I would like to relate a story about my great-great- grandfather William Reading III. This is taken from his own writings of his history.
William Reading III was born in the town of Hunningham, Warwickshire, England on the 26th of August 1843.
One evening in the town of Hunningham, England, William was coming home from work. He stopped by a crowd of people that had gathered nearby. Someone was preaching. He stopped to listen to what was being said. He was told they were Mormon Elders. He listened to the sacred songs being sung. He was so overwhelmed with the belief of the Mormon Church, he hurried home to tell his father and mother about it. They really scoffed at their son to think of him being interested in the Mormon Church. Night after night he would return and listen with the greatest interest to the street meetings and the cottage meetings. His tenor voice blended in with the others singing the songs. He said he sung the songs like he had known them all his life. His father and mother could hardly believe that their son, William, would join the Mormon Church. He was serious. He felt the testimony he had was true. He wanted to leave his native land and come to America and on to Zion. He arranged for voyage across the great ocean. By then he was only in his late teens.
William immigrated to America and then on to Salt Lake City in 1861. After he arrived in Salt Lake City, his mother and father joined the church. His brother John came later and they were instrumental in helping their parents to come to Zion. Like all pioneers he suffered a lot of hardship during the first few years of his life in Utah.
Eventually, William and his wife Mary moved to Cache Valley. He was one of the pioneers of Providence and was always willing and ready to do his part in helping to build up and improve the town. He always kept the widows of the ward in mind, helping whenever they needed food and wood. He was in the ward choir and had a clear voice, one that could be heard from one end of the hall to the other. He and his brother John, planted the first trees in Providence to help beautify the city.
I have always felt a special feeling about Providence as most of my mother’s ancestor’s settled there. (If I ever leave North Logan, it will probably be to Providence!) William Reading’s home is still standing in Providence. My mother and I take a ride around the town every now and then to look at our ancestor’s homes that are still there. I love to hear her memories of growing up in Providence.
With the love of history that I have always had, Family Search and learning about my ancestors has always been one of my favorite things to do. I am grateful for such strong and resilient ancestors who were willing to leave their beautiful homes and lands across Europe and travel to Utah because of their love of the gospel. Reading and learning about their histories has definitely strengthened my testimony of the gospel.
-Brent Redd