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| Winfield Hurst |
Winfield was called as a
missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southern
States Mission, where he served with Elder Clinton R. Thorne. These missionary companions developed a great
respect for each other and when the time came for Winfield’s release, the
Thorne family invited him to visit their home, as they had come to feel as if
he were a family member, through their son’s glowing reports.
My suspicion is that the Thorne’s had plans for the
returning Elder, for soon after he arrived everyone seemed to be exceptionally
busy with work to do, except their daughter Arvella, who was surprisingly free
to entertain Winfield. He soon recognized
her as an “unusual and superior young woman”, but he didn’t dare let himself fancy
her as more than a friend, for she was popular, with a home and parents that
could give her everything, while he felt he had little to offer.
After an extended visit, the pair continued their courtship
through letters, which Arvella said were few and far between and terribly
lacking in romance, but I’m sure you have already guessed that the two fell in love and were married.
Winfield was right about having little to offer in
the way of temporal means, but the couple pooled their faith and spiritual resources
in a way that supported and sustained their large family and brought them much
happiness.
An article in the Deseret News on December 6, 1941, describes how this faithful partnership succeeded:
The story was captioned:
- Nine years after starting life anew with nine children, Bishop Winfield Hurst of Declo, Idaho, has paid off a farm mortgage and is completely out of debt, because of his family’s special effort to live the Gospel as advised by Church leaders.
The article then told Winfield and Arvella's story in his own words:
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| Winfield and Arvella's Family |
“For several years we lived in the Milk River Valley of
Montana. We weren’t well satisfied with
conditions there as we had a large family of small children and they were
deprived of many opportunities enjoyed by children who live in an organized ward.
So in the fall of 1932 we decided to leave
and go to a place where conditions were more favorable to rearing a family.
This was at a time when the depression had reached its
worst stage, and to pick up and move with a family of small children to a place
where we were unacquainted was a big undertaking and a great responsibility,
but after a lot of serious and prayerful thought we moved to Declo in the
Burley Stake. Here we purchased an
80-acre farm.
After the expense of
moving we were able, by practicing strict economy, to make a down payment of
$1,000 on a farm. Then we went to
work.
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| President Heber J. Grant |
We had nine children, the oldest a girl of 13. How to pay for our home was our problem.
We were familiar with the advice of President Heber J. Grant who said, ‘If you want to get out of debt pay a full and honest
tithing.’ We had always paid our
tithing, but now resolved to make a special effort to see that this law was
complied with in full, for we recognized Heber J. Grant as a prophet of the
Lord and also the Lord’s mouthpiece here on earth. We also believed in the words of the Lord as
found in the Doctrine of Covenants:
I the Lord am bound when you do what I say, but when you
do not what I say, you have no promise.
Times have not been what one would call good since we
located here. During that time three
more children have come to our home, making twelve in all. We have enjoyed a good, comfortable living
during these nine years, and a few days ago when the sugar refinery paid for
our beets we were able to make the final payment on the farm mortgage and now
we are free from debt.
This is only
additional evidence to us that it pays to follow the counsel of Church
Authorities, and that the Lord will surely make good His promises.”
Now we can see why Grandma admired and respected her older brother Winfield. He has been an inspiration to many through his faithful obedience and thrift.
