a missionary widow: the enduring power of faith and love

A few letters ago, you asked me what my definition of love was. Simply put, it is a great affection and desire to be with and near the person who is loved, which brings about a state of contentment and happiness. In scientific theory, I would say it is a form of magnetic attraction brought about by the attraction of different poles combined with complementary wavelengths, which draw and attract one to the other. On a religious level, I would say it is one of God’s greatest gifts to men, designed to make men brothers, bring about peace in the world, and combine the purposes of a man and woman in order to bring souls into this world to prove themselves. Man is that he might have joy, and God’s greatest instrument to provide joy is love.

This book provides a compelling story of the challenges of truly loving one’s spouse. Married for three months and then separated for two years, Pete and Suzanne’s love story is a poignant reminder that eternal vows endure and bind in sickness, happiness, joy, sorrow, poverty, and separation. Pete’s missionary service for the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints and Suzanne’s own personal growth and encouragement to him set the pattern of faith, commitment to family, love, and meaningful living for their marriage of 66 years. Now temporarily separated again by Suzanne’s death, their original nine children have multiplied to a posterity of over 160.