Leland Heywood (1892), as Patriarch

“. . . I was greatly surprised”

When I was called as a Patriarch, I was greatly surprised.  Here I was an average church member, making a living for my family, serving in the church organizations, and participating in the civic activities of my city.  I could not imagine myself a Patriarch.  I did not feel worthy of so important and great calling.  Still I could not say no, for I knew that because I had been chosen, the Lord would give me the necessary help if I humbly prepared myself.  Ever since my official call and ordination, I have tried to live close to my Father in Heaven, and I have always fasted and prayed before giving blessings so that I might be prompted by His Spirit. 

My experiences have been rewarding and inspiring.  I have become acquainted with many church members who now seem close to my heart, for I have blessed them and they have appreciated the blessings.  To each one I gave his lineage and in general pointed out great things he might accomplish over a life time of service to humanity.

Often, since receiving my call, I have reread my own patriarchal blessing in which I was told that I would bless and comfort the people.  I had always thought of that in a general way as meaning I would not work against but would work with people for their benefit.  Now I know that the statement has greater significance.  That is the way with blessings.  Sometimes the promises become meaningful only as we live faithful, useful lives.  At other times a fulfillment might be almost immediate.

On July 25^th, 1956, Sister Eula Marie Hoppock came to me for a blessing.  She had joined the Church in 1953 and now desired to be sealed to her husband and children in the Temple.  She had been told that this was impossible unless she had the records of her parents and of her own birth. 

Because of unusual happenings as an infant she had been separated from her natural father and mother.  She knew nothing of them.  She had implicit faith that if she had a patriarchal blessing, a possible solution to her problems would be made clear to her. 

Among other things in her blessing, she was promised, “Inasmuch as you are seeking your parents, the Lord will assist you in this matter and will open up the way for you that you may be able to receive the necessary information in this regard.”

One week later on August 2^nd, Sister Hoppock finally was permitted to appear on the Jack Bailey’s Queen for a Day[2] television program in Hollywood.  On this day she told her story and presented her problem to the listening audience, among whom were several of her relatives.  Imagine her joy, when she was reunited with her people after many years.  She found it was wonderful to belong to a family of five brothers and two sisters.  She was overjoyed when she found that all but one had been baptized into the Church.

In her letter to me she said, “Brother Heywood, my blessing has been such a comfort to me.  I usually read it before going to bed.  I’ll never forget the feeling I had when receiving it.  I certainly have a beautiful blessing, and I pray that I might stay humble and be worthy.  I can now go to the temple.”

Young men and women, value your heritage, pray in faith, and when you desire it, seek to obtain a patriarchal blessing.  It can be a comfort to your heart and a guide to your feet because it deals with eternal values of life.  I have given many such blessings and testify to you that a patriarchal blessing is founded on faith and the true promises of the Lord.

Part of a letter to President Alvin R. Dyer of the Central States Mission, Oct 15, 1956[3]. 

Dear President Dyer: 

Some time ago I promised to give you particulars on Sister Eula Marie Hoppck’s miraculous reunion with her family for your records.  . . .  the following is a summary.

Sister Hoppock was born to Frank Christopher Jewett and Bertha Louise Armstrong in North Bend, Oregon, on August 1, 1925.  She was named Eula Marie Jewett.  Subsequently, in 1927, she was taken to Oklahoma from Salt Lake City by John Henry Jones and his wife, Lela.  While the evidence is not conclusive that it was a bona fide kidnapping, it appears that the move from Salt Lake City occurred without the parents’ knowledge or consent.  Eula Marie was reared in Oklahoma by John Henry Jones’ mother, Mattie Jones (he and Lola Jones having separated and leaving the little  girl about six months after having taken her.)  She was married to Melvin Howard Hoppock in Arkansas in 1942.  She was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on July 15, 1855.

Evidently, the significance of not having real parents was most impressed upon Sister Hoppock when you informed us that she must have names of her parents (since she was not legally adopted) in order to provide authentic records in connection with a Temple recommend for her endowments.  She had implicit faith that a Patriarchal Blessing would open the way to her locating her parents.

Brother Leland Heywood, Maricopa Stake Patriarch, Mesa, Arizona, gave her a blessing July 26, 1956.  Among other things, Sister Hoppock was promised, “inasmuch as you are seeking your relatives, the Lord will assist you in this matter, and will open up the way that you may be able to receive the necessary information in this regard.”

One week after her blessing, on August 2, 1956, Sister Hoppock was able to appear on Jack Bailey’s “Queen For a Day” national television show in Hollywood, on her fourth attempt to be on the show.  She was seen and recognized by a half-sister in the Los Angeles and an aunt, uncle, and cousin in Salt Lake, all of whom contacted the television show on August 2.  That same day she was reunited in California with her mother, Mrs. Bertha Louise Armstrong Comstock, two sister, and three (of five) brothers on her mother’s side.  Through relatives in Salt Lake City, she located her father in Tacoma, Washington, on August 17.

All except one of Mrs. Comstock’s eight (including Sister Hoppock) children are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, even though neither she nor her present husband are members of the Church.  Neither Mr. Jewett nor his present wife are members . . .  [the remainder of the letter is missing.]

Eula Marie Jewett KW8M-QFV

Birth:  1 August 1925, North Bend, Oregon

Death:  29 April 1982, Bartlesville City, Oklahoma

Husband:  Melvin Howard Hoppock   LVGF-S6M

Father:  Frank Christopher Jewett

Mother:  Bertha Louise Armstrong

Her temple ordinances were completed in 1957

Glen Sisam:  gsisam@msn.com  Cleared the sealing of Frank Christopher Jewett to his parents.  801-571-6954

[1] These records were found among Leland Heywood’s  personal papers.

[2] Wikipedia Queen for a Day:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_for_a_Day

[3] (Only the first page of the letter is available at this time.  The author of the letter is not known, but, judging from the wording of the letter, it was probably not written of Leland Heywood.  I have made a few minor changes in punctuation and spelling.  RNH)