Having to Choose

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When Anna Sophia Hegglund Beckstrand joined the church in 1856, she was asked to make two choices immediately before her baptism. What were the choices she had to make?

a.                  The Church or Wealth and fame

b.                  The Church or Fiancé and family

c.                   The Church or education and career

d.                  The Church or travel and wealth

Yesterday’s answer:

C   Learn to be a mid-wife

From the life of Sarah Jane Veach Lewis:   One of the defining events in Sarah Jane’s fruitful life occurred in 1873 when she was thirty-nine years old. It was at that time that she was called on what she would thereafter refer to as her “mission.” The following is in her words:

Eliza R. Snow came to Richmond to find two women to be sent to Salt Lake to study midwifery. I, Sarah Jane Lewis, and Mrs. Sarah Durney were chosen. When I found I was to go, I said plenty mean things about the ones who thought I could go. I was leaving nine children, the youngest eighteen months old, and felt there were plenty others who could go easier and do better work than I.

My sister Julia, wife of Henry Grow, lived in Salt Lake City, so I decided to go visit with her and have a “heart to heart” talk with President Brigham Young and tell him how impossible it would be for me to leave my family. President Young listened very patiently, then he said, “Sister Lewis, I will give you my blessing. You will stay here the allotted time; study, your children will be well and happy during your absence. You shall be blessed in your work .When you have a difficult case, call on me. I promise to be with you. And above all things, have faith.”

Lesson Committee, Museum Memories-Daughters of Utah Pioneers, (Salt Lake City, Talon Printing, 2010), 2: 8.