LIFE STORY OF ALTA ARTENA BALL BOICE
February 1957
Spelling and punctuation corrections have been made -
other corrections will be shown in parenthesis - Linda
I, Alta Artena Ball was born 10 Sept 1882 at Manassa,
Colorado.
My divine lineage and previous training was among the
tried and trusted spirits who were held in reserve to come
forth in these last days, through the lineage of Ephraim,
when the gospel has been restored to the earth.
I had my free agency in yonder world to accept or reject
the plan of the Gospel of Salvation as laid down by our
Father in the world of spirits where all of the spirits
resided before coming to earth life.
I was born of goodly parents who were honored and
respected among men; who taught and instilled into
me when the plan of this earth was laid the vast throng
of noble spirits were present, and the morning stars
sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy.
My heritage is one of the greatest in all the world. Blessings I can pass on to my posterity, because of my
birthright and my own obedience to the principles of the Gospel. I enjoy the blessings of the Holy Priesthood, to
me this is truly a great blessing, worth more than any earthly possessions. I can pass on to my posterity faith in
the Gospel (and) reverence for all things holy. Especially do I want them to honor and respect the Priesthood and
those who are holding responsible positions in the Church of Jesus Christ.
I have given them clean bodies, free from the effects of sin, may they keep their bodies pure and clean, fit
tabernacles for the spirit of God to dwell there in. My days of preparation for exaltation are now present. I am still
in the midst of my life’s mission, earning today the blessings of the Lord son Jesus Christ and all of my dear loved
ones in the Celestial Kingdom of our God. I am fact-to-face with the supreme period of my existence. To fail is
unthinkable. I shall strive with all my might to be true to the teachings of my parents, true to myself and my Father
In Heaven, in this probation is the time to prepare to earn our blessings and rewards hereafter.
My parents resided in different localities in the San Luis Valley, wherever employment for a livelihood was
available; because of this my opportunity for schooling was somewhat hampered. The first school, I attended
when I was about the age of 6 yrs, was a private one because of the great distance to attend a public school was
impossible. My fourth and fifth year I rode a pony four miles to attend school at Mountain View, Colo. Later, I
attended school at Bountiful, Colo. and later stayed with my Aunt Victoria in Manassa, Colo. I had the privilege of
attending one term Church Seminary School in Sanford at Bountiful, Colo. with one of my cousins Ida Sellers and
a dear friend Gertrude Huffaker. We had 2 rooms at William O. Crowther residence, he and his wife were lovely
people and were very kind to us. I went to Manassa again in the year 1901 boarding with Henry Boherman and
Wife. I was happy to be asked to keep steady company with a very fine young man by the name of John Edwin
Boice, who had filled an honorable two-year mission to the Northern States laboring most of the time in Wisconsin.
We were very happily married Feb 20, 1902 in the Salt Lake Temple by John R. Winder, for time and all eternity.
I will now give an account of the positions I held in the church. When I was 16 years of age I sustained as
Secretary of the Bountiful Branch Sunday School and held this position till about 1903. I was then called to be a
teacher in this branch in Sunday School and Primary.
In March 1907, my husband received a second call for missionary service to the California Mission. We had only
been married 5 years and did not have our home near paid for, but my husband had the faith and courage to
accept this call and leave a wife and three small children without much to subsist on. We rented our farm of 80
acres to Alma Christensen for the sum of $300.00 per year, which was to pay missionary expenses and keep the
family at home, which was plenty skimpy living for all of us. I rented one room of my house to a couple for a small
sum of $1.50 per month, and I did washings for a family and raised a good garden each year, I had a few
chickens and a good cow, and we managed to get by till his mission was finished.
In May 1907, I was chosen as 1st counselor to Mary Olsen, Pres. Of the San Luis Stake Primary. This was a very
difficult task for me having 3 small children to care for and impose on my dear mother to look after them when I
had to visit the different wards in the Stake and attend to all Stake Boards meetings. I was called to furnish the
horse and buggy for our conveyance. Many times having to go to the far side of the 80 acres to catch the horse
and harness and hitch him to the buggy, I had to leave my babies alone while making preparation for the trips,
but the Lord protected and blessed all us. The roads were bad in winter when snow was deep, we had to travel 7
to 10 miles to visit Ward Primaries. I held this position til July 1909 when my health and family duties would not
permit me serving longer.
In the fall of 1909, my husband sold our 80 acres and home in Bountiful and bought another 80 acres of land 3
mile north west of Manassa, Colo. He built a new five room house, and we moved into it 10 Feb. 1910 when my
4th child, Leta, was 6 month old. In that year I was sustained as a teacher in Ward Sunday School also a teacher
in Primary and labored in both organizations about 4 years. In 1914, I was sustained as 2nd counselor in the ward
M.I.A. for one year, and in the year 1915, I was chosen to be Ward Secretary of the Relief Society laboring there
till 1918. I was then chosen to be Relief Society Ward President which position I held till 1920, when the Ward was
divided, I was sustained as the first President of the 2nd Ward laboring there till 1922 when difficulties and illness
of my baby Grant, wouldn’t permit me remaining President any longer. In 1923, I accepted a call to act as Stake
Primary Secretary to A. Melvina Sowards, holding this position till 1933 when the Stake Primary was reorganized.
In 1934, I was chosen to be Class Instructor of Teachers Topic in the San Luis Stake Relief Society under the
leadership of Mary K. Bagwell. In 1936, The Romeo Ward was reorganized, and I was chosen and sustained as
the first Ward Relief Society President in this calling till May 1940 when my husband sold our home and land as
his health would not permit the duties and labor of farm work. We moved to the Manchester Ward in South Los
Angeles Stake. I was asked to be a visiting teacher in Manchester Ward this Labor I performed from 1940 till 1944
when I was sustained and set apart as Ward President. Due to my husband’s failing health we had to leave
Manchester Ward, and I was released last of July 1945.
We had to move to a higher altitude and he chose Kirtland, New Mex. as our future home. I was soon asked to act
as visiting teacher and Ward Primary Secretary in 1945 and 1946. In 1946, I was sustained as Stake Class leader
of the Teacher’s Topic in the Young Stake Relief Society until June 1950 when it was reorganized due to the
death of our R. S. Stake Pres. Harriet Foutz. I was class teacher in Kirtland Ward for Teachers Topic from 1950
till 1953. I sold my home in Kirtland and moved to Farmington in March 1954 and have been a visiting teacher to
this date Feb. 1957 and Magazine Representative from Feb. 1956 and still hold this office to date Feb. 1957.
February 1957
Spelling and punctuation corrections have been made -
other corrections will be shown in parenthesis - Linda
I, Alta Artena Ball was born 10 Sept 1882 at Manassa,
Colorado.
My divine lineage and previous training was among the
tried and trusted spirits who were held in reserve to come
forth in these last days, through the lineage of Ephraim,
when the gospel has been restored to the earth.
I had my free agency in yonder world to accept or reject
the plan of the Gospel of Salvation as laid down by our
Father in the world of spirits where all of the spirits
resided before coming to earth life.
I was born of goodly parents who were honored and
respected among men; who taught and instilled into
me when the plan of this earth was laid the vast throng
of noble spirits were present, and the morning stars
sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy.
My heritage is one of the greatest in all the world. Blessings I can pass on to my posterity, because of my
birthright and my own obedience to the principles of the Gospel. I enjoy the blessings of the Holy Priesthood, to
me this is truly a great blessing, worth more than any earthly possessions. I can pass on to my posterity faith in
the Gospel (and) reverence for all things holy. Especially do I want them to honor and respect the Priesthood and
those who are holding responsible positions in the Church of Jesus Christ.
I have given them clean bodies, free from the effects of sin, may they keep their bodies pure and clean, fit
tabernacles for the spirit of God to dwell there in. My days of preparation for exaltation are now present. I am still
in the midst of my life’s mission, earning today the blessings of the Lord son Jesus Christ and all of my dear loved
ones in the Celestial Kingdom of our God. I am fact-to-face with the supreme period of my existence. To fail is
unthinkable. I shall strive with all my might to be true to the teachings of my parents, true to myself and my Father
In Heaven, in this probation is the time to prepare to earn our blessings and rewards hereafter.
My parents resided in different localities in the San Luis Valley, wherever employment for a livelihood was
available; because of this my opportunity for schooling was somewhat hampered. The first school, I attended
when I was about the age of 6 yrs, was a private one because of the great distance to attend a public school was
impossible. My fourth and fifth year I rode a pony four miles to attend school at Mountain View, Colo. Later, I
attended school at Bountiful, Colo. and later stayed with my Aunt Victoria in Manassa, Colo. I had the privilege of
attending one term Church Seminary School in Sanford at Bountiful, Colo. with one of my cousins Ida Sellers and
a dear friend Gertrude Huffaker. We had 2 rooms at William O. Crowther residence, he and his wife were lovely
people and were very kind to us. I went to Manassa again in the year 1901 boarding with Henry Boherman and
Wife. I was happy to be asked to keep steady company with a very fine young man by the name of John Edwin
Boice, who had filled an honorable two-year mission to the Northern States laboring most of the time in Wisconsin.
We were very happily married Feb 20, 1902 in the Salt Lake Temple by John R. Winder, for time and all eternity.
I will now give an account of the positions I held in the church. When I was 16 years of age I sustained as
Secretary of the Bountiful Branch Sunday School and held this position till about 1903. I was then called to be a
teacher in this branch in Sunday School and Primary.
In March 1907, my husband received a second call for missionary service to the California Mission. We had only
been married 5 years and did not have our home near paid for, but my husband had the faith and courage to
accept this call and leave a wife and three small children without much to subsist on. We rented our farm of 80
acres to Alma Christensen for the sum of $300.00 per year, which was to pay missionary expenses and keep the
family at home, which was plenty skimpy living for all of us. I rented one room of my house to a couple for a small
sum of $1.50 per month, and I did washings for a family and raised a good garden each year, I had a few
chickens and a good cow, and we managed to get by till his mission was finished.
In May 1907, I was chosen as 1st counselor to Mary Olsen, Pres. Of the San Luis Stake Primary. This was a very
difficult task for me having 3 small children to care for and impose on my dear mother to look after them when I
had to visit the different wards in the Stake and attend to all Stake Boards meetings. I was called to furnish the
horse and buggy for our conveyance. Many times having to go to the far side of the 80 acres to catch the horse
and harness and hitch him to the buggy, I had to leave my babies alone while making preparation for the trips,
but the Lord protected and blessed all us. The roads were bad in winter when snow was deep, we had to travel 7
to 10 miles to visit Ward Primaries. I held this position til July 1909 when my health and family duties would not
permit me serving longer.
In the fall of 1909, my husband sold our 80 acres and home in Bountiful and bought another 80 acres of land 3
mile north west of Manassa, Colo. He built a new five room house, and we moved into it 10 Feb. 1910 when my
4th child, Leta, was 6 month old. In that year I was sustained as a teacher in Ward Sunday School also a teacher
in Primary and labored in both organizations about 4 years. In 1914, I was sustained as 2nd counselor in the ward
M.I.A. for one year, and in the year 1915, I was chosen to be Ward Secretary of the Relief Society laboring there
till 1918. I was then chosen to be Relief Society Ward President which position I held till 1920, when the Ward was
divided, I was sustained as the first President of the 2nd Ward laboring there till 1922 when difficulties and illness
of my baby Grant, wouldn’t permit me remaining President any longer. In 1923, I accepted a call to act as Stake
Primary Secretary to A. Melvina Sowards, holding this position till 1933 when the Stake Primary was reorganized.
In 1934, I was chosen to be Class Instructor of Teachers Topic in the San Luis Stake Relief Society under the
leadership of Mary K. Bagwell. In 1936, The Romeo Ward was reorganized, and I was chosen and sustained as
the first Ward Relief Society President in this calling till May 1940 when my husband sold our home and land as
his health would not permit the duties and labor of farm work. We moved to the Manchester Ward in South Los
Angeles Stake. I was asked to be a visiting teacher in Manchester Ward this Labor I performed from 1940 till 1944
when I was sustained and set apart as Ward President. Due to my husband’s failing health we had to leave
Manchester Ward, and I was released last of July 1945.
We had to move to a higher altitude and he chose Kirtland, New Mex. as our future home. I was soon asked to act
as visiting teacher and Ward Primary Secretary in 1945 and 1946. In 1946, I was sustained as Stake Class leader
of the Teacher’s Topic in the Young Stake Relief Society until June 1950 when it was reorganized due to the
death of our R. S. Stake Pres. Harriet Foutz. I was class teacher in Kirtland Ward for Teachers Topic from 1950
till 1953. I sold my home in Kirtland and moved to Farmington in March 1954 and have been a visiting teacher to
this date Feb. 1957 and Magazine Representative from Feb. 1956 and still hold this office to date Feb. 1957.
| Alta Artena Ball Boice with her children: Grant, Lynn, Lois, Leta, Dilbert, Letha and Edwin |