FORWARD
Richard Conrad Clarke: Personal History and Recollections
For a number of years the leadership of the Church has been urging members to write their personal histories and/or to keep journals that can be handed down to their posterity. With the advent of the personal home computer, the immensity of the task of a personal history becomes more easily approachable and it is reasonable that it can be accomplished within an acceptable time frame. Thus, in the month of April 1989, I begin to assemble my personal thoughts and recollections to produce my own personal history.
As the ancient prophet from the Book of Mormon, Nephi of old, I, Richard Conrad Clarke, was born of goodly parents on 30 September 1917 at the home of my parents, Lionel Conrad Clarke and Ada Imogene Smith who at the time resided at 307 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, California. This address is near the present site of the Los Angeles County Hospital.
My Patriarchal Blessing, given to me on 11 November 1948 by John C. Smith, Patriarch, confirms my heritage. In part it reads:
“The convincing spirit of integrity is a heritage which has come to you through your fathers. A long line of faithful men and women make up your ancestry. You are a product of their fearlessness and their willingness to do right against all obstacles.”
As I get into the writing of this history I find that it becomes more than a history of myself. It includes other members of my family, relatives, friends, places I have visited, etc., that have influenced my life and have given me cause to reflect upon life as a whole and what is important to me. For those who may read this history it will be necessary to “read between the lines” to fully understand my thoughts, beliefs and appreciation for the wonderful things this world has to offer and by which I have been extremely blessed.
To some, this may prove to be a boring treatise. However, many of the things I have recorded here would probably never have been recorded if I had not done so. The little I have been able to piece together about my parents may be the only evidence my posterity will ever have to appreciate them.