How Salem got his name

Salem's primary teacher asked that all the children bring a written story about how they got their name. I just typed it and thought I'd share it on this blog.

How Salem got his name

Salem’s mom & dad were reading in the Book of Mormon one night, as they always do, and Heather (expecting her first son) read aloud Alma chapter 13:
(Alma 13: 17-18)

17 Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness;

18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father

She stopped reading and said to Darrell “How about Salem for our son’s name?” They thought for a minute and said “Na” then kept on reading.

Days later Salem’s parents came back to the name Salem and thought about it again. They decided that they liked the name. It was original, and it meant “peace.”

His parent’s chose Wallace for his middle name since it was Darrell’s middle name (named after his maternal grandfather) and also Heather’s father’s middle name.

From that day forward Heather & Darrell’s first baby was named Salem Wallace Hendriksen.