PORT OF SPAIN BRANCH

Journals of Basil Dermot Borde
1982

Jan. 1 - Felicia, Jean and myself stayed at the Knudsen's home. The Knudsens came from Utah. Bruce Knudsen was Branch President of the Trinidad Branch at the time. He invited us to stay at his home before our departure to Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A. My family and I were given an opportunity and blessing to go to Utah to experience the Church in its fullness and so that I could receive needed medical attention.

Jan. 2 - The Knudsens went to Mayaro in the early part of the week and found themselves in a predicament while rafting in the rough Mayaro sea which led to some of the family almost drowning. (The author is personally familiar with Br. Bruce Knudsen bearing his testimony of how the Lord saved his family. He bore this testimony many times.)

Jan. 4 - Church was held at the Port of Spain City Hall on the third floor.

Jan. 7 - Full-time Missionaries came to Trinidad from Venezuela. Elders Patterson and Renolds stayed with us at the Knudsen's hare and Sister missionaries, two of them, stayed at Br.Carter's home in San Fernando.

Jan. 12 - We left Trinidad for Salt Lake City, Utah. We were met in Salt Lake by Bishop Evans, Br.Claude and Br. Kenneth Hanni. We lived on a street called - Laurel Hurst Drive, Foothill.

Jan. 13 - The Relief Society President, Rita Nash, brought some winter coats and showed us around Salt Lake City. Some Relief Society Sisters prepared dinner for us. The warmth of the Mormon friendship and support were beyond our best prediction. The Bishop said there would be a lot of work for me to perform here.

Jan. 15 - We met Bruce Knudsen's parents.

Jan. 17 - Our first Sacrament Meeting in Monument Park Eight Ward. I spoke in Priesthood meeting.

Feb. 12 - I gave the closing prayer at Stake Conference.

Jan. 20 - I worked at Welfare Square under the direction of Bishop Randy Moore - Asst. coordinator

Jan. 30 - I spoke with Daniel Rector - one of the missionaries from 1977.

Feb. 6 - The whole family bore their testimonies in Fast and Testimony meeting

Feb. 14 - My first experience of Stake Conference. Elder Jacob de Jager of the Seventy.

Feb. 21 - Felicia was called as a Den Mother for Cub Scouts and Relief Society Usher. I called as Public Relations person for the ward.

Feb 22 - I started on the Ward magazine called 'Monthly Notes'. Jean helped with some of the art work.

Mar 3 - I met the Sanders, a missionary couple who served in Trinidad while we were there. Br.Sanders described our conversion and coming to Utah as a 'miracle'.

Mar. 10 - Felicia used her experience in beauty and hair care to cut visitors and workers hair at Welfare Square.

Mar. 14 - I met Mike Sammons, a member who heard me speak. He was a 'double' for a famous actor in Hollywood..

April - Watched General Conference for the first time here. Heard from Pres. Spencer Kimball

April 12 - Read a book called ' Thoughts for 100 Days by Richard Evans, ' The worst punishment of all is that in the court of his own conscience no guilty man is acquitted'.

May 25 - Met Elder Hartman Rector at the Church Office Building.

July 14 - Felicia and I were Endowed and Sealed for Time and all Eternity at the Salt Lake Temple by Howard Hatch. Jean was sealed to us. (The author later found out while doing some copies for family history that Brother Hatch is Sister Merna Johnson's cousin.)

July 17 - Did work for the dead by proxy at the Salt Lake Temple.

Aug. 2- Met with Bruce and Ardis Knudsen in Salt Lake City. They came up for a few months from Trinidad.

Aug. 4 - Did work at the Jordan River Temple.

Aug. 5 - The Wardles ( friends I met at Welfare Square) took us to a baseball game. The game was between the Phoenix Giants - Arizona and the Gulls - Utah. The Giants won by one home run and the score ended at 4 - 3. I had a different idea about baseball, it is interesting but far from the standard of cricket.

Aug. 6 - We went to the 'Festival of the West' at Logan, Utah. We tasted Buffalo burgers and Indian bread which was like T&Ts fried bakes. We spoke with Barbara Smith the Relief Society General President. We took photographs with her and her friends.

Aug. 11 - Went to West Jordan Tangle.

Aug. 15 - Met Robert E. Wells of the Seventy. He said to me, "You are a gifted newspaper man with a strong sway in your country. What can I do for you ? I will be meeting with Pres. Dale E. Miller soon." I did not ask for anything and said I was happy with the ward.

Aug. 22 - The Knudsens spoke at our ward. They touched on missionary work and the members in Trinidad.

Sep. - (The author has read in Basil Borde's journals many visits to the temples in Salt Lake, St. George and Jordan River, so I will make no more mention of dates of these events.)

Sep. 30 - Met with Robert E. Wells and Barbara Smith.

Oct. 20 - Met the Richardsons, a missionary couple who served a mission in Trinidad (He confirmed the Author a member of the Church. They played a great part in the progress of the Church in Trinidad.) and he looked well.

Dec. 23 - Elder Marion G. Romney visited Welfare Square.

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1983

Jan. 2 - I received my Teacher Certificate during the announcements part of sacrament meeting.

Jan. 17 - We had an interview with the Deseret News about our history in the Church.

Feb. 12 - I gave the closing prayer at Stake Conference. Elder Marvin J. Ashton was presiding. I prayed especially for countries like Trinidad who still needed the Government to 'open its doors' for missionaries to spread the Gospel.

Mar. 6 - We were featured in the Church News.

Mar. 15 - I met with Barbara Smith and Elaine Cannon (Young Women's General President) at the Church Office Building. They gave me a lot of literature for Trinidad and promised to write.

Ma r. 23 - Back in Trinidad. Spent over 14 months in Utah.

Mar. 27 - Attended Church at City Hall. I learnt that Pres. Lloyd is now the Venezuelan mission President.

April 9 - Elaine Cannon wrote.

May 1 - Jimmy Payne died in an accident. (Husband to Lucy Payne)

June 12 - Pres. Lloyd spoke at sacrament meeting about the 'big difference between material things against spiritual gains

June 19 - The Branch President Bruce Knudsen called Carl Gobin and Reuben Renwick Raphael as 1st and 2nd Counselors. Br. Knudsen also told us that the Trinidad Branch would now be under the West Indies mission and not under the Caracas Venezuela Mission.

June 26 - Pres. Ken Zabrisky of the Florida mission was in Sacrament meeting. A luncheon was held at the Knudsen's home in honor of him.

Aug. 1 - Mormon Mini Marathon sponsored by the Church. I manned a water station with my wife and one of the Raphael's sons in Diego Martin. It was an enjoyable race but not enough publicity on it.

Aug. 20 - I received my Patriarchal blessing from Owen Cooke. He is presently serving with his wife in the Caracas Venezuela Mission.

Aug. 21 - Met with Elder Ronald E. Poleman at church. He also had talks with the missionaries.

Sep. 18 - I learnt that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will be featured on radio for 15 minutes.

Oct. 2 - Due to unfortunate circumstances (probably not yet having incorporation) caused all the missionaries to depart from Trinidad to Jamaica and Barbados. This was by order of the T&T Government.

Nov. 27 - Sacrament meeting consisted of the Carters, Jattans, Carl Gobin, Raphaels, Ablacks, Knudsens, Paynes, Rogers, my family and one or two visitors.

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1984

Jan. 1 - Church services are now held at the home of the Knudsens

Jan. 22 - Church is now held at the Eastmond's home in St.Anns.

Feb. 19 - 'The first branch newsletter put out today, I called it the, 'Mormon Happenings'.

April 8 - 'The first Branch Conference presided over by Pres. Zabrisky The theme was - 'Keeping on the straight and narrow path'

May 27 - Pres. Spencer W. Kimball sent a letter to Jean in reply to some art work Jean had sent to him a few weeks ago. The letter was read in sacrament meeting. A family called the Toppins, from Barbados, started attending our Branch today.

June 29 - I learned that the mission headquarters is now in Barbados.

1986

Oct. 4 - The Branch now meets at 109 Long Circular Rd.

Nov. 8 - George and Dora Evans, a new missionary couple, are now in Trinidad.

There are a lot more to my father 's journals, but I felt the above would be best suited to this book. I could probably write a book on just him alone. This shows how important it is to keep a journal.

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