Margaret Gardner's Baptism
From NeilDocs
Janet Gardner, daughter of Mark Barclay Gardner, son of Brigham Evenson Gardner, son of Neil Gardner, son of Archibald Gardner, son of Margaret Calinder
Archibald Gardner related the following story of his mother's baptism.
Mother had belonged to the Methodist Church but believed the Gospel at once and whole heartedly, after hearing it. She had always taught us children faith in God and Jesus Christ and to search the Scriptures. Not long after contacting the new faith she became desperately ill, so ill that her life was despaired of. She insisted on being baptized. The neighbors said that if we put her in the water they would have us tried for murder as she would surely die. Nevertheless, well bundled up, and tucked into a sleigh, we drove her two miles to the place appointed. Here a hole was cut in the ice and she was baptized in the presence of a crowd of doubters who had come to witness her demise. She was taken home. Her bed was prepared but she said, “No, I do not need to go to bed. I am quite well.” And she was.
One man declared that if she did not die the night of her baptism he would become a Mormon next day, but next day she met him near the place where he had made the statement. He looked at her as if he had seen a ghost, nodded but did not speak. She was on her way, afoot, to her daughter’s. He never joined the Church.
Source: Delila Gardner Huges. The Life of Archibald Gardner. West Jordan, Utah: The Archibald Gardner Family Genealogical Association, 1939, pp. 26-27.
