Esquire Coffinberry's Great-Grand-Niece

Having just discovered that the Millennial Star is scanned and online, I went hunting to see if there were any more poems by Mary Ann Morton. Just found one, in Volume 10, No. 9, May 1, 1848: Answer to Zion by Miss Mary Ann Morton Gladly, dear sister, would we leave The shores of Babel, and receive The call that is addressed With cheerful sympathy resign The ties that round our feelings twine, And journey to the West. We do believe the mission sent To call the nations to repent, That were by sin oppress'd. They may obey the Saviour's voice, Obtain remission, and rejoice With thousands in the West. The dangers of the deep we'd brave, Depending on His power to save, Who is for ever blest. Yes onward, Sister, would we go, Columbia is the land we know, Our home is in the West! Flamstead, Hertfordshire. She apparently used her maiden name as a pen-name after marriage, as shown with this example published in Vo...

Last winter, I listened as my friend Danica shared her witness that the gospel is indeed sweet in our lives. She mentioned the opening words to the hymn “Sweet is the Peace the Gospel Brings,” and as she spoke, in my mind I heard the familiar words, but with a different tune. I tried to capture the tune on a scrap of paper fished from my bag. At home that afternoon, the music pouring onto the page began to remind me of flowing waters and turning wheels as I began to wonder about the woman who wrote the comforting words. Mary Anne Morton was born in late 1828 or early 1829 in Lancashire, England. 1 As a young woman, she embraced the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was baptized in August 1845. Her intense feelings about the Gospel found release in poetry, and several of her verses were published by the Church newspaper in Britain, the Millennial Star. One of these poems was “Sweet is the Peace the Gospel Brings. 2 This poem describes the path of change ...

Can it be nearly two years since I last posted here? Got word this morning that my grandmother's brother passed away; I think I only met him once, when I was very very little. But it feels like one more lost connection here on earth. I hope it is one more connection in Heaven. Four years ago today, my 13-year-old nephew, Ford, passed away. I remember the heart-rending phone call from my brother, in the middle of the night, trying to tell me the unthinkable, the unfixable. Ford's parents have designated January 27th "Pay it FOwaRD" day. Would you on this day, and every day, enact a moment of kindness for someone else in his memory? Thank you.