Letters From Pops

lock 'em in

January 4, 2023

I was alone on that mountain. Being alone and afraid is an emotion. You control those emotions by attitude, discipline, and perspective.
Once a decision is made, inaction is all that there is left. Behind you is failure. In front of you is faith that will lift, inspire, and yield results to rejoice in.

Success is a process that one must work towards that's a goal bigger than one's self and moves you to higher places.
A secret Gussy in life is that you cannot separate success from failure. Failure is part of the process. Don't ever curse the struggle. It's the one ingredient that makes success possible.
It's like sugar in cookies. Yeast in bread.
Water that quenches thirst!
Learn from failure then leave it in the past.
Failure will tear us apart leaving our souls destitute and reliant upon the unfulfilled promises of the evil one, dragging us to the depths of complicity where we find misery, hopelessness, and hell.

Lock em in Sister Burton.
Be reliant on The Lord in all things.
Many will say that there is no Lord. No safety in prayer. You're a nut and crazy person to believe in a prophet. You should be locked away or even killed for such judgmental views of morality and commandments. The covenant path, aughhhh scoffs them that laugh and scorn the faithful, why there are no such covenants.
I would tell my greenies, my missionaries in my zone meetings, and the missionaries in mission conference training sessions that I would smile at such comments and know that my testimony is stronger for hearing such falsehoods.

God lives. He answers prayers. His son was sent to save us all. He fulfilled the plan. We will live again. We have the opportunity to return and live with Him and The Father someday.

Never falter in well doing. Never give in to the enticings of the adversary. His promises are temporary. He's a deceiver. Selfishness, pride, endless suffering, and regrets are the hallmarks of a lier that is the devil.
Know his power and his place in the universe.
By knowing your enemies you know yourself!
[secret in life]

I think of you Gussy everyday. I look forward to the days of hiking and sharing with you the lands of our ancestors in the Great Basin.
You are a special daughter of Heavenly Parents.
You have a dad on earth that loves and adores you. Has faith and confidence in you. Want's all that there is good in this life and the powers in heaven to be yours. A Shoshone Princess you are. A valiant warrior of righteousness you have become.
Likened unto many in the armies of the dead you command. With courage, tenacity, and vision you have them on the other side of the veil at your service. I say Gussy with a voice sounding like one from the dead, 'they are real.' They are known to me. They live!! They will be known unto you.
We cannot rise to our full potential and stay unspotted from this world without them!
The power of the dark side grows. I've seen this to know of it's surety. It's true.
We cannot survive without them on the other side. They have greater power than the evil one.
They impart of this authority upon our behalf.
This strengthens us. Gives us hope, understanding, and clarity to endure our challenges in mortality.
They serve on the errand of the angels.
They are of the armies of heaven. They will vanquish our foes, fight for us, and hold high the banner of victory over darkness with the light of The Savior as their scepter.

A warning I say, build upon these last few months and strengthen your testimony. Be restless.
Be vigilant. Desire more than ever The Lord's will over yours. Leave no rock unturned. No question unanswered. Have no regrets of days gone by.
Continue in all your doing to complete your mission. Hold up your chin. Smile at your accomplishments that you've been blessed to be apart of. Be of good cheer for He has overcome the world.

So many experiences I have every day, week, and month like the story I told in the beginning of this email. I could write volumes of such comparable experiences. I'm blessed in so many ways.
Grateful I am. Rejoice I do in you my daughter.
Hear me Gussy, ie....... ie.......................

Love you Gus Gus.
Louder- ie................ ie..................................
Miss you I do. ie............... ie......... ie..... ie...

Pops