A Note from Goldie Heath Newman to her descendants

I’m pleased…to reflect upon my years lived. Always I have felt a warm feeling about my Heavenly Father. It was reinforced, I’m sure, from Mother’s teachings and Primary and Sunday School. I remember being assured Heavenly Father would forgive me for misdeeds if I were really sorry and prayed for Him to forgive me. It was a child’s unhesitating faith I remember feeling as I did so.

It was impressed upon me by my mother that lying was not acceptable, so I’ve always despised deception. Being honest in heart, truthful in dealing with people with no subterfuge has always been important to me. I fondly remember believing in Santa Claus, counting the weeks and days until Christmas. It didn’t matter what we received—candy, nuts, an orange and perhaps a doll.

I was always taught to be modest and respect my body and to demand that in my friends. Looseness in dating among some of the girls and fellows was known in those days, as it is now. I had a good reputation for being a good student, active in school plays and operettas; I played the mandolin, sang in choirs, dated, and had fun. I was blessed and protected.

I’ve always thrilled to beauty in God’s handiwork. The miracle of His creations help me feel closer to Him and let me know the Gospel, too, is perfect. I have felt the pattern of my life was made as if I were quietly led by the hand. Small decisions subsequently proved to be vitally important in shaping later decisions. My choice not to skip 6th grade, when it was offered, made me a senior in the year when our ward was alphabetically in line for that year’s seminary scholarships to Ricks College, which was awarded to me. My choice later to seek employment teaching in Jerome let me meet my future husband. And our decision to move to California certainly was important. We went for Monty to attend the National Radio Institute, but although that did not materialize, it brought us to California where we found our half acre of land, which lead to our building rentals which helped in rearing our family and provided a retirement income for us. The decision to raise rabbits didn’t last, but it gave us our half acre of land to build rentals on to provide income for later. It just seemed we were blessed in our decisions. We always paid full tithing. Our family experienced good health and freedom from serious accidents. We never had lucrative income, but we had sufficient for our needs.

Then after thirty years of not wanting to leave California, we were able to make the positive decision to sell the property, quit the jobs, and migrate to Salt Lake City. I’m sure it was Heavenly Father touching my heart and saying, “it is time to move on.” Then in His wisdom he knew Monty was to leave me and we needed to have those three years to adjust and settle in first. I am grateful for my family and friends, ward and Church activity, comfortable home and health. I enjoy visiting the temple. I am really blessed. I want my children and their children to increase their love of the Gospel because only by doing so can they be happy and achieve worthwhile goals. We want to be worthy of our Heavenly Father’s love.