Category Archives: Episodes

Harold Evans Baker Autobiography Part I



Family History Episode

In a departure from regular Gospel Doctrine podcast fare, we are publishing episodes featuring selections from family histories, journals, diaries, personal biographies, life stories, interviews and other sources–sometimes in the subject’s own voice and at other times voiced by contemporary family members. These audio files, having been uploaded to familysearch.org for archival purposes, are included here because of their general interest and potential for universal appeal and application.

Harold Evans Baker

Part I of an audio recording of the personal biography of Harold Evans Baker born 20 April 1896, Franklin, Idaho. Based on a document compiled and typewritten by his daughter, Marva May Baker, born 7 May 1932, who adds her commentary and insights to his history. This audio file is voiced by Harold’s grandson (and Marva’s son) Kirk E Strickland, born 24 May 9154.

Harold tells of his birth and childhood on a farm in southern Idaho. Self-described as bashful and timid in grade school, he tells how he dealt with bullying by older boys. He describes the very close and tender relationship he enjoyed with his mother Lucy Evans, born 13 June 1865, and characterizes the contention prevalent in his childhood home between his mother and father, Benjamin Charles Baker, born 5 November 1862. He suffers through the mumps and conscientiously completes his education through the eighth grade. He chronicles his work on and off the family ranch property, relating a tragic event that affected him personally. Also, he introduces how he met the love of his life, Alice Gilbert (born 16 March 1896) and worked to make her his his “Real Girl” forever.


Lesson 18 “Establish . . . a house of God”



Complete reading assignment from LDS Church Class Member Study Guide Lesson #18 “Establish . . .  a House of God.” Gospel Doctrine Sunday School: Doctrine & Covenants and Church History. Voice recording of Lesson study materials including scriptures and assigned excerpts from “Our Heritage.” Read by Kirk Strickland


Lesson 17 “The Law of Tithing and the Law of the Fast”



Complete reading assignment from LDS Church Class Member Study Guide Lesson #17 “The Law of Tithing and the Law of the Fast.” Gospel Doctrine Sunday School: Doctrine & Covenants and Church History. Voice recording of Lesson study materials including scriptures and questions to ponder in relation to those scriptures. Also Included, the full text of scriptures listed in the lesson’s two scripture chains. Read by Kirk Strickland


Lesson 16 “Thou Shalt Offer Up Thy Sacraments on My Holy Day”



Reading assignment from LDS Church Class Member Study Guide Lesson #16 “Thou Shalt Offer Up Thy Sacraments upon My Holy Day.” Gospel Doctrine Sunday School: Doctrine & Covenants and Church History. Voice recording of Lesson study materials including selected scriptures and questions to ponder in relation to those scriptures. Also Included, a segment from the Bible Dictionary. In addition: the full text of scriptures listed in the lesson’s scripture chain. Read by Kirk Strickland


Lesson 15: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”



The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) Gospel Doctrine Sunday School: Doctrine & Covenants and Church History Class Member Study Guide Reading Assignment Lesson #15: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts.” Voice recording of Lesson study materials including selected pertinent scriptures and questions to ponder in relation to those scriptures, segments from Our Heritage, and one of the Articles of Faith of the church. Also included: the full text of scriptures listed in the lesson’s scripture chain. Read by Kirk Strickland


Lesson 14: The Law of Consecration



The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Gospel Doctrine Sunday School: Doctrine & Covenants and Church History Class Member Study Guide Reading Assignment Lesson #14: The Law of Consecration. Voice recording of Lesson study materials including full text of selected pertinent scriptures and questions to ponder in relation to those scriptures. Also included are the full text of scriptures listed in the lesson’s scripture chain. Read by Kirk Strickland