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Father: Eric Benjamin LUNDQUIST Note from Webmaster Wallace F. Gray: Eugene has played an important part in gathering the genealogy of his family. For example, his comments are part of his parents' history (as linked above.) He did extensive work with research on his grandmother, Karin (Carolina) Errson and has paid great tribute to her as the one bringing her family to the United States after joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with her children. Working with a researcher in Sweden (Ella Heckscher) and financed by contributions from the Lundquist family (financing directed by the efforts of Elsie Lundquist McNabb) he prepared a large pedigree chart with corresponding information and handed out to members of the family. This chart started with his father Eric Benjamin Lundquist. The story that follows is part of a history he helped prepare on his family and is included here because it pertains personally to him. Other information is found on Euguene in autobiographies written and posted on this web site of his brothers Milton Rocine Lundquist and Ebert Maurice Lundquist as well as the site of his parents. "Now let me describe an experience I [Eugene] had with a servant of God: "I can’t remember when I didn’t pay tithing. When I received a salary for my work a California Pacing Company in Smithfield, Utah and Franklin, Idaho. tithing was easy to figure - just 1/10 of my gross salary. I left my job in Franklin, Idaho as a bookkeeper for this company, and started working for Beneficial Life Insurance Company. When the time came for Federal and State Income tax returns, I was overwhelmed, so I employed a Certified Public Accountant. He assemble all my expenses and income and arrived at a net income figure for the year. I Then started to pay my tithing on my NET INCOME (as computed by the C. P. A.). But I didn’t ever feel comfortable in paying tithing on this basis because of the nature of the many expenses and allowances, but I nevertheless kept paying my tithing on this basis. The thing that bothered me is that my accountant started deducting the interest on my mortgage, drugs, doctor’s fees, taxes, losses of different kinds, (when I was paying my tithing on my salary with the California Packing Corporation, I did not deduct my rent, nor drugs, nor taxes, nor losses of different kinds.) Thus, I was a little confused and I was trying to mke up my own mind about this matter because I wanted to be a true tithe-payer and wanted to feel good about it. About this time, I was recommended to be advance in the Priesthood to the office of Seventy. I was asked to go to the Stake House to be interviewed by a general authority. When I got there, Elder L. Ray Christiansen, assistant to the Twelve Apostles of the Church was there and he interviewed me. He asked me many questions and among them of course, was, ‘Do you pay an honest tithing?" I hesitated and said, ‘I don’t know - I am a little confused and concerned as to how much I should pay since I am now in business and I am not receiving a straight salary.’ We discussed his for a little while and then he said: ‘Maybe we should wait - maybe we should postpone the ordination until you know what a full tithing is.’ Some people would have been indignant. I was a little surprised and dissappointed. As it turned out, this admonition or chastening by Elder Christiansen was exactly what I needed. Later Elder Christiansen interviewed me again, and he asked the question again, ‘Do you now pay a full tithing, do you know what a full tithing is?’, and I replied emphatically, ‘yes, yes, I believe I do.’ I was then ordained by Elder Christiansen to the office of Seventy. "Thus, I had a chance to think very seriously concerning the ordination - I said to myself, ‘If a person has to live the gospel to the letter the way Elder L. Ray Christiansen pointed out that I should, then I felt that it was a very great honor to be considered for such an office in the Priesthood.’ What a great man in L. Ray Christiansen! What a lesson I learned. I knew that I had been chastened by my FATHER IN HEAVEN (through one of His servents here upon this earth), and I am thankful for it. I know that my Father in Heaven (just as my earthly father) loves me and both have created a desire within me to succeed in life and above all to try and keep my second estate. "This experience awakened in me the beauties of the Church, the privilege of holding the Priesthood, and thankful for the choice principles of the Gospel. "I pay 1/10 of my income to the Church, but it is a lot more than 1/10 of my NET INCOME as figured by my C. P. A. I want to obey the laws of the land, but I also want to obey the HIGHER LAW of God. I want to make sure I am obedient to the letter of the lower law (my country); also I want to be obedient to the letter of the higher law of God. And I want to declare to you in all soberness that I have been blessed for it." Home | Biographical
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