Take care, Alexander Hicken

Dear Ocean Branch,


I hope that this weekend will be successful change in my life that I may move forward. 


I have a few things that I wanted to address before I leave; although, Eliza Simunovich intends to continue this blog. The principles that I wanted to leave behind for you to consider applying in your life are the following. You may think that I would encourage writing your journals to keep it updated, but these are the type of things that I will address, the gospel principles that I have been doing the most of, not saying that I am most successful. These are the topics that I am lead to explore according to the wisdom that I have obtained in the application thereof: Journal writing, Develop temperance unto purity, Exercise the most faith as possible, Temple attendance, and be sure to attend the branch that you are supposed to.


I love to write in my journal. When I could afford to, I wrote in my journal each day. You may ask what would you write about each day nothing much happens in a day. A fruit of writing in your journal is that you are reporting your great life to a future generation, so you hold yourself accountable to be the best that you can. Writing in your journal is not an overwhelming task that will consume all your time. The feeling of reporting your life to the best of your view is interesting. It seems to slow down life. It is interesting that I often hear that people want time to go fast. "Oh I just want this day or week to be over." Writing in a journal brings a gratitude for life, seeking to grow each day and serve. There are so many fruits of having a record of your life. Many obvious ones are like being able to keep track of what you have done, what is going on. Writing in a journal is not just a report of your life. "I did this and that;" however, you should view your writing as if you making a relationship with the reader with respect that it may be read with respect it as well. A high standard of living is obtained as you have a better perspective. This standard of living is your character.


Developing temperance unto purity is a view of mine. Temperance means self-control. Many people do things without much thought in anger, jealousy, lust, and so forth. These are weaknesses that we may have; thought processes that Satan may feed on to lure us to actions. In this temperance I see that this encourages a great knowledge of yourself. Personal characteristics are important to know in this knowledge of yourself. We come to know what behavior to shy away from and what to embrace. Christ-like attributes as taught in the Preach my Gospel manual are at the root of the commandments. I say that I believe that the ten commandments of the Celestial law is in the Doctrine and Covenants 4: 5-6.

"And ^afaith, ^bhope, ^ccharity and ^dlove, with an ^eeye single to the^fglory of God, ^gqualify him for the work. Remember faith, ^avirtue, knowledge, ^btemperance, ^cpatience,^dbrotherly ^ekindness, ^fgodliness, charity, ^ghumility, ^hdiligence." (the highlighted ten)                                  I seem to be able to write a lot on this topic. I should move on.

Let us always consider these things in mind and in our actions in remembrance of Christ and his attributes. Developing your character in temperance is as embrace of your true character. Many people outside of the Gospel may act not according to their true character because that don't trust various things, but when we come to trust the Gospel, God, and his atonement, our true character comes out. A most important part to this great temperance is the application off all the principles of the Gospel. The word of wisdom, law of Chastity, Tithing and all the commandments entail a great temperance. When we have a control on all these things, we can gauge how much more that we can do. 

Do more. This is a way that I define faith. For myself my definition of faith is not the common ideal to believe in Christ, but it is what the belief leads us to do. Here is it. My definition of faith is how boldly that we fulfill the commandments of God. Boldness can be seen in many ways in my eyes. A bold teacher makes plenty of preparation before the lesson. A bold disciple follows the spirit. Nephi was bold. Our great prophets were bold. In this boldness I have learned that we need to keep a vision in mind. Perhaps it may be to be a full-time missionary or the greatest father or mother. These visions are a couple that I see that are most meaningful. Make sure that they are your true desires. Don't get caught up in the vanity of the world. Seek to be most effective in what you want to develop yourself into the vision of your goal. In this view, we have great purpose and depth in our lives. A goal and vision that I had for myself is to be a temple-going person.

Each person should have to goal to the temple as much as possible. At least here in Santa Cruz, the opportunity is so rare that this commitment is logical. Temples are dedicated to be some of the most sacred place on Earth. They are the Houses of the Lord. The temple is a place for the pure children of God to meet to have the greatest moments of their lives. I say the pure children because I trust each person is a pure child of God at the very core; although, we need to be careful. The nature man is scary. The temple is a place, where the natural man is forsaken, where some of the most amazing people gather. This place is of great guidance and comfort. The spirit of God is abundant there. Each week that I go, I see that my communion there always puts my head on straight, so I can face this crazy world better. I go in battered by the world and come out whole. I pray that as our Ocean Branch tries to regroup and renew our temple attendance that every person will come in humility and gratitude no matter what circumstance you are in your life. It will strengthen your faith in Christ. 

Be loyal in your attendance at the your local ward or branch as well. I see that people often are carried away from church to do other things. We need to be there for each other. Meeting together at church is a way to show the world that you are doing great. Loyalty to your local branch and ward shows a temperance and a stability. You should to be a church each week to fulfill your calling. There is so much Spirit, guidance, comfort, and inspiration in each meeting. The meetings are designed to promote spiritual growth not only at a personal individual level but in a broader sense of the entire community. This is why that everyone of you need to come and join the saints on Sunday. I am inspired, when I act as an Aaronic Priesthood holder, and I break the bread of the Sacrament. I represents so much. It represents the broken flesh of Christ and the Bread of Life. Let us all prepare to partake of the sacrament with all our faith to be loyal and faithful to our duties to God.

I pray that this weekend will work out and be an important step to move forward. When I return from China, I hope to move and settle into the BYU that I will be accepted in. Maybe this should be read at the 29th of January sacrament meeting as my talk, since we will probably not have new counselors for Josh. To the Priesthood, please take care of the Branch.

Take care

Alexander Hicken

Best Wishes for Rose at BYU Provo

This is a recording of a testimony of Rose Hage. The recording is bad. Trevor did it for Michael because he was gone, and we all love Rose' testimony especially Michael. This recording is originally for him, but Rose let me share it with everyone. The quality of the recording is reflected in the dot-dot-dots.

I am thankful...

...Thanksgiving...It was really fun...but Our oven broke. Our refrigerate broke, and something else would not work...and, so everything is broken around the house. We were trying to figure out how we are going to get everything actually cooked, and Leslie, one of our grandmas,... had a tiny oven, so we just kind of all day... we did not have as many food as we usually do, but I think that even though nothing went well at all. It was really fun because we were all actively trying to make it work. It was not like two people worked to get everything done. We all had to work together to actually make it happen. It was the feeling of being together. I don't think anything beats that feeling. I am thankful for this time of the year even though I hate the weather. I loved the overall festive feeling and the spirit of giving. I would love if it carried throughout the year and I know that personally we cannot create that feeling, but it is really cool that right now while we cannot create that feeling. I don't know. I am grateful that I can come here every week, see you all, and share that feeling. I don't think anything in my life has made me more loving for so many things. I am grateful for this church. I love so many things, but I don't love anything as much as being a member of this church because it helps me more than anything else. We have it all right here, and I am so thankful. I know that this church is true because this is where truth is found....

The article is dedicated to Rose for her great faith, service, and future, saying good bye, since she is attending BYU Provo. We wish the best for you.

The Testimony of our Soon Departing Elder Kaupert

My testimony of the gospel is one of not a few large moments in my life; but rather many many small ones. I've always wondered how all these little moments will affect my future, and I never really realized the impact that they were having at the very moment. Looking back, the Lord has never let go of me no matter how hard I pushed Him away, and I see it in how everything seems to turn out. It always amazes me how things could've been so different had I had different experiences.

Happiness in the gospel for me seems to be made up or created by my life's experience. The love I feel from our leader, Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly father is something that can be found no where else on the earth but in this church. I often hear talk of people saying how the church can be so restrictive, and by living by the gospel, our freedom is stripped away. I disagree whole heartily. Life would be bondage without the reassurance of our father, the atonement, and of hope for things to come. We would be chained down by our heavy regrets and trapped by our own loneliness. That is not to say that other churches don't offer a form of this, but this gospel offers the most complete form.

To not share that happiness with others would be a major sin for me; however, the single biggest reason in deciding to go on a mission was not this, but rather the incompleteness I would experience the rest of my life had I not gone. In other words, It would be a sin for me to not do the most I can for all of God's children, seeing how I have been a recipient of what I feel like are some of the greatest blessings he has to offer in this life. And really, that's what the Gospel truly is to me, is the pure love of God for all of us.

This Gospel is true. My life is undeniable proof of that. Our entire existence is undeniable proof as well. God's love for us is real, and I have felt it. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our needs and our wants, wanting nothing more than to give to us everything, which he does provide for us. And so He provided the gospel for to bring all of us happiness. This is my simple testimony.

Elder Angulo's Reply

Y'all write to much lol! jk Thanks for the updates on life in Cali, but thanks for all the love and support, and there isnt a day that i havent thought about yall. I miss you so much, but im so happy to be serving the lord right now.


This is Elder Angulo's reply to our Christmas letter.

A Christmas Letter to our Elders- written by Joanna & I

Dear Elder Hicken and Angulo,

The semester is over, and this last week was a great one for missionary work, sowing seeds. I met a guy that I have had a couple classes with his name is Jordyn. I have not hung out with him until the week before finals. He is a Christian man, so I had to give him a copy of The Book of Mormon. I could have given it to him last Thursday before finals, but I did not seize the opportunity. Finals day was my last opportunity. During the final I prayed the whole time, asking to meet with him. God granted my prayer, for he left moments before I finished my final. I finished the last few questions quickly in hopes to catch him. As I left in haste to catch him, I saw that he was talking with a friend, so I went to talk with them. It was perfect because Jordyn was with Alex, the guy had a skin disease, making him react to the sun's light. Since they couldn't hang out together, I was able to hang out with him and I get to know each other. I gave him The Book of Mormon, became friends on Facebook, and offered my fellowship. We even hope to go out surfing. 

Another missionary experience happened in Friday. I don't know if I told you about Melissa, we met at Cabrillo, now we are really good friends. She was led to ask me, if I would want to go shopping with her for Christmas. She got out of work just in time for the temple trip. I tried to invite her to come. This evening was the only day that she was able to shop, so we chose to go shopping instead. The Capitola Ward was having a Christmas dinner, so I sought to bring her along. Since she did not want to go at first, I was hoping and praying that she would join us for the Christmas Dinner. I am grateful that God answers prayers. After shopping she needed to come to my house to wrap a present. This situation lead her to be able to come to the dinner. I asked her at the dinner, if she would be willing to have the missionaries introduce the church to her, but she felt uncomfortable meeting with them. I respected that, but I had Elder Rayes come talk to her. I pray that she may receive the missionary lessons soon.

joanna- hey dear elders

 I hope that we all truly learn the real significance of Christmas. We always get caught up with the media. They make us think that buying things is what Christmas is all about; however, we must remember what we know to be true. Christmas is the day that we can rejoice in the birth of our Savior, for he is the one being who was and still is able to give us the most precious gift of all. Jesus was born to be the most perfect example for us to follow. By Him we may learn to follow his humility, patience,  loving service, and faithful obedience. Only by his infinite sacrifice we have the means to put our trust in him and be cleansed by his Atonement, for They want us to enjoy the blessings of forgiveness. By us living his commandments and doing so faithfully, this can give us the feeling of the purification of our souls. Let us all strive to be more like him, so we may be successful in life and receive a portion of his love and joy day by day. This helps us endure to the end and eventually enjoy of the fruits of our righteousness, for This is the greatest of all the gifts of God. Isn't this better than any other material possession that we can buy at a store. Yes he truly does love us. Now let us show our love and Gratitude for all that he does for us by loving and having charity to his children such as he has always done for us.

The original interview of Michael Angulo

Me: How do you feel about your preparation? 

Michael: I feel like I prepared good. I did. I did read all the Book of Mormon, but now I am rereading it. I am on first Nephi. My preparation... I have read the Preach my Gospel from I think chapter three to like page 150. 

Me: Nice 

Michael: I think I got all the basics down, and then hanging out with all the missionaries, and going out there and getting your feet wet. 

Me: Have you had any profound experience when you went out with the missionaries? 

Michael: Define Profound. 

Me: Something that inspire you or something that you know that you will apply on your mission. 

Michael: Just to you know teach at their pace at the other people that you are teaching the lessons to because you don’t want to hurry anyone. You want to take their time. You want to take your time, and just do everything based on their schedule. That is what I have learned and just to be really patient. I think is another key thing to do. Especially because I can be pretty impatient sometimes. I know that will be a key field that I am going to have to work to be patient with other people. What I learned from Elder Fultz is. You can to about an hour of study before you go out. an hour or two before you go out. I know that is required when you go on your mission, but I thought it was really helpful because I did it once with them. It helped me have better knowledge, so I can teach others of what I read. I know that I am going to do that every morning, when I am out there in the field. I will do it as much as possible. I mean I willl do as much reading as I can; plus, I am always the type of person that always wants to have the answer, when anyone asks a question. 

Me: Why do you feel reading a lot is important as a missionary? 

Michael: Because you get closer to Heavenly Father. and we’re struggles in life or question in life that you have can be answered in the scriptures. and especially when you are missionary you can be answering the questions for investigators who asked you that question that you did not know. and you just pray about it and then you find your answers in the scriptures because I know when I have found answers. It is mostly in the scriptures where I find them. and It is not out there in living. 

Me: So when you studied with the missionaries, did you learn how to study for investigators? 

Michael: Not really. 

Me: yeah its really hard 

Michael: yeah I guess you just start from the beginning. I think the restoration is the first lesson. You just kind of teach them the background a little bit about the church, and if they are interested they will call you again. if they are not interested. That is their fault. That is what I learned from being with the missionaries. I can’t remember if I read it in the Preach my Gospel, but I am pretty sure I have. I just forgot. I would just go off of what the investigator needs and answers too about their situation or troubles they are having in their life, if they want. 

Me: So are you nervous about anything afraid of anything? 

Michael: I am pretty nervous, but not during mission, but missing my family. I just want them not to feel sad that I am gone and just to be happy and just to you know live life how they normally would everyday and not change their schedule or anything. I just want the spirit to be here even though the priesthood is not in the house. I just want my family to be strong while I am gone because we got a pretty tight bond in the family and it would take something very dramatic to brake us apart, so the nerves would probably be from leave my family for the first time. That is want I am kind of nervous about. I don’t want to be cause I hear stories of missionaries going home early because they miss home and their home sick. I don’t want that to happen to me. 

Me: Elder Faiese is having a really hard time because he is really home sick right now. 

Michael: He is? Elder Fultz is going to do a good job, and make him feel like you know at home there. Its his second home. Thats the way I am going to think its just my second home. My home away from home. 

Me: yeah...So what have you learned about the people in Canada? 

Michael: I haven’t really learned much. 

Me: What have you learned about Canada? 

Michael: I have learned. I know it is cold, but I didn’t think it was that cold I looked up on line, and it was negative 49 degrees. haha I heard in my area Calgary is the biggest city in my mission town, and then the next biggest one is a population of five thousand. so that's like half the size of Capitola. What is there to learn about my area? 

Me: How big is Calgary? What is the population like? 

Michael: I heard it was about the size I have been told of San Jose, so almost a million people.  

Me: So there is probably going to be a lot of missionaries in Calgary. 

Michael: Yeah 

Me: and not that many in other areas at all. 

Michael: Yeah I just learn about the Calgary mission from reading different blogs about my mission. That missionaries say it is the best mission. that there is. haha I am sure every missionary says that about their field. 

Me: haha cool. Did you learn anything about the people in the blogs? 

Michael: Not really. They just had different usernames. I just read it. I couldn’t tell if it was a boy or a girl. 

Me: Did you learn anything from the blogs? 

Michael: I just learn that it goes back to being home sick. That they have a strong support group there. You are going to feel very welcome. 

Me: Cool that is good. 

Michael: Yeah about my mission president. I know that he served a mission in Oregon. He is from Utah, and the wife is from Los Angeles. I think they meet in Utah. Got married and he was called to be a mission president in Calgary, and a former mission president is our current prophet today. Thomas S Monson, which is very cool. 

Me: Was he the mission president of your mission? 

Michael: Yeah I don’t know how long ago. I should probably look it up. I am pretty sure that it is double digit years. 

me: yeah haha...So do you already have your email address for you mission? 

Michael: Yeah it is Michael.angulo@myldsmail.net. 

Me: They have it really simple. 

Michael: Yeah its on my facebook I posted my email address and my mission address. on my information on my profile on facebook... All this just feels surreal like back when I got my call it was sixty days it was July second sixty days to the day until I go to the MTC, and it just feels like it was yesterday. It was sixty days, back then I felt you know I felt good. I was just relieved I got my call. I just finally came. and now it like its just like the past three or four weeks my mind has totally been in a different place. It has been missionary mode missionary mode. I haven’t gone out and done anything fun with any members of the branch. I have been so focus on my mission that its just something that I take very serious and I don’t think its anything... you know joke around about and not work hard at just studying and working hard change peoples lives and they are going to need your knowledge need you as a person so I take it pretty serious. 

Me: How long did you focus on your mission? Just the past month? or just the whole time since you got your call. 

Michael: When I got my call it just was more like a relief. I didn’t really do any studying. not as serious as it was the past three or four weeks. I was maybe taking advantage of it and not studying and hanging out with friends, but the past three or four week I have been in that different mode like I said. 

Me: How do you feel your endowment has helped you? 

Michael: It has helped me tremendously. I got a strong feeling of the spirit because when I got out of the temple that day, and me and my mom were driving home. I just felt like the man. 

Me: I felt like I can do anything. Like I was telling people the next day in Elder’s quorum, I didn’t expect what happen. I was expecting totally different. I was expecting that it will last twenty thirty minutes. I did not expect it to last one and a half to two hours. The spiritual feeling that I had in there...It felt really cool. When I went into the Celestial room, I felt famous with a big huge chandelier nice couches nice floors. I felt like I was like Jay Z. 

Me: haha 

Michael: One thing that helped me was just the experience that I can teach you now missionaries that are coming up and want to serve in the mission field that I am serving in and Elder Fultz is said it is an incredible feeling in his influence and it has really been a key thing to me. and I am just going to us his influence to teach people too, but from my own knowledge. so teach up and coming missionaries about how strong your endowment session is and it is good to get endowed for your family and for your family that you want to create with your wife. It just spiritualness I don’t know like the closeness would be very important for the family and all starts with the priesthood and having that authority. 

Me: How do you feel about your testimony and how it has grown in the past while? 

Michael: When I first came to the church honestly speaking I had no idea what a testimony was, so on fast and testimony Sundays I would kind of be confused for the first couple months. and then I asked I think it was Miller. it was Miller or Sione what exactly is a testimony? and they just said oh its how you know the church is true. and ever since that getting experience it just going out with the missionaries and studying, studying Preach my Gospel, the Patriarchal blessing prayer continuing to pray, keeping the commandments. not sinning. I don’t know if I said but my patriarchal blessing and Being out with the missionary and seeing them in the field, seeing them work it makes it more realistic to how to you know be a good missionary and use the knowledge that I gained, when I was out there with the missionaries. it really has increased my testimony that much stronger. I mean I know the church is true. I lived with it, and I lived without it, so I know what influence it has. It has I mean Just picture yourself. Where would you be if you not in the church for about eleven or twelve years? What would your life be like? and then if you when you have that picture in your head, that is how my life was like. It was like that. You start sinning. start disobeying the commandments. You do thing that you know you regret and then you come to the church and then like I said pray, reading scriptures, taking the sacrament, elder’s quorum, sunday school It just makes everything better. Heavenly father is with you. and baptism is a big part. I was baptised when I was eight, but I wasn’t too strong into the church. I kind of found it boring at that age. 

Me: How have you seen you participation serving with the missionaries become better? 

Michael: I am able to get involved more with the investigators.

Me: Any experiences? 

Michael: You know Katie the new girl that got baptized into the Santa Cruz ward? I am pretty sure that you heard about her. I was getting pretty involved in the lessons before she was getting baptized. I know there is another dude way before that that was getting baptized I didn’t say anything because I did not know, and now I do. Just learning and praying and reading the scriptures and I kind of figured like asking questions about the church. If you don’t know it, it is not stupid. I’ve kind of always thought what if they make fun of me if I ask this question, and I would just learn that and It will increase your testimony with those questions. Just kind of insecure about asking a stupid question like what if they make fun of me.  

Me: How do you feel about how you taught Katie? 

Michael: I felt great I mean. It was Elder Fultz and Skeet I was with. Just going by the spirit, and having her feel it too. Even though the spirit is not with her. I know the light of Christ, but not the Holy Ghost. Just helping her feeling our influence with the spirit it will increase her testimony. It will make her feel like she wants to get baptized that much more, so the more the priesthood the stronger the spirit will be to fill the soul. 

Me: You did not feel awkward about your remarks? 

Michael: not at all 

Me: You know that you are teaching by the spirit when you do that. Often times missionaries are picky about the lessons, and it is good to feel confident about what you do. 

Michael: Katie is a cool girl. She is very outgoing. I am proud of her. I am proud of any one that wants to get baptised no matter what age, height, ethnicity. I know we are all God’s children. He wants us all to get baptised. He wants to live a good life and not do the things that Satan would want us to do. Katie has chosen that path to obey God’s commandments and have the Holy Ghost to help us through the good and the bad. I am pretty sure that she will be guided to plenty of good. She will know what is right from wrong. Its a good feeling, and I want to have that influence on people on my mission. I just want to have that influence on people on my mission. I want to show how important baptism is and how important it is to go to church, read the scriptures and yeah...My biggest worry, going back to a few questions, is the inactives that are baptized how am I going to get them to come back to church. The inactives I think are harder than those that are not members of the church because they don’t have the Holy Ghost. 

Me: The inactives? 

Michael: Yeah the stronger inactives that have been away for a while. 

Me: I wanted to ask another question...How was like to feel to have your knowledge grow about the gospel like from nothing to being ready to go on a mission?

Michael: I feel it is important. Iit changes the way you look at life, and it changes you as a person like being away from it for eleven to twelve years and seeing where I am at now. It has totally changed my look at life. It totally changed who I am, and I am so grateful for this church to be on this earth and I am so thankful that Joseph Smith restored the Gospel for us. and I know that he was the first prophet, and I know that Thomas Monson is our current prophet. He received revelation from Heavenly Father. What else. I think I forgot the question. Can you repeat that question? I think Iwas kind of babbling on. haha 

Me: How do you feel about learning the knowledge of the gospel from the beginning over the past year or so? 

Michael: I didn’t know anything about the Gospel in the beginning. I feel like that I know 25 to 30 percent of the Gospel, but that is better than nothing. I feel like... 

Me: You don’t feel like you know a lot? 

Michael: Yeah I was doing an interview with President Walch, and what he said gave me more motivation, and it made me feel more safe to know that me did not know much about the Book of Mormon before he went on his mission. He went to Korea. 

Me: Yeah you don’t know anything, but when you are on the mission you learn a lot, and you feel confident about your knowledge about the Gospel and everything. 

Michael: Yeah especially cause I only know a quarter of the Gospel, but I am hoping that it goes dramatically up on my mission. 

Me: Yeah you will. You feel confident about everything. Not everything but like a lot. I remember learning like all the prophecies that will come, and I was able to write a big essay of like all the prophecies that will come, and summarize that these. 

Michael: Right now I feel like I can teach the lessons in Preach my Gospel: the restoration, the plan of Salvation, the word of wisdom, the commandments, and the laws and ordinances. I feel I know so much about those. I don’t know much about the Book of Mormon. Like I said a quarter of it, which it is better than not having any knowledge. 

Me: Is there anything that you want to say to the Ocean Branch? 

Michael: I love you so much. Thanks for all your love and support. Its been a fun ride, and I am just taking a hiatus right now, a two year hiatus, and once I come back I will come back a new man. Hopefully I won’t look any different, but hopefully I will look more manly. I will come back for toned. and I will be able to grow a full beard because I am shaving so much. All the missionaries that are serving in the ocean branch. I hope you keep it growing because we need all the young adults to come and just keep the branch growing. We have had it has been a tremendous ride. There have been times where I secretly struggled, but you guys have secretly helped me without me saying it without me saying I was in a struggle. I have never been around a cooler group of young single adults in my life than you guys. I am very thankful for President Burgon for all their love. I don’t know how many children that you have but I feel like one of them because I feel like Brad has been there every step of the way for me to get my mission papers done and all the love and support there and Michael: one of their sons their child. I feel like the Ocean Branch baby. and now I am going out serving. 

Me: A little brother :) 

Michael:  I feel like you guys little brother. and I am going to serve the Ocean Branch probably on my mission. I will tell tremendous stories about you guys.