Thomas Ray Gledhill
Feb. 13, 1883 - Deb 18, 1955
by William Ray McKnight

 
Ancestors & Descendants of Thomas Ray Gledhill -starting with his son, Preston Gledhill

Wife - Rebecca May Eames - Dec 28,1886-July 25, 1955

I, Thomas Ray Gledhill, was born in Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah February 13, 1883.  My father, Thomas Gledhill, was born in England and came to Utah when he was 12 years old.  My mother, Lillie Belle Ivie, was born at Mt. Pleasant, Utah.  When I was 1 year old, my parents moved to Vermillion, Sevier Country, Utah, and here I lived on a farm until the year 1900.  The first ten years of our time there we lived on a farm at the foot of the large, dark volcanic mountain just one mile north of the Rocky Ford Dam [on the] Sevier River.  For about ten years we lived in a one room log house, 28 by 40 ft.  Here, four of my brothers were born.  The room was partitioned off into bedrooms with Calico.  We soon outgrew this house and built a nice three room family house and used the old one for a granary.

            I was baptized by Peter Dastrup when I was 8 years old, just below the river bridge at Sigurd, Utah and confirmed by my Bishop Peter Gottfredson.  When 12 years old [I] was ordained a deacon, later a teacher and priest.  I remember with pleasure the loads of wood I hauled and chopped up for the widows and with what pride I administered the sacrament.

            When one tries to recall an incident that occurred when about 8 years of age his command of words seems a poor means to convey the thoughts of feeling he had at the time; for I remember very distinctly the wonderful comfort and assurance I received from this dream.  Nothing that has occurred in my life before or since has thrilled my soul, as did this incident.  I went to bed one beautiful summer night.  The bed was on the shed overhead of the cow corral.  In the dream I saw a light off to the east in the heavens.  It gradually became closer and brighter until I beheld the heavenly personages surrounded with light that equaled the noon-day sun.  Yet it was pleasant to look at.  The personage stood above the shed suspended in the air while heavenly voices sang the hymn “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer.”  I cannot describe the joy and ecstasy that filled my soul as I heard the three verses of the hymn sung by unseen personages.  When the hymn was finished, the light gathered about my visitor and he vanished into the heavens.  I knew the words of the hymn when I awoke the next morning and I can yet feel the joy that thrilled me that night.

            The following dream was given me as a boy of about ten years of age:

            In contrast to the beauty and joy of my previous manifestation, I saw in this dream the opposite force and power in the world.  I saw in this dream, while sleeping in an upstairs room in a farm house three miles north of Sigurd where we grew up (six of us boys), a man, the leader of many, [with] a hundred or two others following him.  I saw this leader who I immediately supposed to be the Devil with his evil angels enter the gate leading to the house of our only neighbor.  This evil personage took Mr. _______, threw him to the ground, then ran and caught their baby child, put it under his arms and marched over to our house about two blocks further south.  They entered our house and he, the leader, grabbed the brother next to me and the third younger than I, and taking one under each arm started for the door.

            The family all attacked him furiously and succeeded in getting the older brother from him.  They closed the door just as he was about to exit with the younger brother.  The fight and tug-of-war continued, first one side and then the other gaining the advantage.  Finally the devil seemed to get the advantage to the extent that he had the brother almost out of the house.  All had become discouraged except my grandfather who had braced his feet against the wall beneath the window.  He held manfully to his hold on the legs of my brother, which made the rest of us take renewed courage.  Seeing that grandfather could hold his own alone surely we could do something to help, so we again took up the fight and succeeded in getting my brother entirely into the house and closed the door.  The Devil and his followers left us and we rejoiced exceedingly.

            At this point I awoke and pondered on the dream for about one half hour or so and then I fell asleep again and dreamed the dream exactly the same as I had before.  The next morning at the breakfast table I related my dream to the family.  It was passed with a comment or two and I forgot about it for the time being.

            About two weeks later our neighbor, the man I saw the evil personage trip to the ground, took suddenly ill and was bedfast for ten days.  When he recovered, his child, the one mentioned above, took ill and died after a few days of sickness.  Soon after this my two brothers, referred to above, took sick with Scarlet Fever.  The younger boy became so ill that for days he never ate or drank any nourishment whatever.  For two days he did not move, in fact we all gave him up never to recover.  One evening my grandfather offered a remarkable prayer in his, the sick child’s behalf, and soon after this had been done the boy asked for water.  After this he slowly but surely recovered, and is a well and living man today.

            The dream was not thought of until the brother was recovering when to our minds it seemed clear that the dream was a warning or prophecy of serious events that were shortly to come to pass.  The dream has always been a sacred one to me and also a great blessing, for I had seen and felt the atmosphere of the evil one and I have never doubted his existence or his power; yet he was repelled by the command of the priesthood of God.

            We boys helped on the farm and herded cows during the summer.  In the winter we went to school.  First we went to Sigurd in a little one room frame building.  We often rode a horse (the distance of this being nearly three miles).  Later we went to Vermillion school, which was held in the meeting house.

            Here on the banks of the deal old Sevier River, I spent the days of my childhood; not spot of ground is more dear or sacred to me now.  Here I first learned to pray, first learned of God, and where the principles of the gospel were made known to me, and received the lesser priesthood (a deacon and a priest).  I remember with pride different ways that I magnified this priesthood and learned my first lessons.

            The first time I really prayed with all my heart (I had often said daily a somewhat routine prayer with little particular meaning to me) [was] upon this occasion:  As I remember it now it was while my father was in England on a mission and my mother with six boys, the youngest a six week baby, rented our farm to a good southern brother but who was very quick tempered.  I soon got in bad with him.  This time I had lost the ring of keys, which locked and unlocked his house and granary.  This good brother had had trouble with his horses that morning and was behind in getting his grain planted.  He came to the house and demanded the keys, which he had let me have three hours before.  I had to admit that the keys were lost and I had hunted for them in vain for over an hour.  His anger was kindled to white heat; soon my mother and I were both crying.  I finally went out behind the shed and prayed earnestly and with all my heart for the first time in my life.  I was ten years old and had been taught to pray all my life but now my soul was troubled and my mother was in tears.  I was conscious that it was all my fault.  In less than five minutes I found the keys.  A simple insignificant incident, one might say, but to me it meant a great deal.  I had sought God and had found Him and the lesson never left me.  From that day on I knew God was my friend.

            At 15 years of age I went to school at Richfield, Utah for four years (6^th, 7^th, 8^th grades and 1 year of high school).  During this time I spent one winter as chore boy for Dr. H.K. Neill.  At the end of the last year at school, half the boys quit school and before it was out I quit and went out on the desert to herd sheep.  Being the oldest child in a large family, I felt it my duty to leave home and rustle a job for myself.  I was sent on a trip to the Milford desert to help with a herd of sheep.  This was a distance of about 100 miles from home and I had to go horseback alone.  I got lost on this desert without food and was almost famished for water; night and darkness found me in great despair.  There was nothing to do but pray and oh how I did pray to God for help.  I was lead by a small light to a sheep camp at midnight and from there I found the herd of sheep which I was hunting, but not until God had tested my faith again by losing my horse and finding him after a very earnest prayer.

            After five weeks I was no longer needed at the sheep camp so I took the money, which I had received from here and went to Clear Creek, a coal-mining camp, hunting for work.  I was only 18 years old and because of this I was turned down everywhere I asked for work.  I wasn’t a man yet.  Finally and luckily I got work chopping timber in the mountainous part of the mine, by contract, at the rate the men averaged.  I chopped for one month and made ½ as much again as the men who worked by days pay.  After this I was called a man, but did not make as much.

            While working at the mine, ray had his first experience administering to the sick.  Clear Creek was a typical mining town of the day with its residents coming from many different walks of life.  This resulted in there being very few LDS people in the area.

            One of our sisters took suddenly ill.  There were only three of us in the camp who held the priesthood of an elder, and we were called to administer to her.  She got no better and we administered to her the second time.  She was still very ill and suffering great pain.  We elders stepped into a room to consult as to what we should do.  We all had a depressed feeling and felt that our prayers were of no avail, and we felt that there was the spirit of darkness in and about the house.  Finally, the oldest elder, who had been on a mission, said that it was his belief that if we asked all unbelievers to leave the house and just the husband remain, that we might be more successful.  We held a little prayer at her bedside before anointing her with oil.  This time we all felt the power of God and the disease was rebuked, and the evil influence which we had felt before when the house was full of unbelievers was rebuked and banished from the house and the sister achieved relief almost immediately and her recovery to her health occurred in a very few days.  I have always remembered the difference in the two influences, which were with us in the house of this sick patient.

            Before I left I promised my mother that I would not work under ground if I could get work on the outside.  At last I secured work shoveling coal in a closed boxcar.  The coal from the mine was dumped in the center of the car.  An Italian had the easier lower end while I was to fill the upper end of the car.  This was the hardest manual work I ever did before or since.  The only English my Italian partner could say was, “hurry up, young fellow!”  For three weeks I not only worked hard physically but mentally and spiritually.  These are some of the questions that came to my mind very forcibly during the three weeks in which he was my only companion during working hours:

            I observed that my dark-skinned neighbor could shovel as much coal or as little more than perhaps I could.  I had no advantage over him on a dollar and cent standpoint.  The only thing I could do that people would pay me for was to work with a pick and shovel and do farm work.  My father and five brothers could well care for the small forty acre farm which we owned.  Finally I thought it out and then and there I made the greatest ad most important resolution of my life.  I resolved to go to school and learn something hat this dark skinned Italian, which they called a Dago, could not do.  And every shovel of coal that I pitched I gritted my teeth and said, “I will go to school and put myself in another class.”  This was the first and only real resolution I had ever made in which every cell in my body responded to the resolution.

            Each Sunday I would climb the mountain to complete seclusion and at the foot of a great pine tree I opened my soul up to God in the second epochal prayer of my life, and I most solemnly covenanted with God that if he could help I would go to school and devote my time and talent to his services.

            The three weeks of shoveling coal in a boxcar was a great turning point in my life.  From then on I always had one object in view.  It was clear and well defined.  Up to this time I had been somewhat shiftless and undecided with no real purpose in life, but from then on I knew where I was going.  If my resolution had been less definite, I am afraid I would have weakened under the hardships I had in securing my education.

            It was my first summer away from home and how homesick I was.  It seemed impossible for me t go to Salt lake for school without going home for a day or two at least, and yet I was unwilling to spare the money to return home.  So I decided to walk over the mountain from Clear Creek to Mt. Pleasant afoot and alone, the distance of thirty to thirty-five miles to save railroad fare.  Over mountains and trail that I had never before seen, I traveled and accordingly arrived in Mt. Pleasant very much exhausted.  From here I took a train to Salina and walked from there to Vermillion, my home town, a distance of ten miles rather than pay railroad fare with money that I had decided should put me in school.

            I might have weakened later when I went to Salt Lake City had it not been for the experience in the boxcar, for when I went with my father to this city I had only seventy-five dollars to go to school on that year, and I knew that I must do chores for my board.  I hunted for three days for a place to do chores but with no success.  My father by this time was discouraged and said, “My boy, you had better give it up this year [1903] and go home.  My railroad ticket is up and I must go home.”  I thanked my father but firmly said: “I will never go home until I have graduated from the L.D.S. University.”  I therefore went to the University and paid $40.00 of my $75.00 for tuition.  I could have received a year’s tuition for ten dollars but upon asking the prices of the various courses decided that I would take the forty dollar course, as I wanted the best.  This put me in the business department of the school.  At this time I had not an idea what I was going to study; I only knew I was going to get an education.  I soon found myself and changed from business to the high school course.

            After registering in the school I continued my search for a place to do chores and for my board.  At the end of the sixth day I found a place three miles west of Salt Lake City where I milked from twelve to fourteen cows night and morning and rode a bicycle or drove a horse and buggy to school.  How happy I was, no one could tell who had not spent six days in a big city where they knew not a living soul.

Some time later I got an ideal place three blocks from school where I had to milk only one cow and tend to a furnace.  At this place I slept and studied in a barn in the next room to the cow. I ate my meals in the outside kitchen but these people were kind to me and I was very thankful that the Lord had opened the way, as I always knew he would for me to continue my school.

I secured a janitorial job in which I was paid $18.00 a month.  This job I held until I graduated, and at the end of the first year of schooling I had thirty dollars, five dollars less than when I started school and my tuition was paid.

The Lord blessed me with some of the best friends I have ever had among the students and among the faculty of that school.  This is shown by the fact that during my senior year I was elected president of the student body of over 1000 students.  When the election ballots were counted and my friends found out I had won they found me sweeping Barret Hall dressed in my janitorial clothes.  They carried me on their shoulders about the building.  It is rather singular that I should hold the highest and lowest positions in the school, but I am proud of the fact.

            Someone has said that to put a man in public office is like lifting a stick partly buried in the ground, that the dirt (faults) that cling to it might the better be seen. …When I first entered school I looked upon the president of the student society as a person extremely favored.  In fact I attributed to him the rarest of qualities….But little did I expect that it would be my privilege.  How different were the realities of this position, to the office created at first in my imagination….I now became the object for fault finding.  I found that not all were my friends; but at the same time I found those who were my friends in the highest and best sense of the term.

Later I lived in the Sugar House ward doing chores for Samuel Paul, a civil engineer.  I lived in his barn and ate my meals in his shanty, but they were kind and helpful to me for which I shall be thankful for.

I sold shoes on Friday and Saturday nights in Robinson Bros. shoe store and distributed the Tribune papers over a route for two winters riding a bicycle.

While attending L.D.S.U. ray kept a journal of weekly entries.  His entries were almost exclusively made on Sundays and consisted of what he did on that day or the previous Sunday.  It is unfortunate, therefore, that we do not know much about his school activities during the week.  On the other hand, his journal entries provide significant insight into his mind and heart.  The following journal entries are well worth presenting. ^[1]

                                    My Aim & Motto ^[2]

“Have a purpose (aim) in life, and having it throw into it such strength of mind and body as God has given you.”   

Learyle

“Be ashamed to die without having gained for humanity some victory.”    

Horace Mann

As I understand it I am a son of God in reality and am therefore entitled to the father’s love and assistance.  Again, I believe that I came to this earth to fulfill a certain mission.  My aim in life is to honorably fulfill this mission.

It is my desire and aim to profit by the mistakes of others (as well as myself), not to devote all of my energies to raising heifer cows, or [a] better horse, but to study, expound and practice those laws, which if practiced will develop and make the human race better.  My earnest prayer is that my guardian will lead my step alright.

What I desire most is: ^[3]

1^st To live worthy of the companionship of the Spirit of God, and

2^nd To be strong enough to obey its promptings.

In other words, to live so that each day I will be conscious of the fact that the animal part of me is becoming defeated by the reasoning and moral part of my makeup.

Thoughts which urged me to do my duty; to make something of myself. ^[4]

1^st The fact that I am the oldest member of my father’s family.  If I did wrong they would take license.  And realizing I have no right to influence their character for evil, and because I desire very much that they have every advantage and encouragement in living for the right.

2^nd the fact that sometime in the future I will have a help-mate to enjoy life with me and to be a counselor to me in all important matters.  And for this position I would consider none but the greatest and noblest.  Because I know it would be base in me to aspire to such heights without preparing myself to be worthy of the companionship of such a queen.

3^rd Because my parents whom I love and especially because of the prayers and efforts of my mother, to have e grow up in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  I could not in justice to them, disregard their earnest pleadings.

4^th because I have an inborn faith in the hereafter with blessings predicated upon virtue, honesty, and true manhood in all its phases; on the other hand, eternal damnation or remorse of conscience if these higher laws are violated.  Further, because I desire to repay God for His kindness to me in the past, and because as man is now as God once was, and as God now is man may become.

5^th  Because lives of great men in the past are continually reminding me of what I may be.

6^th The inspiration which comes to one when in the society of great and good people, especially when this society is of the opposite sex.

7^th  Because of the promptings of the Spirit of God in me, the same spirit that every person has.  Beside this, I have received the gift of the Holy Ghost which is to lead me into all truth and to constantly urge me to do my duty and shun that which is evil.

Professor’s Quote on Wealth

Among other great aspects of life, and one upon which I have often thought, is the seeming injustice to those that deserve happiness, wealth, reputation and all else that is desirable.  These people very often are the water carriers to the obtuse, profane, and immoral; these often search in vain for employment while thousands who are inferior in every aspect have fat incomes.  At times it seems that good old mother earth is partial and unfair.  However there is consolation in the thought so beautifully expressed by Prof. Clark “that in things temporal man has no power, but in things spiritual man is captain of his own fate and architect of his own soul.”  Be it as it may there are hundreds of persons who cannot be appreciated  because, though on earth, they are in a higher sphere to there associates.

Thoughts on Overcoming One’s Self ^[5]

I have often heard it said that “he who conquers himself is greater than he who conquers a city.”  But never did I realize as I do now, the meaning of these words.  Never before have I found such a powerful enemy as I find in myself and have found in myself for the last few months and more especially the last few days.  However these bitter hours have helped much to teach me these two great truths:

1^st Man is placed here on earth to conquer himself; to conquer his animal or mortal propensities.

2^nd The only way to get rid of unwelcome thoughts is to crowd them out by more desirable ones.  [Do[ not sit down and expect them to leave you.  Work body and mind so vigorously that nothing unwelcome can possibly enter.

21^st Birthday Entry ^[6]

Just 21 years ago I was born.  My thoughts naturally go back over my life and into the future.  Questions like these are upon my mind:  You are a man according to the laws of the land, but are you a man measured by the laws of God?  Are you satisfied with the accomplishments in your life?  Have you a clear conscience?  And have you a noble desire that will lead you to success?  I am forced to admit that not all these questions can be answered to my full satisfaction.  But on the whole I have a clear conscience, a firm testimony of the gospel for which I would rather die an ignominious death than to lose it, and a desire to make the world better for my having lived in it.  My greatest desire is that my faith and testimony may increase with the years and that this noble desire may actuate me to the extent that I may be able to fulfill the full measure of my creation here upon the earth.  This I ask the Lord to grant me in the name of my Savoir Jesus Christ.

23^rd Birthday Entry ^[7]

Today I am 23 years old, and as I review the past there [is] thought of regret, disappointment, pride, success, and satisfaction that replace each other in rapid succession.  But they all give room for the questions what will this year bring?  Will it be as happy and sad as the last.  Am I a better student, a better neighbor, a better son, and a better Christian than I was one year ago?

I welcome the new year trusting that I may receive divine power enough (in the coming year) to make what sorrows and difficulties I may meet stepping stones above which I may rise above my carnal weaknesses and see more clearly into the eternal future—into the depths of the human existence, and more rigidly obey the eternal laws of my great Creator.

Ripped Pants ^[8]

Six o’clock found me in Sugar House to evening meeting.  However the speakers were very dry.  In a restless mood I shoved myself along the bench on which I sat to say a word to a lady friend whom I had just noticed.  But fate was against me, for in this attempt I was greatly chagrined by tearing my trousers for not less than six inches.  After the meeting I walked home with Bella and Cathie.  Several times on the way they asked me why I was so quiet.  I simply replied that I was thinking and murmuring something about my pantaloons.  One of the girls suggested that she was a dressmaker.  Acting upon the spur of the moment I ventured to laugh and to engage her services to amend my wounded trousers.

The idea of being a doctor came to me gradually.  First. My grandfather Col. John L. Ivie, whom I dearly loved, was a bone setter and wanted to be a doctor himself, and said he would be one if he were me.  Then as I thought of all the things I could do, nothing I could do other than this would render more service to mankind.  I then felt that my nature was a sympathetic and helpful nature that would fit me, in a measure, to render comfort and strengthen those in distress.  I did not know or see how I could accomplish my ambition but finally I made up my mind that God had always helped me.  At the end of the second year at L.D.S.U. I had decided to become and M.D. with God’s help.

Reasons for Becoming and M.D. ^[9]

1.      I have a natural liking for physiology, anatomy, embryology, and other branches of medicine.

2.      Because the body is the instrument through which the mind and soul is developed.  Consequently, when I learn how to keep well and purify my body I also learn the underlying principles of my mental and soul growth.

3.      Because in studying the human body I am studying God and his masterpiece of creation.

4.      Because my religion tells me that I will have this body for time and eternity and as I lay it down I shall take it up.  I desire the best for myself and others.

5.      because I see anew questionable characters robbing and deceiving the people; men who do not hold the priesthood but practice in their own strength.  In other words, I see the great need of a conscientious and God fearing man, one who will exert his knowledge to elevate humanity rather that his purse.  I hope to be such a man.

6.      because it furnishes a good means for a livelihood at the [same] time giving great opportunities for doing good.

7.      An because after much thought, counsel, and prayer, I felt impressed to follow this line of study.

When I mentioned my determination to two of my beloved professors who I did greatly admire and respect, they in good faith said a lot of discouraging things to me.  They said I would lose my faith in God is I studied under certain godless professors which they mentioned.  They advised me to study for a teacher in a church school instead of medicine.  I was disturbed in my feelings so I called at President Joseph F. Smith’s office for advice.  I’d have rather give up my ambitions to become a doctor than to lose my faith in the Church and my God.  Brother Spencer, I believe, asked me what I wanted and I told him briefly the mission I was on.  He shortly returned and said that President Smith was busy for one hour and suggested that I see President Antone H. Lund and do as he advised.  I put the matter up to President Lund.  He fatherly put his hand on my shoulder and said, “My good brother, the Church needs good LDS doctors.  You go right ahead and study medicine if you desire and God bless you.”  I left as happy as a child and never hesitated another minute from then on.  Later when I studied medicine I never saw a thing that ever disturbed my faith a particle.

Thoughts on Marriage ^[10]

Many times I have had people say, “You have a high ambition.  If you don’t get married and spoil it all, you ought to have fair success.  For I can tell you one thing; if you get married all your ‘air castles’ will burst.”

I have often thought of these statements.  For I could not understand how it was possible for a man to have a noble ambition thwarted by taking on the most beautiful of God’s creations to him as an advisor , a counselor and a helpmate in life.  If this companion is, as she should be, the embodiment of purity, virtue and true womanhood, it looks to me as if it would be as impossible for her to be anything but a blessing or an incentive to noble deeds as it would be for sparks not to fly upward.

Three Constituents of Every Good Wife

1^st        and foremost, she must be religious.  By this I mean she must have that love for the principles of Christ that will actuate every avenue of her life.

2^nd        She should look upon true motherhood as the greatest duty and privilege of womanhood.

3^rd        She must have a strong body and an educated soul.

Another blessing that came to me while attending school in Salt Lake City I will mention.  At the close of a priesthood meeting which was taught by Brother John Wells, I walked home with Bishop Thomas Clawson.  He kindly placed his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Brother Gledhill, why don’t you go to the temple?  You need the help of and the blessing of having your own endowments, and I will give you a recommend if you would like to go.”  To this unexpected remark I gladly replied that I would be delighted to go to the House of the Lord, but a I was not going to get married, or had not been called on a mission, I did not know it was my privilege.  I have always felt that Bishop Clawson was inspired and have often thanked the Lord for the blessing and the support that I got through a better understanding of the gospel by going to the House of the Lord.

Discouragement & Guidance ^[11]

Longfellow has said “that into each life some rain must fall, some days must be cold and dark and dreary.”  I know of no other three words that better express my feeling at this time.  I have spent six days walking the hard and burning streets of this city in vain endeavor for employment.  I have burdened and embarrassed my friends by soliciting their aid.  After spending a night that should have been one of rest and refreshment, I got up more tired for the effort.  Soon after I arose I telephoned [only] to be cut off [from] the last hope of work I had entertained during the night.  I then tried to eat a three cent meal for which I gave my lat cent, but part of it refused to be swallowed.  I had written home for money, but I needed some at once so I resolved to “soak” my watch for money.  Under ordinary occasions I would have received comfort and support from Joe [Harris], but realizing as I did that he had kept me for two weeks and that I was still owing him money, made my sour spirit bitter.  I wonder for what purpose the Lord had in the suffering of his children.  But again when I thought of how much more bitter my lot could be if I were in a similar condition with a wife and children, I concluded that my lot was not so bad after all.  Still, I trust in the Lord and believe the experience will be for my good.

As discouraged as Ray was, his fortunes rapidly began to change.  His search for employment led him to Preston, Idaho where he worked for a man named David Eames and met his daughter May.  His feelings are well expressed in the next journal entry dated November 1905.

I now thank heaven that I did not get a job.  It seemed God willed that I got to Idaho, and now I am glad to thank Him; I see why I should go there.  Never was a trip more successful than this one.  In the future may I take courage from this incident, and look to the future with more faith.

After graduating from the L.D.S.U., my dearest friend, Joe (Joseph B. Harris) and I landed in Preston, Idaho looking for work.  We had a letter of introduction from Thomas Greaves, better known as Uncle Tom.  We helped him Saturday in his store and Sunday went with him to Sunday School and there I saw for the first time the beautiful little girl who (two years later) became my wife.  Uncle Tom made us acquainted with David Cullen Eames and his good wife and family including their daughter, May.

Joe Harris gave the following account of Ray and May’s first meeting at Sunday School:

‘Your dad and I were sitting on a bench facing the east.  I was on the very end of the bench and could see out a bit further than your dad could from where he sat.  All of a sudden a beautiful little girl came into view.  Even before she entered the building I said to him, ‘I want you to keep you hands off this young lady who is now entering the building.  She is mine and I am hers.’  Your father answered, ‘No I will be ______ if you do.  That girl is going to be mine.’  Well before I could make a move when Sunday School was out, that rascal hopped up on the stand and asked Uncle Tom to give him an introduction to that little lady over there.  The next day we went out to the farm and worked for about five days.  I think they paid us $1.50 a day and board.  I don’t know how hard he worked in the hay, but every moment on the side he was spending all his time with her.  He almost forgot that I was anywhere around, he was so absorbed and wrapped up in that little wisp of a girl.”

Ray wrote about the influence of two girls in his life.  These girls, whom he dearly admired, were Eva Evans (who later married a fine young man named LeGrand Richards) and May Eames.  One particular trait that ray admired in May was that she had qualities of both city and country girls.  He described Eva first and then wrote the following paragraph about May:

Attributes of May ^[12]

She seems to be as nature made, natural, honest, plain, unaffected, affectionate, loving the visible beauty in nature more than the written beauty.  Her soul like Eva’s has been filled from infancy with the love of Jesus, her soul is as sweet and fresh as the most beautiful flowers.  Words are inadequate to compare her to.  She is honesty and virtue personified, charity and love made visible.  My joy is unspeakable great when I am by her side, and when I am permitted to nestle her in my arms and feel the holy influences of her soul.

It is a wonderful and beautiful story, our courtship, that I have lived again and again in memory.  How I grew to love her until she was almost holy and sacred; so pure and holy was my love for her that I could hardly study or do aught but to hold her in the center of my brain and adore her.  We didn’t go to the park, but often went to a farm, two miles north of Preston.  That summer and the next two Christmas holidays form the most romantic and the sweetest days of my life.

Poem About May ^[13]

                                                Something to look to

                                                In the struggles of life.

                                                When life seems all darkness

                                                And nothing but strife.

                                                Something to work for

                                                Something to protect.

                                                Something to hope for

                                                When life seems a wreck.

                                                Something to pray for

                                                Something to sustain.

                                                Something to hope for

                                                In life’s solemn mein.

                                                Something to hope for

                                                Something to love.

                                                Something to look to

                                                On earth and above.

                                                Something to hold to

                                                At home or away.

                                                Something to bless

                                                My own little May.

                                                Thus sing I of my noble prize

                                                With love and beauty in her eyes.

                                                And look someday to be

                                                Her husband proud and true.

Finally after two years acquaintance I persuaded her to become my wife.  I led her to the altar in God’s holy temple where we were sealed for time and eternity on July 18, 1907 at Logan, Utah.  My wife and I spent our honeymoon at Bear Lake and later at Fish Lake.  After a short visit at Vermillion and Preston, we left together for Chicago.

While in Chicago we had many ups and downs.  We moved five times in about six months, being run out because we were Mormons.  Other times because of rats and cockroaches.  However, my good wife was 100% loyal.  I took a fever for three weeks in which she nursed me back to health.

Young Married Life ^[14]

In my single life I looked forward to married life with great hopes, picturing it (as I did in my courtship), as a time or condition of heaven on earth to continually be with the girl I loved.  I fancied it would be all I could ask for.  I imagined that sin would be much farther from me.  For I supposed that my little darling had not faults of any importance, and to be with her so much I could not do anything that was very wrong.

Things, however, are not as I fancied.  I find the little girl that I so loved (and still love) is human in every sense of the word, with faults similar to my own though not so many.  I find that married life is not all sunshine, and that it [is] just as easy to do wrong as it was before I got married.  My unreasonable impatience with my wife’s youth and great lack of experience do not always leave me in the best humor.  I find as before that I have my little “ups” and “downs,” moments of sunshine and then some cloudy weather.  In some respects I am a little disappointed in married life.  But not withstanding all these statements I would much rather be married than single.

The trouble seems to be that I wanted and expected married life to have some saving power in it which would keep me good natured, prevent my thinking evil thoughts, etc., without any particular effort on my part.  It is not so.  God has ordained, it seems, that we must fight the battles of temptation and carnal instincts of the flesh on the man alone.  I am not well satisfied with myself in my married life as I would like to be so far.  I have no one to blame but myself.  However, I still have faith in myself and in my wife.  Weak and mortal as we are, we can successfully meet all the conditions of life with God’s divine aid.

As an excuse for the above in behalf of myself let me say I had no sisters and an almost super-human mother.  I expected more than reason would warrant.  I look forward in the future for brighter and more satisfactory results, and in weakness and humility ask God to bless me.

On June 17, 1908 our darling baby came to cheer and bless us in our struggles.  We were living at the Leman Flat, 2323 S. Wabash Ave. [when] she was born.  Never was a child more welcome and appreciated that our first born, Ora May.  Just before she was born, Ora’s grandma came from Preston and stayed with us for a month or two.

While a student at the Northwestern University I often had a chance to defend our church and people.  Dr. Mix, secretary of the faculty and a very fine man, called me into his office twice to talk about the Book of Mormon.  I gave him one with my compliments which he read and commented to me on after.  I was always proud to be a Mormon and to defend our people.  Proud indeed was I when on June 14, 1909 I received my “sheepskin” diploma entitling me to practice medicine.  My parents had come to Chicago to witness my graduation exercises.  After passing the Utah State Board, we located in Richfield, Utah on July 23, 1909.

Mrs. Gledhill and I were attending a ward social one night, I was on the floor, dancing happy and unsuspecting of any harm to my family when I was told by the Spirit of God to go home.  I heard no voices, yet my impression would not have been more distinct had I actually heard a voice.  As I had already engaged a partner for the next dance, I started to dance.  When I took the first step I was again told to go home.  This time there was a shock similar to the touching of an electric current that went through my whole body with such power that I stopped dancing, asked my partner to excuse me and told her that I had been told to go home by an unseen something.  I went in haste to my wife and said, “Mother we must go home.”  As the dance had only been going a little while she replied, “What do you mean?  I never knew of you going home in the middle of a dance before.”  I replied, ‘I don’t know mother, but I have been told twice to go home.  Will you go with me?”  As we approached our residence three blocks distance from the amusement hall we could hear our baby crying and sobbing in a hoarse quivering voice.  “Daddy, Daddy!”  And as I ran into the room I saw our baby standing in front of an open window.  The weather was at zero.  His older sister who was tending him was asleep and he was so cold and exhausted from crying that I doubt not that he would have frozen to death had I not been almost forced by the Spirit to go home at once.  I picked him up and we wrapped him in warm blankets.  His mother and I knelt in prayer and thanked God for his kindness and blessings.

I have taken considerable pleasure in trying to ranch at Black Knols.  A life-long longing to be near the soil and handling livestock, together with finding summer employment for my boys …it acts as a vacation to me and mellows the burdens of life and takes my mind off sickness and disease.  I am sure [it] adds to my health and quiets my nerves.  As my nerves grow worse, I sort of like to [have] a restful retreat from the routine of life.  My horse, my dog, my gun, my cows in the meadow, the ducks and geese, are satisfying to my eyes. ^[15]

Ray practiced medicine in Richfield for 45 years.  He has recorded many experiences and achievements regarding his career.  Most of the experiences that Ray recorded concerning his practice were faith promoting in nature.  Some of his accomplishments and stories are here presented in his own words:

I have met personally most of the big medical and surgical men in the U.S. and a few from Europe.  Locally I have been County Physician since 1909, almost half of that time (also as) City Physician.  I was one of the first doctors in the state to operate lights and electricity for treatment, was one of the three who drafted the constitution and by-laws for the first body of doctors in the state, and [to] advocate physiological measures other than surgery and medicine.  I read a paper before its first meeting on the value of electro coagulation of disease tissue.  I was the first charter member and the first president of Central Utah Medical Society, and was D. & R.G.W.R.R. Surgeon and War Veteran’s Bureau examiner during and since the war.  As I recall, I had about the sixth automobile in this valley, but not until I had driven a horse and buggy all over the valley and mountains for several years and tussled through storms and snow-bound lands at all hours of the night.  I have made many a trip which endangered my health and life when I knew there was no financial reward, but I have felt sure God would bless me, and he has abundantly done so.

In the course of my services to the sick as a physician I have often seen the hand of God through the elders of the Church.  One of the many occurred last week when I was called from an evening party to the hospital.

The nurse told me that the patient had been vomiting for thee days 9since her operation).  That she had had Morphine several times with no relief.  The patient looked up at me pleadingly and said, “Dr., I can’t stand this pain and vomiting any longer, you must do something.”  After looking her over I replied, “Sister, all I can do is increase the dose of opiate you are taking..”  I gave this order and was about to leave when she turned to me and said, “Dr., will you please administer to me?”  I called a nearby brother who anointed her and I offered a prayer of faith on her behalf and sealed the anointing..  the next morning she greeted me and said, “Within five minutes after you took your hands off my head, the great thirst and dryness of my mouth was changed to a moist normal condition.  I vomited no more and slept most of the night without any medicine.  I know it was through the power of the priesthood that I was relieved.”

A young mother sick with her first confinement had labored long and did not call help until the morning.  On arriving at her bedside I examined her and found a prolapsed cord with no pulsation and a cross birth.  This to me meant the baby was not alive.  I told the good mother I would have to put her to sleep and deliver her baby.  She seemed worried and said, “Oh, if I could only be administered to before you start, but all the elders I know are away to Salt Lake.  I could go through the trial with that assurance.”  She was a stranger to me and a short resident of the town.  I told her that I was a Bishop’s counselor and would be glad to administer to her, which I did, assisted by her young husband.  While sealing the anointing I was prompted to promise her that she should give birth to a living baby; that it should grow and be a blessing unto her.  I hesitated for I felt sure that the baby was dead.  I stammered and could not say anything, but I finally made her this promise, after some confusion as to whether or not I should say it.  I did not have faith to say what the Spirit had prompted, yet God was right, for not having completed my examination I did not know there was twins and the second one was still alive.  This baby lived and has blessed its parents exceedingly.

A phone call asked me to drive 50 miles to Circleville, Utah to attend a young woman, a maternity case.  She had been in labor since 7 o’clock the night before.  I waited patiently and gave her what help I could until 10am when I found out that there had been no progress with the labor since I had arrived at 4am., as the patient had had no rest and had had pains every five minutes for hours and was almost exhausted.  I decided that I would have to use forceps or do a version, either one would be unusually hard as the baby was unusually large, and it was her first delivery.

While I was waiting for my instruments to be boiled up, I was impressed to suggest that she be administered to.  I hesitated to suggest it, since I thought it was their place to ask for it if they had faith, but knowing they belonged to the Church and the family had a boy on a mission, I asked them if it would not be advisable to have her administered to.  I suggested that her father who was present as an elder, and that he and I could attend to the ordinance.  He replied he had no experience but would help if I would be mouth for both parts of the ordinance.  I then consecrated a bottle of oil, then anointed her, and then sealed the anointing.  The Lord was with us.  As soon as our hands were off her head, a new kind of quality of labor pain set in and before the instruments could be prepared, I was aware that the delivery was now very near, and soon occurred.  Twenty-five minutes before I had examined her carefully and found that the head was not engaged or even started, and it was about 16 or 18 minutes after her administration that both occurred.  There was not a dry eye in the room when the 8 ½ pound child was born, for each of those present knew that God had given her a needed blessing through humble servants, all of which was gratefully acknowledged.

Upon one occasion my patient had a slow and lingering illness that finally wore the patient out and also the strength of all concerned in the home.  I was called to her bedside at midnight and listened to her appeal for help.  Not knowing what else to do for her professionally, I inquired if she had been administered to.  They replied that she had not.  The father had been on a mission and had several children bust was unwilling to assist me in the ordinance.  We called in the Bishop who anointed her and asked me to seal the anointing.  I did so and enjoyed the influence of the spirit.  the patient felt the healing power of the ordinance and recovered every day from that day on.  When we arose to our feet, for we knelt while performing the ordinance, the nurse who was an aunt of the patient said, “My, how I wish I could pray like that.”  To this I replied, “You could if you had practice for forty years night and morning like I have.”

On answering the telephone one day I was informed that my brother Lafay was injured in an accident.  This was caused by his team running away and struck a telephone pole.  I was very busy with a maternity case I could not leave, so I called another doctor and sent him to care for my brother.  An hour or so later I called on the doctor and was told that the accident would not be fatal and great anxiety need not be over him.  I ran down to see him; he seemed quite cheerful.  I called again in a few hours and was not unduly concerned with his condition; yet I could see that he was suffering.  Before leaving his bedside I asked him if he would like to be administered to and he said he would.  I called a young brother near by.  He anointed him with holy oil according to the custom of the Church and I followed with the sealing of the anointing and leading of the prayer of faith in his behalf.  While so engaged I suddenly became aware that my brother, one yet ten months younger than I, with who I spent most of my early life, was not going to live.  Medical science did not tell me this, but so sure was I that the message I had received from the unseen world was true that I immediately told my brother that he had better prepare his affairs at once for I feared he was sicker than we thought.

My sister-in-law chided me quite severely for so suddenly reversing my self as to his progress and insisted on an explanation.  I again told her that God through His Spirit had made known to me that her husband would shortly pass from mortality and that if either had anything to do or say to each other they had better do it at once or it may be too late.  The family was called around his bed and received the dying council of their good father and within thirty minutes from that time our heads were bowed in mourning.

The telephone rang and as I took down the receiver I listened to my brother-in-law who told me that my other brother-in-law Randall Christensen was at the point of death in the Cedar City hospital and that the doctor who had the case in charge [said] that if his wife wanted to see him alive that she must come at once.  I took my sister and drove from Richfield to Cedar in great haste and while I had been told that Randall was not expected to live he really was worse than I had expected.  It looked like a very few minutes of life remained at the best.  I asked the nurse where I could find the most faithful patriarch in town and sent for him at once.  We administered to my sister’s husband; I anointed him and the Patriarch sealed the anointing. There was a noticeable point in his breathing and pain.  This was at 12:30pm and at 4:00pm he seemed worse.  My sister Ida and I were in the room alone.  I suggested that we two pray at his bedside which we did.  I received no particular assurance that he would live, while my sister was greatly assured by the prayer.  We watched over his bed assisted by a very faithful and skilled nurse who changed hot packs to his lungs and rendered  every assistance she could, but the disease seemed unabated.  At 6:00pm I again sent for the good brother, the Patriarch and we again administered to him.  When I was sealing the anointing the Spirit of the Lord was upon me and I felt it to as great an extent as I had ever before felt it.  While actuated by His Spirit, I was lead to say these words: “We, God’s servants, rebuke this disease and command it to depart, in the name of the Lord, our Master.”

One hour later he was materially better and by 4:00am the next morning I returned home to Richfield, for I had received the assurance of the Spirit that he would recover.  In three days he was released from the hospital and returned to Richfield, but in a very few days he took a relapse and died.  This time the elders were called but they found the Spirit of death in the home and the assurance of God’s will in his going.  But through faith and the power of the priesthood his life had been spared.  He had returned to his home where his relatives were at his bedside to lend comfort to one another.

As can be seen by these examples, ray was firmly anchored to the Church and its teachings.  He summarized his Church service in the following paragraphs:

Soon after our arrival in Richfield, I served in the Sunday School Superintendence with Lester  Quist as second counselor, then first, and later superintendent.  Then in the stake MIA [I] served as 2^nd then first counselor and for one week was president of the MIA.  I was chosen as a counselor to Bishop Seegmiller in the Second Ward of Richfield, where I served some 8 years.  From here I was called and set apart as the 1^st counselor to Pres. E.W. Poulson in the stake presidency of Sevier Stake  of Zion by President Joseph F. Smith.

Nothing that has come into my life has been as satisfying as the call in the priesthood that I now (January 24, 1935) enjoy.  The greatest desire of my heart is to magnify this calling and opportunity and put my whole soul into the work.  It seems that my medical practice has decreased to give me more time to better serve in religious callings and I pray humbly this day for strength, for God’s spirit that I may yet be a real power for good in His church and be able to train our seven children too for God and keep His commandments.  If I can do well these two things, my happiness shall be complete.

The Word of Wisdom was adhered to in the Gledhill home.  Upon one occasion however, Ray felt the need to indulge for medicinal purposes.  In this effort he was frustrated and his account serves as a good lesson for anyone else so inclined.

At no time in our married life (27 ½ years) has there ever been a cup of tea or coffee drunk by any member of our family and only once have I drunk it (coffee) elsewhere.  On this occasion two sleepless nights and a cold winter mountain return ride home at 3:00am awaited me.  Another doctor in whose home I drank the coffee advised me to drink it, and really I was afraid to make the trip because of loss of sleep.  I concluded that it would be wisdom to partake, but contrary to my hopes it did not help me.  It made me more drowsy and miserable.  It was with great difficulty that I made my way home.  It was a valuable lesson to me for now I know it is more advantageous to obey God’s commandments and receive his help than to resort to forbidden drugs though it be served in fashionable style.

Ray and May had strong feelings about genealogy and temple work.  They devoted many hours and several thousand dollars in doing genealogical research.  Through their efforts thousands of family names were cleared for temple work.  Most of what we know about our ancestors can be attributed to their efforts.  As cars got better with time, they went to the Manti temple once a month.

During our married life we aimed to go to the temple from two to four times a year, and have received for ourselves two special blessings in that holy house.  Our son Preston’s birth was made possible (see Gems of Reminiscence).  When financial troubles were most discouraging a special blessing was sought and received.  My children have taken part in the baptismal work.  Our ancestors have had their work done though not in connected sequence but in family order to the number of 2500 persons.  I have personally secured the names from old parish registers, copied them myself in some cases, have paid the Utah Genealogical Society for help, have paid for considerable of this and a lot of work being done by myself.

Ray influenced the lives of many people through service in his priesthood callings.  He was specifically sought out by the sick and downcast, in order to receive a priesthood blessing at his hands.  He was known as one who truly magnified his priesthood.  The fact that ray had high regards for his priesthood was no secret.  Once after making reference to his M.D. diploma, he spoke about his other diploma.

There is another diploma that is quite as important as my medical sheep skin and that I have held for over 14 years longer than my medical diploma.  I have also taken many post-graduate courses in this line, which have been varied.  I refer to my diploma, my certificate or ordination to the holy priesthood, which in part I received when I was 12 years old and the holy Melchizedek priesthood was bestowed upon me when I was nineteen years old.  This holy priesthood and the Holy Ghost at the waters of baptism when I was eight years old, I consider these far greater diplomas than my medical diploma.  From time to time I have had special opportunities to use this priesthood and see it used, and the blessings that flow through it from God to bless and comfort his children.  As I have spent my life visiting and caring for the sick in the community in which I live, I too can speak as one having authority and can write things spiritual, health rules and incidents that have been written before and tell of truths that for the most part come under my own observation or that of my family.  In this field I feel that I am prepared to write and speak to my children and to your children.

When I think of the love I have for my mother and how that circumstances are robbing me of her sweet presence, I feel that I am a slave to my environment and that my soul struggles in vain to be relieved.  But greater is my concern when I see the broken constitution, the faded cheek, the wrinkled brow of my dear mother, and realize that I have helped sap the health and beauty from her body, and have wounded often her sunshine soul….I feel in my heart to say; “Mother, forgive me for all the sorrow I have caused you.  God help me to repay you by making your future life happy.  Bright be the future for thee, mother and friend of my tenderest years.  None have known thee but to love thee, none named thee but it praise. ^[16]

The things I now admire most about my father are (1) his courage to stand out and above for what he thought was right and (2) his independence of thought.  He did his own thinking and made his own decisions and acted upon them.  His soul had been touched with a testimony of the modern prophet as few men’s have ever been touched.  No man ever slandered the leaders of our church unchallenged by my father.  May God give me this same courage. ^[17]

As can be seen in the preceding pages, Ray was honest in writing his personal feelings.  He accepted and objectively recorded his weaknesses, not in an effort to impose embarrassment or mistrust, but rather to provide personal improvement and so that others might learn from his self-confessed follies.  One does not lose respect by admitting to weakness, but only in doing so and then making no effort to improve.  The personal weaknesses honestly recorded by Ray in his history therefore not become alibis to anyone, but rather, is studied in their true context, should become incentives to live a better, more meaningful life.  Nothing but appreciation should be expressed for the personal writings that we have.

As with most of us, Ray had several wishes and desires for his family members.  Ray concluded his written history with some of his desires and with some reflections on his own life.

It has been a desire of my heart to leave in writing the results and lessons of my experiences that life has made plain to me for my children and children’s children.  At first I thought of writing some practical advice to them on personal health, physical or mental hygiene and physiology, but as I started to write this health message I found that on every phase of this question someone else had said just what I wanted to say.  They had said it better than I could possibly say it and thought with more weight, for they had developed their lives to some special points and spoke as one having authority.  So I concluded [to] cite those books and articles to them and accomplish my desire to benefit them physically and mentally.

As I grow older my conclusion grows greater that the one thing more important than physical and mental health is moral and spiritual health.  In this most important subject I was even better qualified to write the advice and direction than in physical health even though I have received my diploma from one of the best medical school in the land, and have practiced medicine constantly as my profession for twenty years and have taken two special post-graduate courses of three months each in New York City during my practice.

I have always felt I needed much service to my credit on the other side to help balance for my many sins and shortcomings.  I have lived, so far, a happy life though often an unwise one.  For I have repeatedly sold my financial birthright for a mess of pottage and caused a great deal of unhappiness and unfair financial embarrassment to my good wife and family because of two weaknesses that I have: that of believing too much of what I am told, and being overly optimistic and helpful beyond reason.  These weaknesses have caused me to commit acts that have caused me much sorrow and regret, but I have suffered only a small part of what my good wife has been forced to suffer.  I often philosophize that we are on earth for experience and it is not what experiences we have, but our reaction to these experiences that count.  The D&C says that men are given weaknesses that they may be humble.  Have these experiences made me humble?  I hope so.  The unfair part is that we can’t suffer for our sins alone but cause others to suffer with us that are innocent parties to our misdeeds.  Happiness is great love and much service, and it is comforting to know some day we will be judged justly and everything made up to us [that] we have lost here.  Therefore, no one but ourselves can really make us unhappy or sour or canker our souls unless we allow them to.

On the whole as I look back over life I am partly satisfied and think that through all of these experiences I have had, I have learned there is only one thing that really matters:  There is only one road to happiness here and hereafter and that is the road of righteousness.  On this second day of April 1931, my really great desire and prayer is that I might live a righteous life and that my family might do the same and avoid the errors made by their father, which may God grant.

Patriarchal Blessing of Thomas Ray Gledhill

Given by Charles M. Smith

December 18, 1896

Monroe, Utah

My dear brother:  I place my hands upon your head and do bestow upon you this blessing of a Patriarch and say, my dear brother, you are favored of the Lord in coming to earth through choice parentage to partake of a rich blessing of the new and everlasting covenant.  The Lord’s eye has been upon you and His Spirit has led your mind and directed your thoughts from infancy.  Your Father in Heaven and the angels look upon you with delight because in your youth your heart was inclined to seek after those things of God’s.  From this time forth your mind will expand and the riches of eternity, which is knowledge of God, will increase upon you and your understanding will expand beyond your present comprehension.

You have come down through noble lineage, even that of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  You have the blood of Ephraim flowing through your veins and you will become a valiant defender of the Lord’s work upon the earth.  The authority of the Holy Priesthood will manifest its power through you.  You will become a leader and a man of influence in the midst of the Lord’s people.  Your words will be a rebuke to the ungodly.  Your mission will be the salvation of many souls.  Your testimony will be heard by thousands.  Many will seek you to receive wisdom at your hands.  You will have power over disease and many afflicted ones shall be raised up and comforted through your faith.  All the blessings pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, and more than your heart can conceive, will be yours, in which I seal upon you through your faithfulness, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.