Week 2: RULE 2.2.2

September 16, 2024

Hey guys! it's been two weeks now... day 6 of the provo mtc (i feel like i've been here for months). Honestly, being here is a very humbling experience. Anyways I'm gonna try and keep this short and sweet.

HERE'S MY GOOGLE PHOTOS ALBUM: https://photos.app.goo.gl/o1Wmow78ZBW55WZd8

Tuesday

I said bye to all of my family and drove up to provo with my parents. We all cried a ton and it was lowkey super hard. I miss them all so much. Apparently my sister Alison put a cute little note in my bag when I wasn't looking and I cried reading it... We stayed at Esther's house! She was a sister in my dad's mission and she's absolutely amazing!

Wednesday

Esther made me a yummy breakfast (she's actually the best) and then I went with my parents to the Provo City Center temple grounds. It's so gorgeous. Then we decided I needed to eat one more good meal before I got stuck with mtc cafeteria food, so we got shrimp tacos. yum. Next was the scary part where they had to like actually drop me off and everything became real. I didn't cry surprisingly, I think I was in denial. But a nice sister helped me grab my bags, and directed me to the line where I'd get my room key, my food card, my phone and the schedule for the day. Then another sister directed me to my room where the rest of the sisters in my district were! It was so exciting! I felt like I had known them forever already.

The rest of that day is a blur honestly. but i do remember specifically right before my welcome devotional started i was kinda looking around and i saw jazzy! (Sister Bundy) We ran up to each other and basically jumped into each other's arms. I was SO happy to see her! But then she had to run because the devotional was starting. Afterwards I saw Elder Houston and he gave me a big hug too. I think I got a couple weird looks and all my district sisters were like "wait who is that?"

Thursday

We had our first official class and finally met our morning teacher sister Hamilton! She's my favorite! We have a good balance of fun and learning with her. We met the branch president and honestly I don't remember much of thursday.

The Elders told us about their zone leaders who apparently gathered everyone into one room and yelled the rules at them. We've been making jokes about it all week. "NEVER TICKLE CHILDREN. EVER"

Friday

First temple trip! We went to the Mt. Timpanogos temple first thing in the morning. We took some family names to do baptisms, confirmations and initiatories. It was SO much fun! All of us sisters wore pink to see if the elders would notice. They only did because we asked if they noticed anything. We got a district photo but two of the elders were nowhere to be found so we took it without them. Elder Schnieder mentioned how he always dreamed about having a wristwatch so I gave him mine... that was a mistake cause I still haven't gotten it back. Wish me luck. We finally met our evening teacher, sister Gladding, and she was actually more fun than we were all expecting. I saw Sister Bundy a few times and that made me so happy.

Saturday

All us sisters were SO hyper and giggly for whatever reason ALL day! I think it's because we're sleep deprived. I started teaching sister Bezzant how to tap dance and it's so cute how excited she gets every time I show her a new move. She's been practicing a lot and she's definitely improving. #proudsistermoment

ALSO I got a notification that i got a package?!?! I thought who on earth would be sending me something right now? I was not surprised when it was Esther! She's the best, I told you guys this. Esther if you're reading this THANK YOU SO MUCH! She gave me cutie little artwork cards and a bunch of my favorite candies and snacks.

Sunday

It didn't feel like Sunday AT ALL. We had relief society first and then sacrament meeting. After lunch we had a devotional for the Go and Do experience. We went into quiet rooms and basically had a personal study for an hour and a half. I started studying a talk about the Book of Mormon by Ezra Taft Benson and once I started writing I couldn't stop. It talked about how the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. After studying we had a district discussion and we were all bawling our eyes out lol (I cried a lot on sunday. it was a very spiritual day)

Then we convinced our whole district (except Elder Dickson and Elder Schnieder) to go to choir practice. After dinner we went to a musial devotional! The Nashville Tribute Band came and performed and it was AMAZING. They sang about people from the Book of Mormon and serving missions but it was basically like a country music concert and I was LIVING my life. All us sisters cried again. Sunday definitely helped me remember why I'm here and I'm very grateful for that.

Spiritual thought: A keystone is the central stone in an arch and if it's removed the arch will crumble. If the Book of Mormon can be discredited then the prophet Joseph Smith goes with it. So do priesthood keys, revelation and the restored church. The Book of Mormon really is the keystone of our religion and I know that if you read it and pray about it the spirit will testify of its truthfulness.

Here's some pictures! sorry they're out of order lol