Larry Jewell

Alright. Hey April, it's about 1:30 in the morning, Christmas Day. I'm gonna send you this tape tomorrow, the 26th. It's your Christmas tape and your New Year's tape. So have a Merry Christmas, have a happy New Year. I hope I didn't cut off any of the jingle cats. It's going to start out okay. See you. It's recording. Was that awesome or what? Everybody, what's going on? Not a whole lot is going on here. Just kind of hanging out. I've got another half an hour and then I'm supposed to go into town and get my checkup on my wisdom teeth. I just spit out my stitches. It was pretty sweet. But let's see, today was pretty fun. I went to class today. Yesterday I ditched out a. Probably told you that already but reached out. Didn't feel like going to class. Basically I was such a slacker. But now I feel a lot better. Kind of. Yesterday was like the wall, I guess, you know, my health didn't seem to get better. My testimony wasn't strengthening. I don't know, it was weird and. But then like our room talked about the situation, everything. It's all cool, it's awesome. But let's see. I'm totally excited to go out into the real world today because we won't be able to have lunch here before. So we're gonna go to McDonald's. It's awesome. And let's see what to tell you man. Oh, let's see. I was gonna tell you something. Oh, practice the. Excuse me? We practice the first discussion again today in espanol. It was pretty sweet. It's so easy. Thank God I practiced. We practiced with another room, another teacher, teacher's class, whatever. And so like the guy I got was like a total idiot. Moss has you. What? Elder Moss has you as me and Elder Moss. Oh, I gotta tell you, last night like I couldn't get to sleep at all. So what happens? Okay, I'm like hacking up my lung outside and in the hallway and like I stop and go to go get a drink out in the hallway, you know, from the drink fountain. I come back in to hop into bed and who's in my bed? Elder Moss is in my bed. Freak the HUD crap schmacky out straight of me. So he like freaked the crud out of me. He's gay but he just doesn't dare admit it. You like that catch. Nice throw too, huh? Anyway, I'm leaving. I gotta play a game. Alright, I'm back. It's about like four hours later or something. Let's see, lots has happened, actually. I got to go into the real world. Isn't that crazy? Excuse me. Yeah, I went in for my checkup for my wisdom teeth or whatever and everything's cool, like, no problem whatsoever. And then we like had, you know, we were already missing class. Hey, let's go to McDonald's and walk down 3 Lunch Mc. It was awesome. And I got some real food. It's so good. But see, here's the cool thing, okay? We go into McDonald's, excuse me. And instantly, as soon as we walk in, there's like six people flock straight to us. Hey, how you doing? I was, blah, blah, blah, blah, you know, just totally being nice and everything. And there's this one guy that like, it comes over, whips out his checkbook and goes, I'm buying, I'm buying you guys. And we're like, no, we can't do that, man, because we already felt bad because we're kind of breaking the rule anyway. No, you can't buy us lunch. And he was like, you have no choice, I'm buying it. And so finally, we're totally trying not to have him buy it, but he finally gave in and so he bought us lunch. And then the guy at the counter, he's all, you guys are missionaries. I'm going to give you half price. So the guy who bought us lunch, like got half price off, you know, and then like after we decided, we decided we'd bring back some food for our roommates, Elder Holiday and Elder Moss. And we're like, okay. So we went to the counter, you know, after we were done eating and everything, and we thanked the guide and everything, you know, we went. Being sick sucks. Anyway, we went back to the counter to get some more food for Holiday and Moss. And the guy gave us half price off on that, you know, and we already, we got the money from Holiday and Moss beforehand. So it was just cool, like, you know, everybody's totally treating us nice. And then we went and, and like we went walking around the block, found a phone, and Heather Godfrey called his wife or his girlfriend. And that's probably bad, but I was really tempted to call you. But anyway, so he called Amy. And while they're talking on the phone for like two minutes, some guy comes up, shakes my hand. And in his hand is a five dollar bill. Man, I can't accept this. You know, I was like, go buy yourself some lunch. Oh, man, no, I just got lunch paid for already. It was crazy. So this guy ended up giving me five bucks. You know, it's so weird. Everybody, everybody on the street is like totally waves to you, you know, and everything. And we're so pumped. We're like, yeah, I totally want to leave, like to Puerto Rico now just to. Just to leave today. I was so pumped. It's awesome. But. Alright, sorry I'm back. Let's see what else to tell you now. I'm just trying to figure out, like I have to. I don't have to, but our class is kind of doing something, you know, secret gifts to another person in the class. And. And I picked, I didn't pick him, but you know, we picked names out of a hat or whatever. And I got Elder Kennedy and it's just. Let me explain this to you so you can understand. This guy is like my arch enemy. I don't, I don't hate him. He doesn't hate me or anything. But we sure don't like each other simply because he says a whole bunch of little. He says a whole bunch of crappy idiot things. Let me give you an example. We were in a little discussion, myself, Holiday and Kennedy one time about the resurrection. And we were supposed to ask each other questions. And so I asked him the question, how does it make you feel to know that your family and your. Your friends will have, you know, will be resurrected? And he's all. And he starts telling this story about how one of his friends blew his head off. And he goes into the motions of how like his brains basically splattered all over the wall. I couldn't believe it. It like totally drew the spirit away, you know. And after that, I had like, I had the most evil desire to kill the guy. I don't know, man, I hate being sick. But I drew his name for this Christmas thing. And I'm trying to figure out what I want to do, you know, it's really hard for me because I don't like the guy at all. We went to the bookstore today and I was going to get you a card, like a Christmas card. But they're all so lame. None of them say what I want to say, really. You know, I like have to write it. And that's too much. That's just too much work to have to write, I guess. None of them say, hey, slacker, what are you doing at Merry Christmas? You know, that's basically what I wanted to say anyway, so none of them said that. So I didn't get any of them. But let's see. Got a Spanish Jesus, the Christ, but I can't find a good Portuguese. There's like the paperback Portuguese, Jesus the Christ. But I still can't find. Find a nice copy of a hardback, you know. So I'll have to wait on that to give to your sister. Let's see. I was gonna sing on it, but my voice is. I don't know if you can tell on here. It's really kind of going out. I'll wait to sing. I don't know why I want to sing on it anyway. How's Matt doing? Or do you hear anymore? You gotta tell me, like, how everybody's doing, how Rob's doing, how Matt's doing. I never hear anything from these idiots. They're like total boneheads. They never write. I've written Rob once, haven't written Matt. I may do that if you can tell on a few see him. You can tell him hi for me. K. Let's see what to tell you, man. I'm almost halfway done with this tape. That's good news. I had to pause for a minute. Okay. I just tried singing over this thing, but my voice is, like, gone. And I don't have, like, great of a voice anyway, so it sounded terrible. I like, recorded and played it back to sing. So I think I'll record over that now. I promise, like, when my voice is better, I'll, like, sing something, I guess. Maybe. Depends on how I feel then, but I sound disgusting now, Man. Oh, last night. I probably told you this already. Last night, like, I had trouble sleeping and so I was hacking up lungs and so I came out in the hall. I think I did, and I think I told you already I came like out in the hall to get a drink and went back and other monsters in my bed. It was crazy. Like, totally freaked me out. He started busting up and then he, like he couldn't. I guess he couldn't go to sleep today at all or couldn't go to sleep last night at all. So he had to miss class this morning. And that ought to like. Man, I hate that. Anyway, I don't know what I was saying, so I will talk to you later. Well, it's now the Sunday before Christmas. That's kind of weird. 22nd, it's about 8 o' clock in the morning. Just got out of a meeting in a. I got like an hour and a half until priesthood, so thought I'd maybe do a little on this tape. Things have been going pretty good, actually. I probably told you this already. Kind of. Kind of felt like I hit a wall a few days ago. And just everything just seemed to stop. Like my testimony wasn't going any further and I wasn't progressing my language, it wasn't doing anything. My health wasn't improving. And so I was getting really discouraged probably about Wednesday, you know, just the four week mark, I was getting really discouraged. So I had a talk with Elder Godfrey in my room and felt better after that. And like, I don't know, I think my problem was just we talked about just focus, you know. A lot of my focus has been on home instead of like unsavory where I should be. Actually, a lot of focus has been on Brazil instead of on the Savior. So I don't know, just the past couple of days have been a lot better. Been more focused and everything. And. This Tuesday we get another Richard. Richard Arshcott's coming to speak to us on Christmas Eve. That's cool. He came and spoke to us probably two or three weeks ago. Three weeks ago, I think. And it was a really cool experience. And this time I'll actually. Before I was just in the overflow and watching him on the tv. This time I'll actually be in the building. Probably be in the choir if my voice gets a little better. I'm still kind of sick. Let's see what to tell you. Oh, I was telling you about my focus or something with my health being bad, you know, I like hack up things and then I'm totally coughing all over and so I can't go to sleep until about three every night. So my mind like totally wanders everywhere. Hey, Lee. Hey doy, how you doing? But so my mind totally wanders and it always wanders to the same place. Stinking Brazil. And I don't know, I feel like it should be like on the Savior. So last night I like, I prayed and then I totally made like a real attempt to. Hi, folks. Yeah, so last night I just like made an attempt to just like remain focused or whatever on where I should be and didn't get to sleep until 3 anyway. But there's better night sleep. Let's see. Oh, I was weird this morning. We had an elder in our class, Elder Fox. He just took off for Chile this morning. And so we went and said see it to him. It was weird seeing him out by the bus with his bags all packed already and I don't know, a weird feeling. I can't wait for that feeling. Gonna be a weird day. Let's see. That's about all I have, man. Something interesting's gotta happen here. I don't know. See alright, everyone back. Not much has happened. It's now two days before Christmas craziness. Not a whole lot's happening. Last night was pretty cool. We had a devotional. We watched the First Presidency Christmas devotional. It was awesome. That's so good. And then tomorrow I'm totally excited. Everybody's kind of saying that the First Presidency is coming. No one tells us for sure, but the choir director kind of hinted at it. So I'm totally excited for it. Which means I'm gonna have to like go three hours early to get a seat. But that's cool. I don't care. I'm gonna try to slug sit in the front row if I can. And then tomorrow's my pee day, so I get to sleep in till six. It's gonna be great. Last night sucked so bad I could not fall asleep at all. I even took a lore tab and it wouldn't help. I think I got some at like 3 o' clock in the morning. Even on a Lore tab. It was totally crazy. Let's see. Still haven't heard from your sister. You'll probably get the letter from her and then I send it up to me. But let's see, last time. Yeah, last time I heard from her was the 9th. It's now the 23rd. I karai tell her to get a button gear. Write me a letter. I keep looking at the tape to find out how much more I have. I've got tons of crap. I don't want to talk that long. I hope you like the jingle cats I sent you. The kid that I got it from, the elder that I got it from, took off to Argentina or Chile, one of the two yesterday morning. So that was an experience, let me tell you. Wow. I probably already did, so I won't. Let's see. Oh, do you guys get to talk to Tammy this Christmas? If you do, man. Well, you won't get this until after Christmas, but hopefully you tape record something for me from her. That'd be awesome. If you don't, I understand. See what to tell you. Just went got back from playing volleyball. It's awfully fun. We got some talent now, so we'll have a dang good time before. It's just like everyone sucks so badly. I wish I wish I could have my volleyball up here because volleyballs suck too. But it's all cool. Hopefully I get my travel plans like next week. That's what I'm hoping probably won't happen. Probably will happen like the first week in January. But I'm hoping it's next week. It's like something specific, you know, I can set a date for like that I can leave out of this place, get out in the field. I'm probably gonna write. Let's see, tomorrow's my pj. So I'll write you then and. All right, I want you to like. And I'll send this with it. I want you to like save the letter that I write. That's like the only letter that I want you to save really. Just because I kind of want to see what I'd say, you know, what I like when I get back, what I wrote on Christmas Eve in the mtc. It's gonna be a weird experience. I can already tell. You know, I don't know how to explain it. Let's see, it'll just be. Just be, you know, something cool to look back to. So I'll send the tape and I'll send the letter also. I'll send a letter maybe to like, let's see, I sent the Pope's one yesterday. Maybe I'll just. I mean, I might send a letter to. To Damon with it. So you can like, I. Because I don't know his address and you can just send it off to him. But I don't know if I do, I do. If I don't, I don't. I'm still waiting for. For you to send me a letter here. I'm getting kind of ticked off. Like, I got one from my brother Aaron. That was cool, but just rather have one from you and from. Hey, guys, how's it going? I don't. I'd rather go and like, have a letter from you and from Tammy. And then I wrote one to Rob and sent that off yesterday and I told him to call you, but yeah. Is everybody else. Have they woken up yet? Wake them up. Alright, see ya. Please talk some more about it. Read. Read the label bag. Tobler, chocolate, orange, dark. I'll find you, jerk. Oh, where is it now? I can't even find it now. Oh, whack, whack and unwrap. All right, these guys are idiots, okay? We're having a conversation. They say that like, when you're set apart as a missionary, you can still go and, you know, go to your girlfriend's house and everything else and blah, blah, blah, all this crap. Yeah, you did. You know, that's what you're. I got nothing to say about that. No, not about that. Just talk to me. Aimes will probably clue you into what we were talking about. No, just about talking. I have no Idea. We're not going off on that same. Who's April though? April's Tammy's sister. April's Tammy's sister. Tammy is your girlfriend? Yes, the wife in Brazil. And you're in St. George? Yeah, she's in St. George right now. Well, I hope it's nice and warm in St. George right now because it's freezing here. I'm from Los Angeles and this is. Hey, these are some Mongolian weirdos. They're. It was so cool. It's the craziest old language you'll ever hear. It was like Mongolian. I don't know. I don't know what the. What were they. What were they singing? Oh, they were singing their national anthem. So anyway, it is so cool. You'll like it. It's like this total Hindu. I don't know what the hut it was, but it was awesome. Here it go. Sa. Oh, this is like the last half of them doing away in a manger or something. Ra. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Sam. 15. Had our Christmas devotional tonight. It was pretty sweet. All the Oslins are there. That was awesome. I'm sorry, hang on. Alright. Moss is just complaining because I'm too loud, so he's a wuss. But we just got done with our Christmas devotional and it was so awesome. All the Osmonds were there. I told that said that already. Donny Osmond made a sweet appearance. So I sent you a tape of like part of that, but I want it back. Just record like something on this side of the tape and send me the same tape back. Okay. Because that's is so awesome. And the like the very first one is a couple Mongolians doing their little thing in Mongolia and Mongolian or something is so sweet. That's like the best part. And let's see, Osmond boys or something like that got up and did their little spiel. Did like I believe in Christ or something. And then Marie Osmond came in and did her little spiel and Holiday almost like she went around like in the crowd and Holiday almost took off like her ring, you know, shaking her hand. It was sweet. And then like Donny husband came and that was like the highlight. That was like the highlight of my life. Oh, it was so sweet. Like I'm a total fan of Donny Osmond now. He sang oh, and they sing oh, Holy night. I'll try to get it from Moss. He recorded it. My tape recorder went on the fridge for a little bit so I couldn't get it. I was so mad. It was so good too. Marie Osmond sang it with the Osmond boys. And let's see, after the. After the devotional. I gotta tell you how big of a fan I am of sauna. I am such a sauna fan. We just had a big sauna in our. In our showers. All you do is put a sheet over the front of the showers, you know, and. And then turn on all the showers so it gets totally hot in there. And then there's a whole bunch of naked guys just sitting in a sauna. It was awesome. You know, there's like two of us with shorts on. I'm like, I'm not going in there naked. Although I did walk back to my room naked. That was awfully fun. You got to do that, you know, every once in a while you got to just get naked. It's awesome. I don't know how girls are, but I think all guys have a need to just get naked. So now it's about midnight and I'm out in the hall just chatting away. But let's see. I wanted to send you a letter, but this is a lot easier. And I think I. I don't know if I can tell you my feelings about Christmas as well on the tape, but. As I could in a letter. But yeah, they. Or my teacher, you know, challenged us to. To write to people, you know, on Christmas Eve and have them save stuff. Don't send me the tape back. Just save it. Okay? Don't send this tape back. Just save it. Don't record over it, because this is your Christmas Eve letter from me. And mainly it's just he gave us challenges to write home and to write to our best friends and just bear our testimonies about Christmas, about Christ and everything. And so this is it. And let's see. Before I do. And I got a lot of tape left, so before I do that, I'll do that last. Okay, I'll just tell you about my day. But first, I think I will go and take a Hud, if that's okay with you. I'll be back. This is Elder Moss. He's going to explain some of his. Oh, by the way, my Hud went really good. Oh, HUD is crap. I got Hud from Elder Moss and he got me hooked on a bad. I use it for everything. So anyway, here's him. He's going to explain some of his more intimate feelings towards me. Hey, April. April, this is Otter Moss. And yeah, we got some lame. Have you talked about them? Yeah, yeah, no, just the pretty boy and Miss Georgia and some people just lame. People across the hall. Anyways, the first time I saw Elder Ames, I was really hoping he'd be my companion because. Because I know you hang out with him all the time. He's the only person I felt close enough to show my tumor, but. I. Can't believe you. Got a lot of hairy gum in his pocket. But I was hoping he'd be my companion because, you know, I know you spend so much time together when you're companions, but we do room together and yeah, we've been able to authorize a lot of splits. We say we're going to el gymnasio, which is the gymnasium. Don't know what that is in Portuguese. That's not. No, April is Tammy. Oh, April's Tammy's sister. Okay, so you don't have to speak Portuguese. This doesn't change the fact I don't know how to say him Nasio Portuguese. Anyway. Okay. Why you say that's cool? Whatever. I guess I'm kind of good friends with my sisters or my girlfriend's sister, but. Okay, here we go. But we authorize a lot of splits to go to the gym and basically just head for another Florida shower. And we cut each other's hair, which everyone knows about. Which hair? God, is that how you are with her? Yeah, totally. This is a friggin empty seat. She'll understand. I sent her my wisdom team for crying around. You sent your girlfriend's sister? Yeah, she loves it. You're naked. Oh my God. Under your coat. Don't do it. God, we saw it. Oh, I thought you were trying to do the Castella. You thought? Yeah. Anyways. What? Look, he's got a tumor. Okay, anyways, we'll just wrap it up. I know he's trying to take care of him. I love him. And I don't know, the tattoo is probably kind of a big step, but I've got a good feeling about this one. Figure that out. Where the hugs. Oh, there we go. All right. This is Marie Osmond and she's doing a holy night. It's sweet. You like it? It is awesome. Anyway, here it. Long. Jesus. And if God full is free. Change shall we pray for places on every name our precious shall see. Sweet. You love. Sa. Now about one o' clock in the morning, I figure I better. Better hurry up and finish this tape off. This morning. That guy is really ugly. Alton Moss is just really ugly. But let's see. Been goofing around for like last two hours. And let's see. Oh, I told you about my sauna. That was so Sweet. But we got in trouble for it. Not too much. Not enough that we won't do it again. We'll totally do it again. Every Monday night, like right before my P day. It's going to be great. My sleep schedule is totally off. This is probably, like, the reason why. Because of step till 1 o'. Clock. Making tapes for people. I hope you're. You're happy. No, let's see. It's now Christmas. That's weird. Usually. Well, usually I'm up anyway at like one o' clock on Christmas, but Christmas is awesome. Oh, I don't know if I ever thank you for the package. I mean, that was so cool. That was awesome, man. Thank you so much. Tell everybody thanks, you know, if anyone helped you. But that was so awesome. It was, like, totally lifted my spirits. I was getting a little down. I told you, like, that last week. I, like, kind of hit the wall or whatever. I think I'm over it, basically because, like, the last few days been totally spiritual. It was kind of weird that. Hang on. I gotta make sure this thing works. Okay. It works. It's kind of weird that our devotional. I was. I was really expecting, to tell you the truth. I was expecting the prophet, like, the first Presidency to come tonight because in choir, the director of the choir said, you know, we. No one told us what was, you know, who was coming. And, like, the choir director said, oh, you've got a real treat coming on Tuesday night. And so that just, like, stroked me up and I thought for sure the First Presidency was coming. I'm like, yeah. And then to, like, have to have the Osmonds come in. It's just a weird thing. The whole thing was just so weird. Expecting, like this total spiritual. Total spiritual rush. And, like, it didn't turn out that way. It was good, but it wasn't one of those total spiritual make me ball things, you know, the spirit was there. Especially when Marie Osmond sang A Holy Night. That song always gets to me. It's like my favorite song. If I didn't tell you. Excuse me. If I. I was actually going to tell you to get me the words to A Holy Night, but I'll just, like, write them down. Now that I've heard it. I was expecting a total spiritual rush. You know, I wanted one. It was just kind of weird to go to a devotional. It was totally signed. Like, you know, it was cool because I guess. I guess there's people in here that are, like, missionaries in here that totally miss family and everything, you know, and it was Just kind of to like, bring their spirits up or whatever. But I would have rather just had a total spiritual rush. This was good. Don't get me wrong. It was really good, but it wasn't what I expected. But hey, got a free tie out of it. They gave everyone in the MTC a T. That's so cool. Donny Osmond came. I guess today was his only day off. Even tomorrow, he's like. And he plays Joseph and Joseph and the technical or dream code or whatever, you know. Today was his only day off, and he flew in here. It was cool. I enjoyed it. And let's see. Oh, Santa Claus was a freak, man. He was all over the place, you know. And let's see. Oh, like, one of the coolest things was the Mongolians. I already played that for you, I think, on the other side, but that was awesome. I keep looking at the tape again, find out how much I have left. I have a ton. Oh, man, Whatchama talk. What can I tell you now? How are things going down there? Man, this kid's such a freak. I'm kind of like in the hallway, and he keeps looking in here. What a freak. Oh, but, oh, like, on the other side, when right before the Mongolians, Me and elderly are like, almost in an argument or whatever. I'll explain that. He said I would. What? It was like, yeah, we started talking and he, like. I didn't watch any TV or, like, listen to any music or anything. After I was set apart as a missionary. He was just, you know, set apart as a missionary. Went home, watched a couple football games, listen to music on the way up here, you know, and everything. And I was like, man, it's so crazy, you know? Hung out with his girlfriend and everything. Didn't have a companion or anything. I was like, man, when you're set apart as a missionary, you're still set apart as a missionary. You're a missionary, you know, you follow mission rules. And so we, like. We didn't get an. It wasn't an argument. It was just like, I just ripped him apart for. And he ripped me back. And it was fun. The sauna didn't do good enough tonight. It was supposed to make me dead tired so I'd want to go to sleep, but I don't want to go to sleep till like, four or five. Let's see what to tell you. Oh, I bet I better start giving him a testimony. And if I've got time extra, maybe I'll sing, but probably not. Christmas is really special. Special to me. Christmas Eve is more special than Christmas. I'm kind of disappointed today because I did want a spiritual rush. I wanted to. Like everyone says, you know, Christmas in the MTC will be, like, the biggest thing of your life. You know, it's been awesome, but it hasn't quite lived up to my expectations. That's probably my fault. That kid is a freshman. He's licking the glass. That's so ugly. But Christmas, you know, is really special to me. Christmas Eve, my family and I always. We sit down and read Luke chapter two. And while we're reading it, my dad reads it, and we invite my grandparents over and everything. And while my dad reads it, we dress up as shepherds and as wise men and everything. It was kind of cool. In the devotional, they did the exact same thing. They had all these little kids dressed up as Mary and Joseph and wise men and shepherds and angels and everything. It was really cool and reminds me of Home Alone and. But every year we do this, I'm always, like, either stuck as a wise man or a shepherd, you know, not Joseph. My little sister just always stuck as Mary. You know, it's like a cool thing. I'm gonna, like, pass that tradition on to my kids, I think, just because I love it. One thing that caught me in class. Class was the other day in class, actually, just yesterday, or, you know, having this testimony meeting. And it was really spiritual. And it's like, you know, I started thinking in the first discussion. Excuse me. In the first discussion, they talk about, you know, God, and they talk about. About the whole human race being brothers and sisters. I was like, kind of. I always kind of took that for granted because, you know, brother and sisters. Yeah, nice concept. Whatever. I just really took it for granted. I always knew it was true, but I just didn't think about it hard enough. But, like, it hit me in that, you know, that we're all brothers and sisters and just. Just thinking about Christmas and, you know, like, about being at home or whatever. You know, I think every missionary does it, like, what would I be doing at home right now? But most of the time, the answer is sleep. If I were at home, I'd be sleeping anyway. But I was thinking about, you know, what would I be doing at home? I'd be with my family. And then the thought really kind of hit me pretty strongly that, man, I'm with my family here. Like, these guys here, like, total. My total best friends, Elder Moss and Elder Holiday and Godfrey, are like, you know, man, I couldn't have better companions. You know, I couldn't have a better district or couldn't be in a better place. It's so awesome. And there's, like, a part of O Holy Night that's says we'll, like, liberate the slave or whatever, because the slave is our brother. He just really hit me hard. Hang on. But when you listen to the tape, like, listen to the second verse, because it says something about trash will break the chains because the slave is our brother, you know? I don't know, it just. It just. It's awesome, you know, I know you're. It's kind of weird to think of it, but you're my sister, you know, I'm your brother. And, man, you know, I love you guys. When I think of my family, you know, I don't usually. I'm not too. I love my family to death, you know, don't get me wrong. But I'm not that close with them, you know, I'm closer to my friends than I am with my family a lot of times, and. But then to think of it, you know, to think about it, I love my family to death. And, like. And I know my parents love me, and I know my family loves me. And then to think about, like, I'm not making any sense, but to think about how my heavenly father loves me as a son and how Christ loved me as a brother, and I love him as a brother, and how I love all my brothers and sisters here at this time. It's just so overwhelming. In another class last Sunday, we talked about God gave us the greatest gift of all, that of his only begotten son, as a sacrifice that we could return. And then, you know, kind of, what. What can we give back in return? What is our gift to the Savior this Christmas? And I kind of, you know, I. And the teacher asked us to write things down, you know, and so in my journal, I put down, you know, like, my. My gift to the Savior this Christmas would be one of a broken heart and a contrite spirit and a gift of obedience. And there's other one other. But I forgot it. That's nice. I'm, like, totally losing track here. I like my train of thought. I don't know how to. I don't know how to explain my feelings for Christmas, really. I don't know how to explain my feelings ever. But Christmas is such an awesome time. Everyone seems to want to be married, to be happy, to show their love for everyone else. And I know. I'm not making any sense. I hate that I might have to send you a Letter too. Hang on, I'll pause until I get my thoughts straightened out. Alright, I'm just gonna end with my testimony. I have a testimony of God the Father. I know he is my Father. I know that he spiritually begat me. I know he loves me. I know that Jesus Christ is my older brother. I know that God the Father and Jesus Christ came to Joseph Smith. And in the first vision in a grove of trees as a 14 year old boy, I have a testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. That book is so awesome. You know, I've read it seven or eight times before I came on my mission, but never have I gotten anything like this out, out of the book. Have testimony of prayer. Prayer saved my life so many times. Here I have a testimony of companions, whether I be a missionary companion or a marriage companion. I guess you could say I have a. A very strong testimony of Christ. I had a daydream once. I hope I have time. I'll say it quickly. I had a daydream once here in the MTC about a week ago. Just, you know, kind of thinking around. Lying in bed one day and in my dream I was. I was walking along. I was at home in a big mansion, in a house, walked. I decided to walk out in the woods and I slipped into a pit and in my daydream I slipped into this pit and couldn't get out. And so I yelled for my dad and my dad heard my cries and so I sent my older brother to pull me out of a pit and. Like it was an amazing, it was an amazing dream to have to see my older brother pull me out of a pit. I know that's what Jesus Christ did for us. I know that Christ pulled me out of a pit of endless despair and made it so I can return, return to my father in his mansions. I know Christ lives. I know he wants the best for me and he paid the price for my sins. I'm so glad for that. I love Christ. I love Jesus very much. I know he loves me so much. I wish I could do. I want to do all I can to try to pay him back. But it seems like the more you, the more you work at paying him back, the more he gives you. It's amazing. Let me just end just by saying that I know the church is true. The gospel is such a great thing. It's one of peace and love and happiness. I felt happier than I ever have before. It's so weird, you know, he's more repentance and being a missionary than I ever did outside. I asked God for more forgiveness of little dumb things than I ever did outside. Everything that I do now, anything wrong offends me. I know it offends God. April, I know you've been kind of down. I'm sorry about that. Life is hard. Just to let you know though, it's hard on like both sides here. It's been a real trying time. I love your marriage very much. I love your family very much. I love your sister to death. Sorry, I love her more. No, I love your sister to death. I love my family very much. And I want you to have a merry Christmas. You'll get this probably New Year's, but I want you to have a merry Christmas. Make sure that you remember what Christmas is about. This has been one of the most memorable Christmases I think I'll ever have. Simply because my. My mind is where it should be. At least for the most part. Christmas is a wonderful time. Alright, looking at the tape, it's about gone. So. Just know I love you very much and that your sister better write me because it's been two weeks now, so. And if you ever get a chance, I'll tell your sister I love her very much and that I. I know the truth is true. I know God loves us. Christ loves us. We just need to love Christ. Have a merry Christmas. And make sure you're having a happy New Year too. Don't do anything that Elder Moss would do. Elder Moss is a great guy. See you. See you later. I'll give you another tape. Save this tape. Please. Please don't record over this. Never. Okay to record all this. Thanks. Goodbye. I have like 2 seconds left. Have a merry Christmas.