Great Grandfather Thomas M. Adams Stories

The Person I would Most Like To Meet Someday






Before Rachel Bagley was married, she was given a thought-provoking assignment in school: write a paper about the person you would like to meet someday. Rachel Fowler Bagley chose Thomas Marion Adams, who was born November 11, 1900. Tom Adams is Rachel’s great-grandfather. All her life, Rachel was told stories about this wonderful man whom she never met because he passed away a few years before she was born. But this much Rachel knew, he was a man of his word and was very creative in what he did to support his family.

Three stand-out memories about Tom Adams for Rachel are: the purchase of the town of Crosby, Wyoming; the purchase of the orange juice, and the time he took his two oldest children to a movie on a tractor.

The Purchase of Crosby, Wyoming
Who do you know or have you ever met who has purchased a town? Rachel’s great-grandfather Tom Adams did. This town was named for Jesse W. Crosby, Mormon pioneer. The town was started by Dad Jones, prospector and miner, who supplied Thermopolis with coal from Crosby in the early 1890's. There are no residents in Crosby. It is located south of sister ghost town Gebo on county highway 433 past Kirby, towards Lucerne. This is about 60 miles away from Lovell, Wyoming where Tom Adams lived. The coal mines closed here in 1932, so the town was put up for sale…not the land, but all the houses, outhouses and other buildings standing on it. Just seven years earlier, there were 125 kids in the Crosby school.

Today the only thing standing is a single diner. You see, Tom bought the town so he could sell those houses and outhouses. For two years, he hauled house after house as well as the outhouses back to Lovell, where he sold each one to support his family. The town had a general store with an inventory of clothing and other merchandise. His family wore the clothes from that store and gave the merchandise and some of the other clothes away as birthday and Christmas gifts.
Rachel thought this was a very creative way of supporting a family and showed how hard-working and industrious her great-grandfather was.

The Purchase of the Orange Juice
Now we are not talking about one or two cans of orange juice. That is why this story is such a big deal. One day during the time when the United States was at War. “During the Second World War, you couldn't just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as you wanted, nor could you fill up your car with gasoline whenever you liked. All these things were rationed, which meant you were only allowed to buy a small amount (even if you could afford more). The government introduced rationing because certain things were in short supply during the war, and rationing was the only way to make sure everyone got their fair share. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor dramatically ended the debate over America's entrance into the war that raged around the world. As eager volunteers flooded local draft board offices ordinary citizens soon felt the impact of the war. Almost overnight the economy shifted to war production. Consumer goods now took a back seat to military production as nationwide rationing began almost immediately. In May of 1942, the U.S. Office of Price Administration (OPA) froze prices on practically all everyday goods, starting with sugar and coffee. War ration books and tokens were issued to each American family, dictating how much gasoline, tires, sugar, meat, silk, shoes, nylon and other items any one person could buy. View a listing of all rationed items. Across the country 8000 rationing boards were created to administer these restrictions. The 1943 Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog contains a list of all rationed farm equipment and tells the reasons and benefits of rationing as well as who is eligible. Even chicken wire fencing was rationed. A wartime edition of the American Woman's Cook Book contained revised recipes and gave advice on dealing with food shortages.” (http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/events/rationing.htm)

Every time Tom would go to the store he would check to see if they had orange juice. They would never have it in stock or if they did, there would always be a limit of one or two cans. On this particular day, Tom walked into the store and to his delight, saw a display of orange juice cans stacked very high in the middle of the aisle. He asked the clerk how much he could buy and was told he could buy all he wanted. He had expected a one or two can limit. Well, Tom told the clerk that he would buy all he had and to his surprise ended up getting a full truck load. This cost him $500 which in those days was the price of a new car.

He took the truck load of orange juice cans home and stacked them in the basement until the basement was full. Then he had to stack a bunch of cans in his son Thomas’s bedroom, and even stored many in the bathtub because he was looking for more space to keep the juice.

You might ask what was his wife’s response to this purchase? Lucy, who is Rachel’s great-grandmother, merely said to her husband, “Oh, I see you purchased orange juice.” And that was that. That was the type of relationship they had.

Tom was a man of his word. He did not need or want all of that orange juice and so after he had told the clerk that he would take all they had, he bought all they had. The family would end up serving orange juice to anyone that set foot in their home for quite some time after that.

Going to the Movie on A Tractor
One afternoon, after working in the fields, Tom came into the house and asked his two oldest children, Thomas and Gloria, if they wanted to go into town and see a movie. Lucy was at a school function with the other three children and the family car. Thomas and Gloria were excited, but asked how they would get into town. Tom replied that they would take the tractor. In those days tractors did not have rubber tires and therefore could not go on the road. So the three of them got on the tractor and road into town in the barrel pit along side of the road. They went into the movie theatre full of excitement and energy and Tom asked the children if they wanted to eat popcorn. They said they did, so he bought the biggest tub of popcorn he could and they laughed and laughed at the movie. After the movie was over, they climbed up on the tractor and it was pitch dark outside. The tractor did not have any lights, so they drove home by the light of the moon. When they got home, Lucy asked where they had been and they replied that they had been to the movie. Knowing that they did not have a car to take, she merely responded “that’s nice.” That was the type of relationship she and Tom had. Nothing surprised her. But what a memory for Tom, and his two oldest children. They loved the outing. They were a bit surprised a month later to read in the Saturday Evening Post magazine that the movie did not get good reviews as to being very thought-provoking. They had loved the movie, but more importantly had a great memory together.

Stories Related to Rob (Reid Adams Robison) Dec 24, 2009 by Tom’s daughter Gloria Dawn Adams Robison. (Rob is her son and Tom’s oldest grandson. He has fond memories of his grandfather Adams).

Also, the story of Crosby, Wyoming was related by Grandma Robison to some of her grandchildren (Justin, Jeremy, and Jamie as well as Jeremy's wife Karenin) on Christmas Day 2009.

Christmas 2009 Nativity

Narrated by Amanda
Acted out by the Robison Grandchildren

Put the Spirit of Christ into Christmas

One year Julia came to Grandma when she was putting presents under the tree and insisted that she put one by the baby Jesus in the living room china cabinet where the nativities were on display. She reminded us that after all, it is the birthday of the Savior isn't it?

Great Video Clip for Entire Family & All Your Friends

Christina Gets Kidnapped by the Indians

Here is a great story that Grandmother Robison has related dozens of times about her great grandmother who was kidnapped by Indians when she was three years old. It makes a great story to share in Primary or in a family home evening lesson.

Background. Christina's mother Eliza Adelaide Dolbel and her grandmother Susanne Esnouf Dolbel joined the Church in 1854 after meeting two Mormon missionaries on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands (just off the coast of France). They immigrated to the United States with the Perpetual Immigration Fund. Susanne's husband Philippe and son Jean were to join the women a year later, but never did. So at the age of 52, considered elderly in those days, Susanne and her daughter landed in New Orleans and were assigned to a handcart company to embark upon a 1,000 mile trek to Salt Lake City. (Eliza is reknown for having brought the first guitar to Utah and was the center of attention at many a campfire during the long excursion to the West.) She and were mother were assigned to travel with Christopher Lister RIding and his large, growing family. Eliza was very helpful in caring for the children as Sister Riding was expecting a baby. Upon arrival in Salt Lake, she became the second wife of Brother Riding. Although she was 18 years younger than his first wife, she did have the first wife's approval.

The lesson: This story centers around Christina, the oldest child of Eliza and C. L. Riding. When Christina was three years old, her mother, Eliza had another baby. One day when the baby was very young and Eliza needed a nap, she asked Christina to stay by a tree with a swing outside the house and not go anywhere while Eliza slept. She told her she would call for her when she woke up. At the end of her nap, she called for Christina but there was no answer. She hurried outside and you can imagine the sick feeling she had in her stomach when she saw hoof prints around the swing set, Christina's doll leaning neatly against the tree, and no sign of Christina. Christina would never go anywhere without her doll. Eliza quickly rang the bell used for calling her family to dinner or for sounding the alarm for emergencies. C.L. Riding and his two sons (from his other wife) came running in from the field and upon discovery of what had happened realized instantly that the Indians had kidnapped Christina. Luckily they knew where the Indians' camp had been spotted, so they jumped on their horses and raced for the camp. Just as the sun was setting they pulled into the camp and saw Christina sitting on a horse with one of the Indians. She held out her arms and said "Daddy, I knew you would come." She jumped into her father's arms and was carried safely home. When her father asked her how she knew he would come, she replied that she had been praying all afternoon that he would come." Had he arrived minutes later, the little girl would have been hidden in one of the tents and never heard of again by her family.

What a testimony this is to the faith of a little girl who believed without wavering in the power of prayer. Her great granddaughter was Grandmother Robison, who was often told this story by her own grandmother, Addie Asay Houston, who was Christina's daughter. This story was related to me on August 2, 2009 in Orem, Utah by Grandmother Robison

Neil L Andersen Video

Stories from Past General Conferences - Elder Andersen

Spiritual Mole Crickets

In October 1999 General Conference, Elder Andersen spoke about a quote that the Prophet Joshua gave that is hanging by our front door: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).

He reminded us that the teachings of Joshua are as applicable to us today as they were in bible times. We demonstrate by our daily decisions how we serve Heavenly Father. Elder Andersen observed "Thirty-five hundred years ago as Joshua spoke, it meant leaving behind false gods, going to battle against the Canaanites, and following with sharp attention the words of the Prophet. We can almost hear the whining of the skeptics as Joshua announced his battle plans for taking the city of Jericho. First, he said, they would quietly, without any speaking, circle the city one time for each of six days. Then on the seventh day they would compass the city seven times. Following, the priests would blow the trumpets, and at that time all the people would shout with a great shout. Then, Joshua assured them, the walls would come down (see Josh. 6). When the walls came down, the skeptics were quiet."

Today as in the time of Joshua, we must listen carefully to the prophet and choose to follow his teachings. To teach us with a modern day story, Elder Andersen shared an experience their family had when they lived in Florida.

"Because Florida has a high concentration of sand, lawns there are planted with a large broadleaf grass we call Saint Augustine. A formidable enemy of a Florida lawn is a small, brown insect called a mole cricket.

One evening as my neighbor and I stood on the front steps, he noticed a little bug crossing my sidewalk. “You better spray your lawn,” he warned. “There goes a mole cricket.” I had sprayed the lawn with insecticide not too many weeks previously, and I hardly felt that I had the time or money to do it again so soon.

In the light of the next morning, I examined my lawn closely. It was lush and beautifully green. I looked down into the grass to see if I could see any of the little bugs. I could see none. I remember thinking, “Well, maybe that little mole cricket was just passing through my yard on the way to my neighbor’s yard.”

I watched my lawn for more than a week, looking for signs of invaders, but none was evident. I congratulated myself that I had not overreacted to my neighbor’s warning.

The story, however, has a sad ending. I came out the front door one morning, about 10 days after the conversation with my neighbor. Shockingly, as if it had happened overnight, brown spots covered my lawn. I ran to the garden store, bought the insecticide, and sprayed immediately, but it was too late. The lawn was ruined, and to return it to its former state required a new crop of sod, long hours of work, and large expense.

My neighbor’s warning was central to my lawn’s welfare. He saw things I could not see. He knew something I did not know. He knew that mole crickets live underground and are active only at night, making my daytime examinations ineffective. He knew that mole crickets did not eat the leaves of the grass but rather found nourishment in the roots. He knew that these little inch-long creatures could eat a lot of roots before I would ever see the effect above the ground. I paid a dear price for my smug independence."

Elder Andersen then summarized "We live in a wonderful day. The blessings of our generation are lush and beautifully green. With faith in the Savior and obedience to the commandments, our lives can be full of satisfaction and joy."





Beware of the Evil Behind the Smiling Eyes

In April 2005 General Conference during the Priesthood Session, Elder Andersen shared a story about withstanding evil. In his words, he said "I’d like to tell you of an experience of a faithful Latter-day Saint who is a good friend of mine. I’ll refer to him only as “my friend” for reasons you will understand.

Working as a special agent for the FBI, my friend investigated organized crime groups transporting illegal drugs into the United States.

On one occasion, he and another agent approached an apartment where they believed a known drug dealer was distributing cocaine. My friend describes what happened:

“We knocked on the door of the drug dealer. The suspect opened the door, and upon seeing us, tried to block our view. But it was too late; we could see the cocaine on his table.

“A man and a woman who were at the table immediately began removing the cocaine. We had to prevent them from destroying the evidence, so I quickly pushed the drug suspect who was blocking the door to the side. As I pushed him, my eyes met his. Strangely, he did not appear angry or afraid. He was smiling at me.

“His eyes and disarming smile gave me the impression that he was harmless, so I quickly left him and started to move toward the table. The suspect was now behind me. At that instant, I had the distinct, powerful impression come into my mind: ‘Beware of the evil behind the smiling eyes.’

“I immediately turned back toward the suspect. His hand was in his large front pocket. Instinctively I grabbed his hand and pulled it from his pocket. Only then did I see, clutched in his hand, the semiautomatic pistol ready to fire. A flurry of activity followed, and I disarmed the man.”

Later, in another case, the drug dealer was convicted of murder and boasted that he would have also killed my friend had he not turned around at that very moment.

I have often thought of the communication that came into his mind: “Beware of the evil behind the smiling eyes.” This is what I want to talk to you about tonight.

Let’s begin with what we know. Good comes from God; evil comes from the devil. (Moroni 7:12) They are not, however, equal forces that are fighting each other in the universe. At the head of all that is good is the Christ—He who is the Only Begotten of the Father, who created our world and numerous others. Our Redeemer is a resurrected and perfect being. (Luke 24:36-39) I know He lives.

The devil, on the other hand, “persuadeth men to do evil.” (Moroni 7:17) “He [has] fallen from heaven, … [has] become miserable forever,” (2 Nephi 2:18) and now works “that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (2 Nephi 2:27) He is a liar and a loser. (D&C 93:25)

The power of the Savior and the power of the devil are not truly comparable. (Moses 1: 1-22) On this planet, however, evil has been allowed a position of influence to give us the chance to choose between good and evil. The scripture says: “God gave unto man that he should act for himself. [And] man could not act for himself … [unless] he was enticed by … one or the other.” (2 Nephi 2:16)

The choice between good and evil is at the very heart of our experience on earth. In the final review of our lives, it will not really matter if we were rich or poor, if we were athletic or not, if we had friends or were often forgotten.

We can work, study, laugh and have fun, dance, sing, and enjoy many different experiences. These are a wonderful part of life, but they are not central to why we are here. 11 The opportunity to choose good over evil is precisely why we are here. (2 Nephi 2:27)

Not one of us would say, “I want to choose evil.” We all want to choose the right. However, the choice of good over evil is not always easy, because evil frequently lurks behind smiling eyes. Listen to these warnings:

“Take heed … that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God.” (Moroni 7:14)

“Ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you.” (3 Ne. 18:18)

“Satan hath sought to deceive you, that he might overthrow you.” (D&C 50:3)

The message is: Beware of the evil behind the smiling eyes!





It's True Isn't It? Then What Else Matters?


In the April 2007 General Conference Elder Andersen shared an experience related a number of years ago by the then-Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, who spoke of meeting a young naval officer from Asia. The officer had not been a Christian, but during training in the United States, he had learned about the Church and was baptized. He was now preparing to return to his native land.

President Hinckley asked the officer: "Your people are not Christians. What will happen when you return home a Christian, and, more particularly, a Mormon Christian?"

The officer's face clouded, and he replied: "My family will be disappointed. . . . As for my future and my career, all opportunity may be foreclosed against me."

President Hinckley asked, "Are you willing to pay so great a price for the gospel?"

With his dark eyes moistened by tears, he answered with a question: "It's true, isn't it?"

President Hinckley responded, "Yes, it is true."

To which the officer replied, "Then what else matters?" (Ensign, July 1993, 2)

Elder Andersen said, "Through the years, I have reflected on these words: "It's true, isn't it? Then what else matters?"


Questions from these three stories:

1. Molecrickets - What are the molecrickets in our lives? What did President Monson and the other living prophets warn us about in this past General Conference?

2. Evil behind the smiling eyes - do you know of places where bad men are calling good evil? What are some examples today? What is Proposition 8 in California all about?

3. It's true isn't it? Do you remember the story in General Conference this past week about the woman who had to dig graves with a spoon. Did the gospel and her testimony matter? Why?