This letter was written by Claudia Lange in Provo, Utah, in December 1969, to her parents, Marvin and Barbara Lange, in San Gabriel, California. There was no date on the letter itself, but the envelope was postmarked in Provo on Tuesday, December 16. Claudia was a freshman at Brigham Young University during the 1969-70 school year. The Grandma she refers to was her mother’s widowed mother, Bernice Dixon Fraughton (1902–1992). Aunt Pat was her mother’s sister, Patricia Fraughton Smedley. She died in 1990.
i went to Salt Lake yesterday and visited Grandma. Aunt Pat and Uncle Dan picked me up and Janine drove me home. (She’d come up for the weekend.) It was nice to see everybody. Grandma’s just thrilled with her footstool—she was really excited about it & it’s fun to watch her! She’s got the most darling new rocking chair and the cushion just matches the footstool. We had a yummy dinner and once again I got stuffed! i’m going to bring the Christmas presents home with me rather than mailing them (i hope there’s room!)
Aunt Pat is knitting a cute cap for Mike for Christmas. It’s one of those LONG caps that you can even wrap around your neck and has a ball or tassel on the end. i’m knitting a scarf for Carol for Christmas and so we sat and knitted together while watching TV (Has Brinker & the Silver Skates). There was a fire in the fireplace and Christmas decorations all around—it was truly cozy!
Right now we’re singing Christmas carols in German (Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht). i went to the German Club and they even had der Weihnachtensmann (Santa Claus)! It was jolly and everyone spoke German—even the prayer was in German! There were German goodies to eat and singing & dancing. Joyful! i met my German teacher’s wife too, she a cute little German girl he met on his mission & married.
it seems like i spend my whole life in the library and i may have to spend some more during vacation. You can’t believe my English. We’re now doing two research papers at once and the pressure is awful!! My whole life is in the library & i think i’m going crazy! i’ll be glad when this semester is over—we’re the only 115 class who’s doing this much & it’s really wearing me down! i’m so tired & i don’t get hardly any sleep.
It’s beautiful up here. Everywhere you go it’s Christmas. There are four Christmas trees in Cannon Center alone! The decorations are joyful & everywhere. It snowed for about 4 days last week and that made it even jollier!! So there was even snow for winter carnival & they didn’t have to cart any in for the snow sculptures! (they’ve had to for the past 3 years, but not this year!)
Showing posts with label Written in 1969. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Written in 1969. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
27. To My Family
A short note to my family in Nampa, Idaho, written from the Ramos area in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, December 15, 1969.
Dear family,
Time is short. This is a quick note only. A Christmas greeting comes under separate cover. Saturday we baptized a man a member of the Church that we had taught during the past three weeks. His wife has not yet joined because she cannot read and because health has prevented her attendance at church. She does have somewhat of a testimony already though. They are such sweet wonderful people that love us to pieces.
Also Saturday a thief came into our room while we were sleeping and stole two pairs of pants and our two watches. I guess he thought the pants had money in the pockets. They didn’t. The only thing that makes me feel bad is that it was Dad’s watch.
In three more days I mark the year point of being in Brazil. You know what that means? I will be home soon. Time is running out. Have a merry holiday season and may God bless you ever more richly.
Dear family,
Time is short. This is a quick note only. A Christmas greeting comes under separate cover. Saturday we baptized a man a member of the Church that we had taught during the past three weeks. His wife has not yet joined because she cannot read and because health has prevented her attendance at church. She does have somewhat of a testimony already though. They are such sweet wonderful people that love us to pieces.
Also Saturday a thief came into our room while we were sleeping and stole two pairs of pants and our two watches. I guess he thought the pants had money in the pockets. They didn’t. The only thing that makes me feel bad is that it was Dad’s watch.
In three more days I mark the year point of being in Brazil. You know what that means? I will be home soon. Time is running out. Have a merry holiday season and may God bless you ever more richly.
26. To My Family
A letter to my family in Nampa, Idaho, written from the Ramos area of Rio de Janeiro on Monday, October 27, 1969.
Dear family,
Actually I should probably not tell you, because it will just make you worry, but I need to let you know how things are going. For the past two weeks I have had a rather heavy cold hanging on. Today the doctor diagnosed it as a bronchial infection, commonly called bronchitis. He prescribed all the necessary medicine, which should have me well within four or five days (by the time you receive this letter).
Also I had another toe operation this morning. The toenail that was removed last December started causing infection again and so the doctor thought it best to remove it again. The reason was not because it was ingrown, as everybody thought, but because of some sort of fungus in the toenail. For the next thirty to forty days I have a medicine to take that is supposed to eliminate that.
Other than all that, I am feeling great. It is great being a missionary. Saturday my companion and I had the opportunity to baptize and confirm a man we had taught during the preceding three weeks. His baptism was a wonderful occasion and topped off the marvelous experiences had working with him.
One special blessing from being district leader is the responsibility to interview every candidate for baptism within the district. Every time is a new and different experience.
On Wednesday or Thursday of this week I will receive a new companion fresh from the States. My present companion, Elder Edward Staker, from Mount Pleasant, Utah, leaves this evening for Vitória, a city eight or nine hours by bus from Rio. He has been my companion since mid-September, having arrived in Brazil two weeks before then. He will be a good missionary, I am confident, because he is a hard worker and dedicated.
Every month each district in the mission is rated in relationship to all the others according to a scale determined by number of baptisms, number of hours worked, number of people contacted, and number of lessons taught. The Ramos District was rated in September, after I had presided over it as district leader for two weeks, as thirteenth out of twenty-five. For October we lead the mission as number one on the list. Our baptismal goal was nine people for the month, and the district baptized fourteen. The big challenge now is to remain faithful, spiritual, hard working, and continue seeking for the Lord’s blessings for these good people.
Thanks for all you are and mean to me. Your support and love are very real forces. I want to express my gratitude and love to you, especially Dad and Mom, for the “good life” to which I was introduced. A lady we taught yesterday asked me to send her congratulations and an abraço to my mother for the fine job she did in raising such a good son. I don’t deserve it, but my mother does, so I promised that I would.
May heaven bless you richly.
Dear family,
Actually I should probably not tell you, because it will just make you worry, but I need to let you know how things are going. For the past two weeks I have had a rather heavy cold hanging on. Today the doctor diagnosed it as a bronchial infection, commonly called bronchitis. He prescribed all the necessary medicine, which should have me well within four or five days (by the time you receive this letter).
Also I had another toe operation this morning. The toenail that was removed last December started causing infection again and so the doctor thought it best to remove it again. The reason was not because it was ingrown, as everybody thought, but because of some sort of fungus in the toenail. For the next thirty to forty days I have a medicine to take that is supposed to eliminate that.
Other than all that, I am feeling great. It is great being a missionary. Saturday my companion and I had the opportunity to baptize and confirm a man we had taught during the preceding three weeks. His baptism was a wonderful occasion and topped off the marvelous experiences had working with him.
One special blessing from being district leader is the responsibility to interview every candidate for baptism within the district. Every time is a new and different experience.
On Wednesday or Thursday of this week I will receive a new companion fresh from the States. My present companion, Elder Edward Staker, from Mount Pleasant, Utah, leaves this evening for Vitória, a city eight or nine hours by bus from Rio. He has been my companion since mid-September, having arrived in Brazil two weeks before then. He will be a good missionary, I am confident, because he is a hard worker and dedicated.
Every month each district in the mission is rated in relationship to all the others according to a scale determined by number of baptisms, number of hours worked, number of people contacted, and number of lessons taught. The Ramos District was rated in September, after I had presided over it as district leader for two weeks, as thirteenth out of twenty-five. For October we lead the mission as number one on the list. Our baptismal goal was nine people for the month, and the district baptized fourteen. The big challenge now is to remain faithful, spiritual, hard working, and continue seeking for the Lord’s blessings for these good people.
Thanks for all you are and mean to me. Your support and love are very real forces. I want to express my gratitude and love to you, especially Dad and Mom, for the “good life” to which I was introduced. A lady we taught yesterday asked me to send her congratulations and an abraço to my mother for the fine job she did in raising such a good son. I don’t deserve it, but my mother does, so I promised that I would.
May heaven bless you richly.
25. To My Family
An excerpt from a letter to my family in Nampa, Idaho, written from the Ramos area of Rio de Janeiro on Monday, October 20, 1969. In my journal I prefaced the letter with this explanation, “I wrote a letter to my family today and pretty much reported on the quarterly district conference and the goals President Johnson outlined. I continued:”
At the conference I saw again many wonderful friends from other branches I have worked in. Especially good to see is that every family I have helped baptize is active and progressing in the Church. Following the conference I had the wonderful opportunity to baptize a lady and her daughter we taught while working in the mission office. The father and son of this family we baptized in August. It was simply thrilling to see this lady finally enter the waters of baptism. Next Saturday we will baptize one more man we have just finished teaching.
I do not like to be the ungrateful type, and I am the first to recognize that any and all success we are meeting here is due directly to the Lord and the workings of His Holy Spirit on the hearts of men. This is His work, not man’s. It is the Holy Ghost that converts, not us. We are such unworthy servants.
Thanks for your support, love, and prayers. I love to receive your letters. Don’t forget us in your prayers. May heaven’s blessings be with you.
At the conference I saw again many wonderful friends from other branches I have worked in. Especially good to see is that every family I have helped baptize is active and progressing in the Church. Following the conference I had the wonderful opportunity to baptize a lady and her daughter we taught while working in the mission office. The father and son of this family we baptized in August. It was simply thrilling to see this lady finally enter the waters of baptism. Next Saturday we will baptize one more man we have just finished teaching.
I do not like to be the ungrateful type, and I am the first to recognize that any and all success we are meeting here is due directly to the Lord and the workings of His Holy Spirit on the hearts of men. This is His work, not man’s. It is the Holy Ghost that converts, not us. We are such unworthy servants.
Thanks for your support, love, and prayers. I love to receive your letters. Don’t forget us in your prayers. May heaven’s blessings be with you.
24. From Elder Jim Dallas
Excerpts from a letter written by Jim Dallas, my roommate from the previous year at Brigham Young University, who was then serving a mission in Sweden. I quoted parts of his letter in my missionary journal under date of August 20, 1969.
Congratulations on your being part of bringing your wonderful family into the Church. Doubt I’ll ever be privileged to see one that large come in here as Swedes on the whole only have two or three kids per family. But our Heavenly Father has allowed me to be with and teach two fine young men and a Danish family who joined the Church. Isn’t it wonderful to be a missionary!
Elder Dallas and his companion had traveled all over Sweden with a display containing a pictorial explanation of the Church. Their work is directed mostly towards young people and young families by using the MIA. He added:
It was one of the choicest learning experiences of my life to be a guide and street contactor with the display, and now most of our proselyting time is dedicated to looking up and teaching the visitors who left their names and addresses.
Congratulations on your being part of bringing your wonderful family into the Church. Doubt I’ll ever be privileged to see one that large come in here as Swedes on the whole only have two or three kids per family. But our Heavenly Father has allowed me to be with and teach two fine young men and a Danish family who joined the Church. Isn’t it wonderful to be a missionary!
Elder Dallas and his companion had traveled all over Sweden with a display containing a pictorial explanation of the Church. Their work is directed mostly towards young people and young families by using the MIA. He added:
It was one of the choicest learning experiences of my life to be a guide and street contactor with the display, and now most of our proselyting time is dedicated to looking up and teaching the visitors who left their names and addresses.
23. To My Family
A letter to my family in Nampa, Idaho, written in the mission office in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, July 21, 1969, two days after my twentieth birthday and one day after man’s historic first step on the moon.
Saturday I received one of the best birthday presents any person could ever receive—we held a baptism service, and I baptized a lady and her eight-year-old son members of the Church. It was exactly three weeks ago yesterday that we first spoke with her about the Church, but she had been prepared and when the message of the Restoration came she gladly answered. You cannot imagine how fantastic she is.
Yesterday in the district quarterly conference (a district is like a stake, except still part of a mission) she was sustained as first counselor in the MIA presidency of both the district and mission. That is pretty good progression, considering she was only a member one day. Her name is Maria Yolanda de Souza and her son’s name is Marcos, also a fantastic little kid. Someday he will be a bishop or stake president here in Rio de Janeiro. Therefore, as you can imagine the happiness that comes to a young man when he sees someone embracing the gospel, you can understand how thrilled I was to receive such an honor as a birthday gift.
As I mentioned, yesterday were the concluding sessions of the quarterly district conference of the Rio de Janeiro District. The Saints from the states of Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro, and Espírito Santo (study your maps) all gathered in the district center chapel. It is always a thrill to meet with the Saints assembled in conference. It is just as great to hear members of the Church stand and sing “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet” and “Come, Come, Ye Saints” in Portuguese as in English, or any other language, I suppose. The gospel is the same in any language and in any corner of the earth. Before and after conference I was able to see again many of the members from the Petrópolis Branch (where I first labored) and renew those friendships.
Yesterday, July 20, man first stepped onto the moon. A dream of centuries has been realized within sixty-six years after man’s first heavier-than-air flight at Kitty Hawk on that December morning in 1903. In just a lifetime fantasy has become reality. What will that many more years bring? We are living in an exciting age, in adventurous times.
In two weeks, on August 2, is my companion’s twentieth birthday (his name is Monte Stewart). Like a good companion’s family should, you ought to send him a birthday card or short note saying Happy Birthday. I would appreciate it. Thanks for everything. So long for now.
Saturday I received one of the best birthday presents any person could ever receive—we held a baptism service, and I baptized a lady and her eight-year-old son members of the Church. It was exactly three weeks ago yesterday that we first spoke with her about the Church, but she had been prepared and when the message of the Restoration came she gladly answered. You cannot imagine how fantastic she is.
Yesterday in the district quarterly conference (a district is like a stake, except still part of a mission) she was sustained as first counselor in the MIA presidency of both the district and mission. That is pretty good progression, considering she was only a member one day. Her name is Maria Yolanda de Souza and her son’s name is Marcos, also a fantastic little kid. Someday he will be a bishop or stake president here in Rio de Janeiro. Therefore, as you can imagine the happiness that comes to a young man when he sees someone embracing the gospel, you can understand how thrilled I was to receive such an honor as a birthday gift.
As I mentioned, yesterday were the concluding sessions of the quarterly district conference of the Rio de Janeiro District. The Saints from the states of Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro, and Espírito Santo (study your maps) all gathered in the district center chapel. It is always a thrill to meet with the Saints assembled in conference. It is just as great to hear members of the Church stand and sing “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet” and “Come, Come, Ye Saints” in Portuguese as in English, or any other language, I suppose. The gospel is the same in any language and in any corner of the earth. Before and after conference I was able to see again many of the members from the Petrópolis Branch (where I first labored) and renew those friendships.
Yesterday, July 20, man first stepped onto the moon. A dream of centuries has been realized within sixty-six years after man’s first heavier-than-air flight at Kitty Hawk on that December morning in 1903. In just a lifetime fantasy has become reality. What will that many more years bring? We are living in an exciting age, in adventurous times.
In two weeks, on August 2, is my companion’s twentieth birthday (his name is Monte Stewart). Like a good companion’s family should, you ought to send him a birthday card or short note saying Happy Birthday. I would appreciate it. Thanks for everything. So long for now.
22. To Jerry
A letter to my brother Jerry in Boise, Idaho, written in the mission office in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, June 30, 1969.
Dear Jerry,
“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. A sunset, a mountain bathed in moonlight, the ocean in calm and in storm—we see these, love their beauty, hold the vision in our hearts. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” Thanks for that beautiful message from Helen Keller, which you sent on the occasion of your birthday. I am most appreciative.
This week also brought a letter you sent over a month ago. It is the one in which you mentioned the flower you sent to Karen for me on May 19—having heard nothing from either of you I was beginning to wonder what had happened. You also made reference to a letter that would be in the mail in a few days explaining your newfound happiness—that has never arrived. But just from your letters I can tell you are happy and I am glad for it. One of the few things that would make me even happier would be to read that you would be getting married. Anyway, I am glad to know you are busy and truly happy and dreaming the dreams of the future.
History was made in Rio de Janeiro last Thursday afternoon when the gospel was preached for the first time openly in the streets of this city. In one of the praças (public squares) we held a street meeting. Eight elders participated. One elder would tell the Book of Mormon story and the history of the Restoration in English (to attract attention) while another elder would translate into Portuguese. The rest of us would mingle in the crowds answering questions, explaining more about the Church, and trying to sell the Book of Mormon. In just over an hour we sold eleven copies of the Book of Mormon. We also had some stands up with giant posters explaining the Restoration and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. These helped attract interest also. We were in a poor praça, but we felt it was a success. At the end we were rained out. This marks a beginning of a new era of preaching the gospel here in this nation.
Thanks for all your support and interests in every way. Know of my love and respect for you. May the blessings of heaven continue with you.
Dear Jerry,
“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. A sunset, a mountain bathed in moonlight, the ocean in calm and in storm—we see these, love their beauty, hold the vision in our hearts. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” Thanks for that beautiful message from Helen Keller, which you sent on the occasion of your birthday. I am most appreciative.
This week also brought a letter you sent over a month ago. It is the one in which you mentioned the flower you sent to Karen for me on May 19—having heard nothing from either of you I was beginning to wonder what had happened. You also made reference to a letter that would be in the mail in a few days explaining your newfound happiness—that has never arrived. But just from your letters I can tell you are happy and I am glad for it. One of the few things that would make me even happier would be to read that you would be getting married. Anyway, I am glad to know you are busy and truly happy and dreaming the dreams of the future.
History was made in Rio de Janeiro last Thursday afternoon when the gospel was preached for the first time openly in the streets of this city. In one of the praças (public squares) we held a street meeting. Eight elders participated. One elder would tell the Book of Mormon story and the history of the Restoration in English (to attract attention) while another elder would translate into Portuguese. The rest of us would mingle in the crowds answering questions, explaining more about the Church, and trying to sell the Book of Mormon. In just over an hour we sold eleven copies of the Book of Mormon. We also had some stands up with giant posters explaining the Restoration and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. These helped attract interest also. We were in a poor praça, but we felt it was a success. At the end we were rained out. This marks a beginning of a new era of preaching the gospel here in this nation.
Thanks for all your support and interests in every way. Know of my love and respect for you. May the blessings of heaven continue with you.
21. From Elder Dave LeSueur
An excerpt from a letter I received while serving in Rio de Janeiro in June 1969 from Dave LeSueur, a friend from my freshman year at Brigham Young University, who was then serving in the Franco-Belgian Mission.
The Church, and Church members, are the same, the world over, and I’m sure our experiences are very similar in some cases. I have spent all of my mission so far in Belgium. The people are polite, and once you are friends, you are treated as a member of the family. Like much of the world, the people are tied down by traditions.
I quoted this paragraph in my missionary journal under date of June 4, 1969, and then wrote:
“That last line is significant. Although the Brazilian people are warm and friendly and not really Catholics, they are still bound by traditions. Joseph Smith gives a stinging denunciation of traditions, speaking of persecutions ‘supported and urged on and upheld by the influence of that spirit which hath so strongly riveted the creeds of the fathers, who have inherited lies, upon the hearts of the children, and filled the whole world with confusion, and has been growing stronger and stronger, and is now the mainspring of all corruption, and the whole earth groans under the weight of its iniquity. It is an iron yoke, it is a strong band; they are the very handcuffs, and chains, and shackles, and fetters of hell’ (D&C 123:7–8).”
The Church, and Church members, are the same, the world over, and I’m sure our experiences are very similar in some cases. I have spent all of my mission so far in Belgium. The people are polite, and once you are friends, you are treated as a member of the family. Like much of the world, the people are tied down by traditions.
I quoted this paragraph in my missionary journal under date of June 4, 1969, and then wrote:
“That last line is significant. Although the Brazilian people are warm and friendly and not really Catholics, they are still bound by traditions. Joseph Smith gives a stinging denunciation of traditions, speaking of persecutions ‘supported and urged on and upheld by the influence of that spirit which hath so strongly riveted the creeds of the fathers, who have inherited lies, upon the hearts of the children, and filled the whole world with confusion, and has been growing stronger and stronger, and is now the mainspring of all corruption, and the whole earth groans under the weight of its iniquity. It is an iron yoke, it is a strong band; they are the very handcuffs, and chains, and shackles, and fetters of hell’ (D&C 123:7–8).”
20. To My Family
A letter to my family in Idaho, written in the mission office in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, April 28, 1969.
Here it is almost another new month and, proverbially, time continues pushing onward. At times it is nearly frightening to see life slipping away so quickly and upon us devolves the responsibility to use it wisely and effectively. Life cannot be hoarded or saved away or guarded. To really live we need to give life away to others freely and unselfishly, not counting the gifts we give to brighten other lives, to lessen others’ worries, to lighten others’ loads. Happiness, the end and design of our existence, is promised to us, is ours if we lose ourselves in the service of others.
No word has reached me yet as to whether or not you received the tape I sent at the end of March. I certainly hope it has arrived by now and you have had the opportunity to listen to it and are planning to return it with your recorded voices soon. This reminds me of another thing: I have no pictures of the family with me here in Brazil and could use them at times. Did you happen to take any pictures when everyone was gathered at Thanksgiving? You might send some sort of something to me.
For nearly a month we have been working with a wonderful family of ten people, teaching them, praying and fasting for them and with them, struggling to help them appreciate the beauty of the gospel message. Yesterday at Sunday School he told us he was ready to be baptized and that he and his wife and the four oldest children (those over eight) would be baptized next Saturday. That certainly made us happy. If only I could share with you what a neat family they are and how the gospel has already literally changed their lives for better!
I am more amazed each new day at how the gospel touches peoples’ lives, changes their hearts. In any part of the world—whether Brazil or Samoa or Germany or Idaho or Vietnam—the gospel is working miracles in the lives of the simple and the meek and the humble people of the earth. It is simply marvelous to see the great brotherhood that the priesthood binds together in every land. Love and peace and joy are the fruits of true religion. There is a prophet upon the earth in our day (I sometimes think we do not really appreciate what that means), and he is speaking with God, and the Lord is speaking through him to us as a Church and to the world at large.
At the last general conference of the Church the Prophet again emphasized the home and its importance to all of this. Unfortunately, we only hear about what he said and have not been able to read it, but his life and his teachings have emphasized this theme for years—by word and example. Why? Because we need it so badly? The Lord has commanded us to make our homes a heaven on earth. But He has also commanded us to be perfect like He is, and it is impossible to comply with that important commandment, as possible as it is to be perfect, unless we can live the “little” things. The Lord has told us to have weekly family home evenings and yet the Church response has been discouragingly low, especially is it noticeable in places like here in Brazil. But the families obeying this commandment are reaping richly the rewards and are walking close to perfection.
An assurance of exaltation is possible in this life. We are commanded to make our calling and election sure, to become perfect before the Lord. If you will search the Doctrine and Covenants, you can see that we are expected to see the Lord in this life, in the flesh. That is a fantastic promise and a glorious one. We are here to walk and live by the Spirit, not trust in the arm of flesh.
Except for Jerry, it has been quite a significant time since I have heard from anybody. Probably the mail systems are just slow. As usually happens, mail may come tomorrow or Wednesday—always coming soon after I write and say I am not receiving anything. Thanks for your support and your faithfulness and interests in my behalf. And so until next month, I say good-bye once again. May the Lord bless you with every needful blessing. My love and prayers remember you. May the elephant of happiness stomp heavily on your toes.
Here it is almost another new month and, proverbially, time continues pushing onward. At times it is nearly frightening to see life slipping away so quickly and upon us devolves the responsibility to use it wisely and effectively. Life cannot be hoarded or saved away or guarded. To really live we need to give life away to others freely and unselfishly, not counting the gifts we give to brighten other lives, to lessen others’ worries, to lighten others’ loads. Happiness, the end and design of our existence, is promised to us, is ours if we lose ourselves in the service of others.
No word has reached me yet as to whether or not you received the tape I sent at the end of March. I certainly hope it has arrived by now and you have had the opportunity to listen to it and are planning to return it with your recorded voices soon. This reminds me of another thing: I have no pictures of the family with me here in Brazil and could use them at times. Did you happen to take any pictures when everyone was gathered at Thanksgiving? You might send some sort of something to me.
For nearly a month we have been working with a wonderful family of ten people, teaching them, praying and fasting for them and with them, struggling to help them appreciate the beauty of the gospel message. Yesterday at Sunday School he told us he was ready to be baptized and that he and his wife and the four oldest children (those over eight) would be baptized next Saturday. That certainly made us happy. If only I could share with you what a neat family they are and how the gospel has already literally changed their lives for better!
I am more amazed each new day at how the gospel touches peoples’ lives, changes their hearts. In any part of the world—whether Brazil or Samoa or Germany or Idaho or Vietnam—the gospel is working miracles in the lives of the simple and the meek and the humble people of the earth. It is simply marvelous to see the great brotherhood that the priesthood binds together in every land. Love and peace and joy are the fruits of true religion. There is a prophet upon the earth in our day (I sometimes think we do not really appreciate what that means), and he is speaking with God, and the Lord is speaking through him to us as a Church and to the world at large.
At the last general conference of the Church the Prophet again emphasized the home and its importance to all of this. Unfortunately, we only hear about what he said and have not been able to read it, but his life and his teachings have emphasized this theme for years—by word and example. Why? Because we need it so badly? The Lord has commanded us to make our homes a heaven on earth. But He has also commanded us to be perfect like He is, and it is impossible to comply with that important commandment, as possible as it is to be perfect, unless we can live the “little” things. The Lord has told us to have weekly family home evenings and yet the Church response has been discouragingly low, especially is it noticeable in places like here in Brazil. But the families obeying this commandment are reaping richly the rewards and are walking close to perfection.
An assurance of exaltation is possible in this life. We are commanded to make our calling and election sure, to become perfect before the Lord. If you will search the Doctrine and Covenants, you can see that we are expected to see the Lord in this life, in the flesh. That is a fantastic promise and a glorious one. We are here to walk and live by the Spirit, not trust in the arm of flesh.
Except for Jerry, it has been quite a significant time since I have heard from anybody. Probably the mail systems are just slow. As usually happens, mail may come tomorrow or Wednesday—always coming soon after I write and say I am not receiving anything. Thanks for your support and your faithfulness and interests in my behalf. And so until next month, I say good-bye once again. May the Lord bless you with every needful blessing. My love and prayers remember you. May the elephant of happiness stomp heavily on your toes.
19. To My Family
A letter to my family in Nampa, Idaho, written in the mission office in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, March 31, 1969.
Well, here it is the end of another month and time pushes relentlessly onward. Within the next week will be realized some of the greatest—if not the greatest—anniversaries ever commemorated by man. This is an exciting time of year. April 6 we recognize as the date of the Savior’s birth and as the foundation date of the Church in this dispensation. Appropriately enough, the Church will be assembled in another annual general conference—declaring to the world the glorious message of the gospel and its restoration.
This year Easter happens to fall on April 6 (probably the date of the first Easter), and we pause in profound remembrance of the triumphant victory over death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As with Job we can confidently exclaim: “I know that my Redeemer lives” (see Job 19:25).
President McKay lists a testimony of the divinity of Christ and of this latter-day work as among our greatest possessions. And so it is. My knowledge that God lives, that Jesus Christ is my Savior, that the gospel has been restored, that we can behold the Savior even in this life—which knowledge is but revelation from God Himself—all these lend to life purpose, dignity, and peace.
Last Monday I prepared and sent you a tape instead of a letter. I hope you have already received it. When you borrow a tape recorder to play it—if you haven’t yet—find one that plays 1f speed because that was what it was recorded on. You might dig out my little tape recorder (without messing up the box of stuff that it is in) if you want to buy new batteries. However, I do not know what speed it plays. To return the tape, send it airmail first-class. If the cost is not too prohibitive, you could even send it registered just to make sure (although this is just an added precaution and not really essential). On the outside write: TAPE WITHOUT VALUE / FITA SEM VALOR.
Thanks for the letters. Mom and Jerry are the most faithful in that department. Since you realize I keep pretty busy here, I hope you share all these letters with Ray and Sheryl and with Gene and Cheryl. I cannot write them each as often as I would like.
To answer a few questions from Mom’s letter: No, we do not live in the mission home now, although we eat our noon meal there every day. We are living with a nonmember Brazilian family a few blocks away. The dona (landlady) certainly is nice to us—like last night she happened to find the Tabernacle Choir program on the radio and came and told us and had us listen and fixed us some hot chocolate and cake. She is always doing things like that.
Prices are still running about the same. The cruzeiro is inflating pretty fast. When I came in December a U.S. dollar equaled 3.02 new cruzeiros (NCR$). Already it is at NCR$3.97 (or a cruzeiro novo equals about 25 cents). The bill I am including is worth about ¼ cent. The Americans here call it 10 beans because that is probably about all it is worth. The largest denomination printed (10,000 cruzeiros or 10 cruzeiros novos) is about $2.50 in U.S. value.
The stamp on the outside of some of my letters—Leia o Livro de Mormon, o livro mais interessante no mundo—simply means, “Read the Book of Mormon, the most interesting book in the world.” There you just learned a little bit of Portuguese.
The name of the Church in Portuguese is A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias, this differing from the name in Spanish, La Iglesia de Jesuscristo do Los Santos de Los Últimos Dias. Brazilians can both read and listen to Spanish and understand over eighty percent of it, but Spanish-speaking people cannot understand Portuguese. The grammar of the two languages is similar, although Portuguese is somewhat more complex. In reality the Portuguese language is probably closer to Italian. I can understand a person speaking Spanish—yet it sounds like Portuguese being spoken with a serious speech impediment because of the differing pronunciation.
As in the United States, German was nearly the national language in Brazil. In the U.S. the Continental Congress decided by only one vote to remain with English rather than change to German. That was how close we were to being German-speaking. German would have been the language now of half the people of South America had not it been banned by the Brazilian government during World War II because of anti-Kraut sentiments.
Well, both time and space are gone again. And so until next week, may the Lord be with and bless you.
Well, here it is the end of another month and time pushes relentlessly onward. Within the next week will be realized some of the greatest—if not the greatest—anniversaries ever commemorated by man. This is an exciting time of year. April 6 we recognize as the date of the Savior’s birth and as the foundation date of the Church in this dispensation. Appropriately enough, the Church will be assembled in another annual general conference—declaring to the world the glorious message of the gospel and its restoration.
This year Easter happens to fall on April 6 (probably the date of the first Easter), and we pause in profound remembrance of the triumphant victory over death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As with Job we can confidently exclaim: “I know that my Redeemer lives” (see Job 19:25).
President McKay lists a testimony of the divinity of Christ and of this latter-day work as among our greatest possessions. And so it is. My knowledge that God lives, that Jesus Christ is my Savior, that the gospel has been restored, that we can behold the Savior even in this life—which knowledge is but revelation from God Himself—all these lend to life purpose, dignity, and peace.
Last Monday I prepared and sent you a tape instead of a letter. I hope you have already received it. When you borrow a tape recorder to play it—if you haven’t yet—find one that plays 1f speed because that was what it was recorded on. You might dig out my little tape recorder (without messing up the box of stuff that it is in) if you want to buy new batteries. However, I do not know what speed it plays. To return the tape, send it airmail first-class. If the cost is not too prohibitive, you could even send it registered just to make sure (although this is just an added precaution and not really essential). On the outside write: TAPE WITHOUT VALUE / FITA SEM VALOR.
Thanks for the letters. Mom and Jerry are the most faithful in that department. Since you realize I keep pretty busy here, I hope you share all these letters with Ray and Sheryl and with Gene and Cheryl. I cannot write them each as often as I would like.
To answer a few questions from Mom’s letter: No, we do not live in the mission home now, although we eat our noon meal there every day. We are living with a nonmember Brazilian family a few blocks away. The dona (landlady) certainly is nice to us—like last night she happened to find the Tabernacle Choir program on the radio and came and told us and had us listen and fixed us some hot chocolate and cake. She is always doing things like that.
Prices are still running about the same. The cruzeiro is inflating pretty fast. When I came in December a U.S. dollar equaled 3.02 new cruzeiros (NCR$). Already it is at NCR$3.97 (or a cruzeiro novo equals about 25 cents). The bill I am including is worth about ¼ cent. The Americans here call it 10 beans because that is probably about all it is worth. The largest denomination printed (10,000 cruzeiros or 10 cruzeiros novos) is about $2.50 in U.S. value.
The stamp on the outside of some of my letters—Leia o Livro de Mormon, o livro mais interessante no mundo—simply means, “Read the Book of Mormon, the most interesting book in the world.” There you just learned a little bit of Portuguese.
The name of the Church in Portuguese is A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias, this differing from the name in Spanish, La Iglesia de Jesuscristo do Los Santos de Los Últimos Dias. Brazilians can both read and listen to Spanish and understand over eighty percent of it, but Spanish-speaking people cannot understand Portuguese. The grammar of the two languages is similar, although Portuguese is somewhat more complex. In reality the Portuguese language is probably closer to Italian. I can understand a person speaking Spanish—yet it sounds like Portuguese being spoken with a serious speech impediment because of the differing pronunciation.
As in the United States, German was nearly the national language in Brazil. In the U.S. the Continental Congress decided by only one vote to remain with English rather than change to German. That was how close we were to being German-speaking. German would have been the language now of half the people of South America had not it been banned by the Brazilian government during World War II because of anti-Kraut sentiments.
Well, both time and space are gone again. And so until next week, may the Lord be with and bless you.
18. To Jerry
A letter to my brother Jerry in Boise, Idaho, written from the mission office in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, March 31, 1969.
Dear Jerry,
Once again I am glad to be hearing from you. I do not understand exactly why your letters have not been coming through, but I am glad to know you have been writing every week. Certainly you are always welcome to ramble to me (that is what brothers are for), but I wish sometimes you would ramble in a little more detail. Just as an example, who is Lareen?
You spent most of your last letter speaking about your problem—a moral problem as you termed it—and the complications that was creating. You said that after three days of fasting, prayer, the Lord’s help, Lareen’s help, you made the choice and the change. Would it be out of place to ask what were the choice and the change? I do not need to know of the past if you do not care to relate it (especially if repentance has been involved), but I really am interested in more information about whatever is going on.
Although you suggested I did not know what was going on, I think that I am aware of more than you ever would have realized. As a person tries to serve the Lord and tries to live by the Spirit (which you remember I spoke of often last summer), he has greater abilities given him to discern between light and darkness, between good and evil. I was aware of some problem that was not of the Lord that was blocking further progress in your life—that must have been what you were referring to. I even think I know the sort of problem it may have been, but I need not go into that here. I will rely on reticence here also.
Enough of such rambling—I guess I do a lot of rambling too. Since this conference season I will not be able to participate, please write following the sessions to give a detailed report of the proceedings. It will be July or even later before we will have the June Improvement Era with the messages from the Brethren and the Prophet. And so please fill me in on every exciting detail concerned with the conference.
Are you saving your pennies? You always used to say you would come to meet me at the end of my mission. Brazil is a super exciting place that you would like to visit. I have no idea how much it would cost (probably $600 or $800 round trip), but it is interesting to think about.
Unfortunately my time is running short today and this will have to end now. I was saddened to hear of President Eisenhower’s death. What were the details of that? Know of my prayers and love in your behalf.
Dear Jerry,
Once again I am glad to be hearing from you. I do not understand exactly why your letters have not been coming through, but I am glad to know you have been writing every week. Certainly you are always welcome to ramble to me (that is what brothers are for), but I wish sometimes you would ramble in a little more detail. Just as an example, who is Lareen?
You spent most of your last letter speaking about your problem—a moral problem as you termed it—and the complications that was creating. You said that after three days of fasting, prayer, the Lord’s help, Lareen’s help, you made the choice and the change. Would it be out of place to ask what were the choice and the change? I do not need to know of the past if you do not care to relate it (especially if repentance has been involved), but I really am interested in more information about whatever is going on.
Although you suggested I did not know what was going on, I think that I am aware of more than you ever would have realized. As a person tries to serve the Lord and tries to live by the Spirit (which you remember I spoke of often last summer), he has greater abilities given him to discern between light and darkness, between good and evil. I was aware of some problem that was not of the Lord that was blocking further progress in your life—that must have been what you were referring to. I even think I know the sort of problem it may have been, but I need not go into that here. I will rely on reticence here also.
Enough of such rambling—I guess I do a lot of rambling too. Since this conference season I will not be able to participate, please write following the sessions to give a detailed report of the proceedings. It will be July or even later before we will have the June Improvement Era with the messages from the Brethren and the Prophet. And so please fill me in on every exciting detail concerned with the conference.
Are you saving your pennies? You always used to say you would come to meet me at the end of my mission. Brazil is a super exciting place that you would like to visit. I have no idea how much it would cost (probably $600 or $800 round trip), but it is interesting to think about.
Unfortunately my time is running short today and this will have to end now. I was saddened to hear of President Eisenhower’s death. What were the details of that? Know of my prayers and love in your behalf.
17. From Elder Steve Hill
An excerpt from a letter I received while serving in Rio de Janeiro in February 1969 from Steven J. Hill, a friend from my freshman year at Brigham Young University, who was then serving in the Germany South Mission. I quoted this paragraph in my missionary journal under date of February 22, 1969, and then stated, “There was much more, but this most impressed me.”
We’ve met some good people, but as a whole the race seems somehow awkward and disgustingly, though I suppose understandably, bound by tradition. I have, though it’s been a fight, developed a much stronger testimony, one I can never deny. I’ve developed a tremendous appreciation for the Prophet Joseph Smith, and a greater understanding of the mission of the Savior, and therein gratitude and appreciation for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We’ve met some good people, but as a whole the race seems somehow awkward and disgustingly, though I suppose understandably, bound by tradition. I have, though it’s been a fight, developed a much stronger testimony, one I can never deny. I’ve developed a tremendous appreciation for the Prophet Joseph Smith, and a greater understanding of the mission of the Savior, and therein gratitude and appreciation for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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