NOTE: The Guatemalan Foundation was retired on its 50th ANNIVERSARY in 2017, so no donations are requested anymore. I maintain the website for its historical value, and for information on the book I published about that lifetime of effort in THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA—about which one friend after one of my speeches to the Utah Valley Historical Society, said, "WHAT A LIFE...WHAT A COUPLE OF BOOKS!"—and I'll confess I can't hardly believe I ever went through "my realization of two dreams in one lifetime" all of those TWO LIVES in TWO BOOKS—now the MAYA BOOK is available only by sections & chapters here on this Home page. SCROLL DOWN.
CLICK for: HIGH UINTA & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES -
CLICK for: Chapter 1: VISIONS of NATURE 
MY FINAL MESSAGE is critical for those who love frankness, honesty, and knowing the truth of my experience that includes me perhaps rashly believing we experienced in Guatemala the fulfillment of a Bible prophecy about which the Apostle Paul said, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day—Christ's coming—shall not come, except there come.... first..." WHAT?
It is described in my MESSAGE access to which you've got online by SCROLLING DOWN. Above are options for Spanish and versions in both languages with page numbers you can print.
Below and especially at the end you will find a growing album
of some absolutely beautiful photos I took in
THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA
I WILL BE ADDING MORE EACH WEEK that will follow some kind of logical geographical or historical pattern as well as gradually creating captions, and titles
"EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY!
ENJOY!
THE LANDS & PEOPLE
OF THE MAYA
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THE SECTION BELOW HAS ENHANCEDDOWNLOADABLE CHAPTERS OF THE ENTIRE BOOK THAT DETAILS MY LIFE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA.
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CLICK TO SEE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WRITINGS ONLINE & DOWNLOAD if interested:
0. COVER, TABLE CONTENTS, INTRODUCTION, (4 pages) I've added this for those who will be downloading all the chapters, parts and sections so that you will have like a complete copy of the book, with the important Table of Contents, and Introduction....including guidance from the movie Gandhi about how to judge justly a man.
1. PART 1 "THE VISION QUEST" 0-22 years: THE CHECKERED FAITH & WORKS JOURNEY of Cordell M. Andersen (80 pages)
NOTE: Everything in my life of any value evolved from what is described in this crucial foundational autobiographical writing. It was originally included as an Appendix in the evolving MAYA BOOK. Then the EDITED & IMPROVED 80 page writing became more logically Part 1 in the FINAL VERSION of the Book as it set the stage for my existence—what will now be my busy 88th year that began on April 20, 2023.
You'll notice my "VISION QUEST" didn’t involve any stimulants—like some friends say I used in a previous life as John Morgan, "Shunkawakan," the Sioux name for "A Man Called Horse"—but rather followed a normal sequence of development, each step building on a previous one motivated by a wonderful influence I was attracted to—yes, stumbling here and there but gradually learning, but aided by great parents whose example motivated my personal efforts trying to be a better person—guided, strengthened and confirmed by a divine influence I came to realize was our Creator who I came to know by leaning towards my father’s saintly influence and what he took very seriously—a special book of holy scripture—The Book of Mormon, from ancient America through which I came to know the influence guiding me was our Savior Jesus Christ who in fulfilling his purpose on earth had actually become “Our SAVIOR and the GOD OF THIS WORLD."
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2. Part 2: The MYSTERIOUS CAUSE & OUR PREPARATION TO ACT, (41 pages)> 9 years of careful and intensive preparation & transformation. , The Lord did not fail me in my efforts to seek and follow Him. He rather prepared me to fulfill a purpose —in my case a very humble one—so unambitious & lowly that no normal individual or family was interested or willing—among a people most Mormons considered a backward and even a “cursed” people The Book of Mormon called Lamanites —but whom the resurrected Savior considered so critically important that he appeared to them after his triumphant appearances among the Jews. Part 2 of my BOOK deals with them being my CAUSE, and my CAREFULL PREPARATION to dedicate much of the remainder of my life to them.....I call "MY PEOPLE!" This is a smarter, simpler version of the origenal writing.
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3. Part 3: THE 1967 RISKY, BREATHTAKING PIONEER JOURNEY TO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA, (50 pages) This section describes the emotional and daring story of the long journey by the ANDERSEN FAMILY PRIVATE PEACE CORP, to live among and help the descendants of those Jesus Christ appeared to 2,000 years ago, along with a summary of how we survived supporting ourselves through agro-business projects used also as tools to save as many as we could, and what we did that prompted our good friend Harold Brown to say, "Thousands were saved and many tens of thousands were aided in receiving an education!"
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4. PART 4: Items 1-11of 33
MEMORABLE EFFORTS, EVENTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The FINAL REVIEW of the “VISION QUEST”
FULFILLMENT AMONG THE MAYA (85 pages)
NEW! 11. 33. OUR GREATEST BLESSING OVER 50 YEARS WAS what the critics called OUR “DUNDERHEAD KIDS”..aimed also at the “DUNDERHEAD PARENTS!” plus ALL 6 APPENDICES: The FINAL REVIEW of the “VISION QUEST” FULFILLMENT AMONG THE MAYA - MEMORABLE EFFORTS, EVENTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS PART 4: Item 33 plus CONCLUSIONS & “HE WHO DARES!” plus 6 APPENDICES (Combat Handguns, LDS Authorization letter, Garth Norman, "THE TRIAL," Letter to LDS 1st Presidency, & "Friends" Turning Against us (59 pages)
2. BOOKofMORMON "GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES" References from the MAYA BOOK showing a very good case that it is true history taking place in the Mountains of the Maya as believed also by the Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith. Valparaiso is included as likely the ancient fortified "CITY of HELAM." Coban, situated in "the Valley of Alma" and likely the "CITY OF MANTI." ( 9 pages)
3. A final tribute to my good friend GARTH NORMAN, archaeologist and world-renowned expert on THE IZAPA TREE OF LIFE MONUMENT SITE in Southern Mexico near the Guatemalan border, including a photographic report of his and my last visit to Valparaiso in 2017. I was blessed to be his photographer on the first expedition to Izapa in 1966, and sort of the last in 2017.
By the way he's the one who made a positive comment about "faithfully reading the book and really coming to know Cordell..." in the section about "What the attempt to come back in the Church meant."
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INTRODUCTION to
MY LAST MESSAGE
1975 2023
August 2023—which you'll notice is crucial with lives hanging in the balance—describing briefly—
the fulfillment of a key Bible prophecy
—WE WERE A PART OF AT VALPARAISO—
by the Apostle Paul who said it had to be fulfilled in the keyperiod prior to the Second Coming of the Savior.....but studying it carefully it becomes clear it had to be after "the restoration of all things" when there would be "temples of God" again where powerful leaders, authorized to be in a temple meeting, would in harmony cast a unanimous vote for a report read to them that would involve us at Valparaiso, but with far reaching consequenses talked about in the book, and discussed here in brief, but with some new examples that will help us understand clearly. So we will review some key aspects of this 50+ year history first. Then come to the critical prophecy that will have an important punch line— all part of my—
August 2023
the fulfillment of a key Bible prophecy
—WE WERE A PART OF AT VALPARAISO—
by the Apostle Paul who said it had to be fulfilled in the key
...."LOVING GOODBYE MESSAGE OF HOPE!"
THE FINAL MESSAGE to KEY PEOPLE
In the BOOK on page 84—or on page 4 of the segmented Part 2—I've carefully explained how the Lord instructed me to write this history under the heading:
DIVINE GUIDANCE
The concluding advise from the Lord through the deeply sacred experience related in Part 2 was....
"SPEAK THE TRUTH FROM YOUR HEART"...
...and over the last year or so I have gradually added more revealing history, made corrections as well as incorporating updates, adding enlightening enhancements, plus a few new photos and some powerful awakening wisdom along with potent doctrinal clarifications and a complete Appendix now with 6 including The Trial, Letter to the LDS 1st Presidency, and "Friends" Turning Against me, to produce on August 1, 2023 what I call:
"MINE the FINAL VERSION April 1, 2023"
I'm, so far, the only person who has a copy......except that just recently a close friend got me in a strangle hold so I gave her the link to download it. A similar but edited previous version I called the PUBLIC or SANITIZED FINAL VERSION has been available free to download to your computer for some time....but, in all of this carefully honest process I was too naive, and some could justifiably say, just plain stupid—ignoring the advice given me once by an LDS General Authority with whom I mistakenly shared a lot in a two hour conversation—during which he first injected, "The devil is deceiving you...then later.....Satan is trying to destroy you, etc." but I continued undeterred and he gradually reversed himself finally saying,
DON'T TELL ANYONE—
Seventy General Authority, William Bradford, now deceased
So, he momentarily saw the truth in my history and began to understand, but it didn't last long and he finally proved his own statement correct and strangely turned against me in bizarre ways as did other Leaders and followers as explained in the BOOK.
TWO SPECIAL MEN UNDERSTOOD
Previous to the disappointing experience described above and throughout my life,
I was blessed with the wonderful friendship of
LDS Church Regional Leader,
Harold Brown—with whom I was eventually moved to share
all of my life including what I have called,
"the rest of the story."
He became a dear friend and supporter his entire useful life and because of his virtuous soul he naturally followed the correct pathway to judge a man from the movie GANDHI on page 4 of the MAYA BOOK I'll insert below:
Harold was not disappointed in so doing, and from 1973 when he was first my LDS Regional leader in Guatemala, described in the book and in this message, he promised to inform the General Authorities that I was worthy of their trust as was the inspired methodology and success of our work with the Lamanites—Brown even being the one to begin calling me—
"a modern Ammon!"
—but later he sadly admitted to me that the General Authorities refused to accept his testimony and persisted in believing the biased gossip, rumors and misinformation.
He was very pragmatic about Church leadership recognizing there was too much politics in the administration of the LDS Church. He believed strongly that it needed desperately more genuine and real divine guidance. Over many years of close association with them he carefully attempted to influence them in the right direction, but sometimes gave up doing so directly and rather did his best to help the Church through his Regional callings as he did with me.
For example, after failing with the General Authorities in my case,
he was able to help a new Mission President, Bob Arnold (1973-76)—
If I ever knew a man worthy of being a General Authority, it was Harold Brown. But, his friendship and defense of me likely had him lose that opportunity with the General Authorities as he refused to go along with the mysterious bias, gossip and misinformation that somehow got started back in 1970 and we have had to deal with until now.
Eventually his long chain of important Regional callings in the Church ended. By that time in the mid-80's my life had become too controversial for most of my friends, family and relatives—
but Brown perceived I was truly being guided by the Lord
and we were able to have open minded conversations that led him to persist as a friend supporting our work as well as my private life—he even volunteering to be a Trustee for the Guatemalan Foundation, and we in turn cooperated financially helping him in his project to aid poor Mexican Latter Day Saints with transportation costs to get to the LDS Temple in Mexico City where he had been the first LDS Temple President south of the border.
Years before he had become the author of the “Ammon” comparison as well as telling us our efforts "had embarrassed the General Authorities into organizing World-wide Welfare Services," [today "Humanitarian Services"] and throughout his life encouraged me to persist with what he called
"the experiment"
.....meaning the effective, heaven inspired methods and Christ-like attitudes towards the Lamanites that had laid the foundation for all of the progress in our area of Guatemala which also included teaching and helping with the common day to day aspects of their lives—all even extending to several other countries (Ecuador and Mexico)—all of but he was honest making it clear that likely only he would give us credit for any of that and it was with his support and encouragement his useful life ended.
NOTE: And, I did persist with the "experiment" for 44 years after he began encouraging, and defending us in 1973, until retiring the Foundation on our 50th Anniversary in 2017 and in a sense I'm still at it with personal aid projects to as many as I can who only receive short-term hand-outs, rather than long-lasting leg-ups!
LIFELONG POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH HAROLD BROWN LED TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MISTAKE.....
My positive experience with Harold Brown had me innocently believing that sharing my life through the MAYA BOOK with all interested friends, family and relatives would also be a wonderful blessing...but in that I have mostly been wrong:
For most today the reality is that it isn't understood, nor believed in the Church today that it was an essential principle of the Gospel, and of course they can't accept the "falling away" or "apostasy" prophecies as they have been taught that there can’t be another such happening!
But as seen in Paul's statements such has to happen in some way before the Second Coming, he saying: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day—Christ's coming—shall not come, except there come.... first a falling away!"
In Spanish it uses the word "apostasia." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
Paul then explains in detail his prophecy that said “apostasy” had to take place in “the temple of God” indicating that it had to be after the “restoration of all things” when again there would be a legitimate “temple of God” where unimaginable but certain to take place things would happen among powerful men authorized to be there and direct a gathering dominated, at least regarding their subject, by “not loving the truth” and because of believing “lies” they would be involved in “unrighteousness” with terrible consequences—the whole prophecy called by Paul, “the mystery of iniquity.” We shall see that literally this came to pass affecting spiritually Valparaiso and the entire area, event called then, and some still do call it “THE MASSACRE” that I examine in detail in my BOOK, and review further along in this message—
ALL WITH THE HOPE OF AWAKENING THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHO CAN MAYBE “set in order the house of God” and SAVE THE CHURCH!
Third—primarily, to this point today my hope was wrong with my loving and caring effort to help individual General Authorities realize their personal need of remorse for tragic events they were responsible for—mentioned in a moment—as they have been met with silence—they seemingly with difficulty admitting having possibly committing serious error, and likely none of it is included in the history of the Church."
That brings to mind a scene from the wonderful series about the life of Christ, THE CHOSEN, when on the Sabbath, at a certain pool known for it's healing where a poor cripple, Jesse, had been trying to get healed for 25 years, Jesus talked to him and eventually he was healed, Jesus telling him to
"stand, pick up your bed and walk."
He stood, picked up his bed and went looking for his brother.
he was a "false prophet!"
His disciples asked him why he told the man to break one of the Jewish rules that was getting them all in trouble. He replied:
"SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO STIR UP THE WATERS!"
I'm doing as the Lord told me to do, telling:
and move honest and humble leaders to admit the truth and begin the prophecied,
"SETTING IN ORDER of THE HOUSE OF GOD!"
—THE KIND OF HUMILITY, HONESTY AND COURAGE NECESSARY TO ADMIT ERROR & FEEL REMORSE PUBLICLY IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF A TRUE MAN OF GOD AND A PROPHET!—My reasoning was the same as Christ's, "STIR THINGS UP TO HOPEFULLY GET WHAT'S OUT OF ORDER CORRECTED!"
IMPORTANT NOTE: My brief experience obeying the Lord with Celestial marriage had said principle confirmed to me as true, and showed clearly my willingness to obey but which sadly only lasted a brief period of 4 years of dedication, loving sacrifice, and learning ..... leaving me technically as a celibate polygamist now for 35 years and looking forward to the eternities, that is basically what all this was about anyway, but with need of acquiring certain key earthly friends and demonstrating a willingness to obey the Lord.
Importantly, obeying the Lord—in addition to my first family with 10 special children—brought the blessing from heaven of 3 more choice sons as well as 2 additional more than special daughters and blessed me with being able to raise those last 5 wonderful children during 20 years alone as a "Mr. Mom," another blessed experience!
It all ended being for all involved an important learning experience, and preparing all of us for the eternities.
"SPEAK THE TRUTH FROM YOUR HEART"
in the writing of the BOOK ....has not been well received except by a rare few
like Harold Brown. Thus I have been prompted to now backtrack
—not with the truth—
but....
..........WITH THE SHARING OF IT,
so the.....FINAL VERSION of the book is not available any longer!
With too many it worked out being like "casting my pearls..."
I was sincerely honest, but yet so naive....yes, a DUNDERHEAD!
to your computer when you had the chance, and best if you got a more
complete version just before I removed it.
You then should have tried humbly and honestly to understand as brother Brown did, but I should add that if you downloaded it a year ago, or even a couple of months ago—like the version on the thumb drive sent to the Church History Department mentioned further along—what you have is a bit obsolete as some powerful additions were made recently, but they will be in those sections available gradually to download at the beginning of this message.
So the only versions or portions of the book available publicly from now on are those items with links, at the head of this post. But, now in August 2023, as explained in the beginning of this post, the entire book is now available piecmeal in sections or chapters that have been edited slightly and improved. So, you could now download all of them in order giving you a complete book including all the appendices. You could put them on a thumb drive and take to your favorite printer to have a print copy of the history. As I have explained, COPYTEC, in Pleasant Grove, do the best job, if that is your interest.
....perhaps requiring more than twisting my arm, likely needing also a strangle hold, plus for sure a significant contribution—so far only one has been granted. Not one penny of such contributions will be for me rather 100% to help me in what are now my monthly personal projects among my most needy Mayan-Lamanite brothers and sisters in Guatemala—who, if receiving help from the Church are only getting short-term band-aid fixes, rather than long-term effective help—said needy the Lord called......
"MY LITTLE ONES,"
when He transformed my life on the snowy slopes of the Henry Mountains on October 23, 1965.....
........ and gave me the faith, the heart and the love to head for THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA to in one way or another dedicate my life to them as the Lord requires of his faithful children—the guiding principle being:
HELPING THEM MOVE MORE TOWARDS THE KIND OF LIFE I DESIRE FOR MYSELF........which is what the genuinely faithful are naturally committed to....[read carefully Jacob 2:16-19] and He promised to guide and protect me as long as I persisted...and I will persist for a while even though the glitches are building and challenges great in my 88th year!
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at least some of my family as well as for others sincerely interested in what a few of us—with Harold Brown's help—called....
......The “MODERN AMMON FAMILY LEGACY”
We had no choice but to do our best to have a good sense of humor—through sometimes insulting NICK-NAMES, perplexing BIAS and sad MISUNDERSTANDING like what Brown reported to us on November 5, 1973 in a surprise meeting at Valparaiso, him coming all the way from Mexico to talk with me as it was reported to him that "there is trouble with Andersen at Valparaiso!"
So, in November 1973 he surprised us one Sunday in the then remote and hard to get to Valparaiso Plantation,
He explained that he had been keeping a close eye on what we were doing and had received some glowing, wonderful reports, but also some very negative ones, and figured out what was happening.(page 277):
As explained in detail in the BOOK, he said he wanted to get to know the Center and Plantation and understand our work, purposes and results….so first I took him on a 90 minute tour during which he continually asked questions, made comments, and at times offered congratulations. The Counselor in the Mission, Jorge H. Perez, who came with him seemed surprised with Brown’s interest, because he couldn’t see anything of value, the same as the other counselor in the Mission, John O’Donnal, all explained in the BOOK
NOTE: In that regard it is interesting to know that a few years later INDE, the National Electrification Institute, constructed its largest hydroelectric CHIXOY PROJECT near Valparaiso during which it had a well known sociologist do a study of the CID and Valparaiso, and in his official report concluded:
VALPARAISO IS AN OASIS OF HOPE and JUSTICE FOR THE POOR!”
Additionally a few years before BROWN’S visit famous Guatemalan musician from Coban, Victoriano Narciso Chavarria, said:
"What is happening at Valparaiso is something that has never been done on a plantation. It is true Christianity in action! Mormonism is not only a religious philosophy, but a complete system and way of life!
It was actually in an ANDERSEN FAMILY HOUR run like a Sacrament meeting since for several months the branch had no leadership and in spite of me informing the Mission, no one ever came to reorganize it.
This happened 4 times over 26 years when we—the Andersen Family Hour had to keep the LDS religion alive in our region of Guatemala—in the beginning for 4 years when Valparaiso was the only LDS oriented Group in the entire Alta Verapaz Region—which eventually developed into a Branch, next a District, later a Mission, a number of Stakes, including unbelievably totally rural Lamanite stakes, and a Temple! Then, after "The Massacre," explained next, the ANDERSEN FAMILY HOUR kept the religion alive among the faithful for nearly 5 more years—explained in detail in the BOOK, and mentioned in a moment!
“ History is repeating itself and the Andersen's are being 'laughed to scorn' as had happened anciently to Ammon and his companions, What is being said and believed is:
1.) Andersen was crazy to give up a comfortable life in the U.S. to be living among and dedicating his life to the Indians;
2.) The Andersen's haven't made a return trip to the U.S. because he did something terrible in the U.S. and is afraid to return and face the consequences; and
3.) Brother Andersen is giving the appearance of living a charitable life, but it is a scam to get rich and build himself a business empire using the Church and the Foundation.
He went on denouncing all of them as untrue—Mission Counselor Perez, who had come with him, showing SHOCK and PUZZLEMENT.
Brother Brown then said,
"His efforts are AMMON-LIKE, with the same motivations of faith in the Lord and sincere love for the Lamanites as was the case with Ammon!"
Those in the packed chapel were all in tears like I had never seen before nor since in a Church meeting—except for a stunned Mission Counselor Perez.
The “good sense of humor” mentioned a few paragraphs ago had more to do with labels given us by LDS friendly fire, like:
"Crazy modern Don Quijote (or Ammon),"
but the one I liked best was ....
—which I still, with a warm smile, use a lot today as it's history was wonderful. It came from a visiting friend, Agronomy/Animal Husbandry professor from BYU, Keith Hoops, who in a key year later—1985— was my Stake President in Utah and mentioned prominently in the book in the 1985 period. But as I was giving him the tour of Valparaiso and our Victorias Dairy, he seemed puzzled and asked, "Where are your alfalfa fields and production of silage?" NOTE: They are keys in the dairy industry in Utah.
Others of what were intended as insults were, "The Mob,"—our Central House Family, and "Dunderheads," etc. all of course meant to be offensive but we outsmarted these courageous sanctimonious souls—none of whom were willing to risk anything to help or do as we were doing—so we embraced all of the labels and had fun laughing at ourselves and feeling awfully grateful when all of a sudden someone like Harold Brown saw through the bias, bigotry, narrow-mindedness, the gossip, ignorance and misinformation, and rather saw the hand of the Lord guiding our efforts and gave us his support and encouragement and decades later summed up the efforts with comments like:
"Thousands were saved, and many tens of thousands of Indians were aided in receiving an education!"
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AT THIS CRITICAL JUNCTURE, BEST INSERT HERE A BIT OF HEAVENLY GUIDANCE from:
I pray that the LDS Leaders will have listened to the SPOKEN WORD April 30, 2023, the message being......
"RECEIVING CORRECTION FOR MISTAKES....IS RECEIVING LOVE!"
...which is my message for the Leaders and others...so that the reaction of being told the truth will not evoke anger, rather gratitude with a humble and honest reaction and doing the right thing....so that the Lord will maybe put on hold the prophesied destruction in the Apostle Paul's prophecy to the Thessalonians because of its possible fulfillment at Valparaiso, Guatemala with the Massacre. That of course sounds awfully presumptuous on my part—read on with an open mind to see if it could be true.
LATER, well after Brown was gone from Leadership..
....it's writing also became a crucially informative and loving aid to LDS Church Leaders needing to know the truth about the life and death aspects of the history that reached a tragic climax with the terrible event called by those of us who lived it....
"The MASSACRE at VALPARAISO,
Guatemala of January 10, 1989"
"THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY!"
The prophecy, carefully studied in the BOOK, mentions "unrighteousness" that actually began with all in the temple meeting believing the LIE filled report, followed by the bulldozing of the chapel, compounded by then abandoning an active, faithful congregation!
Suspecting something like this I made the year before study , comparing it with branches in Coban and Patzicia, showed that, while it had dropped some in attendance from previous years, and paid a bit less tithing than before when the Mission President said "it paid more than any other Church unit in the country," but it still was better than the branches in the study—yet the chapel was destroyed and they were cruelly abandoned by the Leaders!
The hoped for positive results all backfired and made the overall, long-term results literally "the mystery of iniquity" that the Apostle Paul said would end in the "destruction" of those responsible—at least one of whom he called "son of perdition," who we understand can't be forgiven!
“Taught the Indians to worship me as though I were God!”
A rebuttal of this key accusation that had the Indians who heard it "laughing their heads off" is found in a quote from my BOOK in response:
"All Guatemalans who knew me—members or not—knew such was not true. Why didn't the Leaders know it? What was terribly missing that had them believing such a lie and thev committing such a horrendous act—that Paul called
'THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY?'"
Fifty percent of the member's faith at Valparaiso was destroyed and the members were lost to the Church, the other 50% didn't trust the Leaders and asked for my help.
The act of punishing the members for what I was doing in my personal life was interpreted by almost everyone as unrighteousness in the many villages surrounding Valparaiso as well as in the urban center and elsewhere.
THE HORRENDOUS GRAVITY OF THE MATTER?
I realized the actions taken were serious and in my early writings mentioned how the Apostle Paul's prophecy was fulfilled, but it didn't hit me hard until twenty-eight years later in 2017 when I made my last visit to Guatemala and Valparaiso with Garth Norman, and asked the missionaries,
"What success are you having in the many villages surrounding Valparaiso?"
Below we see the two missionaries I talked to, along with one of my traveling companions, Abinadi.
It especially hit close to home understanding how it contributed to most of the members of my family also rejecting what was done which spurred me on with the BOOK. One example I used in the book drives home the point with a statement from a wonderful, sweet daughter who gave me a statement about this, with permission to publish it:
“The Church’s mistreatment of our family, and the destruction of the chapel effected me—that’s why I left the Church. When I removed my name from the records of the church I wasn’t the only one, my husband and all of our kids left too. We were part of a mass exodus from the church—several of them were happening at the time. God knows our hearts and what we have been through. He understands.”
Honestly, how would you react to your family being
SPIRITUALLY MASSACRED?
and.....
FOR THOSE MEMBERS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE CHURCH?
also....
FOR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POTENTIAL CONVERTS TURNED AGAINST LISTENING TO THE MISSIONARIES?
and finally....
FOR THE DEAD INFANTS WE COULD HAVE OTHERWISE SAVED?
all leading us to an example that has application:
A MODERN METAPHOR of HOW WE MIGHT FEEL TOWARDS THOSE LEADERS RESPONSIBLE
A recent (Aug. 2023) hearing in the U.S. Congress delt with the 13 servicemen and women killed in a terrorist bombing in Afghanistan in 2021 that was preventable but a military snipper who could have taken out the terrorist was told to "stand down" followed moments later by the attack and loss of 13 of our bravest.
One mother said: "The administration is tone deaf and made bad decisions and more....they are INCOMPETENT, COWARDLY and EVIL!"
Another mom said emotionally: "When our leaders call this [the withdrawel] a success, it is like a knife in the heart for everyone who served in this 20 year war. I live every day knowing these deaths were preventable!"
A father said, directing his remarks to the political and military leaders: "Do what our son did, be a grownup.....man. Admit your mistakes so that this doesn't ever happen again! You all need to resign immediately. Our sons and daughters have more integrity in their little toe than every one of you combined!"
INSIGHT OF A GUATEMALAN LDS WITNESS….34 YEARS LATER
I will insert it here as posted on my Facebook page in Spanish, July 9, 2023…English translation follows:
Don Cordell, “Recuerdo todo esa desgracia que ocurrió con la iglesia. Todos se lamentaron y lloraron a gritos y orando a Dios por una explicación. Pues fue repentino y sin aviso. Todos los miembros fueron vistos como nada. Toda la emoción espiritual se perdió. Todos los que tenían fe titubearon. Muchos miembros fueron a otras iglesias. Las otras iglesias tuvieron buen material para burlarse de la Iglesia SUD y de los fieles miembros. Y muchos lideres de las otras iglesias ofrecieron consuelo a los dolidos y confundidos. En verdad, fue un terrible desastre que no se olvida.”
“I remember the disgraceful event that happened to the chapel. All felt terrible crying bitter tears, and prayed to God for some explanation. It happened suddenly without any warning. All the members were treated by the leaders as though they were nothing, and all their spiritual feelings were lost. All those with faith found themselves hesitating about their beliefs in the Church. Many members began going to other churches that had good evidence to laugh at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the faithful members. Leaders of other churches offered comfort to those hurt and confused. In truth, it was a terrible disaster and that can’t be forgotten.”
NOTE: At this point to help us understand better this tragic event, let me quote a section from the BOOK (page 445>>) or (page 70 of the segmented version
PUTTING INTO PERSPECTIVE THE GRAVITY OF
“THE MASSACRE”
The words of the Lord we have read describing this terrible tragedy should be enough to have us shedding bitter tears and should have us angry, but let’s just add a few simple, easily understood words from a well known writer and historian—whose pen name was VOLTAIRE, 1694 to 1778—known for his advocacy of freedom of speech, and of religion from way back in the period of the French enlightenment. He once said:
“THOSE WHO CAN MAKE YOU BELIEVE ABSURDITIES, CAN GET YOU TO COMMIT ATROCITIES!”
The Leaders in the Temple hearing the ABSURD report read by one of them with authorization from the highest level of leadership, all believed—at least voted in favor of, what those in Guatemala who knew me considered ABSURDITIES…..leading the General Authorities to commit human and spiritual ATROCITIES that have been described with many souls lost.
REMEMBER WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH….
We are talking about some members and a great number of others who could have become converts, but all “spiritually lost” in the event called “THE MASSACRE—a spiritual genocide”—all sort of symbolically left diabolically hanging spiritually dead along the Valparaiso road as a warning to others!
Note: Mention of a “hanging” along a “road” refers to the example of a movie,
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD detailed in the BOOK.
LET’S IMAGINE US TAKING LDS LEADERS DOWN THE VALPARAISO ROAD…
…….seeing the haunting scene of some abandoned—unrecovered Saints from Valparaiso, along with outstanding people from Santa Cruz Verapaz and Patzicia, and thousands of Indians from the
villages who could have been converted, but rather turned away by an unrighteous decision in the Temple based on lies—all of this varied multitude was lost and left spiritually slaughtered gruesomely along the roadway—an…
…ATROCITY OF GIGANTIC PROPORTIONS!
Will the Leaders be moved to tears seeing what they have done? Will they humbly feel a broken heart and contrite spirit racked with sorrow—enough to move them to repentance and positive action to do what has to be done to “set in order the house of God” and avert the destruction?
You might say all of the multitudes in the previous paragraph can’t be compared to lynched black people left hanging along a road as a warning, but again, WHAT DOES CHRIST THINK ABOUT
THOSE WHO CAUSE OTHERS TO LOSE THEIR FAITH & also perhaps prevent others THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP IT?
The reply to that question immediately brings to mind Christ's words showing this is A VERY SERIOUS, EVEN SPIRITUALLY DEADLY MATTER for those responsible. Christ’s warning:
"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matthew 18:6
So Christ takes even more seriously the unrighteous actions that can destroy ones faith, and maybe too for those who prevent others from developing it. Maybe Christ wouldn’t promote lynching those responsible, but with those guilty in the temple of God… …
JESUS CHRIST would apparently…
...hang a millstone around their necks and throw them into the depths of the sea!
This can’t be ignored, but has to be followed by quick personal redeeming efforts.
So let’s look again at the statement modified to fit our situation likening it to the “the mystery of iniquity” that happened in the Temple:
MEN ARE CAPABLE OF “ATROCITIES” ….WHEN THEY BELIEVE THEIR “ABSURD” BELIEF IS TRUE AND THEY ARE DOING THE WILL OF GOD!
When Harold Brown in 1973 heard about the injustices that had been launched against us causing good members to fall away and infants to die....
.....he broke down and wept!
He went on to explain, saying that high leaders at that time in 1973, “sometimes treat others cruelly when convinced they are right!”
So,
his sad tears were also for the leaders who he feared wouldn’t be honest and humble enough to accept their error!
But, here in 1989 we are dealing with a much more serious injustice, with far greater potential numbers of God’s children lost. Do you care? Are you shedding heartbroken tears? Will the Leaders—if given a chance to know of their mistake—shed bitter tears leading to humble repentance? Will they be grateful to learn of their terrible mistake and be able to make amends…before it’s too late?
The details were explained clearly in the BOOK in a sincere attempt to help the leaders make amends before it is too late, or—if they ignore the truth and rather are angry—show that such, using one of Christ's parables.........at the final day will likely see their lamps run out of oil causing the pronouncement by THE LORD on their heads of what should be for them the...TERRIFYING WORDS:
"I KNOW YE NOT"
This will be spiritually deadly for the leaders unless the Lord is just joking with all of His pronouncements in the scriptures about LIES, INJUSTICE, UNRIGHTEOUSNESS & SONS OF PERDITION!
Back to 1989, our brothers and sisters—who were firm in the faith—didn't trust the Leaders and asked for our help. We immediately responded to their need by inviting all to attend an expanded ANDERSEN FAMILY HOUR run like a Sunday School, and for nearly 5 years I put on hold other plans to be able to help those interested in persevering with their faith in Christ, and the restoration of the fullness of the gospel.
We had an average attendance of 60 similar to what is seen below .....
...... but finally I realized, in spite of problems with Leaders, the members needed the LDS Church structure and programs, but as long as I was there no help was forthcoming, so I decided to sacrifice what for me was sacred ground that I dearly loved where I had dedicated 26 of the best years of my life among a people who I loved as family, and so sold Valparaiso and moved on.
WAS MY LEAVING THEM....CRUEL, HEARTLESS?
But I left them all a world away from the terrible conditions when we started in 1968 when all of their homes and home sites were “incubators for disease and death!” We left them established in their own community on properties they owned with their own homes, including homes we built for the widows, and all eventually with potable water, and electricity, as well as having on the edge of the community their school we constructed that eventually would have over 400 students on the elementary level, as well as a Junior High with around 90 students.
Importantly all were educated and trained to qualify for good employment anywhere in Guatemala.
However I advised the members in my last Family Hour.....
"In spite of problems in the Church with the administration and questionable divine guidance, the Church is still the best and it is prophesied that eventually it will be "SET IN ORDER," so for your own good, and that of your children it will be best to be active in Church if it returns!"
I hoped....and still hope... that they can be of positive influence—MAKING SURE THE LEADERS UNDERSTAND THEIR TRAGIC MISTAKE and LACK OF HEAVENS GUIDANCE—so that the prophesied and needed ......
....."SETTING IN ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF GOD!”
will finally happen
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Eventually the Church returned and for the 4th time a branch was organized. Today it is a Ward part of the Coban Stake. One of the "Mob" (Central House Family) is the Bishop, raised by us—who still calls me "Papa Cordell."
A nice chapel was constructed in the middle of their community on properties purchased from 5 families I had given land to.
The tragic element in this is that with a little inspiration and common sense it could have easily been achieved without believing a false report, and creating a "Massacre," and destroying the reputation of the LDS Church among so many important people!
As explained in the book I advised against the Church purchasing the property they insisted on where they built the chapel, quite a long distance from their community. A year later I organized the Valparaiso Community where it would have been much more logical to have the chapel surrounded by their homes.
But the Leaders doggedly did it their way and built the chapel anyway, leading to the debacle of 1989 and the temple meeting with a false report read, and according to the Apostle Paul, at least one would become a "Son of Perdition!"
If they could of had divine guidance the Leaders would have rejected the false report with no destruction of anyone's faith, nor poisoning against the Church the many thousands in the villages, in the urban center, and other areas of the country. Many lives would have been saved and more educated by not slowing my work and that of the Foundation.
for anyone who honestly examines the facts
—THE TRUE HEART OF ALL OF THIS IS—
that the eternal jeopardy of the souls of the Leaders responsible is a deathly fear because
their only hope being to face the facts honestly and with soul wrenching humility before the Lord!
IMPORTANTLY, as happened in other areas of our work like at Chulac, Senahu, and Sacsuha unbelievably now with rural Stakes of the Church—
—the BOOK telling how it all started.....
...but at Valparaiso, if not for the Massacre, it could have, and should be surrounded
by Wards and branches, and be the
CENTER OF THE VALPARAISO LDS Stake!
SILENCE will end by them doing the right thing!
They have somehow got to understand that their tactic of SILENCE, they have used with me now for 13+ years since the attempt to return to the Church, is actually very negative and an even timid and cowardly approach as suggested by a quote found in the BOOK and inserted below:
SILENCE?
Its mention in this writing—and the same theme I just heard a crucial comment about at the end of May 2023—has me feeling the urgency of squeezing it in here and in other key places. It was made by well known lawyer, author of the current book, TRIAL of the CENTURY, and contributor to Fox News, Greg Jarrett, who said:
“Silence in order to hide the truth is a lie!”
THEY SHOULD BE GRATEFUL RATHER THEN ANGRY
THIS IS THE VERY HEART OF THE MATTER!
The Leaders should now be deeply grateful for having the opportunity to understand the details—especially the top four Leaders in the Church (06/01/2023) who are the last General Authorities still alive from the time of the Massacre and likely were involved in the unanimous vote accepting as true, a false report with all of its life destroying consequences! I’m talking about—the entire 1st Presidency, Nelson, Eyring and Oaks, and the Presiding Leader of the Quorum of the Twelve, Ballard.
For the average faithful member of the Church this kind of unanimous vote would be accepted blindly as "the mind and will of the Lord, and revelation" but it is now clear that the Lord had no part in this "MYSTERY of INIQUITY!"
This terrible error has to be rectified by the Leaders doing the right thing and having sincerely a soul wrenching repentant attitude! With this knowledge they can hopefully do what needs to be done in time for their own redemption and for "setting in order" the work of the Lord.
6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
THE HISTORY TOOK A LIFETIME TO LIVE..... ....5 YEARS TO WRITE!
Here we see the printed copy of the 568 page FINAL VERSION that I had printed for myself.....which I thumb through often when I now-—pretty much alone—need a boost as I continually feel profound gratitude to the Lord for blessing me with a lifetime of living it and rewarded with the opportunity of serving my Mayan brothers and sisters who blessed my life so much that....
..... I will now dedicate what I have left of time and money to continually aid the most needy among my Lamanite/Maya friends in living a life of dignity similar to what I desire for myself!
There might be reports of my activities here once in a while, but most likely they will be on my Facebook page where last year I began posting many historical photos in chronological order for my Guatemalan brothers and sisters — an example of one of many is inserted below with photos of my "Mob" who heroically all helped me twice save our barn from going up in flames:
So, if you are interested, take the initiative to check once in a while as I will not be pestering anyone with email notices.
Dealing with the numerous challenges-—like the mini-stroke, not being able to walk just 2+ years ago, etc.-—of this year, 2023, working at reaching my 88th year while hopefully still backpacking and being inspired with the wonders of God's creation in the High Uintas, as well as continuing my personal projects helping my people in the Mountains of the Mayas—all that is about all I can handle.
My personal website has mostly dealt with the HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS & that book, but I have experienced difficulty with that site, and will now use also for those themes the old Guatemalan Foundation website that will now feature a mixture of the two historical aspects that basically make up my life, along with my Facebook page that I will use as I go forward. So, this is my way of doing as promised...
.... FADE AWAY QUIETLY that I guess I'm saying is not really happening....yet— as well as helping still from long distance my needy Lamanite/Mayan brothers and sisters not reached efficiently by any effective humanitarian service. That, along with my outdoor activities that keep me alive—until my final disappearance with some of my ashes adorning my beloved High Uinta Wilderness and others sprinkled lovingly on....
.....The Mountains of the Maya......
.....where I lovingly gave—and am still giving in the time I have left on this earth—my all, as was required by Christ of the Rich Young Ruler in the Bible, which he couldn't do, but I in my own simple minded way persist trying to save as many of my Lamanite/Mayan brothers and sisters as possible !
THE LAND of ETERNAL SPRING
Note: I will gradually add captions, titles and many more photographs that might go on forever!
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“The time Elder Andersen and his companion prayed for me when I was sick, the Lord appeared to me and told me that the time would come when I would be taught what he was preaching and that I should believe because it is true.”
EASTER SUNDAY -- DIA de la RESURRECCION and the Maya/Poqomchi Legend of the Holy Man -- La Leyenda de Nahual Gwinak--El Hombre Divino
UN MENSAJE ESPECIAL para EL DIA DE LA RESURRECCION--LA LEYENDA de NAHUAL GWINAK--THE HOLY MAN
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