Yesterday we went to the West Edmonton Mall which used to be the largest mall in the world until 2004. The mall has more than 800 stores, and parking spaces for over 20,000 cars. Inside the mall is an ice rink, a water park, and a sea lion show.

We also did some shopping for "extreme weather" clothing. No fear, we didn't buy the hat.

We arrived at President and Sister Pattison's home Sunday afternoon.

Our apartment is in the basement of this home owned by Shelley Thomsen, a member of the Church.

Today we participated in meetings with Elder and Sister Larry Echo Hawk who are here touring the mission. Local Relief Society sisters prepared lunch for us, and at the end of the meal all of the missionaries stood and sang the following words to the music for, "We'll Bring the World His Truth (Army of Helaman)"

We have been born as Nephi of old,

To goodly parents who love the Lord.

And on this day, We thank you a bunch,

For fixing us this fantastic lunch.

We are as the army of Helaman

And when our mission is through,

We'll thnak the Lord for all who have helped us

Especially people like you!

Your Christlike love has shown through.

It's Saturday evening, 21 January, 2017, and we are spending the night in Lethbridge, Alberta. Tomorrow we have a five-hour drive to Edmonton -- our home for the next eighteen months!

For the most part the weather and roads have been good, though there were a few times in Idaho when we were grateful for AWD.

It was a three-hour drive from Helena to the Canadian border, and then two hours of processing at the border to get our visas. The temperature outside was a chilly 35 degrees but there was very little snow on the ground.

Two days ago we were in Idaho Falls and took this picture of the temple on our way out of town.

Below is a favorite quote from the MTC:

"It is going to be alright. Your affairs are going to be alright. Your children will be alright and your grandchildren and your home and your holdings. All have been place on the altar and they are watched over by more faithful servants than we could have in mortality." (Boyd K. Packer, 2012, seminar for new mission presidents)

Our MTC training was Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (including a few breaks and an hour for lunch.) Pictured below is our "district" and our AM instructors:

 Sister Eliason on the left and Sister Donakey on the right.

 The senior couples in our group from left to right, are: Elder & Sister Talley (Zambia), Elder & Sister Lofgran (Salt Lake City), and Elder & Sister Anderson (Bulgaria).

Saturday morning we attended the funeral of Jim Christensen. He was first counselor in the bishopric in Orem when I was bishop. That evening we had dinner with my three brothers and their wives. Sunday we attended Sacrament Meeting at the MTC, then attended two devotionals later in the day presented by the new MTC presidency.

This week we have CES training Monday-Wednesday. On Thursday we begin our trek to Canada with overnight stops in Idaho Falls; Helena Montana; and Lethbridge Alberta - arriving in Edmonton on Sunday.

The on-campus housing for senior missionaries was filled to capacity because new MTC Presidencies were also being trained that week. Many senior couples (including us) stayed at the Baymont Motel on North University Avenue.

We enjoyed our enthusiastic teachers, getting to know other couples, and soaking in the Spirit of the MTC. The staff was patient and kind; the teachers were informative and enthusiastic; and the devotionals (complemented by angelic music) were uplifting.

Pictured below are the senior missionaries who arrived the same week we did. (We can be found in the third group from the top.)

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.