THE MTC EXPERIENCE

 THE MTC EXPERIENCE

Sept. 8-12, 2025

Arriving

SEPT. 8th was a much-anticipated date!! WE HAVE OFFICIALLY STARTED OUR MISSION!!! What an absolute privilege to walk through those MTC doors again!!  (Missionary Training Center). There is something so sacred about this place; it is holy ground where testimonies are grown and spiritual opportunities abound. I loved going down memory road of times when I was a missionary and times when I worked there after my mission, now over 40 years ago.

AND....drumroll!!.....the honor of getting the missionary nametags!!! What a blessing and responsibility to live up to these spiritual expectations. I very visibly represent the church and the Savior. It is a constant reminder of "being about my Father's business." I love seeing our names personally printed with the church's name in the beautiful Khmer script below.

We were instructed to arrive at 10:18 (and told not to be early, and not to be late!). We were waiting at a side street for "the moment," when a call came to come now! Pretty funny! We were led to "the cry room" (where we used to have the family separation meetings). Now it is used for the different stations of being processed. After that, one of the very first things we did was get our picture by the landmark world map, pointing to our mission!.....a decades'-old tradition!

We had a nice welcome devotional with the MTC presidency and the branch presidency and wives. (Jim knew the MTC president's wife, Janie Stringham Snow, and her family from growing up years.) One of the phrases used was the contribution of "WEATHERED TESTIMONIES" we could offer. So true! We have lives of experience that have built upon that firm foundation. They pointed out that this is what consecrated discipleship looks like - a lifelong effect. I also loved the emphasis on MIRACLE TIME - to see the great blessings that accompany missionary service. We should constantly ask what the Spirit prompted us to do and then carve out time in the day to make it happen. Watch the miracles happen, both in our areas of service and with our families.

There were 143 senior missionaries starting that day. We are so impressed with the commitment level and love for the gospel!! Couples (and five single sisters) going all over the world and the United States - all with something to give, all needed. It was amazing, actually, to feel the desires of hearts at this senior time of life. So many with gifts yet to share!

One couple we got to know quite well was the Shirrit-Beaumonts from Toronto, Canada. We were assigned to each other during the week to practice teaching with, etc. It was an inspired meant-to-be match because we soon discovered that Sis. Shirrit-Beaumont is originally from Hong Kong! We were off and running when we found that connection. Jim and El. Shirrit-Beaumont also hit it off well in gospel topic interests. She joined the church about 3 years after I was there. Their desires to serve were deep. He is 83 years old and she is 24 years younger. They were rejected the first time they applied for a mission because of age and health. They applied again about a year later and bear a strong testimony of timing with their family needs. They really have desires to serve in this capacity. It was inspiring and touching to see them doing the best they could.

Immunizations

On our first day, we received a notice to visit the immunization records nurse. Through a miscommunication, we discovered that we needed the hepatitis series (that we thought we had received). She said that our mission may need to be delayed, maybe even six months. We had some anxiety throughout the afternoon as we tried to investigate options. We could get a test that shows if you have it in your system or not or act on the accelerated twinrix schedule. We decided the latter and went that night to the Costco pharmacy to get first dose. This put us on the schedule to get a second dose the very day we left. That was the needed answer. Our nurse, Joanna, seemed MUCH relieved that we had acted. She liked our plan! We felt hope with her reassuring smile. After checking with her supervisor, we found out a couple of days later that it was okay to go. A BIG relief (and a very guided tender mercy).

Preach My Gospel

Throughout the week, we were with a small group with whom we learned the lessons from Preach My Gospel. Our class included the Pearson's, Moses', Reed's, Dabo's, and Wisenaut's. Everybody had such unique stories and insights, each just trying to do their best. What a blessing to be with these dedicated missionaries!! We are all on the Lord's team together!! Our teachers were Sister Ivy Crutchfield and Sister Mandy McMahon. Both were exceptional young ladies. I was so impressed with their depth and radiant beauty. Their testimonies were solid. They really brought a devoted spirit to each lesson.

The Preach My Gospel guide is beautifully written. I have looked at it before but really had no idea of its powerful foundation. We worked on explaining the restoration and the plan of salvation succinctly, learning to ask good questions and how to listen better, giving challenges to learning to listen better to feel promptings from the Spirit, working on keeping commitments, making plans and setting goals, finding power in the Book of Mormon, developing Christlike attributes, becoming lifelong disciples of Christ, etc. Each area was vital to the total picture. We also talked a lot about our missionary purpose, which is:

    "Invite others to come unto Christ

by helping them receive the restored gospel

through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement,

repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost,

and enduring to the end."

Honestly, it was a good challenge for me to put gospel principles into basic terms and keep it simple, while at the same time bearing testimony. It is a gift of the spirit to be able to verbalize the gospel in a clear, concise, and loving way and have others feel the Savior's love as we testify. It is ALWAYS about keeping our teaching centered on Christ and led by the spirit.

I also really loved one little activity about learning to share a favorite scriptures with an application and testimony. Great practice!...an easy 5-min or less lesson approach. We discussed in seeking and relying on the spirit as we teach. Also, we had 2 short break-out sessions, one on teaching with/supporting the young missionaries, and one on using the gospel library more (so much potential!). One more favorite learning experience (via Sis. Crutchfield) was being reminded of Pres. Nelson's conference talk from April 2021 on faith in Jesus Christ being the greatest power available to us in this life. It just really resonated with me. I printed out a copy of it to have in the back of my PMG manual. It think it will be one of my favorite go-to talks that I will draw upon over and over again.

Other MTC Experiences

Each night, Jim and I drove back home to sleep in our own beds (yay!) and then hit the road early to be back by 8:00. It was interesting to be divided between two worlds! But we loved the chance to share more of our daily experiences with our family. It was also a great way for us to make a transition to full-time.

An additional highlight was a chance to meet our zoom online teacher, Sister Klora Thueson, in real life! She teaches at the MTC, so we had a chance to coordinate. She is adorable - I just love her!

The cafeteria - a work and a wonder in itself to be able to serve good food that efficiently to that many hundreds of people!  Among many things, we just had to try the famous BYU creamery chocolate milk! I especially enjoyed watching the brand-new missionaries come in for their first dinner on Wed. (Funny how just two days ahead of them made us old pros!) They looked a bit bewildered - definitely a more high-school vibe than the maturing missionaries who had been there for a few weeks! We absolutely loved talking with the young missionaries. There is great hope in the youth of our church!

Two less "spiritual" seminars, but actually better than I imagined and very important, were on Health & Safety and on Adjusting to Missionary Life, Senior Style (by Matheson's, BYU Social Work Dept., Ed. Week speaker). Both had stories that made us laugh and made us more aware. We related to them! We need to approach our circumstances in very humble and teachable ways.

Devotionals

Every Tuesday night, the MTC has a devotional with a visiting general authority. What a privilege! We got to hear from Elder Peter Johnson (the first black American to be called).

First he had us all sing "Happy Birthday" to Pres. Nelson, who turned 101 years old! At the close, we sang "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet." Sure love our prophet! There is great power with all those missionaries being together in one place, especially in the singing. WOW. My favorite was singing, "Called to Serve," not only the message but also the clipped pace was fantastic! Energy and resolute vigor!!

Elder Johnson's impactful message, in summary, was about witnessing the greatest manifestations of the Savior's power (without being overwhelmed and exhausted) by:

1) living the doctrine of Christ, especially through repentance, and studying the doctrine in the Book of Mormon; 2) devoting time each week to understanding the Atonement of the Savior - don't let anything separate us from the love of God; 3) ministering to the one in ways that lead to the temple; and 4) inviting and helping others come unto Christ.

On Wednesday night, they shared a recorded devotional of Elder Bednar that he gave at the MTC a few years ago on Christmas Day. It was so strengthening. He talked about The Character of Christ. His main emphasis was reaching outward, not focusing so much on ourselves. A Christlike character turns outward in compassion, love, and service. The mission is not about what I want vs. becoming converted ourselves, and staying on a pathway of continuous conversion. Those who are converted unto the Lord will never fall away; it is being consistently true to what I know. He encouraged to learn OF Christ, not only about Him. Is His image in my countenance?

Murals

A favorite part of the week was seeing the twelve large murals at the MTC, each filling a whole wall, with an application question by next to them. Such a pondering feeling! Worth a special spotlight right here:

“I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father.”

1 Nephi 2:16

“I frequently fell into many foolish errors…not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had been.”

Joseph Smith History 1:28

“Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know of these things myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit.”

Alma 5:46

“Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

Exodus 3:11

“I have a work for thee, Moses my Son.”

Moses 1:6

“They taught with power and authority from God.”

Alma 17:3

“And I was lead by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.”

1 Nephi 4:6

“Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

Acts 9:6

“All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.”

D&C 122:7

“And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?”

Ether 2:23

“Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14

“Thou art careful and troubled about many things; But one thing is needful.”

Luke 10: 41-42