Why the Bells Chimed - A Favorite Christmas Story of Irene Flake

 Why the Bells Chimed

There was once, in a far-away country where few people have ever travelled, a wonderful church. It stood on a high hill in the centre of a great city; and every Sunday, as well as on sacred days like Christmas, thousands of people climbed the hill to its great archways, looking like lines of ants all moving in the same direction.

When you came to the building itself, you found stone columns and dark passageways, and a grand entrance leading to the main room of the church. This room was so long that one standing at the door-way could scarcely see to the other end, where the choir stood by the large altar. In the farthest corner was the organ, and this organ was so loud that sometimes when it played, the people for miles around would close their shutters and prepare for a great thunderstorm. Altogether, no such church as this was ever seen before, especially when it was lit up for some festival, and crowded with people, young and old.

But the strangest thing about the old building was the wonderful chime of bells. At one corner of the church was a great, grey tower, with ivy growing over it as far up as one can see. I say as far as one can see because the tower was quite grand enough to fit the grand church, and it rose so far into the sky that it was only in fair weather that anyone claimed to be able to see the top. Even then one could not be certain that it was in sight. Up and up climbed the stones and the ivy, and, as the men who built the church had been dead for hundreds of years, everyone had forgotten how high the tower was supposed to be.

Now, all the people knew that at the top of the tower was a chime of Christmas bells. They had hung there ever since the church had been built, and were the most beautiful bells in the world. Some thought it was because a great musician had cast them and arranged them in their place; others said it was because of the great height, which reached up where the air was cleanest and purest. However that might be, no one who had ever heard the chimes denied that they were the sweetest in the world. Some described them as sounding like angels far up in the sky; others, as sounding like strange winds singing through the trees.

But the fact was that no one had heard them for years and years. There was an old man living not far from the church who said that his mother had spoken of hearing them when she was a little girl, and he was the only one who was sure of as much as that. They were Christmas chimes, you see, and were not meant to be played by men or on common days. It was the custom on Christmas Eve for all the people to bring to the church their offerings to the Christ- child; and when the greatest and best offering was laid on the altar, there used to come sounding through the music of the choir the Christmas chimes far up in the tower. Some said that the wind rang them, and others that they were so high that the angels could start them swinging. But for many years they had never been heard.

It was said that people were growing less careful of their gifts for the Christ-child, and that no offering was brought great enough to deserve the music of the chimes. Every Christmas Eve the rich people still crowded to the altar, each one trying to bring some gift better than any other, without giving anything he wanted for himself, and the church was crowded with those who thought that perhaps the wonderful bells might be heard again. But although the services were splendid and the offerings plenty, only the roar of the wind could be heard, far up in the stone tower.

Now, a number of miles from the city, in a little country village where nothing could be seen of the tower when the weather was fine, lived a boy named Pedro, and his little brother. They knew very little about the Christmas chimes, but they had heard of the service in the church on Christmas Eve, and had a secret plan, which they had often talked over when by themselves, to go and see the beautiful celebration.

“Nobody can guess, Little Brother,” Pedro would say, “all the fine things there are to see and hear; and I have even heard it said that the Christ-child sometimes comes down to bless the service. What if we could see Him!”

The day before Christmas was bitterly cold, with a few lonely snowflakes flying in the air, and a hard white crust on the ground. Sure enough, Pedro and Little Brother were able to slip quietly away, early in the afternoon; and although the walk was hard in the frosty air, before nightfall they had trudged so far, hand in hand, that they saw the lights of the big city just ahead of them. Indeed, they were about to enter one of the great gates in the wall that surrounded it when they saw something dark on the snow near the path, and stepped aside to look at it.

It was a poor woman who had fallen just outside the city, too sick and tired to get in where she might have found shelter. The soft snow made of a drift a sort of pillow for her, and she would soon be so sound asleep in the wintry air that no one could ever waken her again. All this Pedro saw in a moment, and he knelt down beside her and tried to rouse her, even tugging at her arm a little as though he would have tried to carry her away. He turned her face toward him so that he could rub some of the snow off it, and when he had looked at her silently a moment, he stood up again and said:

“It’s no good, Little Brother. You will have to go on alone.”

“Alone?” cried Little Brother, “And you not see the Christmas Festival?”

“No,” said Pedro, and he could not keep back a bit of the choking sound in his throat. “See this poor woman. She will freeze to death if nobody cares for her. Everyone has gone to the church now, but when you come back you can bring someone to help her. I will rub her to keep her from freezing, and perhaps get her to eat the bun that is left in my pocket.”

“But I cannot bear to leave you, and go on alone,” said Little Brother.

“Both of us need not miss the service,” said Pedro, “and it had better be I than you. You can easily find your way to the church; and you must see and hear everything twice, Little Brother, — once for you and once for me. I am sure the Christ-child must know how I should love to come with you and worship Him; and oh! if you get a chance Little Brother to slip up to the altar without getting in anyone’s way, take this little silver piece of mine, and lay it down for my offering when no one is looking. Don’t forget where you have left me, and forgive me for not going with you.”

In this way he hurried Little Brother off to the city, and winked hard to keep back the tears as he heard the crunching footsteps sounding farther and farther away in the twilight. It was pretty hard to lose the music and splendor of the Christmas celebration that he had been planning for so long, and spend the time instead in that lonely place in the snow.

The great church was a wonderful place that night. Everyone said that it had never looked so bright and beautiful before. When the organ played and the thousands of people sang, the walls shook with the sound and little Pedro, outside the city wall, felt the earth tremble around him, for the sound was so great.

At the close of the service came the procession with offerings to be laid on the altar. Rich men and great men marched proudly up to lay down their gifts to the Christ-child. Some brought wonderful jewels, some baskets of gold so heavy that they could scarcely carry them down the aisle. A great writer laid down a book that he had been making for years and years.

And last of all walked the king of the country, hoping with all the rest to win for himself the chime of the Christmas bells. There went a great murmur through the church as the people saw the king take from his head the royal crown, all set with precious stones, and lay it gleaming on the altar as his offering to the holy Child. “Surely.” everyone said, “we shall hear the bells now, for nothing like this has ever happened before.”

But still only the cold old wind was heard in the tower, and the people shook their heads, and some of them said, as they had before, that they never really believed the story of the chimes, and doubted if they ever rang at all.

The procession was over, and the choir began the closing hymn. Suddenly the organist stopped playing as though he had been shot, and everyone looked at the old minister who was standing by the altar holding up his hand for silence. Not a sound could be heard from anyone in the church, but as all the people strained their ears to listen there came softly, but distinctly swinging through the air, the sound of the chimes in the tower.

So far away and yet so clear the music seemed — so much sweeter were the notes than anything that had been heard before, rising and falling away up there in the sky, that the people in the church sat for a moment as still as though something held each of them by the shoulders. Then they all stood up together and stared straight at the altar to see what great gift had awakened the long-silent bells.

But all that the nearest of them saw was the childish figure of Little Brother, who had crept softly down the aisle when no one was looking, and had laid Pedro’s little piece of silver on the altar……

JAY AND LAVONA RICHARDSON MISSIONARY SERVICE IN THE JAKARTA INDONESIA MISSION

JAY AND LAVONA RICHARDSON MISSIONARY SERVICE IN THE JAKARTA INDONESIA MISSION

July 2003-January 2005

Joseph Smith who was an instrument in the hands of the Lord in restoring HIs Church here upon the earth was told that his name would be known all over the world.  In Bogor, Indonesia where we served our mission there is a plaque with his quote that says,

“A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world anxious to bless the whole human race.” 

We experienced this love in Indonesia where we served for eighteen months as humanitarian missionaries in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission. We have seen love expressed by the members of the Church in the Bogor Branch where we were privileged to serve ,  in  the love of a Bapak in the Darussalam Orphanage, in Ibu Faisal, a devout Muslim who gives her all in helping others, in a sewing  teacher who devotes her time to teach children that have no opportunity for an education, in  Roeland and Lily who were always there just wanting to help make people’s lives better, in our branch leaders and their dedication and devotion and in the lives of the wonderful people in Indonesia who have so little and yet give so much. .   We saw that love expressed as we worked with the members in their callings as branch and district leaders and interacted with the other missionaries.   

During our missionary service The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had been established in Indonesia for about thirty years and had three districts.  All but two of the twenty one branches were located on the Island of Java where we served.  We were assigned to the Bogor Branch where about a hundred people attended and also a little group in Jasinga about two hours up in the foothills of Mount Salak for four families didn’t have the resources to be able to meet with the larger group.  We learned so much from the wonderful members of the Church in Indonesia who are strong and committed since they live in a nation which was 85% Muslim.  We provided shadow leadership and learned so much from the dedication and testimonies of the great leaders.  Elder Richardson was also blessed to baptize Hartika and Acay who are wonderful people whom we introduced the gospel to and first met through our English classes.  These members and converts are now eternal friends.  We were able to help two different families prepare and go to the temple with is a great sacrifice because they had so far to go to the Hong Kong Temple. 

Edi Rochadi was our driver and translator and such a help to us in our various activities.  While we were serving our mission he married Lisa, his eternal sweetheart.  What a thrill for us to help them go to the Hong Kong Temple to seal their marriage.   They later had two children who we are privileged to have named for us- Jay and Lavona.  We think of them as our grandchildren and are thrilled to correspond with them through e-mail several times a week.

We were privileged to have a wide variety of activities that we were involved with.  We were welfare missionaries and were able to write up projects to help orphanages, children’s operations and hospitals. While we were there we were privileged to receive a container about the size of a railroad car of medical equipments which we sorted and gave out to hospitals, nursing homes, and wherever we found a need. People would ask who we were and why we were there and we told them we were in Indonesia to bless people’s lives and help them have a better life.  It didn’t matter what religion or race t hat they were.  We told them that the people from America loved them.  We had in our home the Latter Day Charity Warehouse and had handmade quilts, used clothing, new born kits, school kits, and other items to give out.  Jay retired from dentistry and so was able to help with some dental health fairs all over the Java Island for those people who couldn’t afford to see a dentist.  Doctor Richardson taught a functional orthodontic technique to the faculty members at the University of Indonesia and the Dr. Maestopo Dental School which was well received and provided lots of good results in the patients he worked with.   I taught conversation English to the dental school professor s.  We made lots of good friends.

One of our last projects was a Neonatal Resuscitation project where we had two doctors f from America come and train the doctors in Indonesia on how to help newborn babies breathe. Indonesia had a high infant mortality so this training was well received.  The doctors were trained one day and then were able to train a group of midwives the next day in both Bogor and Bandung  It was a blessing for us to be involved with this great project and the lives it helps save.

We tried to not just give a “man a fish” but teach him to fish so that he could bless his family.  We taught English at five different locations and also set up computers in our home for a computer school.  We organized sewing schools and fish horticulture schools so that people could learn a vocation that could bless their lives.  We made many friends through our English classes taught by us who were “native speakers”.  We were also privileged to visit every branch of the Church in West Java where Doctor Richardson taught a disease prevention class.

We had two favorite projects.  One was children’s operations where we were able to work with doctors who donated their time to give surgeries to children who had life threatening diseases.  Dahlan and Risky and the others that we helped now have the opportunity for a new life.

We delivered a hundred wheelchairs to mostly children and had some life changing experiences.  Many of those needing wheelchairs were unable to come to us so we went to them sometimes taking three to seven hours to travel to where we had arranged with our contact person to deliver the wheelchair.  We witnessed love of the caregivers as fifteen year old Sadin’s mother carried him on her back up to where we were delivering wheelchairs because she couldn’t wait for us to get to her.  Maryati cried as her brother placed her in her wheelchair after being in bed unable to move for five years and we all cried.  Us, a thirty-five year old father with no legs who had to crawl on the floor was able to have his five children around him and hold his youngest on his lap for the first time after being placed in a wheelchair.  Another wheelchair we took to ten year old Ellis. When we arrived at the village where she lived no one knew her.  She had been kept in her home because she had no legs but now her father said that he world see that she attended school.  Fourteen year old Ani crawled up the street to meet us and we had our wheelchair ceremony right on the street since we were in such remote area where there was no traffic.

There is hardly a day goes by but what I think of these wonderful friends we made in Indonesia.   I am grateful for the leadership skills the leaders of the church taught us and for their testimonies and dedication to living the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I know that in Indonesia the work that we were engaged in is the work of the Lord.  We felt His hands in so many miracles that we were able to witness.   I was grateful to have a wonderful missionary companion.  We enjoyed so much working and sharing together our love for our mission and the people we worked with.  We are blessed with a wonderful posterity.  We have thirteen children with eleven living children.  We lost two sons as infants who are with their Dad.  My missionary companion Jay passed away eight years ago.  Nine of our children that are married were married in the temple giving us sixty seven grandchildren and sixty three great grandchildren.  Our five sons and one daughter served missions and now we have thirty one grandchildren that have served missions with more to come, all twenty four of our children that are married were married in the temple and up to now thirty eight of our grandchildren have received their temple endowments.  We feel so blessed

I have a testimony that we have a Father in Heaven who knows and cares for each one of us and is mindful of his children in the Isles of the Sea and their special needs.  I am grateful for Christ and His atonement making life as eternal families possible.   I bear my testimony that we were representatives of His Church restored in these latter days and that we have a living prophet who direct His church here upon the earth.  I am grateful to belong to a church that reaches out to all people to better their lives.  I know that happiness is found through losing ourselves in serving others.  I am so grateful for the opportunities that Jay and I had as we served together in Indonesia.  My prayer is that for the rest of my life I can show by the life I live my love for the gospel and our wonderful friends in Indonesia. 

 Lavona F. Richardson

Lavona Flake Richardson Mexican Missionary Experiences 1955-1957

Christmas Memories - by Lavona Richardson

Irene Stratton Flake (some verses from her life history)

Irene Stratton Flake (our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother) compiled an extensive life story.  I want to share with you the opening paragraphs that she wrote:

Story of the Life of Irene Stratton Flake

Born March 18, 1907

"As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I know a record should be kept of this life that our posterity may know of our accomplishments, our desires, and of our activities.  Also as I realize the changes in travel, transportation and communication that have come about in my lifetime, I know I should write of these things.  I am impressed with the strides forward that the Church is making.  I realize that many important things have happened during my lifetime.  

I feel that I am greatly privileged to live in this dispensation of the fullness of times with the gospel restored. I am grateful for the priesthood my husband holds and honors.  I am grateful that I can share these blessings with him if I am worthy.  

I am grateful for my companion and for the eight children we were privileged to have come to our home.  I hope we can live worthy to be again with Layne Kent.  The Lord called him home when he was just ten days old.  I am grateful for the privilege of the seven children had had of receiving their endowments and of being married to good companions in the temple for time and for eternity.  They have all had the privilege of completing full-time missions and working in the Church positions to which they are called.  All of the children have graduated from college.  I am grateful that I can say at this writing that each of our children with their companions and their families are faithful Latter-day Saints."  

Following this introduction, she included the following in narrative of her life story:

Life is God's gift to you.  What you do with life is your gift to God.

Life is for learning, improving, repenting and serving

One life and one alone, we have to live upon this earth.

One life in which to learn so much - to seek, find and prove our worth.

So many dreams there are to dream - and many things to know and o.

So many peaks to climb, so many pathways to pursue.

So waste no time on fruitless quests that get you nowhere in the end.

The gift of time is your's to squander, or with care to use and spend.

It's folly to postpone good deeds.  Tomorrow never comes, they say.

The future times belong to God.  Your only chance is now today.

She then wrote the following, putting her picture to the side:

"So let me live that when I died,

A tear will come to every eye.

In every heart, there'll be a spot,

An empty place where I am not.

So let me live that when I'm gone,

Kind thoughts of me will linger on.

And folks will say with grief inside, 

I sort of wish she hadn't died."  

(Irene doesn't give reference for these sayings and poems.)

Minnie Kartchner Stratton

MINNIE KARTCHNER STRATTON, daughter of William Decatur Kartchner and Elizabeth Gale, was born December 26, 1870 in Overton, Nevada. The family moved to Panguitch, Utah and then to Snowflake, Arizona. Minnie often recalled the hardships the family endured. She told of grinding their own wheat, which was often scarce, to make biscuits each morning, sewing, and doing the washing by hand.

Minnie received a limited formal education but worked diligently through life to educate herself. When she was young, she was constantly singing while she was working. One day her father said, "Oh, Minnie, for goodness sake give us a rest." After she married and returned home he said, Minnie, it's been so lonesome. Sing us a song. I'll never get tired of your singing again."

In October 1886, Minnie married the neighbor across the street, William Ellis Stratton. They made the two-week trip by team to the St. George Temple. Their 54-years of married life would hold its challenges. Minnie and Ellis had 13 children but lost 5 of them in infancy. Minnie honored Ellis' two-year mission call by remaining home and caring for six young children.

Irene, Minnie's daughter and the 10th of the 13 children, wrote" "Mother was intelligent. Ordinarily, she was gentle and considerate in every relationship but she could be firm. No one could bring about unity and harmony in a family of varied personalities like she could. She was tender, loving, and had true compassion and charity for all."

There were hard times as the younger children were growing up brought about by scarcity of money, the economic depression, and the loss of life savings when the bank in Snowflake suddenly closed. For nearly fifteen years, the family took in boarders, 68 in all, to supplement the family income.

Irene continued, "Mother's life was that of a true pioneer. Sharing her substance was part of living. Many came to our door. Friend and stranger alike surrounded our table and partook of its goodness. Life was full of farming, cooking, children to get to school, ironing and washing, church work, family home evenings and singing together. Our parents worked together to accomplish the necessary tasks of each day. When sorrow came, hand-in-hand they comforted each other. Were were taught well in the gospel truths. Tithing and family prayer were never forgotten."

Irene described her mother as, "teaching patience because she was patient. She never shouted or lost her temple. She stressed honesty and square dealing."

Minnie served in the ward and stake Primary organization and for several years was the president of the Snowflake Ward Relief Society.

In 1940 when Ellis passed away, she did not realize that she would go on alone for 29 years more. During all those years, she lived with her daughter, Mabel and husband Jesse, in Mesa during the wintertime. She spent the summers in Snowflake moving every two or three weeks from one of her children's homes to another. It was always special for the grandchildren to have Grandma Stratton in their home. Into her advanced age, she would help with the dishes, she would sew, and be part of everything that was happening. She was pleasant, grateful for her blessings and never complained even though, due to macular degeneration, she was legally blind for many years. Her mind was quick and she had the ability to show a special personal interest in each one of her posterity. With her beautiful silver curly hair, her ready smile and a bright twinkle in her eye, we were proud that she was our Grandma.

Minnie kept a daily journal for over 30 years. Even after she couldn't see clearly, she was still writing in her journal. She wrote poetry and honored many with special poems on birthdays, other special occasions or just to give a word of encouragement or advice. One of her friends wrote a poem to Minnie, in return:

"Sweet winsome lady, cultured and elect,
So gentle in the things you say and do.
Of all the epigrams that could be framed,
The title "Ladyship" was coined for you."

Minnie passed away on December 24, 1969 - just two days before her 99th birthday. Her posterity of 366 - including 7 great-great-great grandchildren - at the time of her death called her blessed knowing how through the years they had been privileged to have her as their dear Grandma.

Irene, wrote on Minnie's passing, "She endured with faith and humility to the end. She discovered happiness in toil. She chartered the course for all of us to follow. 

William Ellis Stratton

WILLIAM ELLIS STRATTON was born on January 28, 1862 in Virgin City, Utah (near the entrance to Zion National Park) to Anthony Johnson Stratton and Martha Jane Layne. His school was limited but he became self-educated as he enjoyed reading throughout his life. His parents were of modest means and he worked with his father to sustain a large family. When he was fifteen, they accepted a call from Church leaders to help establish Mormon settlements in northern Arizona.

The Stratton family arrived in Snowflake in early 1879. The Silver Creek Valley had been purchased with an improved breed of cattle from Utah. Ellis helped William J. Flake and others to drive cattle and horses to Arizona. Ellis participated in nine different cattle drives over the next several years. These drives usually originated in Beaver in southern Utah down to the Colorado River where the cattle were pushed on to ferry boats to cross the river then by the Tuba City area and across Navajo Indian lands then crossing the Little Colorado River and on into the Silver Creek Valley.

In 1886, he began to notice a curly haired girl that lived across the street. He was eight years her senior. He would go to see Minnie Kartchner whenever possible. On October 20, 1886, Ellis and Minnie were married in the St. George Temple. They made the trip by wagon over the 300-mile "honeymoon trail," with chaperones. It usually took about ten days each way. Several couples would travel together and be married the same day in the temple. Ellis recorded that he was 5 feet 7 inches weighing 130 pounds on his wedding day. He remained pretty much the same throughout life always being of slight build.

William Ellis and Minnie started housekeeping in a log house in the southern part of Snowflake. He earned a living mostly from farming and freighting. For many years, he had a contract to move freight by team and wagon from the railroad siding in Holbrook to the Bureau of Indian Affairs offices in Ft. Apache. His children said when he would return home, he would open a sack of sugar and give each of them a teaspoon and let them eat as much as they wanted.

Ellis built a beautiful red brick two-story home that stood on a corner lot on Main Street a block south of the Church meetinghouse. He and Minnie made it a special place for their children and grandchildren. Later, many of the single school teachers boarded with the Stratton's.

In 1899, Ellis went to the post office for the mail. Without any prior notice and to his surprise, he received a letter from Box B in Salt Lake City calling him on a mission to the Southern States. He accepted the call and thought it an honor. He served for two years spending most of his time in eastern Kentucky. Minnie faithfully carried on alone at home caring for six children.

The Stratton's had their trials. After one month in the mission field, Ellis received word that one of his eleven-month twin daughters had died. This was hard for him to accept but he was determined to continue in the work. That was not their ony sadness. Prior to the mission, they had lost an infant son then, in 1903 after he returned, two more children died on the same day from dreaded diphtheria that struck many of the families of Snowlake. A fifth child, six years old, passed away in 1910. Their family of 13 children was reduced to 8 that lived to maturity. Four children between Lena (born in 1895) and Irene (born in 1907) passed away. It was as if there was an older family of four - Mabel, Zella, Raymond, and Lena and then, a younger family of four - Irene, Lorum, Leona and Lynn. These eight children were devoted to one another and to their parents.

William Ellis Stratton was mild in nature, tender hearted, and completely converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He did not become bitter from the trials of life but always acknowledged the will of his Father in Heaven. He honored his priesthood. He and Minnie were widely known for the love and devotion to each other. They were united in all they did.

In 1935, they began spending their winters doing temple work in Mesa. They lived with their oldest daughter, Mabel, and husband, Jesse. They would return to Snowflake to spend their summers. In June 1940, Ellis passed away. He has always been remembered by his children and grandchildren as a man of love was was always kind and considerate to all.

Their daughter, Irene, wrote of her parents, "Hardships, joys, tears, laughter, determination, devotion, prayer, and plenty of good hard work are the material from which great lives are fashioned. From these qualities, William Ellis and Minnie Kartchner Stratton fashioned their lives serving as examples to their descendants."