Bio of Jerry Pulley

Family: It took a while to find her but I finally got married to Terri Nelson in 1989. It was worth the wait! Thus, my oldest is just entering Young Women, and it will be 12 years before my son enters the mission field. At least I will be the last Grandfather of my group. Our children are Christine (12) who likes ballet, Julia (10), who enjoys basketball, and James (7), who is always talking and being a boy. We have lived in Murrieta, California for the past 12 years.

I returned to the mission in 1983 and visited for four weeks, just when the Southern rebels started a new front in Nicaragua. The only tense moments were the bus checks in with solders carrying AK-47 rifles.

Church: A variety of callings. I am currently serving as the High Counselor over the Spanish Branch. As the only High Counselor who speaks Spanish, I speak at the branch every other month.

Education: Graduated from BYU in 1981 with a BS in Economics. Received a MBA from BYU in 1983. Returned to school (UCLA) and obtained another Master’s in School Psychology.

Work: After a six-year business career and hating it, I switched careers to be a School Psychologist, where I work with, assess, and test children for special education services. Like Elder Sturgess, I really enjoy being in a school setting and working with kids. I am assigned to schools to where I use my Spanish almost everyday and love working with the Latino people.

Hobbies: Cooking, reading, hiking, and enjoying my family.

Comps: I had the best comps! I roomed with Elder Sturgess for three years after my mission

Areas served: I was a 4-country elder!

Dichos: One kid, instead of saying “Que le vaya bien”, would say “Que le mata un tren.”

In Nicaragua, one would say “esto es una vina” for “this is a problem.”

Memories: Beans and rice, working so hard you think 13 investigators were going to show up on Sunday, but having only 1 attend, Elder Rollins and I teaching our landlady English by telling her “Muy Bien Gracias” was “I pick my nose,” and President’s Kimball’s visit.

The little white book said that your mission would be the spiritual foundation of your life. I can testify that this had been true in my life. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve. I appreciate Presidents Eager and Muren, my companions, and the wonderful people for making my mission what it was.