The Stories We Tell: March 2026

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Before and After - Comparing Lucile's Patriarchal Blessing with Reflections when She Died

Lucile received her patriarchal blessing when she was 42-years of age. She originally was scheduled to receive her patriarchal blessing from her grandfather Ira Hatch in 1936 when she was 26-year-old, but her Hatch grandparents died in a car accident while driving prior to her scheduled appointment.

Lucile's patriarchal blessing highlights her serving in the church, teaching the gospel, and her role as a mother, including:

Through her firm determination to serve the Lord and accomplish His purposes "much good will come through your unstinted efforts."
"You have chosen a companion who will go hand and hand with you throughout the endless ages of eternity."
She "will have the great privilege of uniting with (her children) in the great hereafter."
"You shall rise with the just on the morning of the resurrection in company of your husband and children."
"In teaching the gospel ... you will have no trouble in explaining and teaching these truths unto others in an intelligent manner."

She certainly distinguished herself by her "unstinted efforts" as a seminary teacher for 13 years, Stake Relief Society President, Senior Missionary, and serviced in numerous other callings.

Lucile was a remarkable teacher who profoundly influenced dozens of teens who were in her seminary classes as described in The Stories We Tell: Crossing the Frozen Mississippi in Idaho.

I don't want to make too much of the wording in her blessing that "you will have the opportunity of passing through the House of the Lord", but it has a very different interpretation or meaning with her actually passing away there!

Reading Glesna Grigg's, Dan Robecker's, and my own comments given at her funeral certainly seem to be a fulfillment of her patriarchal blessing given 38 years before.

And without question - she definitely chose "a companion who will go hand and hand with you throughout the endless ages of eternity."

It's a Reality - Events Surrounding the Passing of Lorin Wayne Goates - 11 July 2003

Before and After - Comparing Lorin's Patriarchal Blessing with Reflections when He Died

Lorin received his patriarchal blessing when he was 12-years old with his sister Melba acting as scribe. His patriarchal blessing states:

Listen unto the advice of your dear mother and receive her council and the Lord will never forsake you.
To bear the gospel message in other lands and among other peoples.
At thy command shall the devil flee.
The sick and afflicted become healed thru the power of the priesthood which thou shalt bear.
Many shall rejoice in the words of thy mouth.
Thou shall become as a stay and staff unto thine household.
I bless thee with health and long life.

Lorin would live another 87 years and see the fulfillment of what was promised in his patriarchal blessing as evidenced by:

His adherence to the Law of Twins and Never Learning Cursive as he promised his mother.
Pictures above from his 2 1/2-year mission where he spoke Hawaiian.
My witnessing priesthood blessings where Lorin rebuked the destroyer.
Many individuals who received priesthood blessings from Lorin were healed.
His giving more than 50 funeral sermons providing comfort and reassurance as well giving many patriarchal blessings.
His being referred to as "a pillar of the faith" at his funeral which is an apt description of someone who is "a stay and a staff unto thine household".
His living within 3 weeks of being 100-years old. renewed his driver's license when 97-years old that was good until he turned 103!

It is remarkable to see the actual fulfillment of what Lorin's patriarchal blessing envisioned when he was only 12-years of age!

Monday, March 23, 2026

Crossing the Frozen Mississippi in Idaho

Seminary Class Picture from My Senior Year

My mother was a remarkable teacher; and I should know because I was her student for all 4 years of early morning (7 a.m.) seminary. She put her heart into preparing effective lessons that would touch and impact a class of drowsy, rowdy teenagers. As I think back, one particular one lesson stands out which she gave on a very cold, foggy February morning.

We were studying Church History and following the morning devotional she asked all of us to follow her through the building - and we didn’t need to bring anything with us. We all started down the hall behind her to the front foyer, and then through the front door and down the walk to the steps by the parking lot. Mother then told us to sit down on the steps. When kids asked about going back to get their coats because the temperature was close to freezing, she told them they wouldn’t be needed and to stay put.

Lucile then told us about the Saints who were being driven out and had to leave Nauvoo; and how the incredibly cold February temperatures froze the Mississippi River, allowing the saints to drive their wagons across the frozen river on the ice. She talked both about the challenges and miracle this provided for the Saints as we sat there chilled to the bone.

I don’t recall everything mother taught that day, but I remember being much more aware and appreciative of what those Saints endured as they endeavored to be faithful to what they knew was true. The exodus from Nauvoo was no longer just some abstract historical fact, because mother created an experience where we could feel and understand in a small way the harsh reality of what those early members suffered.

I have thought about that experience and how my mother used a referent, something in the physical, real world (freezing temperature) to which we could really relate in helping us understand the sacrifice and faith of those who went before us. She patterned her lesson in some manner after the Savior, who often used referents in His parables – like the mustard seed, talents, two debtors, prodigal son, etc., to which his disciplines could relate.

It would be 4 or 5 years later while serving my mission that I would actually see the mighty Mississippi river frozen over at Nauvoo. I realized then even better what I had first experienced when Lucile Goates helped her seminary class to appreciate and understand by figuratively crossing the frozen Mississippi in Idaho.

A Dominate Influence

My mother imbued me as a child with a love and appreciation for the scriptures - which became the foundation of my identity, values, and worldview. She would read to me from a Bible story book that indelibly imprinted me.

David, Daniel, & Gideon became my heroes and role models. I would dress up and pretend to be David while herding our sheep. I had a slingshot and contemplated how the Lord instructed Gideon to arm only 300 men with a pitcher, lamp, trump, and sword to defeat tens of thousands of invading Midianites. All of this would have a profound and dominate influence on me.

I distinctly remember working at Liberty Elementary School on the morning of April 19, 1990, and was surprised when Kristie walked in. I believe it was the only time she ever came to my place of work while in Albany, other than the District Office. She told me we needed to talk, so we went to the stage where we could be alone. She then told me that my mother had passed away suddenly that morning in the Boise Temple and then she held me while I cried.

The feeling of despair from losing the primary source of my worth and self-esteem was soon replaced with a sense of reassurance that I was going to be okay because Lucile McAllister Goates had gotten enough love inside of me that I would be able to go on and handle the vicissitudes of life without her earthly presence and influence.

I have come to know and feel that God loves me, but prior to that and deeper within me is the feeling that my mother loved me and felt I was valuable and created for a purpose. My father has been an incredible role model for me, but it is my mother's love that has kept me going through the really difficult times when I doubted myself. Lucile McAllister Goates is a faithful, devoted mother like those in the scriptures, and a dominate influence in my life.

Sunday, March 22, 2026

Learning to Pray at My Mother's Knee

Lucile with daughters Irene and Norma, and son Wayne the summer of 1951

I remember very distinctly preparing for my first talk in Junior Sunday School because mother drove me down to the church so I could actually practice in the Junior Sunday School room. It is interesting that I do not recall what my talk was about, but I was too young to read and therefore it all had to be from memory. What is important is what I remember after we had practiced me giving the talk a couple of times.

We walked down the hall of the church to a classroom, and I remember mother telling me that we should kneel down because she was going to offer a prayer. I don't remember everything she said, but I do remember her asking Heavenly Father to help me to be brave.

That made a profound, indelible impression in my mind. Years later when confronted with the problems of life and feeling overwhelmed with fears and doubts, that memory would come back into my mind. It wasn't just that Lucile Goates was a woman of faith; it was like she was pointing the way for me and saying "this is where you go when you need courage to be brave or to take on something that may be overwhelming." She knew and taught me that the ability to converse with the Lord when overwhelmed with life is like getting a jump start when you car battery is exhausted or almost dead.

Remembering Lorin and Lucile Goates

Lorin in Canada about 1915

As you can see, Lorin and Lucile grew up in a different era. I will not be surprised if many of their posterity who were not acquainted with them here on earth, will consider Lorin and Lucile heroes and among their best friends here after.

Lucile in front of her sisters and mother in a wagon behind

What follows is a collection of their stores relating how they responded to the challenges and events in their lives. Hopefully, their offspring can relate and will take inspiration and courage from these stories.

The Stories We Tell