There was no warm-water baptismal font for those converting to the church in Aberdeen, Scotland, in the early to mid 1900’s. Instead, these soon-to-be Latter-day Saints were immersed in the waters of the River Dee, while supportive family and friends witnessed from the rocky banks.
 |
| The River Dee, with the Brig O' Dee in the background - Oct 2014 |
This is where George Findlay and his wife Ursula were baptized in June 1932. (1) Grandma Ella was also baptized here in 1942 (age 8),(2) just south of the bridge Brig O’ Dee. Although her birthday is in January, she was baptized in September, a relatively much warmer time to be baptized in the river, but still chilly by most standards!
 |
| George Findlay's baptism in the River Dee - June 1932 |
You could say that here, on the banks of the River Dee, is where their journey to America began. Now baptized, what was most important to them was their faith, as Mormonism was a relatively unknown Christian religion in Scotland at the time, and they wanted to be close to others who believed similarly. Also, there were not yet any temples in Europe; if they wanted the blessings of the temple, their only option at the time was to travel to America.
 |
| Wearing the daisy-chain crown that AG made her. Grandma said she used to make daisy chains as a girl - Oct 2014 |
And this is where on our recent trip, I delivered a tribute speech to Grandma and her family, while Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, and AG listened from a bench overlooking the river and bridge.
Although I have grown up as and am an actively practicing Mormon, I am in awe and humbled by the sacrifices our ancestors made to more fully live what they believe.
Selling virtually all that they owned and traveling essentially with the clothes on their backs, they waved goodbye to family as they boarded the train that took them to the ship harbor. Grandma was now 15 years old. The journey was so expensive and they had saved for so many years, they didn’t know if they’d ever return to their homeland. These were one-way tickets.
Although I have grown up as and am an actively practicing Mormon, I am in awe and humbled by the sacrifices our ancestors made to more fully live what they believe.
Selling virtually all that they owned and traveling essentially with the clothes on their backs, they waved goodbye to family as they boarded the train that took them to the ship harbor. Grandma was now 15 years old. The journey was so expensive and they had saved for so many years, they didn’t know if they’d ever return to their homeland. These were one-way tickets.
 |
| KF and AG at the River Dee - Sept 2006 |
America didn’t necessarily offer them greener pastures, either literally (they settled in Arizona, after all) or figuratively: It’s no small task to start a new life from scratch. And they were sometimes ridiculed for their accents, and they were often treated as second-class citizens.
Why did they do all this? I think about this often. The conclusion that I have come to is that I believe they had a vision of the future, of how their sacrifices would benefit generations to come. We are now standing on their shoulders.
We have that same blood coursing through our veins. And we can tap into that same strength and determination. We too can trust in God, and that he has a plan for our lives and that he will direct us as we seek to know that plan. We can have courage in the face of hardships, as we ourselves face oceans and continents that separate us from our final destinations, and as we may sometimes find ourselves as strangers in a strange land.
We too can do great things, GREAT THINGS, that will influence, for good, generations to come.
Why did they do all this? I think about this often. The conclusion that I have come to is that I believe they had a vision of the future, of how their sacrifices would benefit generations to come. We are now standing on their shoulders.
We have that same blood coursing through our veins. And we can tap into that same strength and determination. We too can trust in God, and that he has a plan for our lives and that he will direct us as we seek to know that plan. We can have courage in the face of hardships, as we ourselves face oceans and continents that separate us from our final destinations, and as we may sometimes find ourselves as strangers in a strange land.
We too can do great things, GREAT THINGS, that will influence, for good, generations to come.
Notes:
- It’s unconfirmed who baptized George and Ursula. Was it John Freestone, a missionary who was prominent in their conversion and fellowship and who sponsored their emigration to America? Or was it another missionary or member of the mission presidency? Also, familysearch.org has Ursula’s baptismal and confirmation dates as 11 and 12 June 1932, repsectively while George’s are both as 13 June 1932 - would she have been baptized and confirmed the day or two before George? Or is this a recording error?
- Ella was baptized by the Scottish District President Andrew B. McGowan on Saturday, 26 September 1942, confirmed the next day (27 September 1942) at the Aberdeen Branch Conference. (Source: The Latter-Day Saint Millennial Star issue from Thursday, October 22, 1942; scanned copy here. See the right hand page, 2nd full paragraph in the right column. A couple paragraphs later, George Findlay is mentioned also. :)
