Last Saturday we left San Clemente, California, for Provo, Utah, and the Missionary Training Center (MTC). It is remarkable how much we were able to load into the car.

We drove straight through arriving at Rolfe and Janeil's apartment in Provo at 10:30 P.M. We stayed there two nights. We attended Robyn's stake conference Sunday morning, then drove to Midway for dinner with Rolfe and Janeil.

 

Our daughter, Robyn

We entered the MTC Monday at 10:00 A.M. Our first day was busy, but it was an excellent experience. The weather has been mild for January, but with some rain and snow.

There are 1,200 missionaries currently in the MTC: 1,000 young missionaries and 50 senior couples. There are 400 more young missionaries arriving this Wednesday. In total, there are 75,000 missionaries currently serving throughout the world.

Pointing to Edmonton Canada on a map in the MTC

MTC Cafeteria

Below are some things presented today:

• Our family will be cared for as we serve our mission, just as Joseph and Sydney's families were blessed when they served a mission:
• "Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my friends Sidney and Joseph, your families are well; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power." (Doctrine & Covenants 100:1)
• The purpose of our mission:
• "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." (Preach My Gospel, 1)
• The angels of God will bear us up:
• "And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;" (Doctrine & Covenants 109:22; Kirtland Temple Dedicatory Prayer)
• Regarding the doctrine of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end):
• "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior." (Boyd K. Packer, "Little Children," Ensign, Nov. 1986, 17)
• This evening we watched an address given by Elder David A. Bednar on Christmas Day, 2011, to missionaries in the Provo MTC, entitled "The Character of Christ." It was excellent. I cannot locate this particular presentation on the internet, but YouTube has a talk by the same name given by him at BYU-Idaho on January 18, 2016.