Mary Cox Buhanan

I would want them to love and be loved and find joy serving their fellow man in good causes I would want them to accept all necessary earthly ordnances essential to exaltation in the hereafter and then prove worthy in keeping the covenants of each.

If I could really give these gifts to you my posterity along with a firm belief in the need of constant repentance and overcoming of our sins and failures, I would rest assured that someday you would achieve all the wonderful joys and blessings it is possible for men to attain and that sometime in the hereafter we might all know and love one another again and find eternal joy together providing I too prove worthy.

It is not possible for me to give you these great treasures which I so desire to give you; for each of us must seek them for ourselves and add depth and meaning to them as we struggle to overcome life's problems and study and seek the lord in prayer; finding answers of truth as we learn to overcome evil and discipline ourselves to keep the commandments of God better.

Fortunately each of you whom I now know, already have faith and testimonies of your own. However, I've been thinking that each of us needs the strongest testimony possible to help us to weather the storm of life and the many temptations of evil around us and I thought perhaps if I could write for you some of the experiences which I know to be true and which has helped my own faith to grow and have caused a peaceful burning within my own heart that perhaps they might help at least a little bit to strengthen your own testimonies. Of course you will each have your own personal experiences and answers to prayers to help you also.

I've had a strong love for the gospel all my life and of many times felt the deep comforting burning within the chest which the prophets described as being the witness of the Holy Ghost. These are sacred and precious to me but since you are also precious to me I will try to relate to you some of the experiences which stand out in my memory. I realize that reading them will not have the same powerful impact that experiencing and seeing them did.

The first very impressive incident which stands out in my memory as having helped my faith to grow happened when I was four years old. At that time my mother began hemorrhaging from her heart as a result of infection from an ulcerated tooth, which caused the leak in the heart valve. The attending doctors said she couldn't possibly live more than 1/2 hour longer. The people of the village of Hamilton's Fort where we resided came together to our home and we all knelt and prayed to God to spare mother's life and let her raise her children. Terror filled my heart as I knelt to pray and sweet peace filled it afterwards as prayer was answered and mothers life was spared, but she always remained an invalid much of her life afterwards to be spent in bed, but from that position she did much to teach encourage and comfort her family.

Many times afterwards death again beckoned at our door and tried to take her from us but again prayers and administrations restored her again. Those moments were very real and tremendously terrifying to those of us who lived with them, but made us very aware that our prayers were heard. Mother lived until I was 19 years old before passing away at which time the Dr. said her heart was completely worn out.

Another incident which left a lifetime impression on me also occurred during those early years my parents had a farm at Hamilton's Fort which they had to sell after mother became an invalid so that they could move to Cedar to be near a Dr. However, the man who purchased the farm failed to make the payments agreed upon. As time drug on and on he still did not meet his obligation in spite of reminders to do so. We children began to feel very bitter towards him, for our parents were ill and in dire need of medication and other things which required money. When our parents saw that the farm debt was beginning to create hard feelings in us they suggested that we forgive our deter his debt to us which he obviously either couldn't or wouldn't pay and that we send him the deed for Christmas marked paid in full. They stipulated we were not to hold resentment or grudges against him for those were Satan's tools and harmed those who held them in their hearts, but that mercy and forgiveness brought forth the blessings of heaven and helped us to be also able to obtain mercy of when we needed it. I've never forgotten this great sacrifice my parents made when their needs for money were so great and because of the high value they placed on forgiving and keeping our hearts free from grudges and bitterness towards others, I always try to weed my heart of these emotions whenever I have been wronged or someone has caused me sorrow, I keep praying for them until any hard feelings have vanished and I feel compassion for the one who has hurt me.

Happiness and bitterness cannot live together well in the same heart and I do indeed feel a testimony of the great truth our savior taught when he told us to love our enemies and pray for those who “despitefully use us.” Our enemy then becomes our friend and our heart has room for happiness.

Another extremely faith promoting incident which I saw happen in the lives of my parents took place approximately one month before my father's death. My parents had earnestly desired and tried to live worthy enough that someday they would receive a call to the temple to receive the highest blessing it is possible to obtain there. I do not know but think this blessing was probably known as a second endowment. A calling to receive such a blessing had to come from the president of the entire church and was only given to those considered especially faithful. Both of my parents were in very poor health and death seemed imminent in the near future. With the shadow of death looming near mother and father prayed to God asking that if their efforts to try to keep his commandments had found acceptance in his site that they would very much love to receive this special blessing together before death separated them. Very soon afterwards our stake President Brother Palmer came to our home and delivered a letter written by Heber J. Grant recommending that they go to the temple to receive the desired blessing. Though they were both very ill they were able to make the journey to St George and receive their hearts desire at the temple.

After coming home father said “now I'm ready to die as soon as the lord wants me.” Next day he was taken to the hospital to return home no more and died about a month later.

At two different times in my life I vividly recall praying about lost objects and finding them immediately the first time happened when I was six or eight years old I had borrowed my mother’s sewing needle to make doll clothes and she had loaned it somewhat reluctantly ferrying I might lose it, since it was the only really good one she owned. I went down by our haystack to sew and play for I loved to play on the haystack. Imagine my distress when I dropped the needle in the haystack and search as I might I could not find it. My anguish was very great for I had promised mother I would take a very good care of her needle and not lose it. With heavy heart I knelt by the hay and asked God to help me find the needle and justify my mother’s trust in me. I opened my eyes and looked again toward the haystack and immediately saw the metallic gleam of the end of the needle standing upright nested among the hay stocks. As carefully as I could I slipped my fingers down between the hay and retrieved it and knelt again to thank my creator.

Almost 50 years later when I was a wife, mother and grandmother, I again received help from God in finding a lost object. My fingers had been swelling enough that my wedding ring was tight and hurt my finger. So, I took it off and put it away until the swelling went down. However, when I tried to find it later, I couldn't find it in my little cedar box where I thought I had put it; although I had removed each object one by one to search for it and did so many times. I also searched everywhere else I could think of and had my family help search. Finally I knelt and told my heavenly father that even though it was a material possession, it meant a lot to me because of what it represented and asked him to help me find it. I arose and walked once again to the same cedar box and open the lid. I slipped my hand in it and my fingers stopped about halfway down a pile of handkerchiefs which I kept there. Separating the folds of one of the handkerchiefs my ring fell from inside the folded handkerchief into my hand. Again I thanked my creator and knew in my heart that without his help it might have been a very long time if ever before I found it (for I generally used paper to issues instead of the cloth handkerchiefs.)

I'd now like to relate a few more healings of which I have personal knowledge. The first one concerns my sister Inez. At age 16 her appendix ruptured and peritonitis and gangrene set in. She was in the hospital, drain tubes were put in her side and everything else they knew how to do was done for her, but she grew steadily worse and was near death. The Dr. told my parents that if they had faith and a higher power they better use it for he had done all he could for her and she was not going to live. Our family and patriarch Alex G. Matheson fasted and prayed for her and the Elders administered to her. She completely recovered and is still living 50 years later.

My husband Morris was severely burned when he was four years old. He had been watching his parents extract honey from their beehives and did put on his mother's long net bee bonnet. While wearing it he leaned over the outdoor campfire where hot water for the cap in knives was kept and the net bonnet caught on fire. He was enveloped in flames as he ran screaming to his parents. He was badly burned in his mouth and throat as well as on the outside. For many weeks his parents sat beside him day and night trickling cool water melon down his parched throat to keep him alive; it was all they could get down him. Everyone felt it would be impossible for him to live but his father had faith that he would be spared through administration and did not let his faith waiver. Although his burns took many long painful weeks to heal, faith and prayer was answered and only a few scars were left. They acknowledge that it was God who spared his life.

The next healing I wish to relate concerns are pet dog Pixie. One evening we let him outside for a few minutes and when we opened the door to let him in again, he was limping and was covered with blood all over. He appeared to be in very great misery. We discovered he had been shot with a pellet gun which had penetrated all over his body. We were all very upset for Pixie was a gentle loving little dog who didn't molest either people or their property. We tried to take him to a veterinarian but found he was out of town. We felt so helpless and wanted to ease the little dogs suffering so much. Morris sterilized his knife and removed the pellets which he could find near the surface and applied disinfectant but it didn't appear that he had been able to get all of them by any means. Our family formed a circle around pixie and appealed to God to ease his pain and help him to rest well and recover. Then we fixed a warm place for the dog to sleep we heard no whimpering all night long. Next morning he bounded out to greet us wagging his tail joyously. There was no sign of a limp or of sores or matted hair whatsoever. This was such a prompt and complete healing that we all felt the power and kindness of God in being mindful of other animals than man also.

While I was at the temple a week ago I sat next to its Sister Vernile Terry. She had been a member of our ward before it was divided 17 years previously. At that time she had a family of small children and was stricken with cancer, which required an operation. I've remembered the special fast day and prayers which our ward had held for her and in which our family had participated. I also well remembered being told by one of her nurses that she had been full of cancer and they couldn't get it all so she didn't stand a chance of living long. However, faith fasting and prayer made a different ending. The Terry’s were faithful people. I remarked to Sister Terry that I had been remembering her operation years before and was grateful she was still with us. She said you know that actually was a really truly miracle.

I also know of a neighbor child who had a bad case of cancer of the back who was healed through faith and prayers she is now a healthy young married woman.

I would now like to relate a few instances of a different nature where I received help in answer to prayers they're very precious to me.

For many years I have been serving in the stake MIA board as secretary of the girls program, now called the personal achievement program. At that time one of my responsibilities was to check ward reports and then compile a stake report on the girls of the stake. I was to mail this report to the General MIA offices by the 10th of each month. I set the ninth of each month as my personal mailing deadline and tried to be complete and accurate. I had managed to do this without failing for many years. Then, one month the report from one of the wards had still not been given me by the morning of the ninth day of the month. I checked with the ward secretary and found that she had given it to the proper priesthood authority on time. I checked the homes of each of their ward bishopric and found they had all gone to Salt Lake City to conference. I knew of no other place to look for the missing report and was faced with either mailing an incomplete or else a late report. I knelt and explained the situation to God and asked that if it was important to him that the report go one time that he either inspire me to know what to do next or else inspire the person who had the report to remember their responsibility of getting it to me quickly enough for me to compile my own report in time for mailing. As soon as I said amen the phone rang and I got to my feet as quickly as I could to answer it. It was a priesthood holder from the ward whose report was missing. He asked if I was the one that MIA reports were supposed to be given to. When I said yes he replied that one of the ward officers had given him the report just before leaving for conference and requested him to deliver it to me but that he hadn't been able to remember who he was supposed to give it to. He said he had just been sitting reading his paper when my name suddenly flashed into his mind, so he decided to phone and see if I handled the reports. He then said if you need that I can have it to you in 5 minutes and he did just that. So I was able to get my report in the mail on time.

This wonderful in answer to prayer let me know that our various church jobs are indeed important to our Heavenly Father and that he will enable us to do them if we ask him, and also use our own capabilities. It also shows that the church itself is true, for God wouldn't be concerned about our report being in on time if it were false.

Other times, when I have been having a hard time preparing my departmental class lesson for leadership meeting and have prayed for guidance, I found I was able to think and organize my materials better. Then after presenting the lesson, I've been able to observe that the hearts of my class members were touched more than at other times when I may have failed to seek guidance.

I also recall an incident which happened in my stake MIA job. During my very first week in office I had been warned by the previous stake later that a certain ward worker was particularly touchy and had said that she would resign if she made one more mistake on the monthly reports. Well the very first report she gave me was full of mistakes. This made me feel heartsick for I didn't want to have to hurt her feelings by correcting her, especially since I was so new in the job and she had been in much longer than I had. Neither did I want to let the mistake go uncorrected to the general offices. I made it a matter of prayer first and then contacted the secretary about the mistakes. I found her to be very sweet, cooperative, and friendly, and happy to make the corrections. She didn't take any offense and did not resign and even told me how much she appreciated the nice manner I had of telling her about the mistakes. She remained a faithful and fine worker for a number of years before her release. I knew it was the influence of God rather than myself which made the difference.

One Sunday while the sacrament was being passed a church, I was thinking of the savior and how I might better keep his commandments. I thought of love as being one of the most basic teachings and began looking up and down the rows of people trying to decide what degree of love I actually had for each person. I found my feelings were warm and good towards almost everyone present but I found one person whom I had never really liked, although I had known her since childhood. I knew she was a good person and I wished her well and never did anything to harm her either by words or actions but felt uncomfortable with her because of her cutting sarcasm. I began praying a silent prayer of the heart to God to help me learn to love that particular person better. As soon as church ended this woman walked from the far diagonal corner of the chapel where she had been sitting to the opposite corner where I had been sitting and began to converse with me. Among other things she told me of the sharp pain she suffered constantly, which often made her say harsh things just because she was so miserable. This conversation actually did help me to understand her better and have more love and compassion for her. Again I felt the tremendous scope of God's powers and love. Even though the prayer was silent and in the heart the answer was prompt.

Another powerfully faith promoting experience of my life happened in a dream. I had a terrifying dream in which a huge ferocious African lion had my small children cornered and was about to devour them. In terror I tried to think of what to do to save them. I first thought of distracting it so that it would turn on me and they could get away.

Then I decided it was so close to me that they wouldn't be able to escape anyway; for as soon as it killed me it would still have them trapped and kill them too. I decided God was the only one who could save them and in my dream I began to pray to him for deliverance. I immediately awakened but with a feeling of great piece and supreme happiness and wellbeing. I felt as if God himself had taken me by the hand and said “peace.” Usually if one wakens from a dream of terror, they fill frightened and have a hard time to get back to sleep. I felt overcome by an awe that God had heard a prayer out of the depth of sleep which had not actually been voiced and that he answered it so promptly; in the best way possible. For I now knew that the children were safe and also how, ever watchful God is of the prayers of our heart. It was a tremendous exultant awed feeling. After savoring it in delight for a few moments and thanking God, I fell almost immediately into a deep and restful slumber, which lasted for the rest of the night. I even awakened the next morning still full of the deep joy and peace.

Another remarkable answer to prayer occurred when my nephew Douglas Cox was stricken very suddenly with a strange ailment which made him unable to speak or make a sound for several days. His eyes had an extremely far away frightened look; much different than their usual sparkling happy look. His health seemed to be normal in all other ways. The Dr. was baffled and didn't know what had happened to him and all of us felt so upset. The families of my brothers and sister and our own family fasted together then met for a family prayer together, in addition to our individual prayers for him. The next morning his eyes had the sparkle light and joy back in them again and he was speaking as if nothing had ever been wrong with him. We never did know what really happened to him but his eyes made me feel that a strange spirit had taken possession of his body. He has been perfectly alright ever since then and has filled a mission to Australia, served three years in the medical division of the armed forces, completed his college education and married.

Just now Ted (Douglas's father) came in and I showed him what I had been writing he said as nearly as he could recall Douglas was about 10 years old at the time this incident happened and that he had been eating his breakfast perfectly normally when all of a sudden he grabbed the side of his face and neck and began to cry. Dad said “what's the matter son, bite your tongue?” When Doug didn't answer he went on “well you don't need to cry just because you bit your tongue, it will be all right in a minute or two” and then left for work. When he came home later in the morning for something he had forgotten he found Douglas hadn't gone to school and LaVerle reported he hadn't made a sound ever since breakfast but had a very strange look from his eyes. They took him to the Dr. and he could find no physical ailment but gave him a shot just in case he had some infection he couldn't observe. For several days the strange haunting look remained and he made no sound or communication of any kind until after the fasting and prayers were answered. Ted also said that while he himself was serving on the state high council that George W. Crenshaw who was also a council member was stricken extremely suddenly in a manner which made it impossible for him to eat or swallow. Since the Dr. couldn't find anything wrong with him, he sent into Salt Lake for tests to see if it might possibly be some form of polio. The salt lake doctors could not find a thing wrong with him but fed him through a tube and kept him for observation. He had been there a few days when the other member of the high council held a special fast and prayer for him. They learned later that at the exact time they prayed for him his throat became so he could swallow again. Ted talked to brother Grimshaw after he returned home and asked for details of his illness since it sounded similar to Douglas. He said an excruciating pain had hit him very suddenly in the side of the neck and face and after it subsided his throat wouldn't work to swallow, but he could talk. Douglas could swallow but not talk; otherwise the incidences were very similar no one knows the cause of either but fasting and prayer cured both.

While we were talking Ted told me a couple of very and interesting experiences where prayers had helped him find a bunch of lost keys. He said he lost a bunch of keys belonging to the power company where he worked. He had searched everywhere he could think of in vain and had even advertised offering a reward for their return. Then one night just before retiring for bed he prayed and asked God to help him find them. In the middle of the night he had either a dream or a vision in which he clearly saw the lost keys, and lying under the edge of sagebrush at the edge of a path he recognized. The path as one he had walked on down in Dixie while reading meters for the power company. He wakened and woke his wife LaVerle and told her he now knew where the keys were and to help him be sure and remember the exact spot and they would drive down to Dixie first thing in the morning and get them. Next morning when they hiked along the Dixie trail they found the keys exactly as seen in the dream.

The other lost key experience happened when Ted his son Richard and Truman Blake had been at Navajo Lake fishing. It was getting dark and they had already loaded all their equipment into the car trunks and were ready to start for home but they couldn't find the car keys. It was getting very cold and they didn't even have a flashlight to help them search for the keys. Only the car trunk had been left open so they couldn't get their coats out of the car or use it for warmth. In depression, Ted and Truman got down on their hands and knees and crawled very carefully and systematically overall the ground area were they had been walking feeling ahead as far as they could reach with their hands in search of the keys. Ted even crawled far enough that his hand could feel the edge of the lake but they had not found the keys and feared they were stranded in the cold night mountain air until someone came to search for them. Just then Richard came up behind Ted and said daddy I've prayed to Heavenly Father to help us find the keys so we will soon find them. Ted put his hand forward once again sticking it right down in the cold lake water to a depth of about 8 inches or just above his wrist and felt the keys lying in the dirt under the shallow Lake edge water.

Mother told me that during her early married life she one time saw with her own eyes a woman possessed of an evil spirit who was madly tearing her hair and going through wild frenzied movements. The woman had been administered to once without any results and they had asked again for Elders to administer to her. Before going to administer to her, the Elders fasted and prayed. Mother said that after the Elders administered to her the wild look left and the woman fell back limp and exhausted from her wild frenzies. The elders had commanded whatever evil spirit possessed her to depart. After resting the woman was all right, mother said she could personally testify to the truthfulness of this experience which happened to a woman in Kanarra whose name I have forgotten because she was there when the administration took place and saw it happen.

Another time at one of our stake correlation meetings president Day told us that he had received an urgent call the night before to go to the college girls’ dorm and help some hysterical girls. They had been playing up with Ouija boards and talking about Satan and an evil spirit had suddenly seemed to fill the dormitory. The doors had begun opening and closing all by themselves with no one near them at all and no drafts or breezes that anyone could discover. The girls were extremely frightened and felt an evil power overcoming them. President Day said he and the companion he took with him could feel the oppressive feeling of the evil as soon as they entered the dorm and could see the terrible state of hysteria the girls were in. They prayed and commanded that the evil spirits depart by the authority of the priesthood they held and the oppressiveness seemed to lift and depart, the doors ceased opening and the girls became all right and were resolute that they never again wanted anything to do with Ouija boards and Satan's powers. It was easy to observe that the experience had made a deep impression on President Day and that he did not doubt for a second the reality of evil forces and the power of the priesthood in overcoming them.

I have read two books in my life which made an extremely deep impression on me because of the fact that as I read them a deep burning sensation kept repeatedly entering my chest and leaving me with a feeling of certainty that the Holy Ghost was real and the church was true. I know of absolutely no other way to explain the burning feeling which would fill my chest so completely and then fade away than the testimony of the Holy Ghost as it is described by the prophets for it was unlike any other feeling I have ever experienced except in connection with prayer, testimony and once in the temple. It was decidedly not anything whatsoever like the heartburn of any other physical or emotional feelings I have ever known. One of the books was “Gifts of the spirit” by Duane Crowther and the other was a book telling of evidence of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon I cannot remember either its name or author, but I never felt so positive the Book of Mormon was true in my life as when reading it.

From the Diary of Mary Cox Buhanan

My Romance

This book would not be complete without the story of my romance, which took place within the period of time which this diary covers, and yet so little of which could be told in the brief space allotted for each day.

I was in fourth year high school when Morris Buhanan I came to Cedar to go to college. We were both in the school glee club. Although we didn't know each other, we often smiled at each other and seem to get more enjoyment from all the lovely songs we sang by glancing to see how the other like them. The class was big and the boys sat in one place and the girls in another so I didn't even learn his name for a long time since we had no other classes together. In fact we didn't become acquainted until November 9, 1932 when I attended a musical number with Marie Floyd. Margaret Summerhayes and Mabel B. Jenkins were performing. Morris knew Marie so asked if he might walk home with us. I thought at the time that it was Marie that he was interested in, but have learned that he was only interested in getting an introduction to me. He had known my name for some time and had just been waiting for a chance to learn more. This is how it happened:

One night just before coming to Cedar to school, Morris had a dream in which a girl came to meet him and put her arms around him. The dream was very real and impressed him so much that he retained the exact mental image of what the girl looked like.

Shortly after he came to school he and his chum Wallace Dean were walking from the library to the science building. I happened to be in a group of students who were walking from the science building to the library building. I am told that when Morris saw me he stopped and stared, until his chums thought he was sick, and asked what was the matter. Morris pointed me out to Wallace and told him he had to find out who I was, for I was identical to the girl he dreamed about even to the white dress with red polka dots which I happened to be wearing.

Wallace agreed to help Morris find out about me, but for quite a while they were unable to do so as none of the students they knew had classes with me. Finally Wallace got a job working in the library during the afternoons. He agreed to watch and get my name if I ever came in for a book. However, I always went to the library in the morning instead of the afternoons. It wasn't until October 17, 1932 but I was excused from a regular afternoon class and went over to the library to work until time for my next class. While there, I signed a card asking for a German dictionary. The dictionary was out, but instead of throwing the card in the wastebasket, Wallace kept it and gave it to Morris.

Morris then went to the registrar's office and found out all he could about me including my classroom schedule. He then began haunting classroom doors in order to get a glimpse of me as I went out and in and to find a chance to get acquainted.

A month later when Morris first told me this I accused him of it's just being a new line, and in order to make me believe him, He reluctantly brought out an old library application card which I had filled out asking for a German dictionary. He still treasures the card and it proved his point because I didn't become acquainted until November 9 and the card was dated October 17.

We began talking together after that and Morris brought a camera to the school and asked if he might take my picture. These are the pictures we took.

On the 7th of December we went out together for the first time to a movie entitled “Are these are children?" it was a very good show and such a one that as we discussed together on the way home, we talked about our ideals in life and discovered that they were very similar. I also learned that he neither smoked nor drank. I got a very good impression of him. After the show he came in and met my family. From then on we saw a lot of each other. We went together to choir practice and a movie at least once a week, and it wasn't long before we began seeing each other practically every day and going to all the ball games, plays, operas, Sunday school, etc. together.

We had only been going together about two months before I realized that Morris was getting very serious about me. But although I liked him very much, I was only 17 years old and felt too young to make up my mind about so serious a problem until I had become fairly acquainted and had seen him under a large number of circumstances. And too I had my heart set on finishing college and teaching at least one year.

It was just about two months after we first went out together February 14, 1933 when Morris first asked me to marry him. He asked me many times after that at brief intervals, but I refused to answer one way or another because I wish first to become better acquainted as just friends. However, I had made up my mind to marry him quite a while before I told him so. Then one day September 6, 1933 he tricked me into saying yes. We were talking and joking about people marrying for money and Morris said, "Are you going to marry me for my money?"

Since he didn't have any money, I jokingly answered, "Yes, so you better hurry and get some money."

At that Morris laughed and jumped up and down and said, “Well, I'm glad to know you're going to marry me even if it is for my money."

After that I admitted that I loved him enough to marry him. He wanted to get me a ring and become engaged at once but I preferred to not say anything to anyone else, as I didn't like long engagements, and knew we couldn't be married for a long time. However, I did finally agree that he might tell mother, because he liked her so much and wanted to tell her so badly. Then too her health was so bad that it looked as if a longer delay might cheat us out of a chance to tell her at all. So on May 27, 1934 we told mother about it and asked her to keep it a secret until we got ready to tell the public. Mother was delighted for she had come to consider Morris as an ideal son-in-law. I was surely glad I got her approval then, for she died the following December.

I think Morris and I had one of the most beautiful courtships anyone ever had. We saw each other in all kinds of situations and we conversed on many varied subjects, but our favorite subject was planning for a future together. We both decided to take teachers training, so during my two years of college we had many classes together, took training together and graduated together. In all of our associations we were very happy. We never quarreled and seldom disagreed. If we even did it was so small and so soon forgotten but neither of us can remember it.

Although while we went together we were always having people tell us what a cute couple we made and how ideally suited to each other we seemed to be. We also got our share of being teased, but we didn't mind it. Three different times at student body assembly they pulled off some prediction or joke about us. It seemed that from the first everyone thought we would end up at the altar.

The first year after we graduated we both got a job teaching at Cedar. With my first check I bought a cedar chest and began filling it. I already have a lot of things for it.

Morris and I also carried on a cooperative project. We scrimped and saved and put as much as we possibly could spare together each month and bought something for our dream house. We stored the furniture we bought in our basement. We made wise selections and are still very proud of them. They included: a beautiful electric stove, an electric clock, a kitchen stool, a breakfast table and four chairs, a living room suite chair and lounge, a lovely piano, an end table, a magazine rack which I painted, three linoleum rugs, a breadbox, a bedroom suite including bed, mattress, springs, vanity dresser, stool, chest of drawers, wastebasket, cedar chest.

In my cedar chest I had: six pair of embroidered pillow cases, four sheets, two blanket sheets, one blanket, four quilts, two bedspreads, 11 dresser scarves, 10 cushions, a pajama bag, three large end table covers, three small end table covers, seven tablecloths and 12 napkins, 12 towels, 15 dish towels, three dish cloths, six washcloths, 38 hot pan holders, two pincushions, four doilies, two tray covers, clothespin bag, two hooked rugs and two braided rugs which I made, red cedar nut bowl and matching candlesticks, two table lamps, two pair of bookends, ornamental cat, casserole, three vases, three front aprons, three mixing bowls, piano scarf, silverware holders, handkerchief holder and handkerchiefs, and my lingerie gowns, and pajamas.

After our year of teaching our courtship was brought to a perfect culmination when we were married in the Saint George temple for time and eternity, June 26, 1936. Morris's mother, Inez, Reid, Sarah, Aunt Lill, John, Genevieve, and Mima went with us. We went through the temple for ourselves in the morning and for the dead in the afternoon. After which we did ceilings for some of Maggie Petty's people.

Wedding presents received

From Elva and Roy: six dinner plates, six glasses, water pitcher.

From Mrs. Buhanan: double boiler, six dish towels, and two bottles of jam.

From Inez: garbage can, electric toaster, piano scarf, Dutch cleanser, numerous other household articles, as well as a rent free apartment for temporary use.

From Reid: bottled and can opener, free carpentry labor to finish the apartment for us to live in plus part of materials.

Virginia and Lavand Bauer: six glasses

Beth and Jennie Cox: Pyrex saucepan

Marie Thompson: five mixing bowls

Leona Liston: vanilla, cloves, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon.

Grace Smith: potted plant

Aunt Lunt: enamel saucepan

Ana Jones: dishpan

Claire Bryant: lemon squeezer, pitcher

Roberta Platt: two bread tins, metal dish rag, two muffin tins, and string dish rag

Bernice Thompson: Colander, fruit funnel, flower sister, fruit dipper.

Zelma and Irene Leigh: muffin tin, measuring cups, two pie plates, salt and pepper shakers.

Mima: bread tin, frying pan, box of corn, bottle of jam, bread knife

John and Genevieve: vegetable dish, flour cups and saucers, for dessert dishes

Jennie Perry: vase

Esther Lyman: cream and sugar dish

Wanda Steele: velvet scarf

Uncle Rod and Aunt Annie: water pitcher and six glasses

Sister John Higbee: brilliantine, toilet soap, fingernail polish

Zesta Dalley: fruit bowl, luncheon set, 1 1/2 dozen clothespins

LaVane Matheson, Caddy Rollo, LaRue Leavit, Madelon Noah: Vase and cookie jar

Aunt Betsy Porter: vegetable dish and platter

Heber and Golda: a box of groceries: 10 pounds of sugar, 5 pounds of salt, cumin, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, mustard, ginger, curry powder, pepper, nutmeg, tapioca, lemon flavoring, vanilla, baking powder, soda, cocoa, raisins, toilet soap, laundry soap, lime Jell-O, Mothers Oates with cups and saucer.

A brief summary of my life

By Mary Cox Buhanan

I was born on Sunnydell farm, near Hamilton's fort, on May 10, 1915. We spent our springs and summers at the farm, but moved to Hamilton's fort for the fall and winters. It was not a large place but we had a great deal of fun. I remember how the larger girls and boys use to skate on the ice which froze over the big ditch, while we younger girls rolled our doll buggies on the ice. I still recall my of little green and black doll buggy and my memory will always treasure the huge maple trees and the little red plum tree, neath which we used to swing and play house.

My father ran a sawmill with Joe Thompson and I spent many happy hours watching them saw lumber. Our nearest neighbor were Joe Thompson's and uncle Rod Cox's families. Beth Cox was my dearest girlfriend. Here too I had my first romance. Ralph Thompson and I were very

note: some text is missing here.

Which I raised to a grown sheep he also gave me a little set of dishes. All but one little tin dish is gone now, but I still treasure it. Another incident which I shall always remember happened fall we lived there. A strong wind came which carried the roof off our house. When I went outside in the wind, it carried me down the pit in which our carrots and squash were kept.

I also received my strongest testimony of the gospel during those early years, when my mother was miraculously saved from death through the united prayers of the whole village. I cannot forget the clutching terror before and then the delightful peace which filled my heart after I had knelt near Aunt Annie’s knee while everyone united in prayer.

When I was four years old mother became so seriously ill with heart trouble that we had to move to Cedar where she could be near a doctor. We moved to a home on 97 N, 2nd W. I made some more wonderful friends among our neighbors. Hillman Dalley’s family were closest neighbors and brother

Note: some missing text here.

Here I had my second short romance with Eugene Pamer. We used to have a lot of fun playing house together in our old greenery.

When I was eight years old we moved to 200 N, 1st W, back of where the Escalante hotel now stands. In fact the hotel was built while we lived there. Holyoakes lived in the same house and we had lovely times together. We had a large fruit orchard to play in.

Quite a few important events happen during the two months we live there. I was baptized into the Mormon Church for one thing, June 3, 1923. My father helped tear down the house across the street to clear a space for a railroad. I watched the freight trains coming as far as they could bringing blocks to build the tracks.

Then when all was completed the U.S. President Warren G. Harding came with a special party in the first Pullman train to enter Cedar. We were surely excited, and a grand celebration took place. A short time later President Harding died and a golden rail was laid in his honor.

After two months we moved down to 194 S. 9th W. Where we located in a tent and a little two room shack, until we could get a new home of our own finished to move into. We expected to have it completed soon but father took sick with Bright’s disease and rheumatism, and we were unable to complete it enough to move in until 2 1/2 years have elapsed. Those years were very trying. The shack was terribly cold and ugly, and it was hard on both fathers and mothers health. In spite of all this we were very happy at being together and knowing our home was started. We had some lovely neighbors. I spent a lot of time at Parley Dalley's. In 1925 we were able to move into our lovely new home just in time for Christmas. We were supremely happy.

In March 1926 Grandma Hamilton died. We were all great be grieved and even more so when my own dear father left us for his heavenly home on February 14, 1928. His last words to me were to be a good girl and help mama all I could. In the summer of the same year Grandpa Hamilton died.

Though it was harder, life had to go on and we had to make the best of it. That summer I had my first trip to Salt Lake City and my first train ride with Inez. We had a wonderful time and I saw a great many interesting places. During the summer of 1928 I built willow huts and tree houses with the neighborhood kids and helped catch and tame squirrels. We tamed a darling pet squirrel.

I haven't said anything about my schooling. It started to the first grade in September 1921. I've always been a good student and have always liked school and then liked by my teachers. I have had good teachers.

Note some missing text here.

Attend school with college students I also got my first permanent wave in the spring of 1930 so that I really felt quite grown up. I enjoyed high school a lot. I played the clarinet in the college band during my second and third years of high school. It was fun and I got a lot of short trips because of it.

Some of the high school classes which I particularly enjoyed were art, English, German, seminary and natural dancing and glee club. We had a lot of German parties during the two years in which I took German. We were permitted to speak nothing but German. It was fun and I became quite efficient at it.

During my third year high school I became quite infatuated over a college boy who paid no attention to me except to talk to me sometimes. Since I know more about him, I'm glad he didn't, but it worried me tremendously that year.

Note: handwritten notes in this space which were shared previously in the story my romance as part of Mary’s diary and written in her own handwriting.

Thus my enjoyable and eventful fourth year high school came to a close and I graduated on May 5, 1933 with the highest credit rating of all the girls. Only two boys were higher. I also graduated from seminary on April 30, 1933.

Morris went back to beaver for the summer but came to see me often. I began wrapping butter at the creamery to earn my tuition to college. I also helped clean the school buildings to help earn enough. With these two jobs I earned my own way through junior college.

On September 11, 1933 I started to college and began taking courses which would prepare me to major in education as a teacher. Morris also decided to become a teacher and take two more years of the BAC; his last year was to get an extension credit from our mother institution at Logan. Consequently, we had many classes together and saw a great deal of each other every day both in and out of school. We got along exceptionally well and grew to think more of each other every day. I think we had one of the most beautiful courtships

Note: additional handwritten notes of the Romance of Mary and Morris as shared above.

Our second year of college brought a great deal of hard work and worry for both Morris and I so we couldn't attend quite as many shows, ballgames, as we had done previously. However we took most of our classes together and studied together in the evenings. We also corrected papers for teachers to help us earn our books and tuition.

If it hadn't been for the thoughtfulness and sweet companionship which Morris brought into my life, I don't know how I could have ever stood that winter. 1934 to 1935, it was one of the most trying times of my life. It was that winter that my mother died. She had been an invalid since I was four years old and I had always lived in constant mortal terror of the day when she would be taken from us, for I loved my mother in a very intense way.

She was the sweetest mother anyone could possibly have, and the greatest influence for good in my life. She was very cheerful and sweet during all those years as an invalid and did everything she could for all of us. We've had many wonderful times together sewing, reading, visiting. I play the piano and she was graded encouraging me and having me play for her. She made me love music and art more than ever because of this.

Many times mother had lain close to deaths door but had been saved through faith and prayer, but this winter she became worse than ever and in addition to her bad heart, her kidneys also went bad. Her suffering was terrible. It meant a constant heartbreaking worry to all of us all during the first half of the school year. I could scarcely keep my mind on school at all and yet the lessons were so hard that I simply had to keep struggling and trying to think about them. In addition to all this, my tonsils were so badly infected that they made me extremely nervous anyhow.

I might add here that I had been secretary of the Cedar 2nd ward Sunday school ever since August 1933, so I had the extra worry of keeping up the Sunday school records. I dropped out of my sorority that year because I simply couldn't keep up with everything.

On December 2, 1934 mother died leaving we four children alone in a home which seemed very desolate, bereft of the dear mother who had always been there to listen to our sorrows and joys. We had a hard time adjusting ourselves to the great loss. That same month about Christmas Ted took scarlet fever and had to be quarantined upstairs while the rest of us were quarantined downstairs thus making our first Christmas alone even worse.

I might state here that I am very proud of my family and love all of them dearly. Inez has been a second mother as well as a sister to me and has helped support us and done lovely things for us ever since father took sick long ago. Reid and Ted have also been grand thoughtful brothers and I have enjoyed their companionship immensely. All of them have been very active in church works.

After I got out of quarantine I had my tonsils out, it took the rest of the year before the infection cleared out of my system enough that I felt better. Then as soon as I started back to school we started our practice teaching in the grade school which meant lots more additional hard work and worry. It's a wonder all I ever made the grade at all, but I managed to get good marks and was the second highest girl, and fourth high a student when Morris and I graduated from junior college May 17, 1935 with our elementary teacher’s certificates.

Morris also got good grades and was given a contract to teach fifth grade in Cedar the following year. He wanted us to get married and let him support me, but I wanted to teach one year and help buy our furniture and fill my cedar chest because I didn't want to go in debt for anything if I could help it and I knew it would be hard enough to live on a small salary without having to buy so many things.

I finally got a halftime contract to teach first and second grade bus children at Cedar. The reason I didn't get a fulltime job was because I told them when I applied but I only intended teaching for one year.

We've been very happy together since our marriage and seem to grow to love each other more all the time. The only long separation we've had so far (until 1939) is when Morris went to summer school in 1937 and I stayed home to raise a garden for our winter's food. We surely got lonesome. For the first 2 1/2 years after our marriage I acted as the substitute teacher at school and taught all of the grades whenever the regular teacher was unable to attend. I enjoyed it a lot and it brought in a little extra cash.

Some of the other things which I have always done and still do in my spare time are: playing the piano, singing, copying music, making poetry and interior decoration, scrapbooks, painting, making various plied art objects, reading, sewing and embroidering, and many other interesting things. I also love to hike and take short trips. Nearly every summer since we first got a car we've had one or two short outings each summer to the canyon, mountain, National Parks or some nearby town, but as yet I haven't had many long trips. I also like to tell stories to children and I have done a great deal of it at school, Sunday school, and home. I also had a story hour on the recreation program during the summer of 1936.

I might say that in March 1935 I started to teach the primary department in Sunday school. Inez took my place as secretary. I have been teaching ever since then until the present. January 1939. Oh I also taught the Seagull girls in primary during the year of 1937 to 1938.

About a year after I married Morris, my brother Reid married Wanda Steele June 16, 1937. They came to live upstairs with Inez and Ted until January 21, 1938 when Reid got a job at Denver, Colorado and then moved there to live.

After school let out in May 1938, Inez, Ted, Morris and I went to Denver to visit them. It was my first long trip. We also went through Wyoming and visited our folks in Idaho. I saw three states I had never seen before.

On April 9, 1939 our first child, Dale, was born. This made a big difference in our mode of living. At first it seemed strange but as soon as we got used to it, it seemed hard to remember that life had ever been otherwise. He is such a sweet darling and brought so much sunshine with him.

On May 5, 1940 Reid, Wanda and Lyona moved back to Cedar to live with Inez. Since we were all in the same house it made a wonderful opportunity for Dale and Lyona to grow up together almost like twins and began to play with each other and give and take. I have surely enjoyed the nearness and companionship of my family. We have also received a lot of comfort and joy as well as work and worry from sweet little dimpled Dale boy.

I got a new sister in law on June 18, 1941 when Morris's brother Roe married Lorna Woodbury. Then in July 1941 Ted returned from his LDS mission in the central states and on October 31, 1941 he married Mary LaVerle Sorensen so I acquired another sister in law. I surely enjoy both of them.

A great blight entered our life on December 8, 1941 when the United States entered the great worldwide war conflict by a formal declaration of war against Japan. The worry it caused and the horrible fears were surely hard on all of us. We also had to learn to make a little go a long ways.

During the year of 1941 I served as president of our relief society chorus. I taught Sunday school for seven years but quit it in August in order to take over the position of relief society secretary August 16, 1942 I also served as an officer in the faculty wives club for 1942 to 1943 school year. I resigned my position as relief society secretary.

Ever since my marriage, I have been making house plans as a hobby and we have been trying to save for a home of our own. My brother Reid, who is good as gold and has considerable experience in building and contract in, volunteered to donate his labor, to help us get a home. He and Morris would do all the work. In return Morris would help Reid work on his house.

Most of the work would have to be done at nights after their other work, so it would take a long time to do, but it would help us both to have a home without going into debt. So in the fall of 1941 we dug the basement for our home from my own favorite plan. It is located just two lots north of our present home.

Frost came too soon and we weren't able to get construction underway until the spring of 1942. Reid and Morris spent the entire summer working on our place. Because of the war, materials were much higher priced and hard to get. Also there were building restrictions which greatly hampered our plans. However, the work is progressing slowly and at present January 1944 the house is closed in from the weather.

It has tar paper and wire on the outside ready to be stuccoed when whether and labor will permit. The windows and outside doors are in, the wiring has been inspected and we're starting to lath. We cannot completely finished the lathing until the war situation clears up because we can't get our roughing in, plumbing and furnace. The boys are trying to get Reid’s place closed and from the weather now with possible before they get a call for induction into the army.

We live in mortal terror of the day when our own life will be disrupted and they will be drafted into the fighting forces. My Brother Ted had to go on December 31, 1943. He is moved his wife and two little girls to her Fowlkes at Pocatello, Idaho for the duration. Their furniture is stored in the attic of our new home.

It surely breaks my heart to see their home and other loving homes torn asunder and to read of the wicked acts of violence which are taking place in this war torn world. Our only refuge is the teachings of our church, and yet we realize that are free agency must be preserved.

On January 20, 1944 our second child Phyllis was born. She has been the sweetest little tiny tight and is brought so much comfort. She is so quick to learn and do things. It has helped to relieve the terrible nerve tension of war just to laugh at her sweet baby pranks. The lord has been very good to us and our daddy Morris hasn't been called into the army.

On May 7, 1945 our victory over Germany was announced which was a great but that peace is not yet certain even there, and the Japanese war is far from finished.

Our Japanese victory was announced on August 14, 1945 and eventually both Ted and Wane were honorably released from military service and returned home safely much to our relief. However, we still have far to go and much to learn before peaceful world relationships can be assured.

The great and horrible discovery and use of the atomic bomb which spaded the end of the war seems so terrible to me that I cannot justify it in my own mind. If they would really turn this great source of power to develop better world living conditions it would be grand but it is such a horrible threat to world security, but I don't see how any real peace of mind could ever exist side by side with it.

On May 27, 1946 the wonderful long awaited day arrived at last and we moved into our new home. We had all worked many long hard hours on it at nights after our regular work was done and on holidays, but never on Sundays.

Morris and Reid did most of it, but I did a large share of the insulating between studs and of the lathing and I did most of the painting. We even painted all of the walls to so it was a real job. All of the family have been good at helping us, sometimes by attending our youngsters while we worked. Little Dale even sawed and nailed a few laths, and Wanda helped me paint part of the time and Grandpa Behunin helped a little with the insulation.

We now have the main floor completely finished and the others practically finished and all that is done is completely paid for since we have made it a practiced only do what we could pay for on it at the time.

There is still a lot of work to be done on the landscaping of the grounds and finish work in the attic and basement rooms. We're enjoying living in our new home now so very much and the many folks who come to see it or high in their praise of it. If it has so many original and convenient ideas in it.

I love the dear privilege we have of living so near my brothers and sisters and so does Morris. They give us such pleasant companionship and we all help each other whenever it is needed. They tend my youngsters and I take care of theirs when it is necessary to leave from sometimes. We go shopping for our weekly groceries together, eat gingerbread are ice cream together when occasions arise and celebrate birthdays and Christmas together, care for each other when sickness arises. We don't see quite so much of Morris's family because none of them except his mother lives here, but we surely enjoy them when they do come to town.

Dale is going to school now and loves it. He is doing well at it and I am also teaching him to play the piano. He is in his second grade books now.

February 3, 1949

Since I wrote in this last we've had another child, Paul Morris, born on May 26, 1948. He is such a precious, good natured baby and is such a joy.

We have also done a lot of landscaping around our home so that we have a very lovely backyard living area now which is a great source of enjoyment.

My Brother Ted and his family have moved back to cedar and live on the same street with the rest of us now so were all together. Reid and Wanda have also moved into their new home.

Dale is doing real well at school. Both his third and fourth grade teachers think that scholastically he should be promoted ahead but we have never told him so because he is a little small for his age physically and we feel he might get along better among children his own age.

However, we try to see that he is kept busy learning many things. He has been passionately interested in chemistry for the past year and ½ and spends a great deal of time studying it. Their fourth grade teacher also recommends a promotion ahead for Reid’s girl Lyona who has played with him for so long.

Our BAC was given the privilege of teaching senior college educational classes this year 1949 so Morris is taking a night class this winter and will take summer school here this summer which it give him enough credits for his bachelor's degree before school starts again next fall 1950.

He has been serving as word clerk in our college board for several years now. I taught primary again before Paul was born but I just stay Home and care for him and Phyllis now. God has blessed us greatly and I'd knowledge of and thank him for it.

1951

Since I wrote last we as a country have become engaged in war again and all the accompanying nerve tension and high prices and heartbreaks.

I taught Mia last year and this year I am First counselor in the Mia I was put in the summer of 1950. I've got Paul old enough to get out to Sunday school and relief society most of the time again now. It surely seems good. Life seems so empty whenever I cannot attend. Most of my time is occupied with home and children and church but Morris and I do go square dancing once a week for recreation. We love it.

Phyllis is in the first grade and doing very well, Dale is in his daddy's sixth grade and also doing very well and little Paul is learning fast at home. They are all grand kids and I wouldn't trade them even on the occasions I get cross of them.

Morris is still work clerk and is a seventy in the priesthood. Reid has four children and Ted five children. Inez has not married but is as wonderful as always.

1952

In June 1951 Audrey Duncan was made Mia president and I continued as her age group counselor. I enjoy it very much. I am also publicity chairman for the junior high parent teacher association and a relief society visiting teacher. I have been for several years.

Morris is still ward Clark and has been president of our square dance club and vice president of his rifle club.

Dale was in junior high school and both he and Phyllis, she is in the second grade, are doing exceptionally well in school. Dale is a deacon now and also a scout so his duties away from home have increased. Paul is a real lively, mischievous, but nice youngster. They all drive me to distraction often, but I love them all and wouldn't trade them.

June 1957

Since I wrote in this last I was made Mia president of Cedar College Board in June 1952 and served until May 1953 just before Nancy who was born August 27, 1953.

She has been a darling child, auburn hair, blue eyes, lots of life, at three years old she plays tunes by year on the piano, loves to dance and hear stories.

In August 1954 I became Cedar state Mia attendance secretary where I served until May of 1958. I have also been primary organist.

The college ward was divided September 1955 and we became members of the new seventh ward. My Brother Ted became its first bishop. My brother Reid became counselor in the state presidency in 1957. Morris is serving in the stake are Aaronic priesthood adviser committee since been released as ward clerk of the college ward. He also served as secretary of the Aaronic priesthood. He himself is a seventy.

Our son Dale is teaching a Sunday school class now and is a priest. He also graduated from high school this spring 1957 and from fourth year seminary. He graduated from regular seminary last year. Phyllis is in junior high and Paul was in third grade this past year all have done well.

Morris is still teaching school. His salary which started at $660 per year will be $6000 per year this next year plus his summer wages. He will work as a naturalist at Cedar Breaks in the summer. Although his salary is 10 times what it was when we married, our living is no easier than it was then for we now have four children to support in addition to a larger home and a car.

Living expenses for food, clothing, utilities or so much higher now that I sometimes think we scrimp more now than we did then to keep things running smoothly, but we're still out of debt so we have much to be thankful for and we all have pretty good health. Our trips to a Dr. Are far apart and we're very grateful for all these blessings.

Morris has also worked as maintenance man at Cedar Breaks lodge for the past two summers, and for the city surveying crew before that in the summer. I still think Morris is the one I would choose to do it all over again with.

I was made organist for the junior primary sometime during 1957. I think it is loads of fun and enjoyment. It is a job that is pure play, and fulfills a childhood desire. I was extremely surprised to be asked since I haven't had more than a very few lessons and have never served as an organist before but I just adore it, and seem to get along just fine. I can take Nancy too primary with me.

Note: diary ends here

Poems by Mary Cox Buhanan

My Family Tree

I try to imagine what their like,

the Folks on my family tree.

What were their special interests?

Would they also hold interest for me?

What did all of them look like?

Where they happy as husbands and wives?

Would I be glad if I met them?

Would I be proud of their lives?

I'd like to know of their sorrows,

and rejoice with me in their joys.

I'd like to know their girls,

and I'd like to know their boys.

In some future time I shall know them,

These folks on my family tree,

and over and over the thought returns,

will they be glad to know me?

My Pedigree

These are the ones who gave me birth,

this is the blood I bear.

These prepared my place on earth,

their family traits I share.

These are the ones God gave to me,

to honor my whole life through.

These form my line, my pedigree,

to them may I be true.

True to the best that they left for me,

true to their faith in God,

true to the ones who honored “thee”

and clung to the iron rod.

Which for us?

Our homes can be a heaven,

or our homes can be a hell.

It all depends upon we folks,

who in the home doth dwell.

When love for those around us,

Makes us strive their cares to ease,

When to us our faults loom larger,

then faults of dear ones we would please.

When each one tries harder

His own faults to ease,

So that home for those we live with

May be a happy place,

When instead of “I want this,”

It’s “what would you like dear?”

Then a little bit of heaven

is sure to bless us here.

My Family

My family are those god gave to me

to cherish my whole life through.

Of all on earth the most dear to me,

and mine for eternity too.

They are the ones who can hurt me a most,

the source of my greatest joys.

They are the ones whose successes I boast,

their needs might time employees.

Together we share a common name.

Together we share our home.

May we together earth's joys claim,

and work for Celestial home.

Help us dear God to united be;

Help us to live by that word.

Help us to stand together free;

in our hearts made thy truths be heard.