My Christmases in Korea in 1956 - 1957, by Jim Lee

Dear friends and family: Good morning! The Christmas story from Jack which I shared with you yesterday really hit home to me, as I was sent to Korea in 1956, just before Christmas, and when I arrived at my headquarters and got situated, our first Christmas meal was shared with children from a Korean orphanage coming to eat with us that day. We each took charge of one of the orphans and helped them dish up their food on the trays in the mess hall, and sat with them while they ate. Most of the children did not eat all we dished up for them as it was very rich, but we enjoyed sharing our meal with them.

Later after we finished eating, we went with the children to watch a cartoon movie at the theater, and the little girl I sat by was shivering because it was very cold, and she had no coat nor shoes but simply wore a rubber type of shoe with no stockings and scanty clothes. . Besides she could not see very well over the heads of those in front of her, so I picked her up and sat her on my lap, and wrapped my field jacket around her to help her get warm. When the movie was over, she was sound asleep.

That night, I sat in the library and wrote of my experience to my dear mother, Jennie May Woodbury Lee, who had raised 11 children of her own, and shared my heart with her, with tears flooding my face, even as they are at this moment, as I share with you what took place as a result of that experience.

Two weeks after sending my letter to her, I received one from her with tear stains on it, telling me that she cried as she read of my experience, and decided she had to do something to help them while I was there. She told me she was going to the newspaper and would be announcing her Korean Orphan Aid project to raise 1,000 pounds of clothes and shoes and other things which she thought they would be able to use. Which happend in a very short time.

Another letter came, telling me she had exceeded the 1,000 pounds and was preparing to ship them over to me, and had changed her goal to 2,000 pounds. And before I got anything, another letter came, announcing that she had filled that goal, and had changed it to 5,000 pounds.

Then the burlap sacks started arriving, containing the things which she had collected, and so I met with our Company Commander who gave me permission to use one of the Army vehicles to deliver the clothes to the orphanage, which I did.

Pretty soon I received another shipment, and delivered it to another orphanage down the road, and was privileged to see the beautiful faces of the children as my friend and I took bags of things to their orphanage.

This went on for months, and mom's goals kept growing, and by October of 1957, I received a letter from mom that she was determined to collect dolls and coats and warm winter clothes to send over, along with the food she had collected as well, but the problem was that she had no idea what sizes to ask for, but would send what she could collect. And soon the coats began being deposited at her collection stations around the area, which she visited almost daily, racking up some 200 miles on our little car, and in addition to that, wearing out her washer and sewing machine to fix up and clean up those things which needed repairing or washing.

So I went to our tailor shop set up on our compound, and told them what we were planning on doing, which was operated by Korean tailors, and they said that if I would bring the coats to them, they would take them apart and remake them to fit each of the children just outside of our compound, which they were willing to do at no charge, since we were willing to do all that we were doing to help the orphanage children out, supplying food and clothes as well as school supplies and other things which were given to mom to share.

Needless to say, I was crying as I shared the good news with my mother in a letter to her, and she cried, too when she read it.

At the time, my folks and younger brothers and sisters lived on an 85 acre farm, and mom had set up a little stand outside on the side of the street, selling Christmas and greeting cards to raise money to help pay for the shipping and other expenses which she encountered, and also to sponsor one of the little orphan girls at one of the orphanages near Seoul, Korea, whose name was Lee Eun Ok. She told me she was sending 200 dolls which she had received from various places and people, so I could give them to the orphan girls there, and was going to be sending a couple of boxes of Christmas gifts for me to deliver to Lee Eun Ok for her very own Christmas presents.

As the coats began coming in, I took them to the tailor shop and they made arrangements for Pastor Eun Sik Kim who was in charge of the orphanage just outside of our compound, to bring the children into the shop so they could take measurements needed to make the coats over to fit them, being ready for Christmas day, 1957, which they did, and began the project of tailoring the coats to fit each one of them.

That Christmas day, I didn't get to eat Christmas dinner with the orphans, as my friend and I had loaded the 2 1/2 ton truck with the things we had received from her to deliver to various other orphanages there along the route to Seoul, and to find Lee Eun Ok so we could deliver her presents which mom so lovingly had put together for her, which included a big doll, almost as big as she was, and when we finally located the orphanage where she lived, we drove our big truck into the orphanage area, and announced that we had come with presents for Lee Eun Ok, and wanted to know if she was there. She was.

They brought her out and sat a table near the doorway, surrounded by many children, as they watched her open her presents, and take the big doll and strap it on her back just like the mamasans carried their babies, so that she could parade around and show it off to all the other little orphans there. I was crying as I watched her big smiles, and those of the other orphans there. So after we had given her her presents, we unloaded the other things which we had left in the truck, and gave them to the workers to destribute among the orphans and to use wherever they were needed.

One thing I wanted to share with you was that mom was sending $15.00 a month to the orphan aid society in Korea to sponsor Lee Eun Ok throughout the time I was stationed in Korea, even though money was scarce, and times were hard with 5 children still at home to provide for.

By the time I left Korea in February or March of 1958, mom had sent over 40,000 pounds of food, clothes, school supplies, shoes, and 200 dolls which I was privileged to share with the orphanages there in that war torn country of Korea, and the last shipment was sent after I returned home from Korea, and I had the opportunity of helping to prepare that shipment which mom had so diligently accumulated to be sent there to the Mission President in Seoul Korea to be shared through the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with those in need.

Thank you for listening. Your friend and brother. Jim

JAMES HORAL LEE, OUR DAD AND GRANDPA, taken from James' journal

Dear family of James Horald Lee and Jennie May Woodbury. As I sat here at my computer, I realized that this day, 14 July 2010, was dad's birthday, 108 years ago, and so I decided to take his genealogy book out and write just a few of the things which he recorded while here on earth. This is by no means complete. Just a glimpse of his life of which we were all a part. So in memory of my dad, James Horald Lee, I submit to you the following, including one of my heart thoughts which I have written for this occasion. Please feel free to share these things with your children and grandchildren as well.

History of James Horald Lee Sr. copied from his book of remembrance.

I was born in Sunnyside, NV, July 14th, 1902. My father was John Raymond Lee, born August 28th 1877 at Minersville, Beaver County, Utah, and my mother was Annie Eliza Keele, born 14 March, 1881, in Panaca, Lincoln County, Nevada.

Dad's father, John Nelson Lee, was born November 11, 1841, at Payson, Adams County, Ill. Dad's mother, Melisa Keziah Rollins, was born July 13, 1851, in Cajon Pass, California.

Mother's father, David Keele, was born 10 June 1854, in Farmington, Davis County, Utah. Her mother, Eliza Jane Geary, was born 6 April 1859, at Toquerville, Washington County, Utah.

My grandfather and grandmother came across the plains and had many trying times. They settled in Panaca, Lincoln County, Nevada. I remember at the north side of their house, that joined the kitchen, was a log room, covered over with dirt, and had vines covering it. Grandma called it the pantry and she used it for milk, that she used to have in large milk pans. She would let them stand, till the cream would raise then she would skim it off and make butter in an old churn. We kids took turns at the churn. Many times I have taken a slice of home made bread, and covered it with thick cream, and then sprinkled it with sugar.

An old wood cook stove sat by the east wall in the kitchen with a big wood box at the end of the stove. Grandma raised an Indian girl who had been left by the Indians to die. She learned to talk our language. One day, as Grandma was cooking dinner on the old stove, a big buck Indian came to the door and walked right in and mumbled in Indian, that he was going to kill Grandma. The little girl knew the language and shouted to Grandma that he was going to kill her, and as he came toward her with his tomahawk raised, Grandma reached down in the wood-box and got a heavy piece of wood. The Indian raised his axe to strike Grandma and she let fly the stick of wood and broke the forearm of the Indian. The tomahawk fell to the floor, and the Indian ran yelling from the house.

Granddad had a hand to hand battle with a big Indian in which he received a blow over one eye with the tomahawk and looking through blood from the gash over his eye, he struck the Indian with his old cap and ball pistol which knocked him out, and he took the axe away and hid it. When the Indian came to, he told him to git for home. The Indian lived on a reservation three miles from Panacea. The grandparents on both sides were devoted members of the Church, and had many trying times in their lives.

Dad was a #1 farmer. His was always a show place. We lived on farms until I was married. We never had much chance for higher education. Completing the eighth grade was about as high as we went.

I was one of a large family of 14, 9 girls and 5 boys. I was reared in a family where love for each other was a part of us. Mother was always the sweetheart of the family. She was short and stocky, with large brown eyes, and almost red hair.

My earliest recollection is at Preston, Nevada. We then moved to McGill, Nevada, which was a mining town. From there to Panacea, then to Miners-ville, Utah, where my father was born.

Our family was a singing family and we enjoyed singing around the organ. Mother or one of my older sisters would play. We moved to Parowan, Utah where dad rented a farm. He was always a good provider and a good father. Then we moved to Delta, Utah where we rented a farm and raised sugar beets for the Utah Idaho Sugar Co.

I took two horses and 2 wagons and went to work hauling gravel on highway 9. While I was there my father moved to Hinckley, and rented a place there. When I came home he needed to go to the store and he asked me to go along and meet my future companion. It sounded like strange talk to me for I had never seen her. She was a clerk in her father's store, and was to my thinking a most neat and attractive person. After we went home I told dad he must be on the wrong track for it didn't seem to me that there was much chance of her being my wife. But later it turned out to be so, for my father had a dream in which he saw us as husband and wife. We were married in the Salt Lake Temple on November 16, 1922. The most wonderful thing that ever happened to me. Our lives have been blessed with 11 children. Six girls and five boys. All good children, thanks to a wonderful mother. We have 8 married, five in the temple. As of this date being 14 February 1959, we have 30 grandchildren.

From second Personal Record sheet - Attended several schools - Last school at Parowan, Utah. 6th grade.

No opportunity to go to High School. Met Jennie when we moved to Hinckley. We moved to California for 17 years. Followed bridge construction. Was Scout Master for several years, also Second Councilor in the Bishopric at North Hollywood. We bought a home at Baldwin Park and was in Scouting there also. Then we moved to Utah and bought a ranch at Highland. Was in Scouting there, too. We moved to Idaho, bought a ranch, where we lost our oldest boy, Blaine. We were both changing a tire on a truck when a pickup struck us. We were both put in the hospital. Blaine never recovered. I knew when my mother came for him. She came in my room at the hospital. I knew she had come for Blaine. I wasn't able to see her but her presence was so impressive. I knew she was there. When Bishop Dewey came the next morning, and told me it was over, I told him I knew when Blaine died. My mother had come for him. He had a greater work on the other side.

We have had some wonderful experiences in the temple. I lost a brother in the war and I had the privilege of doing his work. And I knew he was pleased with it for he went through with me. I was changing my clothes after I had been washed and anointment, and I had a locker at the far end of the isle. No other person was around when I stepped out, and I had been thinking about him, and as I stepped out, I said, "Well, here we go Lester." As I reached to lock the door I bumped into someone.. I looked around to see who it was, but no one was there. I knew then it was Lester, and three times as we proceeded, I felt him at my side.

Then we had that experience with Uncle Marion when they were sealed in the temple. We had been living in Bend, Oregon, and when we came to Salt Lake after the job was over there, we wanted to go to the temple a few times. So we took our trailer house and left it at Myrtle's in Tooele, with our six children, and came in to the temple. We didn't know that mother's brother, Marion, was also going through to be sealed and have their children sealed to them. They were married out of the Church. She was converted through genealogy. When we came to the veil room, they called for Brother Keele's family, and I recognized them right away. I got Jennie and said, "That's for us, too." Marion, having been blind from the first world war, recognized my voice as one of the Lees and Effie told him, "It's Horald," He clasped my hand and said, "This is just perfect.

Now we need two witnesses. We are here to have our family sealed to us. It's the crowning blessing of our lives." I told Marion we would be pleased. After going through the veil and then going to our assigned sealing room, the officiator, having arranged the family around the alter, took the papers with names of all the children.

After starting with the names of Marion and Effie, the brother stopped, and asked Brother Keele, "Is this all your children?" Uncle Marion said, "yes." He started again but stopped and asked the same question. "Brother Keele, are these all of your children?" And then turned to Aunt Effie so puzzled, then Effie said, "We had twin girls who were born dead. I didn't think they were to be included." The brother then said, "I thought so. They are standing by your side. They don't want to be left out." So Marion got two women as proxies and they continued. There was indeed great rejoicing that day, not only here on earth, but in heaven also.

I heard my grandmother tell about being baptized for the dead and she could see them all around the font and each time she was baptized for one she would leave the group and walk away with a smile on her face.

JAMES HORALD LEE,

OUR DAD AND GRANDPA

14 July 1902 - 14 July 2010

One hundred and eight years ago

Our dad was born on earth,

To John Raymond Lee, and Annie Eliza Keele,

Our grandparents of humble birth.

He grew up in a large family

Of fourteen children here,

Where love for one another,

Was taught by mother dear.

And they all worked together

To help each other be

"Mother and daddy's" helpers,

As one great family.

Although times were often hard,

And they moved here and there,

They shared both good and bad times,

In rainy days and fair.

And things their parents taught them,

Were shared with us each day,

Not only during good times,

But also when skies were gray.

Our dad worked in construction,

And we moved here and there,

So he could earn a living,

And love was mother's share.

She mothered 11 children,

And did the best she could,

To teach us truths eternal,

And help us to be good.

Now they're both gone to heaven,

To join their parents there,

And so are Blaine and Jennie,

And Rex with long red hair.

And we are still here doing

The best that we can do,

To follow in their footsteps,

While being kind and true.

And since it was dad's birthday,

108 years ago, today,

I wanted to be able to share

These memories in my own way.

And hope that you will share with me

The things you remember about dad,

So we may each remember

The life with him we had.

And maybe, just maybe,

Our dad and grandpa will be

Proud that we remembered him,

And all he did for we,

His loving sons and daughters,

And his grandchildren, too,

Who now number in the hundreds,

And that' including YOU.

Happy birthday dad.

Your loving son

James Horald Lee Jr.

Testimony of Patriarch Charles R. Woodbury, March 30, 1962

Dear friends and family: Good morning! My dear friend, Joyce Carter created this background for me so that I could share things pertaining to him, and his part in the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter days, and after seeing this wonderful picture I just had to share with you a special witness and revelation which my grandfather, Patriarch Charles R. Woodbury received in answer to his prayer as to why Joseph Smith was privileged to see both God, the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ in answer to his prayer as to which of all the churches on the earth was Jesus' church. A blessing which no one else on the earth had been given since the time of Adam and Eve. And I found the following among my mother's papers which I wish to share with you this day, using this beautiful background of the Prophet Joseph Smith which Joyce created for me. Please take the time to read it to the end. Your friend and brother. Jim

----

JOSEPH SMITH VOLUNTEERS TO COME DOWN AND RESTORE THE TRUE GOSPEL TO THE EARTH.

Testimony of Patriarch Charles R. Woodbury, March 30, 1962

"I bear testimony that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God, that he was foreordained to come to this earth, that the Gospel may be established here on the earth again. The great counsel was held in Heaven, when the Lord asked who would come down on the earth and redeem mankind? Satan made his proposition. "I'll go down and save everyone. I want the honor and the glory." Jesus said, "I will go down and save all that will be saved, but the honor and the glory be to you, Father."

Then the Lord said, "There'll be a time the Gospel will be taken from the earth. The Priesthood will be taken away, too. There'll be nobody on the earth that has greater power than Satan. He will have full power. Who will go down that the Gospel might be restored to the earth again?" And it was revealed to me that the Prophet Joseph Smith was there and he said, "I'll go down that the Gospel may be restored to the earth again and the Priesthood restored." And the Lord said, "If you go down, you'll meet with great opposition, and you will eventually have to seal your testimony with your blood." He said, "Well, I am still willing to go down." The answer was, "If you go down there, you shall enjoy a privilege that no other mortal man will enjoy. Myself and my son will appear to you at the same time. Something that no other mortal man will have the privilege to enjoy. While you will suffer much persecution, the power won't be given man to destroy your life until your mission is finished on the earth."

So I bear testimony that this is true, which was revealed to me in answer to prayer knowing that no one else ever lived on the earth that the Father and the Son appeared to at the same time. And I wanted to know and prayed to know why that privilege was granted to that boy, only 14 years old when it happened, and that was the joy and experience that he had, and this was revealed to me, in answer to prayer why that wonderful Prophet enjoyed this privilege. And he was a true Prophet of God, and was foreordained for this work and all the others that have succeeded him were and are true prophets of God.

This experience of that boy, the Prophet Joseph Smith had is true. Whoever may hear this testimony will know that's why this joy and privilege came to him because he volunteered in the spirit world to come, notwithstanding he was told what he would have to do, he would have to seal his testimony with his blood, which he did on the 27th of June 1844. So I bear this testimony this day, March the 30th, 1962, Charles R. Woodbury, Patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Deseret Stake of Zion, and I do this humbly, and pray God that He will bless all who hear this testimony will be inspired to keep the commandments of the Lord so that they will have a great reward waiting them when there mission is finished on this earth, which the Gospel gives us all. That's the testimony I bear and I do it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

(I copied this from one of my tapes of Father's testimony, on March 10, 1980. Jennie May Woodbury Lee.)

And I, James Horald Lee Jr., son of James Horald Lee and Jennie May Woodbury Lee am sharing this with you, my dear friends and family, to let you know what was revealed to my grandfather, Patriarch Charles R. Woodbury in answer to his request to know why the Prophet Joseph Smith was given the privilege of seeing both God, the Father and His Son Jesus Christ at the same time in answer to his humble prayer in the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York in 1820 when he wanted to know which of all the churches on the earth was Jesus' true church, and he was told by the Savior that "None of them was His church, as they draw near to Me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me, and they teach for doctrines, the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof." In other words, they lacked the priesthood which was given to the Apostles to carry on His work after he was crucified, and without that priesthood power and authority, His work could not be carried on here on earth, and it was necessary that it be restored again to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, so that the world would not be wasted at His coming to usher in the Millennium, a thousand years of peace, as no one would be ready for His coming, and all would be lost.

And it was through the Prophet Joseph Smith that the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth once again in 1830, with all the keys and powers of the Holy Priesthood restored to him from John the Baptist, and Peter, James and John, and other former Prophets who had lived on this earth who held those keys and powers necessary to carry on the Lord's work, including Elijah the Prophet, who came to earth to fulfill the prophecy contained in The Old Testament, in the book of Malachi, which he recorded in chapter 4, verses 5 and 6, wherein it states, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

And this prophecy was fulfilled after the dedication of the Kirtland Temple in Kirtland, Ohio, when the Lord appeared and accepted the temple as the House of the Lord, and Elijah, the Prophet appeared and bestowed on the Prophet Joseph Smith the keys and powers of the Priesthood necessary to turn the heart of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, in doing genealogy and temple work for their dear departed ancestors who need the blessings of the Gospel and of the temple to be able to progress in the spirit world, and to be together as husbands and wives and families, along with their ancestors, which is why we build temples and why we do genealogy so we may find those who haven't received those blessings as yet. So we may enter into the temples and there stand as proxy for them, receiving all the rights, ordinances and covenants necessary for them to inherit the blessings which Heavenly Father has in store for those who live today, when the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is once again on the earth, and it is all because of a young boy of but 14 years of age, named Joseph Smith, who wanted to know which of all the churches on the earth was Jesus' church.

And today, thanks to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth once more, with all the priesthood keys and powers necessary to carry on the work of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the Savior, which is to bring to pass the immortality and the eternal life of man, which work the Lord revealed to Moses when he inquired of the Lord why worlds without number had been created by them. And that church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Of these things I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Your friend and brother. Jim

Joseph Smith, the Prophet

21 January 2011

'Twas Joseph Smith, the Prophet, whom God called to do His work,

Who volunteered his services, and never did he shirk

His grave responsibility as a Prophet of the Lord,

As he rejoiced, heart and soul, to live in accord,

With what the Savior taught him, and the Prophets taught him, too,

Preparing him to one day be a Prophet, kind and true,

And to receive the keys and powers which they held long ago,

So he could carry on Christ's work while dwelling here below.

Born the 23rd of December in eighteen-hundred-five,

To Joseph Smith and Lucy Mack Smith, he was glad to be alive,

And he had brothers and sisters, and friends and neighbors, too,

Who knew him as an honest boy, who was both good and true.

And in his day, the churches held revivals here and there,

And his family attended them out in the open air,

To learn the things the ministers taught, so they could join them here,

And serve the Lord with heart and soul, for He to them was dear.

But there was much confusion between the churches then,

And Joseph wanted to know the truth, and both women and men,

Got into arguments concerning which one had the truth,

And it was hard for him to know, for he was but a youth.

And yet, he really wanted to know which of them was true,

And which of them that he should join, and what was he to do,

And one day, in the Bible, in James 1:5,

He read a passage of scripture, which made him come alive.

For there, right before him, was the answer that he sought,

And he decided to put it to a test, so he'd forget it not,

And so one morning in the early Spring, he knelt in humble prayer,

In a quiet grove on his daddy's farm, with birds a singing there,

And prayed with all his heart and soul to know which church was true,

And which one was the Lord's true church, and just what he should do,

And in answer to his humble prayer, a vision did appear,

And God, the Father, and His Son, suddenly drew near.

And it was God, the Father, who introduced His Son,

And called young Joseph by his name, for He would be the one

To answer Joseph's humble prayer, and tell him what to do,

To satisfy his yearning, to know which church was true.

Then Jesus spoke to Joseph Smith, and in answer to his prayer,

And told him not to join any of them, while standing in the air,

For they all taught the doctrines of men, but lacked the authority

To carry on the Lord's true work, nor did they have the keys.

But one day he would be the one to help restore them here,

And become a living prophet, who would go forth without fear,

To help restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Lord,

With all the holy powers and keys, not seeking a reward,

But seeking to do the Father's will, like prophets of the past,

But this dispensation of the Gospel would be the very last,

To be dispensed from heaven, and he would be the one

To receive the keys and powers of The Father and the Son,

To establish once again on earth, the glorious Gospel here,

To prepare all God's children for heaven's atmosphere,

And thus was Joseph called to be God's spokesman here on earth,

To be the Lord's own Prophet, though humble was his birth.

And through him all the keys and powers were restored once again,

From all the former Prophets, who'd lived among men,

So he could carry on the work God had for him to do,

To help us gain salvation, while striving to be true.

Thank God for living Prophets, whom He's called to do His work,

Who know Him and who Love Him, and never do they shirk

The grave responsibility He's placed upon them here,

To help us gain salvation in heaven's atmosphere.

And may we heed their counsel, so one day we may be

Heirs to all the Father has to share with you and me,

And all His sons and daughters who embrace the Gospel plan,

Restored in these, the latter days, to help ennoble man.

Shared with much love

Your friend and brother

Jim

heart_thoughtsbyjim@q.com

There's something very important which I wish to share with you today. It's something which has been on my mind for some time now!

A while back I was reading in a book published from my mother's recordings of her father, Patriarch Charles R. Woodbury, sharing his testimony concerning the things which were revealed to him, or which he experienced as a Patriarch, and among those things he shared, and she recorded, is this experience which he had while in the L.D.S hospital in 1954, recorded as follows:

"While I was in the L.D.S. Hospital in 1954, I was very weak. One day I saw a real bright light, brighter than noonday. In the light I saw people, men and women, dressed in light clothing. Everyone was so happy, but all busy. A voice said to me, "This is the Celestial Kingdom, the highest degree of glory. This is the reward of those who in mortal life complied with the new and everlasting covenant of marriage in the Temple of the Lord, and kept those covenants sacred, and if you and your wife continue as faithful as you have been, it shall be your privilege and joy to dwell together in the Celestial Kingdom, in the highest degree of glory, with your loved ones and the Father and the Son forever."

When this scene closed, the curtain dropped and what I saw before me was heart rending. I saw men and women, all dressed in dark clothing. Contention and strife existed there. They were searching for something they couldn't find. A voice said to me, "This is what is spoken of in the Bible as Hell, or the bottomless pit. This is the reward of those who in mortal life disobeyed the laws of God, and the laws of the land, and created appetites and took things into their bodies which were contrary to the teachings of the Lord and detrimental to their physical health. In mortal life they could get things to satisfy this appetite and craving. Here they cannot get anything to satisfy it. In this condition they'll remain for the 1000 years during the Millennium, before their bodies are resurrected from the grave.

I was happy when this scene closed. I sure feel sorry for people in that condition. I hope and pray that myself or any of my loved ones will never be in that group . . . that they'll all be worthy to enjoy the blessings of the Celestial Kingdom." Patriarch Charles R. Woodbury.

After pondering his experience, and knowing as I do, that my grandfather was a very humble and loving man, and had served as a Patriarch for many years, and was loved by everyone, and many who had come to him for blessings, even as I did at the age of 14, knew that he was a man of God, who always spoke the truth, I penned this poem in my spiral notebook to remind me of his vision of the Celestial Kingdom, and the things which were revealed to him that day back in 1954. My poem is dated 25 October 2010.

I have hesitated for some time to share this with you, my friends and family, but when I awakened this morning, a scripture came to me which is contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of revelations which the Prophet Joseph Smith received from the Lord to help reestablish His Church on the earth again in these latter days, and Section 88, which was revealed to him on December the 27th and 28th of 1832, while in Kirtland, Ohio, which reads in part, starting with verse 76,

76. "I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.

77. And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.

78. Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;

79. Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms -

80. That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.

81. Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.

82. Therefore, they are left without excuse, and their sins are on their own heads."

I wish I could write more from Section 88, but this sufficeth me to share what I felt compelled to share with you this day. Here is what I recorded from Grandpa Woodbury's vision which he shared with my mother, Jennie May Woodbury Lee, and I share it with you, my dear friends and family, as a warning to each of us, as to what was and is to come to those who are disobedient to the laws of God.

And if there is anyone reading this, whom I may have offended in any way, I humbly ask for your forgiveness, and with tears flooding my cheeks, I express my sorrow for having offended you, because I love each of you, and am doing my best to share the messages of my heart which have come to me through the years, to help me to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to do all that I can in my power to share the messages of my heart with you so that you will come to know the things which I know are true, many of which have been given to me from someone on the other side of the veil, some from the Lord, and some from Heavenly Father, and perhaps even from Patriarch Charles R. Woodbury and from my great-grandfather, William Green Bickley who was a poet and musician, and wrote many poems and songs during his lifetime.

A Thousand Years

25 October 2010

A thousand years of pain and tears is what the scriptures say

Will be the punishment for those who fail to here obey

The teachings of the Father, and His Beloved Son,

The Holy One of Israel, The Only Begotten One.

Although the Savior bore our sins and burdens long ago,

In the Garden of Gethsemane, and God had willed it so,

He left it up to us to choose His gift of love divine,

To repent where it's needed, our souls to here refine.

And learn while here to follow His teachings and His ways,

Forsaking sins and past mistakes and singing Father's praise.

For only through repentance, may we become as He,

Who is our Lord and Savior, who died on Calvary.

So we must not procrastinate the day of our repentance,

Lest we shall find at eventide we've signed our own soul's sentence,

And end up spending a thousand years in pain and misery,

Before we're resurrected, and reach our destiny..

God help us to repent today, and not wait till tomorrow,

So we may find forgiveness, instead of pain and sorrow,

And may we live the Gospel, and strive each day to be

The kind of children He would want with Him eternally.

May we do so I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Your friend and brother

Jim

heart_thoughtsbyjim@q.com

Here is a very special picture of my grandparents

Patriarch Charles R. Woodbury and his dear wife Agnes, which was taken at their Golden Wedding years ago, and I had written a poem about Grandpa Woodbury when he was a Patriarch and all the wonderful blessings he gave when he was alive. Your friend and brother. Jim

MY GRANDPA

BY JAMES H. LEE JR.

MARCH 1980

My grandpa was a Patriarch, a humble man was he,
He had the gift of healing, to help the blind to see.
People came from all around, the sick, the lame and others,
He blessed them through the Priesthood, and treated all like
brothers.

He never turned a soul away, and many children healed,
By faith and prayer and fasting, and by God's power sealed,
So many barren women, who never could conceive,
Were given special blessings, and afterwards would leave.

Their letters came within a year, about a baby boy,
Or girl that was born to them, this brought my grandpa joy.
There were so many miracles that he performed on earth.
He cheered the widows and the sad, and made each feel more worth.

He never had much money, his home was humble, too,
His wealth was treasured friendships, and stars and skies of blue.
His name was Charles R. Woodbury, and Agnes was his wife,
He treated her just like a queen, they were sweethearts all their
life.

She wrote the blessings that he gave, recording every word,
And many hearts were gladdened by the messages they heard.
He never became famous, though thousands loved him so,
He touched the lives of all he knew by his radiant Gospel glow.

He truly knew the Savior, and showed it every day,
He gave the honor to the Lord, now he has gone away,
To mansions up in heaven, which he built by his deeds,
He gave a life of service, fulfilling others' needs.