Letter to the Prophet

This is a letter I found that my grandpa Simkins wrote to Pres. Joseph F. Smith.  I thought I would type up the letter and share it on here.

Panaca, Nevada

Feb. 19, 1972

Dear Pres. Joseph F. Smith,

Prophet of the Lord:

     I am Elder James Clyde Simkins, an Elder of the Panaca Ward, Uvada Stake.  I hold the office of an Elder.  I am the group leader of the Elders Quorum in Panaca.  I have another fine calling in the church.  I am 2nd counselor in the presidency of the Elders Quorum of the Nevada's side of the Stake.  I am so proud and happy of my work in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We have a new calling a great one, we're over the Elderonic in this fine little town.  We have a lot of fine brethren to work with.  We need your help and advice to start this great work of yours and the Lords.  I am going to do this work the way you and the Lord want me to; one hundred percent.

     I do a lot of fasting and praying, I am humble and over joyed.  I know I have to get down on my knees and pray, that will be the answer, but I need your advice to.  I would drive a million miles to just hear you talk and shake your hand.  I love the church, it has brought so much happiness in our family.  I have a boy 19 years old and is going on a mission this Summer, a girl 17 years old that wants to go on a mission too.  Another boy 14 that I just ordained to the office of a Teacher, and a girl that just turned 9 years old.  I also have a lovely wife who has been by my side all the time in my work with the Lord.  Her name is Beverly Simkins and she is the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society.

     We have one of the nicest Bishop that you could ever ask for, Bishop Ronald Lee Clark.  We have our Bishops Council Meeting every Sunday morning.  When you go in that room you can feel the spirit of the Lord there.  There are ten brothern that meet there every Sunday morning, we go over all the business in the ward.  We also have a fine Stake Presidency, the meetings I go to help me so much in my work as a Group Leader in the Elders Quorum.

     This is my Testimony to you Dear President, That I know this is the true Church, that God lives, he hears and answers prayers.  He has answered a lot of my prayers.  I would like to have your letter to put in my Book of Remembrance.

     I know dear President that if we will live his commandments the way our Lord wants us to that the windows of Heaven will be open.  I've been married in the Temple for time and eternity, I want to live with my family again.  I would like to hear from you soon.  I am going to put this in my Book of Remembrance.  This will make my Testamony grow stronger just to hear from you.

Yours Very Truly,

Elder James Clyde Simkins