Four and Star

“As a 12-year-old deacon I accompanied the bishop to deliver Christmas baskets to the widows of our ward; baskets of grapefruits and oranges. This was during WWII, when citrus fruit was scarce, so they were quite a treat. When we had delivered all the baskets but one, the bishop drove me home. He handed me the last basket and said, “This is for your mother.” Before I could reply he drove away. I stood in front of our house, snowflakes falling on my face, holding the basket and wondering. I’d never thought of my mother as a widow. I’d never heard her refer to herself as a widow. She had always taught us that we had a father and she had a husband and that we would always be a family because of their temple marriage. I am grateful for temple marriage and for the assurance that we can be together as an eternal family.” – Elder Dallin H. Oaks