The letters gathered here cover more than twenty years. They catch Steve as a homesick thirteen- or fourteen-year-old in Wyoming, a brand-new missionary in Hawaii and Guam, a young husband in Orem waiting for his first child, and a grown man on a plane in 1991 already aching for the family he had just left.
Most are to his parents. One short note is only to his mother. Together they show the same habits over and over: he missed home quickly, noticed practical details, loved hard, and could move from the Spirit to money math or diet advice without changing tone.
The excerpts below are lightly normalized for spelling and punctuation so they read cleanly. Click any scan to open the original handwriting. Fuller source-first transcriptions live in Book Editions.
Mostly You
Wyoming · circa 1970 · age 13 or 14
Away from home for the first time, he tried to sound tougher than he felt.
“Last week we were losing this family. I started telling them my testimony, and I felt the Spirit so much that I had to see if I was still standing on the ground.”
“I almost cried my eyes out inside because I was happy.”
“If it wasn’t for you Mom and Dad, I wouldn’t have these sensations. I do love you and I love my work.”
“Tell Dad to get in with Paul and start a weight-lifting program to lose that belly of his.”
Jungle Is The Word
Guam · postmarked March 1, 1976
Transferred out of Hawaii, he wrote from a laundromat and tried to describe air that felt hard to breathe.
“It was sure hard to go when you know you have that many friends that care enough about you to stay up and see you off at the airport.”
“I’m sitting in the laundromat writing this letter to describe this place. Well, I think ‘jungle’ is the word.”
“When I first walked out of the plane, wow, the air felt real heavy, and it was a little funny to breathe the thick air.”
Ten Or Twelve Children
Guam · later 1976
The longer Guam letter sounds like Steve in full: family questions, teasing, the Lord’s plan, and a request for another journal because he had already filled one.
“Do you really like Dark Canyon? What is there to do? Hunting, fishing?”
“I’m going to have about 10–12 children when I get me a wife. I love children to death.”
“That’s what’s so wonderful about the Lord’s plan.”
“Dad’s bowling again. What’s your average, Dad — 255?”
“Could you send me another missionary journal as soon as possible. My pages are all written on.”
Spider Love Ya
To Cindy · Guam, 1977
The only surviving letter to Cindy from the mission. He was still on Guam, still praying for better Spanish, and she was someone to tell about it.
Letter to Cindy, page 1.Letter to Cindy, page 2.
Excerpts
“I’m teaching an awful lot, but it seems that I’m not spiritual enough to convert them to repentance. But I pray more than I have ever done in my life.”
“He tore us to shreds and denied us the opportunity to share our peace. He started asking us questions, then wouldn’t give us a chance to explain fully, and he would put words in our mouth.”
“Well I’m so glad I have the gospel, and I’m not led astray in something like that.”
“PSSSSS I have a 1,000 letters — would you like to sort them for me and put them in a book?”
[Signed:] Spider Love ya
Scared To Death
Orem · January 15, 1979
Now married and about a month from becoming a father, he was still writing home the same way: love first, then plans, then advice.
Orem letter, page 1.Orem letter, page 2.
Excerpts
“Today I wish I was in California. Homesick, I guess, for you guys.”
“I feel you guys were the greatest parents a son could ever have.”
“It’s about one month before little Roper will be born and I’m scared to death.”
“Hopefully entering chiropractic school next January. I’m going to pray about it soon.”
“Dad, do me a favor — cut down eating salt. Lose some weight.”
He did go. He earned his chiropractic license and worked on friends and family for free, never practicing professionally. Painting put him through school, and he never stopped painting.
Sitting Right Next To Her
To Mom · August 11, 1980
One note to his mother is so direct it barely needs framing.
Note to Mom, August 11, 1980.
Excerpts
“This is funny and you’re sitting right next to me, but I’ll try to say what I feel right now.”
“I really love you very much, and it’s easy to say but hard to show.”
“Thank you for your patience and understanding me, because lots of times I don’t understand myself.”
Leaving My Family For This
Honolulu postcard · September 27, 1991
By 1991 the direction had reversed. The son writing home was now the father who hated being away from his own family.
1991 Honolulu postcard, text side.
Excerpts
“I feel bad that I am gone. Leaving my family for this.”
“I wish I had never gone.”
“I am on the plane and it’s killing me because I always miss my family, and I have just started.”
“How’s your leg? Better? You’ll probably be walking on it before you know.”
“Is the mission in sight? Hope so. I would love to see you go.”
This chapter is the abridged family-letters edition. Additional mission-period letters, letters to Cindy, and fuller source-first transcriptions live in Book Editions.
