or otherwise, are still teaching that old-fashioned doctrine that he takes the in His arms and lays his hands upon them and blesses them. And whether we live another 2000 or 3000 years, we are going to have the same teachings–the same golden thread to hang onto! That the Savior does bless his children. We believe in that ancient philosophy, “A little child shall lead them with their purity and innocence. In a little child the of Geraldine, thee are a lot of little things about a child this age that we can remember and we have a right to look back and we can say that a little child shall lead us. Those are memories we can treasure and thank God we have had the privilege of having had such little children come into the world. We know that we have taken the best care we can of them. The grandparents have loved this little girl. They wish they could have done a little more or been more definite as to what the cause was. Today this child is safe with Christ, for Christ has blessed them even after 2000 years. We have found evidence of those blessings. We now have institutions and hospitals established all for the preservation of these little children.
I am reminded of a man who once stood at an art window looking at some paintings. A little chap came and stood behind him and peeked under his arm. The picture was of a Chinese family. The man was not paying much attention to the little chap. Finally the little boy looked up and said, “Say Mister, that’s a Christian family.” The man was puzzled, he looked at the little chap and said, “How do you know that Chinese family is a Christian family?” Why,” said the boy, “The father has the baby in his arms.” That is what Christianity means. It teaches us that the father, not only the actual parent, but Christ, the Master, has this child in his arms and His tender care shall take care of her. We have heard a lot of different things for what has happened, but I guess there is no greater monument of what has been done for the dead than the pyramids in Egypt. We see them–tons and tons of rock stacked up which took men thousands of years to build. Why did they build them? Because they thought that was to be the eternal resting place of their loved ones. The dead were placed in their tombs with their faces to the West. This was because they thought that as the sun dies, so the body dies, and then we look into the darkness. Not a single Indian have we been able to dig up, but what the face was towards the West. The Indians destroyed their best horses and cattle and placed them upon the graves of their dead so they would have them in the next world. We, as Christians, are different. We no longer face the West. We bury our dead to face the East, as something that is going to rise up.
Some people say, “the gates are ajar,” meaning they are open and ready to receive all Christians when the “awakening” comes. Therefore, we bury our dead facing the East because we know there is a resurrection. “O grave, where is Thy victory? O death, where is Thy sting?” The sting of death was taken when Christ was suffering upon the cross. Just as a bee’s stinger becomes useless after it has been one once, sothe sting of death was taken by The Master when he died. It should be a consolation to know that The Father was big enough and kind enough and wished so much for our welfare that he would take his only begotten Son so that we might not suffer because of death. “O, Death, where is thy sting?”
But the sting has been taken from it that we might have life and life eternal. Now brothers and sisters, this is not merely an accident. They are things we cannot understand,probably, but we must realize that one fourth of all population is taken from the earth before they reach the age of seven. These children have not gone astray, but have gone to that devoted Master.
We are still going to have the privilege of teaching that same good doctrine of life and life eternal. I hope that the family can at this time realize that the child cannot come to us, but it will be our privilege, if we so live, to go to it, and there we shall renew our acquaintances, and this child shall come forth to meet us, because she shall be tenderly taken care of by our Master.
Father, bless the friends, relatives and parents of this sweet child that they will realize that she was here for a purpose and now she has gone back to Him who gave her life.
Song: Keith Evans
“Perfect Day”
When you come to the end of a perfect day
And you sit alone with our thoughts
While the chimes ring out with a caroll gay
For the joy that the day has brought,
Do you think what the end of a perfect day
Can seem to a tired heart,
When the sun goes down with a flaming ray
And the dear friends have to part?
Well this is the end of a perfect day,
Near the end of a journey, too;
But it leaves a thought that is big and strong
With a wish that is kind and true,
For memory has painted this perfect day
With colors that never fade,
And we find at the end of a perfect day
The soul of a friend we’ve made.
Remarks: J.M. Isaacson
I trust that the few minutes I occupy this position, I may have the Spirit of the Lord with me in directing my remarks. I feel honored in being asked to appear on this program, at this time. I feel humble. I count these good people among my finest friends. The grandparents of this child, the Jones family, no finer people live among us. No finer friends can you have than those. The Hill family who live in the other valley are well thought of, respected folds from over there-all just plain folks.–We are all “just plain folks” you know, and it is my desire to be one of the “folks” today and talk to you like that. I cannot be closer. No, there is an inner circle that “just folks” cannot get beyond. And as we view this situation today, we can just look in there and pass the word on in. I was just thinking I might ask you, parents, this question: Have you ever had the experience of having to take your boy in hand and say, “Now listen, son, this is something that is not for you. You think it is, but you just cannot have it, that is all. Now you can’t understand why, but I can and I cannot explain it to you, but in time, experience will explain it to you. You must just have that much trust in me.” So your boy has had to be denied that thing he wanted awfully bad. And you mothers, have you ever run up against this situation when your little girl was playing with her dolly, she was headed for the dirt and grime, her dolly had a pretty clean dress on and you said, “My little girl, you will just have to put your dolly away until you come back.” Your little girl thought that was awful; thought her little dolly was gone forever, she cried and couldn’t understand why you had put it away, but when she came back, you gave her her dolly all clean and nice.
Probably those are homely lessons, but don’t they come home to us now? Hasn’t the Master taken ou dolly away and when you come back out of the dirt and grime, his is going to hand you your dolly all clean and fine. Our kind father in Heaven has a program all worked out for us, just as our program is mapped out for our children; yes, just as you took your boy in your arms and gained his confidence. You didn’t deny him those things he wanted because you didn’t love him but because you did what was for his best good and you knew it was for his best good. And as he grew in experience, he learned that father was wise and good and kind and did love him and he was denied that out of kindness and nothing else. So our Father in Heaven who loves us with a love beyond our conception denies us something we want awfully bad because somewhere in his program he can see what is best. Can we have that much confidence in our Father in Heaven, the good God who has given us this plan of living we live by. We hand these treasures that are priceless to us, up to our Father with a tear in our eyes. Yes, but not with bitterness, but with love in our hearts for a God who rules us with a plan of love. Isn’t it wonderful to think that when we come in out of the dirt and grime, these fine things shall be kept for us in their sweetness, all clean and beautiful. When Ada and Dallas come home from the dirt and grime of the world, they will find their dolly waiting for them. That is the only answer I can give, and I say in all things God is good. His plan is based on the love he gives to us. Yes, those things are painful for us, maybe trying at times, yes, even heartbreaking; but out of those experiences is going to come a definite something that will be translated to have meaning. I believe, yes I know that meaning shall be translated into an understanding that all is well. God orders this life for us along the best possible plan, with all its ups and downs, failures and successes. They are just ordered for our oy, and even though painful these things must come. Have you ever thought there could be such a thing as joy if there was no sorrow? It wouldn’t have any meaning. There would be no light without darkness because the light would have no meaning. These things are just part of life and so we go through life in this way, touching the opposites of life and out of this we get our definition of life. We all walk by the light and faith of God. Sometimes, it is probably hard to understand as we face these situations. Sometimes a test comes up and out of that we emerge, either the victors or the conquered. It is up to us. When Christ went to the Garden of Gethsemane, He who had the key to life died. He went to the Garden and there he surrendered life. True, he didn’t want to die at first, but he finally went to this death. He went there to die because of us. He said to God, “Let this pass from me.” Then he fought it out. Back and forth the battle went on in his mind. He wanted to live. Should he surrender or should he hold on? But he finished by saying, “Thy will be done.” We know the result. He didn’t take anybody in with him. So you folks who face this question, though a hand is held out to you,you must answer the question by yourself to your own satisfaction. And the way you answer that question depends on the joy and happiness that will come to you. May His Spirit be with you to help you answer that question the same as the Master answered it, “Thy will, O God, not mine be done.” In Jesus Name, Amen.
Remarks: By Junius Crowther
My brothers, sisters, and friends, I am sure we have been inspired by these beautiful services, our sympathies and expressions of condolences have reached out tenderly toward Dallas and Ada. I am sure we have been lifted up, all of us, through the comforting words, through the promises the Lord has made to all of us. There is one thing I would like to call to mind here. It brings to my soul comfort in the realization that some of these things of life, the parting of those who haven’t reached the age of accountability, the Lord has given us the plan through our modern day revelators. A little child such as this is free from sin and eligible to the Celestial glory of our Father in Heaven. A wonderful realization in my mind to think that in the passing of our loved ones who are small and haven’t grown up yet, to realize they are entitled and heirs to the Celestial Kingdom, should be a comfort to anyone. After one has reached the age of accountability, he is responsible for his own way of living. The passing is determined by the life of the individual, and of course, the life that he leads, the life that he experiences will determine the glory he attains in the Kingdom of our Father in Heaven. But in this case, we know that it is different. It is definite she will be assigned to the highest place, because this little child is not responsible for any wrongdoing. It is a pleasure to be associated and acquainted with Brother Jones, the grandfather of this little child. Brother Jones and his family are a credit to our community. They are more than willing to perform services when asked upon in the Church.
My brothers and sisters, on behalf of the family we wish to extend our thanks and we are grateful to those who have taken part in any way. I am certain that they extend to you appreciation in every respect for all the sympathies and courtesies shown on this occasion.
Violin Selection: Mrs. Lee Ossman “The Old Refrain”
Closing Prayer: H. I. Mills
Our Father in Heaven, we come before Thee at the closing of these services with thanksgiving in our hearts for the words spoken, the words of comfort, of consolation and assurance we have had. We are thankful for the musical part of this program. It has its sweet influence over us. And Heavenly Father, we do thank Thee in our hearts for the gift Thou hast given these dear parents. The privilege that has come to them only for a few short years, but yet the great love and the great desire that they have had in their hearts for the future of this, their little daughter. Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for the testimony of the Prophets, both of Israel and the Meridian of time. And we thank Thee for the prophets in this dispensation that death is not the end and the grave is not the victor. We can feel the truthfulness and divinity of it in our soul. Help us to so live that we might merit the continuation of this assurance in our souls. Father in Heaven, may the taking of this little girl be a magnet unto the parents and grandparents to draw them even closer unto Thee that they may have the assurance through Thy influence that they may have the blessed privilege in the future of clasping their loved ones in their arms and take her by the hand. We thank Thee for the restored gospel that brings us all the assurance and added testimony. The assurances we have of Thy divine purposes in the resurrection of the dead. We do pry Thee that Thou will bless those who called to mourn this day. Through the influence of Thy spirit comfort may come into their souls. In their hours of loneliness may their thoughts be ever that they do things well and may their thought be that Thou art God. Let Thy blessings go with us to the cemetery that no harm may come to us, but we may go in peace and safety. Let the influence of Thy spirit go into the home of our dear brother and sister and comfort and bless them. We ask these blessings in the name of Jesus, Amen.