Elder Gull's California Adventure

11-26-11

2011-12-02T14:47:00.001-08:00

hey, im good and everything is going good for me. My Thaksgiving was really good we went to the relief society president inthe wards house for thanksgiving and got fed a lot i was surprised they didnt have to roll me out, with how much i ate. :). i like my new area it is pretty small, and we have a car which is good cause the area goes up the side of the mountain which wouldnt be real fun to bike up. the boundaries of the area are from foothill to the side of the mountain and amethyst to haven. its a really skinny area. my companion is elder crozer he is from bountiful/woods cross. he was been out for about 3 months and i am his second companion. so i am follow up traning him, which isnt anything special. he was already in this area which i good couse i would have been really lost if we both would have come into the area together. it is weird to be the senior companion now, cause i am the one making all the desicions but at the same time i like it cause it shows that president has some trust im me. i was sad that i was having to move right before thanksgiving but i really like this ward. the people are really friendly, even though i felt like they were judging me yesterday to see if i would be a good missionary. they have had some really not so good missionaries in the ward and so i am having to work extra hard to build their trust, which is fine by me cause i really like to work hard. the building that i go to for church is the hillside building. it is the biggest churchi have been to on my mission but our church back home is still bigger. i actually spaced that it was my birthday until a few days ago cause i have been working so hard that i really havent been thinking about it. and the weather here is so different than it is back home that it doesnt even feel like christmas. its kinda weird to see christmas lights on palm trees. i miss the snow and the cold. i kinda wanted to go to the mountains this transfer, but heavenly father had different plans for me. i dont know what those plans are but i hope i can find out. so to answer your question of what i want ffor christmas and my birthday. i really dont know i will be fine with anything that you give me. i guess i could use some more socks caue the one s that i have are almost a dark blure instead of black. other than that i dont know. sorry :(. well sorry this wasnt very long i dont know what else to write. hopefully i will get to talk to you also. its weird to think that in a couple more weeks i will get to call home and a couple more after that i will have been out for a year its crazy how fast time is going by. hope everything is going good back home. im sorry to hear about grannie that ghas to be really hard, ill keep praying for her, and maybe that will help.

Love You,
Elder Taylor T. Gull

7-18-11

2011-07-22T18:07:00.001-07:00

DearJessie,

It's crazy all the things that have happened since last year. Hard to believe that one year ago I didn't really have a testimony and you were trying to help me come back to church. I will never forget the night that we sat on your back porch talking and looking through your EFY book. And then I pushed you into the little kiddie pool later in the week. :) I am also glad for making the final decision to go on a mission. It's crazy to think of all the blessings that will come from this. Even now I can feel some changes happening. I talk to more people than I used to when I was home. I am learning so much and I am helping people come to Christ, and make HUGE changes in their lives. Speaking of which, crazy as it sounds but the next 5 weeks me and my companion have 4 baptismal dates set and it looks like they will all get baptized. The hike last week was really fun. We hiked over a bunch of rocks in a dry wash to a waterfall and a "pond" underneath it. I got sunburned during the hike. It's better now, even though it hurt for a couple days. I remembered to take my camera so I took some pictures of it. Tomorrow is transfer day. I am not getting transferred again, which is good cause I really like it where I am, even though it gets pretty hot and kinda humid. How is summer going? How is your family doing? When does senior year start up? Thanks for having confidence in me. Sorry if you can't read this, this was the only pen that I could find today.

Your Best Friend,

Elder Taylor T Gull

July 6, 2011

2011-07-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

How is everyone doing? How is the summer going so far for everyone? I hope you all are safe and having fun with whatever you are doing. Sorry it took so long for me to write you guys back. As for my mission, in 6 days I will have been out here for 6 months. It is crazy how fast time is going by. It seems like it wasn't that long ago that I said goodbye to all of you before going to the MTC. I can't believe that I almost past up this experience by not going. It has helped me grow more than anything else could have. It also has helped me appreciate you guys more. There is a member in my ward right now that is moving up to Cedar City in a couple days and last week when my companion and I had dinner with him he wanted me to tell you guys that he and his wife are grateful for the sacrifice that you guys are making while I am out here on a mission. I am going to have another baptism tomorrow. The lady that is getting baptized walked into church the Sunday before I came to this ward and told the missionaries who were here that her uncle told her if she ever needed a church that she should go to the Mormon church on Pacific. We have been teaching her since I got here and have set 3 dates with her but because of things that keep coming up we had to keep pushing it back. So it will be good to have her get baptized tomorrow cause Satan has been working really hard to prevent her from getting baptized. I am really enjoying this area and my mission even though the heat is not fun. I know that I am still the same Taylor, but at the same time I feel like a different person than I was before the MTC, it's really strange. Thanks for all of the things that you have done for me in my life. I know that I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for the example that you all set for me in my life. That includes you too Del, Don, and Kaytie, even though you are younger than me. I love you all. I hope all is well.

Love ya,

Elder Taylor T. Gull

June 8, 2011

2011-07-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

How is everyone doing. Like you all probably know I got transferred this week so I am no longer in Apple Valley anymore. My new area is in San Bernardino serving in the 1st ward. I am also in a car area so I am not riding my bike, at least for this transfer. Elder Teichert my old companion stayed up in Apple Valley and is training a greenie in my old area. My new companion is Elder Brewer. He was a pitcher for BYU last year and he has been out on his mission for 9 months today. I like it down here in the valley so far mostly because it is not really windy down here. It also reminds me of home because of the mountains. It is also really busy down here so I don't have anytime to be bored. Yesterday I visited a couple of members, they are pretty cool people in this ward. Do you guys know anyone from San Bernardino that you want me to visit, cause I am now in a car so I might be able to visit them. Well I don't know what else to write. I love you guys and miss you too. But I stay busy so I don't really get home sick anymore. I can't believe that in 4 days I will be out on my mission for 5 months. It's crazy how fast time flies. Write back soon.

Love you guys,

Elder Taylor T. Gull

May 24, 2011

2011-07-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

How is everyone doing first of all? I am doing pretty good. The only real news that I have is that the baptismal date that me and Elder Teichert had set wasn't able to go through. Mainly because she needs her dad's permission since she is under 16. The good news is she might get her dad's permission either after June 2nd or after July 8th. So we still might get to baptize her. Other news that I have is that next week I might be having a P-day either on Monday or Wednesday. It might be Wednesday because President Goodwin will probably let us because of memorial day. If not we might be able to use members computers so watch for on Monday. If I don't get on Monday than watch for me to get on Wednesday. By the way Happy Birthday Kaytie on Monday and then Happy Birthday Mom on Wednesday. Well what is new for you guys? Sorry Kaytie, Del, Don, and everyone else I haven't wrote a letter to recently. I have been really busy and even right now I am writing this letter on Tuesday night cause I had no time at all to write letters yesterday. I bought stamps yesterday because I was at the post office and figures I should buy some while I was there. Well talk to you guys later. Write back soon.

Love Ya Guys,
Elder Taylor T. Gull

June 23, 2011

2011-07-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Grannie and Grampie,

How are you guys doing? I hope that you are doing good. Thanks for the cards and the money that you have sent me. Sorry it has taken me so long to write you a letter back. I don't know if you already know this, but I am not in Apple Valley anymore. Right now I am in San Bernardino serving in the 1st ward. I really like it here, mostly because I talk to a lot more people than I did in Apple Valley. I got to go to Apple Valley a couple days ago to see one of the people that I taught up there get baptized. I also got to stand in her circle as she was confirmed a member and received the hold ghost.

I really miss you guys, and wish that I could talk to you more often, but I know that I am where I am suppose to be right now. It was really good to talk to you on Mothers Day, even though it wasn't for very long. Hope all is going well and thanks again for the money that you sent, it had helped a lot. Love you guys.

Your Grandson,
Elder Taylor Gull :)

April 25, 2011

2011-07-03T17:24:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,

How is everyone doing. Hope all is going good. How is the baby doing? I am doing good. I am not getting transferred this time so I will be in Apple Valley for six more weeks. I am getting a new companion though which is good cause I think me and Elder bowler have been companions for too long. We almost got a new investigator last week, but sadly the person said that they couldn't meet with us because something came up. But I will go over again with my new companion sometime this transfer so hopefully something comes from that. Me and Elder bowler tracted our entire area last transfer. The area isn't very big it is only about 3/4 mile wide by 6 miles long. But that is still a lot of houses to knock on. Mission life is pretty much the same, except for I am having a little better time since I changed my outlook on things. thanks for the package that you sent me. It is going to help out with the food that was in it. Mostly because I have no money to buy food until the first of next month. Which isn't that far away which is good. What are some new things that are going on with the family. it is exciting to hear that Kaytie qualified to go to BYU. That is really cool. From the letters that I have got from you guys sounds like a lot of things have happened since I have been out here. So I guess I am working hard enough. I hope you guys are having fun and being safe with what you do. I miss you guys but I will be able to call in just a couple weeks which will be nice. Well write back so when you can/

Love you guys

Elder Taylor T Gull

PS Sorry this letter was short. I couldn't think of some things to say.

Feb 21, 2011

2011-07-03T17:23:00.001-07:00

Mom and Dad

Thanks for the package that you guys sent me. Thanks for everything that you have given me through my life. Thank you so much for not giving up on me a few months ago when I was going through my rebellion stage. I know that if you would have given up on me I would be a completely different person than I am right now. Because I was going down hill real fast and it is only thanks to you guys and Jessie that I am the person I am now. So thank you. Also thanks for bringing me up in the Gospel and stressing the importance of going on a Mission. That is the best thing that has happened to me in my life and I have only been out a little over a month. Sorry I didn't email today but the library was closed so I couldn't get on.

I Love you guys so much,

Elder Taylor Gull

Mission Pictures

2011-07-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

After much asking I have finally received Elder Gull's SD card. Here are all of his latest pictures.

He is getting tall.

The sister standing next to Elder Gull is his first baptism from Apple Valley.

Letter #17

2011-03-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

3-14-11

Dear Seth and Dawn,

How are you guys doing? How is Isaac? How much long does Dawn have until she pops? How is school going Seth? Have either of you found a job recently? I am doing good, starting to really enjoy this area that I am in right now. Although I am having to get used to not listening to metal or rock. It is getting kinda boring listening to church music. I have been tempted to buy some “Apostate” music lately, but I have been resisting temptation. Have either of you been to Apple Valley before. If not I will let you know that it is pretty much the same as St. George. although it has snowed here, but it hasn’t stuck which stinks. The only real difference about here and Southern Utah other than no one really wants to talk to us other then members, is that it is really windy almost all of the time. Which doesn’t really help when you have to ride a bike everywhere. The area is slow but me and my companion are trying to stay busy as we can. Well write back soon so that I can hear from you guys.

Elder Taylor Gull

Letter #16

2011-03-24T15:16:00.001-07:00

3-14-11

Dear Daniel,

How are you doing? What is this I heard about you having a girlfriend? Why didn’t you tell me? I want to hear what is going on with you cause, Ok, you are my big brother and I want to hear from you. Are you still driving from CR England or have you found a local joy that is close to home. I was wondering if you know a guy who leases for England whose name is Berry Gabrial. Because he is a guy in a family from my ward. His wife is a recent convert and we have been trying to get in to teach him, but he is always on the road. And when I found that he drove I wondered if you knew him. I really miss that time I went in the truck with you it was really fun. Even if it did get really frustrating. I have survived my first transfer, but I am not getting transferred. I am going to be staying in Apple Valley for six more weeks, with the same companion. Write back soon. It is always good to hear from family.

Love Ya

Elder Taylor Gull

Letter #15

2011-03-24T15:15:00.002-07:00

3-14-11

Dear Don,

How goes it bro? Heard you got something with SUU. Don’t remember what Mom said it was but it sounded important. How is school going? Are you excited that school is almost over and you will be able to start the rest of your life soon. How is the family doing? I met a kid in my roommates ward the other day, cause he wants to be a music teacher also. He plays the saxophone and is trying to learn a lot of other instruments too. How many instruments do you know how to play now, I forgot? its been too long since I last talked to you. Well everything is going better for me. I have been having some hard times lately, but I learned how to get over the hard things. How much longer do you have until you can put in your papers? There are two guys that got their calls recently in the ward I am in. One of them is going to Dallas, Texas, Spanish speaking. the other one was called to Rome, Italy. Well I don’t know what else to write. Write back soon and I will try to remember to send you another letter.

Love Ya Don

Elder Taylor Gull

Letter #14

2011-03-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

3-14-2011

Dear Family,

How are you guys doing? Hope everyone is doing good. I am doing better this week compared to last week. Don’t know why I was feeling the way that I was. Its just good to know that its past. I got my first transfer call Saturday night and I am going to be staying in Apple Valley for six more weeks. Also on Saturday I have been on my mission for two months. Crazy that it has been that long already. Everything is good here the work is still going pretty slow but, I was told by my District Leader that as long as we are trying to find someone sooner or later we will see work. This next transfer I am going to have the same Companion and pretty much have the same roommates. The only real difference with our our house from next transfer is that the old District Leader is going home tomorrow and his companion is getting a new companion. Mom and Dad sorry that I wasn’t able to email this week. Evidently the power went out at the Library and their Internet was down when we went there this morning. What new things are going on in Southern Utah? I don’t really know what else to write. So write me some letters so that I will be able to write a longer letter for you guys next week. I Love You all. Be Safe.

Love

Elder Taylor Gull

PS I hate to ask this cause I know that it isn’t cheap to send things. But can you send me my temple clothes, cause the Redlands Temple doesn’t have the rentals and I am supposed to be going to the temple sometime this transfer. If you could please do that I would be really grateful. Thanks. I Love You guys.

Letter #13

2011-03-24T15:14:00.001-07:00

3-7-11

Dear Family,

How is everyone doing? Hope you are all doing good. Thanks for all the letters and packages that you have sent me so far. How is school going Seth, Del, Don and Kaytie? How is work going Mom and Daniel? How is Isaac doing? As you all know by now I am having problems right now, both in the area I am serving in and how I am feeling about coming on a mission. I am hopefully going to be talking to the Mission President soon, but I don’t know. Transfers are coming up soon, it is hard to believe that it has been 6 weeks since I left the MTC. There is an Elder that is in my room that is dying this transfer. That means that he is going home next week. So we are getting a bunch of stuff that he doesn’t want to take with him. So that meant that I got a couple more ties from him cause he was giving a bunch away. There is a Missionary here who is also going home that has a ton of ties. Its crazy how many he has. My legs have finally stopped hurting, from biking all day long. I have been learning a bunch of things that help past the time lately. One of those things is learning how to solve a Rubic’s Cube. Which I can solve in under 3 minutes now. Ya, I know that it is a useless thing to know but oh well. For P-Days here we have been playing a lot of two hand touch football. Something cool about that is I learned I am really good at playing defense. One of the missionaries game me some football cleats that he had never wore before. My companion if you guys do not already now is Elder Derek Bowler from St. George. Something funny is that he knows Kristen Adams, and before I came out they told him to look out cause there was a Missionary from Parowan coming to that mission. Then he ended up training me. Another thing is both my roommates are from Canada. Both sets of Missionaries don’t live very far from their companions. I had to hide my debit card the other day cause I was using it to much. Sorry I didn’t send a letter last week. Mom and Dad, so you know I got your pictures from when you went to California and that sign of Dale Evan Parkway/Apple Valley is the road we go down when we go email at the library. And seeing those pictures made me really trunky, which doesn’t really help right now. But it was good to see a picture of you guys. I miss you all and think of you guys a lot. Write back when you can. I love you guys so much.

Love

Elder Taylor Gull

PS Can you guys send me some music. I don’t really have a lot to listen to and I have gotten tired of the one that I do have. Oh and I left my D&C CD’s at home when I left. So can you send that too thanks. Also I got the letter from Grannie and Grampie, but I can’t really read any of it, but I did get the gist of it.

Letter #12

2011-03-14T14:26:00.001-07:00

3-7-11

Dear Jessie,

It's really cool that you got your patriarchal blessing, and that the other kids are getting theirs too. It's really cool to get those. It's good to know that you would still be my friend if I had to come home early, not that I was worried about it. I am looking forward to that first week when I come home, cause I really miss your cookies. You are an amazing cook, no lie. The weather in California right now is warm, and REALLY windy. The wind here is driving me nuts especially since I am on a bike all day. The wind is not one of my biggest fans. I don't really have a favorite part about my mission right now, well then again everyone in my zone and district are really cool and some are pretty strange but nobody is perfect I guess :). The ward is really cool. And me, my companion, and my roommates get along really good most of the time. Sadly we are not getting a lot of success with either tracting or discussions. Apple Valley is one of the slowest areas in the mission if not the slowest, because it's where a lot of older people go when they retire and they don't want to hear from us, cause they have their religion that they have followed all of their lives. A lot of people are nice to us, but there are a few that are just really mean. I'm going to have to tell you about some of them when I get home because they are just too weird to tell you the whole story. Me and my companion have been tracting so much this transfer that we have almost knocked on every door in the area. Some funny things about my companion are that he says the weirdest racist terms without realizing it. So me and our roommates have been counting how many times he says something like it throughout the day. It's gotten pretty high I think the highest it has been is like 12 or 13 in a day which is a lot. While I have been out here, I have learned to solve a Rubic's cube, and I also found out that I am really good at defense in 2-hand touch football. Thanks for the advice you have given me so far on my mission. I only have 3 or 4 connections with my life back in Parowan and Cedar City, and you and my parents are my biggest one. I hope I put enough about what is going on with me so far, cause that is all I can think of. Are you still being a vegetarian for a year? How is your family doing? It's good to hear about what is going on with them too. If they want to write them letters too, I can. How is school going? How is the weather in Southern Utah? It's good to hear from you even if it's every other week. It beats not hearing from you at all. Don't stop being who you are, cause that, in my opinion, is the BEST thing about you. NO JOKE! Thanks again for being my friend.

Your Best Friend
Elder Taylor Gull :)

p.s. thanks for Bro. Stone's address. And I forgot to tell you but one of my goals for my mission is to read my Quad from cover to cover except for the Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, and Index.

Letter #11

2011-02-25T17:40:00.000-08:00

2-21-11

Dear Jessie,

Ya I am trying to have as wonderful a time as I can on my mission. Sorry it has taken so long for you to get letters from me. It's partly because I can only write letters on P-days which is Monday and I always get letters from you on Tuesdays. So I have to wait a week before I can write a letter to the one you sent me. I can't believe I have been gone for a month, almost 2. It seems a lot shorter. I know we have email to talk through, I'll keep it in mind, but it will still be around the same amount of time between emails, cause like letters I can only do email on Mondays. I wasn't really getting sick of the MTC, I loved the MTC, the thing is me and my companion kept getting in fights, so it was making that experience pretty miserable, and I tried to resolve the conflicts but something new always came up for some reason. Yes I ate the peanuts on the plane, even though I could have had crackers or cookies if I wanted to. It's not as scary to fly in a plane as people say it is. The coolest part about flying is when the plane gets high enough that you are above the clouds, cause they look really cool looking down on them. Take off and landing is pretty rough, landing more than take off, cause landing you are going pretty fast when the plane touches the ground. That's pretty much it. you would like flying if you ever got the chance to. The experience with the baptist minister was fine, it helped me see that everyone is no going to accept the gospel just because I tell them to, not that I thought that to begin with :). I don't think that even if I did go back, he would join the church, cause all he wants to do is try to prove us wrong. My dreams have been really weird too, I think they have gotten weirder since I left the MTC. Most of my dreams have you in them, and they are just us hanging at your house, pretty much doing the same things we used to do before I left on my mission. The weirdest dream that I have had so far though is, I had to come home for some reason early; I think cause I got shot while in one of my areas I don't know for sure; but when I got home, no one would talk to me cause I came home early, and you told me that you hated me cause I didn't serve a full two year mission. It is the weirdest dream I have ever had, partly cause I don't think it could ever come true, but then again you never know what the future holds. It's good the face paint marks went away cause it would be really weird if you had those marks still. I hope you get better cause it really stinks when you have to go to school sick. It's good to hear about your family, they are pretty much my second family, it's good that everything is going good. Good job on being vice pres. in your seminary class. That is really cool. I know that you will do a good job doing it. I don't think they put us [me and my companion] together because we were from the same area, it's possible, but I don't know for sure. I am glad that you laughed about putting my middle name on my last letter cause that's what I was going for. I heard from Karrie that when you read the letter that I sent her you got scared when you read the P.S. I put on it, cause you thought I was talking to you. I don't know if that is true but that is what she told me. I knew that it wouldn't be a good idea having two letters going between us, cause we would keep talking about the same things and it would be confusing. That is why I fixed that, is because neither of us need to be confused about something like a letter. Hope you had a good week. Write back soon Greatest friend ever.

Your Best Friend,
Elder Taylor T. Gull

p.s.
thanks for being my friend :)

Road Signs From Elder Gull's Mission

2011-02-24T18:27:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad went to see the beach in Southern California on Presidents day weekend. They were being good, but they had to snap these shots. We miss you Elder Gull. :)

Letter #10...(Post it note)

2011-02-24T18:16:00.000-08:00

Please put these pictures all on Facebook and my blog. I am sending home the one SD card I borrowed from dad. I got a 2 GB in the MTC, so I only need the one that has my name on it back. I will get a picture of me and my companion / trainer on my next card...and will send it to you next time.

Thanks,

Elder Gull

P.S: Most of the pictures are in the MTC. The pictures of the food is from my greenie dinner, everything is green that I had to eat. The Canadian flag has all the Canadian elders in the mission signatures. The elder at the end is my district leader, and he is from Canada.

Pictures Thus Far...Mostly MTC

2011-02-24T18:09:00.000-08:00

A missionary story from Elder Gulls Mission

2011-02-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

Pretty Cool. Right place at the right time.
Enjoy!

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

LDS missionary helps pull pilot from airplane wreckage

February 9th, 2011 @ 12:21pm

By ksl.com

REDLANDS, Calif. -- A missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is being credited with saving a man's life in a plane crash in California.

Photo: Gabriel Luis Acosta, Associated Press

According to the Redlands Daily Facts, fire officials say Elder Cameron Johnson, 19, of Aloha, Oregon, helped pull the pilot out of a twin-engine plane that crashed into an RV storage yard Monday morning in San Bernardino.

Elder Johnson is just three months into his service in the California San Bernardino Mission. He was fresh off lunch with fellow missionaries at a local In-N-Out Burger when they saw the plane crash. He scaled a 9-foot fence and joined two others in pulling the pilot away from the craft as it leaked fuel.

Elder Cameron Johnson Courtesy: Gabriel Luis Acosta The Sun

San Bernardino firefighters are calling him a hero for his actions, saying the pilot would have died had the fuel-soaked plane caught fire.

"I kind of realized in the process that if I die doing this," the Mormon missionary said, "the best way to die is to help somebody."

The pilot, Lonny Wayne Rollins, 39, and Rollins' business associate, Greg Fitzgerald, 61, were critically injured in the crash. They remain in serious condition.

letter #9

2011-02-13T16:42:00.001-08:00

1/25/11
Dear Don,
What's up Bro. How is school going for you? How was Honor Choir? Just so you know the MTC is awesome. The first few days feel like they take forever to get over with. But after the first Sunday, the days seem like they go by really fast. Something that is hard for me to believe is that a week from today I will be flying to Ontario, CA to start my mission in the actual mission feild. I guess time flies when you are learning so much about the gospel. Well I'll talk to you soon. Write back soon

Love ya,
Elder Gull

Letter #8

2011-02-12T21:01:00.001-08:00

2/7/2011

Dear Dad,

I know that I was able to talk to you a little bit while I was on the computer during email. But I wanted to write you a letter because I know how good it is to get mail. Plus I wanted to tell you that I love you and think what you would do when I get in different situations. I am also thankful for the example you have shown me by both going on a mission, even though you were told that you would not be able to go on one. Also that you haven’t let losing your leg keep you from doing things with the family. Even though walking around is kind of difficult for you. I hope that someday I will be able to be like you. Also, I want to thank you and mom for raising me in the Gospel, so that I would know enough to come out and teach it to others. Thanks for not giving up on me when I know I was being a pain in the butt. If you guys would have given up on me I don’t know where I would be right now. Hope everything is going good for you. Wish I could be there to help you out with fixing the white van and working on the gray truck. Sorry if you cannot read my handwriting. It is really bad. Thanks again for everything Dad! You are the best!

I Love You So Much

Elder Taylor Gull

letter #7

2011-02-12T21:00:00.001-08:00

2/7/2011

Dear Family,

How is everyone? How is school going Seth, Del, Don and Kaytie? How is work going Mom and Daniel? Hope you are all doing great. Mostly cause you guys are too awesome to be doing anything but good! J It’s funny how much you don’t appreciate your family until you are not around them all the time.

How is Seminary Missionary Week going? I hope Del and Don get the opportunity to go on splits with some Elders before their missions. Just so the younger three know a mission is nothing like “The Best Two Years” movie. Right now I am in Apple Valley and last week me and my companion tracked for fourteen hours, but we haven’t talked to a lot of people. We have no new investigator, but we will get one soon. There are three girls that their mom was taught by the missionaries the transfer before I got here. The mom got baptized and the only reason the three girls didn’t get baptized is because their step mom doesn’t want them to get baptized, which really stinks. But hopefully we will be able to get them baptized this transfer.

Right now I am really sore because I just got done playing football and ultimate Frisbee a while ago. While playing ultimate Frisbee I kept diving for the Frisbee so my back and hips hurt right now. I hope that whoever is reading this can read my handwriting. Something I like about this area is that this is a biking mission. I am getting back into shape. While I was in the MTC I gained 8 pounds. I used to be 172 lbs now I am 180. My companion says its from all the muscles I have built since today was the first chance I had to weigh myself since I got here from the MTC.

My companion’s name is Elder Bowler and he is from St. George. Some things that are funny about him is he knows Kristen Adams and her older sister. That just shows how small this world is.

Mom and Dad thanks for not giving up on me and for teaching me the Gospel, so that I would be able to go on a mission and teach it to others. Did Kaytie and Dad get their letters? I hope they did.

Seth, how is college going? Are you having fun? How is Ike doing? I really miss that little guy. It’s too quiet without him around.

Del, I am not going to judge you on any decisions? You have your agency and I will support you no matter what you decide to do. You just need to talk with Mom and Dad more. Don’t leave them in the dark, because that isn’t fair. Have fun no matter what you do.

Don, how is band going? You excited school is almost done? Do you have a countdown going that is when you can put your papers in? It’s crazy to think that we might not get to see each other for 3 ½ to 4 yrs depending on when you get your call. Is there anywhere you want to go? I love it out here. Since I haven’t even been out a month but it is still amazing here.

Kaytie, keep up the good work with what you do? Don’t be a crazy driver like Del and Don are. Just kidding. Del and Don enjoy school while it lasts. Don’t get mixed up with the wrong crowd because if you do you will regret it. I know I do.

Daniel, how are you Bro? I haven’t talked to you in a while. I don’t think I will be seeing your truck any time soon, because I am not anywhere near the freeway. Thanks for the stuff you gave me on my mission. I love you Bro. Be safe in the truck. Tell me if you get into college and I will start to write letters just for you. Just kidding, I will do that for you anyway. I also want you to know that I love you guys so much and hope you are doing great. I think of you guys whenever I don’t have anything to do, which is not a lot. So I am not getting trunky, which is a good thing. Wish I could of talked to you all the day that I called from the airport. And that I could of talked a bit longer. Anyways keep writing me and write to Tommy. We need it.

Love you all a ton,

Elder Taylor Gull

PS: Be safe.

letter #6

2011-02-12T20:59:00.002-08:00

2/7/2011

Dear Grannie and Grampie,

How are you guys doing? I am doing good. I am in Apple Valley this transfer. I miss visiting you guys and hope you guys are doing good. This is the best thing that has happened to me and I know this is what I am supposed to be doing right now. I am enjoying myself. My area is a bike area, so I am getting back in shape. I think Mom and Dad should have a picture of me and President and Sister Godwin. I hope you guys can see it. Do you have any advice I should follow while I am out here. I know what I need to do but I want to leave you guys an opportunity to write me back. I really want letters from you, because I miss you guys a lot. I wanted you guys to know that I love you and hope you are doing good. Can you tell me about some of the things that you did while on your mission because I haven’t really heard anything about it before.

Love you guys, Be safe.

Your Grandson

Elder Taylor Gull

Letter #5

2011-02-12T20:59:00.000-08:00

2/7/2011

Dear Kaytie,

What’s up little Sis? The Mission is good. I am in Apple Valley right now. It is really busy in the field. I have tracked for fourteen hours last week, from Tuesday when I got here unto Saturday. Haven’t had a lot of success other than people trying to tell us that they are worried for our salvation. I try not to laugh when they say that. I like my companion he is really laid back and chill, if you know what that means. If not, it means he is really cool. His name is Elder Bowler and he is from St. George. Funny thing is that he knows Kristen Adams.

It is hard to believe that you are going thru Driver’s Ed right now. That just makes me feel old. I heard T.J. Lennon speak before, It was a really cool experience. I am glad you were able to listen to him and hear some of the things he has been thru. Be safe dating and don’t go on any dates other then group dates. I know I wish I would have gone on more group dates, other than the ones I went on until Jess. How’s school going for you? How do you like the Seminary Mission? Mom told me where you are going, but I forgot. So where were you called? Can you get me Brother Foley’s address for me? If you could do that It would be helpful. Just have some question for him if he asks you why. Well be safe and write back soon Little Sis. Miss you.

Love ya

Elder Taylor Gull

Letter #4

2011-02-12T13:15:00.001-08:00

2-7-11

Dear Jessie,

Thanks for you letter, and telling me how to spell doubt. I am glad I didn't need to be in the MTC for 6 weeks. I was getting sick of it, sad to say. This was my first time flying and they do serve peanuts to the passengers still. Have you ever been in a plane before? I am looking forward to the spiritual and fun experiences that are to come. Something fun that has happened already is that a couple days ago me and my trainer, whose name is Elder Bowler. Anyways we were tracting and we knocked on a door, and when the guy opened he let us in without us really talking to him. When we got in there we found out the guy was a Baptist minister, and he proceeded to tell us how our church was a cult and other things like that. When we left we had 4 huge packets full of Anti-Mormon stuff, which we burned when we got home. Anyways that's his loss. It is awesome that you are getting your patriarchal blessing soon. I am super excited for you. I am writing my dad and Kaytie letters today, so they should get theirs around the same time you do. That is funny what you told me about what happened while dinner was being made. That's weird what happened with the face paint. Hope it is nothing too serious. My mom told me today that you have been sick for a while. I hope that you get better soon. I think the craziest thing about being on a mission, other than I am on one, the time passes fast, I can't talk to you all the time anymore, and that I miss my family and friends, especially you, is that I can't listen to the music that I like. Hey, if you want, could you send me some of your EFY/church music that you have on some CD's? You don't have to if you don't want to. But all I have right now is Mormon Tab and sad to say is I am getting sick of them. Thanks for sending me a picture of you when you get some ink for you printer. How is your family doing? I haven't really heard anything about them since before I left. I hope they are all doing good. Do you want to hear something crazy? My companion Elder Bowler he is from St. George, and he knows a couple of people that I wend to high school with. It shows how really small this world is. I have one more favor to ask you in this letter. Will you get Brother Stone's address for me? I don't have it and I have something I really need to ask him! Thanks, Jess. You are the greatest friend I have ever had. And thanks for everything that you have helped me with.

               Your Best Friend
               Elder Taylor Thompson Gull

   Yup, I put my middle name :)
     write soon buddy

2011-02-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

Elder Gull's first area is Apple Valley up in the desert above San Bernardino. His trainer's name is Elder Bowler, and we are told that he is a good, hard working missionary. We are all so happy and excited for Elder Gull, and can't wait to hear from him about his new and first area. He looks happy and we couldn't be more thrilled to see these pictures of him as a glowing Full time missionary.

Elder Gull with President and Sister Godwin

The new missionaries right off the plane.

Elder Gull is in the center.

Here is a letter sent to Mom and Dad from President and Sister Godwin:

Dear Brother and Sister Gull,

We wanted to write to you and express our gratitude to you for sharing your son with us for the next two years. We have enjoyed meeting him. Attached are a couple of pictures we thought you would enjoy seeing. He is a very talented young man and we have enjoyed our interactions with him and look forward to many more. We know he will share with you his experience arriving here, but we thought we would share our abbreviated experience also. We apologize for the impersonal nature of the internet, but we wanted to send a note and some pictures and thought this would be a little faster.

We met the arriving missionaries at the Ontario airport. Elder Gull along with eight other Elders and three sisters arrived at the airport about 9:30 this morning. They looked amazing as they were coming down the escalator - all the elders in white crisp shirts, new suits and shined shoes. While we were waiting for their luggage, we had a quick visit with each of them. They were excited and just a little uneasy, (maybe more than a little) wondering what was happening next. The assistants to the president (AP's) had been driving around the area in a pick-up truck and two vans, waiting for us to call them to come and get them. We called, they arrived and all luggage was loaded into the vehicles. We transported them to the Etiwanda LDS chapel where all the other missionaries that were being transferred as well as the new missionaries trainers, were waiting. The whole chapel was full as we brought in the new missionaries. It is a pretty exciting meeting for all involved.

We left the chapel with the new missionaries and a load of chairs in the AP’s truck and went to the the Glen Helen Park at the mouth of the Cajon Pass. Sister Mills, a local historian, (she is an amazing sister who loves to meet the missionaries) met us there and told us how the area had been settled. The first settlement efforts were conducted by Spanish missionaries, and Spanish landowners starting about 1810. During the U.S. Mexican war the Mormon Battalion (the only religiously based battalion in U.S. history) was organized in Iowa in 1847 and after a march through what would become the Southwestern part of the U.S. it arrived in San Diego and was eventually stationed in what would become San Bernardino and the surrounding areas. Jefferson Hunt, a Captain in the Mormon Battalion was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as were all the members of the battalion. Since many people call Church members Mormons, the Battalion was known as the Mormon Battalion. Among its many assignment a portion of the Mormon Battalion was sent to guard the Cajon pass and protect it from possible marauding Indians. After the members of the Mormon Battalion were mustered out of their service, they returned to Salt Lake City to join their families. President Young saw that Southern California could be a valuable supply route for the Utah pioneers. So to establish a mail route and a supply stop/route for immigrants coming through California, President Young used church funds to buy property in the desired area from Antonio Maria Lugo, a Mexican rancher who had obtained a 35,000 acre grant after Mexico won independence from Spain. Twenty families were asked by President Young to colonize the area. Fifteen former Battalion men and their families were among the Saint who settled in the area in 1851, including Captain Jefferson Hunt. The story of the settling the area here in San Bernardino was told in a story written by Sister Mills for the February, 2003 Ensign, if you are interested in reading more about it.

After the experience at the park we took the new Elders to the mission home to have lunch and an orientation meeting. After the meeting about medical, financial and transportation issues they had initial interview with President Godwin. We then cooked hamburgers, hot dogs and a little relaxing time where the missionaries could socialize with one another. Later that evening their transportation arrived and they went to their various apartments to begin their service here.

Also for your information, we wanted to tell you about what we have been doing prior to your missionary’s arrival here in the field.

We (President and I) have been involved in training the zone and district leaders in the new Simplified curriculum for the past few months. They, the zone leaders and district leaders will be involved in teaching the same program to all other missionaries in their areas. We, along with members of the mission presidency and other senior missionaries will be attending those various meetings for the next few months. This program will be taught to all new missionaries when they report to the MTC beginning in May of this year. By that time, all of the missionaries here in the mission will know the program. Preach My Gospel is the text the missionaries will continue to use, but there is an additional approach that has been prayerfully directed by the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles. We were told in the MTC this past July in the Mission President's Seminar that they have spent many, many hours on bended knee and in the temple receiving inspiration on how to make it easier for the missionaries to teach and the investigators to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The use of additional principles contained within Preach My Gospel are being used to invite the Spirit in the initial interactions with a new investigator. This process allows ample opportunity for the missionaries to ask inspired questions and then address the needs of those they teach. The principle of the Doctrine of Christ is taught first where possible, but following the Spirit is still essential for the direction of the work. The knowledge of the material in Preach My Gospel is vital to teaching by the Spirit, but not in rote fashion.

We hope this information will be helpful to you. Some of it may may be retold to you by your missionary, but hopefully you have learned something you didn't know before.

We are looking forward to working with your son in this most wonderful of experiences - preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people in this area. There is a lot of diversity here. He will learn a lot about other cultures. We know your son will be a fine missionary. He is a wonderful young man.

If you have any questions, please ask us anytime.

Warmest regards,

Sister Godwin

President Godwin

Again we are so excited for Elder (Taylor) Gull and can't wait to hear more from him.

I hope to have his new address posted soon, in the mean time just send everything to the mission office.

Thanks Everyone!

A Day of First Experiences!

2011-02-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

Today is Elder Gulls first day in the mission field!!! He landed at about 10:30am Utah time. He was able to call home and Mom says he is doing good. The first day is always so exciting, and we will have news soon about his 1st area, companion, and hopefully pictures will be coming shortly.

Letter #3

2011-01-29T19:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Jessie,
Thanks for your last letter. It's good to know that everything I said to you in my last, goes the same for me from you. I agree with you about our friendship is going to grow while I am on my mission and we write letters back and forth to each other. I did get your letter that you had put in my journal the day I was set apart. Thanks for that letter too. The MTC is amazing. I don't think that I have felt the Spirit so strongly in one place, except the temple. There are good days and hard days, just like there are in the real mission field. The only thing that I am still trying to get used to here is not having my phone and not being able to talk to you whenever I want. I really only have one class, but I have two teachers. My teachers' names are Brother Davis and Sister Wuahn, they are both return missionaries and know what it is like to be a missionary. There are two other things we can do in the MTC. One is called TE, that is when we go teach teachers who are role playing as investigators and then the TRC. In the TRC we teach volunteers from Provo, and other cities around the MTC, and we teach them as progressing investigators. My companion's name is Elder Bindrup, he is from Logan and has a really funny laugh. It is hard to describe, but when he laughs so does everyone else in our district. In my district there are 3 other sets of Elders, all but one of the sets of Elders are also going to San Bernardino, and the other elders are going to Houston, Texas. There are also 4 Sisters, 2 of them are going to San Bernardino and the other 2 are going to Houston. The food here isn't that bad but it's not as good as a real home-cooked meal, and that is also another thing that I miss about home. I am doing good. I seem to have more hard times than everyone else, but I know that it is all just me thinking. I got my travel plans the other day and I am flying out of SLC at 8:42am on Feb. 1 which means that I am going to have to wake up at the MTC and leave at 5:00 in the morning. I am excited to get into the mission field and teach people about this gospel that has helped both me and you so much. How are you doing? How is school? Oh and before I forget thank you and your sisters for the pictures. I really like them. Thanks Jess, again. If it wasn't for you I dought (I can't spell today sorry) that I would be experiencing this mission right now. You are my greatest friend and always will be. I had better go, I have a lot of letters to write.

Your Best Friend,

Elder Gull

Letter #2

2011-01-25T17:51:00.000-08:00

1-21-2011

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thanks for the letters that you have sent me. I think other then Jessie and Karrie, I have received the most from you.

I haven’t answered this for you yet : My companions name is Elder Bindrup, from Logan, Utah. There are six Elders in my District, four of which are going to San Bernardino also. The other two Elders are going to Dallas, Texas. My companion is going to the same mission as me. There are also four Sisters in my District. Two of them are going to San Bernardino and the other two are going to Dallas, Texas. It is fun here and I am learning a lot about the Gospel. Most days my brain hurts. Yesterday me and my district got our travel itinerary. We leave the MTC the 1^st of February at 5:00 a.m. Our flight leaves Salt Lake City at 8:42 a.m. and lands in Ontario, California at 9:33 a.m. We are flying on Delta Air Lines. It’s crazy to think that soon I will be in the actual mission field. It seems like yesterday that I entered the MTC, even though I know that it has been more then one week.

Tell everyone that I say Hi and that I love them. I wish I could write them all letters, but I am not supposed to be writing a letter right now, because it is MDT time.

The food here isn’t as bad as Tommy said. It isn’t as good as your cooking, but it is still pretty good.

Well I should go so that I can study. So I will talk to you later.

Love you,

Elder Gull

Letter from Elder Gull's MTC Companion

2011-01-20T20:35:00.001-08:00

20 Jan 2011

Dear Gull Family!

You should be so proud of your son he is such a good man. He has strengthened my testimony so much this past week.

He truly knows his Father in Heaven loves him and wants to be the sharpest tool in the shed for the Lord to use. I am happy to serve beside your son. We are working as hard as we can ALL DAY even. So that we may invite others to Christ by helping them receive the message of the restored gospel.

He is working hard to keep me on the right path towards fulfilling an honorable mission this past week. I have truly learned to love your son.

Your son’s loving companion,

Elder Jordan J. Bindrup

PS: Thank you so much for the Wonka Licorice thing they are truly the BOMB.com!

PPS: Alma 32:28-43! This is my favorite passage of scripture right now.

Letter #1

2011-01-18T21:44:00.000-08:00

Hey karrie,

I am doing good at the mtc, i am very busy and dont have a lot of time to do anything but learn the gospel. but that is ok with me. my companions name is elder bindrup from logan utah. And most of the time we get along but not always but nodoby is perfect. thanks for the letters you have sent me.

Tuesday is my p day as you could proably guess. and at 3 me and the rest of my district are going up to the temple for 3 40 session.

There are 6 elders and 4 sisters in my district 4 of the 6 elders are going to the same mission as me and the other 2 are going to huston texas, same with the sisters 2 are going to california and 2 are going to texas.

i miss you guys and hope that my mission goes bye fast so that i can see you guys soon. but i dont want to miss out on the experiance either. well i got to go so ill write you again soon.

Love You Sis.

Elder Gull

Entering the MTC

2011-01-13T13:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we took Elder T. Gull to the MTC, here are some of the pictures we took as we all said our goodbyes.

Elder Gull With Isaac, his nephew.

With Grannie and Grampy

With Del and Don...It will be nearly 4 years till the see each other again.

Mom and Dad with Elder Gull in front of the Provo Temple.

It was nice to have a little extra time to walk around the temple/grounds and be together.

All the kids together. It's crazy how fast everyone grows up.

Mom saying goodbye.

Me saying goodbye.

Taylor in front of the MTC.

Elder Gull as he walked away. We love you Elder Gull, we will see you in two years!

Hurrah for Israel!

Taylor's Farewell Talk

2011-01-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

Good Afternoon, Brother Mineer asked me to speak on obedience, and since missionaries are expected to be obedient to be successful. I will be as obedient as I can. I enter the MTC this Wednesday. My mission president wants us as missionaries to memorize, some things that will help us as missionaries. The 1st thing he wanted me to memorize was your purpose in preach my gospel. It reads:

Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

In order to help others receive the gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement I must first have faith. Like Joseph Smith and that leads me to the 2nd thing my mission president wanted us to memorize as missionaries, The First Vision. In Joseph Smith History it reads:

I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me…When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is MyBeloved Son. Hear Him!

I have a hard time memorizing things, but I know that through the spirit I will be able to better serve those that I come in contact with while on my mission. It reminds me of Nephi in the Book of Mormon and what he says to his father: On Nephi 3:7 it reads:

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Many prophets have said that all able young men should serve missions. At first I didn't think I wanted to serve a mission, I had other things I wanted to do. But Heavenly Father knew better, and he prepared a way for me by sending me a good family and good friends. It wasn't an easy decision to make, but once I decided I knew it is what I needed to do, and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for those that love me. Like Nephi I will go and do the things which the Lord has commanded.

I know that as I strive to be continually obedient I will receive blessings. Near the end of my mission call there is a paragraph that promises blessings for being obedient. It says:

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness that you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children. We place in you our confidence and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary.

Many people feel that the commandments are burdensome and that they limit freedom and personal growth. But the savior taught that true freedom comes only from following him. "If ye continue in my words, then are ye my disciples in deed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," God gives commandments for our benefit. They are loving instructions for out happiness and for our physical and spiritual well-being. The Lord loves us and he wants us to be happy, and we can only be truly happy through obedience. I know that being a missionary will not always be easy, but I know that it is something I can and need to do.

Bear Testimony.

Amen.

Temple Day!

2011-01-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

This was the day that Taylor went through the Temple, it was such a special day. He is going to make such a wonderful missionary.

Taylor (almost Elder Gull) outside the St. George temple.

With Dad and Mom

Karrie, Taylor, Daniel

All together

Taylor Opening His Call...

2010-12-22T00:04:00.001-08:00