August 18 Letter - Skyler's new address

    Hey got your email and stuff.  So not much has happened huh, that's cool. Not much has happened here either. Elder Jeppeson and I get along good, and the Ward we're in is awesome. Our Bishop is very mission minded. It's awesome.
    Last week I had to get my bike fixed which cost me about 90 bucks. I had to put a new rim on it,the bearing inside went bad and I had to get a new rim because it did some damage. I had to buy a couple pairs of dress pants because some of mine are like way too big and already worn out.  So I had to make some big purchases.  If you have any questions then just write me. I'm here, and if you send packages try not to send a lot of candy, cuz Elder Jeppeson has me on a diet. So I got to take it easy, but if Grandma ever sends me a package I will just have to make an exception.
    I think I can remember my address. I'm pretty sure it's

4131 South Scenic
Apt. B-#106
Springfield, MO  65807

    Ya, that's it. Elder Jeppeson just clarified, so send away, I will be glad to read them.
    Oh, and if you're having trouble talking to people then read in preach my gospel chpt. 10 under listening.  There is a quote by Elder Holland, I'm pretty sure you'll like it.  Any ways, just thought I'd share that with you.
loves, take care.   

August 11 Letter

 Hey, got your email.  Ya, so I forgot the address because I'm still new here and I was gonna write it down this morning, but I forgot, ha ha.  So people can still write me and send me packages, just send them to the mission home or something. 
 So the goal of 40 lessons, ya, it's still on.  Oh, and correction, it didn't come from Pres. Seal. It came from an apostle who speaks for the Lord.  I will tell you one thing, it's tough.  One thing we are trying to get is member referals.  Because there is no way we can teach 40 effective lessons without members.  I think it was implemented just to get members doing missionary work, personally.  So how are your missionary efforts coming?  You were probably hoping I would forget, huh.  But hey, I bet there are 2 elders in the Burley Stake who would love some referals, huh.  But hey, don't take it from me. Elder Bednar gave a great talk in the last General Conference, that talked about this certain subject.  Remember, it comes from the Lord and one thing I've learned on my mission -- when the Lord commands, do it.  So while your doing your challenge, one of these weeks, this would be a perfect time to implement this challenge the Lord has given us.
 So what's the deal on a mission with ya'all? Are you going any time soon?  Dad said that when I've been out 6 months that you were gonna go on a mission.  Well, guess what, time flies. 
 Ya, so I guess I don't want to know what Chris saw, because it was probably a bear, huh.  Tell him to email me back. I emailed him a couple weeks ago, but he's too cool to write back I guess, ha, ha. 
 So you had some major rain fall, huh. That's good. How is the drought coming, is it better or worse?  So you had some hail. Sounds like it was small hail. We get like golf ball sized hail on up, now that's crazy. 
 Well, I kinda hope Uncle Darwin goes soon, it will be easier for every one, includin' him.  I just can't beleive he is still holding on. He is one tough old bugger.  Yes, I will definitely pray for them.
 Well, one last thing before I leave. Tell the Young Women "thanks" for sending me their little card thing with their comments. I appreciated all their remarks.  Well, hopefully I don't forget anything. I will probably write you a letter today with my new address, we will see if I have time. 
loves, bye

August 4 Letter

 Ya, I got your emails both of them.  Sounds like it's been a crazy couple weeks.  I'm so jealous you get to go to the temple. You better go every week while you're there, and your lucky because you get to share your testimonies with people, that is way awesome.  The most powerful tool we have as members is our testimonies.    So you drove through a tornado, huh, seems like their getting more and more common in Idaho and the western regions, meaning it's getting close to the end of times. Right? So gird up your loins cuz it's gonna get rough. 
 So they had a swimmer drown. That's too bad. I bet Dad felt terrible, but hey, we know where he went. We can't be sorry for him.
 Ya, it is a small world isn't it.  Elder Palmer was awesome. I got him on my tape recorder and some pics. So I might have to send them out to you. He is way cool. (Just a little side note - Skyler met Elder Palmer at the MTC.  Elder Palmer is now the companion to Skyler's cousin, Andy Lloyd, who is serving a mission in Trinidad.)
 Well I can't remember every thing you talked about, so hopefully I didn't leave any thing out ya know.  I will get you my address as soon as I can. I don't know it off the top of my head, so ya.  Oh ya, I remembered something. I'm serving in the South Stake in Springfield. It's only like, 15 miles south of my original area, so I didn't get transferred far, which is ok.  My comp is Elder Jeppeson from California.  He is a good hard worker, we get along good.  He thinks I'm a hick though. I can't wait to get a country boy for a companion instead of these city boys, but their all right, ha ha. Well, I think that's it for me so over and out.
  Love, your son, Elder Silcock

July 28 Letter and a little more!

Well, guess what? I'm getting transfered. I'm not going far though, just to south Springfield, to the 3rd Ward. It will be cool, it's the smallest bike area in the mission. SWEET!!! Any wase, I'm excited, but don't want to leave the Ward I'm in, I just wish I could take the members with me. Well that's about it for me. So I will try to talk to ya next week. love ya, by.

Since Skyler's letter was so short I thought that I would do something different and share our letter we wrote to him with you.  We have had a very eventful week, which seems to be the norm this year (because of the length, I did not print our entire letter, just the best parts).  Thanks for checking in on our missionary, we truly appreciate your support.

Hey Bud,

How's it goin'?  Did you get our package?  I hope I sent the right scriptures.  These were the ones in your scripture case, along with your scripture mastery cards, so I figured that they must be the right ones.  So what's the latest in your world?  We have had a very eventful week, so this will probably be a long letter.  Here goes!

 On Monday, Dad and I went to the Twin Falls Temple Open House.  We went so that we could get a refresher course on the whole tour guide thing.  It was so cool!  There is a spirit there that you can feel as soon as you pull into the parking lot.  I talked to President Larry Gerratt the next day about that, and he said that he had heard the same thing from several people who had visited.  Which shows that even though the temple has not been dedicated yet, the Spirit of the Lord is still there.  There were men outside to direct you as you parked.  Then before you entered, there were men waiting to direct us to the Stake Center where the tours begin.  They were also there to assist anyone needing help getting in and out of cars, needing wheel chair assistance, waiting with umbrellas in case of rain, and they opened the doors to the building as you entered.   Once inside you were greeted by women handing out pamphlets explaining things about the temple and what we learn while there and its purpose, and then they directed us where to go next.  It was like being in the temple itself, there were people all over waiting to send you in the right direction so
you won't get lost.  Everyone was smiling and you felt so welcomed! Then we entered a class room where a sister missionary greeted the group in the room and started a video that re-emphasized the things that were in the pamphlet and also going into detail about the history of the Church in this valley.  The amazing thing about the video is how it makes you feel, (Dad and I, plus several others in the room shed many
tears).  After the video ended, our tour guides took us on the tour of the temple.  It took about half an hour to go through the temple. Before we entered the temple, we were greeted by the youth from the Paul Stake, who put shoe coverings on over our shoes. These were to help keep the carpets from getting dirty.  Then there were
two girls that stood in front of the big doors and opened them for us to enter.   It is very beautiful inside, the colors are very soothing, and there is a wonderful, peaceful feeling.  Our tour guides were a couple from Paul, (he was a former Stake President).  They did a good job.  Then they took us back to the Stake Center where we met Sister Missionaries who were there to answer any questions and to fill out referral cards.  There were also refreshments waiting.  The room was set up like a visitor center, with paintings of Christ, and panels of pictures of the rooms of the temple, with more explanations of each rooms purpose.  There was someone there playing a piano, so once again you felt welcomed and at peace.  The whole thing
was such a great experience.
 Then on Tuesday, we went back to do our turn as tour guides.  We had to be there at 7:00 that morning for a prayer meeting with Elder Brent Nielsen, who is our area authority.  He gave us a few details that were very encouraging.  He told us that as of that Monday there had been 118 referral cards turned in since the open house began two weeks before. In the whole six weeks of the Rexburg temple open house they had
received a total of only 70 referral cards.  This is very good news.  He also shared with us the support of the media in the area and the ministers from other Church's there.  He said the Pastor of the one church told him that on Sunday he stood before his congregation and said, "I am going to the LDS Temple Open House.  Who is going with me?"  He is planning on bringing two groups through.  Cool, huh?  We have all been warned about the protesters standing outside the temple grounds.  We have been told to ignore them, they are professionals and do this at every major LDS event.  Elder Nielsen told us that he has been contacted by many ministers of area churches who have said that they asked their congregations to not participate in any of these protests, since it is a very un-Christian like thing to do.  He said that they have received great support from the other churches, which has been a huge turn around for the Twin Falls area! Weren't we promised that this would happen?   After the prayer meeting, Dad and I had to wait for over an hour before it was our turn to take a
group through.  We were both very nervous.  One of us was supposed to be the leader who did all the talking and the other was the follower who brought up the rear and made sure that everyone stayed together.  It was recommended that we take turns.  So I told Dad that he could go first. This gave me the opportunity to visit with people as we walked.  Our first group had about 23 people in it.  That is just about the right size.  Our next two groups were both larger, around 35.  Anyway, you could see how affected the people were from the very beginning with the video presentation.  You would see members and non-members shedding tears.  The last room we go to is the largest of the two sealing rooms. At this point the leader is supposed to share their testimony of the temple with the group.  So Dad stands before everyone and explains the purpose of the sealing room.  Then he calls me to come forward and share my testimony instead of him.  He said that he could not control his emotions well enough to be able to get through it.  He is such a baby! So, I shared with everyone just how much the blessings of the temple mean to us because of the loss of one of our children, and how the promises we are given because of the sealing power of the priesthood gives us hope, peace and comfort.  I told them that we have a very
loving Heavenly Father who's plan for us is one of happiness, and testified of our Saviors' great love for us through his atonement and sacrifice.  After I finished, then Dad invited everyone to stand in front of the mirrors and look into eternity.  It was a pretty awesome experience.  I took the next two groups around and Dad followed.  He liked getting to talk to the people as we walked.  I was too nervous to
notice some of the things that Dad witnessed.  He told me later that in each group there was someone who was extremely touched by the experience.  In the last group we took through, there was a man with our group who lived just a short distance from the temple.  We don't think he was a member, because he seemed to be in total awe of everything he saw and heard.  He became very emotional more than once.  There was a
couple from New Zealand in one of our groups.  They were members and just happened to be here visiting family.  There was a family from Sun Valley, who were not members, and were there with a member friend.  They also seemed to be pretty touched by what they saw and felt.  We may never know if anyone in these groups ever joins the Church, but we will always remember the wonderful experience we have been given to do this. We get to go back on August 7 and do it again.  We are both excited and looking forward to that day.  We have found out since then that the day our Stake was in charge of the open house it was the second largest day since the opening.  There were approximately 4200 people who went through that day and get this, they received 23 referrals that day, which boosted the total over 200!  Pretty cool, huh!

 Well, I think this is enough news for one week.  Have a good week, and good luck with your transfer.  We love you.

Mom and Dad

July 21 Letter

Ya, I think it's pretty safe to say our family rocks.  Sounds like it (the Silcock Family Reunion) was fun and wish I could have been there, but hey, I got more important things to do.  I will find out this Saturday if I'm getting transfered. So I will let you know in my next email. Pres said that there is a 75% chance of me getting transferred so it could be interesting.  Well, that's good to hear that Cole and BaiLee are getting along. It definitely won't be easy for them, but just wait, those kids will warm up to them (Alex, Shanna, and Jacob) so fast they won't know what hit them.  That's what I love about the gospel, you look threw out the scriptures and every thing that Christ touched he healed. So getting those kids into a gospel home will do wonders for them and that I do know.  So how is Clinton adjusting to being home. It's crazy to think that its been a month already, I guess time flys when you work hard, huh.  Well, I was thinking the other day, for Christmas I might need new pants and stuff because they are way too big on me now and I don't plan on trying to make them fit.  We go running in the mornings like 2 miles worth plus biking all day, so any ways, I don't have to worry about that, tho you know what I'm saying, ha ha. Well, tell the family I says hi, and I still need Kristen's email because the one I have doesn't work.
Love, Elder Silcock


(forward this to grandma)
Hey Grandma, how you doing, well to answer some of your questions I do cook a lot.  My comp now basicaly didn't even know how to cook hashbrowns which was kinda funny.  Ya, a couple days ago I cooked a pot roast and made real mashed potatos(which was pathetic because I had to actually buy them) and home made gravy and corn bread, but usally I cook like pancakes or something, you know, nothing too big.  I wouldn't mind some of your recipes, you know, like your lemon freeze dish, don't know why, but I have been craving it for some reason, ha ha. Well, hopefuly I didn't leave any thing out, if I did, I'm sorry.  Well, thanks for the address and stuff. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
love, Elder Silcock

July 14 Letter

Well, what a week it has been.  We have 1 baptismal date set and we are going to set one tomorrow.  It's almost like the people here are opening up.  It's slowly happening, but it is coming along.  Well, Pres (President Seal)told me in interviews that there is a 75% chance of me getting transferred.  So I might have a new address for you in a couple weeks, so if you send something send it quick.  I can't believe it's already the Silcock family reunion again.  I guess time flys when you work hard and have fun.  If I were to tell the family anything I would ask them to pray for the missionary work going on around us.  Specifically that people's hearts might be softened.  It may not be much, but if we pray with faith, with real intent, then we as members can bring to pass God's plan which is eternal life.  So many people around the world have hardened their hearts to our message, it is sad to think this, because what we have to share with them will bring happiness to their life forever.  That's what I have, nothing much, but hey, it is by small and simple things that great things come to pass, right.  Well let's see what else happened. Oh ya, um, I knew about Steph and Jay adopting for a couple weeks now, so that wasn't new. Steph told me to keep it a secret.  I just can't believe we have 1 more niece and 2 more nephews, it's crazy. We truly are blessed.  I just have to wait about a year and a half to see them now, ha ha.  So we're building a mortuary! Why are we building a mortuary, that's kinda weird, isn't it?  Oh well, I guess it would do well, huh.  Well, have fun at the reunion for me. Send me lots of pics. Oh and I sent you some pics in the mail today so be looking for them.  Well, that's me for this week. Signing out! Elder Silcock, loves, by.

July 7 Letter

 Well how's Burley? Read your email, sounds like things are going good.  Ya, I got your package and muchos gracias!!!  The only thing you forgot besides my line of authority was my seminary scriptures, but it's all right, I don't hold grudges! haha.  Well so far it was a good week. We set a baptismal date last week, so hopfully on the 26th we will have another baptism.  So how are the McKrakens doing? That would be pretty tough, but I guess I don't need to worry to much about them, they have strong testimonies. They will be fine.  So the Gerratts knew the Stamms, go figure, its a small world isnt it. Well I don't mean to cut it short or nothing, I just have to hurry we wanna play b ball today so we are in hurry up mode.  Thanks for everything.  loves by