Missionary Mail!

To see some fun videos from our missionaries, click HERE!

Mail from Elder Sam Gonzalez:

Bolivia La Paz Mission

3/30/26

Whats up everybody, I hope you are all well. I think its about time to write again, a little transfer update and everything. Last transfer was awesome in San Antonio. I was only there for six weeks/one transfer but it was super awesome. We had four friends get baptized and left the new elders with a bunch of people progressing and with dates to get baptized. 

We got called last week on Tuesday that both me and companion were gonna get transfered out of the area. We already had an idea that this was gonna happen from our interviews with president. He told me he had plans with me, and my companion told him he was ready to leave becuase he was there for 3 transfers. Getting out was a little hard and plans were changed just about 5 times because people were protesting and all the streets in the city were blocked off. We got to be in the area one day with one of the elderes who was gonna come to San Antonio to show him the area, the friends, and the members so he could have a good base of everything to open the area. 

We finally found out transfers on Thursday in a zoom meeting with basically the whole misión. I got assigned to come out to Cobija wich is the farthest north area in the mission, its on the border with brasil. Its the area I've wanted to go to for basically my whole misión because people always talk about how awesome it is. But everyone always told me id never go because im too white and they'd either kill me or something idk. Now I'm out here, its super beautiful and hot and awesome. My comp is Elder Beltran, one of the American elders who came to Bolivia with me. 

Im super excited for this transfer in this zone, there is a lot of work to do and its gonna be awesome. Its also weird to think that this could possibly be my last area because I only have 3 transfers left. 

But thats pretty much it. Im doing super well. My duolingo grind is gonna help out because there's a bunch of Brazilians here. Taxis are just motorcycles which is lit. I gotta go but I hope yall have a good week and stay safe 🫡

Elder Gonzalez 

sgonzalez@missionary.org

Mail from Sister Mary Treu:

Texas Dallas South Mission

3/2/26

Dear friends and family,

It's good to have another week in the book! We've been very busy, and had our P-day switched so that we could attend the temple Wednesday! It was such a great experience, and attending is always a good reminder as to how much we are blessed here on earth. It was a good break from the "go go go" attitude. We also found this incredible young woman named Mook! She is a single mother with so much beautiful potential. She has a 2 year old son named Blakely! He is a grown up in a little body! He is absolutely the sweetest little ray of light. We have been able to have 2 lessons with her, and even got to sit next to her at church! I got to help with her son durring the sacrament. He found a love for coloring and we got to make all kinds of masterpieces together. This allowed his mom to listen and feel the spirit durring the meeting. It was such a beautiful experience, and they are both very excited to return to church next week!

In contemplating my time in the temple today, I've been drawn to the concept of agency. That sacred gift bestowed upon us by a loving Heavenly Father. Agency is an essential part of His plan, allowing us to navigate life's complexities with purpose and intention. It is the means by which we engage with the divine, making choices that shape our spiritual trajectory and foster our growth.

As Sister Rebecca Craven so eloquently shared in her April 2022 General Conference talk, agency is the key to unlocking our spiritual potential. She recounted a poignant conversation with a young woman struggling to develop a testimony. Sister Craven decided to ask this young woman some questions to really understand what was actually going on.

“‘Tell me about your personal scripture study.’ She replied, ‘I don’t read the scriptures.’ I asked, ‘What about with your family? Do you study Come, Follow Me together?’ She said, ‘No.’ I asked about her prayers: ‘What do you feel when you pray?’ Her answer: ‘I don’t pray.’

My response to her was simple: ‘If you want to know anything, you will have to do something.’”

The question of faith that young woman experienced is not uncommon. Those same results are what has caused many dear friends and loved ones across the world to find themselves in dark rooms. To them, this room appears to have no doors. No way out, no escape. But, I'd imagine, it would be a lot easier to find the door to our liberation had they simply turned on the light. And how easy might it have been to find the light switch had you walked towards, then run your hands across the wall. And how simple might it be to find the walls if you would just take one step forward. Yet, so many sit alone in that dark room. Lost in hopelessness and sorrow. When the reality is, all they had to do was move. Even if a full step forward is too large of a task right now, all the Savior asks us to do, is to "do something."

The gift of agency is one of God's most sublime bestowals upon us, a sacred trust that empowers us to choose, to act, and to shape our lives in harmony with divine principles. As Elder David A. Bednar has noted, "Agency is the capacity to act, not just react." It is the means by which we exercise our free will, making choices that align with our values and foster our spiritual growth.

In my mission, sleep deprivation has become a subtle yet potent obstacle. I have recognized that when I am not well rested the night before, my judgment is clouded and my sensitivity to the Spirit weakens. God has given many laws to His children here on earth to protect our freedom to choose and exercise agency. It had never occurred to me until late, that I was forfeiting my full capacity of choice when perhaps the night before, a project seemed more important. I had to take action, making intentional choices about my habits and routines to really decide, "what matters most?"

President Nelson stated, "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." So, for me, the answer to my question was clear. Having the Spirit in my life is absolutely necessary, and living in a way that diminishes that Spirit, even to a small degree, was not something I was or am now willing to continue to do.

Now, I invite you all to answer this question for yourself: What matters most to you? Is it one more episode or one more conversation with a loved one? 10 minutes scrolling on social media or 10 meaningful minutes of scripture study? There is opportunity cost to each decision made. Once you make that choice of what matters most, "Do something." We cannot choose what is right if we do not "Do what is right."

As we conclude, I leave you with this thought: the Savior's invitation is often to "come follow me." We must take action to accept that invitation. We have to "do something." May we have the courage to take that first step, to turn on the light, and to move forward in faith. 

Jhon A. Mccune said the following, "Too often we see God’s children sitting still, anxiously waiting for every part of their life to be clearly laid out in detail before making any decisions. If you have done all you can to receive an answer and it hasn’t yet come, it is often best to make the most informed and righteous decision you can and just keep your feet moving."

May we choose what matters most and do it with conviction. And as we do, I testify that we will find the peace, joy, and redemption that comes from exercising our agency in harmony with divine principles. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

All my love,

Sister Mary Treu 

mary.treu@missionary.org

3/23/26

Yoo whats up yall! Another super fast week.

Alright..... we had something happen. We have to clean the church every week so we were there cleaning right. I noticed that our tub that we use for baptisms was dirty. So i turned on the spout to get some water in there. And i moved it a tiny bit to get some dirt off... AND THE PIPE JUST SNAPPED OFF😳. I DIDNT MOVE IT THAT MUCH OR HARD I SWEAR🤥. Water was just gushing out of the wall and im trying to plug it with my hands with water shooting out the sides. It was helpless. So i let go and and ran. So tragic. But then I remembered when i was a young lad learning from master matt weeks. (My boss who is a general contractor). I remembered that you can shut off the water to the whole building. So we ran outside and shut it off. The floor is absolutely flooded. But we walked down to the store and I got some parts to fix it and some cement to glue the pvc pipes together (thank you matt, youve saved me from an embarrasing call to the stake president here🙏). After spending 30 minutes shaving down the inside of the broken pvc pipe, i was able to fit the new one into the wall. And hopefully it drys good and works.... at least till i get transferred, and then its some other poor missionary who has to have an awkward call with the stake president hehehe😈. But i think itll be good. A solid $3 repair.. but a good one hopefully. My comp didnt think it was very funny but i was laughing my head off. I thought it was freaking HILARIOUS.

Anyway....

Spiritual thought:

We found this super sweet old grandma who is prepping to get baptized next week (stay tuned) and we ended up finding her son down the street. We had zero idea it was her son. But we shared a message with him and it wasnt like the greatest. My spanish was rly struggling for some reason and i was just like welp shucks. Maybe the next person will get converted when my spanish isnt booty. But i ended up bearing my testimony about the Book of Mormon. Again wasnt anything super out of the ordinary. But then this was different, i ended up asking him what he was feeling right now and he said. "I feel something inside that i cant really explain. But i have a feeling thats not a feeling that feels like that your words are true. This is true." HOLY MOLY WHAT IN THE W WAS THAT!!! DUDE MY SPANISH WAS SUCKING AND MY BOY THE HOLY GHOST CONFIRMED IT IN HIS HEART. LETS FREAKING GOOOOO. Not only did that help that guy gain a testimony. It strengthened mine. Im weak when it comes to talking to people. But the Lord will be my mouth. The Lord doesnt necessarily need me to talk to people and convert them. He just needs me to see his miracles that he can do through me as an instrument in his hands. Holy moly absolutely goated experience. In the name of Jesucristo Amén 🙌. HURRA POR ISRAEL 🤘🐮

May or may not have teared up... just a little bit....

-Elder Noah Larsen

noah.larsen@missionary.org

Elder Max Martineau:

Arizona Mesa Mission

3/30/26

Another week down! It's been a good week. We have been working really hard trying to get more going on in the area. 

I got to see the Easter Pageant a few times. It was amazing and actually really spiritual. My friends loved it too. 

Palm Sunday services were amazing. We got 13 people to church. I think that's a new record for me on the mish. I'm not sure if we will ever see some of them again tho. Sad. 

This is the best time of the year yall. Spring is here. It's holy week. General conference is this weekend. I'm past 8 months now. That's one third of my mission done. Crazy. 

Tennessee lost but we don't need to talk about that. I didn't watch obviously but I saw the score and it's embarrassing. Souli we will get you guys next time. 

Have an amazing week and a very wonderful Easter! Tune in to general conference this weekend it will be worth it!

Love, Elder Martineau

Love, Elder Martineau

mmartineau@missionary.org

Elder Dashle Demill

Brazil Goiania Mission

4/7/26

Opa galera!! Beleza? This week was a good one without much major event. We're working super hard with our friend Sophia and her mom, and this week we saw miracles happen. For the first time we were able to enter in their home (normally we teach Sophia at her aunt's house) and speak directly to them. She has an awesome desire to be baptized, we just need to get her mom on board with it. When that happens, só água!

Fun story: We have a soccer stadium in our area (It belongs to the team of the state, Goiás, so it's kind of a big deal) and we were passing close the other day. My comp wanted to go into the store to ask about tours real quick, and the guy he asked just said, "I'm not sure, this isn't my department, but we have a pro here, want to get a picture with him?" Next thing we know we're standing next to Lucas Lima, who's played for Fortaleza, Palmeiras, and is currently on contract with Goiás. Turns out my comp was inspired.

Other highlights:

• Hit 7 months

• Won a church doctrine game at a member lunch against three other missionaries and an RM

• 100% ran into a snake on a division (if you don't know what a "snake" is for a missionary, ask your favorite elder that served in South America)

• Taught the second lesson to a woman we found on the first day of the transfer on the last day of the transfer

• Had a lesson with 3 of the most drunk guys I've ever seen (still a pretty good lesson though and we got a return appointment)

• Transfers happened and now we have a new American in the apartment who goes home in two transfers

• Apparently I'm from Utah now

Spiritual Thought:

This week is Holy Week! This is the week when we reflect upon the most significant event in the history of the world: the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When we explain the Plan of Salvation to our friends, we explain the Fall of Adam and Eve, and therefore the need for a Savior. This week, nearly 2000 years ago, was when Jesus of Nazareth became just that. Yes He set a perfect example, and yes He taught His doctrine and established His church, but His greatest as well as most painful moment came as He knelt in the garden, praying before the Father to take away the sins of the world. His subsequent crucifixion, death, and resurrection completed this sacrifice, making Him the true Savior of the world.

I bear my witness that I know my Redeemer lives. I know that He willingly drank of that bitter cup out of His pure love for us, and because He did we can eventually return to live with that very Father to which He prayed to in the garden. I testify that the stone was indeed rolled away, that He was not found within on that third day. The invitation remains the same 2000 years later: come and see, for He is risen! Those who seek life in Him will find it and so much more. Have a wonderful Easter week! 

- Elder DeMill

dashle.demill@missionary.org

Sister Emilie Figlioli

Tennessee Knoxville Mission

4/6/26

Hello hello everyone! 

Happy late Easter! I hope you all had an amazing Easter and got to remember the reason why we celebrate our Savior. Hope you had such a good week and if you watched conference, I'd love to hear what you liked or what you learned!

This week flew by holy! But it was a really good week! We started off our week with zone conference which was a blast! It's always so fun to see some other missionaries! And i learned a lot which is so good! So many of my prayers were answered during that so that was really cool! 

We also had bootcamp which is like a second zone conference for people finishing their training. It was so fun to see the missionaries i came out with! They're all so awesome! 

Saturday and sunday we watched conference with the other sisters and with some members! So fire! 

The other day though, we had the most fire lesson with Diego!! He's literally so elect! Yall should pray for him so we can try to put him on date soon!!!

The other day we were inviting people to church at walmart, and we invited this couple who's walking IN to Walmart. Immediately the wife reapond yelling, "leave me alone! I'm in labor!!!" We couldn't help but ask ourselves why shes going to walmart while in labor but you do you girl...

Highs:

- got to play emergency ambulance to rescue the elders and get them to their car

- don't worry they have us chocolate in return!

- got an easter basket from my mother

- got to see all my gurs between zone conference and planning boot camp

-Easter/conference!!! Low key baller

Lows: 

- Alfred gave us the saddest breakup call

Some Randos:

- anytime I walk outside, I get dusted by pollen

- I swear it gets greener here by the second

- our fire alarm kinda goes off whenever which is always fun

Spiritual: during conference there was a quote from President Christofferson who said something like "we need to be peacemakers in our thoughts, words, and actions." I LOVE this!! There's always somewhere we can improve and I know i definitely need to work on this. I'd like you all to find aomething from this conference you want to work on and start making it a part of you! You will be blessed and see a difference if it's your desire!

Love you all! Hope you had such a good week! Let me know if there's anything I can do for yall! Email me! 

Sister Figlioli

emilie.figlioli@missionary.org

Elder Ben Brimhall

Philippines San Pablo Mission

Elder Brimhall will begin his missionary service on April 15th

Sister Eliza Treu

New Zealand Auckland Mission

Sister Treu will begin her missionary service on June 5

Elder Zach Johnson

Brazil Sao Paulo East Mission

Elder Johnson will begin his missionary service on June 11

Elder Jack Dunford

Kingston Jamaica Mission

Elder Dunford will begin his missionary service on August 5th

Elder Lincoln Pearson

France Paris Mission

Elder Pearson will begin his missionary service on August 6th

Sister Ellie Baugh

Brazil Ribeirao Preto Mission

Burton Ward Service Missionaries

Brother & Sister Halls

Family History Center Service Missionaries

Behind me are all my ancestors giving me strength. Life passed through them to me. And in honor of them... I will live it fully!

See more on Burton Ward family history happenings HERE.

We serve as missionaries at the Family Search Center in Layton and we try to assist people as they come to the center.   The people who come ask for help in a wide variety of ways; from setting up a password for familysearch.org to helping find an ancestor in Germany in the 1800’s. 

The veil seems thin as we receive inspiration from those on the other side as we work. We also are in the temple each Tuesday morning. So blending research and then being at the temple where individuals and families receive their ordinances is so fulfilling to us.  We know we are helping to gather Israel. 

Love,

Brother & Sister Halls

Sister Angie Cottrell

FamilySearch VROC (Virtual Records Operation Center) Service Mission

I am currently serving in the FamilySearch VROC (Virtual Records Operation Center) Mission. I just completed my first year and recently extended for another six months. I love the flexibility of this mission. I am able to work from home and set my own schedule. I just have a minimum number of required hours to fulfill each week.

The objective of our mission is to “nourish the temple with names.” There are a variety of projects requiring various skill levels. Currently, I am working on a project to improve person pages on FamilySearch. Many pages lack the required dates and places needed to complete ordinances. I do my best to find sources, such as birth, death, or marriage records, and add this information to the FamilySearch tree. Relatives are then able to complete the temple work. I love when I find a record of a baby or child who was born and died between census years, so they were never included as part of the family. Knowing they can now be sealed to their parents is such a rewarding feeling. 

Angie Cottrell

Sister Susan Tibbitts

 Family Search Data Service Mission