Day 2 MTC - Friends, Classes, Choir, Devotional

We have been singing a lot of patriotic songs today at the MTC.  They were stirring ones like 'My Country Tis of Thee.' Every word of the song seemed to have special meaning here in their sacred place. Words like 'Templed hills' seemed appropriate, also, 'Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake, Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong'  Those words seemed significant for all these missionaries going out to raise their voices and testify.  'Our father's God to thee, author of liberty, To thee we sing; Long may our land be bright, with freedom's holy light.  Protect us by thy might, Great God our King! Singing these words was almost as moving as fireworks.

The whole MTC sang 'Called to Serve'. 

 

I remember the kids telling me there was nothing like singing it at the MTC with all the missionaries and now I understand.  They sing with their hearts and voices and it fires you for the work.  What a thrill to be a part of this army.  The devotional was full of missionaries and tomorrow 500 more are coming.  I don't know where they will put them in the cafeteria.

part of the MTC choir

It was a dream come true tonight when dad and I got to sing with the MTC Choir.  For the Devotional.  We sang, 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic'.  No, I couldn't hit those high notes. I just faked it but what a joy to do that. I think dad hit all his notes and the men sounded wonderful. 

The speaker for the devotional was F. Michael Watson.  For 38 years he was the personal secretary for 6 prophets.  His wife also talked to us about the Book of Mormon.  I thought of cousin Melissa Neslen Watson who was sealed by Elder F. Michael Watson in the Bountiful temple. I told a young Sister Missionary that he had married our niece.  I must look pretty old because when Sister Watson stood to speak the little missionary asked, 'So she is your niece?'

I should have started the blog with the morning instead of the end of the day.  The flowers here are just beautiful.  They must have 'fairy' gardeners, or house elves, or Samwise Gangee.  Everything is neat and beautifully kept.  I am always so proud of the church when I see it's buildings and landscaping.

Flowers on the way to class

At breakfast this morning we sat by some wonderful Senior missionaries, Elder and Sister Harvey. They will serve in the Philippines but this is their 2nd mission.  Their first was to Zambia.  They told us some of their wonderful experiences there and had us in tears.  She is a convert to the church and served a mission in her youth to Scotland. I think he is a convert as well and they are from British Columbia.  Such great saints who love to serve.

Elder and Sister Harvey

For a break in the morning class, our teacher Elder Staheli, took us on a walk to the new MTC building.  It is so beautiful.  He showed us these large murals that are actually photographs with computer generated images added.  There is light being them and they take your breath away.

Large Mural of Ammon and the other sons of Mosiah on their mission to the Laminates

Mural of Moses parting the Red Sea

This one is of Moses when he parted the red sea.  We could have looked at it for hours.  There is so much detail.  Before he took us to this painting, Elder Stahle had us read Exodus 14 which tells the story of parting the Red Sea.  He then drew from us insights and feelings we had about the faith of Moses.  It might have been my favorite teaching and learning of the day.  You might want to read the chapter and feel the power of the Lord's mighty hand and the faith of His prophet.

District 13

This is a picture of our wonderful District.  Dad is the District Leader.  Standing next to him is Elder Staheli. By Elder Staheli are Sister and Elder Jurgaitus. They are going to the Church Headquarters Mission.  They are converts to the church and my, we have learned to love these people, who joined the church many years ago when they had been married about 5 years.

She longed for a baby but he said they would be childless.  Then the missionaries taught them about the value of children.  And they knew what they said was true.  They have 6 children now and are so grateful for what the gospel has given them.

Their home has been in the Wisconsin Pineries where Joseph Smith sent loggers to log the white pines there for the Nauvoo Temple construction.  They are over 200 ft tall,  nearly as big as the Redwoods. (I am talking about the white pines, not the Yurgeitus').  These two have taught their town about the Mormon History in the area and have made many friends for the church.  They have gotten historical markers placed there.  Thanks to Sister Yorgaitus, the Tabernacle Choir sang there on one of their tours.  The man in charge of all the tours (Who I think is the man Aunt Janice worked for),. asked what they could help her with and what she would like done. She said they would like a historical marker placed.  He asked how much it would cost and when she told him he said, "This is a large choir.  We will ask each member to dig in their pockets and give $5.  That should get it done"

The woman in the red jacket and her husband in the sun glasses are Elder and Sister Jorgensen. They are from Saint George and are going to the Sharon Vermont Mission.   He was raised in Hyrum and is related to the Jorgensens of Cache Valley.  Bruce Jorgensen who I knew in my youth is his cousin. His aunt and Uncle were Blair and Rosella Nielsen who lived in Paradise.  You might remember them because Blair was deaf and Rosella was blind.  He would be her eyes and she his ears.  They were killed in Nibley when a train hit their car.  Their home was the one up by Lynn Shelton's.

Sister Jorgensen had no idea that her parents were members of the church when two men came to their home when she was 8 years old to see if they could baptize her.  They were allowed to do that and would pick her up for church every week.  Her parents and other siblings have lived without the church and their lives are a mess.  She is grateful to be a missionary to pay back those two men who stepped in to rescue her. 

The last couple are Elder and Sister Blamires from Broken Arrow Oklahoma. They are going to the Church Headquarters Mission in SLC. He is a former flight instructor and was on Wheel of Fortune a few years ago and got to hug Vanna.

Lorraine sent this picture of David with the caption, 'Feeding body and spirit

I love this picture that Lorraine sent today of David reading our blog.  We hope that in New Zealand there will be people that we can have a positive impact on.  But of all the people in the world that we might influence we most desire to be a blessing to our family.  Our own children were blessed when Grandma and Grandpa served their mission in Germany.  They missed them and loved them and read grandma's letters.  I well remember the joy when they came home.  I can't help but think that that long ago mission had an impact on the missionary desires of our children and we hope for the same blessing. 

We are so grateful to Greg for getting this blog published so the grand children can read it.   I'm sure I will get better at it but for now it seems I have a problem every night with it. And Greg is my go to.

Our Missionary Badges

We are grateful to wear these name tags.  I don't feel much changed but I do feel that we need to wear them with honor.  It is a privilege to be a missionary.

More new friends - Elder and Sister Leishman

More friends that we have met - Elder and Sister Leishman.  They are from California but are related to all the Cache Valley Leishman's.  His aunt is Julie Bostock.  I didn't know she had been a Leishman.  They took a picture of the four of us and sent it to Julie so we have heard from her while here.  My it is a small world in the church.  It is almost like we are all Brothers  and Sisters in the gospel.

Sister Leishman is also a convert who lived in Indiana as a child.  Her family was a mess.  She needed help and wanted to ask God for it if he existed.  So when she was 12 years old she said a simple prayer that she remembers word, for word, "Dear God,  if you are real, could you help me, I don't know what to do.  Can you help my family." Later the missionaries taught her and she joined the church. She met Elder Leishman at BYU.

Another pic of my childhood friend Sherry Beecher Bingham.  I know she is related to Amy somehow.  And her husband is Dave Lillywhite's mother's brother.

What a joy to reconnect with her.

So many connections and dear people here.  I would love to learn all their stories.  The Lord truly works in all our lives.

We love you all and hope you had a wonderful 4th of July.

Elder and Sister Thatcher