Ogden Temple

Date: Sep 22, 2014 6:57 AM
Subject: Re: Ogden temple dedication, flu shots

On Mon,

Hi Elder,

I hope you are well and happy.  Ebola is still a problem so make sure you're taking very good care of yourself.  I hear you have a new companion from South Africa.  Are you training him?  I hope you appreciate that for many hopeful missionaries from outside the U.S. the prospect of going on a mission can be a big challenge, and many make huge sacrifices to do so.  Treat him well, and be patient.  If you are his first companion, he will always remember you. 

I also understand that you are once again close to an Elder that is a little annoying.  Something about bouncing around all the time?  Just remember that you are there for the same reason, and he has a very different background from you.  Also, you have dealt with a LOT worse.  Just put the people first and you will be able to handle Tigger.

Friday, most of the family got flu shots at my work.  Mom, Zach, Parker, Hope and me.  Paige was working and Ethan was camping (more on that later).  By that evening we were all feeling pretty yucky.  Mom and Parker are still not 100%.  I guess sometimes the treatment is as bad as the disease. 

Ethan went to the Little Sahara desert for an overnight campout.  Did you ever go there?  I went LONG time ago (meaning, when I was a scout), and remember it being a very alien place.  Sand dunes as far as you could see.  Ethan came home pretty tired since they didn't get to sleep until after 3am apparently.  He is totally into scouts, and should be getting his Life rank at the next court of honor. 

Today was the rededication of the Ogden temple.  It was one of the older temples in the region, not counting the Manti, St.George and Salt Lake temples of course.  It was in bad repair, so they "reconstructed" it.  If you recall what the Provo temple looked like, it was kind of like that, but now it looks completely different.  Paige, Zach, Ethan and I went to one of the dedication sessions.  They had three altogether.  That is always a special experience.  I learned a lot from two talks that were given.  One was by a member of the first presidency of the seventy, and was about time.  The second was from the relief society general president, and was about the scripture that goes: "Come, and let us go up to the  house of the Lord, where he will teach of his ways...."  Or something like that.  It was very inspiring.  The only downside was that the choir was not very good, but maybe I'm a little sensitive to that.  It must be pretty intimidating to sing in a small group (20 people) in front of hundreds of thousands. 

We need to start putting together a Christmas package pretty soon, so let us know what you need. 

I love you and am so pleased with your example both to the people of Africa and your brothers and sisters. I'm sure you are not aware of the positive influence you are having on them, especially Zach and Ethan.  Take care of yourself, be obedient, work hard and you will find success.

Love,
Dad

So my companion is not new he has been out on mission the same time as i have Yes, thats right hes a mission brother! this is my 3rd mission brother kinda crazy! The work is starting to pick back up again, thats good we are even having a baptism next week as well. besides that not much has happend. just working hard.

Never be ♯

Never be ♭

Always be ♮