ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Although this book is about the History of the Saints in Trinidad and Tobago, you my wonder what gave me the 'bright idea' that I should compile it. Just encase your thoughts have rested upon that question, I will give you a - briefing on myself.

My mother, Felicia J. Borde, said I was a heavy nine months that caused her to eat a lot of mangoes. She always reminds me of the three days of painful labor that followed as I gave trouble to come into the world. Probably I enjoyed the warm luxury inside my mother's womb rather than the cold slap on my butt that the doctor was sure to give me at the St.Clair Nursing Home, in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Nevertheless the miracle of birth took place and I was here. I had an interesting childhood, growing up with what seemed to me to be a very adult world. We had many problems in our own family, but I bless the day my father found the missionaries. I was five when my parents were baptized. I was baptized in the mission home's pool located next to the Botanic Gardens, St. Anns, Trinidad at the age of eight by Pres. Dale E. Miller (now a member of the Seventy) and Elder Murray V. Richardson (a patriarch) confirmed me the same day, 25th September, 1980.

At age 10, I joyfully was sealed to my parents in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a maturing and humbling experience for me. We were the first Trinidadian family to do so that I knew of. During our stay in Utah, I was able to attend primary and cub scouting fully. Primary seemed to be bigger than the Arima Branch's membership. Upon returning to Trinidad, I was happy to see the Branch grow pleasantly between my eleventh and fourteenth years. I received the Aaronic priesthood under the hands of Elder Eastmond, a former senior missionary that served here. I later lived in Maryland, U.S.A. for about a year. I attended the Towson Ward and was called as secretary and 1st counselor in the Teachers' quorum (so big was the priesthood, that each quorum had a presidency). I was on 'cloud nine' when I went with the Ward's youth group to perform ordinance work at the Washington, D.C. Temple. I began to understand how a Ward operated aglow in full capacity. I received my patriarchal blessing at the age of 15 under the hands of Alden H. Halsey. This blessing has powerful significant implications for me especially among my people. I was captivated by it. George Mc Gimsey, my home teacher, got me involved in Varsity Scouting. I was able to tackle skiing and camping in the snow rain and heat. I learned all my camping skills from him. This would prove very valuable later on.

My seventeenth and nineteenth years enabled me to once again see the luminous Port of Spain Branch grow positively firm with expansions in Sangre Grande and Arima. I served in the positions of Young Mens' Advisor, Group Scout leader and Branch Mission Leader. I graduated from seminary having completed the standard works. By my nineteenth birthday I had read all the scriptures at least once and finished studying seven major Church related books prior to my mission.

I was first called to the Utah Provo Mission by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson and then later I was reassigned⁽⁹⁾ to the England Manchester Mission by that same prophet. My mission president, Pres. Terry R. Clegg and his wife, have helped my soul greatly in a way I cannot describe. Their vast experience in the Church is something to behold. Serving the Lord under their intrepid direction has truly been a high point in my life for fervent good. They have lovingly awakened me to a sense of my duty to God by serving my fellow man. Truly I was blessed to be in England during the period they served there. During that period I served in the capacity of a Trainer, District Leader (6 months), and zone leader (almost a year). I've been blessed to have met many of the General Authorities both in personal sacred settings and in training conferences. Elders Jeffrey R. Holland and Richard G. Scott have especially etched memories in my heart. Their instruction came as a 'bolt of lightning', a 'spiritual fire' from heaven. They truly are spiritual giants. I received my endowment a year into my mission in the rededicated London temple This was another inspiring time in my life which caused me to reflect on Moses 1:10. Prior to my return here, I spent five days in the London temple doing eight generations of ordinance work until it was all completed. It was not easy by any means but, I was totally grateful and gratified for the Lord giving me this opportunity that many others don't have the means themselves to visit a temple of the Lord. I then understood Heber C. Kimball's tearful recollection of his mission to England, for I had tears in my eyes too, being overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit the day before I left England

Thirty-nine hours after returning home from my mission, I was called by Pres. Reuben Raphael, the Branch President of the Port of Spain Branch, to serve as Branch Clerk and Young Men's Advisor. Two months later I was also called as Executive Secretary as well. When I wrote this work I was serving as the 2nd Counselor in the Branch Presidency and Family History teacher. I resumed my theological studies and completed institute as well as a study of religions of the world.

I have seen the Branch with only four members out on a Sunday to its amazing 700+ members in the combined Branches. My eyes have beheld the Church in embryo here and in its fullness abroad. I do not claim the above experiences make me any greater than another member but I do view what the Lord has given me as an opportunity to share with others a basic panoramic view of the Saints' progress here.

I believe in Christ. He is my Savior my Lord my Judge, my Advocate with the Father. I have felt of His Spirit and know that He lives. He is the Good Shepherd and He knows His sheep. Often I think of King Benjamin's(10) address to his people in which he exclaimed,

"I would that ye should remember and always retain in remembrance the greatness of God, and your own nothingness and His goodness and long-suffering towards you..." Mosiah 4:11,Book Of Mormon.

Truly Christ is the example which we must follow. Our determination as to whether we will follow him as our desires take hold of our heart will be decided by no other question but that which is located in Matthew chapter twenty-two, verse forty-two:

"What Think Ye Of Christ ?"

Our answer provides the cause, our action is the judgment. I think of Him as my personal champion who conquered the greatest challenges of mankind. This Warrior of Truth fought with patience, humility, and not with sword. Well did Isaiah record of Christ when he wrote,

"For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground he hath no form nor comeliness and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." Isaiah 53:2-5,7-8,10, KJV Bible

I hope this book can help you come in some way come closer to Jesus Christ for He does live, and has established his Church in these last days to enable us to return to live with our Heavenly Father. The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints is God's true Church upon the earth, I know this through His Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

"A testimony is one of the few possessions we may take with us when we leave this life."
- Ezra Taft Benson (Ensign, May 12 P8. 62)

"The best way to obtain truth and wisdom is not to ask it from books, but to go to God in prayer and obtain divine teaching."
- Joseph Smith (TPJS, pg. 191.)

9. At that time the US Embassy would not issue R-1s to Trinidadians
10. A righteous king who showed his love for the people and his Lord through his spiritual leadership. See the Book of Mormon 143-159.

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