(Millie’s mother)

                                                                                               

My ancestors were strong Lutheran, originating in Germany and continuing in the Lutheran faith when they moved to Russia and then to America and Canada.

My mother told of going to Church in Russia as a young girl.  Sunday was a special day, where they went to Church and then spent the day in visiting friends and family.  On the way to Church she would pick mint or flower petals and put them in her handkerchief so she would smell nice.

As a girl I remember my mother as being very strict regarding the Sabbath.  Food was cooked on Saturday, the house was cleaned and clothes ready for Sunday.  We were not allowed to sew, knit or do anything that may be work on Sunday.

When I was 14 we moved to Taylorville, where I had my first contact with the Mormon Church.  I had a good friend who took me to MIA (youth group) and I attended Church a few times until pop would not let me go anymore.  We did not live long in Taylorville, moved back to Irvine.  Jacks sister and brother-in-law Eva and Bob were present.  We lived with mom and dad Salway until Jack had a run in with his mother.  I really wanted to go to the Mormon Church, but Jack was very much against religion in our home.  So I followed the Lutheran principles in my home and taught my children the same.

When we moved to Medicine Hat, (city of 15,000 people) we moved into a home close to the South Saskatchewan River.  Living across the street was a widowed woman with two children.  She was a Mormon, and took Millie and Alf to church with her.  The Church was a small branch, meetings were held in the Branch President’s home.  President Fletcher was the Branch President.  He had two young children.  Later meetings were held in the Moose Hall.  I did not go as I was afraid it would cause too much contention in our home.  I did help whenever possible to raise money for a Church building.  I also paid fast offering.  Jack and I attended Church on holidays.  We enjoyed the members and invited the missionary’s to dinner many times with Jack’s firm declaration that they were not to preach to him.  One time he threw Elder Parks out of the house because he tried to tell us some doctrine.  Jack was baptized in the Mormon Church in England when he was 10 years old.

Even with these limitations we had many friends in the Mormon Church.  Mum Salway told me that eventually Jack would come around.  She told me that if I joined the Church Jack would follow.  I did not believe that would happen.  Jack believed in the Church, but did not want to change his life style of drinking and smoking.  I too enjoyed my coffee.  I did not want to have any fights with Jack, we were having enough problems at this time.  When we moved back to Calgary, Jack was more receptive to Church members in our home.  We had a good home teacher Brother Dolan who looked out for us, and visited often.  He walked his dog every day past our home, and we became good friends.

Christmas 1974 Glyn and Millie came to visit.  When they were leaving, Glyn hugged me and said “Next time you come to visit us, bring a certificate from your Bishop and I will baptize you.”  I looked at Jack.  Millie was hugging him. I really expected him to get upset, but he never said anything.  I was 65 years old.

Jack came to Church with me on Sundays and stayed through all three hours.   I worked in the Church library for 6 years and got to know a lot of the members as I supplied them with materials for their classes.  I sometimes wonder what our life would have been like if we had got involved in the Church when we were young.

Millie’s account of my Baptism

November of 1974 I was listening to a talk by Elder Ballard about writing down a name of someone you would like to see join the church, pray about that person often.  I wrote on my calendar Mom’s name and put May 31 as her baptism day.  I had never done this before, but felt inspired that it was time.  I did not tell Glyn at this time. 

When we went to Calgary for Christmas, I was surprised to hear Glyn tell mom to bring the certificate from her Bishop to be baptized.  I hugged dad and whispered to him that “I loved him”, I was afraid that he would be upset and tell us not to come back. 

When I got to the car I asked Glyn why he told mom to bring a Baptism certificate from her Bishop.  He said “It just came out, I never planned to tell her that.”  We wondered all the way home.

In May 1975 mom and dad came to visit us in Salem, Oregon.  We watched their car drive up, stop, and before we could reach the car mom came tumbling out with a paper in her hand, and fell into Glyn’s arms saying, “here is the paper, now baptize me.”  I showed Glyn the little calendar with mom’s baptism date May 31.  Dad was very supportive.  Mom had the desire to be baptized ever since she was a young girl in Taylorville.

Jack Salway’s return to Church May 1978

(Millie’s father)

Jack Salway was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was 10 years old.  His mother, Eva Mary Rowe Salway, was baptized in 1903 in England.  Her husband, Alfred, children Eva and Jack were baptized in 1916 in England.  They moved to Cardston, Alberta, Canada in 1920 as Eva Mary wanted to be near a Temple so she could have Temple work done for her family.

Jack was 12 years old when he arrived in Cardston, missed England and his soccer games.  He left home at 16, and was not active in the Church.  He would always defend the Church, but stated he believed the Church, but did not believe that Joseph Smith saw an angel.

In Medicine Hat he would attend Church on holidays or when Millie, Alf or Jack had a part in the meeting.  He did not want anyone to preach to him, as he claimed he had enough preaching growing up.  His wife Martha was baptized in 1975 when she was 68 years old.

In 1973 Jack and Martha went to Salem to hear their grandson Rod report his Mission in Brazil.  After Rod had spoken Jack said to Millie, “I wish I could feel like Rod does”.  Millie said, “You can, you just have to pray about it and learn about the teachings.”  Jack said, “Will you teach me?”  After several years of her dad arguing about church teachings, Millie said, “No, but I am sure Rod will.”

When Jack and Martha got home, Jack started to attend meetings with Martha.  Glyn said when we visited he would go into High Priest group with Jack and Jack would argue every step of doctrine.  Word of Wisdom, tithing, baptism, priesthood.  He had a very patient home teacher, Brother Dolan who helped him understand.

Jack went to Logan, Utah where Rod was living and spent some time with Rod discussing gospel principles.  Why Temple marriage?  Jack had given up drinking years ago, when he quit coffee and tobacco.  He did not have a problem with Word of Wisdom.

In May of 1978 Jack took Martha to the Cardston Temple.  Millie and Glyn came up from Salem, when they got to the Temple they were surprised to find President Fletcher was the Temple President.  President Fletcher was the Branch President in Medicine Hat.  In the sealing room, they were surprised to see a large group of old friends from the Medicine Hat Branch and Calgary Ward present.  Jack was sealed to his mother and father.  He was the only child that had not been sealed to his parents.  (The younger ones were born in the covenant).  He was sealed to Martha and then his daughter Millie.

Years later Jack would talk about that day in the Temple.  He felt his mother and father present.  He didn’t realize he had so many friends.  He realized how much he loved his wife.

Jack struggled with every principle of the gospel, he would not accept anything on faith.  He struggled with the word of wisdom, tithing, fasting.  He was a challenge to everyone who tried to teach him. When he saw the results of living the gospel he gained the faith necessary to receive the blessings.  Years later he would testify the truth about living the Word of Wisdom and he was always amazed that when paying tithing his money went farther and they had more money in savings.