I don’t remember my Grandpa Hixson. He died a month before I turned 4 years old. After my own father died, I found in his belongings a letter and two penny post cards from my grandpa, written to my Dad and Mom in Grace, Idaho, in December 1942 and January 1943, three months before my Grandpa Hixson died.
•Sister Hixson and I went to visit my Dad’s cousin on her 100th birthday, and I asked her if she remembered my grandpa Hixson and she said, “Oh, yes, your grandpa, uncle van, was a handsome, little round man who lived in a bungalow on 11th East.”
•I want to share with you some excerpts from the letter, written before the birth of my younger sister, and I quote:
•“Dear Folks, Just a line before the stork arrives, as we have been waiting for a long time, but you are not the first ones, or the first Dr. that has made the mistake in the time, but it sure makes one feel anxious and glad when it is all over and the little girl arrives…. we all join in wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, and that your new arrival will be perfect and give you both the joy you are looking forward to. Let us hear from you as soon as it is over.” (And this part I treasure), “We sure wished we could have had Richard with us to take him up town to see the windows. I know just how he would enjoy it…but some other time….” (And from one of the post cards he said), “Thought I would drop you a line to let you know how I am by this time. Am feeling better, although the Dr. says the bed for me at least two weeks, so that is that….we sure were pleased the babe is O.K. That is one time I guessed it right and glad it is a girl….” (And he closes with), “I wish we had Richard with us, he would be no trouble….Love, Dad.”
•Although I was told a lot about my grandpa, I never really knew him or loved him until I found that letter and those two post cards. In an instant he became real and very personal…and I carry his name.
•In the Book of Mormon there is a beautiful example of what a name can mean to someone. In Helaman 5:6 he was talking to two of his faithful missionary sons. He is telling them how he chose their names. He said, “I have given you the names of our first parents, Lehi and Nephi, who came out of Jerusalem.” He told them when they think of their names to remember these good people, the faith they had, the good they did, and the strong testimonies they had. I remember hearing my own father’s words to me to never do anything to dishonor our family name. That counsel has had influence in my life. I know I am a better person because of it.
•Sometimes in our day-to-day life we find ourselves forgetting who we are. Our six-year old grandson, Spencer, one day said, “ it’s weird because when you go to sleep all the memories in your head are gone and when you wake up they don’t all come back.” Alma 37:8 tells how important it is that the things of God are preserved – for they enlarge the memory – and bring to us the knowledge of our God. They bring to our memory of who we really are.
•And who are we? We are spirit children of God; we are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We do something good for somebody else who can’t do it for themselves. President Tanner, who married Sister Hixson and me, said in the last talk he prepared before his death –
•“I plead with all of us today, in the Saturday evening of time, to make it a priority to remember who we are. Let us give thanks to God for his gift of life and love, for our membership in his Church, for our families, our friends, and our neighbors. Let us be kind and considerate. Let us give of ourselves and show love and compassion. Let us be examples of Christlike living and service. Then all will know by our fruits and by our actions that we are sons and daughters of God and members of his Church.”
•Sister Hixson and I have hanging in our home, on the wall by the back door, where our children saw it everyday before leaving the house, our framed family motto. It says, REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE. It is a powerful statement; it can make us a better person. I still say it to the children, and now to the Grandchildren. We have sons that often say to me, “Dad, Remember Who You Are.” When I tell them to remember who they are, sometimes they’ll say, “I know, Dad, I have my driver license with me.” As I become older, I love the exchange of quiet humor with them.
•My grandchildren and I love the movie, The Lion King. I am always touched by the words of Mufasa when he tells his son, Simba, "You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself Simba. You are more than what you have become….Remember who you are!"
•I will be ever grateful for the words on the letter and the post cards that I discovered that helped turn my heart to my grandfather and for the work I am assigned to do in the Family History Library that helps me remember who I am.
•When we were baptized we did a remarkable thing…we took upon us the name of Jesus Christ…that we would always remember Him and keep His commandments, and thus have His Spirit to be with us. May we always remember who we are and that we have the responsibility to guard our name, as well as His name that we bear, the name we have on the little black badge we each wear; yes, the name we took upon our self – our friend, our brother and our Savior.