Week 3-May 13-19, 2018

Here is the traditional mission picture with President and Sister Finn.  Sister Finn is the daughter of Bruce R. McConkie.

This is the triditional picture of all the incoming Elders and Sister with the mission presidency.  There were 12 of us in our group.  Four couples and four single sisters.

This is me in the training zone.  I was passing off skills using FamilySearch.  When I finished I was able to work on our own family history.  This past week I uploaded a number of life sketchs for ancestorys. 

We have had fun watching the gardens on temple square transform from tulips to summer flowers.  This is how it looks in the morning as we walk across temple square from the conference center parking to the Joseph Smith Memorial building.

The next morning the flowers were planted.  Local youth groups from the church came and plant the flowers.  It is amazing and beautiful at the same time.

We received out assignment for the mission Friday morning.  Elder Koberstein and I will be working in the Family History Library

in the Interational Collections which is level B1.  I know I have a lot to learn to be effective helping those who come to the library.

Friday after we were given our assignments we meet our zone leaders and then did a session in the Salt Lake Temple and had lunch together in the temple.

Saturday morning early Elder Koberstein and I our bikes on the Jordan River Trail between Bountiful and Salt Lake City.  Along the way we came upon a flock of geese sleeping in a parking lot.  When we biked by they squaked a little but did not move.  They must have been up all night.

It is amazing to bike into Salt Lake City and see temple square in the distance.

We stopped at the Family History Library for a picture before heading home.

We took the bus back to Bountiful.  Fun P-day activity.  Monday we start our fourth week of training.  A mission is a learning experience.

Week 2-May 5-12, 2018

This is a picture of our district at the MTC, l to r Elder & Sister Koberstein (Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission), Elder and Sister Freeman (Michigan Detroit Mission to serve in the city of Flint), Elder and Sister Cowleys (Japan Fukuoka Mission to serve in Okinawa).  We really enjoyed our time with them there.

On Saturday, May 5, Terry and I biked the Jordan River trail from Bountiful to Salt Lake City.  We then took the bus back to Bountiful.  It was a fun ride.

 It seems unbelievable that we are here in Salt Lake City.  This is a picture I took on our car ride in on Tuesday morning of the State Capital Building.  

 Our assigned parking is under the conference center for now.  We have two weeks of training before we are given our assignment for this next year.

This is the Salt Lake temple looking across the street for the conference center.

We have a beautiful morning walk to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  The tabernacle is on our walking path. 

On Tuesday morning as we were walking through the lobby in the Joseph Smith Memorial building Brother Haws, recorder for the Oakland temple, appeared.  He was in town for the temple recorders seminar.  They were having Breakfast in the Joseph Smith memorial building.  It was fun to receive an update with pictures on the progress of the work on the temple in Oakland.  He had pictures to share.  We enjoy our visit.

 On Thursday we took a tour of the top of the Church Office Building (COB).  It is the second tallest building in Salt Lake City.  This is a picture looking toward the Utah State Capital building.

Another view a different direction.

A view of the Salt Lake City temple.  Notice the copper roof, it has a blue cast to it.  It is a very unusual roof for a building but adds to its beauty.

Terry and I drove to the Ogden temple on Saturday morning.  It is quite a large temple with two exits which were confusing to me as I did not remember which one I entered through.

I received beautiful tulips from our oldest son, Lynn, for Mother's day and was priviledge to talk to each of our children on Mother's day.  We attended our ward in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and then enjoyed dinner with Maylyn's family.  

Elder Koberstein and I are looking forward to another week of training and then receiving our mission assignment on Friday.  

Week 1-April 30-May 4, 2018

We drove from Bountiful, Utah to the MTC the morning of April 30th.  It was a cold rainy morning so I grabed my light jacket for the car.  We had snowflakes over the point of the mountain.  It was still cold when we arrived in Provo and as you see in the picture I did not remove my jacket.  I do have a nice winter coat that would have look much nicer here.

 There were 32 missionaries in our senior mission group.  Those taking the group pictures chose to have our picture taken in two groups.  It was interesting as the week went by we discovered that there were many going to the Utah, Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission.  

We ask the group of missionaries going to Utah, Salt Lake City Headquarters mission to met us by the map for a group picture.  I then found out that of the 32 senior missionaries 12 of us were going to the headquarters mission.  There are four couples and 4 single sisters in our group.  One of the single sisters is from Lima, Peru.  What a choice group of missionaries.

OnThursday evening Elder Koberstein and I took a walk to T4 to look at the beautiful missionary artwork on display in that building.  Each picture is lifesize and has a lesson for missionaries.  T4 is one of the new buildings on campus (new since our 2013 MTC experience) used as a classroom building for the young Elders and Sisters.

 Elder Koberstein standing in front of this piece of art.  The painting are all back lite and on canvas/fabric.

I love the message on the plaques about each piece of artwork.  

Esther's faith in God led her to do hard things for her people the Jews.

We can do hard things with Heavenly Fathers help.

This is the brother of Jared mading stones to take to the Lord.  He had faith that if the Lord touched each stone that they would give him light for their voyage to the promised land.

What faith the brother of Jared had.

This is Joseph Smith in the Liberty Jail.

Hard experience in life are for our good.

Food preparation is a lot of work and like Martha I like others to help.

Like Martha I do not always choose the better part.

Paul's vision.

I can follow Paul's example and ask the Lord what he would have me do.

Joseph Smith in this youth.

We all make mistakes in life.  I am thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ that allows me the opportunity to repent and try again to live better.

Heavenly Father answered the prayer of Nephi.

Heavenly Father will answer my prayer too.

Alma praying to our Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father does answer prayers.

 Moses leading the children of Isreal through the Red Sea.

Heavenly Father will help us do hard thing.

Sons of Mosiah going on a mission to the Laminites.

I can also teach with the power and authority of God.

The stories of Nephi, Alma, Brother of Jared and Sons of Mosiah are found in the Book of Mormon.   If you would like a free copy of the Book of Mormon or information of Joseph Smith let me know and I will get it to you.