Pictures and Pride

Thanksgiving was a 4 day weekend technically because we had zone Saturday, but it was on a holiday lockdown and we couldn't really do anything. It was catered by a new incoming restaurant up here and all of it was amazing. All the desserts were made by senior couples and all of them were stupendous. I sort of hurt myself because I didn't stretch. I threw the ball wrong and sprained my rotator cuff but I'm back to normal now so no worries yet. I know to be more careful and stretch till I feel comfortable before getting involved with the activity of the day. I'm pretty sure I hurt it because we didn't stretch before getting involved and we have exercise at like 6:45 and we didn't stretch but all is better now. Packages aren't really restricted just as long as it isn't a Knife or blade, a Gun, or a Bomb. I also can't have headphones cuz mission rules but everything else is totally ok. I can have just about anything up here cuz the stuff I can't take with me out to zone just stays in the apartment and I just do stuff with it later after I get home. Elder Lane is super funny when he isn't even trying to be, and Elder Dunn and Divine are also in my apartment. The 4 of us together are just a real party and we have lots of fun. Elder Dunn's father sent him a ton of protein powder like 3 huge tubs of it and we were kind of amazed but we are just going to have a lot of protein shakes. I will be either needing or getting a CD player at some point, better soon then later though, because you know how much I love to listen to music. I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing great and glad that all of you are taking my challenge seriously and I'm glad that you are understanding it all thanks to the helper book you bought. I honestly am really loving it up here, but every now and again I kinda get down on myself wondering if I have the Lord with me, and if he is supporting me, and if I did something to someone in my apartment or on the mission to offend them in anyway because they are kinda dodgy around me. Then I just turn to the Lord and pray for His help and guidance to help me feel of His love and spirit. Art/Drawing has also been a real help to me these past weeks. I have been able to express my emotions better and help people understand how I am feeling in the moment if I just put it into an art piece. The other Elders in my apartment love to see my artwork and they love having me around because my happiness and my excitement is I guess contagious but I just like seeing other people smile.

Now for my Spiritual Thought. I just started reading Jacob because that's my way of studying, I bounce all over the place and not a set order of scripture. But I was reading in the first three chapters and how the Nephites had started turning wicked and evil because they had money, and all matter of expensive things and they stopped looking to the Lord and they just started looking up at themselves in the pride of their hearts. Then Jacob comes in and starts to preach them and make known their wickedness and their abominations, and they start to feel guilty and very slowly start looking at the Lord again. I really want all of us to take a look at ourselves and admit to ourselves the areas where we are either overconfident or we are prideful and humble ourselves to change, because if we aren't open to change we then cut off the holy spirit and he won't be with us because we don't think we need to learn anything. So take an area where you are prideful and take a step back for a while and try to be less prideful and see how much you change, because I know that if you do that you will be blessed and you will feel the spirit even more. I love all of you dearly and feeling your prayers really helps me on the days where I get down, and it helps me back up. 

Thank you so much, see you soon, and Stay Beefy!

My Schedule to the best of my knowledge

Every Morning!!!!!!

6:30 Wake up

6:45 Exercise or Scripture study (Personal & Companionship) Showers, Food, etc

7:30 Get home from Exercise on days we have exercise

Everyday Routine

9:00 Leave to get to zone

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Back at zone

4:00 Leave for dinner at apartments or where ever we choose

6:30 Night zone on days we have something/ Devotional with President Fenn

Evenings

8:30 Return to apartments

9:00 Curfew, Each elder to his own apartment. Free time

10:00 Lights out

P-Days:    WEDNESDAY!!!!! I SCREWED UP ON MY LAST EMAIL! P-DAYS THIS TRANSFER ARE ON WEDNESDAYS!!!!

Regular Morning Schedule.

We get to choose when we do Emails, Laundry, Shopping, etc 9:00ish to 6:00ish

but it has to be before 6:00 when we go to Night Zone

8:30 Regular Evening Schedule

Sundays:

6:30 Get up showers and food. Our apartment always invites someone over every Sunday which is really cool

9:30 Music and the Spoken Word (optional but I'm going every week)

10:00 Back to apartments

1:00 Church

4:00 Back to Apartments

4:30ish, Dinner appointments with Senior Missionaries. (If we have been selected for one. Not all Young Elders get one every week)

After Dinner is Regular Evening Routine

10:00 Lights Out.

I hope this helps everyone know my schedule a little bit better and I am way sorry for telling you wrong about my P-Day. This is my everyday schedule for this transfer Sorry for the misunderstanding

Elder Divine, Elder Lane, Elder Dunn, & Me

Tree at Joseph Smith Memorial Building

Strained my rotator cuff playing dodgeball

Beautiful view from my apartment. 

Elder Dunn's inner demon

For Lexi =)

Elder Bartholomew using a scarf as a blanket being funny

Spotted by Family Friend!

It's always a nice surprise to be in church and one of your super good friends texts you a picture of her and your son on Temple Square. They were both at Music and the Spoken Word. 

Spiritual Email between Father & Son

Hey Bud,

I hope all is well with you. Did you receive a transfer this week? If so, what area are you serving in? Also, what are the different areas? 

We are plugging along here. Spencer has stayed in his every night since moving into your room. And that is a wonderful blessing. Bradyn and he are not fighting as much also. Lexi has her "Lexi" moments. 

We are following your counsel and trying to read Isaiah. We purchased a book from Desert Books that should helps us better understand it. We have only read the first chapter, so it has been a slow start but we will keep plugging away at it. 

Your mission will be what you put into it. I know if you put your all into it, you will enjoy it to its maximum capacity. You are such a great example not only to your brothers but your peers here. The Bishop has asked that I speak in our Priesthood Leadership meeting in December. The Stake President and his Councilors are concerned with the low numbers of missionaries going out form the Stake. We a currently at 20% of those who could serve. I've been asked to speak on how I can encourage our youth to serve. As the young men president I felt it would be a good idea to have monthly discussion from the Preach My Gospel. This past week I address who many of the youth may feel as though they are not prepare to serve a mission. I wish Tanner and Cole would have been in there as I related how Moses felt as if there was some one else better suited to lead the Israelites. Moses felt like he was not "eloquent" enough and "slow of speech, and of a slow tongue" (Exodus 4:10). Yet the Lord explained "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou salt say" (Exodus 4:12). I felt this important as we may not always feel "eloquent" enough to be a spokes person for the Lord but once we except to serve Him, He will be our mouth and teach us what to say. 

thank you son for being the example you are to all of those who know you. I know you are a great missionary and will be a great instrument in bringing other souls unto our Heavenly Father. Continue to follow the mission rules and be that example unto your follow missionaries. You are a great young man! You are missed here, but we all know you are where you need to be at this time, and we willing to make that sacrifice. 

Special young man, Lucky Dad?

Love you

Dad

Wyatt's Reply to his Dad

I have a message for all those in the priesthood group that may not know if they are ready to serve a mission that I would like you to share next week and here it is. I know that as Deacons you are starting to learn more about a mission and how vital and important they are to this gospel. I encourage all of you to study in the scriptures more! If you aren't reading at least 30 min a day you are denying the guidance of the holy spirit in your lives, This goes for all the Elders as well! The spirit of the lord is trying to touch you and help you in the gospel but he can't help you feel the power of the spirit and he can't help expound your knowledge and understanding in his truth if you aren't open to the gospel and if you aren't willing to read the scriptures each day with diligence and in humility with a mind open to his counsel and guidance. I ask you dad to share that please. I'm also glad that you have had a Spencer free bed and its really comforting to hear that the family is drawing closer to each other and trying to take heed to Isaiah's words and his magnificent council. I love that you are reading it but now I ask you all to do one more thing. After each chapter that you complete I would like you to take a verse and expound on it. Try to find what message its sending forth and take that topic and express your feelings on it. I hope that you will have a fabtabulous week and I hope that you will all think of me at this wonderful time of year of Thanksgiving. I hope you all look for the Lords blessings and all he has to offer. Goodluck, see you soon, and Stay Beefy!

Unshaken Faith

Hey!

My P-Days for the next month or so are going to be Tuesdays. I did start later because Transfer was yesterday and we had a young elder conference so we had to go shopping later in the day. Yesterday was so good! We have been doing some family search the past week and I found 10 family names! I did all the baptisms, confirmations, and initiatories. Of course we were kind of crunched for time and Elder Allison and Elder Walker didn't have names because they were doing other stuff in the week. We just split the names that Elder Wacaser and I found between the 4 of us, and we each had about 4 or 5. My new companion is Elder Lane and my new apartment group is super fun. I can't wait to have a real party with them. We weren't able to totally move in when we got all our stuff in there because the peeps in the apartment before us kinda didn't prepare to move out, and they took an hour and a half to get everything moved out. Even though they said that they moved out there was still a ton of stuff in the fridge and most of it was moldy and we had to do a deep clean just like we used to back home to get everything clean. That wasn't fun and it smelled...."great" =( When we finally got moved in and all of our stuff organized it was probably 9:30ish. Kinda annoying, but I hope other transfers go smoother and less annoying as this one.
Now for my spiritual thought for the week. I have been reading in Ether (probably one of my favorite books in the Book of Mormon). In Ch 3 It made me really think of faith and how we have to have that strong faith in this work and this gospel. The Brother of Jared had such faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that he would be able to make the stones shine forth so that they would have light in their ships so that they could see, even though they couldn't steer at all because the lord was steering for them. After the Brother of Jared had told the lord what he wanted to have him do; he saw the finger of God and he was frightened because he didn't think that the Lord had flesh, blood, and bone. But the part that really struck me was "And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie. And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you - Ether Ch 3:11-12. and the one part that I would've put there after would be "Because of your unshaken faith in me." So I would like to challenge all of you that read the emails I send out to be like the Bro. of Jared and strive to find your unshaken faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because I know for a fact that if you strive for that you will see miracles and wonders worked among you. I know for a fact that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and I know with my unshaken faith in this gospel that Jesus Christ has worked miracles in my life, and he will do so in yours. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Well I hope everyone will have a great week and as always "Stay, Beefy!"

The First Email

Hey!  It's been kind of a weird week for me, but I've been making the most of it and doing my best to stay positive. My companion for training week is the other new elder that came in with me on Monday, Elder Wacaser, we mostly get along but there are a few things that he does that pushes my buttons sometimes, but I don't let it get to me too bad. He is kind of like dad sometimes, he snores and I don't get good sleep some nights. But I have been able to sleep through it somehow these past two nights.

It's actually really fun up here and a lot of things remind me of the times that we have spent together up here. Just so you know they don't have the Sword of Laban up here. They told us in a powerpoint about all the various areas that we can serve in. We had a Q & A with President Fenn, our mission president, last night and Thursday night. That was really special in my opinion because he is a wizard when it comes to the scriptures. He knows so many scriptures that he can just totally pull out of his back pocket without even looking at the Book of Mormon at all. He is a really cool mission president and I hope that I can enjoy my mission to maximum capacity. 

So this week since its my training week I have today (Saturday) as my P Day. I won't be assigned an area till Tuesday, but my training companions are Elder Walker & Elder Allison. They are amazing, and I hope I get paired with one of them before they head home. We have fun and do things that make us die of laughter. I found out on Wednesday that Elder Allison and I are direct 12th cousins which was pretty cool. The Family history Library is super cool because the main floor is 100% interactive and you can learn so much down there. We play dodge ball for exercise days in the morning and everyone calls me a pro just because I am able to make it to the final 4 every time and win most of the time. We also were pelting bouncy balls at each other in the hallway where we are living, With Elder Allison, Gorman, and myself.  I did have something profound happen on Thursday night though. I know without a doubt that it was the voice of Jesus Christ but I heard it say "My Son, Thy Sins have been forgiven thee..." There was some other stuff that was said after that I really can't remember but I just felt so at peace and so loved by all of you and by our Savior. 

Me and Elder Walker have cooked some stuff. Tonight I'm cooking the breakfast burritos for dinner. They won't be as good as yours or dads but it will make a close second with what I have. We have been eating how I usually should and I heard that most people gain weight on the mission, but I'm going to be that one that doesn't gain too much. I am making sure that I limit what I eat, in a good way. I'm making sure that I don't eat so much that I'm blowing up and dying on the floor. Also, after I eat I make sure that I burn it off with some apartment workouts that me and my training companions have been doing.

My schedule changes daily but I'm getting to everything on time (10-15 min early) and getting done what needs to get done. I really don't know what my schedule will be like next week because transfer is Tuesday and I won't get it until I get assigned to an area.

Good News!!! I can listen to all sorts of music! So if you could send me a few CD's with some Lindsey Stirling, Piano Guys, David Archuleta, and Zelda music that would be fabtabulous. 

I hope the reading of Isaiah is coming along nicely. I just hope that you will take my challenge seriously. Yes I know Isaiah is hard, and I know that it's hard to understand but there is a whole lot of good doctrine in there, and I have gained a better insight and better knowledge of the scriptures through the words of Isaiah. 

LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH! As my favorite youtuber would say.... Goodluck, see you soon and Stay Beefy!

Sustained by Angels

As President Fenn (Wyatt's Mission President) was talking to us before we parted ways with Wyatt he said that the first week is always the hardest, but that it gets better after that. He said that the Lord would sustain the missionary and the family with what they needed to get through. He said it wouldn't be more than we needed or less, but just the right amount. I will attest that for the family, it was a super rough week. Spencer cried every single day. Lexi was moody. Bradyn drove everyone crazy. Brady was quiet, and I (mom) had a feeling of hollowness that I have never before experienced. No matter what I did, it was there. I have super copings skills so this was very new to me. I couldn't talk about him or I cried. I had friends hug me ready to listen, but I couldn't share. Friday, November, 16 exactly five days after saying goodbye I walked into my office at work and there was a missionary survival kit for moms. It was truly an act of love. Even though it was supposed to be anonymous, it had Leanne Skougaard's signature trademark of never ending love and service for others. I am truly thankful for her gift. It was so thoughtful and not only helped me, but also my children. They loved going through it and reading what everything was for. President Fenn was correct, the first week was hard, but ministering angels helped us through. After hearing from him via email Saturday, life has been much better. My hollow feeling is gone and we all just feel peace.

Lexi learned about Mission Headquarters in Seminary the day after we dropped him off and she felt a strong peaceful feeling that he is where he is supposed to be. At first she was like "Why are we learning about this again, we already touched on it." But then as the lesson progressed she realized it was a gift from Heavenly Father to help her.

The Send Off

Wyatt reported to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building at 7:00 a.m. on November 12, 2018 to the Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission. Wyatt reported on his Grandfather Roland's birthday and his dad served in the Salt Lake City South Mission 33 years earlier. The day started meeting the missionary coordinators Brother and Sister Marrott as well as the Elder's he would be spending the week with before being assigned a companion. Another young man was reporting to the same mission that morning with Wyatt as well as a couple that was serving while awaiting their Visas. We were taken to the chapel in the JSMB that was once a ballroom. We attended a devotional with Wyatt before taking some pictures and saying our goodbyes. Spencer cried through the whole devotional. He was not wanting to say goodbye. Everyone struggled through the closing song "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" The song was meant to be a goodbye for the handful of missionary couples leaving the mission, but was really just a horrible way to torment our family. I don't think I will ever be able to sing that song again without reliving the sadness felt that day. Kicking him out of the car at the curb and just ripping the bandaid off probably would have been a better option. Mom was the only solid rock that day as she felt someone had to be strong since everyone else was falling apart, including dad! Mom made everyone wipe the tears and smile as we got some "happy" pictures together and then goodbyes were said. Wyatt gave advice to all his siblings: He told Spencer to be a good boy, keep his room clean and help mom. He told Bradyn he has to be the priesthood holder and be the man of the house when dad isn't home. He told Lexi to stay strong in school, stay away from temptation and talk to mom and dad. Mom told him it was time to swallow his tears and serve the Lord. It was a rough day for all. Spencer couldn't get through dinner without thinking that Wyatt was sad. We are anxiously awaiting the first email on Saturday and the official beginning of Wyatt's Mission Blog.

Sister Fenn, Elder Gatlin, President Fenn

The end of the day Spencer was very sad and worried that Wyatt might be sad too.

Farewell Talk

Disclaimer: Not exactly what his talk was as he wrote it out and then took some liberties as he gave it and added a few things, but this is a good representation of what he said that day.

Before I begin my talk I want to thank the Veterans in the audience for their service.
Good morning brothers and sisters. I would like to start off with a story many of you have heard before. The story of Joseph Smith, but I'm starting after the sacred grove. When Joseph first heard and found the plates, he was told he had to wait a certain amount of time before he could even touch or read them. He had to be taught and had to therefore endure, which is what my talk is about today. That is just one of the many accounts of endurance in the gospel.  There is a scripture in Isaiah that goes along well with endurance. Isaiah 29:13-14 "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Now for many of you like Bishop Pace that probably went over your head, but to me it is saying that if you give heed to what the Lord is telling you and listen well, he will bring forth a marvelous work among us to do, but in order to be able to do as such we have to endure through those rough days and those days where we feel hopeless. I would like you to imagine with me for a moment that you are a well renowned artist. Your are working on a painting and you have been working very hard on and intricate part of the painting. When you step back and look at your work you realize you have made a mistake and it no longer looks how you want it to. What do you do? Satan would tell you to give up, quit the painting, throw it out and never paint again. What would the Lord tell us? 2 Nephi 31:19-20 says: "And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay: for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." Let's take a closer look at what I think is the most important part of that scripture. "Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end behold ye shall have eternal life." It isn't saying just have a little bite here and there, it is saying feast, eat a lot and enjoy it. So let's go back to the painting now. Let's say we chose to ignore Satan and endure through the hardship and we use our mistake, we change the painting and it becomes something different, better.
I now want to share some stories about how I have endured and the good influences in my life that have helped me get through hard times. My Junior year of school was probably the hardest year I have had. One Sunday I walked into church in Hurricane and Thomas (Christiansen) saw that I wasn't my normal self. After Sacrament Meeting he pulled me aside with his bright smiling face and asked me how things were and how I've been. He sat and listened to what I had to say being that friend that I need. He then turned me to a few talks about endurance and spiritual strength, and said: "I can feel and know that you're hurting but I know that you will become a great missionary and a spectacular person." Ever since then I have looked up to him and strive to be a light, like him, to other people. My struggles didn't end their though. I later fell into a dark place where I wasn't supposed to be, but along came my friend Josh (Lemmon). We had been swimming buddies for awhile and he became a really good friend and helped me get through that dark time. I testify that if we endure to the end we will be blessed. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Josh Lemmon & Wyatt

Cousin Rilee & Wyatt

Wyatt with Thomas & Dave Christiansen