Bio of Bob Burdette

Married to Conna Lee. Children: Aaron age 24, Melissa age 22, Bart age 20, Seth age 11, Mark age 9, Matt age 7. We have a basketball team and a cheerleader, five boys and a girl. My oldest son has recently graduated from the University of Utah and is applying to law schools around the country. He wants to get out of Utah and learn about the rest of the country. My daughter is in nursing school now. She is engaged to be married and wants to finish her education prior to taking the big "M" step. My next son, Bart, is a hockey player. He just finished skating this season with the Jr. Grizzles. He would love to continue his hockey career but his dad would like him to return to college. Gee, who do you think will win this debate? My next three sons are in grammar school. They play basketball, soccer and baseball. We love these children, each one, and spend a good deal of time preparing them for their future lives.

I was fortunate to live, for a while, in an area that had a serious need for Church service. During that time I was a counselor in the bishopric. Now we live in an area that has no need for more Church leadership so I visit two families each month along with my home teaching companion. I teach accounting and income tax classes at Salt Lake Community College. This is the most satisfying job I have ever had. Prior to teaching I worked as a CPA for 15 years. I now get every holiday off and every weekend off and spring break and summer vacations and I really like this schedule.

I love to spend time with my children doing sports. It seems like every weekend we are involved in some kind of sport activity. I like to ride motorcycles in the mountains and deserts around Utah. In the wintertime I park the motorcycle and pull out the snowmobile. A few years ago we started to build a cabin in the mountains. I love to spend time at the cabin. I doubt I'll ever finish working on the cabin because then I'd lose my excuse to go there.

I graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelors degree in Accounting and then started working in a CPA firm. Many years later I returned to school to get a Masters degree in Taxation from the Washington School of Law. This, however, is nothing compared to the lessons I have been taught by life itself. I have been a scoutmaster, a basketball coach, an assistant baseball coach, a delegate to the county and state political conventions for my party. I think family should come first and this kind of stuff should take its rightful place behind everything else.

Companions: I'd have to look this information up. It has been six lifetimes since I have seen or heard from anyone. Areas in which I served: Comayaguala, Honduras, Turrialba, Costa Rica, Panama City, Panama, Citre, Panama, Kennedy, Honduras, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Managua, Nicaragua

My mission was the most trying time of my life up to that point. It tested my faith and my strength. I was fortunate to serve with strong, faithful men who stood by me through each day. I grew to love the people of Central America. I learned to love the language for which I struggled to understand. I learned to look outside of myself and find happiness. I learned to live on very little money and not feel oppressed. I learned to serve my Father in Heaven. I grew from this experience. It gave me a firmer foundation upon which I could build much of my life today. I am very glad I had the opportunity to serve the Lord these two years. I came away a better man because of it.