These last few letters have been so fun to read from Loren, he seems so happy, and sounds like he is LOVIN' the country life(which includes lots of bbq.)We are all a little curious to see if he comes home with a pair of cowboy boots on.I have also really loved seeing these great pics of him too!

June 28th-
Dear Family!

Waller was great this week, we are trying to get in the groove of things out here. We are working on a lot of less actives and part members out here, tracting wont get it done. My companion is great, he leaves here in 3 weeks or so and I have to learn a lot more about the area but I will be fine. It is getting hotter and hotter out here and the summer is definately here. We have been doing a lot of service out here in the heat but we are getting plenty of water so no worries.

I feel like I am breaking the word of wisdom out here, haha, by eating so much meat! We have BBQ every day and they know how to cook it out here. Its all about coals, wood, and cut out all the oxygen and you let the meats smoke. I have come to love Brisket, it is a texas thing out here, and we dont use any sauce out here because its all seasoned up while its cooking. For 4th of july we will have church and meetings then probably have dinner with a member and be in by like 7 because people can go a little bit crazy with fireworks. A tip for uncle mike and aunt sandy in Alabama, a tip to beat the heat is to drink water more than eating food, haha, it gets pretty nasty heat, also eat lots and lots of fruit, and stay away from candy or sweets.

Waller is very open and very widespread and full of cattle and horses and farming. It is pretty nice and people are very friendly and love their BBQ. Sorry to bring it up again but BBQ is the thing out here, its how people gather and get to know one another. The other night we had BBQ that was fantastic but we had it the next day too, so i hope i dont get tired of it.

The other day it hit me really hard that my mission is on the downhill and with the way things are going so fast, I will be home quick. It is already the end of june and so I am done with june's on my mission! So you want me to tell you all I can about my new area, well I have told you a lot already but yeah we dont have any investigators except in the F ward, we have a part member family we are working on. The wife and the kids are members but the dad is not, but however we did have a major breakthrough, we got him to come out and play volleyball with the elders quorum last week, something Elder wood has been working on for a couple transfers now. Bro. M (investigator) has been taught by the missionaries before and we are working with the ward to fellowship him so it would be easier to teach him with fellowship because I think that was the problem with him in his last ward he was in.

Well family all is well, I have a lot of pictures to send you and I want you to see the cool country living in Waller. So i best be fixin to do that right now haha! I love you all so very much and hope that you are making the book of mormon a priority in your daily schedule, it will improve every thing I promise! Be safe this week and I look forward to the news of next week! Also dad, is leBron with a new team yet? Hows Boise state? anything new? But you can answer those questions next week, thanks for everything family, my mission is the springboard to the rest of my life! I know that everything good that will happen to me in the future, will come from this two year service to the lord. Love you!


Love

Elder Loren James Miller

June 21st

Dear Family,

Greetings from Waller county, TX and I am so happy to know that you got the package right before Fathers day. I actually kept that hat for a long time, and I almost thought about leaving it in Spring. But I chose to do what I originally planned and send it home, I am so happy to be in the country! It is so beautiful! We cover like 4 little townsand we cover a huge but rich subdvision in the Fward. There is so much country folk mixed with humble people and lots of BBQ! Oh man I have had BBQ everyday this week, out here in waller they know how to cook some good ol brisket, sausage, pork, and chicken. In fact the ward is putting on a huge labor day weekend BBQ for the whole county basically, so the ward members can invite their friends to come to it. Whenever we work in the F ward though we bike but it is no biggy to me because biking there is so nice because its all connected with bike trails. We do service at a non-member's who is a rancher and rodeo guy and he has horses and has a ranch, it is pretty cool.

My new companion is Elder W, He is very laid back and very calm and is really experienced.He actually goes home a week early than when he is supposed to so he could go to a family reunion/ festival in his little town. So I have to learn the area in 5 weeks and get to know everyone, It will be a challenge but I will be fine. You know that question about killing off companions can be answered easily, it is because President is inspired and has been set apart by the Prophet to lead the missionaries here. Elder w is a lot of fun and I am grateful to be his last companion and to serve with him. President when making transfer decisions goes to the temple and meditates and recieves inspiration in the lord's holy house. He has several transfer meetings the last two weeks of each transfer and meets with his two assistants to decide who goes where.

So I talked to the sister missionaries who took elder m and my spots in k ward and they are doing really good. J will get baptized soon, actually right before we left J told us he will get baptized soon and the reason why he wanted to get baptized last weekend is because he wants to share his testimony and conversion with others. It was powerful to see this man have the faith to know and to want to share what he knows to be true. He told us when he makes his mind up on decisons he sticks with them. The sisters also said that they talked to A and her mom and they are going to start teaching them again and helping them out, which is great! Dad, I hope you know that I love you and that next father's day I will be there with you and celebrating and honoring you! Thanks for all that you have done, I wouldn't be here in Houston if it wasnt for you. Your a major part of who I am and I love you and miss being there and hanging out with you. Everything you have taught me has stuck with me and has been excellent help during my mission. I have 11 months left, and I want to make every minute count, and time is flying by so pretty soon I will be home.

I cancelled my gym membership and I absolutely love the ties you sent me mom! They are great and I am currently wearing one right now. The work is moving forward and I am loving my new area and I am really blessed. People out here in Waller will take care of me like the rest of my wards have.
Well I love you all soo much and I hope that you are safe and sound there. I appreciate dad that you are putting together your baptism story, I think of it as a treasure to me because of the eternal impact of your decision to get baptized. Be strong and pray as a family for missionary opportunities around you there in caldwell. Thanks for everything! I will be excited to hear back from you and I gotta go, we are fixin' to leave real quick hahaha (texan) .


Love your son

Elder Loren James Miller



June 13th
Dear Family!

Well Big Big news! I am being transferred!!!!!! I am being transferred to Waller, TX! It is pure country! I cannot wait! They are placing sisters here in the K and W wards, I am so excited to move on! It was such a big upset! Nobody thought I was going to get transferred! But I am and I am going to Waller and I am going to be with Elder Wood, who goes home at the end of July so I am "killing him off". This is good that sisters are coming in because they can probably connect with some people that My companions and I couldnt connect with.

So J didnt get baptized, So the transition with sister missionaries is good because they can probably connect with J's wife and instead of just him getting baptized it will be a whole family. J's is so golden, he told us he really wants to get baptized so he can be a better husband and father. He also told us that he wants to meet with the bishop of the ward and ask him for some counsel on his marriage and other things.

I am going to really miss some of the families in the wards I covered but I know that the time has now come for me to move on. I have seen a lot of people that have changed and become stronger and I am so excited for the future of J and other people we were working with. So there is a family in the K ward that are amazing and great missionary members, and I got really close with them over the past six months, and I am going to miss them. Their names are the Scardino family, they actually got me a going away present, History of the Church, which is an 8 volume set. She is sending to you pretty soon, so be ready for that and also I sent a box in the mail with some random stuff I dont have room for. Sister s joined the church 7 years ago and is amazing! Her mom is not a member and has been over at their house a lot when we have been there and we have definately helped her mom a lot by just talking to her about gospel things, nothing formal but just being a support to her. So there was a huge seed planted with Sis S's mom, which if she does get baptized in the future , I really want to come back and see. People's lives can change mom and dad by just being the person heavenly father wants you to be, it is really that simple.

So I have not much time to email, but I will have a lot more to right next week after my fist week in the country, I am just thrilled to go to Waller! I love you all so much, I have to go because we have to go deep deep clean our apartment for the sister missionaries who are moving in. I love my mission so much and I am blessed to be a representative of this church and of his gospel, I thank you my loving family for the support and raising me in the way that the lord would want any child to be raised. I am going to be missing some people here in Spring but change is good! Keep reading the book of mormon! It will inspire us to greater lengths and to more accomplished goals I promise!

Until next week, I love you! Be safe!

Love Elder Miller

May and June letters... a little late...sorry

June 7th, 2010
Dear family,

Well I was very happy to see you got those pictures, Sis C, is a great lady and her husband of 30 plus year got baptized last august finally! They are both active and looking forward to getting sealed this fall, and she is all about missionary work and helping us out.


J is getting baptized this saturday and it will be amazing, the w ward hasnt had any baptisms since it was created two years ago. The ward leadership is starting to warm up to us missionaries, but I think the underlying problem is still that there is no connection between us and the leadership, no trust or coordination. But oh well, we have worked our hardest for the ward and we hope they can welcome j with open arms. We stopped by R and taught him and he read the Restoration pamphlet and he said that he is really interested and wants to see the pictures of the twelve apostles we have today because he thinks its fascinating that there is twelve apostles again today.

The two sisters are completely out of the picture and I think that it is just going to be one of those things where we have planted a garden basically and in a few years maybe someone will go through the garden and find treasure. But it is pretty sad but we have to move forward and keep finding people.

Transfers are this weekend, well we find out what is happening with transfers, I think I will stay here for another transfer. I really dont mind staying at all.
We have a baptism June 19th in the K ward, it is m, she is 16 and her parents wouldnt let her get baptized till she is sixteen. She is golden, she was taught in December and just when I first got here. But we retaught her the past month and her parents are not interested in the gospel at all. She has read the book of mormon like 5 times and she goes to mutual every week and she has gone to church the past 9 months consistently. She is so excited and happy, a family in the ward that lives down the street and has brought her to us and to the church.

Family I love you and appreciate all that you do for me and helping me be here on my mission. Heavenly father is blessing us so much and I know that things will all work out for the good.

Love

your son
Elder Loren James Miller



June 1st 2010
Dear Family,

It is good to get the news from back home! I am happy that all is well in Idaho and Washington. This week has been and up and down week because some changes made in our daily routine.

Its June 1st today and I cant believe I have made it this far, one year to go and a lot more amazing experiences left. The priesthood fireside topic is great, that evil among us is creating divorces and bad relationships and is weakening the faith of many. Tatoos, is something that I dont understand, our investigator J has some tatoos but he is 35 and got them at 18. He told us the other day he regrets getting them and tries to cover them up as much as possible because he doesnt want his children to get them.

Speaking of J, the man is incredible, it is such a blessing to know him and his faith. He told us last week that he has lost friends and clients because of his choice to get baptized June 12. But he does not let that phase him, he is a student and a great man of obedience. He is all about obedience, that principle is the first law of heaven according to Jefferey R. Holland. So he will be a great addition to the fold of god.It is hot here in Houston! I bought a camelpack water bladder for my backpack at walmart so that will be good for the work.

This past week I had a powerful experience that solidified my testimony of the book of mormon even more. A month ago the spanish missionaries found some potentials in a trailer park and they called us and invited us to go and help one of the potentials with service on his yard. The potential's name is R and he is a lonely old man and has liver cancer. His heart was softened by the weekly efforts of spanish missionaries and us and became interested in hearing our message. So Elder M and I went over and talked to him for 45 minutes and he was so depressed and lonesome. It got to a point where he said he doesnt feel like he wants to live anymore and he was in tears. Elder M and I bore testimony of the plan of salvation and of God's purpose for each and everyone of us. I turned and got a book of mormon out of my bag and gave it to R. I told him to read this and pray about it, and I bore my testimony of the book to him. We left that day not knowing what would come from our invitation to read the book of mormon to him. This past week the spanish missionaries called us and told us that R read the first part of 1st Nephi and is interested in coming to church. On sunday R came to church and he was happy and he sat by a former senior missionary who lives here in houston, named elder C who sat by him in Sacrament meeting, He told Elder c this "if it wasnt for those 4 missionaries and this church, I wouldn't be here today!"

The gospel of jesus christ saves lives, the book of mormon is the difference maker in the work. This man was very depressed and he has completely turned his life around. It was amazing!

Family, Thanks for all that you do and I so privileged to represent the lord for two years and help him bring his children return to live with him. Continue living the gospel and being the example to others and never give up hope. I love you all and pray that you have a great week. Be Safe!

2 Ne. 4:5
Love

Elder Loren James Miller

May 24th, 2010
Dear Family,

I loved the pictures you sent me of stellar and dad on the tractor and lexie looks a whole lot older than a year ago. So this week was a very long and up and down week, we had 11 appointments fall through! But we are improving a lot more as far as ward unity and our companionship's unity.

It seems as though when we are busy, life seems to be much smoother and when things are slow, life gets kind of boring.
Our investigator pool is pretty low but we are going to try and get some more by the end of this week. Members are really working hard and we are really working hard so I know something will happen. We had stake conference this past weekend and J came to stake conference and we sat in the front row. It was probably the best stake conference I have ever been to, J said at the end that " this has solidified my decision to get baptized". At the end of stake conference President and Sister hansen, the klein stake presidency, and a number of members who dont even know who he is came up and shook his hands and said thanks for coming. J is doing amazing! The other day he called us to return our phone call because we couldnt get a hold of him all week! He quit tobacco and tea and we havent even taught the word of wisdom yet!

Mom and dad can you compile like a summary of dad's journey to being a member of the church. I just want to know what the full story is, what his thoughts were, what his religious background was before he joined the church. I just have thought a lot about him when I teach investigators because I think of how he was baptized and how that effected me being the missionary I am today.

So I had a great opportunity to go to a Sealing of a family in the Kleinwood ward this past saturday. They invited us, we visit them once in a while the past months and helped them prepare for the temple a little bit. The husband has been a member his whole life but was inactive for a long time, his wife was found by Elder W two and half years ago. Elder W knocked on her door, and they werent married at the time, but they were engaged. he was an inactive in the spanish ward. So Elder w got transferred and Elder B came in and taught her and baptized her two years ago. They are both very very active and they have a nine month old baby. Elder b came back with his parents to go to the sealing and he came to our apartment the other day and visited us. I will send you a picture of me and him next week or so. It was so amazing to be at that sealing, it was just picture perfect, that is what every missionary's goal should be, seeing a family be sealed in the temple. It was such an amazing experience!

We tract a lot now and we live in the strongest part of our mission as far as activity wise and so that brings a lot of opposition. When we tract, elder m gets all the great nice people who say thanks but were good in a gentle way. When I knock on the door I get Anti people who just go crazy on us! haha but I had a cool experience the other day, I knocked on the door of Messianic Rhabbi (I dont understand why he said he was jewish). So he said he knew our church and that he is good with his church and that we were wrong with the book of mormon. he said that I need to read Revelations 22:19, he quoted it. I just knew in my mind this guy has no idea about the bible, they didnt have a bible compiled in that time period. So i asked him if he read the book of mormon and he said a piece of it but thats all. I said back to him sir how can that be fair to say that the book of mormon is not true if you have not read it and prayed about it. He just said I am sure its a cute story with all about Joseph Smith. So I then bore down with pure testimony against him and said sir i know that the book of mormon is true and by the power of the holy ghost I have gained that witness that it is true and nobody can take that away from me. He basically shut down and said see you later and shut the door. I was like nephi and slayed laban, spiritually speaking not really physically.

The best thing I did to read the book of mormon, was have a study journal to re-write whats happening in the chapter in my own words and right down key points on that page in the study journal. Also highlight everything about christ in red! read the book of mormon for 30 minutes a day and things will get better. I am half way done with the old testament and I have the doctrine and covenants then I am done with the standard works.


Well family, I love each and everyone of you so much and I am seeing a lot of great things happening in the lives of individuals. Remember how powerful the gospel is and never forget that its not about how much knowledge you have, its about the testimony you nourish each day. I love you all so much, I am doing my best and representing our family well and hope that your love of the gospel of jesus christ will spread throughout family, friends, and neighbors. Be safe. Love you

Love

Elder Loren James Miller
May 17th 2010
Dear Family!

Well this week was a great week because I hit my year mark.
We celebrated my year mark with 3 of my MTC district members and it was so weird to look back and see how far we have all come. We went to Fudruckers and talked and had some good burgers, I am not sure if it is Holten meat burgers but still they are really good.
We are teaching a 15 year old girl named M and she has been going to church for a year but her parents wont let her get baptized till she is 16. She is golden and has read the book of mormon 5 times, she is getting baptized june 19. Our appointment with her the other night was good because we had an ex mission president go teaching with us.
I have learned on my mission that I need to be a leader and not just wait for others to do stuff. Taking the lead and being the one who sets the pace for the day is something that I have had to step up and do. But I do it with love and diligence for the work and for my companions. We also gave J a baptismal date for june 12 and his wife will be hard to get a hold of to teach. That is what we are doing is trying to set up appointments so his wife could be there. But he is doing great and doesnt have any problems with word of wisdom, tithing or other commandments. He reads the book of mormon with his heart and wants to know it is true.

It is getting pretty dang hot here and very humid, we went tracting in some trailer parks and had some fun doing that the other day. It was fun because I felt like I was on that TV show my big fat redneck wedding. But although we didnt find any investigators we still talked to a lot of funny people that didnt have any teeth! haha YeEEHAW! So anyhow we are working hard and doing our best to help both wards out and the things we discussed on Mothers day was good conversation.

I was thinking about the past year of my mission and wonder this is the fastest thing I have ever been a part of, I made it out a year! It is truly weird to think I have been out a year, I only have a year left but they say that the second year goes by faster. I am excited for the summertime though because summer is better time for people because school is out and more flexibility.

Well I love you mom and dad, lexie and emily, and everyone who reads this email so very much. I thank heavenly father for the support that he has given each one of us through this year in Houston. I still got a year but I need to savor every moment of it and keep on having faith in the lord jesus christ and be persistent. I have a testimony of the priesthood power and the great opportunity to hold it and to know of the restored gospel. I have a testimony of the book of mormon, it enlarges our memory of the saviors ministry and his infinite love for us. Please keep going strong, we have came a long way as a family and we have more to go, just "remember him" in all the hard times, when giving up is tempting, "remember him". I love you all and I am safe and sound and doing great things!

Love always

Elder Loren James Miller

May 10th 2010
Dear Family,

It was a very good day yesterday because of our great conversation on the phone. I hope you know that I am safe and sound, that I am in the lord's hands.

I was so thrilled to to talk to Stellar yesterday because it was so different to hear him talk and make sentences and not be a little baby anymore. It is great to talk to all of you and have a minute or two with each of you. Just think two more phone calls and my mission is over! But lets focus on the now, haha, so we got a phone call earlier today and it was J and he wants us to teach his wife this week. His wife came with him to church yesterday and she didnt understand the sacrament meeting organization and about how we dont use the bible mainly. So J wants us to bring a sister along with us to teach him and his wife. I have a good feeling about this, it is a great opportunity to bring in a family in to the fold.

So ways that you can be a missionary is pretty simple, I would tell you ways to do it but I will give you talks to read to help you. Search these on the church website:
Dallin H. Oaks, “Sharing the Gospel,”
Gordon B. Hinckley, “Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep,”
Don R. Clarke, “Learning to Share the Gospel,”

Just know this mom, you can be a member missionary through your example and just being a friend who takes an interest in others.
Well family, I have a sure foundation of testimony that is built upon the savior, jesus christ. Remember to be grateful for the blessings, and know they you are worthy of them by the power of the holy ghost. I am loving my time here in Houston and cant wait to move forward to the next day to teach and to help others finding better faith in christ. I love you all so very much, Thank you for all that you do! Be safe, I love you all!

Love
Elder Loren J. Miller
May 3rd 2010
Dear Family!

Well the transfer news has come and gone! I am staying put with Elder M, I will be "killing him off" because this is his last transfer. I really thought I was going to get transferred but it is all good, I love the area and we work well together. This week was pretty rocky because I got the flu for two days and so we didnt teach a lot this week. K and her family are not on good terms right now so we couldnt get a baptismal interview for A and her, so their baptism is being postponed. It is completely different this week, its like they fell off of the face of the earth. We are going to be patient and I know they will be baptized! We had some great appointments that fell through but it is all good, the trials we face in the mission will lead us to success.

It is already May! I cant believe that in 10 days I hit my year mark! I cant believe it! Really time is flying by because of all the work that is involved and the dedication that is needed. The mission is hard! I am not going to hold back anything, if one is not prepared for this two year journey than it will be a long long long road. I have been blessed with great people to teach and to work with, but difficult weeks are in there too! But overall I love my mission and I love being a missionary and cant wait to wake up and do the lords work each day!

I did need new shoes but that was taken care by a great family in my area. They have a son on his mission who is the same size as me and there is another member in the ward who is quite wealthy that gave their son a bunch of suits and shoes before he left and he didnt take some with him. So the members last night show me some of these shoes and the ones they gave me are custom italian brown shoes that are way good! I am so happy that it all worked out!

This week is mothers day! I am so honored mom to have you as my mom and I am so blessed to know of great mothers in our family. I love you mom so very much! I hope you have a great week and I hope that you will be safe. Dad thanks for your emails! And yes a mission does trasform one to become a man from a boy. I look and feel different sometimes but I still am the son you raised! I love the lord and his gospel and I am not afraid to share it with those that need it! I cant wait to talk to you all on the phone this weekend! I will call on sunday around 5 o clock your time or so okay! so be alert and I will try to call dads phone! Thanks for the great support and love you all give me and I can feel it everyday as I wear the saviors name and our last name. I will save the rest for this weekend! I cant wait to talk! This is 2 out of 4 phone calls so its the halfway point! I am glad you all enjoyed the pictures! I will have more as soon as more things happen, sorry about the lack of information but being sick does damper the work from the week. I love you all!

Love Elder Loren James MIller

Well, It makes me so happy inside to read my brothers last few letters, because he is so happy! He is doing awesome and he is making a difference in people lives, and I can tell people are enjoying him. I really enjoyed the story of him talking to the man in his driveway in the April 26th letter.He sure has guts! Cant wait to read about what happens to him this week in his next letter. And I am really looking forward to Mothers Day when he will call home.
April 5th,
Dear Family,
Well it is gettin humid here in Spring, Texas. Conference is done, it was a suprising conference because of the reoccuring theme of the importance of teaching the gospel in the home. I got the easter stuff in the mail! I love the CD, it is perfect! We had a hard week of tracting and walking, we are working hard to find some investigators. Elder M and I are getting along great, he is a very seasoned missionary but he isnt lazy or trunky.
I can't believe I am almost 20 years old and I remember when I turned 12 and thinking how old I was then. But wow, 20 is a big number out of the teens and into young adult hood. I am very happy for the 20 years I have lived through, it has been a joy to grow up in the places where we lived and be around the people we were around.
Conferene was pretty powerful especially, Elder Neil L. Andersens talk and also Elder Holland did it again. Conference flew by way fast and I think it will be interesting to read them again next month and see what I missed. So in between sessions on sunday we had lunch with the Deaf Branch in our stake/zone. They had a group of like 8 deaf members and the two ASL missionaries and the Branch president and his wife. It was a lot of fun, I am learning sign language pretty good with the exposure to the ASL program. I love the k ward and I love the area. The members are very strong and active in this area, probably because we are so close to the temple. But yeah, I am turning into a gardener because of all the gardening experience on the temple grounds, its really fun service to do.

So the other day at ward coordination in windrose, our ward mission leader who has gone from unsure to solid in his attitude of his calling, he has came along way. He used to be very doubtful with his calling and now he has completely changed into someone who wants missionary work to be done the right way. at the end of coordination, he showed us the mormon message off of LDS.org, called HE LIVES! its a 2 minute movie that is powerful. I actually cried at the end because of the spiritual power it has, I would encourage you to send that movie clip to all those who need that little extra push to help them have a better day. The ward mission leader was in tears and couldnt even speak, he has a very strong testimony of the savior jesus christ.

Well mom and dad and family, I love you all very much and I hope that you have a great week, remember to be patient and diligent and remember the savior. I am having a blast on my mission, I am doing all I can to get the most out of my journey of bringing souls unto the lord.

Be safe and pray always

Love Elder Loren James Miller

April 12th-
Dear Family,

Well this week has been really great! We have a lot of potentials that we are trying to put into position of investigating. The weather was great! We are working really hard to improve the area and are putting together some programs with the wards to improve missionary work.

The work is kind of slow, but missionary work comes in cycles, for like 6 months there will be a lot of progress, then when those investigators get baptized, the work is in reloading mode of finding and member work. K and A are doing really good, keona didnt make it to church because of work:( but its been hard to get an appointment with them. We are going to call them and set something up. They are great young women, they are both strong and are developing great relationships with the ward. They have a date for may 1st, we got a few things to teach them, but we are working hard to do the best we can to prepare them! We tract a lot and actually found an investigator who we are teaching again on wednesday, we will see how it goes. I forgot to tell you that in one of my wards, a second quorum of the seventy member has his home in our ward. He lives in Brazil on assignment but he raised all of his kids in our area. He came and spoke at stake priesthood meeting two sundays ago, and he came to the kleinwood ward meetings as well. I met him and shook his hand! Well anyway we ate dinner at his house yesterday with his wife and one of his sons and his family that is staying at the house. It was really cool to talk to them about their calling in Brazil and telling us stories about traveling around and doing work for the lord.

Well, my big 20th birthday is happening this friday and I am honestly excited and cant wait but still it will be weird. I am fine with it, Houston is my home for right now, and yeah I was really bored at SNOW on my birthday. I will try and send some pictures in the next week or two because we take pictures at the temple mostly and I will send those in a few weeks okay? Thank you for sending the package, I cant wait to get it, we are going today to the mall and getting some new pants and socks, and a new white long sleeve shirt. Thank you mom and dad for all the support!
Well mom and dad thanks for the 20 years, there are so much more ahead! 11 months are down and 13 left! man time is flying by when your having the time of your life. take advantage of the gospel and study, work, pray, and ponder what you know and what you need to know. I know the savior lives and that each of us has a divine calling in this life to be the person heavenly father needs us to be. I love my heavenly father and the redeemer, I know that the book of mormon is the word of god, I have found joy in my journey from the witness of jesus christ it proclaims. I hope all is well, never forget what you know and what you can do for others. Be safe, I love you all!

Love
Elder Loren James Miller

April 26th-
Dear Family!

Well this week was probably one of the most explosive weeks in my mission. The work is booming in our area because of all the hard work and tracting we put in. We have 4 people with baptismal dates at the end of the week, also we received 6 member referrals from the K ward council. We had a guy show up to church with his less active girlfriend who wants to investigate and change his life and he is solid. We got two new investigators and taught the standard 20 lessons that we are suppose to teach week. The work is just going so well and I owe it all to my heavenly father for the blessings of this gospel. We are getting members excited, we are having fun, and we are sweating out the days. It is getting pretty hot but its all good when we are teaching like crazy. Elder M and I are doing so good in this area, we definately have heavens help.
We had interviews this past week and it was pretty good, mine was a really long one, and President was very helpful. I have a great love for President H, I dont know if I would still be out here if it wasnt for his counsel and instruction over the past 11 months. He told me how much I have changed and how I am completely different missionary. He says that I have a lot of good leadership skills and that my companion said a lot of good things about me. I definately believe that there is a purpose for President H being my mission president, he is called of god and we fit right together. This week is transfer announcements, honestly I have no idea what is going to happen. Either I stay in a great area and be the last companion to elder M before he goes home or I go somewhere else where the lord needs me.

So we were tracting the other day and we walk up the sidewalk with a RM who was helping us. And we see an old guy reading a book and we talked to him and invited him to learn and he started off talking to us about what Mitt romney said in a debate. He was talking about Mitt romney saying that mormons are christians and how that ruined his presidential campaign. Then he just went off on us, saying how we are trying to be like the rest of the churches and trying to compete with other churches for attention. . Then he got on the topic about how we are wishy washy type of religion, because of the blacks and the priesthood thing. Then the spirit helped me put an end to it. I said exscuse me sir, can I say something, the whole conversation stops. Then I said to him " Sir, I cant feel the spirit being here in your driveway, if you dont mind I am going to move on". So I walked away down the driveway and my companion and the RM were shocked. Family, I have to say when there is a lot of good there is a lot of opposition. People dont like us and dont believe we are christians. It is shocking, but it is definately a sign of an apostasy actually occuring in the history of time.

We got news that K and A want there baptism to be on the 8th of May not may 1st. It is all good with me as long as they are baptized and recieve the holy ghost. J is going to get baptized may 22, but he didnt come to church yesterday so we will have to see.
This week was amazing and now this next week we will put our shoulder to the wheel and find more people to teach. Thanks family for all that you do, I love you and miss you so much. Be safe and read the book of mormon, it is the great harvesting tool for us. I am so happy where I am and I am excited to be the person I am today. But I know I am not perfect, I must always be improving and work towards being a better servant because the gospel helps be the person that Heavenly father has designed for us to be. I will keep you all in my prayers! Thanks for everything! Love always!

Love your missionary

Elder Loren James Miller

March 22nd
Dear Family,

Well transfer news was delivered and some big news, I am staying and Elder H is leaving. Elder H is going to be a district leader somewhere else.I am staying and getting Elder T, he has only been out for 3 months and I will be his second companion, which means I am going to be senior companion and I am greeny breaking him. Greeny breaking means to be the second companion to someone and make them not a greeny anymore. I have no idea who Elder T is because he is coming from College Station, and that area is like 1 1/2 hours away from here. It will be a lot of stress but it will be worth it totally! I am really going to miss Elder H,but he is needed and will do a great job.

So last week was a big week for us! We taught two teenage girls who are friends with some youth in the W ward and they are totally golden! Their names are K and A, they are sisters and a member who is a senior in high school who is in some after school stuff with them read the whole lessons of PMG to them and gave them a book of mormon before we even met them. So a few days later we taught them again, but the night before we got a call from our zone leaders saying that they are going to help us out with something. We were thinking that we were getting some supplies or something but, they said that President H is going to go teaching with us to the second appointment with K and A! So President H called us and we went teaching with him to the girls' house. Oh man, it was an incredible lesson, I extended the Baptism date for the end of april to the girls. They are so committed to the gospel its incredible! This will be the first baptism in the W ward's two year history! It is crazy! We have been working so hard and we got two solid investigators!

So after the appointment, President was praising us for our teaching and I was like oh man this is different! Haha, but the other day we went to a funeral of a Ward Mission leader in one of the wards around us who owns a BBQ restraunt in our area, he was incredible man, he died on the golf course which is his favorite thing to do. He even taught President Eyring a few years ago how to golf,and he went with his ward's missionaries to teach a lot of investigators and he would always convert them by his powerful teaching and testimony. He is a convert of like 40 years I think, he loved the gospel and thats all he talked about on the golf course, he love to work in the temple, he was 100 percent home teaching his whole life. He even went to his families' childrens baseball games and different events in their lives. He was probably the best member missionary and he loved to feed the whole mission during zone conferences and other things. It was a huge blow to this mission and the C ward. He will be truly missed, he gave himself to the lord and I know now that he is definately teaching others on the other side of the veil the missionary lessons.

We got a ride with President H to the funeral and afterwards we were getting in the car to go back home. President puts his arm around my shoulder and like kind of puts me in a headlock and is like Elder I just love teaching with you. I feel that president knows me so much better than before because of that teaching moment we had.

Well I am really happy that your trip was great! You are SOOOOO lucky to go to washington, give the babies hugs and kisses. I truly miss them very much! Well mom and dad I love you so so much and dad happy birthday and I love you. You are my best friend and I look forward to the day I return and we can do the things we use to do. Mom, time is flying by but your baby boy is doing great, I am safe and healthy. The lord watches over me and protect me because I love the work at which I am doing. I cant wait to help Elder T grow up more in the mission, because I have to be the example now and be the leader. I love the book of mormon and I love the the savior and that gives me the desire to put my shoulder to the wheel and push along. Mom and Dad thanks for supporting me throughout my mission and helping me choose the best I can be. I love you all, Lexie be strong and keep being a good girl and helping mom and dad. Travel safe and pray always

Love
Elder Loren James Miller


March 15th
Dear Family!

Well weeks are like days here now, the weather is beautiful and things are going up. This week we have two investigators in the w ward that we are teaching! The w ward is only two years old and they have never had a convert baptism! We are trying to break that drought and help the ward be strengthen with missionary opportunities. I am blessed to be here in Texas, it is truly a beautiful state!


I am at 10 months in the mission and I have grown up a lot! President H said to me in interviews last week that I have gone from boy to man over the past few months. I have really seen that huge improvement in attitude, christlike attributes, work ethic, and obedience.

Ether chapter 9 is good! The whole book of ether is amazing, the Jaredite record is so interesting to learn about. In Mosiah they talk about it and how it was found. Ether chapter 12 is truly an amazing chapter and it is perfect to gain insight on faith, humility, and patience.
The gospel changes lives for the better, it is life altering and it improves the pathway to heaven and makes it understandable. The gospel principles book holds topics that basically explain salvation all together. Reading the book of mormon lately, I have found that the lord keeps his promises and the prophets truly have the revelation from god. I don't know where the members of this church would be without the priesthood keys and revelation to guide the church. A prophet is crucial for each one of us, each one of them have a personal touch or meaningful example to us. I am so excited for conference as well, I really cant wait for the necessary words to improve our daily lives.

Transfer news will come this coming saturday night and I am so nervous for it. I have a feeling that Elder h is going to be transferred! I have really enjoyed serving with him, he has taught me a lot and he is a true example of overcoming the world and following christ. We work well together and do all we can to improve our areas and to help people build their faith in christ. He probably has been my favorite companion so far, he has been such a blessing to me.

Also I have stopped my snoring! So my companion has been struggling with sleeping because he wakes up and then cant go back to sleep because I snore. So I finally got him to admit it was me that was causing the problem. So I said it is all good I can fix it. So i went to the walgreens and got some breathing strip things. Also I got these homeopathic pill things called snorestop, they work! My companion has been getting so much sleep, it is incredible!

Well mom and dad and family, I love you so much and I am so blessed to be a representative of Jesus Christ. To bear his name when teaching people and to hold the priesthood. I love my mission and I have truly lost myself in the work and have improved so much. I have a sure foundation that Heavenly father knows each one of us by our desires and our hearts. He will prepare the way through christ if we first love and serve him sincerely. I know that the book of mormon is not just some other scripture, its the word of god for our day. Never take it for granted. Things will get better for each one of us as long as we diligently serve the lord with a humble heart. I love you all so very very much and never forget that!

Be safe and follow christ, our redeemer.

Love always

Elder Loren James Miller

March 8th-

Dear Family!
I am doing great here, we are working very hard and are doing all we can to find people to teach. We have been tracting a lot lately and are doing all we can. Elder H is great. I have learned so much from him. He tells me all of the time that I am probably one of the most dedicated missionaries and righteous missionaries. I would have to say that it might be true but I did not get the way I am from just me. I have truly had heavens help through obedience and sincerity of the calling which I have.

Isn't the book of mormon amazing? Everyday I am studying it so hard, I love it, and I have found that in comparison to the bible I feel more of the truth that makes sense. I love the story of Alma and Amulek, and also the career and person that Captain moroni was. I love the scriptures, as I make them more apart of my life each day in my mission, I see myself transforming into the person I need to be. Sorry, I dont really know what the wards are doing for humanitarian, haha, we are just so caught up in the missionary work in the ward!

So we have had some interesting experiences tracting and knocking doors last week. We have been called out, slammed, laughed at, argued with, yelled at, cut off in sentence, and we still have been blessed. We received two referrals from members yesterday after a long week of hard tracting, and it all paid off! I am so happy because I know the faith we exercised was just enough for heavenly father to bless us with teaching opportunities. We actually went to a less-active's house and knocked on their door and they werent home so we decided to knock the next five doors next to them. Well the first door we knocked on, and it opened and this lady invited us in and she and her husband listened to the first lesson. She is friends with a strong member of the ward and the member told her recently that she should let us in if we ever knock on her door. It was kind of funny, but it showed me that the ward members have been doing missionary work by opening their mouths and engaging in gospel conversations. We gave this couple the challenge to read and pray from the book of mormon. As soon as we extended the committment, she said to us well we go to his church pointing to the husband. Her husband is catholic, and the member later told us that they are not really active at all in the catholic church. It is just funnny! haha but it was a great testimony builder of courage and doing the work regardless of the outcome.

You know conferene is is in like 3 weeks and I am so flippin excited! haha, I am trying to lose weight by eating better which I totally am and eating less salt foods and drinking plenty of water. I have a great companion who supports me in my dieting and exercising. I am hoping tto get down to atleast 215 by the time I go home in 14 months! I am at 245 but I know that I am not just a michelin man or a blob you know? I have been doing just straight cardio machines for 50 to 60 minutes every morning, like elipticial,stairmaster,and cycling. I hope that I shed some pounds, but members make it tough with the good food they feed us with!

Well I am getting pretty nervous lately, because in two weeks is when we find out what the next transfer cycle looks like. I have a feeling like I am getting transferred to a new area or something. I feel that the lord has special purposes for me being in certain areas at certain length but who knows. Elder H and I could stay together for another one which I would love. But whatever the lord asks I do. I am so happy and I know that we are eternally blessed for the sacrifices and submission we make to the lord. I testify that the heavens are opened and we have a living prophet on this earth and what a mouth piece of the lord he is. One of the twelve apostles is coming to houston to see how the missionary work is going, its L.Tom Perry. I dont know if we will see him but I know that he is one of the special witnessses of christ. I love the lord and this work, I feel like my course in life is set up by how much I work and put into this effort. Thanks mom and dad for the sacrifice you make to have me be out here and for the years prior of giving up things to help me. I love you all so much! Thanks for being YOU! The gospel is the way and there is no other way that is going to get us the true happiness we seek than what has been restored. I am so honored to be your son.

Love always
Elder Loren James Miller

March 1st-
Dear Mom and Dad,

Well it is already march 1st of 2010, and time is flying by, first and foremost, Happy Birthday mom! Something should be in the mail soon ok? This past week we had a lot of downs and a lot of ups, we had 9 appointments fall through and that caused a lot of frustration but, it was all good. On friday night, the k ward had a chili cook off, which the ward brought 13 non members! That totally made up for the 9 appointments, I am most happy when I see the members being missionaries themselves, I enjoy their success! We will see what happens with those people that came to the ward activity, but I did ride my bike the other day and it was pretty nice, my bike is doing great. The weather is great here and it is in the 60s and sometimes it changes here and there but it is all good.

So members feed us every night, we are pretty used to being taking care for meals at dinner time. But on friday, our district of 8 missionaries went to a mongolian grill type place and had a blast after district meeting. Right before we were getting ready to finish our meal, the waitress comes up to us and says that the lady who just left paid for our whole bill. It was so cool, we never saw the lady or talked to her but she definately helped us out a lot. We have a lot of potential investigators in our area, but there is something always holding us back from teaching them, like the member that referred us to them cant make up a time to have us over to teach the person or they never call us back or anything.

I am grateful for my obedience to you mom and dad, for the decisions that I made because of you taking me to church every week. The gospel has affected every single decision I have made in my life. I am grateful I have a testimony and I have such a knowledge of the restored gospel of jesus christ.

Transfers are March 23rd, so we are at halfway, we will find out on the 20th, I have no idea whats going to happened. I love K ward and the w ward. This area is so cool and its way fun to be in, but who knows what is going to happen. President h is inspired and I know that where ever he sends me, it is an assignment from the lord. It would be fun to serve in College Station, home of Texas A&M but who knows. I am going to go on a diet and try and lose a lot of weight, thats the one thing I do know.

Well this past zone conference we talked about faith, President h said that the thing that measures our faith is our obedience. The more obedient we are the greater faith we have, we also talked about using faith in finding people. Zone conference was really amazing, I feel like my faith has increased tremendously in the past two months. Obedience is easy if you get in the habit of doing things that are asked of you and don't think about it or analyze it. Faith is an action word and I think the more we exercise gospel principles in our life, faith will sky rocket.

Well Mom and Dad, thanks for all that you do, thanks for helping me get to the point of where I am at in my life. I have been blessed so much because of the things that the lord has commanded. I testify to you that the savior has done it all for us, if we have faith to do everything his way then the blessings will come. If we are patient and are humble we can do amazing things. I love you all so very very much! Happy Birthday mom and be safe everyone!

Love always

Elder Loren James Miller

Here is Elder Miller and his companion. I was so excited to read his emails the last two weeks, he has been so happy.I have felt that he seems comfortable in his role as a missionary and as an independant adult. I have enjoyed seeing some of his sense of humor through is last few letters. I think up until now he has been adjusting and I think this new area he is in is allowing him to blossom. I am so grateful for the members feeding my brother too, it made me so happy that they have members feeding them all month! I am so proud of him and am grateful for his example and strength. Oh and I also think it is hilarious to read about him getting pulled over AGAIN! and this time for LOITERING!?

Feb.21st-
Dear Mom,

I am doing great, things are really looking up here in this area which I am serving in. But we got a call from the Assistants last week saying that they are probably taking our car away at the end of the transfer. Which is kind of a weird idea because we cover two wards and the other ward is 5 miles from our apartment.We will see what happens, I really love my area, it has been a blessing to serve here. Elder H is doing really good, I have really enjoyed him the past two months and he is such a great kid. The baptism was amazing, we used the chapel because a lot of high schoolers came to it, and there was two musical numbers. N's family came and it was exciting to see them there and take in a new experience of a baptism.

I absolutely loved looking at the pictures of the babies, they are so big! I feel like I am missing out on a lot but I know that there is so much more time in the future for me to be a part of their lives.

This past week we have spent a lot of time finding, we need more people to teach and our areas have been tracted out so many times. They are considerably small areas too, but still we are still trying to find people because it shows that we are diligent in finding the prepared ones. Yeah about god talking to prophets, he spoke to adam in the garden and gave him instruction. He also taught moses as well and I would have you look up in the bible dictionary about prophets or dispensation. It is interesting how crucial a prophet has been in the history of mankind. I have not receieved my priesthood lineage at all! I am pretty frustrated because it has been months, but I will figure it out, I will email back.

But anyhow, I am blessed mom to have a great family back at home and to know you are immersing yourself in the things we all should be doing. The scriptures are the words of god to us and never take them for granted. I am blessed to serve a mission and to be on the lord's errand. I testify to you and to all that might read this that Jesus christ is the savior and our redeemer and that we should be the example to others so that they might know of him. I love you mom so very much and I thank you for all the time and money you have spent helping me become who I am today.


Love Always
Your son
Elder Loren James Miller

Feb.15th-

Dear Family,
What an exciting email that I am replying to, a lot of big things are happening in our families. It did not snow here, I really cant wait for the sun to shine more here though. Well I really am so happy about that Valentines day package, it was very creative and I will find a night when we have time to make it. The next month and a half we have dinner with a member every night so it will be probably a lunch thing. But seriously thank you so much for the package and I will definately enjoy it.

I hit 9 months on saturday and boy it is going by so fast, you are absolutely right about that dad, those who are not totally invested or lost in the work will have a slow time. It is all about the attitude and testimony you have of christ that makes you want to keep going and do everything the right way. My companion and I get along great.

So I got pulled over last thursday night, it was weird, we had a dinner appointment and we parked across the street from the house. We got done with dinner and we went out to our car and we sat in the car and listened to a voicemail. After we got done we drove up the street and I stopped and then I drove more and forgot to turn on a street so the street I was currently on turned into a culdasac. We did a turn around in the culdasac and saw that those cop lights were flashing me and so I parked. The cop came up to me and asked me if I was lost and I told him that I am a little bit newer to the area. He told me that I looked suspicious and that I was loitering the neighborhood and didnt not completely stop at a stop sign. He saw my drivers license and told me about how he is only giving me a warning. He told me that he was just trying to protect the neighborhood and that he doesnt want us to go driving around like we are suspicious. I told him "sir, we are on the Lord's errand, we do not waste his time". He then kind of got a little humbled and said have a good evening. I might have been out of line on my comment to him but he was a little bit ridiculous about the loitering thing being that I wasnt speeding or runnning into things and that I am a missionary from our church. But oh well, thats how bad it is in the world, not a lot of people know that Christs church is on the earth and that he has young men serving him.

We are doing pretty good, N's baptism is this saturday and I am so excited and he is just golden and ready to be baptized. I love the area I am in because of the great members who are helping us out so much, the other night a member gave us 80 dollars worth of groceries, and so we didnt have to go grocery shopping today! YAY! The work is moving forward and the members are the reason for that.

Thank you mom and dad and lexie and emily for all that you have done, I love you all so much! I am so grateful that you are all happy and doing the best you can and are doing it the right way. Thanks for helping me get on a mission and doing what I NEED to be doing, this is the best experience I have ever had. I love you all and testify to you that god lives and that his son is the redeemer and that we need to all come unto him to recieve the blessings that are there for us if we do so. I love you all so much and always be on the lords side.

Love always
Elder Loren J. Miller

It was great to see Loren be so upbeat in these letters. He seems very happy in his new area. I am grateful for the people in his area feeding him and enjoying him. I can tell he is enjoying his work and the people he serves.

Dear Mom and Dad!
Well we are doing some great work here, we worked really hard this past week. We are seeing our hard work pay off and we had someone come to church and want to be taught the lessons! It was sweet, but we will see how it goes, the lord sends his prepared people to his prepared servants.

So I gave a talk in one of the wards I serve in, it is a good area and good people but the ward hasn't had a baptism in almost two years. The ward is trying to improve and to be more missionary focused and thats what my talk was about. I didnt look at my paper once to read it, it was all looking at the congregation. It was a great talk because I didn't just stand up there and read my talk but I really wanted to get the message across that anyone can do missionary work. The wards here are pretty good wards but the other ward that I serve in is a dream. The ward is all about missionary work and they do anything to help people be baptized. It is my favorite ward, it is so much fun and so much opportunities here. All the families are really great to be around. There is an old hispanic lady that will feed us any day of the week and she calls us babies, and she is this little grandma lady that is fiesty hahah. There are families that gave us a bunch of groceries when we stop by and it was cool because last week this one member gave me three boxes of cinammon toast crunch. Then gave us 8 boxes of macaroni and cheese! We really dont have to go get a whole lot from the store this week which is always great!

Well when people ask me the basic questions, I say I have been out for almost 9 months and I am from Boise, Idaho because I basically grew up there. I like to say boise because of Boise State football haha. I am trying my hardest to get the pictures thing taken care of, I am not a good photographer, I am just so busy to take pictures. Missionary work takes a lot of time!

Well I had interviews last week with president, we have them once a transfer, this transfer is over after this week.I think Elder H and I might be staying together for one more but who knows. President was very excited and happy about me, he was quite impressed! I am just happy that I am not a burden for him to deal with.
Well mom and dad and lexie and whoever reads this, I love you all so very much and I tell you with my heart that god lives and his restoration is powerful. The savior loves us all so much if we would love and have faith in him we can do anything possible. I love my mission, it means everything to me! I am working hard! Thanks for the support and everything that you have helped me accomplish! I wouldn't be here without you! I testify that the atonement is real and that we can come clean through it. The book of mormon changes lives, it is so powerful, never take it for granted! I love you all so much. Be safe and loving.

Sincerely your missionary

Elder Loren James Miller

January 25th, 2010

Hey everyone!
I am great! R from my last area got baptized yesterday! YAY! I got permission to go to it and even president and sister H were there. I am so happy for R and his path that he is on! Other than that everything is going so good, I am definately changing and growing up and helping others come unto Christ.
So I got your package today and I absolutely loved everything! Thank you so much for everything, I am truly grateful for that package and we will enjoy it! We are working hard and working extra diligently because our calling is so important. It is really about obedience mom and dad, it all comes down to whos side are you on? the lords side or the other side, there is no middle ground. I have been the happiest by my committment to the mission rules and the commandments. But I am converted to the work, this is a great work and important work. I am dealing with people's eternities, nothing else should matter than the missionary work. I have been working my heart out to help everyone. I have been carried by the spirit in many ways. But the principle of obedience has kept me safe since I was younger, I owe you mom and dad for that christlike attribute.
In Preach My gospel, I have been studying the christlike attributes in chapter 6 and have really improved a lot. PMG is the greatest!

Oh yeah I got pulled over for speeding in a school zone? Which there was no school zone sign for a mile away when the cop pulled me over. There was no schools beside a church thing. It was weird, But the lord provided a way and I got just a warning. I am so happy to got away with that. Mom and dad and family I love you so so much and I am grateful that you are supporting me on this journey of rescuing others that are children of god. Heavenly father has poured out so much blessings on our family its incredible. Always remain humble and diligent in prayer. Studying the book of mormon has changed my life and my mission. I am more mature and more obedient and I do all I can to be on the Lord's Side. The love I have for the savior and his atonement makes me work harder and want to share it with others. I love you and know that you are all safe, remember the quote by Bruce R. Mcconkie that I gave you in my christmas box. I am truly called of god and separated from the world to do his work. This is amazing and I dont want it to end. Keep doing the best you can my family.

Love always
Elder Loren James Miller

January 18th,2010

Dear Family!
Everything is doing A okay here in Spring, Texas, and I am working hard and teaching more and more each week. We are working with a few great investigators and the ward is amazing! It is getting humid, and it is getting hotter, just last week it was freezing! Now I can feel that Texas Heat coming on!
Mom and dad it is all about obedience and keeping my eyes single to the work and nothing else. This morning I read notes from my setting a part as a missionary from president M and I see many of those blessings being fulfilled and it is a testimony to me of the power of the priesthood.

Last week we taught a lady who was a referral from a member and she is going through a tough time and she is currently going through her 4th divorce and has three kids. We taught her about the atonement and the significance of her not being alone and that there is a way back home to heavenly father. It was such a powerful experience and I know that she will progress in the gospel because she has a desire to know if the church is true or not. I can promise you this mom and dad that the teaching of the atonement is a powerful thing and that most of my testimony came from my study of the book of mormon.
The creation is a simple subject I believe that gets too intense if it goes into deep doctrine. I am happy for the new manual because it is so key to know our foundation and what we believe. I dont really need anything, I just need your prayers for this work and I will be happy.
Well my family I testify to you that this gospel brings power to the redeemer, which is christ. It changes us to something we are supposed to be and improves the better to the best. If we diligently study the doctrine and use our faith to ask for guidance our lives will improve tremendously. I am loving my mission and I am learning the lessons I need to be the best. Never forget what the savior did for us and for the blessings our family has recieved. I am safe and sound, The work is going up and I am rolling on. I love you and miss you!

Love always
Elder Miller

Loren and one of his fellow Elders

Some gifts from friends and family

Loren at the Chiropractor

Loren's little tree

So cute!

Toys for a service project

Some missionaries from the area

So christmas has come and gone and we got to talk to Elder Miller. We got a nice long talk with him, all of us got some time and he sounded really good. He seemed anxious to move into his area which was supposed to happen a couple days after christmas. He had been in the same area for about 7 months- which was forever! Although I was excited to talk to him. I could have done without the chat with him. It was like opening an old wound for me. Because i really miss him.

Here are his last few letters.

Jan. 4th
Dear Family,

Well, whats next? haha Everything is changing! I am not shocked by emily's move. I know it is tough for you . I mean look at the fruits of that change, things are going to go great for them. I feel like every month of my mission things just change at home so I am kind of used to it!
Well transferring to this new area is a blessing! oh man, it is a dream! The wards I am serving in are amazing, they love missionaries and they are so into missionary work its crazy. We have two solid investigators that are both in high school! one is getting baptized in june and she bore her testimony yesterday and I was blown away, it was all because her friend took her to church and the ward really embraced her. The other investigator is dating a girl who is in the ward, he will get baptized soon, that ward is a dream to be in. I love my new compnanion elder h, he is full of energy and is excited, we fit together perfectly. He is really obedient and really likes to do his best and not waste this missionary experience.

So the transfer has been a blessing to me for the hard work and endurance in my last area. i am trying to lose weight! I am in an all car area, and I drive a 2010 toyota corrolla, with only 1500 miles on it! it is so much fun here in this area, it is so active and so pro active and upbeat. Also the boise state game is tonight and everyone in the mission even members are like telling me how exciting it is going to be! It is tough! root for the broncos for me! go orange and blue.

A wise missionary that I am friends with out here who is going home soon said this about god, "Without commandments we can not know god". God is not an author of confusion, Jospeh smith knew that and he prayed to know what is true and who god is. God is an exalted man, we have the opportunity to become like him, the way is through christ. Mom and dad I love you and I thank you for everything you do for me, I am blessed to know that you are there being active and doing all you can to help me. I love you and I testify to you that Jesus is the christ, that his atonement helps us go back, to be back at one with the father. Never think of repentance as a horrible thing it is a gift from god. Pleas mom and dad continue to read the book of mormon together, and it will help you with all your daily needs and adversity. I love you all so very very much! Please be safe!

Love always
Elder Loren James Miller



Dec.28th
Good day family!

Well I got some pretty good news, I am getting transferred, to a new area in a new zone. My area borders the Temple. It is so cool! My new companion is Elder H, I am moving to the new area on wednesday because it is tranfer day. I don't know anything about Elder H, but I will tell you next week.

It was certainly a crazy experience to talk to you all on the phone on Christmas. I felt like i was breaking the rules at the beginning because everyday you just want to call family and tell them how things are going but you cant so I am use to that. It is great to know how all of you are doing and to hear your voices! I felt so bad about Rainy, it broke my heart, to hear her cry and not be able to talk to her more and more. But it is fine, in 4 1/2 months I will talk to her. I miss her so much, and stellar too, I wish I could be there to see how they are doing and to see them grow up.
The other christmas gifts are so great, I really am happy that I got all those great gifts, I am writing thank you cards today mom, haha don't worry! To hear from dad about him giving a book of mormon away, is so touching to me. He is spreading truth and eternal knowledge to those people, not just a book. He is such a great example to me, I love you dad, you are doing wonders and I am grateful that you sent me pictures of the Utes. The book of mormon reading is great mom, I carry a pocket size book of mormon now, I use it for teaching sometimes plus it helps with my back, haha instead of carrying my quad.

I loved the calendar you made me, it was just what I needed and I am grateful to talk to Josh as well on Christmas. I miss Josh a lot after that conversation we had, but I know he is doing good. Well yesterday we had an appointment with a family that spanish elders found, we taught them on their door step, just the father and son, then the mom came out and listened to us and she broke down in tears. Then they let us in to teach them more and read from the book of mormon. This family was listening to us bear our testimony of the gospel and the book of mormon being a comforting tool. We taught them about praying together as a family to recieve guidance and comfort from Heavenly father. The spirit was really present, oh man, it was crazy, the mom was in tears the whole time. Earlier that week, her son who is 16 i think had a seizure and the whole family is just stressed out. She asked us why all these bad things are happening, I read the scripture to her ether 12:27 then I read to her about christ suffered everything and he knows what we are going through because I read to her alma 7:11-12. This family wants to know more and more and is ready to change. They understand how are church holds the whole truth because it was restored through a prophet from christ himself. The book of mormon does miracles, it answers deep questions of the soul, it is here for our day and for the rest of eternity. Never take it for granted, it is the most powerful tool for conversion and I testify that it is true, I know that it has helped me be the best missionary I can be. I love my mission and I am excited for the new change, I am ready to do it, to lengthen my stride even more. I am blessed to know that I have a loving family at home who loves me and supports me. This mission would not be possible without you all, thank you for taking me to church and dad thank you for taking me to young mens when I was younger than 12, it taught me about being mature and learning. Dad your my best friend and mom I love you so much for your testimony. Lexie, read the book of mormon first before playing Wii, your lucky, dont forget your household chores and your school work. Emily and family, stay strong and you will be all good. I will have more to write about next week when I am in a new area! I love you and miss you, I serve with our family name on my chest just above the redeemers name, jesus christ.

Love always
Elder Loren James Miller


Dec.21st
Good Day!

Hey family, im so excited to call you this week!! Well I am also a little impatient! But it will be a great day to hear your voices! It has been good here, I am ready for a change though. I pinched a nerve in my lower back at the service activity last friday, I went to a chiropractor the other day, and today I am going there. It has been tough because I can't really tie my shoes without help or ride a bike that well.

But yeah, The transfer call will be coming this saturday night, I am really praying and feeling like I am going to get trasnferred. I need a refresh! R will probably be baptized january 3, which is great! We have been working with him for the past few months, he has a little bit of cold feet because he feels like he doesnt know enough, but you dont need to know everything to be a member of the church, if you knew everything than whats the point of church? But he is great!

It was great to get packages. I definately feel special with those gifts. I am so grateful for the love I recieve from the people that know me the best, I have felt very blessed the past 7 months. I have learned that to be blessed and happy, I must be obedient with exactness, that means I must follow the rules of the mission. I am going to call probably at 7 my time, but 6 o clock your time. We are using our cell phones so after 7 o clock its free, so that is why I am calling at that time. I have one hour to talk, that is the rule, I want to be obedient, I want to be on the lord's side, and a little disobedience can take me off his side. So lets make the best of it. If I hear a rule change or anything else, please stay alert by your phones during the day in case I can call from a members phone earlier in the day. I want to talk to you all that are there, but first and foremost, you mom and dad and my sisters. Also my niece and nephew and brother in law. Maybe I can bear my testimony on speaker phone to those that are there and tell them how much I love them. But please don't worry about the phone call, it will happen, just stay posted, most likely it will be after 3 pm, no later than 7 your time.


I love you all so very much and I am excited for the friday phone call, It is the gift I seek the most this christmas, the voices from all of you. I testify that christ's gospel is back, it has been restored by the foreordained prophet Joseph Smith Jr. and that our family is eternal. Read the book of mormon, it is the word of god, nourish it and pray for the knowledge and guidance from it to fill your hearts with love from him. Please stay safe and remember what christmas is all about!

cant wait for the call!

"...I want my phone call"
-joker(dark knight)

Love always
Elder Loren James Miller