Meet Mildred Smith

Question: What do remember most about your parents?

Answer: Their dedication to the church of Jesus Christ and to each other.

Q: How many countries have you visited (and which ones)?

A: Three for significant periods of time. Passed through others.

• Mexico - We lived in Weslaco, Texas on the Rio Grande River - just across the border from Progresso, Mexico for 4 years. We ministered frequently with Claire and Jessie Weldon in Reynosa, and Bob and Ruth Turner in Matamoros. Also had significant experiences with Bob and Rosemary Fishburn in Saltillo and with Wayne and Verneil Simmons and family in Mexico City and at the border.
• Canada - We lived in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada for 8 years. Our camp grounds, Hills of Peace, were in Alberta. Manitoba was a part of our assignment, and I went to British Columbia to teach at women's retreats, etc.
• Kenya - I was asked to go to Kenya, East Africa twice to teach at women's retreats, which in Kenya are like Reunions with the entire family attending.

Q: Do you speak any languages besides English?

A: No

Q: What is one of the funniest things Delbert has done that has made you laugh?

A: Delbert was always doing clever things like writing little poems on packages to make one guess what was in them, creating scavenger hunts with obscure but pertinent clues. He designed a card to distribute either with or instead of candy at Halloween. The card reads:

Halloween Spirits spread fright and fear,
But God's Holy Spirit brings love and cheer.  

Then there is a line from Psalm 144:15, "Happy is that people whose God is the Lord," and a dime is taped to each card so the child receiving it is not left out. We have used it for many years now.
I have laughed as he has told of exploits when he was a student at Graceland . He and his friend Bill Kelly, Dr. Bill Kelly now, waited until Mrs. Lawrence was watching them when Delbert picked up a pitcher of water and poured it into Bill's suit pocket. Just as the food service director exploded indignantly, Bill pulled out the glass they had placed in his pocket for the farce.

I at least smiled sympathetically when Delbert made George Jardine laugh painfully. George was recovering from a near fatal burn that occurred when the Lamoni school furnace exploded while he was working on it. Delbert visited him in the hospital. His mouth was crusted with scabs over very tender flesh. "George, do you know why you had that explosion?" Delbert asked. George thought he was serious and answered, "No. Why?" "Because the Lord thought you needed more fire in your sermons," Delbert responded with a grin. George grinned, too and declared, "I will get even with you!"

We laughed a lot about a lot of things, but I can't think of any really funny thing that Delbert did that brought on the laughter.

Q: At what age did you accept Jesus as your Savior?

A: I grew up with Him as my Savior. I have never known a time when I did not consider Him so.  

Q: What two influences would you say may have had the greatest impact in leading you to seek out a relationship with Christ?

A: The teachings and faith of my parents, supported by the scriptures.

Q: Tell us a little about your parents and siblings; where were your parents from, where did you live growing up, what was life like in your youth?

A: My Father was from Northwest Missouri near Guilford. My mother was from South Missouri, Pamona (Howell County_ - Ozark country. Papa, Alma Nelson, was a farmer. Mama, Tony Johanna Meinecke Nelson, was a school teacher. They met at church in Springfield, Missouri while she was in Normal School there one summer, and he was on a cattle buying trip to the area.

There were seven of us; my older sister, Lucy Marie Land, was a nurse. She died at Lamoni Nursing Facility a few years ago. My three younger brothers were soldiers in the second World War. Kenneth, a paratrooper and graduate of the University of Missouri, came home to farm. Alma, Junior, a Graceland graduate, was in the Air Force keeping those big bombers flying. He came home to farm but his first crop went down the river in a flood, and he became a grocery and general store owner instead. Norman, a graduate of Northwest Missouri State Teacher's College and Iowa State University in agriculture first became a professor of Chemistry and Agriculture at Graceland College then returned to Iowa City and became a physician. My sister, Winifred Louise Nelson Negaard, a graduate of Graceland with additional credits from Northwest Missouri University, became a school teacher and principal in Northwest Missouri. Our youngest sister, Fiona Charlotte Nelson Greene, graduated from Graceland College (4 years) in Home Economics, taught high school in Lamoni and other Southern Iowa schools, and worked as a dietitian in northern Missouri. She succumbed to breast Cancer at the age of 52.

We all grew up on a poor hill farm in northern Missouri, 3 miles southeast of Guilford, during the great depression. We had little of this world's goods but lots of rich spiritual experiences in our family. Papa was a Priest whose ministry was always scripture based and blessed. Mama was always the teacher in church as in life. Education was a priority with them and their sacrifices to see that we all had that opportunity challenged us all to do our best. Our plan was that each of us would get a degree then help the next one do the same. The plan worked for the three older ones, but was interrupted by the war and the assistance that was given the veterans to get their education through the government. That freed each of us to save our funds for other purposes, like advanced education. Incidentally, our three brothers are all Priesthood and we girls all have Priesthood husbands. Kenneth is a High Priest with many years of service in the now defunct Far West Stake High Council. Alma, Junior is a Priest and Norman an Elder. Lucy Marie's husband was an Elder, mine a Seventy, Winnie's a Teacher and Fiona's a High Priest.

Q: Did your family attend church together regularly while you were growing up?

A: Yes - every time the doors were opened or there was a service other places. Prayer meetings were frequently held in the homes, and we were always there. For most of those years we traveled in a lumber wagon, and it was almost 3 miles to church.

Q: We use the term “restorationist” to describe a feature of our faith which makes us unique among Christians. Tell us about your family's heritage as members of a restoration faith?

A: Papa's father was an orphan from Denmark of whose conversion I do not know. He was a wonderful Elder from the time I knew him until his death at age 84. Papa's mother was also from Denmark and came to the USA with her family as converts who first went to Utah only to have to escape under cover of darkness when they learned what was being taught there. Mama's parents were converted from the Lutheran faith in South Missouri through the ministry of somewhat local Elders by the names of Davis, Sparling, and others. Our parents were ardent believers in the scriptures and supported the Restoration by them to all of us.

Q: How did your family come to be members of the Mt. Ayr congregation?

A: In 1960 we were assigned to Lamoni Stake as General Church appointees and lived here 4 years while Delbert ministered all over the Stake. We lived in the house Norman had sold us when he went off to medical school. Norman returned to Lamoni to practice medicine. The children all came back to graduate from Graceland College, so the area was very familiar to us. Ron became a Graceland professor and Alan bought the Mt. Ayr paper, further focusing family affairs in the area.

When we were ready to retire, all our efforts to retire in Independence or in some other area where we thought our ministry could be helpful proved unsuccessful, and a home was provided for us in Lamoni in miraculous ways. So we moved here in retirement. That was just after the apostasy in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had become unbearable for those of us who lived by the scriptures. We were aware of what was being done and taught in the Lamoni congregation and we were also aware that the Mt. Ayr congregation was attempting to remain faithful to the Restoration. Alan, Ron, Norman and other families whom we trusted were involved there, so we opted to join them in their efforts to so do.

Q: Are there specific areas where you would like to see our congregation grow in the next five years? If so, what are they?

A: I would like to see the congregation grow in numbers of committed Saints. I would like to see all the homes that are now divided be reunited in love and righteousness. I would like the young members who have families in the area realize their hopes to be successful in their daily walk of life and in teaching their children the way of the Lord. I would like to see greater dedication to the observance of the Sabbath, and more consistent participation in all of the regularly scheduled activities of the congregation.

Q: It is said by some that God places unique desires within each of us - that if followed, they will lead us to greater joy and fulfillment in our lives. Are there inner desires you have acted on that have led you to find that joy? Are there others you would like to act on?

A: My desire to have a Zionic home prompted me to wait a lot of years for a companion with whom I could establish such a home, and the joy has been unspeakable! My desire to understand and implement the scripture concerning the Word of Wisdom, of which my father felt and taught passionately, caused me to choose my profession, and it has been a joyously rewarding experience. I continue to find joy in trying to prepare for the coming of our Lord.

Q: You have five children who are all active members of the church of Jesus Christ, and clearly have a love of the Lord. What advice can you give young mothers that might help them to nourish their children in the church today, and perhaps instill that same love of the gospel within the hearts and lives of their children?

A: Make the gospel a priority in your home. Teach them from the time they are born that they are not yours. They are God's. He knows all there is to know about them. He sees their every thought and act and hears their every prayer. He alone knows how to care for them, and He alone is their judge. Attend church services and participate in them wholeheartedly. Note errors that occur in ministry to correct them, not to criticize the person involved. Live the gospel principles - be honest, be charitable, be good stewards and teach them to be good stewards, keeping track of their funds and sharing them as the Lord instructs. Implement the principle of common consent as much as possible. Let the children know what your financial status is and let them help make decisions about expenditures, tasks, etc. Let them know their problems and complaints will be heard, not punished without good reason. (This does not mean that we have been totally successful in all these ways, but they have received our best efforts.)

Q: You have seen a lot of changes in the world since your youth. What were some of the biggest challenges you experienced in trying to raise Godly children in America?

A: Our younger children spent much of their growing up years in Canada where they were constantly faced with a strong prejudice against their native country in their school and in the news. Our garage was egged and our fence the subject of unflattering graffiti at the time we first arrived there. It was their implementation of the gospel of Christ in their relationships with their friends that turned Ron and Steven into the beloved "imports" of their athletic fellows and instructors. Their good sportsmanship was heralded by students and teachers alike. Doug and Karen kept up the tradition but entered high school too late to be termed "imports."

It was their academic excellence that gave Ron the Governor General's award - only rarely granted in Canada - for which he credited his prayers when interviewed by the local radio station for broadcast to the school. It was Karen and Doug's persistence in inviting their friends to Zioneers and later to Zion's League activities that brought into the church, even into the Priesthood, many young people. The participants became known affectionately as "The Reorgs" throughout their academic high school. The standards of the group were so high that Karen was made the schools representative on the Mayor's youth council and was paid by the Sears store to receive training for their administrative staff and to work as a clerk to minimize shoplifting by the youth of the community. Doug ran a spirited and clean campaign to almost become the president of his school's governing body.

Previous to Canada, we were in Weslaco, Texas where Alan made his mark in high school in many ways. After hearing the long list of honors he had earned one commendation day, I was delighted to hear two students conversing agree, "It's a shame we can't hate him!" Here, again, our children chose a wonderful group of friends who chose to participate in extra curricular activities ranging from sports through drama, debate club, singing groups, church activities, all of whom knew our home as a welcoming gathering place.

Q: Do you see the church of Jesus Christ as having a role in helping parents meet these challenges head-on? If so, would you describe how you think our congregations might help them be successful?

A: Absolutely, the church has a role. Without the church and it's understanding of the ways of truth, parents are handicapped. But those principles and understandings have to be taught and practiced in the homes. The church has the children for a very small portion of each week and can not take the place of the parents. It can provide study groups, seminars, social interactions, worship opportunities etc. in various settings, including camping, retreat and conference experiences; but none of these can help unless the parents and the children take advantage of them when offered.

Q: The nature of our American culture tempts us to participate in many, many extra-curricular activities. If we do not manage our families carefully, we are in danger of being very busy, but perhaps very busy about things of little lasting importance. As a matriarch of our congregation, what advice can you give our families related to finding that balance between hobbies, skills for life, and discipleship?

A: Participation in extra curricular activities I believe to be essential to the development of talents and the outreach of any student. There is no way isolation, with an attitude of "holier than thou," will entice anyone to love either the Lord or His church. It is the expression of joy in association with the Lord that draws others to want to know about Him and His ways. Every activity has to be judged by its place in building the Kingdom, however, and can never be used as an excuse for violating the laws of God. We saw Sunday football practice abandoned in Hawaii by Dewey Clark's refusal to skip church for the practice. We saw the testimony of our own children strengthened by the physical as well as spiritual rejuvenation they experienced when they chose to attend prayer service right after a rigorous football practice or game. (Notice they chose. We did not need to coerce. In fact, at times I had suggested they rest only to have them choose to go.) We have seen mediocre talents become outstanding ones when dedicated to the work of the Kingdom instead of being used for personal glory. We have tried to honor the Lord's instruction that we keep the Sabbath holy so far as allowing sports, contests or other activities to interfere with our observance of church services on Sundays especially but also on Wednesday nights in many cases.

Q: You have written several books. What can you tell us about them?

A: What do you want to know?

Q: Music plays a big part in the ministry your family provides. What are some of your favorite memories of music in the worship setting?

A: I remember as a child having the wife of the visiting missionary come with him and direct a choir. We learned 'A Calm and Gentle Quiet Reigns Tonight', and I have loved it every since. Sister Woodward died not long after that, the first person I remember of knowing who died of cancer.

While a high school student, Oma Ross had a small group of us singing together. Brother D.O Cato, Chief of police in Independence, was conducting a Sunday evening vesper service on the old KLDS radio from Kansas City - or it may have still been from the Stone Church - and we were asked to sing. We sang 'Fairest Lord Jesus,' and I will never forget it.

At a district conference in the Ozark Hills, at Elston I believe it was, Apostle Arthur Oakman was to sing in the afternoon service. He asked me to accompany him singing 'If Suddenly Upon the Street, My Gracious Savior I should meet... ' I had never heard the song and I was awed by that man's incomprehensibly beautiful, full, rich baritone voice, to say nothing of his ministry. I had heard him sing the Elijah at the Auditorium and knew I was not qualified to accompany him. I didn¹t eat that basket dinner. I practiced, but on the first note, his voice filled that little church so completely that I doubt anyone, including Brother Oakman, even heard the piano.

In Hawaii, we were struggling against poverty among our young members (many of whose families were still Buddhists), the determination of the Mormons to decimate our congregations, the antipathy of the various ethnic groups, the willingness of the old timers to fight among themselves about nothing. At the Wai Kea Kai mission we had a young Japanee named Kaylene Kashimoto, a high school student who was an excellent pianist. Her father was a tuberculosis patient at Puuamaile hospital who could neither work nor attend church or family functions. Her mother was having great difficulty trying to support the family, so Kaylene taught music lessons to our children and others, and took a position as pianist for the big Methodist church in town. They wanted her full time, but she insisted that she had to play for the early services at the Mission before she could play for them. They asked how much we paid her, thinking they could outbid us for her services and were appalled when they found her service to us was volunteer. So we started the service early, and as soon as the preliminaries were finished, either Clara Camara or I would drive Kaylene to  the Methodist church and rush back to participate in the services at the mission. On this Sunday I was the taxi, and as I returned my heart was heavy with concern, especially for Kaylene's family. It was a Sunday when we were having a prayer service, and as I approached the door, the congregation was singing A Capello, "Why should this anxious load, press down your weary mind? Oh, seek your heavenly Father's throne, and peace and comfort find." The harmony was beautiful and I was flooded with the Spirit. Each time I feel discouragement approaching since that day, I have recalled that moment of assurance.

Q: In the past few years you were able to provide ministry to a women's group in Kenya. Are there other lands you would like to visit in a similar capacity?

A: I will gladly go wherever the Lord sends me. What I would really like to do is to teach the Priesthood what the Word says, but it seems impossible for them to really want to hear. There are so many voices out there trying to interpret the word and giving so many variant interpretations that require such strict adherence to untenable practices that I can understand their reluctance; but I would love for a few of them to listen to the truth about Section 86 and its simplicity and practicality.

Q: One of the gifts I see you demonstrate in our congregational activities is the ministry of your presence. There must be times when you are tired, or tempted to stay home. How do you overcome those temptations?

A: I don't have the temptations. From long experience I have learned that to attend means rejuvenation of mind and body that is not available from any other source.

Q: You live in a designated stake of Zion. Do you feel more of a desire to remain here and help strengthen/build-up this stake, or gather to Independence (Missouri) and help in the work there?

A: I want to be where the Lord wants me, and it was He who brought us here. Until He sends me elsewhere, here is where I want to be.

Q: What are you most looking forward to having happen within the church throughout the world in the next 10 years?

A: I am hoping to see the various branches of the Restoration allow the Lord to bring us together in a righteous union that will qualify as assistance in the establishment of Zion. I hope, and expect that to happen in fewer than 10 years, or we will have missed our opportunity.

Q: Looking back over the accomplishments of your life, what are you most pleased with?

A: Having been the companion of a good man and mother of his five children, all of whom love the Lord and have tried to qualify for service to Him and His people.

Q: If you could ask God any two questions and get a straight answer, what would they be?

A: 1) What do You want me to do next? 2) How do I share more perfectly the joy You have given me so others will be drawn to You and experience that same joy?

Q: Upon entering the gates of heaven, who are some of the first souls you'd like to have greet you?

A: Mama and Papa.