The World is a Dorf (Village)

Those who know me well, or have followed my blog for a while know that I am very into Family History. Most recently I have been intrigued deeply by my father's grandfather's history. Most of what we know about him is from his cousin Albert R Lyman. Albert R Lyman wrote several volumes of journals (by several I mean more than 10). He and my great grandfather were very close during a very impressionable time, and had some very exciting adventures together in the San Juan wilderness of southeastern Utah. Lucky for me this relative also wrote a number of books (both fiction and non-fiction). I just bought my 5th book written by or directly related to Albert R Lyman.

Now we turn to my Grandmother on my Mom's side, Elaine Spry Warner. This is a woman I have the pleasure to know very personally. My mother has recently completed compiling some of the histories on her side of the family. I have been reading through them as well. I stumbled onto the following entry of my grandmothers:

"During my eighteenth year (1940-1941), I received my Patriarchal Blessing form Albert Lyman, Salt Lake Stake Patriarch. May and Ruth went with me that evening to Brother Lyman's home."

I thought it was ironic that my Grandma had received her blessing from someone with the same name as a significant relative on my father's side. I KNEW it wasn't the same person, because Albert lived in San Juan County, was only 60 years old, and this just couldn't be the same person.

I recently bought a history of Albert R Lyman, and after a conversation with my folks decided to do a little more research on this to confirm that it was indeed impossible. First, I discovered that Albert actually had spent some time in Salt Lake in the late 1930s early 1940s... but no one makes you a patriarch after a few years in a stake... here is what I found in the Albert R Lyman history:

"In October 1940 he (Albert) was called as a Patriarch to the Salt Lake Stake. He observed then and many times later that he was neither prepared nor worthy of such a calling. But to us who knew him better, he was a natural vessel by which these blessings would come to the lives of hundreds of people."

I got that good old fashioned heart race after reading that!! What a great connection to stumble onto!

Looks like Albert has touched my family in more ways than I had thought.