Story Gallery

William Odell’s Remarks at His Retirement

A Closing Testimony recorded at the time of William's retirement in 1975. I express sincere appreciation to my five brothers and five sisters for all they have done for me. They are a continuing source of inspiration and example. My three sons and four daughters have...

An Experience of Inspiration

Recorded in the 31st Ward newsletter, The Voice of the Thirty First Ward, William wrote under the title, An Experience of Inspiration, My Dear Brothers and Sisters: I would like you to know that it is my testimony to you that great satisfaction and inspiration can...

Life Changing Experiences and Listening to the Promptings of the Spirit

(Pictured: William Odell and Opal Adams Tolman Family in 1953) (John Odell Tolman shares two accounts among many sacred and faith promoting experiences that he had with his father, William Odell Tolman). Life Changing Experiences: Toward the end of my senior year at...

William Odell Tolman the Genealogist

In 1930, William wrote on the inside cover of his missionary journal, "My life work if God wills - Scouting - helping boys, helping girls, helping others, those who need help." He also listed under the heading "'Important,' 32 things that I want to do." Among those 32...

William Odell Tolman the Dreamer

During his waking hours, William Odell Tolman was an inspirational teacher, father, and husband and a visionary with respect to family organization, family history, and genealogy work. During his sleeping hours, he gained personal revelation from dreams and was wise...

William Odell Tolman, Family Reunions and the Bear Story

(At the William Alvin Tolman reunions, for many years, William O. gathered the small children and Aunt Norma Hardy Tolman around him and shared with them the Bear Story.) When I was a young man about seventeen years of age my father told me that this summer I was to...

William Odell Tolman and the Thomas Tolman Family Organization and Genealogy Center

[The following is a transcription of an audio tape provided by William O. Tolman to Sherry Hofhine Davis in 1977. Taken from Judson Tolman: Pioneer, Lumberman, Patriarch by E. Dennis Tolman, Second Edition, pages 75-78]. I am recording this for Sherry Davis. It is...

Work, Work, Work

Of the many family values that make up the legacy of William Odell and Opal Adams Tolman, work is one of the bedrock principles that has been handed down the generations or more precisely work, work, work. (From the foreward of William Odell Tolman: Patriarch,...

The Miracle of the Peaches

(Picture: Margaret Eliza Utley and Maggie Belle Tolman) The following story is told by Maggie Belle Tolman Porter, daughter of Cyrus Tolman and Margaret Eliza Utley Tolman. I had miraculous answers to my childish prayers; through those answers my faith grew into...

William Odell Tolman the Teacher

Loraine Tolman Pace writes, "William gave hundreds (perhaps thousands) of talks in his life time and rarely wrote the complete text. He could speak for an hour with no more than five or six notes on the back of a program or envelope." William followed promptings...

Kindness, Love and Compassion for Others

Saturday, 24 Nov 1928: Elder Boley and myself have been reading to each other from a book by Elder Durrant. It is sure wonderful and I have began to think the world of Elder Boley. Some of the fellows have condemned him because he took that drink, but I believe he has...

William Odell Tolman and Scouting

William Odell Tolman was committed to the scouting program for his entire life despite a rocky beginning from his own experience as a young scout due to a revolving door of scout leaders in his youth. His vision of the scouting program and desire to help young men...

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