Journal of W. Ernest Young

Walter Ernest Young (1887 - 1982)

A copy of the diary was presented by Amy Valentine, daughter of W. Ernest Young, in November 2006 to Jose Luis Montoya Monroy when he visited Amy in her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is written in English. Ernest Young is the missionary who baptized Rafael, Jovita and Guadalupe Monroy on June 11, 1913 in San Marcos, Hidalgo during his mission. In his diary makes several references of visits, conversion, baptism of the Monroy family and also refers to the execution of Rafael Monroy and Vicente Morales. SEE ALL REFERENCES

Amy Valentine daughter of W. Ernest Young and Maclovia Monroy Espejel grandaughter of Rafael Monroy, Dec, 28th 2006, Salt Lake City, Utah, US.

He was missionary in the Mexican Mission by three years (1910 - 1913). He was Mission clerk to the Mission President Rey L. Pratt

Here the message that his daughter Amy addresed in the meeting to the descendants of Rafael Monroy and Ernest Young, Dec 28th 2006 in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spoke about his father W. Ernest Young

MEETING WITH MONROY DESCENDANTS

Amy Y. Valentine

December 28, 2006

Salt Lake City, Utah

We are honored by your visit. I think my father, W. Ernest Young, would be pleased that we are meeting together. Throughout his life he spoke often about Rafael Monroy and his family, whom he admired and loved. Knowing them was a glorious privilege for him and a highlight of his mission and his life.

This photo of Rafael Monroy hung in my parents' home. My father would point to it and say, "Rafael is my hero."

My brothers Walter and Carl passed away many years ago. Their families live outside of Utah. Three of my children and some of their children are here tonight. My oldest daughter, Amy Lee Corbin, and her family are at home in Colorado and send their greetings.

After my father's mission, he returned home to the Mormon Colonies. He married Cecile Skousen in the Salt Lake Temple June 9, 1915, a month before Rafael Monroy and Vicente Morales were martyred.

My parents had six children. Three of them died in infancy.

For many years my father taught at the Juarez Stake Academy and was bishop of the Juarez Ward. He graduated from Brigham Young University and later received a master's degree there, and he taught at BYU part-time while he was a student.

While he studied at BYU during the summer of 1920, he had dreams and thoughts about Rafael Monroy. On July 20, 1920, he went to the Logan Temple and performed the vicarious work for Rafael Monroy and Vicente Morales.

In 1935 the South American Mission was divided into the Argentine Mission and the Brazilian Mission, and my father was called to be the president of the Argentine Mission and presided there three years. In 1944 my father was called to preside over the Argentine Mission for the second time and served there five more years.

In 1950 President McKay asked my father to work at Church headquarters. He worked there for 20 years, first in Translation and later in the Church Historian's Office.

In 1952 my father was called by the First Presidency as branch president of the Mexican Branch in Salt Lake and then as bishop of the Lucero Ward for Spanish-speaking members.

In 1970 my father retired at the age of 82 after 27 years of teaching in Church schools and 20 years at Church headquarters. He served for 11 years as a missionary or mission president and for 24 years as a bishop or branch president. After he retired, my parents moved to Provo across the street from my home. My husband had died in 1967.

My father continued doing many things in retirement and bore his testimony often. My mother died in 1979. My father lived to the age of 95. He bore his testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ once more on the last Sunday before he passed away.

Once again we thank you very much for your visit. I bear you my testimony that the Gospel that has brought us together is true, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

See Photos and remarks of the Young - Monroy descendants meeting