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A Message for the Family of Hector and Mina Wittwer Bunker

August 12, 1995

It was in a gathering June 12, 1977 of members of the family of Hector and Mina Wittwer Bunker that I was asked to be the president of their family organization. Prior to this time, Merrill, their first son, was the president and although as a family we felt a closeness in the bonds of a united family, we had no organizational structure to help us fulfill the desires of what we knew our wonderful ancestral parents wanted for their posterity. The organizational pattern set forth by the Lord through His prophets and ordained leaders became our immediate action. The adoption of a constitution and bylaws, the setting apart of officers, the institution of programs and activities, the setting forth of objectives and the development of a family book of remembrance were all brought to pass.

During the past 18 years as president of our family organization I have had only one thought in mind. It is that we should magnify in all that we do what the real heads of this family, Hector and Mina Bunker, would want to accomplish if they were yet with us. It has been a great privilege to be in the position to preside and give leadership in the work of our organized family.

We need to remember our roots. We need to continue in all segments of our family to follow the goals and objectives outlined in our plan of work which would help us to be of one heart and one mind in fulfilling the hopes and desires of these our great progenitors and the will of the Lord. Truly we have been given a birthright worthy of all acceptation. Look back with me for a moment to the beginnings of our family. It was 87 years ago that the heads of this family knelt at the sacred altar in the St. George temple and entered into a covenant with the Lord and each other that they would fulfill all of the requirements in not only becoming eternal companions, but also to create a family with an eternal relationship. They truly want their family to be theirs forever and it is now up to us to make it so. That relationship can come to us by obedience to all of the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us by our actions prove our love for them and say thank you for giving us a noble birthright, a wonderful gospel heritage and a good example to follow.

In our organization we have had the desire to memorialize the names of Hector and Mina Bunker and to establish the ties that will keep us united and faithful as we continue from generation to generation. As the years have gone by, the number in their family exceeds 276 members. It is important that we establish the pattern set forth by the Lord in which we maintain the three levels of family organization: the ancestral, grandparent and immediate. We should now recognize the Hector and Mina Wittwer Bunker family as a most significant part of our ancestral family.

Their children’s families fit in the category of the grandparent family and every married couple are the heads of an immediate family. As we move forward, it would be well that we look to the ancestral family for correlation of our efforts in our family history (genealogy) records and research. Regular family reunions and family projects and activities should be continued in our grandparent families with emphasis on helping the immediate families fulfill all gospel requirements. We must never forget the importance of our immediate families. We all are seeking the blessings of immortality and eternal life. President David O. McKay stressed the importance of our families when he said,: “With all my heart I believe the best place to prepare for eternal life in the home.” President Harold B. Lee taught, “The most important of the Lord’s work you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home.” Eternal life in the greatest of all of our Heavenly Father’s gifts and blessings. We want eternal families. To enjoy this privilege and blessing we must be married in the temple and if we obey the commandments, we will be together forever as husband, wife and children. It is at home with our family that we can best learn self control, sacrifice, loyalty and the value of work. We can learn to love, to share, and to serve one another.

We are living in the time known as the last days. We have been warned of the evil designs which Satan would perpetrate to bring destruction upon the inhabitants of the earth. We see his great effort being made manifest as foretold. Of particular importance to him the destruction of the family which was foreordained as the most important unit in all society. Our Father in Heaven wants us to be successful in maintaining family, unity, harmony, security and joy. It is as President Spencer W. Kimball has told us, “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.”

Let us all join together to make the family of Hector and Mina Bunker a forever family and as President Ezra Taft Benson counseled his family, “When we assemble on the other side of the veil, I don’t want any empty chairs in our family circle.” So it should be with our family.

Now as we will be working to fulfill the great potential of achieving an eternal family by responding to new family leadership, let us sustain and uphold them that we may rejoice with the heads of this family when we are able to join with them beyond the veil. I express to all members of the family my gratitude for your support in all that we have achieved. May the Lord continue to guide our efforts.

Lovingly,

Ferren W. Bunker, President

Source: Brent Bunker