The Letter

Sometime in April 2014 President Day asked us to send a letter of introduction about Connor to him and his wife in Taiwan.  I sent it via email.

As I sat down to write it, many things crossed my mind and even when it was finished and I was quite satisfied that this would let them know all they needed to know about Connor when he arrived.  I then questioned the length of the letter, but after reading it several times, I felt I couldn't shorten it without depriving them of information they needed to know about this precious baby we were sending them.  So I felt satisfied, and emailed it off.

Here it is:

                                                                                 April 26^th 2014

Dear President Day,

         As your letter arrived… we thought this would be the safest way to ensure this arrived on time for you… another will be sent for Elder Thredgold personally as your letter suggested.

         Connor came to our home in what we view as a bit of a miracle, we've called him that and an "angel baby" as well.  He came only 2 weeks early, but would not breathe and spent 10 days in intensive care.  He came after prayer and consideration of having another child… and Father in Heaven answered that prayer with a  "Yep, he's coming" to your home.  His brothers are 10, 8, and 6 years older than he is.  After many blessings and many miracles… Connor was able to come home.  His brothers treated him like a toy and loved having him around.  Each day when his oldest brother would come home from school, he would throw down his backpack and declare: "Where's MY baby"!

         Connor was born in Arizona and went to school there until he was only a month into his Kindergarten year.  We moved to Utah to be closer to his father's parents and within 6 months his great grandmother passed away… still a Kindergartner, we watched as this tiny angel went to the side of his grandfather and proceeded to preach the Plan of Salvation to a grandfather who for many years was inactive.  He asked his grandfather if he missed his mom, to which he said "yes"… and then Connor told him she was in Heaven and that this was just her "body".  He preached many other things as well… As parents overhearing this exchange… we were overwhelmed by his wisdom!

         Connor played all sports well, enjoys golf, tennis, basketball especially, shooting guns, mud-running in Moab and especially spending time with his brothers.

         Connor's brother's include Brian, a 29 year old who served a mission in Iowa.  He was married in July 2012 in the Logan Temple and went straight off to Law School in Arizona and will graduate in December.

         Shane is 27 and served a mission in South Dakota.  He is married and has given Connor a beautiful niece Aria and a nephew Blake Griffin Thredgold… YES, like the basketball star… but Griffin is also a Thredgold family name.

         Brandon is 25 and opted not to serve a mission but to go to UTI and get married.  He is one of Connor's biggest supporters and wishes he himself had served a mission and wanted to make sure Connor decided to go and not have the regret he is carrying. Brandon was sealed in the Temple a year ago.  

         Family is important to Connor.  He chose to use the name of John Booz on the Stake Youth Conference trek while in Wyoming.   John is his 4th great granduncle… and though John was NOT a member of the early church, has had his Temple work done.  John's photo hangs in the hallway and he is 17 years old and dressed in his Civil War uniform… which has been fascinating for Connor.  He has listened to his mother talk about the Booz family for years.

         Connor's mom is a genealogist and works full time for an auto parts store.  Connor's father is a photographer and owns his own studio.

         Connor is an Eagle Scout and has loved the Scouting program and earned all his requirements quite early… he put off his Eagle Rank till later, but fulfilled his requirements with proud Scout Leaders and younger boys looking on at his Eagle Court of Honor… which he DID NOT wish to have… he does not like recognition and his Scout Leaders had to push him to do this for the benefit of the younger boys.  His brother Brandon who is also an Eagle Scout (all 4 boys are), ALSO did not want the recognition and spotlight of an Eagle Court when he earned his rank… and we abided by his wishes and did not make him have  one.  Brandon spoke at Connor's Eagle Court (this was miraculous) and how proud he was of him and that he decided to have his Court of Honor. 

         Connor LOVES to tear things apart and put them back together… he's spent lots of money doing this and has earned lots of money re-selling refurbished computers and RC cars!!  He can fix ANYTHING, and we will miss his skills (and already have) around here fixing our computers and TV and electronic stuff.

         One of Connor's many admirable traits is his desire to work hard.  His job before he left was at a carpet cleaning/disaster restoration business.  He earned a supervisor position at the age of barely 18!!!!  It was not uncommon for that baby to work more than 18 to 20 hours straight.  Momma worried sometimes, but Connor NEVER complained AT ALL….  He kept working and was extremely proud of his jobs.  It came in handy when he was able to bring the work truck down to his father's studio one evening after 10pm when the water line in the ceiling burst and sent RUNNING WATER into the ceiling which caved it in and sent a mess of drywall and water everywhere on expensive equipment, furniture and props.  That sweet boy worked all night cleaning up the mess!!

         Connor also was responsible for visiting Sister Davis, an older home-bound woman in the ward.  This responsibility came to be a huge blessing in Connor's life as he and other young men served her and she in turn blessed each of their lives.  He still speaks of her in his emails.

         Connor also took Chinese in High School for 2 or 3 years… he seemed to really love the culture and opportunity to learn this language.  We were was fascinated at his inquisitive nature about this culture.  So when his mission call came…  we were a bit shocked (mom served a mission to California, Dad to Ohio, Brothers to Iowa and South Dakota) that he would be going foreign…  NOT Connor… he didn't seem a bit surprised, his only comment was that maybe he should have paid more attention in class!!  Cute Kid!

         These qualities and many others will make Connor an honorable and hard working missionary for the Lord and for you.  We hope he will bless the lives of those he comes in contact with as he has our lives here at home… and that he will be someone else's "Angel" in Taiwan.

         We truly feel much like Hannah of the Old Testament in presenting to you (and Father in Heaven) our baby boy… do with him as you and Father in Heaven see fit… may he be a blessing to those he serves and as obedient as Samuel…

Sincerely,

Greg and Cindy Thredgold

         This was one of the first things I thought of when we were informed of Connors death.  And frankly I wished I could take it back... the part of letting President Day and Father in Heaven doing with him as they saw fit!!  I almost felt like I told Father in Heaven it would be "OK" to take him home!  I almost wished I could take it back.

         When Elder Perkins spoke at Connor's funeral he made mention of this phrase in the letter... and remarked that it was "quite prophetic".  Again, I wished I could take it all back!  I had to decide in my mind if I was really dedicating my baby boy to the Lord with no reservations.  I WAS... BUT....

         In the months after the introduction letter was written and sent, and in the months after Connor's death, I had to come to grips that what I had written in that letter  I REALLY MEANT... I really did!  So if Father in Heaven saw fit to take him back... I was "content" with that decision.  After all... we DID get to keep him 19 years longer than we thought we would!