Elder Zachary Andrews: To PW: Cockeyed Optimist

THE VISION OF THE SOUTH

"Make no small plans: This is the vision I have for the South. I believe that one day the South will baptize more people into the church than all other English speaking missions in the world together....We will see the time when we will baptize hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands...In your day you will see a million members of the church in the South. There will be temples plural in the Southern States. What a great call you have to serve with these marvelous people." President Spencer W. Kimball

Monday, April 21, 2014

To PW: Cockeyed Optimist

Sent Date: Monday, April 21, 2014
Author: Andrews, Zachary Jacob

President,
There is a quote that I read this week that like a lot. It is in the book South Pacific quoted by Dallin H. Oaks in his most recent talk to students at UVU.

I have heard people rant and rave and bellow.
That we’re done and we might as well be dead,
But I’m only a cockeyed optimist
And I can’t get it into my head
-South Pacific

I like being a cockeyed optimist. It makes life better. And it is only made possible through our Hope in the Atonement. That and in my knowledge of the Book of Mormon.

Life is awesome President. There is a man on the radio that my dad always listens too I think his name is Dave Ramsey, smart guy, my favorite part about his show is that whenever he answers a call, people ask him how he is, and every time without fail he says, "Better than I deserve". Isn't that the truth! So I am better than I deserve. Blessed beyond bounds. His Grace is sufficient for all of us. Thanks for all that you do and that your Wife does for us missionaries. It is a shame that you are leaving us. I would have really enjoyed getting to know you a little better. Well I guess we still have some time.

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Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission

The first branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in New Orleans with 334 members in 1841. The prophet Joseph Smith sent the first missionary to New Orleans in March of that year. After reaching 169 members in 1849, the New Orleans branch disbanded because of the threat of serious disease in the area. The Southern States Mission, which included Louisiana opened in 1878, but the first missionaries were not sent to the state until nearly 20 years later. Missionary work spread throughout the state during the early twentieth century and by 1930, there were 1500 members. The first ward was established in Shreveport in 1953 and the first stake in New Orleans in 1955.In 1975, the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission was created and by 1980, there were over 12,500 members in the state of Louisiana. By 1989, Louisiana had 22,000 members in seven stakes. In 1998, the First Presidency announced the building of a temple in Baton Rouge. That temple was dedicated on 16 July, 2000.The Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission extends from Natchitoches South to the East and West borders through the state including the Gulf of New Orleans. The mission also includes the South West corner of Mississippi including Natchez, Liberty, and Macomb.