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
PREFACE
Why we wrote
Eight reasons underlie Mary Kay’s and my purposes for writing these biographies.
Index
- Knowing our “Roots” and “History” helps us make better choices
- Each of us should write our own “Book of Remembrance”
- We wrote so that our children and extended family can know their “Roots”
- Family history is an antidote for depression and questioning self-worth
- A fact that should interest everyone – God is involved in the detail of each life
- History helps us see that each person is unique
- It helps Elijah’s mission - “Hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers”
- Concluding thought
Knowing our “Roots” and “History” helps us make better choices
While circumstances, conditions and experiences of each generation are different, the principles that underlie the quality of a person’s character do not change.
We can all take solace in the fact that we are never alone. Our mortal life is not the totality of our existence. We each have a divine heritage and destiny. We have both Spiritual and Mortal “roots.” Our knowledge of each realm can help us make better choices. (Appendix 1).
Spiritual “roots” – In the economy of our Father in Heaven, His family is fundamental; we are His “offspring” and members of His eternal family (Acts 17: 26-30). Mortality is a critical part of our Father in Heaven’s Plan of Happiness. He said, “We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell. And we will prove them herewith to see they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.” (PGP, Abraham 3: 24-25).
God placed a veil over our mind at the time of our mortal birth so that we cannot remember our premortal experiences and relationships. But sometimes, we have mental glimpses of our premortal life; ideas and people that seem familiar.
On that point, English poet, William Wadsworth (1770-1850) wrote, “Ode to Intimations of Immortality: “Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting; The soul that rises with us, our life’s star, Hath had elsewhere it’s setting, and cometh from afar: Not in entire forgetfulness; And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God who is our home … (Forgetting) the glories (we) had known; and the imperial place (from) whence (we) came.”
God’s living Prophets and Apostles said: “All human beings – male and female – are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His Plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine Plan of Happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.” (The Family, a Proclamation to the World - by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -1995).
Mortal “roots” – In this mortal proving ground, our birth brings additional family relationships. We can learn from each other and from the history of those who have gone before, including the Holy Scriptures. We can emulate the good qualities of those who lived well, repent and avoid the mistakes of the past.
Because of Jesus Christ’s redeeming sacrifice and example, we can be successful. (John 3:16). If we desire, God will help us repent and change; even reverse the direction of our lives for the better so that he can bless us more abundantly (John 10: 10).
History – Choosing to read history, biographies and even introspectively revisiting and documenting our personal history, helps us see where we can improve. We are able to read or observe with hindsight, the benefits of choosing wisely and the adverse and sometimes devastating consequences of poor choices.
British statesman and philosopher, Edmund Burke (1729-1797) is credited for saying, “Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.”
Winston Churchill (1874-1965), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II expressed it another way, “The further back you look, the further forward you are likely to see.”
Every choice has eventual consequences; whether we see them coming or not; whether we see the magnitude of the consequences or not; whether we see, or not, that the consequences of many of our choices do not just affect ourselves as though we were an island; they often affect the lives of many more people, particularly our families – consequences that sometimes ripples for generations.
English metaphysical poet, John Donne (1572-1631) said in his 1624 poem, “No man is an island,” the poem that provided inspiration for Ernest Hemmingway’s book, For Whom the Bell Tolls: “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
Commentary – The tolling of a bell is the tradition of slowly striking a bell to signal a person’s death or funeral procession.
It is a fallacy to believe we can be “an island;” that our actions only affect ourselves. One of my former business associates who had a stellar professional career, called me just before he sought a divorce from his first wife. He said he was calling to tell me before it became public knowledge. He continued, “She no longer meets my needs … If I am hurting anyone, I am only hurting myself.” He had an “island mentality.” I responded, “No, you are hurting all who know you and most certainly, your wife and children.”
After many years, I had occasion to see my friend again, now remarried two additional times. He said that if he had it to do over again he would have remained married to his first wife (presuming she would have him).
Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1726) articulated the relationship between action and consequence in terms of the natural laws of physics and motion, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
As it relates to human behavior, a lesson from Newton’s assessment may be; if we choose to break Gods laws and do not repent and come back to our “spiritual roots” as Jesus Christ directed, there will be an “opposite” reaction. We may not see it immediately, but metaphorically, we will see it clearly when “the person we have become meets the person we could have been.”
The more we choose to obey God, the more we will experience good consequences with greater peace, accomplishment and freedom. Contrary to those who foolishly assert that obeying Gods laws are confining, or takes away their freedom, the opposite is true; it is “… the truth (that) will make (us) free.” (John 8: 32).
By knowing history, we can better see the probable consequences of our own choices. We can learn “reality” by observing what happened to others making similar choices; both successes and mistakes.
Poor choices, such as unrepented: disrespect for God, pride; immorality; obsession for position, wealth and power; use of mind-altering and addictive substances; coveting, jealousy, anger and hate; sloth; laziness, indifference; revenge; self-aggrandizement; taking the life or injury to another, dishonesty; greed; profane speech; rebelling against goodness; engaging in potentially addictive behaviors such as pornography and gambling; and even believing we can advance ourselves by diminishing or tearing-down others – will have undesirable, even calamitous consequences to body, mind, spirit and relationships. Such sad consequences may not be immediate, but they are sure.
Analogous to the fellow who “used his freedom of choice” to disobey God’s health law (D&C 89); drank alcohol and become addicted. His disobedience took away his freedom. He is in bondage to his addiction. And his friends are often likeminded; they “don’t like to drink alone.”
Making the best choices are not always simple. One of Jesus Christ’s modern-day Apostles, Dallin H. Oaks (1932-present) said that “sometimes our choices are not between good and bad, but between good, better or best.” (October 2007 and May 2019 Ensign Magazine). The “Best” choices include humbly repenting of our sins and transgressions with “a broken heart and a contrite spirit (BM, 3 Nephi 9: 20),” forgiving others and ourselves, forsaking our poor choices of the past and turning to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with full purpose of heart. (BM, 3 Nephi 10: 5-6)
If we want to be eligible for God’s blessings – and enjoy his peace and freedom, we must choose to learn of and be obedient to his commandments, covenants and ordinances.
God, through His prophets, has instructed: “There is a law … upon which all blessings are predicated. And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” (D&C 130: 20-21).
God’s laws are for our benefit; they are not confining, but rather, liberating. Choosing to live God’s laws allow us to grow, progress and continue to make wise choices.
Paraphrasing the advice from one of God’s modern-day prophets, Thomas S. Monson (1927-2018): “Regardless of age or condition in life, choose to repent and turn to God - learn from the past (history) - live in the present by striving to learn and keep God’s commandments, covenants and ordinances – then, seeking God’s help, plan and prepare for the future.” (May 2003 Ensign Magazine).
Each of us should write our own “Book of Remembrance”
God has counseled us all to write a “Book of Remembrance” (PGP: Moses 6: 5-6; BM: 3 Nephi 24:16 and 23: 13 and Malachi 3:16); a record of our personal and family histories. In a broad sense, many of the individual books of scripture are stories about families - and God’s teachings and dealings with them; principally “Covenant Israel;” the seed of Abraham, “through which all nations of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 22:18).
We wrote so that our children and extended family can know their “Roots”
Journalist and black activist Marcus Garvey (1887-1940) said, “A people without the knowledge of their history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
Mary Kay and I wrote because we want to help our children and extended family understand the “family history” part of their heritage; that portion of their “roots.” As it relates to ourselves, we love our children and grandchildren and pray for their wellbeing and success – both temporally and eternally. We should never forget that we also have family on both premortal and post-mortal “worlds.” They are also praying for our success – that we make “the best” choices.
Our children include our son Brian and his wife Heather; Brian’s daughter Deana and her two children Adrian and Aurora; Brian’s son Aaren and Heather’s daughters, Kacey, Jordan and Natalie; our daughter Kaylynn and her husband Brock DeBoard; their son Braydon and his wife Kait; and our special-needs daughter Katherine, who we adopted in 1975 and is now in the care of a residential-care provider under contract with Idaho and federal health and welfare agencies. This volume generally includes stories of our children while they lived in our home – it’s up to them to write their “rest of their story.”
Not all of Mary Kay’s and my siblings and extended family have written their biographies. To the extent we have information, this record seeks to partially fill that void and record the histories of progenitors we have in common.
Commentary - In our view, there are two aspects to family history: 1. Genealogical research for vital statistics and 2. Written histories that help profile our ancestor’s lives and persona.
Family History is an Antidote for depression and questioning self-worth
French-Cuban American writer Anais Nin (1903-1977) is credited for saying, “We don’t see things the way they are; we see things the way we are.” (How we see things, underpins our thoughts and actions.).
Family history, similar to the Holy Scriptures, can help us cut through the clutter of our lives and see things as they really are. If we are searching for direction, histories can help show us that God has not left us alone.
Most of the people profiled herein have tried to live honorable lives; worthy of emulation. The majority have chosen to try to know and remain true and faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by doing three things: A. Striving to keep His commandments, covenants and ordinances; B. Following the direction, he gives to us through the Holy Scriptures and His living prophets and, C. Receiving inspiration, and even revelation through family and personal prayer.
Knowing the life stories of our ancestors, extended family and others gives us “roots;” anchors to help us overcome our own challenges. If others can do the right thing, we can too.
Knowledge of our family history can be particularly valuable in our teen years when we tend to make life-changing decisions based on emotion - impulsive behavior - rather than wise objective deliberation of the facts and analysis of the probable long-term consequences.
People responding to their emotions, generally fail to consider the effect their choices will have on others – particularly their family; those who love them and want to help.
When in our teens, we often reject seeking advice from those who are wisest: a wise parent, grandparents, trusted and respected leaders or other proven good role-models who seek to pattern their lives after Jesus Christ, our best role model.
Many teens foolishly give greatest credence to the ideas of their opinionated peers who are often likeminded and have no better experience and judgement than themselves. Analogous to “the blind leading the blind.” (Matthew: 15: 14-16)
Whether we are in our teen years or even mature adults, we are more mistake-prone when we allow our emotions to dominate or significantly influence our decisions.
In sum, learning the histories of those who have gone before; their physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, financial, interpersonal or family challenges - can help us make better choices; so that one day, we will be able to say, as the Apostle Paul, (I have) “… fought the good fight … finished the course … (I have) kept the faith.” (II Timothy 4:7) and have “Endured to the end.” (Mark 13:13 and D&C 14:17).
Commentary – The University of Rochester Medical Center reported: “It doesn’t matter how smart teens are or how well they scored on the SAT or ACT. Good judgement isn’t something they can excel in, at least not yet. The rational part of a teen’s brain (prefrontal cortex – linking actions with consequences) isn’t fully developed and won’t be until age 25 or so.”
A fact that should interest everyone – God is involved in the detail of each life
As Mary Kay and I assembled the multiple biographical stories of ourselves and others included in this volume, we were struck that there was a common pattern. While everyone exercised their agency to make their own choices, we observed that God was involved in the details of each life – even the time and place of our birth.
Have you ever questioned the timing or location of your birth? Why weren’t you born somewhere else; in a different country; in a different era; or even to different parents?
Every person is unique. We are spirit children of heavenly parentage. Based on our desires and actions in our premortal world, God determined the time and circumstances of our birth in our mortal probation; we each have “our time on earth.”
The Apostle Paul said, “And (God) hath made of one blood all nations of men (black, white, yellow, etc.) for to dwell on the face of the earth; and hath determined the times, before appointed, the bounds of their habitation.” (Acts 17: 26). Thus, the times of our appointment to come to earth did not happen by chance. Those decisions were made before we came; “appointed” by God, based on our merit, his will, and the tasks he wants us to accomplish.
Anyone who looks back on their lives introspectively, will likely see several unusual events and sometimes series of “linked” events or patterns. Many people are dismissive of such happenings or attribute them to luck or coincidence.
However, making a more circumspect evaluation, Mary Kay and I observed there are few coincidences in life. God loves us. Even when we make mistakes, He gives us multiple opportunities to recover, to repent and improve the quality of our choices. We may see his influence when we have prayerful feelings as to who we should marry – or not; education, career, change in residence or friends, stewardship, barriers that turn out to be blessings - or people, sometimes strangers, who intercede or come into our life and give us ideas or opportunities to re-evaluate; to grow closer to God; to make better choices.
We observed even when good people experienced serious harm, injury or illness, oftentimes caused by accident; consequences of their own decisions; others using their agency in a self-serving or inappropriate manner or a natural part of living; God is there to inspire us - to help us overcome - and in some cases, inspire others to help us.
Pride, wealth and power are great impediments to recognizing God’s influence in our lives; to see things as they really are. If we are financially successful, either by our own efforts or by inheritance, there is a tendency to believe, “we own it.”
However, when it comes to accumulating property and “things,” Mary Kay and I discovered that we do not own any tangible property at all; we are stewards only. (If you don’t believe that; the next time someone dies, go and check to see how much they took with them.).
The only thing we truly own is our “free will.” God “owns” everything else. And when we give Him our will, he blesses us more abundantly so we are still in his debt. (BM, Mosiah 2: 22-25).
Commentary - God’s involvement in our lives should not be confused with the false Calvinistic doctrine of “predestination.” The fact that we live before and after mortality should not be confused with false “reincarnation” philosophies.
People that choose to not seek God, generally cannot see his involvement in their lives. The Apostle Paul termed such people as the natural man (or woman). He said, “… But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (I Corinthians 2: 14). God’s ancient prophet Mosiah taught, “The natural man is an enemy to God …” (BM, Mosiah 3:19).
History helps us see that each person is unique
The uniqueness of each person is a carryover from our premortal life as children of divine parentage, albeit, mortality can bring deformities to the mortal mind and body. However, from a personality standpoint, we are the same person here as we were there; and after we die and go to the world of spirits – we are the same person there as we were here, absent deformities in our mortal body. Therefore, we should not procrastinate the day of our repentance to the end of our mortal life because we are the same person. (BM, Alma 34: 33-35)
Uniqueness of personality is illustrated by children living in the same family – they live in the same environment but have different personalities; and based on their desires, make different life choices; sometimes dramatically different.
If we choose, our differences can facilitate our ability to learn from each other and make better choices. Biographies can be case-studies that help us see the consequences of different choices.
For example, we can read of people who grew-up in a wholesome environment and choose to stay the course; yet other siblings growing-up in that same environment, chose, for reasons only they really know, something different; to either partially or totally “turn away.”
We can also read of people who were taught correct principles in their youth but made poor choices. Years later, they revaluated their lives, found them wanting, repented, made mid-course corrections, and returned to goodness and fullness of truth.
Less frequently, we read of people who grew up in an environment of parental disfunction, abuse and neglect, yet rejected the poor role models around them and chose to live an honorable life.
Our desires presage our choices and our choices result in actions that define our character. If we are wise, we will choose the best role-models. No one is perfect - so try to only emulate the good qualities demonstrated in a role model – rejecting any less-stellar attributes that our role model may possess.
Our best role model is Jesus Christ. He is perfect; “What manner of men (or women) ought ye to be? Even as I am. (BM, 3 Nephi 2: 27). Our Father in Heaven is perfect (Matthew 5: 48)
Commentary – The linkage between desires, choices and actions is illustrated by two experiences I had as an Idaho State Senator visiting two state prisons (Chapter 17 – Idaho State Senator – 14 years).
The North Idaho Correctional Institution in Cottonwood, Idaho is a prison created for principally young men incarcerated in a 120-day program (at that time) where their court judge retained jurisdiction. If the inmates successfully completed the program, they would be allowed back into society – if not, they would complete their original sentence in another prison.
The prison warden invited me to visit a class of about 20 inmates that was in process. We interrupted the class and the warden asked if I would like to speak to the men. I asked if any of them believed that after they successfully completed their program, they would ever again do something that would put them back into the state corrections system. Two young men raised their hands. I asked, why. In sum, they said they would go back to their old haunts and “friends” who used drugs and alcohol – they would wind-up doing the same things they had done before – with the same result.
To me, these two men may have felt trapped and could not allow themselves to see a way out; or they had a foolish Ghetto mentality – a mindset where people can see the difference between right and wrong and good and evil, but chose bad over good because they are familiar with bad. They had a behavioral addiction; not unlike people who have the behavioral addictions for pornography or gambling.
The second experience occurred at the medium-security prison in Orofino, this time accompanied by, my sweetheart, Mary Kay, I asked the same question to an inmate who was scheduled for release in a few months. This prisoner said, “When I get out, I will not return to prison because, I am changing my life; I will not go back to my old associates. I will also divorce my wife who is addicted to drugs and alcohol!”
The contrast between the prison inmates was striking. The two Cottonwood men had given up. The man in Orofino had evaluated his life, found it lacking, and wanted to improve. He had a plan.
These two examples make clear that our lives are exponentially better when we choose to keep God’s commandments, and in the case of the prison inmates, choose to abide by secular laws - that in their cases paralleled God’s laws. Albeit, in the case of those inmates, some of the adverse consequences of their poor choices come relatively quick. The full consequences of many of our choices take years, even decades to materialize.
Mary Kay and I discussed the Orofino man’s plight afterwards. We felt if he chose to ask for God’s help at each step along the way, he would have a higher probability for success. God’s ancient prophet Nephi said, “By small means, the Lord can bring about great things” (BM, I Nephi 16: 29).
There is no good reason for anyone to make really poor choices. “The Spirit of Christ is given to every man (generic; and woman) that he may know good from evil.” (BM, Mormon 7: 13-16, John 1:9 and D&C 93:2). As children, we start out pure; without sin, “original” or otherwise, (BM, Moroni 8: 9-12). But after we reach the age of accountability - 8-years (D&C 68: 25, 27), we are held accountable for our own choices.
Commentary - God does not force us to do anything. But if we choose, He will help us do the right thing.
It helps Elijah’s mission - “Hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers”
Mary Kay and I chose to perform genealogical research and write our family histories because we want to do our part in advancing Elijah’s mission and furthering God’s Plan “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life if man.” (PGP, Moses 1:39 and Appendix 1).
The prophet Malachi (BC 430) prophesized that Elijah (BC 900) would return before Jesus Christ’s Second Coming: “Behold I (God) will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers, least I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4: 5-6 [the last verses in the Old testament], and BM, 3 Nephi: 24 and 25).
A somewhat different quotation of God’s directive, likely to stress certain points, is: “Behold I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers (promises likely made in the premortal world), and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth shall be utterly wasted at his coming (Jesus Christ’s Second Coming).” (D&C 3:1-3).
The gravity of Malachi’s prophesy makes clear that Elijah’s assignment should not be minimized or dismissed. Its successful fulfillment is obviously a critical part of God’s Plan, with momentous consequences.
Elijah is recognized as a prophet of God by three great religions that have a Semitic origin; Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Each of the three religions have limited, or significantly different beliefs or doctrines about Elijah’s role and mission.
However, except for one (see below), these religions do not answer the critical “What, How and Why” questions: That is, “What” is the complete purpose of Elijah’s mission? “How” will his coming prevent the whole earth from “being smitten with a curse?” And “Why”did God send Elijah, as opposed to another? Some say, incorrectly, “it’s a mystery.”
Commentary – Far East religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and governments that espouse the Godless religion of atheism, such as communism, do not recognize Elijah, albeit, many, particularly the Chinese, venerate their family ancestors and have maintained genealogical records for millennia. People in Taiwan have extended their genealogical work a step further and are transferring their written genealogical records onto microfilm and digital.
Certain oriental cultures have researched and preserved their genealogical records in the face of terrible oppression. Mao Zedong (founder of the communist People’s Republic of China in 1949) initiated the decade-long Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in 1966 to enthrone communist ideals and purge the old ideas, customs, culture (capitalist) and habits of the people. He first released the youthful “Red Guards” followed by his communist army to implement his “cleansing” philosophy wherein an estimated 45 million Chinese people died (mostly starvation). Many Chinese preserved their genealogical and other records by hiding them from the communists; mostly burying them. Zedong’s oppressive reign ended with his death in 1976. Subsequent dictators relaxed Mao’s “destruction of family genealogical records policy.”
Judaism’s beliefs - In general, Judaism teaches that Elijah is a forerunner who will return to earth in an unknown future year on the Passover to announce and usher-in the coming of the Messiah, who will redeem covenant Israel and cleanse the earth from wickedness.
Commentary - The Passover lasts 7-8 days during March or April. Judaism’s scriptures, are essentially the same as the Old Testament compilation, except they are divided into three parts; the Torah, Prophets and Writings. The books of Elijah and Malachi are included in the Prophets.
Islam’s beliefs – In general, the Quran references Elijah as a prophet and messenger of God. Sometimes referred to as “The prophet of the desert” that will return at the last judgement.
Christianity beliefs - Except for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Roman Catholic, Orthodox Catholic and Protestant denominations teach that Elijah is a forerunner of Jesus Christ; similar to John the Baptist. They generally assert that Malachi’s prophesy was fulfilled during Jesus Christ’s, earthly ministry when he took Peter, James and John to a high mountain, the “Mount of Transfiguration,” and Elijah (sometimes translated Elias), and Moses and other ancient prophets appeared to them. (Matthew 17: 1-13).
Albeit, their assertion does not comport with Malachi’s prophesy. Malachi prophesied that Elijah would come before the “the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” That description can only fit Jesus Christ’s Second Coming when he cleanses the earth of wickedness and ushers in the “thousand-year millennium.” (Revelation 20: 2-7). It certainly does not fit the time Jesus Christ came to earth as a babe in the manger - or to begin his three-year ministry; meek and lowly in heart.” (Matthew 11:29). And does not answer the What, How and Why questions.
All Christian churches do agree, however, that at Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, he will cleanse the earth from wickedness. It will be a great day for the righteous and a dreadful day for the wicked; analogous to Judaism’s teaching that the Messiah will set everything aright when He comes. Albeit, Christian churches teach that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, Judaism does not.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church) - “What, How and Why” answers – Elijah was the last of God’s ancient (Old Testament) prophets that held the sealing keys, one time sealing the heavens from rain and later opened them. (1 Kings 17: 1 and James 5:17). He held the priesthood authority that includes sealing of families together forever; both for the living, and by proxy, for the dead.
God sent Elijah to earth twice to restore the sealing authority he had been given. The first time was on the “Mount of Transfiguration;” to confer the sealing authority on Peter James and John; who, in turn, conferred it on the other apostles. (Matthew 17: 1-11; Appendix 1 and 2).
Jesus Christ described the sealing authority to his 12 Apostles this way, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18: 18).
However, because of apostacy, God withdrew his authority and revelation for his church from the earth circa AD 100; when the last of Jesus Christ’s Apostles and their successors had been killed or taken; John was the last Apostle. (Appendix 2.)
The second time Elijah came was on April 3, 1836 (The Passover) in the Church’s newly completed Kirtland, Ohio Temple; as an integral part of Jesus Christ restoring his Church and the fullness of his Gospel to the earth for the last time. Then, he restored and conferred God’s sealing authority on God’s then living Prophet, Joseph Smith and his associate, Oliver Cowdery. Joseph Smith would, in turn, confer it on 12 new Apostles. (D&C 110: 13-16 and Appendix 5).
Following Elijah’s appearance, Temple construction and genealogical research became a priority for the Church - Temple construction - Jesus Christ directed Joseph Smith and His succeeding prophets to begin an aggressive program of building Temples, sacred edifices where His saving ordinances could be performed and covenants made. He directed Church members to perform their own Temple ordnances, then perform genealogical research to identify their ancestors, take their authenticated vital statics to the Temple and by proxy, perform the critical ordinances on their behalf. Ordinances and covenants that include marriage for time and eternity for the living - and for the dead, proxy ordinances of baptism, marriage and sealing children to parents.
Today, there are over 200 beautiful, generally architecturally-different, Temples that are either operating, under renovation or announced in cities and countries across the globe where there is sufficient Church membership and adequate religious freedom.
Genealogical research – Today, there is a growing world-wide interest in genealogy. Millions of people, young and old, have an innate desire to do genealogical research for the vital statistics about their progenitors; and to the extent information is available, assembling stories of the times, life and character of their progenitors – and writing their own biographies.
Many people have made genealogical research their vocation, hobby or avocation. They research old church records, cemetery headstones, entries in old family Bibles, newspapers, government marriage and death records, ship manifests, immigration records and electronic sources that are now available to the public on the Internet.
Facilitated by technological innovation, this “genealogical research phenomenon” appears to have started in the U.S. in the mid 1900s; first with large-scale microfilming and now digital scanning of documents.
In 1976, Alex Haley wrote his best-selling novel, “Roots, the Saga of an American Family,” the story of an eighteenth-century black boy sold into slavery.
World-wide genealogical research advanced significantly when Church volunteers and representatives entered into agreements with public and private archives, libraries, and churches from over 100 countries to microfilm their genealogical records and receive microfilm copies of their documents in return – free of charge.
Public access - the Church deposited its microfilm copies in the world’s largest repository of genealogical records; a massive, secure, climate-controlled vault cut hundreds of feet into a solid granite mountain near Salt Lake City, Utah. The vault, named Granite Mountain Records Vault, safeguards nearly four billion document images of microfilm, microfiche and digital media (the microfilm and microfiche records are in process of being digitized).
Because of the Church’s efforts, anyone across the globe can electronically research their family’s genealogical records on file at no cost using FamilySearch and other websites. (Private genealogical research businesses charge for their services.).
Unknown numbers of people have carried their genealogical research a step further by engaging private companies to test their collected body-fluid cells for DNA tests to estimate their genetic ethnic mix.
Concluding thought
Each person has great worth. Diversity of ideas, background, religion, ethnicity and race between friends can add interest to a relationship. We can learn from each other’s experiences, ideas and even biographies; often learning that our ideals are similar; that we have much more in common than we have differences. One reason Mary Kay and I wrote these biographies to encourage such dialogue.