Mama Emails March 2024- the end Aug 2024

 

 

3/29/24

This won’t' be long but I felt so bad last week with no emails.  You are always in our thoughts and our conversations.

 

Emma said she'd be emailing you too- so I'll let you get all the scoop on the "big" things going on right now-- it's been a great week for her.

We've had a sick bug-- I took Ave in on Tues and she had a fever and tested positive for strep so she got started on antibiotics and has missed the rest of the school week.  She's rested a lot and been pretty patient with.  Hallmarks have helped.  Graham has a bad cold, but doesn't seem to be strep and he just missed one day of school. Lainey prob has the least of the issues, but still a little cold, but she's powered through her school and bball and mutual schedule.

Ave was supposed to babysit the Bruneels (which isn't easy with those kids and four of them) but she's not up to it so G and L are going to take over the task- hope they can handle it-  they've been over before with Avery- but I'm not sure they could handle that group either of them solo

Got swim lessons rolling again- registration starting this weekend.  We're going to do 5 sessions, maybe 2 or 3 classes each day.  Emma wants to teach to earn some extra cash ($75 per swimmer per class) so hopefully I can get the word out enough to fill the schedule.

 

Dad's had an insanely busy crazy week-- so much dentistry- big cases and overfilled days.  Glad the weekend is here and March Madness will be good medicine for him (and Graham)  Apparently there were major upsets yesterday so I've fallen from being any sort of contender- a lot of other people too with Arizona losing..; so the little interest I had was stamped out.

Viry is coming this Saturday and Sat night we'll do baptisms.  I'm excited to have her.  She'll stay through April 8th I think... that might get a little long.

I'm glad you get to call on Sunday.  Monday dad needs me at work from 2-5 our time-his front desk girl. Janda has to go to a funeral - so i can't talk with you in the afternoon.  This kills me.  Viry will be here to talk to you on Monday afternoon, and the kids that last hour.  I was super bummed to not get that time with you- but glad I'll get the morning and Easter too.

I am so excited for Josefa's baptism on Saturday and it's so sweet that you get to do it-- that's special.  Also what a great start with a new comp- hopefully he gets there in time.

I love you so much Miles-- couldn't be more proud of how dedicated you are to the calling that's yours from the Lord to represent the Savior in Guyana. ♥

xoxo Mama

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4/4/24

MILES

Loved reading how it’s going and so happy that you are busy and happy.  I love your focus on charity— you are  good example of how to take action with developing more characteristics of Christ and I will share that with the kids—I am sure it means everything that your comp is getting this kind of start—it’s so impactful and will set the bar for the rest or his missionary service.  I am sorry you didn’t get a nurturing start- but it’s neat to see that you still learned what was missing and are a link healer- instead of letting a broken link set the tone.  That, like so many other things, reminds me of your patriarchal blessing- your quiet leadership.  It’s powerful and it’s also just the way the Savior led.  ♥ 

That’s so funny about your comp just rolling with Josefa’s testimony even if it wasn’t exactly her words--- the spirit was there and that’s all you need to share those things—I love that he just sent with it rather than being diverted by a language barrier, one because truth was shared even if was a variant of her words, but also because it was probably important for Josefa to feel like she could share those things, without being worried about not being understood.  What a blessing to have your comp connect so well with them both—that will be a big factor in helping them stay engaged as new converts—as they continue building connections with the branch.  How amazing that Juan could share his testimony of prayer with his grandchildren.  Wish you would have gotten a picture of all of them gathered around him- yes- like a Latino, island Lehi. Fun comparison, actually-it’s really powerful.

I hope the planning went well today—I know you’ll be blessed for doing it and your comp will feel more in step with the way the days go because of the focus on goals and how you divide up your time. 

I can’t remember if you said you have interviews this week or next—but I know it felt quick. 

I’m excited that Viry is with us for Conference—I’ve been praying she’ll be nourished just as she needs.  It feels like a pretty crazy answer to prayer when that happens in real time and you get to see it—I remember that sweet kind of an experience the last time we had her over during conference.  There’s no way she’d watch them all on her own- at least I don’t think so.  It was so neat to be with her at the temple last weekend—I just got so emotional seeing her hand on that gold temple door handle—and then again as I was a witness as she was baptized for her grandma’s relatives.  We went over how to do ordinances ready and she can print her own names… sometime we’ll have to go to the family history center and get more of her tree filed in- but it was a special experience.

Lainey is playing on a new club team (which was born out of the winter AAU team she was on)  anyway they have their first tourney game this weekend—Crash the boards at Lonestar Friday and East Middle school on Saturday and then maybe a third game—it will bring back some memories of you older kids playing there for those games—I think the only person we might possibly run into is the Whitworths—Addison is Lainey’s age (well older, but same grade I think) and she and JR play a lot of bball.  So maybe we’ll see them—oh and Ricky bower has a daughter that age—not so hyped on reconnecting there.  Graham has his first open gym tonight and I am sure he’s nervous but I’m proud of him and I hope it goes well and he can feel confident and like he plays well.  It’s so good for him to do these open gym things so that summer ball is just a continuation.  Also interesting to see how it shakes up with other kids his age from diff middle schools—I wish he didn’t have the “I’m a B team player” hanging over his head—hopefully tonight we can just build him up and this can be a fresh start get after it kind of reset.

Emma has had fun getting to know Noah better and I think they’ll go to Sadie and Seth’s for one session of conference which will be good so they can meet him and vice versa.  We might not be able to watch all session live bc of Crash the boards on Saturday for Lainey (and that won’t be super convenient since we’re not in Nampa where games are so if there’s weird blocks of time in between I don’t know that  we’ll come home- maybe we’ll go visit brother Newby- she plays Friday night at 7 and Saturday morning at 8 for the first game—if there’s another Sat game, hopefully it’s not too much after the first one.  If we miss conference, we’ll record and catch up. 

Avery seems to be doing much better and the antibiotics have tackled her strep throat really well.  She figured out what she needed to make up from missing 4 days and I think doing well-

Sadie has finals this week- and then a week break and her Spring term will start up.  She really enjoys what she’s learning-

We think we may have a company to lease the other half of the building on Ten Mile- it’s an MRI place— which seems like a good fit—another professional office- not crazy amounts of cars or people in and out.  Hoping to get them to do a 15 year lease—which pretty much takes Dad to where he wants to retire (well, semi retire—cut back to a few days a week with you on board to take over while you wait for Graham)  Dad sent me the cutest pic the other day of you and graham looking at each other- it was on his digital frame in in his office and with the picture dad said, “I love how they take care of each other”  That’s the parent dream right there!!

I hope you are eating!  I am worried about that—just want you to take care of yourself, plus I have bins of clothes that won’t fit you if you are down sizes!  Haha (kind of but seriously!)

I love you so much Miles—Excited to get more talking time this next pday—that was hard for me to not get that last week being at Dad’s office helping out ♥

I thought I’d leave you with the talk from this last week’s devotional.  I haven’t heard it yet but really want to because Emma said it was amazing—like her fave BYU devotional talk to date—it was also given by the head librarian at BYU, so I teased her it it was one of her coworker people. Hahaha

You’ll have to tell her what you like about it

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/rick-anderson/the-tree-the-fruit-and-the-building/

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4/10/24

I know I just wrote you an email but I just wanted to respond to that journal entry. Maybe you'll just hear from me more this week to make up for not getting to share a lot on pday ;)  Hidden blessings!

How sweet it is to have that empathy for a new elder.  Of course he is struggling-- it's HARD.  I am so glad you could pick up on the level of his feelings and respond with faith and love and kindness.  I love that you understand personally how to minister to him and that you know he needs ministering. It's so neat to me that stewardship and timing of your call as district leader will be a direct blessing to that missionary.   Hopefully his companion can follow that lead and help him feel successful in the process by celebrating the progress and reassuring him that it's not a fast-track.  I love the faith of a newer convert to accept a call to serve a mission-- it's so amazing!   On top of having to learn so much, if he feels that his baselevel English is not up to par, he's going to feel behind in the process- but what a marvelous opportunity to shift his mindset to see it as an opportunity to recognize a growing miracle within himself with the gift of tongues-- maybe you could encourage him to keep a list of times when he recognizes the added strength or understanding he gets as he tries his best.  Might be a powerful thing to reflect on and a helpful focus right now while it's such a challenge.  Surely it will be a blessing to another missionary he'll encounter later on his mission to have relatable experience and to be able to clearly see the growth that comes. It's so good you could share with him your experience of feeling defeated and then a towel full of ants, but here you are- I am sure that's a source of hope for that elder to connect with you and see you relate... 

I am reminded of on Emma's mission, when she felt so lacking in language-- she would describe how she wanted to communicate but really couldn't so she spent a lot of time listening.  She tried to not feel bad that she was "in the background" but  see that as a time to really read and study people and often times she had the blessing of picking up on things just by listening and perceiving by the spirit what was going on with a heightened sensitivity to read the situation and understand all the things (body language etc) that weren't being said.  Those were things she could later share with her companion that were insightful and helpful as they worked with people.  She also had times when she knew that because she didn't have a lot of words in Italian to use, it made the words she could use really important and impactful with those they were teaching.  

God doesn't need our fluency in any language-- Joseph Smith is a perfect example of by small and simple things the Lord works his miracles. GREAT MIRACLES- the coming forth and translating of the Book of Mormon for crying out loud with such a limited education background....  God doesn't see roadblocks, he sees opportunities to prove our faith and He will respond with mighty miracles and blessings.  I hope that Elder believes that- and find a way to  balance the frustration of it all with the blessing it is to see a literal miracle happening in him as he gives his best and trusts God

That's great about Noah-- and no small thing that he feels prayer is becoming more natural and for him to say that he feels like he is talking to his father in prayer is so neat--I mean isn't that what God wants us to understand so foundationally- that He is our father- we are his children.  Noah is beginning to know that through prayer-- and from that so much can be built on.

I feel so much love for you.  Not too much new around here- the final NCAA game was lame-- total blowout and a little anticlimactic-- dad fast forwarded through most of it.  Avery didn't make it past first period yesterday but after resting again, she's back at school today and I'm hopeful.  She's totally unprepared for the ACT and I'm irritated about that-- but we didn't plan ahead enough and with spring break and then sickness we didn't really get a good chance.  We'll see how it goes.  I'm sad to not go to Utah this weekend to meet Noah and see Seth and Sadie's place, but I'm looking forward to a special time with Abe-- esp to bridge the prom weekend that she'd been hopeful about.  I think we'll go out to dinner and I'll take her to get her to get a pedicure and maybe we'll watch the twilight series (she's been wanting to watch it but not really good for the younger group) Then Sat she'll have her ACT.  

Graham had a great time at open gym last night.  He wasn't wanting to go. i think the first one was hard in a mixed ages group in an upstairs gym with no coaches to mediate and he spent a lot of time on sides-- and when he briefly did get in, he didn't get long enough to do anything--   I told him he needed to bc it's important leading up to summer ball that he is a regular presence at open gym.  He still wasn't wanting him to go. Dad, in his wisdom told Graham he could decide to go or not but that he should pray about it.  Later that day he told me he was going.  :) so last night I guess there were more kids his age (which he told me aren't good kids, but he needs to figure it out and just play with them and filter out the garbage-- makes me sad, but as long as he can separate socially at school when needed, maybe it's good to have more connection on the court-- idk--something you can help him navigate)  But last night they grouped off together still no coach but they all got to play and do drills and he said he was lights out with his three point shot-- he had a lot of fun and just felt better about it all.  I was grateful.

Lainey got the MVP award from her coaches for the weekend tournament and she was hyped about that.  She's all bball- like picks out her outfits so that she can play basketball before school and at lunch- won't wear any shoes that aren't good for basketball!  ha

I haven't talked to emma as much lately- her night calls aren't the time anymore- and that's okay- i think she had a good conference weekend and enjoyed the time wtih Noah-- she got to know his siblings a little better and there's one that's full of all the awkward comments (like, oh you'd better keep a book of Mormon between you... and other more obnoxious joking that made her feel uncomfortable.  But nothing too crazy-- )  Noah is aware of her and thoughtful- like he brought her peach rings because she beat him in her march madness bracket.  She is one that needs and notices when someone is thoughtful (like he listens enough in random conversations to know that peach rings are her favorite and then remembers and much later does something cute with it)  She's still overthinking a lot of things and I hope they can make a plan to communicate well over the summer-- at least a plan of when they'll check in with each other so it's consistent.  I'll be interested to get Dad's take on him after the weekend.  That reminds me I need to reserve an escape room thing for them to do down there on Saturday-- i think they'll play pickleball and do the escape room and go to dinner somewhere.  It'll be an  all day Saturday thing

Sadie was pumped to finish up school this week-- I think she's hopeful about other job opportunities.  She has 10 days off and then starts up her spring term.  Seth finishes next week and he'll just work full time Spring and summer

Well- that's the update.  I love you so.  Praying for you everyday, all day!  Make great things happen today in Guyana!  

xoxo Mama

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4-11-24

Alligator.  Yikes.  It's so sweet how he just ripped off a piece of his food and handed it over.  There was no good way to get out of that- but maybe a lesson learned to not ask food questions going forward :)  Hopefully your stomach didn't give you fits about eating later in the day.  It's great that you could share the prophet's message.  Even with a language barrier, there's no way you can't feel the spirit when he's speaking.  It's neat that you can share messages from conference in conjunction with new convert lessons.

Im so glad you could reconnect with Nickella and Vanessa and get them back on track! And what a blessing and strategy to get over to Kevin's home at the time that the struggle is the hardest.  I love what you said about finding a craving for something else-- I think that's part of my brother's problem-- he has so much that he's lost with alcohol, that there's not anything left that he values to work toward- granted-- even with the will to do it- it's going to be a huge struggle, but pairing that with the spirit and good support like you and your comp in those after work hours is going to be a great launch.  It is super impressive that he wants to feel the spirit like that. Neat that he can recognize that already.

The temple was really nice this morning-- it's the prettiest time of year at the Meridian temple-- white blooming trees everywhere and all the brightest flowers-- I was surprised how busy it was-- the worker said there's always a post conference rush- but I hope it lasts-- it was neat to see at 9am on a Thursday morning-- I had to park almost all the way back to the stake center in the temple parking lot. In the temple I ran in to Mitch Bruneel's mom and we talked about our kids-- and she was telling me about Mitch's mission to the Philippines--I didn't know he'd served there. Shel like most people, didn't know where the ABC islands or Guyana was-- so I gave her the little geography lesson :)  

Dad and the kids will leave tomorrow after school.  I mapped out a plan for them so hopefully it goes smoothly- I figured that'd make it easier than having to decide things on the fly or too many chiefs  hahaha.  They are going to play pickleball in the morning, lunch out, go an escape room (some kind of pretty cool one with special effects and live actors) and then to check out temple square, and then to dinner out at a Mexican place and then back to Sadie's for games.  I hope it goes well--  Emma is a little nervous about it.  I think it will be good that dad is there to help buffer!

I thought I'd share my study from yesterday-- it made me think of you!

The prophet asked that we study the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland temple (D&C 109).  There were lots of parts that I really liked and underlined.

I thought I’d share those parts with you

I loved verse 15: That they may grow up in thee

I loved in verse 21 when it said restored to the blessings which thou has ordained to be poured out—I just liked the connection of repentance and blessings restored

I liked in verse 24 where it says, honorably od a name and standing in this thy house- thinking about qualifying for a temple recommend, even when time or season doesn’t allow us to be there frequently

I loved verse 32 because it’s such a call of faith- full and complete deliverance from under this yoke

Then the missionary focus in  verse 33, the “rise up in the midst of this generation and do thy work- (prepare the way) verse 39 “ just such a great missionary anthem, and also verse 57: another missionary anthem

I liked the imagery of verse 69 (thy fostering hand) it sounds nurturing, but also letting us learn and choose as we go

The part in verse 74 that says rough places smooth- makes me think about enduring and overcoming trials and how in the end it will all work together for our good

 And in verse77 where it says, describing Heavenly Father- having an infinity of fullness, just made me think of ultimate fulfillment- higher and holier JOY

Anyway those are the parts I loved. 

You know what else I love?

My missionary!

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 Mom

4-15-24 Thanks so much for your emails to me this past week. Each time I saw one in my inbox it lifted me up. I love getting the updates on the family and what you are all up to and the talks and quotes always strengthen me.

I really loved the journal entry that you shared with me and how you see Gods hand in it all from your side. That prayer really did mean so much to me. I am sorry I was such a wreck last week. Thank you for helping me get through it.

I love you so much and I think last week showed how much I need and am grateful for the time I get with you every monday.

Miss you! Love, Elder Miller

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5-1-24

Oh Bud- sorry to hear about Vanesssa- hopefully in your video call she could be led to more of a connection with the faith to take this step and the blessings and peace it will bring into her life. Glad she is still meeting with you- and yes- the Lord's timing is always right. I sure love you and hope you are having a good day! Emma and I were working on some BYU FAFSA stuff for you today-- trying to get things in place. I know we talk about the chain and the hug and all the things- but also so grateful for the time you do have left to give fully to the Lord. He has big plans for everyone of those days because of your willingness and capabilites. He will magnify you in ALL things. Love you so

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5-3-24

 I am sorry you haven't been able to connect with Vanessa and Nickella—probably a sign that they really aren’t ready for the next step if they can’t prioritize it right now- which is hard bc it’s the peace in the storm that they need-  but keep trying!

Glad you’ve had some rain!  It was cute to read about your missionary moment – biking in the rain, on the errand of the Lord.

Abdul sounds like a real piece of work, you are right.  wow.    Good job holding your tongue and knowing it was just time to go—at least you can update his dot in the book, so he doesn’t have another stage to spout from with another set of missionaries not aware.

I know you are antsy about the transfer doc but after tomorrow evening it will allow you to settle with whatever the news is.  You’ll get the right mindset for wherever the Lord needs you it’ll be nice just knowing!

This is a pretty low key weekend, which is nice bc the next three Lainey has bball tournaments—(2 weekends of crash the boards in Nampa and then the tourney in Salt Lake)  Dad and I are going to the temple tonight and we’ll do baptisms tomorrow.

The weather has been pretty cold all week but today will be the best day. I had planted my garden last week and we got one night with frost and it killed my tomatoes so I’ll have to replant that and maybe some basil, hopefully the rest thrives/survives (interesting how those words mean two different things and have basically the same root)

Graham is still doing open gym—it gets pretty physical with the older kids in an upper gym without any coaches around… I wish it was more organized.  He has summer ball try outs on May 20^th.  Once there’s a team hopefully it feels more directed. I can’t remember when sumer ball games are but hopefully in the late afternoons/evenings of weeknights- bc we have 4 sessions of swim lessons to do.  We actually just found out about high adventure- it’s in Moab- they are going rafting and maybe staying at a hotel (spurwing vibes-ugh) It’s not that it doesn’t sound fun, it’s just expensive and also not really correlating with the counsel from area authorities given to the stakes and then wards that youth activities aren’t supposed to be overly costly or more than a few hours from home.  (maybe in an effort to standardize what is done through out the church) I don’t know if permission was asked- but this trip to Moab will be spendy and it’s like 11 hours away.  Graham can’t go actually bc it’s been announced for the same week as our swim lessons.  Dad said that was probably a good thing- this group of boys has a couple in particular that aren’ t a good influence- ringleader types- Graham hasn’t really meshed with the group= he doesn’t have the confidence to really laed out- but gets it enough to disengage as needed.  The leaders don’t really engage and see some of the stuff that goes down, so it’s not really ideal for a long trip.  I wish they’d move dad up as a leader!  Anyways- Graham wasn’t too bummed about not going bc those boys make him feel uncomfortable and small (and some of their choices are inappropriate to a level that isn’t good in the way they interact.  Of course I am always sensitive to this kind of stuff, but Dad even says, not a great group to foster friendships—and steers him away—Luckily Graham is a great kid- and fine without that – and goes to mutual and does the things- but campouts are a level that prob aren’t a great situation.  Graham really does want to go camping though.  I mapped out our summer and figured out that really the best weekend for a camping trip is that first weekend in august- like the day after you get back/  I don’t know if that’d be too much- but all the housekeeping stuff like dr, dentist, eye apt can wait till the next week- might be nice ot be with the family, doing something active and out in nature to ease back into regular post mission life.  You’ll have to let me know what you think about that—if it’s too overwhelming it’s totally okay to not do it

I put out the word out low key about Noah not going to California—Emma seemed a little checked out on that- but understood-esp once I said that I don’t think it’d be too awesome for you to feel like the 5^th wheel to the two couples and also a 3^rd wheel to the noah and Seth show.  I'm grateful they've hit it off, but honestly I’m a little worried about that—prob because I don’t know Noah yet but if its super goofy duo then that could get a little much fast.  I know Emma tries to be aware and she prob feels like the 3^rd wheel around those two- but in some ways she has the heart eyes going and doesn’t have the same pre noah social cues.  (don’t worry, I got you)  She wasn’t the one who initially invited him, but Sadie brought it up in front of him, inviting- (which I thought shouldn’t have happened- but cute that she wanted to)  Anyway- I get the drift and you should hold your ground… that trip would be really different if you are the odd man out chauffeur.  Trust me.  Emma gets it- and might need to be reminded—but she and I talked in depth about all the reasons and that she needed to clue Noah in somehow that this is a siblings trip.  So don’t waffle—defend the beach.  There’ll be lots of time to hang out in the group in Provo and to bond and maybe you’ll be the three amigos—I hope so- and don’t’ want you to stress about it—but that’s the message.  I’ll keep following up to make sure it’s put out there to Noah— I really am ready to meet him and love him, too!

It's so wonderful to see Emma happy (and sad missing him, but it’s easy to see how much she really does care about him) and it’s a very mature relationship I’d say, like the long distance summer isn’t a holding place, or a weird game, they are still invested and growing so that’s good. Between you and me sometimes I forget how affected someone is by the heart eyes (reminds me of pre marriage Sadie and Seth) which is cute- but the rest of us aren’t totally there—maybe dad is—he’s pretty sold on the idea.  I think I’ll have a better sense once I meet him in a few weeks.  Every thing I’ve heard about him makes me grateful!  He’s solid and driven and really does help Emma be her very best--  it’s just a little bit of juggling the transition from our Emma to sharing her and her being  his Emma. Avery is feeling that adjustment too- I think she expected a summer of Emma time and now she’s having to share her show time with long phone calls that take priority etc.  We’ll all find our way—and this is the goal—each of you happy and thriving and growing--  BYU will be lots of fun and she’ll be around a lot.

Okay enough of that.  Hope exchanges went well today – it’s nice you have a mix up and a chance to connect with other elders.  I read a talk given at a BYU DEVOTIONAL at the Hawaii campus and thougth it might have some timely references that might be helpful for you.  I love you so much!  I’ll be watching tomorrow night for that transfer doc picture—and praying you have all the peace and confirmation you need once you receive it.  The Lord knows you and needs you!

https://speeches.byuh.edu/devotionals/preparing-ourselves-for-greater-things

the last three paragraphs were my favorite- all the needful things and the Lord maginifies the rest….".., as we do all we can to prepare ourselves in every needful thing, the Lord will magnify our efforts. One of my favorite scriptures is in Doctrine and Covenants 123:16-17 which reads “You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” [6]

Like the small helm keeping the large ship upright in the storm, even though our efforts may seem microscopically small, the Lord will reveal his arm in our lives and magnify our efforts to accomplish great things. As we prepare ourselves for greater things, as we focus, plan with the Lord, and have confidence with Him in ourselves, we can find success both in this life and look forward with hope, faith, and charity to receiving those promised eternal blessings. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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5/11/24 HI babe

LOVED that Aruba felt like home... how sweet is that!?!

Glad to know you are settling in.... four guys is a lot, and it's prob hard to really start out on a good foot as a companionship when you aren't really independent of the group vibe.  But it reminds me of your patriarchal blessing-- you don't have be loud and in charge to lead-- and your gifts of quiet leadership will be an example that's impactful.  I hope you and your comp have had a chance (maybe away from the apartment) to set some transfer goals.  It sounds like you have a lot to do and can really get things organized and ramped up again in your area.  That's exciting about a baptism on date-- wondering if it was that cute little lady in the door frame on that one picture of yours... she was darling.

I just realized that I might get to talk to you tomorrow-- yay!  Best part of mother's day.  Not sure what your time frame is- but we will prob go out to Middleton after dinner (so around 6:30 our time).  So if you don't want to catch the group maybe you'll be able to call before then-- or if you want that, then that's great too.  Either way, whenever you call, we'll love it and I'll try to get at least a little bit with you. It's nice with the weekly call that it's not so stressful bc we can talk on pday too-- I remember when dad was serving that it was a HUGE deal to make that call and to make it count.

This morning dad and Graham are supporting the deacons at the stake deacons one day round robin ball tourney.  Dad got Ace to go (which is getting harder to do these days-- things are not good over there-- Kyle is out at Grandmas again, but this time for longer- and even besides that, it's just hard for those kids to want to be where they should be bc there's not a lot of support for church stuff even in good times....sad and as they get a little older it's harder- but we still try).  Graham has grown out of another pair of BBALL shoes-- so we had to get more-- found some 40% off--- so that was good  Lebron Witness 8's- Dad said these are good bc if bball isn't a go (which of course we all hope it is and would never say that to G, but in case it isn't, these are shoes he could just wear.)  He has summer ball tryouts on Monday at 7pm so prepare a great hype talk for him for Monday afternoon :) He wants to thrive in it so much!

We have to go clean the office and then the kids are all going to swim today- first real time this summer.  The Mauricios are coming over tonight for dinner and games and swimming.

Tomorrow I have no extra meetings Wahoo!  It's been awhile since we've been out to Middleton, so that'll be good.  

At Jack and Janice's sealing there were 4 of his former bishops there (Bishop Bailey, Bishop Mayes, Bishop Aldous, and dad)  That was cool.  They asked Dad and I to be the witness couple.  I did think of Connie while I was there-- just trusting that her understanding is so much more than mine- and that she is content with it all.  The sealer was a little interesting, but it was nice and I really like that round sealing room in the center of the Boise temple-- so beautiful!  The Baileys said that every Monday night they read your emails (to Lydia) the only on left at home- and how much they enjoy that- I thanked him for being so supportive.  I don't k Luke is doing great-- he's somewhere in Utah, but not in school  and dating a sketchy girl- just kind of off the rails.  We also talked with the Aldous' None of their kids are married-- Katie and Sam are on different sides of Texas- Sam in med school and Katie practicing as a PA. (physician's assistant)  Natalie is at BYU.  We saw the Gibsons from Nampa too- their daughter Savannah is getting married this summer to a guy from Alaska.  She's not active anymore, but is really happy with her fiancé and loves all things out doors.  We talked with the Mayes' too.  Harrison just married a girl from the stake (a Bradbeer) so now all of their boys are married and they have 5 grandkids.  He was just called into the YSA bishopric with Greg Blacker (who is Bishop of YSA in that area).  So there's your Nampa update.  Not feeling to sad that we switched it up... but it was good to see them all.

In reading your enrty about realizing no more plane till it's all done- that's been such a cool part of your mission, all the travel... I mean most missionaries don't get on a plane until it's time to go home- - now that there's no more interisland travel except to Guyana I guess, when it's time, that will be a mixed bag of feelings -- a hug on the other side of it- but so much love and sweat and energy poured into these people and places.  I was looking at your last Guyana pics with members and it made me a little emotional and I don't even know them and love them like you do.  Just remember, if it hurts that's bc your heart is there-- and that's the goal.  Then you leave a little of the Savior's light in your trail and that's such a lasting blessing.  I am so so proud of you!

Good luck with the missionary den.  Improve what you need to and can.  Hopefully the weather isn't too hot and you and your comp can do some planning and studying away from the group.  I have every confidence in your ability to do what needs to be done and be completely directed by the spirit in it.  

xoxxoI love my missionary!

 ou prob remember this talk, I think I've sent it before- but it's a good one

“I Can Sleep When the Wind Blows”

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5-23-24

Oh Miles- It was fun to read about you feeling so at ease in a place that was so unknown to you 2 years ago. How cool you can find places, recommend a repair shop, just be in the loop in so many things on an island in the Caribbean.    I’m so excited to get back there with you- not because I want to do things or see things in Aruba like a tourist would, but - really I just want to see you there—navigating the roads, talking to the people, going to the branch, maybe we can find Noella and get seated at her table at Ruth’s Chris—it’d be awesome to tip her really really well-=- she’s been so good to you missionaries so many times.  When you go, make sure you have her contact info.

 I’m glad you are feeling comfortable in the language—which made me hope that at your missionary homecoming, I hope you’ll share your testimony in both languages—maybe Papiamento since that will sound so different—however you share will be so neat—

I love that you could see and share with Elder Neal his growth—that was probably really rewarding and fulfilling to him- to have you notice those changes in abilities and confidence.  Sometimes we don’t see that in ourselves as easily. I’m also glad you just had fun being with him, and reconnecting—good mix up for a mid week exchange.

Things here are good- Emma heads to Provo today to surprise Noah for the weekend.  She’s over the top excited (like can’t hold it in) which is good, but also good that she’s going to be with him- it’s hard to sometimes be as hyped about all things Noah as she is.  I think that will normalize when they are around each other all the time at school in the fall- being apart is hard— Dad and I have done it multiple times!

Graham was super beat after practice the first day—lots of conditioning—kids white in the face, feeling faint etc.  Graham wasn’t one of those gratefully-- but he was tired… even took a nap on the couch after school.  I wish he had more games, but the practices are so good for him, and this whole thing is a confidence booster that he needed= no matter what happens in the fall.  There’s the gaggy things like the frosh coach son who is Grahan’s age and horrible, made the frosh team (not even the freshman team) and the freshman coach’s 6^th grade son comes to play with the team at practices- but I just keep telling Graham to focus on what he can control and work the hardest.  At least coaches are seeing him and learning his name.  It will be interesting to see how playing time and just the vibe of the team is at the first tournament the first weekend in June.  We decided that Dad will take Lainey down to Utah with Ave to Sadie’s.  The tournament she’s got that weekend is at the Karl Malone Training center in Lehi pretty close to Sadie’s house.  I am bummed to not get to go (because of Graham’s first tournament) see Sadie’s place and spend time altogether and was even looking forward to a quick little roadtrip- but we just have to divide and conquer—so hopefully Ave will get some good footage of Lainey and I’ll try to get Graham. I’m glad to not leave Emma at home on her own either. I am a little sad about not getting to see Abe off- because she’ll stay down with Sadie and Seth when Dad and Lainey come home so that they can take her to the SLC airport to fly out to Miami (on her own) to meet up with her HXP group before they fly together to Brazil.  She’s nervous about the travel but this will be go good for her.  She had to fly out of SLC bc I couldn’t find a flight out of BOISE that would get her to Miami early enough before the connecting flight.  It’s nice of Sadie and Seth to take her to airport, get her to security and send her off with love (I already know she’ll be emotional!  Speaking of which- if you have time in the next week to write her a letter and email it to me—I wanted to send a letter from each of us with her (as a surprise) for when she’s in Brazil. I’ll print it and put it with the others. Thank you!

 

Viry and Nathan get here tonight and I think will just end up staying through Monday because she needs to be back for interviews (she was talking about staying on another week) We’re going with her to do baptisms on Sat and I think Nathan is going to wait in the waiting room or wander the grounds which is neat.

Kids are done with school tomorrow! Whoo hoo!

It’s been so fun to see journal and photo posts—it makes us so happy.  I am endlessly proud of you!

Xoxo

Mama

“But,” you might ask, “what if I do all this and people react poorly? What if they are critical about the Church? What if they unfriend me?”Yes, that may happen. Since ancient times, disciples of Jesus Christ have often been persecuted.¹⁷ The Apostle Peter said, “Rejoice … as you share Christ’s sufferings.”¹⁸ The early Saints rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”¹⁹ Remember, the Lord works in mysterious ways. It may be that by your Christlike response to rejection a hardened heart could be softened.

As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bless you with the confidence to be a living testimonial of gospel values, with the courage to always be recognized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with the humility to assist in His work as an expression of your love for Heavenly Father and His children.

My dear friends, you will rejoice in knowing that you are a significant part in the long-foretold gathering of Israel, preparing for Christ’s coming in “power and great glory; with all the holy angels.”²⁰

Heavenly Father knows you. The Lord loves you. God will bless you. This work is ordained of Him. You can do this. We can all do this together.”

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 6/2/24

Those pics of Loes were so beautiful!  You can feel the joy!  I loved the ones of you holding her hand as she walked into the water—such a literal representation of you helping her to the waters of baptism. IT’s just beautiful!  So wonderful.  I can feel her goodness and light and joy all the way in Idaho.  There are a few of those pictures that seem to be a really small almost like a screenshot version, bc when I tried to put them in your blog they wouldn’t enlarge clearly.  As they are such important pictures, if you are able to get originals or  have them sent to you in a different way, I’d try.  (particularly the one of her with her arms raised up in joy)

That was so fun to see yesterday and a good break from the millions of bball clips!  We survived the weekend!  Dad and Lainey got back last night around 9.  Avery made it through part 2 of the goodbyes (this time to Dad and Lainey) and stayed with Sadie and Seth.  Talking to you tomorrow will be a good diversion for her (bc I think Sadie and Seth are working) and we’ll need to hype her up to tackle the travel and the other things she’s worried about. I know it’s going to be a great experience and the closer it gets and I see her tackling it- I am so grateful that we can send her on this experience because it is going to be really great for her to figure things out, to be away from home, to gain confidence but mostly to learn that her reliance on the Savior is constant and sure, no matter what situation she finds herself in. 

We went to see Gerry Ricksercker this morning.  He is doing well- long days and what an example of waiting on the Lord and enduring to the end. ♥  He’ll be so excited to see you!

Tomorrow you can catch dad in the morning- but I won’t be able to talk much after he does bc the painters are coming tomorrow am  and we are beginning a big project of repainting kitchen island (still black, but needed to be addressed) and that involves masking off the entire kitchen and us clearing out the whole island etc- so we won’t really have a kitchen to use this week.  And we’ll need to keep the dogs put away—it could just be interesting.  The kids and I will be around in the afternoon as usual though and will love talking to you to finish out your pday as we usually do if that works for you.

I love you Miles—You are fullfiling the great potential the Lord has blessed you with as you serve his people in Aruba.  It is a joy to witness.

We love you! Talk to you tomorrow! (also if you want to email me a card for Graham thsi week, his bday is on Wed-- so that'll be fun to get to call midweek too!)

Really good talk we studied in CFM: I thought it was especially timely for Ave to read this week 😊  Full of sweet reminders of the scope of the atonement.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2014/04/bear-up-their-burdens-with-ease?lang=eng

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 6/22/24

 Elder Miller

Glad you got the package and so sweet of them to deliver it—wish I’d known I had more time to make it more personal, but knowing your time is limited, didin’t want to send anything you’d need to pack around.  I have missed sending care packages to all of my missionaries- I at least could send them to Hawaii and Arizona though.  I just have been prepped since dad to do missionary packages—so it’s been a bummer to not get to show locve and support that way- but it’s prob also helped you power through and figure some things out- do without- add to that sacrifice you offer, to go without.  I can’t even remember totally what I put in there- literally just went into the panty and filed that envelope & took it to the fed ex the next morning, not knowng I had a little more time!  Oh well… hope it made you happy!

So special to read about Nayla.  The Lord directs His work.  It’s a  testament to me of just how much He loves His children so much to see how involved He is in the process and it’s His divine design to work things together right now in partnership with you.  He knows He can trust you to follow His promptings—what a blessing to be able to receive so clearly what that Lord would have you do for something as specific as a lesson, and then to act on it and feel so much peace. I will share this with the family tomorrow at Come Follow me. ♥

Our week highlight was definitely last night getting Ave back.  I didn’t want it to feel like a missionary homecoming though- which is why I stood back and did the camera work.  When it’s you- I will be in front and waiting to be the first hug!!!  Avery has shared some specific and sweet experiences that have felt like answers to her prayers and she has received clarification on things she needed.  I am excited for her to share this with the kids and with you on Monday.  It’s special.  Emma told me yesterday that when Ave left she worried that if she had a bad experience it would deter her from wanting to serve a mission but I never felt that worry—just applied a lot of faith to it being exactly what she needed… and in every way it was.  She feels a bigger connection and focus on preparing for her mission and feeling directed that she should serve—which I think is important for a sister missionary to feel where she doesn’t have the priesthood duty to go beforehand.  Anyway- we still haven’t unpacked her suitcase and heard all her stories but looking forward to it.  She said she got a preserved piranha for Grandpa Miller from a gift shop there (which is what he asked her for) 

Sadie and Seth showed up Friday evening as a surprise to hang out for the weekend—which was fun to have them here to welcome Ave back—wish they could be there at the airport for you but midweek is hard.  We can rally the extended Miller fam if you want—that’d be fine with me if that’s what you’d like—Morgans, Blackwells—likely—but also not sure what they’ve got going—or you can have just us and we’ll hype it up—whatever you want. It’s kind of late too.;. but  If the Mlllers came to the airport, that might make it easier to not go out there that first Sunday night- but whatever you want is great. (as long as I get the first and longest hug!) Anyway—they all went ot G’s last game (which wasn’t too great—Dad said it seemed like G was trying too hard to do something fancy) but I also think it was a bigger stronger team, and our team had no subs- so by mid game they were pretty much sunk.

The Girls went thrifting after that while Dad, Seth, and Graham mowed at the office—and now everyone (including Dad—first time this summer—he actually just jumps in and then pretty much hops right out to sit in the sun and read his Messianic Messiah book )😊 Emma has work tonight (since she didn’t know Sadie and Seth would be in town) so we’ll just chill here. 

Bishop Tuft’s son, Abe came home from his mission this weekend…so that’s fun for them. We are pretty sure we’ll be getting a new bishop any Sunday now…. It’s been 5 years.  Our Stake Presidency will be changing soon too (in the fall) been 9 years for President Peterson!

I never got a pic of the outside or inside of your apartment—will you do that for me soon?  Also a pic of you and your new comp. 😊

This next week will be a little more low key without swim lessons and I’m grateful bc I’ve been under the weather this weekend.  Next week we have some things to get done and maybe some wedding prep ground work=-= we’ll see.  Emma and Noah set the date with the temple (you just have to call and reserve it and then later after you’ve met with your stake president you submit the living ordinance paperwork.  So that’s set for Dec 20^th at 11 am.  Let her tell you these details.  Where they aren’t officially engaged, she isn’t really wanting to spread the word – but she also isn’t wanting to get engaged till Sept, even though she’s started planning a wedding—so it’s a weird limbo.  Noah will be around in a couple weeks (partly at BSU for FSY and then staying here the next week) and he’ll talk to dad, which is really more of a courtesy, and then we’ll see.  I think emma would rather he wait to propose until after they are back at school, but if you are functioning like you are engaged—then why wait?  I don’t know.  We’ll see.  He seems pretty opinionated about what he wants which is weird to me- but Emma gets to navigate all that—all of this has been a real learning curve and sometimes a painful one (ex. California trip) in communication.  She is happy though and when she gets stressed- we just slow it down and talk it out. 

I listened to a great talk this week, from 2003 called THE EMPOWERMENT OF HUMILITY and I loved that title even before I heard the talk. Two words, empowered and humble that don’t at the outset seem to go together but are so meaning ful when connected. Also love his reference to President Hinckleys’ counsel to do our best, one day at a time. I really wanted to share this talk with you because it reminded me of one of your spiritual strengths spoken of in your patriartical blessing—

Mama

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7/13/24

This email is from last week but I never got to send it:

Oh Miles. That is such a sweet thing to reach out to Bryan.  He probably needed that so much more than you know.  It’s an example of following a prompting and not dropping the ball when it isn’t easy or requires multiple efforts to see it through but I am sure that God wanted him to feel His love personally and so He sent you- He knew you’d listen and go and do.  So neat.  I am sad for him, but it sounds like he needs a lot of help.  It’s good that his parents visit him.  Maybe you can report back to the  branch council or EQ president and someone can be assigned to minister to him  or just visit now and again—I am sure it would mean a lot to both Bryan and his family.  I love that you did that.

 

Things here are good—it’s been a catch up week—nice without swim lessons again.  We leave early Thurs morning for Utah… first to Sadie’s place to just stop in and then to Orem to the vacation rental.  I’ll take lots of pics!  I am a little anxious about seeing my brother and how that will go down- but my heart is happy that he’s in a place that he feels like he can join.  Keep him and us in your prayers—it is a situation that has a lot of probability for concern on a bunch of levels with him involved—I hope it’s positive for him though…

 

Been working on some wedding stuff this week with Emma- we decided on her dress, being made by an LDS gal that does modest dresses—it was fun to kind of draw it out- and get the elements Emma wanted (like a slit in the skirt and a v  neckline etc) She’s excited about it--  I guess over conference weekend we’ll do a fitting!  Also narrowed down that they are doing a honeymoon (instead of a reception) and going to San Francisco for about 5 days.  So I’ve been working on those details.  Next up is securing a photographer (engagement pics, bridal pictures of the couple before hand, and the temple exit and family group photographer)  We got stuff for flowers and I am going to make those bouquets (bride, bridesmaid and boutonnieres for the guys)  Hopefully that turns out nicely.  Now what we need is a RING and a proposal!  My guess is it happens sometime in July or August when they are spending more time together. 

Your phone came today (and your case (don’t worry I went thin style) and tonight we were looking at cars—found a cool jeep but it was dark blue and Volkswagen Taos (kind of a small SUV) but I didn’t love it.  Then we found a grey lunar metallic honda crv le—a nice one!  With just 27 k miles.  That car (and the Toyota Rav 4) were on my top picks of my car list but we didn’t think we could get one for a good price with low enough miles- but we think we found a sweet one—it has nice rims. 😊 back up cam, the right tech and it’s AWD/ (all wheel drive)

My heart is so happy thinking about you this last month—happy because we get you home soon, but happy that you aren’t overly anxious for that and are doing the work like you always have, with your whole heart and focus.  That’s a blessing to your area, and a blessing to your comp who will see your example of what the last transfer of a mission can (and should) look like.

 

That was all I got for last week’s response, but here I am back continuing on Tuesday 😊

My heart is heavy and embarrassed at how things went down on that pday call.  Mostly bc we are supposed to be a lift to you- not a circus and that’s what it felt like.  All of the pushed down emotions from multiple interactions just bubbled over yesterday, for me anyway-  and no one wins.  This morning I had the thought- I don’t need to try to control something that isn’t mine to control.  I don’t know why my “mama bear” gets going when it feels so unfairly balanced but as adults you and Emma need to navigate your own agendas.  Obviously that’s hard for you to do as a missionary and not in person- I just feel like getting walked over is getting to be more of a trigger for me—it’s not just about calling customer service and getting 20 replacement boxes of fruit snacks to make up for when I get a box with a half filled package… hahaha… the defend the beach in me is probably at a fault level—instead of being a gift and I need to reign that in.  On their follow up phone call every time Emma tried to call out Sadie being selfish, Sadie called Emma out for being selfish and sabotaging the trip with including Noah —so no one gets anywhere-  Emma seems worried about you most of all, but who knows once heart glasses come on.  Anyway- we talked through so many scenarios and didn’t really find a win. The idea of Emma using the time to go to Manasa and bagging CA wasn't too popular with her-- Emma doesn’t want to go to Noah’s hometown instead because it’s in the middle of nowhere and she was looing forward to CA time with the group so that’s still what she’s hoping for—our best suggestion with that is that you three drive separately (or fly- we found $77 tickets slc to SD which are prob cheaper than driving-who knows if we can still get them at that price though) and just make your trip shorter so Sadie can do whatever other things she wants before you get there.   I have serious doubts about the likelihood of it being cozy and cooperative and don’t want to send any of you into a situation that isn’t awesome—esp out of the mission gate—and also esp bc it’s a little worrisome and embarrassing that my parents will become aware of the power struggle and non-simpatico vibe of a poor group dynamic. Nicole’s family got home from the reunion to begin a reno project (taking out all their front and back decks and leveling the house) so their place and their diversion isn’t really going to be an option while you are there… and Adam is still at a bit of a transitional space so that’s a lot of stress (although it’s always stressful for him for GG and Opah and they are prob more used to that than I am coming off the events of the weekend) ANYWAY- I know it’s tricky for you to not be able to engage, and to be in peacemaker mode naturally- which is a blessing, but still I want you to be happy with the outcomes 

That phone call wasn’t a happy outcome and I’m sorry for my part in that.  I probably could have been quiet instead of stirring the pot but sometimes it just get too much.  Weakness on my part. I’ll take that to prayer this week!  So no news on that front-  I told Emma last night that you might prefer not to go at all, or maybe go shorter or who knows--- sounds like Sadie is driving no matter what so they can move full steam ahead on that plan and when you get back, you and Emma can figure it out— hopefully both of you able to feel good and heard in the decision. You each have so many gifts and strengths and in the end a family is a good place to sort out and work through the rest—hopefully everyone sees both sides of that. I hope Emma will talk to you about it on pday to let you validate if you still want to go if it’s a different set up.  You can do whatever you want to do—but that’s a heads up 😊

I hope your week has been going well and you’ve been able to make contact with your new friends.  I love that you have a baptism to head out on—that’s a gift and a blessing.  Nayla  is so prepared and will be a  blessing to that branch and wherever life takes her.  I hope you can feel a full measure of great joy in her growth and readiness to start on the covenant path

Back again (now it’s Friday) Dad and kids just left to go camping up near Stanley (I guess you know the spot)  Emma and Noah will meet them up there tomorrow for a hike. Hopefully tonight dad and the kids will find a good fishing spot.  I have a mile long list of deep cleaning bathrooms, work for the office, getting Emma’s help on weeding the back hill, and wedding flowers to keep me busy! 

They’ll get back tomorrow evening and Noah will be with us through next Thrus.  Just a heads up bc it would be hard to not have him on the phone at least to say hi on your pday call Monday afternoon.  It’ll be nice to say hello and I’m sure Emma won’t stay on the call for as long- but just fair warning!  I think you’ll like him and you can talk to him about his mission in Minnesota and the Caribbean I guess.   I will try to talk CA plans with Emma before that so that I can field that conversation with you separately—maybe even over msg text just you and me- so I know what you are thinking—without bringing it up in the group again.  When Emma talked to Sadie last night, she was still thinking about flying and Sadie and Seth going down earlier so they could do the stuff they wanted before you three got there.  If you do the flying route, you’d likely fly separately than Emma and Noah- bc your flight would be roundtrip from Boise and Emma will be driving down to Provo to leave her stuff there.  So we’ll see.  Let’s just try to find a time to chat about it (you and me) On a side note, GG called me today and they are flying here (the day after you are supposed to get back - on the 19th bc they need to identify a property to buy to swtich from one they are selling in CA (and bc of tax purposes you have 30 days to get something in escrow to not get his with taxes).  So if you decide not to go, you'll still get to see GG and Opah bc they'll be here the 20th thru the 27th.  But I think it'd be fun for you to go-- if we can work it out hahaha

Monday night we’re going to PF Changs (Noah’s fave food is Chinese)   to have a late celebration of his birthday and we invited Gpa and Gma Miller to come so they can meet him—I think the Middleton Sunday evening scene seemed like too many dudes all at once for Emma.  Gpa calls him “the flash” I don’t know why he already has a nickname for him, but he does.  Emma has said very little about him to any extended family.  He did meet all the Glavinics last week but that’s a small (and easier) group I think.  Hahaha. It hink Emma didn't want to pull a "kaley" and all fo the sudden just be engaged with no one in teh family having any idea about the guy (she is marrying a kid from her mission on Aug 30th- that's the weekend we take you down to BYU, so we'll miss it)

All I know is that next weekend when we are in Murtaugh at the Miller reunion and it’s super crazy hot I am not going to complain one bit if all we do is sit in a big circle and chat—I owe dad big time for how he handled Adam at my reunion and I’ll be on my very best supportive behavior at his fam reunion.  It is kinda lame since that MIller reunion is so long- a weekend a week and then another weekend—when everyone reserves their spots you don’t know who is coming when or for how long- Mosers, Gpa and Gma and Morgans are there the whole time, but everyone else hits one weekend of another and some part of the week—I think the bigger group is coming that last weekend—but we didn’t know (and couldn’t have done it anyway bc of Youth Conference) so it is what it is.  We're there the first weekend (Sadie and Seth will be there with us-- we rented an RV for Friday-Sunday) I’m just going to be all smiles no matter what. ♥

NOW SAT ( I better send this!!) Well I better get to my list! Dad and the kids are on their way back from camping/fishing in Stanley-- excited to see pics and hear stories!

I love you so much!  Your chain is getting so short— I know that’s all kinds of feelings for you- but we’re ready to hug you when it’s time. 

Love you so Mama

I read this quote this week and thought-- that's my missionary.  

“Missionaries need to understand the doctrine, and they need to know how to share it. You can’t take water out of an empty bucket. When missionaries know the gospel and how to teach it, they don’t want to do anything else. They know they can teach anybody, anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances, using their own words accompanied by the power of the Spirit. They have self-confidence and inner strength. There’s great power in that kind of preparation.” M Russell Ballard

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 I loved reading about your interview and OF COURSE he wants you for another year!!! I'm glad he was able to set some goals for you- high love and high expectation-- he knows he can count on you already to be impactful in the work but also as an example for other missionaries in how to be all in every day till the end. That's my missionary! I'm glad you were able to get the OK for the beach baptism-- those pictures will be so special! That is a sweet tender mercy to wrap it up with Nayla's beginning on the covenant path-- wow miles-- it's so amazing-- generations will be impacted because of her faith to follow the Savior. She was elect for sure- but so are you- in being trusted with finding her, nurturing her faith and the sweet undeniable blessing from heaven of the timing of finding her grandma first adn then her-- like the foundation and the support-- both tied to Christ-- it's beautiful!

 

It's been a good week so far.  Hot, but good.  Two more days of swimming lessons and we are done for the summer.  The kids made 5550 total and when we broke it down, for the hours they worked, it ended up being that they each earned $179 an hour.  I am just paying them by the number of hours they each taught- so G taught the most-- Emma didn't want to teach the early classes, and Avery was gone for HXP-- anyway-- a blessing all around-- and if you are home next summer- you should totally teach swim-- it's a pretty sweet and profitable gig!

It's been nice having Noah here- he's easy to have- but it's been a lot too-- Avery is ready for a little space.  Emma has been totally aware and they aren't werid to be around-- and she's included the kids in everything (which is why Ave might need a little space) but also nice that they don't isolate.  Maybe it's like a buffer for Emma, idk, but I really think she tries hard to be aware and not make it weird.  Noah might like a little more alone time idk, but he's not getting this week hahaha,

We've gone forward with plans for CA-- we kind of staggered everyone and Emma and Sadie are working on an itinerary so there's a plan beforehand that everyone is good with.

 Sadie and Seth are driving down Friday 8/9 and staying till Sunday 8/18 then driving back

Emma and Noah are flying from SLC to SAN Diego on Tues 8/13 and then driving back with Sadie and Seth

You are flying from BOISE to SAN DIEGO on Wed 8/14 and then will fly back to Boise on Tues 8/20 (on the same flight with GG and Opah who are coming here to look for property- they'll be staying till the following Tues.)

 It just seemed simpler to have you needing to get back the airport when they were.  So the girls will leave Sunday and you'll have just Sunday and Monday to hangout in CA-- help Opah, maybe Sunday you can go out with Opah to see Uncle Adam-- idk-  go the beach one more time on Monday  and hang with the Watkins boys (you would be such a great influence there- they love you!) So I hope that's okay.  I just wanted to streamline where I could.  It also separates your travel from everyone else's which I think will be good (bc you may feel like Ave and want a little space- who knows)  I am very grateful for Emma being so good about including the group though here-- it's helping build  a relationship for the rest of us with him, which is a little intense timewise, but also wonderful to take advantage fo the time we have with him (them together)

I need to go get things sorted out for swim so this is short- but I did want to check in with you.  Love you so much!  Hope Zone Conference is uplifting today!   

*******************************************

 

THE LAST Mama Email (four days before you come home) 7/27/24)

 

It’s not the best sign when I’m emotional starting this off.   I just wanted to send this now since I'll be at youth conference Monday &  Tuesday-- It's important to me to send one more email... to try to sum up a little piece of all the feelings of my heart while I have a missionary still. 

I just looked through your pics that are up from the last few days and my heart hurts—those are goodbye pictures.  And then there’s the baptism pictures—oh my heart—what a happy happy finale.  I hope you felt the fullest measure of JOY during that baptism—I love that picture of you all in white with her in the water—those pictures are a treasure!  How wonderful! I hope that was as special as the pictures seem-- how could it not be-- we were thinking about that all day today!

I wanted to write you one last time and let you know how much my heart is bursting with love and gratitude for the effort you’ve made on your mission—you have been a consecrated missionary and one the Lord trusts.  That trust doesn’t end after the tag comes off either—it’s a sure built foundation in your relationship with your Savior and Father and Heaven.  Both love you dearly and have known of your sacrifice and desire to bless the Caribbean.  In every imaginable way you are leaving it better than you found it and you yourself better than when you first arrived.  It will be hard to leave it- but that’s because you did this right—with your whole heart—that kind of love hurts to leave—but I hope you have peace knowing you have done what the Lord needed you to do—you have planted seeds of faith and shown love to those who at a later date will be ready.  You have testified and served and loved as the Savior would.  You have brought His love and His light to every area you’ve served in.  You have been an example to you companions and a blessing to the senior couples, a strength to your branches, and a witness of Christ in all you have done.

Week by week I have been a close witness of your missionary service.  As I have read your journal, seen your pictures, talked with you on pdays, watched the progress of your friends and your finding, seen how you have grown into a powerful servant of God, absolutely capable of calling down miracles to further His purposes, building a testimony that is sure and constant and paramount in your heart…. All of it has been such a privilege to watch and to share with you.  A mama heart could not be more proud of her missionary than I am of you.  The bar was set very high a long time ago with another Elder Miller—(your dad) and continued with your sisters, and you have continued that legacy in your own path and with your own profound faith and I’m just so grateful.  I hope you will look back on your mission as such an incredible blessing and that you’ll remember what it was to walk with God in all things—to do His will, to trust His plan, His mercy, His love enough to His partner in miracles.

The next chapter will be a lot of transitions but I hope you know that you are more ready for it that you realize.  Mostly you know how to include God in it and have developed the discipline to prioritize what is most important.  I have no doubt that you will be successful as you embark on what’s next and we will be right here- still cheering- wanting to know all the details.  (so you better check in daily- call or text!)  Thank you for your stellar example to Graham, Avery and Lainey—they have been taking notes and will continue to watch you and follow your lead.

When you were born, in that hospital room just you and me after the nurses left, I knew it’d be hard to send you on a mission one day;  and today- just a few days from hugging you at the airport, my heart is tender realizing that it’s going to be hard to not have you serving the Lord full time—it has been a blessing to our family, and  every part of it I have felt God’s love for you personally and for me as I’ve handed back the baton and let Him watch over you solely.  He does it perfectly and it has made me realize what a privilege to have had your whole life to partner with Him in your care.

You return with honor.  You have remembered who you are every day as a missionary—you have kept promises you made in heaven to find certain spirits here on Earth. I hope you think about your mission with a full heart, knowing it was more than you prayed for.  Our missionary extraordinaire… oh how we love you!    You have done a hard thing well and the Lord will bless you the rest of your life because of it.  See you so soon! I'll be wearing the macaroni necklace you amde me in kindergarten!

Mama

 

Better end this last email with a great talk to ponder on—I loved this one. BYU devotional:

“Let Us Run with Patience the Race That Is Set Before Us”  BRADLEY P. OWENS June 2024

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brad-owens/let-us-run-with-patience-the-race-that-is-set-before-us/

Good morning, brothers and sisters. It is so wonderful to be with you. Thank you for attending this campus devotional. As I look out at the audience here, I see family members, friends, and colleagues, as well as past students. I am so deeply thankful for each of you. Your examples of service, faith, and kindness have deepened my desire to follow Jesus Christ because I can see reflections of Him in you. Thank you for being here. I am grateful for you. I love you. I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will be with us today to bless us with the inspiration and the comfort and the healing that we may individually need.

One of the greatest blessings I have received because of BYU is to have found my wonderful wife, Cathy, while I was an undergraduate here. She had just returned home from her mission to Switzerland and had moved into our single adult ward. I was trying to get up the courage to ask her out, but for some reason I was unusually nervous.

Around that time our single adult ward activities committee started a blind-date box in which ward members could put the names of two people who they thought would make a good match. Then the activities committee would contact the two and say, “You’ve got a blind date. Meet on the corner on Thursday at six.”

However, the catch was that you weren’t really supposed to use the blind-date box for your own romantic escapades. But I felt that there was a higher purpose that needed to be served. So I put my name and Cathy’s name in the box and then played the role of a surprised and delighted blind-date partner. We had a great time, got engaged six months later, and were married. On our wedding day, the activities committee gifted the blind-date box to us as their greatest success story. So, though things turned out well, our relationship began on the pretense of deception and rule breaking; I teach business ethics here at BYU.

In my role as a business ethics professor, I have the blessing of teaching about 350 students a year, and I absolutely love it. One of my core goals is to help my students prepare to thrive throughout their lives by increasing their ability to make gospel- and principle-based decisions about work and life. Because the course is so focused on decision-making, I have met with many students one-on-one to talk about major life choices. I have learned that some students feel that life isn’t turning out quite like they had anticipated and that life has been a lot harder than they thought it would be. Some feel that the pace of life is way too fast and that they can’t keep up. Some have questions they can’t currently answer and others feel frustrated because they have waited a lot longer than they had anticipated for righteous desires to be fulfilled.

These life concerns can seem all the more overwhelming during the young adult years—what Elder Robert D. Hales called “the decade of decision”¹—during which the choices a young adult makes will have a significant impact on how the remaining decades will unfold.

I have prayerfully thought about how to help my students—and anyone else who feels weary in their mortal journey—to find the renewed strength they need to keep going with faith and patience. To frame some key principles, I want to relate a true story I heard a few years ago that still surprises me to this day.

The Cliff Young Story

In 1983 a sixty-one-year-old farmer contacted the organizers of a 544-mile ultramarathon from Sydney to Melbourne, Australia, and asked to be registered for the race.² Since the other entrants were well-known and proven ultrarunners—with some holding records³ and others bearing sports sponsorships—this farmer’s request was met with skepticism.

“Do you know how long this race is?” the race officials asked. “What makes you think you can complete it?”⁴

The farmer insisted that he understood how long the race was and that he believed he could finish it because, being from a poor farm family who couldn’t afford horses or four-wheelers, he had often run in his knee-high gumboots to round up nearly 2,000 sheep over a very large area in advance of a storm, sometimes running for three days to round up the entire flock. He figured that if he could run for three days, he could also do it for five or six days and complete the race.

The race officials reluctantly allowed the farmer to register. On the morning of the race, the other runners showed up with experienced support teams in mobile homes with showers and nice beds for their runners. In contrast, this farmer drove up in a rusty old van, with an inexperienced road crew and one pair of running shoes.⁵ The starting gun went off, and the runners tore through the streets. Observers noted that this farmer’s stride looked more like a shuffle than a run, his pace being much slower than that of the others.⁶ The newspapers viewed this farmer who trained in gumboots as a novelty in the race,⁷ and almost no one took him seriously as a contender.

However, to the shock of the entire nation and the global racing world, this sixty-one-year-old farmer named Cliff Young not only won the ultramarathon but beat the previous record by two days, finishing the 544 miles in five days and fifteen hours.

How did this happen?

Based on my reading of Cliff’s biography and other articles detailing this astonishing result,⁸ a key reason Cliff Young won was that almost nothing went right for him the first day of the race.

So what went wrong?

First, during the initial hours of the race, due to a poorly marked section of the course, he got lost following another runner who didn’t know the way.⁹ This experience galvanized Cliff’s resolve not to mimic what other racers were doing, including their pacing and strategy, but rather to run this race by doing what felt right to him.

Second, to make up for getting lost and running slower than his competitors, Cliff ran a couple more hours on the first night than he had originally planned. When he finally finished running around midnight, certain members of his road crew had fallen asleep and didn’t do the one job they had been given: to have a warm dinner ready for him. Though frustrated, Cliff just ate something cold out of a can and then collapsed in exhausted sleep.¹⁰

At the time, it was common wisdom among racers that you had to sleep at least six hours a night during these multiday marathons in order to maintain enough energy to make it to the end, so Cliff’s crew chief, Wally, was responsible for waking Cliff up at six in the morning to get an early start.

But the third problem for Cliff and his team occurred when the alarm went off and Wally nodded back to sleep. He then awoke with a start and, without putting on his glasses, ran to the vehicle where Cliff was sleeping and said, “Cliff, get up. I’ve slept in. It’s past six!”

Cliff bolted upright, put on his shoes, and tore down the road, thinking his competitors were already running. But when the sun didn’t come up for what seemed like hours, Cliff finally asked Wally what time it was.

Embarrassed, Wally said it was four in the morning. He had accidently set the alarm for two thirty rather than six. Cliff had barely slept two hours that night.¹¹ But instead of getting upset or calling it quits, he just kept moving forward one step at a time. He found that he could run all day just fine with two to three hours of sleep while eating very simple food out of a can. Doing so helped maximize his running time each day, which drastically changed the outcome of the race. The unanticipated difficulties he experienced during the first part of the race actually worked together for his good. His resilient response to unexpected challenges led to unexpected advantages.

On the fifth and final day of the race, it seemed that the courage and determination of this unlikely hero pulsed through the hearts of millions of Australians with every step Cliff took toward the finish line, uniting the country in a national celebration. That day Cliff became a symbol of Aussie grit and determination.

In a very real way, our lives are like an ultramarathon that tests the limits of our spiritual endurance. The apostle Paul taught, “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”¹² This mortal experience, which has been carefully designed as part of our loving Heavenly Father’s plan, is meant to help us develop as disciples of His Son and reach our fullest potential. However, this experience can feel overwhelming at times. We can grow weary and may wonder if we can actually make it.

Just as no one believed Cliff Young could finish—let alone win—the race, we may also have doubters who try to get us to believe we cannot make it successfully through life. These doubters may be other people, the adversary, and sometimes ourselves. But through scripture, the Spirit, and patriarchal blessings, you know you are a child of God. Heavenly Father believes in you. You have made the wise choice to come to this earth to run this all-important race, and you have made many good choices since then that have brought you to where you are today. This can give you growing confidence that you can not only complete this mortal race but do so in a magnificently successful way. Regardless of the current challenges or disadvantages that you may think you have, you can silence sources of doubt to do and become more than you can imagine.

The key for all of us is to fully yoke ourselves to the Savior. Speaking of this vital key and some themes from the heroic story of Cliff Young, I want to invite us all to consider four essential decisions we can make—especially those of you in your decade of decision—that I know will help us to continue to run with patience this mortal RACE that is set before us.

Repent and Realign Regularly

First, decide to repent and realign with the path regularly. Like Cliff Young, we can sometimes get lost, veer off course, or follow someone who doesn’t know the way.

This principle of repenting and realigning continually is emphasized first because much more important than our speed or pace in this race is whether our current direction is aligned with our desired final destination. Frequent course corrections are needed because life can be a distracting, misdirecting, and detour-enticing experience.

President Russell M. Nelson has taught us to embrace repentance as a joyful daily habit, emphasizing that

nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. . . . It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.¹³

I also love the perspective Elder Weatherford T. Clayton shared in a BYU devotional several years ago on the realignment aspect of repenting:

Every time we turn more to Christ, we are repenting. . . . When we sincerely pray to the Father, in a very real sense we are repenting. When we read the scriptures and ponder them, we are repenting. As we make changes because of what we are learning about Christ and His gospel, we are repenting. When we do things that make us better, kinder, gentler, more sensitive, more spiritual, more virtuous, and truer, we are repenting. . . . Though we all repent of things that are sinful in our lives, most of our repenting comes from hearing His words and doing them—from turning [or returning] to Him.¹⁴

A few months after I returned home from my mission, someone who I knew well and who was older and more educated than I was at the time took me aside and tried for hours to fill me with doubts about my faith. The experience left me in a place of spiritual darkness for a period. Though I felt as if I were in a spiritual cloud, I continued my habit of reading the Book of Mormon and praying daily. Though I was struggling spiritually, it didn’t feel right to me to stop these daily habits—even if during this period it was harder to feel heaven’s light—because I knew they had brought answers and blessings to me in the past.

A few weeks after this experience, while reading the Book of Mormon, I had a strong impression to open my mission journal and read some of my mission experiences. This had a profound impact on me during this difficult time. I read about multiple experiences when I had felt enveloped in God’s love during especially difficult times; when I had experienced significant increases in my ability to learn the language of Cantonese; when I had had impressions about where to go and what to say that proved to be inspired after the fact; when I had felt an overwhelming calmness while being threatened with danger; and when I had experienced the powerful spiritual light that flooded the room each time my companion and I testified of the First Vision.

As I read through my record of these past experiences, I felt the spiritual cloud begin to lift. The cumulative effect of reliving these very real experiences was resounding evidence of the hand of a loving God in my life. Great peace and clarity returned as the power of my own witness from my own experiences reaffirmed the truth of the restored gospel as I allowed the Spirit to teach me from what Elder Neal A. Maxwell called “the pulpit of memory.”¹⁵

This experience reflects the following inspired teaching by Elder Neil L. Andersen:

With constant prayer, a determination to keep our covenants, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, we navigate our way through life. When personal difficulty, doubt, or discouragement darken our path, or when world conditions beyond our control lead us to wonder about the future, the spiritually defining memories from our book of life are like luminous stones that help brighten the road ahead, assuring us that God knows us, loves us, and has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to help us return home.¹⁶

I will be forever grateful that I wrote down these “spiritually defining memories” so that the Spirit could lead me back to them when my path became darkened. I hope and pray that we may all heed the inspired counsel from Elder Andersen to continue to record and review our spiritually defining memories and thereby continually realign our minds and our hearts with the Lord.¹⁷

Embracing the role of joyful repentance and constant realignment to the covenant path will help us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Anticipate and Accept Adversity

Second, decide to anticipate and accept adversity. One of my core goals as an ethics professor is to keep my students out of jail. I know that goal may sound like a pretty low bar, but this is true. Every Friday morning at the Central Utah Correctional Facility, inmates file into a small chapel for a devotional. On occasions when I have visited them as a guest speaker, I have routinely asked them, “If I could take you with me to my ethics classes and have you share the most important lesson you’ve learned from your life’s journey, what would it be?”

One by one they would stand up and, sometimes through tears, share sobering lessons learned through great heartache.

One said, “Develop positive coping habits. After my divorce, I turned to things I shouldn’t have to deal with my loneliness.”

Another said, “Diligently cultivate your core significant relationships. I didn’t, and when life went south, I didn’t have the support structure that I needed.”

Another mentioned honoring covenants and said, “I treated my Church membership like a mess of pottage, and I really regret it.”

Another said, “Keep your eyes wide open about rationalizations. It wasn’t until the door slammed on my cell that the blinders finally came off and I realized how numb I had become and how many rationalizations I had fallen prey to.”

The thing that unifies their stories is that most of these inmates acknowledged they had not responded well to some significant form of adversity.

Related to this, while an undergraduate here at BYU, I was given an assignment in a human development class. I randomly drew three numbers that correlated with a long list of major life reversals such as bankruptcy, divorce, chronic illness, and the untimely death of a loved one. I was asked to write about how I hoped I would deal with these specific trials. Though it was not the most cheerful assignment, it was a significant and valuable eye opener.

The instructor emphasized that while we can’t know in advance the specific challenges we will face, we know that each of us will experience significant forms of adversity in life. We can prepare now by accepting this reality, building positive coping mechanisms and resilience, and setting our hearts on eternal things that do not change. In our lives, just as in Cliff Young’s race, unexpected adversity can lead to unexpected advantages, providing us with insight and greater self-awareness that can positively change our habits, direct our course of action, and help speed our progression on the covenant path.

The Savior Himself promised, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”¹⁸

One day early in our marriage, we had a terrible morning in which nothing went right. I broke the pipes under the kitchen sink. I crashed the car into a pole on the way to the hardware store. I lost the keys while at the store. And then I scared my wife when she didn’t hear me come home from the hardware store. In my twenty-three-year-old underdeveloped man brain, I thought that jumping out from behind a corner to surprise her would lighten the mood of a stressful day and would be funny. It wasn’t. She collapsed to the ground crying. And I wanted to join her.

To my wife’s credit, she suggested instead that we kneel and say a prayer. As we did, a measure of peace began to return. After the prayer we both had the impression that we should go to the temple. So in our mangled little car, we drove to the Provo Utah Temple for what was one of the most spiritually edifying and emotionally healing sealing sessions I had ever experienced. The difficulty of the day and the potency of our problems seemed to fade and were replaced with peace, assurance, and hope.

Our sense of adversity is closely tied to our perception of the degree to which our experiences align with our expectations. One way to “think celestial”¹⁹ about the future is to try to replace expectations with hopes. It has been said that “expectations are premeditated resentments,”²⁰ but hopes entail a future-oriented sense of gratitude. While hopes lead to grateful yearning and proactive flexibility, expectations are often associated with discontented entitlement and rigid resistance. While hopes are centered in God and eternal promises, expectations are based on people and circumstances. While hopes are tied to an eternal identity, expectations are tied to mortal roles and identities.²¹

Hopes	Expectations
Grateful yearning	Discontented entitlement
Proactive flexibility	Rigid resistance
Centered in God and eternal promises	Based on people and circumstances
Tied to an eternal identity	Tied to a mortal role or identity

By seeing our lives and the adversity we face through this lens of hope, we are more able to anticipate and accept adversity as a vital, meaningful part of the journey, which will help us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Cleave unto Christ and Covenants

Third, and most importantly, decide to cleave to Christ and to the covenants He makes possible. In contrast to Cliff Young’s inexperienced road crew, Jesus Christ has been leading and empowering souls to successfully complete this mortal race for a very long time. When the scriptures say He is “mighty to save,”²² it means He is very, very good at it. In a way that we don’t fully understand, through the process of His Atonement the Savior generated an infinite supply of spiritual power. The covenant path is lined with this power in a degree and intensity that is not found anywhere else.²³

Elder Dale G. Renlund taught, “Multiple covenants draw us closer to Christ and connect us more strongly to Him. Through these covenants, we have greater access to His power.”²⁴ We have also been taught that we can be endowed with this Christ-centered covenant power through the temple.²⁵ I learned this lesson in a very compelling way during one of the most difficult periods of my life when I, like some of my students, felt weary and totally overwhelmed.

When I began my PhD in organizational behavior at the University of Washington twenty years ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The stack of academic articles we were assigned to read each week seemed to be written in a language I didn’t understand, and then there was pressure to try to sound smart in discussing these articles with professors and other doctoral students. During that first year I often felt like I had no idea what anyone was talking about. Other doctoral students in my class were working seven days a week and drinking coffee so they could read long into the night. Though I was working harder than I ever had in my life, I worried that I couldn’t keep up. Though I was praying for help and guidance, I started to feel a crushing sense of inadequacy and quiet desperation that lasted for months.

“I can’t do this,” I said to Cathy. “I can’t keep up. This is way harder than I thought it would be.”

Around the time that these self-doubts and my weariness were at a peak, I had an impression that said, “I can help you if you spend more time with me.”

I felt that the best way to spend more time with Him—with the Lord—was in His house. Initially I pushed these feelings away because it seemed that adding frequent temple trips to my busy schedule was impossible; time was the critical resource I thought I didn’t have. But I knew that what I was currently doing wasn’t working, and I felt assurance that blessings would follow if I tried to fulfill my covenants to put the Lord and His work first. So I made a personal commitment to attend the temple several times a month.

As I began spending more time in the temple, things started to change significantly. My intense fears about my ability and the future began to melt away. The peace I felt in the temple began to spill into other areas of my life. I started to see my path more clearly and to feel hope. In gentle ways, like Lehi’s family, I felt as if I were being led in a more direct course through my graduate school wilderness.

While most of the time this added strength manifested itself in subtle ways, there were some blessings that were very obvious. One huge blessing was a dissertation sample that fell miraculously into my lap.

When I had told my dissertation advisor I wanted to study the role of humility in leadership, he said, “That’s fine, Brad, but I have no idea where you’d find a real-life sample to gather data about that.”

However, a couple of weeks later he called me into his office and, with a confused look on his face, said, “Brad, this has never happened to me before. Yesterday a local leadership coach contacted me and said he was interested in having a scholar examine his approach to leadership training. He said that his main goal was to teach leaders to embrace humility.”

My advisor, being a very well-known scholar and an agnostic, looked at me and said, “Brad, what’s going on? This doesn’t just happen.”

Then he kind of squinted, pointed at me, and said, “Have you been . . . praying?”

It was rather humorous to see him try to make sense of this miraculous provision of a sample, which was a huge tender mercy for a struggling doctoral student. This sample formed the foundation of the research I have been doing for fifteen years. Despite my slow start in my PhD program, I finished one year ahead of the rest of my class, and I know I could not have done this without the added strength that comes through Christ and temple covenants.

Regarding attending the temple, President Nelson recently taught in general conference:

Nothing will protect you more as you encounter the world’s mists of darkness. Nothing will bolster your testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement or help you understand God’s magnificent plan more. Nothing will soothe your spirit more during times of pain. Nothing will open the heavens more. Nothing!²⁶

I know that this is true.

Cleaving to Christ and covenants, especially through seeking Him in His holy house, will help us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Endure to the End

Fourth, decide that you will never, ever give up, that you will endure to the end.

When asked about his strategy for the race, Cliff Young simply said it was “to run to the finish line.”²⁷ He told his crew that if he began this race, there was no way he was going to stop until he reached the end.²⁸

Taking steps—one foot in front of the other, over and over—in a race seems rather simple and repetitive, yet these steps accrue across long distances and lead to impressive and inspiring accomplishments, such as those of Cliff Young. Similarly, making continual spiritual progress in our mortal marathon happens through simple and repeatable steps that include heartfelt prayer, scripture study, joyful repentance, service, and renewing and striving to live covenants. And in contrast to the physical steps that are energy depleting, these spiritual steps or habits are energy renewing. Any one of these steps enacted in isolation results in spiritual momentum. But when we combine all these steps together, our strength and our momentum really begin to build, and we begin to love the race. We gain growing clarity and even certainty that because of Christ we can successfully reach the celestial finish line.²⁹

These sanctifying steps and holy habits help us endure or survive spiritually and represent the individual work President Nelson has pled for us to do in order to have the Spirit with us in our daily lives.³⁰ The word for spirit comes from the Latin word spirare, which means “to breathe.”³¹ Just as runners are able to increase their lung capacity over time to enhance their physical endurance, in effect, President Nelson is asking us to get ourselves in spiritual shape for what is coming by increasing our spiritual lung capacity to receive the divine breath of the Spirit in a daily, ongoing way. As we do so, we will be less winded and weary on our journey. Taking the Spirit as our guide is also vital for enduring to the end because it enables us to have the oil in our lamps to see and realign with the path in a world that is ever darkening prior to the coming of the Bridegroom.³²

Resolving to endure to the end by daily embracing the renewing power of the gospel’s sanctifying steps that invite the Spirit’s daily companionship will help us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Conclusion

In closing, I bear witness that because of Jesus Christ we can not only complete this mortal marathon but can do so with magnificent success: with joy, with meaning, with growth, and with service to others. Resolutely making the decision in our own hearts to repent and realign regularly, to anticipate and accept the role of adversity, to cleave to Christ and covenants, and to endure to the end will yoke us to Christ in a relationship of continual renewal. Regardless of perceived disadvantages, limited experience, past mistakes, people we have trusted who have let us down, or the fact that life hasn’t been going well lately, we can all successfully make it because of Jesus Christ, for we are promised that those who center their hope on Him “shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”³³ And so “let us run with patience [and with Jesus] the race that is set before us” and let Him, who is “the author and finisher of our faith,”³⁴ help and renew us every step of the way. I testify that He lives. I testify that He loves each and every one of us. And I testify that this is His work. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.