My mother-in law’s mother died when she was 5 years old, and her father placed her and her sister for adoption in separate families. Consequently, she had little knowledge of her parent’s families, though she did have some contact with her father. She had a letter written by her paternal grandmother to her father and many years ago gave this letter to me. As I read the letter, it was evident to me that this sweet grandmother was a good person who loved her family. She was very chatty in the letter and talked about all of the family members. I felt so connected to this grandmother.

With the help of a friend of mine, I was able to locate this family using census records and to have their temple work completed. I was continually drawn back to this letter because there were two people mentioned in the letter that I could not account for. One was a young girl and the other a little boy. I knew he was about 8 years old because he had just received first communion. I could read the girl’s name, but the boys’s name was illegible.

One day I was staring at his name for the umpteenth time, all of a sudden, I was able to read it. The name was Junior, he was named after his father. It didn’t take long to find out that these two children were the half siblings of my mother-in-law from her father’s first marriage. I was able to get all of their temple work done as well. My mother-in-law died, not knowing that these siblings even existed, although I know she has met them now.

I know that our family members on the other side of the veil are aware of us and our efforts in this work, and that in some way are able to help us. It has been such a privilege for me to connect with this family.

–Jacque Fryer – Temple and Family History Consultant