Written by Moroni with additions taken from his journal.

I was born in Minersville, Beaver County, Utah on Jan. 12, 1872 in a small adobe house in the southwest corner of town. My parents names were John Thomas Lazenby and Annie Tether Lazenby who were emigrants from England, Father coming from Hull and Mother from Doncaster. They crossed the ocean together in the sailing vessel The Emerald Isle, which was the last sailing vessel to bring emigrants across the ocean, and it sank on the return trip to England, this in 1868. They were six weeks making the voyage and then crossed the plains with ox team. They were married in the Old Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah and started married life in a dugout at the head of Echo Canyon. He worked on the railroad. Later they moved to Battle Creek now Pleasant Grove in Utah County, then to Minersville where I was born on Jan. 12, 1872.

I was the second child in a family of nine children of my Mother’s. My Father had one son Walter by a former marriage whose Mother died in England. In our family there were Henry, myself, Annetta, Sarah Ann, John Thomas, Annie, Phebe Estella, Edith Henryetta and Bertha Maria. My parents joining the United Order and put all they had into it, when it dissolved or broke up in the fall of 1877 my Father got for his share, five bushels of corn and ten acres of land in the Minersville field. I remember the field with its coccle burs and sunflowers and the picket or rip gut fence that surrounded it.

My memories of Minersville are very meager as Father moved with his family in the Spring of 1878 to the Sevier and located at Prattsville between Richfield and Glenwood, where he farmed during the summer of 1879. I, with my brother Henry, who was two years older, herded cows on the banks of the Sevier River. The cows frequently crossed the stream and we would wade after them, often in water up to our chins, and I now wonder that we did not drown.

In November, 1878 we moved to Rabbit Valley (Loa) where I first remember coming in contact with Indians. We first lived in a rented house made of logs, daubed or chinked with mud, a dirt floor and a dirt roof, with factory cloth for window glass. Here we spent the first winter and at that time we were eight in family in one little room which not only contained the family but all our provisions. On cold days the Indians frequently crowded in till Mother could scarcely move around in the house and us children were crowded to the back of the room while the Indians huddled over the fire. In the Spring Father built a log cabin down on the farm he had located about one and one half miles south of the Loa town site. Here we spent four years. I herded cows in summer and attended school in winter. My Father was my first school teacher, school being held in private.

I was baptized April 7, 1881 by my Father. Later I attended school in what was called East Loa in a log meeting house with a dirt floor and a dirt roof, with split logs set on for desks and under them logs for benches. We had to walk across the valley, through rabbit brush one and a half miles and had to cross the numerous streams on poles and fences. Our text books were very meager and the school equipment extremely limited.

In 1884 I contacted diphtheria and took it home to the family. All of us children had it and my brother Henry, age fourteen years and my sister, Annie, four years old died. The year before my Father broke his leg, which placed a great responsibility upon my brother Henry, who assumed it manfully not withstanding his tender age, and now he was gone, and Father whose leg was not properly set was a cripple for the remaining years of his life. This left more than my share of the family responsibility on me. Father planted crops and for three years I did not succeed in ripening any wheat; so that bread stuff became very much of a consideration. He had raised a crop of wheat on the Sevier in the summer of 1878 and had it milled in Glenwood and took milled products, which consisted of flour, shorts and bran. The first year we did fairly well for bread as we had the flour, then because of crop failure, we were obliged to eat the shorts and bran and even that failed. We ate thistles, tones and pigweeds, when they were in season and somehow we got along. We dressed in buckskin and anything we could get. We went barefoot in the summer because we had no shoes; however, my sister Annetta and I had a pair of shoes between us and when we were herding cows, took turns wearing the shoes and carrying each other across places where slivers were so numerous we could not travel barefooted. There was some compensation on the other hand, for the one that was barefooted carried the other across streams. I was not old enough to appreciate how hard these times were for my parents, whose responsibility it was to feed and clothe us. Contact with snakes and skunks were of a frequent occurrence for truly we were in a wild country. The first settlers had preceded us into the country about three years and there were a few cattle- men and some others.

I associated with other boys and had my fling trying to learn to smoke and chew tobacco, but thanks to the influence of my saintly mother I never contracted the habit. Some of my companions were given to getting drunk which so disgusted me that I let liquor alone. I was always of a religious turn and placed considerable reliance upon the Lord and often sought Him in my troubles. I often had an answer to prayer which greatly strengthened my faith in the Lord.

One incident I will relate. One evening while bringing the cows home, one of them became unruly and would not stay with the others. My father had given me a pocket knife, I think the first one I had ever owned and I prized it very highly. I wanted to teach the cow a lesson and taking the knife from my pocket, I threw it at the cow and thought to hit her in the side and so go and get the knife again, but as frequently happens our calculations miscarry, as mine did and instead of hitting the cow, the knife passed over her back and landed in the thick tall sage brush beyond. I immediately began searching for it, for it seemed if I did not find it, it would be a calamity of the first magnitude, but I searched in vain. Darkness was rapidly approaching and I was feeling almost ill because of the loss of my precious knife. I decided I could not find it so kneeled down and asked the Lord to show me where my knife was. I arose from my knees and walked straight to a thicket of brush where I had looked before and there found my knife at once, only a childish incident, but one that has remained with me through the years.

Being raised as it were among the Indians, I tried to imitate them somewhat, and as the weapons, as well as play things of the Indian boys was largely the bow and arrow, I too, carried a bow and arrow and in shooting contests with the Indian boys sometimes came out victorious, which gave me a lot of satisfaction.

My Mother taught me to pray and the habit formed in my childhood has remained with me.

On my twelfth birthday in 1884, I was ordained a deacon in the 15th quorum of the Sevier Stake by Elias H. Blackburn and that was a proud day for me. We held deacons meetings on Saturday nights and I would walk from the farm to the meeting place one and one half miles through brush much taller than I was, and had many a start as some nights, prowling animals would dart into the brush or cross the road in the darkness. When I reached the age of fifteen I was called to accompany Apostle Brigham Young and his cousin John R. Young down to the Colorado River at Hall’s crossing, to take a load of oats to feed Apostle Young’s team as they were going to Bluff to settle some Indian trouble and to get away from the U.S. deputy marshals who wanted them for polygamy. Soon after my return I was ordained a priest by Bishop Elias H. Blackburn on July 3, 1887 and was ordained an Elder by Thomas Blackburn Jan. 8, 1890. I served as an assistant to Teancum Hunt in the Y.M.M.I.A. from May 25, 1893 until Oct 1st. 1894. I was ordained a Seventy in the 82nd quorum by Walter H. Jeffery and became secretary of the quorum.

I was called on a mission to New Zealand, and left home Oct 1, 1894, attended general conference in Salt Lake City and went through the Salt Lake Temple and received my endowments Oct. 10, 1894. I took a ship for my mission field Oct. 17, 1894 on the steam ship Morowai. I had the usual experience of seasickness and other things connected with ocean travel, and in due time reached the island of Hawaii and stopped there a few hours. It sure seemed good to see land and feel it under my feet again. We called at Samoa but did not land, saw the native guys and girls swim out to the ship and dive for coins, they were very splendid swimmers. We reached New Zealand and was assigned to labor in the Hawraker district with J. M. Folkman of Plain City as my companion.

I had to learn the Maori language and customs among which was Hongi or nose rubbing custom of greeting. Our principle diet was boiled potatoes, sometimes we had bread, meat and fish. We traveled for the most part on horseback, much of the time in the mud and rain for it frequently rained daily for months at a time. The climate temperature is about like California, being about as far South of the Equator as California is North. There was a great deal of foggy weather which proved to be bad on my lungs, as I had a lung infection from the time I had diphtheria in 1884. This finally led to my being released some 2 and 1/2 years later on account of my not being able to stand the dampness and the fog.

William Gardener was president of the Mission when I arrived and Ezra F. Richards when I was released. I had the usual difficulty in learning the language and was there seven months before I could speak or preach in the native tongue. I baptized fifty seven persons, mostly Maoris. They were a simple, lovable, charitable and trusting people and one could easily see they were from the blood of Israel from reading the Book of Mormon and becoming acquainted with the customs and mannerisms of the Maori people that there were many things in common between them.

On Monday November 11, 1895 we had an experience that shows the Lord looks after His servants. Elder Folkman and myself went from Kiri Kiri down the coast by way of Cabbage Bay across the Isthmus to Wairoa, a long three days journey and this being just the breaking up of winter and still in the rainy season, the trails were very muddy and traveling very laborious. We decided to return by another route. We left Wairoa on a cloudy morning and went to Mata Mata and then over the mountain to Whangapoua. The natives at Mata Mata told us we could not get through as the trail over the mountain had not been used for years but sooner than re-travel through all the mud, we decided to try. We started up the mountain where the trail used to go, and all went well for a time. We found many trees fallen across the trail and soon the vines and underbrush became so thick and tangled that we lost our way entirely, so all we could do was keep climbing. It soon began to rain and we were obliged to walk and lead our horses, we soon became wet, but after hours of hard work we reached the top and found it to be a small plateau covered with the New Zealand brush. We began searching for the trail and found what we thought was it. We followed it until it come only to a dead end. Then we turned back and tried again in another place, with the same result until we were nearly exhausted, finally we discovered an opening leading in the direction we wanted to go and followed it and to our joy it led down from the top of the mountain, but our joy was short lived for it soon closed out, and we came to a stop. After hunting for some time, we discovered a small stream of water and knew if we could but follow it, we could reach the ocean. Only those who have tried to penetrate the New Zealand brush when there is no trail can properly understand what we were facing. Night was coming on; the rain had continued falling all day. As we were working our way down the stream, we came to where the stream widened and the brush opened up a little. We got on our horses to ride, I was in the rear. As we turned a bend in the stream, I chanced to look over my shoulder and saw something that made me call to Folkman. He stopped to learn what I wanted, I said look yonder on that tree stump on the bank; “What is it?” He said it looks like bread. I got down and went to see and sure enough a piece of bread one-half loaf cooked in a round bake oven, I brought it to him and we soon devoured it. It tasted extremely nice and there was just enough to satisfy our hunger and not withstanding it was a small clearing, exposed to the rain, the crust was just moist, while we were drenched to the skin. Our hunger appeased, we proceeded in better spirits and finally long after night fall emerged from the brush on to the seashore and found ourselves at Whangapoua. We got shelter with a woman, who gave us food and a bed, and we were in a condition to appreciate both. Next morning when we told the people we came over the mountain, they could scarcely believe us, as they said it could not be done. We told them of finding the bread and this they scarcely believed, for they said no one had been in that locality for a long time. Our saddle, clothes and wraps were much the worse for the terrible scratching and rubbing they got coming through the brush, but we rejoiced that even under such circumstances, we were protected and provided for.

We had many pleasant and inspiring times and I learned to love those Maori people like my own flesh and blood. In the fall of 1895 Elder Folkman returned home and I succeeded him as president of the district and was given Albert E. Asper of Salt Lake City as traveling companion. I became so proficient in the language that the Maoris often said that I spoke better Maori than they did. I was troubled from the first with asthma and when the weather was damp and foggy, I would sometimes suffer considerably.

I received many direct answers to prayer and among other things received a sure testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel I was preaching. I was blessed to heal the sick by laying on of hands and have rejoiced much at the way the Lord has sustained me. On account of ill health, I was released and returned home by way of Australia, Fiji, Hawaii and Vancouver and arrived home April 11, 1897. After arriving home I attended Snow Academy in Ephraim during the winters of 1897-8. On May the 28,____?, I was set apart to preside over all the Elders Quorums in Wayne Stake (although a Seventy) I was also set apart by Apostle Lyman to preside over the Religion classes in the Wayne Stake.

At a conference shortly after I came from my mission, some of the leading brethren were in attendance and one of them arose and said, “Here is Brother Lazenby home from his mission, now we want you to put him to work, put the harness on him and also the saddle and if it need be put a man in the saddle with spurs but keep him to work”. And this they have done for I have always been busy and tried to do what I have been asked to do. I was soon chosen 2nd assistant to the Stake Supt. of Sunday Schools also an aid to the Stake Supt. of Y.M.M.I.A. on Nov 6, 1897.

On October 14, 1898, I was married to Rosa May Stewart, this has proven to be the crowning blessing of my life for although we have been married for over forty years, and have passed through many changes and lived in many homes, she has always been patient, loving and kind, and thoughtful and by her sweet unselfish life has brought much sunshine and happiness to me. She has always taught the children to be loving and kind to me and I thank the Lord daily for her and all she has meant to me throughout the years and I know if I am only worthy of her in the next life, that I shall receive a companion that will make life full for me in eternity. May the Lord ever bless her. Whether we had much or little, she never complained but looked forward for things to work out well. She has ever been an aid to me in my religious callings and labors. Ten children came to bless our home namely: Leland Moroni, Wallace Stewart, he having passed away at the age of 34, Rosa May, Urban John, who died when he was 2 years old, Arthur J., Leslie Walter, Koa Ellen, Bertha, Beth, and Barbara.

I acted as County commissioner, also Tax Assessor and was a member of the school board of Wayne County. I was also chosen to act as Stake Counselor in the Y.M.M.I.A. Afterwards at a conference held Nov. 2, I was put in as Stake Supt. of Sunday Schools and was set apart by G.S. Bastian and was sustained a member of the Board of Education, also as a member of the Stake Building Committee of the Wayne Stake tabernacle. At this time I was ordained a High Priest and set apart as a member of the Stake High Council which position I held until Jan 1, 1912, when I was chosen as second counselor of the Wayne Stake to labor with President Joseph Eckersely and John R. Stewart and was set apart by Apostle Francis R. Lyman on April 5, 1912 and held that position until the spring of 1917 when we moved to Aurora, Sevier County.

We bought a farm between Sigurd and Aurora but joined the Aurora Ward and acted as ward teacher and home missionary in that Stake. We built a nice home here on the farm and thought we would make it our home permanently, but on Jan. 20, 1921 a Priesthood meeting was held at Richfield and the Sevier Stake was divided into 3 stakes, North Sevier, South Sevier, and Sevier. I was chosen to preside over North Sevier, my counselors being J. Arthur Christensen from Redwood and Jesse Thornell from Salina. The afternoon conference was held in Salina and Stake authorities, as far as had been chosen were set apart by Apostle George F. Richards. North Sevier Stake consisted of Redmond, two wards in Salina, Aurora, Sigurd and Vermillian, and then it was necessary to leave our home and move to Aurora.

I acted as President of the Piute Reservoir and Irrigation Co. On the 20th of April, 1924 I was released as Stake President and was ordained a Patriarch by Apostle George F. Richards and at this time acted for some years as president of the High Priest Quorum of North Sevier and labored as teacher in Sunday School, Y.M.M.I.A. and Genealogical Committee. Leland, my oldest son became Bishop of the Aurora Ward. We traveled the 35 miles to the temple to do temple work. When the Manti Temple was remodeled and many more rooms were added, I was asked to go to Manti and help with its construction.

I did so and when it was finished, I was asked to work on Temple Hill in taking care of the flowers and beautifying the temple grounds. I bought a pioneer home on the Temple grounds paying $75.00 for it. This home I have improved in adding more rooms and improving the grounds so that now we are comfortably settled here at Manti. After the Temple was finished on March 2, 1936, President Robert D. Young asked me to assist in taking care of the Temple grounds in beautifying the grounds, which I have worked at since I came to Manti. I also did considerable “Night Guarding” of the temple and it is our responsibility to guard the temple and grounds every Sunday, taking it in turns. I was also asked to be an ordinance worker and assist in the temple and my wife is also an ordinance worker and we are enjoying this work. I also take much joy and pleasure in my Patriarchal work in the Sanpete Stake.

At this time August of 1939, our children are all married except Beth and Barbara, and Beth expects to be before the year 1939 goes by. They were all married in the temple and we are very proud of them, and now with a home established near the temple, we look forward with hope and anticipation to the future to bring us many years of happiness and contentment for we hope this will be our home for the future.

I will mention here that we are taking the evergreen trees from the nearby mountains and setting tyhem out on this Temple Hill as has been done for many years. This fall we have taken 95 trees and planted them here on this beautiful temple hill.

(Additional info from Amy Beck)

Moroni wrote this life story in August 1939. He continued to work on the Temple grounds until a hernia operation in the spring of 1942 necessitated a limitation of his physical activities. He then served as night guard of the Manti Temple until just a few months before his death at the age of 81 years, 4 months and 25 days. The life story of his wife, Rosa May Stewart Lazenby, also includes details of these years.

They loved their home and enjoyed being near the temple. Moroni gave many blessings in his Patriarchal work. He honored his Priesthood and was sustained by his Heavenly Father. Many people have borne grateful testimony with thankful hearts to their Heavenly Father for the blessings received by Moroni through the power of the Priesthood. One of these was recorded 10 Feb 1950 as Elder Gordon Van Hanks spoke while on a mission in the Northern California Mission. He tells that as a ten year old boy he suffered a bone infection that kept him in bed for two years. He was well for a few years and then the infection returned and was more serious than before. His parents were taking him to Salt Lake City and on the way stopped and asked Patriarch Lazenby to give the boy a blessing. In Gordon’s own words: “Moroni Lazenby gave the boy a wonderful blessing. He said that this boy would not have to undergo the serious operation that the doctors were intending. He gave him a blessing that he would become well and that he would go into the mission field and preach the gospel to the people. Well the operation did not take place; the doctors were amazed, they could not understand it. The boy did not fully understand himself, but he does now…for you see; I was that boy! I know that it was by the faith of my parents and by the faith of this patriarch that I was healed of this disease…

Moroni was honored with his time in responding to requests from friends and relatives to speak at funerals of their loved ones. He died on June 6, 1953.

From his personal journals, that he started writing in 1894, have been gleaned varied entries that are of interest to his descendants. They are added to his life story so that his family may treasure a few of his thoughts and experiences.

9 Oct 1894 (Book 1 p.2)…was set apart…by the mouth of Apostle John Henry Smith (for a mission to New Zealand).

10 Oct 1894 (Book 1 p.2) I received my endowments in the house of the Lord. In order to more thoroughly impress it upon my mind, I went through two days more to aid a friend in some work for the dead.

13 Oct 1894 (Book 1 p.3)…At 2 p.m. we again took train for San Francisco where we arrived some 31 hours later. I have spent nights upon the open prairie without food, fire or bedding. I have spent others with only my saddle blankets, but never in my life before have I spent as miserable nights as I did in the cars between Salt Lake City and San Francisco.

16 Oct 1894 (Book 1 p.4)…In my observation it appeared to me as though the chief occupation of the inhabitants (of San Francisco) was smoking cigars and drinking whiskey.

18 Oct 1894 (Book 1 p.5-6)… I think Honolulu is the most beautiful place I was ever in. It is curiously laid off. There appears to be no particular plan to go by. But every residence and business house seems to have been placed just where the proprietor wished to put it. This gives it somewhat of a rambling romantic appearance, which to me was quite interesting.

27 Oct 1894 (Book 1 p.6) The sea continues to roll and so does my stomach.

30 Oct 1894 (Book 1 p.7)… While in Apia (Samoa) we purchased some oranges and pineapple to eat on the way. But when we thought to eat them we found them as green as the ones that purchased them and so of course was not fit to eat. But you can’t fool me on green oranges again.

9 Nov 1894 (Book 1 p.8) We attended a meeting in a private residence (New Zealand) and was called upon to address the same. I occupied about 1 1/2 minutes. This was my first sermon delivered in a foreign land.

 

18 Nov 1894 (Book 1 p.10)…Bro. Folkman has a boil on the part of his person that he can’t see which makes it very painful to ride in the saddle.

6 Feb 1895 (Book 1 p.43)…And were taken in by the natives who gave us a place to sleep, but said it was too late to get us any supper, so we had to go to bed without.

10 Nov 1895 (Book 1 p.169-170)…After dinner we went to the river and baptized a fine little boy of eleven years. I officiated. Twas a beautiful place in the calm water beneath the leafy branches of a wide spreading tree, and here in this beautiful spot was a child born into the kingdom of God.

 

In the fall of 1898 (Book 3 p.113) I took Rosa May Stewart to the Manti Temple and was married Oct 14, 1898 by J.D.T. McAlaster. We were also accompanied by Joseph Hutchinson and Mary Mortensen who were also married on the same day.

Mon Oct 29 1900 (Book 4 p.35) Mother gradually grew worse…Her breathing became very difficult. We administered to her saying “Thy will be done.” Fifteen minutes later she peacefully fell asleep surrounded by her sorrowing family…God help us all to live that we may meet our angel mother again where partings are not known and where grim death never comes.

(Grover) Weds July 14, 1902 (Book 4 p.100) Hauled hay until noon when we were stopped by rain. While we were eating dinner Wallace got the cork out of a fly killer and got some of the poison which quickly began to work its deadly inroads on his system but by the blessing of the Lord he was healed through the power of administration to God the honor is due. As soon as I had administered to him the pain with which he was suffering took hold of me and made me quite ill for a time.

2 Apr 1912 (Book 5 p.56) I again did work for the dead this time for Mere Utuku, thus opening the way for their more efficient ministry on the other side and also paying in part the debt of gratitude due them for their kindness to me while I was a wanderer in a foreign land.

16 Nov 1913 (Book 5 p.72) I went to Fremont and got Mart Behunin to herd sheep. W.S. McClellan took JRS (John R. Steward) and myself in his automobile which was the first time I ever rode in one.

30 Nov 1915 Thanksgiving Day I got my car and hauled some old people to the program at the tabernacle..

28 Feb 1914 (Book 5 p.78) Priesthood Meeting and High Council Meeting. The High Council was put under covenant in regard to tithing and the word of wisdom preparatory to a general straightening out among the officers, Stake and Ward.

 

3 Apr 1915 (Book 5 p.91) Drove over to Salina where we left the team and took the train. When I arrived at Manti there I was met by Sister Annie Lowry who told me my father had a stroke that morning. I hurried up to his home and found him an object of pity, being unable to speak or move his right side. He was perfectly conscious of everything. We got him to bed and sent for the Elders to administer to him. I felt that he had come to the end of the road. Dr. Olstean waited on him and he gave us no hope… 5 Apr 1914 (Walter and Bertha came on the noon train.)

6 Apr 1915 Stayed by Father again all night. He was in considerable pain all afternoon. Sarah came about 10 p.m. he knew her although he was sinking fast and at 12:27 o’clock a.m. he passed away.

8 Apr 1915 Held a funeral service and then put the body on the train and started for home.

10 Apr 1915 The funeral was held at Loa at 11 a.m. There was a good turnout and many kind things were said of my father by the speakers. Then we laid him to rest in the grave beside my mother. And so passed away another one of the noble sons of the earth.

18 Nov 1916 (Book 5 p. 111) Loaded up potatoes and started home (from Grover.) Just before we reached Teasdale we stopped. I went some distance from the wagon. Rosa went to get out, when the team started, she was thrown under the wagon and the hind wheel passed over her body. I ran and raised her up. I thought her fatally injured. I got her into the wagon and drove to Teasdale. Got John Kiskey to bring us home in his car. Had the Dr. examine her, he thought her not seriously injured but could not tell. I watched her all night. She suffered much in her back.

19 Nov 1916 Rosa still very bad. Dr. thinks she will recover. I am thankful.

23 Apr 1917 (Book 5 p.118-119) Took Rosa, May, Arthur, Leslie, Koa and Bertha over to the Sevier River in our move from Wayne (Co.), stayed with Sarah (Miller, my sister) in Venice.

24 Apr 1917 Took Rosa to look at the farm. Left them at Vermillion…and returned to Loa.

25 Apr 1917 Loaded up the furniture to take to the Sevier. 26 Apr 1917 Started for the Sevier. I drove one team and Wallace the other. We camped at Grass Valley.

28 Jan 1921 (Book 5 p.121) There was a special stake priesthood meeting held at Richfield at which Apostle’s George F. Richards and Richard Lyman were present. Plans were submitted for the dividing of the Sevier Stake into 3 stakes. I was sorry to learn of the contemplated division because we would lose R.D. Young as our Pres. I had formed a great liking for him and did not want a change.

29 Jan 1921 I was much surprised during the early afternoon to be called to the phone and to have Apostle Richards tell me they would call on me at the hour of 4 p.m. They came and notified me that I had been chosen as the President of the North Sevier Stake.

20 Apr 1924 I was sustained as Patriarch of the Stake.

29 Apr 1924…to assist Wallace in starting away on his mission.

30 Apr 1924 Took Wallace to Salina where we bade him farewell.

6 Nov 1925 Moved to town.

14 June 1946 (Book 9 p. 181) This is Rosa’s birthday. She is 66. Getting old but is more precious to me all the time

25 Jan 1945 (Book 9 p.208) Rosa went to the city. The house is not home with Rosa gone. I spent the day roaming around.

21 Oct 1948 (Book 9 p. 176-B) on the 14th we celebrated our Golden wedding. The children were all here and went through the Temple in the forenoon. Then we had a feast…Some of the children were baptized in all there were 17 of the family in the temple. We had a wonderful time and we were sure thrilled. It was something to think about that all our family and in laws were able to get recommends to the Temple. We think they are a pretty clean bunch of kids.

11 Dec 1948 (Book 9 p.179-B)…We are comfortable in our home and very thankful for health and comfort, the Lord is good to us and we appreciate it. Rosa’s health is improved and we are very thankful for it.

31 Dec 1951 (Book 9 p.260) The last day of the year, it has passed very rapidly, the world is in a very precarious condition, as the prophets have told since the days of long ago. The future looks very dark. But the Lord is at the helm and if we do as we have been advised we need not fear.

12 Jan 1952 (Book 9 p.261) My birthday, I am 80 years old, feeling fine…

13 Jan 1952 Leslie went to Priesthood Meeting and S.S. Others of the family came to honor my natal day…We had a nice dinner and a very enjoyable time. They all returned home about 4 p.m. Just as they had all left the place a blizzard came up which gave us great anxiety for their safety…I was very much worried for their safety and made it a matter of earnest prayer. Finally I asked the Lord to give me some assurance that they were safe. After my third prayer I went to the green house to check on things. As I came out of the temple the sky was cloudy as it had been since the storm started. I was fearful that they might find the road drifted full of snow. About 15 min later as I came out of the green house to return to the temple I was amazed to see the sky was mostly free from clouds and the blue sky showing over most of it. I took it as an answer to my prayer and felt so much comforted and assured. A few hours later it closed in again and stormed most of the night.

After his death, 6 June 1953, the following thoughts were recorded in his journal by his devoted wife, Rosa May, as she attempted to complete his record for their posterity.

Impressions of Brother Lazenby as we remember him from Mrs. O. A. Penrod and Melba Allen:

He was always helping others in their troubles. We know that he was an instrument in the hands of our Father in Heaven in healing many broken hearts and in restoring health to many who sought him for blessings in their hours of bereavement, illness and need.

We appreciate the wonderful blessings that came into our lives through his administrations. We first remember him as night watchman at the temple before we came to know him better and love him and appreciate his friendship. We shall miss him at the temple and will always cherish many happy memories of our association with him. We know that he gave many wonderful patriarchal and comforting blessings. He had a great humanitarian heart, his days and energies and efforts were spent in encouraging others to live more happily and to prepare themselves to rise to a glorious resurrection. Having lost his life in the service of others and in our Heavenly Father’s work, we feel that he will be counted worthy of just such a glorious resurrection as he desired for others.

No one can estimate the number he has helped or the influence for good that he gave. He was sensitive to the promptings of our Heavenly Father. He was one of those men in whom faith in things not seen, comes very close to certain knowledge. Yes his testimony of the Gospel was surely an inspiration to young and old…

(The following poem was written as a tribute, probably by Sisters Penrod and Allen and was read at his funeral.)

A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF BROTHER MORONI LAZENBY

Down the pathway of life they started

A man and a maiden fair;

It was a beautiful path full of roses,

Without any doubt or cares.

Arm in arm they traveled–partners–

Along the broad highway,

The sun shone brightly and the birds

Sang sweeter every day.

Then they came to an uneven pathway;

That proved difficult to tread,

Making them more dependent upon

The star of love overhead.

Sometimes they grew tired and weary,

Oft-times a little bit sad;

Feeling doubts, they wondered if enough

Faith and courage they had.

To meet the problems and worries

Of raising their family;

Of the daily tasks of livin

With the promise of joy to be.

But each time their load seemed heavy,

Their love for each other grew,

And they sought their Heavenly Father

Who blessed them with faith anew.

God understood their every need,

He saw when their hearts knew grief

And sent his comforting spirit

With its solacing relief.

And when their souls knew thankfulness,

 They praised their Father’s name

 They welcomed with deep gratitude,

 Each new blessing that came.

To fill their hearts and home with joys

that only parents know

Who rear a group of boys and girls,

And on each one bestow,

Their tender care, their guiding hand,

Their wisdom and their love;

Who builds for them a home below

On that pattern from above.

The days passed by, their children

grew toward maturity.

Still arm in arm, they travel on

Building for eternity.

Their children loved and honored them

And made their life complete;

They knew the joy and the respect

of grandchildren so sweet.

Oh precious were their family ties,

Their joy increased each year,

As great grandchildren came along

To fill their hearts with cheer.

Their days together grew more sweet,

They found life’s glorious song

Re-echoing in the crowding years.

As they went journeying on.

 From those bright days when first they walked

Together down life’s way,

They loved the Gospel’s thrilling truths

And lived them day by day.

They truly labored valiantly

In God’s eternal cause,

For they realize the joy that comes

Through God’s eternal laws.

There was no call that came to them,

 That they did not believe

 That God had found them worthy

 And anxious to receive.

 They ministered to all who came

 Within their loving care

 The poor, the sick, the sorrowing ones

 Who had a cross to bear.

  All these, as well as many more

 Can testify today

 That Brother and Sister Lazenby

 Blessed them in many a way.

 The inspiration that they gave,

 The faith they kindled bright

 Their testimonies of the truth

 Were pleasing in God’s holy sight.

So that to crown their aging years,

 He called on them to be,

 True saviors in His faithful flock,

 In His great ministry.

 Many precious years they labored

 Within the hallowed walls

 Of Manti Temple, where they knew

 The supreme joy that falls.

 On those who dedicate their lives

 Unto the master’s cause.

 They served with love and sacrifice

 And taught God’s holy laws.

 A sweet peace sanctified their hearts

 A greater joy they knew;

 Their sphere of touching lives for good

In vast proportion grew.

Then illness came, its dreadful hand

Fore-shadowed darker days,

Their temple work came to an end

And they walked in different ways.

But still together arm in arm,

As in the days of yore;

They found they’d journeyed side by side

For fifty years and more.

But now today, at last has come

The parting of their ways,

For Brother Lazenby has gone on

To meet his friends of former days.

To see his Savior and his God.

Who greeted him we’re sure

With out-stretched loving arms and words

Of “Welcome home” once more.

Their separation will be brief,

For mortal years fly by;

And Sister Lazenby knows that he

Will be waiting there on High.

The loving ties they forged on earth

Will draw them to each other,

And there, someday, they’ll meet again

And journey on together.

(Book 9 last page) President L.R. Anderson of the Manti Temple made this remark as he looked at him in his casket, as he turned to me he said, “Aren’t we glad he did not die.” And I have pondered this remark over many times and it has been an encouragement to me in the thought he was true to the faith in all things and did not fail to do everything that was desired of him.” signed Rosa M. Lazenby