Our biography today deals with Sarah Gardner Sheen, lovingly known as Aunt Sarah, who first saw the light of day February 14, 1837 in Preston, Lankshire, England. Sarah spent her girlhood days in this little city and grew and thrived as other young girls do. When she reached the age of maturity, her splendid virtue, her charming grace and the sweetness of her soul attracted the attention of Thomas Franklin, a sturdy British youth who ardently wooed and won her hand in marriage.

It was at this time that the gospel message reached her and she envisioned the beauty and splendid glory of the gospel plan, whose vision never left her, but the testimony of which remained with her while conscience lasted.

Aunt Sarah was a devoted saint, her whole soul thrilled with the testimony of the Prophet Joseph and it nearly broke her heart that her husband, Thomas Franklin, could not see eye to eye with her.

At this time, the Gardner family was ready to emigrate to Utah but Thomas Franklin refused to join them, this to Aunt Sarah was the biggest disappointment in her entire life. She loved her husband, she loved her parents, she believed in and worshiped an Almighty God whose decree to her was final and when the spirit of gathering touched her heart, she sacrificed the love of her husband that she too might gather with the Saints in the tops of the mountains where she might worship the God she had chosen to serve. So when the good ship, John Bright set sail for America, it carried not only joyous Saints but also a broken hearted woman who was sacrificing all that life held dear to obey the divine will of her Master. In due time the good ship landed at New York and in the company of Captain Wright she crossed the plains, and landed in Salt Lake City. After being there a sufficient length of time to establish a residence and secure a divorce, she married James Sheen in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City in the year 1866 and in the year 1872 moved to Smithfield where she rounded out a full and complete life closing it on May 20, 1928.

Providence did not see fit to bless Aunt Sarah with children of her own but fate entrusted to her tender care children of another woman.

Any woman will live for, work for, strive for, and if necessary die for her own children, but when a woman will do all these things for somebody else’s child she becomes one of God’s chosen Mothers and such was Aunt Sarah. When she put her hand to the plow she never looked back. Careful and deliberate in reaching a conclusion, but when she reached it she remained true and firm to her judgment and trust.

Possessed of keen humor, her droll wit has brought forth many a hearty laugh from her friends. Her hospitality was known far and near. None asked for bread and were given a stone. Her nephews, her nieces, and her neighbors’ children loved and adored her and no greater pleasure awaited them than a visit to Aunt Sarah’s.

Lovable to all and with malice towards none, she gave to the world the best she had and the best came back to her. God bless her memory and may it be honored and revered by the coming generations as it is loved and respected by the present one.

She closed her life’s work in the dimming twilight of time only to open it again in the glorious sunlight of eternity. She took with her a full and complete life, the fruits of which she laid at the Master’s feet and received the wonderful commendation–”Well done thou good and faithful servant over little hast thou been faithful, over much will I place thee.” In my fancy I see a picture of her standing on the golden shore with outstretched arms ready to welcome those of her kindred who, too, have been faithful and true to the testimony which she loved and cherished so dearly.