Tue 6/24/08 12:29 PM

Dear Family,

Well it happened. We held church in the New Building in Ljubljana on sunday the 22 June 2008. Please see the pictures taken by the National Director of Public Affairs Sister Dora Glassford. We had 150 people in attendance. It was great. I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed these saints with this facility. And we will have one soon in Zagreb. We missed the piano concert on saturday evening because an electrician was at our home trying to convert the electrical system from a fuse box to a breaker box. Well he said it would take about 5 hours and he started at 9 am on saturday. Well he left at 9 pm and it still was not complete. We had to take cold showers for the next couple of days. On monday he came back at 9:45 am and left at 3:45 pm. We had to leave and go to a baptism held in Zagreb. We took the two Senior Sisters Kram and Black with us. On the way we stopped at the Zagreb New Church and took pictures of the exterior. It is looking good also. The baptism was great and we said our final goodbyes to the members in attendance and the missionaries. Igor Kaloper the District Excutive Secretary was so kind. He did not want to let us go. He even kissed Sister Weight on the cheek and forhead. It was a tender moment. Elder Oaks our Area President called on the cell phone as we were leaving Zagreb. He is so thoughtful and kind and complimentary to us. We are blessed to have served with him and others. We arrived home after 11 pm. Today I read the last missionary letters to the mission president. What an experience that was. I really love the missionaries. How they have blessed our lives. I am having a hard time this week. I must confess. I will really miss this experience so full of precious memories. Roylene and I have become closer through it. I really knew I was blessed to be married to this special daughter of Heavenly Father. But it has been a glorious experience to watch her serve so many and to do it so well. I love her and I love who she is with all of her qualities. We will see you before you know it. Please be patient with me as I try to get back into life in Pleasant Grove. I know it will be a blessing to be with all of the family. Especially our children and their eternal companions ( who we consider as our children too ) and our grandchildren. What a blessing. I am thankful for all of you and for your influence to me. Thank you for all of your prayers and for the emails during the last three years. What a blessing they have been. I know there is much to still do in this part of the vineyard, but President and Sister Hill will do a great work as they serve here.

Love

Dad

--- On Tue, 6/24/08, Dora Glassford wrote:

From: Dora Glassford
Subject: FW: Newpaper scan of Article in NeDELO, national Sunday newspaper
To: "Dora Glassford"
Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 11:40 AM



Subject: Newpaper scan of Article in NeDELO, national Sunday newspaper and some pictures from the first day in new chapel





Dear friends,



please find attached article as a result of my informing media about the Fireside in the new chapel. The article says:



Ljubljana

Concert in the Mormon Centre

In the new built Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which the Slovene Mormon community has built on the crossroads of Sisenska street and Vodnikova road in Ljubljana , there will be tonight at 19.00 hours the first event with a title The Power of Music. They will host American pianist David Glen Hatch . As Dora Glassford Cimerman, Director of Public Affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has said, the official dedication and introduction of the new premises will take place in September, when they will prepare Days of Open Doors (Open House). In Slovenia where there are about 300 Mormons – in Ljubljana community there are around 170, in Maribor and Celje around 40, this is the first Mormon church or Centre. R.N.



The article was an excellent announcement of the first public event in the beautiful church building after Sunday morning worship. I doubt there were many visitors attending the Fireside because of the article, but we have told Slovenes that we have accomplished a great task and we are operational. We are now eagerly awaiting the Open House and Dedication, hopefully by our beloved Prophet, Thomas S Monson. We have not given up hope yet! We eagerly await the dedication date!



We are so proud of the new building and what it represents and so grateful to our Heavenly Father for this great blessing. I felt almost like being in the Temple ! The beautiful pictures, the water fountain… The first Sacrament meeting on the beautiful sunny Sunday morning of 22 June 2008 in the first ever church building in Slovenia was a historic event for us, the chapel was almost full with members, families, friends and investigators. Ljubljana Branch President Bogdan Kralj lead the meeting with Mission President Douglas Weight, in attendance just one week before his release. President Weight said in his talk that this chapel is only the first of a kind, and in the future, if we grow strong in faith, there will be a Temple in Slovenia . What prophetic words. We shall pray they may come true! He talked of how the building still has here and there some amendments or repairs to be done but he had insisted that it became operational on 22 June 2008, as otherwise the first session could be put off for a while yet, but we wanted to host a Fireside in it on the first operational day with a fine American pianist, Dr David Glen Hatch (www.davidglenhatch.com), with his protégées, wonderful young awarded pianists, at a Fireside, entitled The Power of Music. It was a great evening of sacred well known hymns and music by famous composers, and David’s spoken words, where the Spirit was present in such abundance. On the previous night the artists performed at a charity piano concert at the Theatre for Children and Youth, Ljubljana , to an audience of 115, the proceedings from tickets are to go towards purchase of an electric wheelchair for 16 year old member Ram Vidra, who lives with spinal bifida. We are very grateful to Dr David Glen Hatch and his awarded young pianists for two most wonderful evenings, which he has so selflessly paid for in full, including the hall, piano tuning and majority of publicity, and proceedings were given as charity. What noble action of kindness and generosity, Christlike attributes we so often talk about and so rarely see in action. May I use this opportunity to commend Dr David Glen Hatch on the wonderful Spirit they have brought to the yet undedicated church building. May they have success after Italy also in Hungary and Romania where the tour takes them after Slovenia ! A few pictures are included.



With love until I get the date of dedication!



Dora xxx

Thu 6/12/08 6:05 AM

Dear Family,

Well, we finished our last Zone Conferences. We did Slovenia Zone on May 28, 2008 and Croatia's two Zones on May 30, 2008. They were very good. It is amazing how different they ended up being. However the spirit of love was strong in both of them. I ended up sharing some of my lifes experiences and bore strong testimony at the end. What a blessing to have served with so many good missionaries. In between these two Zone Conferences Roylene and I had a final interview with Elder Kopischke of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He is the First Counselor in our Area Presidency. We met him at the airport and then took him to the new chapel in Ljubljana. He was surprised that I arranged for this and he really appreciated it. We then took him to a late lunch at the Chinese Restuarant. Then to the Mission Home for the interview. What a sweet experience that was. He first graciously thanked us for our service. He then reviewed my previously submitted Final Report and ask some questions. At the end he had us bare our testimony. Then we took him to the airport and we drove to Zagreb. After Croatia Zone Conference we stayed overnight in Zagreb for a second night as they were painting our Mission Home. I did some interviews that friday as well with members. As well as set the new Public Affairs Representative for Croatia apart. On saturday we had a meeting with visitors from Germany regarding public affairs. Then we drove to Rijeka (Opatija). We taught a combine Priesthood and Relief Society Meeting in Rijeka on sunday and also bore our testimonies in Sacrament Meeting. After they had a light lunch for us. We then went back to Opatija and stayed there sunday evening and monday evening. Monday we just walked around the sea shore one direction in the morning and the othe direction in the afternoon. Of course we sat in the shade and had cold soda drinks and icecream and watched the sea. It was the most relaxing day of our mission. We had to be away because of the painting of the Mission Home. Then on tuesday a.m. we drove to Zagreb and held a Misson Coucil with the AP's and the Zone Leaders. I fed them lunch at a restuarant first. Then we walked to the church for the meeting. It was a good meeting where I just counciled with them on changes that needed to be made to turn this mission into a baptising culture. We also reviewed every progressing investigator and gave them direction to followup on to get them with a baptismal date. We need to be more bold in this mission. I feel like I am just now working on things that should have been done earlier, but I know we must take one step at a time. It is also important to always remember that the Lord is in charge not me and that I must follow the promptings that come. We stayed overnight in Zagreb on tuesday because we had a lunch scheduled on wednesday at the new Zagreb Church with the workers. It was great. We had the opportunity to give out about 40 copies of the Book of Mormon along with pamplets. I told them to read this as it would help them understand who we are. And I told them all of the things they hear and see in the media about the church is usually not true. When they know us they will see that we are good people. One worker came up after and ask me to sign his copy of the Book of Mormon. It was a good experience. I even was able to talk about the church and the materials we gave out to the two young men that served the catered meal. We then drove back home. The house was still in disaray but we suspected it would be. It was catch up as I had 123 emails to handle and Roylene had many things to do including laundry. On saturday we went to Maribor for a baptism. I was ask to talk about baptism. The new member is a great one. Her name is Simona Strelec.

She is about 28 and single. I hope one of the male members gets interested in her. She bore a long beautiful sincere testimony after her baptism. She also brought a girl friend and she is now interested in learning about the church. On sunday we attended Ljubljana church. On tuesday we received a Sister Loveless from Orem. She will serve in Croatia. Her father is the Real Estate Rep that helped Chris and Karen Dearing with their Duplex and Four Plex. Small world. We have spent alot of time the last two days trying to get the furniture reupolstery ordered with Mark Toneh. Hopefully that is finally taken care of. We love all of you and I guess that we will see you soon. But we still have alot on our plate before then. Have a great week.

Love Dad (Doug)

Wed 5/21/08 3:38 AM

Dear Family,
Well we had a real miracle on sunday the 18 May 2008 in Celje with the baptism of Sister Dusica Stampe. Yes she is a member now after years of setting a baptismal date and then cancelling it. At General Conference Broadcast I felt the need to meet with her between sessions. This was also suggested by Sister Militka and Sister Bolster that work with her now. I took President Albin Lotric in with me to do transalation as she does not speak english and I do not speak Slovene. During the interview I told her that I wanted to baptize her before Sister Weight and I leave our mission. I bore witness to her that she needed to do it so she could go to the temple when her son Elder Uros Stampe finishes his mission to Frankfurt Germany Mission. She agreed to think about it and set a date. I could tell that she was touched by the spirit in this meeting. I had a prompting some days after this interview to change my schedule to be in Celje on 18 May for church. Well she met with the Sister Missionaries and set her date of baptism for 18 May. I found out about this that night that she met with the Sisters. I told them how I had a prompting to be in Celje on that sunday and so my calendar was already set to be there. Sister Stampe picked this date because it is Elder Uros Stampe's birthday. Amazing how the spirit knows. She later got nervous and said she was not going through with it. I met the Sisters in Celje on 6 May and Sister Bolster and Sister Milika told me of the problem of her backing out again. Sister Bolster said after we talked for a while that she still thought it was possible for Dusica to be baptized on the 18 May. I said to her if you really believe it can happen. And I thanked her for her faith. Then I counseled them to go back to her and have her read a chapter in the Book of Mormon and tell her that they would call in a couple of days to have her tell them what she learned. I told the Sisters that I felt they needed to give prayerful thought into what they have her read. And to pick something that would really get to her. Also I pointed out how this would help her feel the spirit again as she kept this commitment to read and discuss it with them. It worked. The counsel to do all of this came to me by a prompting as I met with the Sisters. Well the Sisters followed counsel and Sister Dusica said after accepting the assignment to read "Why not call me tomorrow". She started to waver alittle a few days later but I told the Sisters to just tell her that I am coming on the 18 May and the font will be filled and I expect her to be baptized. I told them to plan the baptism and just help her invite who she wants to be there. Her other son and a cousin came to the baptism. Her other son is not a member but he really felt the spirit. I told him after the baptism that he was next and that he needed to prepare for the missionaries in Ljubljana to teach him the lessons. He is a fine young man with a good job and he is a college graduate. He will make a great member also. It was such a great experience to baptize her and see her as a member of the church after so many years of meeting with every set of Sister Missionaries that served in Celje. Many have helped bring this about. She gave her testimony at the baptism and she thanked so many missionaries. What a great sunday. We held sacrament meeting first and then instead of having sunday school we held the baptismal service. They only have few members in this branch so they only hold a two hour block. They alternate each week with sunday school and Priesthood / Relief Society. Yesterday the movers came and picked up our belongings to ship them home. I guess we really do have to leave soon. It will be a big challenge to me I know to not be on a mission any more. I have really enjoyed this challenging but rewarding experience. We have four new Slovene Elders coming tomorrow. It will be the last missionaries that we get to welcome except for President and Sister Hill. Time is going too fast. Have a great week.
Love Dad (Doug)

Sun 4/20/08 12:48 AM

Dear Family,
Another week of excitement in the mission field has passed. We just finished reorganizing the Zagreb Branch Presidency and did Zone Conferences. The Zone Conference was very good. Even though I spoke for two hours. Maybe it was because Sister Weight spoke for 20 minutes. We have been trying all that we know how to teach the missionaries from Preach My Gospel and to implement what they learn. There are many signs that it is changing for the good. But we are still down on number of baptisms. There are many good investigators and I am full of faith that the baptisms will increase soon. We are having a mission special fast yesterday and today to seek special help from Heavenly Father in doing his work. I did some member interviews in Zagreb before coming back into Slovenia. Temple Recommend and special interview regarding a problem a member is having. We arrived back in Ljubljana at about 12 noon on friday only to find there was not any heat in the house. I went to the furnace room and sure enough we were out of heating oil. The gauge on the tank showed plenty of fuel one week ago and now it was on zero. So I had an Elder call for delivery and fortunately they came that afternoon. I was doing Assistants Planning at the time. I had trouble starting the furnace and finally prayed and it worked after that. I am thankful for the help. We arrived home at noon and wouldn't you know it I held a meeting at 1pm. We then went to a Talent Show held at the Ljubljana Branch. Not many members came but it was great. Also we had four investigators there and they all took part. Some of them had something prepared others were drawn into a skit of Little Red Ridding Hood. It was a good activity. The Young Single Adult Representative Elvi Rwankuba put it together. He is amazing in his leadership skills. Also last week we were finally able to get the Landlord to come clean out his alcohol from the basement under the stairs. You would not believe it. He had over 500 bottles stored there. He said it was a collection from his father. Some of the bottles dated back to 1943. He said he does not drink but he tested one bottle and said it was good. Yea right, does not drink. I thought it was funny. I am happy to have it gone. It only took 34 months to get him to get it out of here. I am thankful that that is accomplished. Persistence is rewarded once again. Well it is time to go to church so I must close. We spent another two hours on the phone answering questions for the new mission president, President and Sister Hill. I am sure they will do a great job. I don't like to tell them too much because I want them to do their own work in the way the spirit directs them. Oh well if they have a real challenge I will take the credit for answering too many questions. Just kidding I am sure the spirit will lead them the right way. Have a great week. We will be doing a Senior Missionary Conference this week with all couples and Senior Sister Missionaries.
Love Dad (Doug)

Tue 4/15/08 12:35 AM

Dear All,
I received the exact time for sacrament meeting in the BattleCreek Fourth Ward where Sister Weight and I will report our mission. It starts at 2:50 pm. 13 July 2008. The church address is 200 South Murdock Drive (approx. 1100 East). Just come to Pleasant Grove and go east on 200 South. 200 South is the same street that the High School is on. It is also referred to as Battlecreek Drive. Please pass the word. We don't have all of our missionaries email address so your help is appreciated. We look forward to seeing our eternal friends.
We still have alot to do here and time is running out. We sustained Stejpan Bzik as Branch President is Zagreb last sunday. The work will progress to the next level there. We are doing Zone Conferences this week and will be on the road for a couple of days. The chapels are coming along. We have a Senior Missionary Conference next week complete with a meeting with visitors from Frankfurt, a Ljubljana New Church Tour, and some sight seeing.
The Zagreb New Church is almost ready for the roof to be put on. It is scheduled to be completed at the end of this year and turned to the local priesthood in February. Many have ask about dedications of these buildings. The date for Open Houses and Dedications is set by the Area Presidency. Ljubljana will be in September 2008 but an exact date is not set yet. The work is progressing but we have along way to go. It is a blessing to us to serve here. Please keep praying for this mission. Your prayers do make a difference.
President and Sister Weight

Sun 4/13/08 11:44 AM

Dear Family,
We just arrived home from Zagreb Croatia. I did some interviews with members and today in sacrament meeting we sustained a new Branch President. It is Stejpan Bzik. He was a District High Councilman. It was a great experience to interview him ( I actually did that the week before last) and to feel his spirit. Roylene and I have been in his home twice. Once before they moved and once in their new home. It is an apartment that is built by a Canadian man. It is more like what we have in the US. Complete with Central Air. His wife has been inactive but she is a wonderful person with a great heart. President Bzik gave the most perfect talk in Sacrament Meeting. He will really be a blessing to this Branch. He reached out to them in everyway in his talk. It was a great experience to counsel with him after the setting apart. He took out a note book and wrote detailed notes. I told him that he should keep a copy of his talk and review it as a guide as he serves. I told him to make more notes on the end of his talk as he also spoke from the heart. All of this is what the spirit was telling him needed to be done to bless this branch. I am confident that this change will make a big difference in Zagreb. I predict that many inactives will be approached again and ask to comeback. That invitation was given by our new Prophet and his counselors in General Conference last week. Also this past week Roylene and I were interviewed by a local TV station about the Warren Jeffs nonsense that is in the news. You would be surprised how many people confuse us as they see the news. Often it is reported wrong and the news media thinks it is us. We made it clear that they have nothing to do with us. That it is a separate church. Our doctrine is different. In fact I preached even off camera to the man over the sound track. He seemed receptive. I hope the broadcast is done properly. It will be this week. Roylene also taught Young Women in Zagreb today. She is so amazing. She will approach every person that she does not know in church and introduces herself. Many have told the missionaries how they felt something special just by meeting her. She really is genuine in her interest in others and it shows. Besides those eyes of hers sparkle as she talks. And she always smiles. It is really a blessing to see her on this mission. I have an amazing companion.
This week we will do Zone Conferences again. It is alot easier without the trip to Serbia, but we miss the saints there. The Branch President of Beograd Nikola Kovic was in Ljubljana doing Family History work on friday and saturday morning. We drove him to Zagreb in the afternoon as we were going there for this weekend and the Branch changes in Zagreb. It was a joy to see him and to listen to him talk as we drove. I think he talked the entire two hours. He is a wonderful servant of the Lord. We hope that he gets married this next year, It is another way to establish the church here. I will write more later after Zone Conferences. Bishop Petersen please answer a question for Sister Weight and I. She has family trying to plan a reunion and she wants to know if we speak in Sacrament Meeting upon our return and what the date would be if we do. Sorry to bother you with this, but please let us know so she can inform her family. We know you are incharge of Sacrament Meetings and we sustain you in whatever you decide. We really are blessed with a wonderful Bishop and Stake President. We will be home before you know it but there is still alot to do here. I was told we would fly out on the 30 June 2008 but we do not have the flight itinerary yet. There is pleanty of time for that. Have a great week. I know we will.
Love Dad (Doug)

Thu 4/10/08 8:12 AM

Dear Family,
You will find attached a document that I was ask to prepare reporting our mission. I was surprised at this as we still have things to do and time to serve. However, this is requested now by the standard procedure of things in accordance with the Mission Presidents Handbook. I hope it gives you some insight about our mission experience.
Love
Dad (Doug)


Slovenia Croatia Mission Report
July 2005- June 2008
#1 What did you do to increase your missionaries spirituality and prepare them for future service in the church?
Upon our arrival we felt an urgency to lift the missionaries’ spirits. To increase their faith in Jesus Christ. To teach that God is a God of miracles today as well as in the past. We taught the missionaries that they are special. That they were chosen in the pre-existence to come to this mission. We taught that Satan has ruled this part of the world for centuries and that only the best sons and daughters of God are called to this mission. We taught that Baptisms are going to increase because there are many elect people in the countries of this mission.
We have taught missionaries to be like Nephi. To be obedient and go and do. To have total faith in the Savior and his atonement.
Preach My Gospel was finally received at the end of 2005 in the different languages of the mission. We have used it extensively. We are teaching and studying a chapter a month. We focus on implementing what we learn from each chapter. As missionaries make those changes in their personal missionary efforts, they become forever changed as a son or daughter of God. They will be better in all they do in their life because of Preach My Gospel.
We have taught them to plan, find and teach by the spirit. This also comes from Preach My Gospel.
As part of this mission's Standards of Excellence, we read and study the scriptures. There is a specific reading schedule with a deadline to have that completed by. This develops the habit of daily scripture study. It gives them personal growth and the spirit teaches them personally.
We did our best to use and implement the tools given to us in the Mission President Handbook, Preach My Gospel, the Standard Works, and teachings from our leaders at Mission President Seminars and Mission Tours.
#2 Describe successful efforts to increase the numbers and retention of convert baptisms.
In 2005 we focused for six months on increasing missionaries' faith and in honoring the Prophet Joseph Smith by baptizing. We ended up with 35 baptisms counting Serbia which was added to our mission effective 1 Jan. 2006. We set the goal to double baptisms in 2006. At the end of 2006 we had 70 baptisms. This was exactly double 2005 baptisms. To do this we taught that President Hinckley asked in 1999 that baptisms would be doubled. We taught that if a prophet said to do it, it was possible. We tried to have an increase in baptisms again in 2007 and we were actually ahead of the pace in 2006 until July 2007, then we fell behind for the last six months of 2007 and ended up with 46. This is still an increase over 2005.
We focused on Young Single Adults as a major effort to baptize and retain. Our strongest converts came from this age group, so we felt it was important to have an annual YSA Conference and to establish Institute Classes and Institute Outreach Centers in all of the branches. This has resulted in 10 marriages of members; all but one is a temple marriage. Some of them have children, while others are expecting children. This is a long term blessing to establishing the church here.
We have established Family History in all three countries of Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia. The new converts that get involved in Family History stay active.
Translation of scriptures is approved and moving forward. Serbian Book of Mormon received in Feb. 2008. Triple Combination in Slovene is due in 2011. Triple combination in Croatian is due in 2013. All of this helps convert and retain.
We have six full time missionaries called from this mission. They will add great strength in leadership upon their return.
#3 What suggestions do you have to improve assistance from the Missionary Department and others?
Travel through Paris, France to return home from a mission is always a problem. The connection is too short and the ticket agents in Ljubljana refuse to issue boarding passes in Ljubljana for the connecting flight in Paris. We then have to try to let parents know their missionary won’t be home until a day later. It creates an unnecessary nightmare for all involved. I suggest another route home.
#4 What are the most significant challenges that your successor will face in your mission?
• Multiple languages. Dealing with this is a challenge. Often there is misunderstanding with local leaders. You have to be very cautious to make sure they know what you are teaching and they catch the vision. Keep it simple. Meet with them every month.
• Visas. Each country has its own law and it changes. It is a continual challenge to get missionaries visas and to renew them.
• All the challenges that come establishing the church in developing countries.
 Priesthood Leadership- Increase number male converts, train them.
 Teacher training- Too many are new and give lectures rather than teach a lesson.
 Lack of translated materials. Long time members get tired of the same lesson manuals.
Summary: In 2005 President Hinckley challenged all members of the Church to read the Book of Mormon. When I heard this I was already reading the Book of Mormon and I was half way through. But I felt that I should start over at the beginning and re-read the entire book and to do it in as short of time as possible. As I did this I had a personal spiritual experience. The feeling came many times during this reading of the Book of Mormon that I was to establish the Church while on this mission. This led me to focus on all of the following:
• Increase faith of missionaries
• Become a Preach My Gospel Mission
• Increase convert baptisms and retention
• Increase temple attendance
• Set up Family History Centers in all three countries
• Increase temple marriages
• Increase number of full time missionaries serving from this mission
• Organize Young Single Adults in all three countries and have activities
• Hold Institute in all branches
• Change District Presidencies and train them in monthly interviews
• Request scripture translations for Serbia, Slovenia, and Croatia
• Develop native branch presidents
• Construction of new churches in Ljubljana and Zagreb
• Improve or change rental facilities where we hold church
• Establish Institute Outreach Centers
• Improve member missionary work
• Call branch mission leaders in all branches
• Open new cities
• Train auxiliaries
• Change annual Youth Conference away from a family conference to being a youth conference
• Improve the spirit of meetings
• Increase unity among members and among missionaries and members
It has been a real joy to have had this experience. We have made many eternal friendships. We have been directed time and time again by the Spirit. We have been blessed in our extended family in many ways. We both have experienced the loss of a loved one that is dear to us during our mission. Sister Weight's brother died in March 2006 and my mother died in January 2007. It was a special experience in both cases. We are thankful for the plan of salvation. Our testimonies of the gospel have increased through this time of service. We are so blessed. God lives and he loves us. Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of all mankind. He lives. The scriptures are true. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and he still works to do all that is required of him in this the dispensation of the fullness of time. We are led by living prophets today. This mission will continue to have greater success. I express my gratitude for this experience. And I testify of these truths, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Douglas L. Weight

Thu 3/13/08 12:46 AM

Dear Family,
Attached is an email from Sister Poulsen. Sister and Elder Poulsen were the senior couple that flew out on the morning after the Embassy was attack and burned. They lived close by the Embassy which is also close to the church in Beograd. It was decided to conclude their mission alittle early because of health reasons. What a blessing to work with such missionaries and great members. The work will go on and success will eventually increase.
Love Dad (Doug)



Thank you for the email.

It was good to know the other part of the story. We were sorry that we were not able to tell all the people good bye that we had been so close to. We had one investigator come to our apartment and bring us fruit and visit our last day. It was a joy for us to share our testimony with her. Her name is Snezana. Nevena has written that she will be teaching her and a promise to stay with all the investigators.

The night before we left was when it all broke loose. We were never afraid until that night as the mob was burning the front entrance of the American Embassy there were over 20,000 people in the street on the main street. The police and swat teams were coming and going from the back at our street taking turns with the crowd control. They had 5 bus loads which held about 50 police, they were parked there for weeks, police sleeping in full gear in a bus 24 hrs a day, waiting to take there shift up in the front of the Embassy. We watched out our windows and balcony as the bus loads of swat teeams came and loaded and unloaded in front of our apartment. They were there to protect the American Embassy from "Hooligans" (Mostly college students age) who threw rocks and what ever else they wanted to do. The Embassy workers had evacuated and had only a few Marines inside guarding certain sensitive areas. We were on the phones to the Missionaries to let them know what was happening and stay in.

In the worse part of the riots, for some reason the ATV trucks came out and headed up the road, then the police left in buses and we figured there was something worse somewhere else, but as soon as they pulled away, the "hooligans" came to the back of the Embassy which was on our street and started to set the garbage cans on fire and throwing rocks into the windows of not only the Embassy but in all the shop windows of their own people. The garbage cans were then rolled over to the door of the American Embassy and tipped over to burn the back door down. I was out on the balcony taking pictures and Elder Poulsen was looking out the window. The smoke was strong, but I kept on taking pictures. Elder Poulsen was yelling for me to get in the house as there was tear gas being set off. My eye were burning and hard to breath, but I thought it was from the burning garbage, I now know what tear gas is like.

We watched most the night as they marched and yelled and destroyed and became a little more drunk. When the police finally came back, it was just smoke from the garbage's and tear gas. The tear gas drove off the rioters also. The police took there usual guard place and the only effort they made to stop the fire, was to roll the burning garbage can away from them as it was getting smoke in their eyes. It almost looked like they left the Embassy on purpose. They found a rioters body in the front office they burned, I suppose he got caught in his own flame.

We had our plane tickets for 6:00 am that morning, but with no sleep we called a friendly Serbian taxi driver who has helped the church many times and when it quieted down we left at 3:00 am and we were glad to be at the airport, it was nice and peaceful. We knew our luggage may be over weight, but they just sent it through and never said a word. What a blessing it was for us.

We walked out of the apartment, cupboards full of food, linens, bedding, pots and pan. and dishes, with not a thought but to get home. We are grateful for this country. The church is true and we are so blessed to be able to worship here as we please.

The members will keep the church together as they have great testimony's and know this is the true church. We are not tried like the members are in Serbia, but they love the Lord and are so faithful and the church will continue.

We have talked with Nikola and he joking said he and Elder Poulsen needs to have a meeting on "gismo" . He will do great and we love him dearly.

Nevena emailed and she is such a delightful person and faithful member. She told us she was going to give lessons to the investigators in the absence of the missionaries. She is going to keep classes going and teach them Spanish, and English . She said she was givining lessons to Snezana and not to worry about her. (Snezana feels that we knew each other in a life before. ) It is a feeling we had over several of the investigators there in our "Outreach" program.

We do feel a great accomplishment with the Outreach program there and many seeds were planted. We had a great 9 months with the YSA and they have thanked us many times for helping them. We know the Missionaries have planted many seeds and the English students loved them and respected them very much. The work will go forward in spite of the Adversery. He will not win. The Lord is in charge.

We will work here in the Ogden Temple now, they are in need of people, so this is where we will serve for now. We are doing well and with good clean air and a good family Dr. it really makes a difference. We are feeling better with each day.

Best wishes to the both of you, we remember you in our prayers.

Elder & Sister Poulsen

Wed 3/12/08 12:41 PM

Just another note about the departing reassigned missionaries from Serbia. Elder Lunt took them all to the aiport and it was three different trips at different times of the morning and early afternoon. Attached is his little miracle. Love Dad (Doug)


Thank you President for all that you do and for
sharing these experiences and blessings with us. If I
might, I would like to share my own little "miracle"
that although little in and of itself let me know that
the Lord was aware of even the smallest detail and
that He was fully in control of the situation.

I call this "the miracle of the parking space". With
every group of elders I took out to the airport last
Monday to catch their flights to their new Mission
assignments, (there were three different groups who
left that day), when I pulled into the parking lot,
there was the same parking space, the closest one to
the airport, waiting for me. To find a parking space
so close is unusual but to find the same one at three
different times during the busiest parts of the day
was, in my mind, was my own mini-miracle. Not only was
the parking space there for us at the airport, but
also a space was open right in front of the Church
both times I had to go park at the Church to load the
next group of missionaries and their luggage to take
to the airport. I mention this as my own personal
miracle, not because of it being dramatic in any way,
but it was a confirmation to me that throughout this
whole ordeal, that the Lord knew what was happening
and that He was in control of everything, even the
smallest details.
Elder Lunt
--- doug weight wrote:

> Dear All,
> You will find attached a document about the Hand
> of the Lord in Serbia. We really saw it as we
> experience this. Even six months ago things were
> done to help with the current situation. The Lord
> does really know what is happening from the begining
> to the end. He does sustain and support his
> servants. What a blessing to witness this. Thank
> you for all you have done to bless Sister Weight and
> I. We love all of you.
> President Weight

Wed 3/12/08 9:02 AM

Dear Family,
You will find attached a document regarding our experience of evacuation of missionaries. This is not a complete list by any means. But is does let you see the Hand of the Lord in His work. What a blessing your prayers were also. We love and appreciate all of you.
Love Dad (Doug)


HAND OF THE LORD IN SERBIA



Recently all missionaries were evacuated from Serbia because of the unrest and violence in the country. This violence and unrest escalated with Kosovo’s announcement of Independence on Sunday 17 February 2008. We have experienced many acts of verbal and physical abuse towards missionaries during the years of 2006 and 2007 before this announcement was given. But it took a real turn for the worse after the announcement. This document is an attempt to document the Hand of the Lord in Serbia during these troubled times. His influence was experience over and over again.

Elder Erich Kopischke of the First Quorum of Seventy and a member of the Central Europe Area Presidency did a mission tour from 4 September 2007 to 9 September 2007. During this tour the inspiration came to change the District President of Serbia during the District Conference to be held 27 and 28 October 2007. It was discussed and approval was given to not only make Sladjan Mihajlovic the new District President, but he was also approved to be the Second Counselor in the Slovenia Croatia Mission Presidency. This became very important in February 2008 after the missionaries were evacuated. Because he is a second counselor in the mission presidency, he has keys to do interviews for the Melchizedek Priesthood and for Temple Recommends. The Lord knew what was coming and put in place a solution six months ahead of the problem.

The Serbian Book of Mormon was originally scheduled to be completed and in our hands at the Mission Office in December 2007. That was also the original time frame of when Kosovo leaders wanted to announce their independence. The Book of Mormon was delayed and arrived at the Mission Office on the morning of the 19 February 2008. This was just over 24 hours after Kosovo made their announcement on the evening of 17 February 2008. It is not coincidence that the Book of Mormon came at the time of the announcement and unrest that resulted. The Adversary has done all he can to keep the Book of Mormon out of Serbia. But the Hand of the Lord was witnessed again in this and many copies have been taken into Serbia. 30 copies went with the Serbian Members that were in the Frankfurt Temple the week of 19-23 February. This is the same week of the unrest. Also copies were sent with Simon Stevanovic from Celje on the 25 February as he went to Serbia to see his grandparents. Later 30 copies were sent in with Stejpan from Novi Sad as he brought out the personal belongings of Elder and Sister Howlett. And again 30 copies were sent with him as he brought out the personal belongings of Elder and Sister Morton. Then Nikola Kovic took 30 more copies into Serbia as he returned from bringing out the last three Elders. More copies will be sent in within three weeks. We have more copies there than we would have been able to take across the boarder. So Satan tried to stop it, but with the Hand of the Lord many copies are there.

Normally Missions receive one Mission Tour per year by a member of the Area Presidency. Sister Weight and I had already had three of them when a call came from our Area President that he wanted to do a tour from 8 January to the 13 January 2008. This would be our fourth tour in only two and one half years. And the second tour in only four months. It turned out to be a real blessing. Elder Robert C. Oaks gained insight that was so helpful when the problems occurred. He called us every day that Sister Weight and I were in Serbia doing the District Conference 15-17 February 2008. Remember the 17 February 2008 was the day of the announcement. He was feeling the need to evacuate. Confirmation came during a phone call that he made to me on 20 February 2008. After some discussion there was a pause in the conversation. I knew that he was being inspired that we need to move them out. He then confirmed that. I told him I would call all of the missionaries the next morning and that we would evacuate on Friday the 22 February 2008.

All of the missionaries but three made it out on that day. Some more detail regarding this. I had two Elders from Serbia in Slovenia for Mission Council on the 20 February and they had traveled back to Zagreb, Croatia. I had the Assistance call them and tell them that they could not go back to Serbia. The Hand of the Lord was in this as well. Only one of those two Elders was a Zone Leader. His companion Elder Quinton is from Canada. He had to stay in Serbia because he had a man on the street grab and tear up his passport just a few days before Mission Council. So he could not come to Mission Council with his companion Elder Leavitt. The Canadian Embassy told him it would take two weeks to get a new replacement passport. Well I contacted legal in Germany and they got involved and found out that a man who could authorize a new passport was coming to Beograd from Romania and he made the arrangements. But all of this was also the Hand of the Lord. Elder Quinton could not attend Mission Council because of the torn passport, but he was the one that directed all of the missionaries in the evacuation. It was a real blessing that he was not at Mission Council in Slovenia. He was still in Serbia. He and his temporary companion Elder Carter were to be the last two out of the country. Well it did not work out that way.

An Elder Molina was denied departure at the boarder because he had applied for a new visa and it had not come through. So he was told to get off of the train at the boarder. Fortunately Elder Taylor jumped off with him. They were directed to go to Sremska Mitrovica which is close to the boarder by taxi. Arrangements were made by Elder Quinton with the land lady after talking to the former Elders of that apartment for her to meet them at the train station and take them to the apartment. Well I told him to have them call me to let me know that they were there and that they were safe. In the meantime Elder Carter was thrown off of the next train at the boarder for the same visa problems as Elder Molina. Only they had already stamped Elder Quintons passport and they would not let him stay in Serbia. He called me in a panic. I told him to just stay on the train and not talk to anyone and he would be met in Zagreb by other Elders. I then called the Elders in Sremska Mitrovica and told them to get another taxi and hurry back to the boarder to get Elder Carter. And I told them to call me when they found him. It worked out just fine and they took a bus back to Sremska Mitrovica. They were the only three people on the bus. They stayed there over the weekend until they could travel to Beograd and get the documents on Monday to leave.

Well they took a taxi on Monday to the church where they met Nikola Kovic the Branch President. He took them to the police and they said they had to come back the next day for the documents at 3pm. This worked out and we had them travel all night on a sleeper train in first class with the Branch President to Zagreb. I had them call me at the boarder and send me a text message when they crossed into Croatia.

All of the phone calls to coordinate this evacuation of missionaries from Serbia were made on cells phones. This was possible because at the Zone Conference 7-8 December 2007 I was prompted to buy cell phones. I remember standing in the Beograd Chapel when the prompting came. It was strong and clear. I immediately sent Elder Rubisch a Zone Leader and Elder Hensley, my office financial secretary out to do this. Cell phones were given to each set of missionaries. What a blessing this turned out to be in the evacuation. It was also a miracle that Elder Quintons phone kept its charge long enough to make all of the calls he had to make to coordinate everything during the evacuation.

It was a blessing that the members were in the temple praying for us during all of this. Also that Elder and Sister Howlett were given permission to go on this temple trip when others had been denied. Also that Elder and Sister Morton were in Slovenia having her tooth repaired so they were also out of the country and already evacuated. Sister Morton was to be in Slovenia one week earlier but her tooth had some pain and the Dentist changed her appointment. This is not a coincidence. It was a blessing that we had a mission car in Serbia and a member that could drive the Howletts and the Mortons belongings across the boarder. That member just happens to have Serbian and Croatian passports. This was a great blessing.

It was also a blessing to have the prompting to call Elder Rubisch from Serbia to be an Assistant to the Mission President. It brought him to Slovenia and he was able to speak with Stejpan and coordinate the removal of the Howletts and the Mortons belongings.

During the conference in Beograd Sister Weight gave a talk on Saturday Evening Adult Session. This was the 16 February 2008. She found herself saying to the members “What would you do if there were not any missionaries in Serbia?” This proved to be prophetic. It gave them something to think about as it became a reality with in one week. Also, I was prompted to teach President Mihajlovic how to do a Melchizedek Priesthood Interview. He did this. Then I taught him how to preside and conduct the ordination of the brother. It is good that he knows how now as I can not go back into Serbia until it is cleared with Salt Lake and the Area Presidency. But the work can go forward because he has the keys and knows how to do it from personal experience. The spirit knows what is needed. All we have to do is follow the promptings that come. As a side note both President Mihajlovic and President Kovic have been granted one year visas to leave Serbia and travel in Europe. This miracle helps them serve since we can not go there at the time. They can come here.

Elder and Sister Morton were able to complete all Humanitarian Project Summaries for 2000-2007 the week before the evacuation. Elder Morton was also prompted to backup the computer hard drive and hand that to Elder Carter the morning of the Mortons departure to Slovenia. This was given back to Elder Morton in Zagreb after the evacuation.

Elder and Sister Poulsen were evacuated by air as she was ill for a number of days. It cut their mission short a few months, but it was a blessing for them to be out and get the proper medical help. The Lord really looks after his servants.

There were thousands of members praying for the safety of these missionaries. These prayers were offered from around the world. The prayers of the righteous really do make a difference. How thankful we are for so many good saints and their prayers. The safety of the missionaries was our prime concern. It truly was a great witness to all of us of how the Hand of the Lord is in this work. He does love those that serve him. And he does look out for us. May we all be worthy of his love and eternal sacrifice. I know that he lives. I know that he is the son of God. This is his work. And the glory belongs to him whose we are. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Wed 2/27/08 12:31 AM

Dear Family,
We got the last three Elders out of Serbia during the night last night. We are going to Zagreb to meet with all Serbia and Croatian Elders today. Elder Wondra of the Area Presidency will fly into Zagreb to preside at the meeting. I will write more later as we get time because there are still a few things on our plate to deal with. I will just say for now that your prayers were answered many times during this experience. Heavenly Father really looks out for his missionaries. Love you alot.
Dad (President Weight)

Sat 2/23/08 12:00 AM

For your information. We are not quite finished but hope they will be out on monday. Love Dad



President,
I have spoken with the parents of Elders Carter and Taylor; and the SP of Elder Molina. They have been reassured that the missionaries are well and ask that I extend their love and appreciation to you for taking such good care of their sons.

You have done a remarkable job of handling this situation. All in the Missionary Department express their admiration and gratitude for how well thing have gone under your leadership.

We keep you and your missionaries in our prayers - and that includes Sister Weight. No one will ever appreciate their wife as much as mission presidents do. None of us would ever make it without them, would we?

With warm regards,
Elder Bangerter

Fri 2/22/08 11:59 PM

Dear Mike and Karen,
Yes we were in Serbia last weekend conducting Serbia District Conference. We were able to get out before it got ugly. We sent all of the missionaries to their apartments and told them to not go out unless it was early in the morning to buy food. And we told them to be in P-day clothes and to only speak in Serbian when they had to. They were not to wear name tags. As of 10pm last night we have all but three Elders out of the country. Those three were stopped at the boarder and not allowed to leave because they had reapplied to renew their visa and apparently that has to be cancelled with the police. We have them staying in an apartment that is safe and we hope to get them out on monday. The Lord has really blessed us during this process and we can not wait to bring it to a conclusion. Keep praying that this will happen on monday without incident or problems.
Love Doug

michael ferre wrote:

Hi President,
I received a call from Sara Crook today wanting to know if we had heard anything about the missionaries serving in Serbia. We have heard that the Embassy was attacked and that some of the families and lower level employees are being told to leave Serbia. I just wondered if the church is having the missionaries leave or if the problems has decreased and everything is ok for the missionaries. Were you and Roylene in Serbia when the tension between Serbia, Kosovo and the US began? We pray for your safety.
Love,
karen

Fri 2/08/08 1:06 AM

Dear Family,
Boy does time fly when you are having fun or when you are on a mission. I don't remember what I wrote last nor do I remember when I wrote it. We have traveled all of Slovenia and most of Croatia doing interviews. I will finish up this next week in Croatia and in Serbia. We also received new couples and senior sisters with one more of each arriving on tuesday next week. We were able to go to Rijeka and watch all of President Hinckley's funeral at the senior couples apartment as they have BYU TV via a satelite dish. It is a real blessing to think about President Hinckley and to ponder on how ones life has been made better because of him. What an influence for good. I remember many years ago listening to one of his conference talks and feeling the spirit as he spoke. It came so strong and I knew this was a special soul that would bless many lives. I did not even think about him becoming the prophet. While at Rijeka I interviewed and made changes in the Branch Presidency by calling two new councilors and a clerk. One of the councilors had just received the Melchizedek Priesthood at the District Conference in January 2008. The other one is Elder Brown ( a senior couple missionary that just arrived four weeks ago ). We leave in about one hour for a flight to Frankfurt Germany to attend a day and a half Mission Presidents Seminar with the Area Presidency. I just received a letter informing us that the Europe Area and the Central Europe Area will be combined on August 1, 2008. The church always makes adjustments to meet current needs. We also just found out who the new Mission President will be. It is David Henry Hill from Citrus Heights California. He was born in Lehi Utah. That is all that we know for now except that they will bring a sixteen year old son with them. We will contact them next week. Well I have to keep this short. Keep praying for us and the success of the mission. Prayers are always answered. We love all of you and appreciate your influence for good in our lives as well.
Love Dad (Doug)

Wed 1/23/08 8:14 AM

Dear Family,
We had quite an experience on friday evening. The medical doctor in Germany felt by talking to Elder Renick who was in Maribor that he had full blown sugar diabetes. We had to rush him to Ljubljana and the doctor had told the elders what medication to buy and a testing kit. The doctor then taught Elder Renick how to give himself a shot. We then sent him on an flight back to Canada the next morning. He was blessed multiple times to make it home without any problem. He was blessed to work through some challenges. He was hospitalized, but is now home. We should know more after test results. On saturday we had Slovene District Conference. I was assigned to preside. It was a good conference with limited attendance from Maribor and Celje. I am very concerned about those two branches, but I am sure that they will improve. I am just returning from the train station were we sent out the new missionaries. Two of them made contacts while there. One Elder got a phone number. It is so exciting to witness the faith of new missionaries. They are great. One of the Elders that went home on tuesday said that he was sure that things would continue to improve because of the new missionaries and the fact that they just keep getting better and better. Roylene spoke at Conference on the saturday evening meeting. She has really grown in her ability to teach and testify and give talks. She has read the scriptures almost twice as many times as I have because of her dedication and time to do so. She does alot more than cook. I have heard many times from members and missionaries how she has influenced them for good. I am really blessed to be with her. The group of missionaries that just went home had three former assistants. We really had a great testimony meeting with alot of emotion and spirit. Elders Thompson, Worthington, and Anderson are the names of the assistants. The missionaries that come here are simple wonderful. We seem to get select missionaries with great talents and desire. Some of them are quiet to start with but after some time in the field they really blossom. We leave for Zagreb on saturday so we can move the Stirlings there. They are the new CES couple. Elder and Sister Lunt go home in the end of March. The Lunts are the current CES couple. It will give some time for training. We have a major problem on Croatia visas. The country just changed the rules and we have attorneys working on it. If they can not get it corrected missionaries will only be allowed to be in the country for 9 months. We will pray that this is an opportunity in the long run to correct things. It is another witness that the adversary is working hard and furious as he knows the time is short before Christ comes again. He is a master at messing things up. We lost alot of baptism the last half of last year. Mainly due to his influence. I hope and pray that elect people will still move forward and at some point accept the gospel in its fulness. Keep praying for this mission and for the members and investigators and the priesthood leaders. Even though we see satans influence we also see many miracles and growth. We have some more YSA that are getting sweet on each other and I fully expect more temple marriages this year. It is good to hear from each of you. Thank you for the emails.
Love Dad (Doug)
PS I am sure that you saw the Church News dated 19 Jan 2008 featuring our 88 year old member and her meeting her grandson for the first time. It was another miracle and he is so loving and tender to her. He is from Australia. He speaks English and she speaks Slovene, but they both speak the language of love for each other.

Thu 1/17/08 9:35 AM

Dear Family,
We completed another mission tour with Elder Robert C. Oaks and his wife and he presided at Croatia District Conference. It was a week long with Zone Conferences in Slovenia and Serbia and Croatia. They arrived late because of fog at the Ljubljana Airport. They had to land in Maribor and be bussed here. I tought the missionaries for two hours while we waited and sent two Elders to the airport to get them while I taught. Just before we left on the week long trip the washing machine burnt up. It is an American one and can not be fixed or replaced so here we go on another adventure. I guess we have been spoiled long enough. JR we even sent the Hensleys into Italy to get one from the PX but they are out of them until fall. We went with a new couple to Rijeka on monday after the conference to move them there. I had the office couple meet them at the airport and bring them to the conference in Zagreb. Then we took them on monday to Rijeka where I did interviews with the missionaries. And we then drove home. It was good to sleep in our own bed on monday evening. Then on tuesday the new CES mission couple (Elder and Sister Stirling)arrived and we met them at the airport that afternoon. Roylene fixed a great dinner for them and the office missionaries and the current CES couple(Elder and Sister Lunt). I knew him (Elder Stirling) as he was in the Stake Presidency with President Lynn Jarvis of the Timpanogos Stake. President Jarvis's mother in law (Sister Petersen) lived next to us at the old home in Pleasant Grove on 1055 East 500 South. It is indeed a small world. They also know the new Family History Couple that is coming on the 29 Jan 2008. We will also receive the couple for Maribor on that same day. Elder and Sister Eves is their name and they are from Washington State. It is amazing to finally be getting the couples. We will be at 118 missionaries when they all get here. We send missionaries home next week and get six new ones. We finally received Sister Klyuba from the Ukrane last week while we were gone. It took six months to get her here counting her two months in the MTC. So she will only get to serve for 12 months in Slovenia, but she is so good that she will do alot in that time. At Croatia District Conference I had a feeling that I needed the General Handbook of instructions so on friday I ask Elder Lunt to bring a copy for me. Sure enough Elder Oaks leans over to me at the Priesthood Leadership Meeting and said: "I want you to teach about the General Handbook and also teach Welfare Principles from it and then teach about Missionary Work and take 30 minutes." What a blessing to have the help of the spirit. I could not have done this very well without the prompting. I had prepare remarks that I never used. He did it to me again in the evening session but he said to just include teaching about tithing to the remarks that I was prompted in the morning to write down. Yes, I had it given to me just as I awoke what needed to be taught at the adult meeting. It was easy to include remarks about tithing to what the spirit prompted me to say. Then on sunday he again told me what he wanted me to teach. It is quite an experience to do that, but it is only possible with the mantle and the spirit that Heavenly Father gives us. In and of ourselves we can not do it. It makes me think of King Benjamins talk and how we in and of ourselves are less the the dust of the earth. We have a busy week again with me presiding at Slovene District Conference this week end. I will let you know how it turns out. Roylene and I met this morning with Thomas Lex about things in the Mission Home that need to be fixed before the new mission president comes in July. We also reviewed all buildings in the mission and the plans for this year to do repairs. We have accomplished alot in this area during our time. The Physical Facilities are much better than they were. And the organization to do things is much improved. Mike Ferre, Thomas Lex said to say hello. He sure enjoyed working with you. I pointed out to him things that you fixed around the mission home as we did the tour today. Well I must go. Love all of you. Keep praying for baptismal success in this mission and the investigators to be protected from the Adversary. Ole scratch as I call him.
Love Dad (Doug)

Tue 1/15/08 3:19 AM

This is really a modern day miracle that was promised in a Patriarcal Blessing. Love all of you. Dad


Dear Editor,



I am attaching a story I wrote last night and hope to be of interest and printing in the Church News. Please let me know if it will be printed and I would appreciate a copy of it. We in Slovenia do not get Church News regularly if at all, and that only to the Mission Home. A least knowing in which issue it might appear would be helpful. I attach pictures of Marc Versic and his son Andreas, and of Veronica Versic on her 88th birthday on 10 December 2007.



With best wishes and kind regards,



Grandmother and Grandson meet after 30 odd years search for each other

After more than 30 years of searching for each other, Slovenian oldest member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 88 year old Veronika Versic and her grandson, Marc Versic, born and living in Australia, have found each other. This came about with the help of senior missionary to Slovenia, Sister Karyl Lee Rodabough, of Woods Cross, Utah, who with her sister in law, Sister ReNae Ashton served a full time mission in Slovenia two years ago, serving in establishing a Family History Center in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Sister Rodabough placed an enquiry on web pages www.ancestry.com.au in September 2006, and on 8 January, 2008, herself already back in her home town for 6 months, when Mark Versic, now known as Marc Versic of N.S.W. in Australia, contacted her by e-mail. He said that the description fits him and it is he that she was searching for. Sister Rodabough immediately phoned him up, they both ended weeping happy tears, telling each other of the search. This was a wish come true also for Marc, who thought he would probably never find his Grandmother.

His father Mirko Fric Versic was born to Veronika on 13 February 1942 and left Slovenia for Australia as a young man. He married an Australian girl, Lorraine. Marc was born to them on 30 December 1964 but when he was less than two years old, his father tragically died in a traffic accident on 8 November 1966. His mother had bad luck, after finding another partner, he too, tragically died in a similar accident to her first husband's, leaving her pregnant. During the next few years Marc's mother met another man, had a son and two daughters, moved house and stopped writing to her first mother-in-law, Veronika Versic. Veronika thus lost contact with her daughter in law Lorraine, as they could not communicate with each other due to different languages. So to Veronika, there remained only one question, will she ever get to find and see her grandson, Marc? Veronika did not know whether Lorraine got married again and whether her new husband adopted her grandson and had given him his family name, or did Marc keep his father's family name of Versic.

Veronika Versic became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 2 September 2000, at the age of 81. Ever since then, she was faithfully going to the Frankfurt Temple, 12 hours' bus ride away, at least once a year. With help of other members she fervently researched her ancestors and did their saving ordinances in the Temple. Out of baptismal waters she came healthier than ever, she could now walk without a cane. Many blessings followed, but her still unfulfilled prayer was that her gandson Marc would be found. In 2007 she finally received her Patriarchal Blessing, language again being a barrier. She remembered enough German from the second world war when all Slovenes had to learn to speak German, so that during her visit to the Frankfurt Temple in 2007, she was able to receive her Patriarchal blessing by the Austrian Patriarch, Brother Soucek. In the blessing she was told among other that she would find her grandson. And the miracle happened on 8 January.

Veronika is 88 now, very frail, not very well at all, but we all hope and pray that she may be sustained until her Grandson Marc is able to visit her in Slovenia in a couple of weeks' time. He is working hard towards that goal. Veronika only knows he has been found, she saw a picture he had sent, of himself and of his almost 8 year old son Andreas, who Mark does not see more than twice a year either, because his ex-wife and her new partner live due to business in California for the past four years. But he talks to him on the phone at least twice weekly, and looks forward to seeing him again next summer. Veronika can not wait now to meet her grandson for the very first time and perhaps her great grandson in the future.

The desire was not one sided, though. Marc was also having a life long wish to find his Grandmother, the only Slovenian relative he knew he had. In August of 2007 Marc was actually in Slovenia, serching across the country for his Grandmother, even asking for her in the village where his father was born, to no avail. He left Slovenia thinking he would probably never find her.

But when people have faith, and do all they can themselves and leave the rest to the Lord, the Lord works his miracles. And this one is definitely a latter-day miracle.

Written by Dora Glassford Cimerman, serving as National Director for Public Affairs for Slovenia

Tue 1/15/08 2:55 AM

The chapel in Ljubljana and some missionaries along with our Public Affairs Representative were on TV. Enjoy, Dad (Doug)


Dear all,



Today Pop TV recorded our chapel how it is coming on and will show it in their tomorrow at 19.00 hours on their 24 Hours Evening News program. Ms Vanda Levstik, the journalist, said she has reported a couple of times in earlier times (without my knowledge), this time she talked to me and to one of the Missionaries. She will use some past material of our church, where she was once present at our sacrament meeting. I have invited her again tomorrow, when I will have a talk on Personal Testimony.



Love to all,



Dora

Tue 1/15/08 2:52 AM

Here is a picture with Elder Robert C. Oaks. He is our Area President and a member of the Second Quorum of Seventy. Elder Dallin Oaks is his cousin. Sorry I am out of focus, but that happens in the work sometimes. Love Dad (Doug)

Sat 1/05/08 3:08 AM

Dear Family,
Just a short note to update you. I held a Assistants Planning Meeting the day after Christmas. We are trying something new to fine the elect. In President Monson's dedicatory prayer he ask: "Grant that they (youth) may be approached in great numbers." We are going to hold lectures for youth intitled "What Do Mormons Believe". We think that after trying it a few times we will be able to get large numbers to sign up for the lectures. They will focus on finding the elect to then set up and teach the lessons to. We will be bold in the lectures teaching that baptism with authority is necessary. We will also have a lecture about life and death, one about living prophets, and one about the scriptures. We will modify as we learn. I felt that this will be like Nephi going for the brass plates. He had to try multiple times before succeeding. On the 27 we left to tour the mission and do interviews. We returned on sunday evening the 30th Dec. Then on monday we went shopping for food for a group of sister members that had a New Years Eve Party at our house. They finally went to bed or left for home at 4am. Two stayed all night and we drove them home the next day at noon. They had a great time and they got to know each other and bond together. It was great. We have been home all of this week. That is getting to be a special time. Just being home and catching up on emails and other things. I did have a meeting with the superintendant of the construction of the Ljubljana and Zagreb Chapels. Hopefully they will be done on the time table that is currently projected. Ljubljana turned to the local priesthood end of June 2008 and Zagreb Feb 2009. These facilities will be such a blessing for the church in so many ways. We leave on another Mission Tour with our Area President (Elder Robert C. Oaks) on tuesday. This will be our fourth one in two and a half years. I told Roylene that I must need more supervision than other mission presidents. Well I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday together. We enjoyed the time here. Love to alll of you.
Dad
PS. We are finally getting some more senior couples during the next month. Visas are starting to happen for Slovenia also.

Mon 12/31/07 12:59 AM

Dear Wonderful Children,
This is an email that was in our inbox when we returned from Serbia and Croatia doing interviews and speaking in church at the Karlovac, Croatia Branch. This is the member girl that we took in for Christmas. It is great to see the heart felt thanks for just being and example and sharing. She is a special girl. I feel that she now knows that she must marry in the church. Even if she has to find and convert a young man that to be her husband. Enjoy the reading of this. Have a prosperous and happy new year.
Love Dad


hello!!
tomorrow is new year so i hope that you are enjoying the last days
off ending year...
on monday my brother was just coming so i went forward to him. it was
so good to see him again!! he was so surprised about all the food that
i broth with me... i was so excited about everything what has happened
to me i just had to tell him every think and i was so surprised, he
was listening. he didnt try to stop me or changed the topic of our
conversation.. he was listening...
all thou i got cold we went around at night (with my new bots) ;o). i
staid there to Thursday night.

in your house it was so... i dont know how to explain that... i felt
so calm and it was just like the holy ghost was everywhere!! it was so
magic... that pace, your magic christmas tree and the words that were
coming from your mouth were such a blessing for my soul...
some times i ask my self how did deserve, that god gave such an honour
to know so incredible people....
i have learned a lot in those few days not only cooking, you taught me
how important is to thrust god and do what is write not thinking
about the consequences, if you do write, god will prepear the spot in
the haven for you and not only that, sooner or later he will blass you
her on earth (but he newer said it is going to be easy)....
i admired your marriage, i mean.. .... i newer thought that two
persons after so may years together still triing so much for each
other, respect and love each other... thats unbelievable !!!

im so glad that you answer on my question that i didnt ask.. why would
it be so wrong to get marriage with someone who is not a member...
"the spot in your eyes would disappear and you would be just like any
other girl" ,said sister weight...
im so glad that i was able to go to church to see all thous members,
missioners, to be with you two and all thous presents that you gave it
to me.... that seams to be just like the best dreams ever and am
afraid i will weak up... im so happy!!! that was the best christmas
in my life!!!
i wrote it down in diary every thing every ward that seams to me
important ... i was writing my diary for four hours and after that i
was thinking allot about every think...
im so happy that i can thrust you and that you thrust me. i rely dont
know how to thank you for every think that you have done for me but i
do know one think, you two are prove that we have an angels here on
earth...

love

martina

Mon 12/24/07 9:30 AM

Pictures for you are attached. Love Dad

Hello President Weight,
We had to give you these pictures because you guys are so beautiful. Thanks for everything.

Also today I got a temple recommend from President Kralj, but he said I need to talk to you too, so you can sign it. When can we get together? Or do I get with President Juhart? Whenever you have time. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jelica Zdravkovič

Sat 12/22/07 2:16 AM

Dear Family,
Merry Christmas to all of you. What a blessing to be on a mission at Christmas time. We have special feelings for the Savior as we serve. Roylene reminded me of the special Christmas Eve years ago as we brought our new baby Aaron home from the hospital after his birth on the 21 of December. Happy Birthday Aaron. I also love that Jospeh Smith's birthday is on the 23 December. And the fact that Roylenes is on the 13 December. Roylene has invited the missionaries in Ljubljana and members to come to our home after church and just enjoy each other and the Holiday spirit. Of course she is feeding all of them. We have a 19 year old member Martina that is staying with us for three days so she can participate too. She lives out and does not have the money to come to church each week so this is special for her and us. She has had a very hard life with an alcoholic father and a mentally unstable mother. We finished our holiday Zone Conference tour and arrived back home on the 10 December. We then receive one of the Elders who was waiting for a visa to Slovenia on the 13 December. So that is how we celebrated Roylenes birthday. We went to church in Zadar for the weekend of the 15 and 16 December. We had to drive through snow storms both going and returning home. On the 17 December the Ljubljana Branch held a Christmas Concert. They filled the rental church chapel to capacity. It was done very well. Elvi was incharge of putting it together. He was baptized earlier this year. We received another Elder on the 18 December and sent a Sister home on the 20th. I have started interviews again. I had a miraculous experience in one of the interviews on the 20 December. As the Elder was saying the opening prayer the spirit told me that his family was having financial troubles. So at the end of the interiew I said to him: " The spirit told me during your prayer that there are concerns with your family at home" He started to cry and shared with me that they had financial troubles and his fathers businesses both failed. I then handed him 100 Euros and told him the spirit told me to give it to him on behalf of his father. It really was a special experience that comes because of having the mantle and keys given by a member of the twelve apostles before we came on the mission. I feel so blessed to have these experiences. Then yesterday in another interview I was impressed to call an Elder to be a third Assistant to the President. It suprised me because he only has one month left on his mission. Then I found myself giving him a major role in following up and organizing some lectures on " What Do Mormons Believe ". The inspiration has been coming a little at a time for this. We are going to target Young Single Adults and hold lectures to find the elect. All of this started when I was prompted to reread President Monson's dedicatory prayer for the preaching of the gospel here. He gave that prayer in Zagreb October 1985. The prayer asks: "Grant that they may be approached in great numbers." The spirit is telling me that this is a way that we can do this. We just need to learn how to do it. I have told the Assistants to seek direction from God on this and then lets start. Just like Nephi in trying to get the brass plates it may take multiple efforts to suceed. I am excited to see what the Lord has instore with this. I also had this past week an incident where two Elders will be sent home this transfer instead of the next one. It is amazing to see how the spirit gets things done as they need to be inspite of my weaknesses. I am so thankful for all of your prayers. I ask that you specifically pray for the investigators with baptismal dates. We are witnessing the hand of the adversary as the last four investigators baptisms did not happen. I was told in a meeting that I attended in Vienna Austria that he ( ole Scratch ) was steping it up. Well we are seeing that. The only thing is faith is more powerful than he is, so please use your faith to help us have more success. Thank you for all of the emails and know that we love all of you.
Love Dad (Doug)

Thu 12/13/07 12:12 AM

Dear Family,
Here is an update of the miracle of the Zagreb Chapel and pictures of the construction. It really is the Lord's hand that has this building under construction after so many gave so much personal effort to remove the barriers that held up construction. The attached email is from Elder Erich Kopischke's (First Counselor in the Area Presidency) brother Bernard Kopischke who is from Frankfurt and he is in the building department for Central Europe Area. As you can see the walls are coming up.
Love
Dad (Doug)

Dear President Weight,

I just have the feeling to write you a short Email on this issue.

On the 8 th of October, Diego and me were standing on that untouched construction site in Zagreb, offering a prayer to our Heavenly Farther asking for his help as we realized, that after much work and many efforts we had come to the point that we had pretty much done what we could. We were not discouraged, maybe a little impatient, because we would have loved to report to you "the machines are running"!

Anyway, we had both realized the "wind of change" on this matter, which had taken place weeks before, as we were able to accomplish, in spite of a real existing opposition, very important progress - step by step. We felt, having no doubt at all, that the Lord will help his people in Croatia. It was very special to us to find out that evening - as you reported to us in Ljubljana - that the members of your Mission had been united in Fasting and Praying. Now we knew, what had caused this change and progress.

Looking at the attached pictures, I had the strong feeling to write this mail, because we want to witness, that we have felt that support asked by faithful members. And the pictures are evidence for this.

We are pleased and humble enough to acknowledge that we are where we are at the moment, because of the many prayers that have been united and brought forth blessings and solutions. The problems that we have faced here in Zagreb were not caused by missing skills or efforts. It was and is a struggle between good and bad.

Thank you to you and your people !

Sincerely

Bernd Kopischke


Area Construction Manager