2 March 2011
Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission
Dear Parents
Your daughter arrived on Temple Square in good health and fine spirits. Sister Holmes and I enjoyed extending to her a personal welcome. As a missionary, your daughter will teach many people of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the basic beliefs of the Church, as many thousands of guests visit Temple Square each year.
Temple Square provides shared housing for each missionary. Apartments are located in desirable neighborhoods. They are well maintained and within walking distance of Temple Square. Additionally, each is equipped with a washer dryer. Competent medical staff is available should your daughter require these services.
Missionaries are encouraged to write home weekly, preferably via email. Letters from home are important to and welcomed by your daughter. When you write, if relying on postal delivery, please address your letters as follows, as her residence will change several times during her stay here.
Sister Holmes and I look forward to serving with your daughter.
With warmth and respect
Michael H Holmes, President
Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
25 February 2011 - MTC
Crazy week! What with our Elders leaving, having a double p-day, and starting visitor center training - no rest for the.......missionary, right? But it's been a good week. Made so much better by your letters. I'm really going to miss the daily Dear Elders once I get to the field.
News update time. There are 13 sisters in my VC class: 7-Temple Square, 6-Mormon Battalion. So now you have to go check it out and say hi to my friends at the same time. Our 2 teachers are awesome. Happy, energetic, kinda crazy but not overly annoyingly peppy, etc. We have a lot more MDT (missionary directed time) in our new schedule. If I weren't about to lose MDT altogether it might be....too much. But it is nice to have more than the one-hour personal study. Especially since I've started using that to read Luke. I'm probably confusing you with MTC jargon. Sorry. It's hard to remember sometimes that we kind of speak a different language here.
I can't believe that Sunday will be my last Sunday in the MTC. I love it here. Probably because we can feel like missionaries without being out in the mean scary world. It's like being in the temple - you're in a bubble and the world outside doesn't exist anymore. I wish I could tell you every detail of my days. You have no idea how hard it is that I can only share the smallest part of what I'm doing. I regret all the days I answered "fine" when you asked me how my day went.
I mentioned that I'm reading Luke during personal study. I was prompted with a need to read one of the Gospels - to read about Christ and read His words. So a couple days ago I decided on Luke and started reading/studying. I want you to know that I know that Jesus Christ lives. He knows us and He willingly gave every thing for us. He lived, taught and was crucified. When He took upon Himself our every trial, sorrow and affliction, He saw our faces. He knows individually how to help us because He atoned for everyone individually. I love Him. And I'm coming to know Him in a way I've never experienced.
Time to go. I love you.
Sister Clayton
News update time. There are 13 sisters in my VC class: 7-Temple Square, 6-Mormon Battalion. So now you have to go check it out and say hi to my friends at the same time. Our 2 teachers are awesome. Happy, energetic, kinda crazy but not overly annoyingly peppy, etc. We have a lot more MDT (missionary directed time) in our new schedule. If I weren't about to lose MDT altogether it might be....too much. But it is nice to have more than the one-hour personal study. Especially since I've started using that to read Luke. I'm probably confusing you with MTC jargon. Sorry. It's hard to remember sometimes that we kind of speak a different language here.
I can't believe that Sunday will be my last Sunday in the MTC. I love it here. Probably because we can feel like missionaries without being out in the mean scary world. It's like being in the temple - you're in a bubble and the world outside doesn't exist anymore. I wish I could tell you every detail of my days. You have no idea how hard it is that I can only share the smallest part of what I'm doing. I regret all the days I answered "fine" when you asked me how my day went.
I mentioned that I'm reading Luke during personal study. I was prompted with a need to read one of the Gospels - to read about Christ and read His words. So a couple days ago I decided on Luke and started reading/studying. I want you to know that I know that Jesus Christ lives. He knows us and He willingly gave every thing for us. He lived, taught and was crucified. When He took upon Himself our every trial, sorrow and affliction, He saw our faces. He knows individually how to help us because He atoned for everyone individually. I love Him. And I'm coming to know Him in a way I've never experienced.
Time to go. I love you.
Sister Clayton
22 February 2011 - MTC
Our elders left this morning. Depressing, but there's no time to be depressed here and life goes on. Plus they are going to do AMAZING work in Hawaii so I'm super excited for them. And Elder Brazee will finally be in South Africa by now, so all around it's an exciting day. (He had two 6 hour layovers. His total travel time was something like 30 hours. But he got to stop in Heathrow - awesome!)
Not too much else to say. Amazing musical fireside on Sunday. We sang some favourite hymns and became a real MTC choir for an amazing arrangement of Called to Serve. I still have chills. And I love being able to watch Music and the Spoken Word. Relief Society was great too, Jana Staples from the RS board spoke to us on the Holy Ghost. The more I hear the story of Christ and Peter walking on water, the more I love it. I'm excited for the devotional tonight - we're all hoping it will be an apostle this time.
Just got to the devotional. There was a huge fuss over filming us as we walked in. So of course "it's the Prophet" was being whispered everywhere. But it's Patrick Kearon of the 70 and I'm super stoked. Isn't he the one who gave the awesome no-flip-flops-in-the-desert talk?
Apparently you should watch for us "between Conference" in April - if I'm understanding the purpose of their filming us tonight. By the way, it is the same man and I'm soooooo excited for this. He's amazing. He's only be in the 1st Quorum for a year!
He really is SO amazing. The love and faith comes rolling off of him. He just quoted Jericho Road, sort of. Said "you are about your Father's business". Wow. Just wow.
Tell everyone in Primary how much I appreciate the love and the pictures.
Not too much else to say. Amazing musical fireside on Sunday. We sang some favourite hymns and became a real MTC choir for an amazing arrangement of Called to Serve. I still have chills. And I love being able to watch Music and the Spoken Word. Relief Society was great too, Jana Staples from the RS board spoke to us on the Holy Ghost. The more I hear the story of Christ and Peter walking on water, the more I love it. I'm excited for the devotional tonight - we're all hoping it will be an apostle this time.
Just got to the devotional. There was a huge fuss over filming us as we walked in. So of course "it's the Prophet" was being whispered everywhere. But it's Patrick Kearon of the 70 and I'm super stoked. Isn't he the one who gave the awesome no-flip-flops-in-the-desert talk?
Apparently you should watch for us "between Conference" in April - if I'm understanding the purpose of their filming us tonight. By the way, it is the same man and I'm soooooo excited for this. He's amazing. He's only be in the 1st Quorum for a year!
He really is SO amazing. The love and faith comes rolling off of him. He just quoted Jericho Road, sort of. Said "you are about your Father's business". Wow. Just wow.
Tell everyone in Primary how much I appreciate the love and the pictures.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
16 February 2011 - MTC
On Sunday night after the 7:00 fireside we watch movies. The first week we saw The Testaments and this week was the Joseph Smith movie. You have got to watch them. Both were such amazing experiences and testimony builders. Thank you for the daily thoughts and prayers. And for sending me some of my music. I'm excited to play pretty prelude music on Sunday. I miss playing the piano in Primary.
Our Elders leave for Hawaii next Tuesday. Elder B___ left for South Africa Sunday morning. And the two other sisters in our district leave the Tuesday after for San Diego. Keep an eye out for Sisters K___ and S___ at the MoBat.
Love
Sister Clayton
Our Elders leave for Hawaii next Tuesday. Elder B___ left for South Africa Sunday morning. And the two other sisters in our district leave the Tuesday after for San Diego. Keep an eye out for Sisters K___ and S___ at the MoBat.
Love
Sister Clayton
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| District B Elders - The Best! |
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| Where in the World is District B! |
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| MTC Dist B Roomies -- Sisters Forever! |
16 February 2011 - MTC - Dear Primary II
Dear Primary
Hello everyone! I hope you are all still smiling, because life is WONDERFUL. The MTC is busy as ever. Laundry day is an exciting event here. We are working harder than ever and our testimonies grow more and more each day.
Thank you so much to the classes who have written me. Especially the Sunbeams for their wonderful picture. Unfortunately, I can’t write to you all individually, but I’m so grateful for your letters.
There’s one lesson I’ve learned here that I want you to remember. When life gets hard – start singing! Sing out and Keep Smiling. I love you all so much.
With all my love
♡
Sister Clayton
Hello everyone! I hope you are all still smiling, because life is WONDERFUL. The MTC is busy as ever. Laundry day is an exciting event here. We are working harder than ever and our testimonies grow more and more each day.
Thank you so much to the classes who have written me. Especially the Sunbeams for their wonderful picture. Unfortunately, I can’t write to you all individually, but I’m so grateful for your letters.
There’s one lesson I’ve learned here that I want you to remember. When life gets hard – start singing! Sing out and Keep Smiling. I love you all so much.
With all my love
♡
Sister Clayton
9 February 2011 - MTC - Dear Primary!
How are you? I hope you all have huge smiles on right now. I can picture all your faces, and my gets 10 times bigger. We are all working really hard here. The MTC is such a wonderful place, but it is easy to get lost! I sleep in a room with 5 other Sisters. We have a lot of fun. My companion’s name is Sister W. She is funny, sweet and has a really strong testimony.
I love each of you so much and I miss you. Please write when you can and send pictures of what yoiu are up to. I told my district all about yoiu and they can’t wait to see a picture. Stay strong and remember who you are.
Love
Sister Clayton
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| Me and SisterW at the Provo Temple |
2 February 2001 - MTC
Dear Family
Day 1 has (almost) come to an end. Maybe the best way to describe it is by comparing it to the first day of EFY - only better....and more surreal. There are three bunk beds in our room, but only five sisters so far (one is flying solo for now - something happened to delay her companion). My companion is great. Her name is W__ and we're both going to Temple Square. It's almost time for lights-out so I'll write more about my roomies and everything tomorrow. Just know that I am going to be with a smile.
Day 2! But it feels like this morning happened a week ago. I love our district. The elders are the best of the best and us girls are already sisters in every way. We met our Branch President, his counselors and their wives tonight. The Miller's are simply amazing. We also met our other teacher. We'll have the same two teachers for the next three weeks or so. Br Bastien and Br Kirk are so inspiring. We've already taught at least 3 lessons and acted as investigators a couple times. The role playing is really helpful and it really is better to just jump in and start teaching.
There is so much to say, but not enough time to write it all. I got a card from the Sunbeams this morning. The have a picture of me in their classroom! We write letters on P-day, which is Wednesday. Emails are done when we have laundry time.
Time to close. I love it here, even if it doesn't quite seem real yet. Hugs to everyone.
Love
Sister Clayton
Day 1 has (almost) come to an end. Maybe the best way to describe it is by comparing it to the first day of EFY - only better....and more surreal. There are three bunk beds in our room, but only five sisters so far (one is flying solo for now - something happened to delay her companion). My companion is great. Her name is W__ and we're both going to Temple Square. It's almost time for lights-out so I'll write more about my roomies and everything tomorrow. Just know that I am going to be with a smile.
Day 2! But it feels like this morning happened a week ago. I love our district. The elders are the best of the best and us girls are already sisters in every way. We met our Branch President, his counselors and their wives tonight. The Miller's are simply amazing. We also met our other teacher. We'll have the same two teachers for the next three weeks or so. Br Bastien and Br Kirk are so inspiring. We've already taught at least 3 lessons and acted as investigators a couple times. The role playing is really helpful and it really is better to just jump in and start teaching.
There is so much to say, but not enough time to write it all. I got a card from the Sunbeams this morning. The have a picture of me in their classroom! We write letters on P-day, which is Wednesday. Emails are done when we have laundry time.
Time to close. I love it here, even if it doesn't quite seem real yet. Hugs to everyone.
Love
Sister Clayton
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