Bio of Daniel McLaughlin

Family: Married Patricia Ann Dyer June 7th, 1980 in the St. George Temple. Patricia is a wonderful wife and mother with a very tender heart. She goes out of her way to help people and always picks up lost dogs so they don't get hit by car and the does her best to find their owner. She graduated from BYU with a degree in Early Childhood Education and supported me through three years at BYU and four years of Medical School. Patricia is a support and an example for me and I am truly blessed to have her as my wife and my friend.

Children: Catherine Lynn, 22 - Lived in Germany for three years, took two years of German in High School and two years at BYU. Put in her Mission Papers and of course expected to be called to a German Speaking mission. She is currently serving in the Nagoya, Japan Mission and will complete her mission Oct. 16th. She spent 10 days in Japan as a Sister Cities exchange student and did not have a very enjoyable time. When she came back she said that she would never eat rice again. There must have been something else that she needed to learn. Patricia and I will be flying to Japan in October to get her. Daniel William, Jr., 20 - Dan has decided to take the harder path in life and has just recently moved back home while he is trying to get his life back in order. He does not see a mission as being important or a part of his life. We continue to pray for him. David Bryant, 14 - In junior high, swims on the High School Swim Team. He loves playing the piano, the drums and is working on the guitar. He is really enjoying being able to attend Seminary this year. Kelley Nicole, 14 – In Junior High, plays Soccer on the High School JV Team. She plays the piano, but would rather play with her horse, Louie. She does Equestrian Jumping. She also loves Seminary.

Church: I have spent most of my time working with the youth in the church. I have been in the Scouting program, served several times as the Deacons Quorum Adviser. I have been the Elder's Quorum President and councilor, Ward Mission Leader and on the Ward Activities Committee. I am currently serving in the Stake Sunday School Presidency. The hardest calling I have had to endure was my wife as the Young Woman's Ward Camp Director for the past two years. Fortunately, she was just released from this calling (for life the Bishop has promised - or until he is released!).

Education: I graduated from BYU with a BA in Spanish and a Minor in Biology. I attended the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno. I completed a Family Practice residency in Lubbock, Texas

Work: When I started as a freshman at BYU before my mission, I wanted to be an Electrical Engineer when I grew up. After spending two year in CA, I learned two things. One, after seeing all the poverty, I decided that I wanted to do something that would allow me to provide for and take care of my family, even if things got very tough. Second, I wanted to do something where I could work with people. Electrical Engineering just did not seem to fulfill those criteria. Being a physician did. So, in spite of the medical field councilor at BYU telling me that I would never get into medical school, I did it any way. I applied to one medical school and got in. (I only applied to the medical school in Reno, NV - I thought, if they would not take me, no one else would, and why would I want to go some place and pay out of state tuition.) I managed to struggle though med school and then did a Family Practice Residency in Lubbock, TX. From there we shipped off with four kids (David and Kelley were just over a year old) and our dog to Germany for three years with the Army. We were there for the fall of the Wall and were in Berlin for the German Reunification.

While I support our country and the military, one thing really makes me think - after being on the inside of the military - if we are the greatest military power in the world, then I really feel sorry for the militaries of the rest of the world. After Germany we spent 10 months in Death Valley at the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin. Deciding that the military life was not for me, I left the Army Medical Corps with no tears shed and moved to Idaho Falls, where I am currently in practice with two other Family Physicians and two Nurse Practitioners. We do Family Medicine and Obstetrics (delivering babies). A humorous note on this - several weeks ago in our Gospel Doctrine Class, the instructor was trying to make a point and asked if anyone had ever delivered a baby without an epidural. Remembering the many ladies that I had delivered without an epidural and the painful experience it had been, I immediately raised my hand without thinking. Those who knew me got a good laugh and the teacher was kind enough to explain to the new people in the Ward that I was a physician who delivered babies. A last note about work - there is a fairly large Latin population here in Southeast Idaho and I have the opportunity to speak Spanish on an almost daily basis.

Hobbies: Cowboy Action Shooting, target shooting and reloading. Photography - thanks to Jeff Perkens who convinced me to get my first Canon AE-1. I now have two Canon F-1s, a Canon T-90 and a Sony Digital Camera. Snow skiing - Grand Targhee one hour away- some of the best snow on earth.

Comps: Elder Pulley - MTC

Elder David Frame - Comayagüela, Honduras

Elder Forrest Williams - Comayagüela, Honduras

Elder Robin Hiatt - Comayagüela, Honduras

Elder Robert Connell - Comayagüela, Honduras

Elder Blair Howell - Matagalpa, Nicaragua

Elder Fred Vega - Matagalpa, Nicaragua

Elder Jeff Perkens - Matagalpa, Nicaragua

Elder Mark Pugmire - Alajuela, Costa Rica

Elder David Fish - Alajuela, Costa Rica

Elder Tony Martineau - Alajuela, Costa Rica

Elder Mitch Larson - Choluteca, Honduras

Elder Alan Beard - Choluteca, Honduras

Elder Denny Kartchner - Pedregal (Panama City), Panama

Eternal Companion - Patricia Dyer McLaughlin

Areas Served: Comayagüela, Honduras; Matagalpa, Nicaragua; Alajuela, Costa Rica; Choluteca, Honduras; Pedregal (Panama City), Panama

Memories: Of course my favorite story is skiing down the sawdust hill in Comayagüela on the "Olin Mark IV" skies. One story that I always enjoyed was about the Zone in Nicaragua that went to see the movie JAWS. Later that week they had baptisms scheduled which were to be done in Lake Nicaragua which is famous for having the worlds only fresh water sharks. No one wanted to get in the water for the baptisms after having seen JAWS. I was not there and can't confirm that this is true. If anyone was there, I would love to hear about it.

The thing that I best remember is traveling back to CA with great plans of starting a truck importation business and driving into Matagalpa the day the revolution started. I know that I was being watched over as I did not get shot when I was crazy enough (read: STUPID) to walk though the rebel held area from the Familia Lay's house to see the missionaries and my old dona. I was stopped twice and on the second occasion I was sure I was going to be shot by this young kid with a big .45 pistol. I was saved when some one yelled that the guardia was coming and he became more interested in that. I took off running around the corner, hoping and praying that he would not shoot me in the back. I did make it back to the Lay's and a couple of days later made in back out of town with the Lay's and the Cruz Roja escorting us.

When I speak Spanish to my patients, I remember the time I spent in CA teaching the Gospel and being taught by great companions and humble members and investigators. When I need to be bold or assertive, I remember President Eagar saying: "Knock on those door like you mean it. No Milktoast knocks." I remember the one room dirt floored houses and I realize how greatly I have been blessed. I still have a copy of the song "CA Royal Army" which I occasionally listen to. Even 25 years after completing my mission, it still has an impact on my life almost daily. If I had the chance to do my mission again, I would do it in a second!