The Thursday Message (April 26th from the MTC)

Due to a little miscommunication between Tyler's mother and father (about who was supposed to be updating this blog) we didn't post his other emails from the Missionary Training Center. He sent us a short note on Sunday night, April 22nd, to inform us that he wouldn't be writing on Monday - his district was moved to a new building and got a different preparation day (the day they get to write home) so he wrote to inform us that we would have to wait until the following Thursday (April 26th) to hear from him. Here is what he wrote:

Well, I'm kind of wondering if this will be the only Thursday e-mail I will send. By next Thursday, I'll be in California. May 1 is my departure date, and I think I board the plane at 8ish. I left the itinerary at the residence.

I'm very grateful for the DearElder letters that I've received from my family! I've also gotten some handwritten notes from friends at home. In one day, I got a letter from [a non-member friend] asking lots of good questions about the church and missionary work, [a less-active friend] praising me for my righteous desire to serve a mission and offering all kinds of encouragement, and [an institute buddy] saying that her bishop told her to pray about getting endowed. How great is that!  [Another friend from home] sent a care package through DearElder the next day, too. I'm pretty darn spoiled.

Jared sent me a bunch of engagement pictures, which are all very nice. You should print me one so I can remember that I'm about to have a sister-in-law. Tell Allison that she gets the highest of honors, being my very first sister on this earth. Mom has been waiting for this for a quarter of a century. Have fun in Hawaii, you two little lovebirds. And send me those Questions of the Soul, if you get a chance.

How has the institute attendance been since my departure? I hope daddy hasn't gotten too sad and sickly to enjoy his lovely institute class. Today I did some initiatory proxies at the temple, and the blessings there are really inspiring! Maybe Dad just needs some more marrow in his bones.

Congrats on planting another garden, Mommy. Hopefully you won't kill off all your vegetables this year. It seems that teaching is going quite well, too. Jared didn't get the job at the MTC, but maybe Tanner will get a job scooping ice cream. Then he'll get huge biceps like his brother... well actually unlike any of his brothers so far.

Last Sunday, M. Russell Ballard told me that there would never be a more important time in my life than my full-time mission. This Tuesday, Russell M. Nelson told me that I'm in the strong minority. Don't be discouraged because I'm outnumbered, because I'm on the winning team. He laid out some basic doctrine in very easy-to-understand bites. But he also left me a blessing, that I would be able to feast upon the doctrine of deity, that I would teach with power and conviction, that I would have health and strength, that I would have knowledge that the apostles love me, and that my family would draw closer to the Lord because of my service.

I have made several great friends in my district, in my zone, and in my teachers since I've arrived here. I've seen miracles nearly every day. I get down on myself, I learn new things, I am pricked in the heart, and I am uplifted all the time here at the MTC. Despite my companion being a huge whiner, I love him tons and I'm enjoying my MTC time.

A scripture for you to enjoy: Ezekiel 36:26.

The Missionary Director said something similar to this: If Christ bled at every pore, it ought not surprise us that a price will be exacted when we serve as saviors on Mt. Zion. At the end of the day, He wants you to be absolutely exhausted... Have the courage to stand up and be counted as one of the elite soldiers of Christ!

As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free!

Love you tons, guys. See you on the other side!

Make sure Grandma Hansen knows how much I love her! I love you grandma dearest!