They say you can’t teach an old dog a new trick. I do not
believe it, for it is faith that moves the Earth. It is faith that will cause a
rock- hard soul to soften as sand when touched by the Spirit. It is by faith
that will push undaunted missionaries into the unknown while expecting a
miracle. And it is by faith that I met Blanche Evelyn Mattson.
Evelyn was a crusty old soul who
hated everything connected to the Church, at least until failing health forced
that crusty old soul to move in with Gary and Sandy. They were her son and daughter-in-law who had
joined the Church some years earlier. Evelyn was not supportive of this new
religion. When she began to live with them her views began to change. She could
see the difference in their everyday living and she wanted to be a part of it.
The day after Christmas, my
companion, Sister Jones, and I were asked to speak with Evelyn. And while we were
not having much luck finding investigators, we did have complete confidence the
Lord would provide for us. So this invitation was a welcomed relief to some
serious praying.
Talking with her the first day was easy. For
someone who held such animosity towards the Church, she never let it show. By
the second discussion two days later Evelyn expressed her desire to be
baptized. Sandy, a humble and quiet woman who kept her opinions to herself, was
not expecting this, at least not this soon. Her eyes filled with tears as
Evelyn expressed a sincere desire to be baptized.
Before new converts were baptized,
we would ask them to attend Sacrament Meeting at least once. This was a problem
for Evelyn because she could not walk very well, let alone stand. Gary rented a
wheelchair, very much against his mother’s wishes! She was determined to walk
into that building on her own or not at all. To my surprise, she accomplished
this fete two Sunday’s in a row. I can still see and hear her as she hobbled
into Sacrament Meeting saying, “See Sister McDonald. I did it!” She glowed with
pride in her efforts. We also asked them to follow the Word of Wisdom and
abstain from smoking and drinking coffee. She was dying of cancer. As her health
deteriorated, so did her selection of available foods. It got to the point
where one of her main source of nourishment was drinking coffee. She gave this
up to abide by the Word of Wisdom.
On a foggy Saturday afternoon in
January 1986, Blanche Evelyn Mattson and her eight-year-old grandson, Jay, were
baptized at the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Chapel. The joy this woman felt
was incredible. She kept asking me if I could hear the angels singing. This
seemed to be the only way that she could describe what she was feeling. Sadly,
I could not hear the angels singing but I did feel a strong impression that the
room was filled with more than what our eyes could see. The Relief Society Room
seemed much brighter than it usually did. I also do not doubt that Evelyn could
hear angels singing. I do not think she ever felt such peace in her life.
In Matthew, we are admonished to “be
perfect even as your Father in Heaven is” (Matthew 5:48). To this day, I still
believe that she tried with all her heart, might, mind, and strength to fulfill
the covenants that she made at her baptism.
On February 25, 1986 I was given my
transfer orders. Very hesitantly I went to offer my farewell to my friend, who
by that time had been unconscious for a little over a week. Gary called me
early the next morning. She had died only a few short hours after I had left
their home.
To some, it was viewed as an easy
and insignificant baptism –an old lady decides to be baptized just before she
dies. To me, it meant that one is never too old to have faith, grow, and ultimately
change for the better. To Blanche Evelyn Mattson, it was the road she needed to
travel in peace back to her Heavenly Father. Those that judged her are not
aware of what this dear lady endured to follow through on her covenants. I still think about her often and am so
thankful for the experience of helping her to meet that road. It has made me a
better person.
Kelli McDonald, 19 January 2013.
