A Faith Promoting Incident in my life. Clyde C. Spencer This letter is a copy given to me in Sep 2014 by Rulon Taylor. His father (Paul Taylor) and my grandfather (then Bishop Clyde C Spencer) were next door neighbours and served together in Magrath Ward Bishopric for many years. I had seen this letter before, but now have a copy to transcribe ..
"A Faith Promoting Incident in my life.
This incident has been one of the outstanding faith promoting experiences of my life, because it taught me that the Lord speaks through the priesthood and that we must not allow our feelings to influence us.
"A Faith Promoting Incident in my life.
This incident has been one of the outstanding faith promoting experiences of my life, because it taught me that the Lord speaks through the priesthood and that we must not allow our feelings to influence us.
Paul Taylor was always a good friend of mine and mostly a near neighbour all my life. Since we were married we lived right next door. He finally retired from farm work because of failing health.
After a time he became afflicted with a severe pain in his hip or the upper part of one of his legs.
Lethbridge doctors decided that an old injury to his spine was causing the trouble aggravated by arthritis or at least that is the way I understood it. It was decided that he would go to the University Hospital in Edmonton where three of his vertebrae could be fused together to prevent the trouble that was becoming steadily worse. Whether I am exactly correct in my understanding of the trouble isn't too important, he had to go to Edmonton for an operation and this point was firmly planted in my mind. The atmosphere in the home was one of resignation, they were prepared for the worst if it came to that.
On Sunday the day before he was to leave I dropped in for a visit. We were on the Irrigation Board together and soon Horace Ririe and Nellie dropped in. Horace was secretary of the board.
As we were about to leave, I told Paul that Walter and I had administered to him a few days previously, which hadn't seemed to help much, but would he like to have Horace administer to him before we left. He said he would like very much to have it done. David did the anointing and I stood in the circle.
Just then several of Paul's folks came in, including his two sisters and I think Willie was there. I mention this as I feel they were important witnesses to what took place.
I was really shocked to hear Horace tell Paul that he would not have an operation, unless perhaps it was a very slight one. Horace was not acquainted with the facts of he couldn't have made such a statement. I left as soon as possible not even daring to tell my wife what had happened.
Two days later Ruth phoned from Edmonton to let us know that Paul did not need an operation at all. He was soon home improved in health and he lived for several years afterward.
Elmer Ririe had a reputation of enjoying the spirit of healing, but Horace [his brother] wasn't thought of that way. I learned that day that any one with the proper authority who will listen to the Lord will be led to say what he should say. This was a very meaningful experience.
Clyde C Spencer"
After a time he became afflicted with a severe pain in his hip or the upper part of one of his legs.
Lethbridge doctors decided that an old injury to his spine was causing the trouble aggravated by arthritis or at least that is the way I understood it. It was decided that he would go to the University Hospital in Edmonton where three of his vertebrae could be fused together to prevent the trouble that was becoming steadily worse. Whether I am exactly correct in my understanding of the trouble isn't too important, he had to go to Edmonton for an operation and this point was firmly planted in my mind. The atmosphere in the home was one of resignation, they were prepared for the worst if it came to that.
On Sunday the day before he was to leave I dropped in for a visit. We were on the Irrigation Board together and soon Horace Ririe and Nellie dropped in. Horace was secretary of the board.
As we were about to leave, I told Paul that Walter and I had administered to him a few days previously, which hadn't seemed to help much, but would he like to have Horace administer to him before we left. He said he would like very much to have it done. David did the anointing and I stood in the circle.
Just then several of Paul's folks came in, including his two sisters and I think Willie was there. I mention this as I feel they were important witnesses to what took place.
I was really shocked to hear Horace tell Paul that he would not have an operation, unless perhaps it was a very slight one. Horace was not acquainted with the facts of he couldn't have made such a statement. I left as soon as possible not even daring to tell my wife what had happened.
Two days later Ruth phoned from Edmonton to let us know that Paul did not need an operation at all. He was soon home improved in health and he lived for several years afterward.
Elmer Ririe had a reputation of enjoying the spirit of healing, but Horace [his brother] wasn't thought of that way. I learned that day that any one with the proper authority who will listen to the Lord will be led to say what he should say. This was a very meaningful experience.
Clyde C Spencer"
Bro Rulon Taylor dropped off a copy of this photo with the letter. It is of the Bishopric and their wives about that same time with:
- Bishop Clyde Spencer (lower left) & Hazel
- George & Alberta Dudley
- Emerson & Lois Blumell
- Ward Clerk Paul (lower right) & Ruth Taylor
(Lois Blumell and George Dudley were brother/sister and Paul Taylor was an uncle - their mother's brother)
Brother Taylor also sent me this paragraph mentioning my Grandpa Clyde C Spencer. It is from a page of a letter written by his mother (Ruth Taylor) about her son David when he was suffering with [chicken?] pox at age 16:
".. (the pox was in his mouth and throat too) After the Dr. left, he said, "Mom, why don't you ask Bishop Spencer to come and administer to me?" I agreed that was the best thing to do. So, when Paul returned from the farm, he assisted Bishop Spencer in the administration. About half an hour latter David called to me that he was hungry and would like a banana. I took it to him. He seemed so much better that I took his temperature again. It was almost normal! In a few days he was well, except for the pox scars, which took a long time to go away. Through the power of the Priesthood David was healed."
".. (the pox was in his mouth and throat too) After the Dr. left, he said, "Mom, why don't you ask Bishop Spencer to come and administer to me?" I agreed that was the best thing to do. So, when Paul returned from the farm, he assisted Bishop Spencer in the administration. About half an hour latter David called to me that he was hungry and would like a banana. I took it to him. He seemed so much better that I took his temperature again. It was almost normal! In a few days he was well, except for the pox scars, which took a long time to go away. Through the power of the Priesthood David was healed."
Oct 2014 My Uncle Lloyd writes: "The picture of the bishopric was taken in Emerson and Lois Blumell`s home on a Sunday afternoon. We had a family picture taken at the same time - with the same flower wall paper in the background. I imagine you have a copy of that family picture. Also, at the same time a picture was taken of Elizabeth, Cam and Lloyd together. That picture of the three of us was published in the Improvement Era. I think Lillian Taylor (Walter`s wife) may have sent it to the magazine. The hand written message telling of David`s healing appears to have been written by my mother. My guess is she wrote what Ruth told her. Really it looks like mother`s handwriting but you can ask Rulon." RDD: in my opinion it sounds more like Ruth's voice - Grandma would not refer to her husband as 'Bishop Spencer' or to her neighbor's husband as 'Paul' .. :) Uncle Lloyd still thinks it is his mother's (my grandmother's) handwriting, but concedes: "You are right. The message was Ruth's but it would be interesting to take a look at Ruth's [hand]writing. Have a good Saturday. Lloyd"
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