RHODA DESERET GUNN STAY
Rhoda Gunn Stay about 18 years old
I was born on 17 May 1898 in Salt Lake City, S-Lk County, Utah at the home of my parents on 221 J. Street, located on 4th Avenue. I was the first daughter and fifth child born to John Francis Gunn and Mary Ann Deseret Jackson. Preceding me were brothers; John Francis (Frank), Walter Leslie (Walt), Benjamin LeRoy (Roy) and William David Owen (Bill).
When I was still a baby we moved to 323 H Street where six more children were born; Alice, Lawrence Jackson, Viola (Vi) Jackson, Clifford Jackson (Cliff), Daisy Jackson and Zelma Jackson.
My father, John Francis Gunn, was born 19 September 1868 in Salt Lake City, S-Lk County, Utah, the son of Benjamin Gunn and Alice Bowdidge.
My mother, Mary Ann Deseret Jackson, was born 19 September 1870 in Logan, Cache County, Utah, the daughter of Mary Ann Owen and Thomas R. Jackson.
I was blessed by my father on 3 July 1898 in the Twenty-First Ward, Salt Lake Stake. I was baptized 4 August 1906, in the Twentieth Ward, Ensign Stake. I remember well the day I was baptized in the baptistery of the Tabernacle on Temple Square. The fathers didn't have the privilege of baptizing their children then. The Priests of the Stake were assigned to take care of it. I was baptized by Mathanial Thomas, a Priest. He baptized his son, David first and then me. Baptismal clothes were not furnished so we wore our own clothes. I had a nice, heavy white dress and long white stockings that I wore. There were a lot of children to be baptized and we took up two or three rows. We all stood on the benches so we could see while waiting our turn. I was confirmed the next day in Fast and Testimony Meeting by my father, John Francis Gunn.