In 1976, Gloria Wylie of Laingsburg, Mich., was a 40-year-old single mother going through one of the worst years of her life. Now she says 1976 marked the beginning of a new life that would lead five people into the church.
It began when her 16-year-old daughter, Lori asked if she could write to the well-known singing group, the Osmonds. Lori and her nieces - Barbara, 15, and Linna, 13 - had formed their own band and performed many songs sung by the Osmonds.Gloria gave Lori permission, but said she must also ask for a statement of the Osmonds' religious beliefs. Lori mailed the letter, and the Osmonds responded with a letter and an "Articles of Faith" card. Gloria, who had attended many churches and studied the scriputures, said the "Articles of Faith" seemed scripturally sound.
Lori then said she had been observing two LDS boys in her high school. "Do you suppose I could call their mom and ask for a ride to their church this sunday?" she asked her mother.
"Little did I know that calling their mom (Rosalie Risk) would be like calling the hounds down form heaven." Gloria said jokingly. "Rosalie was, and still is, an avid missionary for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Soon, Barbara and Linna started to go to Church as well."
Later, the girls asked if some elders could come to Gloria's home and teach a lesson. Gloria agreed because she liked "nice old gentlemen" and wanted to hear about her daughter's new Church.
"Imagine my surprise when two tall handsome young men with regulation haircuts and business suits appeared on my doorstep at the appointed time," Gloria explained.
Elders David Terry and Keven Crump taught the girls, and Lori, Barbara and Linna were baptized. Later, Gloria took the three girls on a trip to Utah and spent some time with Elder Terry's family in Springville, Utah. She returned to Michigan and married James H. Wylie on March 26, 1977. A month later, the couple also was baptized.
Lori's two nieces, Barbara and Linna, came to live with the Wylies for their last years of high school. "For a few years, we had that wonderful Church family, and I was able to watch the girls grow in the gospel," Gloria said. "The girls are married now and are all active in the Church."