Happy New Year!

If by chance you have not received a Christmas card from us, it is because they are all sitting on my desk waiting for Santa to write a letter, shove the picture in the envelope and mail it to you.  On the plus side, we actually printed out the pictures this year.  They actually say Merry Christmas on them but, I cleverly left out the year.  I'm a genius, what can I say?

To be perfectly truthful, they aren't on my desk.  Well, at least as not as far as I can see.  I'm guessing they are in one of these piles around/near/under my desk.  In real life, paperwork is not one of my talents and it's even worse now.  Which is why I love online banking and repeating payments.  Though someday I shall tell you the cautionary tale of The Girl Who Assumed Her Insurance Agent was Competent, but for now I shall give the moral of the story, which is always open letters from your insurance agent.  It is a thrilling tale, full of drama and many phone calls but will cause PTSD if I have to repeat it.  (Though how one goes from "we need to change our address" to "while you're at it cancel all of our other policies" is still quite mysterious.)

But, as I always do, I digress. 

Today was New Missionary Training day, tomorrow and the next few days are Zone Conferences and my sister Bonnie (www.overlys.blogspot.com, seriously you should check it out) came to visit before their family Disneyland trip.  So while the Hall kids had to be unceremoniously chucked out of bed and into school, the Overly kids went to Disneyland.  I can't wait to hear their reports and see if Disneyland can survive the twins.  (Prediction: probably not :)

Now, I've distracted myself with thoughts of Disneyland. So here is a picture of some M&M's I found on my floor.   

To the untrained eye that may not look like much.  To the Disneyphile it is obviously Classic Mickey Head with Classic Red Button Pants. 

Where was I again? Oh, yes, New Missionary Training.  New missionaries are awesome.  They have been here for one whole week now and have had some good experiences, some not as good experiences and a whole lot of "I had no idea what a mission was really like" experiences. 

I usually talk to them about what it means to be a Servant of the Lord.  It's not the same as being an employee of the Lord.  No clock punching, no 40 hours and then you are off for the weekend.  You are on call 24/7. Your sleep schedule is even determined for you.  You wear a uniform that in 2013 is about as odd as a lace maid's cap is.  We even tell you how to do your hair (hint: get a haircut). 

It's serious business being a fulltime servant, and it is hard. There are so many rules and at 18/19 you really don't understand them all.  The members don't even understand them all but you still have to follow them (hint: yes, you have to stay with your companion always).

The more I am out here the more I am convinced that the mission is for the missionary.  Not that converts aren't important, because they are, but if a missionary will spend two years as a servant, concerned only about his Master's business then the missionary will change.  He or she will be a better husband/wife, father/mother, brother/sister, a better disciple of Christ because of it.  If you apply what you have learned about listening to the spirit, living and loving your companion and working even when you don't feel like it you will have what it takes to thrive as an adult.  It is like tithing--10 percent of your life (age 18-20) will make all the difference to the other 90.

So do I think those who don't go on missions are doomed?  (Read doomed in an ominous, echo-y voice for full effect).  No. I think Elder Holland addressed that subject beautifully in his April Conference Talk.  Those who are blessed to be able to  serve early in the vineyard are paid no differently at the end of the day, but they also don't have to spend the day stressed out and worrying how they will feed their children that night.   

The eternal reward is the same for all the faithful, but the intensity of the mission work will train you faster than you could do it otherwise.  All worthy, able young men have a priesthood duty to serve.  For the sisters it is much more D & C 4:3. Which reminds me of this meme:

Why? I can guess.  Missionaries are never off the clock.  They spend 24/7 serving others.  They get yelled at and doors slammed.  They work so hard but rarely see the end results of their efforts for decades.  Does this sound like any other calling a woman might have in mortality?  Yes, I did it.  I played the motherhood card.  There are different fields to labor in, as it were.  The Lord has things to teach us that involve sacrifice whether or not it is sacrificing 18 months, cigarettes or sleep for a cranky newborn.  

And while I'm hypothesizing, why do I think so many more women will now have the chance to go?  How does that fit in with my other theory? I think the Lord wants more sisters to have the chance to serve because  we need better marriages.  So many of our missionaries come from homes with no good example of marriage.  They don't know how to disagree without being disagreeable or how to keep loving someone you don't even like sometimes.  If you can learn on a mission that love is action and the solution is always the gospel then when real life smacks you in the head, you know how to deal with it.  So sisters, if you meet the D&C 4:3 requirement, come on out--we'll put you to work.*

See, this is what happens when I am so exhausted (early morning seminary may be the death of me).  I meant to say nice things about new missionaries and have digressed so far I've forgotten my original point.  If I even had one.

Anyhoo, Happy 2013.  Be a little better, work a little harder, pray for your missionaries and their companions.  Oh, and if you have any referrals, I know the password now and can send a referral to any mission in the whole world. How cool is that?

*One big concern I have is that with so many sisters desiring to go is that those who have not felt impressed to serve full-time will be looked down on by others.  I have the same concern for Elders who have not been able to serve full-time for whatever reason.  Atonement is real--we all get paid  for our labor. You worry about yourself and keep your nose out of other people's business.  In the words of President Uchtdorf:  Stop It!



Merry Christmas, Missionaries

--Sorry to post a letter to the missionaries instead of something for the non-missionary types, but things are a bit pressed for time around here.  Merry Christmas!

Dearest Missionaries,

            Merry Christmas!  President Hall and I truly pray that this Christmas season will be one of deep personal meaning to you in your full-time service of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

            As we follow Elder Holland’s counsel to understand Christmas instead of merely enjoying Christmas, our focus shifts. It shifts away from us and towards the baby in the manger.  Instead of wondering what we will get, we wonder how it is that Christ was born, lived, atoned and opened the doors to exaltation to all of us. 

            As we understand Christmas we understand those shepherds who first heard the news from the angels--

Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

                We have heard the Good News, we come in haste to Christ to learn of Him, to do His will and to make it known unto those who have not yet heard. 

            Take some time this Christmas to read the story of our Savior’s birth with your companion.  Sing a Christmas hymn.  Ponder and keep in your heart the feelings you have as a representative of Jesus Christ.  May your most precious gift be that of the Holy Ghost testifying that it is all true--that mankind has a way back to our Father in Heaven, because of Christ.  Because of Christmas.

We Love You, Merry Christmas

President and Sister Hall

Dear Cousins,

This is just a copy/paste of a letter I sent to mi familia extended.  I hope it makes sense for the most part.  I'm way too tired to worry about it if it doesn't :)


Querido familia,

First, I finally met KH--sister of the wonderful MaryAnn. (She is the matron of the LA Temple)

 Second, I read the riot act to the zone leaders about not acting like missionaries and felt distinctly Oscar W-ish.  Which is odd since I have never met the man but not so odd seeing as how this is his old mission.

Third, boy am I tired.  Not as tired as Ken, mind you but tired nonetheless.  We just finished speaking to the "youth" session of a stake conference.  Much more fun than just the few minutes you get in the general session. (they keep the youth there after general, feed them lunch and then have an hour meeting) We used the theme of Know Before You Go.  I compared them to investigators.  I explained that to join the church an investigator is required to do something unique in the world.  They tried to guess (baptism? Have faith? Etc) but the answer is to join the church you are required to have a  revelation.  You must know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, the Book of Mormon is the world of God and the Church is true.  They need to know that too, so how do you find that out.  Well, you need to pray, read the Book of Mormon and go to Church (sacrament meeting).  Which is why their parents are hopefully having family prayer, family scripture study and dragging them to church.  Ken spoke more about the Hastening of the work and the changes that are coming from the new age requirement. 

We currently have 190 missionaries and we will have 250.  Theoretically, a young man could graduate from highs school.  Go straight to the MTC and (if he is called to his native language) be in the field 12 days later.  Kind of makes you think.  The new youth curriculum is really set up to help this and the topics it covers are the same ones all investigators learn.  Hopefully mutual will change--especially for the YM.  More MTC and less NBA, if you get my drift.

The last three weeks have been crazy!  First there were interviews, then transfers and then Elder Don Clarke came for a mission tour.  On top of all that, Ken and the area seventy are meeting with all of the stake presidents, bishops, bishoprics, ward mission leaders and high councilors over mission work in all 10 stakes.  They will be done by tonight.  Our area seventy (Elder Jerry Garns) and Ken feel very strongly that they need to present together so everyone catches the vision that missionary work is a combined effort of members and missionaries.  They are presenting a template that the wards are welcome to use for their ward mission plans.  So if any of you ward mission leaders want a copy, let me know.  It is straight out of Handbook 2 but formatted so it is easy to see and measure.  Ken says too many ward mission plans are nicely framed statements on the importance of missionary work. 

It was also follow-up new missionary training week.  Historically, this mission has had a new missionary get off the plane and then spend the next 4 hours filling out paperwork, watching  driving safety videos, etc.  It made for a stressful and tedious arrival. So this time we picked them up at the airport, took them to a nearby stake center, assigned them a zone leader/assistant/awesome sister as an afternoon companion and sent them out to find someone to teach. It was awesome.  They did the scariest part of missionary work an hour after landing and had a good experience.  We did only the paperwork/office stuff that HAD to be done right away.  The next day they met their new companions and off they went.  A week later they came back for actual, new missionary training.  It was so much better than getting off the plane, terrified, and just doing non-missionary things while waiting for their interviews.  Now they can get interviewed and proselyte and by the time of the transfer meeting feel like actual missionaries.

 The kids are still adjusting.  And by that I mean that it isn't as horrible as it was but it isn't good yet.  Interestingly enough, they love to come to stake conferences with us.  So it is always nice to have them there--the only time we go to church as a family (of course we don't actually sit together, but hey, it's the same meeting!)

 We have put up the tree and tried without success to figure out how the decorations in the garage are supposed to be set up.  We brought our own ornaments and Christmas Lego village so that is nice and home like. 

That is all my fried brain can think of at the moment.

 Love,

Dianna

Have You Ever Played Clue with a Mystery Writer?

Hooray! The cousins came for Thanksgiving.  Stephanie and Brian, et al (ok not all al, Amy and Shauna partied in St George) came down from the north to celebrate with us.  It was so much fun to have them here.

We did touristy things, cooked a billion calories worth of food and laughed until our faces hurt.  Literally hurt.  The  laugh-fests included, but are not limited to, reading out loud the rejected  Breaking Dawn screenplay (we read them all, tears running down our cheeks), watching the family favorite Clue, and our own great wittiness.  A good time was had by all.  Or at least most of us, Ken had some crises pop up and so spent most of Thanksgiving bashing his head against the wall.

Since we watched Clue, of course we had to play Clue.  We have Master Detective Clue which has more rooms and suspects and so we busted out the notebooks and began accusing.  Unlike the standard Clue game, Master Detective Clue gives you a whole sheet of paper so you can take notes as well as make check marks.  I never know what notes I am supposed to be taking--I'm more of a kamikaze player.  Rebecca take detailed notes and always solves it more quickly.  Stephanie, who has written five mystery/suspense novels was fiendishly writing.  Are you curious what kind of notes a mystery writer takes?  I was.  So in true criminal fashion I stole her notes and present them to you.

2:56 pm
Someone here is a killer...it is giving me the creeps.  What evil lurks behind these friendly smiles? I am starting to suspect that the killer is ________________ (trails off to blood/ink spatters)

3:04 pm
Tempers are rising. The tension and uncertainty are affecting all of us. I don't know how long we can endure this before someone cracks under the pressure.

3:09 pm
Matthew looks so innocent with his large blue eyes. What better disguise for a murderer? Or is he as innocent as he seems? I hate how this murder makes me suspect everyone of this most heinous crime! Oh the angst!

3:14 pm
I am growing increasingly suspicious of Rebecca. Her brilliant, devious mind and innocent smile could conceal an evil genius. But did she harbor a grudge against Mr. Body?

So there you have it.  While the rest of us were trying to roll the dice into the conservatory, Stephanie was watching us for clues.  For the record, Mrs Peacock did it in the trophy room, with the lead pipe. (Leading Matthew/Mr Green to say, "I told you I didn't do it!")

Matthew's Baptism

Matthew was baptized by his brother, Thomas, on November 4, 2012 at the McBean Building.  The building is actually irrelevant, I just like saying "McBean."

Matthew was born two days before Thomas's eighth birthday.  In fact, he came home from the hospital on Thomas's birthday and we said he was an extra birthday present.  Thomas took us seriously and has loved and cared for Matthew ever since.  Matthew's first public outing was to Thomas's baptism (which was a giant stake baptism that lasted over two hours--not recommended for newborns).

Now, eight years later, it was Matthew's turn.  Thomas and Matthew met with Bishop Larkins and got the thumbs up.  Thomas's first act as a Priest was to baptize his brother.  He did a great job.  He spoke clearly and confidently and got Matthew all the way under.  It was a wonderful thing. Ken confirmed and gave him a wonderful blessing. 

Grandpa Hall gave a great talk, Katie played the piano, very nice people from the ward helped out with special musical numbers and it was a very nice service. 

Plus, what a great experience for the velcro brothers.

Anxiously Engaged

(These are my notes that I use for new missionary orientation.  Since I have had time to post anything recently, I thought I would share this.  We have a lot of missionaries that deal with anxiety issues--well they all do to some extent, but some really struggle.  The point is that the Lord really has set up His program to help the missionary as well as those he/she serves.)

Doctrine and Covenants 58:27   Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness

·         We are anxiously engaged in a Good Cause, we have chosen to be here and as missionaries we will bring to pass much righteousness.

·         Another definition of Anxiously also can apply to missionaries (especially new missionaries)

·         All new missionaries experience anxiety, some more than others

·         Preach My Gospel and the Missionary Handbook are set up to help alleviate anxiety.  Whether or not you are comfortable speaking with people, whether or not you have a lot of gospel knowledge or very little, Preach My Gospel is set up to help.

1.  Schedule

            The missionary schedule (up at 6:30, etc) is something you can rely on for your whole mission.  You can count on it.  Missionary work can be a bit unpredictable at times but you can count on your schedule.   

2. Study

            Preach My Gospel has hundreds of activities and questions to help you become a missionary who can teach with power and authority.  To learn how to study do the activities in Chapter 2.  To become more Christlike, do the activities in Chapter 6. 

·         Individual Study

            Every day you have an appointment with the Lord to learn His will for your investigators.  Studying the doctrines will lesson your anxiety about teaching.  Studying specifically for your investigators will let the Lord use you as His instrument.

·         Companion Study

            Together you approach the Lord and seek His will and help for the people you teach.  When you are unified the Holy Ghost can work through your efforts to bring souls unto Christ.

Part of companionship study is role playing.  Role playing is not pretending to be someone you are not.  Role playing is a revelatory time where the Lord can guide you in helping his children.  Take it seriously.  It also reduces anxiety because when it is time to teach the lesson you will have already taught it once, twice, three times. 

 

3.  Planner and Planning

            Every night and weekly you will plan out your day/week.  This is more than just scheduling.  You and your companion make plans to accomplish your goals and back-up plans for when things don’t work out.  You will not have to be worried or anxious about what to do—you will know what is coming and what you will be doing. 

4.  Service

            Nothing can help us forget our own troubles faster than serving others.  As missionaries we are always looking for ways to serve—both small ways and large ways.  Focus on others.  Your mission is a unique time in your life where you are always outwardly focused. 

5.  Companion

            You don’t have to do this by yourself.  The gospel is preached two by two for many reasons (second witness, different life experiences, safety, etc.). However, a major reason is to help and support each other.  As a new missionary your trainer can help you learn the joy of missionary work and answer questions.  You can help strengthen your companion’s testimony, share each other’s burdens and join together to love and teach your investigators.

6.  Your Name Tag

            Don’t be afraid to be a missionary.  There is no need to hide it or worry about speaking with everyone.  With your name tag on people will recognize you as a missionary.  They will expect you to greet and talk to them.  It is just what missionaries do.  Act like a missionary.  Your name tag also carries the name of Jesus Christ.  Act how He would have you act. It is His work and His gospel.  He will help you.

7.  Promises from the Lord

      “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540).  We are part of this great work, and as we go forth boldly and nobly and sound it in every ear, we shall accomplish the purposes of God.

Surprise!

Yesterday in General Conference (gc.lds.org) President Monson announced that they have lowered the age missionaries can begin serving.  WE are so excited.  If a young man is prepared to serve, let's get him out without first spending a year unfocused and waiting.  And personally I predict a tripling of sister missionaries--19 is so much more convenient than 21.

I hope the Priest Quorum advisors and YM presidents take advantage of this new program to use some of  mutual time as mission prep (And Laurel/YW presidents, too). Preach My Gospel has hundreds of activities to use.  The Missionary Preparation manual is free online.  And for the YW presidents who simply cannot resist cute things to pass out, the new teeny tiny Preach My Gospel is just so cute!  Let's leave the sports to the stake sports program and kick mutual up a notch.  (Was that preachy enough?  Because I've got more :)

So excited!  It will be interesting to see how it all works during the next year as things transition.  Aren't you glad you are BYU President Samuelson?  Or the admissions director?  Good times!