Conversation between Shawn and Bryce, Monday, February 5, 2018

Shawn: Dear Bryce,

A bunch of men ran around in really tight capri pants last night. It was in Minnesota, but it seems like they had the good sense to be in some huge indoor facility. Somehow they got lots of people to sit (and even stand!) around and watch them. Apparently they even televised the thing! Odd. One group seemed happy at the end, even though some of their men were crying. The other group seemed sad, but maybe they were just remembering that they had parked their car outside and it was going to be really cold when they got back to it. Hard to tell. Oh, and they stopped half way through (I’m guessing because they were tired of running into each other) and the guy of NSYNC sang some of his songs. The whole thing seemed pretty boring, so you didn’t miss anything. 

Love,

Dad

PS: Nothing to report back at home. Went out with the missionaries and had some great visits blah blah blah. Played soccer and scored some sweet goals blah blah blah. Gavin is almost 2 inches taller than me blah blah blah. Oh, the one highlight is that I posted something on Andy Lambson’s Facebook timeline. I wrote this: “Elder Lambson, ¡muchísimas gracias por haber sido tan buen amigo y compañero de me hijo Bryce! Has sido una bendición en su vida. Gracias por tu servicio al Señor, y por lo menos ayudaste a un gringo de Carolina del Norte de sentir en amor puro de Cristo.” Andy wrote back: Muchas gracias! Elder Tucker es lo maximo! Fue un placer trabajar con el en mis ultimos meses. Mejor debo agradecerle a usted por criarle a el. Ahora tengo un amigo para siempre.(Todavia no se como usar mi celular, asi que perdon por no poner los tildes. Jajajaja)”  It was awesome, and it made my week.

Love you like crazy, and to make up for a short, rather lame letter, I’m attaching a great conference talk! It is called “The Atonement: All for All,” and it was given by Bruce C. Hafen in the April 2004 conference. I probably played it for you, and maybe more than once, over the years.

Bryce: Eagles baby

Shawn: Yes, and it was awesome, I’m sorry to say!

Bryce: A missed pass interference.

Shawn: They are not calling that sort of janky pass interference on the last play of the game!

Bryce: 😂😂😂😂 I hate the Pats so much so it is whatever. My MTC comp Elder Smith hears all the news so he gives me updates when I see him. I am glad you do not tell me stuff because I think him getting all that news makes him more trunky.

Shawn: I want you to be able to keep your heart, might, strength and MIND in Ecuador…

Bryce: Especially not hearing about Trump rocks. I see whispers from the dust (The church released some statement on what I assume was an immigration law put in place by him) but it is just paradise here. I sleep so peacefully.

Shawn: Let the adults here worry about stuff here; you get to focus on helping those around you feel the Savior’s love…  Love you, bud!

Bryce: Love you too, thanks for everything you do. What is your opinion on Jesus the Christ?

Shawn: The book is not “scholarly,” and it does not benefit from the most recent scholarship, but it was written by a very smart man who loved the Savior, and who wrote something so that others would know about and love the Savior. I read it during the last year of my mission, and I was glad. I learned a lot, and felt good reading the whole thing. I did not give me what I wanted—which was the sense of being with Jesus, but I learned that that is not a book’s job. The only way to gain a sense of being with Jesus is through prayer and through working in the same yoke with Him.

Bryce: That is the truth. It is interesting and I will finish it but it is not the scriptures. Thanks Dad and Love you so much.