Larry Richman’s Missionary Companions
Pictures of my companions and other missionaries, including preparation day trips. (We really didn’t dress like that all the time!)
Chronology
Mission Home
Horald Scott Hess from Ozark, Alabama
Language Training Mission (LTM)
Dan McClurg from Hopkinsville, Kentucky
El Salvador
- Mathew Greer in Ahuachapán from 10-5-74 to 12-27-74
Guatemala
- Val Dean Bell in Retalhuleu from 12-27-74 to 1-16-75
- Matthew Fenn Hilton in Retalhuleu from 1-16-75 to 2-4-75
- David Frischknecht in Patzicía from 2-4-75 to 5-29-75
- Samuel Schmutz in Patzicía from 5-29-75 to 9-3-75
- James Aaron Nelson in Patzicía from 9-3-75 to 10-22-75
- Daniel Choc in Comalapa from 10-22-75 to 12-3-75
- Gary W. Larson in Comalapa from 12-3-75 to 2-4-76
- Luis Manuel Argueta in Patzicía earthquake camp from 2-4-76 to 3-31-76
- Bradley Wayne Hixson in Comalapa from 3-31-76 to 5-26-76
- Greg Sansom in Sololá from 5-26-76 to 7-7-76
- David Frischknecht in Patzicía from 7-8-76 to 8-3-76
See various missionary assignment sheets.
Mathew Greer
Mathew and his wife served as mission president in the Mexico Xalapa Mission, July 2014- 2017. Mathew Charles Greer, 60, and Terrilyn Haynes Greer, four children, Elliot Ward, Gilbert Arizona Stake: Mexico Xalapa Mission, succeeding President Paulo Lopez and Sister Josefina Melo de Lopez. Brother and Sister Greer recently served as Perpetual Education Fund missionaries in the Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission. Brother Greer is a former stake Young Men president, bishop, stake executive secretary, institute teacher, temple ordinance worker and missionary in the Guatemala/El Salvador Mission. Retired senior account manager, Alcon Labs. Born in Provo, Utah, to Charles Edward Greer and Barbara Ann Johnson Greer. Sister Greer is a former counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Young Women president, Relief Society compassionate service leader, temple ordinance worker and ward missionary. Born in Provo, Utah, to Lawrence Clark Haynes and Ardath LaRue Olsen Haynes.
Van Dean Bell
David Frischknecht
Elder Frischknecht’s nicknames were “Mellow Frischknecht” and “Frishmar” (because the people couldn’t say “Frischknecht” and they confused “Frischknecht” and “Richman”). His favorite line was “Keep Smiling.”

Elder David Frischknecht vaccinating chickens in the marketplace in Patzicía, Guatemala, on Wednesday, February 19, 1975

Telegram from Elder Frischknecht and Elder Choc (Chonecht) to the “chumps” Elders Richman and Argueta. The word “Phone” in the signature was code to phone them to confirm.

Telegram from Elders Frischknecht and Choc in Sumpango to Elders Taz Evans, Larry Richman, and Manuel Argueta in Comalapa
Samuel Schmutz
Daniel Choc
Elder Daniel Choc Xicay was the first full-time LDS missionary from the town of Patzicía and the Church’s first native Cakchiquel-speaking missionary. Elder Choc died serving his people. Read a tribute to Elder Choc.
Gary W. Larson
Luis Manuel Argueta
Elder Argueta went by “Manuel.” His nicknames were “El Manín” and “El Peli.”
On September 27, 1976, Elder Luis Manuel “Manin” Argueta sent me a letter from Patzún telling me what was happening in the mission. He also said [translated from Spanish] “You will always be my best friend. When you were here, I gave you a hard time and I probably did not show it, but you are my best friend. I have confided in you things that I have never told anyone else. I really miss your example and your help. It’s messed up to have such a good friend so far away and not be able to talk with you whenever I want. It is hard to develop a sincere friendship or find a true friend, but I feel that I’ve done it with you, and I hope that never changes.”
I received a Christmas card from him in 1979. And that was the last letter I got from him.
Bradley Wayne Hixson
Greg Sansom
Typical study hour in Patzicía. Elder Warnock, Elder Howard, and Elder Frischknecht. Elder Frischknecht: “I remember Larry and I sharing a room with Elders Warnock and Howard at a panadería in Patzicía. Larry’s bed was to the left of mine (if I was lying on my back); Elder Howard’s was to the right of mine and Elder Warnock’s to the right of his. We divided the words from Alma 38:12 into four parts and placed a phrase over each bed. Elder Warnock: Use boldness but not overbearing. Elder Howard: See that ye bridle all your passions. Mine: That ye may be filled with love (still working on that). Larry’s: See that ye refrain from idleness (That’s not been a problem for him).”

Elder Richman in the room in Patzicía writing a letter home. My mother said she received a letter faithfully every week of my mission, except for a few that were delayed because of the earthquake in 1976.

Elder Larry Richman’s passport photo. My nicknames were “Dance,” “Dancing Larry,” and “Beyon Achin.”

Elders Richman, Martin, and Frischknecht in Antigua, Guatemala in 1974 before a hike up the volcano Agua.
On February 2, 1976, the Monday before the earthquake, Elders Robbins, Howard, Argueta, and I took a trip to Zaculeu, a Maya archaeological site about 4 kilometres outside of Huehuetenango. The site was occupied by Mayans from 250–600AD. Zaculeu was the capital of the Postclassic Mam kingdom and was conquered by the K’iche’ Kingdom of Q’umarkaj.

At Zaculeu, February 2, 1976. Elders Robbins, Argueta, and Howard. Elder Argueta is displaying the embroidered butterfly on the back of his shirt (made by his mom).

Elder Luis Manuel “El Manin” Argueta. We had some great late-night talks while we were tent mates at Camp Patzicía. He taught me a lot about Latin culture and the Latin way of seeing the world. Some nights it took tape to get us both to stop talking and go to sleep.

Elder Bleak Powell and Sister Gladys Powell in a native blouse and skirt in 1975 by the church in Patzicía, Guatemala before the earthquake.
See the Christmas card from the mission December 1977-78. It has pictures of missionaries who were starting their mission when I finished mine. It also has some people from the Guatemalan wards I served in who where by then missionaries themselves. See the Christmas card from the mission December 1979. It has pictures of missionaries I met in Guatemala the summers following my mission and also some people from the Guatemalan wards I served in who where by then missionaries themselves.