15 March 2026
VOLUME 14 – NUMBER 640
Nash and Veidi dressed for prom
Veidi
This week I went to Prom. It was super fun. For the day date, we did candle making. Once we got signed in, we got to go and pick a few scents we liked, and we would write them down.
The two scents I picked were sunflower and mahogany apple. Then we mixed the scents till we liked the way it smelled. After, we got to pick the name for it, and mine was Spring Picnic. Then they dropped us off so we could get ready for pictures.
Mom did my hair, and all of Emma, Mac, and Brigham kept asking if they were going to bring the limo so they could see it. I told them I did not know, so when Nash came and picked me up, they went and asked him. He told them not yet, and they were pretty sad.
Veidi and Nash in prom limo
Then we went to go and get pictures done. It was hard to walk in heels down the trail of where we were taking them.
After pictures, we got in the limo and we went to dinner. We went to the Spaghetti Factory, and the food was delicious. The limo was so fun. We turned on music and we would sing to the ones we knew.
Me and Nash did a challenge. If I knew songs that he did not, I would get a point, but if he knew a song that I did not, then he would get a point. We did this the whole night. It was really fun, and the capital was so pretty.
Prom couples in front of limo
The dance was fun. I saw a lot of people I have not seen in a while. We left the dance a little early because we did not want to get in traffic. Then we went to the after party at Caleb Grayson’s house.
Me and Nash just played Cover Your Assets because the others were playing a game that swore, and we did not want to be part of it. Then he took me home. I had such a fun time and, so far, the best date.
I had a busy dog week. I gave a lot of dogs a bath. I did Misha, Mable, Max, Bandit, MJ, and Juno. This took so long, but I am glad that they are clean and smell good!
Veidi watching Misha
Braden
Over the last year and a half or so, I’ve started getting into golf. It is such a hard game to learn, but when you start making progress, it gets really fun and addictive. My regret is that I didn’t start playing sooner. Up to this point in my life, I’ve done weight lifting and basketball as my fitness/sports outlets, but as I get older, there are fewer and fewer people in my circles who are interested in playing basketball regularly.
Golf has become my new sports outlet of choice, and I’ve been trying to get the brothers in on the game—help them avoid my mistake and start earlier in life.
This week, I set up a tee time for Ashton, Caleb, Kai, and I to play nine holes at Glemoor Golf Course in South Jordan. We played collectively as a four-man scramble and played the forward tees to hopefully decrease as much frustration as possible, since it was these guys’ first time. It was a blast being out there with them—hopefully they get the itch to play more too.
Boys golfing
Troy
Me and Isaac were able to go to the Natalies and it was so fun, especially playing with the kids. We also went to Benson's birthday party, which was at Aunt Amy's backyard. We had Costco pizza, which was delicious.
I went swimming for a little, bit but then I just stood by the fire most of the time. My birthday was on Sunday, and Dad got ice cream and cakes and candy all in cookies-and-cream flavor, which is my favorite flavor. It was all delicious.
Then for my gifts from Veidi I got colored pens, a football, three packs of gum, and a speed cube. Then from Caleb I got football gloves and a squeezable water bottle. Mom and Dad got me the next series of Percy Jackson that I haven't read yet—Trials of Apollo—which I am so excited to read because the other books were awesome.
I am so thankful to Mom, Dad, Caleb, and Veidi for all of the gifts that they have given me, and I will definitely be using all of my gifts frequently.
Me, Kai, and Isaac also went to a young men’s campout. It was really fun. We ate Domino’s pizza, slept in cabins, went on a hike, and some of us did a tug of war.
Troy’s birthday celebration
Gloria
I miss home so much. I love y’all, and I miss being with you. I miss giving hugs and holding the babies, but I'm here serving to be an example of the Lord. I'm literally wearing His name on my chest. I'm so proud being an hermana and being worthy to have His name on me.
Being a missionary has been such a great opportunity to be more like Christ and learn His attributes. One attribute I'm working on is patience. Yesterday, when I was in my appointment with the Savior, I really loved a quote in Preach My Gospel Chapter 6:
“Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!”
— Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Gloria and Sister Allen in the car
We do have two girls on date—scheduled for baptism! Yes, that's right, we have a part-member family, and we asked the girls on Friday evening if they wanted to be baptized, and they said yes!
I really do enjoy being able to have confidence when it comes to speaking to people, especially in Spanish. But I always try my best even though I still don't know much. We had exchanges as well last week. I went with Sister Myers, and she's English-teaching, so for one day I was Sister Hill. It's cool seeing how every companionship works so differently.
Last week was temple P-day for us. We went to the Redlands Temple, which is like an hour and fifteen minutes away. I love being able to do endowments. Being in the temple brings me so much happiness and peace.
View from streets of Gloria’s mission
This week I had my first zone conference, which was so fun and very, very long—I even fell asleep during the conference! I also had broccoli salad, and it brought back memories from home. Friday we had weekly planning, which takes about two hours. We did it at the park, and it was so nice but very hot. I also had my mentor meeting, which I have every week for the first 12 weeks.
The biggest miracle of the week was that our friend Damoni has already been to church three times. She is the one who read the Book of Mormon in three days! On Friday night in our lesson, she asked, “When can I get baptized?” So we have a baptism on the 22nd for her!
Also on Sunday Elder Ryder and Elder Green had a baptism of a family of five! It was so precious to watch, because it reminded me of when me and Veidi got baptized about six years ago. The two girls were about our age when we made that first covenant with God.
Mom sleeping with Misha and Mable
This morning was a bit hard, and I didn’t feel happy or myself, but during personal study, I read a talk about happiness, and there’s a quote I really liked:
“When we keep the commandments, our lives will be happier, more fulfilling, and less complicated. Our challenges and problems will be easier to bear, and we will receive [God’s] promised blessings.”
— Elder Yoon Hwan Choi, October 2023
As I read that, I cried a little, because God is really there and wants us to be happy, but we need to put in the effort to follow Him, and He will make our burdens much lighter. Do you want to be happy?
Family party to watch river trip video
Dad / Arkin
Ever since the friends river trip last July, we had planned to have the participants and their families get together at our house to watch a video of the trip. However, it took me months to complete the video. Now that I recently completed all 14 of the overdue family videos, we could finally invite them over.
We invited the Danielsons, the Grappendorfs, the Zimmermans, and the Horners, and we had a great time together. Everyone came with a favorite treat, and after we watched the Friends River Trip Video, the adults stayed and talked while the youth played games until late!
Children playing game at family party
Quinn
Ellie and Charlie came over to sleep over for a couple of days while Brandon and Brooke went to Salt Lake City. We had an awesome time, like when we went to the park. Also, when James and Izzy came to play with us, so we had four nieces and nephews.
It was amazing. I loved it the best.
Joanna
It was a big bummer because I was sick this week. They had a presidency party that I couldn't go to. I just had to go to bed because I was sick, and then once they were done I could go down, but I couldn't really have any sugar that they had. I had to eat dinner in bed.
I slept pretty bad that night. I was sad. So the next day I still had to sit on my bed. It was tough. That's it, bye.
Quinn, Owen, and Joanna watching TV
Monte
Last week I bought a ukulele because my fingers were itching to play an instrument, and I can hardly play the piano in this area because of the distance from the church. It’s been so nice to be able to make music again and to freshen up on my uke skills.
We also had intercambios, and I went to Kohunlich with Elder Garcia. Elder Garcia is so awesome! He’s such a good, dedicated missionary and truly just wants to do the best that he can. Elder Garcia is the first native Spanish-speaking missionary that I’ve worked with! It was awesome, and it reaffirmed my desire to have a native Spanish-speaking companion one day.
The best part of last week was that Jimena was baptized! So many people were there for her, and the Spirit was so powerful! We even got to video call now-returned missionary, Elder Zapata, my first Zone Leader, because he was the elder that found Jimena, and she wanted him there when she was baptized.
Monte and Elder Poulsen
After she was baptized, she bore her testimony with the ward, and wow, it was powerful. There’s nothing like a baptism on the mission. They’re quite literally the days we live for as missionaries. I’m so proud of Jimena! Side note—Also, Sergio from my last area of Tizimín went to the temple for the first time this week! Let’s go!
Remember that Jesus Christ lives, and when we follow His guidance, we can find peace. The only way that I can put this: this is the way—cue Mandalorian music!
This week we did receive transfer news. I will be staying here in Bonfil! Unfortunately, Elder Poulsen will be leaving me. He is such a good missionary, and I am so fortunate to have had him as a companion. I’m sure gonna miss him. My new companion's name is…Elder Larson! Not the Elder Larson that trained me, but another one known as “El Vaquero”—The Cowboy.
Children playing at family get together
We visited Jimena and her family a few times this week because we want to try to help her mom get married sooner so that she can be baptized. In one of our visits, we talked to them about the feelings that went through them during Jimena’s baptism, and Janeth told us that she received a confirmation that she needed to be baptized herself! Let’s go!
Now unfortunately, Satan realized things were going too good for us, so what did he do? As we were talking, Jimena asked what was behind us, and we turned and saw a bright red, black, and yellow coral snake as it slithered under a pile of trash! After a long search, we came to the conclusion that it probably left through a small hole in the wall.
Owen and Emmett under the bed
Endia
Life is changing for us yet again! We have loved living with family for the past six months and are so grateful for all the support. We found an apartment in Sandy that we love and have moved back out on our own.
Cougar and I also decided that I would go back to work and he would stay home with the boys. I started work as a caseworker in Child and Family Services and am working through all the training, and so far really enjoying it.
Cougar was also accepted to grad school! He will be doing his Masters of Social Work through Boise State. He was accepted to the online program and will start coursework in May, then his internships in the summer.
Emmett is crawling around now and starting to play more, and Owen is obsessed with him. Owen loves to play “How can I make Emmett laugh,” which is so fun to see!
Emmett’s Cheerio crawling training