Book of Mormon Evidence

Category: True Disciples

  • What is the Difference Between Patriarchal and Melchizedek Priesthood?

    What is the Difference Between Patriarchal and Melchizedek Priesthood?

    About the Priesthood.

    “Adam and the Presidency of the Priesthood. The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the Creation, before the world was formed, as in Gen. 1:26, 27, 28. He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures. Then to Noah, who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven. The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years. The keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the Gospel is sent. When they are revealed from heaven, it is by Adam’s authority.” HC Vol 3 page 385-386

    “Jesus Christ is the great High Priest of God; Christ is therefore the source of all true priesthood authority and power on this earth (Heb. 5–10). Man does not take such priesthood power unto himself; it must be conferred by God through his servants (Heb. 5:4; D&C 1:38).” Priesthood Richard G. Ellsworth and Melvin J. Luthy

    My First Recent Understanding of Patriarchal vs Melchizedek

    Adam had the priesthood given to him during Creation as it says above, so that he could help in the creation of the world. Most likely others were given a Patriarchal Priesthood that went from father to son. These holders of a Patriarchal Priesthood are likely keys that a worthy father may use to bless his personal Family). In order to preside over a body of worthy brethren Prophets and Fathers likely had to be ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood by ordination on earth, by a worthy Higher Priesthood holder.  I would think that Adam had hands laid on his head by his father, Eloheim during Creation. Some priesthood in the days of Adam was most likely patriarchal not necessarily a Melchizedek Priesthood holder, as I would think Heavenly Father gave Adam a Patriarchal Priesthood through lineage, but God would also ordain Adam with the Higher Order to preside over the people of the earth.

    In other words, this is how it may have been.
    Patriarchal = Given by birth only from your Patriarchal Line or Physical Father (A Worthy Father given rights (Not Ordained) to Preside over his family.
    Melchizedek = Ordained by the Laying on of Hands by those in authority.(Rights to Preside over a community or people or an large group of people).

    We know, “Jesus Christ is the Firstborn of Heavenly Father in the spirit and the Father’s Only Begotten Son in the flesh” You Have a Birthright By R. Val Johnson Church Magazines

    So, are there two or three Priesthoods in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Officially only two: We will discuss that more as we progress through this discussion.

    “Thus, the LDS doctrine of priesthood differs from all other views. (Melchizedek) Priesthood is not vocational or professional. It is not hereditary, passed by inheritance from father to son (even the Levitical priesthood was conferred by Ordination). It is not offered for money. It is not held by a group of specialists who are separated from the community (all worthy Latter-day Saint men are eligible to be ordained to the priesthood). And yet it is not a “priesthood of all believers,” as in the Protestant conception.” (Encyclopedia of Religion, 11:529).

    Title of the True Priesthood

    “A thought from Doctrine and Covenants 106–108. Why is the higher priesthood named after someone called Melchizedek? Wouldn’t it make more sense to name it after the Lord? The early Saints wondered about this, and the Lord explained it through the Prophet Joseph Smith:

    “Before his [Melchizedek’s] day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.

    “But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:3–4).

    This revelation also helps us understand other scriptures. When Alma talks about ordaining priests “after his [God’s] holy order, which was after the order of his Son” (Alma 13:1) and says all the holy prophets were “ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God” (Alma 13:6), he means they held the Melchizedek Priesthood. (Jacob makes a similar statement in 2 Nephi 6:2.) Order seems to be a key word. So if you ever wondered whether the Book of Mormon prophets held the Melchizedek Priesthood, now you know!” Source here:

    “And it came to pass that they were brought before the priests, and delivered up unto the priests by the teachers; and the priests brought them before Alma, who was the high priest. Now king Mosiah had given Alma the authority over the church.” Mosiah 26:7-8

    Kinderhook Plates and Priesthood

    As it says Joseph may have translated a portion of the Kinderhook Plates printed again in the Times and Seasons, “I have translated a portion of them, and find they contain the history of the person with whom they were found. He was a descendant of Ham, through the loins of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and that he received his kingdom from the ruler of heaven and earth.” (Then followed a reprint of material from the Times and Seasons article.) Deseret News Sept 3, 1856

    So Pharaoh, king of Egypt apparently received his Kingdom, with possibly “A” Patriarchal Priesthood form Noah to Ham” but, we know from the scriptures that Ham’s offspring with Egyptus could not hold the Melchizedek Priesthood as we read below.

    About Patriarchal and Melchizedek Priesthoods

    “In the Bible, Melchizedek, also transliterated Melchisedech or Malki Tzedek, was the king of Salem and priest of El Elyon. He is first mentioned in Genesis 14:18–20, where he brings out bread and wine and then blesses Abram and El Elyon. In Christianity, according to the Epistle to the Hebrews, Jesus is identified as “High priest forever in the order of Melchizedek“, and so Jesus assumes the role of High Priest once and for all.” Wikipedia; (El Elyon is a name for God that means Most High, Creator of heaven and earth”, according to Bible Study Tools).

    During the time of Adam it seems the Higher Priesthood of God was apparent in the Prophets and each Prophet called of God was ordained. However, after the flood when Noah reigned, it seems the father to son Priesthood called the Patriarchal Priesthood was maybe given by simply being a father. The Highest Priesthood later called Melchizedek Priesthood after the righteous man named Melchisedek or Shem (Same Person), who was the King of Salem.

    I believe The Patriarchal Order of the Priesthood is simply the right of worthy priesthood-holding fathers to preside over their descendants through all ages; it includes the personal revelation necessary and rights of fathers who hold keys over their families, but it does not hold the keys of presiding or over a church or congregation. It is not the same as the Melchizedek Priesthood.

    Ham and the Priesthood

    You will learn more as you contemplate the scripture about Ham and the Priesthood in Abraham 1:22-27 comparing scripture to the possible translation from Joseph Smith.

    “Now this king of Egypt was a descendant from the loins of Ham, and was a partaker of the blood of the Canaanites by birth.

    From this descent sprang all the Egyptians, and thus the blood of the Canaanites was preserved in the land.

    The land of Egypt being first discovered by a woman, who was the daughter of Ham, and the daughter of Egyptus, which in the Chaldean signifies Egypt, which signifies that which is forbidden;

    When this woman discovered the land it was under water, who afterward settled her sons in it; and thus, from Ham, sprang that race which preserved the curse in the land.

    Now the first government of Egypt was established by Pharaoh, the eldest son of Egyptus, the daughter of Ham, and it was after the manner of the government of Ham, which was patriarchal.” (Not Higher Priesthood like Melchizedek) Abraham 1:25

    Noah had the High Priesthood from Adam, and also had the Patriarchal Priesthood from his father, Lamech. Ham likely had only the Patriarchal Priesthood from Noah, and so Ham’s sons with Egyptus, had the only the Patriarchal Priesthood because of his father, but not likely the Highest or Melchizedek Priesthood, as the scriptures say the Son of Ham and Egyptus, could not hold the highest Priesthood, and they were not ordained to that calling by the laying on of hands). Seemingly, Ham tried to imitate the Higher Priesthood (See Abraham 1:21-27), as Satan does imitate a his priesthood today. (This is the likely reason that Ham and Japheth’s descendants claimed “A” Priesthood or a Patriarchal Priesthood to preside as a representative of the family). But as only having a Patriarchal Priesthood Ham’s children had no right of presiding or officiating in a Church. 

    Now let’s not get confused, as I also understand that Shem was likely the same person as Melchizedek, which adds further discussion into this Priesthood line of authority that we won’t address here. See my blog here: https://bookofmormonevidence.org/shem-is-melchizedek-2/

    Some Type of Priesthood (Maybe Patriarchal) that Doesn’t Authorize Ordinances and Sealings.

    It seems that all three of Noah’s sons had some type of priesthood which was likely the Patriarchal Priesthood, which comes simply by being the son of your father. Yet it seems Noah gave only Shem the Melchizedek Priesthood, as the line of Shem is where the Melchizedek Priesthood comes from for us today. Remeber Shem is likely the King of Salem or same man named Melchizedek. Shem or Melchizedek is the Priesthood line that Christ came through.

    For example my father ordained me to the Melchizedek Priesthood, but did my father have both Patriarchal and Melchizedek Priesthood to give me? (He only could give me the Patriarchal Priesthood as simply being my father), but he did not ordain me to have the Patriarchal Priesthood, my father however did ordain me to the Melchizedek Priesthood. But any worthy holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood could have ordained me, correct?  In other words when did simple Patriarchal Priesthood end, and we now only have the Ordaining of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood today?

    I remember as a member of a Bishopric I had a question about priesthood, so I called the LDS phone number we all should know for questions of any kind at, 801-240-1000, and they gave me a Priesthood leader who was authorized to speak to my question. He told me that we only have the two Priesthoods today the Aaronic and Melchizedek. I understood that over 25 years ago, to mean that only the Melchizedek Priesthood is given by ordination. This has helped me answer the question I posed in Chapter 11E of this book, as to why there were 3 levels of Priesthood or 3 altars spoken of in this question and answer?

    This makes sense. Both sons of Noah, Ham and Japeth had a Patriarchal Priesthood, but only Noah’s son Shem was given the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood to carry on through the Saviors time and through ordination today from a worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holder.

    Pharaoh, being a righteous man, established his kingdom and judged his people wisely and justly all his days, seeking earnestly to imitate that order established by the fathers in the first generations, in the days of the first patriarchal reign, even in the reign of Adam, and also of Noah, his father, who blessed him with the blessings of the earth, and with the blessings of wisdom, but cursed him as pertaining to the Priesthood or, (Higher Melchizedek Priesthood).

    Now, Pharaoh being of that lineage by which he could not have the right of Priesthood, (He likely had Patriarchal Priesthood from his father Ham, but he could not be ordained to the Highest Priesthood of Melchizedek), notwithstanding the Pharaohs would fain claim it from Noah, through Ham, therefore my father was led away by their idolatry;” Abraham 1:21-27 (That may mean the Pharaohs could claim they can use the Patriarchal Priesthood and pretend it was the same as the Melchizedek Priesthood which they could not be ordained to).

    Did the Brother of Jared Hold the Priesthood?

    I share with you that I believe the Jaredites likely landed near Seattle Washington. I also share that I believe the Jaredites who were blessed with keeping the Adamic Language very likely had the correct Priesthood. Bruce R. McConkie said, “These promises of God to the Jaredites contain the essential elements of the everlasting covenant detailed later to Father Abraham and to every covenant people. These elements include priesthood, posterity, and a land of inheritance” Bruce McConkie, A New Witness 505

    Yes! They Retained the Adamic Language, which relates to the Priesthood. Ether was their last Prophet and Mahonri Moriancumer would have the Priesthood or else why did Jared always ask him to talk with the Lord on behalf of the Jaredites? I realize you don’t have to have the Priesthood to see Christ, as we know Joseph Smith saw Christ without holding the Priesthood, but it makes sense that Prophets had the ordained Priesthood and especially those who were sent to the Promised land of North America, such as Lehi and Mahonri Moriancumer.

    “The book of Moses described the language of Adam as “pure and undefiled”. It is intimately connected with the “Priesthood, which was in the beginning, [and] shall be in the end of the world also.” MOSES 6:5 Thomas R. Valletta, “Jared and His Brother,” in Fourth Nephi, From Zion to Destruction, ed. Monte S. Nyman and Charles Tate Jr. (BYU Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center

    “The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “All the prophets had Melchizedek priesthood.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 181) As D&C 84:17 explains, Melchizedek priesthood is the presiding authority which “continueth in the church of God in all generations.” There can be no church organization or full administration without it. This system held Moses through Malachi. Interestingly, Lehi held Melchizedek priesthood and keys sufficient to lead his family to a promised land with fully functioning temples and no Aaronic or preparatory priesthood. That he, Jeremiah, and Ezekial were quorum associated seems likely.” Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood Operation From Moses to Malachi
    By Vivian McConkie Adams · July 5, 2022

    In a video I did online here: bookofmormonevidence.org/jaredites, I will share with you my details of why I believe the Jaredites Landed near Seattle and why I strongly believe the Jaredites had the Priesthood.

    So are there 3 Orders of the Priesthood or 2?

    Elder Packer said, “There are references to a patriarchal priesthood. The patriarchal order is not a third, separate priesthood. (See D&C 84:6–17; D&C 107:40–57.) Whatever relates to the patriarchal order is embraced in the Melchizedek Priesthood. “All other authorities or offices in the church are appendages to [the Melchizedek] priesthood.” (D&C 107:5.) The patriarchal order is a part of the Melchizedek Priesthood which enables endowed and worthy men to preside over their posterity in time and eternity.”— Packer, Boyd K. (February 1993), Ensign, “What Every Elder Should Know—and Every Sister as Well: A Primer on Principles of Priesthood Government”

    Summation:

    As Elder Packer said above, “The patriarchal order is not a third, separate priesthood.” There are only Two priesthoods today in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Aaronic and Melchizedek.

    1.The Melchizedek Priesthood is the “higher priesthood” that incorporates all priesthoods within itself (Teachings, p. 180). It holds “the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things” (D&C 107:8). This order of ordination is an unchanging order that has been present in all dispensations (cf. Matt. 10:1; 16:19; John 20:23; Eph. 4:11; Heb. 7:24). From Adam to Moses, all major prophets held the Melchizedek Priesthood; Joseph Smith taught that the prophets after the death of Moses and before the time of Christ held this same priesthood and were “ordained by God himself” (Teachings, p. 181). This authority is superior to the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood that functioned under the law of Moses. The Nephites held the Melchizedek Priesthood and observed the law of Moses under that authority (cf. Alma 13:6–18).

    Here is another example what we may mean by “3” Priesthoods including “Patriarchal Priesthood”, from Author: Ellsworth, Richard G., and Author: Luthy, Melvin J.

    “1.The Melchizedek Priesthood is the “higher priesthood” that incorporates all priesthoods within itself (TPJS, p. 180). It holds “the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things” (D&C 107:8). This order of ordination is an unchanging order that has been present in all dispensations (cf. Matt. 10:1;16:19; John 20:23; Eph. 4:11; Heb. 7:24; see also Hebrews, Epistle to the). From Adam to Moses, all major prophets held the Melchizedek Priesthood; Joseph Smith taught that the prophets after the death of Moses and before the time of Christ held this same priesthood and were “ordained by God himself” (TPJS, p. 181). This authority is superior to the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood that functioned under the Law of Moses. The Nephites held the Melchizedek Priesthood and observed the Law of Moses under that authority (cf. Alma 13:6-18).

    2.The patriarchal order of the priesthood is the right of worthy priesthood-holding fathers to preside over their descendants through all ages; it includes the ordinances and blessings of the fulness of the priesthood shared by husbands and wives who are sealed in the temple (see Sealing: Temple Sealings).

    3.The Aaronic Priesthood, including the Levitical Priesthood, was instituted under the Law of Moses at the time when Israel rejected the greater powers, blessings, and responsibilities of the Melchizedek Priesthood. God gave them a “lesser priesthood” comprising specific areas of authority dealing with sacrifices and temporal concerns of salvation (Ex. 20:19; JST Ex. 34:1-2). This authority was granted as a right to Aaron and his lineal descendants forever. Levitical Priesthood refers to certain duties within the Aaronic Priesthood that were delegated to worthy male members of the tribe of Levi (see Priesthood in Biblical Times).” Richard G. Ellsworth, and Melvin J. Luthy

    I believe today, especially within our Church, we should be only be concerned about the Melchizedek and the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood, as the Church teaches. Each of the fathers on this earth who act according to God’s laws have the opportunity to preside over their families in righteousness all the days of their lives, which is called “A” Patriarchal Priesthood. This should not be confused with a Church Patriarch or a Patriarchal blessing. A father gives a “Fathers” blessing and a “Patriarch gives “Patriarchal” Blessing.

  • President GOLDEN R BUCHANAN- Lamanite Advocate

    President GOLDEN R BUCHANAN- Lamanite Advocate

    This is a small history of a great man, Golden R. Buchanan, who served as Mission President in 1951 of the Southwest Indian Mission and started the Indian Placement Program for The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints.

    A HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF GOLDEN R BUCHANAN as related at his funeral by Joyce Anne Buchanan, his first grandchild

    https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/66668052

    I was privileged to be the first granddaughter of Golden and Thelma, and always felt cherished by both of them. Their unconditional love has helped me through many difficult times in my life. Their kindness and patience have left me with memories of the many happy hours I spent with them.

    The year of my 40th birthday, I decided to learn to ski. Since that time, every winter I have taken lessons each week and practiced hard to progress from an awkward beginner to a fairly competent intermediate skier. My grandfather followed my progress with great interest and encouragement. He even mentioned that the sport was something he would have enjoyed doing himself. Thus, I often thought of him while I was on the mountain, and during a particularly exhilarating run, the thought would pass through my mind, “This run is for you, Grandpa.”

    At this moment, I feel as though I’m at the top of a black diamond run, looking with trepidation down an unfamiliar, bumpy and steep terrain, and knowing that I must garner all of my self control and courage to take me safely to my goal. This is also for grandpa.

    I appreciate having the opportunity to honor the memory of my Grandfather, Golden R. Buchanan.

    My grandfather was born on January 18, 1903, in Venice, Sevier County, Utah, the eldest child of Eugene Deloss and his third wife, Elizabeth Watson Buchanan. His father, after losing two wives in childbirth, and with both surviving sons dying in childhood, was reluctant to marry again. His brother was called on a mission to the Southern states and met a young woman in Mississippi, who was a convert to the Church. He thought brother Eugene ought to get acquainted with her. Money was sent for her to come to Utah on the train. As the train pulled into the station and my grandfather saw this beautiful, dark complexioned girl step off the train, he knew she was to be his bride. The day of grandfather’s birth was a day of anxiety for his father. You can imagine the great fear his father must have had for his third wife as she gave birth. How blessed he must have felt when mother and son survived the ordeal of birth.

    Grandfather was named after J. Golden Kimball, who was president of the Southern States Mission, at that time. President Kimball had spent time at the Watson home in Mississippi and the Watson family loved and respected him very much. Later, grandfather was 3 or 4, when his father was called on a mission to the Southern States, being president of the Mississippi Conference. By that time, his mother’s family had moved to Oklahoma so his father didn’t meet any of his in-laws, at that time. There were two sons in the family by now. It was necessary for funds to be sent to this missionary husband so, as was the custom at that time, the wife had her load more than doubled, besides taking care of the family, she took over her husband’s responsibilities…..she milked from 18 to 21 cows night andmorning and took in the local school ’marm’ as a boarder in her two-room house.

    My grandfather remembered well his pioneer grandfather, Archibald Waller Dverton Buchanan, as he was 12 years of age when he passed away. He sat by the hours, listening to this grandfather who had four wives and 27 children, relate experiences that happened in the early days of the church…in Nauvoo, he knew the sons of the Prophet Joseph Smith and played with them often. He told of crossing the plains in a covered wagon, and of helping to settle this area and many Indian stories.

    School was attended in Venice and Richfield. Grandfather had an intense desire to learn and study. He preferred to read rather than play. Schooling came easy for him and he had a great desire to further his education at a university. Times were hard and money was scarce but he managed to scrape up a few funds to get started. He enrolled at the University of Utah, and finding a job, he worked his way through school, preparing to be a school teacher. During his years there, he played on the school football team. His summers were spent on the farm helping with the farm work. Being the oldest in the family, and his father suffering with bad health, a heart problem, it seems reasonable his responsibilities were many.

    In 1923, he accepted a teaching position in Joseph. Some of his students were as big as he was and one young manwas 18, grandfather was 19.

    He married Thelma Shaw on May 28, 1924. when the school year started that fall, he took his bride to Joseph to live and they lived there for 6 years. Dohn was born in his Grandfather Shaw’s home in Venice; Thayne was born in Joseph; and Richard was born soon after they moved to Richfield.

    School teaching did not provide the funds needed tocare for a family, especially during the summer months, so he took other side jobs, one being selling Durant cars in Richfield, which started him on another occupation. Thefamily moved from Richfield, to Price, eventually to Logan, where he was in the car agency business. Later, there wasan opportunity to sell the business in Logan and open up a Ford dealership, in Richfield, Buchanan Motor Company. Cars in those days sold for $695 to $895, depending on whether it was 60 horsepower or 85 horsepower. A radio or heater included, the only luxuries available then, added a few dollars to the cost. He saw the need for a feed mill in the area, so he sold his automobile agency to Howard Hill and started Richfield Feed and Brain Company, being in business for a number of years, later operating with his sons’ help. when he became involved full time in church responsibilities, he sold to Intermountain Farmers.

    He was a member of the Utah National Guard for 8 years and was an officer in the Reserve for 16 years, being discharged just months before the beginning of the 2nd world war. The business of feeding livestock, at that time, was important to the welfare of the country, so he was not recalled to service.

    Churchwise, grandfather grew up in a practicing LDS home, advanced through the Aaronic Priesthood, served as ward and stake MIA superintendents, and taught classes in most of the Church organizations. He served a 5 year stake home mission, on two stake high councils, and in the Sevier Stake presidency from 1941 to 1948.

    His work with the Lamanites is rooted in his family heritage. His grandfather Buchanan was sent by President Brigham Young to open up the first Indian mission in the Elk Mountains among the Paiute Indians. Later be became an interpreter for President Young in the Sanpete and Sevier areas at the time of the Black Hawk war. Grandfather himself was part Indian, his grandmother on his mother’s side being half Choctaw and Chickasaw. He recalls being with his father who often sat with Indians around a fire, talking to them in broken Ute language.

    While in the Sevier Stake Presidency, grandfather became concerned about the plight of Indian young people who came into the area each fall with their parents to work on farms. when one Indian girl, Helen John, requested in 1947 to live with a white family and attend school, grandfather pondered the possibilities of some kind of Church program whereby such youth could be “adopted” by LDS families for a school year. He foresaw that thousands of Lamanites could thereby be taught the gospel and basic economic and social skills they sorely needed. He proposed such a program to Elder Spencer N. Kimball, of the Council of the Twelve. Immediately Elder Kimball visited my grandparents and asked them to experiment with such a program by taking Helen into their home. They did. Other LDS families expressed interest, and other Indian youths requested similar opportunities. That commenced a slowly growing foster parent program which in the 1950’s became the Church’s Indian Student Placement Program. Thus, thousands of Lamanite youngsters have benefited from this program, receiving an education, many even going on to receive college degrees.

    That started grandfather’s long career of Church service in behalf of the Lamanites. It led to his being called to promote and supervise special programs in all stakes having Indians residing in their boundaries; from 1943 to 1951 he was Coordinator of the Indian Affairs Committee of the Church. He traveled to many stakes and gradually developed an acquaintance with nearly 70 different Indian Tribes in western United States and western Canada.

    In 1951 he was called by President George Albert Smith to preside over the Southwest Indian Mission, where he and my grandmother provided leadership and example to full and part time missionaries and to Indian converts and investigators until 1955. In 1959 he was set-apart as president of the Salt Lake Regional Mission, directing proselyting work among racial and national groups, including Lamanites, residing in the Salt Lake Valley, until his release in 1966.

    He was then called to serve on the Melchizedek Priesthood Lamanite and Minority Culture Committee, helping to implement programs and procedures geared to the needs of

    Lamanite members and units throughout the church.

    In 1968 he was called to be a temple worker and sealer in the Salt Lake Temple. That was a nice experience as my grandmother was also called to be a temple worker. It was something they could share as much of the church work he had been involved in was done, leaving grandmother at home.

    Due to ill health in 1978, they moved to Tucson to be near my parents, Dohn and Mavis Buchanan. They were well enough to enjoy a trip to Hawaii with my parents and Thayne and his wife, Betty. About 18 months ago, when my parents moved to Monroe, they came back home to Sevier County.

    Grandpa was everything a grandfather should be. He always had time for his grandchildren. He was interested in what we were doing, and encouraged our endeavors. He took his role as patriarch of the family very seriously and suffered with us through our trials, and rejoiced in our successes.

    In 1974, my husband and I moved away from Salt Lake City and have lived away from Grandma and Grandpa ever since. During those years, Grandma and I corresponded. I kept all of her letters, and last Friday took the opportunity to reread them. I noted that all of them were filled with news of the family–the comings and goings of all her grandchildren, and the births of her great-grandchildren. Both Grandma and Grandpa were vitally interested and took great pride in all of us.

    My Grandfather was very modest about his experiences and the many things accomplished during his lifetime. He seldom talked about himself. In preparing for today, I was reminded of the great energy and enthusiasm he put into his businesses and Church callings. He had a positive influence in many lives, as he had in mine.

    My Grandfather’s health failed gradually over a period of many years. His death was not an easy one. My hope and prayer for him now is that he has at last found peace and light and joy.

    Some personal pictures below.

    Clyde Wendell Nelson as an Apache

    [My parents Loa Lee Tueller, and Clyde Wendell Nelson were serving and met each other while on the Southwest Indian Mission, and later I became their second child] Here is a picture of them with President and Sister Buchanan.

  • Rahab the Harlot, Saves the Children of Israel- Amazing Story in the Bible!

    Rahab the Harlot, Saves the Children of Israel- Amazing Story in the Bible!

    What does Rahab (OT), Abish (BofM) and Woman Caught in Adultery (NT), have in common? They were all Heroines of the scriptures and sinners like ourselves.

    Rahab of the Old Testament was the first recorded Gentile convert. There are many ways in which Rahab depicts many in the church today. (Picture of Abish right, is by Mandy Jane Williams here)

    1. She was part of a pagan world system, and a harlot
    2. She was saved because of her faith in God
    3. Rahab and others are saved by an act of grace through faith, which requires action. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” James 2:17
    4. To be spared she had to follow the directions given to her by Israelite Leaders
    5. Like Rahab, once we come to Christ, our pasts no longer matter. (Repentance)
    6. She was adopted into the line of Christ, and she has a place in the lineage of Jesus Christ.

    There is so much to learn from the great women in the scriptures. Women like Mary Mother of Christ, Martha, Sariah, Ruth, Naomi, Mary Magdalene, and the heroines I mentioned above. I respect the women of my life, my wonderful Mother and Wife Stacy. They are my spiritual rocks of love and guidance.

    In my heart I believe the role of women is to be honored and cherished. Who else can have the spiritual offspring of our Father in Heaven? What a power and blessing. I fell strongly that many women in the Scriptures may not be mentioned as often as men, to protect them and honor them, as not being like prey to the evil condemnation of this world. Where else is there such a strong group of stalwart women as in the possible 10 Million women in the Relief Society which began in 1842? No where.

    Proclamation on the Family

    All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose…

    We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

    Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children… Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.

    Joshua Chapter 2

    “Joshua sends spies to Jericho—They are received and concealed by Rahab—They promise to preserve Rahab and her household.” Chapter Introduction

    “And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.” Joshua 2:1

    Who was Rahab in the Bible?

    ANSWER

    In the book of Joshua, we are introduced to one of the most thought-provoking and astonishing heroines of the Old Testament. Rahab, the prostitute of the Canaanite city of Jericho, ultimately is noteworthy for her great faith and for her place in the lineage of Jesus Christ. But a closer examination of the life of this remarkable Gentile woman can lead to deeper insights into God’s plan for His church and His dealing with individual believers in grace and mercy.

    Rahab’s story is found in Joshua 2–6. This passage describes the conquest of the fortified city of Jericho by the Israelites. In its day, Jericho was the most important Canaanite fortress city in the Jordan Valley. It was a stronghold directly in the path of the advancing Israelites, who had just crossed the Jordan River (Joshua 3:1-17). Before entering the land west of the Jordan, Joshua sent two spies to look over the land. The king of Jericho heard that two Israelite spies were within his city and ordered them to be brought out to him. Rahab, the woman with whom the spies were staying, protected them by hiding them on her roof. She told them how the citizens of Jericho had been fearful of the Israelites ever since they defeated the Egyptians via the Red Sea miracle (some 40 years prior). She agreed to help them escape, provided that she and her family were spared in the upcoming battle. The spies agreed to her request, giving her three conditions to be met: 1) she must distinguish her house from the others by hanging a scarlet rope out of the window so the Israelites would know which home to spare; 2) her family must be inside the house during the battle; and 3) she must not later turn on the spies.

    Safely escaping the city, the two spies returned to Joshua and reported that the “whole land was melting with fear.” The Israelites crossed the Jordan into Canaan where they laid siege to the city of Jericho. The city was completely destroyed, and every man, woman, and child in it was killed. Only Rahab and her family were spared. Ultimately, Rahab married Salmon, an Israelite from the tribe of Judah. Her son was Boaz, the husband of Ruth. Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, is her direct descendant.

    Rahab was a young Canaanite prostitute and as such not a very likely candidate for a heroine of the faith. Jericho was one of the principal seats of idol worship, being especially devoted to Ashtaroth, the goddess of the moon. Here was centered all that was the vilest and most degrading in the religion of the Canaanites. Many Bible commentators, eager to remove the stigma of the designation “harlot” from one included in the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:5), have described Rahab as a hostess or tavern keeper. But scriptural usage of the Hebrew word zanah (Leviticus 21:7-14; Deuteronomy 23:18; Judges 11:1; 1 Kings 3:16) and the authority of the apostles (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25), establish the credibility for use of the word “harlot.”

    It is clear that Rahab was perceptive, intelligent and well informed. Rahab identified the spies for what they were, hid them, and had a plausible story ready with which to deceive the king’s agents. Rahab didn’t deny that she had entertained the men. She says that they left at dusk when it would be difficult for anyone to be sure of clearly seeing anything. The agents did not dare to risk stopping to search Rahab’s house because, if they did, the spies might get away. Finally, the Canaanite prostitute gives the two Israelites excellent advice. She tells them to hide in the hills for three days before attempting to cross the Jordan.

    Spiritually, Rahab was not in an ideal circumstance to come to faith in the one true God, the God of Israel. She was a citizen of a wicked city that was under God’s condemnation. Rahab was part of a corrupt, depraved, pagan culture. She had not benefited from the godly leadership of Moses or Joshua. However, Rahab had one asset—she had heard from the many men she came into contact with that the Israelites were to be feared. She heard the stories of their escape from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the wanderings in the wilderness, and their recent victory over the Amorites. She learned enough to reach the correct, saving conclusion: “For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below” (Joshua 2:11). It is this change of heart, this faith—coupled with the actions prompted by faith—that saved her and her family.

    It is often said that Rahab, while being a true historical person, also serves as a symbolic foreshadowing or “type” of the church and Gentile believers. She was, in fact, the first recorded Gentile convert. There are many ways in which Rahab depicts the church. First, she was part of a pagan world system, a prostitute, who by her conversion was enabled to become a legitimate bride. In like fashion, Israel was the first chosen people of God, but they were set aside temporarily so the Gentiles could be brought into the kingdom of God, and the church is now considered the bride of Christ (Romans 11; Ephesians 5:25-27). Second, Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was saved because of her faith in “God in heaven above and on the earth below” (Hebrews 11:31). Likewise, Christians are saved through faith in Jesus Christ. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

    Third, although Rahab and Christians are saved by an act of grace through faith, true faith requires and is exemplified by action (James 2). Rahab had to put the scarlet cord out of the window. Christians must accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and then go on to live in a manner that verifies that our faith is real. Fourth, Rahab could have indicated the location of her home in any number of ways. But the only way that she could be spared was to follow the directions given to her by the Israelite spies. The world tells us that there are many ways to God and salvation, all equally valid. But the Bible tells us, concerning Jesus Christ, that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Fifth, Rahab’s faith enabled her to turn away from her culture, her people, and her religion and to the Lord. Commitment to a true faith in God may necessitate setting priorities that are contrary to those of the world, as we are exhorted to do in Romans 12:2.

    Finally, once we come to Christ, our pasts no longer matter. The slate is wiped clean for all who believe and accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross on our behalf. Rahab was no longer viewed as an unclean prostitute, but as one worthy by grace to be part of the lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as she was grafted into the line of Christ, so we become children of God and partakers in His inheritance (Romans 11). We find in the life of Rahab the inspiring story of all sinners who have been saved by grace. In her story, we learn of the amazing grace of God that can save even the worst of sinners and bring them into an abundant life in Christ Jesus.” GotQuestions.org

    Salmon

    He was the son of Nahshon, married “Rachab” of Matthew 1:5 (possibly Rahab, of Jericho), and Boaz (or Booz) was their son. Thus, according to the biblical genealogies, Salmon is the patrilineal great-great-grandfather of David. Salmon is mentioned in 1 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 2:10–11), the Book of Ruth (Ruth 4:20,21), Matthew 1:4-5, and Luke 3:32. Nahshon was one of the Israelite leaders present with Moses. During the exodus from Egypt who undertook a “census of all the congregation of the children of Israel” and therefore Salmon would probably have been a contemporary of Joshua and part of the generation of Israelites who entered the promised land.

    Rahab’s marriage to Salmon is not mentioned in the account of her hiding Joshua’s messengers sent out to spy out Jericho, although the narrative regarding her role concludes that “she dwells in Israel to this day“. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_(biblical_figure)

    Boaz

    The son of Salmon and his wife Rahab, Boaz was a wealthy landowner of Bethlehem in Judea, and relative of Elimelech, Naomi’s late husband. He notices Ruth, the widowed Moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi, a relative of his (see family tree), gleaning grain in his fields. He soon learns of the difficult circumstances her family is in and Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi. In response, Boaz invites her to eat with him and his workers, as well as deliberately leaving grain for her to claim while keeping a protective eye on her.

    In the bible he functions as the power center for the entire further development. For example he brings about the acceptance of Ruth and the reacceptance of Naomi as well.

    Ruth approaches Boaz and asks him to exercise his right of kinship and marry her. Boaz accepts, provided that another with a superior claim declines. Since the first son of Ruth and a kinsman of her late husband would be deemed the legal offspring of the decedent and heir to Elimelech, the other kinsman defers to Boaz.

    In marrying Ruth, Boaz revives Elimelech’s lineage, and the patrimony is secured to Naomi’s family. Their son was Obed, father of Jesse, and grandfather of David. According to Josephus, he lived at the time of Eli. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boaz

    Elimelech

    “Elimelech is a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Ruth.

    Elimelech is a descendant of the Tribe of Judah, and was the husband of Naomi and the father of Machalon and Chilyon. The family lived in Bethlehem in Judea. Due to famine, Elimelech and his family left the Land of Israel and settled in Moab, where he died.

    His children, Machalon and Chilyon, married two Moabite women, Ruth and Arpah. When Elimelech’s two sons later died, Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethelehem. Ruth later married Boaz, a relative of Elimelech. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elimelech_(biblical_figure)

    Mahlon and Chilion

    Mahlon (Hebrew: מַחְלוֹן Maḥlōn) and Chilion or Kilion (כִּלְיוֹן Ḵilyōn) were two brothers mentioned in the Book of Ruth. They were the sons of Elimelech of the tribe of Judah and his wife Naomi. Together with their parents, they settled in the land of Moab during the period of the Israelite Judges. On foreign soil, Mahlon married the Moabite convert Ruth (Ruth 4:10), while Chilion married the Moabite convert Orpah.

    Biography
    The test of childless Ruth and Orpah
    Elimelech and his sons all died in Moab, leaving Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah widowed. Ruth and Orpah did not bear Jewish children, too. The story in the book tells that Naomi plans to return to Israel, and that she tests her daughters-in-law. She gives them the advice to return to their mother’s home: which would mean drastically violating Jewish Law and reverting to Moabite culture and idol worship.

    Ruth in Israel
    While Orpah returns and leaves Judaism, Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi, thus proving her former conversion to be a real one. In Israel, Ruth then takes part in a levirate marriage, according to Jewish law. By marrying a relative of Mahlon’s, she is doing an act which will ensure that Mahlon’s paternal lineage is not forgotten. Any child she bears in the levirate marriage will be considered as if it were Mahlon’s child. Actually, she marries a relative of Elimelech, Boaz. Her child, Obed (biologically Boaz’s but counted as if Mahlon’s), becomes the paternal grandfather of David ha-Melech (King David).” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahlon_and_Chilion

    Ruth

    Ruth (/ruːθ/; Hebrew: רוּת, Modern: Rūt, Tiberian: Rūṯ) is the person after whom the Book of Ruth is named. She was a Moabite woman who married an Israelite, Mahlon. After the death of all the male members of her family (her husband, her father-in-law, and her brother-in-law), she stays with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and moves to Judah with her, where Ruth wins the love and protection of a wealthy relative, Boaz, through her kindness. She is the great-grandmother of David.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_(biblical_figure)

    Naomi

    “Naomi is married to a man named Elimelech. A famine causes them to move with their two sons, from their home in Judea to Moab. While there Elimelech dies, as well as his sons who had gotten married in the meantime. Near destitute, Naomi returns to Bethlehem with one daughter-in-law, Ruth, whom she could not dissuade from accompanying her.[4] Her other daughter-in-law, Orpah, remains in Moab…

    The arrival of Naomi and Ruth in Bethlehem coincides with the barley harvest. Naomi gives Ruth permission to glean those fields where she is allowed. Ruth is working in the field of Boaz, when a servant identifies her to him as Naomi’s daughter-in-law. It happens that Boaz is a kinsman of Naomi’s late husband. He tells her to work with female servants, warns the young men not to bother her, and at mealtime invites her to share his food.

    When Naomi learns that Ruth has the attention and kindness of Boaz, she counsels Ruth to approach him directly: “… put on your best attire and go down to the threshing floor. Do not make yourself known to the man before he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, take note of the place where he does so. Then go, uncover a place at his feet, and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” (Ruth 3:3–4)

    To me what is amazing about the story of Rahab, is her love of Christ and through her seed the Savior himself was born. What a blessed woman Rahab was. Repentance is for all including each one of us. We can all be Sons and Daughters of God through the four steps of, Faith, Repentance, Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We can live with God and Christ after we have exercised our Free Agency wisely.

  • Do We Really Know What We Have? Who is Gertrud Specht?

    Do We Really Know What We Have? Who is Gertrud Specht?

    This story about Gertrud Specht needs to be read by all who love the gospel and the truths of our Standard Works. Some of the Lord’s most elect and intelligent beings on earth know the truth when they hear it. Hear the story of a lady who seemingly had all the knowledge of the world, but found the divine direction of Christ on this earth.

    Gertrud Specht
    by Jonathan Green • May 6, 2008 

    “Gertrud Specht had been a searcher her whole life before she found what she was looking for. Born in 1896 in Augsburg, she went on to Gymnasium and then to the university in Munich in 1915-17 at a time when women at the university were rare but not unprecedented, at a time also when a generation of university students was being lost to senseless slaughter throughout Europe. She studied for four more semesters in Tübingen, where she completed a dissertation on the German cotton industry.[1] Today, we would call her an economist.” Source and more here

    The following was sent to me by great friends, Mike and Betty LaFontaine

    “This was read to us by Graham Doxey, President of the Manti temple. He added this note, I wonder what her feelings will be when she is served the dessert of the feast; the temple experience?”

    C.1.6.2 Scott Anderson’s Journal Entry

    Do We Really Know What We Have?
    As written by Scott Anderson in his journal.

    “We had an unexpected moment in the mission field. We knocked on a door and a lady said something to us we had never heard, “Come in”. Now remember, I was a German missionary. This never happened to us, not even the members would say that to us. At this point suddenly this dear lady invited us in. My companion said, “Do you know who we are?” “You want to talk religion, don’t you?” she said. “Yes we do” explained my companion.

    “Oh, come in. I’ve watching you walk around the neighbourhood. I’m so excited to have you here. Please come into my study.” We went in and seated ourselves and she sat down behind the desk.

    She looked at us with a smile, then pointed to three PhD’s hanging over her head. one in theology, the study of religion, one in Philosophy, the study of ideas, and one in European History specializing in Christianity. She then kind of rubbed her hands together and said, “Do you see this row of books here?” We looked at a well arranged row of books. She then said, “I wrote them all. I’m the Theology professor at the University of Munich. I’ve been doing this for 41 years. I love to talk about religion. What would you like to discuss?” My inspired companion said, ” we’d like to talk about the Book of Mormon.” She said,

    “I don’t know anything about the Book of Mormon.” He said, “I know”. Twenty minutes later we walked out of the room. We had handed her a Book of Mormon and this trade off that we had been on was over. I didn’t see this lady for another 8 1/2 weeks.

    It was a small room filled with people, {when I saw her again}, as she was standing in the front dressed in white. This Theology professor at the University of Munich was well known throughout Southern Germany. She stood up in front of this small congregation of people and said, “Before I’m baptized I’d like to tell you of my feelings. In Amos 8:11 it says, there will be a famine in the work of God. I’ve been in that famine for 76 years. Why do you think I have three PhD’s? I’ve been hungering for the truth and have been unable to find it. Then 8 1/2 weeks ago, two boys walked into my home. I want you to know these boys are very nice and wonderful young men, but they didn’t convert me. They couldn’t; they don’t know enough.” And then she smiled and said, “but since the day they walked in my door I have read the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, all of Talmage’s great writings, Evidence and Reconciliations by John A. Widtsoe and 22 other volumes of Church Doctrine.” She then said something which I think is a challenge for everyone of us here. She said, ‘I don’t think you members know what you have.”

    Then in her quiet, powerful way, she said, “After those years of studying philosophy, I picked up the D & C and read a few little verses that answered some of the greatest questions of Aristotle and Socrates! When I read those verses, I wept for 4 hours.” Then she said again, “I don’t think you members know what you have. Don’t you understand the world is in a famine? Don’t you know we are starving for what you have? I am like a starving person being led to a feast. And over these 8 1/2 weeks I have been able to feast in a way I have never known possible.”

    Her powerful message and her challenging question was then ended with her favorite scripture, “For you don’t see the truth can make you free.”

    She said, “these missionaries don’t just carry membership in the church in their hands, they carry within their hands the power to make the atonement of Jesus Christ full force in my life. Today I’m going into the water and I’m going to make a covenant with Christ for the first time with proper authority. I’ve wanted to do this all my life.” None of us will forget the day she was baptized. When she got finished being baptized, she got back out and before she received the Holy Ghost , she stood and said, “Now I would like to talk about the Holy Ghost for awhile.” She then gave a wonderful talk about the gift of the Holy Ghost.

    {Later in Elder Anderson’s journal}

    Two young missionaries, both relatively new, {one had been out about 5 months, the other 3 weeks}, accidentally knocked of the door of the seminary in Regensburg. 125 wonderful men were studying to become priests inside. They didn’t realize this was the door they had knocked on because it looked like any other door. They were invited in. In somewhat of a panic, the man said, “I am sorry we just don’t have time right now.” The 2 missionaries were relieved, but then he said, “Would you come back next Tuesday and spend 2 hours addressing all 125 of us and answer questions about your church?” They agreed that they would, and ran down the road screaming. They made a phone call to their mission president and cried for help. The mission president called us and said, “Do you think that dear lady that you have just brought into the church would like to come help these 2 missionaries with this assignment?” I called her to explain what was to happen, and she said, “more than I would like to eat, more than I would like to sleep, more than…” I said, “Fine, you don’t have to explain.”

    We drove her to the seminary, and as we went in, she grabbed the 2 missionaries that had originally been invited, put her arms around them and said, “you are wonderful young men. Would each of you spend about 2 minutes bearing your testimony and then sit down and be quiet please?”

    They were grateful for their assignment. they bore their testimony and then seated themselves. Then she got up and said, “For the next 30 minutes I would like to talk to you about historical apostasy.” She knew every date and fact. She had a PhD in this. She talked abut everything that had been taken away from the great teachings the Saviour had given, mostly organizational, in the first part of her talk. the next 45 minutes were doctrinal.

    She gave every point of doctrinal changes, when it happened and what had changed. By the time she was done, she looked at them and said, “In 1820 a boy walked into a grove of trees. He had been in a famine just like I have been. He knelt to pray, because he was hungry just like I have been. He saw God the Father and His Son. I know this is hard for you to believe that they could be two separate beings, but I know they are.” she shared scriptures that showed that they were and then said, “I would like to talk about historical restoration of truth.” she then, point by point, date by date, from the Doctrine and Covenants, put back the organizational structure of Christ’s church. The last 20 minutes of her talk were absolutely brilliant. For the first time we realized that she had been their Theology professor. She continued by saying, “Last year when I was teaching you, I told you that I was still in a famine.

    I have been led to a feast. I invite you to come.” she finished with her testimony and sat down. What happened next was hard for me to understand. These 125 sincere, wonderful men stood and for the next 7 minutes, gave her a standing ovation. By the time 4 minutes had gone by I was crying. I remember standing and looking into their eyes and seeing the tears in their eyes too. I wondered why they were applauding after the message she had given. I asked many of them later. They said, “to hear someone so unashamed of the truth, to hear someone teaching with such power, to hear someone who finally has conviction.”

    The truth is what can set us free…Do we really know what we have?

    C.1.6.3 My Additions and Response
    As indicated in the introduction to this account, the sister referred to really existed (she passed away in the mid-1980s) and was as remarkable, in my experience, as this account indicates. I know this because I not only knew Sister Gertrud Specht (or “Frau Doktor Doktor Specht” as she was known in German), but I was her home teacher and later worked with her in the mission office of the Germany Munich Mission. I also kept in touch with her until illness curtailed her activities in the early 1980s.

    I first met Sister Specht, who was retired from the University of Munich by this time, but still living in the Bärerstraße in München-Schwabing, the university district, in the autumn of 1973. In our mission, missionaries were called to be home teachers as well, to supplement the local members’ efforts. We had three assignments: a single mother with a young girl, a middle-aged widow who had served a mission in pre-War Czechoslovakia (and served us huge servings of BöhmischKnödeln which we could never finish!); and this kindly old lady who lived in an apartment where absolutely every square metre of space was occupied by bookshelves or piles of books, or binders of correspondence.

    From November 1973 until I was called to a new assignment in July 1974, I, along with my various companions, served as her home teacher and met with her at least once a month. Her apartment was within walking distance of our own apartment in the Habsburgerstraße and we’d often end up spending an entire afternoon with her while she regaled us with mini-lectures on ancient history, archaeology and languages. As far as I can recall she was fluent in English, French, Arabic, Hebrew, Latin and Greek and said she was “struggling with” learning Turkish. All this from a woman in her late 70s.

    My new assignment, in July 1974, was as secretary to the mission president, Professor Doktor Hans-Wilhelm Kelling (originally from Bremen, now a renowned Goethe expert at Brigham Young University). About the same time, Sister Specht had been called as Mission Public Affairs Director, where she dealt with the media and VIPs. I had plenty of time to work with her there and got to know her better. She loved to talk to the missionaries and occasionally told the story of her conversion, which as I recall is accurately reflected by the Internet account of Elder Anderson’s journal. She met any visiting VIPs, including Elders (now Presidents) Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson who were then apostles who would stop off in Munich on their way to Eastern European countries, which were then behind the Iron Curtain. We had no idea how the Gospel would be spread there, but even back then, a quarter of a century ago, the apostles knew that the Wall would eventually fall, and they were preparing for that day.

    Little did I know that 26 years later I would be thrilled as my own son was called to serve.”