Edward Bunker, Sr. was ordained a patriarch on September 10, 1900, by Apostle Marion Lyman. But he wasn't to officiate in that calling very long.

Whenever Edward went to Stake Conference in St. George he would stay at the home of his brother-in-law, Hector McQuarrie. Edward and Hector's family would sit up late talking about the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Edward increasingly began to talk about Mexico as the final home of the Church. Perhaps in the back of his mind was the thought of bringing his family all together once more in an unrestricted plural marriage family. Mexico became an objective for him.

Edward recounted stories of the Prophet Joseph Smith and how the Prophet talked of the future of the Church. Edward had never met the Prophet Joseph but the accounts he had heard must have made a definite impression. He had been told that at one specific meeting Joseph Smith drew a long line reaching from Nauvoo to the valleys in the Rocky Mountains. Then the Prophet was quoted as saying: "You and many others of the church will go, and there you will become a great and mighty people." After drawing other lines indicating a spreading out, he drew a long line stretching to the southwest into Old Mexico. He then said, "Here is some of the richest country on earth." The Prophet concluded and no questions were asked. Edward Bunker interpreted this long line as indicating a move of the Church in a circle from Nauvoo to Salt Lake, to Mexico, and finally back to Jackson County, the center of Zion. He had an urge to be among the first to blaze the trail he thought the church would follow.

With the passage of the Edmunds Law in March 1882 many in the church became increasingly more interested in the possibility of movement to Mexico. In November 1882 the First Presidency of the Church sent a call to Apostle Erastus Snow, former President of the St. George Stake to: "proceed to Chihuahua, and Sonora with a view to selecting suitable location or locations on the borders of the two nations as a gathering place for the Saints." This call officially marked the Churches colonization effort in Mexico.

Though Mexico had granted permission in 1880 for the church to establish colonies in the state of Chihuahua the first was not begun until 1885 at Colonia Diaz, just across the Rio Grande river. In 1888 Colonia Dublan was settled and later in the Sierra Madre mountains; Colonia Garcia, Colonia Chuichupa and Colonia Pacheco. The last of the Mormon colonies was Colonia Morelos in about 1898. It was west of the other colonies in Sonora and offered a wide valley of fertile land.

Hearing about the successes in Mexico, Edward began to prepare to go there. We can only assume he longed for that final utopia where he could bring all his family together again. The desire to go to the next frontier was finally realized in 1901, when Edward was 79 years of age and Emily 73. They left for Mexico, along with George Bunker, Francis Bunker, George W. Lee, Sr., George W. Lee, Jr., and family members for each. A special meeting and program was held at Bunkerville to bid farewell to those leaving. For those who stayed behind, particularly Mary McQuarrie, it was like a funeral. Everyone was saddened to have so many loved ones leave the little town all at once.

Mary McQuarrie's son, Robert Bunker, wrote in his autobiography in Bunker Family History:

"The only time I remember Mother ever speaking a cross word to Aunt Emily (the first wife), was when she came to Mother and asked if she would let me go with them to Old Mexico as Father, Aunt Emily, George and family, had sold out in Bunkerville and were going to make their home in Old Mexico. The excuse was to help take care of father. I remember Mother saying in no uncertain tone of voice, 'Emily, if you folks will stay here where you belong, my children will be more than glad to help all they can. You have taken my husband away from me, and its a sure thing you will never take Robert with you. Besides, Francis is down there, and I am sure he will be willing to help.'"

The teams and wagons slowly pulled away from Bunkerville and headed toward Mexico. Edward's granddaughter, Vilate L. Romney, wrote in Bunker Family History:

"On arriving at Bonnelli's Ferry on the Colorado River, it was necessary to remain several days for weather conditions to become favorable for crossing on the ferry boat with the large company. There were seven or eight wagons and more than 20 head of horses. It became necessary to stop occasionally to repair wagons, shoe horses, wash clothing and replenish the supply of food.

"Because of long stretches of desert, it was necessary to haul water for drinking as well as for the livestock. This was done by fastening large 40 and 50 gallon barrels to the sides of the wagons, and often carrying huge bales of hay. They enjoyed a very happy surprise one hot day. As they camped for lunch in Black Rock Canyon, Arizona, Vernon Bunker, grandson of Grandfather, rode up on his horse. He had been away from home for years and had made his home in Arizona not too far from there. A few hours visit was enjoyed by everyone."

"After several weeks, they arrived at Mesa, Arizona. It was like an oasis in a desert to arrive at the beautiful green cities of Phoenix and Mesa. Grandfather and a party remained here several weeks resting and enjoyed the hospitality of some dear friends, the McDonald family. The trip covered about six weeks, on arriving at Naco, Arizona, on the Mexican border, they all pitched their tents near each other like a little community. They remained here for several weeks, then after going thru the long procedure of custom house inspection, moved over to the Mexican side of the town where they remained until October. Uncle George and the other able-bodied men hauled freight to a mining camp, Cananea, about 100 miles into Mexico to secure some cash to help with establishing themselves in the colony."

"Grandfather's health was very poor while they lived at Naco. Health conditions were not good. A great deal of Typhoid was prevalent and he suffered with intestinal flu a great deal. Grandfather and his company moved on ahead of the rest of the folks to the colony, arriving the first week of November, 1901. Colonia Morelos was a new colony and everyone lived in tents and adobe rooms and worshipped in a Bowery."

"The first Sunday, Grandfather gave a powerful sermon, and on the 17th of November, 1901, he passed away. His son, George, and grandson, Hugh, were on a ten-day trip to Chihuahua for a load of lumber to make them more comfortable quarters. Grandfather took suddenly ill and passed away and was buried before they returned. There was no way of sending messages, so they knew nothing of his death until they returned. Grandfather was buried in the little town cemetery. Only a board marker was put up temporarily, but a permanent one was never replaced. In 1954 the entire cemetery was nicely fenced with a wire fence and the Mexicans had piled rocks neatly around each grave, but there was no marker to be found on his grave."

John G. McQuarrie is quoted in Bunker Family History:

"Edward Bunker was a true type of the ancient Patriarchs. He had, like Abraham, a childlike faith which knew no doubting. His prayers were not formal cere-monies, but actual, earnest conversations. When he made requests he also made covenants which were faithfully kept, and thus the blessings followed. When he administered to the sick it was an official act which he exercised by virtue of the Holy Priesthood. When he rebuked the forces of evil, they stood rebuked. The Destroyer had no power to with-stand him. When he delivered doctrinal sermons to Wards where he presided or at Stake Conferences, his words were accepted as scripture. His associates did not argue with him. They asked his opinion and quoted him as authority."

"The life and experiences of Bishop Edward Bunker were varied and important. His knowledge, judgement, and native ability--not only to know all the right, but to do it--were so pronounced that it would require a biography [on a level with the] most outstanding founders of the Church."

"Edward Bunker was always building and guarding the outposts of Zion. He was always out on the last frontier. Movements are sometimes started by the tragic or heroic, but it is the commonplace which keep them moving and growing. Edward Bunker never tried to play in the center of the stage. He never thought of, or received, any newspaper or book notoriety. But he played the title role in many backstage struggles which were necessary to sustain the main campaign."

"In my opinion [all the experiences he had] were not great trials to Edward Bunker. He loved nature as God made it, mountains, deserts, forests, fields, rivers, hidden springs. There was a lure in him for the great unknown. He did not seek the security of populous cities nor did he fear the danger and vicissitudes of the wide open spaces. He was what might be called a "happy warrior" when he was conquering the West. He never thought of pleasure and recreation as they pertained to physical or carnal desires. He thought of duty and service. He was happy in obeying God's first command, `Multiply and replenish, and subdue the earth.' He seemed to lose interest when the homes were built, the streams controlled, the fields responding to seed, time, and harvest. He felt no call of duty where men were plentiful and where the battle against want, mobocrats and Indians had been won. He was engaged in helping to build a Zion. He could always hear the voice of duty calling him to the outpost, to the last frontier."

Within a year or two after the death of Edward Bunker the origin of Adam discussion was removed from the lecture in the temple and general discussion within the church. Mary McQuarrie Bunker died on the 2nd of November, 1906, at age 60, in Bunkerville, Nevada and was buried there. Emily Abbott Bunker died on the 8th of February, 1913, at age 85, in Panguitch, Utah and was buried there. Sarah Browning Lang Bunker died on the 16th of May, 1916, at age 85, in Delta, Utah and was buried there.

The magnificent life of Edward Bunker stands as his testimony to his belief in the teachings and principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was one of the truly great Latter-Day Saints of the early days of the church. Sacrificing everything he had for the cause of the Gospel. He was placed in leadership positions where the whirlwind whistled and he calmed the storm. He struggled on the wild western frontier, and learned the ways of survival and became a skilled road builder and organizer. He demonstrated faith, intellect, and a profound understanding of God and his holy scriptures.

He demonstrated exemplary commitment and leadership. President Ezra Taft Benson stated in the Improvement Era:

"What are qualifications of leadership in the Church? First of all--and I think most important of all--is the matter of personal testimony. How can you build faith in the lives of others unless you have faith yourselves? The second qualification is humility. One of the marks of great leadership always has been and ever will be the humble spirit. Third, a love of people is essential to effective leadership. Do you realize the worth of souls is great in the sight of God? And the fourth qualification is the force of example. The proper example is all-important. Let us be what we profess to be. There is no satisfactory substitute."

Edward was husband and father with literally thousands of noble descendants blessed by the great example he left. If he could hope for one legacy to be his everlasting monument; it would be that his descendants follow his example of service to others and love one another in a great and glorious family.