Pictures from Day 1

We flew out at 1:15am (flew all night) and we're just now leaving port. Love you.

Diet Thoughts

Caleb:

I'm on the phone with Mom and we're thinking about your latest communication.  Mom will likely send her thoughts separately.  Here are some of my thoughts as relating to diet:

1) Consider properly combining your foods (see the attached chart)

2) Consider avoiding anything with gluten (anything that has wheat or barley).  Oatmeal, corn, and potatoes are okay.  However, eat starches in moderation as your body converts starch to fat the quickest.

3) Eat slowly; take small portions.  Mom says the stomach is the size of your fist.  I think it's a good rule of thumb.  Do this when you can't combine foods well.

4) Don't eat within 4 hours of going to sleep at night.

5) Ideally, your heaviest meal is lunch or breakfast.  Mom has a saying, "Eat like a King for Breakfast and a Popper for dinner".

6) Eat healthy foods when you can.  Don't stress about eating unhealthy foods with members.  What is their motivation for feeding you?  (it's either love or obligation, make sure they feel your love)

All of the above are difficult from a cultural standpoint.  I struggle at times with all of these but I think if you follow these suggestions, you will be more healthy and happy with yourself.  Personally, If I'm going to enjoy a steak, I avoid all starches and I have to say that my body handles it really well.  

Try being honest and planning ahead with those that feed you.  Tell them of your struggles and thank them for understanding.  If the ward is responsible to feed you and they are making assignments in advance (usually in Relief Society), go in and thank them for their kindness and tell them of your struggles or put your request on the assignment list.  Honesty and forethought, mixed with kindness and love will help you combine foods.  That said, there are times when someone will have dedicated time and money to feeding you and they don't get it right.  You may have to table the whole combining issue and thank them profusely.  Then, when you feel sick later, remember to thank Heavenly Father for those who love you and what you represent enough to feed you.  The memory they should have of you is that you appreciated them for their effort and sacrifice; a memory of love.  Heavenly Father will also help you digest your food.

If you have a meal of fried chicken, eat only the fried chicken with salad or veggies.  If you must eat creamed corn with it, eat in very small portion.

Hamburgers are awful on digestion because of the combination issue.  However, nobody is offended if you take the hamburger and eat it with leafy greens without the bun.  If they ask, then tell them what you are trying to do.  They will appreciate your openness.

Fried Chicken is fine even if drenched in oil.  Better if the batter is taken off.  You can't eat creamed corn and french fries with it though, instead eat lots of vegetables with it.  Oils are good for the body.

Honestly, if you can combine correctly, you will be more healthy and you won't put on weight.  I think it is more sustainable than doing a cleanse.

.

Fwd: Finally Winter!

From: Arla Gibbons <gibbons.arla@gmail.com>
Date: January 24, 2016 at 7:14:41 PM MST
To: Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net>
Subject: Finally Winter!

Caleb,

I'm so sorry you didn't get many letters this last week.  We finally have "licked" the fevers & sickness and everyone should be able to make it to school this next week.  It really wiped us out good though!

So, did you run out and throw yourself out into the snow for the "love" of it!?!?  Bro. Traveler sent us a few pictures and said that you have been working hard digging people out.  I guess we don't get that kind of snow here, huh?  It looks like the temperatures will be rising this next week to the 50's so are people worried about flooding?

I hope you're feeling a little better about sitting down.  Maybe the snow is a blessing for you to rest from the bike seat.  We can't find your mouth guard anywhere between your room & bathroom. Any other hints for us to look?  Has Dad mentioned about anything about the "Sova" mouth guard?  We're thinking of sending one to you from Amazon for $40.

We just celebrated Samantha's 11th birthday tonight.  It's so hard for me to believe she's 11!!!  She had her friend party here yesterday and loved it!  So did Sariah, of course.  Sydney wasn't planning on asking anyone to the "sweetheart dance" until a friend asked if she would ask her date's exchange student, Dominik, from Slovakia.  So, she just asked him last night and the dance is this coming Saturday.  I think she's actually excited!  Now to find a dress!  She just passed her last driver's Ed this last week and finally got her license!  Yeah!  That's it for the girls....

Jacob & Adam are trying hard to catch from missing so much school.  Jacob is going to the dance this Saturday too.  Adam was the only one who could go to church last week and was ordained as the new Deacon's quorum president.  I feel bad because he got the sickness that night.

Your cousin Natalie Winkel just gave her mission farewell this morning in Rexburg.  We didn't go because it was snowing but Grandma & Grandpa went.  She's entering the MTC this Wednesday and will be going to the Netherlands (Belgium).

I don't know if Dad told you yet but we are leaving for the cruise this Friday night.  We'll soon be in your quarter of the world (same time zone, anyway).  It will bring back a lot of memories from our trip last year.  Btw, Baxter & Snitch started coming in the garage doors again last night...weird!  Now we have to lock the doors.

I sure hope you continue to have positive days.  You're letters sure are fun to read and you guys sound very successful.  I'm so excited for you to be able to learn & speak Spanish!  That's sooo cool!  You might only have one more month left at your current address, right?  I wonder what kind of feelings Elder Hudson is having.  You're probably going to miss him.  You know, we're thankful to him too, for being such a good missionary trainer & example to you!  You're always in our thoughts & prayers!

Love you so much!!

Mom

Adam reading "Calvin & Hobbes" to the girls.

Sent from my iPhone

Adam's Letter

Hi Caleb, so this week I missed the whole week of school because I was sick. Friday I went after school to get my assignments so I could stay caught up. Today I went to the priesthood preview and gave a talk about the Duty to God. Tonight I want to get my hair cut, it has gotten way too long on the sides. That's all that happened this week.
Love,
Adam

Pictures From the Week

LA Times Article on Greg Lemond

Once shunned, Greg LeMond returns to biking world and road to success

By Roy Wallack, February 20, 2015

Tour de France winner Greg LeMond was once shunned for his allegations against Lance Armstrong. Vindicated, he feels healthier. The shunning Tour de France winner Greg LeMond had received affected his health. Now he's back on the road.

Greg LeMond, America's original superstar cyclist, is back. After years of being shunned by the cycling world for asserting in 2001 that Lance Armstrong was using performance-enhancing drugs, the now-vindicated three-time Tour de France winner (1986, '89 and '90) is on a roll. He hosts two Tour-related telecasts; founded and sold LeMond Fitness, maker of several top-ranked home exercise products; is rebuilding his long-shuttered brand of high-end road, mountain and adventure bikes; and has co-written "The Science of Fitness" with biologist Mark Hom. The book focuses on mitochondria, the tiny motors in each cell that power muscular movement. The topic is close to LeMond's heart, as he was forced to retire early because his own mitochondria was (and still is) being poisoned by 35 lead pellets that were embedded in his heart lining and liver during a 1987 hunting accident. [He had some removed; the remaining pellets are in risky spots, such as in his heart lining.]  Today, the 53-year-old father of three plays tennis, fly-fishes, lifts weights, and limits his intense riding and cross-country skiing to about 60 minutes at a time to minimize toxic lead shedding.

Why were you so sure Armstrong was doping, and willing to say that when no one else dared?

There's been a lot of smoke and mirrors in cycling the last 20 years, a lot of junk science. And my problem is that I know the science. I knew that Armstrong's aerobic capacity — your VO2 max, your engine — was below that of the average pro. To explain how he could consistently win, people would say that Lance was more mechanically efficient than everyone else because of his new training secrets. I found this insulting to other athletes. Are you telling me that Lance made up a 10% to 20% aerobic deficit on mechanical efficiency in a sport that has been around for a hundred years? The human body doesn't change. Suddenly he discovers this new revolutionary technique? Come on! There are no secrets!

Greg LeMond competes in the 1986 Tour de France in Saint-Etienne, Franc. (Lionel Cironneau / Associated Press)

Your stance against Armstrong brought you derision from the bike and sports worlds, your bike brand shut down and many were saying that you were just jealous. What was it like?

I'm just happy it's over. ... You know, psychological stress is many times worse than physical stress. Post-traumatic stress syndrome is when you're highly under stress for more than 60 or 90 days, and I went through quite a few years of that. It affects your health pretty dramatically. I'd get worn out, fatigued. Everything gets you — and you can't just hyper-compensate through exercise. And as much as I'd love to, I can't just hop on the bike and ride the stress away for four or five hours, anyway. That is physiologically bad for me.

Did you just say that the three-time Tour de France winner can't ride a bike?

I can, but whenever I do, the lead pellets in my body leak, essentially poisoning me. If I ride hard, they leak more. If I ride hard for over an hour, way more, so my doctors warned me to keep it to an hour. I keep doing research to figure out how to get the lead out [after activity]; my wife has got me taking pectin because a Russian study finds that it binds to lead. I've read about some toxin-removing nanotechnology out of the Bay Area that sounds hopeful. Ironically, when I broke my neck in a car accident last year and was laying in bed for three months, my blood was cleaner than it has been since I retired in 1994.

Describe your workout.

In an hour, I'll do five, six, seven 30-second sprints. Very specifically, 30 seconds builds your endurance and power and has lots of hormonal system benefits. Remember that sprints work for everybody. They're hard but over fast and effective in every aerobic activity — cycling, running, swimming, cross-country skiing. Just 15 minutes a day of 30-second sprints puts much greater demands on your body than a long, slow hour. I think cycling is the ideal workout for most because it has the addictive inertia, rhythm, fun, social interaction that makes it very doable for out-of-shape people to get their heart rates up, whereas running hard takes a pretty physically fit person. On a bike, just find a hill nearby and climb it fast, or input more resistance on your exercise bike and go for it. Intensity changes your hormones, your insulin resistance, your mitochondria, raising their density and efficiency, upgrading your muscle power within a couple days. And it has a huge effect on brain function. People don't know this, but all aerobic exercise actually makes you smarter, more organized and more successful.

Smarter? That almost sounds too good to be true.

Well, I know it personally. I was an energy-packed kid. I had ADD [attention deficit disorder] — I was bouncing off the walls. School was painful for me. My fifth-grade teacher started crying when I saw her 10 years later, when I had become a champion cyclist. She said, "I thought you'd end up in prison" — and wasn't joking. Exercise and cycling saved my life. Exercise is great for kids — helps them focus, calm down, do better in school, stay healthy. It's why I'm such a big advocate of restoring PE classes to schools across the country.

Life Observations - Greg Lemond

Greg Lemond is the first American to win the Tour de France.  In fact, he was winning the tour when I was your age.  He won in 1986, 1989, and 1990.  He raced against Bernard Hinault, the greatest French cyclist of all-time, and won.  Their story is one of friendship and betrayal.  I've attached a picture of them riding together in the Tour.

Cycling is a sport where the athlete must consistently deliver power to the crank. The ability to consistently deliver power is governed by the body's ability to deliver oxygen to the muscles.  The fact is that some athletes' bodies are more efficient than others.  It is this one physiological difference that separates great cyclists from good cyclists.  Honestly, no amount of training can compensate for this factor.  Greg's body had the ability to deliver oxygen to his muscles.  In my opinion, Greg Lemond is one of the greatest cyclists of all-time.

Greg had a way of annoying people.  He was very smart and articulate but he was also apt to complain.  He was extremely nervous and would complain openly to the media and anyone who he thought would listen.  There always seemed to be something wrong.  He simply wasn't a content person.  This personality would get him wound super-tight on tour and he couldn't sleep or eat.  But, he was also persistent and tenacious.  He would question everything.  As a result, he really didn't have many close friends among the cycling circuit except for his wife, Kathy, who travelled with him wherever he went.

After his first tour win, he was hunting and was accidentally shot by his uncle.  He spent the next two years recuperating.  As part of that event, he permanently had lead pellets lodged in his body.  He continued to persist and won two more Tours, but the more he exercised, the more lead got into his blood and he ultimately decided to retire to prevent further lead poisoning.

At his final tour, he felt like he was no longer able to keep up with the peloton.  He was extremely frustrated because just a few years before, he had been the winner.  He began to look for reasons as to why he did so poorly and came to believe that the teams in the peloton doping.  He went public with his accusations.  Now everyone hated him.  He left the sport of competitive cycling an outcast.

After retirement, Greg designed tests to measure the wattage output of an athlete as an indicator of that athlete's potential in the sport.  This test would give a baseline output that didn't move regardless of how good of shape the athlete was in.  He could measure anyone and determine how efficient their body was at delivering power to the crank.  Because of his ability to test, he challenged Lance to take his tests and when Lance refused, he became an outspoken critic of Lance Armstrong; basically saying that Lance couldn't win the Tour without doping.  Lance was media savvy and nobody wanted to listen to Greg.  He was ignored and derided even though he was right.

There are interviews on Youtube where he is in the audience and Lance is on the stand making fun of Greg and his questioning.  The truth is that Greg had the data and really never wavered in his belief.  The other truth is the media hated him for always asking pesky questions.  When Lance was found guilty of doping, the media only begrudgingly acknowledged Greg.  Even now, there remain bitter feelings between him and most of professional cycling.

Today Greg and his wife live a good life.  He continues to speak out against doping and is finally getting the credit he deserves.  That said, he is still hard to be around.

There is a lot to learn from Greg.  He found ways to back his belief with data and testing and has never wavered from the qualitative testing he has done even though he has endured all sorts of derision and persecution for his views.  He also has a great moral compass.  What he believes is right usually is right and if it's not, he figures out what is right and changes his postion.  The relationship he has with his wife is admirable.  They are a great couple.

Anyway, prove things out and then be true to yourself and what you know, regardless of the winds blowing around you.  That is the lesson to learn from Greg Lemond.  I admire Greg.  He is someone who I would love to meet and go to dinner with.  In fact, I think I may make that happen someday.  That said, I don't have high hopes that I'd like him or that he'd like me...

Love you,

Dad

Comics

Caleb:
Here is an idea... A daily comic for you. I'm thinking Dilbert because we have the book. Let me know if you think I'm a heretic for doing this but I think it might be fun to have some humor in your life. You can opt for Calvin and Hobbes if you prefer, or you can ask for nothing. Your choice...
Dad

Sydney's Drivers license Study

You'll enjoy this. I'll bet you didn't do this before you took your Drivers License test.

Re: January 18, 2016

Caleb:

I keep thinking about the member that took you home and then told you he wanted to be baptized.  What a complement to you and your companion!  That event got me to thinking about my mission and I don't think that ever happened to me; not even once.  To think that you are a part of his decision to get baptized is really something.  Consider that for the past 17 years he has watched missionaries come and go and then something happened that night that he felt comfortable enough to approach you (your companionship).

Let me tell you how I think.  I watch missionaries come and go and notice that for some missionaries, I feel a great desire to try and do something to help and others I simply don't feel that desire - rather, I feel obligated because I'm a member and I should be doing missionary work, right?  Consider the difference in those two motivations.  It's that difference that impels a man to approach you after watching you interact with his family rather than making another private excuse to himself not to do anything.  After all, he's waited 17 years, what's another transfer and a new set of missionaries?  Something happened there; you connected to his soul and touched him in ways that allowed him to feel comfortable approaching you and asking for baptism.  GREAT JOB!!!  I am so proud of you.  I can't say that or feel that enough.

Then the fact that you are thoughtful and bought a gift for Margaret.  Regardless of whether she joins the church, that one act of kindness will stay with her for as long as she lives.  She will never be able to think of Mormon missionaries again without having fond thoughts of the kindness that you have shown to her.  Again, I'm in awe of you.  I never would've done that.  But you did, and look at how the universe repaid you.

Did I say I'm proud of you?  Sleep in peace knowing that you're doing great.  Relax and don't let the stress get to you.  Learn to deal with the challenges that mission life gives in abundance without becoming overly stressed.

Love you,

Dad

Adam's letter

Hi Caleb, sorry I didn't write to you yesterday but literally everybody was sick except dad. I didn't start feeling the sickness until yesterday but it really hit me earlier today. I got invited to play dodgeball today and I just didn't feel good at all, so I had Sydney pick me up early. I got set apart on Sunday and had dad come and help. Right after, I went to my first B.Y.C. and I was kind of was lost a little bit. We've been watching Psych the past few weeks and are almost done with the series. Nothing else really eventful has happened this week, so I'll end it here.

Love,
Adam


Sent from my iPod

Life Observations - Lance Armstrong

Caleb:

As I've observed life, I've noticed that there is a lot to learn from the life stories of other people.  There are good and bad things to learn.  Here is such a story...

In the 1990's and 2000's cycling was dominated by the US Postal team.  In 1998 they signed Lance Armstrong and gave him a contract that included big incentives for winning the Tour.  He then became sponsored by Nike and other merchants with similar provisions that compensated him for winning.  And win he did, Lance won 7 consecutive tours from 1999-2005.  During that time, Lance became one of the highest paid athletes in the world.

Teams are sponsored by large organizations, many have been sponsors for years.  Before US Postal, teams would enjoy the tour and sponsors would deal with the financial costs.  As they went from city to city throughout France, the cyclists would get done with their day of biking and relax.  Cycling was not a sport where the athlete could hope to get rich.  That changed with Lance.  As he won, US Postal, Nike, and other saw benefits of the sponsorship.  The sponsors were extremely popular and greatly benefited from the sponsorship, perhaps as much as any other sponsors had done before or since.

Lance was nobody's fool.  He knew that the only way to enrich himself was to win the tour.  So, Lance began to make incremental changes.  For instance, he quit racing in the other races leading up to the Tour de France.  Other race officials were frustrated and former tour champions complained, but Lance held firm.  He entered the tour every year, rested and relaxed.  Lance Armstrong was laser focused on winning the tour.  Nothing was going to stand in his way.  He was serious about it and made sure that everyone on his team did their part.  The result was a seven year period where US Postal was the dominant team in the sport.

Winning at all costs came with a dark side, US Postal also perfected the art of doping (giving the cyclists blood transfusions and EPO).  Sadly for him, his attitude cost him his wife and family and ultimately, former teammates turned on him and ratted him out to the anti-doping agencies.  He now lives an angry and bitter life.  In 2012, Lance was found guilty of doping, stripped of all his former titles and banned from cycling for life.  Former sponsors are now suing him for sponsorship money they paid to support him during those years.  This is a sad conclusion to what could've been one of the greatest sports story of a generation.

There are many things about Lance that I respect and admire.  I admire his tenacity.  I admire his organization.  I admire his dedication.  It's hard for me to be too hard on him for doping.  The reality is that many teams were systematically doping at the time.

There are things about Lance that infuriate anyone who wants to like him.  The dude is a self-absorbed imbecile.  He ruined his life by setting aside important things for less important things.  Likely, he never valued his wife as he should've done, but the point is he lost her.  He is super bitter.  I can't even stand to listen to him.

Why do I share this?  I think it's interesting to look at others and evaluate their situation and then to consider how it could apply to your own life.  Maybe you find it interesting and useful and maybe not.  There is a lot to learn about focus, dedication, and tenacity as you pursue a goal.  There is also a lot to learn about being balanced in life.  Fun stuff to think about.

Love you,

Dad

One more concluding thought

Caleb:

Just want you to know that I think about you a lot and I'm really proud of the way you're approaching your mission.  Keep it up.

Also, I assume that the charge on your discover card was for your bike?  Let me know.

One of the things that has strengthened my testimony through the years has been the spirit bearing witness to me whenever I read or hear stories about the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Moroni told him that his name would be had for good or evil throughout the world.  In my case, it's been for good.  Spend the time to learn about him.  He was an incredible man and prophet.

Mom is really sick tonight.  I just hope that the flu bug doesn't find me.  Here's wishing.  I love you,

Dad

Sickness

Here's what it looks like around here...

Jan 17 Letter

Caleb:

Everyone here is sick.  Today the only peeps that made it to Church were me and Adam.  Riah was sick last week and once she started getting better, everyone else started getting sick.  Manna fell asleep leaning her head on the toilet a couple of times this week and Mom and Syd haven't felt well at all.

Since everyone here was down and out yesterday, Jacob and I went boarding.  it snowed about 4 inches while we were there.  Needless to say the snow was great.  Jacob is now venturing out of the boundaries to cliff jump.  He says that he can now hit 10 to 20 ft cliffs and land them at the bottom.  As for me, I can get to the bottom of the hill but speed freaks me out.  Anyway, Jacob woke up sick today.  Now it's a waiting game for me and Adam...

I don't think I told you before that Jacob hit a deer in the new Hyundai.  The front quarterpanel is jammed into the driver's door and it won't open.  Other than that, you can hardly tell that there's an issue.

I hope everything is going well with you.  Your heart would be warmed when you hear the little prayers that Riah offers for you.  It's really pretty cute.

I'll send more pictures...

Dad

Sent from somewhere really cool.

Kenneth Traveller pic

Show this to Bro. Traveller. He'll get a chuckle...

From Great Grandparents Gibbons

I deposited this into your account at Chase. You might consider writing them a letter. They don't use their computer much... Love you - dad

Adam's Letter

Hi Caleb,

These past few weeks, after you left, the light in our bathroom has been turning on and off and it is so annoying! I have tried to twist it but it keeps turning on then turns off again. Then on Wednesday I went to baptisms for the dead for the second time. On Friday, the girls and me went to our piano recital. I had a hard time getting the rhythm to a song down, but when it was my turn I got up and didn't mess up. Then yesterday we went up to beaver and I only crashed once. Thanks for your letters that you sent me, I loved the hand written one. I'm saving the best for last; on Tuesday I had a meeting with the bishop...And he asked me to be the new deacon's quorum president. So I already chose my 1st and 2nd councilor and the secretary.
Love,
Adam

Piano recital!

Mom - Love you always!

Dear Caleb,

I hope you got all the Xfinity stuff taken care of. We're not sure what it was you needed exactly but I hope it all worked. We loved all of your photos you sent from your P-Day. I'm so glad that you're able to feel of that part of our country's history. We also saw pictures of you at the Fredericksburg Zone Conference. Just know that whenever Sister Wilson is going around taking pictures, we'll probably see you! It's so fun!

We're back in the swing of things here after the holidays but the girls are still having an extended holiday slumber party downstairs. They're having so much fun that I joined them a lot this week while Dad stayed overnight in SL because of work.

Adam, Samantha & Sariah had a piano recital this last Friday. It was Sariah's first so she was so excited and took it very seriously. Samantha was the last one on the program but had something mischievous up her sleeves. Nobody was aware of it except her and her piano teacher. When Samantha's second little song was over, her teacher stood up and said "since Samantha didn't have enough time to learn this song on the piano, she wanted to sing it instead." We along with the rest of the audience were thrown off guard but we, her family weren't too shocked...it was typical Samantha! She had us all just where she wanted...a very captive audience! It was the Christmas song "Little Toy Trains." She sang it so good but kept the secret even better!

We look forward to your letters and stories of your missionary life. I want to hear more about Larry from New York and his progression. We sure are so proud of you Caleb.

Love you always!
Mom


Sent from my iPhone

Samantha's letter

           Hi Caleb I went skiing on Saturday again I had so much fun skiing. I hope you are being safe and having fun. Thanks for the tip it really helped thank you so much.

Jacob Letter

Hey Caleb I thought that today I would share a talk that was given in church today that reminded me of you. This lady gave a talk and shared the story about how she had become converted. She told about how she lost her dad in a construction accident at the age of 16. She was devastated and searched all of the churches and doctrines she could in order to find out if she would ever see him again. She explained that each person she asked would never give her a good answer to her questions until the missionary's came and completely changed her life. I want you to know that I know what you are doing is life changing. I hope you see it that way. I'm keeping you in my prayers.

Dad - Prologue to The Boys In The Boat / Making Good Memories

Caleb:

I recently read a book that recounted the true story of the boat crew from the University of Washington that went to and won the gold medal for team rowing at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.  The author is talking about his interactions with Joe Rantz, one of the "boys", as he prepared the book for publication.  The book was good; I enjoyed it, however, the forward was excellent, maybe even better than the book...

This book is born on a cold, drizzly, late spring day when I clambered over the split-rail cedar fence that surrounds my pasture and made my way through wet woods to the modest frame house where Joe Rantz lay dying...

His voice was reedy, fragile, and attenuated almost to the breaking point.  From time to time he faded into silence.  Slowly though, with cautious prompting from his daughter, he began to spin out some of the threads of his life story.  Recalling his childhood and his young adulthood during the Great Depression, he spoke haltingly but resolutely about a series of hardships he had endured and obstacles he had overcome, a tale that, as I sat taking notes, at first surprised and then astonished me.

But it wasn't until he began to talk about his rowing career at the University of Washington that he started, from time to time, to cry.  He talked about learning the art of rowing, about shells and oars, about tactics and technique.  He reminisced about long, cold hours on the water under steel-gray skies, about smashing victories and defeats narrowly averted, about traveling to Germany and marching under Hitler's eyes into the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, and about his crewmates.  None of these recollections brought him to tears, though.  It was when he tried to talk about "the boat" that his words began to falter and tears welled up in his bright eyes.

At first I thought he meant the Husky Clipper, the racing shell in which he had rowed his way to glory.  Or did he mean his teammates, the improbable assemblage of young men who had pulled off one of rowing's greatest achievements?  Finally, watching Joe struggle for composure over and over, I realized that "the boat" was something more than just the shell or its crew.  To Joe, it encompassed but transcended both - it was something mysterious and almost beyond definition.  It was a shared experience - a singular thing that had unfolded in a golden sliver of time long gone, when nine good-hearted young men strove together, pulled together as one, gave everything they had for one another, bound forever together by pride and respect and love.  Joe was crying, at least in part, for the loss of that vanished moment but much more, I think, for the sheer beauty of it.

Prologue to The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown

Think about the power of fond memories.  Then consider your own life.  When you look back at your mission will it be a "golden sliver of time" for which you are infinitely proud?  It's worth thinking about.  Based upon your first month in the mission field, I think you're well on your way to such an accomplishment.

I love you and I'm proud of you,

Dad

Pictures from Beaver

Grandpa - Fwd: Prophets

Dear Caleb,

Thanks for including me on the question of prophets.  I just read your Dad's responses and they are great.  I love seeing you so deeply involved in the work.  I'm sure that the investigators feel the power of your spirit and testimony.

This morning your Dad talked about the dispensation heads.  It is fun to go to the Book of Genesis and also Moses and read of the great patriarchs from Adam to Noah.  I will attach a timeline showing their births, life span and deaths.  It is very revealing.  For example, the great prophet Enoch was on the earth preaching and prophesying for 300 years while Adam was still alive.  And many others from Seth through Enoch were also alive and all were patriarchs and prophets—at the same time.  The Bible isn't clear on that because it just isn't a complete record.  For example. when you get to Abraham in Genesis Chapter 12 you have covered 2000 years of history and there is only 17 pages of recorded history.  But there is enough there if you couple the Genesis account with the Moses account in the Pearl of Great Price to know that all of the early patriarchs were "preachers of righteousness and spake and prophesied"…(Moses 6:23)  But during all of the first 930 years, while all of them held the keys, Adam still held the keys as the one prophet who stood at the head.  You can see that from Doctrine and Covenants 107:53-57. It is also important to note that God's work on the earth in those early days were conducted in and through a patriarchal or family order.  There weren't billions of people on the earth and there weren't millions of members in the Lord's church.  So God revealed himself to the patriarchs, who were prophets) and led his church through that organization with Adam at the head.  We essentially started over with Noah when only eight persons were saved from the great flood.  Ten generations of patriarchs later Abraham is born and Noah is still alive.  But the population of the faithful really began to grow from Abraham and his grandson Jacob was given the name of Israel and from him came the house of Israel.  Again the bible is sketchy as far as giving a complete history.  But there are instances when we can see that there were more than one prophet on earth at a time.  Through careful study we have found that Isaiah, Amos, Micah, Hosea and Zechariah were all contemporaries.  Meaning that they prophesied to the house of Israel and Judah at the same time.  Jeremiah, Zephaniah and Habakkuk also were contemporaries and Lehi was among this group.  Elisha, Elijah and Obadiah were contemporaries.  Now there isn't enough history available to give us the full picture of the organization and there certainly wasn't the opportunity for the Old Testament prophets to be in constant communication with each other as there is in the modern world.  So some things necessarily were different as the Lord adapted His work to the circumstances of the times.  But there is enough said for us to know that there were multiple people at a time who were prophets to the people and because God is the same yesterday, today and forever, we know that there would always be one of those living who acted at the  president of the quorum of prophets who held all of the keys as the Lord directs.  One of the indications that we have an incomplete record (besides the fact that it is so evident that 4000 years of history would be covered in the relatively small number of pages in the Old Testament) is recorded in 1 Chronicles 29:29 where it says, speaking of the acts of David, the king, that they were written  in the Books of Samuel, the seer, Nathan, the prophet, and Gad the seer.  We  don't have available in any ancient libraries or anywhere, the books of Nathan or Gad,  and yet, there is direct evidence that they were prophets and wrote books of their teachings and ministry.  Nathan is mentioned in 2 Samuel, but we don't have mention of Gad as a historical person in the Old Testament.

Maybe one other thing about distances and world wide communication in former times.  As is easy to understand, there was no way to communicate between the eastern hemisphere (Jerusalem, etc.) and the western hemisphere (the americas) in former times.  So we had prophets in both places.  The important principle is still summarized in Amos 3:7.  "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

The New Testament isn't totally complete either, but there is enough truth and history there to let us see that Christ organized His church with apostles and prophets.  You have quoted Ephesians 4:11-14.  Also see  Ephesians 2:19-21.  If we understand God's organization, we know that there was a reason for Christ to take Peter, James and John with him to the Mount of Transfiguration and not bring the others of the twelve with Him.  He also took those same three into the Garden of Gethsemane beyond where he invited the rest of the Twelve.  These are strong indications that Christ saw the position of those three differently than the rest of the twelve and we are assured that they were to be the First Presidency after Christ left them.  Does that mean that there were only 8 apostles in the quorum after He left and Judas was no longer in the quorum.  Again the record is not complete but we do know that Matthias became an apostle in Judas' place and the Paul and Barnabas were apostles and that James, the Lord's brother was as well, and they because apostles during the time of the early church and their service as apostles is recorded in the Book of Acts.

So summarizing, you really didn't contradict yourself by telling the sister that Lehi and Jeremiah were prophets in Jerusalem at the same time.  Jeremiah  could have been the Presiding officer—the President—we don't know for sure because there were also others.  And you were right by telling here that we only have one prophet on earth today who directs the work of the Lord and holds all the keys to do so.  Just help her see that there are fourteen others who also hold all the keys except the one key of being the president who can turn the key for all of the others.  And the one great over riding truth that you both seemed to agree on is that God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  While needs and circumstances may dictate some administrative adjustments, the principle of God speaking to prophets and revealing his secrets to them is eternal.  Joseph Smith said it this way: "The principle upon which the kingdom of Heaven is conducted, is revelation, adapted to the circumstances in which the  children of the kingdom are placed."  Always continuing revelation—always.  Always God directing His wonk of earth through His prophets, the same yesterday, today and forever.

Well, this coupled with  what your Dad said should help.  If you would ever like anything else and I can help, please ask.  We sure love you and are so proud of the great man and great missionary you are becoming.  Have a great week.

Love,

Grandpa

On Jan 7, 2016, at 7:12 AM, Paul Gibbons <gibbons.paul@gmail.com> wrote:

Here's something else I left out last night.  God has always called a single prophet to lead a dispensation of time.  This is true throughout the recorded scriptural age of man.

Adam led the first dispensation

Other dispensation leaders

Enoch

Noah

Abraham

Moses

Christ

Joseph Smith

These prophets were called by God to be the spiritual leaders to which those in their dispensation would look.

Joseph Smith was called to restore all things in this the final "dispensation of the the fullness of times".

Go to the Bible Dictionary and look up "dispensations"

Anyway - I'm trying to think of how you can best explain this first to yourself and then to an investigator.

On Wed, Jan 6, 2016 at 7:41 AM, Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net> wrote:

I got asked a question yesterday and I don't know how to answer it. I
told an investigator that Lehi was called as a prophet around the same
time as Jeremiah. She said "so there was two prophets on the earth?"
And the lesson before we told her that we only have one prophet at a
time on the earth. So I kind of contradicted myself. She then said "if
God is the same yesterday, today and forever, then why doesn't he call
two prophets of the church today? Where does it say in the bible that
he called two prophets at a time?"

I've been studying it for awhile and can't find anything except
Ephesians 4:11-13
"And he gave some, bapostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"
"... For the edifying of the body of Christ."
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of
the fulness of Christ:"

But that's talking about past prophets.. So maybe just be thinking
about this one so I can give her something next time we meet?

Thanks for your help.
- Elder Caleb Gibbons

Re: Prophets

Here's something else I left out last night.  God has always called a single prophet to lead a dispensation of time.  This is true throughout the recorded scriptural age of man.

Adam led the first dispensation

Other dispensation leaders

Enoch

Noah

Abraham

Moses

Christ

Joseph Smith

These prophets were called by God to be the spiritual leaders to which those in their dispensation would look.

Joseph Smith was called to restore all things in this the final "dispensation of the the fullness of times".

Go to the Bible Dictionary and look up "dispensations"

Anyway - I'm trying to think of how you can best explain this first to yourself and then to an investigator.

On Wed, Jan 6, 2016 at 7:41 AM, Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net> wrote:

I got asked a question yesterday and I don't know how to answer it. I
told an investigator that Lehi was called as a prophet around the same
time as Jeremiah. She said "so there was two prophets on the earth?"
And the lesson before we told her that we only have one prophet at a
time on the earth. So I kind of contradicted myself. She then said "if
God is the same yesterday, today and forever, then why doesn't he call
two prophets of the church today? Where does it say in the bible that
he called two prophets at a time?"

I've been studying it for awhile and can't find anything except
Ephesians 4:11-13
"And he gave some, bapostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"
"... For the edifying of the body of Christ."
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of
the fulness of Christ:"

But that's talking about past prophets.. So maybe just be thinking
about this one so I can give her something next time we meet?

Thanks for your help.
- Elder Caleb Gibbons

Re: Prophets

Caleb:

First off, kudos for using the resources available to you.  I commend you for including Grandpa on this question.  You will find that he is a tremendous source of knowledge and inspiration.

There are actually 15 men who hold the keys to prophecy on Earth today.  The prophet, his counselors, and the 12 apostles.  This means that they have the responsibility to govern and order the spiritual and temporal affairs of the church. So then, the real work of the church (think saving ordinances of baptism and temple work) on earth is done under the direction of the living prophet.  The prophet is the only person on earth who possesses and is authorized to use all priesthood keys (temple recommend interview).

We each have a separate responsibility to seek after and obtain personal revelation for our own lives.  This extends to seeking for and obtaining the spirit of prophecy.  There are many prophets on the earth today.  Prophecy is a spiritual gift.  It's so important that to start his book, Nephi introduces himself and then says:

"For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed."

The distinction is clear.  God chooses and calls one prophet to stand at the head of his church and govern its affairs.  God extends the gift of prophecy to those who seek it.  This is a gift from God and does not come with any keys except as the person is called of God.

"We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof."

I'm not not sure how it worked with the ancient prophets because there wasn't really a church per se.  Grandpa can answer that.  I'll wait for his email and send references to support the above if it's warranted.

Love you,

Dad

On Wed, Jan 6, 2016 at 7:41 AM, Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net> wrote:

I got asked a question yesterday and I don't know how to answer it. I
told an investigator that Lehi was called as a prophet around the same
time as Jeremiah. She said "so there was two prophets on the earth?"
And the lesson before we told her that we only have one prophet at a
time on the earth. So I kind of contradicted myself. She then said "if
God is the same yesterday, today and forever, then why doesn't he call
two prophets of the church today? Where does it say in the bible that
he called two prophets at a time?"

I've been studying it for awhile and can't find anything except
Ephesians 4:11-13
"And he gave some, bapostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"
"... For the edifying of the body of Christ."
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of
the fulness of Christ:"

But that's talking about past prophets.. So maybe just be thinking
about this one so I can give her something next time we meet?

Thanks for your help.
- Elder Caleb Gibbons

Fwd: Personal Interview

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Gibbons <gibbons.paul@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 4, 2016 at 7:52 AM
Subject: Re: Personal Interview
To: Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net>

Caleb:

I'm glad to hear about the strengths.  Great job.  At the risk of having you get frustrated with me, I'll share some thoughts on your weaknesses.

When you get pressured, you can always just be honest.  You don't need to have an answer to every question you are asked.  There is nothing wrong with saying something like, "You know, that's a great question, let me think about it and we'll get back to you."  That does three things, it allows you to be honest, it allows you to research a topic, and it allows you to get back to someone with a stated purpose.  It's just a thought and I'm sure you'll figure out something that works for you.

With members, you simply ask a lot of open-ended questions.  Have them tell you anything and everything about themselves.  With older members, ask about there kids and grandkids.  You will find that they are proud of their children and will respond to you if you are genuine with them.  Be truly interested in them though.  Don't ask a question and then zone them out.  Remember that (I think) one of your strengths is that you are so kind and good with people and especially children.  When everything you do is rooted in love towards those you associate with, you will find that this will become less of an issue.

I would've guessed that waking up would be hard for you.  When you were growing up, I often thought about making you get up and get the bed off your back but I concluded that I'd rather let you sleep in a little bit than have you get frustrated and spend your day with a cloud following you around.  So, now you have a bad habit that needs to be broken.  It's really not a bid deal (unless you give up and end up being a slug) and I'm sure you'll figure it out.

Finally, learn to love studying.  Our brains are what separate us from the animals.  Further, using your mind will allow you to have a career that you enjoy and one that allows you to make contribution to society.  Be thankful that you have been given a bright capable mind.

Love you,  Dad

On Mon, Jan 4, 2016 at 7:09 AM, Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net> wrote:

So one thing I'm lacking is constructive criticism. My companion is to
nice! Haha so I'm going to tell you what my strengths and what my
weaknesses are. If you could keep this off the blog..

Strengths: I feel like I get along with my companion, I can teach the
restoration really well and I can talk to anyone I see and introduce
my self as a missionary to them.

Weaknesses: I'm not so good under pressure.. When an investigator asks
me a hard question I get red and look to my companion as help haha. I
can't keep a conversation (small talk) going with a member. I feel
like I'm working on this and getting better at it but it's still a
struggle. And I lack some serious motivation to wake up and start
studies. My companion and I have slept through a couple alarms and I
just get angry when I wake up on my own now. I've been pushing myself
to take a pre workout in the mornings so it helps me wake up and smell
the dew ehh.

Anyway, I would like to do this once a month, Monday after fast
Sunday, just to evaluate how I can be a better missionary. I think it
would help me grow and become more of a Preach My Gospel missionary.
Love you both for your support and love. Till next time.

- Elder Caleb Gibbons

A School Assignment for Riah

This is the power that you going on a mission has on your little sister.  It really amazing...

Sent from somewhere really cool.

Adam's letter

Hi Caleb, this letter is going to be a little longer because I missed the last two letters. First of all, I saw the new Star Wars witch was AMAZING! I don't want to make you jealous but you won't be disappointed when you see it. Christmas was awesome, the girls and me had a slumber party but I slept in my own bed on Monday. Sariah and Samantha really got annoyed with the opening one set of presents each day, so they opened 2 sets one day and didn't get to open it the next day. I got a hammock and these amazing magnets that can rotate 360 degrees, I'll make sure to send you a picture to show you how it works. The Fitbit you gave me is amazing, I'm not sure how it measures the steps and heart rate but however it works it's amazing. Then yesterday, we went to beaver and dad got me a personal trainer to teach me how to snowboard on my toes and a lot of other stuff. I had the worst crash ever, I was going backwards on my toes and the snow caught the back of the board and I rolled down the hill. Now I'm pretty sure I bruised my tailbone. That's all I have this week, I'll try to not miss any more letters.

Love,
Adam


The 360 turning magnets

Sydney - Happenings

Hey, Caleb!

I hope you are doing great!  A new year has started, even though it doesn't feel like it at all.  In these three first days of the new year, I have learned that its hard for me to keep new year's resolutions, I am not ready to go back to school, and that Sariah will probably never learn how to pronounce library (libary) and granola (ganerla) right.  It's alright though because I think it is super cute. 

Yesterday, we went to Beaver with the girls and they took lessons for two hours of the time we were there.  On the lift afterwards, I asked Sariah what she learned.  She couldn't remember anything but how to turn.  Then she said, "Ooh, I also learned that there are invisible goats on Goat Trail!"  I laughed but she persisted on making me believe in the magical goats.  "No, really!  They steal your poles and sometimes even your skis and snowboards!  And then when I was on it, I heard a baaaaa but it was only Samantha."  She is actually a pretty good little skier and likes to refer to herself as a "PERfessional". 

We miss you!!!!  Hope that you are having a blast!  After all, life is what you make of it.

Love you!

Sydney :)

Happy New Year!

Dear Caleb,

How was your New Years Eve? You probably went to bed by 10:30. Dad had us countdown and celebrate the New Year at the same time as you would have (10:00 pm our time) in the hopes that the girls would go to bed BEFORE midnight. It backfired on him though and went to bed himself and made me stay up with them! :D We did the traditional things though...made a large batch of homemade doughnuts & slush with fondue & baked Brie.

The holidays were great! Our highlight was probably talking to you though. We thought it was especially cool that we got to hear you take a couple calls as a "missionary." We got to see & hear you in action! I'll bet they all love you! And thanks for sending us your Christmas morning video clip. I guess you've heard about the new tv by now.

I saw that temperatures finally dipped below freezing for you. Are people saying that it's now the normal temp for this time of year or is it now colder than usual? It's been unusually cold this last week here.

I have one more question for you...are you OK to occasionally send a text? I just don't want you to get in trouble. ;)

...Sure am proud of you and love you lots!

Mom

Samantha - Skiing

Hi Caleb I went skiing on January 2, 2016.  It was so much fun but I got hurt by the boots.  I hope you are having fun.  love Samantha.  

Sariah - I am a Professional Skier

Dear Caleb,

I have a lot to say.It will be long .so I will chry to be fast.I went to beevr it was so fun!dad made me and samantha  have a teecher . Nou me and samantha  are  pferfashinl love sariah

Jacob Letter

Hey Caleb! This holiday season was a little different without you here. I went skiing everyday. It has been a great year for snow! Sadly though the patriots lost this week to the Dolphins of all teams 20-10 it was a sad week but they are still going to make it to the playoffs. I hope you are having a great time out there!

Pictures from this past week