Elder D's Sept 16th Letter home --Great Pay Day for his Mother---

 Hi Mom,  I've been slacking on some of the things that President Porter has asked me to do. I've not been very accountable and I think that's why I have all these challenges. But I have made the appropriate changes in my life now and I continue to grow in accountability. I did get your package and the grandparents package. I did not, however, get this mini Preach My Gospel manual. Still waiting for that I guess. Happy Birthday mom!!!! I'm working on an email that will be addressed just for you so be ready. .........

 

Later......

 

Happy Birthday mom! I want you to know how much I love you. You have done so much for me. I feel like I haven't done enough to repay you for every hardship I've put you through. It is because of you that I am the man I am now. I still have a lot to learn but up to this point, everything that I know is right is because of you. To make stronger my point, I wish to use the example of the Sons of Helaman. We all know the story of the 2000 Stripling warriors. They were strong and valiant. In fact, Alma 53:20-21 calls them:
"... all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity ; but behold, this is not all-they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

"Yea, they were men of truth and soberness for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before Him."

They knew what they had to do. They knew that God loved them. They understood our Heavenly Father's Plan of happiness. They had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to obey with exactness. How did they know this? Even when they saw the enemy near, they were not afraid. Why? Alma 56:47 gives us why:

"Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, if they did not doubt, God would deliver them."

Their mothers taught them how to be men. Their mothers taught them the ways of the Lord. They knew the blessings that came from keeping the commandments and they knew that God loved them. All because of their mothers faith and their examples. You have done the very same for me. Although I am fighting a different enemy then the stripling warriors, I battle on because I have been taught all the right things. Because of you. You have given me the greatest gift that I can ever hold dear to my heart: my faith in God and my love for my Savior. It is because of your example that I am the man that I am now. Thank you mom. You've done a wonderful job. My gift to you is my gratitude for you and all my love. I love you. Happy Birthday mother. Remember that our Heavenly Father knows and loves you. Our Savior knows your pains and your weaknesses for He has borne them all. Keep on Keepin' on, as you would say.

I love you,

-Elder Ephraim K. DeCoursey