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Show Family Production Reveals Drama of Ancestor's Life By DALE WASHINGTON, D. C. Mary Lee Bland Born November 1, 1817 Died May 24, 1898 more This is than just simple information from a family group sheet lor the family of V. Dallas Merrell in the Silver Spring Maryland Stake. The life story of this pioneer ancestor of Sister Karen Merrell is the basis of a one-hopresentation by the Merrell BY PATRICK ROYLANCE Church News Correspondent n One daughter has already extended one line of the family by a generation, she added. This has been one of the greatest experiences of our family life, Brother Merrell said. I think we all feel a much closer tie with our ancestors, and I think know myself better as a result. Brother and Sister Merrell sing duck and play the principal parts in the family drama. The children perform 1 musical numbers. A chance accident brought Mary Lee Bland into contact with William Fletcher Ewell, a medical student who had taken leave from his studies to do V. Dallas and Karen Merrell present story of pioneer ancestr". for missionary work the WILSON WAIPAHU, HAWAII The philosophy that faith works , miracles is a sound one. Members of the bishopric in the Wahiawa 2nd Ward, Waipahu Hawaii Stake, recently proved it for themselves. The bishopric made an impassioned plea for ward members to raise nearly $35,000. Within six weeks the money was turned in to pay off land where a chapel will be constructed in Mililani Town. Its incredible! exclaimed Bishop Kent Diamond. Just six weeks after interviewing the first family we were able to send a check paying for the land in full. Two months earlier the picture vvasnt so hnght Bishop Diamond said during the previous three years, ward members had managed to raise less family. The idea for the presentation, which uses dialogue, dramatics and musical accompaniment, developed last spring vhc-Sister Merrell was asked to participate in a program for the closing social of the Silver Spring Ward Relief Society. She fell inspired to create a dramatic and musical presentation based on the life of her Mary Lee Blands life contained the elements of great drama planned compulsory marriage to a disliked family friend, a miraculous rescue, a tense moonlight escape and elopement, a disinheritance and a powerful religious conversion. The idea to use my as a focus for the Relief Society program was truly an answer to prayer, Sister Merrilee Merrell said. Now my children are so interested in heir ancestors that they have begged us to plan a trip back to Kentucky to try to locate some of the Bland family portraits or diaries. Members' Faith Brings Purchase Of Chapel Land Mormon Church. Mary ft 11 while riding one day and was discovered by young Elder Ewell. He dressed her wounded ankle and insisted that he accompany her home. He was instantly impressed by this beautiful Kentucky girl and he also met her family and began teaching the gospel in the Bland home. He quickly met a wall of resistance, however, from Marys father who found the Church to be socially unacceptable. Elder Ewell was forced to leave but not before he had instilled a love of the gospel within Mary. Mary joined the Church overthe violent objections of her lather. She later agreed to marry young Mr. Ewell and she eloped one night by climbing down the rose trellis of the familys home. The young man completed studies and later served with his the Mormon Battalion. They were invited to icturn to the Bland home several years later for what they hoped was a reconciliation, but it developed that the apology was hinged upon an agreement that they would renounce the Church. When they refused, Mr. Bland ordered that Marys name be stricken from the family Bible and that her name never again be mentioned in the Bland home. A granddaughter took the whole story down from Mary Lee Bland before she died, said Sister Merrell. When I received the assignment from the Rebel Society to present some material on one of the women in the early days cf the Church, the name of Mary Lee Rland came very strongly to mind." The Merrell family ha3 presented the program at two Relief Society socials in the stake and at a family gathering heid in Utah. They hope to use the presentation as a genealogy and a missionary tool as they perform in rest homes, before community groups and before any group that will have us, said Sister Men ell. than half of their share of the lands purchase price which came to more than $C0,000. To make matters worse, in an effort to avoid high interest charges, the bishopric had signed an agreement which called for monthly payments of $2,500 during a Putting things bluntly, the bishop said he had doubts the commitment could be met. I finally turned to the stake president (William E. Fuhrmann)," explained Bishop Diamond, and he said, 'Bishop, do you really want to know how to raise the money? I said. President, if youve got any secrets, please let me in on them. He simply told me to go to the membership, set a date and ask for it all at one time." It seemed like an awesome request, but after much fasting and prayer the bishopric presented the plan to the ward council It then became a matter of interviewing individual families. The money needed to pay off the land was all in before we could even finish the interviews. Bishop Diamond said that no dollar figure was ever requested. More important, we encouraged each family to last and pray before making a specific commitment to the Lord. Niece's Genealogy Work Helps Convert Aunt in England E OR DING BRIDGE, ENGLAND Genealogy work is important for everyone, but to Agnes Finlay son. a T'l year-olmember of the Salisbury Branch, Southampton England Stake, it brought a special blessing Her conversion to the Church last July was a result of the devoted genealogy work of her niece, Grace d Dewey The teacher in my genealogy class had said, 'First contact all your relatives and see what information you can obtain from them, said Sister Dewey, a member of the Chelmsford Ward, Ipswich England Stake. Sister Dewey wrote to her Aunt gnes and received from her a list of names. However, sometime later, she needed verification of her grandfathers Inrthdate and uioto to her again I i. 4 CHURCH ' On a day when had lasted because needed help on my genealogy, the telephone rang," said Sifter Dcvey. A.untic verified the date and then said. Why dont you come down and see 1 I me? Sister Dewey, who lut- - in Surrey. England, traveled to h nrdingham to her I lelt at home aunts lovely home with her and spent one cf the happiest weekends ot my hie, said Sister Dewey The i.irce talked to her ami bout the Church and lelt her Hwera! Church 1 was very impulse d with leaflets. what I read, said Sister Finlay son. Especially with the emphusic given to the vvoy the tamily should work to help each other in their daily lives Copies ol F"s. cm Mumim .md 'WFK ENDING JANUARY 3. )?76 Marvelous Work and a Wonder came in the mail to Sister Finlayson fiom her niece. During her nieces next visit. Sister Finlayson asked her to subscribe to the Elnsign for her. Sister Dewey suggested having the missionaries come, and hm aunt agreed. Elder R. D. Echman, who arrived with his compamon to teach Sister Finlayson said, "The first time ue enteied her lovely home, we knew that she was indeed ready for the gospel. In iact, I kept calling her Sister Finlay-o- n instead o! Mrs. Finlayson. After just a lew meetings with the Sister Imlayson was ;cady for baptism. Her niece arrived tor Hie baptism on 25. She later took her aunt home with her to have her see the house where Sister Finlayson was bom and visit relatives she had thought she might not see again I am so very happy that I have been baptized, said Sister Finlayson. The iov it has pivpn my self and my niece is something I snail never forget. Allhough she wms handicapped in a senou-- , car accident nine years ago, Sislei Finlayson still works in her home and garden, paints, makes jam and louts lor refugees, her niece said. I echo the sentiments of her branch .resident that she will be a great si length to the branch, said Sister Dewey. Her example has strengthened me a great deal and it all began with genealogy. July |
