The recent Keepa post An Old Pioneer Bears His Final Testimony shared the final testimony of Hamilton G. Park, who joined the Church in Scotland in 1840 and came to Utah in 1854. In that testimony he mentions the following about his mother, Isabelle Gray Park:
I joined the Church when I was 15 years old. My mother was very much opposed to it and said to me: “Hamilton, you have brought disgrace on the family. You have brought a greater sorrow to me than your father’s death.” This grieved me very much, and set me to crying, for I loved my mother. I distinctly remember going out into the orchard and prostrating myself upon the grass; I prayed to die.
Happily however he follows that up by explaining:
My mother afterward joined the Church and came to this country, crossing the plains with a handcart, and finally died a faithful Latter-day Saint in her 93rd year.
On Saturday, March 30th, 2013 the Church broadcast its annual General Young Women’s meeting. In her introductory remarks General Young Women’s President Elaine Dalton mentioned that there was a special guest present, Florence Smith Jacobsen, who served as president of the then-titled “Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association” from 1961 to 1972. Sister Jacobsen was in attendance at the meeting in part to recognize her upcoming 100th birthday. In honor of her 100th birthday I wanted to share some information about Sister Jacobsen and focus in particular on one rather unusual incident that occurred between her and President Henry D. Moyle, First Counselor in the First Presidency, early in her service as President of the Young Women.