Up until this time, they had no affiliation with the Church as
there was not a church in that part of the country. The new settlers wanted
some kind of religious organization to go to. The people had come from all over
the United States and there were many different religions. Some of them met
together and organized a Community Church. The sent back east and ordered some
Bible lessons for each Sunday. "I went to their meeting but didn't say
anything. They chose me to be their teacher. I gladly accepted because it gave
me an opportunity to put the Latter Day Saints interpretation on each lesson.
So unknown to them, I taught our Gospel for many months. It was a gratifying
experience. I held the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Divine authority to
teach.
Work was quite plentiful there and as many of the new settlers had
some money to improve their farms with, so I got a job irrigating. Most of them
didn't know anything about irrigating so we didn't suffer much for the material
things of life. We did well financially and in another year or two I bought 40
acres more ground from a neighbor and got the eighty aces all fenced with good
tight netting wire. Then we were able to grow good crops with most everything
we planted growing well. The only trouble I found was that wasn't any market
because everybody else was growing everything they needed too. There wasn't a
market for the surplus unless you had a car load shipped out."
In the summer of 1913, Frank and one of his neighbors, Bruce
Seely, whom he had known as a boy, and had moved to Idaho also, decided to see
if they could get a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
started, because they had really missed the church, and knew that their
children should have some religious training. They were successful and Bruce
Seely became the President of the Independent Branch and Frank was the first
counselor and also the Sunday School Superintendent. This was another strain on
Elizabeth as they had to travel eight miles to go to church and the only means
of transportation was with horses and buggy. They had to leave early in the
morning and wouldn't get home until in the evening in time to do the evening
chores. They did manage to have Sunday School and Sacrament - meeting every
Sunday. Often times, it was very cold in the winter when the winds blew.
However, this did not stop them from taking care of their religious duties.
This branch was the Elden Branch of the Heyburn Ward.
Elizabeth was chosen as one of the Sunday School teachers. The
branch grew rapidly in numbers but it was hard to get together as the people
were scattered over such a large territory. After about a year, it was decided
to hold the services near Mr. White's home part of the time, so more people
could attend. The services were held in the public school house. This created a
great opportunity for friendships to develop as each family would take a
visitor home for dinner with him, and everyone got to know everyone else. As
the years grew on, they became as one big family. Ties were formed during those
years that were never forgotten. These, say Frank and Elizabeth, were some of
the happiest years of our married life.
After about four years, the branch grew so much that they began to meet
in Hazelton, (Idaho) about five miles away. It later became the Hazelton Ward.
In the summer of 1915, Elder Seely moved back to Utah and Franklin D. White was
sustained as presiding Elder in his place. Many burdens were put upon the
mothers of the families. Elizabeth always proved faithful to her duties and was
willing at all times to do whatever she was called upon to do.
During this period of time, the people of the community who did not
belong to the Church felt they needed some kind of recreation and social life.
A Literary Club was formed with a school teacher by the name of Annie Pike Greenwood
in charge. Many programs and socials were planned with Frank and Elizabeth
taking their share of responsibilities. When things began to get boring as they
sometimes did, Elizabeth would add her sense of humor and wit and liven up the
party.
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