Last Letter from Orem Mission

That's cool you all have found out so much about St. Louis. I haven't heard anything about St. Louis since my mission call. It looks like an awesome mission. I'm pretty happy I get to go there. You ARE a word nerd. That's not even an english word. You should try putting that in google translate and see what comes up. 

sounds like you are all just having a jolly good summer without me. I'll be there wednesday though and I am really excited to relax a little. I should probably stick to the schedule the best that I can though or at least wake up on time and do studies. 

So I just was able to read the emails you sent last week. I wonder what president nielsen meant by that? huh. 

well this last week has been pretty good. I don't really remember what happened  but we were pretty busy teaching 26 lessons which was our high. not that the number matters but just so you get an idea. we got a lot of referrals this week. That's what happens when you ask everybody you see if they know anyone we could teach. One of our investigators, Zack. is getting baptized this Saturday at 1 pm so I will probably drive down to see it since I told them I would. I honestly can't think of anything significant that happened this week. It was good though. Miracles happen everyday when you listen to the promptings of the holy ghost. 

I also heard an interesting analogy from a family we were eating dinner with. He said that sometimes it's really hard for some people who have grown up in the church to know if the holy ghost is speaking to them. He compared us to how as members we are like fish in water because we have been submerged with the gospel and the holy ghost since birth and we don't know of any other way. And so we take for granted the constant feeling of the holy ghost especially until we are like a fish out of water. For instance, some people don't appreciate the sacrament as much until they are unworthy and asked not to take it for a while. Now this doesn't mean that you have to go doing super bad stuff and then repent later, but it is just an example.  For converts it can be easier for them to feel the holy ghost because they were that fish out of water for most of their lives, but when they finally jump in it is refreshing to them and is easily recognizable. Tell me if I'm wrong, but that was interesting.

Like to be honest, I can't tell you a specific point in time where I knew the book of mormon or the church to be true. I've probably known it since being a sunbeam. But of course you still need to ask if the book of mormon is true, but everytime I ask I basically feel like the Lord is saying that I already know it is true for a long time. Also, I have a hard time recognizing answers to prayers. Like I couldn't tell you a specific time where the lord answered my prayers really because I have a super bad memory, but I know he does answer them somehow. I could get better at that. 

How did you come to know the book of mormon is true Dadda? Or I guess anyone who is reading this is welcome to share.Just wondering if you would like to share. 

Hey dad, I can't wait to see you very soon and use your hammock as well!

See  you wednesday at transfer meeting. I think you are supposed to pick me up at the transfer meeting which is at 612 west 100 south Lindon, UT. Come probably at like 10:30 I think. I'm not totes sure though. 

I love you dad😆

Love you mom

love you grandma lynne, grandpa bob, grandma elaine, grandpa allen

love you feil family

love you Laurie and Joe

Love you bennihannuh, jenessa, brycen, jordan, alex, kaitlyn,

On Sun, Jul 26, 2015 at 7:33 PM, Chris Soutas <crsoutas@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Ty (Elder Soutas),

I wasn't sure whether to write you a letter or not since I'm not sure if your p-day is tomorrow on account of the fact that you are coming home on Wednesday.

So, I'll just write you a quick one...

First, do you happen to know when we are supposed to pick you up on Wednesday?  I'm sure the mission president will call us if you don't know yet.

Ever since you received the mission call to St. Louis, people have "come out of the woodwork" so to speak to talk about St. Louis.  Either someone has family there, or is from there, or just visited there, or the city just comes up in conversation.  Funny how that happens. By the way, this phenomenon is called Baader-Meinhof.

I guess you can let that be the word of the day. I guess I am still a word nerd. I have actually been looking for that word for a long time and Jordan found it a few weeks ago.

We had a fun weekend. On Friday, for Pioneer Day, Jordan and Alex, Ben, Mom, Brycen, and I went up to Brighton to grill some hamburgers and to do a little fishing over at Silver Lake. Alex caught one on her first cast. Jordan caught one too but it was very tiny so I didn't count it. Ha ha! Jenessa was up at the Jager's cabin so she didn't come with us and Katie went to Park city with the Green's.

When we got back, we all went over to Lindsey Lockhart's house for fireworks and to meet her parents for the first time.

She has a really cute family and her parents really seem to like Ben. Today was  Amanda Lockhart's talk in church, so Ben has spent the day with Lindsey's family. It would appear that things are getting rather serious for these two.

On Saturday, we went up to Smith-Morehouse Reservoir which is by the Jager's cabin. I caught a couple fish and we grilled some hotdogs and hamburgers. The kids went canoeing and attempted fishing as well. Later we went back to the cabin for more hamburgers. We didn't stay too long but we did get to ride the ATVs a little bit.

Dallin Thomas spoke in church today. Afterwards, we went to his house for treats. I think he leaves on his mission on 17 August. He is going to the Madrid Spain mission.

Braden Powell and Tiani Orr Enter the MTC this Wednesday. Braden is going to Farmington New Mexico mission and Tiani is going to the Baltimore Maryland mission.

Well, that is about all I have. I am looking forward to seeing you this week!

Love,

DAD