When George was transferred to the Isle of Malta,

Hannah accompanied him. Being an officer's wife they were comfortably fixed in the officer's compound.

The sunny days were full of happiness and laughter on that far away island.

On November 10, 1848, a darling little son, George Dennis was born to them.

His coming brought joy and comfort to them. He was the light that brightened each day for her. His slightest movement drew her attention. Short were the weeks she was permitted to have him. In July 1849 she noticed he didn't seem himself. He became very ill. Nothing they did seemed to help him and on the 23 of the month he died.

To Hannah, young wife and mother, far from any of her own kin folk to whom she could turn for love, comfort, and understanding, this was a terrible ordeal. In her own words during his sickness and death "the very sun forgot to shine for her".

Almost she could hate the Isle of Malta and all connected with it.

Time, the healer, eased the sharp sorrow and sad pain-filled eyes again began to be aware that it was still a beautiful world in which to live.

A little daughter Charlotte Hannah was born on board ship in the Mediterranean Sea on March 23, 1851. No baby was more gladly welcomed into her earthly home than was Charlotte. She helped to fill the void left by the death of little George Dennis.

Then in 1852 stark terror entered her life through her beloved George.

George who was always so wise and strong and sensible, was under the influence of Satan. He had found a scrap of paper on the street. Dear sensible, fastidious George had stopped right on the street and picked up that paper. What harm could a sheet of paper do to one. None, Hannah thought as George told her about the fluttering paper attracting his attention. But how mistaken one could be.

The harmless looking paper was a Mormon tract telling about the Gospel.

This message touched George's heart and his interest was aroused in the religion it told about.

It also carried information concerning a strange book called the "Book of Mormon" which was the history of an ancient civilization of the America's. Student that he was, George got a Book of Mormon and neither ate nor slept until he had read it from cover to cover. It took possession of him. It did not stop there.

Worse, much worse was to follow. George immediately applied for membership in the Mormon Church. Hannah was horrified. How could he do such a thing? She was sure the devil had taken possession of him. She begged and pleaded with him to give up the foolish notion. But nothing could break the hold it had upon him. No tears could move him nor pleadings persuade him to give up the Mormon Church.

Almost beside herself with worry and heart break Hannah went to the Pastor of the Methodist Church. Fighting for her usual happy self control she poured out every detail of the dreadful calamity that had befallen her loved husband.

Fear leaped from Hannah to the Pastor and back again. What sinister spirit had entered her home. What could they do to stop this evil from spreading. They decided to hold a special prayer meeting, to ask the Lord to remove the blinders from George's eyes. They felt confident all would be well.

So Hannah waited for divine help. She would have nothing to do with the hateful book. It was that which had started all her worries. Nor would she listen to George's coaxing to attend a Mormon meeting to see and hear for herself that the Mormons were good instead of evil people.

George resorted to the use of a little trickery to get Hannah to be fair and sensible.

He knew the Mormons were to hold a meeting and as he loved the hymns they sang, and as Hannah loved to sing, he was sure they would appeal to Hannah. On the appointed day he asked her to accompany him for a boat ride on the blue waters of the lagoon.

Perhaps near here - Fort St. Angelo

As he rowed he sent the boat skimming rapidly across the water until they were approaching close to shore near the building where the meeting was being held. Then he shortened his strokes until the boat was scarcely moving and conversation was easy.

Wafting "over the rippling waves came the voices of people singing to their God.

To Hannah the sweet strains of the music sounded Heavenly and she begged George to row nearer, Hannah's whole soul responded to those lovely hymns and turned her thoughts to home and loved ones. Then she wondered who could be doing this heart felt singing.

When she plied George with the question, "George, who could be singing like that away out here in this land so different from home. " "Do you like this music?" "I have never heard lovelier singing and the words are so beautiful. Oh! George, do you know who those people are?" "Yes, dear, those people singing with so much feeling are those despised Mormons, " replied George.

"Oh, no, George, not Mormons !"gasped Hannah.

"Yes, they are the Mormons singing their soul stirring hymns, Hannah, " said George, Stunned, Hannah sat as one dazed while the voices full of song rose and fell around her. Slowly she turned and faced George, "They cannot be bad and be able to sing like that, I will go with you to the meeting, George. I must hear about this religion for myself. " George was baptized 4 July 1852, by Thomas O'bray Hannah's heart softened by the music had felt the first touch of the Gospel as believed by the Latter-day Saints. From then on it was just a matter of time.

Just fourteen days after George was baptized on 18 July 1852 Hannah entered the waters of baptism and herself became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, These baptisms brought a change in Hannah's life.

They had a lovely home and were very comfortable when they received the Gospel, George was Pay Sergeant.

[Editor's note - I'm sure his training as pay sergeant came in handy later on when he and Hannah ran the ZCMI store]

He was so enthused about his new found religion that he preached the Gospel to his fellow soldiers and passed out Mormon Tracts in the barracks. He was commanded to cease these unlawful.acts. But he continued to do the best he could to-spread the Gospel in his own way. He was brought to trial and was sent back to England where he was discharged. Hannah returned to Scotland with him.