January 1964
To my dear children, I want to prepare a history of our family to leave with you, so that you, your children, and your children’s children will know of our life here on the earth. This journal will not only include the facts of my life alone, although I shall be the one to write it, but rather, I want to make it a history of our dear little family, so that those who come after may know what occupied our thoughts and days. I want those who will read it to know of my great love for my husband and children. I would hope that as our life story unfolds, it would stimulate faith in the hearts of our dear ones, to live close to our Heavenly Father, for this has been the way we have tried to live, and this would be our most ardent wish.
I don’t write this story to be presumptuous or because I felt I had any talent to write, for I feel humble in my efforts, but rather I write because we are asked to leave a record of our lives, and there is some “drive” within me, which compels me to write the facts as they occurred.
To all who may read this, may you do so in the spirit which I have written this record.
Bessie Rogers (Ericksen)