Week 30

August 13, 2017

Dear Loved Ones,

I have had a marvelous week! Tuesday was Zone Conference in Soda Springs, Wednesday, Zone Conference in Blackfoot, and Friday Zone Conference in Chubbuck. Each of these Zone Conferences seemed even better that the last ones. They are the highlight of my mission experience.  I am glad that I keep the history, because as I type my notes I get to relive the experiences.

During these conferences, the missionaries were shown the video, “Only a Stonecutter”. I don’t know if you have seen this before.  I had never seen it. It tells the story of John Rowe Moyle, who joined the church in England, crossed the plains in the first handcart company, settled in what is now Alpine, UT. He was called to work on the Salt Lake Temple. For over 20 years he walked the 20 some miles to Temple square on Monday and stayed with his son’s family during the week and walked home again Friday night. Saturday was the only day to work on his farm.  When his cow kicked him, and broke his leg it had to be amputated, so he carved a wooden leg and eventually continued walking to Salt Lake.  He carved the words, “Holiness to the Lord” on the front of the temple.  I will never look at that quite the same way thinking of a 77-year-old man with a wooden leg up on the scaffold cutting the words in stone. He was the father of James Moyle who served missions in the South and wrote about Henry Lindsay. He was the grandfather of Henry D. Moyle who was an apostle when I was young.

I’m looking forward to David’s wedding.  I have permission to come down for the festivities.  Can’t wait to see family.