The only formal religious affiliation I know of it that my maternal grandmother and her family before her were Lutherans. The Finnish side of the family was baptized in the Lutheran church--in Frederick, South Dakota, it was the Savo Lutheran community. They worshiped in this church:
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| Salvo Community - Lutheran Church destroyed by tornado in 1921 |
Even when I knew her, my grandmother--by this time living in Kelso, Washington was a religious person, and worshiped with friends in a local church in their town. Grandma Bernice was an avid pianist and more than once I remember her telling me that she had played the piano at their Bible study or women's meeting. Knowing her, I am sure her devotion to the faith community was as much a social one as it was a religious one.
My paternal side had no long standing affiliation but were Christians of one denomination or another. My paternal grandparents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when my dad was 8 years --1950.
Upon their decision to marry, my parents attended both the local Lutheran and LDS congregations to see which they could get along together in as a family. I recall my dad telling me that there was no way he could have been a Lutheran as there was too much formality and recitation in their service. My mom, meanwhile, had a dear friend who had introduced her the LDS faith, and once my grandfather--her dad--allowed it when she turned 18, she was baptized into the LDS church. I don't believe she ever looked back.
I do love her little Lutheran Bible though. I remember being enchanted by the colored cover and the picture of Christ at the beginning of it. She primarily used the LDS scriptures in her personal and our family study, but I remember seeing it on occasion and loving that little book of scripture.
