Personal
History
I, Mary Julia Myler Robinson born of good parents Nov 22 1877 at Escalante,
Garfield Co, Utah where Zion and Bryce Canyon now are located. My parents
and grandparents with my father's brothers and sisters and one of my mother's
brothers and family went there the spring before I was born. The valley
was called Potato Valley because the potatoes grew so abundantly. It was
only a canyon, so when it rained the water ran down from the mountains
in torrents and the thunder and lightnng frightened my grandmother Stokes
till she would run in her cellar to escape being struck as she thought.
Then the Indians were hostile, three or more big men of the tribe would
come to the door and demand food. I heard Grandma say many times she would
hide with the children if she saw an Indian coming. They would come to
the door and push on it, try to open it and she thought with each push
it would surely come open, and she would tremble from head to foot, expecting
to be scalped.
The winter was very severe, snow drifted as high as the house. They lost
quite a few of their stock, Indians stole some and some died because of
the severe winter. So in the spring of 1878 they moved back to Cache Valley.
As they passed through the mountain pass snow still lay on the ground
and the horses could scarcely pull the loads so the women had to get out
and walk. My mother walked and carried me in her arms and my sister Sarah
two years old on her back through the steepest part. The men would hitch
several teams to one wagon, pull it up, then go back and bring the others,
the grade being very steep.
We lived in Clarkston, Cache Co. Utah till I was 5 years old, when we
moved to Snake River in Idaho. My grandparents on both sides and all their
children going except my father's oldest brother Joseph E. Myler who remained
in Clarkston. The men all homesteaded 160 acres of land along the Snake
River. Grandpa Myler had been a member of the Mormon Battalion, had lived
in Kirtland at the time of the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. I heard
him tell when Jesus appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery
in that temple on the night of March 27, 1836. The people could see the
light around the temple for miles around, like it was illuminated on the
outside by some great light.
He(Grandpa Myler) came to Nauvoo with the Saints and was driven from his
home with them in Missouri. He accepted the call of Brigham Young to go
to Mexico and fight for his country, leaving Grandma with three small
children camped in a wagon on the Missouri River at Winter Quarters.
He came back after the battalion was mustered out, and moved his family
to SLC in 1848. I've heard him tell of the suffering of those brave Battalion
Boys, when they would boil buffalo hides, and drink the juice for nourishment,
then chew the hide after for sustenance in that way. His stories were
so thrilling and interesting, he was full of pep and energy, always manifesting
the pioneer spirit. He was a small man but never afraid of large Indians
or men. One incident to illustrate. Grandma was cooking breakfast one
time over the fireplace, as that was the custom in those days. A large
Indian and his squaw and papoose came in the house. They walked up to
the fireplace and the big buck put his hands out over the fire, rubbed
them to get warm, of course the dirt off his hands fell into the food
that was cooking. This made Grandpa mad. He got up and took the big Indian
by the back of his blanket at the neck, pulled him back with a jerk that
sent him sprawling on his back by the door. As he arose he drew a long
knife from his belt and came toward Grandpa. He, being small and quick,
he reached down to the pile of wood, picked a big stick up and raised
it at the Indian also, and told him to take his squaw and get out, and
he did so.
Our farm seemed to be the least fertile of them all and Father having
no boys to help him, had a hard struggle to provide for his family of
girls. The mosquitos were so bad we had to move to the mountains for six
weeks of the summer, at first the time when the farm needed attention.
But it was impossible to keep the stock there. They would run and bellow,
and had to be kept in a dark stable to keep them at all.
(end of this part)
My Birthright- Mary Julia Myler Robinson
I, Mary Julia Myler Robinson born in Escalante, Garfield, Utah. My divine
lineage. I wish to quote D&C 76:22-24. And now after the many testimonies
given of him, this is the testimony last of all which we give of him that
he lives, for we saw him even on the right hand of God, and we heard the
voice bearing record that he is the only begotten of the Father- That
by him and through him and of him, the worlds are and were created and
the inhabitants thereof are the begotten sons and daughters unto God.
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery beheld the vision, and bear record that
it is true.
In this vision my faith is firm that when the great council was held in
heaven before the foundation of this earth, I was among the morning stars
who sang together and sons of God shouted for joy. My heart was full of
thanksgiving for the plan accepted by our Elder brother Jesus Christ.
Michael or Adam was assigned to be our first parent in the flesh, he would
transgress but by the sacrifice of Jesus we would be redeemed from that
fall. I was loth to leave my Heavenly Father and Mother but promised if
I contrived to be obedient in my second estate as I had in my first I
would have the privilege of dwelling again with my heavenly parents. I
walked by sight with my Heavenly Father and he was my teacher and instructor.
But when I came to earth I must walk by faith and not by sight. I would
forget all I had learned in my heavenly home, that I would be free to
choose good or evil. I was promised that his spirit would prompt me to
know which was right, if I should seek I should find, knock and it should
be opened unto me, and made known from on high, that he would give unto
me a comforter that would lead me whither I should go. And so with my
wonderful training by my heavenly parents in my spiritual home I've been
permitted to come to earth in this glorious dispensation of the fullness
of time, when all things of former dispensations have been revealed.
I tremble with fear when I think of my great responsibility and privileges,
But I was happy to have this privilege of being worthy to come to earth
with some of the choicest spirits of our father, as Pres. Wilford Woodruff
tells us the Lord chose a small number of sons and daughters of all his
creations, to come forth in this dispensation, to organize his kingdom
upon the earth, to build it up and defend it. Brigham Young gave a like
testimony.
My honorable parentage: because of my obedience. I've been privileged
to come to earth through a highly favored lineage, of worthy parents whose
ancestors have come down through the patriarchs and prophets of old. Abraham
was promised that his seed should be numerous as the sands of the sea
shore, or the stars in the firmament. How our Father in Heaven has guarded
that seed even from Adam to the present day that his promises would be
fulfilled. Of those who were obedient, he called them and sent his messengers
to instruct them in the way of truth and righteousness. To keep burning
in their hearts the desire to carry on his work and establish it upon
this earth firmly for he instructed that our Elder Brother Jesus Christ's
mission was to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
The chosen seed scattered over the earth from the Holy Land, through Northern
Europe, Scandinavia, France, Germany, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland,
Wales, and from these countries to America. Among them were no kings,
rulers, but humble folk from the farm and village, honest seekers for
homes and a place where they could worship God according to the dictates
of their conscience. Some were noble warriors who established civilization,
provided school, and worshipped a God of truth.
In my research I've discovered my ancestors of these tribes, who were
the best blood of these nations, who gave their life blood to establish
this great American Republic, where our gospel might be again revealed
to man, as it had been taken from the earth for a period when men's hearts
had refused its light.
The blessing which has come to me through this wonderful lineage and obedience
to the gospel: I'm entitled to hold the Holy Priesthood in connection
with my husband, which is the greatest gift of God. Which is his power
to act in his name. It is a pearl of great price to me. It gives me authority
to preach and teach his gospel, for we are told we are our brother's keeper
and so we must impart to him the great truths we possess. Alma tells us
because of our exceeding great faith we are called to this work, and faith
hope charity, love virtue knowledge temperance patience brotherly kindness,
humility diligence are qualities we must possess if we perform this great
work which are verily gifts given to us if we but obey the authority of
the priesthood which holds the keys of the gospel of repentance and the
sealing power on earth.
The blessings I wish to pass on to my posterity is an abiding faith in
God, with power to overcome, and put the tempter behind them, a love of
God that will carry them on in the straight and narrow path that leads
to life eternal, a perfect record of my ancestors as far back as Father
Adam, if our Father in Heaven will give me strength and open up the way
for me to accomplish it, that they may indeed be the salt of the earth,
stand firm and immovable in keeping the commandments of God.
The goal I'm seeking is the greatest prize offered a mortal being, that
of Eternal Life in the kingdom of God with all my dear ones, to go no
more out, but live with God, and receive of his blessings, and glory,
and eventually attain the highest degree of glory, receive the admonition
of my Father in Heaven, well done thou good and faithful servant, enter
into the joy of the Lord. signed- Mary Julia Myler Robinson
(another part)
I, Mary Julia Myler Robinson, born same day of the month 22 Nov, as our
loved Pres. Heber J. Grant in Escalante, Garfield Co. Utah. I've often
wondered and hoped, if perchance I was born with a spark of the same love
for the gospel as he enjoys. He has always been an example and ideal to
me through my life as also all of our noble leaders. I'm thankful for
my divine lineage. My parents were married in Salt Lake Endowment House
so I was born under the new and everlasting covenant, and entitled to
be numbered among the chosen seed which were kept back 6,000 years.
