Biography of Christopher Lister Riding by George Kerry Riding

 

Christopher Lister Riding



No changes were made to the following Biography with exception of inserted photos. Published as typed.

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(The following account was sent by George Riding, the oldest son living at this writing. It differs from the one previously written so I will reproduce it without any changes. Oakland, Ca., July 10,1932) To the descendents of C. L. Riding: Having assigned myself the task of writing some of the incidents in the life of my father as related by himself and others, I trust that my memory will be kind to me that I may recall them and place them before you in such a manor as to inspire you to seek for that undying faith that must have been firmly planted in the hearts of our parents.

The name of Riding can be traced far back in the history of Great Britain, but just where the stock originated , I do not know. Being of the blood of Ephraim, I would think that in all probability they came from the land northward where so many of the children of Israel are located. I do not recall any incidents of my father’s boyhood days although he sometimes related them. Id recall that he went to school rather continuously and acquired a college education. After which, he studied in a church school and was qualified for the ministry of the Methodist church. His previous training in the teachings of the Bible was a great asset.

Being anxious to use his talents, he was very energetic and humble. His worth was soon recognized and he was ordained to the priesthood of an elder and called on a home mission where he had just the opportunity that he needed to defend the new faith that he had espoused. Because of his valiancy for the truth and his devotion to the work of God, he soon had quite a congregation in the neighborhood. A branch was organized and Father was set apart as presiding Elder.. It was while Father was engaged in these duties that a most wonderful demonstration of the power of the Holy Ghost was made manifest.

For the following statement I am indebted to Sister Ann MacFarlane, who was a convert and a member of this little branch, and who was present at the time. She said, “We had met by appointment in front of our place of worship, waiting for others to arrive that we might hold our meeting. Bother Riding, the presiding Elder was standing there among us talking to us when at a little distance away there approached an East Indian who was visiting in England and who, by the way, was a man of some importance in his own country. On seeing him, Brother Riding called to him and beckoned him to come over to where we were. The stranger who ordinarily could neither speak nor understand English, came over and joined us. Bother Riding greeted him with a hand shake, then introduce d us all to him. Then in very plain and precise language explained to him the restored gospel and invited him to remain with us and attend our meeting. The stranger graciously accepted and we all went inside. After singing and prayer, Brother Riding made a further explanation of the gospel. The dark stranger was invited to address us, which he did, occupying about fifteen minutes and speaking all the time in his own language. Brother Riding got up and translated or interpreted his remarks to the congregation, for as yet we had not known a word he had said. What the visitor had said was as follows. He was going from his hotel to attend some meeting or function of some kind when a voice told him to turn from his course and (the voice) guided him to that very spot. Said this meeting had been a marvelous miracle to him. He had been very much impressed by the remarks of the Brother (Riding) who had spoken before him and that the gospel plan that he had presented was so plain and beautiful. He hoped to be able to see and learn more of a people who advocated such a plan.” Now owing to his retiring disposition, Father never spoke of this in my presence. It was not until after his death that I learned of it. I feel it must have been a mountain of strength to him in his hours of trial and tribulation and had given him the courage to say as the poet, “I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord. I’ll do what you want me to do.” It surely must have been an assurance to him that he was engaged in the Lord’s work and gave him the courage to leave his native land and cast his lot with those whom he now knew to be the chosen people of God.

Like most of the Saints, he was poor and the undertaking was a tremendous one. God blessed them and they were able to acquire, in addition to the necessary money to pay for their passage on a sailing vessel to America, quite a stock of sheet tin, sheet iron, copper, brass wire solder and other materials he knew he coul d use (for his trade). All of this was taken as ballast for the ship and did not cost anything for transporting it across the Atlantic to New Orleans. In St Louis he opened a shop; making wares of all kinds for which he found a ready market.

Within a couple of years he had saved enough money to procure the necessary things needed to make his journey to the “valley”. They arrived in Salt Lake, I think, in 1856 where father went into business with Edward Stevenson. They were located somewhere on Main Street between 2nd and 3rd South. He was not permitted to enjoy any degree of prosperity for long for he was called to go to Dixie to help settle up that part (of the Utah territory). Obedient to the call, he sold all his interests in Salt Lake for a couple of yokes of cattle and a wagon to haul his family and all earthly belongings to their future home. While in later years, the real estate which he then owned sold for the neat sum of $75,000.

They first located at Cedar City then to Santa Clara where they proceeded to make a little home and farm. But here again they did not have control over their destiny. For in 1862, all of their holdings were washed away in a mountain flood.  From Santa Clara, Father was called to St. George, as that place was chosen for the center of the Dixie mission. It had been decided (by the prophet) to erect a temple in that valley and Father would be needed there, as he was the only sheet metal fabricator in the Dixie mission at the time. Here he enjoyed comparative independence and while he never accumulated wealth, his family never lacked for food.

At the ripe age of 74 he received the last call from the Father of us all. Father was very reserved and had a quiet disposition. He was faithful to every trust, an honest tithe payer, a fiend to man, a servant to God. May his descendants emulate his good traits of character is my prayer and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. My love to all. George K. Riding