MARY McQuarrie Bunker Monument Prayer of dedication
May 14, 1936
A dedicatory prayer given by Lorin Bunker at the request of Berkeley Bunker when the monument to our loved ones was dedicated in the Bunkerville cemetery. Our Heavenly Father, in the name of thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we come before thee on this solemn occasion to dedicate this monument in memory of our loved ones. Our hearts are full, and we appreciate the many blessings that we have received and the things that have been said end done on this occasion.
Help us to remember the sacrifices that were made by our ancestors. We are here this day, Heavenly Father, because thou didst bring them here that they could carve out of this wilderness, even this harsh land, a livelihood, and make a settlement for the saints, which settlement would henceforth bear the name of Bunkerville. Help us to always remember this place and hold sacred our memories of this day. Grandmother Mary McQuarrie Bunker, as has been mentioned, married at a very young age, and thus missed out on many girlhood experiences. Nevertheless, thou didst bless her when she chose to be married under the new and everlasting covenant pertaining to plural marriage. She was faithful to her covenants and defended the principles thereof and raised up a righteous posterity whose names will be remembered from generation to generation. Heavenly Father, there are many here this day that pay homage to this great woman, and there are thousands yet unborn that will praise her name. And as they search out the genealogies of their forefathers and look into their ancestral roots, they will return to this town of Bunkerville and to this cemetery.
It was here many years ago that our forefathers dedicated this plot for the final resting place of the mortal remains of grandmother Mary, and they did so by the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood. We have met here this day that we may dedicate this monument to her memory, and not only to her memory, but also in memory of her eternal companion, Edward Bunker Sr. and the names of her children that are inscribed here on.
May we remember their sufferings and sacrifices, for when they came here, they ate from the common table. They nursed ore another and worked and sacrificed together; and in these later years we have come to enjoy the fatness of their labors. Our Heavenly Father, help us to remember that there are lean years and troubled times coming, and that we are to prepare for the same.
We remember some several years ago when grandmother Mary came from the Spirit World and gave to her younger son, Hector, instructions to visit his brother John, and told him that he was to tell John’s afflicted daughter, Marguriete, that she could be released from this life whenever she desired, and that when she chose to do so, she would help grandmother Mary as she worked with children in that sphere. Heavenly Father, grandmother always had a love for children, and on this day she is here to accept our devotions and the sacrifices we are making, and she pleads with us, and her voice comes to us that we neglect not the children, and she wants us to also consider the needs of those that are weak in the faith. She does not want any of her posterity lost in the ways of the world. It is our instruction, as it comes to us, that we show more love and affection one for another that we may be enrolled with her and father Edward under the Celestial Law.
Help us, Heavenly Father, to remember our Fathers and Mothers whose names are inscribed on this monument, for they are concerned with our welfare. If there be any in this assemblage that are beset with peculiar or difficult problems and whose hearts ache with their burdens, be mindful of them, Heavenly Father, and let them be visited or instructed according to that which they are in need of.
We appreciate, Heavenly Father, the opportunity we have of coming here and mingling together and renewing our friendships. We ask thee to bless us that in the fatness of our years we make our contributions greater and use more of our talents that we have been so abundantly blessed with in helping in this great latter day work. We know that our forefathers on the other side of the veil are working with great energy in preparing the way for the coming of our Redeemer, even the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our responsibility to labor in a lite manner, but I feel, Heavenly Father, that there are times when we are under thy condemnation, for we are not giving freely of our time and our means in this great cause.
The time will come when these graves will be opened and we will meet with each other. Grandmother Bunker has received a promise that there will be those of her descendants that will be upon the earth when the Lord Jesus Christ comes to rule and to reign. Oh, Father, help us to appreciate our rich heritage. Help us on this occasion to renew our faith in thee.
There ere many things that come to my mind, but give me utterance only to those things that thou wouldst have me say.
It is from our progenitors that we receive the flaming torch of Mormonism and the power, and authority of the gospel welds us together. For example, two of the sons of grandmother used this power and authority to bring blessings and restore health. John was upon his deathbed, and the Elders were called in, but they could give him no promises. The Doctor told him that there was no hope. The heavens were as brass, and the clouds were dark. John, in the anguish of his soul, cried unto thee, Heavenly Father, “If my brother Martin were here he would give me a blessing.”
Martin was hundreds of miles away and without telephone, radio or television, and in the same instant the message was transmitted to him. Martin received the message while working in the fields with his son Marty, and he said to Marty, “Come and pray with me. My brother John needs help.” Leaving the horses standing in their harness they knelt and Martin offered up a mighty prayer in behalf of his brother John, and John’s days numbered unto him were extended. Help us, Heavenly Father, that we may be sensitive to the needs of each other and sensitive to the voice of the spirit that comes to us by the Holy Ghost. Help us to bear witness to the glorious truths and powers that have been restored. We appreciate Elder Wells and the great sermon and instructions that he has given to us. Bless him on his journeys and in his labors, for he is our family representative among the authorities. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that there are others from the great lineage of Mary and Edward, one and perhaps another, that will serve in these great councils of the church. The sacrifices that were made by our parents and grandparents are not going unnoticed in the courts on high. As we come to the end of this dedicatory service, we cannot all go at once, and there are those that will linger hereabouts. So we ask Thee at this time to bless the food that has been prepared for us at the community center. May it nourish and strengthen our bodies and be sufficient for the occasion.
While we are so gathered here with each other as families, let us make commit¬ments that we will do a greater work. As we return homeward, as Brother Vernon has ask, may we go in peace and safety. May we return often, and, though some of us will never gather together again in this life, let us be remembered by each other, for we are living in the eternal bosom of our Heavenly Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ is to be the central figure in our lives, and help us to know that by the power of the Holy Ghost we may receive the help to solve all problems.
We so dedicate this monument to the memory of our loved ones that have paid the price for eternal rewards, and help us to do likewise.
Bless our cousin and our brother, Ferren, who has labored diligently in our behalf. He needs help; he needs our talents and the monetary means to hire a genealogist to do those things that we cannot do for ourselves. Let us be liberal with our talents, time and money that we may help in this glorious work.
Bless brother Ferren and those of the committee that have so ably assisted him. Extend to each of them a blessing according to their needs, for they have been a great blessing to us.
We depart one from another from this glorious reunion and do so in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Thomas Bunker
Source:Brent Bunker