Grace was simple, plain, and cheerful in her living and manners — she was generous, hospitable and kind in her nature — a true and devoted wife and Latter-Day Saint. She and Hugh Thompson loved each other very much and showed it in many endearing ways that gave their children a feeling of security such as many children never know. These worthy parents tried very hard to teach their children the importance of obedience in their lives and respect for the rights of others. Grace taught her children by example rather than by precept alone, and her example was fine and noble. She always expressed the desire that all her children would live good lives, go on missions, be honest, honorable and upright. She was never heard to use profanity of any kind, nor tell an off-color story or joke. Her children always tried to follow in her footsteps and tried to have been as worthy an example as she.
Grace never had much of this world’s goods, yet she left a heritage greater than any worldly wealth — a knowledge that this is the divine Gospel of Jesus Christ and a desire to serve Him!
OUR GOOD OLD FASHIONED MOTHER
By S. T. Perry
They brought home the portrait last night to me;
On the parlor wall it is hung.
I gave to the artist a picture small,
Which was taken when she was young.
It’s true to life; and there’s a look in the eyes,
I never saw in another.
And the same sweet smile that she always wore.
‘Tis my good, old fashioned Mother.
The hair in the picture is wavy and dark.
‘Twas taken before she was gray.
And the same short curls at the side hang down,
For she always wore it that way.
Her hand on the Bible, easily rests.
As when with my sisters and brothers,
I knelt at her knee, reciting my verse,
To my good old fashioned Mother.
Her dress, it is plain and quite out of style.
Not a puff or ruffle is there.
And no jewels or gold glitter and shine,
She never had any to wear.
Ambition for wealth, or love of display,
We could not even discover,
For poor in spirit and humble in heart,
Was my good old fashioned Mother.
Her life was crowded with work and with care,
How did she accomplish it all?
I do not remember she ever complained,
And yet she was slender and small.
Motives of live that were selfish or wrong,
With Christian grace did she smother.
She lived for her God and the loved ones at home.
My true, good, old fashioned Mother.
The years if her life were only three score,
When the messenger whispered low,
“The Master has come and called for thee”
She answered, “I’m ready to go.”
I gaze alone on her portrait tonight.
And more than ever I love her.
And thank the Lord that he gave to me
Such a good, old fashioned Mother.
Martin Luther has said:
“When Eve was brought unto Adam, he became
filled with the Holy Spirit and gave her the
most sanctified, the most glorious appellations.
He called her Eve. That I smother. He did not call
her wife, but simply Mother — Mother of all
living creatures. In this consists the glory and most
precious ornament of women.”
President David O. McKay tells us:
“Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for
good or ill in human life. The mother’s image is the first
that stamps itself on the unwritten page of a young
child’s mind. It is her caress that first realization of affection;
her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that
there is love in the world. True, there comes a time when
Father takes his place as exemplar and hero of the growing
boy and in the latter’s budding ambition to develop manly traits,
he outwardly seems to turn from the more gentle and
tender virtues engendered by his mother. Yet that
ever-directing and restraining influence implanted during that
first years of his childhood linger with him and permeate
his thoughts and memory as distinctively as perfume
clings to each particular flower.
“In more than one instance in his life of fiery youth, this
lingering influence has proved a safeguard in the hour
of temptation — an influence greater in its restraining power
than the threat of the law of the land, the ostracism of
society, or the fear of violating a command of God. In a
moment of youthful recklessness the youth might defy one
or all of these forces, and so what his hot-blood bade, but
at the critical moment, the flash of a mother’s confiding
trust, the realization of her sorrow if he fail to be true to
it have given him power to refrain from indulgence that
might blight his entire career.”
-The End-
