Readable Unabridged

Steven Wayne Roper

Readable Unabridged

Working normalization draft built from the stitched raw unabridged manuscript.

Note To The Reader

This edition has been normalized for readability.

Steven Wayne Roper was a licensed chiropractor and painting contractor. His grammar and punctuation were often rough, not only on paper but in speech too. He liked getting to the point fast. He did not care much about polishing a sentence if he felt the meaning was already there.

If his writing is reproduced exactly line for line, many readers would have to keep stopping to translate the mechanics before they could absorb the substance. I spent my whole life doing that. I do not want posterity to have to work through the same barrier just to hear him clearly.

So in this readable unabridged edition, I have corrected grammar and punctuation and lightly smoothed the flow where needed. The goal is not to replace his voice. The goal is to make his voice easier to hear.

The meaning, tone, and substance are being preserved as closely as possible. The source images are included so readers who want the original writing can still see it for themselves.

If you want the more source-close version, use the raw unabridged edition. If you want the fullest reading experience without having to translate his wording line by line, this is that edition.

Chapter 1: Early Years

Young, restless, homesick, funny, and still trying to figure out who he was. The surviving source units below are carried as complete recovered transcriptions, not snippets.

1970 - Trout Farm Letter, Pages 2-9

[Page 2] I got nothing else to do but wright. So I'll start about 5:00.

Dad your right I clean the bottom of the pond today. And it was hard work. Smithy said he would pay me. That I don't know what's gotten into me, but I refuse. I guess it shows I got nothing to say.

Well you know what then this real cute girl but then only one problem she's only ten years old. She's the bosses daughter.

OH ya What happen on your trip when did you go? What happen? Any problem? Tell me if you wright. Tell the girls to write me a letter I'm love some. No girls.

You know Smithy letting me use his gun you know, he trusted me. Hey dad how are you doing on my bike? Does it run Okay?

[Page 3] Please answer. You no its only Thursday and I haven't got a letter from you yet. Get on the ball. You know I've wrote you a letter every day since I been here. Could haven't got a letter from you.

You know if I got a little loan for you. Here it is! -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Was it nice! Okay I'll translate it for you it says.

I got every I need. from ice box to every thing I do. But there's one thing I can't have right now is mostly You.

How you like that. I was thinking about home and that really thing got in my head. You receive a letter every day from me. Will I love you return the same. I guess this is a long letter you better save it because it might be the last.

[Page 4] Did you get the address from Smithy or from me? Can I have the lastest report on the happenings over there? Now I know why Smithy wanted me to stay so he can get away. Does that rhythm or does it tell time.

You know last night I stay up all night because I couldn't sleep. You know what else has happen I got kicked out of Smithy's room and put up stairs. ALONE no one to look at no one to see. You no why I'm wright such a long letter. I'm lonely I feel like I'm gone to cry because I'm home sick. I don't want to go through that horrible feeling.

Mom make sure you tell Uncle Phits that I would like very much to come home with them and would you wright Smithy that Steve for should come and have to come --

[Page 5] Home with uncle Phits but don't tell Smithy that I want to come home because it would make him feel awful.

The reason I asked you to do this is Smithy asked me to stay and I want to come home he would feel that he didn't do anything to make me interest and he would feel like a failure this way I'll tell him do I have to come home and he says Yes your mom says so. So I say O" blank out" and he doesn't feel bad and I don't either. Thanks an awful lot.

I'm having fun here. It's just that I'm home sick. I might get out of it the easy way by forgetting what I remember. This probably doesn't sound any sinces to you but I guess I have to live with it.

How are you Nancy? You've probably --

[Page 6 - excerpt] This is the longest letter I have ever wright and probably the last longest letter I'll wright.

Tell Wayne & Sue that I got all the fight I can handle. Don't send me any. I might send you some. Trust me.

[Pages 7-8 - excerpts] I feel like going to sleep. By the time you get this letter I'll be washing a dish. That's about it.

1 day in this place feels like one week at home.

[Page 9 - excerpt] We fixed the water line leak where you were here and we also put a new sprinkler on the side of the big pipe.

Well it's Friday morning and I'm awake. Good-by.

1970 - Elder Elmer's Trout Farm Letter

Date: undated (1970, trout farm period)

[Page 3] I started fitting rocks in the hole, and he says you don't have to do that now. Here, I'll show what I want you to do — make room for the water to flow downstream.

I guess I'm having fun. Sign off. I got to go to work.

Here I am again. I'm really tired. I'm beat. I can hardly stand up, and my stomach growls because it hasn't had your good cooking in about three days. I'm still homesick and can't wait to get home.

Oh ya, has my work called me yet? If they do, tell them that I'll be home at the end of this month. Are you sure Uncle Phits is coming? Remember that letter that said "I beat" — well that ain't what that supposed to mean. I'm beat, that's what I forgot. I'm gonna tell the boys that. OK. How's Church? I can't go because I can't drive any way half the time. Smithy —

[Page 4] Now tell me this, is it up to me if I want to go home, and if it is, tell me how much it will cost me to go home from here. I still got six dollars. I haven't spent a cent yet. And I want really to come home very much, but there's a way of hurting Smithy's feelings.

You know, so I'll try to hang on until Phits comes. Make sure you tell them that I'm coming home with them.

There's really not much to do up here but just work, not much to strain yourself, but just enough to get you sick of it. Smithy won't show me how to make any stones yet. I asked him, but he said that he has to get in the mood to do something like that. If only he'd show me how, I can manage myself from there on. I guess I'll [?] again.

1970-07-29 - Green Valley Camp

Date: 7-29-1970

[Page 1] Dear Mom & Dad

Camp is up [by] the Green Vally [?] sign. I'll [draw] a map.

[Map labels:] - Green Vally Lake - sign

I got too go. Bye now. No time.

Love, Steven Roper

Early 1970s - This Is Me In Three Years

This is me in three years.

1972 - P.S. I'll Try

P.S. I'll try...

Undated Letter Fragment - Baby News And Going Out To Eat

Mission Letter to Mom and Dad Source image: - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/Hawaii Honolulu Mission/Steven Wayne Roper Mission letter to mom and dad0003.jpg Note: - Manually recovered from the scanned image. - Uncertain readings are marked with [?]. - One sentence in the middle of the note is too faint to recover cleanly. - This appears to be the next surviving page in the same Steven Wayne Roper Mission letter to mom and dad0001.jpg / 0002.jpg letter set. Date: undated (mission period) [Page 1] (Hey I'll make this short okay. If you want to give the other portion to Dennis for me thank you.) Don't know what to say. Kenny called me last night and he said what he usually says. [One sentence about Mama is too faint to recover.] O wow, wow, a baby girl huh! that's great, one of each if ya rounded. So great and healthy, it was wonderful. I was so happy I almost went and got me some cigars. Well sorry this letter is short, but I'm going out to eat. Some girl invited me. Love, Steve P.S. Goodies. Oh boy!

1975 - Ricks College Letter To Mother Mary

Date: undated (Ricks College / before mission)

[Page 1] (Hey I'll make this short okay) If you want to give the other portion to Dennis for me Thank You

Don't know what to say. Kenny called me last night and he said what he usually says. I think he'll come up and about Mama she says she's going so I guess I'll see her.

O WO W WOW a baby girl huh! It's great one of each huh! It's so great and healthy, it was wonderful I'm was so happy happy I didn't go and get me some cigars.

Well sorry this letter is short but I'm going out to eat some girl invited me

Love Steve

[Page 2] PSSSSS

Hey guess what, I'm going to get interviewed to be an elder this Tuesday. He's going to call bishop tonight. I'm so happy.

to mom & dad

1975 - How I Got To Ricks

Date: undated (likely 1975, pre-mission / Ricks period)

[Page 2] Who am I? Am I a "nut" or just a crazy guy doing his own thing. My life has been thru alot of ugly and beautiful experiences. Mostly every experience relates to the question of; "Who am I?" Which gives me a feeling of insecurity and doubt of what I'm really going to become. I've tried every- thing you could [imagine?], but the spiritual ones I never forget. I'll try to attempt to relate this question in one of my experiences.

It was on a beautiful morning in the second week in August. The day was like any average day, which I'd go to work and then come home. As the day went on my boss broke his paint line. Paint flew all over the walls and even hit the ceiling. Me and this return missionary got the privilege to clean it up. We never got along too good (he always talked about the church and I wasn't too good of a Mormon.) While we were scrubbing the walls he started talking about a place called "Ricks College." This time I felt he was talking on my level. So I started re- sponding to him. I think I was [really?] interested in this so- called place. So I ask him if he would take me up there and get me in. He said "Sure."

The time finally came. I was in bed at the time he called. I got out of bed and answered the phone. You could never guess who it was; yes, it was that returned missionary. I told him to pick me up in a hour. After I hung up, I thought of who I was and why he was doing all this for me? I decided to try my best to get in this place called "Ricks." So I went and cut my hair. When I got back, that

[Page 3] missionary was talking to my mom. When I came in the door my mom almost fainted. I guess my hair gave her a pretty big shock. I kissed my mom good-bye and we were off to Ricks. My thoughts in my head were driving me crazy. "What is it really like."

When we arrived in a place called "Rexburg." He said, "This is the place." It was never the place I had pictured on the way up there. We went to this teacher's office. It was that missionary's friend. We talked and talked about a thing called "the expedition." I was really interested in going to Yellowstone National Forest and the Grand Canyon for eight weeks. So I signed up. Next, we went to the admissions office. They told me if I filled out [the paperwork?], that I'd have a pretty good chance getting in. After all this we went directly home.

When arrived home I told my mom everything. She was happy for me. I still felt that I wouldn't get in. In those four days I was home, I ran around getting [those?] papers signed. I got all of them signed except my medical card and my A.C.T. form. I thought I would never get in, but I still went. I can still remember the night. It was dark and very misty. I said my good-byes like I wasn't really going. As I drove away I had a feeling that maybe I would be back for awhile. All the way up there I was thinking I'd never get in. After about fourteen hours of driving I fell asleep, but at the wrong time. I woke up jumping back and forth in my truck. As I looked up I was headed straight for a fifteen foot sign. I

[Page 4] move out of the way just in time to miss it. After that experience I stop[ped] beside the road and took a nap. In a couple of hours I was up [driving?] again. Thinking that maybe some one up there told me to open my eyes. When I arrived at Ricks College, I was two hours late for class. This expedition thing I was in started one week before actual classes started. After class, my teacher took me out and registered me in [fifteen?] min. I could [have] spent two hours in registration, but he offered to help me.

So now I sit here in the Ricks College library thinking about; Who am I to have such a privilege to be a Ricks College student? The re- turned missionary put himself second. He could of said, "Go up there yourself." The teacher went out of his way to get me registered. What for? The reasons for all this is that everybody is a child of God, Brothers and sisters you would call them. So when that question comes up again, I can honestly say; "I am a child of God"

Who am I? I am a nut be- cause I like to do my own thing. Now I have learned three things since I've been to "Ricks"; First, I am to put God first before all things. Second, I am to help others any way that I can and third but last I am to think and help my self. I [haven't] had to much practice at this, but I'm willing to try.

Chapter 2: First Mission And Testimony

This is the first big turn in his life. By the end of it, he is no longer borrowing belief.

1975-12-15 - First Letter From The Mission

Date: 12-15-1975

[Page 1] Aloha Mom & Dad. I'm sorry I didn't write ya sooner but I've been pretty busy and we're not suppose to write on any other day except Monday. Today is P day. Not fun day but work day: laundry, shopping, cleaning, wash car, etc. By that time ya day is almost over.

We tried to get on a bus this morning but they would not wait for me so they left. Hopefully my companion jumped off the bus just in time. Some people are just plain rude. We were going to play basket ball at the taburnacle in Honolulu.

Dad, tonight is my first discussion, which I'm going to attempt to give a concept.

I'd like to thank ya very much for coming to the airport. That did make my day. It also made the day for my leader too. He told everybody at the mission in Hawaii how I held them up. But he did it in a happy manner.

[Page 2] Ya know it's like paradise over here. Green everything. It's even warmer than California but I'll get used to it. My senior companion is kinda lazy but I think it's because of me. I don't push him, which I will start to do real soon. It's now.

Dad, what was the name of the city we stayed in? I think it's on the other side of the island.

To give ya some idea how I am living, well it's about a 1/2 block to the beach from my house. It's not as close as Uncle Phil's but pretty close. We got four dudes sleeping here, one chap in the front room, two in one bed room, and one other in the other bedroom. We got a small kitchen and a bath room that flushes.

I was in Honolulu by Waikiki beach and their pad has 2 kitchens, 3 bed room[s], 2 study rooms, 2 bathrooms, one front room. What luxury. We're trying to move if we find a place that is in our district.

[Page 3] We're in two ward[s], Waipahu I & II wards. We start in the morning about 7am and get home about 6:30pm because we have to attend two wards. We got about 3 dinner engagement[s] next week.

And we're going to the mission for Christmas. Just before we go we got dinner at 11:00am, then 2pm, then we got at 9pm, then we go to the mission for dinner. Sound pretty good.

P.S. I really do love ya.

Now about finances. What the guys do is they get a checking account at home. Their parent[s] deposit the money. The kid writes a check out of his home bank and deposits it in the Hawaiian Bank, where they have a checking account there, so they can write checks to anyone.

[Page 4] So get me a checking acount in a bank at home. Send me the check. Don't worry I got enough money on me for at least a month and if fact I can stretch it to 3 months but that's stretching it.

I pay 50 bucks a month for my house. I pay 21 bucks for the use of the car. Then I pay for gas about 15 bucks a month. 86 bucks then there's food, phone bill & utilities.

I have a check account in the First Hawaiian Bank. The checks cost me a $4.00 but to write a check it's free. It's there policy. That's all. I'll send one of my return checks.

Elder Johnson my companion says that he can live on 140 a month, got to go. No hurry about money. I'm good for about 1 1/2 months.

1976 Mission Period - I Never Knew How Much I Loved You

Date: undated (mission period, likely late 1975 or early 1976)

[Page 1] Aloha Mom & Dad ya know something I never knew how much I loved ya till I'm gone for awhile. This mission is the happiest times of my life. A couple of days ago I was sicker than a dog but now I feel like I can convert the world. I thank ya so much for giving me the opportunity to serve our Lord. Dad if ya get a chance read Amos 7:3 and tell me if the Lord is perfect. It's just a scripture that bothers me.

I'm reading the Book of Mormon and I know now that Joseph Smith did not write the book at all. He translated it thru the gift and power of God. I'm sending in for some books. It's about this lawyer and this guy trying to be a lawyer and for their final exam they have to prove a case. He pick the subject of proving that the Book of Mormon is true. The book I'm talking about is a transcript of the trial. It's called The Book of

[Page 2] Mormon on Trial I think. I'll send ya one too.

I got my package. Thanks alot. I loved those oatmeal cookies. They remind me of my cookie doe.

Sound like that christmas dinner was the pits. We had two luaus this Wednesday and then another Saturday. Hawaiian pig & poi and the whole bit.

Mom & Dad I'm going to start sending tapes cause I'm tired of writing and I'd like to give it a chance.

Love your favorite son, Steve

Happy New Years

[Handwritten note near the bottom partly unclear: "I'm sending a tape."]

1976 Mission Period - My Family Comes Before The Church

[Page 1] Hafa adai Mom & Dad I hope every thing fine and dandy? Mom I forgot to write to Sandy not because I didn't want to but I got the Sandy's mix up and I got a letter shortly after ya told me about Sandy but it was from Shortie not Johnson. So I thought every was cool. Now I know and I'll write to her. But Dennie, is there any thing else I can do? I tried my best but nothing happen, as ya see there isn't any thing I can do? Steve referred briefly to repentance and forgiveness. Private details are not included in the public edition.

Is Wayne & Lin going to Church? How come they have not written?

[Page 2] [Those?] good looking brothers? [I love] them too — don't they know that. Nana send my card and I'll drop her a few lines to thank her. Bro. Wallner sure enjoyed your little note. His wife back and "boy" he is happy again. There was some serious problem between them but now it looks good. Bro Wallner is like an entirely different person. It's great.

How's Mike's parents doing? Is she feeling all right. Mike wrote me and I think I wrote him. I'm not sure.

Last week we were teaching the legal advisor to the governor and he said he can't understand why organized religion. We dwell on that all night. I looked at my watch and found it too late so I said B.J. I got to ask

[Page 3] ya a very important question and I'm not kidding. I said B.J. I want you to prepare your self for Baptism in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints on Sept 25th. He was standing up at the time. He said Can ya hit me with any thing harder. And started to laugh, and as he saw that we were kidding he sat back in his seat and changed the subject. We started to leave and he said Why don't ya ask Tessie and we'll get baptised together... Tessie is his secretary and we're teaching her also.

I'm praying and hoping that he can find the answer he needs to change his life cause he's living in deep sin. No dad I don't go fasting to often, but I do go when one of the members ask me.

[Page 4] me. Well Mom I do love ya and I love the church but my family comes before the Church. Being on a mission I spend all my time doing church so is there any thing I can do for ya if not

Love ya [← Chamorro phrase, possibly "Hu guiya hao" = I love you] Steve

P.S. The Johnson gave me a party and it was great. I love these people so much also. They make me feel wanted.

Bro Wallner took these pictures and gave them to some[one] and in turn give them to ya.

1976 Mission Period - I Am Beginning To Control My Temper

Undated Mission Letter to Mom and Dad [Page 1] How's it Mom & Dad & Charlie & Grandma? I hope everybody is fine. Steve wrote about mission expenses, packages he was sending home, and recent baptisms. [Page 2] A baptism was delayed after a family problem came up early that morning. Steve wrote honestly about being angry and then choosing to hold his temper. The private details are not included in the public edition. I guess I'm beginning to control my temper. Never thought I would ever do that but I see that I'm handling situations alot different than I used too. Thank you Mom & Dad for all you have done. You guys are the [page ends mid-sentence].

1976-02-11 - Honolulu

Aloha Mom & Dad How's it? Hope Okay.

Last week was a real drag. We hardly got anything done. It rained for a period of 2 1/2 days straight. The Elders in Wainai got flooded out. It about 20-70 miles away. Those in our district.

Besides that I'm just doing alright. I'm so glad - happy - trouble is doing alot better. Hope they survive the two [years]. Just think I've been out on my mission for 2 months now. Before ya know it Kerry will be home, then Brassfield, Jearson, then me. Doesn't that sound great but ya know I love it here.

We went a member house last night they feed us and we mess around over there. It was like home. The members are so friendly and welcome. It's just great.

Maybe if it stop raining will do some marvelous work and Wonder who knows. Last week we were losing this family. They stop smoking for a while but they started again. I felt like they were goners but I started to talk telling them my testimony and I felt the spirit so much that I had to see if I was still standing on the ground.

We were late coming home but it didn't matter because the spirit guided us to stay. I also most cried my eyes [out] inside because I was happy. So happy that I never want to come down from that kind of a high. It's so great and if it wasn't for you Mom & Dad I wouldn't have these sensation. I do love you and I love my work.

Is dad on a diet too? Hope so.

About Paul and the weights - don't ask him, just bring them over to his house. Tell him that I know he want them. No question, because me and him talk about it. Tell dad to get in with Paul and start a program weight lifting to lose that belly of his. Mom I know he wants to borrow [them] cause he said he did when I [was there].

Mom & Dad I was even busier this week but I felt like that I didn't need to find more people to teach cause we were teaching about 15-19 [discussions] a week. ... Last week hardly any teaching we have about 30 call backs.

Don't know how long I'm going to stay on Oahu hope not to[o] long. ... Got to run alot of work sorry I have to end so quick but I'll start another [?]. Love you lots.

[Page 5] Mission president over here now. He comes to Guam about every 3 months. It's the first time that I've seen him for 2 1/2 months. The talk last night in sacrament meeting was a very good talk. The pres. talked about an experience where he was interviewing a missionary couple in April and the Bro. Brackford excuse himself to go to the restroom. In ten minutes he was dead. Last week and before that they baptized 7 people.

Well I received your letter dad and it's great to hear about the truck working and also about Rod going to new movies. That's great. Well I got to go. Maybe next week I'll have more time to write. Sorry I'm so short. Love you a whole bunch.

Love, Steve

P.S. I'm eating good and I feel alright.

1976 Mission Period - Letter To Cindy Before Guam

1977 Letter to Cindy from Hawaii Source images: - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/1977 Letter to cindy from Steve in Hawaii0001.jpg - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/1977 Letter to cindy from Steve in Hawaii0002.jpg - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/1977 Letter to cindy from Steve0003.jpg - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/1977 Letter to cindy from Steve0004.jpg Note: - Manually recovered from the scanned images. - Uncertain readings are marked with [?]. - A few school-related lines on page 2 are only partly legible; the readable meaning is preserved. [Page 1] Aloha Cindy Hope everything's okay with you. Everything's cool with me. I wish it would never end. I really enjoy your letters and I wish they would never stop. I'm sorry I haven't written for some time, but I've been pretty busy. I've got my first transfer and it's only 3500 miles away from OAHU. It's an island called Guam. It's closer to the P.I. than it is to Hawaii. Not very many people get shipped out there I hear. The very best go. I don't know how I got in that order but I'm leaving this Saturday. My new mailing address is omitted from the public edition. I don't know if I'm happy or not because I've heard about it. Some good, some bad. Look on the map by the P.I. (Philippine[s]). It's only 55 miles all the way around, 33 miles across. It's way smaller than OAHU. [Page 2] Now to answer your letter. I baptized my first kid last Saturday and boy I was scared to death. I was more scared than the kid. What an experience. Sounds like some of the young adults would do, going to a snow party with no snow. Did ya throw dirt at each other? [Several lines here are only partly legible; he appears to ask about Cindy co-teaching, 7th grade, and Gilbert Elementary.] Is that English (reading & comp) 101? What kind of history class? Get a book. I'll start sending some stuff. What do ya put in a scrapbook that might help me? Love always, your friend, Elder Roper

1976-03-01 - Guam Arrival

Date: postmarked Agana, Guam, 1 March 1976

[Page 1 — image 0001] Hafa Mom & Dad I arrived in Guam at 4 am this morning. The arrangement — they going to keep me in Agana instead of moving me to Agot cause I'll be staying there only a week anyway. I guess it's what I'm suppose to do. It was a long 8 hour flight. No movie or radio on the plane. They feed us something but it wasn't too good. And I was seen off by a dozen and a half of friends. It was sure hard to go when ya know ya have that many friends that care enough about ya to stay up and see ya off at the airport. They got me some leis and a couple of other going away gift as stationary. So I have no excuse to write them. I really do love the Hawaiian people and I hope I soon feel the same way about the Chamorro [margin: Guamanian] people. I'm sitting in the laundry mat writing this letter to describe this place well — I think "jungle" is the word. This place is a tropical jungle. I've only seen a little bit but I think I'm going to like this place. The elders over here sound really cool. They made a switch already on the plane and I have to go along with it. I wanted to go to Agot but they said that the other elder should have more time to remember the area, so that's final. The island seems very civilized to me. It's not what I thought it would be. But I shouldn't draw

[Page 2 — image 0002] my conclusion until I've been here for awhile. Did ya get my package? I hope so. Ya told me to write and tell ya the news and I did another thing — the humidity is very high over here. When I first walked out of the plane — wow — the air feel real heavy and it was a little funny to breathe the thick air. But as they say I'll get used to it. Just like how hot it is here. It's real hot but I'll get used to it. And when I came thru the baggage line they open my bag to search it. And they couldn't get them shut again. They go thru every little bit of article ya got. Flip the pages in my book, the whole bit. Well I got to run. Remember send me a letter. Okay.

I Love you, yours always, Love Steve

[Envelope address details removed.]

1976 Guam Period - Six-Page Letter Home

Date: postmarked Agana, Guam, 1976 (Guam mission period; between March and October 1976)

[Page 1] Hafa adai Mom & Dad How's every thing going with ya? Every[thing] slow over here because of a tropical storm. We don't have them too often but when we do it rain like the dickens. I'm going to put together another tape. I'll answer ya letters first okay. I haven't got too much mail this week — all of a sudden four of ya letters came. The Post Office must be screwing up or something.

Do ya really like Dark Canyon? What is there to do? Hunting, fishing, is there any streams like in Mt Lassen Volcanic Park? Remember that nice place we camped at. Was it like that? I remember Idyllwild [Steve's spelling: IDyWild] — that big rock ya jump off of. That's a real cool place.

Bro Wallner received your Disney book and he really enjoyed it. In fact that article or cartoon about the restaurant — well he hung it up in his restaurant.

[Page 2] & He also like those pictures of Disneyland. I [crossed out] told him he should frame them and put them up in his restaurant.

The Weinstocks are going to church. Well Mike is sure going to love ya for it. I haven't heard from him in a long time. Have ya? Keep up the good work on those guys, cause they'll be a great asset to the church. What do they think about missionaries coming over and talking with them? Have a Family home evening and have the missionaries give it. I'm sure they would be glad to. Well ya do what ya thinks best. Okay. Cause ya can tell what they need & I can only give suggestions. Okay.

About Grandma. What does she say about my letters? Why don't she answer my letters? Are they too strong? Give me some advice Mom, Dad — come on?

[Page 3] Dad ya going hunting? → Oh I wish I were home too, with ya at Saddle Spring. Last time we went I got [a] burned hole in my sleeping bag — remember? ha ha.

About Sandy Johnson — I haven't heard much. But the storm we're having could go to the Philippines and rip them up. They say Guam is supposed to have an earthquake real soon. But ya can never know. Sandy is in a very rough situation. They're having typhoons and earthquakes ever since I been on Guam. Hope she comes home in one piece. She will cause the Lord's by her side.

Bill planning to go to Utah in a couple of years. He still hasn't [been able] to sell his restaurant. It will probably be after I get home.

[Page 4] Bill's wife is from Utah — I think Provo. She has all sorts of relatives there. [Then, now —]

Me — I going to have about 10-12 children when I get me a wife. I love children to death. I'm really seriously thinking about adopting some foreign children when I get home.

Is Valerie Alderman writing to Kerry? I hope not! He's had enough problems with Lisa. But I hear Lisa married now. I feel sorry for her on account I know the guy she married, but ya see he can repent and become like a cool guy again. That's what so wonderful about the Lord's plan.

Dad's bowling again. What's ya average Dad — 255 — ? No. I'm not under estimating ya Dad. You're good. I know ya good cause I can feel it in my bones, and my bones don't lie.

[Page 5] Who spoke at the dedication of the Stake Building? [margin note: Bro Dent]

Last week Elder [Dent] & [Elder] Groberg (member of the 1st counselors of seventy) came to Guam. Just to see the elders. What do ya think about that? I'll tell ya later in a tape what he said.

[I] would think John & Leslie having a dandy old time. Passing up going to Hawaii.

Well got to go. I love ya very much & and I love the Lord. Love Steve.

[circled note: Turn over]

[Page 6 — reverse of page 5] [Postscript — continues from reverse:] [If there's] at any thing I can do, Just ask.

Mom & Dad could ya send me another missionary journal as soon as possible. My pages are all written on. Okay. Love ya

[Envelope address details removed.]

1976-12-06 - The Spirit In This Mission Was Overwhelming

I got to the mission at about 10:45 a.m., got my room, and registered.

They made me room head, which means I'm in charge of everybody in my room.

It feels real weird conducting family prayer. The guys kind of look up to me I guess.

It was real different standing there while they were telling me to watch my guys and report them if they are bad.

I feel 100 percent better. The Spirit in this mission is overwhelming.

Last night was a hard night. Everybody was tossing and turning half the night, and my companion snores.

I feel now that this is the place where I'm supposed to be.

1976-12-08 - This Was The Most Spiritual Place I Ever Saw

Today was our first fast. It was a 25-hour fast.

We met this guy that stopped the guys I was walking with.

He said that God revealed to him that the Book of Mormon was written by the devil.

He wanted us to listen to him, but he would not listen to us at all.

There was nothing done. He just wanted to win an argument.

This morning we went to the Salt Lake Temple. This was the most spiritual place I ever saw.

It was a bitchen place. We spent about eight hours there.

1976-12-11 / 1976-12-18 - I Could Not Stop Bearing My Testimony

Next we taught this older couple. She was a member and he wasn't.

It was funny because they were reading this book on a faith healer.

My companion said they ought to throw it away. He even said he would like to take it with him so he could dispose of it.

I felt the Spirit in that home so strongly that I could not stop bearing my testimony for hours.

I was high on the Spirit that night.

I told him to really honestly pray about it, and I bore my testimony to him that it had worked for me, so why not him too.

I felt the Spirit so strongly that I just couldn't shut up.

I talked a long time and his eyes glared at me.

I just can't wait to see what happens.

1976-12-22 - Really Helping These People Just By Singing

We got up real early this morning.

We took a bus back to the pad, and it happened that the bus kept on going. It was too full to pick us up.

We waited about an hour watching bus after bus go by until our bus came again.

We had an appointment at the hospital for family home evening. We were an hour late.

We sang Christmas songs to the real old people.

I felt that I was really helping these people just by singing.

I saw one of them crying, not because she was sad, but because she was so overjoyed with happiness.

1976-12-25 - So Strong You Could Cut It With A Knife

We kind of did a no-no today. We really didn't do much missionary work.

I listened to their testimonies, and I knew it was from the heart because I felt the Spirit so strong you could cut it with a knife.

I felt like crying so bad, but I didn't. Inside I cried my eyes out.

There are so many spiritual missionaries that I just couldn't believe it.

I want to be close to my Heavenly Father.

1976-12-29 - I Wasn't Just Another Object This Time

I almost lost my temper and said a couple of swear words.

We worked in a yard with sickles and cane knives.

We had a discussion with the Melkonians, and it went real good.

I even felt the Spirit and answered some of their questions.

I felt like I wasn't just another object this time, but part of the discussion.

I had a warm feeling.

I knew it was from the heart.

1977-01-05 - My Reasoning Took Over My Temper

We went to Waimea Falls.

I jumped the fence.

Elder Johnson told me to get out.

I got mad, but my reasoning took over my temper.

I wasn't supposed to be in there.

That wild boar was getting ready to make his move.

I have to think before I act. Thank you, Elder Johnson.

1977-01-06 - It Felt Like Someone Talking Over Me

I gave the prayer and my words kept coming.

I did not know what to say, but I could not end for some reason.

It felt like someone talking over me.

I struggled and finally said, "In the name of Christ, amen," which was very hard to say at the time.

Maybe I'm getting a revelation of some kind.

I can't really express it.

1977-01-10 / 1977-01-11 - The Spirit Guiding Each One Of Us

I have determination to become a good missionary. I just have to use it.

I voiced my opinion about my elders truthfully. I felt some of them were lazy and I told them.

I felt the Spirit guiding each one of us.

I felt closer to those guys than ever before.

I was worried about giving the lesson. It was my turn to give the investigators class for the first time.

There were eight investigators. I was very nervous.

I started to mess around with the film projector.

I said a little prayer to myself that the Lord would get me out of this mess.

The film even went over time. I thought the Lord was working overtime.

1977-01-18 - I Thought It Had Been Five Minutes

I got up at five o'clock to study because I had to give a talk.

I was scared all the way up until I stood up.

I thought it had been about five minutes.

Somebody told me it was twenty minutes.

I asked the bishop if he would sing Aloha Oe to Elder Lambert.

My companion had tears in his eyes.

1977-01-20 - I Was Scared But I Did It

We went to seminary.

We got a call to go to the hospital.

There was a baby with jaundice under the lights.

We had to take him out to bless him.

I was scared, but I did it.

I felt a little sensation of the Spirit.

Then we taught a family.

The children seemed more interested than the adults.

1977-01-28 - I Was Sick But Not Any More

I told them a story about the men that jump out of the plane.

They don't have any fear because they know the answers.

Those girls said they felt that same thing when they heard it.

Then I started to feel good.

I was sick, but not any more.

From then on I talked with the Spirit.

1977-02-03 - It Was Like Sitting On A Cloud

My eyes were watering when I left.

When I stood up, it was like sitting on a cloud.

I don't know what I said.

My companion said he felt the Spirit come out of me.

I love those people, and I don't want to lose them.

1977-02 (early) - Let's Not Let This Be A Bad Day

I was beat and mad.

Elder Johnson was ready to hit the sack.

I said, "Let's not let this be a bad day."

We went out and started visiting every member on the street.

They told us the husband did not want Mormon visitors.

I could tell by his voice we were not wanted.

1977-02-22 - I Tried To Touch The Hearts Of The Young People

They asked me to teach the six-year-old class.

I loved it.

Later I taught the young people.

We had a fireside, and I felt the Spirit as I talked.

I tried to touch the hearts of the young people.

I hope I did.

I love the Lord with all my heart, might, and mind.

1977 - Letter To Cindy From Guam

[Page 1] Hafa adai. I hope everything is okay. I haven't written in a long time. Do ya want to know what really I'm doing? Well I'm teaching an awful lot, but we are teaching some homosexuals. 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, and that's all that really bugs me, is how to go about and convert them.

About Buckshot — has he left? Buckshot didn't write me before he split. I heard he had his farewell — what did it sound like? What did he say?

Are ya going to move to Washington state also? Hope not. When are ya going to the "Y"?

We went to McDonalds a couple of nights ago and we saw 3 waheinies (Chicks) and a black pug over their food. So me and my companion walked over and asked them what faith they were from. They [said something that struck him]. This guy said that we have the only true church on the earth. They were from the Church of Christ. They invited us to a Bible class. They said we could have a couple of minutes to explain our beliefs. The next evening we did decide to go.

[Page 2] As the minister was praying, every body was saying, "Yes Sir, Yes Lord," meaning the minister would say a couple of lines and they would say Yes Sir. Very crude. Anyway he started preaching about false messengers, directing his talk toward ripping us apart. After he sat down I asked him if we could take a few moments to tell them why we came here. He said no.

He tore us to shreds and denied us the opportunity to share our peace. That's what irks me about the whole situation. He started asking us questions, then wouldn't give us a chance to explain fully, and he would put words in our mouth. I wish I could have punched that little tramp. That religion is cruel and makes people suffer.

Well I'm so glad I have the gospel, and I'm not led astray in some thing like that. I truly [know the gospel is true — remainder obscured by decorative graphic].

Love ya, Steve

[Postscript with arrow: Spider Love ya]

PSSSSS I have a 1,000 letters — would ya like to sort them for me and put them in a book?

2003-2004 - How I Received My Testimony

I told her how I received my testimony on my mission. Kind of sad that I didn't have a testimony even though I went on a mission. I really didn't have my own, just thought I did.

I was teaching this one minister about the gospel and he stopped us and said he wanted to hear from me.

I said, "I don't know if it is true."

My companion was in shock. "What do you mean you don't know if it is true? You better find out."

So that night I went down to the cliff and knelt down to pray. I was in Guam at the time.

I first got up and thought about all the different churches that I knew. I joined the church when I was eleven. Before that we went to the Catholic church. I used to go with my best friend to the Presbyterian church.

I thought to myself which one I would choose, or the one I thought was the best. I felt the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the best one because of family. They are so concerned with the family. We even pray to our Heavenly Father.

So I knelt down and asked if I was right that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was true, and I said I would not get up until I had my answer.

I was in a bind. I either had to know it was true, and if it was not I would be going home. So I was really desperate to know.

I felt an evil feeling come over me to get up and leave. I thought, I am alone and need to be with my companion, but I stayed because I really wanted to know.

Then a wonderful feeling came over me that I will never forget.

It was like a light coming toward me, and I was afraid to open my eyes. I felt that the Lord Jesus Christ might be standing in front of me.

I opened my eyes and found that I had knelt about two inches in front of a tree.

I heard a voice that was not in words but came to my mind. It said, "You have always known it was true. And if you want to know if God lives, just look around you and you will know that he lives."

I went back to the pad, and no sooner had I laid my head down on my pillow than my companion said it was time to get up.

I sprang out of bed, and I was ready before my companion for the first time.

My companion noticed a change in me, and I asked him to go back to this minister's house.

He said there was no sense going back there, but we did, and I got to bear my testimony that I knew now the gospel was true. The minister was silenced, whereas before he was loud and rude.

Since that time I can never deny what I felt or heard.

I want you to know that I know Jesus Christ lives and the gospel has been restored on this earth.

I am a result of a prayer of a mother or friend to get me a chance for a better life.

I had a testimony of prayer.

2015-01-11 - Can God Actually Love Me

I have been thinking about this phrase and wondered if it could be true. Can God actually love me?

I have always felt like an outsider when it came to being a member of this church.

What I thought was true didn't really matter because I was lost with all the scriptures people would quote to me to explain the truth.

I tried to be someone else to try to fit in, and it was all a mistake.

I was very confused about religion until I heard the story about Joseph Smith, how he himself went alone to pray to find the truth.

On Guam my companion was very upset with me because I would not bear my testimony about the gospel.

I was not as versed as he was in the scriptures and didn't have all the teachers he must have had.

I just wanted to be myself and know the truth, so I went down the street and knelt down next to a cliff overlooking the ocean.

First I asked myself what was true in my life, and I came to the conclusion that the Mormon Church was true because it taught families can be together forever.

So I prayed and said I felt in my heart that the Mormon Church was true, and I would not get up until I knew.

I waited a long time, and at first I felt something bad come over me and wanted to get up and run back to my apartment, but I stayed.

Then I felt something that overwhelmed me to the point that I didn't want to open my eyes, but I did.

I had knelt two inches in front of a tree, and I heard a voice that said, "You have always known it was true. Just look at what God created: the trees, the ocean, the sky."

I got up and ran back to my apartment, and just as I laid my head down on my pillow my companion said, "It's time to get up."

Since that day I don't have to worry anymore about scriptures or whether I fit in, because I know the truth.

1976-10-15 - Transfer To Saipan

Mission Transfer Letter to Saipan Source image: - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/Ropers stuff/Steve Roper transfer mission letter 10-15-1976.jpg Note: - Manually recovered from the scanned image of a typed mission transfer form. - Minor OCR noise has been cleaned up where the wording is obvious. Date: 10/15/1976 [Page 1] THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS HAWAII HONOLULU MISSION 3019 PALI HIGHWAY HONOLULU, Hawaii 96817 Elder Steven Roper [private mailing address removed] DATE: Oct. 15, 1976 Dear Elder Roper: You have been called to labor in the Saipan area of the Saipan District of the Guam Zone. Your Sr. companion will be Elder Steven Scheaffer. Your District Leader will be Elder Steven Scheaffer, and your Zone Leader(s) will be Elder Allen Brown. Your mailing address details are omitted from the public edition. This assignment is to become effective: Oct. the 21st, 1976 Transportation arrangements are as follows: Make your own arrangements to fly to Saipan. Coordinate it with your Zone Leader. I would like to have you assume responsibility for accomplishing the following objectives in this calling: To work cooperatively with your new companion and to develop the potential of the area. Seek the assistance of our Heavenly Father in all that you do. Work in unity with your companion and help Elder Steven Scheaffer to be successful. Live as the Master Teacher taught, that you may teach more effectively. Our prayers are for your success. Aloha, Wm. W. Cannon Mission President cc: [Pile?], Zone Leader, Parents Mr. and Mrs. Loyal W. Roper [private address removed]

1977-02-16 - Jean Nago Letter About Steve

1977 Jean Nago Letter About Steve Source image: - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/Hawaii Honolulu Mission/Steven Wayne Roper mission letter from Nago_s (Saipan) to paren0002.jpg Note: - Manually recovered from the scanned image of a typed letter. - Minor OCR noise has been cleaned up where the wording is obvious. - Uncertain readings are marked with [?]. Date: 2/16/1977 [Page 1] [private mailing address removed] February 16, 1977 My dear Mrs. Roper, Aloha from Saipan, the capital of the Marianas and temporary home of your son. Although we have not met, I am writing to you to assure you that Steve is just fine. I realize how worried you must be -- knowing how far, far away he is from home in a strange environment. But please try not to worry too much -- Brad and I are trying our very best to take good care of him. We are constantly in contact with the Elders -- making sure their needs are met, their stomachs are satisfied, etc. They know they can approach us at any time when they need help so I do hope you are not worrying too much. Elder Roper seems to be very happy here in Saipan. He is always in a good mood, smiling, joking, and working hard to spread the gospel to the people of Saipan. Our two sons, Braden (5) and Belden ([3 1/2?]) adore him. Whenever he comes over, they roll and play with Steve on our living room floor and always look forward to having him over. Someday I, too, must go through what you are now experiencing -- having my sons away for two years in a place I probably never heard of. I only pray that we can bring up our sons the way you brought yours up so that they will be able to adjust to their new environments the way Steve has. You must be proud of him. He is also very proud of both of you and loves you so very much! We are looking forward to meeting you someday soon. Until then, please take good care of yourselves. With much aloha, Jean Nago P.S. -- We were so touched and grateful for your thoughtfulness in sending all those wonderful discount cards. Thank you so very, very much. [4 1/2?] years ago, we lost our nine year old son in a tragic automobile accident a few hours before we were to leave for Disneyland. Since then, we visit Disneyland every year - the magic kingdom that he loved and enjoyed so very, very much.

1977-03-17 - Transfer To Majuro

Mission Transfer Letter to Majuro Source image: - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/Ropers stuff/Steve Roper letter mission transfer to Majuro 4-17-1977.jpg Note: - Manually recovered from the scanned image of a typed mission transfer form. - Minor OCR noise has been cleaned up where the wording is obvious. Date: 3/17/1977 [Page 1] THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS HAWAII HONOLULU MISSION 3019 PALI HIGHWAY HONOLULU, Hawaii 96817 Elder Steven Roper [private mailing address removed] DATE: March 17, 1977 Dear Elder Roper: You have been called to labor in the Majuro area of the Majuro District of the Micronesia Zone. Your Co-Senior companion will be Elders Wardle and Cooper. Your District Leader will be Elder [Wardie?], and your Zone Leader(s) will be Elder Porter. Your mailing address details are omitted from the public edition. This assignment is to become effective: Thursday, March 24, 1977 Transportation arrangements are as follows: Air Micronesia I would like to have you assume responsibility for accomplishing the following objectives in this calling: Learn the area and find, teach and baptize families. Get to know the Native people of the area. Seek the assistance of our Heavenly Father in all that you do. Work in unity with your companion and help Elders Wardle and Cooper to be successful. Live as the Master Teacher taught, that you may teach more effectively. Our prayers are for your success. Aloha, Wm. W. Cannon Mission President cc: [Bill?], Zone Leader, Parents Mr. and Mrs. Roper [private address removed]

1977-07-07 - Fewkes Letter About Steve

July 7, 1977 Fewkes Letter About Steve Source images: - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/Hawaii Honolulu Mission/Steven Wayne Roper Mission letter, from Majuro, Fewke to his mo0001.jpg - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/Hawaii Honolulu Mission/Steven Wayne Roper Mission letter, from Majuro, Fewke to his mo0002.jpg - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/Hawaii Honolulu Mission/Steven Wayne Roper Mission letter, from Majuro, Fewke to his mo0003.jpg Note: - Manually recovered from the scanned images. - This is a contemporaneous letter about Steve's mission service, not a letter written by Steve himself. - Uncertain readings are marked with [?]. Date: 7/7/1977 [Page 1] July 7-77 Dear Bro & Sis Roper, I have wanted to write you for sometime and let you know how much we love your son Elder Roper. He is putting in some long hours on his mission and the results show. Last week four more were baptized. This was a thrill for all of us, and we were especially happy for Elder Roper for he had labored many hours with these people. We have alot of good visits with him and really have learned to love him. [Page 2] As you probably know he has a new companion now and they spend alot of time with us. They seem to get along very well together and have a good time in their labors. This is good. We loved Elder [previous companion name unclear] too. He was called back to the Hawaiian Mission. We have told the Elders they are welcome here anytime. We do enjoy them. We feel we are all very close being so few of us on the island that are members of the Church. [Page 3] You can be grateful to have a son who puts all he has into his calling. He is a humble Elder and the Marshallese people here love him very much. We find those who do not belong to the Church look up to the Elder also. As you can see we think they are very special. I pray the Lord will bless you while your son is serving his call. Sincerely, Bro & Sis Fewkes

Chapter 3: Marriage And Young Family

Marriage did not make him polished. It made him write more plainly about money, fear, love, and family.

1979-01-15 - Orem

Date: postmarked Salt Lake City UT, 15 Jan 1979

[Page 1] Well Mom & Dad Business is slow as usual. Today I wish I was in California. Home-sick I guess for ya guys. I feel ya guys were the greatest parent[s] a son could ever had and I want to express that I love ya very much and if all goes well I'll be in California in a year going back to school. Hopefully entering Chiropractic school next January. I'm going to Pray about it soon to make sure it's alright with the Big Boss. What are ya guys up to? It's about one month before little Roper will be born and I'm scared to Death. Can't wait to show off the little bugger. [blacked-out word] Bought a washer for Cindy last week — she's over joyed about it. And I'm kind of a Grouch today — I practice basketball every Wednesday and sometimes I play racketball.

[Page 2] Dad do me a favor (I now make a commitment) — will ya to cut down eating salt. It will be hard but I can do it.) Loose some weight. Pray then do it. Dad I know ya could now. Mom please help Dad by going on a diet with him. I should mention Cindy sends her love for ya all. And I love ya so much. Take Care.

Love ya Steve. & Cind[y] & little monster.

[Printed on stationery:] Steve and Cynthia Roper

[Envelope address details removed.]

1980-08-11 - Letter To Mom

Date: 8/11/80

[Page 1] This is funny and ya 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 it, which I hardly ever show it. I appreciate all you've done for me and my life. There's times I really had doubts of living, and when I was going [through it?] you assured me, and I continued to trust in you, which I feel is the best quality that any mother could possess.

Thank you for your patience and understanding me because lots of times I don't understand myself.

Love always, Steve

1981-12-14 - Nago Family Christmas Card

1981 Nago Family Christmas Card Source image: - Steve_journal-20260627T211045Z-3-001/Steve_journal/Hawaii Honolulu Mission/Steven Wayne Roper mission letter from Nago_s (Saipan) to paren0001.jpg Note: - Manually recovered from the scanned image. - The card itself is undated, but the postmark appears to be December 14, 1981. - Uncertain readings are marked with [?]. Date: 12/14/1981 (postmark) [Card message] Hi! Hope all is well and you're enjoying your activities each day. Please extend our love & aloha to Steve & family - still don't have their address. Think of you often - have a safe & happy holiday season. To the Ropers - Merry Christmas And best wishes for a Happy New Year! Much love from Brad, Jean, Braden & Belden [with handwritten grade notes after the boys' names]

Early 1980s - Letter To Cindy

[Page 1] Long while no card again. I'm just not a card man. Sometimes I go to the store to pick one out and I can't find one because no body but me can say how much I care for you. Not any writer can put my feeling on paper and so I just thought I would express how I feel about you.

Honestly I know we have our ups and downs, but we seem to always get over them, which truly tells me that you love me so much. I have NEVER felt as much love than from you, and maybe that's why my failing are so touchie when things aren't going like they should.

I love you more than you could ever imagine, probably because of the way I show it. You take it to mean something else. When you are away I worry about you and pray that you will come home safe. Is that love? You may not know it, but when I come home [from] school I try to help with the kids in my own little way, play with them [and] take baths - is that love?

Long time I want to buy ths store out for you. Alot of time I go and pick many thing for you but end up putting them back because of lack of funds.

[Page 2] Is that called love? I don't know. All I know is if you were around any more I would be terribly hurt as much as any one has ever hurt me before - is that true love - I write my feelings down because I'm rather a quiet guy when it become my feelings.

For I living with ya for four year I think your great. There's nobody that I would trade places with now or at any time.

Have a joyous birthday and a happy year to come.

Love, Steve

Your friend

Early 1980s - Valentine Note To Cindy

[Page 1] To Cindy,

Happy Valentine day. My writing sucks, but I did look at cards for you, but none would be as funny as me. I do think about you a lot and do care about [you?] more than ya might think. I love ya very much and I doesn't show it much. Wish I could be a better husband, one that ya would be happy with every day of your life.

I appreciate you for what ya do for me, of which is a lot more than I do for you. I hope ya had a happy day and I will try to be more lovin.

Love always, Steve

P.S. I love ya - most of all ya are my # one Valentine.

1991-09-27 - Postcard To Mom And Dad

Date: postmarked Honolulu HI, 27 Sep 1991

[Postcard text — image 0001] Aloha Mom & DAD I feel bad that I am gone. Leaving my family for this. I wish I had never have gone. How's your leg — Better ya'll Probably Be Walking on it Before you Know. Is the Mission in Sight? Hope so. I would Love to see ya go. I am on the plane and it's killing me because I always miss my family and I have just start[ed]. I [am] sorry for not visiting you more in the Hospital and I [left for] this trip when you [were] in the Hospital. For ya, son Steve

[Address side omitted from the public edition.]

2000-2001 - Cindy On Love, Children, And Nearly Not Making It

Hi Honey, I had a thought. I was thinking that maybe you think X don’t love you because I dont’ smother you anymore. I feel a lot more trust in our relationaship and I feel like I can do things on my own now. When we were first married I must have driven you crazy with all my whining and feel sorry for me attitude. You were the only thing I had except the kids and they were all little and not very good at carrying on a conversation. I was jealous X think of your time away from us which was a lot back then. I was sooo insecure. I think my love for you is better now. I want to be with you but I don’t have to be with you. I look back on the years we’ve been through and wonder how we ever made it. I think Heavenly Father has helped us so much. We’re still here together and that’s how we want it. We have some of the greatest kids on earth right in our very own family. Who would of thought that Steve Roper and Cindy Gahr could have ever turned out kids like this. But you and I know that a lot of who they are happened before they ever came to this earth. I just feel so blessed to be their mother and I know that you are so grateful to be their father. You are such a wonderful Dad. Today I thought about some Of the similarities between you and Jeff McCraney. You both love your children so much. You both aren't the conventional Mormon dad but you are truly sincere in what you do and say. I couldn't have asked for a better father to our children. I thank my Heavenly Father for letting us be together. For helping us through all those times we nearly didn't make it. We must love each other Steve, we couldn't have made it any other way. Thank you for taking care of us. For all the wonderful and fun things our family has done together. For what we’ve seen and heard and learned about this world, our church and ourselves. Thank you for loving me. [Private marital-intimacy details omitted from the public edition.] I do love you with all my heart. Cindy

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Chapter 4: Fatherhood And Family Theology

He spoke to his family like a father, not a performer. Even when he was talking about eternity, he usually turned it into something to do today.

2002-02-21 - Letter To Charity

2/21/02 Mom called last night to find out you made it home alright. Wow all ready miss you. You are such a survivor. I love you for that. You make things happen are willing to find ways to get things to work. That is your talent to see a situation and find a way to get a solution.

I love alot of your solution. We all learn and make mistakes and you are willing to continue and that is what happiness in all about; I sure enjoy you home again and we honestly love Rock too. He is so apart of the family and I thank the Lord for leting us be apart of both of your lifes. I will always love you but you make it easy for me. Take care and let me know what is up with Rock s job status. Pray about it and we can always work things out. Give me a Plan as I always say. Lv alwys Your dad.

2002-03-26 - Letter To Charity

3/26/02 Hey Bear; How ya feeling? got a letter from bake last night. Actually mom did. We all got a tape. He sounds to good and wants to convert the world. He has a plan to do that too. I think it will be good to have you guys close. The key to familiy life is to stay close to the Lord. All else will fall into place if that is your first priority. I know it hasn't always been mine but it is now. I so much love the church as more or nor as much as I love my family. I hope and pray that we can always get along and be together forever. You never realize what you have until you might loose it. Charity you make me proud of how you live your life and the love in your heart for the family. It's a great thing to have; Love for family. I know you will love your kids better that we have loved you. Take care and mom is thinking about coming to visit you if Jess doesn't come.

Lv alwys Dad

2002-04-09 - Letter To Susan

4/9/02 Yes I got this. What new with you? Mom and Dad had a great time in Utah. He saw your daughters and Mike. Conference was good this year and we need

to be mind ful of the things we need to do to be truly happy. Families can be together forever when all members strive to do what is right. There is no set way that we made it and that is it. We need to contiune to try to do our best in doing what the Lord wants us to do and then we have an opertunity to be able to live with him once more. Time is runing out for some of us and it is never to late but it gets harder to come back as we let the Idea of we will do it later enter our minds. Because later never comes true we only have today. Love you susan and sorry about our phone deal but I call you again. Happy brithday to you and when I see you again I will take you to diner for your brithday I missed. Lv Alwys Steve

2002-09-06 - Letter To Susan

9/6/02 Well Susan: We just dropped Angel off at school in Idaho............ I got home and read your email. I was prettie well lost with what you said. Sometimes I think you feel I purposely try to make you feel bad. But that is not my intentions at all. Every body calls this a church and we need to believe in the church but I feel its not just a church but the way it is. If we live it now or we live it in the after life that is the way it is. It is better and easier for us to live it here on earth. Once we have been taught and know it to be true then we need to live it or other wise we it may be alot harder later. So do you think I pride my self in telling you that I love you and want you to return to church? It's not for me that I want you to understand but for your self. If you could see the change in Mitch and how she lives her life and your right I was not a always there for her but I feel that was both of our faults. Nancy has played a terrible game with forgiving one and not the other and it took me some time to just deal with it. Right now I tell Nancy what ever I want to tell her I do not watch what I say any more. Nancy needs to forgive and it is up to her and if you think I am associated with Mitch because she has come back to church. You don't know me very well. My friends and relatives don't have that criteria to be my friend. Susan I pray almost every day to help you understand the gospel more fully. Why do I do that? It's not for me but for you. I have not doubt that Joseph Smith is a prophet so what he said is true. There two kinds Latter Saints in this world. Ones that believe but that don't obey and the ones that believe that do obey. I am still trying to obey. I make mistakes every day and I will not give up until I die with trying to do what is right. I love you and want you to be with us if I make it. I know you love mach and all your kids and if I have hurt you in any way. I am Sorry. Lv alwys Steve Your only brother in this life.

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2003-02-14 - Family Party Letter

2/14/03 Sue. I tried calling nance last night but she was is some type of problem that she couldn't talk. f wish we didn't have this problem because it is one more thing nance has to deal with. Charity and Rock went to Utah last night, There flight got delayed a couple of hours. Were leaving for Utah this afternoon. We always think about our selves but I am trying to think about what mom really wants and I feel she doesn't want to feel like bad at the party. So that is why I am going to tell her and she what she says. Nance that is. Lv alwys STeve 2/14/03 Just talk with nancy on the phone. I wrote her a email and told her we would like to cancel the party. She went out of control for awhile but soon came to her senses when I told her I wasn't in charge of the party. We are all in charge and we make the decision. I ask her to talk with you about it. And we can make the decision together. Nance feels that there is no problem with having Mich there and we should not cancel because of one person. She will not invite her but says she will still come even if Mich is there. She will not make a scene but just will not talk to her. Will not make any comments to her or about her. I feel better this is out in the open and if we are going to have a family gathering that all is invited. Period. That is what I feel it should be. Forgive our follow men and women. Maybe not be there friends but forgive them. I really don't know what to do. I can not speak for mom and Dad. That is who we want to please. Would mom want this party with Nance and Mich there? Yes but only if the feeling of hate were not there. Can you tell Nancy that? Is that the way you feel. Some how I felt if Nancy had invited miph that it would be on Mich's side to come or not. Nancy is just not ready for that right now. The question we should have is would mom like the party the way it is? What do you think? Nancy tried calling you a few minutes ago. I told her to take care of this tonight because her work is so stressful. Let me know after you talk with Nancy about having the party or not. We should all agree together whether to have it or not. right? I just want mom to be happy. What will make mom happy? Is the question. Lv alwys Steve.

2003-02-27 - Letter To Terry

2/27/03 Sue: Your family is awesome to be with. We had a short little family night that was done well by Tommy. He bore his testimony and you could just feel the potential in that young man. Mich said some words also about the Temple and how her life has changed since she has been to the temple. She sure had a tough road but I think now she is happy to go through it. Her kids were very good to be with, they are very loving to me and I don't know why. I am just there Uncle. I can honestly say I love those kids and worry about them. AS for Terry. Me and-her had a very good talk the first night they came. She told me about her finding peace. I lessened to her and when she was done [ explained that it doesn't stop there. It's not like you found it and the is the end. You have to continue each day in looking for things to do to have love. If she never stops looking for truth in her life and I never stop then we will be able to go back to our Heavenly Father together. Terry has grown allot but needs to have her own ideas and not some one else's. I feel if she continues on her path to find true love that she will find it. I really had a good time with you family. Take care Lv alwys Steve;

2003-03-05 - Letter To Susan

Faculty Reflections...................................................................££ B Presentation of Class of 2008.............................................................. EPrincipal _ Acceptance of Class................................................................... Suzie Board ofEducation, SVUSD

"Awarding of Diplomas................................................................... "" Suzie R. Swartz — President Board ofEducation, SVUSD —

Reading of Graduates’Names............... " Closing Remarks/Recessional............................................................ Ep4ri™/ * Audience will please stand ** Please withhold applause until diplomas have been awarded

Colin M. Stark Lauryn Rebecca Stewart

~7—ffV

^M7

nQ Q i i n o a

Jessica Rojas Samuel T. Roper

Bake into College and on the 14th. Maybe if Mich wants we can go to the temple on the 15th or 16th. 1 will ask her.

10/2/02 Dear Sue. I visited mom yesterday and it was a good visit. Dad is really

2003-08-19 - Letter About Ryan

8/19/03Nanie: I don't know why you got this. My Computer is doing some weird stuff. Just replaced my power supply. Probably going to buy a new one. But right now its on hold. How did you lesson go last week? 1 just love to talk about the gospel. Ryan is doing really good. He saw the Bishop last week and the two Bishop will talk on how to help Ryan. Last night we had Germ Watts who is going on a mission to Taiwan, at the Beach. His family came. It was a good for Ryan. Germ is so prepared to be a good missionary. Ryan said he wanted to be like this guy. I really feel it is good for Ryan to be here. It is not all peaches and cream. I am sorry to say we are not perfect but we try. I am beginning to have a love for Ryan that will last through the eternities. So know that you son is doing well with us. Nancy the Gospel is so true. I pray I might live it principles so I can live with iyiy father once again. We saw Grandma Bovert last Sunday and it took grandma awhile to recognize Ryan and mom said it was not until we left and she looked at pictures did she know who he was. Grandma at times is just like her old self and other times she struggles allot with life. I know there is something else she is suppose to do and I will pray to find out if there is any thing I can do for her. Take care. Lv alwys Steve

2015-09-15 - Letter To Mikailo And Teo

How are you doing? Mikailo..It was so nice to see you in Skype and talk with you and your brother. It seems you are doing very good in school. It’s great to have friends. Choose them wisely which means. Friends that do good things and not bad things. Its will make your life a lot easier if you find friends that do good things. Because in return you will do good things with them. Always make sure your mom and dad is your best friend. Be able to tell them everything about your life no matter how old you are. Do you still like to swim? You told me that you can swim across the pool. That is so awesome. When I come to see you I want to go swimming with you. I love to swim and I just love the water. My dad (Grampa Roper) taught me to love the water rather than learn how to swim. Swiming came latter in my life. I am not afraid of the water because I enjoy being in the water. It gives me comfort to be in a pool, lake or the ocean. Just being in the water gives me such comfort and confidence that I can do anything. Move over here or jump into the water over there, just gives me so much freedom to do whatever I want. I think you mom has that sort of that feeling too. At least I hope I taught my kids to feel that way. I want to tell you that I really love you and you make me feel happy when I am with you. This last summer was such a wonderful time to be with you and hang out with you in the pool. I know you had fun with your cousins but it was great for me to be with you when you did. I notice that you really love you family and like to be around them. Not just your mom, dad and brother but your cousins, grandparents and uncles, aunts too. Out of all my grandkids you seem want to be around me the most. I like that. Lv alwys Papa Steve and Grandma Cindy. The two pictures are for mikailo and Teo.

Chapter 5: Jake, Missions, And What Lasts

Missions never stayed in the past for him. He kept measuring ordinary life by what a mission left in a person.

Late 2001 Or Early 2002 - Mexico

1/8/03 Dear Bear: How was your Christmas? Christmas came and we were not ready for it. We did try to get a Christmas spirit by inviting a family down the street to a FHE. We did and they are from Bolivia. I hope we can continue to share the gospel. Well on Christmas day we went to Mexico. Monterrey. Bakes mission. We drove 22 hours from grandma Vickers house in Victorville to McAllen Texas. Slept one night in the states then off to Mexico. We went and saw the movie Twin Towers, Lord of the rings (Sub titles in Spanish) in Reynosa while Bake went and set up some families to see. When the movies was over Bake showed up with a friend. Young girl named orlanda. She went with us to a family named Havier. Bake had baptized this family. Only the mom and kids and the-father got baptized after Bake had left. Strong family and really smart in the gospel. I was impressed with the family and how they knew why so many families fall 0,^ from the gospel with they just join the church. (Retention) They said it was the members

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[email address removed]

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Charity Beck

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fault cause they don’t fellowship them. The missionaries do their job and the members don’t. They told me Bake was not the typical missionary and that is why he will do well in the gospel after his mission. So many change their ways after they come home from their mission. The next day we were going to Monterrey, which is three hours away. The travel paperwork and vehicle-permit situation got too confusing to keep driving, so we left the van at the bus station and took the bus to Monterrey. Cindy was worried about the uncertainty, but we got through it. ON the bus Bake met a girt (Young girl that sat by him on the bus) He said he was in her house when he was a missionary and that she told him he looked familiar. Didn’t teach them the gospel but she was interested and gave bake her phone number. We got off the bus to enter the El Centro bus station. It was a zoo. You could tell it was not a safe place. So we left as soon as we can and stayed in a hotel two blocks away. Bake and me got a taxi and went to the mission home. Before we left we ordered a dominos pizza to the fam in the hotek The mission home was in one of the churches. One of the elders help us out a lot. By finding the cheapest car in all of Monterrey. Let me tell you it is not cheap to rent a car in Mexico. You think it would be cheaper but it is twice as much. I freaked out but soon can to my senses and paid the price. The first day we had a flat tire. Tire was rotten and they wanted us to pay for the tire. Unbelievable the way they handle business in Mexico. Not all places were like our car rental place some were honest. 1 told them to take back the car. After some argument they said they would not charge us for the tire. But when we brought the car back they wanted money for the Hubcap. Wouldn’t you thing they were both related. All they wanted was money. Some people are the same no matter what country you are in. I threw down 200 pesos and told them they were dishonest people. Bake said we should get a taxi as soon as possible because we don’t know what they will do. We had other problems with our hotel but they resolved it in an honest matter. So I would tend to think Mexico is not all bad. Only if you rent a car from the cheapest place in Mexico you are bound to have problems. Right. You would think that we didn’t have a good time but that is not true. I had one of the best times of my life. I know things didn’t go as well as they should, but that is the adventure of going to a foreign country. We went sesame street amusement park. We saw one of the most beautiful falls you could of ever seen. When we got there. The falls. I let-Angel, Tima and David. (A 14 year kid bake baptized) ride horses. WE walked, bake, Danielle and me. (An 18-year girl bake baptized} I didn’t know that they took two different trails to get to the falls. I went crazy cause when I got to the falls. My kids were not there and they left before I did. They told me I could find them at the top of the falls. I walked up

there and they were not there. So the only thing I could do is go the beginning and wait. ON my way down 1 saw them and every thing was Okay. They were good guys that guided the horse but some-times you just don’t know. This family that we brought to the falls wanted us to go with them to the mountains. WE stopped and bought T-bone steaks. Cheap. And cooked them in the mountains: It was an awesome time. No English but you can tell the love we had for each other because we had a common bound and that was Jacob. He was such a great missionary and it was nice to be there to find that out for out selves. You never know the influence you have on people until some one else can see it for them selves. Bakes two years were ones that he spent doing the best he cap in serving the Lord. Jacob wants to got back and help more people there in Mexico but now he has-to get on with his life. Lam proud-of that boy for doing so well and taking the gospel seriously. I just loved to be in the place where my boy served two years. Lv Alwys Steve

2002-07-29 - Letter To Elder Phipps

7/29/02 Hey Elder Phipps. Don't really know if Corey is getting married or has a girl friend. I talk to him allot about work but that subject does not come up. There starting a school to paint today and my friend Cooper will be working with your dad and Corey. Hope he makes it. I think he will. Sounds like your doing good and your still into the missionary stuff. Don't think about the time you come home . only think about what you can do with your time there. What kind of difference can I still make. Don't let the other missionary tease you and be confident with what you want to accomplish. YOU are you and no one else will be you so let no one tell you how you are except you. Life can be good and bad depending how you act with what the Lord gives you. I am impressed with what you have already done with your life but it never ends and we never come to the realization that we have done it. We always strive to obey the commandments of god and never let up. we either are getting better or we are getting worse there is no standing still. I pray and hope that you will stay on that path to reach the good fruit. I am still walking toward that tree also and some times I fall or stop but I need to get up and start again. That is what life is all about. You will find it easy since you are on a mission and when you come home it will change. The real test will begin. So prepare now by doing all you can in teaching the people on your mission. Take care Iv alwys STeve

2002-09-06 - Letter To Elder Phipps

9/6/02 Elder Phipps: That is awesome that you still baptising. You are Awesome and I am so proud of you. I am so proud to know you and tobe associated with you. I can honestly call you my friend. Which I have to few of. True Friends are hard to come by. I would do any thing for you. Cypress is a good school. I got my AA from that shcool. Actualy it was in science. AFter my mission I went to Cypress. I went to Ricks college in Idaho before my mission and that changed my whole life. My mission changed my whole life also. There is not to many days go by when I don't think of my mission. I make my decision in life on the way my mission was served. I was not a perfect missionary but I cared about the people and that was what really matter. Serving others is what the Lord wants you to learn on your mission. That you true to find your self when you are so busy helping others. Your dad is doing alot better and has alot of work. You need to just continue your life as a missionary all your life. Josh said a mission is not two years but Its your whole life. The two years is a good start on you mission. Well take care lv alwys STeve P.S. Did I send you money for my knife? (I want a traditional knife from your country you are serving

2002-10-02 - Letter To Susan About Jake Home

10/2/02 Dear Sue. I visited mom yesterday and it was a good visit. Dad is really going to have a hard time taking his driving test. It's on the 16th of Oct. I read him questions and when he gets them wrong he doesn't understand so he continues to give the same wrong answer. He gets the majority of them right.but there is the two or three he can not seem to change the answer. He understands that he is having problems and really tries hard to understand but knows that it is just not there any more. Rocks mom told uncle john why not? When john said he was not a Mormon? He said he didn't know. It was a good visit with Grandma last Sunday. We had Bake there with Rock. Charity, Jed, Tima, Marsha, cindy and me. Of course Uncle John was already there. We had a prayer before we left. The spirit was there. Grandma didn't do the rosary thing after Jakes prayer. Things are changing with her. When grandma ask Jake she can not understand why the lord has not taken her yet. Jake told her she needs to be baptized. It really interesting that when Jake says things that they are sgid with sincerely and the spirit just radiant. Susan it is a marvelous feeling to have you son back after two years of being gone. Ya he is doing the right thing for those two years but it some times still hard when he is gone. I am grateful for my family and for us to be together once again. Angel is still away and we won't truly be together until the 10th but it will be an _ even greater feeling in our house. Take care. Lv you alwys Steve

2002-10-07 - Letter To Susan After Conference

10/7/02 Sue: Did you have a chance to lessen to conference? It was prettie much tell it like it is. Get our selves in order by obeying the commandments and if we are not then repent today and start. No more waiting for the blue moon, now is the tune to prepare to meet our heavenly father. If we wait we will not be ready when he comes. Wow what powerful message. He is a true prophet of God. I know it and I need to live by it or die trying. One General Authority said it's not important to know how many kills you have on your system. But it isimportant to know what type of relationship you have with your Heavenly Father. The message was clear that today it the day we do some thing about our selves. Even the Prophet of God said he needed to do better and will try from this day forward to be a better person. Be a little kinder to those he comes in contact with and hopes he can be a better person so we can trust him more. Wow! that is what humbleness is all about. Teach by example. I have been trying to find things I can do so I can help others and in this last conference I have come up with two items. Invite my neighbors to my family home evening and have more meaningful prayer. Lv you susan. Always will love you. STeve Having Jake home is a blessing that can not be replaced.

2003-07-11 - Letter About Jake Coming Home

Ya all done well this morning? Hope so. Have you written to Elder Kendall yet? He needs words from you. Another white guy for a comp. Wow you have to feel lucky. Bake told me that he never had a white guy. That every one his comps were locos and did not speak much English. He says he like the Spanish language better that English. He speaks really good. He has gotten calls and emails from Mexico for his friends. Let me tell you that he loved his mission. When he came off the plane he was looking up to see if he could go back. He loves us so much that he was pulled in two directions. I know it was hard for him because it was hard for me. I didn't not want to leave my mission but you have to and the blessing in store for him his so much greater than what he just went through. The mission is the best right now in his life. He make his mission be with him for ever. I told him that a mission is not two years but your whole life. That those two years is a jump start on the start of your whole life. It was a blessing to see my son after two years and I am so proud of him and I just knew he serve his heart out. I ask him if he was the best. He said no. But I tried to be the best and that is what really matters. When President Hunter released him. He just sat there and cried. I did too because he knew it was done. We cried together. I told him to that we loved him and we be there for him to help him get back into the world. You never know it but it is easy to live the standard of the church when your on your mission. It seems it would be the opposite but its not. you have no rules, no comps and no schedule, just on your own. The things you learn have to be put into practice and tested. Some day Elder Lassek you will be tested. Take care lv alwys STeve A true and eternal friend. I am sending you a take with bakes voice. Been working on it for a month or so.

2006-06-09 - Letter To Brian Tate

Hey Elder Tate: Some time we never loose our name but you may feel more comfortable to be called Brian. We kind of playing email tag and I sent you two emails before I got one from you. So let me answer your question. Yes that was Denise Dung. Blossom told me that she join the church and is going to church. So I thought you may just want to know. Blossom took Erick’s death kind of hard at first but it was because of the Gospel that she got through it. When she first heard about his death she was crying for days and some one told her at church. If she believes in the Plan of Salvation and Blossom said she did. IF you would truly believe in the Plan of Salvation you would not be so sad. So Blossom kept telling her self I believe in the plan of Salvation. After saying it a ton of times she was still sad but she knew she would see him again. It helped her get through it. Billy installs electronic equipment in homes. Touch pads with computer hook ups. TV’s and sound systems. I haven’t really talked with Billy since I saw him on Guam. He has always been away on another inland when I would go to Oahu. Just want to tell you Brian that I appreciate who you were on the inland of Guam. At the time I was with Elder Brown and he was such a jerk. I just wanted to give it all up until I became Comps with you. You were easy going and I felt we got along super well. Better than any of my other comps. We thought alike we did good work and had fun doing it. The memories I have are still with me today. I always wonder about Jim Cruz, the white boys we baptized, Sad story about Bro. Wallner, Sis Shashedo and so many others. My Mission was one of the greatest times of my life at that time. I have so many experiences that may be better because I love my family but I would not have had those family experiences without my mission. It set the pattern of my life and even though I screwed up so many times it was my mission that got me back on tract, it’s not what we have done but what we are doing now that makes us who we are and I learn that on my mission. I always thought there would be time where you would just make it. I would see others in the Gospel and felt they never had any problems. That they have worked so hard in gaining perfection in them selves that they didn’t get tempted and they were beyond all that. That is not the way it is. It’s always trying and never giving up. It’s the person that picks himself up that makes it to the finish line is what enduring to the end is all about. In my life there have been special people in my life that have helped me pick my self up and you are one of them. So it gives me great honor to say thank you for doing that for me. Take Care Lv alwys Steve

2015-02-03 - Letter To Jake

Jake: We just got home from Texas. What I keep coming back to is this: you can get through this hard season in your life. Use your time wisely, keep learning, and be ready to work when the next door opens. Some people may need time, but you can still build a good life by doing the next right thing. I love you, son.

2015-12-19 - Letter To Jake

Hey Jacob. How's it going? I know Christmas can be hard during a hard season in your life and away from family. I pray for your safety, strength, and peace. Life gives us ups and downs, and I have enjoyed reading your letters. I feel you have come far. Take care of today, keep learning, and keep moving in a better direction. I love you, son. LV always, Dad

Chapter 6: Endurance, Temple, And Forgiveness

He did not believe in static testimony or staying down for long. For him, repentance, temple work, and forgiveness all required movement.

2000 - Building Upon Pioneer Faith To Move Forward

ujckvzok —JT Skiui'V ’2-OOoJ ujoty/i/f Building upon pioneer faith to move forward that we don’t need to have pioneer ancestry to do that. I am going to tell you two stories and one will be about pioneer ancestry and the other not and we are going to see if we can build faith to move forward from either of these stories. At the end of the first story I gong to stop and shake the bishop hand and then come back and tell the second story and then I will find a way to build faith in both of them. What is pioneer faith? i am going to tell you a story about Suzannah Smith was the daughter of George Smith and Ann Hutchinson Smith she was born on March 23rd 1804 in Cambridge England. She married John William Roper on October 18, 1831 Cambridge shire England. They had five children. Suzanne’s husband John William told Suzanna that he would watch the children while she went to church, When Suzaana came back from church she found that William had left her. He remarried but soon left his second wife and small son and that is the last we heard from him Suzanna was left with small children to support she made fancy work to sell and also taught the art to others. When she heard the Gospel she join the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints and was baptized June 5th 1845 in England. On the second day of January, 1848 she was counseled to take her children and gather to the land of Zion. On the 17th of January she boarded a ship named, “Ring field” and after nine weeks and three days they landed at New Orleans. Henry said, suzanna’s third son, which is my gggreat father, “some of the folks by there actions thought that my mother had not been baptized enough”. “One night they thought they would baptize her a little more by throwing a slop bucket, full of filthy slop all over us because we were Mormons an had no one to protect us or defend us. We were the only Mormons on board. Henry washed tubs full of dirty dishes on board the ship to help pay there fare. After arriving in New Orleans they took a steamer up the river to Council Bluffs. When the arrived at Council Bluffs they live for a week in in house built of sod. Suzanna had send money ahead to buy cattle for the journey across the plains, so there were two yoke of cattle and cow ready for them. They left Winter Quarters, Nebraska which was the outfitting station on May 29, 1848 in a company headed by Heber C. Kimball. There were 662 souls in the company and they arrived in Salt lake valley on September 23rd, 1848. Then Late in 1856 when the Martin handcart company came in to the Utah more dead than alive, President Young in the meeting asked the saints to take immigrates into there home and nurse them back to health. Suzaana volunteered to take a girl in to home to share there shelter and lodging. Charlotte Elizabeth Mellor was riding in one of the rescue wagons. As her feet were badly frost bitten and she unable to walk. The wagon stopped at the Roper’s home, and Suzaane instructed her son, Henry to carry the young lady in to there house. This is Henry Roper story . Charlotte Mellor was only fourteen years old and light as a feather in my arms. As I carried her into my mother home 1 looked in to her dark eyes and saw love at first sight. And there, our romance began. WE were married February 4, 1057, just two months and few days after having first met. Charlotte had observed her 15th birthday in January. Now Charlotte Mellor also joins the church in England and was a part of 850 saints that left liver pool England on May 25, 1856. There hand Cart Company was directed by Edward Martin. The captain would go among the camps each morning and call, “All alive in here? Because of the blizzard they faced they were accustom to seeing love ones placed in a shallow graves and before they reached Utah, about one fifth of the company had been left along the way. This is a book written about my ggreat grandmother and her trials in her life. It is called Tenacity, tragedy and Triumph. That is i/vhat Pioneers is all about. They had Tenacity to walk and persevere any tragedy they might have had along the way and Triumph over it. Read Sweet water story. This story represents the faith of the Pioneers. That it had the Tenacity to work through any Tragedy in order to Triumph. I am grateful for my pioneer heritage and honestly want to be faith ful because of them blazing a trial for all of us to follow. Thank you for you faith full service and I hope we can all honor what you have done by being faithful to our Savior. Shake hands with bishop. My mother side of the family. No pioneers or none are member of the church as far back as I can go. My grandmother was named Marie Tremblay from Canada and she married my grand father Delphis Bo vert who we found out latter that he change his name from Boven was Zakrzeski. His father was Stanislas Zakrzeski bom in Poland. Yes I am a Pollock and all the jokes I told in school about the Pollocks were about my self. His wife was Marie Oliva Boisvert bom in Quebec Canada. I have gone back all the way to the 16th century on the Boisvert and Tremblay side but seem to hit a brick wall with my great grand father Stanislas Zakrzeski. I know Stanislas owned a store in Canada and came to Canada in 1885 but how did he get there or where was he bom in Poland, “1 don’t know”, “and who his parents are 1 don’t know.” My grandmother would not let my grandfather speak polish or talk about any of his ancestors so we have very little to go on. All I can remember about my grand father Bovert is that when my dad was in the hospital for whooping cough Grandfather watched me out side and he had to chase me around the car because I was so afraid that he might beat me because 1 would not lessen to him. How can I build faith if none of my ancestors were Pioneers? Is my mother family, The Bo verts and less than my father family The Ropers because they were pioneers and my mom’s family was not? Do I value one over the other? NO. But I can learn from both of them and be able to have faith to move forward because of the trials and persevering of the Roper as well as the Boverts. Do I need to read about the pioneers if I have no ancestry from them? Yes Can I learn from the stories and how they exercise there faith to bring there family to Zion to live the gospel. My wife’s family has no pioneer heritage at all and can she build upon pioneer faith to move forward? The answer is Yes. How? You don’t need pioneer heritage to learn to have the faith like the Pioneer’s have. We are all pioneers in a sense. 1 would go rock jumping with my daughter Angel and she would tell me if I jumped, she would jump no matter how high we were. She said I would watch where you land and I would jump in that same spot. Is that what we do to developed faith to move foreword with our own lives when we read stories about our pioneers and we are faced with challenges and we know what they did and do the same with our own lives. We can because some one showed us where to land and how to jump into our problems with Tenacity, tragedy and Triumph no matter if our forbears were pioneers or not. We have to honor what they did for us so that our posterity can be blessed just as there posterity. Ya know the Jews are the chosen people and we may not have ancestry from them but we are adopted into his linage to be able to have all the blessing of Abraham, Qavtd and Jacob. J>.v/VC I am touched about the story about the Sweet Water Rescue and the men that braved the cold water. Can we be like them today by doing home teaching or visit teaching to find those that need to be rescue or a family member or friend that may have not strength to cross that cold and icy river? We can have Sweet water Rescues in our own life by searching out for those that are in need and helping them cross Sweet water to rescue. We can be a pioneer in our own lives. We can practice of faith by moving forward the gospel in our own lives. Take it to a higher level just like the pioneers. We can be pioneers our selves. k. THE CARRIERS A depiction of four men who carried women and children across the icy Sweetwater River, as described in the following story: On 28 July 1856 a handcart company under the leadership of Edward Martin left Iowa City, Iowa, and started across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. By October, cold weather and snow caught them in the mountains in central Wyoming. Short on food and other supplies, members of the company experienced exposure to cold, hunger, and exhaustion, and some began to die. They would suffer more losses than any other pioneer handcart company. Earlier in October, when Brigham Young learned that there were still many Saints out on the trail, he sent a rescue party with supplies to help bring the people to Salt Lake. The Martin Company met up with rescue party members in late October and early November and received welcome but limited amounts of food and supplies. With the rescuers’ help, they struggled on toward Salt Lake. On 4 November they came to the Sweetwater River, near Devil’s Gate. The river was about 100 feet wide and almost waist deep in places. To make it worse, big chunks of ice were floating in the water. For the weakened members of the Martin Company, the crossing appeared almost impossible. One of the handcart pioneers later remembered that some of the pioneers were able to ford the river, but others could not At that point, several members of the rescue party—one account names C. Allen Huntington, Stephen W. Taylor, and teenagers David P. Kimball and George W. Grant—stepped forward to help. These courageous men “waded the river, helping the handcarts through and carrying the women and children and some of the weaker of the men over” (John Jaques, “Some Reminiscences,” Salt Lake Daily Herald, 15 Dec. 1878,1; see also 19 Jan. 1879, 1). One of the women who was carried over the river later recalled: “Those poor brethren [were] in the water nearly all day. We wanted to thank them, but they would not listen to [us]. My dear mother felt in her heart to bless them for their kindness. She said, ‘God bless you for taking me over this water and in such an awful, rough way.’ [They said], ‘Oh, I don’t want any of that. You are welcome. We have come to help you.’ ” This sister also reported that one of the rescuers “stayed so long in the water that he had to be taken out and packed to camp, and he was a long tune before he recovered, as he was chilled through. And in after life he was always afflicted with rheumatism” patience Loader Rozsa Archer, reminiscence, in Women’s Voices: An Untold History of the , Latter-day Saints, 1830-1900, ed. Kenneth W. Godfrey, Audrey M. Godfrey, and Jill Mulvay Derr [1982] 236; spelling and punctuation standardized). These rescuers and what they had done were brought to President Young’s attention. “When President Brigham Young heard of this heroic act,” one writer stated he wept like a child, and declared that this act alone would immortalize them” (Solomon F. Kimball “Our Pioneer Boys,” Improvement Era, July 1908,679). SNOWBOUND AT RED BUTTES Artist Statement: This painting depicts my then 15 year old great, great grand mother, Charlotte Elizabeth Mellor, and her 16 year old sister Louisa returning to their camp near Red Buttes after walking more than a mile from camp in the snow to gather firewood on October 21st, 1856. In researching for this project I was impressed and moved to learn that these two teenagers faithftilly pulled one of their family’s two handcarts from Missouri until their rescue near Devil’s Gate. Many times the handcart not only contained their supplies it often held one of their twin three year old sisters, Emma or Clara. Artist Biography: Stephen Mark Bartholomew is a descendent of Martin handcart pioneers James and Mary Ann Payne Mellor, as well as rescue party member Thomas Murphy Alexander. Stephen considers himself a realist/impressionist, and his theme is consistently the Utah landscape. A graduate of Brigham Young University, his paintings are included in many private and public collections.

2002-09-10 - Letter To Jared

Hola Jared. Just got a tape from Nathan Anderson and he loves his mission and he doing alright. He is a good guy. Have you heard any thing more about Nate Warner? I heard he went on this trip with Cliff to Mexico. Steve Jarme told me it was not a real good trip for Surfing but they had 8 days of good surfing. What ever that means. But they had a good time. Wish Cliff would get active again. Did you know Cliff Of course every one knows Cliff. He was my home teacher and ya know he came every month when he was active. I worry about him and his family. Some people just never get it. What life is all about. It seems you are starting to get it. Life is not for us to just trash it but to help others succeed where we can not. Is it all set in stone and we know exactly what we are to do? No we play it by ear and obey the commandments in the process. I feel we should never give "uplrying. Some times we feel depressed and all is lost but that is not the way the Lord wants us to feel. WE need to just get our butt up and do some good even if we don't want to. That's when it is the most good. Last week I have had some great highs and some real lows but I thank God for those highs for it lets me get through the lows. No matter how low they are. Life does not stay the same. It's either good or bad. We have the opportunity to dictate how we feel no matter if it is a low or a high. Even if we feel like crap we need to get a hold of our selves and take our feet and kick our selves in the butt to get going. Don't ever stay depressed. Get over it quickly and move on to some thing that is worth while. Like loving some one that is less fortunate than us. Take a drive to scum city and know they have it worse than you. I don't really mean to physically go there. But close your eyes and think about a person that you have met that is worse off than you and then you don't feel so bad and your problems don't seem that great. I think about some people that starve because they have no money to buy food. I am not that low so stop feeling sorry for your self and do some good in this world. I like to set goals for my self and see if I can do them. Why am I telling you this Jared. I just don't know but that I am getting some things off my mind and you are here to lessen. Thank you for emailing back. I know you care and that is a talent. Some thing you were bom with. Love, Respect and Caring are all talents. Some have it and some don't. You can not force some one to Care, to love or even respect some one. That all comes by earning your right to care by the way you deal with others. Take care dude. Lv alwys Steve______________ __ ________

2003-04-20 - They Did Not Understand A Word But Felt The Spirit

Happy Easter: Nancy and kids. I hope your understanding of Christ is better today. It's funny how I learn about our Savior this past week then I have in a long time. We drove to Las Vegas on Saturday because Grandma wanted to go to a friends 80th birthday party. Legrande Johsnson. Remember he was at Mom's 50th. It was done well but copied a few things we did. They had Hawaiian Hay stack for food. It's like bowls of all kinds of food like ham, rice, noodles, cherries and this chicken soup to poor on top. It was really good.. Rod was the M.C. and told some jokes. He ask me to say a few words. Wow. that was a surprise. I told him how respectable Lee was and how he has dealt with situations with a calmness about him that I tried to do with my kids. We were there on Sunday so we tried to go to church. But got lost. It started at 11am and we were still looking at 11:45am for the chapel. We didn't give up and we finally got there at but it was the Spanish branch. We all went in and sat and lessen to the Spanish speakers and then waited for the one o'clock to partake of the sacrament. It felt good to go to church. They talked about the temple and Cindy leaned over to me and said. Were going to the temple on Friday. Ya know we missed last month. I felt she understood the speakers. She said she didn't understand all the words but understood the spirit that it was given. Yes mom and dad went into the meeting with us. They said they didn't understand a word but felt the spirit. Could it be to go into a meeting with a different language and go away feed by the spirit? Yes that is what happen to us. I understood about 60 percent. They talk fast so by the time I understand some thing they are on to another topic so I loose some meaning. I enjoyed it very much. Came back home and went to work. Took off at 1 pm on Wednesday to go to the Temple pageant in Mesa Arizona. It is a Play put on the temple grounds of the Mesa Temple. They have been doing this ever since it was built. Twenty years ago I think. They have 400 people in there play. They did scenes from Christ era. It was done well and I learned allot about Christ in the process. I have been praying for enlightment when I go and do church stuff. And you would not believe some of the things I have been able to understand. I don't want to sound like a Fanatic but the church is true-er today they it was Yesterday. Because I learn more about it. Then on Friday we went to the Temple. What a week before Easter. It was very fulfilling and have gained a greater knowledge of my Savior and the love he has for me. It is good to feel good about your self and to know you are his son and my elder brother has done so much for me. I am grateful to know the things I know and have such a great family as I have. I thank my heavenly father for allowing me to be apart of your family and all of my family. Take care Nance

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told me that he remembers seeing me when I was there. That I came up to his door and as he locked it because he was afraid that if he would have let me in he would join the rnrci church so much sooner. He was the branch president father. Later we went into the as Branch president office and I just ask him about all the people I taught and he would tell )OUt me if this joined or they died. It was such a great experience to have been there to see the sen growth and to here the stories of the Marshallese people. I told him I was always worried that the Marshallese would not accept responsibility in the calling of the church. The branch president told me this story. About they called a women to be Relief society his president but the branch president could not set her a part because she was Leroj. Which Boo means she was royalty. (Queen so to speak) And the branch president could not touch her itthi head because of Marshallese tradition. That you are not to touch the head of royalty. 3 the They ask the missionaries but they didn’t know the answer. They ask the mission : on president but he didn’t know the answer. They ask the district supervisor at the time and voul

2006-2007 - Start Again

times I feel what happen that day was not very good and so the Lord gives us another day to work on. A lot has happen these past few weeks and I just have to feel grateful that I am alive and I can make a difference this day. I truly wonder why some leave us and some don’t. I do know that the plan of life is more than just this life. Maybe some day I will be tested to know that I truly believe but that each of us has the ability to choose what we want to do in this life. The Lord gave us free agency and if we choose right then we can forgo some of the pain and sorrow. Does that mean that no bad things will happen to us? No. It means we will be better off in handles those bad things. Knowledge of the Gospel is so important but knowledge with out faith is nothing. Knowing God lives is important but showing him is our faith in him. Faith is like hope that he will bless us and that the Lord will help us get through bad things. Faith is a verb not a noun. It constantly changes either for the better or for the worst. We can not sit and do nothing for that sitting is a decision not to follow the Lord. We are all blessed with the Light of Christ in us to know what is right and what is wrong. If we will take the time to read the scriptures and pray morning and night then that light with in us will help us know what to do with our life. I know that to be true and I ask you now that you will proof me now here with by reading your scriptures every day this week and praying ever morning and evening and see for your self that your life will not change. When you read the

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Chapter 7: Honduras And Second-Service Years

The second mission sounds older, rougher, and more tired than the first. But the same habits are still there: work, self-correction, service, family, and trying again.

2011-03-06 - Letter From Honduras

3/6/2011 This week has been one of the hardest I have faced so far on our mission for the Lord. I have learned a great deal that from this experience that I must trust in the Lord because some times that is all that is left to have faith in. Your faith is one of the most important possessions you will have in this life. You lose faith and you have nothing to look forward too. My faith has been hit with a torpedo and there is a big hole where I thought there was hope. I am trying earnestly to plug the hole. Honestly the only one that will be able to do that is the Lord. We have done some good and have help some find jobs in this crazy place. We have tried to help the leaders of this area that this is the Lord’s church. Not the Honduran way or the gringo way but the Lords way. I testify to you now that we will survive the storm and will come out on top on to high ground. Of course I will take no credit because I know that the lord work will go forth no matter if I do it or not. So since we are already here we should just continue to work through each battle until he let us go back home. I want each one of you to know that I pray for your success every day. That those blessing that we are told will come with dedicated service will go to you and your families. So that your families will stay together and become stronger in your faith of Jesus Christ. Last Monday one of my friends ran a stop sign of which he could not see because of the tree in front of the stop sign. Hit an oncoming car and flip there SUV and they landed on their side. ***our old car** Elder Burns arm had road burns up to his sleeve of his g-mocks. I know he was protected and preserved to do a work of the lord. Everyone wants to kill burns since there is only one care left for the whole mission. The other car is in the shop for an indefinite period waiting for a part from Toyota. I went to get our laundry and they gave our laundry to someone else. Lucky they were just sheets. We had a sister’s family stay with us for a couple of days. The father got sicker than a dog and had to fly home the next day. We have started our English class and there are about 30 or so attending. We have 5 attending our self-improvement class and about 5 to 20 attending our start you own business class. It a constant reminder to have people show up but it seems to be working. There is a lot to change here and we don’t just want to be another missionary that came and left. They return doing the same things after the missionaries leave. There got to be progression and without leadership no progression can take place. Teach them correct principle and they govern themselves. The principle of leadership. Being an example is what we all need to do first and then follow through. I need to be a lot better with my example and be able to look at myself and see that I am doing better in helping others. I need to forgive and I need to forgive and I need to forgive. I have a long road to go. I first need to change my self before and I can ever think about changing others. I pray that I can really figure out how and do it. I am open to any advice you can give. I love you so much and thank you for reading my emails. Lov alwys Dad

2011-05-11 - Letter From Honduras

5/11/2011 Life goes on no matter how you treat it. Sometimes we feel like throwing in the towel and just give up. I always preached never to give up and it has haunted me my whole life. Now I say if you want to give up go ahead but only a day, Moop around complain and just give It all you got but when you get up the next day. Get back on track and hopefully you haven’t lost to many friends in the process. Making life easier is what we all dream about but if you put in the effort now than latter is will be a lot easier is a whole lot of garbage. Life can be hard all the time but when you are in the service of helping others life seem to be a lot easier. I can tell you how sometimes I just do not have the energy to go on and I say a little prayer and ask the Good Lord to bless me now with energy to perform my task and after I had finished a three hour work shop in Spanish I go back the Lord and thank him for the help he has provided me. It seems we are not getting any younger and in our minds we think we can do so much more and I think I can but when I sit down, I cannot seem to get back up as fast as I used too. I still get up but it is a lot harder for me. I feel a genuine responsibility for the people here in Honduras to give them my best effort even if I feel it is not doing them any good. Or I might think that I can do so much more. The Lord has blessed me and my family so much and I will be forever grateful all of you because you in itself is a blessing for me. Some of you have kids and you know exactly what I am talking about. I challenge each of you, even Tima to be better parents that we were. Life’s circle of love should increase in each generation. The other day a university student the son of some one that a head of the unverity was killed. They said because he ran a red light and so they shot the car and killed him accidently. There were not bullet holes in the car and his friend that was in the car too was killed also but some time later they said. Well a long story 8 policemen were responsible for the crime, they have found four that just went to work like nothing happened and the other four took off and are assumed missing. Because of this they have suspended over 175 officers for conduct unbecoming an officer. The point I wanted to make is that the corruption goes all the way to the top. But they are not the ones that will be prosecuted. Because it was someone rich, that his parents hired others to investigate their sons murder something was done. A couple of days after this incident there were four police killed for some unknown reason. You can kind of see what goes on here between the lines of the communication but no one really wants to make it better. They say It is okay, that is bad and I will just live my life and hope that things do not happen and if they do I will deal with it. If it is my friends or family that is effective then I will try to do something but then I have to worry about myself of my other family that are alive. So they make you think you cannot do anything and you most likely will accept the way of life here. I will not accept it. Yesterday I was waiting in the drive through line for pizza; the person in front of me pulled around and was waiting to get in line. He was very old and his car looked old too. I figured I would just wait here with my blinker on so that I didn’t block the way and people would know I was waiting in line at the drive through. When the cars moved up I motion to the person that was waiting before to pull in. He motion for me to go first. I decided to go when a car just took the place I was going and almost caused an accident then the person behind him pulled up. I was very upset and just pulled into the parking lot and got out of my car and told the person why they were so rude to pull in front of this older gentlemen? They knew what they did was wrong because they said we are sorry but never made any attempt to change it and just went on with their order. The guy behind them rolled down his window to find out what I was saying and I told him you are as rude as them for pulling in front of this older man. He didn’t back up just pull in and ordered. There is no courtesy and wait your turn in her in Honduras. Survival is you take advantage of someone else and everyone accepts it unless you have gun. I know I am a missionary and I shouldn’t of done that because I wear a badge that represents the Church and I just kind of lost it I guess. The whole pizza place was looking out the window to find out what was going on. They were very friendly to me when I ordered. They say you cannot change people you can only change yourself. I pray for patience and the ability to do what the \lord wants me to do. Lv you always Dad

2011-07-10 - Giving Away His Shoes

• I am little tired lately. We have been running all day and night. The longer we are on our mission the harder we feel we are working. Sometimes there is no free time. We did make so free time yesterday on our p day. We went to Puerto Cortez. It’s a port city right on the ocean. The water was really warm. WE didn’t swim but touch the water. We ate right on the beach and had shrimp, rice, beans, fries and a salad. For 220 limps which is 11 bucks. The drinks were 20 limps which was 1 buck. Kind of inexpensive. It is a lot cheaper where we live. So this is up scale from where we live. It was a relaxing time to sit on the beach and hear the ocean roar. Ever tried to sweep out a care without a vacuum? Not an easy chore. I put my shoes on top of the car and someone came by and asks me for my shoes. I first thought what does he want with an old pair of shoes. I told him no and then I leaned over to continue sweeping out the car when I thought about a typical saying. I would give the shirt off my back if someone really needed it But not the shoes I was wearing. Kind of a hypocrite. So I stood up grab the shoes and as I turned to run down the street to locate the man who ask me for my shoes. He had turned around and was heading my way. I said you still want m y shoes. He said yes. Here you go. The look on his face was happy ness like I just gave him a million bucks. I will be forever grateful for this experience because it truly taught me a simple principle. The Savoir gave all that he had and did it with a kind heart. I gave but I don’t know if I had the right attitude about it. I am trying to have a better attitude about serving and giving. Today I got a letter asking me to give a talk in church next Sunday. About what are the blessings you get from being reverent? What a topic. I think it loud in church, we sit close to the front so we can hear better. When you trying lessen to a foreign tongue it is easier if you can see the tongue moving while it is speaking. Hermana Roper saying we have a very quiet ward compared to others. • I want to be able to understand everything and it is not working out that way. You understand enough to get by or ask more questions to find out what they are talking about. Some give up and just stop talking to us. Went to church at 8am, had a meeting that never really happens because the leader is always in another meeting. Church. Went and pick some up for church. Marie, she is 83 and join the church a month ago. She reminds me of the gal Rust talks about on his mission. Took her home early because he hip was bothering her. Church over at 12, home teaching at 1pm, meeting at 3pm and then another meeting at 4pm, home at 7.30pm, made Spam and rice and now after this email I am going to bed. I am beat. I am grateful for your support and love each one of you with all my heart. It seems the family is still growing when we are away. I am thankful for the health of each one of you and know the Lord will bless you as you grow and honestly work out your exaltation. The Gospel is true and the Savoir lives. Lv Dad

2011-07-15 - Sacrament Talk In Honduras

7/15/2011 Y dijo, NO te acerques acá quita el calzado de tus pies, porque el lugar en que tu estas tierra santa es MOSES removed his shoes because he stood on holy ground. Do we remove our shoes when we feel we are on holy ground? I really had to think of the blessings I have received when I am reverent. I think back when I was a kid and how I just would not lessen to the things people would tell me. When I went to sacrament meeting it seem to be hard to keep awake. I really didnt understand how to be reverent until I was older. Reverence is the way we act toward ourselves and to others in a quite proper way. I heard a talk once about 4 boys that went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. The two boys in the front roll were quiet and respectable and the ones in the back were talking and laughing to each other. They were both asked how they felt about going to the temple. The two in the front roll said they felt the spirit and it was a great experience but the two in the back roll said it was boring. I thought how two different people can come away with two totaling different feelings. The reason is that some were reverent and some were not. What does it take to be reverent? First of all we need to be quite and attentive to the things that we are around. When do we remove our shoes? When we are on holy ground such as partaking of the sacrament or being reverent then we will be able to commune with god, Just as Mosses did in mount Sinai. This is only a figure of speak we dont really remove our shoes but we do remove who we are for a moment and become quite and still. So that the still small voice of the holy ghost can talk to us. A daughter brought treats to sacrament meeting to pacify her three little boys. As the sacred emblems of bread were passed down our row, Jake, then three, whispered in her ear: “Tell them we don’t need that bread. We brought our own treats.” To a three-year-old, all he saw was pieces of bread, and he thought he had something better. Being reverent at sacrament meeting by being quiet and remembering the Savior will allow us to feel the spirit. . Those covenants and the blessing of always having the Spirit of the Lord with you are renewed each time you worthily partake of the sacrament. It will strengthen you in the face of temptation. Being here on a mission has really been tough at times not being able to say the things that I would like to say. Most of our time is in the form of being reverent by quiet and lessen to every word you guys speak to us. Not by choice but by the fact that we don’t really know how to speak Spanish right now. Let me explain the blessings we have received at times that is hard to put into words. The spirit has been very strong at times and has given me the ability to understand when I needed to understand. My testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel has grown to the point of exhaustion. I Go home at night and just got to bed. Two and a half years after the Church was organized, the Lord warned Joseph Smith of wars and famines and plagues that would come because of wickedness. Then He told us how to be safe in such a world: “Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come” (D&C 87:8). Standing in holy places is all about being in good company, whether you are alone or with others. It’s being where the Holy Ghost is our companion—alone or in a crowd. When we determine within ourselves that we will control our thoughts and our actions and be the best we can possibly be, the best of life will come to us. A person was on the plane the other day and sitting next to him was a father and son.. He thought to himself what a un reverent little boy running around, kicking my seat and talking aloud. The father is not even doing anything to correct that child. What kind of a father that allows your kid to run wild like that. He went up to use the rest room because he had enough of sitting there with this kid kicking his seat. He overheard one of the passengers say, How sad it was that this kid is going to grow without a mom. That she heard the mom had died suddenly and the father was taking her body to get buried. My perspective had changed and I went back to my seat and ask if I could help. The father said, I don’t know what I am going to do now. Some times we are to busy with our own lives to stop and be reverent life However you want to put it, Being on holy ground or standing in holy places can be accomplished by being reverent.. I have a strong testimony y of the Savoir and the gospel of Jesus Christ, . That it is true. The Savoir lives and can live with in us by be reverent

2011-09-16 - Confront Your Fear

9/16/2011 Confront your fear. Everyone has fear in their lives. Sometimes it can be the simplest thing of not going outside for fear they might have to talk to someone. Oh no…… I have to speak. Well my fear was to facing my boss once again. I could go into so many reasons why I feel the way I do about him. Usually shows up un announced and demands my time and attention. Speaks very fast and uses words I have not learned yet. I went to drop off my flat tire. Oh yea yesterday was interesting. It was independence day for Honduras. Our stake had a party. Dancing, food and entertainment. We closed the center early, picked up several people and enjoyed the fiesta. WE had tajadas and meat. Its banana chips and taco meat. One of the things we like here food wise. Not many. Our friend Hermana Ada was filming a commercial up stairs. We still had our English class and had to retrieve all the tables and chairs outside for the fiesta. We sang the Yellow submarine in English class and our dialog was on holidays. Because it ran late we had 8 people to take home in our little Toyota corona. Reminded me of Josh’s car full of juveniles. Took mom home first, then on the way to Hermana Ada’s we hit this hole in the road. Sounded prettie bad but the car still ran. So when we pull up to the gate to get into Ada’s tract of homes. The Guard came out and Hermana Ada told him she lived there, he ask me to roll down my back windows, open the trunk and then they asked to hold identification while we were inside. Private identification details are not included in the public edition. As we drove in I notice a heavy feeling and I knew the care had a flat tire. WE made it to Hermana Ada’s and Freddy and Orlando changed the tire. When all this was happening I had two phone calls one from my Boss and the other from someone that wanted to tell me that the little paper I gave them did have the hours and days the center was open. As we drove to Choloma there were hundreds of people in the road looking down the canyon and there was police tape that meant something was really wrong but I just drove through it. Finally made it home. Well my boss came into the center and was there all day but decided to talk with me when we are ready to leave. He ask me if we can hang out tonight but I told him I had a lot of other things to do. What about tomorrow morning, I said we were leaving for the falls. So we talk for about an hour and I understood what he was saying but it seems nothing has changed. I ask him to email me when he wanted to talk with me because I understand Spanish better reading it that lessening to it. He said he would and it was done. I faced my fear and I wonder why I had the fear in the first place. I love you guys so much and one day I will be able to hug you all. L lv alwys Dad Sometimes when you watch a movie and you sit and read the words after. There is a actually more to the movie. Well there is more to my little talk or email. Yesterday I read in the newspaper about a person that was being chased by someone with a gun. He ran across the road and into a downhill grassy slope. Apparently the person with the gun caught up with him and shot him. His friend went down the hill to see if he was alright and he was shot in the back. Well Remember I told you about going to Choloma and there hundreds of people along the side of the road looking down the canyon. Well this is what they were looking at. If I didn’t have the flat tire when I did then I might have been there when this all happened. I thought about other times when you have a bad day and things just happen. Maybe that flat tire was a blessing. I felt it was. Blessing and it comes when you are doing what you can to serve the Lord. I know that to be true and I guess this time the Lord let me know how I was blessed that day. I love you kids with all my heart and pray for your success in your life. Lv alwys Dad

2011-09-24 - La Ceiba Employment Work

9/24/2011 Somos misioneros que fueron llamados para ayudar a los miembros de la iglesia para encontrar empleo. Nuestra primera prioridad son los líderes de la iglesia. Los líderes. ¿Todos los líderes tienen puestos de trabajo? En segundo lugar está miembros y nuestra tercera es que no son miembros. ¿Qué podemos hacer para ayudarle a encontrar un trabajo? Tenemos una oficina en San Pedro Sula, que está abierto de lunes a viernes de 8:30 am a 3 pm. Usted puede llamarnos o enviarnos un correo electrónico en busca de ayuda. Cuando el registrador ldsjobs.org un sitio de la iglesia en busca de trabajo que podemos aprender y recibir ofertas de trabajo. Tenemos un plan para poner en nuevos puestos de trabajo en el sitio de La Ceiba a la semana. Este plan consiste en llamar a los misioneros locales para servir a uno o dos días a la semana. Si usted sabe de alguien que podría servir por favor deje que su presidencia de la estaca sabe. Vamos a entrenar. El Taller de autosufuiente de laboral se debe ofrecer en su juego. Esta clase le enseña a prepararse para las entrevistas y le da ideas para ayudarle en su búsqueda de empleo. El Taller de Autoempleo se debe ofrecer en su apuesta. La clase que enseña cómo abrir su propio negocio. Lo que puede hacer? Registrarse en ldsjobs.org. ¿Por qué? Le da información sobre cómo ayudar a otros a encontrar trabajo. Red de contactar. Si usted tiene un trabajo, entonces usted puede pedir el lugar que el trabajo de las vacantes. A continuación, puede compartir con su barrio. Usted puede encontrar todas las semanas en la iglesia que necesita un trabajo y que tiene una oportunidad de trabajo. Ir al taller y aprender lo que está disponible para ayudar a aquellos que tienen más de la administración. Sea activo en la búsqueda y ayudar a otros a encontrar trabajo. Sé que esta obra es de Dios. Yo he orado intensamente la semana pasada y el Señor nos ha dado una dirección a seguir. Pido que oren a vosotros y recibir la misma dirección.

We are missionaries called to help members of the church to find jobs. Our first priority is leaders of the church. Leaders. Do all the leaders have jobs? Second is members and our third is nonmembers. What can we do to help you find jobs? We have an office in San Pedro Sula that is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 3 pm. You can call us or email us for help. When we registrar on ldsjobs.org a church site to find work we can learn and receive vacancies for work. We have a plan to put in new jobs on the site for La Cieba every week. This plan is to call local missionaries to serve one or two days a week. If you know of any one that could serve please let your stake presidency know. We will train them. The Taller de autosufuiente de laboral should be offered in your stake. This class teaches you to prepare yourselves for interviews and gives you ideas to help you in your job search. The Taller de Autoempleo should be offered in your Stake. The class teaches you how to open your own business. What you can do? Register on ldsjobs.org. Why? It gives you information on how to help others find jobs. Red de contactar. If you have a job then you can ask the place you work for any vacancies. Then you can share them with your ward. You can find out every week at church who needs a job and who has an opportunity for work. Go to the workshop and learn what is available to help those that you have stewardship over. Be active in looking and helping other find jobs. I know this work is of God. I have prayed earnestly this past week and the Lord has given us a direction to follow. I pray that you will pray your selves and receive the same direction.

2011-12 / 2012-01 - The Temple Story

The temple story. I got an email from sister Braithwaite about doing something here in Honduras to help a needy family. She said the youth got together and raise some money and wanted to use it for a good cause for Christmas. I told her we were going to donate some money so that a couple could go to the temple. The ward was planning a bus trip to San Salvador temple on the 26 of December. She emailed me back and asked me how much does it cost to go to the Temple. I wrote back and told her about $40 a person. She put money in our account. I contacted the bishop and Moses his first counselor was taking care of the trip. I told him I had some money that I would like to donate from the youth of my ward to help someone that could not afford to go to the temple. Moses said that would be okay but he first wants them to earn as much money as possible to go. Later he told me that eight people could go, a couple return missionaries, some youth and a family that have not been for a long time. I explained that we wanted to go if there was room. He said there was room but when I gave him the money for the trip he said the bus was full but on Sunday the day before the trip he said there was a cancelation and so we were going. We got to the church at 8am but the buss didn’t leave until 10am. was packed and on the way we got a flat tire. When the driver changed the tire the jack didn’t raise the bus high enough to put the spare on and so he put blocks of wood under the axle and climbed under the bus to lower it. I was nervous that the blocks would hold because if not the bus would of crushed the driver. Safety is not real big here. Another hour into the trip another tire blew. The bus has double tires in the back. The driver just kept on going. We got to the Border; the Honduran side would not let us out because we did not have the proper stamp on our passports. Hermano Raymond found the stamp that says we have until January 12 2012 to be in the county so they let us in. There was a brother with a Chilean passport and they would not let him enter. They ask me to say a prayer so that this brother can get through. I did. They let him pass but he had to pay $60. Money talks here. When we got to the El Salvador side an officer came on the bus and took my passport and left. I finally got my passport back and was told that everyone on the bus had to enter individually. Thy let us in but the same brethren that paid $60 had to pay $20 to get in to El Salvador. We got to San Salvador around 9pm and went to a bazar place and had Papulsas a Salvadorian food that is tortillas with cheese in the middle. We got to the place where we were staying around 11pm. It was like three large rooms with two bathrooms. 15 women in two rooms with one bathroom and 12 men in another room with one bathroom. We all slept on bunk beds. We got up a 4am to take turns using the bathroom. We ate fried bananas and beans for breakfast and made the 8:30am Session. The youth did baptism for the dead there was about 8 youth that went. One sister got her own endowment out. Her mother died in May. Her mother went to the doctor to get a shot; it got infected and died suddenly. We attended her funeral she was the relief society president. Her father went with her to the temple. I ask her how she felt and all she could say was how wonderful it was to be in the temple. Her father told me he went to three sessions and did baptism for the dead. He is our ward clerk in our ward. The young men’s president went with us and after doing another session at 2:30 pm I went downstairs and did baptism for the dead with him. He told me that this is his third time today doing baptism with the youth. It seems they appreciate the temple more than we do because they just spend all day at the temple. It was an exhausting day. We went to a mall and had Taco bell for the first time since we been here. We bought the sister that made us breakfast some taco bell. We made it back to our place around 11pm. I feel asleep on the couch out front because it is a mad house in the room with all the youth. I am not as young as I used to be so I need more sleep than I used too. I heard the sister get up a 3am. We went back to the temple in the morning and did a 7am session and we left for San Pedro Sula at 10am. Drove three hours got to the border we had to pay $3 each to enter Honduras. Don’t really know why. The bus stop in the city of ocetopece and had the tire fixed. We have been driving on that one tire for two days. All I can say is the trip was worth it no matter being on a crowded bus for 10 hours. When we went to the first session, it was all in Spanish and It was hard to understand but because we have been to the temple a lot we knew what they were saying. When I enter the temple room I was asked to be a witness. I said no. a few minutes latter I was asked again and I said yes. I looked over and told your mom. We are the witness couple and she said What. We don’t speak enough Spanish but we did it and the Lord blessed us with a great experience. We are spoiled. How many of you would travel on a bus for 10 hours one way and be grateful to go to the temple. The youth could not stay away from the temple they did baptism 3 times in that one day and went back in the morning for one more time. We met three return missionaries from our mission at the temple. Just released two weeks ago. We met a sister that left the mission early because of a physical problem. They all said that they missed being on a mission. One of the elders missed his companion that is still serving. I have to say that I was so grateful to be able to go to the temple. This was a sacrifice that I will never forget. The members will be very grateful for those that have helped them get to the temple. When you see the youth kind of hesitate at first but by the time the bus is going home they hugging each other and are actually enjoying each others company. We didn’t do much singing on the way home but they told jokes. I could never understand the punch line because it was said so fast and when I ask what did he say, they were laughing so hard to tell me. Then another joke would start. I was kind of lost through all that but I saw how the whole bus came together and just laughed, talked and just enjoyed each other. The old, the young , male, female just all got along. The spirit of the lord makes you feel good about yourself. When you are doing what is right, you just get the whole some feeling and want to just continue what you are doing. This is the answer to being happy. When we finally got back to SPS, Hermano Raymond thanked everyone for going and said some kind words to the bus driver. He was a nonmember. Some of us thought he drove to slow and took too long to get there and back. Then a bishop form another ward spoke up and thank the bus driver too. Then we said a prayer. That doesn’t happen to often where we live. Saying a prayer after the trip thanking the lord for the safe travel and that we can all remember how grateful we are to have gone to the temple. I talked with Moses, he was at the church, He said he s sorry that he didn’t get a chance to go because he loves how members bond together. Ya see Moses is in a wheel chair, he had an accident that took away his legs and apart of his strength in his arms. Being in a wheel here in Honduras is very hard because most places don’t have wheel access. Not like the states. Moses told me if there was room he would of went. He would have had to be put in a chair he didn’t like but it would be worth it to go. I tell you I love this gospel and how blessed we are to be apart of it. I love you guys will all my heart and am grateful to go to the house of the lord. I pray for the time that all of my kids will be in the Celestial room with us. Lv dad

2012-04-16 - Young Men In Roatan

4/16/2012 Semana Santa is what they call Easter here. It is a whole week. Most take off work and go to the beach. Almost all take off on Wednesday through Sunday, so all the stores are closed except the pulperias which are family owned stores. I took the young men to the beach and they had a great time. One non member that may have been 11 but he said he was 13. Not a lot of honesty with people here. I took the snorkel equipment that our owner of our house had. David lost his mask about 5 times. He kept giving it to someone else to use and then I would see him and ask him where is your mask. He would say I don’t know. I would say well go find out. He would leave and somehow would find the mask. I found out that part of his family went to the same beach we were at. He would loan the mask to one of his family members but somehow it was loan to whoever that was around them. Some really don’t understand. It wasn’t my mask and I had figure I would buy the owner a new one. The fifth time I took it and put it away so he would not lose it again. It kind of drove me nuts. Oliver a 12 year old member brought a volley ball and it was a hit of the party. Every one like playing with the ball and it brought all the young men together. There was this pier that was two stories and people would jump off into the water when the boat were not docked. Joshua was 12 and he sat beneath the pier and stayed there for a long time because he was afraid to jump. It reminded me about Luis waiting for hours to jump rock in Kawai. Well I gave him a nudge and he went in and seemed to be happy that he finally did it. He actually went back and jumped in again several times after that. I was struck when Daniel Garay (16) ask me to go beneath the pier and catch him when he jumped because he cannot swim. He came up fighting and swinging his arms and I just said take it easy and I will get you to safety. What trust he had in me. I sometimes cannot keep away the tears of knowing how much they need leadership and how much they yearn for someone to love them. It because of young men like him that I do what I do by making some type of young men’s program for them. They bug me all the time to go places or do something. Hermana Roper keeps telling that these are the ones that can make a difference. The youth. The parents have to many hang ups and the youth will stay strong then maybe this branch may have a chance. So I continue to do things with the youth. At first we had two, then 5 and now ten. It grows to faster than any program that I have been in. I wrote this last week and got busy and didn’t send it. This week was different and we did the primary swim party at the church. We fixed two pools that was trash and I got some duck tape and got them to hold air for a little while. We also brought a pool. That was the girls pools and the other they claimed as the boys. The third one was for the little kids. We had over 40 kids in three pools plus some of the moms decided to be kids and get in the pool. Moms deploy worked. After about an hour or two in the pools we had them get out of the pool to eat. When they left I took the water out of the pools and put the pools inside the church. We wanted the kids to be dry when they went home. It worked but a lot of them stay for a baptismal. Anthony 9 year old got baptized. All if not all came to his baptismal. It was a good end of the day deal. Last Saturday we had a elders quorum service project. WE went to Hermana Garays and she wanted us to move her outside wall of her house three feet to the balcony. I explain that if we do that then her house will fall down because it was a load bearing wall. She literally lives on a cliff with these round wood pillars holding up the house. She has a view that you would die for but she never cuts her trees to see the view. She says it will be hotter if she cuts down the trees. We eventually didn’t move her wall but had to put everything back together. Today we went exploring the inland. We found or stop at the pirates of the Caribbean Canopy. Which is a zip line around the jungle with pirates stuff all around. They had these monkeys that were on leashes but they could walk up to you if you were close enough. We took some pictures and went to two other resorts. One that looks just like the states but cost a lot of money for a day pass and the other didn’t cost anything but suggested us to buy some food at the restaurant. They had a man-made lagoons. They have these full size beds with sheets you can drape the sides sitting on the beach. Like you can come and sleep there. Never saw that before. In our exploring we just take a dirt road and see where it goes. Something to do on p day. Life is prettie much the same here. A lot of members but very few show up to church. Always different ones at diferrent times. Consistency is a thing of the past and you get whatever you get. So we have learn to do our best and not be discourage. Positive and encouragement is the best answer to allowing someone to change and do something with their lives. I have been feeling a little tired lately, more so than usual and I don’t know if it is the stress of trying so hard to help these people do what the lord wants from them or I am just getting old. Today is good day to rest and get back to it tomorrow. I love you guys with all my heart and want each of you to know that I am proud of you. Lv alwys Dad

2012-06-02 - Dental Clinic And Orphans

6/2/2012 The hardest week we have had was last week. A week ago Friday we had the young mens camp out. We had about 9 boys and three adults come. For boys that live in houses that don’t have as much as us did real well in the outdoors. It seems it was the first fire that they had ever made or cooked on. I ask them to bring foil diners. One brought a foul diner, another brought two potatoes and a sheet of foil and one brought fast food. Chicken. … I guess there moms never helped them get there food together. The other adult Darwin brought tortillas and beans I think. He shared and I shard my chicken and rice. Then the last boy came late because he was out of school at 7pm. He dad brought wienies and tortillas. So we had a feast for diner. We had a fireside about the three nephites and where there are and what they are doing. After we all bore our testimonies and I got to hear the young men’s views on the church. It was very spiritual and we all felt good inside. It reminded of the times I went with you josh, jake, jed and tima to the young men’s activities. The spirit was so strong with you. The young men slept about 2 hours and so I slept about two hours. At 9am they sent snorkeling at the underwater museum. It is a place that a member owns and has put ancient ruins in the water from Copan. It had a lot of Coral and fish. It is in the ocean. They young men said it was the high light of the activity. Elders called me to go on teaching appointments and so I went but when I got home I went right to sleep. That Monday we started the Dental Clinic. It was put on by a member of the church and she contacted 9 dentist that came spent their own money to work for a week for any one that had problems with their teeth. We had on Monday all the members and special people that were invited by members or us. Tuesday to Thursday were any one could come and then on Friday we had 50 orphans that came from the mainland that was very special. Their parents had abandoned them and someone organized a place to help them survive in the cruel country. I went up to the basketball court or soccer court and the children had written with chalk. Thank you to the dentist of taking care of our teeth. It brought tears to my eyes to be able to see the gratitude that the kids had for us. Every one of the doctors said that they were grateful to be here and to help these children. That got more out being here for them then they gave to them. As they got on the bus I can still see there smiles and there love. I just had a glimpse of what the savoir taught about the innocence of little children. I want to hug them and tell them I love them and I am grateful for them. I literally was so tired from helping that each day I had to come home and just rest. I don’t know if it was my age or just being on my feet for so long but it took its toll on me. Now it is Saturday we have a chance to rest and recuperate our bodies to finish this mission strong. I want to tell each one of you that I love you with all my heart and would do anything for you to help you understand the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is true and if we live its principle we will succeed in our lives and in the lives of your families. I love my Savoir and I am grateful for his love for me and my family. Take care always Dad./

2012-06-25 - Ultimate Goal

6/25/2012 Sundays is always our hardest day except maybe doing the dental clinic. That was our hardest week. How are you guys doing? I don’t get a chance to hear from you very often. Mostly on Skype or if we call. If you get a chance let us know how you are doing on an email that is would be great. Hope is a great attribute to have when all is lost or you think that life get hard. You can sit back and say to yourself well things can’t get any worse. I am just going to hope for the best that the things will turn out for the best. They always say bad things happen to good people. Well bad things happen to bad people too and it doesn’t matter what happens as long as you have hope things will turn out for the best. We pray every night that things will turn out for the best in your lives. After all the turmoil and no body shows up to do there calling here in the branch. Moms said. I would not want to be anywhere else except at church. There’s a lot be said in that statement. Hiding in the world when you know you should be at church eventually you forget those things that got you this far in life. It is the good things that we do that mold us to who we shall become. Once you have been taught then teach others to do the same and by your example those will follow. The Savior taught by example and we all know what we must do to follow. But somehow something gets in our way as we move forward in life to be able to accomplish what? What is our ultimate goal in life? What do we want to do before we die? I have always asked myself this question and my ultimate goal is to be with my family for the eternities. Does my family want the same goal? Just some thoughts I have been having since we have been here. I see little miracles here that remind me that the gospel is true. It seems my first mission was a wakeup call to get off my duff and make something of my life. This mission has been a trial the first day we arrived and still is. I know that the work we do is from the Savior. To forget one self and go to work is the words of a prophet of God when he was discouraged on his mission. It is good advice prettie much in all that we do. If we are so worry about how things will turn out it affects our effort. I want to tell each one of you that I love you and I am proud of each one of you. Lv alwys Dad

2012-07 - Letters To Roatan Friends

7/7/2012. Steve wrote brief goodbye notes to friends in Roatan, thanking them for their kindness, faith, and friendship. Personal names, family counsel, and private spiritual admonitions from the original are not included in the public edition. Lv always, Elder Roper.

2012-08-18/20 - Exchange With Elder And Sister John

Steve; This mission has been a whirlwind of experiences. We stayed busy and saw good things happen in Roatan. Thank you for the foundation you helped build and for the work you gave to the people on the island. May the Lord continue to bless you. Wayne and LaRae John

Honduras-Period Talk - Taking Upon Us The Name Of Christ

Aloha.. I am here because Michael broke his toe and he ask me to give this talk. The topic. What does it mean to take upon us the name of Christ? What does it mean to you? Some will say it all starts at baptismal and from then on you renew your covenant at baptism by partaking of the sacrament. Which is all true. But in real life it’s not enough to just do it every week without some type of change. It reminds me of this old man that had a dream about his father that came to him but as soon as his father was going to tell him something the man woke up. Every night for three nights he had the same dream and then it happen. His father said, “what have you done with my name”? I was proud to tell him that I have not done anything to harm his name. It’s my name too and I am proud to have that name too. If are last name was Christ how would we answer that question from the father? What have you done with Christ name? What would be your reply? Mine would be that I am still working on it and doing my best to live so I can report back to the Savoir that I have done nothing to harm your name. I was in the temple the other day and met a young man who was serving there and preparing for a mission. He told me he had been through a hard season, prayed for help, and chose to come home and change his life. He said he knew what it was like to be on the other side and did not ever want to go back. Remember this story about John. Mark was raised on a farm. At very young age his father gave him chores. Milk the cows, feed the chicken and to mend the fence. His father told him that is very important that the cows don’t get out of there area. The field next to the cow was a field of wheat and if the cows eat the wheat they will swell, bloat and die. This one day when he went out to look at the fence he found the fence broken and one of the cows was in the field eating the wheat. He looks hugh. So John ran to get his pa. When John and his Pa found the cow dead and it was three times the size. John was so upset and really didn’t know if he had done something wrong. Remember this story. Let’s get back to the talk. In the sacrament prayer on the bread it doesn’t say we take the name of Christ but says that they are willing to take upon them the name of the Son. Lets read it. Moroni 4:3… There are 92 two words in the sacrament prayer and the 58th word is Willing. Out of all those words I feel willing is the most important word that we can learn from. Willing means ready, eager or prepared to do something. Hummm. Are we ready, eager and prepared to take upon ourselves the name of Christ? By acting the way the Lord Jesus Christ would act. When something arises in our life and we need to make a decision are we ready, eager and prepared to do what the Savoir would do? Let’s go back when we partake of the sacrament today. What did you think about? Have we been ready, eager and prepared to take the name of Christ last week? Ya know ,Were we willing, ready. Eager and prepared.. Or did we make a commitment to honor those willingness times for the next week and so when we turn and report at the sacrament table we can say that we did. Then we will realize the change from week to week and getting closer to taking upon his name. Let’s look at the sacrament prayer on the water. It says that they may witness unto thee, lets read it Moroni 5:2…..There 78 words in the sacrament prayer and the 54th word is witness. What does witness mean? It means to observe, onlooker, eyewitness, watcher and testify. Pay attention to what we are around in life and be willing to testify at all times and in all places that God the father is eternal. Do we do that? Are we willing to make that commitment today that we are going to do that? Well we do that each week when we partake of the sacrament of the water. It not the fact that we have failed but that we keep trying to do and testify. The real meaning of taking upon yourself the name of Christ is that we are mindful of our surroundings and we try to make that effort each day. It took John awhile but he came around e and made the correct choice to change his life for the good with probably a great outcome for himself and his family. While mark honestly did all he could but the outcome didn’t turn out so well because the cow ended up dyeing. So here’s the real meaning behind the meaning of taking upon yourself the name of Christ. Sometimes you just don’t know the outcome but by doing the will of the Lord you are taking upon yourself the name of Christ. We heard once that you can become closer to God if you go to the Temple once week. We didn’t know not how our life would change but we put the challenge to the test. We went to temple not knowing the outcome and now we can tell you that we work in the temple. Was that the outcome? I don’t know but the lord has treasures that he wants you to have. There is a treasure box that he opens when we do certain things in our life. I have one here that is similar to what the Lord has. Use your imagination Let me get it. Oh here it is. This is heavy it seems there are very few that get theses treasures. It’s real dusty. Let me open it. Eerck…. Some of these treasures are happiness, joy, love hidden blessing, knowing the blessing, eternal life and many more. Here a list of what we need to do to get these treasures. Have a missionary over for dinner. Clean your room without mom asking. Say a prayer before I make any decision in life. Call you neighbor or friend and ask them if they need help just because. Share your toys with your brothers or sisters. Be kind to those around you. Ask your children if they need a blessing. Go to the Temple because it is Tuesday. Smile 10 times to 10 different people. When ask for volunteers your hand goes up first. Observe those around you and help someone that needs help. Say hi to someone that is just looking your way. Offer to serve in the nursery. Sit by someone in church and ask them four questions. If you haven’t seen someone in church for while go up and tell that you missed them. Get out of your comfort zone and do something that will make a difference. Prepare to bear you testimony to someone. Say please 5 times, thank you 10 times and smile twice in a day. Make little goals and follow through. I want to leave with my testimony. .

Additional Honduras Mission Source Units Restored For Publication

These source units are included whole so Chapter 7 is no longer just a selected excerpt path through the second mission.

2011-01-28 - Little Things That Mater 28 1 2011

Little things that mater. WE go on with our life tackle every problem that comes our way without thinking of what really matters in life. Can you tell me what really matter to you? What can you do without in your life. The struggles we have are fill with blessing that we don’t ever realize are there. Our life is a blue print for our future generation to follow. It is un written what we do in life and what really matters is the things that our future generation will do or at least have an opportunity to do. We all have our free agency and there are some that choose certain paths in life that are so different than there parents. Why is that and it because the lord has given us an opportunity to make something of this life he gave us. Free agency. Yes the Lord gave us everything. Its like Tithing we don’t get to pay 10 percent we receive 90 percent to do what we want to. He gave us the 100%. He put us on the earth to make a difference in the lives we love the most. Some times that takes eating our words and saying I am sorry and to follow up with action that dictate that we are truly sorry for the things we have done to our fellow man and woman. I don’t mean to preach at all and I want you to know that I say these things now because I have learned that is does not matter what your are face with that you should always take time to take care of the little things. What are the little things that matter they are the I love u’s that you don’t feel like saying. The get back to reality checks in our life that it is not all about you. Thinking of others is a talent that I have to work on. I have neglected those things that are most precious to me and that is your mother and you. This work here is important but it is not more important than those that I love most. I pray for guidance to be able to change my ways and be the kind of person that you are proud of. I pray for you each day that you are safe and will be able to do things that are right. Everyone has bad days and let the next be better in your life and sometimes we just have to thank the lord we are alive if nothing else. The center has been very busy and our bosses in capital of tegu’s doesn’t give us guidance because he is upset we are moving. Our next assignment is going to be very difficult because it has changed. We are going to activate and do missionary work in Spanish. The language is still giving us fits but somehow we get by. People seem to understand what \I say it is the ones that are bilingual that give me a hard time. This one sister was lessening to me talk to a brother and she said, I have no idea what you are saying. She ask the brother and he said yes I understand and he repeated back to her what \I said. I don’t know some times if I get through to people or not but I ask them if they understand and they say yes. It is getting better each day we are here. Mom holds not bars and just speaks without any reservations. She does a great job in communicating with the locals. Everything is so simple in the Gospel. You live it you are blessed. That is it. But you see we don’t do it for ourselves. We do it so that our kids will be blessed. The Savior did it for us so that we would receive the blessing and we do it so that our children will receive blessing. Why did Lehi do it? I love you guys with all my heart and if there is any thing you need let us know. Lv dad

2011-03-11 - Letter 11 9 2011

3/11/2011 I am sick today for some reason. I ate and it seems to have catch up with me. I love you kids so very much and want you to know that I think about you. Even you Josh. It was a busy day like usual and a good day for that matter. They gave me two counselors and a secretary in our little e elders quorum. I do appreciate the simple things in life that I have taken for granted and I want to be able to look fate in the face and fight for what the Lord wants me to fight for. I have failed to realize the potential that you kids have. The posterity is where life is really at. Leave a legacy for your kids in the fact that you don’t tell them you do it. All doctrine and all faith leads to the Temple. Without that in our life we have nothing. I miss the temple and going to San Salvador Temple was an awesome experience because we got to go inside and do the work for those that have died. What other blessing can you ever think about than to help someone in need who cannot help themselves? Let me ask each of you question are we all doing what the Savior wants us to do? Ya know I am included in that question. mY answer is not really. I just live my life thinking about what I want to do and make excuses like I am doing what he wants. . I have learn that it takes more effort than you can possibly think of to become like the Savior. Full of love, full forgiveness and just a great person to be around.. oh mom is screaming, she says there is a crab in our house. Oh wow she is right that little guy which is four inches long came from the beach which is really far and how did he get into our house. We have turned into bugs killers. Worst here than Hawaii. I didn’t kill the crab, I threw him over the fench. We live on the edge of the jungle. Everything that moves in the jungle comes to try to stay in our home. We took the no vacancy sign down. We are still feeling over whelmed with all that needs to be done here. Every time we turn around there is something else that need to be done. Take care love all of you. Dad

2011-03-18 - Letter 18 3 2011

3/18/2011 Today was a day of refresh because we had Stake Conference for central America. Heard from Boyd K. Packard. Spoke a little Spanish and then said That all he knows and he had an interpreter speak for him. I really enjoy his talks. I hope and pray every one is doing well at home. We used to good to church and try to talk to Jose Gonzalez but he always made jokes and would walk away. His hair is a little long but ya know that doesn’t bother me at all. He is return missionary that they say went astray but seems to come to church every week and all is at the other activities. Well our hot water went out and I called our repair man three times here on the inland with not avail. At one of the activities, Fellowship night they call it I saw the fix it man and he said he has been busy. We made an appointment for him to come by in two days. I tried again to talk with Jose Gonzales and this time he told me he was an electrician. I said do you want to come to my house and see if you can fix our hot water. He said yes. He came by and told me it was the pumps that were bad. If I would buy the pumps he would put them in. I said we will buy them tomorrow and so he put them in and now we have hot water. A simple story but really it was not. He has called me twice now since then, once to help him get a ride to the branch activity and the other time to help his sister get a blessing. He seems like he is our friend now and it is funny how small things can bring people together. Mom was boiling hot water on the stove because at night the water is so cold. It does seem like we are camping. Thank goodness we did some so we don’t have to learn that on our mission. That Sunday the fix it man said he was going to come by and fix out problem but I told him we had already fixed the problem. He did not seem to happy about it. His name is Osmar and he is trying to get married to this gal that is a non-member. We saw her last week with Osmar at the fellowship night. Her name is Lesbee. Older gal but seems very nice. I hope they get married soon. We had our Fiesta de Playa and it was a success. Ya always wish more people would attend but there were a lot that did come. We had hotdog, water mellon and Corn. Most of the kids came and swam in the ocean while mom watched them. She is getting prettie close to the kids since she see them all the time. I was mister taxi because it is so expensive for the members to go far way places. WE have three cars in the branch and one of the cars didn’t show up and so it was me and Hermano Molina. I think he ate 5 hotdogs so he was a happy camper. It reminded me of home and when we went to the beach. There is just a friendship that seems bring people together sitting by a fire or barbeque and hang out. The kids had a great time and it just seems to bring us closer together. I hope what we try to do here will be a lasting effect for the future because it seems they need more we can offer. I try honestly to pray before we do certain things so that we have the lord involved in all that we do. The book of Mormon is such a great book to read. I am so amazed how much information is in that book and how much you can learn from it. I love each of you and wish you the best in your life and the life to come. I know this life is not all we have and I know what we do in this life will help us become who the Lord wants us to be in the next life. Those that have died before us and those that will die after us will benefit from the life we lead here on this earth. It is not all about us but about what we can do for others that is important. I thought is was tough to do for others when we have time but that is not what the Lord wants from us. He wants us to do for others when we think we have not the time. That is the sacrifice that means most to the Savoir. Lv you alwasys. Dad

2011-04-02 - Josh1

4/2/2011 Josh, I have been thinking about you last night and if I have offended you in any way. I am sorry and I hope you forgive me. I feel that you are faced with some big problems in dealing with the house and if there is anything we can do more to help you out. Let us know. We get wrapped in the work here and I tend to forget that I need to help with things that happen at the house. I know that the four hundred dollars in not enough to take care of all the repairs and when I get home I will put together some work and pay you back the money you put into the house. I have so many faults in my life and being on a mission you are haunted by the realization of those faults. You want to be a better person and change those things that you have incorporated in who you are and it seems that it is an endless battle. I have always preached to never give up and now I need to live those words. And so my commitment is to forgive and see the goodness first in people. For which my heart is so negative need many hours on my knees for forgiveness that I cannot even begin to understand that it is possible for me to be like the Savior in any way. I know the church is true will all my heart and the work that needs to be done will happen by me or someone else. But I cannot sacrifice my family or my children because of it. I love you josh more than you know but my way has not been the right way to show that. I will strive to do better in loving you and helping you understand that I can change for the better. I love you, and wish you the best in all that you do for I know if you will do what you know to be right that you will find happiness. Lv alwys Dad

2011-04-23 - Leter To Stake Presidents 23 4 2011

4/23/2011 We as leaders need to set the example for our members. We are called as missionaries for the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints to serve in the employment center for the San Pedro Sula Honduras mission. Before we came here we knew nothing about the employment resource services and spoke no Spanish. We still came on our mission because our faith in the Lord. We have met many of you and know of your faith and it is an honor to be among you this morning. We have been asked by the leaders of this church to have each one of you registered on ldsjobs.org and to have every leader in your stake and wards be registered. How that is done is up to you. We are aware that not every ward has access to computers and we suggest opening up your stake center once a week so leaders and members can have access to computers to able to sign every one up. The Taller de autosuficiente needs to be taught in your stakes every month. Your stake employment specialist is the one that can coordinate all these activities along with working with ward employment specialist. The ward employment specialist has a very important job and that is to teach the leaders of the ward to network. To network is to announce in every priesthood meeting, relief society and ward counsel who needs a job and help those that need a job get one. For your information. The Employment center is open from 8:30am to 3pm every day, we train all stake and ward specialist, we have the Taller de autosuficeietne on every Thursday from 8:30 am to 12pm President Yanus teaches the class. We are starting an English class on the twelfth of may, every Thursday from 5:30 pm to 7:30pm and we will be teaching the class any one can attend. The Taller de Autoempleo will start on eleventh of may from 6pm to 8pm and Hermano Martinez will be teaching the class. We are here to help in any way. I want to bear my testimony that I know the church is true and that if we follow the Savior example we will not go wrong. Nosotros, como líderes deben dar el ejemplo para nuestros miembros. Estamos llamados como misioneros de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los últimos días para servir en el centro de empleo para la misión de San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Antes de venir aquí no sabía nada de los servicios de recursos de empleo y no hablaba español. Todavía vino en nuestra misión, porque nuestra fe en el Señor. Nos hemos reunido con muchos de ustedes y saber de su fe y es un honor estar entre ustedes esta mañana. Se nos ha pedido por los líderes de esta iglesia para que cada uno de los que se registró en ldsjobs.org y tener todos los líderes en su estaca y barrio de estar registradas. ¿Cómo que se hace depende de usted. Somos conscientes de que no todos los barrios tienen acceso a las computadoras y se sugiere la apertura de su centro de estaca una vez a la semana para que los líderes y los miembros pueden tener acceso a las computadoras para poder registrar cada uno. El Taller de autosuficiente debe ser enseñado en su estaca cada mes. Su especialista de empleo de estaca es el que puede coordinar todas estas actividades junto con el trabajo con especialistas de empleo de barrios. El especialista en empleo de barrio tiene un trabajo muy importante y que es enseñar a los líderes del barrio a la red. A la red es dar a conocer en cada reunión del sacerdocio, la sociedad de socorro y Presidente del Comité de bienestar de barrio que necesita un trabajo y ayudar a aquellos que necesitan un trabajo de conseguir uno. Para su información. El centro de Empleo está abierto de 8:30 am a 3:00pm todos los días, capacitamos a todos los especialistas estaca y de barrio, tenemos el Taller autosuficiente de todos los jueves de 8:30 am a 12:00. Presidente Yanus enseña la clase. Estamos comenzando una clase de Inglés en el doce de mayo, todos los jueves 5:30-7:30pm y nos va a enseñar la clase cualquiera puede asistir. El Taller de Autoempleo comenzará el once de mayo 6:00-8:00 y Hermano Martínez será la enseñanza de la clase. Estamos aquí para ayudar de cualquier manera. Quiero dar mi testimonio que yo se la iglesia es verdadera y que si seguimos el ejemplo de Salvador no va a salir mal.

2011-05-29 - Roatan Trip 29 5 2011

5/29/2011 We left last Tuesday at 4 am to get on a fairy to Roatan. It supposed to be the best scuba slash snorkel inland ever. We had a hard time finding a place to park our car. Honduras is famous for no signs. Or they post then inside the buildings. We got on board the boat, I talk to a student and that wanted to speak English and so I gave him the sister’s phone number to call. We had called the sister earlier this week and they arranged a taxi that would only charge us 20 dollars to get to the hotel. Nice guy, had a family, not member but knew the sisters. Apparently the hotel is called banana rama and it is the best place to scuba and snorkel. West beach is the best beach on the inland and it was just around the corner from our hotel. The sand feels like Hawaii and the water was very clear and beautiful. That evening was inquiring about a bus when someone said in Spanish. There are no buses that go this far down and I am going to town you can go with me. I said okay. WE found out later he was a return mission and worked in the hotel. WE got a chance to meet another member that worked in the office of the hotel. We actually registered her on ldsjobs.org on Thursday. We saw the place the cruise ship was going to dock, went to the store and I stopped a taxi and ask how much to take me back to the hotel. He said 50 limps which is about $2.50 in dollars. I said okay, I will give you 200 limps. After this was all said and done I felt kind of dumb. \Yes I gave him 200 limps. Which was $10.00 dollars. The next morning we went to the port to get charity and Russ. Its was as beautiful day in the neighborhood and there was charity. It was a great to see charity and Russ. We took them back to our hotel. They rented a boat, caught some tuna, went to lunch at west beach, snorkel and took the kayaks out. I hope they had fun. We did. It was hard to see them leave. That night we met this wonderful gal that was a waitress at the hotel . She just came up to us and started talking about the church. I ask her about the taxi thing and she says she pays only 50 limps but charge more for the foreigners. She invited us for lunch. The next day we ate lunch and I adjusted her son that was born with a short leg. That night we met the Branch president and registered him on ldsjobs.org and some other members. Late night. Walk down the block and we tried to get another taxi but all of them said 20 dollars. We called our waitress and she order a taxis for us for 50 limps. The next morning we left at 5 am to catch the fairy back to mainland. The taxi driver hit me for 300 limps. When we got to the mainland I went to pick up my car and they only took cash. I had barely enough cash even with my single dollar I kept since we got here to give to a police if we got pulled over. Blessings I thought. I was sure glad to get my car. NO more screw the foreigners deal. That night we had a meeting with the La Ceiba stake. We were going to teach English class and sign up members after on ldsjobs.org. but no one showed up except about three which we signed up. He was the stake secretary. We took the elders to diner to pizza hut. The next morning we got up a 8am,,,, p day…. And drove 2.5 hours to olanchito. Had a meeting with the district president and the branch presidents there. Some had to drive 3 hours to get there one way. \I was amazed how dedicated these members are. We had a black out and no electricity. We left to drive back to our hotel and the road was block, after driving all around and getting lost a couple of times we Findlay ask a police officer where to go. He told us and as we drove down the street we realized that a parade was coming down the street we were on. We had to pull over and let the marching band go by and then try to drive down the street to get past the other floats. I felt like we were in a movie or something. We got the stake center and had another meeting to talk with the Stake president about calling a senior couple to work in an employment center in La Ceiba. We took the other missionaries out to diner to Wendy’s. The next morning we drove to Tela and had another meeting with the branch president and some member to register them on ldsjob.org. This was very tiring but I feel worth the trip. Some days seem very busy. Lv you guys. Dad

2011-05-30 - Jed I Have To Tell You About My Dream 30 5 2012

5/30/2011 Jed I have to tell you about my dream. I woke up this morning worried about you and the choices you are making because of the knowledge that you know about the gospel. I love you so much and I don’t want to lose you. In my dream I came home and we all went up to the roof of the house. Me, you and Angel. I looked down and mom was leaving in the truck with ATV’s in the back. Somehow the platform we were on fell. I fell off the roof but luckily there was this 2 x 4 that I slid down. You and Angel flew away up in the sky. Angel had on a parachute but you didn’t. Someone was running after mom to stop her and somehow when she drove away she caused us to fall. I don’t know how but it was a dream. When I got to the ground I started to run after you and Angel. I finally found Angel and she told me that you didn’t make it because you didn’t have a parachute and she just floated down. I started to cry because of the sorrow of losing you and I tried to call mom and she didn’t answer. I was thinking how I could tell her that you were gone. The sorrow I felt was so great that |I had to tell you now before I started my day here on the mission. I don’t want to lose you and I would do all that the Lord would ask of me to help you to understand that . That you need a parachute. What that means is that you need to live the gospel and I plead with you that you will understand the meaning of my dream and take it seriously. I realized how much you mean to me. I told mom the dream and she said. It is not worth going to the celestial kingdom without you.. It made me think that we will not give up on you and pray that you will do what it takes to be with all of us. That we just cannot accept it in any other way. I love you with all my heart and even more than that. Lv alwys Dad

2011-07-15 - Talk In Sacrement In San Pedro Sula Honduras 2011 Spanish

7/15/2011 Y DIJO, NO te acerques acá quita El calzado de tus pies, PORQUE ES El Lugar Que Tu ESTAS tierra santa es Moisés se quitó los zapatos porque estaba en tierra santa. Es lo que nos liberase de nuestros zapatos cuando sentimos que estamos en tierra santa? Realmente tuve que pensar en las bendiciones que he recibido cuando estoy reverente. Creo que cuando yo era un niño y cómo yo no pueda reducir a lo que la gente me lo dijo. Cuando fui a la reunión sacramental que parece ser difícil mantenerse despierto. Yo realmente no t comprender cómo ser reverente hasta que fuera mayor. La reverencia es la manera de actuar hacia nosotros mismos y para otros de una manera muy adecuada. Oí una charla una vez alrededor de 4 niños que fueron al templo a hacer bautismos por los muertos. Los dos muchachos en el rol principal era tranquila y respetable, y los que están en la parte de atrás estaban hablando y riendo entre sí. Ambos fueron les preguntó cómo se sentía acerca de ir al templo. Los dos en el rollo de frente, dijo que se sentía el espíritu y que fue una gran experiencia, pero los dos en la marcha atrás, dijo que era aburrido. Pensé cómo dos personas diferentes pueden salir con un total de dos sentimientos diferentes. La razón es que algunos se reverencia y otros no. ¿Qué se necesita para ser reverentes? En primer lugar tenemos que estar muy atento y con las cosas que están alrededor. ¿Cuándo nos quitamos los zapatos? Cuando estamos en tierra santa, como participar del sacramento o ser reverente entonces seremos capaces de tener comunión con Dios, así como musgos hizo en el monte Sinaí. Esta es sólo una figura del habla que don t realmente nos liberase de nuestros zapatos, pero que se quite lo que somos por un momento y llegar a ser absolutamente y sin gas. Para que la voz apacible y delicada del Espíritu Santo puede hablar con nosotros. Una hija trajo a la reunión sacramental trata de apaciguar a sus tres hijos pequeños. Como los sagrados emblemas del pan se transmite nuestra fila, Jake, luego tres, le susurró al oído: "Diles que no es necesario que el pan. Nos trajo nuestras propias golosinas. "Para un niño de tres años de edad, lo único que vio fue pedazos de pan, y él pensó que había algo mejor. Ser reverente en la reunión sacramental por ser tranquilo y recordar que el Salvador nos permitirá sentir el espíritu. . Los pactos y la bendición de tener siempre el Espíritu del Señor que se renuevan con cada vez que participan dignamente del sacramento. Que le fortalezca en la cara de la tentación. Estar aquí en una misión ha sido realmente duro a veces no ser capaz de decir las cosas que me gustaría decir. La mayor parte de nuestro tiempo es la forma de ser reverente silencio y disminuir a cada palabra que ustedes nos hablan. No por elección sino por el hecho de que no se sabe muy bien cómo hablar español en estos momentos. Voy a explicar las bendiciones que hemos recibido en el momento que es difícil poner en palabras. El espíritu ha sido muy fuerte a veces y me ha dado la capacidad de entender cuando se necesitaba entender. Mi testimonio de la veracidad del Evangelio ha crecido hasta el punto de agotamiento. Me voy a casa por la noche y acaba de llegar a la cama. Dos años y medio después se organizó la Iglesia, el Señor advirtió a José Smith de las guerras y las hambrunas y las plagas que vendrían a causa de la maldad. Entonces nos dijo cómo estar seguros en un mundo: "Paraos en los lugares sagrados, y no seáis movidos, hasta el día del Señor vendrá" (D & C 87:8). Permanecer en lugares santos se trata de estar en buena compañía, si usted está solo o con otros. Se está en el Espíritu Santo es nuestro compañero-solo o en grupo. Cuando se determina dentro de nosotros mismos que vamos a controlar nuestros pensamientos y nuestras acciones y ser lo mejor que pueda ser, lo mejor de la vida vendrá a nosotros. Una persona que estaba en el avión el otro día y sentado junto a él era un padre y un hijo .. Pensó para sí: lo que un niño sin reverente corriendo, pateando mi asiento y hablar en voz alta. El padre no es ni siquiera haciendo nada para corregir ese niño. ¿Qué clase de padre que le permite a su hijo a correr salvajemente por el estilo. Se acercó a usar el baño porque estaba harto de estar allí con patadas a este chico su asiento. Él oyó por casualidad uno de los pasajeros dicen, ¡Qué triste es que este chico va a crecer sin una madre. Que se enteró que la mamá había muerto de repente y el padre estaba llevando a su cuerpo para ser enterrado. Mi perspectiva había cambiado y yo regresé a mi asiento y preguntarle si podía ayudarle. El padre dijo: No sé lo que voy a hacer ahora. Algunas veces hemos de ocupados con nuestras vidas que se detenga a la vida reverente Sin embargo, usted quiere ponerlo, estar en tierra santa o permanecer en lugares santos se puede lograr por ser reverentes .. Tengo un testimonio fuerte y de el Salvador y el Evangelio de Jesucristo,. Eso es cierto. El Salvador vive y puede vivir con en nosotros por ser reverentes

2011-07-17 - Letter 7 17 2011

Yesterday was p day, well deserved after much work in the employment center. We helped a young man who was trying hard to put his life in order and find work. The private details of that situation do not need to be retold publicly. What matters is that he worked hard, found a job, prayed with us before leaving, and thanked us for helping him. This mission is hard because people come into your life and then go. We later drove to the falls in Villanueva, and I kept thinking about how hard and beautiful Honduras can be. I truly love serving here and I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. Take care, lv dad.

2011-07-30 - Letter 30 30 2011

7/30/2011. It had been raining in San Pedro Sula, and Steve wrote about stormy streets, traffic worries, and the danger around them. A private safety incident from the original letter is not included in the public edition. The important part is his testimony that they were protected, that he prayed to keep doing the work of the Lord, and that he loved his family. Take care love alwys Dad

2011-08-20 - Letter 8 20 2011

On Fri, Aug 19, 2011, Steven Roper wrote to his family that he and Cindy were doing well and that their mission had been a trial of faith. He wrote about going to a job fair, meeting people who were trying to find better work, and thinking about his children back home. I truly wonder how you kids are doing. I want you to know that I love each and every one of you and I am proud to be your father. Lv dad

2011-08-21 - Letter 8 21 2011

Today is another day. Yesterday was very interesting. We went to Spanish class, bought handkerchiefs for the temple dedication, and stopped at the restaurant next to our apartment. A waiter told us he had gone through a hard season connected to work and family and hoped to come back to church. He felt that we were angels sent to help him. I remembered Grandma Bovert saying there were angels all around us. I realize now that we are all faced with similar challenges, and which path we follow matters for the ones we love most. That night we watched the San Salvador temple celebration and I felt the Spirit strongly. I pray that you all will have a strong testimony of what the temple represents. Lv dad

2011-08-28 - Letter 28 08 2011

Searching for a new life seems to be one of the things you do on a mission. We visited another ward and unexpectedly saw someone we had met through the employment center choose to be baptized. Private details about his family, work, and past do not need to be retold publicly. The important part is that we saw the Lord guide us to the right place at the right time, and it strengthened my testimony. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and I know He loves each one of you. Lv always Dad sing

2011-09-02 - Letter 2 9 2011

9/2/2011 I am glad Charity is doing better. Being far away from you guys takes its toll. I truly love each one of you and I am happy that each one of you are healthy and safe. Being in a safe environment is so important for you children. I am glad that i| had the opportunity to raise each one of you in the United States. Sometimes you take for granted the nice things that you are just unaware of. Just brushing your teeth and rising your mouth out with the water from the sink. We have not done that since we have been here. It’s not a big thing anymore but changing your habits to conform to what you are around was for me. I am a same old thing all the time man. Got to get over myself and change a little. We do the same thing time in and time out. What changes is the people we work with. Got to tell you about Loca Jackie. I think I mention her before in one of my emails. Mom told her to get off the computer because she was on it all day and there were people waiting to use it. She just sat there and didn’t get off. Mom told her off and she said she was sorry butt. Well a couple weeks before this she did the same thing to Hermana Zuniga, a return missionary that worked in the office before us. WE didn’t know it but Hermana Zuniga stop coming to work in the center as a volunteer because she didn’t want to be around local Jackie. She is the one I told you about that dyed her hair and eyebrows red. We called Hermana Zuniga to come in and local Jackie came too. Loca Jackie need to finish the work shop in the morning and so she left to go to the work shop. Hermana Zuniga told us she would not stay if local Jackie was here and she is going to leave when local Jackie comes back at noon. I tried to explain to Hermana Zuniga about forgiveness but some time that sister doesn’t want to lessen. Well loca Jackie came back a t noon, Hermana Zuniga grab her stuff and left but went in to the rest room. I was making a sandwich for me and loca Jackie and the next thing mom comes in to the center with loca jackie and says. Tell local jackie to go home. We don’t want her here anymore. Apparently she went into bathroom while Hermana Zuniga was on the pot and just started an argument. She knew Herman Zuniga didn’t like her and she says she just went into the bathroom to wash her hands and this big argument started between her and Hermana Zuniga. The way loca Jackie always dealt with things is argue to death about the subject until you get tired and submit to her will. Loca Jackie is the one that told me three times she was member and was baptized but not in our church but fail to mention that when I asked. Well loca Jackie is arguing with us now in the center in a load voice, there are people asking what is wrong and are leaving because they are scared. So I waited until Hermana Zuniga is long gone and I toke her outside and to tell her to go home and come back tomorrow when you are not so emotional. I sat there for 20 more minutes lessening to a story told several times with a little twist each time she told the story. She said she could not leave because she had a meeting with the missionaries at 2pm. I said okay go in to the church and wait on the other side but do not go back in to the center. She agreed. She came in and sat on our side and told the area seventy that came to visit us all about her problem with Hermana Zuniga. Then after that she came walking into the center and ask \Hermana Roper if she was going to participate in her discussion when the missionary came. She said she would but didn’t have to because they had three missionaries.. After the discussion the missionaries came in and she also came in and started to sit down to do something to the computer. I said no, leave now. She left. Apparently her email was still on and she wanted to turn it off. Today was quite in the center but the elders called and want us to take them to loca Jackie house to do a baptismal interview. We drove them there and we all go out of the car to go into loca Jackie house. But loac Jackie said she didn’t want to do the discussion today. We sat back in the car to wait and loca Jackie mother came out and just started yelling at missionaries. I did not hear what she was saying but the whole block could her talk. We sat there for about a hour while her mother was yelling at the missionaries. Then they went inside. Then the elder came out and said we are going to start the interview now and if you want to leave you can. I said call me when you are done and we will pick you up. We stopped at Power chicken at our house and had shrimp. Elder called we pick them up and they told us loca Jackie will be baptized tomorrow and ask if we can go. We have other plans to hike the coke cola sign half way up the mountain so we will not be there. We don’t need this stress and sometimes I am lost on how we are supposed to run this center. Maybe we will figure it out by the time we leave. Lv you guys alot. Lv alwys Dad

2011-09-09 - Letter 9 9 2011

9/9/2011 Last week was interesting. We lost loca Jackie and Hermana Zunig, she never returned like she promised. Internet was out for 5 days and the phone are still out. So we have to borrow from el fundo perpetuo office phones and internet next door. My English is suffering I guess. Sometimes I don’t know if I am speaking English or Spanish. We still struggle with the language because they speak so fast and use words we don’t know. But we get a good idea now what they are saying. I had to teach the workshop last week because the teacher didn’t show up. Last time I was more prepared than this time. There seems to be so many things we need to learn that sometimes I just cannot do a good job. I prayed earnestly for help to get through the class and I got though it and the students said they learn a lot. The work is moving forward and we try to ask the nonmembers if they would like to learn about the church? Most say yes. This morning we took a long hike up the mountain to see the giant Coke cola sign. It’s like hiking up to the BYU sign. I have never done that but this sign is hugh. You cannot get to the Letters because the area is fenced off. But going to the top and looking down at the city reminded me of going with angel to top of that mountain and looking down at the city in Italy. It was prettie tough walk but not as tough as Havasupai. Mom like, okay, let’s go back down. She took the hike like she was a young woman in her 20’s. Just don’t know if I can keep up with that girl any more. I was dead tired. Tonight we are invited to some ones home for dinner. Our Spanish teacher’s mom. They used to be in our ward but moved pretty far away. She bought some piñatas and asked us to up to fill them with candy. So when they have the celebrations of independence day parties on the 15th of September. Some of the families with kids will enjoy it better with the piñatas. She will donate them to poor families. We I got to run. Take care and love you all. Lv alwys dad

2011-09-10 - Letter 9 10 2011

9/10/2011 I realize When you are tired that it is hard to be happy. At least it takes its toll on my mind. I never realized it before but your mood of disappointment seems to blossom when your body aches and your mind it tired. Disappointment is of the devil and he more we are disappointed the more depressed we get. I have tried to conquer that mood ant just do at the general authorities do and that is teach hope, love and success. While those that don’t lessen cannot have any excuse when they meet there maker. A prophet of God Spoke last week and were we there? If we were are we going to follow what he said or do we know what he said. I heard a story about a person who told a friend that he just heard a prophet speak. The man ask him what he said. And he could not tell him what the prophet said. I have thought about that and I learn what the prophet said. If you have to, stand alone for your standards. Our heavenly father knows each of us and knows what our potential is. It is become like him because he is really our father in heaven. The days seem to be packed with so much to do that we cannot seem to finish all that is required of us. I pray to know what is most important so we can go away with doing what the Lord wants us to do. I heard about another man bit the dust. Hermano Ochoa doesn’t come to church any more. We meet him several months ago. He was working on a Cruise ship as Head Waiter but didn’t want to go back because he missed his family and wanted to find work close to home. We invited him to come to the center but only gave us idle promises. He accepted a calling in the ward and was a great singer. We ate diner in his home and then 3 weeks ago he stop coming to church and today I ask Hermano Malara about him. He said he goes to the disco until 3am or 4am and does not live with his wife any more. He has three kids and he is just all there other bums that don’t take of their family. I really don’t’ really understand why so many are like this here. I home teach a family that the father is still at home but doesn’t want to go to church. His son is 19 and an awesome kid that was inactive when we first started teaching him. Now he and the whole family come with out there dad. I want to say to each one of you that I have made mistakes and \I hope you can forgive me for those times I was not there for you. I pray with all my heart that you will be there for your kids. We talk about quality but quantity is most important. I love each one of you kids with all my heart. Lv alwys Dad

2011-10-08 - Letter 10 8 2011

Interesting week. Different. Cambios. Every six weeks those that are getting transferred come to the chapel in Benque where we go to church. There is usually a lot of missionaries that come. ON Tuesday we went to dinner at the mission home with the new bees, About five green goes and five or so central americans. Diner was great, pork chops on a choice of a Zl birthday and he is leaving this change, he has six weeks left and President sent him away to serve 6 weeks in no man’s land. There was an Elder Roper from Vernal Utah that came. I talked with him but he has no idea of any relations. I know of one that is distend from us. I think as far back as Charles Roper that was the son of Suzanna Smith from England or her grandson. I was exciting to call him Elder Roper and when the President read off his name at the Cambios I wanted to stand up. It is hard to believe that we have been here over 6 months. Still struggling with the language. We can understand an awful lot but it’s the talking back part that is hard. The next day was diner at the mission home with all the elders going home. There was a sister that has been here 8 months but claims she has problems with her knee and wants to get it looked at in the states. Don ‘t think she will come back. They had sent another sister home early because of whatever reason. I feel bad for those that leave there mission early and really don’t want to stick it out. Yes it is hard out here but the blessings will not come unless you put forth the effort to do the Savoir will. I pray for strength for us to make it through our mission. Well we had lasagna for dinner that night. A family from Guatemala came to visits there son who was finishing his mission. They had like four younger brothers and sisters. I thought of the time we went and saw Josh on his mission and how wonderful it was to be in the same place my son served. The mission deal tires me out a lot and sometimes I feel like where am I getting all this energy to move forward. It comes because of you guys. Your support is over whelming for me and mom. We thank you for your prayers and your encouragement. It does make a different in how we serve. WE really feel we cannot do it without your support. I want to say that \I have changed but I not going to bore you with all that stuff. I love my Savior more now than \I have in a long time. I pray my words may touch you heart to want to become closer to your Savior too. I love each one of you and will continue to love and try to be the best father I can be. Also the best grandfather to you kids. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is real and we all need to take advantage of it while we are all alive. I wish I had an inspirational story to tell you but I don’t All I have is to continue my last email. We had dinner Ferlin and he cooked the meal that we looked at in the magazine Hawaiian chicken. It was the best meal I have had here in San Pedro Sula. I told him about BLT’s and we are going to cook for him next. Take care love alwsy Dad

2011-10-15 - Letter 15 10 2011

10/15/2011 Be glad you live where you are children. We had another though night last night but we got through it. No sleep can kick your but. They decided to remolded the bakery down stairs. Started around 11 pm and didn’t finish until 3 or 4 am. Pounding on the walls all night. . I went down stairs at 12am and told the guard which was sleeping in a truck. He was no help. I talk to the Contractor he told me to stick it and so I called the owner’s brother. He told me he was going to tell him to quit and come back the next day but I overheard the conversation and told him to hurry up and stop making noise. I called the owner and he said he called them and told them to stop. He called me back I told him they haven’t stopped. So I guess the contraction is in control of the job and not the owner. Or the owner just don’t care. I am going to look around to see if there is somewhere else to rent. Mom does not want to move. Dealing with people over lets you appreciate your own country. Even though things don’t turn out the best where you are it is a heck of lot better than living here. So know that you are blessed to live where you are. Time is going faster now and it seems we are busier than ever and we are just trying to survive our mission right now. Not a lot of great inspiring stories to tell. Been to two baptism this week Actually there were three but we had English class the same time as one of the baptismal. It Ochoa’s son. The father I told you about in my last email that was a fake. While he made it to his son baptismal but didn’t baptize him. I just went up to him and hug him and told him that I was glad to see him and missed him. His older son baptized his brother and the other older brother confirmed him. Sad story. I do appreciate all of you and How I will be able to see you again and be able talk with you all one day. I feel life can be so simple if you make it that way. \Just by hanging and doing something you both enjoy and that is what I want to do with each one of you. NO more. why are you doing this or didn’t you do that. It is just hang out and say how are you doing and let“s go have some fun and enjoy each other’s company because one day we will not be able to do that. I love each one of you and want you to know that I miss you and love you so much. I was thinking about each one of you and how we really had some fun together and I want that to continue. Lv alwys Dad

2011-10-22 - Letter 22 10 2011

Last Sunday was and if fact this whole week has been Crazy but it seems some here in Honduras actually get it. I was asked by one of our employment specialist. Why is there not any programs from the church for the poor? That has bothered me all week. Most of the jobs we put into the web site are for educated or simi educated people. Some only have only passed the six grade. Those jobs are hard for us to find because we have to contact factories directly and find out how they hire their personal. We heard of a place in Villanueva which is about an hour away that there were opening up a super store. Hermana Bessie said it was a two day interviews and they had 300 people that applied. She was called back for the exam. They take an exam to see if they qualify for the job. We missed the appointment and we just don’t have enough personal to be in twenty places at once. So your mother has devised a plan. To call a missionaries or a couple from each of the stakes to serve for one day a week in the employment center. Be called for one year. There are 8 stakes close enough to drive to and four stakes that are an hour or so away will be called to work in their own stake one day a week helping there members in there stake get jobs. Your mother was up early one morning typing on the computer. She told me to get up and look at this idea. I was half a sleep and really didn’t give it much thought but later I saved what she wrote and translated it into Spanish. I felt it was an answer to our prayers of finding a way we can leave Honduras and know that the work goes on. I know with all my heart that the lord inspired your mother to come up with this plan. Two days ago we receive our first missionary assign to the employment center and I can testify that the lord has blessed us and this City. I sure love you mother. Yesterday I was called on the phone when I was picking up the mail for the missionary. Hermano Crirasco said there was this person that did not like me and wanted to talk with me. I really did not understand totaling what he was saying but when I got back to the Employment Center. There was this person waiting for me. He spoke very good English. He asked me if I thought the lord wanted him to die. That his wife was trying to kill him and he met her through black magic. That the seven day Adventist church told him that the Lord has a dark side and that he was visited by Christ and he does not look like that as he pointed to one of the pictures in the church. That He is not responsible for his actions and the things he had done bad was not him that was doing them. Ya know most of the time I would just left but I thought about the people that were in the chapel, your mother and the volunteers. If he gets mad enough he may just take us all out. He was not a member and he wanted me to give him a blessing to cast out his demon inside of him. That his faith alone will be enough to allow that demon to leave. I told him I could not give him a blessing. He said then who can? I walk him out of the building to my car and gave him a book of Mormon. I ask him to accept the Book of Mormon and read it and I would call him in a few days. He said you can give me blessing. I know you can. Will you? I said I really don’t feel I should and if you read this Book of Mormon and still want a blessing I will ask my Heaven Father if he wants me to give you one. This person reminded me of Ray in a sense that his mind was distorted. Ray would never hurt anyone but I did not know about him. I told him that how can you say you had a vision of the Savior when you practiced black magic. He said that was before. I told him he needed to get a job and take care of his daughter. Make sure she is fed and has clothes her whole life. He said well she was born under fornication. I said is she your daughter? he said yes then take care of her. I can’t work I am sick. I said I went to work sick and so can you. He seem to understand what I was trying to tell him that if you read the book of Mormon and follow it’s percepts than your life will have new meaning. He said you want me to read the whole book in a few days. I said no just read what you can and you can tell me what you think about it. He left with the book of Mormon in hand. I know he was not Satin but he knew things that I think satin would know. Scary. I used to think I can meet satin and be able to handle my own. I know that is not true anymore and the only way I can ever get through meeting satin is with the help of the lord Jesus Christ. I pray for you mother safety that matters to me an awful a lot and sometimes can only rely upon him to provide that. This place has a lot of things that happen that you do not have any control of. I know that the Lord bless me with safety. I have had close calls all the time when I drive. The other day I had three of them in one day and the last one saved my life. I was told or moved, to not to make the turn and I didn’t. I slammed on my brakes and almost hit the bus in front of me because it decided to swerve in my and slam on its brakes because the police put of green cones in the road to close off two lanes to pass out tickets or receive pay offs. I got my composure and thanked the lord for letting me live another day. If I would have turned I would hit the car next to me and ran over the policemen. The Gospel is true and we are all here for a purpose. Live for that purpose and receive the prompting from the holy Ghost in your lives. The greatest blessing you have is your testimony of the Savoir Jesus Christ. Knowing something has great power that others do not have. Cherish that testimony, nourish that testimony and it will extend your life forever. I know this to be true. Dad

2011-10-29 - Letter 29 10 2011

10/29/2011 Another week has gone by and we are doing just fine here in Honduras. A lot of struggles that we are faced with but when a ball that is let go will hit the floor and bounces only to return in your direction. Then we can catch that ball, let it bounce or increase its ability to return faster back to us. If we are smart we will control the bounce so that we can move in the direction that we want to go. This is called dribbling in basketball. It took me a long time to attain that control to be able to move toward a goal, or basket so to speak and catch the ball after it bounces and drop it in the basket. The result is a point for the team but ya know the ball still comes down and bounces on the floor but the difference is direction the ball is going. It still bounces but the result is different. Can we control our dribble in life and reach the Goal our heavenly father wants us to attain? The answer is yes. Some say our goal is eternal life. Which is a great goal to have but we cannot even begin to understand to how to attain that unless we can master what the lord has given us in this life. So what has the lord given us in this life? Our spirit. How do we master our spirit? Praying, attending church and temple, serving others and reading our scriptures. Prove me now herewith, the Lord has told us. If I will not open the windows of heaven. If you will but exercise the principle by living it that you will receive the blessing. I have done this several times in my life. I knew not why the lord has commanded me to do certain things but I went ahead and did them. Attending the temple every month was one of those things I could not understand why it was so important but I went ahead and did it. I know now why the temple is so important. It completes eternal families and seals them forever and ya know you only go once for yourself and all the other times you serve others. One blessing I would not of known if I did not trust in the Lord and do what he has asked. Another item is reading the book of Mormon from the beginning to the end. In the last three years I have read the Book of Mormon four or five times, once in Spanish and now I know why the lord has asked us to do it. Scriptures are like gold falling down from heaven. If you want to be rich, read the scriptures every day especially the Book of Mormon. I pray that you may understand what I am trying to say. It time so get on the right path and stick to it because the signs of the times are upon us now. The Lord Jesus Christ will come again and the time is not to far off. I am not a prophet and I do not profess to know any more knowledge that anyone else. But I am worried about the world and how it has taken a turn for the worse and if we have our houses in order then we need not fear. Please take time to pray every day and read the scriptures and you will be bless with the power to know and live its principles. I know this to be true will all of my heart and pray for you kids to know the same. I love you more than you can possible know and want you to be able to see the things that I have seen. We pray for you almost every day of our lives and want you to be able live the truth because you desire to do so. I love you . all . Dad

2011-11-05 - Letter To President Veirs

11/5/2011 Our mission here in San Pedro Sula Honduras to work in the employment office has been a little frustrating. We feel the volunteer center should be run by volunteers and we have asked the Stake Presidents for volunteers for months for volunteers and only one has given us a volunteer. The center in only 10’ x 18’ with three computer stations and when there is more that 6 people in the center we bump into each other as we move. We have been told we would receive a bigger place when we got here. Our leader in Tegucigalpa does not return emails and is very unorganized. WE have discussed things that would make the center better and to have better communication. The communication has gotten worse. When he wants something we do it but when we ask for things it does not get done or takes a long time to get resolved. We feel closed in and stuck in a an office that should be run by Volunteers. Several months ago the mission president suggested a transfer out of the center for 6 months and then return to the center. This seemed to be a great idea for the leaders to realize the importance of staffing the center with volunteers because when we finish our mission they will be faced with the same problem but with this ideas we will be coming back and helping out. We feel that the mission president can use it us in different places and be more effective.

2011-11-14 - This Week End We Went To A Small Cobble Stone Street Town Called Santa Rosa

11/14/2011 This week end we went to a small cobble stone street town called Santa Rosa. It is a district that has several branches. First time I have really been cold, I guess it is high elevation or just out in the middle of nowhere. It always seem to be very difficult to find certain things like our hotel or the branch. All of sudden we look to the left and there is our hotel after driving on these one way street up and down hills to just say look there is our hotel. Wow one street people are honking, moms gets out and ask where to park because these streets are very narrow and there is already a line of cars that want me to move. Moms come back and around the corner there is a parking lot that is just for the hotel. Of course there is no sign we had to ask but the thing is we find things a lot better than we did when we lived at home. We asked the hotel clerk for directions to the branch. She didn’t know but the bell boy knew where both branches were. One very close and the other far away. WE went to the branch that the meeting was not going to be at. When we go to the other branch there were about 3 people waiting, then a rapidito pull up and 20 people pilled out of the van. The institute director was an hour late so we started an hour late. I gave my spill on the employment center and this time I realized what I was telling them would not work here because Ldsjobs.org does not have any jobs listed for them in Santa Rosa. But the information on ldsjobs.org can help them and so I tried to tell them about networking because networking is the best way to find a job. Word of mouth by asking everyone you meet that you need and job and if they know of any place hiring. Well my message did not seem to sink in because when the meeting was over I ask someone if they would like to register on ldsjobs.org and they said why. I have a job. I said no it is to help others that you know find a job. By registering you can know how to help other ward members find a job. Sometimes I think people think it is all about me and we don’t think we can help the other person find a job. Its about 3 hours to Santa Rosa and the next morning we drove to Santa Barbara and gave another presentation that was a whole lot different. I feel the Lord gives me little messages for me to follow and I need to do my best to follow them. The message was to help your neighbor find a job. If you have a job then go to your place where you work and ask them if they have any job openings. If they do then bring the job opening to the branch and give it to someone that does not have a job. Try to be mindful of helping members in your branch find jobs. That was it. Very little on ldsjobs.org but mostly on networking. I feel the lord has blessed me and you mom to be able to help some find jobs. I pray that your lives are being blessed by the service we do. We do pray for you all the time so that you guys will have a happy and a blessed life. My life is blessed because of each one of you. You do complete me and I am grateful to be your father and have the opportunity to love you as much as I do. Prayers are answered when we least expect them and many times we think they go unanswered. The scriptures are a good way to find our answers and so is fasting. Something that is very difficult for me to do. We fasted last Sunday to find out how we can improve our mission and to send a letter to the mission president about how we feel our mission is going. We felt to just let the mission president decide what is best for us. No more complaining just do the best we can in the time we have left. I love the Gospel very much and know that if we will trust in him that our lives will be blessed. It is always a two part resolution. We do our part and he does his. When we fall short we can rely on him to take up the slack but we must be willing to do our part. I love you all. Dad

2011-11-20 - Letter 20 11 2011

Before I forget. Grandma asked for our mailing address. [private mission mailing address removed] 12 Calle, Avenida circunvalacion S.O. Edif. Yude Canahuati, 3 Nivel, oficina 4 Apdo. Postal #1970, San Pedro Sula, Cortez, Honduras, C.A. 11/20/2011 Been a tuff week but ya know we just get her done as the funny man would say. I just wonder how many times I don’t really enjoy my work and just get her done instead of standing back to admire life in its fullness. Yes there is a lot of sorrow in this world and it is just a lot of work to keep up with everything we are supposed to do but for some reason we just think it need be done right away. I was taking the elders to the bus terminal which is kind of a crazy place to be. Not as crazy as Peru bus station but close to it. I was just telling the elders that I have had close calls but not really hit anyone. So this bus on my right starts to cut me off in traffic. Well I finally stop because it was either hit the bus or move into the first lane where there’s already a car. I move a little into the first lane and the bus doesn’t stop just cuts me off the car next to me and I slam on my brakes but I don’t stop in time and hit the car next to me.. let me get it strait now there are three lanes the bus is in the far right turning left into two lanes and I hit the car next to me and the bus just drives off like nothing happen. I really don’t understand how anyone can ever think that is okay. Its not and luckily there is no road rage because there would be a lot more killing than there already are. I feel grateful for the blessing the lord gives me and your mother. I cannot deny that we are protected by some outside force. Literally we have close calls all the time. I can write a book on each time I thought this was it and it wasn’t. We visited a sister mom visit teaches and her heart is giving out. She is such a wonderful person and you can tell she is having a hard time with life. Her doctor told her not to walk anymore because she is so weak. It was a wakeup call for me knowing that life can change at any time of our lives and we need to enjoy the moment. Those moments will not come again ever. Take the time to enjoy what you are doing and find something you enjoy and go out and do it. To many times we think we cannot because of whatever reason you choose you just don’t do it. Life is real and those who choose to accept it will someday find themselves in a state of happiness and will not know how they got there. Live your life to its fullness with all the wonders that you think make it worth it without crossing the the line of regret. I love you guys with all my heart and choose to be a part of your lives for eternity. We all have our free agency and choose to make those decisions that we feel are right in our lives. Never give up on trying to make better decision in your life. Love alwys Dad

2011-11-28 - Letter 28 11 2011

Sorry for not writing my email a week. We went to Santa Rosa Copan for a meeting with the district president and the leaders of some branches. Not a lot of people showed up but we felt it was a success. Sometimes we feel if we just affect one person that it makes our mission all worth it. We met a missionary couple that was called to serve in the areas of Copan and find jobs for the people there. We are supposed to train them in the art of finding and adding the companies to a list in ldsjobs.org so the members can have access to the list. Computers are hard to come by the further out you go from the center of the big cities and this place is over 3 hours away. Most people sale something of their own for a business but some do look for jobs. We decided to change our wheels and go into a different direction and use computers but not make it our driving force for jobs. Our next destination is networking with in the community you are in. Not only does the church have a network of people that can help you find a job you can organize your own network of people. One of the members got up and told this story. She said she just moved here from Utah and did not have a job. She told everyone she met and now she has three leads to get a job. Wow that is the answer to one of our questions. Networking is the best way to find a job even in a poor county like Honduras. It’s not who you know but how many you know that makes it work. The more you ask the more chances you have in landing a job. I honestly never had any Idea how the job market works and we have struggled to find the answers for so many good honest people that just want to work. We have seen the ones that work the hardest in looking for a job usually get a job. We tell them it is a full time job looking for a job. The language has been one of the hardest obstacles to overcome. It seems we get the job done but it takes a lot of effort to get our point across. I hope one day we will be able to communicate everything feel in our heart. I know the lord blesses us beyond our wildest dreams and sometimes these blessing come in a way we least expect them. Having missionary called in places we cannot help because of our distant to travel back and force has been one of the best blessing we have received. Another one is our ability to find churches that we have meeting to pop up in the street that we go down. It happens again in Santa Barbara we have to be at church at 9am for sacrament and we drove down this one street and there is was. It has have happen to us a least a dozen times in our mission. I wonder if the lord just lets us find the churches easy because let me tell you there is no signs or directions on how to get to these churches. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and know if you follow his will things will work out no matter what. I have question many things in my life and have come to a conclusion that I am still here and I am alive so why am I so worried about things. I have gain an appreciation of the Book of Mormon like no other and truly know it is an inspired book for all who will take the time to read and digest its contents. After reading the book of Mormon in Spanish it has given me a new view on what the Nephites and lamanites went through and the little words that I never would have realized come to life and I begin to think how I miss that in English. Wow I ask each one who it reading my email today to read the book of Mormon every day and it will help you with what life offers you. Believe it or not but once you do it you will agree. Thank you all for being my friend. I truly have a love for you that is hard to describe but it is stronger now than when we left. Take time to enjoy life’s moments with your kids and cherish life to its fullness. I have so much to live for and so much more to do here on this earth. I love you all . dad

2011-12-03 - Letter 12 03 2011

12/3/2011 Crazy times. I guess it is what goes on around here. How is times going with you? I was praying for some action with our stake president on this calling missionary to serve in the center. I probably emailed him like 5 or 6 times or more. I saw him in the hall today and I ask him if he had received my emails. He told me he had but he is not very good about returning them. He told me that he has a meeting with all the relief society presidencies in the stake today at noon and wondered if we could come and give a presentation about do missionary work in the SRE. ( Servicio recursos de empleo ). Employment center. We said sure we have time. Everything starts later than they say. We gave our spill and 13 people signed up to help in the center. I was shocked. Going from cero to 13 in one meeting was just is to good to true. We will be able to have a missionary and maybe some volunteers to help. I said a little prayer and thanked my Heavenly Father for the blessing and the answer to my prayer. The Stake President was surprise how many were very interested in helping out. We go through moments of despair and this happens. The Lord knows our heart and soul. We sometimes have to make sure our heart is in the right place. It is in our chest just below our head which makes all the decision of our life. Sometimes we need to look down and ask our heart what we should do. If our heart tells us not to then we need to lessen because our heart comes from our parents and it is not easy dissuaded like our head is. My dad’s heart was the greatest thing about him. He would do anything for any one if he could. Oh how I can just be like my dad. I pray he is proud of what I do and how I lead my life. Yesterday I got a phone call. The person said I am working. I said so who is this. She said Livis. Let me tell you about Hermana Livis. We met her about the first or second month when we got here. She is return mission and has been looking for work all this time. She has volunteer in the center mean while looking work almost every day. She been on many interviews and always tells them that she will not work on Sunday. I am so happy for her that she finally got a job and a good at that. She works for a Pharmacy. We usually don’t hear from people who get jobs but this one called us because we have developed a person relationship with her. I think it how it may sound, oh she has a job but after 9 month of looking she is finally working. I look how I just to think about the churches employment department and I would not give it two cents of my time. Now the Lord must know that and so he stuck me here to change my mind. Yes my mind has been changed and I feel we need to look at all avenues in looking for a job. I am not an expert but I learned a lot about jobs and how to find them by sharing what you know helps others. Knowledge means nothing unless you use that knowledge. I have been thinking about all the knowledge I have learned about business and motivation and what it takes to start a business and I finally have been convinced to use what I know here. How I will do such a thing I don’t know but I need to do it. Whatever we are blessed with can help others only if we will put what we know into action. I have always wondered about what this life is all about. I know it is to learn and prepare ourselves for when we die. But is also to help others with the talents we have. Are you using your talents to help others grow? Setting an example and being an example are two things that just don’t go together. One is of pride and the other is a result of what we want to become. It is a constant battle on who is going to win that struggle of who you become. It talks about that in the scriptures and the nature man is an enemy to God and we fight that every day of our lives. Most times we can win that battler but guess what it starts again in our life with the constant temptation of sin is okay and you deserve this. Restraining ourselves from thinking about things that are bad is a constant struggle for me. I don’t know how others deal with it but I just try to read more scriptures and change my thoughts. It is my fault that I have those thoughts because I choose early in my life to participate in such evil practices. I choose now not to participate but those thought still come to me. Going on my second mission I felt may give me the blessing of pure thoughts but I still struggle with those thoughts that tend to drag me down and I just keep going in the direction the lord wants me to go. It I feel he is not leading me I go where I feel he wants me to go and along the way he sometimes guides me. Gives me signs and blessing to know I am on the right tract. Never give in to Satin’s wishes or temptations. Know where freedom is and it is following the Savior. Sorry this is long. Lf you alwys dad

2011-12-11 - Letter 11 12 2011

12/11/2011 We are really tired. We had meetings in the city of la Ceiba which is about three hours away. Two of our volunteer quit or one did quit but the other just never showed up. He is the one that made the appointment three weeks ago and said he is busy taking exams. So the secretary of the stake got on the phone and got three more volunteers of which mom trained while I ran around picking up the Pef people and taking them to the hotel. We ate at my favorite restaurant that serve king crab but was disappointed when they gave me black crab meat and told me that is was normal. They try to prove to me that are right even though they know they are wrong and until you give them the stern look and raise you voice a little they know you cannot be taken advantage of. I ordered langosta which is lobster. Mom you would be in heaven to receive what I got. Three good size lobsters for 25 dollars. It did fill me up, first time in my life that lobsters filled me up. The meat was white. So my favorite place came through. The next day we spent the morning at the port because the couple servicing in Tagus (the capital city) as PEF ;reps. *perpetual educational fund, is having family over and they want to go to Roatan. An inland off the coast of Honduras. They found a small ship to take them for half the price. That afternoon we taught the Career workshop to 6 employment specialist and some other leaders. We thought 30 would come but only 9 should up. The rain I think stop them from coming. It was crazy driving here because the roads were flooded and I was hoping our little car would make it through and it did. That that night at about 1 am my food told me to that is was time to get rid of it and so I got sick from the food I ate next door to the hotel. mom threw half of her plate away because it was not good. It tasted just fine but sometimes they don’t give you hot food and you don’t know how long it was sitting out. Service and good food is hard to come by here. Luckily we don’t eat out very much. This morning we set up a 5 minute commercial at a ward we have never been to. I did get some directions but directions here are… Well here is directions I got. Go up to the main street where pizza hut is, drive away from San Pedro Sula, turn left at the Popeye’s, go down 1 or two blocks and turn right go down 5 blocks and just ask someone where the Desperados Bar is and the church is next to that. We were diffidently lost for 30 minutes. Must of ask 10 people where the bar was and it was not until we ask where the Mormon Church was that we found it. Go figure. If you are looking satins lair then he will let you go around it circles but when you are looking for the Lord’s place you end up finding it. It taught me a great lesson. I could not find my talk and so I had to speak from the cuff. I guess it turned out better because there was no questions. This mission stuff is hard work and don’t let anyone tell you different but ya know I love to do hard work for the lord. I have so many things to repent of and somehow we are blessed n spite of that. The Lord is real and his work is open to whoever wants to serve. I am grateful for you and I do love you so very much. I do miss you and will someday be there where you are and just want to hug you and thank you for being my children. Lv alwys Dad

2011-12-16 - Josh12 16 2011

12/16/2011 Josh. I want to wish you a merry Christmas. Christmas is a time that we remember Christ and what he has done for us. i\ feel some times Christmas was to much in the presents mode to really understand what a real Christmas is. Family and being with family is what Christmas is all about and this Christmas will not be that way. I was reading in Jacob chapter 2 that talks about how to become wealthy and what to do with the money when we are wealthy. Something I felt I would of done good if I was wealthy but ya know the lord knows all. He knows our heart and what we would do and some time he lets us struggle to gain a understanding of who is in charge. And I am not saying that bad things only happen bad people but the good ones know how to handle bad things better. Because they have a perspective that is better than the ones that are bad. It this world we live in with crime all around us I wonder how someone can even possible be good or even think that life can get better. The church is so awesome because even here the gospel is true and members believe in the principles that dictate happiness. Selfness service is one principle that has been hard for me to follow. To be able to give of yourself without thinking about what is in it for me has been hard for me to do. You know what a mission is and how much stress is put a pond you to be the kind of person every thinks you to be. Living up to that standard has been difficult but today I studied Jacob chapter 5 and my understanding really hit me. Than my family is more important that doing what I am doing here. Somehow I wished that the Lord would bless my family because of my service here. I really don’t know if that has happened and maybe someday I might know but the fact remains that you are my son and I am worried about you. I know you have a testimony and I know you have talent that the Lord has given you to be used for helping others. Your service in the Lord kingdom is the greatest thing you will ever do in this life. I know that to be true and your happiness and you families happiness depends on that. I love you son more that you can possible know but now that you have a child to love. You may begin to understand what that love truly means. You want your kids to be better than you and I think you are and have the potential to do great things here on earth. Your values are one of the most important things you have and when we cross the line into Satins areas we tend to rationalize other points of the gospel because we don’t live the way we should. So we find areas to make excuses of who we are and if fact we are a child of our heavenly father and we can if we want to be like him. Satin brings us into doubt and in chapter 5 of Jacob it talks about what we have been taught and how we gain truth and not to fall into paths that deny that truth. You are the oldest of my sons and carry with you the mantel of the family when I die. Live to be the mantel the lord want you to become and gather the family together always in the paths of righteous. I love you son and will always be your friend. Lv alwsy dad

2011-12-17 - Letter 17 12 2011

12/17/2011 Been an interesting week here in. It has been really slow and it seems we are doing so much more for the mission home. We had the Christmas party for the missionaries and it didn’t really seem like Christmas. Mom plays Christmas music like 24- 7 and it is nice to hear the songs. Silent night always hits me hard because it is Grandma Boverts favorite song. They sang it at the First Presidency Christmas devotional of which we lessen to it in Spanish with very bad sound quality. It was hard enough to understand let alone with the speaker cracking and the every few seconds it stops to reload. I finally got up and walk to the back of the chapel and looked out the window and then they sang Silent night in English. I sat staring out the window thinking about the promise Grandma Bovert gave me before she died. That she would come and see me after she died to let me know if I was right about the church. She still has not come and I wondered how she is doing as I sang Silent night. It is kind of a devotion to her whenever I hear that song. I remember singing that song to here when we went caroling with the Weinstocks. She would always ask us to sing that to her. Life never stops and time passes by way to fast. I had a thought some time afterward and it was why we are still here and it is to share our selves to the ones we love. Our words, our feelings and our emotions. It is only express as a point of view and those that receive that point of view have an opportunity to agree with it or not but when you are gone. That point of view gets distorted and lost in how or what was expressed. The impact of someone life does make a difference on you only if you choose to make changes in your own life. I call those people Hero’s. Those that have impacted my life and are dead are heroes. My father was one of my Hero’s that I hope to someday to see and talk with and I hope that he will tell me that he is proud of me. Hero’s never die or at least there works never die. The Savoir is another one of my Hero’s. We are celebrating his birthday in the next couple of days. He has so much love for all of us that to try to be the kind of person he is, I drop down to my knee’s and pray for help because I just don’t how I could ever be like that and I know I should. Each time \I make a mistake I kick myself but I need to kick myself before the mistake and live like he lived or lives. My Savoir has always been hard for me to emulate and I pray for guidance that I can learn how to emulate him but each time I fall short. I know that some time when I am just to tired to continue here I pray for strength and I get the task done and I get back on my knee and thank him for taking over. I really don’t know how but it seems to get done. The other day we were in La Ceiba and we planned a 5 minute presentation about what we do here and that is find work for the members and non-members. Well I could not find my talk. The Lord came to my aid and as I sat down I realized that I had presented what the Lord wanted me to present and it was prettie much different than what my talk was going to be. I have had several of those types of experiences that confirm the truth of the gospel. It was not me that gave that presentation and I take no credit for what the Lord has done. I pray I may stay close that spirit to be worth to be able to have that to be with me always. It is not the case here I fall short many time and I am grateful to at least have it with me some times. I believe with all my heart that this church is true. Those that can accept it here, it will be better for them but they can receive that opportunity when they die. No other plan on earth makes more sense than the plan of salvation or the plan of happiness. It just makes sense and how anyone can ever deny its truthfulness. No other plan is more fair than the Lord’s plan. I love you guys with all my heart. Stay close to your family no matter where you are in life. Lv alwys Dad

2011-12-23 - Letter 23 12 2011

12/23/2011 I really don’t know where to begin. We honestly try to do good here but this place is so hard for the people that live here. We had a good turnout for our party for the volunteers that have help us since we have been here. Mom made pistachio salad, the pretzel salad, Pizza, chocolates and white cake. 30 or more people came. Our jefe came from Tegucigalpa. We were wrapping things up when Hermana Martinez, our new missionary just recently called to serve in the center got a phone call. She started to cry and then it was an uncontrolling crying. We ask her what’s wrong and she said her husband was killed. He owns a security guard business and was taking money out of the bank to pay his workers. As they left the bank three robbers pulled their guns and ask President Martinez for the money. One they said was a minor. He said no and they shot him and his brother-in-law was shot in the leg. He just got here from Guatemala the day before. They took over a 100,000 limperas which is $5,000 dollars. It was the pay roll for his security business. We just took then out to lunch just last Tuesday to one of their favorite places. We got to know him better and realized he was an amazing man. He sat there writing down the things I said. He said that a lot of his employees would not show up for work and would steal his guns that he gave them for work. I suggested for him to withhold a fraction of their money until they had paid for each gun he issued to them. When they left you can return the money. I had a similar problem with my employees and they would not take care of their tools . I had them buy their own tools. Hermana Martinez told us another story about him. She had bought him six white shirts. When she look into his closet there were all gone. She asked him what he did with them. He said the members cannot afford to buy one so I loan them mine. She said we don’t have the money and Ya know they don’t even come any way. That was the kind of person he was. That all he wanted to do in life was to serve the lord. He could not wait to serve another mission and when he heard us ask for missionaries to serve in the center he ask his wife if she wanted to do so. Then the next day she was serving in the center. I cannot truly understand when the lord takes a person like this that is so desperately needed here. He left a 22 year wife and a two year old child. I know he got his wish and he is serving his mission up there. We went to the funeral they called it but it was the viewing that night. We kind of broke the mission rules because his body didn’t show up until 11 or 12 pm but we felt we needed to be there for him and his wife. I cannot express the sadness I have had these past few days. We both kind of felt something like this was going to happen. Elder Perez is a mission that just went home that served in our ward. Well President Martinez served his mission in his ward in Guatemala. Elder Perez served in his home ward before he came to serve with us. He is going to be heart broken when we tell him. There is not a lot of people like him. I will miss him and we will miss Hermana Martinez because she will have to start a new life. You just never know when you will die and when you stand before God and if we all prepare now then we need not worry like President Martinez. We worry about you kids and how we can help you. We pray for you every day to bring you closure to the Lord. He is the only person that can heal all pain and make life better for you and me. I am in sorrow for what happen but we must continue the work of the Lord where ever we may be. Here or at home if so be the place the lord wants us to be. Being away from you kids has been the hardest thing for us. We felt this is where the Lord wants us to be right now. Can you call each other on Christmas just so say hi. We are a family even through we are far away. The thing is we can handle the problems here and try our best to do things the Lord wants us to do. Problems that are in the family has been the toughest to deal with. WE pray with all our hearts that we will all become closer to God from this time forth. That whatever has happen will be forgotten and the New Year will bring us together even closer if we will find it in our hearts to forgive. I say this from the bottom of my heart that if offended any one of you that I am sorry and forgive me. I love you always and will always love you no matter what you do or say. I pray for the bitterness to leave our family at this time of joy and the birth of the Savoir. It is a great time to dedicate your selves to be better and to tell ourselves I will be closer to my heavenly father. Do things to make that happen. I love you all. Lv dad.

2012-01-15 - Letter 15 1 2012

1/15/2012 The experience of a life time is the one you are living right now. No one actual says that they have had one experience and it was the experience of a life time. We go back and have another one that is better than we thought the last one was. Sometimes it is better but sometimes it is not. Why do we compare our experience from one to another. Why can we just say that we are just enjoying life to its fullness right now and forever. Do we allow others to be in our thoughts and drag us down? We had a very busy week end with very little rest. We saw Sherlock Holmes in Spanish supposed to be sub titles because we like to watch movies in English. Somehow it sounds different when the real actor does not have his own voice and we understand it better. We went to two birthday parties one from our friend that teaches the self-employment work shop every week. He is actual a Mexican and so he had tacos. Mexican Tacos. It was wonderful. The other birthday party was for Araseli. She was the first person we knew in the employment center looking for a job when we got here. She was there about a month before she landed a job and has been working ever since. Apparently she is a good cook. She made pastel de Tre leche which is a cake from milk. It is kind of a wet cake like. She also made a cheese cake that was prettie good. The reason I talk about food is because good food doesn’t come our way very often unless mom makes it. Mom made fudge this week. So our week end was on the go. On Sunday we went to Medina ward to give a commercial about the employment center. It has been a month since we gave the last commercial and I was pretty rusty and so it didn’t sound very good. Kind of jumpy and did not flow very well. Someone commented that he could not understand my Spanish. I told him that is why we give the flyers because it has everything I talked about. I try not to prepare a specific dialog and just talk freely on the things the Lord wants me to say. Every ward is different here and so I try not to use the same material for every ward. One missionary commented once that I should not read it but just talk about it and so that is what I do. Sometimes I feel I did a good job and other times I feel I blew it but it seems to affect someone there every time we give our commercials. The Gospel is not all learned. There is revelation still to be given to those that are faithful. I pray that I may be faithful so that I can give the words the Lord wants me to give. In my last mission I had a talent to be able to speak on the fly and be blessed to be able to say the things the lord wanted me to say. This mission is so different because I have a hard time to say what I want to say in Spanish. It does not sound the same. I pray one day that I will be able to say exactly what I want in Spanish and be understood. I know the lord has called us here but I know he told us it was not going to be easy. It has not been easy by no means but we do what we can with the tools the Lord gave us. Your mom says just showing up is most of it. People here do not show up. They say they will come but they do not come. Kind of a pet pea of mine to say you will and you don’t is not the way the Lord would do it. We saw a video the other day and it talked about how to deal with your enemies that use you that we are supposed to love them. Well they said. You fight back is to love more. The harder they abuse you the hard you love them back. Fight to love. That had real meaning to me. When we want to fight someone for what he had done to us. Fight to love him more. Can we do that? Yes it is in us but we choose to show him or make him suffer more than he made us suffer. Next time choose to love him more. I know the Lord loves each one of us and wants us to succeed if we only let him in to our hearts. I have so much to repent from and want to be able to be free from sin so I can be a better missionary. I love you kids with all my heart and wish you the best in your lives. Lv alwys Dad

2012-01-22 - Letter 22 1 2012

Busy week. To much excitement for me…. I have been thinking about you guys a lot lately. My dreams of speaking the language may escape me but I will not give up. I have come realize that you don’t go a mission to be able to learn a language and it does not happen that way. The one that is in control of what you learn and who you teach is the lord and what language you will do that with. Last week I got a call and the teacher of the self-employment workshop canceled two hours before the class. Because of everything that has gone on here I took with a, oh Okay. I guess I will step in and do that too. Like it was just what I do all the time. No, it is not. I haven’t taught that class as of yet. I have tried to prepare to teach it but never actually done it as of yet. It’s a four course class that takes 4 weeks to teach, two hours in each class. I thought maybe no one will show up. It has only happen once since we been here. It rained all day that day and today it was not raining. Someone showed up, a new guy and he was early and excited about learning about opening his own business. I made him wait was to 10 minutes after to see if anyone else would show up. No one did. So l started the course but instead of teaching course #2 which was the course we were on I started with lesson one because he was the only one there. After struggle for 20 minutes trying to teach this course I ran out of examples and didn’t know enough Spanish to make it through. The course relies on your ability to tell stories of success and have examples to explain what you want them to understand. I Kind of bowed head to gain my composer and was really saying a little prayer. Like help me lord I have nothing else. Three more people should up and one was my substitute teacher. They ask me what lesson I was teaching and told them #1 and they said we don’t want lesson one we are lesson two. I lean over to Hermana Ruth my substitute teach and ask if she can continue teaching lesson one to this person and start lesson two for the other two. She said sure. The Lord came through again for me. Another half hour went by and two other people showed up and Ruth just started teaching them. Thank you for people like Hermana Ruth. Friday we went out to dinner with President and he told us we were transferred to Roaton. A inland off the coast of Honduras. He said Will you accept and how soon can you pack your bags. You assignment has changed too. You are going to be whatever it takes to get the branch in order. They have a branch president but not much more. It is scary to think that we are going to start all over and just figure out what we need to do. I am by no means in love with this area but I will miss a lot of good people here. Moving away from the most dangerous city in the world has it’s benefits. It seems we have done some good here and some have jobs because of us and we are grateful to be able to do that. WE are sad because the leaders of this area were not as positive as we would like them to be finding jobs for their members was not a high priority. Teach them correct principles and they will govern themselves. Joseph Smith said. I have learn a lot about the temporal is as important as the spiritual and you cannot have one without the other. Some one that lives the spiritual and neglects the temporal will not make to the Celestial Kingdom. I have a stronger testimony than I have ever had and I want you to know that the lord loves you no matter what you do. That satin does not love you and his plan is to destroy you and will continue to do so until he succeeds or fails. The deciding factor is which plan we choose to obey. I used to think there was not end to satins plan but today I learn that there is. He will continue to work on you until he destroys you and that is his goal and the only person that can stop him is you. I pray for you every day that you will be safe and choose the right. Take care lv alwsy Dad

2012-02-20 - Letter 20 2 2012

Sorry for not writing an email for a while. We have been transferred to the island of Roatan. A lot is going on in such a short time. On the last day we were in the office, my boss from tegus the capital of Honduras sent his assistant to tie up loose ends. They actually called a local couple to take our place at the last minute to take our place. We have been bugging them for months two and half weeks to find someone to take our place and they did at the last minute. Everything seems to be done at the last minute and I guess they are upset at us for leaving because of the way they have treated us. It doesn’t really matter how they treat us as long as they look beyond who they want to hurt and help the cause. I feel that there feeling got in the way of doing what is right. The new couple is doing a great job and we are so happy that someone is taking over because see the bottom line is the members need jobs and the center is all they got. We finally got the car packed, drove to La Ceiba, stayed the night and got up went to the dock to get on a ship at 10 to go to Roaton. When we got there the captain said it was leaving at 10 pm. So we decided to ship the car over latter and take the fairy across earlier and pick up the car the next day. The fairy was an hour and the captain boat took 7 hours. We made to Roatan just in time for meeting with the sisters. They have a group that meets every Thursday with members and nonmembers that teach them simple truths about the gospel. There was about 20 or so that came. We met our landlord and she went over some of the stuff about the house we are going to live in. It is three house up a terrible dirt road from the church. Very close. The house has three bedrooms all having beds, two plastic tables, 6 chairs, wooden desk and wooden cabinet with a mattress on top for a couch. We have water cooler, stove run by gas cylinders, Refrigerator, two bathrooms one with hot water. No hot water in the kitchen. Its like we are camping. Bugs galore. The house sits on a two lots and so there is room for the car and a lot of fruit trees. Next door to us is an 6 or so apartment building and two story houses behind to prevent any type of view of the ocean. It is very expensive to live here because of all the tourist and nice resorts the prices are very high. They have like three groups of people here. The original are called Garifuna, they are from the Caribbean and speak a cross of English and other languages. Then there is the black Hondurans that speak English and Spanish and then there are the Hondurans from the mainland from San Pedro Sula and the only speak Spanish. We only speak Spanish at the church. It is crazy some times because you don’t know what language to speak. Actually English was the first languages. It depends where on the island you are on which language to speak. They made me the elders quorum president because they don’t have one and mom will be primary president. There is a lot of work to do here and I hope that we can do it. It’s late, we took our p day and went to the other side of the island where the Garifuna live. The ocean is absolutely beautiful and the beaches have tons of Choach shells and some coral. It reminds me of the marshal islands. Its late and I will try to post some pictures on the blog next week when I have time. Lv dad

2012-02-28 - Letter 28 2 2012

2/28/2012 I can’t seem to get certain things out of my mind. Have you ever felt that way? What I mean to say that is that you go through life and specific ideas seem to enter your mind and never seem to go away. You push those thoughts back to the back of your mind and say that someday you will really think about doing something about those thoughts. That you just don’t have time to really deal with it right now or whatever excuse you may come up with. They seem to disappear but come back and you realize that if I don’t deal with this that I will never have peace of mind. I have prayed about those thoughts and have come up with some solutions and the solutions I came up with is to do something about these thoughts. One of those thoughts that I get a lot is that do I love my children enough. In the past it has always been hard to express my love to my children. My parents were not a ones that would show there love in a physical manner or even tell me that they loved me until I was older. I love each one of you and pray for your success in life. That you will be strong in the Gospel and be faithful to who you are. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is True, he did come to this earth and atone for our sins. If we will Repent of our wrong doing then we can live with him again. I have so much to repent of and I want to better job in doing so. I am proud of each one of you and know that with the help of the Savior anything is possible. I have been asked by the Mission President to serve in the capacity of to find and reactivate those members that are living in the branch of Roatan. This thing in the back of mind comes forward and says how can you ever do such a thing when you cannot even do it at home with your children. I know some of you are active and I am so proud of those that are. I am very concern about those that are not active and if they understand the covenants they have made. We all have our free agency but we cannot choose the consequence of those actions that are not in accordance to the savior teachings. I do not want to teach false ideals to those that are here on the inland and lead them to believe I have it all together. I do want to say that this inland has a lot of problems when it comes to morality. Every family we see all the children have different dads and they are single moms. Fathers are absent fathers and do not take care of their children just move one to some else when the girl gets pregnant. There is probably 4 families in the branch that are strong, married and both parents are strong and active and one of those is us. We had 70 or so people show up to church and most of them are single , children and others that don’t have their rights. Can’t serve in the church for what ever reason. That puts a drain on all those can serve. So you see it is hard for me to go out and tell them that your life will be better if you come to church when some of my own children don’t. We met a sister that has not been to church for 14 years and when she was ask to say some thing. She just cried and called the sister angels for finding her. Mom says these words in her testimony. The church needs you and you need the church. She told this to one of the first visits and he came to church and was there last week. Your mothers testimony is one of the strongest I have ever heard. I want to tell you that It is true what you mother says that the church needs you and you need the church. I some time wonder why I am here and if I could ever do the work the lord wants us to do and I have to just get on my knees and ask him for help because we cannot do this alone. I pray with all my heart that you will consider these things that I have said and pray your self to find out what the Lord wants you to do next. Don’t put off what you thoughts tell you to take care of today. I love each one of you and will be grateful to talk with you and hold you lv alwys dad.

2012-03-02 - Letter 3 2 2012

3/2/2012 Pres came by today and took some of our furniture. It looking mighty grim our, furniture in our apartment. We are leaving for the island on Wednesday and it seems nothing has been done to replace us or try to keep the going. It’s like they wait for a missionary to come and take care of their needs instead of take care of their own. Every time I turn around there is a lesson to be learn here for me. Do I take care of my own? Sure I go to church and I do what are am asked but do I go beyond what is required of me? Do I serve my fellow man and help him out so to speak? I cannot answer that question because I feel I should have done a lot more. I know that the work we did was not done by us. Two weeks ago my solid teacher for the self-employment class was not so solid anymore and he called and said he would not make It. One person showed and I starting teaching myself the first section. I said this in one of my last emails. Well Hermana Ruth showed up and took over. I thought I could never teach this class. Never is a word that rings a bell with satin and he tries to change that never. So it happened again and my solid and my Ruth was not coming to teach. 3 people showed and two others two came late that night. It is the hardest section which is the financing your business. I stayed up last the night before trying to understand the concept because numbers just don’t seem to hit me that well. It wasn’t until the next day after the employment centered was closed and I took your mother out to Mono’s that it hit me. That I needed to teach 3 packages of numbers, one was how much do you need a month to survive, the other the initial cost of starting up a business and the third was what would be your monthly cost to run the business. Add the three together and double the monthly business expense because you need one month in reserves. That is the number you need to borrow, save, get investors or partners to start. I said a little prayer so that the lord would help me teach this in Spanish. After two hours my mouth was dry and the response was, when is the next class. I felt so grateful because I could not have taught that class without the help of the Lord. After every one left I thanked the Lord for helping me do what I did. I cannot say enough about how much the Lord has blessed me and each time I start to complain about something. Whatever I complained about seems to turn out better that I thought it would have it was done my way. I know the Lord know best and I pray for patience that I may learn to wait for his guidance. The Gospel is so true and it is more than going to church and being a good boy or good girl. It about giving of yourself when you don’t want to or you have nothing left in the tank. You pray and pick yourself up and go to work and that is when miracles seem to happen. It’s easy to love those that love you but to love those that do not love you is much harder. Or people you don’t even know or want to have any part of you. To put out your hand of help and ask the best question ever and that is, Can I help you? The Lord always has his arms open for us to let him help us with any problem we might have. He set the perfect example for all of us and what did they do to repay him. They hung him on a cross, killed him and what did he say. Forgive them for they know not what they do. I pray each of us will know what we are doing and we will continue to follow truth when it is presented to us. I have grown closer to my Savior and I know now that he is there for each of us. Be safe and be true to who you are. Lv alwys Dad

2012-03-05 - Letter 5 3 2012

3/5/2012 Hello every one. I hope life is good with you all. I thought the employment center was hard but over here is a lot of work. Showed up for church and they ask me to bless a baby, oh two babies and then after the second baby a third. Five minutes before church started and I was totaling lost in how to bless a baby. It is hard enough to do it in English on the fly but in Spanish. I ask a brethren to write down in Spanish the words to say because \I had no idea. The last baby I blessed was teancum and before that Tima. I guess it went well. What the branch President is saying something to me. Oh you want me bless the sacrament too. Okay. By the time sacrament was over i was so very tired. Oh what I have to conduct in priesthood and I have to give the lesson too. I really don’t know how it gets done but it seems to end and I get a chance to lay my head down and sleep. Sleep is a blessing on a mission. We don’t have the mariachi’s singing or gun shots at night any more. Just the wind and down pouring rain, Tropical weather. The priesthood lesson was supposed to be 40 minutes long but I ran out of Spanish words to say 5 minutes early. I hit a mental block and said it’s time for closing prayer and we ended kind of early. I really don’t know how we do it. Mom conducts primary and has done a great job in organizing and the kids look forward in attending primary now. Discipline does not happen to much here and so sometimes you have a hugh brawl with all the kids punching each other and they do not listen to words. I know it is hard on your mother and \i do what I can to help her get through it. Your mother has amazed me at times. I remember yesterday listening to her testimony about how the gospel has helped her n her life and it brought tears to my eyes. I enjoy the time when she bears her testimony because she chooses her words and each word she says has deep meaning and the person receiving the testimony can feel of her strength . I wish you could all see you mother and how much she has grown in the gospel. If we did this for money we would have quit. The gospel is true. We met an older man that has left the church yesterday. He owns a restaurant in Sandy Beach. After the sisters bore there testimony he was asked if he knew the book of Mormon can be true. He said Never…..How can someone be so hard. Once you have had the truth and have bore testimony to in then deny it. It a coldness that gives me shivers and I have a hard time understanding why he has chosen that path. He denys everything that he knows and lives on this doctrine that he knows is untrue to satisfied whatever intention he may have but it is not what he says it to be. I am so grateful to have the gospel and to know that it is true. Everything fits into place and those that deny it deny the power there of . I know that to be true because I saw it yesterday and I testify to you now that the gospel is true and by living its principles we grow in that testimony. Lv you all Dad

2012-03-18 - Letter 18 6 12

3/18/2012 Father’s day here is celebrated in March but I want to thank each one of you for remembering me on father’s day. Being a father was the greatest calling I have been given. Being here on a mission and seeing all the absent fathers that seem to have a kid and feel that is being a father. It’s after you have your kid that makes you a father. Anyone can have children but only a few can be a part of their children lives and I feel that is being a father. 95 percent here don’t have a father in their lives. I pray that I can be a good father to you for the rest of your lives. Those memories of raising you are the choicest experiences of my life. I hope that I can enjoy your children as much as I enjoy being with you guys. We do a sort of dance here as mom says. One step forward and two steps back. Once you get people to church you lose others that don’t seem want to continue to go. So the process goes you gain a few and lose a lot more in the process. We will continue to do our best to share the restored gospel to those that will be valiant. I have learned that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the principals have to be lived and not just learned. That our action dictates our faith in Christ. We can say whatever we want but it does not matter if we do not do what we say. I get trapped in the bog down feeling that it doesn’t really matter if I do what I say. But it does and the people that are around suffer and you just don’t realize how you affect those around you when you commit and don’t follow through. Everything here is multiplied by 10 or so. When a teacher in Sunday school does not come to church then the other teacher gets dumped on to teach everyone in Sunday. We only have three classes, Gospel doctrine, investigator and young adult/youth. So when the young adult teacher doesn’t show up then the gospel doctrine teacher gets dumped on. It makes more work for some one that has does what they say. If everyone did what they were supposed to then we would have just a little to do. But that is not what happens and others are burden down with more work. Life can get tiring and we just want to give up and not show up. Even all those that are doing all the work get tired to and don’t want to show up any more. Share in the work makes life a whole lot easier. It is all about making commitments and following through with those commitments. If you have changed your mind then let someone know the change. Another way of saying it is to set goals and fulfill those goals. I took the elders to look for shells at the beach today. WE stopped at my favorite place to eat or at least it was my favorite place to eat. Somehow they did not serve the same meal I used to order. I was un satisfied with the food. In a place where they just closed apple bees next door that you would think they would want to serve you good food. I thought about how we serve the gospel to those that know little about us. Do we give them a water down version or are we excited to give them the great news of the restoration. If we sound dull and un exciting then they will not lessen. Lessons that we learn in our life have to be learned and brought to the surface. By being taught by the best teacher which is the Holy spirit we can be able to teach the gospel with convincing power to help those that are ready to hear his word. How does the Holy Spirit teach us? By obeying his commencement we can be able to receive the light of that spirit to teach. Without the light we shall not teach. It is like our lives we need that spirit to help through these tuff times. Everyone has problems but those that do not live he Gospel will not be able to understand how get through it and resort to other measures that are not in the lords plan. We get ourselves into other problems that add up in our lives so that we feel over whelmed. Something happens to get us on the right track and we make commitments and things start going well and we feel that we didn’t have to continue those commitment’s anymore because everything is okay. Well the Lord is very patience with us and for gives us when we follow the steps of repentance but in the process we don’ get back to where we should be. This process becomes a life time event to return where we should be. The journey we take will be worth any effort we make to be where we know we should be. It is not just double talk it is the real thing. I know each one of you can do whatever you set your mind to do. Just never give up on yourself or the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is true and I know for a surety if you follow the principle of the Gospel your life will be better and those around will be better too. I hope you understand my words and I pray that I put to practice any advice I give you. Lv alwys Dad

2012-03-25 - Letter 25 3 2012

3/25/2012 As much excitement to see progress is not worth to see it disappear because of there fe is just not strong enough. Faith is hard to determine when it is face with old temptations and you become tested with things of the past. You either let go or you entertain thinking that it is okay this one time since you have been so good until now. Not a good thing to be thinking because you know what you have faced before when you went in that direction. But your memory gets jogged and you somehow can’t truly remember how you finally made it back. I say to those that don’t do it or give it a chance anymore and take a different direction in your life. Make something that you can be proud of like being someone you would want your kids to be or your friends. What kind of legacy are you trying to leave?. One that your parents have left or one that you can be proud of. It is your own legacy and not someone else’s. I tend to believe that change has always been hard for me but change is needed so that we can become a better person. This past week has been hard for us because of that people don’t want to change. They want to step back into the same problems that got them in trouble before. Why don’t people see where they have been and not attempt to go back to the same place they just came from. That Satin does not want us to change and never progress and gives us so many ways to screw up our lives that we know that we are in control. Which is not true. When we do what satin wants we choose to let satin control us. We all know that but we tend to follow his path. Discouragement is not the Lord’s way. Going beyond being discouraged by provided a way to encourage whatever person in doing the right thing is the Lord’s way. We waste time by telling people we are not happy with their performance and we are disappointed in them which really means a lot of wasted time. We need to go to the point of finding a way to help them through whatever has happen and give them some hope. A way to help them learn from there mistakes and move forward in the direction of the Savoir. By no means have I figured that out and I am trying very hard not to be discouraged and bring myself to the point of what can I do next. I love you kids with all my heart and want to know that I am proud of each one of you. That I pray for you every day for you to be able to understand how you can live closer to the Savoir. He is my example in life and I hope that I can at least do some of his will here but \I don’t want of fail as your father in the process. The Gospel is more true today than yesterday and I know with no doubt in my heart that we will live after this life. And it matters what we do with life here on earth. We have a much better change to save those that we love if we will but be valiant in this life. Lv alwys Dad

2012-04-01 - Letter 1 1 2012

4/1/2012 Conference week was awesome because we watched it in English. Massiso. I Understand so much more that way. The prophet talked about a toy boat race when he was a kid that he was in. He said the little boat was the fastest until it hit a whirl pool that put it on its side. The others never made it the finish line either because of one reason or another. He said is because they did not have a rudder or any way to steer it. Some of our lives are the same way. If a man die shall he live again? He said Death was like going into another room. President Urhdorf said if we feel like hating, holding grudges or just plain angry. There is only one remedy. Stop it. Let go and allow God to heal your heart. He remembered a bumper sticker that said don’t judge me because I sin differently than you. Your mother made drawing kits for the kids. They loved them. She has kids now that come over to the house to teach her Spanish and just want to hang out. Your mother is awesome and I really love her very much. I am so proud of her and how she deals with adversity and willing to stick to this no matter how hard it gets. After hearing some of the trials some of the kids and other people have faced in conference. I tend to believe we don’t have it so bad. I think of the Savoir and how rejected he was and how he just kept loving others with no malice of heart. How could I ever be like the Savior? I have tried to make little goals for myself. One of them was to forgive as soon as I was wronged or thought I was wronged. It’s been hard to do but I have to sometimes tell myself to do it because I made a promise to do so. I wanted to see if I felt any better or feel more love. They say forgiveness brings love into your heart. I will let you know how it goes. I want to tell each of you that |I love you and I am proud of who you are. Been thinking about my father lately and how much he loved me and ya know I didn’t really realize it until he was gone. Love you dad and I love you. Dad

2012-04-07 - Letter 7 4 2012

4/7/2012 Semana Santa is what they call Easter here. It is a whole week. Most take off work and go to the beach. Almost all take off on Wednesday through Sunday, so all the stores are closed except the pulperias which are family owned stores. I took the young men to the beach and they had a great time. One non member that may have been 11 but he said he was 13. Not a lot of honesty with people here. I took the snorkel equipment that our owner of our house had. David lost his mask about 5 times. He kept giving it to someone else to use and then I would see him and ask him where is your mask. He would say I don’t know. I would say well go find out. He would leave and somehow would find the mask. I found out that part of his family went to the same beach we were at. He would loan the mask to one of his family members but somehow it was loan to whoever that was around them. Some really don’t understand. It wasn’t my mask and I had figure I would buy the owner a new one. The fifth time I took it and put it away so he would not lose it again. It kind of drove me nuts. Oliver a 12 year old member brought a volley ball and it was a hit of the party. Every one like playing with the ball and it brought all the young men together. There was this pier that was two story and people would jump off into the water when the boat were not docked. Joshua was 12 and he sat beneath the pier and stayed there for a long time because he was afraid to jump. It reminded me about Luis waiting for hours to jump rock in Kawai. Well I gave him a nudge and he went in and seem to be happy that he finally did it. He actually went back and jump in again serveral times after that. I was struck when Daniel Garay (16) ask me to go beneath the pier and catch him when he jumped because he cannot swim. He came up fighting and swing his arms and I just said take it easy and I will get you to safety. What trust he had in me. I sometimes cannot keep away the tears of knowing how much they need leadership and how much they yearn for someone to love them. It because of young men like him that I do what I do by making some type of young mens program for them. The bug me all the time to go places or do something. Hermana Roper keeps telling that these are the ones that can make a difference. The youth. The parents have to many hang ups and the youth will stay stong then this branch may have a chance. So I continue to do things with the youth. At first we had two, then 5 and now ten. It grows to faster that any program that I have been in. The Mom keeps

2012-04-22 - Letter 22 4 2012

4/22/2012 I had a dream last week that I left my clothes in this locker but I didn’t have a key to get in. I could go to the locker but could not get into it. I thought hard how I could put my clothes in the locker but I could not remember how I did it and what I did with the key. I thought about what we are trying to do here and I realize that we will not be able to do the things we wanted. I remember going to Disney world in Florida and my suit cases never showed up until we came home. I dealt with it and it all turned out. What I learned is that everything around you can be crashing down but no one knew it. Attitude makes the difference in your own life. If your attitude is good then the world around is good. We had a branch activity of games, Olympic games and eat food. (Baleadas,) A lot of work because the members don’t know how to help. I had the young men’s fill water balloons, set up chairs and tables. We had a lot of less active and investigators come. On Sunday we had a branch counsel that only talked about one thing. That is to come up with less active and investigators to work with and visit them in their homes. They ask mom to have 40 kids attend primary as a goal. Well there were more than 40 kids that came to this activity but no one thought to visit with them. The only ones that truly get it is the missionaries. They were like hungry and they told me that ya know how many investigators there were. Monton. I got to go and make some appointments. The active members sat on the butts and talked with other active members. Some stayed inside the church the whole time. Me and your mom were so busy with the games the food that we didn’t have time to visit. I literally after taking some people home, went right to bed because I was so tired and I needed to get up early and prepare to teach a lesson because the member didn’t have enough time to prepare. We are deflated and need to get some air so we decided to take a break on the activities. Work on finding less active members to reactivate. I really would like to know what the Lord wants from us. We will continue to do our part and we pray every day for two things. You, our kids to able to be happy in their individual lives and two to the less active members to come back to church. As I look back on when we first got here. It was a mess and now we just want them to be so much better so that when we leave they will know how to continue. The Lord’s way and not our way. I pray the lord will teach us the way to go. I do love the Lord and want to do his will. I ask that each one of you will have the same conviction in your lives. The Gospel is true and I know that life continues when we die. I will see my father again and I pray he will be happy with many of my decision I have made in this life. I love each of you with all my heart. Lv alwys Dad

2012-07-05 - Letter 7 5 2012

7/5/2012 Another day gone by in the San Pedro Sula Missioin. We had a great time with Angel, Luis and the little guy. Mikailo. \I really enjoyed his smile and his attitude when Angel was next to him. He is a sweet kid. He did let me hold him at a baptismal we had on Saturday when all the Chaos that goes around that happens before the actual event. Pictures and who’s doing what and oh ya lets get started. A Sister that is getting married to a member got baptized. She is prettie cool. Has a testimony and wants to go to the temple. Her kids are being taught now. The Elders are doing a great job here. No none sense type of guys that if your ready we will teach you and if not then we will find some one that is ready. We took Angel to the beach and ate some local food but mostly ate at home since the food here is not really great and the restaurants are very expensive because of the tourists. Got a chance to play Rook and you never would guess who won. Yes mom…….It was so much fun having Angel here. I really can’t believe how much I miss you guys and it will be great to see and hug each one of you. Last week I got in another accident. Supposedly a car was tuning left while I was pulling out to go left. I didn’t see his blinker and he took this wide turn around me and I ran into him. |He got out and said it was my fault that he had his blinker was on. He ask the missionaries if they saw his blinker and they both said no. I didn’t either. I felt that it was partly my fault but not totally. He was a taxi driver and just wanted his car fixed. He called his car body guy slash painter and he showed up and wanted 1500 limps to fix it. Which is 75$ bucks. He estimated my car to fix at the same price and so I said we are even. The Taxi frecks out and says he will call the cops but since the cars are moved there was no way he could prove his case. I said go ahead and call the Cops. The cops will come and you will have to pay them and then you will have to pay me he said. I ask the painter for a lesser amount to fix the car, he said 1200 lmps which is $60. Just then a cop pulls up. I said okay I will pay the money. I paid the the money and felt like he was taking advantage of me but sometimes you have to let go and take the lost. President told me some time you will have to pay money to get out of the some situations. There is no fairness that goes on here. I am a lot more carefull and since that time I see cars all the time turning into streets in a wide type turn and then suddenly turn sharply to make the turn complete. Most with out a blinker. I see little miracles that happen here. Because of your own devotion to a righteous cause the Lord blesses you with little miracles and shows you that you are on the right track. Most of my life I never took notice of those little miracles that the lord has given me. I always felt I needed to do more and work harder to attaining the blessing the lord wants to give me. But since I have been here I have noticed that our attitude is the key that opens doors. When your back is up against the wall and how are you going to fight back? Fire with fire or is it going to be go ahead and burn me because I know I am doing the right thing and anger does not help and even hurts the situations. Makes matters worse. The Savoir taught us to love our neighbor as our self. Your neighbor could be your enemy or some one that is trying to take advantage of you and if you just love them then the lord will bless your life. One principle that is so hard to live and I want so much to have the patience to just say. I am sorry you feeling that is there some thing I can do to fix it. With out have a bad attitude. Love those that hate you or want to do harm to you with words or physical is just plain hard to do. I love the lord with all my heart and want to be like him for he is my hero in life. I love you guys with all my heart and want you to have success in all that you do. Lv alwys Dad

2015-02-03 - Letter To Jake 2 3 2015

Jake: We just got home from Texas. What I keep coming back to is this: you can get through this hard season in your life. Use your time wisely, keep learning, and be ready to work when the next door opens. Some people may need time, but you can still build a good life by doing the next right thing. I love you, son.

Source Unit - Melisa Reily Chirsmat Letter 12 2011

Melisa Reily Christmas letter 12-2011. To all of my family and friends, I wanted to say how grateful I am for you. Personal family updates from the original Christmas letter are not included in the public edition. I hope each of you has a wonderful Christmas and a very prosperous New Year. Thank you for being part of my life. Love, Melissa

Source Unit - Letter 12 5 12

5/12/12 I want to wish every mother a happy mother’s day. My mother is my friend and I miss her very much. I haven’t seen her in over a year plus. Those that have a mother be grateful and those that have lost their mother I am sorry but you will see your mother again. I know it with all my heart. Because I believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ and know that live goes on after we die. The Lord has told us that motherhood is the greatest calling any woman can have. The love of a mother is very close to the love the lord has for us. I have felt the love of my mother and the love of the lord. It is just a good feeling to know that your mother loves you. Is all can I can say. Thank you for being good mothers and trying to raise your children in such a harsh world. My love for my mother is great and my love for the lord is great too. For me to give up being with my mother to come on a mission has been hard for me but I want to say that I am willing to do it because the Lord has ask me to do it. I love you and wish you the best mother’s day ever. This is a letter I wrote to say at mother’s day but they never ask me to say anything. When you are prepared it is easier to come up with things. We had a mother’s day party and the elders were supposed to cook the food but it change and we came to the church to cook the food they said don’t worry about it. We got take out. Chinese. Planning here does not happen and when they do they seem to change and don’t tell anyone. But this activity turned out really well. They had all the mothers sit in front of everyone and they just feed them and entertained them. Gave frozen chicken and cleaning basket to certain winners of some type of contest. Youth sang, primary sang, karate demonstration, and reader came to read a story. I was in the kitchen slash relief society room cleaning. Everyone seemed to be happy except the person that comes 2 hours late and says where the food. Sorry we have none left. All in all it was a good activity. Today we went to peach tree resort and just hung out at the water and ate coconut scrimp. Lifer stills moves forward and we looking forward to do some thing new. Lv you guys…. Dad

Source Unit - Campamento

Doy  permiso a mi hijo para acampar e ir al museo bajo el agua en Sandy Bay. El 25 de mayo y 26 del 2012 y nos reuniremos en la iglesia de 5pm. El cual tendrá que llevar una cena de alumno para esa noche, una almohada y sábana para dormir, traje de baño y una toalla. Firmar________ Elder Roper [phone number removed] _________________________

Source Unit - Cindy Goal On Our Mission

Goal-To have two part-time missionaries, a couple or two individuals, called from each stake in the San Pedro Sula Mission, by January 15, 2012. The missionaries from the San Pedro Sula, Merendon, Valle del Sula and Satelite stakes would serve one day a week in the employment center in the San Pedro Sula Stake Center. They would divide the days up with each stake serving the same day each week. For example, Mondays the missionaries from Satelite would serve in the center from 9-3, Tuesdays the missionaries from Valle de Sula, etc…. The center would be open Monday-Thursday from 9-3. Missionaries called from La Lima, Villanueva, Progresso, Fesitranh, Copan and La Ceiba would serve from their Stake Centers where they would use the computers in the Family Search Centers. They could designate one or two days a week to have the family search center opened for people to come sign up on ldsjobs.org and to help them with looking for work, creating their resumes, etc…. It would be the missionaries responsibility to find vacancies to enter into the system and to let individuals know about openings in businesses. Many hands make for light work.

Source Unit - Letter To My Children

Letter To My Children I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas. I hope you have the Christmas Spirit. I’ve been thinking about why I haven’t liked Christmas very much these past few years. I haven’t decorated much or felt that Christmas Spirit. I figured out why, I think, besides the fact that all my kids are grown up, I think that part of it is that I know it’s all going to be over. The Christmas music will stop, the decorations will be put away and whatever family that was with us for the Christmas holiday will return home. Everything I anticipated will be over, so I guess I just kind of sub conscientiously became a bit of a scrooge. I was thinking today that even though I have the gospel and am reminded each day I study the scriptures or hear a hymn or a talk by one of our leaders that Christ is my Savior and has given me more than I am worthy to receive, I still miss Christmas. The songs, the lights, the feeling that most of the world is kinder. This year will be different. I already regret being that scrooge the past few years. I regret not treasuring each and every Christmas I have had with you. You all grew up so fast. I miss having you as little ones and even as teenagers. You are and always will be my greatest blessing. I was reading in the Book of Mormon where Christ is asking his disciples what they desire of him before he ascends back to the Father. Nine of them desired to live unto the age of man and then to return to live with our Heavenly Father and Christ. The other three of course, desired to live upon the earth until the second coming of our Lord. What an unselfish desire. Both were great desires. I thought as I read that, that my desire would have been to have my family forever. That’s all I want. And basically, I intend to get it. Being so far away from you now and not seeing you has made my desire all the greater. I can barely handle being away from you a year and half, there’s no way I’ll be able to do it for an eternity. I know there is a life after this. I’m grateful I know it. It helps me try to do better in this life. When I read about the promises of our Heavenly Father and His Son if we are worthy and obedient, for this life and the life hereafter I think, yes that’s what I want. Our family is forever. Daddy and I were sealed in the temple so you are ours forever. Please don’t ever stop trying and I won’t either. I know it’s hard sometimes, maybe most times. But stop for a minute and look at the people around you. Those that don’t know what’s right and good and true and doing for others instead of to others are not happy. I need the Lord, I need his strength, his love, his guidance, his protection, his spirit. It’s what gets me through the hard times, it’s what gives me hope. It’s what makes the good times even sweeter. There’s only two sides to this life. The Lords and Satans. There isn’t a third choice. We need to be on the side of right and good. I’ve always told you that all I’ve wanted for my children here on this earth is that they make it a better place. Each of you do that and I’m so grateful for that. Thank you for the blessing of being your Mom. Thank you for your love and support on this mission and always. I love each of you so much.

Source Unit - D A De Madre

Día De madre Sábado, 12 de Mayo a las 6pm En la iglesia de Jesucristo De los santos de los últimos días Presentaciones Especial para las madres y Comida Día De madre Sábado, 12 de Mayo a las 6pm En la iglesia de Jesucristo De los santos de los últimos días Presentaciones Especial para las madres y Comida Día De madre Sábado, 12 de Mayo a las 6pm En la iglesia de Jesucristo De los santos de los últimos días Presentaciones Especial para las madres y Comida Día De madre Sábado, 12 de Mayo a las 6pm En la iglesia de Jesucristo De los santos de los últimos días Presentaciones Especial para las madres y Comida

Source Unit - Letter To Kids Dec

Caleb Michael Roper Ashby Grace Roper Aloha my “Beautiful & Handsome” children. I love you. Heavenly Father has blessed me with great kids. You two are absolutely amazing! Grandma & Grandpa finally came home after spending a month in California. Grandma has been decorating the whole house for Christmas, which Daddy loves. Grandma asked me for your new address in Alabama so expect to receive something from them if it hasn’t already come.  Uncle Jed and I have been working very hard as of late. It’s gotten Daddy very strong and even helped him lose some weight…yeah! I push myself to do the very best in whatever I get to do for work. I know that doing our best is what Heavenly Father wants from us. Daddy is still watching the Lakers basketball team. I’m looking forward to playing with Caleb very soon. Hopefully you still like playing basketball…  Remember Grace, the cheer that Daddy taught you…? “We are dynamite, don’t mess with dynamite, cause when you mess with dynamite… it goes BOOM dynamite, BOOM! BOOM! Dynamite.”  Remember that you are always in my thoughts & prayers. I love you both so very much!!! Oh I dropped my cell phone in the hot tub. Hopefully by the time your reading this letter it will be fixed. I have it in a bag of rice to get all the water out.  Thank you for being such wonderful kids. I hope that you are both treating Mommy and Franklin with a great deal of love and respect. Love, Daddy

Source Unit - Letter For Aguilera Family

Monday, May 14, 2012 Embassy of the United States of America Tegucigalpa, Honduras To whom it may concern: We are Steven Wayne Roper and Cynthia Faye Roper, husband and wife, serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Honduras. We are writing in support of friends we met while serving in San Pedro Sula and Roatan who hoped to visit us in the United States. Private identifiers and contact details are not included in the public edition. Sincerely, Steven Wayne Roper Cynthia Faye Roper

Source Unit - Maestro Orientendor

Maestro orientador. Presidente Zelayas y Esposa Carlos Rene Villafranca Zelaya, Villafranca Rodríguez Delicia Maricela 9863-1253 3287-5746 Loma Linda Angélica Zelaya (El Suampo), Rassel Eduardo Zelaya, Manuel Aurelio Zelaya 9978-8265, Javier Zelaya (m) y Melina nm investigador, Deyran (3) Swampo Brenes Erazo tulio Enrique, Brenes Sánchez Saidi Yamileth, Coxen Hole B. Reparto, Loma Linda 8938-7282,9583-9684 esposa Gamoneda Erazo marco, Clerida maria, Alvaro Brenes 9797-7226 Roxana Flerrera Flores (Rosi y Nacho) (nm) niño miembros 3326-5724 Lapunta Tercer casa de derecho Molinos 8740-2792 Y Martinez Medina Darwin Eduany 3238-7370 Gerez Silva Carlos 9561-8589, 2445-0105 Red Hill, ultima casa antes de hotel Keidy Lizzeth 3308-4969 Col. Mantra, junto de molino. Nohe 9634-6254 Ericka Maritza Reyes Castro (m) no mas con hombre (Alex) 9666-1945 (nm), Hija Mismos calle de Sorto pero a izquierda Sanchezs y esposa 9882-8055 Zalayas madre y padres, Maria Leonor, Rony Alfredo 9863-1253, Betance Petronila Zulema, Damaris Raquel 3249-8076, Ferrel Zalaya Johana Adora, (Pajito)Martinez Zelaya Darwin Gabriel, Zelaya Munguia Daritza Suyapa, Dilbert Zelaya Edgar Jonary 3249-8076, Dilbert Zelaya Jordan Derwin, Dilbert SZelaya Jefferson Dariel, Ferrer Zelaya Nahomy Leonnor Ultima Calle de Loma Linda Jose Zelaya 9877-1384 Lanza Carolina Isabel Padgett Mayr de 8983-4032 , Pauola Carolina 9795-9966 Sandy Bay Ropers Ocar Ardons 9988-0526 Los Fortes Toño (papa) 9678-1488,Nolvia Guadalupe Zelaya 9901-5651 niños Yessenia (15), Franlin (10) Jose Zelaya (20) 9877-1384 Rony Fernando Guzman Caias 9773-5846 Lizeth Zelaya Joselino Barera , hija de Guadalupe, Spanish town 3234-6802 Osmar Ortiz 3349-3850 Fernandez Amaya Herbert Armando 9976-2519, 3241-0667 Xiomora Otero Espinosa Salon 2445-4020 casa 2445-4149 West End Siga después coconut tree mano izquierda Carina 9564-5608, Edis en los fortes Mace el saslol 9896-7436 Dulke (m) (10 años) Gibson bay próxima de Canapy. Orellana Gamez Marlon Jose 3237-9517 French Harbor Barrera Ayala Jose Lino 3234-6902, navarro lemus Maura Argentina Sandy Bay Col. Pokarpo Galindo. Belkis Yamileth Madrid Ocampo 9628-1604 (m) con hombre (nm) (embarazada) detrás municipal. Lissa Mechell Bush, Eddy 3293-0535, Swampo Damian Espana 3313-8427, 9687-6461 Presidente Galos 9476-1684 y Christian Zea 3250-9334 Garay Edelmira Aminda, Daniel, Julissa 9712-8152, Daniel, 9635-3121 Mejia Moradel Kabir David, Ondina 9538-0197 Franco Flats de la calle Principal la segunda calle mano dereche, primer Porton casa del fondo(la ultima) Ocampo Carlos Ángel 9663-0216, Arely Mabel 9743-3210 y ana y manuel Zalaya Angelica Zalaya, Barrio El Suampo a la par de pulpería Roberto Noami Rodriguez, junto a los 2 Hermano pulpería 3376-4223 Flores Moradel Christina Alberto 3267-2704 Y Jose Daniel Garay Andrade 3257-6425 Aguilar Noman 9641-4489, Daphine 9646-2519, Arina, jasmine, Daneila Bo. El Centro Detrás clínica Euceda Loyda Blanco 9535-0104 La punta de la municipalidad doble a la izquierda antes de los locales de madera edificio de apartamentos primera plata la puerta a la derecha. Moaradel Mora Milanga 9807-2967 (dos hijos)(soltera) Menjivar Moaradel Diora Marina 3212-4201 (soltera ) Spanish Town casa Azul, otra lado al iglesia de no paredes. Fernando Flores 9655-0257,2445-0784 and Oliver Flores 3319-6546 Sanchez Josue Gilberto 9882-8085, Ana Maria Castro Estrada 9460-7076 Sandy bay Leticia Mocias Montes 2445-0640, Willie Waren Webster Lemus Lauren Dinann (M)9817-6917, Britney Ashley (M), Taylor(H) Willy Worren, Coxen Hole, Entre el Puente , Pulp Alvarado Osmar 3349-3850 and Elder Roper Flores Edilberto Antonio, Dunia Concepion Moradel de, Christian Alberto, Samir Edilberto, Dania Davinia, Jasir Antonio, Oliver Alexandro, Luis Fernando 9655- 0257,2445-0784 Siliezar Turcios de flores, olga Judith 9655-0257, Barrio Loma linda lindaFrente al pozo Coxen hole. Daisy Maribel Flores Castro Coxen hole38 Lesbia 9596-4597 Loma Linda atrás de iglesia color verde Martinez Medina Darwin Eduany 3238-7370 y Familia Karla Zea 9727-0443 flowers bay, depues pulpería (E y S) mano izquierda, blanco casa ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ \No tiene maestro orientador. Kioto Solis 8761-0164 la punta, mar lado junto de pulpería Galo Hector Enrique, Sandra Emilia Flores 9476-1684 Pulp EyS Watering place José Gonzales, 9569-7863, Dominga 9569-4632, Zoila Bairs y 4 niños,9798- 8860, Félix Ríos 9457-4291, Noemí Ríos Gonzales, Lysi- Spanish Town, Evelyn Suyapa Martínez Gonzales y hijo La puenta Argueta paguada marcos tulio, Tabora Ramirez maria Victoria, Suazo Tabora Darwin saul, Suazo Tabora Daniel Alejando Barrio Estope coxen hole Guzmans Edgardo Jose (Bloquera, Marahol) Guzman Erika Lileth, Reina Lizet (Loma Linda Molino Luis Alberto, Anelina Reyes, luis David, Diego Alberto, 9973-6002 Apart. Bernardo Castillo, Bo Man Strap, Salida Sandy bay, entrada esc. Esbir Vidotto Zuniga Nextor Elly, Maridelia (nm) Sandy Bay Hotel El Paso, Doble derecho otra iglesia (cemento calle) y doble derecho en plaza. Sonia Ruiz 9559-4825, Al lado católico en una casa rosado de 2 plantas los fuertes (en la iglesia en jueves) Walquidia 9825-0719, Loma linda Adela Alvarado, no tele, la punta junto de Rosie y Nacho Jose Zelaya,9869-1782 (m) 21 fue hombre joven en miércoles joa Karen Auileroo 9619-5340 (M) casarse eposo nm no intersado, infrente de peggy clinic, sandy bay (let me know if she can have home teachers) Rene Villanueva Argueta 3264-4492, cerca de empresa de computar Luis St. Louis 2445-5005 Hotel Cell 3297-6185 Carlos Erasmo Marquez Hurtago 3374-8159 Electica empresa arriba un cerro. Otra lado de Yate. Yensy Linares (12) Madre Elsy Figueroa 3228-2466 Coxen cove arriba de hnm Sorto Kenia Euseda ONeida m. esposo nm Danilo 9822-7373 Publicarpo Galindo Maura 9749-9223 Spanish town. Johanna Montes 2455-7320, Los Fortes

Source Unit - Letter To Jake 12 19 15

Hey Jacob. How's it going? I know Christmas can be hard during a hard season in your life and away from family. I pray for your safety, strength, and peace. Life gives us ups and downs, and I have enjoyed reading your letters. I feel you have come far. Take care of today, keep learning, and keep moving in a better direction. I love you, son. LV always, Dad

Source Unit - Olympics Activity

Juegos y Comida de la Iglesia Sabado, 21 de Abril 5pm-7pm Para todos Juegos y Comida de la Iglesia Sabado, 21 de Abril 5pm-7pm Para Todos

Source Unit - Letter To My Kids

Caleb Michael Roper Ashby Grace Roper Why were the early days of history called the dark ages? Because there were so many Knights…  How are you doing you wonderful son and daughter of mine? I hope that you both are growing up tall and healthy. I like the rule about not having dessert every night. That’s a great way to balance you guys out. Speaking of a balanced diet… here’s a silly poem. I eat a balanced diet, I do it day and night- A pound of brownies on my left, A pound upon my right. And filling up my right hand, With clear and certain heft, A twelve-ounce bag of jellybeans. The same is on my left. A candy cane in one hand And likewise in the other. There are equal sweets on either side, A big frown from my mother. I eat a balanced diet But mother disagrees I just don’t understand it She’s so darned hard to please!  I hope that this letter made you both smile. You guys have the best smiles! Well I’m off to work. Wish me Luck! Blow me a kiss outside and let’s see if it reaches me. Okay? I love you kids. LOVE, Dad 

Source Unit - Preguntas Por Ir A Templo

1. 1. What can a young woman expect when she goes to the temple for the first time? Ordinance workers will provide love and assistance. Sisters will be at the side of a young woman every minute if she needs help. “[You] should also know that when you go to the temple for the first time, you will not be left unattended. Temple officiators, receptionists, and others assigned to labor therein will assist you to make your temple experience a beautiful and meaningful one” (ElRay L. Christiansen, “Some Things You Need to Know about the Temple,” New Era, June 1971, p. 27). 2. 2. Can my family, fiancé, or friends go through the ceremony with me? A young woman going to the temple for the first time may be accompanied by her mother, sister, teacher, or friend if the person has a valid temple recommend. 3. 3. What will I need to take to the temple? Only two things are essential. One is a current temple recommend (a new one is needed each year) signed by the bishop and a member of the stake presidency. The other is a set of temple garments. Young women can check with the ward Relief Society president to learn where to buy the garments. 4. 4. What clothing should be worn to the temple? A young woman should wear modest clothing to the temple. A dress with sleeves is suitable. After receiving the endowment, a young woman’s wardrobe should be modest, whether worn in the temple or not. Pants are not appropriate for a young woman to wear to the temple. 5. 5. Will I need special temple clothing? In the temple, those receiving endowments wear special white clothing. All necessary clothing is available to rent at the temple, or the clothing can be purchased. A young woman should discuss this matter with her bishop before going to the temple. Elder Hugh B. Brown suggested the reason for the special clothing: “Here we will not only lay aside the clothing of the street, but the thoughts of the street, and will try not only to clothe our bodies in clean white linen but our minds in purity of thought. May we profit by the spoken word and what is more lasting and more impressive, receive instruction from the Spirit” (as quoted by ElRay L. Christiansen, “Some Things You Need to Know about the Temple,” p. 26). 6. 6. Why does everyone wear the same kind of clothing in the temple? “In the temples all are dressed alike in white. White is the symbol of purity. No unclean person has the right to enter God’s house. Besides, the uniform dress symbolizes that before God our Father in heaven, all men are equal. The beggar and the banker, the learned and the unlearned, the prince and the pauper sit side by side in the temple and are of equal importance if they live righteously before the Lord God, the Father of their spirits. It is spiritual fitness and understanding that one receives in the temple. All such have an equal place before the Lord” (John A. Widtsoe, “Looking toward the Temple,” Ensign, Jan. 1972, p. 58). 7. 7. After a person is endowed, should she wear the temple garment throughout her life? Members receive the temple garment in the endowment and wear it afterward all through their lives. They should not alter or lay aside the garment so they can wear immodest fashions. President Joseph F. Smith said: “The Lord has given unto us garments of the holy priesthood. … And yet there are those of us who mutilate them, in order that we may follow the foolish, vain and (permit me to say) indecent practices of the world. In order that such people may imitate the fashions, they will not hesitate to mutilate that which should be held … sacred. … They should hold these things that God has given unto them sacred, unchanged and unaltered from the very pattern in which God gave them. Let us have the moral courage to stand against the opinions of fashion, and especially where fashion compels us to break a covenant and so commit a grievous sin” (“Editor’s Table,” Improvement Era, Aug. 1906, p. 813). 8. 8. Can a married female member go to the temple for her own endowment without her husband? Can a single female member receive her own endowment? A wife whose husband is not endowed may be given a recommend to receive her own endowment if she is worthy and the bishop receives the written consent of the husband. The bishop and stake president should be satisfied that the responsibility the woman assumes with the endowment will not impair the harmony of her marriage. An unmarried member may receive her own endowment if she is worthy and sufficiently mature to understand and keep the covenants made in the temple. Single members who desire to receive the endowment should counsel with their bishop and stake president. Single women may go to the temple for their own endowments if they are preparing for a mission. 9. 9. Why is the temple endowment so secret? “The ordinances of the temple are so sacred that they are not open to the view of the public. They are available only to those who qualify through righteous living. They are performed in places dedicated especially for this purpose. Their sacred nature is such that discussion in detail outside the temple is inappropriate. “Many blessings come to those who receive and respect these sacred ordinances, which are so necessary for exaltation. Participation in temple work provides dynamic, vivid, useful instruction in gospel principles, and the temple is a place for contemplation and prayer. “The temple is a sanctuary from the world, a bit of heaven on earth, and one should continue to live worthily so that he can go to the temple often and renew his covenants” (ElRay L. Christiansen, “Some Things You Need to Know about the Temple,” p. 27). 1. 1. ¿Qué puede esperar una mujer joven cuando va al templo por primera vez? Las obreras del templo le brindarán afecto y la atenderán en todo lo que puedan. Habrá hermanas que estarán a su lado en todo momento en caso de que necesite ayuda. “También deben saber que cuando vayan al templo por primera vez, no se quedarán solas y sin atención alguna. Las personas que ofician en el templo, los recepcionistas y otras personas que tienen la asignación de trabajar dentro de ese sagrado recinto les brindarán la asistencia necesaria para que la experiencia de haber entrado por primera vez al templo sea hermosa y significativa” (ElRay L. Christiansen, “Some Things You Need to Know about the Temple” [Algunas cosas que debemos saber acerca del templo], New Era, junio de 1971, pág. 27). 2. 2. ¿Es posible que mis parientes, mi novio y mis amigos me acompañen durante la ceremonia del templo? La mujer joven que vaya al templo por primera vez puede ir acompañada de su madre, de su hermana, de una maestra o de una amiga siempre que esa persona tenga la recomendación para el templo en vigencia. 3. 3. ¿Qué debo llevar al templo? Hay sólo dos cosas que son esenciales: Una es la recomendación en vigencia (se necesita una nueva todos los años) que esté firmada por el obispo y por uno de los miembros de la presidencia de estaca, y la otra es el gárment. Las jóvenes podrían consultar con la presidenta de la Sociedad de Socorro para que les diga dónde los pueden comprar. 4. 4. ¿Qué ropa debo usar en el templo? Las jóvenes deben usar ropa modesta para ir al templo. Por ejemplo, es aconsejable que lleven puesto un vestido con mangas. Después de recibir la investidura, todo el vestuario debe ser modesto en toda ocasión, ya sea para ir al templo o no. No es apropiado que las mujeres usen pantalones para ir al templo. 5. 5. ¿Necesitaré ropa especial del templo? En el templo, los que reciben la investidura usan ropa blanca especial. Toda la ropa que se necesita para estar dentro del templo se puede alquilar allí mismo; o se puede comprar. Las mujeres jóvenes deben hablar acerca de esto con su obispo antes de ir al templo. El élder Hugh B. Brown dio la siguiente explicación en cuanto a la ropa especial del templo: “Allí no sólo ponemos de lado la ropa de calle, sino también los pensamientos de la calle. Además, no sólo nos vestimos con ropas limpias y blancas, sino que tratamos de que nuestros pensamientos también sean puros. Ruego que saquemos provecho de lo que allí se enseña y, lo que es más duradero y más significativo, que recibamos instrucción del Espíritu” (citado por el élder ElRay L. Christiansen, “Algunas cosas que debemos saber acerca del templo”, Liahona, nov. de 1971, pág. 22). 6. 6. ¿Por qué todos usan el mismo tipo de ropa en el templo? “En los templos todos se visten de blanco porque ése es el color que simboliza la pureza. Ninguna persona impura tiene derecho a entrar en la casa del Señor. Por otra parte, la uniformidad del vestir simboliza que ante Dios, nuestro Padre Celestial, todos los hombres son iguales. En el templo, el mendigo y el banquero, el instruido y el que no tiene instrucción, el príncipe y el pobre se sientan uno al lado del otro, y son de igual importancia si viven rectamente delante de Dios el Señor, el Padre de nuestros espíritus. En el templo se recibe fortaleza y comprensión espiritual. Todos ocupan el mismo lugar ante el Señor” (John A. Widtsoe, “Looking Toward the Temple”, Ensign, enero de 1972, pág. 58). 7. 7. Después que una persona recibe la investidura, ¿debe usar el gárment durante el resto de su vida? Los miembros reciben el gárment en la investidura y desde ese momento en adelante lo usan durante el resto de su vida. No deben hacerle ninguna clase de alteración ni dejar de usarlos a fin de usar vestimenta de moda indecente. El presidente Joseph F. Smith dijo: “El Señor nos ha dado los gárments del santo sacerdocio… Y aun así hay entre nosotros quienes los cortan a fin de seguir las tontas, vanas y (permítanme decirlo) indecentes estilos del mundo. Con el fin de imitar la moda, tales personas no vacilan en mutilar lo que deberían considerar… sagrado… Deberían tener por sagradas estas cosas que Dios les ha dado, sin variaciones, sin alteraciones de ninguna clase… Tengamos la fortaleza moral de no seguir los estilos de la moda, en especial cuando ésta nos imponga violar un convenio y, de ese modo, cometer un grave pecado” (“Editor’s Table”, Improvement Era, ago. de 1906, pág. 813). 8. 8. ¿Le es posible a una mujer casada ir al templo para recibir su propia investidura sin que su esposo vaya con ella? ¿Puede una hermana soltera recibir la investidura? Una hermana cuyo esposo no haya recibido la investidura puede recibir la propia si es digna y si el obispo recibe el consentimiento, por escrito, del esposo. Tanto el obispo como el presidente de estaca deben quedar convencidos de que la responsabilidad que asume la hermana en cuestión de recibir la investidura no afecte la armonía de su matrimonio. Las hermanas solteras pueden recibir su propia investidura si son dignas y si tienen la madurez necesaria para entender y ser fieles a los convenios que se hacen en el templo. Los miembros solteros que tengan el deseo de recibir la investidura deben pedir el consejo del obispo y del presidente de estaca. Las hermanas solteras que se estén preparando para ir a la misión pueden recibir la investidura. 9. 9. ¿Por qué es tan secreta la ceremonia de la investidura del templo? “Las ordenanzas del templo son tan sagradas que no se deben exponer a la vista del público, y sólo las pueden efectuar los que hayan demostrado su dignidad por medio de una vida recta. Además, se efectúan en lugares dedicados especialmente para ese fin. Su naturaleza sagrada es tal que el mencionar detalles de la ceremonia fuera del templo es indebido. “Muchas son las bendiciones que reciben los que toman sobre sí y respetan esas ordenanzas sagradas, que son tan necesarias para ganar la exaltación. La participación en la obra del templo nos enseña de una forma dinámica, vívida y útil los principios del evangelio. El templo es también un lugar para meditar y orar. “El templo es un lugar sagrado, un pedacito de cielo en la tierra, y debemos continuar viviendo dignamente a fin de ir a él a menudo a renovar nuestros convenios” (véase ElRay L. Christiansen, “Some Things You Need to Know about the Temple [Algunas cosas que debemos saber acerca del templo”, pág. 27).

Source Unit - Spresidente Valladares

sPresidente Valladares: 5/21//2011 Gracias por su correo electrónico. Hemos registrado los ocho presidentes de estaca y especialista en empleo, excepto una especialista en empleo en Merendon que parece que no puede contactar a ella. Todos los especialistas de empleo de empleo han sido entrenados para hacer tres cosas. 1) registrar todos los líderes en su estaca  2) implementar la red de contacto en cada barrio. 3) Tener el auto Taller de suficiencia para recibir enseñanza en su estaca. Se trata de establecer  metas en cada estaca para llevar a cabo esta tarea. Tenemos unos nucleos que está trabajando en San Pedro Sula. Hemos registrado el Presidente de Estaca en La Ceiba y varios obispos. Tenemos reunión con el especialista de empleo de estaca en La Ceiba, el 27-5-2011 a entrenarlo. Tenemos una reunión con Olanchito presidente de estaca el 28-5-2011 para mostrarle el programa e inscribirse en él. Sentimos la responsabilidad de dejar que todas las apuestas en la misión  tengan los mismos privilegios para encontrar puestos de trabajo. Hemos comenzado con el más alto de autosuficiencia en el centro y hasta ahora solo a sido una asistencia de 26 candidatos. Tenemos una clase de Inglés y el más alto de autoempleo comenzará la próxima semana. Sólo tenemos 46 ubicaciones y necesitamos 954 que para este año. Tenemos 143 Empresas inscritas y la necesidad de 1857. Tenemos 500 candidatos inscritos y la necesidad de 2.000 más. Ponemos a los líderes como prioridad arriba para buscar puestos de trabajo y llamar personalmente a en otras  listas de trabajos especiales. Tenemos los miembros del FEM registrada el ldsjobs.org para ayudarles a encontrar puestos de trabajo. Sobre todo tenemos que hacerlo mucho mejor y haremos nuestro mejor esfuerzo. Honestamente siento que no podemos hacerlo solos y necesitamos de los miembros para ver la visión para que puedan ayudar a que todo esto suceda. Nos damos cuenta que tenemos que enseñar a los miembros a ser autosuficientes para que esto funcione. Que aplicada a la educación es la respuesta. Gracias por todo lo que haces y el amor que nos has dado.  Elder y Hermana Roper I could not sleep last night because I cannot understand why you removed the vacancies of the minister of work without telling me what you did. In our last conversation what I remember is that we were going to find out if any one received a job from them. Let me back up a couple of days. You called me last week to ask me why the phone number was not on one of our vacancy. You ask me to put the phone number on the site. I gave Carlos the phone number. When I looked on the on the site it said don't call but to come to a certain address to apply for the job. It also had the phone number on the site so I really don't understand what you are talking about. You called me again and told me the ministry of work was not a good source for jobs. I explained to Carlos and he explained to you that I would find out if that was true by asking around to see if any one got a job from the source. We talked to a member named Carlos and he said he has been looking for a job for about four years and he went to the ministry of work and they got him a lead to send his curriculum to a hotel. They told him to come back if he did not get the job and they will give him another lead. It seems to be a good source. I talked with Hermana Zunica she said it was a source to help people find work and that is what we do, find resources for people to find work. She felt it was a good source. She knew the person and gave me her email. Last night we noticed that you removed the vacancies from ldsjobs.org in San Pedro Sula without notifying us. I am very confused on the way things are done by you. I prayed last night and the only thing I can come up with is that this is the Lord's work. Not your work or my work but it is the Lord's work. I feel we should be informed when changes like this will happen. We are a team and all on the same team. The Lord's team. So I ask what do we do next? No pude dormir anoche porque sigo sin entender el por qué ha eliminado las vacantes del Ministerio de Trabajo sin habérmelo comunicado. En nuestra última conversación lo que recuerdo es que íbamos a averiguar si las personas realmente habían recibido un trabajo por parte de ellos. Permítanme retroceder un par de días para relatarle los hechos. Usted me llamó la semana pasada para preguntarme por qué el número de teléfono de la compañía que tenía la vacante, no aparecía en nuestros registros, me pidió que pusiera el número de teléfono en el sitio y yo se lo di a Carlos, su asistente. Cuando miré en el en el sitio el anuncio de dicha vacante, decía claramente que no había que llamar sino que la persona interesada debía avocarse a la dirección que aparecía publicada. También en el anuncio aparecía el número de teléfono, por lo que realmente no entiendo de qué está hablando. Usted me llamó de nuevo y me dijo que el ministerio de trabajo no era una buena fuente para conseguir nuestras vacantes. Le expliqué a Carlos y le explicó a usted que yo personalmente me encargaría de averiguar si las personas realmente obtenían el empleo que el Ministerio de Trabajo ofrecía. Hablamos con un miembro quien también se llama Carlos, el cual me dijo que ha estado buscando un trabajo desde hace unos cuatro años atrás y que había ido al Ministerio de Trabajo, en donde le ofrecieron la oportunidad de enviar su currículo a un hotel. En el Ministerio le dijeron que si no conseguía el trabajo en el hotel, podía regresar a sus oficinas para ver la posibilidad de aplicar a otras vacantes. Parece ser una buena fuente de empleos. Hablé con la Hermana Zúniga y ella dijo que era una buena fuente para ayudar a la gente a encontrar un trabajo y eso es lo que tratamos de hacer, encontrar recursos para todas aquellas personas que están en busca de un empleo. Ella me dijo que sentía que esta era una buena fuente y que además ella conocía a la persona, por lo que me dio su correo electrónico para que lo contactara. Ayer por la noche nos dimos cuenta de que ha retirado del sitio ldsjobs.org en San Pedro Sula, todas las vacantes que provienen del Ministerio de Trabajo, sin avisarnos. Estoy muy confundido por la manera en que usted hace las cosas. Oré anoche y lo único que se me ocurrió es que se todo esto se trata de la obra del Señor. No se trata de que sea su trabajo o mi trabajo, sino que se trata del trabajo del Señor. Siento que debo ser informado cuando vayan a suceder cambios. Somos un equipo y todos estamos en el mismo equipo. El equipo del Señor. Así que pregunto, ­qué hacemos ahora?

Source Unit - Letter To Kids

Caleb “handsome” Roper Ashby “beautiful” Roper Good Afternoon my darling cabbage patch kiddos. Daddy just got off work and I am tired to say the least. Who was the biggest thief in history? Atlas, he held up the whole world… do you get it? Here’s an image to help you along… I have some amazing news. I was working yesterday and the people I was working for gave Jed and I a working 4-wheeler!!!! I will make sure to send you pictures and maybe even a video. They also gave a desk and a mini-fridge. How awesome is that? I miss you guys. I hope to see you both very soon. Maybe our Heavenly Father will help us to dream about each other. If so I want to be a knight with a big white horse and a long sword. Okay? I pray for you munchkins a lot. I pray that you will be happy and healthy. I know that right now we are far away from each other, but I am working hard to change that. Cook me up a hot chocolate when it gets cold okay? Remember the polar express hot chocolate? Yumm! I love you both to pieces and to the moon! LOVE, Dad

Source Unit - Bautismo De Kenia Zelaya

Bautismo de Kenia Zelaya 7 de Julio, 2012 Primero Himno #41 Grande eres Tu’ Primero Oración Elder Tinkham Mensaje de Bautismo Hna.Guadalupe Zelaya Mensaje del Espíritu Santo Hna.Yessi Zelaya Bautismo de Kenia por Hermano Rony Zelaya Himnos Intermedios Ultimo Himno #42 Jesús es mi Luz Ultimo Oración Hna. Andrea Zelaya

Source Unit - Preparativos Por El Templo

Preparativos para el Templo ¿Qué hacen las personas en el templo? En el templo se nos enseña, hacemos convenios y se nos prometen bendiciones. Recibimos ordenanzas que nos permiten vivir en la presencia de Dios. Una ordenanza que recibimos en el templo es la investidura. La palabra investidura significa “don” u “otorgamiento”. Como parte de esta ordenanza, se nos enseña el propósito de la vida, la misión y la expiación de Jesucristo y el plan de nuestro Padre Celestial para Sus hijos. Alcanzamos a vislumbrar lo que será vivir en Su presencia al sentir el ambiente apacible del templo. Otra ordenanza del templo es la ordenanza del sellamiento, en la que los esposos y las esposas se sellan el uno al otro, y los hijos son sellados a sus padres en familias eternas. Esto significa que si somos fieles a nuestros convenios, nuestras relaciones familiares seguirán existiendo durante la eternidad. Además de recibir estas ordenanzas para nosotros mismos, podemos recibirlas por nuestros antepasados fallecidos. De ese modo, las personas que murieron sin recibir las ordenanzas esenciales, tales como el bautismo y la confirmación, la investidura y el sellamiento, tienen la oportunidad de aceptar dichas ordenanzas. ¿Cómo es el templo por dentro? El templo es un lugar apacible y sagrado, apartado de las preocupaciones y la agitación del mundo. Todos los sectores del templo se mantienen de manera hermosa y minuciosa a fin de preservar un espíritu de reverencia. Ya que es la Casa del Señor, y debido a la obra sagrada que allí se lleva a cabo, en el templo podemos sentir abundantemente el Espíritu y sentirnos cerca del Señor. Allí podemos recibir revelación personal y fortaleza espiritual para ayudarnos a superar nuestras pruebas. Ésa es parte de la razón por la que se nos anima a asistir al templo con regularidad. ¿Por qué razón se utiliza el simbolismo en el templo? Durante Su ministerio terrenal, el Salvador enseñó con frecuencia en parábolas para representar verdades eternas de manera simbólica. Él ha mandado que en el templo se nos enseñe de manera similar. Hay simbolismo en las ordenanzas y los convenios del templo, en la forma en que se presentan, en el entorno físico, y en la ropa que se usa. Si meditas en el significado de estos símbolos con la guía del Espíritu Santo, te pueden servir para reconocer la verdad, aprender acerca de nuestro Padre Celestial y de Jesucristo, y para progresar espiritualmente. ¿Por qué es tan secreta la ceremonia de la investidura del templo? “Las ordenanzas del templo son tan sagradas que no se deben exponer a la vista del público, y sólo las pueden efectuar los que hayan demostrado su dignidad por medio de una vida recta. Además, se efectúan en lugares dedicados especialmente para ese fin. Su naturaleza sagrada es tal que el mencionar detalles de la ceremonia fuera del templo es indebido. “Muchas son las bendiciones que reciben los que toman sobre sí y respetan esas ordenanzas sagradas, que son tan necesarias para ganar la exaltación. La participación en la obra del templo nos enseña de una forma dinámica, vívida y útil los principios del evangelio. El templo es también un lugar para meditar y orar. “El templo es un lugar sagrado, un pedacito de cielo en la tierra, y debemos continuar viviendo dignamente a fin de ir a él a menudo a renovar nuestros convenios” (véase ElRay L. Christiansen, “Some Things You Need to Know about the Temple [Algunas cosas que debemos saber acerca del templo”, pág. 27). ¿Cuándo debo recibir mi investidura? Los miembros nuevos esperan por lo menos un año después de su bautismo y confirmación antes de recibir la investidura. Los miembros solteras pueden recibir su propia investidura si son dignas y si tienen la madurez necesaria para entender y ser fieles a los convenios que se hacen en el templo. Los miembros solteros que tengan el deseo de recibir la investidura deben pedir el consejo del obispo y del presidente de estaca. Los miembros solteras que se estén preparando para ir a la misión pueden recibir la investidura. ¿Qué debo hacer para prepararme para recibir las ordenanzas del templo? Para prepararte, puedes asistir al templo con regularidad a fin de participar en bautismos por lo muertos, participar en un seminario de preparación para el templo organizado por tu obispo, y estudiar las Escrituras y los artículos de este librito. Para prepararte, Vive también las normas del Señor sobre la dignidad para entrar en el templo; Fortalece tu testimonio de Dios el Padre y de Jesucristo y Su evangelio restaurado; Obedece la Palabra de Sabiduría y la ley de castidad; Apoya a los líderes de la Iglesia, paga un diezmo íntegro y asiste a las reuniones de la Iglesia. Sé honrado en tus tratos con los demás y asegúrate de que tu vida familiar esté en armonía con las enseñanzas de la Iglesia. Cumple con tus convenios bautismales a fin de que estés preparado para recibir los convenios más altos del templo. ¿Cómo debo vestirme para ir al templo? Cuando asistas al templo viste ropa modesta; evita los extremos tanto en el vestir como en el arreglo personal, así como lo harías para una reunión sacramental. Si estás limpio y presentable, demuestras reverencia y respeto por el Señor y Su casa, e invitas al Espíritu. En el templo hay cuartos privados para vestirte donde puedes cambiarte la ropa de domingo y ponerte ropa blanca. Este cambio de ropa te sirve de recordatorio de que provisionalmente estás dejando atrás el mundo y entrando en un lugar santo. La ropa blanca simboliza pureza, y el hecho de que todos se vistan igual en el templo crea un sentido de unidad e igualdad. ¿Necesitaré ropa especial del templo? En el templo, los que reciben la investidura usan ropa blanca especial. Toda la ropa que se necesita para estar dentro del templo se puede comprar. Los jóvenes deben hablar acerca de esto con su obispo antes de ir al templo. El Elder Hugh B. Brown dio la siguiente explicación en cuanto a la ropa especial del templo: “Allí no sólo ponemos de lado la ropa de calle, sino también los pensamientos de la calle. Además, no sólo nos vestimos con ropas limpias y blancas, sino que tratamos de que nuestros pensamientos también sean puros. Ruego que saquemos provecho de lo que allí e enseña y, lo que es más duradero y más significativo, que recibamos instrucción del Espíritu” (citado por el Elder ElRay L. Christiansen, “Algunas cosas que debemos saber acerca del templo”, Liahona, nov. de 1971, pág. 22). Después que una persona recibe la investidura, ¿debe usar el gárment durante el resto de su vida? Los miembros reciben el gárment en la investidura y desde ese momento en adelante lo usan durante el resto de su vida. No deben hacerle ninguna clase de alteración ni dejar de usarlos a fin de usar vestimenta de moda indecente. El presidente Joseph F. Smith dijo: “El Señor nos ha dado los gárments del santo sacerdocio… Y aun así hay entre nosotros quienes los cortan a fin de seguir las tontas, vanas y (permítanme decirlo) indecentes estilos del mundo. Con el fin de imitar la moda, tales personas no vacilan en mutilar lo que deberían considerar… sagrado… Deberían tener por sagradas estas cosas que Dios les ha dado, sin variaciones, sin alteraciones de ninguna clase… Tengamos la fortaleza moral de no seguir los estilos de la moda, en especial cuando ésta nos imponga violar un convenio y, de ese modo, cometer un grave pecado” (“Editor’s Table”, Improvement Era, ago. de 1906, pág. 813). ¿Qué les puedo decir a otras personas en cuanto a mi experiencia en el templo? Puedes hablar acerca de la apariencia interior del templo, y puedes hablar libremente sobre lo que sientes en el templo. Sin embargo, los convenios y las ordenanzas del templo, incluso las palabras que se utilizan, son demasiado sagrados para hablar de ellos en detalle fuera del templo. Al evitar hablar sobre estas cosas sagradas fuera del templo, las protegemos de la burla, el ridículo y la falta de respeto. No hables de manera despreocupada de tus experiencias en el templo.

Source Unit - Misioneros De Estacas

Nuestro Objetivo: Para que dos misioneros a tiempo parcial, una pareja o dos personas, llamadas de cada participación en la Misión de San Pedro Sula, el 15 de enero de 2012. Los misioneros de estacas de San Pedro Sula, Merendón, Valle de Sula y Satélite servirían un día cada semana en la oficina de Servicios de Recursos de Empleo en El Benque. Que se divide los días con cada estaca que sirve el mismo día cada semana. Por ejemplo, Los lunes a los misioneros de Satélite que sirven en la oficina de SRE de 9-3, los martes a los misioneros de Valle de Sula, etc…. La oficina de SER estará abierta de lunes a jueves de 9-3. Misioneros que fueron llamados de La Lima, Villanueva, Progreso, Fesitranh, Copán y La Ceiba serviría de sus centros de estaca, donde se utilizan las computadoras en los centros de Familia Search. Se podrí designar a uno o dos días a la semana para tener el centro de Familia Search abierta a la gente a venir inscribirse en ldsjobs.org y para ayudarles en busca de trabajo, la creación de sus hojas de vida, etc…. Sería la responsabilidad de los misioneros para encontrar vacantes para ingresar en el sistema, ldsjobs.org y permitir que las personas saben acerca de las vacantes en las empresas. Muchas manos hacen el trabajo ligero. Nuestro Objetivo: Para que dos misioneros a tiempo parcial, una pareja o dos personas, llamadas de cada participación en la Misión de San Pedro Sula, el 15 de enero de 2012. Los misioneros de estacas de San Pedro Sula, Merendón, Valle de Sula y Satélite servirían un día cada semana en la oficina de Servicios de Recursos de Empleo en El Benque. Que se divide los días con cada estaca que sirve el mismo día cada semana. Por ejemplo, Los lunes a los misioneros de Satélite que sirven en la oficina de SRE de 9-3, los martes a los misioneros de Valle de Sula, etc…. La oficina de SER estará abierta de lunes a jueves de 9-3. Misioneros que fueron llamados de La Lima, Villanueva, Progreso, Fesitranh, Copán y La Ceiba serviría de sus centros de estaca, donde se utilizan las computadoras en los centros de Familia Search. Se podrí designar a uno o dos días a la semana para tener el centro de Familia Search abierta a la gente a venir inscribirse en ldsjobs.org y para ayudarles en busca de trabajo, la creación de sus hojas de vida, etc…. Sería la responsabilidad de los misioneros para encontrar vacantes para ingresar en el sistema, ldsjobs.org y permitir que las personas saben acerca de las vacantes en las empresas. Muchas manos hacen el trabajo ligero.

Chapter 8: Late Voice And Legacy

By the late material, he is trying less to sound impressive and more to say something usable. The voice gets plainer, but the main concerns stay the same: family, attitude, light, service, and love.

2011-01-28 - Little Things That Matter

Little things that mater. WE go on with our life tackle every problem that comes our way without thinking of what really matters in life. Can you tell me what really matter to you? What can you do without in your life. The struggles we have are fill with blessing that we don’t ever realize are there. Our life is a blue print for our future generation to follow. It is un written what we do in life and what really matters is the things that our future generation will do or at least have an opportunity to do. We all have our free agency and there are some that choose certain paths in life that are so different than there parents. Why is that and it because the lord has given us an opportunity to make something of this life he gave us. Free agency. Yes the Lord gave us everything. Its like Tithing we don’t get to pay 10 percent we receive 90 percent to do what we want to. He gave us the 100%. He put us on the earth to make a difference in the lives we love the most. Some times that takes eating our words and saying I am sorry and to follow up with action that dictate that we are truly sorry for the things we have done to our fellow man and woman. I don’t mean to preach at all and I want you to know that I say these things now because I have learned that is does not matter what your are face with that you should always take time to take care of the little things. What are the little things that matter they are the I love u’s that you don’t feel like saying. The get back to reality checks in our life that it is not all about you. Thinking of others is a talent that I have to work on. I have neglected those things that are most precious to me and that is your mother and you. This work here is important but it is not more important than those that I love most. I pray for guidance to be able to change my ways and be the kind of person that you are proud of. I pray for you each day that you are safe and will be able to do things that are right. Everyone has bad days and let the next be better in your life and sometimes we just have to thank the lord we are alive if nothing else. The center has been very busy and our bosses in capital of tegu’s doesn’t give us guidance because he is upset we are moving. Our next assignment is going to be very difficult because it has changed. We are going to activate and do missionary work in Spanish. The language is still giving us fits but somehow we get by. People seem to understand what \I say it is the ones that are bilingual that give me a hard time. This one sister was lessening to me talk to a brother and she said, I have no idea what you are saying. She ask the brother and he said yes I understand and he repeated back to her what \I said. I don’t know some times if I get through to people or not but I ask them if they understand and they say yes. It is getting better each day we are here. Mom holds not bars and just speaks without any reservations. She does a great job in communicating with the locals. Everything is so simple in the Gospel. You live it you are blessed. That is it. But you see we don’t do it for ourselves. We do it so that our kids will be blessed. The Savior did it for us so that we would receive the blessing and we do it so that our children will receive blessing. Why did Lehi do it? I love you guys with all my heart and if there is any thing you need let us know. Lv dad

2011-12-03 - Letter From Honduras

12/3/2011 Crazy times. I guess it is what goes on around here. How is times going with you? I was praying for some action with our stake president on this calling missionary to serve in the center. I probably emailed him like 5 or 6 times or more. I saw him in the hall today and I ask him if he had received my emails. He told me he had but he is not very good about returning them. He told me that he has a meeting with all the relief society presidencies in the stake today at noon and wondered if we could come and give a presentation about do missionary work in the SRE. ( Servicio recursos de empleo ). Employment center. We said sure we have time. Everything starts later than they say. We gave our spill and 13 people signed up to help in the center. I was shocked. Going from cero to 13 in one meeting was just is to good to true. We will be able to have a missionary and maybe some volunteers to help. I said a little prayer and thanked my Heavenly Father for the blessing and the answer to my prayer. The Stake President was surprise how many were very interested in helping out. We go through moments of despair and this happens. The Lord knows our heart and soul. We sometimes have to make sure our heart is in the right place. It is in our chest just below our head which makes all the decision of our life. Sometimes we need to look down and ask our heart what we should do. If our heart tells us not to then we need to lessen because our heart comes from our parents and it is not easy dissuaded like our head is. My dad’s heart was the greatest thing about him. He would do anything for any one if he could. Oh how I can just be like my dad. I pray he is proud of what I do and how I lead my life. Yesterday I got a phone call. The person said I am working. I said so who is this. She said Livis. Let me tell you about Hermana Livis. We met her about the first or second month when we got here. She is return mission and has been looking for work all this time. She has volunteer in the center mean while looking work almost every day. She been on many interviews and always tells them that she will not work on Sunday. I am so happy for her that she finally got a job and a good at that. She works for a Pharmacy. We usually don’t hear from people who get jobs but this one called us because we have developed a person relationship with her. I think it how it may sound, oh she has a job but after 9 month of looking she is finally working. I look how I just to think about the churches employment department and I would not give it two cents of my time. Now the Lord must know that and so he stuck me here to change my mind. Yes my mind has been changed and I feel we need to look at all avenues in looking for a job. I am not an expert but I learned a lot about jobs and how to find them by sharing what you know helps others. Knowledge means nothing unless you use that knowledge. I have been thinking about all the knowledge I have learned about business and motivation and what it takes to start a business and I finally have been convinced to use what I know here. How I will do such a thing I don’t know but I need to do it. Whatever we are blessed with can help others only if we will put what we know into action. I have always wondered about what this life is all about. I know it is to learn and prepare ourselves for when we die. But is also to help others with the talents we have. Are you using your talents to help others grow? Setting an example and being an example are two things that just don’t go together. One is of pride and the other is a result of what we want to become. It is a constant battle on who is going to win that struggle of who you become. It talks about that in the scriptures and the nature man is an enemy to God and we fight that every day of our lives. Most times we can win that battler but guess what it starts again in our life with the constant temptation of sin is okay and you deserve this. Restraining ourselves from thinking about things that are bad is a constant struggle for me. I don’t know how others deal with it but I just try to read more scriptures and change my thoughts. It is my fault that I have those thoughts because I choose early in my life to participate in such evil practices. I choose now not to participate but those thought still come to me. Going on my second mission I felt may give me the blessing of pure thoughts but I still struggle with those thoughts that tend to drag me down and I just keep going in the direction the lord wants me to go. It I feel he is not leading me I go where I feel he wants me to go and along the way he sometimes guides me. Gives me signs and blessing to know I am on the right tract. Never give in to Satin’s wishes or temptations. Know where freedom is and it is following the Savior. Sorry this is long. Lf you alwys dad

2015-01-11 - Missionary Blog

Missionary blog.. I have been thinking about this phrase and wondered if it could be true. Can God actually love me? I have always felt like an out sider when it came to being a member of this church. That what I thought was true didn’t really matter because I was lost with all the scriptures people would quote to me to explain the truth. I tried to be someone else to try to fit in and it was all a mistake. I was very confused about religion until I heard the story about Joseph Smith. How he himself went alone to pray to find the truth. If fact I was a missionary on the island of Guam and my companion was very upset with me because I would not bear my testimony about the Gospel. I was not as versed as he was in the scriptures and didn’t have all the teachers he must have had. I just wanted to be myself and know the truth. So I went down the street and knelt down next to a cliff overlooking the ocean. First I asked myself what was true in my life and came up with a decision that the Mormon Church was true because it taught families can be together forever. . So I prayed and said I feel in my heart the Mormon Church is true and I will not get up until I know. I waited a long time and I felt some bad come over me at first and wanted to get up and run back to my apartment but I stayed. Then I felt a something that over whelmed me to the point that I didn’t want to open my eyes but I did. It seems I knelt 2 inches in front of a tree and I heard a voice that said. You have always known it was true. Just look at what God created. The trees, the ocean, the sky. I got up and ran back to my apartment and just as I laid my head down on my pillow my companion said its time to get up. I have changed and since that day I don’t have to worry any more about scriptures or if I fit in because I know the truth.

2015-03-08 - Following A Prompting

Life can bring misery and pain. Sometimes we just want to give up and call it quits. I am done, take me to a better place so that I don’t have to feel this pain. Time has a way of healing that nothing else can do. We wait, live our life and find out that life is not all that bad and hurtful. We can actually do something with our life besides feeling sorry for ourselves. We just need a little bit of common sense to understand that life is what we make it. I remember going to the “Rock” for my son’s 16th birthday. Two of my son and I flew into San Francisco and stayed in an expensive hotel for one night. I didn’t want to pay that high rate to stay in a closet so we drove outside of San Francisco to stay in a more economical hotel. There was a convention and all the hotels were booked. So we kept driving further and further out of the city to find a hotel to stay in. We came to this one hotel and my son (age 10 years old) said. “Dad don’t go in there.” I said, “What?” He said, “I have a feeling and we should leave right now.” I didn’t even think about it. I said okay. We left and drove to the next hotel. I have always thought about that and trusted my son’s ability to follow the Spirit. The Spirit will guide us to higher ground if will listen to that prompting and follow it. This was a simple event but had powerful meaning to me throughout my life. Sometimes we get so wrapped up into our life and think we are in control and fail to realize that the spirit, (Holy Ghost) can help. Just to stop and try to feel if I should be where I am through the Spirit of the Lord. We can invite the Spirit in our prayers and by the way we live. The Spirit has a way to heal our sorrows if we will give it time.

2015-05-30 - Choosing Not To Be Offended

The other day I was thinking about how I can make life better for those around me. I get myself into situations that I just wonder how I got here. I look at myself and think what am I doing. Let me explain. The other day we went to go see Tomorrow Land at the movies. I used my Zion card and they are supposed to give you a discount. When I looked at my receipt the discount was not on there so I ask to what look like a manager. Am I supposed to get a discount for using my Zion’s card? She looked busy and like I was bothering her. She says. “Did you ask for a discount”? I said No. I didn’t know I needed to ask for it to get the discount. She says well there are so many discounts we cannot keep up with all of them. You have to ask. I said okay are you going to give my discount. She said I will this time but you have to ask next time to get it. I lean over the counter and said, “Who do you Honor the customer or yourself? She said I really don’t want to get into it with you. By that time I almost lost it. But I kept my cool and walked away and left my wife to get my discount. When my wife returned every question I asked her reply was the answered yes. Was she rude? Yes. Could she of handle the problem better? Yes. Was it good for me to leave? Yes. But you could have been nicer. I thought about that and how I was going to ruin our night out because of some one that just was not nice. How can we love those that use us and are rude to us? The answer is the Savior’s love. Go beyond our selves and look at the person you are dealing with and realize that he is a brother of sister and maybe having a bad day. I have learn in the Temple to not to rush to judgment. Give yourself time so that you can act in the way the Savoir would be proud. The savior’s love radiates from his presence and when he spoke you knew you were fed with wisdom. . In each situation we are involved with we have that opportunity to do just that. I have a secret that has help me and I just learn about it just recently and don’t know if it will work with anyone else but it is the frame of mind you are in. Change your attitude and try to involve other people than just the one you are with. The chose I made to attack this theater manager involved my wife and those that were around the situation. Most never knew the reason but they knew how angry I was. Did I offend my wife? Yes. So this is what I have come up with. I smile and sometimes I smile inside at those that try to offend me and I will not let that happen. A wise servant gave a talk about choose not to be offended. I know that the savior used that a lot because he saw the good in us. The Gospel in True and the Church is made up of imperfect people that may have offended you or others. Just smile more often and choose not to be offended and be a part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Your life will be so much better when your attitude is good.

2015-09-15 - Letter To Mikailo And Teo

How are you doing? Mikailo..It was so nice to see you in Skype and talk with you and your brother. It seems you are doing very good in school. It’s great to have friends. Choose them wisely which means. Friends that do good things and not bad things. Its will make your life a lot easier if you find friends that do good things. Because in return you will do good things with them. Always make sure your mom and dad is your best friend. Be able to tell them everything about your life no matter how old you are. Do you still like to swim? You told me that you can swim across the pool. That is so awesome. When I come to see you I want to go swimming with you. I love to swim and I just love the water. My dad (Grampa Roper) taught me to love the water rather than learn how to swim. Swiming came latter in my life. I am not afraid of the water because I enjoy being in the water. It gives me comfort to be in a pool, lake or the ocean. Just being in the water gives me such comfort and confidence that I can do anything. Move over here or jump into the water over there, just gives me so much freedom to do whatever I want. I think you mom has that sort of that feeling too. At least I hope I taught my kids to feel that way. I want to tell you that I really love you and you make me feel happy when I am with you. This last summer was such a wonderful time to be with you and hang out with you in the pool. I know you had fun with your cousins but it was great for me to be with you when you did. I notice that you really love you family and like to be around them. Not just your mom, dad and brother but your cousins, grandparents and uncles, aunts too. Out of all my grandkids you seem want to be around me the most. I like that. Lv alwys Papa Steve and Grandma Cindy. The two pictures are for mikailo and Teo.

2015-10-29 - Keep The Light Lit

Many times we are asked to do things for others and our response is, “sure I will do it.” Is this a promise to perform or maybe we call it one more thing added to my list of hundreds of items to do? Do I have time or can I replace it with something I already have planned to do. There are only 24 hours in a day and I just cannot seem to fit it all in. Can the Lord first give the blessing and then I will perform or has he already given me blessings and I have done nothing for him. It seems all I do is not really added up to anything. How can I know that what I do is really worth it? “Today we will go out, even in the rain.” We did our Home teaching this afternoon and we taught a family with four kids ages ranging from 6 to 12. (Just like my daughter Charity’s clan.) My comp gave the lesson on the first Greece Olympic race that lit torches and handed them to team mates to run a race. Like a relay race, but the race was not that who comes in first but who came in first with the torch still lit. If the light went out you lost. You had to run fast but not so fast that you put out your torch. He compared it to life trials. We have to perform and do so many things but we cannot run faster than we are able. Since my comp loves to give the lesson and says he is always prepared to give a lesson every time. I let him but told him I wanted to have a demonstration after the lesson. I brought a candle from wife’s collection and lit it. I said I needed a volunteer to run with this candle or my little torch to the kitchen and back. “Do it fast because others will have the chance to beat your speed.” Joshua the youngest said he could do it. He picked up the candle and just stared at the candle while he moved as fast as he can to the kitchen and back. I thought to myself I hope he doesn’t drop the candle and burn the house down. Then Camryn did it and actually all four children did it and I asked when they were all done, “What was the most common thing they all did”. Joshua said, “They stared at the light as they ran to and fro from the kitchen”. I said. “That is right”. Each one stared at the light to see that it would not go out. How many of us stare at the light and make sure it doesn’t go out of our life? Are we too busy to see the light that is in us and forget where the light comes from? Do we run faster than we are able? Nick my companion said. When they were running back and forth I smelled something nice. It was probably a scented candle of which it was. That was an Interesting comment to stop and smell the roses so to speak instead of being wrapped up in all the commotion of the running. Light or smell it’s all about taking our time to do the right thing. Staying focused to what is most important in our life. I then blew out the candle. The light may go out in our life or it may seem to, but the Lord’s light stays lit for us. He is always ready to help us relight our own light any time we are ready. It’s better to keep that light lit but we all have times that we get discouraged or are over whelmed with work and family. Or just stuff. Taking time to smell the scented candle may give us enough time to relight our life. Stop what you are doing and ask yourself, “do I have the light”? Well do you? I have realized the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the light within us and we can all receive more light by focusing our life more on the Savoir. Then His light will become our light.

2020-03-24 - Talk

My vision is to reach people in my audience to make better choices in their life. Do I make better choices in my life? Am I example for others to fellow? What must I change to bring the reality to the put I can share? Change my attitude. Being generous, kind, loving and respectful. • Generous give more that is expected. Time, Money and self. See the good qualities in some thing or someone. It helps us feel better about ourselves. Natural confidence builder. natural repellant of self-hatred. Generosity promotes physical health. It doesn't change. ... • Being generous reduces stress. Generosity reduces stress. ... • Encourages personal happiness. ... • Gives you a longer life. ... • Strengthens your marriage. ... • Builds deeper friendships. ... • Leads to success. ... • Allows you to experience God.

Emotional generosity is the act of making others feel positive without expecting anyything in return altruistic. Someone who is altruistic always puts others first. Generosity of Spirit. ... Generosity of spirit is the openness and willingness to share our own 'gifts' freely with others, joyously and willingly and without expectation of receiving anything in return.Dec 16, 2013 1. Create a Gratitude Ritual. ... 2. Send a thank-you note. ... 3. Give a free hug. ... 4. Give thanks for today! ... 5. Do someone a free favor. ... 6. Give a little gift. ... 7. Give someone a list of all they've done that you're grateful for. ... 8. Acknowledge them publicly. helping hand in my time of need. Thank you for whatever they did. Generosity is a good thing for our mental health and well-being because when we give to someone we care about, we make it more likely for them to give to us, making us more likely to give to them, and so on. As a result, regions of our brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust light up, making us feel all warm and gooey inside.