June 29, 1951 - Written to Judy, Velda and me [Marjie] while at Brigham Young University
---I've been chewing on my heart strings this summer, and they play pretty flat and taste worse. I've been doing a lot of thinking, too. Nothing new, but more of it. So far, we've taken a sort of middle-give-encouragement-maybe-they'll-join-the-Church attitude, which so far has been good and fine and sincerely done.
But now I feel convinced, and very deeply so, that our attitude and determination should be to meet and go with only L.D.S. boys. You took a turn at encouraging and filling some of your boyfriends with the desire to accept this wonderful Gospel, and I, for one, am most grateful for what has been accomplished by your fine examples and encouragment to these boys.
But please look to L.D.S. boys from now on. For each of you to have to convert the man you marry is just more than risky. Some of you eventually would run up against someone who wouldn't take, and your marriage would have a gap there that would make for much unhappiness.
So please let your resolutions be to stay close to the priesthood of the Church but never miss opportunities to interest your friends in the Church. Many men have joined the Church to get the girl, but too few remain true to its ideals afterwards.
I feel that I've been about the most blessed woman in the world, and sometimes I wonder why. God blessed me with a wonderful husband, clean, strong and true to his faith. God also blessed me with some very special children, not one weak one among them.
And I know that He will reward them with untold blessings for their strength in the faith and loyalty to the cause of Jesus Christ on earth.
I've often wondered if I didn't cheat somewhere and maybe I waited until the Lord wasn't looking and took more than my share and scooted, and if maybe He might catch up with me and take it all away sometime.
You have truly been wonderful girls. Daddy and I rejoice in the privilege God gave us of being your parents. I sincerely pray we will not let Him down or disappoint you.
The one very outstanding boy that the Lord allowed us to have by the skin of our teeth made us very proud that he was chosen for your brother.
I know that so long as you remain sweet and clean as you are God will ever guide.
Love, Mother