Feeling blessed

On Monday Brent and I went to Conner's school's open house.  The open house was only for the parents so Conner stayed home with Parker.  The open house was from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and it was divided into three half hour sessions so those parents that had more than one child could attend all the classes.  We decided to go to the later session, from 7:00-7:30 to give us time to feed Conner because it always takes forever. When we got there we were the only parents so instead of going over the fourth grade handbook and classroom rules and other stuff she had planned, Mrs. Nagle decided to talk to us about Conner. I am so glad she did!! She is amazing!!! She said she is happy to have Conner in her class, that he is so smart and sweet and she has no problems with him.  She has had almost two weeks to get to know him and she knows that he has different ways that he likes to do things and it is fine with her. The kids in the class know Conner from last year so they are also used to the way he is, and they are very good with him and if he acts a little different it is OK with everyone, they just know that is how he is.  Everyday I ask Conner how school went and he always answers with amazing, perfect, awesome, great etc. etc. He told me the other day that he wants to stay in this school until he graduates from high school.  I was not planning on moving him to another school, so that is not a problem.  One of the things he doesn't handle very well is changes so moving him to another school would not be good.  It was hard when I changed him to this school, at first he thought it was only for a year and then he would go back to his old school, so I am glad he loves this school.  I am feeling so blessed that Conner has a wonderful teacher who understands him and cares for him and wants him to succeed in school!!

My mom Luz Sotomayor Gonzalez' pictures and testimony

My brother gave me these pictures of my mom.  He also gave me a book with family history, it has dates and names of some of my ancestors and he also gave me a journal that she wanted to write on but apparently never had the time.  She did though write a small paragraph with her testimony.  Although I wish she had written in her diary I know she was a very busy mom.  She worked full time as a secretary for over 30 plus years, from the time she was 18 and with this money she bought her parents a house because they were so poor and could not afford a house.  My mom grew up in government housing.  She gave her parents a lovely home to live in and provided them also with food and other necessities.  My mom was the executive secretary for the director of the Damas Hospital and she was also the secretary for the Board of Directors at the hospital, you might say she was the most important secretary in that hospital.  I remember always being proud of my hardworking mom.  

High School Graduation picture May 1952

This was June 1952

There was not date on this picture all it said was "working as a secretary at Damas Hospital"

Wedding day, December 18, 1961 with my grandma Eugenia Ramirez Sotomayor, (I was named after her, Maria Eugenia) I am thankful to have her testimony, even if it is just a small paragraph.

Spanish

Tiene el proposito este journal dejar una constancia de los hechos mas relevantes de mi vida que puedan servir de ejemplo a mi posteridad con el fin de animarlos y fortalecerlos en su paso por este mundo e instarles que siempre busquen a Dios por medio de Cristo y se mantengan firmes en el evangelio verdadero para que puedan heredar un lugar en el reino Celestial.

English

The purpose of this diary is to leave a record of the most relevant facts of my life that can serve as an example to my posterity in order to encourage and strengthen them in their passage through this world and encourage them to always seek God through Jesus Christ and remain steadfast in the true gospel so they can inherit a place in the Celestial kingdom.

Parker's High School parking spot

This year Parker gets to drive himself to school and to be able to park at the school they buy a parking spot for the year.  They get to paint it also.  The person who had his parking last year was a girl and had Hello Kitty painted on it.  Parker chose this character from one of the anime shows he watches on-line.  I think he did a pretty good job.

First day of school 2013 and a car crash

Conner's first day of school was supposed to be on Thursday last week but he was sick and had to miss it. His first day was Friday. He had a great day at school.  His first day of fourth grade.

Parker's first day of school was today.  I can't believe he is a senior.  I took this picture yesterday, he was wearing his new suit for church. 

Parker drove himself to school but had a car accident in front of the school.. What a way to start his Senior year!  I was so tired this morning that I did not hear him leave. I got woken up at 6:25 AM when I answered the phone and it was him saying "Well it would be me who would get in an accident the first day of school."  Not a good way to start my day!  We are thankful he is fine and that no one got hurt. The car can be fixed and everything will go back to normal.  He is actually a good driver, it is just that he does not have a lot of experience.

Fun trip to the grocery store

The other day we went grocery shopping and they had fun activities for the kids at the grocery store. Conner got to sit in a fire truck and talk to the firemen.

 



He also got to decorate cookies

Tennis lessons

Conner has been taking tennis lessons for a few months now.  His last lesson was on a Saturday, it kept changing in the summer because it rains so much.  Brent was able to go with him and he even got to play. They had so much fun!

 

Zumba Master Class

This weekend there is a Zumba convention in Orlando. The tickets are like $400.  I am not going to it because I can't go all 4 days and there is not point in spending so much money if you can't go all four days. But, during the convention they have master classes that are fun and don't cost an arm and a leg.  So I went to one last night with Alejandro Angulo. He is a very good instructor from Venezuela who lives and teaches Zumba in China.  I went to another one of his master classes last year.

 

With my friends Lily and Natty

With my friends who are all Zumba instructors Lineth, Jhon, Natty and Lily

One of the instructors on stage at the master class was Alix from France.  She has a fun Zumba routine that I do in my Class! I copied it from YouTube. It was great to meet her in person.

With Alejandro Angulo

This guy and his brother have a ton of energy and are fun teachers He was also another instructor up on the stage with Alejandro but I can't remember his name. He is from the Domican Republic.

This is the brother of the other guy that I can't remember his name. They always come with Alejandro. They have a ton of energy.

Lauren Fitz another instructor on stage. I copied one of her routines from YouTube just the other day!

With Lily and Natty

This little girl is from Slovakia.  She follows Alejandro everywhere and is only 9 years old!  She was on the stage the whole two hours and dances better than any adult.

Incredible coincidence

This weekend we have a sister from Miami staying with us.  She is participating in the Single Adult conference here in Orlando.  When she arrived yesterday, I told her she would be staying in my daughter Alison's room and that Alison was serving in Milan, Italy.  She said she had been in Italy this past May and that in Verona she met Sorella Gomez and Sorella Bush.  I told her that Sorella Gomez had been Alison's companion!   She said that when she started talking to
Sorella Gomez they realized that she had served with Sorella Gomez' cousin when she served her mission in Riverside, California! She texted me the picture she took in Verona. She gave some cookies she bought in Cinque Terre, a place that she visited. I told her that Alison had been there and that she had just sent me pictures of it (see previous post).

Sorella Bush, Sorella Gomez and Candace

Alison sent pictures

These are the pictures of Cinque Terre

 

Alison

Sorella Pace, and Brother and Sister Hawk

Journal entry

In uncle Steve's site I was reading grandma Isabelle Hanson's journal and saw this entry about a time when Brent and I went to visit on January 4, 1992.  I remember visiting them in their home in Merced.  I thought it was so cute how she called the girls "the 3 little angels, Ashley, Brittany and Alison."  Alison was 8 months old at the time, Brittany was almost 3 and Ashley had just turned 6.  As I read it, I pictured that day in my mind.  I love that she was really good at writing in her journal.  I copied and pasted exactly as it was on the site, so there are some typing errors.


Sat. Jan. 4th Almost noon and Lynn just getting ready for a rub after heat. Sun playing
peek a boo but in 50s..Rain maybe will come tonight I didn't do a great deal. Tried to straight
here and ther and write a few notes..one to Rolf and other missionaries need doing. I need to get
back on the track.
Was relaxing in here typing when I heard the bell..thought maybe Ray. Surprise it was
BRent, Maria and the 3 little angels, Ashley, Brittany and Alison.
They had been to Oakland for marriage of Beth Lindseys son..BRent's missionary
friend..and spent night in Salinas and came here for the night. It was nice to have them. They
said they had eaten but next thing Lynn came and asked if the little girls could have a peanut butter sandwich. They were fasting and wanted for the children. I would have thought they
needed more that that..How am I to know?
I got out the bedding for cou ch and the 2 older girls slept foot to foot here on this single
bed..the baby had her play pen bed in F rm. Nut no one to go to bed yet ..Reed was to come
after a Court of Honor I thought it was here at Stake Center but in Atwater and the; never did
make it altho he called at 9:30.
Ray and Carolyn came in for about an hour waiting at 8.
Soon about 11 after baths and all, it was quiet and all well.
(I J H-)
Sun. Jan. 5th After my bad nights and days I felt better at 6:30Am and decided to go
and drive with Lynn to Atwater to the mtgs at 8:30. Prior I said he could go with Brent. I just
felt too miserable to try and drive..and here it was Pouring! But I bathed and got Lynn a bit to
eat. I had a banana and cranberr;y when up at 5. The little girls needed some brft but Maria and
BRent fasting. So we were ready to leave about 20 of 9.
They followed us out there. With the storm it was like 5 past 9 when we parked. By the
time we got in they began singing their opening song..so we didn't miss a great deal.
The first hour people were coming in every 10 min or so...this was their new time from 1
PM.
Went to the 1st B of M. class. A good teacher but surely a Pacer" Brent had some
worthwhile comments in answr to some questions.
It is a beuatiful room and is the new Rel. Soc. rm since the dedication the 1st of fall.
So we got to stay right there instead of going clear down the hall and across to other
wing.
They mostly had the teachers introduce their new lessons for the year. I was by the door
where we were parked and Maria too. I asked if she had heard any;th;ing about gong to Red';s
for dinner..she had not. Then Brent came and I asked him and he said no..and I said I know they
will be having choir and he said th;ey already were seated.
So it was still raining hard and I got into the car..we had waited a good spell for Lynn and
there he was asleep in the car. So I started and Brent fell in out front and we headed back home..
When we where making the turn to go over to Olive Lynn boomed "Where are you going!" I
said home.. and he aid we are to go to Reed's!..I said How am I to know.. Brent didn't know
neither did Maria..I asked.. I said when did you find out? He said early this morn When I talked
with Etta.. I said Oh how was I to know you talked to Etta? I left you eating and went to dress.
Anyway. I went around here and there and found my way back to Winton and to their place. It
was almost 2 before we ate..Brent had wanted to get a way in good time So it was like 4:30 or
later when they did.
They got backed and I made some sandwiches and carrot sticks..cookies and put in some
root beer.
They got milk for the girls.
3 h ours later Lynn heard news that Grapevine closed..heavy fog and snow there and
slippery.. I said if they stopped at Joyce and Dave;'s they would have heard.. So about 1 5 of 9  Lynn called Bruce and of course they had not got there..he called then at 20 of 11 and they just
came in. That was about right for the kind of weather they had..just then came Ken & Bev in
from AZ ..then had not had storm. So Bruce said about 15 from their family coming..(if Brent
would be 20( he wanter to return if not working.

Getting ready for school!

Conner has always had a hard time getting haircuts.  He doesn't like getting them and not too long ago would cry and just have a very hard time when we told him he needed to get a haircut.  We have never known why he has had such a hard time with it.  But today was different.  He actually told me the other day he needed a haircut!! And he did great, he was even smiling! So for us this is a big deal!! We have always had Trina cut his hair, she is very patient with him.

 

Smiling!! unbelievable!!

Trina is so patient!!

Looking handsome! and smiling!!!

Family history-Simeon Adams Dunn

1995 at Nauvoo in front of Simeon Adams Dunn's home

I was reading uncle Steve Dunn Hanson's website rememberinglight.com and came accross this family history and I copied it so we could have it for our family. I loved reading about Simeon's life and the example that he set for our family. What an incredible legacy he left for us and I am thankful that my children can read this and learn from him and be strengthen by his example and testimony.

SIMEON ADAMS DUNN

(The following is taken from history by Eva (Tebe) Snow and Nancy Dunn Watson)

Simeon Adams Dunn was born August 7, 1804 in or around Groveland, New York. He was the 4th

in a line of "Simeon" Dunn's.  The first was born somewhere in Scotland in the early 1700's. His

son, Simeon Adam's grandfather, was born in 1752 and married Ann Gustin, also of Scotland. They

came to America and lived for a time in New Brunswick, New Jersey, then moved to Groveland,

New York (what is now Williamstown, in Livingston County). Simeon Adam's father was born

April 24, 1774, just 2 years before the American revolution. He married Sarah (Sally) Bath, who

came to America from England. Simeon Adams was their third child.

We know little about Simeon Adams' childhood. He lived with a family by the name of Skinner for

a number of years. When Simeon was eight years old his mother died. His father had left home to

join the War of 1812 and thus the children were left orphans and were taken into the homes of

friends to be cared for. He finally left the state of New York and settled in Michigan where he met

a family by the name of Rawson. About 1828, he married their daughter, Adaline. They had seven

children, but only three daughters survived infancy. They lived in Belville, Wayne County,

Michigan in a fine farm home. They had animals, barns and orchards of fruit trees. Was a hard

worker and an able farmer and they had a prosperous life.

Simeon became acquainted with the Mormons. Apparently impressed with the Book of Mormon,

when twin sons were born to Simeon in February, 1837, he named one Mosiah. In 1838, James

Dunn, Simeon Adams' younger brother came to their home in Van Buren, Michigan, as a

missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He preached the gospel to the family

and Simeon Adams and his wife were baptized April 15, 1839.

On June 20, 1840, Simeon left on foot for Nauvoo and there for the first time saw a prophet of God.

After a short time he returned home, still walking. He got his family, which at that time included

his three surviving little daughters, and headed out for Nauvoo. They arrived August 15, 1841.

Simeon purchased land from Joseph Smith and built a home. They lived in Nauvoo until the Saints

were driven out. His house in Nauvoo has been restored by the church and is now used to house

missionary couples.

On October 22, 1841, just two months after arriving at Nauvoo, his wife passed away. His oldest

child was but eleven years old. On the 19th of June, 1842, Simeon married Margaret Sneider in the

Nauvoo Temple (although they did not receive their endowments). While in Nauvoo, Simeon

served diligently. He was a guard to the Prophet Joseph and labored to build the Nauvoo temple.

The Prophet was often called upon to heal the sick and the Dunn family could bear testimony to his

power of healing. Once when Simeon was very sick and sent for the Prophet to come, Joseph laid

his hands on Simeon's head and asked if Simeon had ever had the measles. Simeon answered,

"No." "You will have them," replied the Prophet. Before he removed his hands from Simeon's

head, he was broken out with thick spots. Simeon's baby daughter became sick with what was

called "black canker". Margaret took the baby to the Prophet, who then went with the family to a

stream of water. Joseph took the baby, laid it across his hand, face down and immersed it in the

water. The baby recovered.

At the time of the Prophet's martyrdom, Simeon was on a mission to New York to promote the

Prophet's candidacy for president of the United States. The work on the temple continued almost

unabated despite the mob activities which increased after the acquittal of the murderers of the

Prophet and Hyrum. The Saints were warned to leave the state or be the cause of much bloodshed,

including their own. Brigham Young agreed to move the saints out, but requested time to prepare,

sell their homes, etc. In December of 1845, the ordinance work was commenced by the general

membership in the temple. Simeon was endowed and sealed to his wife on December 27, 1845.

The winter was harsh and cold and on February 4, 1846, the first of the Saints left Nauvoo. Simeon

was not among those leaving, for Margaret was due to deliver their second child. The baby

(Simeon) was born to them, February 9, 1846. On this same date a detachment of the governor's

troops came into the city and caused a great deal of fuss.

The ice began building up on the Mississippi River during the latter part of February. Many of the

Saints crossing the river in rafts were in great difficulty because of it. One such young woman,

Harriet Atwood Silver, a young lady from Vermont, was on a ferry traveling across the icy waters

One of the ropes broke and the boat went down, but through hard work they were all saved and she

traveled on to Winter Quarters.

Simeon stayed in Nauvoo after the main body of the Saints had departed. The baby, Simeon, died

shortly after its birth. Margaret never fully recovered from the trauma of the events and died also in

Nauvoo, leaving Simeon with a fourth daughter.

In May of 1846, Simeon and his four daughters left Nauvoo to follow the Saints westward. They

had two wagons, one yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows. The milk from the cows would be put in

a can and hung on the back of the wagon. At night there would be butter for supper.

Later in 1846, Simeon married Jane Caldwell and she had a son born to her in February of 1847.

His wife apparently left him before the baby was born and ultimately took their son back east.

Simeon, with his four daughters, left for the west, after spending the winter at Winter Quarters,

where he met and married Harriet Atwood Silver on the 3rd of January, 1847. They were married

by Brigham Young. They left Winter Quarters on the 16th of May, 1848.

Harriet was a great help to the family. At first they all had no shoes. Once Simeon had stopped the

wagons by a bed of prickly pears. Mary, Simeon's daughter, not noticing the cactuses jumped out of

the wagon right into them. They had a terrible time getting the stickers out of her feet. Her dear

father was so careful, but it was painful and Mary's feet were sore for a long time.

Then while crossing the plains they passed great herds of buffalo. It often seemed like the land was

covered for miles with buffalo. The wagons would have to stop until they passed as buffalo were

very vicious if they were molested. Some of the men followed them to get meat as that was about

all they would have. Harriet took advantage of this encounter with the buffalo. She took pieces of

buffalo robe and made shoes, with the woolly side in for warmth. She also made stockings for the

girls from bits of buffalo wool which the girls could gather from the willows by the river bank

where the buffalo came to drink. Harriet had learned the tailors trade as a young girl and her talents

with a needle and thread were very handy during the pioneer hardships. Further across the prairies

they also encountered barking ground squirrels, deer and antelope. And of course, Indians.

After arriving in the Salt Lake Valley on September 28, 1848 with the company of Brigham Young,

they had to ration their food even more strictly. The crops of the Saints who were already in the

valley had been sparse due to hoards of crickets devouring much of them. Harriet baked a corn cake

every morning and that would do for the day. They called it Johnny Cake. She would cut the cake

up in five pieces, one piece for each of them. On Sunday, Harriet made flour biscuits. Simeon

spent much of his time out of doors and worked hard to keep his family from being hungry.

In September, 1850 Simeon was called on a mission to the South Sea Islands. His family had no

means of support but President Brigham Young promised Simeon that if he would go the Lord

would bless him with health and that his family would not want or suffer during his absence. He

left soon after for Tahiti. He served an honorable mission and the promises made were fulfilled.

Harriet supported her family in his absence without calling on the Church for help. From frozen

rushes gathered by the river she put bottoms in chairs and also made brooms out of split birch.

These she sold to the settlers in the valley and made a meager living for her family. Simeon

returned in 1852.

Simeon and Harriet had seven children, including our grandfather, Charles Oscar Dunn. The story

concerning their twins and Harriet's subsequent death bears repeating here. (This is taken from the

account given by Aunt "Tebe". )

The twins were born December 31, 1857 - a boy and a girl. The girl died shortly after birth, and

two days later, on January 2nd, Harriett also died, giving her life to bring life. Simeon's heart was

broken as he placed his young wife in the crude, home-made casket and laid their baby daughter in

her arms. Three months later, in April, 1858, the call came for all Saints to leave their homes in

Northern Utah and journey southward in order to elude Johnston's Army. Like others in the

community, Simeon loaded a few provisions and household effects into his covered wagon, assisted

his motherless children to their place in the wagon box and cracking his long whip over the backs of

his oxen, commenced his journey. He had also provided a wagon for his eldest daughter and her

three little girls. The husband and father of this little family, Martin Luther Ensign, at that time was

serving as a missionary for the church.

It was a trying time for all of them, as they never expected to return to their homes and did not know

what or where their flight would lead to. As they proceeded on their way, baby Henry became very

ill. They camped on Kay's Creek (now Kaysville) and there they saw the life depart from their three

month old son and brother. Simeon made his little family as safe and comfortable as possible in this

temporary camp and with a sad and heavy heart slowly wended his way back to the lonely grave in

the Brigham City Cemetery. Near to it, he dug a very small grave and in it tenderly laid the remains

of his baby boy.

He found the town empty, except for a few men who had remained behind ready at a moment's

notice to touch a match to the homes and buildings if the enemy should enter the city. He entered

his house expecting to spend the night there, but it was so quiet and lonely that it was more than he

could bear, so he went to the stable, laid down by his faithful oxen and spent the night. Early the

next morning he was on his way to rejoin his family. He found them safe and well and they

continued on with their journey as far south as Payson, where they made their camp and remained

until the government issued a manifesto offering amnesty to all of the "disloyal Mormons" and the

Saints were counseled by the church leaders to return to their homes. Upon their safe arrival home,

they found their house empty and all of their possessions gone! Possibly members of Johnston's

army ransacked the homes or at the very least did not safeguard them as promised.

Simeon married, for the fifth time (none polygamous!) in 1864 to Elizabeth Wickham. They had

two children born to them when Simeon was well into his 60's! All together, Simeon fathered 19

children!

Simeon died the 22nd of February, 1883 in Brigham City, Utah.

Simeon also kept a personal record from which the following is copied. Simeon was one of the

early members of the church, joining just nine short years after the church was officially restored in

April of 1830.

Simeon Adams Dunn Church Record and Testimony

I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the third Monday (the 15th) in

April, 1839, by Elder James Dunn, in the town of Van Buren, Wayne County, Michigan, in the

Huron River. I was the first man ever baptized in that river, by authority from Heaven, and he, my

brother James Dunn, the first Elder that I ever saw. My wife Adaline was baptized a week after I

was, she being the second person baptized in the river.

I was ordained to the office of Priest by Elder Stephen Post, on the 22nd of July, 1839. I officiated in that

calling.

In June 1840, I was ordained an Elder by Elders Post and Franklin, in Van Buren, Wayne County,

Michigan. In June, 1840 I started for Nauvoo, on foot and alone, 500 miles distant. June 20, 1840 I

arrived in Nauvoo, and for the first time in this life mine eyes beheld an acknowledged Prophet of

God. On June 22, 1840 I visited the first Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

Saints, and he, Joseph Smith Senior, blessed me with a Father's blessing, and explained to me the

history of Abraham, from the Scripture.

On July 10, 1840 I started and returned to my home in Michigan, bearing my testimony of the

everlasting gospel, going and coming, with much rejoicing.

On June 20, 1841, I set off with my family to gather with the Saints in Nauvoo. We arrived in

Nauvoo, August 5, 1841, settled and lived in that city until the saints left for the mountains.

In April, 1844 I was ordained one of the Seventies, under the hands of Levi Hancock. In May,

1844, I was sent on a mission to the State of New York, to advocate the Prophet's claim to the

Presidency of the United States of America.

On January 26, 1845, I was ordained and set apart to be the Senior President of the 15th Quorum of

Seventies, under the direction of President Joseph Young, Senior President of all the Seventies.

In December, 1843 I was chosen by the Prophet Joseph as one of forty-three policemen, to guard

the city and the Temple of the Lord.

In September, 1841, I was sent to West Canada on a mission to preach the gospel.

December 27, 1845, I and my wife, Margaret, received our endowments in the Temple of the Lord,

City of Nauvoo, Illinois.

On January 21, 1846, I was called and worked as a hand in the Temple. Worked sixteen days. On

January 22, 1846, I was called and had sealed to me Margaret Sneider and Adaline Rawson, who

was dead. On February 6, 1846, I was called with my wife Margaret, and received our second

annointings and sealed on us all the blessings thereof, under the hands of Elder Zebedee Coltran.

On February 9, 1846, the Twelve Apostles left Nauvoo and crossed the Mississippi River for the

wilderness. May 18th I left Nauvoo to follow in their wake, and shared in all the toils and

sufferings of the Saints until November 20th. After laying out a city called Winter Quarters, on the

west bank of the Missouri River, I was appointed on of a company of police to guard the city. I

remained in Omaha until the 16th of May, 1848, when I, with my family set off for Salt Lake

Valley, where we arrived September 28, 1848. I remained there until I was called to go to the South

Sea Isles. On May 7, 1850, I set off on a mission to the South Pacific Sea Isles.

On April 21, 1852, I arrived home, having been gone two years. In May 1852, I settled in Box

Elder County and then Weber County.

In April, 1858, I fled south with the rest of the saints from Johnston's Army, to allude their grasp.

On July 25th, I broke for home again, Brigham City, by the wise leadership of President Lorenzo

Snow, under God.

We have been wonderfully blessed, both temporally and spiritually.

On October 19, 1871, I left Brigham City for the States, on a mission to look up the genealogy of

my dead friends, which proved to be a very successful mission. I returned home the 19th of July,

1874, having travelled 10,000 on rail and on the U.S. Seal.

On November 1, 1877, I was privileged with a mission to St. George, Utah, to officiate for my dead

in the Holy Temple of our God. On January 27, 1878, I returned home, having accomplished the

desire of my heart for this time, in this direction.

February 11, 1878 - This year I am seventy-five years old. I have had born to me nineteen children,

thirty-nine grand-children, ten great grand-children, and they are all within the vales of the Church

of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I can say in my heart, "God Bless You".

(Signed) Simeon Adams Dunn

Elder, in the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints.

The following is the patriarchal blessing given to Simeon by the first patriarch of the church, Joseph Smith Senior:

Simeon A. Dunn, son of Simeon and Sarah Dunn, was born in Livingston County, town of

Groveland, State of New York, on the 7th day of August in the year of our Lord 1803.

This 22nd day of June, A.D. 1840, I lay my hands upon thee, in the name of Jesus Christ of

Nazareth, and bless thee with the blessings of a Father, for thou art an orphan, and I bless thee with

all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and not many months hence thou shalt be filled with

the Holy Ghost; thou shalt become might in word and in deed, and thou shalt have power to heal the

sick and to cast out devils.

Thou shalt have the vision of angels, and thou shalt hear an audible voice speaking unto thee to

direct thy course in the pathway of life, for the Lord has looked upon thee from Eternity, and thy

mission has been known unto him.

Thou art sealed unto the covenant of thy Fathers, and from this time thou shalt be called of the seed

of Joseph, for thou art an Ephraimite and one of the House of Joseph, to push the people together

from the ends of the earth.

Thy mission shall be to many parts of the United States, and also to foreign lands, and thou shalt

speak before Kings and Nobles, and they shall be astonished at thee because of the power of God

which is in thee.

Thou shalt pass through perils and thou shalt be engulfed by the waves, but thou shalt have power to

command them, for Satan shall seek to destroy thee, but shall not prevail against thee if thou art

faithful, but thou shalt return to thy family in peace.

Thou shalt have power over thy own kindred flesh to teach them the way of life and salvation. Thy

companion shall be blessed with thee and thy posterity after thee, with all the blessings pertaining to

the Priesthood, and I seal thee up to eternal life, even so, Amen

Simeon's stone in Brigham City, Utah