It Begins!

Friday, June 23, we met at the Church Office Building with our children and were set apart by Elder Rasband and Elder Anderson as Mission President and a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Colorado Colorado Springs Mission.

What a wonderful experience. Words can't express. We loved being there with our children.

Saturday, June 24th, we checked in at the MTC for the 2017 New Mission Presidents Seminar.

We wondered if we would see the Whitesides. We were so excited to see their names in the announcement of new Mission Presidents. We lived in the same apartment building with them when we lived in Downey, Ca. as young couples just starting out. President Whiteside and President Stevenson also worked for the same Accounting firm. Our daughters were born just days apart. No sooner did we think it than it happened. It was so wonderful catching up and having our paths cross again. What adventures we'll both have!

What an experience the MTC was. Dan's brother told us that it would be a memorable spiritual experience. Sunday began with a Sacrament Meeting with all of the Apostles except President Monson and Elder Hale. We were sung to by an amazing MTC Chior. The Sacrament was blessed and passed by Young Elders from the MTC, first to the Apostles...3 Nephi 18:9...and they gave to the multitutde and they did [eat and] drink, and they were filled. Afterward we were taught by President Eyring..."and we were filled." The angels in heaven can't sound any sweeter than those handsome young Elders and beautiful young Sisters in the choir. 

President and Sister Barney from our Pre-Field Training Group. We found out that President Barney and President Stevenson grew up in the same ward in Las Vegas as children.

A Traditional Missionary Photo in front of The Map...a first for Sister Stevenson.

The New MTC Buildings

Sunday afternoon, we toured the new buildings at the Provo MTC.

Every classroom and study space has floor to ceiling windows.



And breathtaking views in every direction. What a stunning environment to study the gospel and reflect on the life and example of the Savior.
Our favorite part was the thought provoking artwork. Like the windows the pieces extend floor to ceiling. They are backlit. The affect is remarkable.



1 Nephi 4:6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.



Alma 17:9 And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and the fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of hie Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God...



Luke 10:41-42 And Jesus said unto her, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But One thing is needful..

Sunday, after the MTC devotional, we went to the MTC to meet with some of the missionaries....We thought it would be to be with missionaries whose Mission President was already serving in the field...we know when our first group is arriving and knew they weren't in the MTC yet. But to our surprise we had one lone Spanish Elder in the MTC. What a strong, faithful young man he is! We are looking forward to his arrival in July.



Kara sent a message with these photos.....



Sr Haight, one of the missionaries who taught her, was watching the seminar and taking notes for her boss...she snapped some photos of what she saw on her screen...He was answering a question during one of the sessions.



A Photo with Sister Oscarson. She was The Mission President's wife in President Stevenson's brother's Mission when she was 25 years old. She lead a panel discussion on the responsibilities of the Wives.



President and Sister Savage, Colorado Denver North Mission; Sister and Elder Nattress; Sister and President Hillam, Ghana Cape Coast Mission (They are replacing President and Sister Stevenson...President Stevenson's older brother); and us... We were in the same group during the seminar.
The whole week was amazing...we were taught by apostles and general authorities...and sung to by that sweet MTC Missionary Chior at the beginning and ending of each day. Our time at the MTC ended with a dinner and a Testimony Meeting with Elder Bednar. He explained that a testimony is a statement of truth ...not a sharing of stories, or humor, or experiences...He asked us to just stand and share the simple truths of the gospel that we know of a surety. It's the most remarkable Testimony Meeting we have ever been to. Each member in our group just stood and bore a simple testimony of what they know to be true. One of the couples in our group from Africa only spoke French. Sr. Bednar stood before the couple and bore her testimony in French. Elder Bednar was the last to stand. He boldly testified with Apostolic authority, "The tomb is empty! He Lives. He is our Savior." The spirit was so strong, so tangible.. I could have sat in that room the rest of the evening basking in that feeling...

"The tomb is empty! He Lives! He is our Savior."