MTC Day 1

DAY 1

There were happy, enthusiastic sister Missionaries waiting at the curb to greet us with a "Welcome to the MTC!", when we first came inside the gates.  One directed us where to  park our car and another directed us into the main lobby. 

Inside there were check-in volunteers who also greeted us warmly.  When we said that we were going to serve in the Utah Layton mission, another couple that was checking in came over and said that they were best friends with the Layton mission president.  Elder and Sister Williams were that couple and Elder Williams had served as the second counselor to President Call when he was stake president in the Tacoma, Washington area.

After we got checked in, volunteers directed us to drive to the S2 building where we dropped off our luggage with volunteers and missionaries.  We were then showed where we could park our car in the far northeast lot.  Renae stayed with our luggage and I parked the car and walked back.  Missionaries took the luggage up to our room, 314 in the Jacob Hamblin Building (S2).  We then needed to go down to bookstore to get our packet of materials and keys and then to General Services to pay for the room stay, which was $234.  We didn't have any time to unpack because they wanted us to assemble in the main building (S1) for our orientation.   I recognized the room that we met in as the same one that we dropped off all of our boys for their missions in.  It was kind of surreal experience. 

After a quick orientation with Sister Yazi, the senior training supervisor, we went to the cafeteria for lunch.  The cafeteria seemed like total chaos after the order we had experienced so far.  We finally figured out the lines and how to get our trays, silverware and food.  It was also kind of crazy to figure out how to drop off our stuff after we had eaten.

After lunch we came back to a great spiritual set of meetings.   The MTC presidency spoke, along with their wives.  We were separated into districts.  This meeting was conducted by the 1st Counselor in our Branch Presidency.  District leaders were assigned in each district.  Our district leader was Elder Pulsipher.  He and sister Pulsipher were going to Zambia on a humanitarian mission.  The other two couples in our district were Elder and Sister Morris, who were going to Anchorage, Alaska on an MLS mission and Elder and Sister Ross, who were going to be the financial secretary and secretary for the Provo mission.  We were the "P" district, although it never appeared that had any significance.

Each district went to the back of the room in groups and spent some time getting to know one another.

After 30 minutes in our newly formed districts, we once again assembled in the front of B101 for a meeting on the Missionary Purpose.

The Missionary Purpose as described in the Preach My Gospel manual 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."

Sister Yazi taught and used D&C 31:6,7,13 D&C 33:3,5,6,13 3 Nephi 27:14-15

Why does the Lord need senior missionaries?

What is the Doctrine of Christ? - Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement

Repentance The Greek word of which this is the translation denotes a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world.

Baptism Holy Ghost Repent Sacrament Back to repent

When the large group meeting was finished it was back to the cafeteria for dinner.  It was basically just as chaotic as lunch.  Tons of missionaries and tons of noise and we were still trying to figure everything out.

After dinner at 6:00pm there was an optional Family Home Evening.  I'm so glad we attended.  The main presentation of the FHE was an MTC-only video of Elder Bednar teaching in a Christmas 2011 devotional.  The one hour 8 minute video was entitiled, "The Character of Christ".  The video was amazing and life-changing.  The notes that I took were:

Having the power of the word in you

There would have been no atonement without the character of Christ

No faith without knowing the character of Christ

Christ turns outward when we mortals would turn inward Matthew 4:2-11 JST Testimony is different than being converted unto Christ

*Am I living up to the level of my ancestors Alma 23:6

The greatest conversion that you’ll have on your mission will be you