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| Betsey S. Boice Walker |
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An Inspiring Experience, Written by Betsey S. Boice Walker, Transcribed as written.
On September 16th 1946 two of four sons, Ariel and Merl, and their sons, one of each left their camp ground at Flag Ranch, near the South Entrance of the Yellowstone Park, on a hunting trip. There were two others in the party, making six in all. They made two group three in each, and separated in two different directions. In about an hour Merls group found an elk. Merl fired a shot (as pre-arranged). One of the party came, Theon Bassett, but Ariel never showed up. They did not get alarmed, thinking he had gone on ahead. They dressed out the elk, but Ariel still had not shown up so Merl started out on the route Ariel had taken. He went a distance of several miles calling for Ariel but never heard any reply to his calls. He and the others searched the rest of the day, and Tuesday morning, when they notified the Sheriff at Jackson who came with a posse of men and the search continued. About noon Wednesday they called for more help from Lovell, many came, and the search continued on for many days or until the snow came and drove the hunters and searchers out with no word or evidence of Ariels whereabouts.
Ariels wife Helen went to our Stake Patriarch, James Harston, for a Special blessing. He told her Ariel had been called to the other side, and was worthy and fully prepared to meet the call that was made of him. This satisfied us to some extent, but I could not accept it wholeheartedly, as I felt my companion and others of the family who were there could in some way let us know something of the body. But time went on and I was losing interest in research and Temple work, of which there was much to be done.
In March or about six months later, I went to my bed as usual with a heavy heart and quickly found myself gazing on a large group of people all very interested in a work of which I was soon under the impression was research work or something similar. I saw many people I recognized as my kinspeople- I was so overjoyed I wanted to speak but for some reason I did not, I decided they did not know I was there. After this scene I looked to my left and saw a door. I walked to it, opened it and stepped inside - there sat my mother, she too was very busy, I did not notice what she was doing, being so overjoyed. We greeted each other and was soon in conversation, each asking questions. Upto this time I had not thought of Ariel, In a short time the door opened, and Ariel stepped inside, Well our joy was beyond describing, we embraced very affectionately and then I began to question him, why he left us, not leaving any evidence. He said "Mother, I was called and had to go- I did not have time to say or leave any trace. I told him I was satisfied but the folks and friends do not know what I know, and they should be told, now what is your way of communication?" He just smiled but did not answer, but my mother then spoke saying, calling me by name, "Betty why worry about Ariel, he was called here on important work and is doing it, and as for the folks they will not take any hurt from these worries, and remember this is the Lords plan and is not mans, you have to be tested, tried and exercise faith, which brings about our salvation, that is the Lords plan and it will not be too long before they will all be here and then they will understand the purposes of the Lord, so stop your worrying about Ariel, he is all right," of which I could see.
I never was so happy in my life. I had no more troubles, From this experience I had I learned this that when we go there we are not concerned over this world or the troubles of it. We take up our labors, understanding them better than here. I did not see beyond the group I mentioned, or Mother and Ariel. I realized I was not in line of the facts of the purpose of the Lord in taking him away in such a mysterious way, but I want to say they are just as much alive there as here and we will find and join them in the work.
This experience has strenthened me in Temple and research work and probably if we would do more of it here it would relieve some of their work there, as it must be done.
Betsey S. Boice Walker.
Note from Publisher: While traveling with my brothers and sisters for a family Temple Night at the South Jordan Temple, I related this story as I had just read it and it had made a great impression on me. My brother Philip Wasden was sitting in the back seat with me and our sister Marlene. He told us that he remembered when this happened. He remembered the men going on searches to try to find Ariel. He told us what he remembered hearing about the fate of Ariel in two different scenarios. One story was that his remains were found with a bullet jammed in his rifle and the remains of a bear nearby setting the stage for a bear attack, possibly shooting the bear, then the gun jammed. Ariel being killed by the bear, and the bear dying from his wounds. Another report made by Robert Walker states "While on Hunting trip, some personal effects were found 2 years later (his hunting rifle, scraps of clothing) and that was all. In another history, Aunt Betty stated this was the first time she had ever heard of working on the "other side".
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| Ariel F Walker Memorial Lovell Cemetery Lovell, Wyoming I wonder if anything is actually buried here. |
