A WEEK AT THE MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTER (MTC)

We just wanted to give you an update on how things are going and how and what we are doing.  103 Senior missionaries started a week of orientation, Monday, June 6th. It is an amazing experience to be here with all of the young missionaries, 1200 of them, as well as all the senior couples. How strengthening it is to feel of the spirit of this place as well as the spirits of all of the missionaries. It certainly does our hearts good to see such wonderful young adults ... such good examples to the world.

  

We have had some wonderful sessions in the past few days.  On last Sunday evening we had a devotional with Sheri Dew being the speaker.  She was very insightful in talking about handling our own questions about the Gospel as well as questions others might have.  She talked about how we need to be willing to "wrestle" with the Lord.  To take the time and effort to study, pray and seek counsel from a good source, The Lord. After we have done our part we need to pray and ask the Lord to answer our questions, to help us gain the understanding needed to help us in our quest for answers.  Having questions isn't a bad thing, it means we want to learn, grow and understand more fully.  It is what we do with our questions that can get us into serious trouble.  Dad/Dan actually listened to the devotional through a head set with a man translating the talk into French.  He understood almost every thing.

Last Monday evening we had an amazing experience.  We had the opportunity to view a video talk by Apostle David A. Bednar, that he gave at the MTC 2 1/2 years ago. He talked about the character of Christ. He taught that even when the Savior was faced with situations where he was hurting terribly physically, was very hungry after fasting for 40 days, or was contemplating the coming ordeal in the Garden of Gethsemane and the cross, He always focused outwardly. Each of us as the "natural man" focus inwardly ... e.g., What do We want, how do We feel.  Whatever we want, we want it NOW.  

He taught that testimony will never be enough to keep us active in the Church, we MUST become truly converted. If we are truly converted, we will never fall away.  Conversion is continually being true to what I know. It is continually turning away from the "natural man", continually focusing outward as the Savior always did. That is the process we must go through to become like our Savior, and to become truly converted.  We cannot do this alone, but as we faithfully strive, Christ and the atonement make up all the difference.

Then tonight, Tuesday, we had another Devotional.  It was a special devotional, one that was broadcast to all of the other MTC's in the world. Our speaker was Elder Bednar.  His talk centered on how the scriptures are filled with stories of how Heavenly Father and Jesus know us, one by one, by name. He told many personal stories about his travels and his life where he has been put into situations to meet the needs of the one. 

We are so grateful for each of you and all you are.  How blessed we are to live here on earth during these latter-days.  There is much evil and many challenges, but it is also the fullness of times. We have prophets, apostles, seers and revelators to guide us, to remind us of what we should be doing and focusing on.