Amazing Conversion Stories - Margaret Crawford Houston

My third great grandmother, Margaret Crawford Houston, had quite the conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her experience was recorded and written by, I believe, Gladys Delong Banks, a granddaughter. I have taken Gladys's own words and posted them below, with the exception of the title and some other minor edits for clarification:

The Whitewashed Walls

Margaret Crawford (Houston) was born in Dunsyre Parish, Lanark, Scotland in 1825. When she was a young girl, about 17, a very strange incident happened to her.

Margaret Crawford Houston
1825 - 1912

She had just finished putting chalk, or whitewash, on the walls and hearth stone. They had a large fireplace at one end of a low ceiling room where the family lived and did most of their cooking. In the hills nearby there were large deposits of white clay, or chalk, which if dissolved in water, made a white wash. This was used to paint the walls and the great hearth stone of the large fireplace, often, to keep the house clean and comfortable for the family. It was Margaret's job to do this as she was the oldest girl. She had just finished her task, and she and her mother were admiring the snow-white walls and hoping they would not have to be done again very soon, when a knock came at the door.

Margaret opened the door and let in who seemed to be a beggar. He walked into the room and looked at the girl, then the mother, and the white walls. He stood a moment and gazed steadily at Margaret. He walked to the fireplace and picked up a piece of charcoal and went to the white wall and began to write.

The mother and daughter looked on in speechless amazement. No one uttered a word since the appearance of this strange person. Then both Margaret and her mother began to remonstrate at having the walls all marked up with black charcoal.

But he would not quit and seemed to know nothing of what they were saying but continued writing until he had covered the whole wall from top to bottom. When he finished, he walked from the room never saying a word.

At first, when Margaret looked at the writing, it seemed to be in some strange language and she could not make it out. Then after a time, it was made clear and she read as follows:

"Margaret was going to be visited by a young man who was teaching a new and strange religion. The young man was from the new world and had crossed many waters to teach her this religion. She would accept the new religion and some of her family would accept it, but they would suffer persecution by joining it. The young man was of their own nationality, and would return to his home. Then he would come to her land and take her as his wife across the many waters, and there in the new world they would build a home and have a great posterity."

After the family read this they all laughed and made fun of it and thought it was just some crazy person who was roving around and had written a fairy tale. But Margaret was deeply impressed. They wondered how it would be possible for one of their own nationality to come from the new world.

James Houston
1817 - 1864

Things turned out just as they were written. James Houston, born in Paisley, Scotland, was converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("Mormon") by Samuel Mulliner and went to America [in 1840]. Later, James was called on a mission to his native Scotland, and there, he converted Margaret Crawford [in 1845] whom later he married and took to America where they raised their family and made their home in Utah.

<< End of Gladys's words >>

And Margaret Crawford did have a great posterity. Using Puzzilla.org, below is a visualization of just six generations that have descended from her. Each particular individual is either a blue square (man) or a pink circle (woman). Gray squares don't represent people. My particular line to Margaret is highlighted in yellow. Except for my own line, living people are not displayed. Otherwise, the only people displayed are those who have already passed away. This means the chart is only a portion of her descendants as of this writing (March 2017), and may be at least a few hundred people.

I am inspired by and grateful for Margaret's conversion to the church. My life would not be the same had she not made such a decision! What an amazing conversion!

Margaret Crawford Houston's Descendants - 6 Generations

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Source of story:

Ancestors and Descendants of James and Margaret Crawford Houston, starting page 211

https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE2198333

My 2nd Great Grandfather - Edward Bunker, Jr - What Any Man Should Do for His Brother

This story was adapted by my father, Jim Hartley, which includes some parts from his brother Bill Hartley's (my uncle) work. To me, this story is a good example to learn from regarding charity, kindness and sincere prayer. Below are my father's words:

Edward Bunker, Jr. – What Any Man Should Do for His Brother

Edward Bunker, Jr.
1847 - 1915

Sometime around the beginning of the 20^th Century, a young Chicago banker, Thomas N. McCauley, faced a frightening situation that his enormous wealth couldn’t resolve—he was gravely ill. According to his doctor, the only hope for recovery was for the young executive to spend six months to a year in the West, living in the open. Reluctantly, Mr. McCauley entrusted his extensive business affairs to associates and went west, accompanied by his doctor. For months the two men leisurely traveled about the Rocky Mountain regions in a covered wagon.

While on the edge of the Great Basin’s western desert, McCauley suddenly developed a fever of 102 degrees and severe chills. Fearing for his patient’s life, the doctor hurried the wagon to the nearest settlement: Bunkerville, Nevada, a small Mormon settlement near the southwest corner of Utah. For reasons unknown, the doctor harbored bitter feelings toward Mormons. But, the situation was desperate, so he swallowed his prejudices and appealed for accommodations at the humble home of a local farmer. It happened to be the home of Edward Bunker, Jr., the town’s most prominent leader and Mormon bishop, as well as the son of the man for whom Bunkerville was named.

The strangers had not known that the Bunker home often served as a hospital or hotel for people passing through those barren regions. While bishop from 1883 to 1908, Edward Bunker also served as the local doctor, setting about 40 broken limbs, amputating fingers, lancing sores, and once even successfully sewing on a boy’s foot that had been amputated by a mowing machine.

Mr. McCauley and his doctor were instantly made welcome. Their wagon and team were cared for, and the home’s parlor was quickly converted into a makeshift hospital room. Every convenience and comfort available in the little rural community were offered them.

Day after day the doctor and the Bunkers carefully nursed the critically ill patient. McCauley’s progress was slow. During the weeks that passed, the doctor spent his time either with the sick man or off by himself—he kept his distance from the Mormons. But, since McCauley was confined to his bed, he could observe many of the Bunker family’s daily routines. Particularly when the parlor door was left ajar, McCauley could see the family members come and go, interact, have meals, and hold their daily family prayers and devotions.

Eventually, Mr. McCauley’s condition improved enough for the doctor to allow him to resume the journey. On the morning of their departure, the Bunker family arose early as usual. Unknowingly they had awakened their guests, who could not help but overhear the special family prayer offered in their behalf. As was the family’s practice, Edward gathered his wife and children in the dining room where they knelt together. Edward reverently poured out his soul in supplication. Among other things, he fervently thanked God for blessing Mr. McCauley with a great recovery of health, and he invoked a special blessing on him for a full and complete healing. During the prayer, the doctor slipped quietly from the parlor with tears trailing down his cheeks. McCauley himself was nearly overcome with emotion.

After their prayer, the family went off as usual to attend to their daily chores. Edward came into the parlor to say goodbye to his guests. While shaking hands with Mr. McCauley, he expressed his great pleasure at “having been favored with the privilege of rendering an act of kindness,” then wished him and the doctor a pleasant journey.

“I am greatly indebted to you, Bishop Bunker,” said McCauley, “and I desire to properly compensate you for your merciful kindness and care of me, which is responsible for saving my life. I am a man of ample means and to reward you generously would be a great pleasure to me.” Edward kindly refused the offer. “No, I can’t accept anything from you,” he humbly said. “I have only done what any man should do for his brother.”

In response to Mr. McCauley’s continued insistence to grant some kind of compensation, Edward replied: “I am already amply repaid for my helpfulness to you. The only way you can pay me is by doing for some other person as I have cheerfully done for you.”

After returning to Chicago, Thomas N. McCauley was a changed man. He never forgot the debt he felt he owed to Bishop Bunker. In the following years, Mr. McCauley generously used his wealth and influence to help many others, particularly Latter-day Saints who were in need.

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Adapted by James E. Hartley from the Edward Bunker Family Association’s Bunker Family History, Vol. 1, 1957 (edited by Josephine B. Walker, Delta, Utah); and William G. Hartley’s article, “Financier and Bishop Bunker,” New Era, November 1976, 10-11.