June 1991
So what the missionaries had to tell enflamed my heart and I felt as if I had always known these things deep down, but needed someone to dig them up. The Holy Ghost readily bore testimony to me that here was the truth for which I had been looking for many years. We had visited another church, but knew right away that it was not right. After a discussion, we served our guests some refreshments after they answered many questions and they promised next Thursday to tell us, how the second stick came out of the dust, or the story of Joseph Smith. I believed every word they said.
My husband and I talked every day about it and read in the Book of Mormon (in German) which Elder Hales had given us. I still have that Book of Mormon and treasure it very much.
My husband had to overcome smoking, drinking black coffee and alcohol, while I had never touched those things. We went to the church regularly with the missionaries and I asked my husband if I could pay 5% tithing even though I earned no money, which he allowed me to do.
From time to time the missionaries dropped in on their day off and played with the children. They observed everything in our home and were soon convinced that I was keeping all the commandments and I was ready for baptism. One day they came, decked out in their best clothing, and told me point blank that they would like to baptize me.
I loved the Book of Mormon and was reading in it alone and with my husband and children every day. Many times when I was reading in the Bible I could not understand a lot that was written, but since I read the Book of Mormon, I could understand everything! It was true, what it said about this book, it was testimony of Jesus Christ! It fell like fish scales from my eyes, as the scriptures say, and I could see and understand the truth. This book brought real happiness in to my heart and in to my life. I prayed about it every day and I knew it was true!
The missionaries told me, "There is no reason for you not to be baptized because your husband may have at least half a year until he is ready." Yes, I was ready, but I was determined not to do that step without my husband! I promised to ask my husband how long it would take him to be ready. It was the beginning of April and he said, "In one month." I knew I could trust him.
On may the 6th, 1956, we were both baptized! My husband by Elder Sukesian, the second missionary, and I by Elder Hales. It was one of the most wonderful and important events in my life. The most important and wonderful event was our temple marriage which occurred about a year later in the Swiss Temple, soon after its completion. We had six children then and it was a sight to behold when we were all clothed in white, holding hands with each other across the alter. My husband and I, our daughter with our 5th son, and our oldest and second oldest sons and our twin sons! Our youngest and sixth son, and seventh child, was born on the 20 September 1961 in the new and everlasting covenant. It brings tears of joy to my eyes every time I think of that ceremony that sealed us all together for time and all eternity.
My husband died on 27 November 1962, when our youngest was 14-months old and our oldest son 11 years and 5 months and we had no Priesthood in the home. I really missed it and could hardly wait until my oldest son was 12 and received the Priesthood.
In December 1965, three years later, I brought our seven children to America. We lived for one month with sister Leona Carlson in Richmond, Utah until we found a house in Logan, Utah. She was the mother of Joe Carlson, who was on a mission in Switzerland when my husband died. He was asked by my husband to give me a blessing that I may be able to carry on.
Today, after 25 1/2 years of living here and many trials and tribulations, but also lots of joy and happiness, I have 19 grandchildren whom I enjoy, love and adore. Their love and my children's love for me, make my life bearable and enjoyable.
The eight of us have become 32 and are growing in to eternity where we will all see each other again, together with our loved ones!
All this because of a little book that was left at our home 35 years ago by a faithful young man that loved the Lord's work and shared that love with others. Today I own 9 Books of Mormon: two and one triple combination given to me by missionaries in Switzerland, one big and with pictures brought to us by our Swiss bishop from a general conference in Salt Lake City. One we bought in Manti, Utah when my youngest son and I went to a pageant. The rest are books that I am giving away to anyone that would like one. Two have gone to my sisters in Germany and more will go to a missionary that has just left our 13th ward in Smithfield, Utah to go to Germany. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and is a new testimony of Jesus Christ. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
My Book of Mormon Experience
After the birth of our twins, we had five children within 4 1/2 years. It was a busy time for me, but I did not mind to work from early morning until late at night because I loved my family very much and each child was a blessing to me.
About a year and a half after the double blessing, our doctor called me over for a checkup. "Over" was just two houses down from us, so I went over after my husband was home. What the doctor was telling me, after a thorough examination, was this: "Dear Mrs. Beorchia, you need a vacation." "Me, a vacation? Doctor, we cannot afford it! and how can I have my husband and our children alone?" The doctor replied, "I have already talked to your husband. He will get some help and we will work the finances out."
There was no way that I would succeed in disagreeing with both men, so I agreed. "All right, I will go for a couple of days." "A couple of days," the doctor exclaimed, "no way! A couple of weeks is more like it." When I looked at him with tears in my eyes, he comforted me and said, "You really need it, Mrs. Beorchia." When I got home, my husband told me that he would make reservations in Zermatt in the Alps at the foot of the Matterhorn, one of the highest mountains in the world.
It was all across Switzerland, on the Swiss-Italian border. He had already called to see if there was an opening. Yes, there was.
My things were soon packed and after many tearful hugs and kisses, I was on my way! I had never felt so lonely in my life and already missed my family very much. It was a long ride and I stayed in my compartment all the way through. Part of the time I was asleep.
At the train station was a hotel bus providing transportation for the tourists and were friendly greeted at the hotel. A couple took me soon under their wings and invited me to dine at their table. They wanted to know where I came from and all about my family. Next day I was the talk of the hotel and everyone wanted to know more and see pictures of my five children. Everybody tried to be helpful and make my vacation comfortable. I was invited to walks, hikes (short ones) and one day we went for a bus ride tot the Matterhorn. It was very nice, but it did not take my homesickness away.
In the middle of the week, I called my husband and told him that I was ready to come home because I missed him and the children too much.
His response was, "We all miss you too and I will come and visit you this weekend." Presently my mind was fixed on one idea: as soon as my husband is here, I will not stay another day!" When he arrived and I told him my plan, he only said: "Well, it is up to you." He stayed overnight and we called our children Sunday morning and told them the good news. They rejoiced greatly that we would be home the same evening. After breakfast we packed and were soon on the train homeward.
During the ride, my husband told me that two young men had come to the door and he invited them back when I was home. "Oh," I replied, "I am always so tired and do not want to see or hear anyone." We decided to listen to them just once to see what their message was all about. We called them and made an appointment for Thursday. As soon as I saw them, I was very much impressed!
They introduced themselves as missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were eager to listen to them and my tiredness was all gone. We had never heard of this church and missionaries in suits, white shirts with ties, and shiny shoes we had never seen before. Missionaries in my opinion were in Africa, helping the black people and wearing (?). Before they sat down, they asked if we could have a prayer together.
"Sure," we said, "We always pray together." Afterward, Elder George Hales, they had name tags on, took a Bible in to his hand and laid it on the table, put a finger on top of it and said, "If you have a piece of wood and put one nail into it, you can turn it (and he turned the Bible). If you put two nails into it, it will not turn" and he put a second finger on top of the Bible. Then he showed us the Book of Mormon and said, "This is the second stick, which came out of the dust about which it speaks in the Bible."
Now I was all ears and full of questions! When I was young I had read that scripture many times and never knew what the second stick was. It said one was the stick of Jude, which is the Bible, and one was the stick of Joseph. But, where was that stick of Joseph? No one could ever answer that question. I belonged to the Lutheran church, named after Martin Luther, who translated the Bible in to the German language. He was the forerunner of Joseph Smith. My husband was Catholic, but always said he knew that his church was not true because he had an unusual experience in it when he was young. He had never read the Bible all the way.
So what the missionaries had to tell enflamed my heart and I felt as if I had always known these things deep down, but needed someone to dig them up. The Holy Ghost readily bore testimony to me that here was the truth for which I had been looking for many years. We had visited another church, but knew right away that it was not right. After a discussion, we served our guests some refreshments after they answered many questions and they promised next Thursday to tell us, how the second stick came out of the dust, or the story of Joseph Smith. I believed every word they said.
My husband and I talked every day about it and read in the Book of Mormon (in German) which Elder Hales had given us. I still have that Book of Mormon and treasure it very much.
My husband had to overcome smoking, drinking black coffee and alcohol, while I had never touched those things. We went to the church regularly with the missionaries and I asked my husband if I could pay 5% tithing even though I earned no money, which he allowed me to do.
From time to time the missionaries dropped in on their day off and played with the children. They observed everything in our home and were soon convinced that I was keeping all the commandments and I was ready for baptism. One day they came, decked out in their best clothing, and told me point blank that they would like to baptize me.
I loved the Book of Mormon and was reading in it alone and with my husband and children every day. Many times when I was reading in the Bible I could not understand a lot that was written, but since I read the Book of Mormon, I could understand everything! It was true, what it said about this book, it was testimony of Jesus Christ! It fell like fish scales from my eyes, as the scriptures say, and I could see and understand the truth. This book brought real happiness in to my heart and in to my life. I prayed about it every day and I knew it was true!
The missionaries told me, "There is no reason for you not to be baptized because your husband may have at least half a year until he is ready." Yes, I was ready, but I was determined not to do that step without my husband! I promised to ask my husband how long it would take him to be ready. It was the beginning of April and he said, "In one month." I knew I could trust him.
On may the 6th, 1956, we were both baptized! My husband by Elder Sukesian, the second missionary, and I by Elder Hales. It was one of the most wonderful and important events in my life. The most important and wonderful event was our temple marriage which occurred about a year later in the Swiss Temple, soon after its completion. We had six children then and it was a sight to behold when we were all clothed in white, holding hands with each other across the alter. My husband and I, our daughter with our 5th son, and our oldest and second oldest sons and our twin sons! Our youngest and sixth son, and seventh child, was born on the 20 September 1961 in the new and everlasting covenant. It brings tears of joy to my eyes every time I think of that ceremony that sealed us all together for time and all eternity.
My husband died on 27 November 1962, when our youngest was 14-months old and our oldest son 11 years and 5 months and we had no Priesthood in the home. I really missed it and could hardly wait until my oldest son was 12 and received the Priesthood.
In December 1965, three years later, I brought our seven children to America. We lived for one month with sister Leona Carlson in Richmond, Utah until we found a house in Logan, Utah. She was the mother of Joe Carlson, who was on a mission in Switzerland when my husband died. He was asked by my husband to give me a blessing that I may be able to carry on.
Today, after 25 1/2 years of living here and many trials and tribulations, but also lots of joy and happiness, I have 19 grandchildren whom I enjoy, love and adore. Their love and my children's love for me, make my life bearable and enjoyable.
The eight of us have become 32 and are growing in to eternity where we will all see each other again, together with our loved ones!
All this because of a little book that was left at our home 35 years ago by a faithful young man that loved the Lord's work and shared that love with others. Today I own 9 Books of Mormon: two and one triple combination given to me by missionaries in Switzerland, one big and with pictures brought to us by our Swiss bishop from a general conference in Salt Lake City. One we bought in Manti, Utah when my youngest son and I went to a pageant. The rest are books that I am giving away to anyone that would like one. Two have gone to my sisters in Germany and more will go to a missionary that has just left our 13th ward in Smithfield, Utah to go to Germany. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and is a new testimony of Jesus Christ. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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