Missing Letters and Valentine's

"Feb 13&14--Best wishes for a happy birthday, 'My Valentine.' May the coming years be as nice to you as the past. Love and Regards, as ever, Jim "






Feb. 14, 1937--Jim's journal entry concludes stating, "Today was the first Valentines day Gwen has not given me a Valentine since we have been keeping company."


Gwen's Letter, Feb 15, 1937--
"Dear Jim,
"I've decided that you are either down with one of the Jones boys (Davey or Paul) at the bottom of the ocean or else an English mermaid has you all ready. Anyway, if I don't get a letter soon I'll _______ ___________ ________ ___________!! Well you just imagine the rest. I believe though that I was wrong about the Jones guess because we read in the Telegram and the news that the SS Manhattan with Mr. Wm J. Telford aboard landed safely in Plymouth Feb. 2. Your father also read about the SS Manhattan and the SS Rex being called to rescue a ship in distress but after they turned from their course the distressed ship wired she was safe.. . .
"I had a dream about you the other night Jim, but I won't tell it now. Anyway, I'm very anxious to hear from you. My goodness at this rate I'll get a letter once a month. Anyway even though I think you're a piker I'm still thinking of you and hope you're feeling fine. Please take care of yourself and write me if your care to.
"Even with an ocean between, Jim I still love you as ever. Sincerely, Gwen"

Feb 19, 1937, Jim's journal entry ends with, "I am plenty sore at Gwen, if it does any good, but have hopes for better days."

Gwen's Letter, Feb 21, 1937--
"Darling,
"To-day is almost past and with it has gone one month of our separation already and I want to tell you from down deep in my heart Jim, that I'm proud of you, proud to be wearing the ring of a clean worthy missionary and Jim dear one month away from you has made me love you more even than I did before. I am counting the months until we'll be to-gether again and I think about you always and pray for your way over there. . . Jim dearest, if I could just be with you now for a few minutes and could talk confidentially and hold you close it would be wonderful. I know you're having a tough time now for a while Jim. They all do but keep that chin out and show what I know you're really made of and no one or nothing can lick you especially with "Him" on your side.
" . . .Jim, I was disappointed in my last letter because I hadn't heard from you and I hope my last letter wasn't a wet blanket because of my disappointment. . . .Tuesday I received your letters just before mutual and boy was I thrilled. Your mom and dad got theirs that same day and they were just as thrilled.
". . .How are your 6 roommates. Please tell me all about your districts . . .Tell me more about England and the people and what you do, feel and think.
"Goodnight, Sweetheart, and keep your chin up. I'm with you every minute too, with loads of love and sincere devotion, Gwen"

The Work, Assignments, and Homesickness

February 3, 1937. London England.
". . .We went to the mission office and were interviewed by Pres. Cannon, asked where we would like to labor and what we could do. . . We were put in a lodge close to the mission office, where they have no fires, no running water or any modern conveniences. Everything is old.

Feb 4 - ". . .At noon we were interviewed by Pres. Cannon again and given our assignments. . . .Brown and I to Newcastle. We were then taken around London seeing St. Paul's, Big Ben, Parliament, Westminister Abbey, Picaddilly, Trafalgar, Fleet Street, Bank of England and many other landmarks of England history.

Fri. Feb 5- "We had a testimony meeting. . .We then went to make our trunks ready to send to Newcastle. . . At three we were on our way to Kings Cross station and at four we were aboard a fast train headed for Newcastle. . .Over and through rolling and beautiful country on a real fast train we went. . .We arrived in Newcastle at 10:20 pm. . . England never, give me the good old U.S.A. for real comfort and security."



Jim with some of the other missionaries in England


Sat. Feb 6, 1937. Newcastle.
"Today I had my first tracting experience from door to door in the mission field. Elders Brown, Bryson, Robinson and myself sold Millenial Stars. I was lucky and sold two Stars on the first day. After that we went to the rooms. I was and am very lonely for home and friends. Home never meant so much to me as it does now. In the afternoon I wrote letters to Gwen and Dot [Dorothy Bishop] . . . Was glad when it was bed time."

Gwen's First Letter

January 31, [1937]

"Dearest Jim,

"It's Sunday about 2 o'clock and almost time for the home cooked dinner and . . . I must have a bit of a word with a blarney old Englishman. How does it feel anyway Jim? I hope you aren't wearing spats, and a monikle (?) and saying "Cheerio old dear" to all the sweet little lassies. Anyway you're kind of a dear old Englishman and I want to tell you how thrilled I was to get that beautiful pillow top and card from Niagara. . .

"I really am not bored at your telling me all about your trip because I'm following right along even though my mode of travel isn't quite so thrilling but I had fun drawing from city to city,. . .

"Say you should see your family when they get a letter or a card. Their faces light up like sunbeams. When I showed them your first card, boy were they tickled. Jim you'd be proud if you could be there and hear how proud they all are of you. You mustn't say anything back to them about this and promise you won't go high hat and big head on us, but I know you're deeper than that so here goes. Your dad said, 'I'm not saying this because Jimmie's my son but I'd be willing to bet any amount that he'll be a wonderful missionary. He has the real spirit and I know he'll make a wonderful preacher.' Your mother chimed in with 'Yes Jim surely had a life to be as proud of as any other missionary.'

". . .I'm glad you're feeling so good. I knew you'd never be sorry you left and you are having such a wonderful experience. You say this has opened your eyes to what others are doing. It's done the same thing for me Jim. I've just been living within myself for so long. We really weren't thinking of others much were we?

". . .I know these kisses and hugs aren't nearly as nice as real ones. I'm sending them to you. If you don't want them send them into the ocean.

"Please write and tell me all about it Jim, dear and remember I love you as ever and I like your letters very much.

Goodnight Sweetheart.
Love, Gwen"

Train and Ship Travel to London

Jan 22, 1937--"Train terribly slow. . . .We are now in Nebraska.
Jan 23--Somewhere in Iowa. Arrived in Chicago at one o'clock.
Jan 24--Had breakfast in Cleveland, Ohio. Traveled in a rainstorm all day. Went to see Niagara Falls. They were a big disppointment.
Jan 25--Arrived in New York, Hotel McAlpin at 9:08 am. . . . We went to a show and sightseeing. This is some town. Religion is something these people seem never to have heard of.
Jan 26--Received letter from Gwen and I was sincerely glad to receive it. . .tour of New York.
Jan 27--Left for pier at 10 o'clock. Was disappointed when I saw the SS Manhattan. Realized later her size and beauty. Out of sight of land in one hour after sailing.
Jan 29--950 miles out of New York, 2000 to go and Oh! boy, I wouldn't trade places with anybody right now. We are having a swell trip. . . .Have played deck games and chess . . .Wrote a letter to Gwen and saw 'Bulldog Drummond Escapes' as our movie. Rolling sea but not sea sick."
Feb 1--Today has been another fine day on the ocean, smoother sailing than we have had for 3 days. . . .Have been bull fisting for 3 hours with the fellows. Fun.
Feb 2 [after 7 days at sea]--A dense fog and a steady rain enveloped us and the ship today. We touched at Coba, Ireland at nine o'clock this morning. A beautiful bay. Then we proceeded on down the coast. A rough sea. Arrived at Plymouth, Eng. at nine o'clock in the evening. Passed customs at the docks and boarded a train for London where we arrived at 4 am Feb. 3. . . . Found London to be very ancient and outmoded by our homes in the states, but very interesting."
[Total Travel time from Salt Lake to London=13 days]


Elder Telford with London Police

Jim Set Apart as a Missionary

Jan 20, 1937--
"Melvin J. Ballard set me apart as a missionary of the L.D.S. Church. After lunch . . .I went home and packed my things. Gwen and I spent the evening together and each offered a prayer for our preservation against changing from our ideals and goals. She is a wonderful character and a sweet adorable girl. . ."

Jan 21, 1937--
"Spent day arranging my trunk and checking it. Leave Salt Lake for London at 6:40 pm. Everyone has been treating me swell. I am darn glad I am going. Everyone but Gwen is bothered, which is upsetting me an awful lot. She is so insistent that I go. . ."

Jim's Mission Call to the British Mission

In his history Jim wrote,
"I have found satisfaction and expression as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church. I was born into a Methodist family, who later converted to the LDS faith. I attended the Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church and remember my experiences in either one.
" . . . In late 1936, I was 'called' to a mission to serve in the British Mission. Joseph Cannon was the president then and he was succeeded by Hugh B. Brown. I arrived in Britain in January of 1937 and was assigned to the Newcastle district."

Gwen's feelings about this mission are shared by Jim in his diary. On Jan 5, 1937, he wrote, "[Gwen] insists that I go so she appears to either want a returned missionary or a college graduate, so she will have her way. I am going and am glad."

Jim and Gwen Decide to Go Steady

"Church youth canyon cookouts were important to me because that was where we were when Jim and I decided to go steady. I was 16 and he gave me his silk handkerchief as our pledge. . . .I guess I was 19 when I decided I wanted to marry him" (Reflections from a Mother's Heart, journal entries from Gwen Telford, 1998).



Jim and Gwen at a picnic and on a canyon walk