Grandma's Greatest Gift

1953

This is how I remember Grandma and Grandpa Speas' church in Woodville, Idaho, in my earliest recollection. However, this was not the first chapel for the saints in Woodville, nor the last.

The first Woodville branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formed in 1894, Sunday meetings and weekday primary were held in various homes and in the one room schoolhouse. It was not until 1904 that Woodville was organized into a ward.

1906

As a ward, the congregation needed an official meeting house. The saints saved and collected funds to purchase a building lot on the town site and a white frame Cultural Hall and Chapel (left) was built in 1906, which consisted of simply one large room with curtains used to separate the classrooms. This structure served the ward until the red brick chapel (below) was built in 1919.

1919

As the community grew and the population of the Ward increased, the building was not adequate. Plans for additions and remodeling were made and construction was started July 30th, 1951.  An entirely new chapel was erected adjacent to the old Chapel. The old portion of the building was converted into a

Mathew Cowley

recreation hall and classrooms. The completed renovation (as shown at the top of this post) was dedicated on Sunday, June 21, 1953, by Mathew Cooley of the Council of the Twelve.

Robert L. Simpson

This building served the Woodville saints well until construction of a new building was started on September 10th, 1967. 

My most memorable early spiritual experiences occurred at the dedication service of the new structure in the spring of 1968, which I attended with Grandma Speas. The presiding authority was Elder Robert L. Simpson who was serving in the Presiding Bishopric at that time. I distinctly remember the powerful spirit of love that I felt radiating from him. I had never before witnessed someone who could smile continually while he spoke. His face had permanent smile lines etched from his ever happy expression.

Grandma encouraged me to go forward and meet him at the end of the dedication service. As he took my hand in his, I felt that I (just a nine year old girl) was the total focus of his attention. There was no glance over my head to see how many others were waiting in line. His smiling eyes looked directly into mine and I knew that he was the Lord's servant. I can still vividly recall Grandma's face as I returned to her side; tears were in her eyes and she was gleaming with joy.

I will always be grateful to Grandma for taking me to the dedication and nudging me forward to shake the hand of Elder Simpson.  I feel this was her way of sharing her testimony with me and it was the greatest gift that Grandma ever gave me.