Almost There!

Hello! Just a few quick notes. Today is In-Field Orientation so I don't have a normal P-Day today but they've given us an opportunity to e-mail. Tomorrow I have a full P-Day so you can expect a full email then. A few answers to question, not sure what size Tamale ended up getting but it's all good. Thanks for the ties! I love them! Thanks for sending him ties! FYI, He's all set with everything. He has 26 ties now and is set on everything else. Thanks!

Since I get to e-mail you tomorrow, I'm just going to talk about one thing in this email.

We had our very last MTC Devotional this past Tuesday. I was pretty sad because I've loved them. We've had some good speakers, a few members of the Seventy, including Elder Evans who just was assigned to head up the Missionary Committee. From Day 1 I've really wanted a Twelve to come, for obvious reasons. I've been saying, if just Elder Holland would come to the MTC...I've sung in the choir every week, and on top of the experience of singing, I am able to get a pretty good seat. This past Tuesday, I went to Dinner before the Devotional and was on my way to the Devotional. I had seen them setting up earlier and saw there was not teleprompter and I thought, well there goes our chances at getting an Apostle! As I walked in, the head choir director was at the pulpit telling everyone the proper etiquette when an Apostle walks into a room. Usually before every devotional and fireside, the TV monitors show who the speaker is. However, this was not the case today. I sat down in my seat and just couldn't sit still!!! The anticipation was killing me! I didn't want to get my hopes up, but at the same time I felt so excited. Before the speaker walks in the congregation sings three hymns to bring a Spirit into the room. Often, the songs reflect the theme of the speaker's comments. Our second sond was "Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice". This really calmed all the anticipation I was feeling!

We were singing the third song, and the doors open, I sat on the edge of my seat to see who it was. And there walked in Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

You can imagine how I was feeling! In case you don't know, Elder Holland is by far my favorite. When he speaks in conference I always get so much out of his comments. I just can't even describe how much I love him. I've been reading a lot of his talks away and his ever powerful witness of the Savior and of the Restoration of the Gospel never ceases to amaze me. It was interesting, as I sat there before he spoke, I started to well up. I'm not really sure why. I just couldn't help but see a lot of similarities between myself and him. He's such an example to me and I want so much to be like him.

His talk was amazing. I took tons of notes and I wish I could share them all. Remember a few weeks back when I talked about the talk he gave? He said some of the same things word for word. He spoke of how his mission means everything to him. I want to be able to look back like he can with such happiness on my mission. You can tell that he gave it absolutely everything he had. He told us something interesting that I had never really thought about. He said the vast majority of the missionary work in the world's history will be done in the dispensation and by this generation. Wow!! He spoke of how many of the missionaries in the scriptures who do not find great success saw us in this day. They knew that while they themselves might not experience great success, others would. This was so comforting to me to know that I'm not alone. When times get tough, I can take a look back at them, gain strength from their testimonies, and they will help strengthen me.

He closed his remarks speaking about God's love for us. He said something interesting that really struck me. He said, "I am so far from perfect. I have need to repent everyday. However, there is one area in which I believe I am almost perfect, and that is my love for my children. I would do anything for them in righteousness. Imagine what our perfect Father in Heaven's love for us is like." I loved that so much. He gave his one and only perfect son for all the imperfect ones. Can you imagine literally giving your one perfect child, who has never harmed a soul, or done wrong to die for those who are with sin? Wow. The thought that really struck me was when he spoke of the Savior's utterance of the word "Abba" in addressing his father. There is not a direct translation for the word, but the closest is "Daddy". The Savior cried for his "Daddy" is Gethsemane, and on Calvary. He was willing to do his father's will, because he loved his father, and loves us. Please watch the Holland talk "None Were With Him." I bear my testimony that our Heavenly Father does indeed know us and love us. He gave his Son Jesus Christ for us. I love the Savior, and I love our Father. I'll write more tomorrow. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Love, EY