I frequently contemplate and puzzle over the question of why I am so blessed.  Surely there has never been anyone with so many advantages as I.  It’s not because I’ve deserved them, so what can be the reason?

It must hark back to things which took place before I was even born.  There has to be a reason for my being born in this place, in this land, in this family, and under these circumstances.  I have to think that there is a grand plan in place which has orchestrated my life.

I am quite sure that I made covenants with my ancestors and my posterity before I came here.  I covenanted with my ancestors that if they would come and prepare the way, during times of difficulty and hardship, that I would seek them out and perform the temple ordinances that they so much desired to have done.

I also covenanted with my posterity that I would provide a home and training so that they could each fulfill their desires and destinies.

Fulfilling these promises required me to be where I would have available, find, and receive the gospel.  It required that I would have the time, the means, and the desire and drive to do it.

All of my family lines and all of the circumstances have been woven together in a grand fabric and pattern to place me here in this place and time.  I can’t help but think that all of the marriages and movements of the families had as one of their purposes the positioning of James Kerns in Haines, Oregon as a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

So what were my purposes for coming here to earth life, and how have I done?

Purpose number one:  I was to see to the baptisms, endowments, and sealings of my ancestors.

Result:  It has been my great privilege to perform this work.  I have completed the ordinance work for everyone in my five generations plus the ordinance work for all of their children and spouses who were born more than 110 years ago.  I have also seen to the ordinance work for all of the grandchildren of all eight sets of my 2nd great grandparents.

Some lines I have pushed back beyond my 2nd great grandparents.  In most of those cases I’ve found that the work is largely done.  Hardly any (only one?) had been done in my five generations, however.  I see the wisdom of the Brethren in giving us the assignment of doing temple work for those in our five generations.  It has been a great privilege.  When I complete the work on the cards that I’ve lately printed off, I will have completed the ordinance work for hundreds of individuals.

The only people left to be done in my five generations are Rod and Georgia McCornack, and Andy and Maggie McCornack (my uncles); and my siblings and their spouses.  I haven’t done Rod’s and Andy’s work in the hopes that one of their children would yet join the Church and do the work themselves.  That should be their privilege, not mine.  If I should leave this existence before Rod’s and Andy’s work is done, I trust that my children will see to it.

My sister died a couple of years ago.  She made it clear to me in life that she didn’t want to have anything to do with the Church, so I haven’t done anything about her temple work, though I’m authorized to do so.  Here again I have hopes that one of her own posterity will have the privilege of doing it.

If that doesn’t happen, here is my plan:  I expect to outlive all of my siblings and their spouses except my sister, Ellen.  She is a good member of the Church, would like to be active, and would like to go to the temple.  She and I have discussed and agreed to this plan.  She will outlive her husband, and then she’ll be free to go to church and to the temple.  When she goes to the temple to receive her endowment, I will go with her, and will take my children.  My grandchildren will be baptized for my siblings and their spouses, and my children will do the endowments and sealings for them all in one grand day.  Rod, Georgia, Andy, and Maggie will be done, too.

The work for my family and ancestors will then be complete.

Purpose number two:  I covenanted with my children, before any of us were born, that I would provide mortality, a home, and gospel teachings, training, covenants and ordinances for them.

Result:  Marjorie and I have done it.  We have the great satisfaction of seeing all 10 of our children firmly established in the gospel, and raising their own children in truth and righteousness.  Every one of our children and grandchildren are firm in the gospel.  This blessing is huge.  I pray for them every day.  The greatest desire of my heart is that there will be no empty places in our eternal family when we gather over there.

Purpose number three:  To teach, train, and whip into shape James Kerns.

Result:  He’s worthy and ready to go.  I’d like to stay around long enough, however, to see to that grand endowment and sealing day for my siblings.

Purpose number four:  While accomplishing the aforementioned purposes, which I’ll call “the Grand Design Purposes,” I was to serve in many capacities in the Church.  The purpose of most of those callings was to train me, but through them I’ve been able to touch and help redirect many lives.  I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to be a teacher, a priesthood leader, a bishop, a missionary, and a temple ordinance worker.  I’ve influenced thousands of lives; but my feeling is that such service has been only incidental to the service that I’ve rendered in fulfilling purposes one, two, and three.