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Elders’ and Sisters’
I hope Gods blessings have found each of you. I personally find sorrow and depression approaching my one-year mark home. My hope is that you may find new hope a new birth of purpose. My life is filled with temptation and even more warmth and pure love, which I thank my Heavenly Father for. I believe our loss is not that of grief but rather that of the end of a period of very passionate living!
I pray that your days may be found and be remembered for serving, loving others.
Joy In the Journey,
J. Lehi Harwood
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Dear friends,
We write just a brief message to unify all of our prayers and energy in behalf of Seth Loughmiller. Seth was in an automobile accident and is currently in the University of Utah Medical Center. He has suffered a severe back injury and trauma to his lungs. He is currently on a respirator and unable to talk to anyone because of the respirator. Byron Walker, his cousin has been our contact point and he tells us that he is going to be transferred to a Hospital in Denver when he stabilizes.
We know from experience the power of unity within the mission and we ask that once again we join together in prayer for Seth and his recovery.
If any of you are in the Salt Lake area it would be great if you could check on him. He would love to have some music to listen to as he recovers. You will find him in the ICU unit of the University of Utah Medical Center.
We send our love to each of you.
Love,
President and Sister Wappett
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First of all I want to thank all of you who helped make the reunion a success by contributing to the pot luck dinner. We had more food than we knew what to do with! In addition to extra food, we also had extra bowls left behind. There are several large plastic bowls, some with lids, that are temporarily residing in my kitchen. They miss their families! :) If you left behind a bowl, please email me or call me and we'll work out a way to get your lost bowl back to you. Once again, thanks for all your help!
Janelle Kane
jmk_cougars@hotmail.com
801-380-1864
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April 2005
Dear Missionaries,
As we travel North our hearts are warm with the joy of gathering together to celebrate the unity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been richly fed by the Conference that reaffirmed, refreshed, and renewed our testimonies. We have been lifted by the love of former missionaries who joined together to strengthen friendships and kindle the bonds of love that tie us all together. What a celebration! We were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and enthusiasm of the evening. Our hearts could not respond to all that had traveled so far to be part of the event. Whether you came from across the world or across the street your presence was treasured. Many of you we only saw out of the corner of eye, but your effort and attendance were truly appreciated. Each missionary is an important part of the whole. We came together as missionaries from two missions, but joined in the unity of the experience of serving Jesus Christ and spreading the work forward in a small corner of the “hot” vineyard of Arizona. Each one of you is a treasured piece of that experience. Each one of you has made an indelible mark in our hearts.
Our warmest thanks to everyone who participated in the organization and production. Thank you to Michael Ferguson who was the heart, soul, and facilitator in Provo. Our gratitude to Janelle Kane for organizing the food and then “enduring to the end” to clean up. Our warmest thanks to Karisa Babbell who produced a great mission memory book. It is filled with great insights and updates from many missionaries who were unable to attend. If you are interested in obtaining a copy please contact us. There are a few copies remaining for the nominal fee of $3.00. Our love to Matthias Cicotte who undertook the monumental job of organizing the chaos of hundreds and kept the evening moving. Carma Bush added the “Southwest” flavor with her willingness to decorate the tables with the colors of Mexico. Greg Shuey and his companion Bruce lugged the coolers of ice for our refreshment. Our appreciation to Jordan Clark, Lesli and Dan Hilton, Michael Ferguson and Greg Rose, Rod, Kylene, and Hally South, and Carlos Zendejas for being willing and ready to share their talents with us. Ben Brooksby and Sam Stone were our technical crew and video producers. The sheer numbers of the evening eliminated the opportunity to enjoy all the fruits of their labors. Ben’s production promises to be a stunning journey through our shared mission experience. Perhaps he would be willing to market his production if approached by enough eager former missionaries. The entire evening was one of joint energy, effort, and commitment. Thank you one and all for making it memorable.
Perhaps the words of Justin Chandler reflect just a portion of the evening’s emotion.
“My anticipation and excitement have soared into the stratosphere since
hearing about the upcoming reunion this week. To see the smiles upon
the faces and in the hearts of our fellow servants will be unforgettable.
It's been amazing how many mission "experiences" have flooded back into
my mind this week as I've knelt in prayer and thanked Father for my
companions and testimony. I hope all are able to come… I'm sure you can recall the Zone Conference, even the teal colored paint in the relief society room where
we dressed up as farmers and sang, "Inch by inch, row by row, we're
gonna make this garden grow!" I even remember walking up and down the
rows of missionaries on the chairs and encouraging them to join in
singing. Little did I know that the inches and rows would spread out
from our little mission to West Virginia, Louisiana, Canada, Idaho, Utah
and Alaska? Maybe, my vision wasn't as accurate as it is now. At least
I know my perspective has broadened. As we sang that song I thought of
only one thing: Growing the Lord's Kingdom through missionary work. Now
as I reflect, and look forward to seeing the missionaries, all I can
think about was how our little garden in the relief society room has grown;
inch by inch and row by row. New Eternal Families sealed forever by the
Holy Priesthood of God. New little children coming into the lives of
our Elders and Sisters... isn't it remarkable? Isn't it amazing? Now I see how we've come to make the Garden Grow. I look so forward to this "spring harvest," and seeing the elders and sisters.”
There has been a spring harvest indeed. Thanks one and all for joining in the celebration. May your hearts be lifted and your determination steeled.
“As His followers, we cannot do a mean or shoddy or ungracious thing without tarnishing His image. Nor can we do a good and gracious and generous act without burnishing more brightly the symbol of Him whose name we have taken upon ourselves. And so our lives must become a meaningful expression, the symbol of our declaration of our testimony of the Living Christ, the Eternal Son of the Living God.” President Gordon B. Hinckley
We send our love to each of you. We are proud of your new companionships, your beautiful children, your academic achievements, your contributions in your communities and in your wards and in your families. We are grateful to have walked in the sun of Arizona with each one of you. May we continue to walk shoulder to shoulder in the light of the “Son”.
Love,
President and Sister Wappett
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We(Sister Llil and I) are looking for a ride to the reunion. We'd like to leave sometime on Thursday and come back sometime on Sunday. Anyone who's interested in giving us a ride? We are more than willing to help with gas and stuff. Let us know!
Yong-Sook Kim 359-1363
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Elder Gatrell! Como estas! Como va todo en su vida? me puede recordar? recuerdo mucho de nuestra veces que pagamos juntos. "Is goo'fo'you" (con mi boca llena de pan) hahaha
Elder Jensen! Congrats! I'm excited about your news. What plans do you have about children?
Elder Thomas!! You forgot to email me.. hehe, now I need your email address so I can bug you. Plus, we can practice our spanish via email with each other!
Everyone!! I can't make it to the get together, but, I will be in Utah for the women's conference at the end of April. My wife is going, and we're having a family vacation there.
Anyone who spoke spanish on their missions!! I am learning spanish, and love the language. I have El Libro de Mormon, Doctrina y convenios, y La Perla de Gran Precio. Ademas, tengo las Charlas!! I'm looking for someone who might want to record themselves reading the discussions in spanish so that I can learn them. If you did, you could send them to me online. (recording a discussion, then saving it as an MP3, and either emailing them to me one at a time, or using an instant messenger) That would be so cool! Well, have a great time at the reunion, everyone!!
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Hey everyone!
I've known about this site for a while, but I never got around to actually registering on it until today. I've been pretty busy here back at BYU for winter semester 2005, basically picking up from where I left off in the computer science major. I'm the only returned missionary in my on-campus apartment, so the bishopric called me to be a Family Home Evening group co-leader (or a "dad", as I'm sometimes called, haha). I'm doing well here. Lately I've been trying to decide whether or not to continue with classes in the spring and summer terms and/or find a good job, or to go home to find a job for the summer. I was thinking about that a good deal today even, and ironically I stumbled across President Wappett's January message. Funny how that works. Anyways, I thought I'd drop a line, and say that I definitely plan to be there at the reunion. (I would be so without excuse to not be there, since it's only a 5-minute walk for me.) I'm really looking forward to it. See you all there!
Haven
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We are looking for Jordan Clark....does anyone have a contact number, email, or address for him? We hope that someone can update us with that valuable information.
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Hi everyone!
I hope you are all making plans to attend the mission reunion. Here are the assignments for the pot luck dinner (South Western theme)
Last names starting with
A-G bring a side dish (this could also include chips and salsa)
H-N bring a main dish
O-Z bring a dessert
If you don't have anything South Western you can bring, that's ok. Just bring something good to eat! :)
If you are traveling, you could bring bottled/canned sodas, a premade fruit or veggie tray, or a store bought dessert. Basically whatever you can bring will be much appreciated.
Everyone, please email me (jmk_cougars@hotmail.com) and let me know what you will be bringing so I can make sure we will have a balance and enough food for everyone.
Now for the exciting news!!! We are also having a contest for the best South western foods. The Wappetts will be the judges. We are giving out prizes for the the best main dish, the best salsa, the best side dish, and the best dessert. If you want to participate in this contest, disregard the assignments above and bring whatever you want to enter. Also, if you could please bring your recipe, I will post the recipes on the web site after the reunion.
Hopefully this all makes sense! If you have any questions please feel free to email me or give me a call (801-380-1864). I look forward to seeing you in April!
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You won't want to miss this mission reunion. It continues to grow by the day. Remember your delicious contribution to our meal and BE ON TIME.
We will be eating from 7:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. followed immediately by a program.
There will be plenty of time for visiting both before and during the meal and after the program.
See you in April
Love,
President and Sister Wappett
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Well I'm excited everyone will be getting together this April. However I won't be able to go seeing as I need to save my money for school and Utah is pretty far for me. I hope everyone has a good time and if you have a question you can email me or ask Ryan Jackson who will be there. He is will be my offical spokesman. Adios My Friends
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Arizona Mesa Mission Reunion
April 1, 2005
BYU Campus
Wilkinson Center
Room 3220
7:00-10:00 p.m.
Bring yourself, your spouse, your best friend, or your fiancée. All are welcome to share in the evening. Potluck dinner, program, entertainment, socializing and fun. Please bring your favorite Southwestern/Arizona culinary delight to share. There will be a competition for the "best" taste treat of the evening. So all the dinner courses are covered if your last name begins with A-E please bring a salad or entree; F-P please bring a main dish; and Q-Z please bring a dessert. If you are traveling contact Janelle Kane and she will give you an assignment for something easy to pick up at the store, i.e. paper plates, utensils, napkins, etc. Her email is jmk_cougars@hotmail.com
We send our love to you. We look forward to seeing you. We have heard of missionaries coming from Louisiana. (Yes, Matthew Britt is engaged!!!) We have heard a group is coming from Missouri, Nebraska, and maybe even West Virginia. Who knows who you will see. Arizona will be represented by Matthias Cicotte! A large contingency will be coming from BYU-I. You won't want to miss it.
Love,
President and Sister Wappett
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i haven't visited this site in a long time..because...I am really busy and don't hav enough time. Did that sound legitimate?
Well,....
Hey I am married now, to the most beautiful woman in the world and I am totally in love with her. We're planning on moving back to tennessee in the winter of 2006. Sooo, if'n ya'll wanna sees me youins are gonna haffa gitonit!
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Ya'ateeh abini (that means hello everyone in Navajo).
That is your Navajo lesson for the day. I want you all to practice that.
Y'all remember the short little Navajo from the AMM. Well this is he. ha ha.
I am alive and well here in Blanding UT. Its about an hour from my home in Monument Valley. Its a small town full of members but nevertheless there are chances for me to share the gospel and strengthen those who are not active.
I have a new calling as a home teacher. My companion is new to the campus. Our assignment is very interesting because we home teach the young ladies here in the dorms. There about 5 or 6 of them. They are all Navajos. So I have my work cut out for me. This is in addition to my calling as a Dorm Young Single Adult rep in the family ward i attend.
My latest attempt at missionary work is working with my friend named Dale Jensen. He is from Navajo Mountain Ut studying computer science. He has met with the missionaries here once. It was good from what i hear. I didnt get to go with him.
Not much else going on for me. I am trying to finish my AA so I can transfer to UVSC to get my degree in Computer Networking. I am excited for that.
I have also been working with a mentoring program for kids called Youth and Families with promise. It is great. I am kind of a unofficial employee. I go with the main people here and visit each of the sites. We have at least three sites. We have the college kids here sign up as mentors and they mentor youth from the elementary school and middle school here in Blanding. And at the other sites, we have the high school kids who mentor right there at the schools. Its been great experience for me. Its making me think about changing my major to Youth Leadership, because i really want to help the youth succeed in life.
Not too much happening in the way of girls for me. I have been on a few dates. Oh yes I went on a really nice date for valentines day. They actually had a dance here at the college . It was a nice event. I'll send pictures as soon as i get them back. My date is from here in Blanding. Debbie Laws is her name. She works as a dental assistant and is the oldest of the kids. Thats about all i can remember about her. sorry.
well id better sign off for now. If you all would like to email me, ive established an email address just for my amm friends. It is utahjazzfan99@yahoo.com. Hope to hear from you all soon.
best of luck,
Jonathan
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hey everyone. I've been back home for a few months and i am so sick of napoleon dynamite merchandise that is floating around preston. Everyone is trying to capitolize off it. It's retarded. anyway, I am so far away from being married. The last date I went on was the week I got home. Which was Sept 14 2004. So yeah, that what's going on. I'm looking at moving to Idaho Falls to work with (elder) Steven Passey, and possibly look for a wife. hey, if any of you are thinking of getting a credit card I would strongly advise you to not use it too often. boy howdie you can go through a lot of money that you don't have REALLY FAST. Well, that's about all you'll hear out of me for about another year so if you want to chat send me an e-mail at jacobpulsipher@hotmail.com.
Tina come get some ham
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Just a quick note to let everyone know that Matthew Russell from the APM glory days is getting married on the 26th of this month. If you want to call him and congratulate him but don't have his number, send me an e-mail and I'll get it to you.
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hey ya'll. For those of you who served in the Camelback 2 branch, you might wanna keep Hermana Betty in your prayers. I talked to her today (jan 24) and due to reasons her youngest daughter Yacki has been taken from her by the state until further investigation. So please keep her in your prayers. If you want to call her and give her your support her phone number is (602)367-6006 She is also planning on going to Utah for Conference!!!
take care ya'll and hope to see you at the reunion.
Joe Deim
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11 January 2005
Dear Friends (that sounds better than “former Elders and Sisters”!),
Today is a cold January day in Alaska—45 degrees below zero to be exact! However, the days are crisp, the sun beautiful, and the mountains stupendous. Within recent days Sister Wappett and I have enjoyed the holidays with children and grandchildren, snowshoed in waist-deep snow, skied gorgeous trails, marveled again at the Northern Lights, and experienced some profound feelings of anticipation of the “next steps” in our lives. With the coming of a new year, certainly all of you are “anxiously engaged” (some more literally than others!) We all have the privilege of uncertainty and a multitude of options as we pursue our separate paths through mortality. Each path is different and unique, just like each of us, and each end and consequence will likewise be custom-made, just for you! I thought as all of us have to make them, that I would perhaps share a few insights on the process of decision-making.
Sometimes nothing can be so frustrating as trying to determine the better choice of two right choices or to try to get a “clear” answer from the Lord. Sometimes it seems that we are just on our own, left to brood and stew over seemingly painful decisions. Next time you are confronted with a difficult decision, give some consideration to these ideas:
The very essence of mortality is the freedom to choose, and for that freedom to be complete there must be the possibility of wrong choices. Rejoice in that freedom! Remember that practice with difficult things is what builds our spiritual muscles and the Lord wants us to become better at making correct decisions every time. Remember, some frustration, some mistakes, even some failure are normal and are stepping stones to doing better next time.
Always ask advice and get the opinions of others, but don’t be afraid to act. “Action paralysis” cripples us. We can waste an awful lot of time just re-playing all the possibilities. Be a person of action. After weighing the possibilities, stick your neck out and go for it!
Take the tide when it comes. Remember Shakespeare’s quote from Julius Cesar: “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortunes. Omitted, all the voyage of our lives are spent in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea we are now afloat. We must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”
Listen to your feelings. Logic, reason, and even a balance sheet of pros and cons are all well and good, but sometimes we have to rely on our feelings. Emotions are God-given and are put there for a purpose. Most commonly we do not hear a voice, but instead hear a voice not with our ears. In Section 128 the Prophet Joseph tells us why he felt it necessary to give us more on the subject of baptism for the dead: “..I now resume the subject of the baptism for the dead, as that subject seems to occupy my mind, and press itself upon my feelings the strongest…” (D&C 128:1)
Listen to the feelings and thoughts that come to you unbidden. I am often awakened in the night or in the early morning hours with ideas and insights I would never have in the daytime. Perhaps the “traffic” of our lives is slowest then and the Holy Ghost finds more of an audience at those times.
What happens when there is no answer and it seems like the Lord is distant and doesn’t care? Listen to this great wisdom from Brigham Young: “If I ask Him to give me wisdom concerning any requirement in life, or in regard to my own course, or that of my friends, my family, my children, or those that I preside over, and get no answer from Him, and then do the very best that my judgment will teach me, He is bound to own and honor that transaction, and He will do so to all intents and purposes” (JD 3:205)
Don’t look for the “burning in the bosom”. That was the promise to Oliver Cowdery but only occasionally to us. Don’t limit the Holy Ghost to do only one thing—He is capable of many forms of manifestations and witnesses and yours will be as unique as Oliver’s. His “specialty” is miracles!
Last, remember that fear is the opposite of faith. Joseph Smith said, “Faith and doubt do not exist in the same person at the same time. Where faith is, doubt is not. Where doubt is, faith if not”. Don’t be afraid of hard things, difficult choices, unsure paths, or an unknown future. Do the best you can with all you have and “out of small things proceedeth that which is great”.
May the Lord bless you with the decisions of 2005. You are constantly in our prayers and thoughts.
Love, President and Sister Wappett
News: Collette Chappellaz and Heather Voekel have both announced their engagements! April Long was married this month. Seth Loughmiller is smiling from ear to ear as he awaits his marriage in February.
Don’t forget the Mission Reunion on April 1 in Provo. Janelle Kane will be contacting you with food assignments and Karissa Babbell is working hard to gather information for a memory book. You will want to be included even if you won’t be able to join us. Just let Karissa know you are interested in getting a copy of the completed project!
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Hey Everyone
I'm getting married on February 19th to an amazing girl named Kiersty Lund (soon to be Loughmiller). We've been dating for the last 9 months and I asked her over thanksgiving break up in Twin Falls. We will be married in Mesa next month. p.s. She's not from Mesa
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Hi everybody—
Happy New Year! I hope everyone is doing great. (Sorry, that’s kind of a huge blanket statement!) The Wappetts want to put together a mission book with pictures and updates on all the missionaries, and they asked me to figure part of it out. So I’ve been thinking about how we can give an update on everyone, and I came up with 3 FOQ’s for you all to answer:
1)The most important thing I learned from my mission is…
2)These days I am busy doing… (work? school? significant others? accomplishments? cool tricks? hobbies?)
3)One of my goals for this year is to…
So just come up with your answers and send them back to me! Oh, and please keep your responses brief—just a sentence or two for each question. And if I don’t hear from you soon, I’ll just make up your answers for you! If you would like any pictures (mission pictures or more recent ones) to be in the mission book, please send them to me at my BYU address, which is down below. I promise I’ll return them to you in perfect condition! Also, we want to put everyone’s current e-mail address in the mission book, so just let me know if that ISN’T okay; otherwise we’ll stick it in.
Thanks for helping me with this! See you all at the April reunion!
Love, Karisa Babbel
Babbelicious@excite.com
1505 N. Canyon Road #59
Provo, UT 84604
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David! What's up! Glad to hear things are going well for you in C...A...N...A...D...A. I got married (to Kirstin) and we're expecting a baby in June. Give me a holler...ssstone2@uiuc.edu.
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I wanted to let everyone know that I got engaged on Saturday to the same guy I've been dating for 8 years! His name is Aaron and he's only been home from his mission for a month. It was a complete surprise, but wonderful nonetheless. We haven't set a date yet, but we'll be married in the Palmyra temple sometime this summer. Merry Christmas to everyone!
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Dear Alumni of the Mesa Mission,
It is December and a time to count our blessings for wonderful experiences, great friendships, warm memories, and the simple joys of life in the glow of the gospel. We are continually reminded of how blessed we are as we are lifted by the truths of eternity.
A Truth to Consider
Not long ago I heard of an article printed in the Wall Street Journal and written by a professor of economics from a university in the Netherlands. It was entitled, “Poor Until 1820”. The article is stunning in its scope and revealing in the truth it teaches. The graphs are startling. The premise of the article is that the economies of all the nations of the earth were essentially a flat line for thousands of years, even before the time of Christ, until the year 1820. Since that magical year, the United States economy, as a representative, has increased 400%. The graph shows a flat line which takes a skyward turn after 1820.
Another economic author, Peter Bernstein, writes that no one prospered anywhere in the world until 1820. He uses as an example the economies of Britain and the United States and shows the same information; that is, that beginning in 1820 that prosperity began in the Western world. In fact, he has just completed a book that I intend to read, stating that 1820 was The Birth of Plenty.
Stephen Ambrose, in Undaunted Courage, states the following of the year 1805 when Lewis and Clark began their journey of discovery:
“A critical fact in the world of 1801 was that nothing moved faster than the speed of a horse. No human being, no manufactured item, no bushel of wheat, no side of beef, no letter, no information, no idea, order, or instruction of any kind moved faster. Nothing had moved any faster, and, as far as Jefferson’s contemporaries were able to tell, nothing ever would”
Consider now that the telegraph was invented in 1837. Bernstein goes on to say, “The technological explosion that occurred from 1820 to 1850 was undoubtedly the most deep and far reaching in human history, profoundly affecting the lives of those from the top to the bottom of the social fabric, in ways that can hardly be imagined today.”
Remember that the Prophet Joseph was born in 1805, in the middle of the Corps of Discovery’s journey to the Pacific. The First Vision was in 1820. Joseph was martyred on the 27th of June, 1844. Light has come into the world!
Sometimes we are all guilty of believing in the Principle of Uniformity; that is, if it seems that something has always been that way, we cannot imagine it being any different. In fact, the past 200 years have been the most dramatic in the world’s history. What a blessing and privilege to be a part of what is unfolding as part of the Restoration! All of you are moving into a world that even your parents cannot imagine, a world with more challenges, trials, and opportunities than ever before. Both things and people change and the greatest attribute we can all hope to acquire is to love those changes and welcome them. In fact, one of the Brethren has said that one way to say that “I love the Savior” is to say “I love the principle of change”.
As history unfolds before us, it is wise to look back during the holiday season and remember a little log cabin in Vermont, enveloped in poverty and obscurity, and remember that the Lord knows what He is doing. It is a privilege to honor “Brother Joseph” and to remember that despite the wonders about us, we have a responsibility to participate in those wonders and to bring them to pass in our lives and our families. Light has indeed come into the world and as we welcome that Light and the changes it brings we will collectively and individually prosper and grow at an unprecedented rate. World economies are “small potatoes” compared to the potential you and your children possess. May all of us take a moment to look back to 1820 this season and to look forward to what the Lord has yet to do with each of us.
We send our love to each and every one of you. There is always much to bring great joy as we continue to be lifted by your association. Great news of the month: John Carey is engaged to be married in Atlanta in February (That is a long way South for a Canadian!). Brindey Nielson Lennon had a beautiful baby girl named Crandall! Rick Webster marries this month in the Idaho Falls Temple. Aaron Woodbury will be married on the 4th of January in the Vernal Temple. Cody Fox was married in the St. George Temple on December 10. Kyle Peterson will marry on December 18 in Orlando. Rumor has it that Justin Chandler is also close to a wedding! Justin Lindstrom is about to be a married man. Brenda Garcia Parry called with news of a new baby due in April.
We send our love to all of you at this wonderful time of year. May your holidays be filled with the joy of understanding the Savior and His atonement.
Love,
President and Sister Wappett
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Dear Alumni of the Mesa Mission,
It is December and a time to count our blessings for wonderful experiences, great friendships, warm memories, and the simple joys of life in the glow of the gospel. We are continually reminded of how blessed we are as we are lifted by the truths of eternity.
A Truth to Consider
Not long ago I heard of an article printed in the Wall Street Journal and written by a professor of economics from a university in the Netherlands. It was entitled, “Poor Until 1820”. The article is stunning in its scope and revealing in the truth it teaches. The graphs are startling. The premise of the article is that the economies of all the nations of the earth were essentially a flat line for thousands of years, even before the time of Christ, until the year 1820. Since that magical year, the United States economy, as a representative, has increased 400%. The graph shows a flat line which takes a skyward turn after 1820.
Another economic author, Peter Bernstein, writes that no one prospered anywhere in the world until 1820. He uses as an example the economies of Britain and the United States and shows the same information; that is, that beginning in 1820 that prosperity began in the Western world. In fact, he has just completed a book that I intend to read, stating that 1820 was The Birth of Plenty.
Stephen Ambrose, in Undaunted Courage, states the following of the year 1805 when Lewis and Clark began their journey of discovery:
“A critical fact in the world of 1801 was that nothing moved faster than the speed of a horse. No human being, no manufactured item, no bushel of wheat, no side of beef, no letter, no information, no idea, order, or instruction of any kind moved faster. Nothing had moved any faster, and, as far as Jefferson’s contemporaries were able to tell, nothing ever would”
Consider now that the telegraph was invented in 1837. Bernstein goes on to say, “The technological explosion that occurred from 1820 to 1850 was undoubtedly the most deep and far reaching in human history, profoundly affecting the lives of those from the top to the bottom of the social fabric, in ways that can hardly be imagined today.”
Remember that the Prophet Joseph was born in 1805, in the middle of the Corps of Discovery’s journey to the Pacific. The First Vision was in 1820. Joseph was martyred on the 27th of June, 1844. Light has come into the world!
Sometimes we are all guilty of believing in the Principle of Uniformity; that is, if it seems that something has always been that way, we cannot imagine it being any different. In fact, the past 200 years have been the most dramatic in the world’s history. What a blessing and privilege to be a part of what is unfolding as part of the Restoration! All of you are moving into a world that even your parents cannot imagine, a world with more challenges, trials, and opportunities than ever before. Both things and people change and the greatest attribute we can all hope to acquire is to love those changes and welcome them. In fact, one of the Brethren has said that one way to say that “I love the Savior” is to say “I love the principle of change”.
As history unfolds before us, it is wise to look back during the holiday season and remember a little log cabin in Vermont, enveloped in poverty and obscurity, and remember that the Lord knows what He is doing. It is a privilege to honor “Brother Joseph” and to remember that despite the wonders about us, we have a responsibility to participate in those wonders and to bring them to pass in our lives and our families. Light has indeed come into the world and as we welcome that Light and the changes it brings we will collectively and individually prosper and grow at an unprecedented rate. World economies are “small potatoes” compared to the potential you and your children possess. May all of us take a moment to look back to 1820 this season and to look forward to what the Lord has yet to do with each of us.
We send our love to each and every one of you. There is always much to bring great joy as we continue to be lifted by your association. Great news of the month: John Carey is engaged to be married in Atlanta in February (That is a long way South for a Canadian!). Brindey Nielson Lennon had a beautiful baby girl named Crandall! Rick Webster marries this month in the Idaho Falls Temple. Aaron Woodbury will be married on the 4th of January in the Vernal Temple. Cody Fox was married in the St. George Temple on December 10. Kyle Peterson will marry on December 18 in Orlando. Rumor has it that Justin Chandler is also close to a wedding! Justin Lindstrom is about to be a married man. Brenda Garcia Parry called with news of a new baby due in April.
We send our love to all of you at this wonderful time of year. May your holidays be filled with the joy of understanding the Savior and His atonement.
Love,
President and Sister Wappett
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Goodness, BYU idaho is fast becoming the nesting ground of the Mesa Mission :) Jared Croke! good to hear from you my friend. Hope everything is awesome for you. say hi to the rest of the mission for me when you get to idaho :) PS, if you (or anyone) knows where in the world i can find Cody, of the Forbush variety, let me know.
- Dave Russell
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I Live... in Utah... I shure didnt see that one comming...
life is going well for me here in St. George. i moved here a week and a half after i got off my mission.
that all for now... it is 3:00 am here and i just got off work so im a little brain dead right now.
talk to ya'all later
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November 4, 2004
Our world is white! We sit in the midst of 12 inches of powdery, light snow that covers the earth. It hides the unsightly flaws of the land, the disorderly yards, the mud of the autumn and glistens with light. It is a magical time of year in the North. Although we lose 7 minutes of daylight each day, the reflection of the snow creates more light. Our early morning runs are delightful with the reflected moonlight on the snow. We are always invigorated in body, mind, and spirit as we return home frost covered and white ourselves.
A few weeks ago we spent a Saturday hiking in the White Mountains. We left Fairbanks in the midst of a beautiful autumn day, but by the time we reached the trail we were in a foot of snow with a brisk wind. We were headed for the top of Wickersham Dome; a favorite spot of many hikes over the years. It is a great place for moose, caribou, blueberries, ptarmigan, and wide open expanses of land stretching in every direction. We enjoyed stretching our legs and working up a sweat as we wended our way through the snow on our upward climb. At the Dome’s crest the wind had swept it clean of any snowy vestige, and we found refuge among the rocks at the summit for a quick lunch before we began our descent and journey back to the car. As we hiked back along the trail we met an ambitious hiker pulling a sled filled with his camping gear. His sled told us that he was planning on camping overnight or perhaps longer. He was drenched in sweat as he pulled his gear through the snow. As we continued down the trail we first picked up his candle lantern which had spilled out of his sled, a mile further we found his batteries for his flashlight, a mile further we found his mantle for his propane lantern, and still further we found his matches. We would never have been able to catch up with him, nor would the remaining light of day allow us such an indulgence. We had no choice but to gather his things and cache them at the trail head. We thought of his planning and preparation. He had thought of all the details that he could possibly need. He had provided for himself every source of light that is available to a camper. He felt secure knowing that he was prepared. Perhaps he had not counted on the trail being so rough and uneven, the snow so deep and challenging. Perhaps in his exertion of pulling all of his energy was expended and he hadn’t thought to check on the condition of his camping gear. Can you imagine his dismay when it began to get dark and he found that he had lost all of his light.
Perhaps we can learn something from this unwary camper. We too have filled our sleds with many sources of light as we have served together as missionaries. We have learned the essential nature of scripture study, prayer, fasting, inspiration, and revelation. Yet in our journey through life we sometimes encounter rough trails, deep snow, high winds, and sometimes even a bit of discouragement. If we are not constantly checking our light source we may lose it and find ourselves in the dark, alone, and cold. It is essential that in the midst of life and all of its demands that we never forget our light source. We cannot afford to run out of light. Don’t get overwhelmed with the demands of life and ignore your need to replenish your light source. Don’t be found without any batteries, candles, matches, or mantles. We cannot successfully navigate the path of life without the illumination of the Lord’s spirit.
This is the month of Thanksgiving and we find ourselves filled with gratitude for each one of you. Sister Wappett had a wonderful experience as she met with the missionaries in Provo. It filled her cup to watch each of you sustain and strengthen your fellow missionaries. It was a remarkable experience for her to see the love that binds us all together reflected in each individual. The relationships of the mission field are eternal in nature. We can strengthen and lift one another as we all march through this life. We are excited about the Reunion because we see it as another opportunity where we can rekindle and strengthen those bonds. It is also remarkable that the mission is growing in numbers with the addition of children. The Harris’s and the Chamber’s certainly have blazed a path of eternal families and beautiful baby girls!!!! The diamonds and fiancés were great indicators of young men and women on the right path. The school packs, books, and computers reflected intelligent and aspiring students seeking excellence. It could not have been a better day.
Over the past month more and more missionaries have been utilizing the web site, www.mission.net . It is a great way to keep abreast all of the news and to stay in touch with one another. We have loved all the pictures. Beautiful baby girls must be the order of the day as we looked at the picture of Madison Garrett. What a treasure! Please encourage everyone to stay in touch through the Web Site.
We send our love to you. We are truly blessed by your friendship, examples, integrity, and strength. Watch for miracles in your lives, rely on the Lord, raise your expectations, and work hard!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Love,
President and Sister Wappett
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Hey friends... Just thought i'd catch up on how everyone's doing. I'm most definately not married yet, not for lack of effort on my part.... I've actually moved to Alberta (Utah of the North) to meet more LDS folk, and go to university. So far Brendan Wilde and Jesse Flexhaug (if anyone remembers him) are the only two i've come across that i recognize from my mission. But i'm sure i can find more. Anyways. Hope everyone's doing well. Give me a holler if you'd like at: drussell1982@hotmail.com
Love ya! Dave Russell
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Hey everybody I'm just writing to let you all know that I'm not engaged yet. I would send a picture but I don't have a digital camera! If you have any good leads I'd really appreciate it!! Just Kidding, I do my own "bird-dogging".
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Hey Everyone I just wanted to get on and annouce the Great News. I'm engaged to a Wonderful Young Lady. Her name is Roxana Law and we are going to get married on the 29th of December in the Salt Lake Temple. I'll try to post a picture.
Steve Jorgensen
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