Gladys Hunsaker Murdock
From The Church News, February 2013 by Whitney Evans
When Gladys Hunsaker served as a
missionary in the Central States Mission from June 1928 through June 1930, she
had no idea of the legacy she would leave for generations to come.
“Those two years were the happiest years of my life,” she wrote shortly after returning from her mission. During this time she saw the sick healed through the power of the priesthood and worked in the mission office for 14 months.
“Those two years were the happiest years of my life,” she wrote shortly after returning from her mission. During this time she saw the sick healed through the power of the priesthood and worked in the mission office for 14 months.
“I know I shall never be able to repay my
parents for the sacrifices they made when I was there.”
Although she might not have repaid her parents for their physical sacrifices, her service as a missionary set a powerful precedent for many of her descendants.
Although she might not have repaid her parents for their physical sacrifices, her service as a missionary set a powerful precedent for many of her descendants.
This sister’s service as a full-time
missionary left an example for those in following generations. One line of her
family has continued their missionary service for four generations.
Sister Breksa, 19, great-granddaughter of Sister Hunsaker, [is in the MTC and will serve] in the Japan Fukuoka Mission.
Sister Breksa, 19, great-granddaughter of Sister Hunsaker, [is in the MTC and will serve] in the Japan Fukuoka Mission.
Her missionary service will mark the fourth generation of sister missionaries in this direct line to serve a full-time mission. Sister Breksa's mother, said she does not consider a full-time mission to be a sacrifice. This is because the missionaries serve for 18 months to two years, but they receive blessings for eternity.
“It’s like the world for pennies,” she
said.
Sister Breksa's mother served in the Illinois
Peoria Mission from January 1989 to July 1990. She said she had wanted to serve
a mission from the time she was 13. Part of her motivation was to be able to
provide an example for her own children. She also thought her mission would
honor her grandmother.
“I know that it was the right thing for me to do."
“I know that it was the right thing for me to do."
Her mother, Patricia Hansen Barron,
served in the Oregon Eugene Mission with her husband from November 1999 to May
2001. Sister Barron said she felt “privileged to be part of the missionary
effort up in Oregon.”
Sister Breksa's mother said she hopes Sister Breksa will be able to focus on serving the people in Japan and learn to talk to everyone she meets during her service.
“You just learn to love all kinds of
people no matter where they are. You just learn to care for them. I would hope
the same for her.”
