Cassidy's Junior Prom..........

It feels like it was just yesterday that Cody went to Junior Prom, and now its Cassidy's turn.  She was nominated to be a part of the Prom Royalty at Murray High School along with two special needs students (Dustin & Jebba) who were voted as King and Queen.  This story caught the attention of our local news and they came and interviewed everyone including Cassidy.  What a great experience it was for all involved.

Murray High School holds Junior Prom at the Utah State Capital building and parents are invited to the promenade and then the first dance of the night is reserved for dads to dance with their daughters and moms to dance with their sons.  Christine & her friends along with Emma, one of Cody's good friends, was at the house to help her get ready, and then of course her mother was there to take hundreds and hundreds of pictures.......so yes, you will have to scroll through quite a few :).

Letters from Elder Backus..........

Hey Momma!

Hey Mom (:!  You need a letter from me, sorry its taken so long!  So, some cool updates from Roswell.  We are currently visiting/trying to teach a less-active member from MURRAY HIGH SCHOOl.  Haha his name is Josh Fitisemanu......not sure if I spelled that right!  He is about 25, he was a big football star back in the day, his family is all still active in Taylorsville I believe.  We are now starting to teach Brennan and Ashley, the two teenage children of Bobby & Evdora.  Mom, that family is just incredible, they really are doing all they can to live the gospel.  They are a family that just makes the whole mission worth it.

So mom, I think you're probably right, this definitely is the most crucial time in my mission so far.  The first councilor in the bishopric asked me if I had mold underneath my fingernails from being here so long.  Haha, it has been a long time.  I have had my birthday, year mark, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Valentine's Day all in Roswell.  It is a good place though Mom.  I think I'm at a crossroads now.  I can either stay where I have been at spiritually for the rest of my mission or elevate to a whole new level.  These next 3 weeks are going to be a big test.  But in the strength of the Lord we can do all things, right?

So Mom, what can I do for you?  What keeps you up at night?  How can I help?

I love you Mom.  I am so grateful for your dedication to the Gospel and the countless hours that you have spent in prayer on my behalf.  I love you so very much.  Thank you for your support, it means everything to me.  I love you Mom!

Love,  Your Seed (:,

Elder Cody



Hey Dad!

The month of March is fast approaching us and once again I won't be feeling too much of the madness (he must be referring to March Madness), but thats okay.  I am so very grateful to be out here.  It's funny, being in Roswell this long has been pretty hard, but even the hardest part of my mission I am still more happy than I have ever been.  One thing that I have learned is that when you put other people's needs above your own, time just seems to fly.  These weeks just keep cruising by.  Every now and then I will look up and see that its almost Monday again, crazy!

So, Dad, lets get down to the nitty-gritty.  How has your scripture study been going?  Are you making time for it every day?  Daily scripture study has definitely changed my life out here.  Occasionally there will be some days where we can't do our studies due to a service project or something, and man, you can feel a huge difference that day!  I think Cass and Christine could sure use that right now.  I know I was the main culprit of the family scripture study complaints, but looking back on it, I sure am grateful that you and mom enforced it.

I sure love you Dad!  Every single day I learn 2 things.  One, that Dad knew what he was talking about, and two, that I should have listened to him sooner, kind of like the pump your brakes in the snow thing (:.  I love you!  I hope you have an incredible week.  I look forward to hearing back from you soon.  Love you!  Go Utes!

Love,

Elder Cody

Big D's, The Temple, and The Ten Virgins.........

Momma!

Hey there! So, first off, thank you so much for the package! Haha I took some of the Elders to Big Ds with me, they all said thank you very much (: All the girls there know who we are, haha one of them actually had a bunch of questions and said that she would like to learn more! I will give you credit for that find (; 

So, the temple, Pres Heap now allows us to go to the Temple every transfer. Last transfer was the first time I was able to go in 10 whole months, it was much needed. I love the Temple. I remember the first time I went, haha it all went over my head, but as I have been able to go with an attitude to seek learning by faith, I have truly received an endowment of knowledge, which is power. I look forward to going once a week with you when I get home, be ready (:

I will be sure to get Bishop's pic on the way. I love the parable of the Ten Virgins. There are many interpretations of it, but what I like to think of it as is living up to our baptismal covenant. When we are baptized we are all invited to the wedding feast, we are all called, but whether we live up to that calling is up to us. Many are called but few are chosen right? That then transitions into testimony and conversion. The one who is true to his baptismal covenant will eventually be converted, the one who doesn't will be stuck with just the lamp, or his testimony, without the driving force of the oil, or conversion. 

Sorry I have to brief due to the zone conference we had today and the computer schedule, but I want you to know that I love you so very much! You are my one true valentine (: I love you madre! I sent you a letter today, hope you get it soon!

Love, Cody



(Big D's is a burger joint in downtown Roswell which has been voted into the Top 10 Burgers in the nation.  I called them to get a gift card for Cody's birthday, then for Christmas and now for Valentine's Day.  The girls that work there know who I am now, and as a result, know who the missionaries are.  Looks like one of them will now be learning more about the gospel :)!)

Elder Backus and Elder May at Mission Leadership Conference......

New Relative Finder shows how the Berretts are related to Jeffrey R. Holland.........

BYU has developed a new program called "Relative Finder", which shows you how you are related to friends or famous people in Church and American history.  The coolest thing EVER!!!  The Brown Family is distantly related to Henry B. Eyring, Ezra Taft Benson, Jeffrey Holland, Elias Disney, Emily Dickinson, and many more.  Go check it out!!