You're Welcome 4-8-09

William,

One day you will have a son who doesn't understand how hard you worked to make a nice home. And if you are lucky, one day you will know the joy of him figuring it all out, and thanking you for everything that you have done as his father.

The joy that I am feeling right now, as my son has learned to look outside of himself. The day that my son became a man.

I love you, and I am so proud of the man that you have become. You have made some very good choices to get where you are, and I know that you will make the most of your mission experience.

Go forth to serve!
-Dad

Thank you for everything 4-8-09

This email is going to be hard to type, but I really want to thank you. These past few weeks have really shown me what a great family that I have. Though not perfect, the love that I felt growing up, I used to take for granted. But after being out here and seeing the love that is in the familes of these members and some of our investigators, and remembering what I had at home. I really wish that I would have realized how good I had it, and how much easier it was at home.

All the great times we had camping, playing golf and ghost recon. Those are all times that I will never forget, and will cherish. All that and the brats ( no sadly, no Johnsonville, just no-name brand) but no too bad.

Free agency is always in the way 4-8-09

This week has gone by so fast, I can't believe that this transfer is almost over.
General conference was great, I learned alot. I found that going to the church to listen to the sessions is alot more spiritual, and our time zone is two hours ahead of you so the broadcasts are all live. The Priesthood session ended at 10 pm.

It is hard to believe that I am almost at my 1/4th mark for my mission. David is coming up on his 1 year mark and Andrew is almost there too. I will be right behind him.

There is still so much to be done here and I can't believe that I have been able to do so much and yet I wish that I could do more. Free agency is always in the way, and people don't understand the truth that we bring. I hope that they all will choose to accept the gospel some time or another, because there are so many people out here that need the gospel in their lives. I just wish that we could find them all.

I pray for you always and can't wait to talk to you next month. This time I will be able to tell you some really amazing things.
- Elder Boy

"Virginia ROCK! the church is true, and I love you. read mosiah 3

Passover Dinner and General Conf - 4-9-09

Hello Son,

How has this week been? I hope that everything is going great.

Garth has been here all week and Mary Ann has really enjoyed seeing him. He and Benson have been doing alot of things together and really having some fun. Work is going great and I have been really busy.

Did you get a chance to watch General Conference? Benson, Garth and I went to the Priesthood session and then Mary Ann joined us for dinner at Jim's, we all had Country Fried Steak. The conference talks sure were strong and direct. I think that we are in for some tough times ahead.

In Arizona, Heidi Jarvis's father in-law (Jim's Dad) died this week. He has been in the hospital and everyone agrees that it is best that his suffering is over. Our prayers are with the Jarvis family at this time.

We went to a Jewish Passover Dinner last week, and it was incredibly interesting. We learned so much about the basis for all christian religions. We learned that the jews have been celebrating the passover for over 3300 years. And that when Christ taught his disciples about the sacrament, he taught them at the passover dinner that used the symbols and traditions used by the Jews for over 1800 years when Christ taught them.

We also learned that the Jews were promised by God that the prophet of the new dispensation would be ordained on Passover by the Prophet Elijah in the Temple. In the D&C we are told that Joseph Smith was visited in the Kirtland Temple on Passover by the prophet Elijah, and that Elijah ordained him as the prophet of the new dispensation, promised to the jews almost 2,000 years ago. But the Jews wanted the new prophet to be Jewish, and selected in a Jewish Temple. (Even though the jews don't have any temples then or now.)

Love you, and you are in our prayers.
Dad, Mary Ann, Garth, and Benson