July 22, 2001

Dear Brieanna,

We celebrated pioneer day this week, by going to the park on Saturday and watching the fireworks. Every time one would launch, Seth and Asher would say, "ooh", and "ah".

In this letter, I'd like to talk a little bit about your baptism. You were baptized shortly after your birthday. I was very worried that you would miss this opportunity, because your mother had informed me that you were leaving for a couple of months so that she could do some consulting. Fortunately, you had the chance. It was a great honor for me to baptize you. I was and still am very proud of you.

I took a few pictures of the baptism, but unfortunately somehow the camera got opened. I'm obviously a terrible photographer. The light came in and destroyed some of the pictures, and changed some of them as well. These are the two pictures that I have of the baptism. They are damaged in a very strange and beautiful way. It is as if we are encircled by light. This is how I imagine the next world. As I'm writing this my eyes are tearing up. I know that someday we will be reunited, even if we have to wait until the next world. You and I will be reunited as a family someday, and no one on this earth will be able to stop it, because the Spirit has testified to me that it is God's will.

There are scriptures that tell us that God knows us and watches us to the most minute detail. Christ said that a sparrow doesn't fall from the sky without God knowing, and that He even knows every hair on our heads. In opposition to this, many people believe that life is meaningless and random. That if God lives he has set up the world long ago and has forgotten about us. My life has taught me that God is aware of us with great detail in both space and time. I believe that from his perspective, he knows our past and our future. I believe that he knows of the challenges that we will face years before we face them.

At the time when I opened up the film, I couldn't believe my foolishness. Now I realize that there was purpose to it, and that it was for my benefit. These pictures in conjunction with the other pictures which show a double exposure of our family with you, even though we have been separated, are signs to me from God, that you will be taken care of even though you are far away from us in a distant country. These pictures touch my mind and heart, and tell me that we will be together again. I believe that in His wisdom, God prepared these pictures for me at a later time, knowing the suffering that I would face in your absence.

The great fear that I have had is how will you be able to grow up strong, healthy and happy without the good influences from your family. Living in isolation, how will you find the straight and narrow path which leads to happiness and joy. There is so much deception in the world. Our media will tell us that we will experience happiness, if we drink, or do drugs, have low morals, or lie. How will you know how to be good without good influences in your life? These pictures help me to realize that you are in God's hands and that he will guide you.

Being baptized means that you take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ, and that you covenant to obey his commandments, and that you in return will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This means that if you keep yourself clean and unspotted from this world, that the Holy Ghost will guide you in the way you should live and the path you should take. This is your right, God must obey his own law, and is bound, because he can not lie. I am grateful that you were able to receive these blessings of baptism, before you were taken from us. They will be very important to guide you back to us.

Melanie has recorded the blessing that you received when you received the Holy Ghost. I figured that it was inappropriate to post on the internet in the view of all. We have it for you here when you return.

As always, I miss you and love you,

Love,

Daddy.