With God's help all things are possible

Autobiography
Harold R “Hal” and Mary Kay Southwick Bunderson
 
And Biographical Profiles of Our Parents, Siblings and Grandparents
The family history part of our genealogical research


Chapter 5



Transfer to Atlanta, GA – 1972-77 – Mind Stretching

Our family’s five years in Georgia offered wonderful opportunities for growth and development.

We learned to love the southeast. We adopted Katherine. Our experiences: Mind-stretching.



Index

· Atlanta – Evaluating and being evaluated

· Transfer – agreed and approved

· Four days to find a home and sign

· Fifty houses in three days – Mary Kay’s organization

· We choose a house under construction

· Approved, but will need to live apart for four months

· Finalized house purchase and financing in a day

· Mark Kay in Granada Hills, me in Atlanta – I was lonely

· Kaylynn’s Temple sealing – Los Angeles Temple

· History repeats in LA and Atlanta – lived apart first 4-months

· What have I done to my little family?

· Who are you, the Devil?

· You need to learn to project – join Toastmasters

· Move to Sandy Springs - Mary Kay had everything ready

· Waiting in our empty house for the moving vans

· I had to leave town the next day - Mary Kay carried the burden

· We host a large party the week after our move

· How can you move across the nation one week and host a large party the next?

· Mary Kay teaches Brian how to use the telephone

· Proving myself at work – again

· Wine probably tastes like it smells

· Window coverings – custom made in Oregon with fabric and love

· Mother needs a car – we gave her our 1970 Mercury Cougar

· Mary Kay invites our parents for visit – what to expect

· Mary Kay’s report on the children’s progress

· “You have a branch”

· Gasp, a snake is eating a frog

· Double gasp; a lizard is in the house

· There’s a squirrel between the floorboards – where’s the cat?

· A Big Wheel and long driveway - what child could want more?

· Grandma Southwick about fainted

· Summer humidity? No problem, unless the power goes off

· My dad works with numbers and talks to man

· A boy we knew in Georgia replaced my hip in Idaho

· Blemished peach; a surgeon’s view – valuable lesson

· He said, “My life is half over”

· Church callings

· We’re sorry your husband is not a member of the Church

· Mary Kay’s depression – she kept it to herself

· Financial stress of moving

· IRS office audit – no change in tax – the agent asked for my help

· He appeared as a distinguished southern gentleman – double standard

· If alcohol was important to success, we’ve terminated some really fine people

· What do they do at the Opera?

· Kaylynn – 3-years - used gentle psychology – “Brian, I love you”

· The building imploded before our eyes

· Our religion was an anomaly in the Atlanta office

· “No one’s drinking? Bunderson, what have you been doing?”

· “Hal, what is the difference between Baptists and Mormons?”

· “Jesus Christ has returned and he’s in Salt Lake City.”

· We gave our former Indian student a second chance

· I become an Arthur Andersen & Co. partner

· “Get this cold, wet cookie monster off of me.”

· Mother needs money – accepts monthly payments

· Sandy Springs Stake Dinner – Mary Kay chief chef – 300 guests

· Mother lived with us during the winter months – what a joy

· Mary Kay’s indominable courage

· Sequel to Mary Kay’s experience – my relationship with Mr. B

· “Neva, you’re not a “Jack Mormon,” you’re a “Neva Mormon”

· Atlanta Office’s Christmas Card – I was asked to do the artwork

· “That’s not a drink, that’s orange juice

· “Mr. Bunderson, I’m related to Joseph Smith”

· Katherine – born October 21, 1975 – foster parents

· Three months as foster parents – Will you adopt her

· Katherine Irene Bunderson – legal adoption

· Katherine is sealed to us eternally – December 18, 1976

· Katherine in Church – little boy: I want one of those

· Mother passes away, Thursday February 24, 1977

· Hal, will you transfer to the Boise office – May, 1977


Atlanta – Evaluating and being evaluated – Following my July, 1972 meetings with Jim Brice and Jack Fisher in Los Angeles. I called Bob Phillip, head of the Atlanta Small Business Division in Atlanta, to schedule Mary Kay and my week-long visit to Atlanta. Bob was efficiently urgent. Mary Kay and I were to arrive in Atlanta Sunday afternoon. The office would book us at the downtown Marriott Hotel, a few blocks from Arthur Andersen offices – 20th through 23rd floors in the the 28 story Trust Company of Georgia building adjacent to the downtown city park.

A staff man would pick me up Monday morning and escort me to his office. Bob would give me a tour of the office, introducing me to partners, managers and staff who were in their offices.

Three Partner’s wives would pick-up Mary Kay and take her on a tour of the city, including lunch at a private club.

Sam Hudgins, the office managing partner and three division heads and their wives would pick us up at our hotel and take us to dinner at private club. Billed as a social affair, it became quickly apparent that it was an evaluation. They wanted to determine if we would we fit in to the office culture? The dinner-talk was interspersed with questions designed to not only access our depth of maturity, judgment and demeanor, but also our level of commitment to our religion.

Sam asked, “Hal, you’re a Mormon. I understand Mormons are cliquish. Would you accept a Mormon as a client of the Firm just because he was a Mormon?”

Without flinching or challenging the inaccuracy of Sam’s “cliquish” comment, I said, “No; nor would I exclude them for that reason. I would follow the Firm’s procedures for evaluating potential new clients and its management.”

Transfer - agreed and approved - Tuesday morning, I reported to Sam’s office as arranged. He asked if Mary Kay and I would accept the transfer. I said yes, however, we were in process of adopting our baby girl. We were scheduled for a court appearance in October. Also, selling our house could be problematic; home prices in Granada Hills had not recovered from the San Fernando earthquake two years earlier.

Sam said the Firm would reimburse us for our trip to Los Angeles for the adoption; a relocation company would appraise our old home and either sell or buy it; we would be reimbursed for any loss we sustained. For our new home, we were pre-qualified at a bank. Our task was to choose a new home and sign the mortgage papers before we returned to Los Angeles at weeks end. I was to work-out the details with Bob Phillip.

Four days to find a home and sign - Bob engaged a realtor to pick us up at our hotel after my meeting with Sam. She was to work with us full time until we selected our new house. He had instructed her to only show us homes in the north end of the metro area; principally in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and Marietta; no more than 25-miles from the office.

Bob added another proviso; minimum price; $80,000, twice what we paid for our home in California. He argued; it’s okay to spend more and buy a larger home, “your annual salary increases will more than offset the price difference.”

Mary Kay and I added additional criteria: the home must be on high ground where there is no risk of flooding and it must be near a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse (Church).

Commentary – After we chose our house, we discovered Bob’s spending advice was unnecessary; there were no houses we liked that were priced below his threshold. However, we clearly understood that where you live has a direct bearing on your attitude.

Fifty houses in three days – Mary Kay’s organization - Our realtor picked us up each morning with a list of houses to tour. Some were ready for occupancy, others under construction. We saw so many homes; I was dizzy. However, Mary Kay was incredibly organized. She kept written notes on each house and earmarked those that qualified for a return visit. Her disciplined evaluation helped the realtor prepare for the next day.

We choose a house under construction – We settled on a 3,000 sq. ft., three-level home built on a three-quarter-acre hillside lot. The house looked like a two-story home in front; three stories in back standing on a 6-ft tall reinforced concrete foundation wall. Picture windows in back provided panoramic views of the forested hillside down to a small creek below. The home had a two-car garage, four bedrooms, three baths, screen porch and a deck.

The house was part of a large-lot subdivision platted on forested foothills of the Blueridge Mountains on which native oak, pine, sourwood and dogwood trees grew. A six-inch-deep carpet of dry leaves and pine needles covered the forest floor.

Our home address; 7055 Hunters Branch Drive, was a mile away from where we would attend Church at the Sandy Springs Ward meetinghouse and 22- miles north of my office.

The house also met our objectives of interesting features, view and a safe place for the children to play. However, it would not be ready for occupancy until December 6.

Approved, but will need to live apart for four months – I called Bob as soon as we selected our house. His first question, “Is Mary Kay happy with the house?” I said, “Yes, but the home would not be complete until early December.” Bob said, “Hal, we need you here now.” Under his plan, I would live in the downtown Marriot Hotel and rent a car. Mary Kay and our children would stay in Granada Hills until we moved in December. The firm would pay my Atlanta expenses and airfare to Los Angeles in October to finalize Kaylynn’s adoption. We agreed.

Commentary – I later learned that Jack Fisher wanted me to help open the new San Diego Office. But he was overruled; I had been selected for Atlanta.

Upon reflection, we determined the Lord was in the detail of our lives. We were to be in Atlanta.

Finalized house purchase and financing in a day – Mary Kay and I signed the house purchase and mortgage agreements on Friday and boarded our plane for Los Angeles on Saturday. I had a week in LA to wrap-up my client affairs and, with Mary Kay, sign agreements with relocation and moving company representatives. They were to coordinate their schedules with Mary Kay.

Whether our Granada Hills home had sold or not, the movers would load our household goods on vans and our Mercury Cougar coupe on an auto transport on December 2. On that day, Mary Kay, Brian, Kaylynn and I would also leave for Atlanta, 2,200 miles away. We would drive our four-door sedan and meet the movers at our new home in Sandy Springs on December 6.

Mary Kay in Granada Hills, me in Atlanta – I was lonely – Mary Kay was a trooper. She cared for our children, worked with the relocation company in selling our home and kept close coordination with the moving company; everything had to happen like clockwork.

As for me, I had to get to know the businesses and officers of my new clients – trying to gain the confidence of everyone with whom I would be working. The headquarters for many of these companies were in cities outside of Atlanta; some were in Florida. Sundays were a pleasure; I went to Church where we would attend after we moved - meeting many new friends.

Commentary – Many of the Church members in Sandy Springs were people who were officers or senior employees of corporations who were transferred to Atlanta. We had a lot in common.

Kaylynn’s Temple sealing - Los Angeles Temple – I flew into LA on Thursday. We went to our scheduled court appointment on Friday to finalize the legal adoption; family and friends joined us on Saturday at the Los Angeles Temple on Saturday where Kaylynn was eternally sealed to us. She was our daughter, as though she had been born to us naturally. I returned to Georgia on Sunday and did not return to California until we started the physical move to Georgia on December 1.

Commentary – An underlying principal of our Father in Heaven’s Plan of Happiness is the eternal nature of families. Because of the redeeming sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ, sacred marriage ordinances and sealing of children to parents for eternity are performed in the Lord’s Holy Temples. (Appendix 1).

History repeats in LA and Atlanta - lived apart first 4-months – Other than for my 4-day trip to Los Angeles to finalize Kaylynn’s adoption in October, 1972; Living apart for 4-months in Atlanta was reminiscent of the 4-months we were engaged but living apart waiting for our November 23, 1964 marriage – Mary Kay was in Connell with her family; I was alone in Los Angeles.

The events were similar in other ways. During the four months I lived alone in Los Angeles and in Atlanta, I attended Church in the wards we would attend when Mary Kay joined me. The people I met were anxious to meet Mary Kay and include her in their social activities; she had instant friends.

Commentary – Living alone in a hotel allowed me to spend long hours in my office reviewing files and learning about my new clients and their industries.

Many of these clients were involved in textile and carpet and rug manufacturing. Three years later, I was assigned to write the carpet and rug industry audit guide for the Firm.

The “Carpet and Rug Industry Audit Guide” was published by my firm for internal use only. I did not know it at the time of course, however, it would become a a precursor of book writing I would do decades later.

After I retired from Arthur Andersen in 1989, I began writing the first edition of “Idaho Entrepreneurs,” published by Boise State University in 1992; I published the second edition in 2019. I wrote or edited “Idaho’s 200 Cities” books published by the Association of Idaho Cities in 2017; consisting of three volumes that profile Idaho’s three regions (North, Southwest and East) and each city within each region, by county; plus, three companion books; “Idaho Trivia;” totaling over 1,600 multiple choice or true and false Q&A. Mary Kay and I published “My Immigrant Heritage” a limited-edition book profiling the lives of my ancestors in 2012. I will likely publish this biographical book of Mary Kay and me and our families in 2022.

What have I done to my little family – The leaves on the trees were changing color as I looked out my office window in late September. Feeling a bit melancholy; I turned my chair to look. Trees hid the houses and taller buildings rose above the tree line. I could see for miles. The view was striking but I longed to see Mary Kay, Brian and Kaylynn. I thought to myself, “What have I done to my little family. What am I doing here?”

Recognizing I needed to mentally adjust, I told my secretary (one secretary supported three managers) that I would be gone for a couple of hours. I drove thirty minutes to see our new home.

As I pulled onto the gentle downhill driveway curve and parking area by the garage, I saw the forest of pine, oak and dogwood trees on the hillside and small creek below. The deciduous trees were in full autumn color. A 20-foot high sourwood tree with vivid red, yellow and orange leaves, stood at the end of our concrete drive. There were no workmen on site; the doors had not been hung; the building was open.

Everything was quiet as I got out of my car in the crisp fall air. The house was open. I smelled fresh-sawn lumber as I walked through the garage and screen porch into the kitchen and eating area of the home. The doors were not hung, but the windows were installed; the finishing work was just starting. I looked through the picture windows into the forest trees growing near the house. The view was striking.

The feeling came over me, “You and Mary Kay made the best choice; all will be well.”

Commentary – I returned to my office; reassured. I would work hard, and with God’s help, our Georgia adventure would be good for each member of my little family. I was at peace.

Who are you, the Devil? – I rented a parking stall in the parking garage used by residents of my firm’s office building. I left my rental car in the parking garage and walked six blocks to where I lived in the hotel. I felt safe walking; the streets were clean, but like most big cities, the homeless began filtering in at dusk to find shelter. Some men curled-up in the pipe-fenced basement window wells where heat radiated from the glass; most went to homeless shelters.

The route to my hotel went past the Atlanta Rescue Mission where the homeless received a meal, a Christian message and a cot where they could sleep. One evening, I overheard two homeless men arguing in front of the Mission.

The first man said, “Let’s go to the Rescue Mission.” The second responded, “I ain’t going to the Rescue Mission.” In a more insistent voice, the first said, “Come-on, let’s go to the Rescue Mission.” The second stubbornly repeated, “I ain’t going to the Rescue mission.” In frustration, the first man exclaimed, “Who you, the Devil?”

Commentary - I smiled to myself as I passed – they made my day. I didn’t want to the Rescue Mission either, but I was grateful for good people who made it available to those who needed it.

You need to learn to project – join Toastmasters – Not long after we settled into our new home, Sam Hudgins invited me into his office and told me he had reviewed my personnel file. He said my job performance evaluations in Los Angeles were excellent, however, one partner wrote, “Hal is too quiet – he should speak louder – learn to project.”

Sam said the Firm would help me improve in this area by hiring a professional coach and asked me to apply for membership in the Downtown Atlanta Toastmasters Club.

The Atlanta Toastmasters was comprised of about 40 executives employed by major companies in Atlanta. They met for lunch every two weeks in the large conference room of a private club; setting around a oblong conference table. During the weekly luncheon meetings, the group’s elected Toastmaster announced the name of a member present and assigned topic. The member was to stand and extemporaneously speak for no more than five minutes on that topic; a strong introduction, informative body of information and fitting conclusion.

At the first meeting I attended, the Toastmaster said, “We have a new member, a manager with Arthur Andersen who recently transferred from Los Angeles. Hal, I see from your application that you were born in Utah – are you a Mormon?” I responded, “Yes.”

Two weeks later after the group was seated and ordered lunch, the Toastmaster stood and said, “Hal Bunderson will now speak to us on the topic of Mormons and polygamy.”

Chuckles rippled around the table as I stood. I knew I had been set-up for potential embarrassment to me and particularly the Lord’s Church. I thought, wow, how do I handle this challenge with grace and humor. While I gathered my thoughts, I said with a chuckle and a sideway turning of my head, “You guys.”

Then words came into my mind in the very instant I needed them. I introduced the topic with a brief dissertation on the historic practice pf polygamy in various cultures, and its continued prevalence today in many Islamic countries. I said in the 1840s polygamy, as practiced in ancient Israel, was accepted on a limited basis by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; a relatively small percentage of Church members practiced plural marriage.

However, the Church’s acceptance of polygamy became a major factor in whether Utah Territory would be admitted into the Union as a state. Federal laws had been passed in the 1880s prohibiting the practice of polygamy in the territories (not states). Polygamy was essentially defined as a marriage with a formal ceremony. Multiple premarital relationships, extramarital affairs and informal cohabitation agreements, were not defined as polygamy.

I said in 1890, the Church’s then prophet and leader issued the “Manifesto,” prohibiting further plural marriages by Church members – on penalty of excommunication.

I explained that after Utah became a state (1896), U.S. Senator, Reed Smoot from Utah, was not allowed to take his seat until he underwent interrogation by his Senate peers.

I then said I would conclude my remarks by telling them one question asked of Senator Smoot and his response. I observed, everyone in the room seemed to lean forward waiting to hear the rest of the story.

I said, “They asked Senator Smoot, “Do you believe in polygamy?” He responded, “I would rather be a polygamist that ‘poliged’ than a monogamist that doesn’t ‘monog’.”

I then immediately sat down. They seemed stunned; then erupted into loud laughter. I received many accolades for my presentation.

Commentary - I suspect certain of those in attendance told Sam Hudgins about how I handled to loaded question.

I believe certain of the men planned to have a good laugh at my expense and were taken aback when I exposed the duplicitous philosophy about sexual morality prevalent in society and which, I suspect, some of them embraced.

However, the Holy Spirit put the right words into my mind and mouth as I was speaking (also Senator Smoot). Knowledge and good humor saved the day for me and the Lord’s Church. I was welcomed into their group with mutual respect. (D&C 100: 5-6).

Move to Sandy Springs – Mary Kay had everything ready – On December 1, 1972, I flew from Atlanta to Los Angeles. Mary Kay and the children met me at the airport. I was delighted to find my smart, resourceful and beautiful sweetheart had done everything. Only the signing of documents was left.

The next morning, several men came with two moving vans and an auto transport. They loaded our goods and our Mercury Cougar coupe and drove away. We left the house keys with the relocation company representative and began our 2,200-mile trip in our Ford LTD sedan.

Mary Kay was prepared to make the three-day trip interesting for the children. She made cloth panels with little pockets to hang in the back-seat windows for shade. Each morning the children had fresh treats and toys to discover in their panel pockets; a tradition we followed each time we traveled long distances with our young children.

Waiting in our empty house for the moving vans - We arrived in Atlanta and checked into a motel. We were in our empty home by 8am on December 6, 1972; waiting for the moving vans and workers to arrive.

Mary Kay wrote to our parents that the predicted rain did not come until all of our furniture and boxes were in the house. No small task. The movers had to park their moving vans on the steep Hunters Branch Drive hillside and carry furniture and boxes 30 to 40 yards into the designated rooms of our three-level home.

Brian, nearly five, and little 10-month old Kaylynn seemed excited to see their beds and toys. Mary Kay developed a tape-color, room-destination system; a tape color for each room.

It was Brian’s important job to stand at the front door with his mother’s room-color list on a clipboard to show the movers where to take each item.

I had to leave town the next day – Mary Kay carried the burden - The day after our move, I had to leave town for two days. When I returned, Mary Kay had unpacked the boxes and organized our home for the upcoming fireside (see below). She also researched the area, found places to shop and registered Brian for kindergarten at a private school.

Mary Kay helped Brian memorize our new address - 7055 Hunters Branch Drive, and phone number, (404) 394-4233; making sure he carried a dime in his pocket for a payphone. As soon as Kaylynn could understand; Mary Kay gave her the same instruction.

Commentary – Six years after Mary Kay passed away in 2013, I sold our old home in Meridian and moved into a new home on a small lot. I’m still unpacking. Oh, how I miss her.

We host a large party the week after our move – Similar to Granada Hills (see commentary), we hosted a large Church gathering in our home the week after we moved in.

The party in our Sandy Springs home was arranged when I was living alone in Atlanta for four months, waiting for our home to be finished. During that time, I drove to the Sandy Springs ward meetinghouse; located a mile from our uncompleted home to attend Church.

The Church activities chairman asked my permission to hold their December “fireside” in the large rectangular family room on the lower level our home - one week after we arrived. He had scheduled a prominent speaker and expected about eighty people. Some of those attending would bring folding chairs and refreshments. Mary Kay and I discussed the matter and agreed.

On the night of the fireside, a warm and gracious Mary Kay invited each guest into our home. Many people heard about her through me and were anxious to meet her. It was as though they already knew her; she had many instant friends.

Commentary - We moved into our new home in Granada Hills on Saturday, March 18, 1967. The ward Elder’s quorum held its “April Fools” dinner, about 60 people, the following Saturday our garage; white painted walls and ceiling with a tile floor that had been the subdivision developer’s sales office.

On the morning of the event, several men brought chairs and round tables from the Church and set them up in our sparkling-white garage. The women brought red and white checkered tablecloths and centerpieces. The meal’s main course: spaghetti and meatballs - with a catch – you had to eat with cooking utensils – extra-large napkins provided – April Fools. Two natural stand-up comedians in the group told jokes and stories. An evening filled with laughter, love and goodwill. For Mary Kay and me, we had dozens of instant friends. (Chapter 4).

How can you move across the nation one week and host a large party the next? Our Sandy Springs neighbors saw us move into our new home during the first week of December and host about 80 people in our home the next weekend - people parked their cars on both sides of our steep hillside street. One of our astonished neighbors asked Mary Kay, “How can you move across the nation one week and host the largest party we have ever had in our subdivision the next?” Mary Kay apologized for not inviting her and explained.

Commentary – The fireside speaker was the distinguished Franklin Garrett, head of the Atlanta History Center. He gave a fascinating discourse on the history of Atlanta before the Civil War.

Mr. Garrett taught us that the Western and Atlantic Railroad surveyed a railroad line in 1837 that temporarily ended in present-day Atlanta. They gave the temporary stopping-off place “Terminus” as they planned to make it a rail hub. A small commercial center developed around the railhead to accommodate stagecoach and freightwagon traffic. The new residents made application to postal authorities for a post office in 1842 with the proposed name of Lumpkin, in honor of Georgia’s Governor Wilson Lumpkin. Their application was denied because the name was already in use. They reapplied with the name of Marthasville; after the governor’s daughter, Martha. The new post office was approved.

The railroad built a depot and the community grew. Railroad chief engineer, J. E. Thompson led the signature-gathering effort to file for city incorporation with a new name. Thompson proposed the citizens name their new city Atlanta, the feminine of Atlantic. Proponents for the actions argued the name “Atlanta” was appropriate for several reasons; The Governor said Martha’s middle name was Atalanta; the word “Atlantic” was part of the railroad company’s name; southeastern Georgia bordered the Atlantic Ocean and Greek philosopher Plato (died circa 384 BC) wrote about the mythological Island of Atlantis. The majority of citizens voted to incorporate their community as the city of Atlanta in 1848.

After Mr. Garrett completed his presentation, our Church leader in charge asked a member of our group to offer a closing prayer and blessing on the refreshments. Mr. Garrett was a bit hard of hearing and thought he was being asked to offer the closing prayer. He was already standing so he folded his arms and said, “Well I’ve never done this before, but I guess I can.” Whereupon our leader said, “no, no, no, you misunderstand.” Great humor to end a very successful fireside. Mary Kay was introduced to scores of new friends.

We were also grateful to learn about the city of Atlanta because of the truism, when we move, we should not look inward, but learn to grow and blossom where we’re “planted.”

Mary Kay teaches Brian how to use the telephone – Mary Kay bought Brian a toy telephone for role-playing. When she rang the bell, he picked-up the receiver. When she said dad was calling; Brian lowered his voice and said, “Hello, Hi Dad.”

Proving myself at work - again - Mary Kay said that my professional reputation that I worked so hard to establish in Los Angeles had limited value in Atlanta; I had to prove myself again.

Atlanta office audit staff told me that the former audit manager on the clients assigned to me was a genius. I thought at the time it would be difficult for me to follow such a person and distinguish myself. However, I discovered on at least three clients, the fellow did shoddy work – and the partner on the engagements bought-off on his decisions. (Chapter 11).

In the case of a large road construction company, the former manager wrote an extensive memorandum on calculating inventory costs – I discovered his method resulted in a major misstatement of income.

In the case of a large textile company, the engagement partner told me that the calculation of deferred income taxes was extremely complex and had to be performed by the audit manager and then reviewed by the tax manager. He said it had taken the tax manager a week to complete his review of the calculations. I felt there had to be a better way and manually headed-up schedules, gave them to the staff senior and instructed him to go to the archived working paper and income tax files and do a year-by-year analysis of each Schedule M reported from the inception of each schedule M; some went back for decades.

The analysis made calculation of the income tax provision and the deferred income tax reserve straight-forward, well documented and understandable. So much so that the audit senior did the calculations. The tax manager expressed amazement; he planned to spend a week in the client’s office, but was through with his review in a day.

The third case involved a client registering oil and gas drilling partnerships with the Securities and Exchange Commission. When I was reviewing the audit workpapers, I discovered the general partner knowingly did things that were in violation of federal law. The audit partner, who had signed clean audit reports on this client in the past, told me to take the lead; including going to Washington D.C. with the general partner to meet with SEC enforcement personnel, disclose the violations and receive their direction on how to remedy them. We qualified our audit report and lost the client. Sam, the office managing partner, queried me about the facts of the case and said, “Good Job.” (We cannot have clients we cannot trust.).

Commentary – Upon reflection, I realized it was not coincidental that I was assigned these clients and discovered the serious problems that previous personnel had missed for years.

I made partner three years later and head of the office’s Small Business Division. God is involved in the detail of every person’s life to the extent we honestly seek it; and do not “cast it out by (our) unbelief.” (BM Alma 32: 28). If we try to be faithful, God will place us in settings where we can further his purposes.

Wine probably tastes like it smells – A few months after we moved to Atlanta, Mary Kay and I were invited to a partner, manager and spouse’s dinner at a downtown restaurant’s private room.

I was the only member of the Church in the Atlanta office and we were often teased because of our religious beliefs and way of life. When this happened, we tried to respond with objectivity and good humor.

Mary Kay and I were assigned to different tables. Mark Kay said one of the partners at her table, Al, offered her a glass of wine. She politely refused, “I have orange juice,” she said.

Al pressed his offer in a condescending way, “Wouldn’t you like to know how wine tastes?” Mary Kay chuckled and responded, “I cook; it probably tastes like it smells.” Al pressed further, “It tastes a little sour, a little vinegary, a little sweet; wouldn’t you like to taste it to find out? At that point, another man at the table injected, “Al, if it tastes like you describe, I wouldn’t drink it either.”

Commentary - Mary Kay stood for correct principles in every setting - even if she stood alone. However, she tried to do it with objectivity, charm, grace and humor. As illustrated above, by holding to her principles, she was respected for her individuality and courage. Al, not so much.

Window coverings – custom made in Oregon with fabric and love – My sister Delphia, operated a small business, Del’s Draperies, out of her home in Oregon. She made custom swag draperies, sheers and curtains for our Granada Hills home (Chapter 4 and 19), and now agreed to do the same for our home in Sandy Springs.

Mary Kay and I measured each window and sent pictures to Delphia. She and Mary Kay talked and she sent swatches of possible fabrics. In April, 1973, Delphia, Oris and their daughter Vickie flew into Atlanta with beautiful window coverings; rooms that had been plain, became elegant.

Mother needs car – we gave her our 1970 Mercury Cougar – My mother had been driving a used 20-year-old sedan that failed; making her dependent on family and friends to get around.

Mary Kay and I decided to give her our 1970 Mercury Cougar coupe that we purchased in California. It was in excellent running condition. Oris, Delphia and Vickie would drive it home to her after installing our window coverings.

Mother was familiar with the car; having rode in it when it was new. She, Mary Kay, little Brian and I, drove it on a 1,500-mile round-trip from our home in Granada Hills to visit Oris and Delphia in Oregon. The car had a vinyl roof, front bucket seats and center console. Mother deftly got in and out of the bucket seats by holding on to the inside roof handles.

We later learned that mother’s sporty car elicited occasional teasing – she was Tremonton’s “Little old lady from Pasadena;” a song popularized by “The Beach Boys” in 1964.

Commentary - I suspect mother enjoyed driving her smart-looking, relatively new, vehicle.

Mary Kay invites our parents to visit – what to expect – Mary Kay wrote to both of our parents, asked them to visit. She described our home to them: Top level; master bedroom and three others; guest, Brian and Kaylynn’s shared one bathroom. A hallway in front of each bedroom had a railing on the side overlooking the front door foyer and staircase. Second level; front door entrance, foyer, stairs, living room, formal dining room in front; in back, the kitchen and breakfast table with a railing across the open 2-floor opening; overlooking the north end of our great room; picture windows and screen porch; looking out to the forest. Bottom level; large great-room, spare bedroom, workshop and storage area. A long, 3-ft. wide, 14-step staircase from the kitchen to the great-room below. The family room has a gas fireplace and sliding glass doors onto a wood deck – trees growing next to the deck.

Brian and Kaylynn had a 20-foot long, two-and-a-half-foot diameter wire-spiral “slinky” tube that stretched down the staircase from the kitchen to the great-room. The tube was Brian and Kaylynn’s slippery-slide - their favorite way to descend the long staircase. The family room was Brian and Kaylynn’s principal in-house play area. But the slinky slide had its risks. Our stone fireplace was but a few feet from the base of the stairs. Brian and Kaylynn remember many close calls; almost hitting the rock hearth. I suspect they eventually pillowed the barrier.

Our forested three-quarter-acre hillside lot is covered with hundreds of small and up to a hundred-foot-tall native trees growing down the long, steep hillside to a small creek; a natural drainage when it rains.

Mary Kay’s report on the children’s progress – Mary Kay wrote to our parents: Brian and Kaylynn are fascinated with the small wildlife; squirrels scurrying in the trees and burying acorns in the leaves that blanketed the forest floor; colorful migrating birds, fireflies, lizards and treefrogs. Mary Kay said Brian tried to get a squirrel to take a nut from between his thumb and finger and was bitten. He still liked “Nutty,” but at a distance.”

Kaylynn has literally thrown away her pacifier and joined Brian in checking-out the turtles, insects and fast-moving, tree-climbing lizards in our yard. They captured fireflies in a glass jar and chased frogs, lizards and garden snakes; hoping for a close-up examination. The small turtles on the forest floor are fun to see, but moved too-slow to hold their attention.

“You have a branch” – Mary Kay was taken aback when a visiting friend who grew-up in the area looked out our back windows through the trees to the narrow creek at the bottom of the ravine and exclaimed, “You have a branch.”

Not understanding, but thinking; we have many trees; lots of branches - Mary Kay said, “Yes, we really like it?” Then she realized in the south “branch” is the colloquial term for small creek - our street address was Hunters Branch Drive.

Commentary – Compared to our home in Granada Hills, our Georgia home was an adventure for our children. Kaylynn even developed a bit of a southern accent.

Gasp - the snake is eating a frog - Brian ran into the house to alert us that “a snake is in our front yard eating a frog.” We all responded to his invitation to join him outside with different degrees of enthusiasm. The spectacle; a garden snake had the back half of a frog in its mouth and was slowly swallowing the creature. The frog’s front legs and fingers were extended; desperately trying to escape the inevitable. Brian had already learned the hazards of getting his fingers too close to a wild critter’s mouth, so he just watched closely. Mary Kay shuddered and went back into the house.

Little Kaylynn was not afraid, she stayed with Brian. Keeping with her personality, she didn’t want to miss a thing. After the snake finished its lunch, there was a noticeable frog-shaped lump in its long body. The two budding zoologists followed the reptile until it slithered across the parking area and into the cover of the forest leaves to digest its meal.

Double gasp; a lizard is in the house - Mary Kay enjoyed watching the children explore, but could have done quite well without the lizards - one five-inch-long lizard got into our house by hiding in the morning newspaper. These agile critters could climb any rough surface, including sheer curtains. When capture was near, the reptile could drop to the floor and scurry under anything, including our kitchen appliances. They could run a few feet in a blink. We had an anxious time for a couple of days before we captured the pest in a towel and put him outside.

There’s a squirrel is between the floorboards – where’s the cat? – Our Living room was directly below our guest bedroom. We heard noises in our living room ceiling. Knowing it had to be a squirrel building a nest between the floor joists, I went outside to find the opening where it likely entered. Twelve-feet aboveground was a small opening between the floors where electrical wires entered the house.

I thought, if I could get the squirrel to exit, I could caulk the hole – problem solved. My plan; move the bed and furniture in the guest bedroom, pull back the carpet and lift one of the 4x8 foot floorboards and put our housecat between the joists, the feline would scare the squirrel; it would leave the same way it got in; I would caulk the hole – problem solved.

Wrong. It was the other way around; our fierce descendant of a wildcat was afraid of the squirrel. I tried to push our mouser between the joists, but she wouldn’t go. I pushed down on her back; she fixed her claws onto the 2x12 joists until she broke free and ran.

Plan B; wait until the squirrel went outside for food the next morning. I waited until the sounds between the rafters stopped. I then raised the floorboard and filled the hole around the wires with caulking. For the next few days, we listened - no more sounds.

A Big Wheel and long driveway – what child could want more? – Santa brought Brian the Christmas gift he desperately wanted; a Big Wheel; a chopper-motorcycle-design tricycle - made of hard plastic. It had a wide seat set three-inches off the ground. The foot-pedals were on the oversized front wheel. The raceway was our concrete driveway with a 15 degree decline from the street a hundred feet; leveling-off into our concrete parking and turnaround area in front of our garage. The concrete abruptly ended at the steep forest hillside.

One reason Mary Kay chose our house was the driveway slopped away from the street. A safety precaution for which we were grateful. In a couple of years Kaylynn had her own Big Wheel. Our driveway was the children’s private speedway.

They pushed their vehicles to the top of our curved driveway, mounted their rig, peddled rapidly to start their decent until gravity took over; raced down the steep grade, then sharply turned the front wheel, causing their tricycle to spin-out at the edge of the concrete.

Brian did so many spin-outs that he literally wore holes in the hard-plastic rear wheels of his toy. We replaced it with the new and improved model, the “Big Green Machine.”

Grandma Southwick about fainted – When Grandpa and Grandma Southwick came to visit, Brian had to show them his daredevil skills. They watched him mount his Big Wheel at the top of the driveway, peddle for a burst of speed; race down the drive and spin-out at the concrete’s edge. He thought his grandmother would be impressed. She was horrified and about fainted.

Result, Brian and I promised to build a split-rail fence at the end of the drive. Not much of a crash barrier, but it made grandma feel better.

Summer humidity? No problem, unless the power goes off - During the first summer, I was astonished to see the large amount of water our dehumidifier removed from the air in our house. Our dehumidifier was located on the side of our house. A short pipe with a 10-foot garden hose attached laid on the hillside. A stream of water ran from the hose at a rate similar to a garden hose turned-on half way. We thought nothing more about it until one hot summer day – no electricity - two-day power outage. When we went to bed, our bedsheets felt wet. It was miserable inside our home until electricity was restored.

Compared to the dry air of Southern California where perspiration evaporated, outside summer yard work in Georgia could be unpleasant; clothes wet with perspiration.

However, because of air-conditioning; offices, shopping, home and cars; Atlanta was as comfortable as Los Angeles.

Commentary – Each generation seems to forget their roots and the good things they enjoy because of the sacrifices of their progenitors. People make errors in judgement when they make plans believing things will remain the same; not trying to see the vast improvements that are coming – things yet to be invented or revealed by God.

Charles H. Duell, US Patent Office Commissioner in 1889, is credited for saying in his day that “Everything that can be invented has been invented.”

Compare that thinking with what God revealed to his ancient Apostle Paul, “But as it has been written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (I Corinthians 2:9). Our lives are vastly improved if we rely on God and His living prophets for wisdom.

My dad works with numbers and talks to man – When Brian was in pre-school, his teacher asked each student to tell the class what their father did for a living. Brian stood-up and said, “My dad works with numbers and talks to man.”

A boy we knew in Georgia replaced my hip in Idaho – One of our Sandy Springs friends was the Smith family. John Q, a teenager at the time, grew up, went to medical school, became an orthopedic surgeon and started his private practice in the greater Boise area; coincidentally buying a home a mile east of where we lived. He was serving as the Bishop of our ward when Mary Kay passed away. A few months later, Dr. John Q. Smith replaced my hip. (Chapter 9)

Commentary – Our son Brian flew-in from Arizona to be with me for two-weeks; until I could drive a car. Brian’s employer allowed him to work electronically from my home.

The night I was released from the hospital, Dr. Smith stopped by my home to visit. I thought, wow, 2,200 miles and 40 years ago, Mary Kay and I went to John’s home to visit; now, he is my orthopedic surgeon and the Bishop of my ward – and has come to visit me in my home.

Several minutes after he arrived my primary physician, Dr. Frank Johnson rang the doorbell. I said, don’t you guys know doctors don’t make house-calls anymore. Joking aside; I am grateful for caring physicians who are also personal friends.

Blemished peach; a surgeon’s view – valuable lesson – An area conference of Primary Leaders was held in our local meetinghouse. Mary Kay was to provide bed and breakfast for a member of the Church’s General Primary Presidency and her husband. While the women were at their meetings, her husband, who was a practicing physician and surgeon, and I stayed home.

We walked outside and I showed him my contribution to the Georgia “Peach State,” a dwarf peach tree that had one peach; ripe but bird-pecked. I said, I would offer to share the peach with him, but the fruit didn’t look good.

Whereupon my new friend said, “That’s a good peach – we will just cut out the part that’s not.” He then produced his pocketknife, skillfully cut away the blemishes and we both had a tasty treat.

Commentary – My surgeon friend taught me a valuable lesson. Each of us sin and have blemishes; sometimes so severe we may feel there is no hope. But our Savior Jesus Christ, the master surgeon, can heal us if we repent and turn to him; “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1: 18).

He said, “My life is half over” – Walking past the office of one of the firm’s partners, I looked in and saw him staring out the window. I stepped into his office and asked, “how are things going?” I was taken aback when he responded despondently, “I’m 38-years-old today, my life is half over.”

We chatted a few minutes and tried to make light of his birthday comment; it’s the other way around, the most productive part of your life is ahead. However, it was clear he was concerned about the frailties of his mortality.

Commentary – The man was Christion but was not open to discussing God’s Plan of Salvation or the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If he had, I could have helped him understand his true relationship to God and, subject to his choices, his eternal destiny. (Dedication and Appendix 1).

Church callings – Mary Kay and I both received Church callings a few months after we arrived in Sandy Springs; Mary Kay in the ward primary organization, I was ordained a High Priest and served on the Stake High Council. (Chapter 16).

We’re sorry your husband is not a member of the Church – My failure to go to Church with Mary Kay and the children was noticed by our neighbors – and misunderstood. Missionaries calling on homes in our neighborhood knew our address and knocked. They had seen Mary Kay and the children at Church, but not me. During the conversation, one of them said to Mary Kay, “We’re sorry your husband is not a member.”

Mary Kay responded, “Whatever gave you that idea?” They said, “Your neighbors said they see you and the children go to church every Sunday, but Mr. Bunderson never goes with you.” Mary Kay chuckled and explained, “My husband serves on the Stake High Council and often leaves home early Sunday mornings. He joins us whenever he can.”

Mary Kay’s depression – She kept it to herself – After we had been in Georgia for several months, Mary Kay wrote in her journal that she felt, “a darkness, questioning of self-worth, depression.” Remarkably, she kept her thoughts to herself. She did not discuss her feelings and never sought medical advice. I was unaware of hwer experiences until I was writing this book; reading her journals that are essentially, her personal - and now our “Ebenezer;” a written monument, acknowledging God’s hand in the detail of our lives. (I Samuel 7:12).

What other people and I saw in Mary Kay was her usual outward demeanor; smart, self-assured, quick-witted, wise and competent. But inwardly, a battle was raging. She wrote, “In my despair, there were conflicts raging in my heart, mind and soul that touched the deepest core of my feelings – and challenged them. Nothing was sacred to the darkness that filled the corridors of my life. Nothing could enter my life or leave without being colored or warped by it. I felt I was living in a falseness that was all too real – my life had no value – darkness filled the corridors of my life … I felt isolated and lonely.”

Mary Kay and Kaylynn were at home while Brian was attending pre-kindergarten and I was at work. She wrote, “Kaylynn was always excited to see Brian when he came home - they played happily together. However, reading bedtime stories to them was difficult for me. I loved them so much, and thought they deserved so much better than me.”

Mary Kay was called to serve as the Sandy Springs Ward Primary President two years after we arrived (Primary is the Church organization teaching children under 12). She said her calling put her in front of people who looked to her for leadership, answers to questions and direction.

She wrote that she had difficulty keeping her composure when talking. She wanted to avoid people; to set in the back of the room and go home immediately after Church. However, she couldn’t; she was the Primary President, she had to interface with people on Sunday and almost every day of the week.

Mary Kay studied the scriptures for relief; totally relying on our Savior Jesus Christ to help her overcome the influence of Satan who “seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (BM, 2 Nephi 2: 27)

She recorded that much like a fever, her depression finally broke, “In the wee hours of a fitful sleep, a terrible thought came into my mind: “Deny … the existence of Jesus Christ.” She said that she awoke and audibly responded; “Never!”

She wrote, “In a corner of my heart and soul came the truth; Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world, I knew it! From that day forward, with my feet squarely planted on the rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ, I began to slowly heal (Helaman 5: 12 and I Nephi 15: 24). My hope was centered in our Savior. I began to live in truth and light. The falsehoods and wrong lifestyles of the world that was destroying my peace were filtered out of my life by the atoning blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.”

Commentary - Mary Kay knew that if she trusted in Jesus Christ, he would heal her as he did the ancient inhabitants of the Americas, “What shall we do that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us … have faith in Christ.” (BM, Helaman 5: 40-41.)”

Mary Kay emerged spiritually strong from her painful experience. Her indomitable spirit is an inspiration to me and those that truly know her.

Her experience has similarities to those recorded by God’s prophets, Moses and Joseph Smith - when God delivered them from the power of Satan. “He (Moses) began to fear exceedingly … and saw the bitterness of hell. Nevertheless, calling upon God, he received strength … and commanded Satan to depart.” (Moses 1:11-20). “I (the 14-year-old boy Joseph Smith) was seized upon by some power that entirely overcame me … thick darkness gathered around me … as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. But exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me … I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound.” (Joseph Smith – History 1: 15-17).

Mary Kay’s expression of “Never!” is reminiscent of the seventh verse of the hymn Mary Kay had sung many times, ‘How Firm a Foundation;’ “I will never, no never, no never forsake.”

Never was a theme that Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom expressed in the throes of the massive 1940-41 “Blitz” bombing of England’s cities by Nazi Germany. He said, “Never give in, never, never, never, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force, never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

Today, many psychiatrists would likely diagnose Mary Kay’s experience as clinical depression, a mental condition for which they would prescribe drugs. Medical practitioners generally assert that the cause of clinical depression can be hereditary or caused by stress, ill health, gender (women are twice as likely as men) or biological reasons. They often comment that the person experiencing depression can oftentimes disguise it - so that it is not easily detected by others - but for the person who experiences it, it is very real - with potentially devastating effects.

Even though Mary Kay’s experiences had attributes of “clinical depression;” there was more to it than that. I take Mary Kay at her at her word. She said, she had a real conflict with Lucifer – he wanted to win her soul – but with the Lord’s help, she won a very personal battle with him. The fact that she won and was healed is irrefutable – her subsequent life-choices confirm it.

Financial stress of moving - Compounding our other moving problems; our finances were stretched thin. My next salary increases would not come for six months. We anticipated a doubling of our mortgage payments and property taxes but underestimated house-furnishing and landscaping costs. The first year was financially stressful – after that, my salary increases were relatively significant.

Commentary – Our transfer was totally unexpected. It took more than a year to financially recover. We prayed before we accepted the transfer to Atlanta; “is worth it?” Once we received confirmation, we worked to make it work – and doors were opened for us.

IRS office audit – no change in tax - the agent asked for my help – The year after we moved, Mary Kay and I received a letter from the IRS; our 1972 income tax return was selected for an “office audit,” make appointment with an agent at the Atlanta office of the IRS. The letter listed several tax deductions we claimed that were in question. I personally prepared our tax return and had organized my documentation in a partitioned file. The IRS agent was a pleasant middle-aged lady with lots of questions.

I laid my 3-inch thick file on her desk and each time she challenged a deduction, I open the file to the appropriate section and produced the needed documentation. After a half hour, she said my claim for California SDI (state disability insurance) was not allowable.

At that point she received a phone call - I asked her to hand me her Master Tax Guide from off her bookshelf. When she got off the phone, I showed her the paragraph in her book specifying California SDI is and allowed federal income tax deduction. She said, “I had no idea; I have been disallowing it for others transferring from California.”

She then listed the her few remaining challenges and said, “I guess you have documentation for those too?” I responded, “Yes.” She said, “OK, I have seen enough; you pass – there will be no change to your tax return.

She then changed the subject. She said “My parents and I have a Sub S Corporation, and I have a question to which you may know the answer.” I left her office with a smile.

He appeared as a distinguished southern gentleman – double standard - Not long after moving to Atlanta, I was assigned to work with a large commercial real estate developer involved in building and operating shopping malls and office buildings. This client was headquartered Australia with a division in Atlanta. One of their developments was on land they were leasing from a man who was also a tax client of Arthur Andersen.

At the first meeting I attended, this man was present. He looked to me as being over 60 years old. He wore a slender mustache and goatee; a cream-color linen suit with a vest, bow tie and a panama straw hat. During the meeting, I observed him remove a small silver snuff-canister from his vest pocket and slowly, in ritual fashion, unscrew the top, pull a small silver spoon from another vest pocket, fill it with snuff and inhale the powder. To me, his appearance and demeanor suggested something I envisioned from the Old South; a rich southern gentleman.

Several months after the meeting, Johnny, the Arthur Andersen tax partner handling the man’s personal tax work, came to my office and told me the man had died – essentially in the arms of his mistress; in her apartment which he financed.

Johnny said the man’s wife had just left his office devastated and heartsick. She had no knowledge of his apparently long-standing double life. She had investigated and found her husband was broke; he had used their property as collateral for loans; in part used to finance his lifestyle. Their debts exceeded the value of their assets. Foreclosures were imminent.

Commentary - As Johnny left my office, I mused to myself; wickedness will never produce happiness (Alma 41: 10). At some point, there is a reckoning. True happiness only comes from keeping God’s commandments. Unfortunately, the man’s wife had to suffer from his actions.

If alcohol was important to success; we’ve terminated some really fine people” – Across the street from Arthur Andersen’s offices was an up-scale bar; the Pewter Mug. Many Andersen personnel frequented the bar after hours; mingling with more senior personnel; they apparently believed they were helping their career. I did not do that; when my work was done, I went directly home to be with Mary Kay and our children.

I was working late when Max, a manager who transferred from Chicago, came into my office and said, “Hal, you don’t go to the Pewter Mug with the rest of us. Don’t you think that will impair your future with the Firm?

I smiled and said, “You know Max, if drinking alcohol was important to being successful at Arthur Andersen, we’ve terminated a lot of really fine people.” Max laughed and said, “I can’t get ahead of you,” and returned to his office.

Commentary - Another case where I was impressed to say the right thing..

What do they do at the opera? One evening, Mary Kay and I had tickets to the opera, a black-tie affair. We had a sitter for the children, but seven-year old Brian wanted more information. He said, “What do they do at the opera?” I replied, “It’s a musical event. The women sing really high and the men sing really low; then we all clap and go home.” While that definition is not in Webster’s, it worked as a family joke that lasted for decades.

Kaylynn, 3-years – used gentile psychology; “Brian, I love you” – Brian and Kaylynn had a game of racing up and down staircases and ending in a room with toys. Brian was fastest and this time locked the door behind him. Kaylynn wanted-in. Brian refused - until little Kaylynn, setting on the floor outside his door said in a small voice, “Brian, I love you.”

The building imploded before our eyes – I had some pressing office work one Saturday in 1974 and took Brian with me. We were largely alone. I put Brian in a room across the hall with his coloring book.

My office was on the 23rd floor with a panoramic view of the western side of the city; overlooking a city revitalization project. A nearby five-story building, whose footprint covered an entire city block, was being prepped to be razed; replaced by high-rise office building.

I saw several men running from the building – assuming they were getting ready to set off the dynamite charges strategically placed in the structure, I called Brian to come quickly. He arrived just in time to look out my window and see the blast - the walls of the building fell inward. Within seconds, the large building was reduced to a pile of rubble. Several earth-moving tractors and dump trucks began moving in to remove the debris.

Commentary – Reflecting on the experience, I saw the imploding building is a metaphor. A building that took years to design, permit and build was reduced to rubble in seconds. Similarly, a person’s good character and reputation that may have taken decades to establish, can be quickly ruined if they choose evil over good.

I had an old acquaintance who had a decades-old reputation in Idaho’s public circles as being a wise administrator and advisor, a reputation lost overnight. During his career, he had been a close advisor to a university president and four Idaho governors. He had been the head of a state agency and a large association.

After he left public service he was found guilty of felony Internet child pornography; for which he pled guilty and was sentenced to prison. His fetish had likely been going on for years; but escaped disclosure until he was caught in a sting operation.

Like the imploding building; this public figure saw his stellar reputation fall to ruin in a day. I was shocked to read media accounts of his arrest with a storyline picture of his blank expression face and wearing an orange, jail-issued jumpsuit.

Our religion was an anomaly in the Atlanta office – Mary Kay and I were accepted warmly into the Atlanta office. However, we were the only members of the Church in the office; there was a curiosity about our steadfastness in living our religion.

Most visible was our adherence to the Church’s health laws; not drinking alcohol, coffee and tea or using tobacco. At business meetings or cocktail parties, we ordered a glass of juice or soft drink. When we were teased; we tried respond objectively and with good humor.

“No one’s drinking – Bunderson, what have you been doing?” – At one of the Small Business Division partners and manager’s luncheon meetings, a tuxedoed bar steward came to our private room to take drink orders. Bob Philip, the division head started by ordering a cocktail. Each person in line did the same until the steward came to me. I ordered a glass of orange juice. The man next to me also ordered a soft drink, as did the next man seated next to him, until Bob blurted out, “Bunderson, what have you been doing?” I laughingly responded, “Hey, you told me to be effective, right?” Everyone laughed.

“Hal, what’s the difference between Baptists and Mormons?” The year before I became a partner, the principal investor and Board Chairman of one of the clients I was assigned invited Mary Kay and me to dinner along with the company’s CEO, outside legal counsel and their spouses.

The seating arrangement placed the attorney and his wife opposite each other at the rectangular table with his wife seated on my right; Mary Kay was on my left.

During the course of the conversation, the attorney’s wife asked me, “Hal, what is the difference between Baptists and Mormons?” I responded, “Both have a lot in common, but in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is a little bit more. She said, “I would like to know what that ‘little bit’ is.”

Whereupon, her husband crassly half-rose from his chair, thrust his right arm and index finger in front of his wife’s face and said, “Don’t you turn into a prude on me.” Our host politely changed the subject and we had a pleasant evening.

Commentary - Mary Kay and I chose to not be offended by this prominent man’s otherwise circumspect behavior. We were embarrassed for him. He allowed his emotions to take control of his behavior; something attorneys should be trained not to do.

We felt sorry for his wife. If he was that controlling in their private life, their marriage likely left a lot to be desired. To us, his dominating outburst made him look weak and vulnerable; afraid that my on-the -spot response would do a lot more than satisfy her curiosity.

Professionally, the matter had no adverse effect on me, the attorney and I continued working together with our mutual client as though nothing happened. In fact, I believe he later offered a positive evaluation of me to my bosses who were considering me for promotion to partner.

Jesus Christ has returned and he’s in Salt Lake City - My religion was sometimes a topic for discussion with our clients. The two owners of a carpet manufacturing company joked with Bob Phillip and me; saying the Catholic Pope’s assistant rushed up to him and said, “I have good news and bad news.” The Pope said, “What’s the good news.” The assistant blurted out, “Jesus Christ has returned to earth.” The Pope became very excited and said “Wonderful, What’s the bad news?” The assistant reported, “He’s in Salt Lake City.” After they all laughed; I said in a serious tone, “That’s no joke” - then I chuckled.

Bob later told me the two men held me in high regard. They said that while I tended to be quiet, when I spoke, they listened. A very nice compliment.

We gave our former foster Indian student a second chance – Mary Kay and I participated in the Church’s Indian Student Placement Program (now discontinued) in 1970 when we were living in Granada Hills. The student assigned to us was 12-year-old Emma Cordova who lived with her parents and siblings on the Yaqui Indian Reservation near Tucson AZ. Under Mary Kay’s tutelage, Emma’s academic performance at Granada Hills elementary improved dramatically. However, Emma’s Mother took her off the program. (Chapter 4).

Mary Kay continued to write to Emma over the next five years; encouraging her to make wise choices. However, it didn’t happen. Now 17-years old, Emma told us she wanted to change her life and do what we tried to teach her. She said she was behind in school and was not going to Church, but she wanted to; she needed help.

We invited her to visit us in Georgia for a week and sent an airline ticket – August 11, 1974. Mary Kay took her to buy clothes and I used the information she provided, to telephone her high school administration personnel and the Bishop of her ward. They agreed to help Emma. All she needed tom do was call them when she returned to the reservation and show-up. Emma told us she would follow through.

A month later I called and found Emma was still not attending school or Church. Mary Kay wrote letters of encouragement. Emma wrote back, excusing her inaction by saying she felt miserable and trapped; she wanted Mary Kay to send money. We refused.

Commentary – After we moved to our Meridian, Idaho home in 1977, we received a letter from Emma (Chapter 6). She said she was a single parent with two special needs children. She wanted to change her life and asked Mary Kay to send money for clothes and plane tickets for her and her children; she wanted to come to Idaho. We said no.

American philosopher and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) said, “Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you say.”

I become an Arthur Andersen & Co partner – I was notified on July 10, 1975 that I would be admitted into the general partnership of Arthur Andersen & Co. as of the partnership’s August 31, fiscal year end – over 2.000 partners and 80, 000 employees worldwide. I would be awarded 64 partnership units; cost, a thousand dollars a unit; money borrowed from a local bank. I would receive scheduled cash distributions from the firm’s worldwide earnings during the year with true-up after the fiscal year end. My share of partnership earnings was multiple times greater than my annual salary as a manager. (Chapter 11).

Concurrent with my admission to the partnership, Bob Phillip, was released as the head of the Atlanta Office’s Small Business Division and made managing partner of the Boise office. I was called to replace Bob as head of the Division.

Bob flew his single-engine airplane to Boise. When he got to Phoenix, he called me. He was a heavy smoker and had difficulty breathing above 10,000 feet. He wanted to know if I had any route-advise for him on flying north over the mountains to Boise. My sage advise was stay in the valleys.

After, Bob had been in Boise a few months, he called me again. Do you know of an experienced manager who would like to live in Boise? I told him that Porter Hall in the Los Angeles office, grew-up in Boise and may be interested. Porter transferred to Boise; my turn was next.

Commentary – Boise was a small office whose anchor client was Boise Cascade Corporation. Bob’s promotion to office managing partner was ladder-climbing for him; and was skillful in bringing a lot of positive recognition to the firm in Idaho by participating in state Republican politics and Boise Chamber of Commerce leadership positions.

After I arrived in Boise in 1977, Bob encouraged me to do the same. With Mary Kay’s support, my significant community and public service involvement began at that time and continued throughout most of my life. (Chapters 6, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 17).

“Get this cold, wet Cookie Monster off of me” - After I was promoted to partner in 1975,. At about that time, Max, one of the senior managers in the division, accepted employment as the Chief Financial Officer of the company that owned Holiday on Ice.

Max called and said Holiday on Ice was coming to Atlanta. He offered to give a gift to all of his former Small Division personnel and their spouses; over a hundred tickets for one of the performances of Holiday on Ice. They were performing at the 15,000 seat Omni Coliseum in downtown Atlanta; the same rink where the Atlanta Flames, a professional hockey team played. He block-out a section of seats for the Division at rink side, at the end of the oblong arena, some of the best in the house.

I accepted Max’s expensive gift, but told him Mary Kay and I couldn’t make it; my brother and his wife were flying in from Utah that same evening.

Max said, not to worry, he would have tickets for them too, come late. Mary Kay and I got a sitter for our children, picked-up Cleo and Shirley at the airport and drove directly to the Omni.

The program had started as we arrived. The hall was packed. Ushers directed us to our four seats, surrounded by other Andersen personnel. Only a one-foot riser separated the ice on the rink from the first row of stadium chairs.

The ice skaters were wearing Sesame Street costumes and had started a routine wherein Big Bird was carrying a bucket of water and chasing the blue Cookie Monster. Around and around the rink they skated; melting ice dripping from their fuzzy costumes. All of a sudden, Cookie Monster came to an abrupt stop in front of us, stepped across the riser bordering the rink, sat down squarely on Shirley’s Lap – looked at her for a moment, gave her a big hug with his cold, wet arms and put his big red open mouth over her face as a kiss. In total shock, Shirley screamed. Fifteen thousand people laughed. Cookie Monster jumped up, stepped onto the ice with Big Bird right behind him with a bucket of water.

Commentary – It was Shirley and Cleo’s were already a bit frazzled when we arrived and were totally unprepared for Cookie Monster’s antics; as were we all.

I suspect Max told the performer to set on Mary Kay’s lap, not Shirley’s, but we had inadvertently switched tickets. As a Christmas gift, we sent Shirley a stuffed blue Cookie Monster doll.

Mother needs money – accepts monthly payments – My mother’s living expenses were greater than her income. We knew this and tried to send money to her. She said she did not want to accept our charity. As a substitute, she agreed to sell her home to us on a mortgage note on which we would make monthly payments. The purchase contract and mortgage note which I drafted, specified she could live in her home for life – rent free.

Commentary – Throughout her life, mother taught the importance of hard work and being financially independent; “Make do; or do without.”

Sandy Springs Stake Dinner - Mary Kay is chief chef - 300 guests – The Stake presidency organized the stake’s first stake High Priests dinner and social to be held in the recently completed 25,000 sq. ft. stake center in nearby Marietta. I was serving on the stake High Council at the time and was taken aback when Richard Winder, the Stake President asked me what I thought of him calling Mary Kay to be in charge of the banquet committee; I would be her assistant.

Mary Kay agreed. She delegated all of the food-preparation responsibilities to other women with recipes; she took responsibility for buying about 20 spiral-cut honey-baked hams and desert – she and I made over 300 “Snowball” deserts in clear-plastic cups (whipped cream, marshmallow crème, crushed pineapple, diced banana, chopped pecans, layered between chocolate wafers – sprinkled with coconut flakes), kept in our chest freezer until the night of the party. Younger men dressed in red vests served the plates of food prepared in the kitchen.

On top of that, the person in charge of entertainment requested Mary Kay perform on stage with a humorous monolog about getting acclimated to Atlanta and the southeast.

Commentary – One of Mary Kay’s character traits, sense of humor and effervescent personality were on full display the night of the banquet - the crowd loved it.

A few years later when we moved to Boise; she was called upon again do a monolog at the Boise 19th Ward Relief Society Dinner. This time, Mary Kay used a Relief Society theme to write her adaptation of certain segments and music from the stage-play and movie, “Fiddler on the Roof.” She spoke and moved around stage-props, holding a microphone, while a pianist and violinist played fitting music. Again, her wit and charm were a hit. (Chapter 6).

My mother lived with us during the winter months – what a joy – Continuing the practice we began in Granada Hills; my mother spent the winter months in our warm-weather locations.

Mary Kay had a special relationship with my mother, they loved each other dearly as a parent and child. Mary Kay said she learned more about life, crocheting, quilt-making and cooking from her than she ever learned growing up in her own home.

We sought to make mother’s months-long visits an adventure for us all. Each time she came, I scheduled vacation time so that we could go on trips to places she had only heard or read about.

We took a trip to Washington DC and a tour of the White House. Another time to Warm Springs, Georgia and a tour of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home where he broadcast many of his “Fireside Chats” during the Great Depression and WWII, and found relief from his Polio pain in the naturally warm water.

As a boy, I remembered our family listening to FDR’s Fireside Chats over the radio. Mother said she was thrilled to now see artifacts; to touch and feel the places where the broadcasts originated.

Mary Kay’s indominable courage - Mary Kay joined me at Arthur Andersen’s week-long partner’s meeting at a Chicago hotel in October 1976. Over a thousand of the partners (about half) from offices around the world attended – they all spoke English. The partners and spouses were separated during the day, but together for dinner. While the partners were in business meetings, the spouses were treated to wonderful breakfasts, lunches and guided tours to interesting places around Chicago.

Their first breakfast had assigned seating, a round table of ten. The wives of two senior partners set at Mary Kay’s table.

Mary Kay said one of the two senior women, Mrs. Bill B, called for introductions. Then, she and the other senior woman, perhaps wanting to sound seasoned, sophisticated or provocative, began the table conversation with Mrs. Bill B saying, “If I had it to do over, I wouldn’t marry.” The other woman said, “If I married, I would try to not have children. If children came, I would encourage them to not to marry or have children.”

Mary Kay was shocked by their comments. She said, “As these two women ground on with their corrosive wisdom, I trembled inside; my hands turned cold and clammy. I thought to myself that these two women’s pernicious philosophies must not be allowed to stand unchallenged.”

However, no one else at the table spoke up. Mary Kay felt reluctant to challenge these women whose husbands had supervisory positions over me and anything she said could have an adverse effect on my career, however, . Marshaling her courage, she injected, “I’m sorry, I disagree with you. If someone lived the lifestyle you’re promoting, they would wake-up one morning; look into the mirror, and say, I hate what you have become.”

“What’s more,” she continued, “Our husbands work hard to provide us with nice homes in the suburbs and endure a long commute to give their families the very best opportunities. If our husbands had the philosophies you’re promoting; we would not be here at this partner’s meeting. Our husbands could afford to live in a penthouse and walk to work.”

Mary Kay said that her pointed comments left the two senior women speechless, they had no retort. It became quickly apparent that the other women at the table had no interest in the senior women’s personal philosophies either. Mary Kay said that “The other women turned to me, asking such questions as; “With your husband out of town so much, how do you encourage a strong family life? And, “How do you support your husband in his work and still encourage him to spend more time at home?”

The next morning, Mary Kay said Mrs. B saw her on the hotel mezzanine where breakfast was being served; walked up to her and said, “Mary Kay, You’re a Mormon.” Mary Kay responded, “I most certainly am.” Mrs. B turned on her heels and walked away.

Commentary - Mary Kay’s inner self was on full display in that encounter. In spite of the social pressure to keep quiet, she relied on the Holy Ghost for her inspiration, Thus, she forcefully and eloquently challenged noxious philosophies and falsehoods and taught correct principles.

Of that experience, Mary Kay wrote, “Life is full of choices and this mortal experience is a time of trial. It is a probationary time where our choices show our true colors.” She continued, “To my children and grandchildren: I suggest they write a statement or choose a scripture to help them keep their balance in a swirling storm of falsehoods and deceptions prevalent in this Telestial world.”

For herself, she selected four scriptures: 1. “How long halt ye between two opinions, if the lord be God, follow him.” (I Kings, 18: 21); 2. “And if you shall keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (D&C 14:7); 3. “Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.” (Mosiah 26:30); and 4. “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” (Philippians4:13).

Sequel to Mary Kay’s experience – my relationship with Mr. B – A few years after Mary Kay’s encounter with Mrs. B, her husband, Bill, included me in a one-day meeting of a few partners at the O’Hare Airport Hilton in Chicago.

My return flight to Boise was delayed for a couple of hours. Bill’s home was 35 miles west in St. Charles. He said, over my objections, that he would wait with me in the hotel lobby.

As we visited, Bill asked me about a partner we both knew. Bill felt this partner was having a hard time and wanted to know if I knew why. I said I didn’t know; however, the man had remarried multiple times and it was my observation that if your personal life is not going well, it’s only a matter of time before it shows-up in your work.

Bill immediately said, “Hal, I should go home. I have some family problems of my own.” I quickly encouraged him to do so. As Bill left, I thought of Mary Kay’s interchange with his wife a few years earlier.

Commentary – Sadly, Bill died of a heart attack a few years later while hurrying to catch a plane at Washington National Airport, now Ronald Regan Washington National Airport – he was about 60 years old.

I have a high regard for Bill. If someone hasn’t already, when I am in the world of spirits, I look forward to being with Mary Kay and together continuing my conversation with Bill; teaching the restored pristine Gospel of Jesus Christ to him – and to his wife.

Neva, you’re not a Jack Mormon, you’re a Neva Mormon – At a partner’s meeting in New York where spouses were invited, my former boss, Dan, and his wife Neva also attended. Dan and Neva were members of the Church but chose to not fully live their religion. They enjoyed cocktail parties and sometimes drank excessively.

At one of the activities for wives, Neva, cocktail in hand, came up to Mary Kay and said, “Mary Kay, I’m a Jack Mormon.” Mary Kay responded with a chuckle, “Neva, you are not a Jack Mormon. You are a Neva Mormon. You are only as much of a Mormon as Neva wants to be.”

Commentary - Even though Neva did not participate in the Lord’s Church, she couldn’t leave it alone. She had obviously been taught correct principles but chose to rebel – and her poor choices sometimes troubled her; “The Spirit of Christ is given to every man (and woman) that he may know good from evil. (Moroni 7:16).”

Atlanta Office Christmas Card – I was asked to do the artwork – Word got out that I took oil painting classes in Los Angeles. A few months after becoming a partner in 1975, the head of our office support group asked if I would be willing to do the artwork for that year’s office Christmas card. I agreed and did a line drawing of candles, holly and Christmas-tree bulbs. She asked me to sign the picture, but I declined – my name would stand out too much. The reproduced drawing was in raised red ink on heavy white parchment stock with a Christmas sentiment they wrote inside.

Commentary - I have to admit the finished product was quite striking. Now that I am settled in my new home and this family book is nearing completion, I plan to return to line-drawing and oil and water-color painting.

“That’s not a drink! That’s orange juice” – When I was admitted to the Firm in August 1975, Sam Hudgins held a party for me and man from another division who was promoted to partner at the same time. At cocktail parties, Mary Kay and I often became separated. At this party, Mary Kay said she had just finished her orange juice when a senior partner came up and offered to get another drink for her. She pointed to the empty glass on the waiter’s tray and said, “Oh no thank you, I just had one.” To which he said, “That’s not a drink! That’s orange juice.” Mary Kay said, “Yes, that’s what I drink.” He retorted, “I knew a Mormon once, he died.”

Commentary – As it turned out, this gentleman only lived a few more years. Mary Kay and I mused, he should have drunk more orange juice.

Mr. Bunderson, I’m related to Joseph Smith – The Atlanta office had a 30-plus member office-support group (before computers - bookkeeping, printing, publishing and report writing. A long half-wall counter separated the office support work-area from the hallway. The head of the section was a very dignified lady in her fifties named Margaret Freeman. My office was on the same floor as office support.

Mildred was standing by the counter as I was walking by. She softly said, “Mr. Bunderson.” I stopped and just as quietly said, “Yes Mildred.” She said, “I’m related to Joseph Smith.” I smiled and said, “Mildred, that’s remarkable; I must hear more about this. Would you come to Mary Kay my home for dinner? She agreed and I said if she liked, I would try to contact her distant cousin, Mark McConkie, who was working on his doctorate at the University of Georgia is in Athens (About an hour’s drive from Atlanta). She accepted – and I called Mark who was eager to join us.

Margret told a fascinating story. In sum, she said that her progenitor, an uncle to Joseph Smith was embarrassed and agitated about all of the stories going around New England about his nephew and family. He became so disaffected that he and his wife and children moved away.

Mark said the family records speak of Margret’s great grandfather, his disaffection from the family and move away from New York; but no one knew where he went.

Margret told the rest of the story. Her ancestor settled near Atlanta. He demanded that his family never mention the name of Joseph Smith. She said his command became a tradition in her family. Margaret had never married and was caring for her mother in her home. Margaret said if her mother knew that she was visiting in Mary Kay and my home - discussing her relationship with Joseph Smith, she “would be very angry.”

Mark brought copies of the Smith family genealogical records and gave them to Margret. The two promised to correspond.

Katherine Irene - born October 21, 1975 – foster parents - A special meeting was called for stake leaders and their spouses on Thursday evening, November 5. The Church Social Services organization had begun operations in Atlanta and needed to provide regulators an expanded list of names and addresses of potential foster parents. Mary Kay and I were among several couples that agreed to be foster parents.

Mary Kay said the words came into her mind when she was getting ready for Church three days later; “You will be asked to take an infant girl into your home. The baby is very sick; you don’t have to take her, it’s your choice.” She dismissed the thought and went to Church with the children as normal. When they returned home, the phone rang. When she heard the ringing, she said the words came flooding back into her mind. It was the Social Services representative.

Mary Kay said, “My husband will not be home until 4pm.” I was just walking into our house when the phone rang again. We agreed, however, we were told the baby was in ICU at Egleston Children’s Hospital and would not be released for a few more days.

Mary Kay and I went to the hospital the following day. We saw an infant with intravenous needles in her little body. She had to be fed with an eyedropper.

Three months as foster parents – will you adopt her? - After three months, the Social Services representative took Katherine from our home and placed her with foster parents with whom the agency had a contract. We were told several days later that it was unlikely anyone could be found to adopt the baby; her special needs were significant. Will you adopt her, the representative asked?

Katherine Irene Bunderson - legal adoption - The Social Services representative referred legal council to us who arranged the time of our “final” court hearing, Friday, November 5, 1976, at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. Katherine was one year old.

Two days later at Church, I officially named “Katherine Irene Bunderson” - and gave her a “blessing” - of love and inspiration to make wise choices.

Katherine’s sealed to us eternally - December 18, 1976 – We wanted to have Katherine’s sealing performed in a location where my mother and other family members could easily attend. We chose the Ogden Temple.

Our entire family flew-in from Atlanta to Salt Lake City and stayed with mother over Christmas. Brian and Kaylynn slept on mother’s hideaway bed couch in her living room in front of the Christmas tree.

On Christmas eve, Mary Kay suggested the children sleep in a bedroom; so Santa Clause could do his work. The children got very excited when Mother said no, the could sleep on the hideaway bed; they wouldn’t interfere with Santa. Indeed, the children were fast asleep when the gifts were laid under the Christmas tree.

Commentary – Little did we know what momentous events would occur within six months; mother would pass away and we would be planning to transfer to my firm’s Boise Office.

Katherine in Church – Little boy: “I want one of those” – Mary Kay was at Church. Katherine was fussing so Mary Kay took her out into the foyer. She had dressed Katherine in a colorful little dress, white stockings and booties and a ribbon in her hair. She was holding Katherine’s hands as she was trying to walk. Katherine was very small, but cute.

A man with his 3-year-old boy was also in the foyer. The little boy was much larger than Katherine and must have thought she was a doll. He told his father, “I want one of those.”

Mother passes away, Thursday, February 24, 1977 – Mother Bunderson’s health was not good when we were in Tremonton for Katherine’s Temple sealing and Christmas. She said she thought it best to not come to Georgia that winter.

She was admitted into the hospital several weeks later. She passed away on February 24 with funeral services scheduled the following Monday. Mary Kay, our children and I flew in on Sunday and returned to Georgia on Tuesday.

The family met to discuss final arrangements. Other than household goods, the only asset mother had was the remaining balance on the mortgage note for the sale of her ranchette to Mary Kay and me. Mary Kay and I prepaid the mortgage note for her casket, medical and burial costs. She already owned a burial plot next to Daddy in the Tremonton Cemetery.

Mary Kay and I did not participate in the distribution of her personal effects, except for a few items we could carry in our suitcase; her Book of Remembrance and a few knickknacks from her glass hutch. Cleo said he would watch over the property and try to rent it for us.

Hal, will you transfer to the Boise office – May 1977 - Three months after we returned to Atlanta from mother’s funeral, my former boss, Bob Phillip who was then the managing partner of the firm’s Boise office called. He said he needed another audit partner and asked if I would consider coming.

I told Bob that I needed to talk to Mary Kay, but we would consider it. Mary Kay wrote in her journal, “May 1977 – Harold phoned me with good news.”

Mary Kay and I flew into Boise on June 15, to spend a week evaluating Bob’s offer. Mary Kay had the window seat and as our plane left Atlanta we looked out at lush forests and subdivisions. A few hours later, coming into Boise to land; Mary Kay looked south over the barren sagebrush covered plain and exclaimed, “You have got to be kidding.” I said, “Wrong window – look across the aisle – see the city and tall pine-covered mountains.”

Commentary – When Mary Kay was living in Connell, Washington, she had driven through Boise and southwest Idaho with her parents en route to Utah. However, there is no question the contrast between South Boise’s dry high-desert plain and Atlanta’s lush vegetation is stark.

Had we not transferred from Atlanta to Boise in 1977, our home would have been located two miles northeast of the new Atlanta Georgia Temple, dedicated in June, 1983.

When Mary Kay passed away in 2013, our home was less than two-miles east of the new Meridian Idaho Temple that had been announced two years earlier. It was less than a quarter of a mile from Heritage Gardens Subdivision where we planned to build. I now reside in Heritage Gardens, with full view of the Temple from my entryway and three of the upper rooms and the deck of my two-story home. (Chapters 8, 9, 10 and 14)