This Too Shall Pass
"This too shall pass" is a time-honored quote and one near and dear to my heart. My father said it to me a few times, and when he did, it was always a welcome bit of wisdom. It generally applies for us when we are going though rough times. It helps to know that at some future point we will be looking back through more experienced eyes with the trial safely behind us.
Unfortunately it also applies to wonderful, inspiring and uplifting times. They will fade away as the stars in the morning. This week of training is done. Over. Finished. I loved everything about it.
This morning, after a morning devotional and then a period of evaluating and a bit of instruction, we walked back over to the 6-story training center. Sister Anderson sat us down in front of the large wall mural of Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail. Our chairs were in a circle, but we all had a good view of the picture. Then together we read D&C 122 and portions of 121. We read aloud, thoughtfully and slowly enough that we could comment. Everyone had things to say from time to time, very insightful comments. We spoke of Christ and what He went through, and then what Joseph Smith went through to restore the gospel. It was sobering, but it was also amazing to think of what they gave for us.
Sister Anderson asked how that impacted our feelings about serving a mission. It made me realize that my mission would be an absolute walk in the clouds compared to what Joseph experienced to give to mankind this glorious gospel. These pictures just don't do it justice. It takes up the entire wall. Look at the very solemn expression on Joseph's face as he gazes up at that small window. Freedom is on the other side. The room is 14 X 14 and there were 6 men there for 5 months in appalling conditions. The light streams in, but the interior seems cold and the inhabitants so forlorn. It probably looks much cleaner than it really was.
It was a marvelous discussion.
Afterwards, we went to the travel office where we found out that our visas were approved! We got our travel plans too. So it is official. We leave next Thursday evening at 6:30 arriving the next morning around 11!
Lunch in the cafeteria. I tried to get a good picture, but there is no way. The cafeteria is huge, in a very large L shape. I got one little slice, in kind of a slow area, but it still gives you the idea of the place.
We have a free day tomorrow to do laundry, meet our granddaughter Lauren for ice cream, attend the temple and generally study and organize ourselves for next week. Sunday will also be a lovely day with church at the senior branch here in the MTC and then a worldwide devotional that evening for Young Single Adults. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be specific training for working and teaching YSAs.
All of the other seniors who entered with us Monday will be embarking for their assignments in various parts of the world, or like us, staying for specific training (mission office, financial officer, self-reliance, humanitarian, etc). One sister went to school and hung out with my brother Dan at Bountiful High, and another sister graduated from Bountiful High the year after I did (she and her husband will be serving the YSA in Washington). I don't know if we will ever see any of them again, but it was a sweet week getting to know so many others who are as excited as we are to go serve.
We have been looking forward to this for a long long time. It was even better than I had anticipated. I must treasure each moment of the next 5 days and take pictures and good notes so that I will remember long after it has passed.
Unfortunately it also applies to wonderful, inspiring and uplifting times. They will fade away as the stars in the morning. This week of training is done. Over. Finished. I loved everything about it.
This morning, after a morning devotional and then a period of evaluating and a bit of instruction, we walked back over to the 6-story training center. Sister Anderson sat us down in front of the large wall mural of Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail. Our chairs were in a circle, but we all had a good view of the picture. Then together we read D&C 122 and portions of 121. We read aloud, thoughtfully and slowly enough that we could comment. Everyone had things to say from time to time, very insightful comments. We spoke of Christ and what He went through, and then what Joseph Smith went through to restore the gospel. It was sobering, but it was also amazing to think of what they gave for us.
Sister Anderson asked how that impacted our feelings about serving a mission. It made me realize that my mission would be an absolute walk in the clouds compared to what Joseph experienced to give to mankind this glorious gospel. These pictures just don't do it justice. It takes up the entire wall. Look at the very solemn expression on Joseph's face as he gazes up at that small window. Freedom is on the other side. The room is 14 X 14 and there were 6 men there for 5 months in appalling conditions. The light streams in, but the interior seems cold and the inhabitants so forlorn. It probably looks much cleaner than it really was.
It was a marvelous discussion.
Afterwards, we went to the travel office where we found out that our visas were approved! We got our travel plans too. So it is official. We leave next Thursday evening at 6:30 arriving the next morning around 11!
Lunch in the cafeteria. I tried to get a good picture, but there is no way. The cafeteria is huge, in a very large L shape. I got one little slice, in kind of a slow area, but it still gives you the idea of the place.
We have a free day tomorrow to do laundry, meet our granddaughter Lauren for ice cream, attend the temple and generally study and organize ourselves for next week. Sunday will also be a lovely day with church at the senior branch here in the MTC and then a worldwide devotional that evening for Young Single Adults. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be specific training for working and teaching YSAs.
All of the other seniors who entered with us Monday will be embarking for their assignments in various parts of the world, or like us, staying for specific training (mission office, financial officer, self-reliance, humanitarian, etc). One sister went to school and hung out with my brother Dan at Bountiful High, and another sister graduated from Bountiful High the year after I did (she and her husband will be serving the YSA in Washington). I don't know if we will ever see any of them again, but it was a sweet week getting to know so many others who are as excited as we are to go serve.
We have been looking forward to this for a long long time. It was even better than I had anticipated. I must treasure each moment of the next 5 days and take pictures and good notes so that I will remember long after it has passed.
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