What's in my view....

15 April 2018 

I have so much to tell you....    So much greatness has happened! I get to see some pretty amazing sights each day. 

We have completed the MTC training and our first week of Family History Training! 

                                  

I am overwhelmed with the experiences that we are having.   I have to say that I was dreading the MTC a bit because I was not so impressed with the training that was provided the last time.   A lot of role plays that just don't work well for me.   But this time it was so different.   The teaching styles and teaching curriculum was delightful.  

Our sweet little trainer, Sister Ritchie, was an excellent teacher.   You can see the influence of "Teaching the Savior's Way" in every step.   
 

We were placed in a District with some pretty remarkable people consisting of 4 couples:  Elder and Sister Chin from Pennsylvania (Utah SLC Headquarters Mission), Elder and Sister Wilson from St. George, Utah (Arkansas Bentonville Mission: MLS assigned to Springville, Missouri),

Elder and Sister Garrett from Gilbert, Arizona (Washington DC North Mission: MLS missionaries), and ourselves.   We were also assigned an "other couple".   This couple were the Munns from Garland, Utah (Illinois Nauvoo Mission: Teamster and Minion(as she put it!))

We were also assigned an "other couple".   This couple were the Munns from Garland, Utah (Illinois Nauvoo Mission: Teamster and Minion(as she put it!)) This is the couple that we were to get to know the best while at the MTC.  We hung out a lot.  We ate together, we walked to classes together, we went to devotionals together.   We knew that at the end of the training they would be the ones that we would teach and visa versa.  They were a delight to get to know.  It was a simulation of part 1 of our training "Get to know" those you teach.   The assignment has turned into a special friendship and now emails, texts, and FB messenger will fly to and from Nauvoo to see how each other are doing!  

I was anxious to see the new completed additions to the MTC that were only under construction when we were there last.   And of course, they are magnificent! 

Beautiful murals have been included on each floor.  They are stunning and give you a sense of reality of the scriptures.  You know that the events and people you read about in all the scriptures were real, in fact, you feel like you are there in the moment.   It is an astounding testament of truth.

Sunday was breath-taking!   Our branch, which consists of 40% of the mission, 400+ missionaries, meets in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, formally known as the Hotel Utah.   It is majestic.   Construction began on the hotel in 1909. 

With horse drawn wagons, they began digging the foundation.   Under the direction of President Gordon B. Hinckley the building went from aging hotel to a multi-functioning Church edifice with a new name of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB).  We began with Relief Society in the Empire Room.

Which was originally a grand dining hall and has now been restored to perfection.  It  now serves as Relief Society and Sunday School classroom where learning the Gospel of Jesus Christ fills the hall.

We walk past the classic lobby

And grand hallways

On our way to the single most beautiful chapel I have ever seen.  

 I was in awe.   I couldn't believe that I was here.   I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude.  I get to do this every Sunday for the next 18 months. 


Our FIRST DAY in the mission, Monday 9 April, was a devotional by President Dallin H. Oaks.   Wow!  We met in the Conference Center Little Theater where all of the missionaries of our mission (just under 1000 missionaries) could gather.   He spoke of the value and significance of the Temple.  He taught how we should make note of the actions that accompany the covenants we make.   He re-emphasized simple things like the importance of taking the Sacrament with your right hand.   The hand that you sustain leaders with and the hand with which you make covenants should also be the hand that you renew covenants each Sunday.   Every meeting that I went into I felt this swoosh of emotion that enveloped me letting me know that the Holy Ghost is here and He will testify.  

Then a short walk back to the JSMB's third floor to begin our Family Search Training.  Along the way I had stunning reminders that it was Spring. 
 

I found my desk and computer for the week.  

A classroom full of new missionaries and new friends.   They all have very interesting stories of faith and commitment to the gospel.  

The most amazing thing of all..... the view from what seems to be in every window.   No matter where you are or what window you are looking out of or the street you are driving on the Temple always seems to be in your view.   I know that this can't possibly be true but it sure seems that way.  It is very clear that the Salt Lake Temple is the pinnacle of not only Temple Square but the entire city.  Some people see it and some don't.  My responsibility is to always keep the Temple in my view! 

 

WOW! What a Beginning!

2 April 2018

 

The  Mission "officially" began 2 April 2018 but the real fun began Friday 30 March 2018.   We arrived in Salt Lake City Wednesdy, 28 March to meet our new co-workers, the Bushmans, and to see our new work place at the Church Office Building (COB).  

We went all the way to the top ..... and then some!   The regular elevators go to the 26th floor where many have been to what is called the observation floor.   There you can see all four corners of downtown Salt Lake City and beyond.  Our new offices are on the 28th floor.  The 27th and 28th floors are where all the interpretations take place. 

 On Friday 30 March we moved into our new apartment which is a 7 minute walk to the COB. 

Outside the trees were budding and the flowers were just beginning to poke their little heads out.   It was a welcome change to snow.  Finally, after 44 years in Canada, I am getting to see green grass, daffodils and tulips in March and April.   

The walk was delightful even if it was at 7am on Conference Saturday.   Everything was beginning to bloom.   But  I had no idea of how the Church was about to burst forth and flower with her new directives. 

 Even though (I now realize) that all the interpreters that I met that morning had already read all the talks, yet no one was saying a thing.   There was no talk or idle chatter of all the new and exciting changes that were about to be revealed.   On Sunday there was no talk about the new temples.   There is a contract that they have signed but more importantly an honor code that they all seem to adhere to in regard to not revealing what they read from the talks that they interpret.  It was most interesting.   I have a deep respect for these people.  

Of course, it is always comforting to see the Temple from almost every view. Because the GeneralAuthorities were in and around the Church Office Building and the Conference Center,  the COB was locked down tighter than a tick!!!  Around the noon hour we couldn't even go downstairs to the ground level cafeteria because  the General Authorities and their families were having their lunch there.  

Even in the very early morning we could only enter the building through the "Roundhouse".   As I entered the Roundhouse I thought I was going to have to say something special like "beam me up" but instead a push of the elevator button seemed to transport me to the correct floor.   The Roundhouse leads you through the parkade and down to the cafeteria, then you go past security and up 2 separate elevators to get to the 27th and 28th floors.  

I learned many things during this conference. 

1. I am going to walk many miles each day.   Sister Bushman had her Fitbit on and she walked 21,000 steps and 10 flights of stairs in one day.  I was by her side most of that time.   
2.  It doesn't really matter what shoes you wear.   On Sunday morning I was finally able to sit down for a breather at one point thinking, "My feet are killing me!"   I looked at my watch only to see that it was only 9:45am.   I had only been there 3 hours and Conference hadn't even started yet!  And I had on some very sensible flats! 
3. The people I am going to work with are magnificent.  They all welcomed me with open arms.   They were pleasant, charming and very humble about their gift of tongues.   
4. We ran into 5 of our former Cambodian/Vietnamese Missionaries who were serving as interpreters:  Sister Macy Jeppson, Sister Ryley Spangler, Elder Todd Tran, Elder Shandon Pendleton, and Elder Sears.  This was such a pleasant surprise.   I love them and are so glad to know that I will see them again in October.  I also bumped into Taylor Jensen, another former missionary, that he and his wife Chloe frequented Phnom Penh during our stay there.  It was good to see him too.  
5. We have connections everywhere!   We crossed paths with a multitude of people either knowing someone with the Leavitt name or Alberta connections.   I met Naji an interpreter for the Farsi language.  Naji, a Persian by birth met and married a Leavitt who was a descendant of Dudley Leavitt (brother to Thomas R. Leavitt).  Once we found the connection Naji called me "cousin" for 2 days!   People would ask, "are you REALLY cousins?"  I woud reply, "Absolutely.  Can't you see the family resemblance?"  
6. I don't think it will matter as much to the Saints on the other side of the world that there is no more Home Teaching or Visiting Teaching, or that a quorum has changed, or that young sisters can now learn along side the Relief Society sister how to minister but they will gratefully recognize and sustain a new prophet and new apostles. Southeast Asians will be elated to see Elder Gerritt Gong sustained since he, just a few years ago, visited and taught Cambodians and all other countries around often as being part of the Presidency of the Area Seventies.  
7. The Lord is in charge!   He is at the helm.   I am sure He touches the interpreters lips and voices (they would be the first to admit that).  The Spirit flooded the building the moment interpretations began at the stroke of 10am.   It was very evident.   I didn't get to see very much of the Conference talks but I surely felt it.  It was very clear that mysteries of the gospel were being unfolded throughout the world at that moment.   It was an honor and privilege to be there at that time and at those conference sessions.  And this was just the beginning.....