Temple moments: Trials, bless
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Sometimes rich blessings follow a difficult trial of faith, said Henry A. McDonald Jr. of the Hemet 3rd Ward, Hemet California Stake. The year 1991 was a trial year for him. He had quadruple bypass surgery on his heart. Then a grandson was killed in an automobile accident. Just three days later his wife, Jeannine, experienced a fatal stroke. In another 10 days, he learned he had cancer in one of his kidneys.
He underwent removal of the kidney and recovered, persevering on with his life. Eventually, he remarried. He and his wife, Lorraine Robinson, who had lost her husband in an auto accident, applied in October of 1993 to serve a full-time mission. They were called to serve in the Australia Melbourne Mission, which brought particular delight to Brother McDonald since his father was born in Australia.
"While serving in the Warnambool Branch, a sister in that branch, Thelma McMahon, helped us research records of my father," said Brother McDonald. "After two failed attempts at finding a marriage license recorded in Sydney, and two weeks before we left for home ... she found that my father had been married to a New Zealand woman by the name of Violet Smith." She then began research to see if this couple had any children.
Brother McDonald learned later that he had two half brothers and one, Victor, was living in Sydney, Australia. The first brother, James, had died from war injuries years earlier.
"My wife and I made a trip back to Australia in 1997 to meet Victor, his wife, two daughters and five grandchildren," said Brother McDonald. "He looked so much like my Dad."
They had a warm, enjoyable meeting, but a year later, both Victor and his wife died.
"We have been able to do the temple work for my father and his first wife, my mother, my two half brothers and their wives," he said. "The Lord does indeed accomplish things in His own way," said Brother McDonald, who is a sealer in the Redlands California Temple.
