AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF FERREN W. BUNKER
This biographical sketch was started when I was nineteen years old. At that time I was in my second year at the University of Nevada, Reno. It was started in response to encouragement by the church authorities that each mem¬ber keep a record of the important events, activities and information which may be of interest to family and friends in years to come. I do not pre-suppose that my story will contain more than a factual statement of what I do, where I go and my concerns and interests, but I would like to present the material in such a way that it will become a testament of the truth as I see and understand it. I was born June 16th, 1918, in a humble little adobe home at Bunkerville, Nevada. The town was named Bunkerville after my Grandfather, Edward Bunker, Sr, who was an early Mormon pioneer. My father and mother live in the same house that Grandfather Bunker built as his first home in Bunkerville. It was in this house that my father, Hector Bunker, was born July 17th, 1885. Later, when I was in high school, we remodeled our home, making it very comfortable. I am the fifth child in a family of eight children. The names of the individual members of our family are as follows: Father, Hector Bunker; Mother, Willamina Wittwer Bunker; and their children in order from the eldest to the youngest are: Ardyce, Wanda, Reva, Hector Merrill, Ferren Wittwer, Marva, Kent Edward and Owen S. Bunker. As a family we were all raised in the L. D. S. Church and have had the privilege of receiving its blessings through our own activities.
I was given a name and a blessing July 7, 1918, by my uncle, Harmon Wittwer. When I was two years old, my father bought a ranch at Corp, Nevada. This was a railroad station with a few other ranches scattered up and down the valley. My father rented our home in Bunkerville and we all moved out on the lonely ranch. Father had 75 to 100 head of cattle which he took out onto the ranch. The land on the ranch was not cultivated, and while it could have been cultivated, the lack of irrigation water made it almost impossible to grow a crop. However, the ranch did serve as a good base for the cattle which grazed on the nearby rangeland, and for some three or four years the cattle business was a pros¬perous means of a livelihood for our family.
The earliest event that stands out clearly in the memory of my childhood days was when I was five years old. It was one day when the entire family had gone to the railroad station after supplies and to get the mail in a wagon, that I had a desire to ride our saddle pony, named Nick. He was a well-trained horse and very gentle but it seemed that every time I rode him he would go so slow that the team and wagon would run away from me. I had never ridden any faster than a trot and although my brother Merrill had told me that galloping or running a horse was easier and much smoother riding, I had never mastered enough courage to try it. It was upon this particular day when Nick was lagging behind that I got off and broke a willow to persuade him to go faster. But he didn’t need any persuading after I got the willow for as soon as I had jumped from the post onto his back, he was off on a run. I was frightened at first, but when I discovered I was still on his back, I gained a new thrill. From this time on horses couldn’t go fast enough for me.
After learning to ride I would help father go out and round up the cattle to take them to a new range. I remember one time particularly when we were driving the cattle to a new range I was stopped by a big bull that refused to go any further. Thinking nothing of the danger, I got off the horse and threw a stick at the bull which, by chance, moved the monster on. When father learned of what I had done, he cautioned me that I would be safer on my horse should the bull come after me.
When I became six years of age, we moved back to Bunkerville. Father did not sell the ranch but since my sisters, Ardyce and Wanda were in high school and there was no high school at Corp, the family moved back to Bunkerville so they could have the advantage of good schools. In the fall of that year I started to school. Being new in town I was shy of my friends, and it seemed to me that I was always picked on, but in the class room I was able to hold my own with most all of them. Miss Kindred was my first and second grade teacher. She was one of the teachers I enjoyed most. After she had taught me through my first two years, she was called to go on a mission for the L. D. S. Church. Miss Dedrickson taught me through the third and fourth grades. She was a good teacher, but for some reason or other I was unable to do as well in my grades as I had while in the first and second grades.
For my fifth and sixth years of school I went to Mesquite, Nevada, a town located seven miles northeast of Bunkerville. Each day I would ride the school bus to Mesquite for school. I remember my fifth grade teacher, Miss Thorley, as a tall, slender figure who had a free-swinging arm. One day there was some talking going on down in my corner of the room. Rather unexpectedly I got slapped for it and sent out of the room. I did average work with her as my teacher. That’s one year I will not have much trouble in remembering my grades — never above or below a “3″ which is considered average, Mr. Blake was my next teacher. He taught me through the sixth, seventh and eighth grades, and was my coach in athletics in high school. I shall never forget when Murl Woodbury punched me when we went into our lockers for some books and Mr. Blake saw us. I was still afraid of most of my friends and this is the way they took advantage of me. This day was no different than most of our quarrels had been; but Mr. Blake made us put on some boxing gloves and punch before the whole class until we were tired out. I was just like a coyote that had been cornered; there was nothing to do but fight, so I let him have it. I think the poor boy got the worst of it, for he was getting it from both sides — the wall on one side and me on the other. From this time on I gained self-confidence and started holding my own with the other kids.
Since Mr. Blake was an athlete himself, he took much interest in getting his students to participate in athletic events. Our major events were basketball, soccerball, baseball and track. I was fortunate in being able to make the team in each event; at this time I was known as the fastest runner in the Mesquite school.
The next two years, my seventh and eighth, I spent in Bunkerville. I grew to like Mr. Blake as a teacher very much and although he required much more work from us than I had been used to doing in the lower grades, I was able to improve my grades.
It was while I was in the seventh grade that the Deseret News was sponsoring a Junior Pentathalon Meet, where contestants from schools from the Western States would participate in all different kinds of sports which included basketball pitching, baseball pitching, shot-put, 100 yard dash, broad-jump and high-jump. It was my good fortune to be selected from our school to participate in a District meet in St. George, Utah. At this meet I was honored with a first place medal and five first-place certificates for the individual events, which entitled me to a trip to Salt Lake City to participate in the Intermountain Contest. Due to a leg weakness I was unable to do my best work in this contest, nevertheless the experience gained in meeting new people, as well as the other activities was a real help to me.
Two years later this Contest was again conducted, at which time I won second place in the District Contest at St. George and again went to Salt Lake City. This time I was able to win an eleventh place in the Senior Division out of the hundreds of participants.
During my first year in high school I made my way into the basket¬ball squad and track team and through fulfilling the requirements was able to get a letter in each event. As I continued in high school, I was able to make a letter in each of these events for my last three years. Also during my Junior and Senior years I played on the baseball team, playing second base for my junior year and second base and pitch my senior year.
I will not say more about my athletics, except to say that this particular type of activity played a very important part in my school life. However, this was not the only school activity that interested me, when I was a sophomore I started to study agriculture.
To give you a better insight into my farm experience, and the reasons why I should study agriculture, I will take you back to the earlier part of my life. You remember that father didn’t sell the ranch when we moved back to Bunkerville, so after school was out in the Spring, Merrill and I got on our horses and rode back to the ranch, which was 54 miles northwest from Bunkerville. Father was already there taking care of the cattle and running another rancher’s farm, so we spent the full summer at the ranch. Likewise we spent the following summer, but near the close of this summer father sold the ranch and all his cattle, and we spent the remainder of the summer gather¬ing the cattle and driving them to Caliente, Nevada, where the purchaser lived.
It was during this time that I found out what it was to be a cattle¬man; to sleep out under the starlit heavens with a quilt and the good earth for our bed, listening to the frequent howls of the coyote and buzz of the locust. We had a little dog named Collie which was always a good night watch, and when snakes and animals would come around, he would kill them or protect us from them.
We brought the rest of our belongings back to Bunkerville and father bought a fifty-acre farm from Grandfather Wittwer. It was from my activities on the farm from this early age until I was a sophomore in high school that centered my interest in agriculture. I will admit that I didn’t altogether like farming, and in fact it was rather a drudgery to me, taut there were things that made me like agriculture, especially after I had become active in the Future Farmers of America.
This organization opened a wide field of activity for me. During this first year of agricultural study, I was reporter of our F.F.A. Chapter, took part in the livestock and crop judging contests, and ranked as high individual in all of our judging. I also tried out in a public speaking contest, but was unable to qualify as a contestant for the State Meet. However, I was entitled to enter the State Meet in my judging work. I was successful in being able to win first place in some of the individual classes of livestock. In my activities in our Local Chapter, I conducted a Baby Chick project, which was the best in the State, and as a result won a $25.00 prize given by the Petaluma Hatchery.
The next year I participated in the same contests, and was able to represent our School Chapter in the public speaking and judging contests. In the State Convention I won second place in livestock judging and third place in public speaking. My high rating in livestock judging placed me on the State Judging Team to represent the State at the National Convention and contest held in Kansas City, Missouri. The other two fellows, Charles Lehman and Eliott Lima, who were on the team were from Fallon, Nevada. The three of us, with Mr. R.B. Jeppson, who was our State Advisor, made up our travel¬ing company. As a team we placed second in poultry judging and I placed ninth in swine judging in the whole nation.
This trip to me turned out to be one of the greatest achievements of my history. I had not been out in the world or away from home much previous to this, so in addition to my activities in which I participated, I really enjoyed the sights of the City and was always alert to any new and attractive points of interest. As I was also a delegate for our State at the Convention, much of my time was taken up in our National Convention sessions. Among one of the most interesting events was to see the American Royal Livestock Show which was held in Kansas at that time. At this Show there were many animal performances and livestock of all kinds shown. I will not discuss further my trip to Kansas, only to say it brought me great joy and happiness, and a broader understanding of what the world is like.
As another objective 1 worked for a $50.00 Union Pacific prize which was being given to the boy in Clark County with the highest score in agricultural work considering the items of Leadership, Scholastic standing, and Project Work. It was also my good fortune to win this prize, so I invested the money in chickens as I had done with the $25.00 that I won the year before. From my poultry pro¬ject I was able to make my own money and help my parents in times of need. During my last year in High School I entered the public speaking con¬test again and crop judging and was chosen to represent the School Chapter in the State Contest again. Individuals who participated in a National Contest were not permitted to enter the State Contest again, so I didn’t judge livestock that year. I was awarded second place in public speaking and was given a State Farmer Key. Having attained this degree in the F. F. A. Organization, I was now eligible to hold office in the State Association of the Future Farmers of America. I was elected President of the State Organization for the year 1936–37. Through acting in this capacity I truly received some of the greatest leader¬ship experiences of my life. It was said by our State Advisor, National Vice-President of the F. F. A., and most of the Vocational Agriculture teachers who attended the State Convention, that they had never seen a State program and Convention carried out so well in the history of the State Organization. This was certainly a source of satisfaction to me and served to urge me to strive harder to improve. I am now working for the American Farmer Key in this line of endeavor, which symbolizes the highest degree in the Future Farmers Organiza¬tion. As to ray other school activities, I was not entirely slack; I played an alto horn in the band, sang in choruses, took a leading part in a Junior High School Operetta, and liked to dance. Although I entered into almost all the cricular activity that was given in the Virgin Valley High School, I was quite successful in keeping up my school lessons. When I graduated, I was selected Valedictorian of our Class.
If, to you, I have achieved any degree of success in the activities that I have enumerated, think not that it was by my sole power and ability. I spent many long and conscientious hours of work on my every achievement. Above this effort of my own, I must place the Eternal Power of our Father in Heaven. Oh, that all people could have such good parents as I have been blessed with. It was they who taught me to live the principles pertaining to the way of right living, to keep the Commandments of God, and if I have failed, or do ever fail, I wish to lift the responsibility from their shoulders. One of the greatest virtues I have gained through them is prayer. They taught me to pray, and now I must acknowledge the Hand of the Lord in my well-being and give Him and my parents the praise, honor and glory for any achievement that has been made to start me on the road to success, for truly I have never gone into any activity without praying for help. I must thank God for the privilege I have had in being raised in such a worthy home and under our humble conditions; to be raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was baptized into the Church on July 4, 1926, in Harmon Tobler’s horse water tank, by Orval Knight. I was confirmed a member of the Church by James S. Abbott, who was our Ward Clerk. Until I became a deacon, Father and Mother would have to urge me to go to Church. One Sunday during meeting Mother told me I could stay home and take care of Owen, the baby. There was a group of boys out in the street playing Hockey, so I soon was happily engaged in the game myself, until I was hit with a hockey club right over the nose, which caused me considerable pain. The best part about it was that it served as a lesson to me that I should obey my parents.
When I was twelve, Ken ordained me a Deacon. O. Earl on July 6, 1930. I was encouraged to work faithfully as a Deacon, especially by my parents, and as a result I was made President of the Deacons Quorum. Having worthily fulfilled my duties as a deacon, I was advanced in the Priesthood to a Teacher when I was 15 years old. Thomas D. Leavitt ordained me to this office on October 22, 1933. At the age of 17, I was ordained a Priest by G. Nathan Abbott on June 23, 1935. While I was a Priest, I had the privilege of baptizing several youths into the Church; one, Horace Lund, while I was in Bunkerville and two little brothers in Reno.
I went to Reno to attend the University of Nevada when I was eighteen, at which time I knew no one except two or three students from the Southern part of the State, and my sister Wanda who had married E. Vaughn Abbott of Mesquite, Nevada. Vaughn was working in a grocery store when I came to live with them during the school year, and he later became Manager of the Sewells Store in which he was working. His sister, Maurine, went to school the same year and lived with us. Because I knew so few in school and no one else in Reno, the time seemed to go slow and I didn’t enjoy my school as much as I could otherwise have done. Yet everyone seemed friendly and I did well in school during my Freshman Year.
The best part of this year I spent within the activities of our Church. I enjoyed the finer quality of friendship that I found in the Church and as a result I could hardly wait for Sundays and Mutual to come. I was called as Second Counselor in the Young Men’s M. LA. and Chorister of the Mutual. These activities gave me an increased interest in the Church in the Reno Branch and this, together with my schoolwork, filled my time schedule for each day, except for the work that I did to help pay my way through school. The Reno Branch of the Church was small and those who would work were given plenty of opportunity.
It was through leading the singing one Sunday evening that I became acquainted with Irving Webb. He was the organist for the Branch and we be¬came fast friends. He truly was a friend and close associate. No other friend outside my family had taken such an active interest in my personal welfare as he. I hope I can live that I may always be worthy of good friends.
It was only a few weeks after I had met Irving that school let out for the summer, so I went home to work on the farm. As soon as I arrived home I went to Las Vegas to apply for a job surveying and mapping the farms in the Virgin Valley. I worked on the farm for a month before I got word that I was selected as Field Supervisor of the survey crew.
In order to take this job it required that I buy a car to haul the other fellows, Leland Waite and Vernon Pollock, who were chainmen, and the equip¬ment to and from work. I went to Las Vegas and bought a second-hand car. It was quite an event in the family because we had never had a car before. I was very much pleased with my new work for although there was quite a responsi¬bility placed upon me, I had good fellows to work with and I was able to live at home and help father on the farm after my working hours. On this job I made $5.00 a day, plus five cents per mile for my car.
When it was time for school to start in the Fall, there was still another month of surveying to be done. I was very desirous of going back to school at the University of Nevada in Reno, but because 1 had such a good job and needed the money quite badly, it was hard for me to decide what was best to do. Also, when I took the job I made an oral agreement that I would stay with the job until it was completed. This being the case, I had decided to stay with it until Professor Scott from the University Extension Service, for whom I had worked the previous year, called on me while he was working in the Southern part of the State, and told me that he would arrange things concerning my work if I wanted to go back to school. He also stated that I could work again in his office when my school schedule would allow. With this new outlook, I was thrilled and immediately decided to go back to school. At this time there was only a week until time for school to start, so I trained one of the chainmen for my work as I was instructed to do and left for school on that weekend. My brother, Merrill, who had by this time fulfilled a mission in the Northwestern States and worked a year in the Moapa Valley Creamery at Las Vegas, was now living in Reno with Wanda and Vaughn and working in a Safeway store. He had been away from home so much that from the time he had graduated from High School, our association together had been very little. -For this reason, among others, I was glad to make my home with my brothers and sister during my Sophomore year in College.
On the whole I enjoyed school during my Sophomore year more than I did in my Freshman year, possibly because I had made so many friends, and then, too, my class schedule was much better.
Because of my love of Church work I readily became active in the Reno Branch, trying to attend to my Church duties. While I was at my home in Bunkerville, Bishop Donald Tobler ordained me an Elder on August 15, 1937.
In Reno I acted as Chorister in the M.I. A. from the time of its commencement and was set apart for this duty November 21, 1937. I was elected President of the “M” Men Class and have enjoyed this work immensely.
I can only thank my Father in Heaven for the opportunities given me and try to prove faithful to my every calling. Whenever I am asked to do any¬thing in the Church, I try to do it to the best of my ability because I know that it is through activity and service that one grows and develops along the road to success.
During the past nineteen years I have grown to love and know certain characters that, to me, deserve the credit for making these, the first years of my life, full of joy and happiness. It is at this time in my life history that 1 wish to pay tribute to those who are closest to me and whom I love most. I am filled with joy to claim membership in a family with ten members; not one least regarded, but all filled with that eternal love and devotion toward the other. I am brought to a keener appreciation of this fact as I have the opportunity to mingle amongst the people of the world and see their family relationships.
My father and mother are honorable to me and surely they are to their Father in Heaven. They are and have been the far reaching beacon of my life to guide me to that eternal goal of happiness. Their implicit humility and faith has and will continue to give them a crown of success. Through their wisdom they have brought joy to their family by laying a foundation of truth that we may build toward exaltation in the Kingdom of Heaven. I keenly feel my responsibility in following the path of truth and righteousness to uphold their teaching. I hope and pray that I may. It should be their reward to see their family advance toward eternal goals of happiness.
Being one of the middle children in the family, I have been blessed by both the older and the younger of their sons and daughters. I feel that some of the most important lessons of my life were taught by them, they are truly guides in my life. The spirit of love is king of their souls; the desire of my heart is that I be as much to them. Blessed are they to me: my parents, brothers and sisters. I cannot say as much as is in my heart to say of them, but in order that you may know of their goodness, I do write this. I feel that I have a mission here in life, which, although I count but one in a world of billions, if fulfilled properly it should be a contribution of some worth. As yet I do not know what that mission is, but as I continue to grow and gain knowledge, and pray diligently, with a continued desire and faith in that desire, I am sure that some day I will know my mission in life. It may seem an insignificant bit but as every person has a mission in life, which may or may not be fulfilled worthily, so will I respond to this calling. It is but an aim for self-mastery because I know that I must become a master of my own destiny before I can guide the destiny of others properly.
I have now completed my Sophomore year in College. As far as scholastic standing, my grades were improved; for both semesters my grade average was better than a “2″. The second semester I was on the track team and went on all the trips with the team, and was successful in making points in each meet. My main events were the Javelin and High Jump, although I did run the half-mile at the California Aggie meet and won a third place. My best distance with the Javelin was 188′9″ and my highest jump was 5′ll”. I did not fulfill all requirements for a sweater but because of my persistence in scoring and making a large number of points during the season, I was awarded one.
Having completed the school year, I was desirous of finding work whereby I could have money to get started in school the next year. Difficulties presented themselves at the same time which threw my brother, Merrill (who was working in a Safeway Store) out of work. It was a strike in the grocery stores and butcher shops; Merrill had joined the Union and as a result was laid off. Since we were both in need of work and Merrill didn’t particularly want to go back to the grocery store, we took a job in a Cricket Control Camp which we were able to get through the help of Dean Stewart of the University. With us went Bernie Van Waganen, a friend of ours, who also lost his job due to the strike. He stayed out about a month, then his parents sent for him, saying they had a job for him at Reno.
The type of work required of us was building tin fences and traps to catch the crickets, and spraying an arsenic powder on the crickets. The camp we worked in was at the Spanish Ranch, located near Tuscorara, Nevada, which is a little mining town fifty miles northwest of Elko, Nevada. We made $3.00 per day and our board. This money we sent home to our folks because of sickness and other necessities that seemed to require what money we could make.
Two or three months before we went to work on the Cricket Control, it had been made known to us that our mother was very sick. The sickness con¬tinued until June, 1938, before we were informed that she had a cancer on the end of her spine. She had been operated on for cancer four years previous and had taken treatments and examination regularly. This time Dr. Cowan said it would be of no use to operate, the disease had spread all through her body so we would have to do just what we could for her.
Hearing of this, we realized that nothing short of a miracle could keep her with us for any length of time. Knowing we could do little else to help, we exercised our faith and prayers in her behalf. ah I have said once before, until Merrill came to Reno to work, we had not been around each other but very little for about five years. As we worked side by side in the Cricket Camp, I then became acquainted with one of the finest personalities that ever lived. 1 truly enjoyed having a teacher such as he. We spent our leisure time reading Church literature and memorizing scripture, as well as hiking, playing ball and gathering wild flower specimens. Occasionally we tuned up our voices with a few songs that we had with us.
On August 1st, 1938, we received a telegram from our father telling us to come home as our mother was very ill and he was afraid she may not be with us long. With the aid of our friends in the camp, we got to Elko where we took the bus to Reno. There Irving let us take his car to drive on home. We arrived home the following day to find our mother gasping for breath. Her condition was really more serious than I had realized. I had felt that she would be made well, but I am afraid my faith weakened some after arriving home and seeing how she was suffering. I couldn’t help but admire her bravery, nor did I hear her complain about a thing. She had but one fear, and that was for her children, Kent and Owen, being at the age when a mother’s guidance would mean so much to them. Although unexpressed, this made me feel that her mission was not yet complete here on earth.
Since the time of our arrival at home she began gaining strength. After about two months had passed she was up and able to walk around, doing minor household duties. I felt certain that if it was God’s will, she could be restored to a perfect health and strength again. I had to leave for school on August 18th, to get up to Reno in time to get things straightened out before school started. I brought Cleo Frehner and Lester Adams up with me. This being my junior year, I found, in con¬trast to my first year, many friends whom I was glad to see. School proved more appealing this semester than it has ever done before, but I can’t say that I like taking 2 1/2 hour final examinations.
I have tried to take part in some of the School Clubs this year to help fill out my activity program. The organizations that I joined were the Aggie Club; “Barbs”, or Independents Organization; and the College F.F.A. Chapter. The F.F.A. Chapter is a new organization on the campus to aid the Vocational Agriculture students. I was elected President of this organization.
These organizations, along with my Church responsibilities pro¬vided an avenue for most of my time that 1 was not studying. When I came up to school this year, Irving managed to use me as Branch Chorister again; and it wasn’t long until Jack Fife had asked me to be Music Director for the Mutual, which I accepted on condition that I could have Irving for my organist. We got the job. A week or two later I was asked to work in the Sunday School as second assistant to Vadal Childs, and once more I accepted this responsibility; but a few days later when Jack Fife asked me to be Second Counselor in the Mutual, which meant I would be Activity Leader, I had to refuse. And although I am not activity leader, I find myself in charge of some of the activity from time to time, such as leading the group in the M.I.A. dances, etc. And I am, with Irving’s help, trying to get a chorus started in Mutual with the Men and Gleaners.
February 7, 1940
The wheels of time have given rise to a few more activities that might well be added to my story. The first semester of my Junior year in College was completed with good results. My average grade was near a 1.9 — still some room for improvement. The second semester found me loaded with 19 hours, which I might add was sufficient to keep me busy along with my N. Y. A. job and Church work. For my N. Y. A. job I worked in Mr. Vernon Scott’s office; the nature of the work included making studies on particular enterprises such as beef cattle, poultry, etc. which were taken from the Nevada farm account books; making farm account summaries; and other jobs necessary to the keeping of farm accounts. I found this work very interesting and educational and I felt it should be very useful to me in my future schoolwork if I should get established in the teaching of Vocational Agriculture since record work is an important part of that work.
My occupational aim at this time is to teach Vocational Agriculture for a few years and then continue my schoolwork in an Eastern University along the lines of Agricultural Economics. I joined the track team in the Spring but the best I could do was a first in one of the Home Meets and a second or third in all the other Meets, with the Javelin; I threw the Javelin 205 feet which entitled me to my second Block “N” letter and sweater.
All in all, the second semester turned out as well as the first, if not better, and with the coming of Summer I could see that I must find some work so that I could build up a little reserve to start school. Throughout my first three years of college I had made sufficient money to pay my expenses and supply me with some spending money by saving my money earned during the Summer and working N. Y. A. during school, along with a few odd jobs such as working at the State Fair one week each year and working Saturdays in some of the local grocery stores. I made $2.50 a day at the grocery store and that was for a 16 hour day.
After some scouting around, I found myself lined up with the Soil Conservation Service as a Student Assistant. We spent three days in an orien¬tation school where we learned something of the work being carried out by the Soil Conservation Service and what we would likely be doing during the Summer. I was sent out on the Economic Range & Soil Survey of Elko County. The Survey crew was comprised of men under the Division of Grazing, who were responsible for mapping the range; and men under the Soil Conservation Service who were responsible for mapping the soil. Actually we all had to do both; each man was put on a section line at the beginning of the day on which he would map types of soil, erosion, slope, vegetative cover and other natural geographic conditions. Each man walked his line and was required to follow it, having a compass to guide him, regardless of where it took him. About every second or third day we would have to walk over a range of mountains; and it wasn’t uncommon to walk 15 to 20 miles a day when we were taking these moun¬tain hikes. Because of the load of equipment and necessary articles we had to carry with us, we carried very little water and a small lunch, which often resulted in fellows coming in half thirsted, especially when it was hot. At the end of the day we would take our individual maps and tie them in with the fellow’s next to us, from which one big map would be drafted.
This work necessitated our knowing all the botanical names of the plants and their use as range feed, also the types and characteristics of soils. I found the work to be very interesting and educational.
When I first went out, the camp was located at Ferguson Springs on the road between Ely and Wendover. We worked North from this point and eventually moved our camp to a ranch located at the base of Pilot Mountain near Wendover. By July 1st we had completed this area and moved our camp to Lumis Pasture. At this place we carried on a more detailed and intensive survey. It was a fenced pasture, high in the mountains, about 35 miles north of Wells, Nevada. Upon the completion of this area, we moved into the Deeth area which ran north into the Charleston Mountain. My appointment expired by the middle of August so I had the chance to go home and visit a short time before school was to start. It was good to he home for the space of two weeks and visit with the family. They were all in good health and I was especially surprised to see my mother looking so well. I spent most of the time I was there laying pipe in the pipe line to bring a domestic water supply from the mountain to Bunkerville.
My sister Marva, who had been out of High School during the past year and had stayed home to do the house work and take care of mother during her illness, had made preparations to go to Reno to school with me. Max Abbott rode to Reno with us, it being his first year too.
Registration was a joy compared with the tedious procedure it involved in my freshman year. I found that I had a deficiency when I came to the University because most of my credits were vocational and not enough academic. So again I found myself taking 19 hours, It seemed good to get back to school and out of the mountain camps where I could attend Church again. After being out in the hills for three months, I must have become starved for it. It wasn’t long until I was working as busily as before. I was called as Branch Chorister, and I was put into the Mutual as 2nd Assistant to Faye Bybee with Wendell Leavitt as 1st Assistant. This gave me charge of the Branch Activity, which 1 must say it was no small job. Later, a Choir was organized and I was given the job of being Director of it. I enjoy working in these forms of activity and although my experience in these lines has been limited, through my participation I expect to gain experience and information that will help me be a better leader. I will never forget the first time I tried to lead the singing. 1 was so embarrassed that I went home and practiced before a mirror for hours.
One would almost think I am a “woman hater”, if there be such a thing, since I have said nothing to lead one to think I have girl friends. If the truth were known, quite a different picture would be painted. I have many girl friends, but even with such, I yet remain a single man, I wouldn’t even say that there is any special girl friend, yet.
I finished a very successful first semester with an average of 1. 7.
Marva and I went home for Christmas and found all of the family in bed with colds. They were all feeling better in a few days except father, who was continually getting worse. He was very low for a few days, but by the time we were ready to come back to school he had started to improve. I got back to Reno to find the dance which was to be presented in the Gold & Green Ball still not learned, with one week to complete it. Miss Cuba Wheatley, a dancing teacher, was teaching it and requested that I come in and learn it because she needed one more fellow. Since I was one of the Dance Directors I felt obligated to do it. It was a Tango dance and very beautiful; and from all the favorable comment on the dance when presented, it went off all right. The good part about it was that later when we demonstrated the dance in our M. I. A. Conference of the Nevada District, the Mission Aids of the M. I, A. said if we would get some more couples to learn the dance and have it ready by the end of February it may be possible to present it as a floor show at the June Conference in Salt Lake at the church dance festival at Saltair.
My last semester of school started off with me carrying 14 hours. I wanted less hours this semester because I arranged to do all of my practice teaching this semester. If practice teaching is anything like the real thing, I am going to like the teaching profession very much.
May 22, 1941
It was a few days ago that I was reading the Genealogical Section of the Improvement Era which dealt conclusively with “Writing a Story of Your Life” that I was reminded of my own story. It isn’t good to have to be reminded -but it is good to have a Messenger such as the Era to remind you. A year is a long time, measured in terms of the events that may take place in a modern, mechanical world in which we live. I look back with delight on the experiences encountered therein and wonder what the next year will bring.
I graduated from the University of Nevada on May 13th, 1940, filled with the vitality of youth and ready to start in the profession of teaching Voca¬tional Agriculture. It was a very happy occasion to have my parents and brothers and sisters there for my graduation. One of the faculty members at the University told me that had I engaged in more Campus Activities I would have been awarded the $100 prize for being the outstanding graduate in the College of Agriculture. It is too bad I can’t try it over again — I wouldn’t let that stop me next time. Nevertheless, my college career was one filled with fun and frolic and to which I can attach many delightful experiences. Once out of school I knew that it was up to me to get started in some useful occupation. Immediately 1 wrote applications to the schools having va¬cancies in the Agricultural Department in Nevada and other states. There was such a surplus of teachers that year that my case looked hopeless. I applied with the Division of Grazing for a Range Surveyor’s position. Since I had experience in this type of work the summer before, I was soon re-instated and was detailed to instruct and school some of the new fellows on the survey crew until they were able to do the work alone. After we got started in our daily surveying routine, I didn’t get any of the breaks. Whenever there was an especially hard “line” to run, it was my job because I was experienced and was able to go faster. I well remember one line that I had to run, and vouched that should another like it ever come up, I’d never follow it through. The first half mile was easy, but at that point I came to some ledges which were over a thousand feet high. I made several attempts to go up taut each time finding it impossible, I would offset and try again. After several attempts getting almost to the top and having to start over again, I finally reached the top. I really knew the meaning of “tired” that night.
A month had not passed since I started surveying until I received a contract to teach school in Alamo, Nevada. I was thrilled to have the oppor¬tunity to get started into the teaching profession. Everyone who knew of the conditions in Alamo advised that I should not go there because the people down there believed in “hiring and firing”. However, I couldn’t see it that way because I wanted to get a years experience — I had all to gain and nothing to lose, so I accepted the position at a salary of $1800 per year. Since it was necessary to buy a car to do the required traveling on this job, I went to the Las Vegas Bank and got a $1000 loan with which I purchased a black 1940 Chevrolet sedan.
I went on to Alamo, which is a small farming town in the South¬eastern part of Nevada, on June 25th and was ready to get started on my job July 1st, 1940. Mr. Willardsen was the Agriculture teacher whose position I was to fill; his reception was not as warm as one would like to have it, but under the circumstances of him being let off his job as he was, I couldn’t blame him.
It was amusing to me to have all the counsel as to where I should live and get my gasoline, etc. that I received from some of the people who knew me. Being a man of few words, I listened to all they had to say but said very little. Because I am probably a bit stubborn, I decided to live at the Pace home, exactly where I had been told not to board. There being but two choices, the Stewart Hotel and Pace’s home, my choice was limited, but it wasn’t hard for me to make my decision.
You probably wonder why I should think such a trifle as choosing a place to stay important enough to discuss. I have never before been in a place where it was important — but here the situation seemed different. One of the School Board members even told me not to stay at Paces’ home. At this point I was quite bewiltered but so that he might know well that I was able to take care of myself, I told him that he was only my School Trustee and for the other part of my life I felt perfectly qualified. It goes without saying that there were jealousies in Alamo which seemed to destroy the spirit of cooperation and love that is necessary in small communities for growth and advancement. One group quarreling with another for no real reason.
The situation being as it was, I keenly felt the need of my Father in Heaven to direct me that I might be successful. Through seeking Him daily I know I was blessed. I spent an enjoyable year in school and feel confident that my work was entirely satisfactory. I became active in the Church — teaching a class in Sunday School, Second Counselor in the Mutual, and Ward Chorister. I am afraid my enthusiasm was deadened some because of the inactivity of the people that I had to work with. Sickness also seemed to hinder the progress of many of our activities. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my work and felt like serving as best I could. One of the outstanding achievements with the Choir was an Easter Cantata, it being the first I had ever directed — I assure you it gave me a new thrill.
One of my big disappointments came when I learned that I was not rehired to teach school in Alamo the following year. It wasn’t the fact that I wanted to go back to Alamo, but to be let out meant to me that there must be something wrong with my work. However, I found out later that it wasn’t my work at all, but rather a little jealousy on the part of the Principal because my salary was about as high as his — coupled with me stopping or boarding at the wrong place! The State Director came to see what was the matter and he found that my work was very satisfactory and said he would help me find another school. This of course made me feel much better.
It was not long until I received word from the School Superintendent of the Lovelock School, asking if I would be available to teach there the next year. The situation was that their teacher was called to the Army because he was a Commissioned Officer. I expressed my desire to fill the position should my own draft-classification permit it, This year the world was in a most critical condition. A raging war had spread throughout the European Countries and was knocking at the doors of America with its mighty force of destruction. Because of this great conflict between Germany, Italy, Japan, France and others, and Great Britain, China, Greece and others, the United States has commenced a program for National Defense. Among other things the Selective Draft was set up which required every man from the age of 21 to 35 to take one year of military training, I re¬ceived my questionnaire on May 12th, 1941.
At the present time my classification has not been given but I am in hopes that it will be such as to defer my going for another year because my parents need financial support due to their ill health.
I attended the Uvada Stake Conference on May 25, 1941 at which Apostle Joseph F. Merrill of the General Church Authorities was the principal speaker. He stressed the importance of living our religion and fulfilling the offices and callings that are made of us, centering his theme around the scrip¬ture of the Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 130. “There is a law irrevocably decreed in the heavens before the foundations of the earth upon which all blessings are predicated. When we re¬ceive a blessing from the Lord, it is through obedience to the law upon which it is predicated. “ Elder Merrill told of some of his experiences and how his testimony was strengthened by them. While he was a young boy about ten years old he said his parents taught him to pray. He prayed every day for a special answer that he might know that his prayers were answered. When he was nineteen, he was still praying for the same answer. One night in that year as he was praying, he asked his Father in Heaven if He were not going to hear his prayers. At that particular time he heard the word “Yes” and he was filled with a joy and glorious feeling which to him was beyond description.
Later in his life particular problems confronted him. Once when he was returning to the University of Utah to become head of his Department, he didn’t know whether or not he should be active in the Church. He picked up a paper on his way back from the Eastern School he had been attending and found an article stating that Richard R. Lyman was to be the President of the General Sunday School Board; but he noticed that no Counselors were named. At that time he was impressed that he was to be the first assistant to Brother Lyman, and as soon as he arrived in Salt Lake, he was asked to fill that office.
Recently he was called to go to a Stake and reorganize it. It was his duty to find a man for the position of Stake President. Having never been there and not knowing a single soul in the Stake, he realized keenly his respon¬sibility. After praying diligently about it, he went to the Presidency and asked them who should be selected, but received no help. He obtained a list of the officers names from that Stake from the Church record and as he went over this list, he received a shock when he came to a certain name and was thus filled with joy and gratification as before for he knew this was the man that the Lord wanted to be President.
I tell you these few incidents because to me, they answer the question: “Are we receiving revelation in the Church today?” There is no doubt in my mind that if we pray, “asking in faith”, that the Lord will answer our prayers. During this last year my testimony of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been strengthened in many ways. I say strengthened because I feel that I have had that testimony for many years. It came to me as I gave of my time and service in doing Church work, studying its doctrines, living its teachings, and praying that I might know the good from the evil. I believe that there is no other way in which a firm testimony of the gospel can be gained.
I consider it no less than a miracle that my mother is living today. Certainly no one can deny that when a doctor, who has specialized in his field, gives up a patient, saying that she could live but a short time because of a cancer at the end of her spine, and adding that the disease had spread throughout her body, thus making it useless to do anything but treat her to deaden the suffering and pain, then there must be help from the Lord. This was my mother’s con¬dition, but her faith was strong for she had the desire to live; and through her faith and the faith and prayers of her family and friends, she regained her health. In the Winter of 1940–41 her health began to fail again. Father took her to Provo to the Clark Doctors Clinic. They said she didn’t have any cancer, but that she was suffering from several kinds of rheumatism for which they gave her treatments. If the cancerous condition that was previously in her body had disappeared, which seemed to be the case, then it could have been only through the power of God.
The treatments mother took seemed to do her more harm than good and her condition became worse. Every remedy that was good was tried but to no avail. Doctors were consulted and their prescriptions and treatments followed, but to no good end. Her pain and suffering was intensified, beyond anything that she had yet encountered but she was determined, courageous, full of faith — God bless her — and she endured it all without complaint. I have often wondered how anyone could suffer so long with such extreme pain con¬tinually — for her pain was of a penetrating nature, never ceasing — without losing faith and courage. She took drugs to deaden the pain and for a time this was effective, but after some time she decided to quit using them because it came; to her that she was taking too much. Other than this means of putting her at ease, was the Priesthood in administrations, prayer circles, and fasting. By this means she was able to get some sleep and rest, I well remember on one occasion while I was home over the weekend, to see my folks, that father called me during the night, saying to hurry! I rushed in to find mother lying unconscious on the floor. She had collapsed while father was taking her to the bathroom. We administered to her as soon as possible and while I was annointing her with oil, she regained her consciousness. Father sealed the annointing and in a few moments mother was able to walk back to her bed.
After having several experiences such as this, I assure you that my testimony has been strengthened for I have seen the power of the Priesthood. I know of the joy that comes from exercising such a gift, and I regard it as God’s gift to those who live worthy of His blessings. In the Spring mother grew strong enough that we could take her to the doctor again. We tried several doctors and finally went to a chiropractor in Las Vegas who said that her condition was caused by having several dis¬located vertebra which were pinching her nerves. Mother started taking treat¬ments twice each week which at length seemed to help her, although in her weakened condition they caused a lot of suffering to endure them. My sister, Marva, went to college at the University of Nevada the first semester, but because of mother’s illness, she stayed home the second half of the year to nurse mother. She was a wonderful nurse, having the ability to care for and keep mother cheerful at most difficult times. I have learned to appreciate Marva because of the wisdom and judgment she attaches to all of her duties and responsibilities, and I am sure there are very few who would have been so good in caring for a sick mother. After spending my first year as a schoolteacher during the year 1940–41, and learning that I would not be rehired to teach in Alamo, I resigned. My State Vocational Agriculture supervisor, Mr. Robert B. Jeppson, stated that he would assist me in finding another school. I appreciated his confidence in me. July and August were spent at home in Bunkerville assisting with the work on the farm. My family seemed glad to have me home and some good hard work was good for me and father needed a helping hand.
The burden of mother’s health became very difficult for her to bear and it was hard on father. The cancer had spread through her body and she was in constant pain. When I was working, I sent money home to help with medical bills. Even when I was attending the University, I would only save enough money to get me registered and then I depended upon jobs I had at school to meet my other requirements. I was very pleased when I received a contract to teach Vocational Agriculture in Lovelock, Nevada, starting September 1, 1941. I resided at the Archie Coatney home where I received board and room at $70 per month. My contract in Alamo was at a salary of $1800 per year. I started in Lovelock at $1900 per year and enjoyed work there during the next five years. When I first arrived, the Vocational Agriculture department was located several blocks away from the school, but they were building a new Vocational Agriculture building which we were able to occupy after three months. It was a very nice place to teach and work. Although vocational agriculture was my primary responsibility, this year I was given other classes to teach. During these years I taught high chemistry and public speaking, I also helped coach and teach physical education. This broad spectrum of classes was partly my willingness and interest in study¬ing and learning something new and then they often thought I was the best qua¬lified to teach it. In small schools they really stretch your qualifications — at least they did mine.
During the first part of my career in Lovelock, I was very lonely. I was a complete stranger in the town. I soon discovered that there was no established organization of the church and as I inquired I could not seem to find any members of the church. Since Lovelock was in the area of the California Mission, I asked for missionaries to be sent to proselyte the area. It was not long after the elders arrived that we were able to organize a Sunday school. After about three months a dependent branch of the sparks ward was formed. I served first as the Supt. of the Sunday school and then the Branch President. In starting the branch there was no other active brethren holding the Melchizedek priesthood so I found that the organization and activity was very dependent on me, but in the five years I was there the branch grew to over 60 members.
My lonliness after arriving in Lovelock caused me to reflect upon a promise I had made to Violet Terry of Enterprise, Utah. We had dated and spent some very enjoyable times together as we participated in the Church pro¬grams while I resided at Alamo. I promised that I would write to her. She was a friend of particular interest to me. Our correspondence and our prayers con¬firmed in my heart that she was the one to become my bride. With 500 miles separating us we had only two opportunities to see each other during the school year. Our first visit was during the Christmas holiday. I will not forget the 12 inches of snow which I had to walk through because I could not make it over the Enterprise Summit. I left my car and walked to Enterprise. Since there was no light in the house at the Terrys I decided to stay at the Huntsman’s that night. They helped me get my car the next morning and the rest of my time was spent in a most joyous visit with Violet and her family. It was at this time that I asked her if she would like to spend an eternity with me. We were married June 16, 1942 in the St. George Temple.
What a great blessing Violet was to me. No more was I lonely. Our home became a haven of joy and happiness. She had a special talent as a home-maker. She had a great personal pride in her appearance and it was equally important that her home was clean, neat and orderly. She was talented in playing the piano and organ. I liked to sing and on occasions was asked to sing vocal solos. Music became a very important part of our home life. Violet was a great asset to our branch and she has always used her talent as an organist to add a special beauty to our church services. She has been a great source of strength and encouragement to me. Her life was devoted to her family and her God. Her first real trial was in nursing me through a full summer of rabbit fever or tularemia just three weeks after we were married. Her nursing experience at the Milford, Utah, hospital came in handy. My fever was very high and caused me to become somewhat delirious, but the Lord was good to us and I recovered completely by the time I was to go back to school. Our first child, Janet, was born at Reno, Nevada, November 11, 1943. She had to be delivered by cesarean section because of a toxic condition which was becoming a threat to both her and her mother’s life. She was taken about six weeks early and weighed 5 Ibs. 2 oz. Violet was a good mother. We found that the toxic condition was caused by a poisonous goiter. It was diag¬nosed and removed by Dr. Graff at Cedar City while Violet was visiting with her parents a few months after Janet was born. The thyroid problem became a prenatal problem. It was difficult to regulate and control especially during times of pregnancy. It produced a real strain on her nervous system. It has been hard for her to maintain sufficient blood calcium and often showed symptoms of calcium deficiency. However with the help of the Lord and the doctors she has been able to stand up under these trials and make for us a wonderful home. She has never wanted anyone to know the mental anguish she has felt.
It was while we were in Lovelock that World War II was raging. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Violet’s birthday, December 7, 1942. I had been deferred from the draft because of my mother’s critical illness and the help I could give. When I registered with the draft board in Lovelock, I received a 4D classification because of my ministerial duties in the Church. Soon after the major conflict was over, I was reclassified for induction into the service. Just ten days prior to this reclassification our second daughter, Dianne, was born June 4, 1946 in Lovelock, Nevada. I soon learned in reporting to the draft board that with two children and a wife to support that I was not required to submit to the draft. I have always had a great love for our country and I was willing to go and do my part. I considered volunteering in spite of my classifi¬cation, but I was advised against it. It seems that the course of events seemed to occur providentially to keep me home.
My mother suffered death October 5, 1941, at Bunkerville, Nevada, at the age of 55. Her life was not an easy one. She raised eight children with very few of the conveniences of our modern homes. Except for the last six years of her life she had no electricity and no water piped into the home and therefore none of their attendant conveniences. The first refrigerator and electric stove were purchased after her health began to fail and she couldn’t really enjoy them. Mother never complained even in her illness. She was patient and persevering in all that she did. She worked in the Church and made an ideal home which she kept always clean and comfortable. What a perfect companion she was for father. It was no wonder that father felt he could not face the future without her.
Father told us a special experience with reference to mother’s death and I watched it unfold not knowing at the time what was taking place. He said that he had been told in a dream of mother’s impending death and he said that he could not submit to the will of the Lord. He felt that the Lord was making a serious mistake in taking mother while their two sons; Kent and Owen were so young. He did not feel capable of raising them alone. In his pleading with the Lord he could not obtain relief. Mother continued to fail in her health. Father, in his desperation, went to the Lord after holding on to mother with all of his faith and strength and pleaded with Him not to take mother. He told Him that he could not raise the boys without her. He said, “If it is necessary that one of us go now take me. “ Father received an assurance that mother would get well and she made a remarkable recovery. Within six months she appeared well and able to do her work. At that time father became ill. He seemed to have no breath. We thought he had pneumonia. The Elders were called to administer to him, but father said, “It will do no good. The Lord is taking me at my word. “ Father said that during this sickness he envisioned a trip into the spirit world. He saw many of the family and leaders in the Church, but no one seemed happy to see him or had time to spend with him. He seemed lost and did not know what he was to do, but he perceived that there was a work for mother to do and that she was needed. He said that he then covenanted with the Lord that if he could return that he would submit to the will of the Lord and that he would do his best to raise those boys in the very best way he could. Father was soon well and mother began her fateful illness. Father assumed the role of both father and mother in raising his children and never failed in giving his all to help us, Mara stayed home from school to help.
After 5 years in Lovelock I decided to change my occupation. I had started to sell the Volume Library Encyclopedias as a part time summer job and found that I was making more money then in teaching. This experience was short lived however because after nine months of living in a house trailer in which we had moved back to southern Nevada, when I was offered a contract with the University of Nevada to become the Lincoln County Cooperative Extension Agent, I was happy to accept it. We were living in Caliente at the time. My employment with the University commenced March 11, 1947. This position proved challenging, interesting and satisfying to my nature.
We moved into an apartment in Pioche where the Extension office was located. We lived there for a little over one year and then I persuaded the county commissioners that the office could be located in Caliente which would be more central to people who use the office and that it would facilitate my efforts to serve the people. We purchased a home in Caliente and lived there for the next eleven years working as the County Extension Agent.
It was while we were living in Pioche, Nevada, that Norma, our third daughter was born November 9, 1947. She was born in Caliente, Nevada. With our three daughters we felt the need and were glad to become more settled into a vocation and a life of service in the Church again and great opportunities for service came to us while we were members of the Pioche and Client wards.
While living in Pioche I served as ward chorister and Sunday school teacher. I was ordained a Seventy by Elder Mark E. Peterson of the Quorum of the Twelve May 18, 1947, at Panaca, Nevada, and was set apart as a stake missionary. We moved to Caliente, Nevada, in the spring of 1948. It was an important event when we purchased our first home at 429 McArthur Drive. The house was relatively new. The original owners had purchased it a few years before. It was on a good sized lot so we planted fruit trees and a garden. We also raised chickens and rabbits to supply meat and eggs for our family. As our family grew, we decided that this two bedroom house was not big enough so we started on a very ambitious project of building a complete basement. We also added a large bedroom and 1/2 bath on the ground floor. It turned out to be a real family project. We did the work ourselves with some occasional help from my father and the neighbors.
It was during the eleven years that we resided in Caliente that our two sons were born. Terry Ferren Bunker was born March 18, 1953 and Brent Dee Bunker was born October 31, 1956. They added their special gifts of love and personality to help make our house a home.
I enjoyed my work as the County Extension Agent. The farm families in the County made me feel that I was needed and I devoted many hours each day to my work. I rented 5 acres from the City to do demonstrations and testing and was able to profit from the proceeds. The tests and demonstrations were conducted in the growing of different varieties of pasture grasses and legumes and pasturing calves for gain. This little venture helped me in winning the confidence of the local farmers and added to our income through the cows and calves we were able to raise. It was during those years in Caliente that I was awarded a distinguished service award in the National County Agents Associa¬tion in Seattle, Washington.
One of the most trying experiences of my life came through a period of public service to the school district. I was urged to file for membership on the Caliente School Board. I did and was elected and then pursued what I felt was a much needed change in school building improvements and administrative policy. These changes resulted in new additions and repair of our elementary school and a change in the principal. It seems that I had become a popular choice for the County School Board two years later when all of the County schools were consolidated. I was designated as the chairman of the board and became deeply involved in the business of the school district. There developed strong factions and circles of discord and disunity which required some un¬pleasant actions in overcoming the problems, but when the tempest was over, most everyone felt the changes had been made for the good of the communities and the school system.
I was put to work in the Caliente Ward as the activity counselor in the Mutual Improvement Association. I also taught a Sunday school class and served as ward chorister. Later I worked in the Stake Sunday School superintendency and was called as a president in the Seventies Quorum and a counselor in the Stake mission presidency. My companion and I were instrumental in teaching the gospel and baptizing 16 people into the Church during the one year I served. At that time I was called to be a member of the Uvada Stake High Council. I served in this position for less than one year before I was called to be the Bishop of the Caliente Ward. I was ordained a Bishop February 26, 1955, by Elder Ray L. Christiansen, Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve. I was Bishop of the Caliente Ward for 4 1/2 years. About the time that I was called to be Bishop I had the opportunity for a scholarship to an Eastern University to further my education in Extension. I turned it down because the call of the Lord seemed most important to me. These opportunities for service were great blessings in my life. They provided a great stimulus for spiritual growth and leadership development. With my dear wife as deeply involved as I was in Church service, we found our lives not only fully occupied but very happy.
In December 1958 we moved to Las Vegas where I became the County Extension Agent in charge of the office. At that time there were three other Agents and two secretaries in the office. The work in Clark County was very different. Much of the work was urban and presented new challenges to mo. During the eighteen years that I served as the agent in charge in Clark County and So. Nye County, the staff grew to a total of 12 professional agents, 20 paraprofessional aides, and 10 secretaries. As the agent in charge I was responsible for staff supervision, program development, personnel policies and fiscal activities. My activities changed during these years from a role as an agricul¬tural agent doing mostly fieldwork to an agent doing primarily administrative work. I worked with many good and effective staff members. They made it a pleasure for me to go to work each day. I have found that when one enjoys his work, it is stimulating and productive in meeting the needs of your own life as well as those you serve. Our first home in Las Vegas was located at 388 Wisteria Street where we lived for eight years. We then decided to sell this house and purchase one at 5805 Alta Drive which was only a short distance away. We really enjoyed the added conveniences of our new home. My dear wife and companion knew the art of homemaking as few women did. Our home was always spotlessly clean and well decorated. Her great interest in keeping our home so very nice inside necessitated some gardening on the outside. I must admit that gardening has given me pleasure and I have always desired to keep our yard looking good to match her effort. It was not long after we arrived in Las Vegas that we were busy in the Church again. At that time there were ten wards and we were in the 9th Ward of the Las Vegas Stake. I was called to work as the Stake Ensign leader on the M. I. A. Board. Our ward was busy building a new chapel and I was the secretary of the building committee. In one year the building was completed and most of the work was done by members of the ward. We employed a building superintendant and a few workers. As soon as the building was ready to be occupied, the ward was divided. The stake was also divided. It was during this Stake Conference held November 6, 1959 that I was set apart as the Bishop of the 12th Ward by William J. Critchlow, Jr., Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve. This was a great opportunity and a wonderful experience. Las Vegas was a very rapid growing city, an increase of approximately 30,000 that year and in sixteen months the 12th Ward had grown from 730 members to 1360. The ward was divided at that time and I was released. I was then called as a member of the high council of the Las Vegas Stake and assigned the responsibility of work¬ing with the Seventies, the Stake Mission, the Stake Relief Society and the Stake Welfare Farm. When the Stake was divided in April, 1970, I was again called as a member of the Stake High Council of the Las Vegas, Nevada, South Stake.
One of the greatest spiritual experiences of my life was when I was called to be the patriarch of the Las Vegas Nevada South Stake. We were having Stake Conference and President LeGrande Bindrup, our Stake President, said over the telephone Sunday morning, “Elder Ezra Taft Benson would like to see you. Could you see him in about 10 minutes. He will come to your home. “ Although I was still in bed, I told him I would be ready for his visit. After a short greeting with members of my family present he said, “One of the respon¬sibilities of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is to call stake patriarchs. Last night I did not know whether or not I would be able to call a patriarch for this stake, but this morning I feel very sure the Lord wants you to be the patriarch for the Las Vegas Nevada South Stake. “ We walked to the chapel together where Elder Benson met with members of the Stake Presidency and High Council. It was on this occasion that all who were assembled enjoyed a very rich spiritual experience. Our hearts and souls were warmed with an influence so wonderful that I find difficulty in describing it. It lingered with me as they there sustained me in the new calling and again sustained me in the general meeting of the Stake Conference. I knew that the Lord wanted me to be a patriarch, but oh how I longed for the knowledge and wisdom to do this work for the Lord the way he would want it to be done. I have a testimony and a wit¬ness that even though we are inadequate and feel our inability to fulfill callings given of the Lord that if we go to them with a humble heart but with a real resolve and intent to please Him, that He will open the way and qualify us for the work. Being a stake patriarch like all of the other callings that I have had in the Church has been a great and a humbling experience. The Lord has been merciful and kind to me and given me inspiration beyond my expectations. One other call which I have really enjoyed from the time that I was released as bishop of the twelfth ward was that of teaching the investigators and new and reactivated members in Sunday school. What a joy it has been to see many enter the waters of baptism and rejoice in the blessings of the gospel. I can testify that there is nothing in this world so important to us as a strong and abiding testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ which will bring us the wonderful blessings of the gospel.
My father, Hector Bunker, died October 13, 1963. He was found on the floor and died of a sudden death in the small house trailer in Bunkerville in which he had been sleeping. He had a little home in St. George and lived there and worked in the temple most of his time. He had been a real source of strength and faith to all his children and he would try to visit each of us especially when he thought he could be of some help to us. After selling his farm to his son, Merrill, he bought land along the river in the fields northwest of Bunkerville. He spent many of his lonely hours improving this land. It had been 22 years since mother had passed away. Despite his loneliness, he never remarried. He kept himself busy in ways most helpful to the Lord and his family, I have often hoped that I could have the measure of success with the raising of my family that he has had with his. All of his children are faithful active members of the Church and enjoy the blessings of the covenants made in the holy temple. They regard their covenants as being very sacred. I am very proud of all of my brothers and sisters and their companions and I am sure father and mother now rejoice over them together.
There arc few blessings that Violet and I have received that compare with the blessings and the joys we have experienced in raising our family. Our children have honored and respected us. They have been true and faithful in keeping their covenants and are all active workers in the Church. Each of our daughters were married in the temple to young men whom we are glad to welcome into our family. It was a happy occasion when they were all present in the St. George Temple at the time of Kenneth Fisher’s and Dianne’s marriage Septem¬ber 3, 1971. Janet was married in the St. George Temple to David Charles Williams on June 23, 1962. As of this writing on May 11, 1977, they have four children: Paul David Williams born at Milford, Utah, October 6, 1963 Jana lee Williams born at Milford, Utah, March 22, 1965 Charles Ferren Williams born at Logan, Utah, December 28, 1971 Mary Ann Williams born at St. George, Utah, December 10, 1975.
Dianne was married to Kenneth Warren Fisher, II in the St. George Temple September 3, 1971. They now have two children: Julie Fisher born at Seattle, Washington, January 1, 1973 Janelle Fisher born at Thousand Oaks, California, April 10, 1975.
Norma was married to Albert Edwin Haines, III in the St. George Temple June 16, 1967. They now have two children: Bradley Edwin Haines born at Provo, Utah, April 7, 1972 Christine Elisabeth Haines born at Provo, Utah, April 6, 1977.
Terry Ferret Bunker and Sandra Jo Dresden were married in the Salt Lake Temple October 6, 1975. They have one son: Thomas Terry Bunker born at Provo, Utah, August 5, 1976.
Brent Dee Bunker is not married. He is now serving a mission in the Minneapolis Minnesota Mission which is the same mission to which our son, Terry, was sent. We have just cause to be proud of our children because of their accomplishments and their service in the Church.
Janet completed one year of college at Cedar City, Utah, where she met David. They spent the first years of their marriage in Milford, Utah, where David taught in the Elementary School. They then moved “to North Logan, Utah, and he was a teacher in the school sys¬tem. David obtained a grant to continue his schooling in New York University where he obtained his master’s degree. They returned to North Logan to teach. After two or three years he was given an opportunity to move to Las Vegas where he made a good name in the development of a music program in the elementary schools. After four years he took a music position in the rural schools near Blackfoot, Idaho. David was accomplished in his vocal ability and Janet as a pianist and organist. These talents were put to work in each commun¬ity. They also had great abilities in the teaching of the gospel in the many call¬ings they held in the Church. David was a seminary teacher during the period he was in Las Vegas. He was also involved as a leader in the Seventies Quorum and the missionary effort.
Dianne went to school after high school graduation at the Hollywood Beauty School in Salt Lake City and did well. Her first job was in Blanda’s Beauty Shop in Las Vegas. She later worked in Vegas Village Beauty Shop and then worked in Provo in Clarks Beauty Shop. She also did the hair dressing and makeup for BYU movie production studio. It was while she was at Provo, Utah, that she met and married Kenneth Fisher. He graduated from the BYU with his masters degree in public administration. He had a long felt desire to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was accepted and started his work in Seattle, Washington. They lived there for one year and then were transferred to the Los Angeles office. They purchased a home in Thousand Oaks, California, and lived there until they were transferred to the New Bedford, Massachusetts, office. It was soon after they arrived there that Ken was called to be the Branch President. Dianne was a counselor in the relief society and a teacher in the primary. It seemed evident that they had a mission to perform there.
Norma went one semester to the Utah State University in Logan, Utah. By the time the second semester had come she was engaged to be married to Albert Haines who had shown some interest in her for about a year. He was in the military service at Fort Hood, Texas. Norma decided that she had better prepare herself with a skill which would prepare her to help in the early period of their marriage while Al would be attending school. She gradu¬ated from the Hollywood Beauty School in Las Vegas and then went to make her home with Al while he remained in the armed services in Fort Hood, Texas. After completing his term of duty he returned to Brigham Young University where he graduated with a masters degree in public administration. He accepted a job in Wichita Falls, Texas, working for the City in handling their man power program. He was there only one year when he had the opportunity to move to Las Vegas as a program analyst for Clark County. He was soon promoted to the position of Administrative Assistant to the County Administrator. Within three years, his dream came true. He was given the opportunity to become the City Manager of Orem, Utah. Both Norma’s and Al’s abilities were put to work in the Church in each place they lived. It was only six months after they had moved to Orem that Al was called as the Bishop of the 60th Ward. Norma’s special ability as a vocalist gave her many opportunities to sing vocal solos. She also plays the piano and organ and is now teaching the spiritual living lessons in the relief society. She also maintained an interest in her work as a beautician.
Terry worked in the summers at the Clark County Parks Department to save money for a mission and to go to school. He attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas one year starting in August 1971 and then went to the Minneapolis Manitoba mission where he served as a district and then as a zone leader. His mission started October 6, 1972 and he was released October 17, 1974. Just prior to his release he had the privilege of teaching and baptizing Sandra Ja Dresen. They started a special interest in each other which they maintained through a year at the Brigham Young University before they were married. They planned their marriage to occur as soon as they could qualify with Sandra’s being in the Church for one year. They have both continued to pursue their education at Brigham Young University. Sandra has taught some courses at the University and Terry has worked primarily as the supervising custodian at the county build¬ing. Though they work a very tight schedule in going to school, handling their jobs and caring for their son, Thomas, they manage well and find time to teach and give leadership in the University Branches of the Church.
Brent started with a goal of becoming a medical doctor early in his school life and has oriented his efforts toward this goal. He gave over 500 hours of volunteer service in the Sunrise Hospital as a junior paramedic and worked in the summers for Clark County Park Department in cleaning swimming pools. He attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas during the summer and fall of 1975. His call as a missionary in the Minneapolis, Minnesota Mission started January 18, 1976. Four months after he arrived in the mission field he was asked to work in the mission office to handle the car pool and mission finances where he labored for seven months before being transferred as a district leader in the Sun Prairie Wisconsin District. He has had a lingering interest in a cer¬tain Debbie Leu who we have also grown very fond of and we expect wedding plans soon after he is released from the mission.
During the years 1971 to 1973 I suffered with some acute attacks of the prostate. There seemed to be a chronic infection which was not easily cured. I would become very ill and suffer with chills and fever. In April 1974 I was hit broad side while going to an extension meeting by an on-coming car and driver who failed to stop at an intersection. Our Volkswagon was demolished and I came out with a good shake up and some whiplash. It was two weeks later that I was talking to our daughter, Janet, before starting to work when I suddenly became very numb and reclined on the couch until I was rushed by ambulance to the hospital. I was administered to and although all kinds of tests were run they never really determined the cause to be other than a reaction from the wreck.
I retired from my work with the Cooperative Extension Service after 36 years of employment through the State retirement system and 30 years in the Federal retirement system. My last day of work was on October 29, 1976. I had worked approximately 2 1/2 months longer than required for the retirement to provide time for the University to hire a replacement. We started our retire¬ment with a visit to our children in Orem, Provo, Utah, and a 2 1/2 month trip to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where Ken and Dianne were living. We visited with former professional friends, my brother Owen and his family enrooted and saw the interesting historical sights. On our return we found what it was like to travel on ice and resolved that our next trip would not be in the winter time. I received an emeritus rank at the commencement exercises May 14, 1977, at the University of Nevada, Reno. This special award is one given to members of the faculty who are recognized for their contribution to the University and it pro¬vides continued special privileges of the University to its faculty.
May 1977
Special experiences and thoughts for consideration of my family.
In looking back over some of the important moments and events which have remained in my memory as lessons and helps which I needed to better prepare me for this great world of response and decision, my personality and character, it seems, was shaped by a stream of experiences through which knew my parents, brothers and sisters and many others cared what I did and how what I did was done. The Church and the school offered me many opportunities to do things. I think particularly of the talks mother helped me prepare. What great oppor¬tunities these were for me to grow in knowledge and ability. I don’t ever remember turning down one of these privileges, but I well remember mother sitting over me to help me prepare. Those were some of our best times together. She was pleased when I took the initiative to prepare my first talk without her help. I grew ten inches taller when she said, “Ferren, that is one of the best talks you have ever given. “ From that time on I prepared my talks and learned them. For a number of years I always felt the need to memorize them and I would do it while driving the cows, riding the sulky plow, doing chores or some other farm task. Later it seemed better to outline my talks and speak from notes. The most wonderful part of giving talks was the quick response that it brought from my family. I could often see in my mother’s eye a tear of joy, and always a word of encouragement.
It may have been that this family training and support was the basis of a very surprising announcement from my professor in Animal Husbandry during the first month of my freshman year at the University. While I was giv¬ing a book report, Professor Wilson said, “Ferren Bunker, you are a mormon aren’t you?” With some fear I said, “Yes”. I was fearful because at that time there were only a very few members of the Church enrolled in the school and there were many who would enjoy making sport of our beliefs and actions. He said, “I knew you were when you started to give your report. “ Then he pro¬ceeded to tell the class of his experience with mormons. He continued, “The mormons start learning to speak in public as soon as they know how to talk. They have organizations where their children stand at the pulpit from the time they are two or three years old until they are grown. I was in Arizona last week where I had been a professor in the University for a number of years. I went to attend a funeral service of one of my colleagues and do you know who spoke at the funeral? It was the mormon janitor at that school. He gave one of the best sermons that I have ever heard. Ferren, go on with your report”. Now I really had something to live up to.
There was one other time when I was put on a spot at the University that I was pleased to claim membership in the Church. Dean Stewart, who was the Dean of the college of agriculture spoke out in our soil science class and said, “Did any of you read the article in the newspaper last night about the welfare program of the mormon church?” He then discoursed briefly on the article and indicated his approval of this concept. Then he turned to me and said, “Ferren, will you bring a report to class tomorrow and give us more details on this program.” This was in 1938. I was pleased to make the report, but was glad we had just had a leadership meeting where it was discussed in detail. When I considered the fact that neither Professor Wilson nor Dean Stewart showed any signs of interest in religion and were obviously not inclined to favor the mormons, I was elated with their thoughts and inquiries. I have learned from these and other experiences that good Latter-Day Saint boys or girls can face the world and be proud of who they are. They should be different in many ways and if they maintain those ideals which are promulgated by the Church and which make them different, they will be the happiest boys and girls in the world. There are really no greater blessings than the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ builds success, and promotes happiness. It must always be the most important thing in our lives.
I started to milk cows when I was 5 years old and didn’t really graduate from it until I left home to attend college. In fact that and many other farm jobs were the persuasion I needed to get me to go to school. I shall not soon forget one night when it was getting dark and I was about eight years old driving the cows along the road in the river between our farm and our home. I was taught to be brave, but I have probably listened to too many spooky stories and when I heard unfamiliar noises in the darkened distance toward the river, I was struck with fear. These noises caused my imagination to run wild with the thought of some horrible wild beast coming after me. The noise kept coming closer and closer and those mounful cries drove me into the swamp where I crouched very low. I prayed that I would be delivered from that awful beast and as I opened my eyes, my fears left. It was only a boy making hideous sounds as he was driving horses from the river.
I determined then that I must conquer that awful monster, fear. As I continued in my youth, I found that the shadows and the sounds of the night never really produced more than a figment of my imagination. When I encountered each new frightening experience, I would say to myself “it was only a boy driving horses. Why be afraid”. Fear is a monster and we must learn to deal with it properly or it will rob us of our greatest opportunities. Great lessons are those which are taught in the best possible teach¬ing moment. One such moment was when smoking became an enticement. I was about seven years old and it seemed that old satan had started some of my companions to explore the kinds of materials which could be used to puff smoke. I had watched some of the older boys use bark rolled in paper, punk wood from the river and the ivy vine twig. Well, the ivy vine twig was most convenient to me and when I was where I thought I was alone, 1 tried it. I will always be grateful that my mother was looking for me at that particular time and found me. Being caught in the act I could but say, “I am playing smoke”. I could tell she was concerned. Then and there we sat down together and talked about my adventure with smoking and to what it could lead. When we left, I knew that my mother loved me and trusted me. That lesson kept me from ever taking another puff.
Another teaching experience which impressed me came in my youth one evening when father came home from the farm tired. It was our turn to irrigate and this meant going to the farm during the night to open head gates make dams and care for the water so it would not be wasted. Mother took me aside and said, “Ferren, would you like to do something that would be very nice which would really please your father?” “Of course”, said I and then came the lasting lesson. She said, “why don’t you ask your father if he would let you go to the field tonight and turn the water. I know he would be very pleased if you would volunteer. Don’t let him know that I suggested it. “ Father was pleased and I had a very rewarding experience of doing a task not usually vol¬unteered for because of love and concern for someone other than self. It was a lesson that has convinced me that there are better rewards than those of material values and I have found that most of them come in acts of kindness and thoughtfulness. These rewards are the rewards of treating others the way you would like to be treated and loving your neighbor as yourself. There seems to be no principle of personal conduct which emancipates the soul more and brings one closer to God. It is certainly a principle of peace and success in family and social relationships that should never be forgotten. Mother’s lesson came to me loud and clear as I acted upon this suggestion over the years. If you want to know the real joy of helpfulness, do it without solicitation.
Father always demanded respect. I would never say a disrespectful word to him or to mother. I knew that when I was told to do something by one, it would be sustained by the other. If they had differences, they had a beautiful way of concealing them. I could never tell it. Father was the kind of discipli¬narian who left no room for doubt. We knew that what he said, he meant. When be spanked me (and I received a number of them) he left me with a stern impres¬sion that I had done something wrong. It was impossible to get sympathy from mother on these occasions, but I didn’t have to doubt about their love. I grew to know that what they did to discipline their children was really an expression of their love and concern. Father’s way of disciplining me usually came as a sur¬prise — like the time I came home from school late. I had stayed late to prac¬tice basketball. During these days of my schooling from the sixth grade through high school, I loved all kinds of sports and I would take every opportunity to play in them. When I arrived home on this particular night my father met me with, “Ferren, if it is more important to you to play than to help with these chores, you had better go back and play.” Now we had chores a plenty: cows to milk, milk to separate, hogs, cows, calves, horses and chickens to feed and care for. Our chores would keep us busy for 2 hours each night and morning and when one of us was not there some one had to do extra duty. Father had to say no more. I knew I had let him down.
There was more harsh treatment one day when my brother Merrill and I had been at the farm working with father since early morning and he sent us home at noon for lunch with the counsel that we should hurry back so that we could relieve him. Well, we got back, but several hours later. Father had a horse whip and used it. I don’t remember whether or not it hurt, but it frightened me terribly. Then, the worst of the punishment came when he said, “it seems that you boys don’t care about me. If all you want to do is play, I can got along without your help. “ Even though we pleaded to stay, we had to go home. It was a long way back home. Our heads were low and our hearts ached. We hated to face mother because we were sure to get a second rebuke and we did.
Not only were we taught to respect our parents but it was equally important that we respect our teachers in school and in the Church, and our friends. We were expected to follow the instruction of our leaders and teachers, to be courteous and work closely with them, I can’t remember hearing my parents say a disrespectful word about one of my teachers. They were often invited into our home and father would say, “we appreciate what you are doing to help our children. If you have any problem with them, let us know. “ I knew he meant it. The teachers would reply with something like this, “if all of our students were like your children, teaching would be fun. Having taught school for six years, I can now appreciate how important it is to both the student and the teacher to have parent support. There is a great need to teach respect for others in our homes today. I have often wished that Violet and I had a comparable ability to that of my parents. We have tried to use their example.
Mother taught me a lesson about respect and consideration for my friends. One day my friend and I were playing marbles. For some reason we started to quarrel and it ended up in a fight which I was winning. My mother, seeing what was going on, stopped the fight and told me some very important things about the boy of which I was unaware. It was pointed out to me that I was really taking an unfair advantage of him. It seemed that he had not been well. Mother taught me a lesson in respect and consideration which remained with me.
It was a wonderful day when father, Merrill and I put up a bankboard and hoop for playing basketball at our home. It was not unusual for a number of my friends to come for a game. I am so grateful for the day mother set on the porch watching us. A word slipped out of my mouth which I found gave her pain. She brought me to her side and told me that if I did not refrain from using that word, I could not play with the boys. Well, it came out again and then the awful truth came which pained me. I had to sit by her side and watch my friends play the rest of the afternoon. It gave me more time than I wanted to think about controlling my tongue. I have had very little trouble with swearing since that important day.
There were very few jobs on the farm that my three brothers and I did not have an opportunity to do. It seemed that we were always eager to do a man’s work and as soon as our muscles were ready we would want to try. I am sure there were many times that father let us do jobs that he could do much better. He would take the time and patience to teach us to do it right. When we did a good job we would know that it pleased him. I am glad that he was not too easily satisfied. He expected us to perform up to our ability and it was not unusual for him to encourage us with a note of praise that we had done the job better than he could. Alfalfa Hay and seed was a main crop on our farm. It was always important that the hay swath and cocks of hay were in straight rows. I became the expert in raking the hay. It was done with a one horse dump rake. Before I would get through it was all in fork sized piles which required only a little finishing with the fork. Father made me think that I really had the art of handling that rake. Later I learned that what he was really trying to do was to get me to take pride in what I did. His motto was “if a task is once begun, never finish till it is done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all. “ It is important that we have pride in our work.
There is not room enough to relate all of the meaningful experiences of my youth which have had an impact upon my character and personality but I do desire to pay a debt of gratitude unto the Lord for giving me parents who cared. In all the experiences of my life I have not found anything which com¬pares with the importance of good parental care and guidance. I have seen and felt the virtue of it through the efforts of my parents. I know how my parents’ teachings and example has helped me with my children. Parents are often too late in awaking to the awesome responsibility and trust which the Lord places in them. There is no other influence which can adequately replace the love, under¬standing, interest, teachings and guidance of parents for their children when parents are doing their duty. I do not believe parents can start too early. The lives of children are affected by the actions of their parents from the time they are conceived and parents will be held accountable for what they do or say which influences the lives of their children. There are few joys which have come to Violet and I which compare with the joy we experience in the success and well-being of our children and their children. I have come to realize that the greatest and most important organization there is on this earth is our family. It has an eternal exalted destiny. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ it can be a celestial kingdom here on earth but must endure the refiners fire. What a tremendous opportunity we each have who enter into that sacred order of the holy priesthood which unites us with the family of God and establishes the covenant and respon¬sibility for exalting the family. Each father and mother are given the agency by which they can make their family what they want it to be. The Lord wants and intends that it will become a perfect unit of His family. Shall we not then rely upon the Lord and continually seek His Spirit to guide and direct our efforts. Should we not be found in constant prayer both in personal and secret prayers and in family prayers. Should we not look for our needs and interests in what the Lord counsels through His servants, the prophets. I know He counsels in wisdom and we can be added upon with knowledge and wisdom as we listen to those who are called to preside over us and in a study of the scripture. Oh how great the love of the Lord, our Savior and Redeemer, in preparing the way and leading us in it unto His exalted station. In our family we cannot rest until our callings and elections are made sure and every child of God fully understands and appreciates this great potential. God grant that we shall never retreat from such a worthy effort, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
June 1977
Some spiritual experiences am a witness of the goodness and mercy of the Lord. It has been my privilege to exercise my faith and know that the Lord hears prayers and that He recognizes the efforts of His servants as they go forth in His service. I have always desired to be a servant of the Lord and to magnify His work among His children. I know that He provides a spiritual witness according to the faith and diligence of those who serve Him and as I have served Him and sought for His blessing I have witnessed His love for me.
Now I take not unto boasting for I know I am nothing except as our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, grants His mercy to forgive me of my sins and as I do come forth into a newness of life in a spiritual rebirth, but I do testify of the sweetness and the ecstasy of those moments of life when I have tasted of the power and influence of the Holy Spirit and I pray for the strength to over¬come the weaknesses of my flesh so that I may be worthy to continue in the blessings of the Spirit. I rejoice in the knowledge that I know that Jesus is the Christ, the redeemer of the world and that He did give Himself as a ransom for our sins. I know that there is no escape for the punishment of our sins and an eternal damnation except we come unto Christ through faith and repentance and take upon ourselves His Holy Name in the water of baptism through which we covenant to keep His commandments and do His will unto the renewing of our bodies and the reception of the Holy Ghost. It is the Holy Ghost who will teach us, edify us and sanctify our souls to prepare us for the blessings of immortality and eternal life. These are the gifts of God unto us which come through faith.
My first experiences in the priesthood were gained in the privilege to pass the sacrament, gather fast offerings, do home teaching, ordain to the Aaronic Priesthood and baptize. What wonderful opportunities these activities were for me. As I reflect the great privilege of passing the sacrament, I become aware that as a boy of 12 years, I was honored with one of the most sacred of all duties. We should never take any work that we do for the Lord lightly. I will always be gratful that I had parents who would take me and teach me and that there were many who were willing to give their time and talents to provide me with guidance and growing experiences. Parents are very wise when they make the most of those programs and activities that are found in the Church and the schools in the rearing of their children. My first real search for a knowledge of the gospel in the scriptures came when my brother, Merrill, was serving a mission in the Northwestern states. His letters were faith promoting and stimulated me in the desire to serve the Lord as a missionary. I read the Book of Mormon through during one summer. I knew what I was reading was interesting and important. I must admit that I was only gaming a glimpse of what it really contains, but it was a beginning and a very important one. Reading the Book of Mormon was like having the Lord talk to you and counsel with you. All of the scriptures stir the soul. They are the Lord’s word unto us and a measure of His great Love for us. In a study of the scriptures from this first reading of the Book of Mormon in my youth until now my testimony has been added to. I have a witness of the truths they contain. Every person should start early to reach the scriptures and be in constant touch with the Lord through them. We have been admonished to search the scriptures for in them ye shall find eternal life and they do testify of Jesus Christ. It is true. My greatest and most important revelation has come in a witness given of the Holy Ghost as I read and studied the scriptures. I know they contain the word of the Lord. I know of no other gift or knowledge which has greater continuing importance for the direction of our lives than the unveiling of the word of the Lord in the scriptures by the Holy Spirit as we search them. If I could give a word of encouragement, it would be that every child should start early to seek a knowledge and a testimony of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is truly the essence of life. We don’t really live without it, we exist. With it we know who we are, why we are here and where we are going. If parents would realize how important the scriptures are to their children, they would be seen reading them regularly and make them an important aspect of family reading and study while children are very young so they will have an interest in them.
I know that scripture is being made for our use today. The prophets of God are the source. The Lord is mindful of us and our needs and I know that He reveals what we need to know to make our lives happy and successful. It has come to my attention by those who are in authority that the elements of success are found in (1st) knowing where we are going, (2nd) believing we can get there, (3rd) working for it, (4th) get the help we need and (5th) don’t quit. Stay with it until we reach our goal. I really don’t believe there can be found any greater security than to follow the counsel of the prophet. He is the voice of the Lord to us and oh what a great blessing he is to help us know the way.
In looking back over some of the moments of time which have lingered in my memory to strengthen my faith, I find many experiences where the Spirit and power of the Lord was made manifest. Let me relate a few for only one purpose. I desire to acclaim the love and power of God for those who seek Him in faith.
One morning about two A.M. while we were living in Caliente, Nevada, I was called to the hospital to administer to a 2 year old boy. The mother was very anxious that we come immediately. My neighbor Cecil Lee accompanied me. When we arrived at the hospital, the nurse led us to the baby who seemed frail and weak but asleep. We had finished the holy ordinances of annointing and sealing the annointing and the baby stood up in the crib and looked around for his mother. As she walked in the door she said, “Michael what has happened to you,” There seemed to be nothing that we could do to give further help so Bro. Lee and I returned to our homes. At noon that day we received a call from Clarence Harding, the grandfather, who said, “Thank you for saving our boy. “ It was then we learned that the child had been holding on to life with difficulty. He had been unable to keep water or food in his stomach and was dehydrated so badly at the time he was administered to that the doctor determined it would not be safe to move him. They had prepared a car with an oxygen tank in which they had planned to take him to a specialist in Las Vegas. The doctor was called after we left the hospital and when he saw the baby he said the baby had improved so much that they could make the trip. Enroute to Las Vegas they gave Michael water and he was playful and happy when they arrived. The doctor examined him and said he had made a remarkable recovery. There was not any doubt on the part of those involved that this immediate change and very rapid recovery was by the intervention of the Lord.
It was also in Caliente that I was called to the hospital when a boy, not a member of the Church, was critically injured in an automobile accident. He had been unconscious from the time of the accident. In blessing him I gained an assurance through the Spirit that he would return to health and strength and blessed him accordingly. It was about one month later that he awoke from the long slumber and went out of the hospital to become completely well. Very soon after this occurrence there was another automobile accident. This time it was an older man, an inactive member of the Church who was lying unconscious. His family had gathered and were most concerned. No sooner had I laid my hands upon his head than I became aware that he was not to get well. I was impressed that I was to say only that which would bring comfort to the family. As soon as we lifted our hands from his head, his breathing stopped. The family seemed to have received the witness that it was the will of the Lord.
In Lovelock soon after Violet and I were married we had the oppor¬tunity to become acquainted with Walter Davis, who was the grandson of Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon. He told us that his parents had left the Church and he had lived in mining camps in Nevada and California. He joined the Church and became an elder and then slid back into inactivity through habits of smoking and chewing tobacco. He was 81 years old and was living with his daughter, Ruth Sullivan who was Catholic but he would come to meet with us when we held cottage meetings in our home and other church services. He was determined to overcome his tobacco habits before he died. It was at this time that he became very ill and was not expected to live, I was called to administer to him and though he had been in a coma for two days, it seemed clear to me as I blessed him that he must get well. He did recover and I was soon to visit him at the home of his daughter. He brought out a part of a plug of tobacco and said, “I am like Brother Brigham, and I look at that plug of tobacco and say who is the biggest you or me. “ It was the next year that he had the privilege of going to the temple to do his endowments and sealings. Shortly after that he passed away. It has always been a testimony to me that he had a work to do and the will to do it which his life was prolonged. He told us of his being called to his grandfather’s bedside before he died and that his grandfater told him of viewing the gold plates and bore witness of the truth of the Book of Mormon. He was proud of his heritage and that he had been able to come to the Church and receive of these wonderful blessings.
I was in the 25th Ward to speak to the priests class February 2, 1977. Bro. Brent Staheli was their advisor and he related two experiences which were of interest. He told the class that 12 years ago he had called me to go to the hospital where he was with some friends who had been involved in a family fight which ended in both of them being shot in the side of the head with a pistol. The optical nerve had been severed. The mother had asked for her daughter to be administered to. Both the husband and the wife were in very critical condition and not expected to live. The mother said after we were about to leave, “Will you also administer to my son-in-law too?” He was being held for the crime. Brother Staheli told the boys that both of these people made remarkable re¬coveries. He had been in prison for 10 years and was now out. He had joined the Church and was progressing in the Church very well. This was the first time I had heard of the outcome of the couple and I received a thrill with the blessing of the Lord unto them. Even with all of the damage done to their brain and nerves they had healed. He also related the occasion when he had asked Bishop Larkin and I to come to administer to him. He had been having a very nervous condition which made it very difficult for him to work or to be around people. He was a school teacher and had quit to do other work. The Lord blessed him with a knowledge of what he must do. He said as soon as we had taken our hands from his head he knew that he must go to his doctor who he said pres¬cribed a change in his treatment and he has been very healthy since that day. The Lord moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.
A call came to our home to come quick that Brother LaMar Durfey had had a severe heart attack. I called Brother Wm. Calvert and we were soon in the Durfey home where we saw Brother Durfey lying cold and with a gray white color. After the administration we watched the blood flow to restore color. He reported that he could feel the change as it occurred before our eyes. When he got to his doctor he was told that had had something not changed when it did, he would not be here to know about it. He knew the Lord preserved his life and he is yet living a quite active life at age 66.
About seven years ago I was in the hospital and was suffering with a high fever and then I would chill. I was in the advanced stages of a prostate problem. After a week in the hospital, I seemed to be feeling better and came home to recuperate. On the first night at home, I started about 1:00 A.M. to have much pain. By 2:00 A.M. I could hardly bear the pain. They called Brother Calvert and Brother Waite my home teacher. I knew the power of the Lord and wanted so much to be relieved of the pain. I recall that I expected a change but it did not come. They took me back to the hospital where I remained-for another 10 days. During the next 2 to 3 years, I was plagued with frequent flare ups of this problem which had become chronic. I was greatly relieved when this sickness stopped reoccurring. I was given blessings a number of times but without the relief that I had hoped for, I have learned that there are experiences which strengthen our faith and knowledge of God as we learn to endure suffering and trust in the Lord and I grew nearer to the Lord during that period. I do recall a very special witness that came to me during one of the prostate attacks. My son Terry had been ordained an elder and was pre¬paring to go on a mission. I felt the need of a blessing and told Terry to get David, Janet’s husband to help him. I was relieved of the pain during that night and knew that the Lord recognized Terry as his servant and would help him to serve well on his mission.
I experienced a similar healing at Christmas time just before Brent was to leave for his mission. It was Christmas day and I was suffering with the flu, I asked Brent and David to give me a blessing. It was on this occasion that I felt the weakness leave my body and within the hour I was feeling per¬fectly healthy. I could not doubt that it came as a blessing of the Lord and a witness that Brent was ready to go forth in the work of the Lord. Brother Hansen of the 21st Ward, at that time a member of their bishopric, wanted to bring his son for a blessing. I had only recently been ordained a stake patriarch and told him that since this was a blessing which pertained to his health that he should not consider that I would have any special privilege in administering to his son. I encouraged him to use the home teachers or leaders in the ward but he persisted. This boy had had a chronic illness which prevented him from living a normal life. The power and influence of the Lord was with us during the administration and this boy of 15 years was healed. His father reported that he had not been troubled since that day.
My neighbor in Caliente, a Sister Conger who was a niece of President Harold B. Lee, related that after she had received a diagnosis that she had cancer and must have an operation to remove it, went to Salt Lake City to have the operation. She called President Lee who was at that time a mem¬ber of the Quorum of the Twelve and asked if he would be able to come to the hospital that evening to give her a blessing. The operation was to take place the next morning. He gave her a blessing and she reported that the cancer dropped from her body during the night. The doctors found it hard to believe. There was no need for an operation. She has lived a long and fruitful life with¬out further cancer problems. We were much aware of her problem because she lived across the street from us and has since moved to Las Vegas where we have been able to know of her.
I could not begin to relate all of the experiences in the work of the Lord which have given evidence of the power of God especially in the blessing and healing of the sick, but for our children there were some very special experiences, I will share in which the Lord intervened to preserve their lives with us. We were in the car while living in Pioche and traveling to Caliente, Nevada. We were traveling at 55 miles an hour and we heard a loud sound like the firing of a shot gun. The back door had opened and when we looked back to tell Janet, our 3 1/2 year old daughter to sit still, she was gone. When I got the car stopped and looked back, Janet was up and running down the road calling, “Daddy, don’t leave me. “ The doctor said she had a slight concussion and she had bruises on her head and knee. We knew the Lord had heard our prayer that morning as we kneeled around our table in our home.
After we had moved to Caliente I was backing out of the garage to go to work. Our daughter, Dianne, who was about 3 years old had slipped out of the house unaware to me and was directly behind the car. The neighbor saw her and she screamed and then she said it appeared as though Dianne was lifted over the hind fender of the car by an unseen power and she was not injured. We believe the hand of the Lord intervenes.
When Norma was about the same age she always wanted to go with me to work and I told her I couldn’t take her. One day that was not a satis¬factory answer. She caught hold of the car bumper and hung on unknown to me. I was dragging her when the neighbor screamed to stop me. Her legs were skinned and bruised. In each of these instances, I trembled to know that I had been so careless in observing what my children were doing, but so very thank¬ful that the consequences were not more serious.
One day while I was in Eagle Valley working, mother had a very close call with Terry. He was about 1 year old. He had found a penny and put it in his mouth and it seemed to be in his trachea. She took him to the hospital and put him under a floriscope to see where it was located. The doctor tried and tried to dislodge it. It was in his bronchial tube and he was breathing with difficulty. They were trying to reach me so he could be flown to Salt Lake for an operation. It was at this time that Violet offered a silent prayer for the help of the Lord. Her prayer was answered. Terry gave a cough and the penny came flying out of his mouth.
It seems that Brent was about three when he contracted a virus that the doctor said he would have to wear out. I asked him if he would like Heavenly Father to help him to get well. He said he would like me to give him a blessing. I laid my hands upon his head in the power of the priesthood and the next morn¬ing when I asked him how he felt he said he was feeling better. He said that Heavenly Father had helped him get well. It is wonderful to contemplate the faith of little children. Violet and I know that the Lord has helped us in the rearing of our children and we have rejoiced in their being sent to bless our home with their love.
My faith is a simple faith. I know the power of the Lord in answer to prayer and his holy ordinances. I also feel a witness which comes of the Spirit when I am giving Sunday school lessons and talks in Church, giving patriarchal blessings and doing any work which is of the Lord. We are told that miracles follow those that believe and this I testify to.
Source: Brent Bunker