49. From Claudia to Her Parents

Excerpts from a letter written in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, November 3, 1970, from Claudia Lange to her parents, J. Marvin and Barbara Lange, and her brother, David, in San Gabriel, California. She mentions seeing the Prophet of God, President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876-1972).

i think that was one of the most special Sundays i’ve ever had—it was truly joyful and i could feel a strong spirit there. Relief Society was really neat that morning, with an excellent spiritual lesson and thy my Sunday School class was good too—i have an excellent teacher—he teaches kind of unconventionally by making you find your own answers, you really have to think, he doesn’t feed it to you—he’s kind of scary but that’s what i need! Then i bore my testimony in fast and testimony meeting. That whole morning was just really special and meaningful to me—the lessons were great and what i really needed. It was a beautiful day too—like the kind in heaven might be like.

But the afternoon was the neatest part of the whole day! They had the 10-stake fireside in the Fieldhouse and Sister Jessie Evans Smith spoke. The Prophet accompanied her and that’s an experience i’ll never forget! The fireside didn’t start until 4:00 p.m. but they opened the doors at 2:00 p.m. We got there at 2:15 (we went as a family) and so we got pretty good seats—you should have seen all the people! By 3:30 it was filled to capacity and people were standing in the back and in the aisles, everywhere! But it was worth it—we spent some of the time singing, the whole auditorium was singing hymns and then when the Prophet came in we all rose and sang “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet.” i really can’t explain it—but it felt so good and i really could feel a spirit there—i have never sung that song with a real live prophet there—it was neat and i really knew he was a prophet! We sang all the verses after the benediction and i could hardly sing it.

Sister Smith is really a good speaker and she’s so cute and dear. She said a lot of important stuff and you could tell just how special her relationship with the Prophet is. i hope i can have that kind of love and liveliness when i’m 80 or 90! That’s the kind that lasts an eternity!! and they’re so cute and funny together— like they were just a couple of teenagers—only with a lot more wisdom.

Sister Smith sang a song for us and then she and the Prophet sang a duet—it was so joyful!!! It was just the neatest fireside ever—and so special! When they left, Sister Smith blew kisses and the President waved—i waved right back!