Robert writes home #90 22 March 1997 prophecy by Elder Widstoe

22 March 1997

Dear Mother,

                Things are warming up pretty well here. It looks like we have a good fruit set this year on the stone fruit. The aphids are showing up on the new leaves. I sprayed yesterday for them.

                I’ve been watering our lawn and fixing the sprinklers trying to get the yard ready for Pete’s open house. Lots of work left to do.

                Janet had to go into surgery last Thursday to have a kidney stone removed that was blocking her ureter. She came home that night. Megan came down from Turlock to be with her before surgery. She is really sore and uncomfortable but mending normally and feeling better each day. We’re hoping that she’s back to normal by the time we leave for Pete’s wedding in a week and a half.

                We’re planning on trying to get down to see you on April 3, the Thursday before the wedding. We will be pressed for time so I might come with a kid or two and leave the rest to visit Janet’s sister and family in Provo.

                Charlie is doing well, undefeated, in tennis so far. I think tennis has an advantage over team sports, in that, you compete for positions and get what you earn, rather than having a coach who evaluates and decides who’s best.

Did you read the article in the Church News, March 8, about the group of saints in Siberia who had a handcart and trekked them through 6 missions in Russia and 2 in Ukraine. Now they’re planning on sending one of the carts to Winter Quarters (Omaha), Nebraska to make the Trek to SLC this summer with the big group.

                I was impressed because it’s been so little time since Russia was opened up to the missionaries. It puts me in mind of a prophecy that Magdalene sent me acouple of years ago. I think it is contained in Widstoe’s book, The Gospel Web.

                I hope things are going well. We pray for you everyday.

Love,

Robert, Janet, Charlie, and Sam

A PROPHECY MADE BY EUROPEAN MISSION PRESIDENT ELDER JOHN A. WIDSTOE OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES AT A MISSIONARY CONFERENCE IN PRAGUE CZECHOSLOVAKIA IN AUGUST 1932 AS RECORDED BY T.A. HOLT

                Communism is the work of the Devil. The Lord is using it to break down the hold of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches over the minds of men. When communism has completed its task of breaking this hold, it will pass out of existence almost overnight. And then the church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) will send missionaries by the hundreds into the Slavic lands of Europe; including the mother land of Russia.

                There is more of the blood of Israel in Western Russia than all the rest of Europe put together. And when the time comes to do missionary work there, the people will come into the Church by the thousands. Whole villages and towns will join the Church in droves.

                This mission (Czechsolovakia) is important because it is opening the door to the Slavic nations. This language is the key to all Slavic languages and some of you in this room will be called to do missionary work in Russia.

                Note: There were eleven missionaries present, Dr. Widstoe and Mission President, Arthur Gaeth.