Anna

While watching a video about President Monson’s biography “To the Rescue,” I remembered my dear Swedish friend Anna and her fortuitous meeting with Apostle Monson during the Sweden Temple open house.

The Lord sent me Anna’s friendship through her Visiting Teaching service when I lived in an apartment in Midvale, Utah. She was in her 80s and so was her companion Bette. They both lived in my building. Anna had macular degeneration, but still she found her way by bus to the Jordan River Temple to work there three days a week. She swam laps every summer morning in the complex’s pool and walked, rain, snow or shine, to church every Sunday. Anna was quite fit and her mind remained very sharp until she collapsed in her apartment one day following a stroke.

It was always so fun to speak with Anna. I felt a kinship to her, because of her outspokenness about current issues and gospel matters. She was so bright and well read, so interesting, that I felt much closer in age to her than the 40 some years that separated us. Anna was a friend I came to love and looked forward to seeing her any chance I could get, not just once a month.

Many aspects of Anna’s life, especially her achievements, were not known to me until they were revealed during her funeral. Before coming to the United States after the death of her husband, Anna lived in a small apartment in Sweden where she and her husband raised their two daughters. She was a fifth generation Mormon, but had married a non-member because of the lack of LDS men in Sweden. So Anna sent her daughters to BYU so they would find temple-worthy husbands, which they did.   

Anna was a very active Swedish member. She served as the Stake Primary President and traveled many miles by train every week to fulfill her calling. Anna also knew English very well, so she translated all the Primary songs from English to Swedish. However, there was something important missing from Anna’s life. Since she was married to a non-member, she was not allowed to obtain her own temple endowment. This was a sad thing for her to accept, especially when the Sweden Temple was built, so close to her home.

Anna, being the dutiful church member she was, served as a tour guide at the new temple’s open house. One day then Apostle Thomas S. Monson came to visit the not yet dedicated temple. He noticed Anna and asked her if she was excited about finally having a temple in her country. Of course Anna said yes, but the spirit caused her ask Elder Monson why she was not allowed to receive her own endowment and do temple work. He didn’t have a ready answer. Instead he advised her that he would bring her question back to the next First Presidency and Twelve meeting in Salt Lake.

Well, as you may have already guessed, Anna’s long time prayer was answered and all worthy members were allowed to receive their endowment, whether they were married to someone who could join them or not.

I visited Anna in the hospital after her stroke, but I knew her time on earth was short. The illness had robbed her of her speech and, being the outspoken woman she was, I knew the Lord would not make her endure that challenge for long. Within a few weeks, Anna passed away. However, President Monson remembered his long time friend and was able to give her a final priesthood blessing the day before she passed away.

How blessed I am to have known Anna. She was such a great example to me of faith. She never seemed to fear anything. Anna stepped out into life, even when the destination was unclear, because she knew her Savior had her life in the palm of His Hands. I hope I can someday become as faithful.