Matthew

Matthew was born just about one year after Katherine.  My parents were living at Green Jacket in a home my father built next to my great-grandfather, Israel Bennion's home.  My mother had developed a bad stomach ache which caused her to go into labor a month early.  Matthew's lungs were not yet fully developed, and lacking the medical equipment and skills that would come in a few short decades, Matthew only lived two days.  My father could see that this was the case and so gave Matthew a name and a blessing at the hospital.  One of my siblings posted a letter that my father wrote on the occasion.  I will try to find it and copy it here.
    My dad was behind on his tithing at the time of Matthew's birth and felt that things might have gone differently had he been square with the Lord.  In any event, he was faithful in his tithes from then on.  There is a brush that grows plentifully at Green Jacket that my dad calls Brigham Tea.  I that it was called Rabbit Brush.  A tea can be made from its leaves that will sooth and quiet an upset stomach.  My father, when he discovered this thought that he could have administered this and prevented the premature birth.
   The characteristic of my father and mother that is worthy of emulation is that when a tragedy happened they didn't lose faith, but gained faith.  Passing through life with this habit can only produce great faith.  It is a trait that they passed to their children.
    I have already mentioned in my post about Katherine about her experiences with Matthew.  So I will only reiterate here that Matthew has been close to the family.  It has been a great blessing to have a brother on the other side.  On more than one occasion we have felt his presence with us in the temple.  My parents expect to be allowed to raise him during the millennium.
   Although I have not had any experiences similar to those Katherine has spoken to me about, I do not doubt Katherine's stories.  But these stories get retold often enough that details become blurred and reinterpreted.  Be careful when hearing them, and be especially careful not to share them.  Otherwise our family treasures become urban legends or faith promoting rumors.