<code> Thousands of Dominican Republic and Puerto Rican youth attended baseball clinics conducted Nov. 10-14 by LDS major league players, former players and representatives of BYU's baseball team.</code>
<code> Instruction was given by Dale Murphy and Wally Ritchie of the Philadelphia Phillies; Vance Law, who played for several major league teams; Scott Nielsen, who pitched for the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox; and Gary Cooper of the Houston Astros. BYU pitching coach Bob Noel and All-Western Athletic Conference first baseman Chris Cooper also shared their skills, love of baseball and testimonies with the Caribbean youth.The LDS athletes conducted seven clinics in Santo Domingo and Santiago, Dominican Republic; and in San Juan, Ponce and Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The group also addressed enthusiastic congregations at several firesides, with hundreds of Church members, non-members and missionaries attending at each location.</code>
<code> Murphy, who has 398 major league home runs, told a San Juan congregation that without boundaries, guidelines, umpires and rules, baseball can't be played. "Sometimes players outside our faith look upon the commandments as restrictions," he explained. "Actually, the commandments were given to help us experience real joy."</code>
<code> He also challenged non-members in attendance to read the Book of Mormon, saying, "If you read it, you can gain a testimony that it is true."</code>
<code> At the Ponce fireside, Nielsen said he was once having trouble pitching against the Minnesota Twins. "My manager told me he had confidence in me and gave me additional information about some of the batters that helped me pitch better. As members of the Church, we all have times when we'll have problems. Our Heavenly Father has promised us that He will help us during times of need. We need to pray and obey God's commandments."</code>
<code> Coach Noel told the Santiago audience that he loves baseball, but the most important things in his life are the gospel of Jesus Christ and his family.</code>
<code> Cooper added that there is more to life than baseball. "Once I was very disappointed after going hitless in a game. A teammate later told me that if that's all I had to worry about, I was a very lucky man."</code>
<code> One of the trip's highlights for the group was participating in a live, 60-minute, prime-time television show in Santo Domingo. The athletes told the estimated viewing audience of several hundred thousand that membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is more important to them than having successful baseball careers.</code>
<code> At the end of the program, one of the hosts told viewers to be kind to the missionaries and listen to their important message. "When you see the missionaries with their white shirts and ties, listen to them. They're our friends. They have a message of love. They are here to help."</code>
<code> Another memorable moment for viewers was when the other host reviewed Law's playing days in the Dominican Republic. A picture of him in his Santiago uniform was frequently flashed on the screen.</code>
<code> The group also had a luncheon in Santo Domingo with Juan Joaquin Puello, president of the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee. He said that God plays an important role in many athletes' lives.</code>
<code> Ritchie said: "One of the fun things about the experience was to share the talents I've been given by the Lord and to help other people. It has been a real pleasure to be with the kids."</code>
<code> Throughout the trip, hundreds of baseballs and other pieces of baseball equipment were given away at the clinics to pleased youngsters in these nations where baseball is played by nearly all young boys. In one emotional moment, Law gave his mitt to a young boy who came to a clinic with only a makeshift glove made out of a milk carton.</code>
<code> Pres. James A. Norberg of the Dominican Republic Santiago Mission said he was impressed by the way the players worked with the young people at the clinics. "They got right down on their knees. The whole thing, from our perspective, was a great success. Probably 95 percent of the kids were non-members."</code>
<code> Pres. Ronald E. Dyer of the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission noted that the baseball activities helped to clear up many misconceptions about the Church in the minds of many local residents. "The baseball clinics and firesides have accomplished a significant mission here in Puerto Rico. The public has been made aware that these splendid athletes are faithful, devoted Latter-day Saints. Members, missionaries and non-members have been blessed to hear the athletes' testimonies and feel their spiritual strength.</code>
<code> The trip was organized by the Church's Public Affairs Department at the request of the North American Southeast Area presidency.</code>
