1 Conversion to Mormonism

Eliza Brazier Batt (1864–1926) wrote her life story sometime in 1917 or 1918 when she was 53 years old. It focuses primarily on her early life in England before she and her husband accepted the restored gospel, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and immigrated to America. This is the seventh of nine installments (see Batt & Lee Ancestors, 9–11). Eliza was the mother of William B Batt (1888–1959) and the grandmother of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982).

After being at the lodge two years, I heard the true gospel but was very much opposed to it and said terrible things about it. My mother-in-law was a member of the Mor­mon Church, and we went through many battles and arguments. When the Millennial Star came for my mother-in-law, I would burn them or hide them.

The time came when Sister Hannah Batt was taken very sick and was sent to the hospital; then when alone, I read the Millen­nial Star I had hidden. The more I read, the plainer things became until I just longed for an elder to come and visit us. But there were no mem­bers or elders of the Latter-day Saint Church around there.

Oh, how I watched for the mail to come so I could get the precious little book. Instead of burning it, I read every word. At last the time came when I watched and prayed that I might understand the fulness of the gospel, so we wrote a letter to Brother Teasdale, president of the British mission in London, and asked that an elder be sent. A few days later a card came by mail—just a few words but how precious: "An elder will be with you in a few days. God bless you."

The next afternoon the captain, with quite a few Salvation Army sol­diers, visited me. Everybody was hav­ing such a good time (I rather en­joyed the lively singing) when I glanced out of the window and saw a tall man coming to the door with a satchel in his hand. I knew it was the elder, but hardly knew what to do with my Salva­tion friends. I was afraid he would say he was a Mormon, it being looked upon as a dis­grace to have anything to do with such terrible people.

Hark! a knock at the door and a tall man is saying, "I am an elder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brother George Phillips of Salt Lake." After intro­ducing him to the Salvationists, we had a very pleasant afternoon.

Brother Phillips stayed with us a week and we en­joyed his visit very much and began to understand things pertaining to the gospel. Brother Phillips would sit and ex­plain things to us by the hour. These were very happy days!

Two months later Brother Phillips visited us again and gave us the Book of Mormon and Voice of Warning. We read; he explained to us; and with the light of the gospel came a beautiful influence in our little home. Everything seemed so different. Charles and I would talk of the happy time when we would be able to gather to Zion. Then came a letter from Brother Phillips telling us he would soon be with us and to prepare for baptism. With thankful hearts we pre­pared the little room and looked and watched for the elder. Oh, how glad we were to see him.

It was a beautiful evening on the 22nd of May [1887], the moon being full. A walk through the lovely woods brought us to the grand old cliff with the sea dashing below. A walk down across the cliffs and onto the beach brought us to where the tide was coming in. About nine o'clock we were bap­tized in the sea and became mem­bers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Then a walk home in the beautiful moonlight. Oh, the joy I cannot describe. When we got home, Elder Phillips confirmed us and blessed Cecily.

2 Quote of the week

Any believing Latter-day Saint is an optimist about what lies ahead for him or her, however difficult the present may be. We believe that through living the gospel of Jesus Christ we can become like the Savior, who is perfect. Considering the attributes of Jesus Christ should quash the pride of the self-satisfied person who thinks he or she has no need to improve. And even the most humble person can take hope in the invitation to become like the Savior. . . .

Love is the motivating principle by which the Lord leads us along the way towards becoming like Him, our perfect example. Our way of life, hour by hour, must be filled with the love of God and love for others. There is no surprise in that, since the Lord proclaimed those as the first and great commandments. It is love of God that will lead us to keep His commandments. And love of others is at the heart of our capacity to obey Him.

— President Henry B. Eyring, October 2009 general conference

3 This week in our family

Tues, Oct 27: James Talmage born 1999 [Dean]
Wed, Oct 28: Andrew born and died 1966 [Kay]
Wed, Oct 28: Meghan Auria's birthday [Dean]
Wed, Oct 28: Christopher & Camilla Taylor married 2004 [Dean]
Wed, Oct 28: Nathan & Amber Thomas married 2006 [Lyle]
Thurs, Oct 29: Bobbie Real's birthday [Gene]
Fri, Oct 30: Randy's birthday [Lyle]
Fri, Oct 30: Jeremy Harned's birthday [Gail]
Sat, Oct 31: Jackie Sayer's birthday [Jackie]
Sat, Oct 31: Jaxson Cody's birthday [Kay]
Sat, Oct 31: Halloween
Sun, Nov 1: Daylight savings time ends (set clocks back one hour)
Sun, Nov 1: Dorothy died 1982
Sun, Nov 1: Dylan Rager's birthday [Dale]
Mon, Nov 2: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
Josh and Crystal Price just returned from a nice vacation on the coast. Crystal had won a contest through a local radio station, which included a stay at Shilo Inns. They picked the Ocean Shores location. Read more.

Kay's family
Karen has been dubbed "the Cookie Queen of Peru" by the mission president's wife. Read more.

Dean's family
Cade and Rebecca Hoff and their two children return this Wednesday from their vacation in Hawaii. Check here, here, here, here, or here to see some of the posts Becca has made.

The following 17 members of Dean and Claudia's family are currently on Facebook: Anna Cleverly Halverson, Becca Cleverly Hoff, Ben Seth Cleverly, Cade Hoff, Camilla Cleverly Taylor, Chris Taylor, Dean B Cleverly, Eliza Cleverly Challis, Louise Cleverly, Mary Cleverly Oveson, Michael A Cleverly, Paul Challis, Peter Halverson, Rachael Cleverly Hodson, Shauna Cleverly, Talmage Cleverly, and Vince Oveson.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the October 1959 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Mon, Oct 26. I came home from work & Kids had beds all striped & clothes gathered up & I sorted them while Ivard took little boys to school. At 11:30 we went to Caldwell & got Kay a brief case for his birthday with 3 3/4 books S & H green stamps. Gene gave me the money to buy a pr. house slippers for Jackies birthday, red cow boy boots. I went to bed at 3: I got up at 4:30. Ray got supper. I went to bed at 7: but didn't get to sleep until after 8: went to work at 11:

Tues, Oct 27. I came home from work & I went right to bed. I got up at 12: & had a bath & got ready & picked a boquet of flowers & went in & took them to Venice & visited with her 1/2 hr., still sick, then I went to relief society. When Ray came I went back to town & had Kays name put on his brief case & got Jackie 2 pr. pajamas & some crayons ect. for her birthday.

Wed, Oct 28. I came home from work & got ready while Ivard took the little boys to school then we took Jackie to Nampa to Roosevelt school & she had her smalpox shot & her first D.P.T. shot. I went after Gene & Ray at 6: & met them half way home, walking.

Thurs, Oct 29. Got letter from Barbra, Lyle has typhoid. I came home from work & went to bed. Ivard went to work at 3:30 & I got clothes in and got supper on to cook & went in after Gene & Ray. passed little boys on their way home from Primary. We hunted all over for Ray, he was passing out hand bills for scouts. We called home twice. I finally got mad & came home & here he sat. Got letter from Barbra & Lyle was in hospital 9 days with temp. of 104 degrees & they couldn't find out what was wrong. went home a week & now he's back in for 20 days with typhoid fever.

Fri, Oct 30. Wrote Jerry & sent his money. Jerry called on phone. Kay came home. Kay called at 5: & wanted me to come to Nampa after him, the team came down from Rexburg on bus & Kay came over from Boise on Bus. We got him some toilet articles & Jackies birthday cake & icecream & waited for Gene to get back from his Boise game. The won. It was 7:30 time we got home. Ray had house cleaned & supper ready. Jerry called at 10: sure sounded good.

Sat, Oct 31. Jackie was 3 years old today. I came home from work & Ivard was cutting Kay's hair & Gene's. I went right to bed & got up at 12: & Gene & I went to Boise to Kays foot ball game. Ivard took Kay over at 10: & had dinner with the team. They got beat 40 to 7. Kay played quite a bit & got his ankle hurt again. We visited with him, coach & Kays Bishop until bus was ready to leave. Got home at dark & Gail, Lynda & Kids were here. We ate, chilli, punch, icecream & haloween birthday cake. Gave Jackie her presents before Kay left this morning. Gail & Lynda took Kids trick or treeting then went home.

Sun, Nov 1. Today was Stake conference & no one went.

6 What in the world

Change your clocks!
Remember to fall back an hour this coming Saturday night. Daylight savings time ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, November 1.

This week's football results
Boise State is ranked 6th in the AP Top 25 poll (and 5th in the USA Today poll) after its Saturday win at Hawaii. Utah is ranked 19th in both polls after its Saturday win over Air Force. BYU was dropped from the top 25 rankings following its Saturday loss to TCU (now ranked 8th and 6th in the two polls).

Where have all the editors gone?
And, in the final installment in our little series, we share notices from the want ads:

- HUMAN SKULL, used once only. Not plastic. @200 OBO Dr. Scott Tyler

- FULL SIZE MATTRESS. Royal Tonic, 20 year warranty. Like new. Slight urine smell. $40.

- WANTED: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box 322, Oakview, CA 93022. You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before.

- TOMBSTONE: Standard gray. A good buy for someone named Grady. 508-3758.

- FOR SALE - collection of old people. Call 253-7877.

- 1995 NISSAN Maxima, green, leather, loaded, CD, auto start, sunroof, 4-door, good condition, $4500. Not for sale.

7 A final word

It is a small world.

This past week Claudia's great aunt [Beth Call Dixon, 1916–2009] died at age 93. Aunt Beth was always one of her favorite aunts, and Beth's younger children among some of her favorite cousins, even though they were second cousins (technically first cousins once removed).

Beth was born and reared in Bountiful, although in the years we knew her she had lived in Payson, a small community in the southern end of Utah Valley. A number of years ago Beth asked me if Ivard was my father.

"Yes," I told her, "he was."

She was a year younger than my dad. It turns out that she used to date him back in the early 1930s, during the early years of the Great Depression, before he met and married Dorothy Batt.

Yes, it really is a small world.