First of all, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers that read this. 

Happy Birthday to Dad, and to David, and to Becky. I think that's all 

the immediate family business that I have. Oh: Congradulations to 

Sandra on graduating (and Cindy). Write me a letter, eh?

I find it interesting that you suggest that I often read my 

patriarchal blessing. Actually, I've started a project where I'm 

trying to add footnotes to it (previously I put it in scriptural 

format). So I read it often, and usually try to connect things with 

the scriptures.

So snowing and then sunny and then snowing. Crazy weather. Sounds 

like Logan. We've had quite a bit of rain, but now it's hot and 

humid. And it's only May. My companion will be carrying me in his 

scripture case in August. But by that time, I'll almost be a year 

out. Just two summers to get through.... Apparently we had 

tornado-potential weather here. I saw a wicked cool cloud formation 

Friday evening. There were a bunch of smooth clouds, and right next 

to them, a bunch of dark, turbulent ones. I wish I had my camera at 

the time. Hopefully it happens again so that I can get a picture.

Adventures this week? Well, we got yelled at by a few people (all 

Americans...jerks). I found that the best way to deal with them is 

just to say: I hope your day goes better. Just to try and imply that 

they're being unnecessarily rude, without being rude. Elder 

Valai-Tafuga and I talked to an old couple that went to the Church of 

Christ, who didn't understand why we need a Bible. They did state 

that their church was the true one, and that it was written in the 

Bible (but they didn't tell me where). Why do we need the Book of 

Mormon? There are 106 churches in Springdale that use the same exact 

book, but teach different things. That's why we need the Book of 

Mormon. They kind of laughed at my testimony, but I wasn't phased. No 

one really liked me before my mission; no reason why people should 

like me now.

We had a Zone Conference on Saturday that was all about the Book of 

Mormon. When it comes down to it, any objection to the Church resides 

on the issue of whether or not Joseph Smith was a prophet, which the 

Book of Mormon testifies of. Why do people here love the Bible so 

much? Because the prophets that wrote it are dead. They can construe 

their words any way they want to. But the Book of Mormon implies that 

there is a prophet today, receiving revelation from God Himself, 

telling us that we need to repent and come unto Christ. People like 

the coming unto Christ part, but not the repenting part. That's why 

people don't like the Book of Mormon: it implies that there is only 

one correct way for salvation, and that it isn't their way, even if 

their way does use Christ in some way.

Tell President Davis that we do not quote the Standard of Truth 

everyday. In fact, we don't quote anything every day. But we do quote 

Doctrine and Covenants Chapter 4 and My Purpose from Preach My Gospel 

at every District Meeting and Zone Conference.

Anyway, since Mom sent me a bunch of stuff I had on my birthday wish 

list, here's a revised version. Anything not sent by June I might buy 

myself....

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Laminate the cover and put it 

next to my other Harry Potter books. I'll read it when I get home.

MoTab - Hymns of Faith II (CD)

Marshall McDonald and Seven Sharp Nelson - More Holiness Give Me (CD)

Socks (4 pairs, they were like $3/pair when we bought 'em)

Shirts (probably just one or two short-sleeved, size 17. I should be 

okay, though.)

Creamed Honey (can always use more)

Kool-Aid - Mango, Tamarindo, and Jamaica.

Spoken Marshallese

Dictionary (with word etymologies, but I'll try and find a good one 

at a thrift store)

That's about it. I'm planning on buying the CDs on my own.

Anyway, thanks for the package, the letters, and everything else.

Oh, I have something to say to Heather Duke:

Thanks for the letter. Send me your new address ASAP so I can send 

you a more personal letter. Anyone who says science proves that God 

does not exist doesn't know anything about science. Science does not 

have all the answers. The two greatest theories in physics are 

quantum mechanics and general relativity. Quantum mechanics states 

that electrons are point partices: the have a small amount of mass, 

but no size. This, according to general relativity, is a black hole. 

In other words, according to modern physics, your body consists of 

black holes. Clearly that's wrong.

Anyway, it's time to get going. I'll see you all next week!