Letter Dated: 13 Aug 2011

Hello everyone, glad to hear you got the pictures I sent. Today we've been having our infield orientation. I am so excited, I can't hardly keep it in. It's been an amazing experience here in the MTC, but I can't wait to really get to work. I can't wait to learn and grow from my challenges and experiences. I can't wait to set meaningful and specific goals and then plan accordingly. I know that these experiences will teach me skills that will give me a head start in the world, but more importantly the message of the restoration and gospel of Jesus Christ have blessed me with such peace and joy it's impossible to describe. I can't wait to share that joy with others, to tell them there is hope. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel which teach us how to become like our Father in Heaven. It is never too late for any of us. His arm of mercy is extended to all who will believe on his name, and when we don't, he loves us still. God intends for us to have peace and joy in this life and in the life after.

The in-field orientation was amazing. It was a full day of training giving us the vision of missionary work out in the field. This was new training, and we were some of the first missionaries to officially get it. They also told us about a new training they've started in the field. They have new missionaries stay with their trainer for 12 weeks instead of 6. At the end of this training, we will be trained enough to become trainers ourselves. I am so excited. We have been provided with the newest and best training available to become the best missionaries the Lord has ever had. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on how it goes. I love you all with all my heart, especially Mom and Dad.

Love, Elder Record

Flying to Alaska

Elder Record is leaving the MTC today and flying to Anchorage, Alaska. He has had cabin fever at the MTC, aching for this day to arrive. However, he has tried hard to be patient and learn all that he needs to learn in the MTC, which has made the time go by much faster than he expected. Regardless, I imagine his excitement is truly overwhelming today.

Letter Dated: 10 Aug 2011

Hi everyone,

I've been so busy here. It's so much fun teaching people in the TRC. I'm learning a lot about how to adjust lessons and doctrine to what the person needs. I'm learning how to teach with the spirit. I'm sending, with the pictures, a picture of my district at the Provo temple.

Back: Sister Hunt, Sister Clemons, Elder Chao, Elder Cooper, Elder Record, Elder Blackhurst, Elder Allred, Elder Steeple, Sister Watson, Sister Caton;
Front: Elder Kearns, Elder Fisher

 

Me, Elders Blackhurst, Steeple, Fisher, Kearns, and Sister Watson are all going to Alaska. So that's 6 of the 12 Alaskan missionaries in the MTC in our district. Sisters Hunt and Clemons are going to Louisville, Kentucky. The rest are going to the New York, Utica mission, which is most of the state. I took a picture of a map of the missions, you can see it there.

Map of Mission Boundaries

I can't believe I leave on Monday. It seems like forever and that no time passed all at once. All the previous days have melded into one day. I can't really distinguish one day from the next.

I hope everyone is having a good time. I can't wait to eat normal food again. I eat mostly salad every day because the food clogs your system. Just lettuce and croutons, water, and a little of the entree. It keeps my body working normal.

One thing I've learned is that the spirit works in us to do the Lord's work whether I know what's going on or not.

I've learned some greetings in other languages. My favorite is Tagalog. Kumusta po kayo is how are you. If you could spell it in English, I would write hello in Russian, so this is as phonetic as I can do. Ustrasviche.

Elder Blackhurst and Elder Record, MTC Companions

The gospel is true. If it wasn't, I know from seeing other Elders, that we would have ruined everything a long time ago. ☺ Thanks for all the letters. I love hearing from everyone. Thanks for keeping me posted about Courtyard Lorielle. If anyone wants to write the Elders and Sisters in my district their address is the same as mine, until we leave on the 15th. Dear elder works great. E-mail is not very good. I can't ever really use it. Letters are the best. I love you all.

The brownies were awesome. Everyone loved them. I'm famous for the brownies now. It made some cry or yell, but everyone loved them. Like always, nobody believes a brownie can be hot. I've even given the recipe to our zone leaders. ☺ Thanks dad.

Love, Elder Jason Record

Travel Plans Finalized

Elder Record leaves the Salt Lake City airport on Monday, 15 August at 10:00am MDT, and arrives in Anchorage, Alaska at 3:02pm MDT. He will not have another preparation day before he leaves. Please make sure all letters or packages arrive at the MTC no later than this Friday, 12 August. Mail may not get delivered over the weekend. Any mail after that may not make it to him. I expect they will be forwarded, but I'm not sure.

His new mailing address after Friday, 12 August will be:

Elder Jason W. Record
Alaska Anchorage Mission
3250 Strawberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99502

Dragon Brownie for a Teacher

I got an email from Elder Record sharing an experience he had with one of his teachers. Here it is.

Brownies were awesome.  One of my teachers, brother Matt Ang tried one and was like, "These are hot.  These are really hot.  Wow, these are really hot!  Oh my goodness, these are really hot!"  His face went red.  He's from Singapore and is used to spicy food.  He said, "That wasn't spicy.  It was just hot.  I can't even describe that."

-Elder Record

So my Dragon Brownies continue to be legendary.

Dragon Brownies for Elder Record

I just sent a box of Dragon Brownies to Elder Record. He is already on fire, but this will really light up his district. I did send some normal brownies too, but I just couldn't help myself.

Letter Dated: 3 Aug 2011

Sorry if my last letter sounded rushed. It was. I had to write during study time. I have P-day on Wednesdays, so this letter should be better.

These past few days seem as long as forever, but have passed in the blink of an eye. I've had the opportunity to give 2 blessings. Yesterday was so filled with the spirit. I didn't know if I could handle it all. The MTC is incredible. I love the growth I'm having, but I have to say that I do have cabin fever for Alaska. I love you all and think about you, but the spirit is too strong here to get homesick right now. ☺

I know that the Lord has selected everyone in my district to be there. There is so much love between the 12 of us, 4 sisters. The Lord is purifying us and preparing us. I see other districts and am glad that I am in mine with Elder Blackhurst as my companion. We taught a less active couple in the TRL yesterday morning. The spirit was so strong there as we encouraged them and loved them. We testified that Jesus is the Christ, and he is mighty to save. He can change our hearts. I shared an experience when the Lord changed my heart and gave me strength to overcome my weaknesses. I felt the spirit so strong. We were all in tears. The whole day we felt the Spirit. My companion couldn't stop smiling the whole day.

We're learning a lot and practicing even more. It's hard, but it will be so worth it. There is too much going on to tell it all. Robert Swenson, director of missionary services, and Gerald N. Lund have come to speak to us. I can already see the Lord fulfilling his promises to me. Right now I feel physically and spiritually stronger than ever before. I know the Lord's hand is in this work. Our district is becoming a Zion district and we are becoming Zion missionaries, D&C 100:15-16.

I love you all and hope you are all happy.

-Elder Record

NOTE: Elder Record also expressed his gratitude for all the letters he has received.

Letter Dated: 30 Jul 2011

This week has been so packed. I didn't think it was possible to have this much to do. Even though they gave us a set schedule, I (and everyone else new) was so lost. The first day, Wednesday evening, they started us teaching investigators. All the new missionaries were in a room together with an actor/investigator. For the first two investigators missionaries who had been there a while came in and started off the lesson. It was then opened up to the new missionaries to teach what they thought the investigator needed. I tried a couple of times with the first two people, but it was hard and I messed up. The third investigator/actor was someone named Chicho from Italy. This time there were no missionaries so they asked my companion, Elder Blackhurst, and I if we would start off. We “knocked on the door” and introduced ourselves as missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS and asked him a little about himself. Then it opened up to everyone. Some gave relevant answers, but others were completely off topic. Through questions that we asked, and background information that was given to us, we learned that he was Catholic. He said he felt like he had lost his soul because he didn't think his child needed to be baptized as an infant, but his baby died a few months later. He felt like it was his fault that his baby was in limbo, as the Catholic belief goes. I had the last turn to talk with him. I said, “Chicho, do you remember that book that your friend Tony gave you?”

“Yes.”

“There is a scripture in there that answers your question.”

“What page is it on?”

“Page 525” (He flips there.) “Do you see chapter 8?”

“Yes.”

“Will you read verse 8 for me?”

“Yes.” He then read the scripture.

I talked about the verse with him and told him that Jesus came down to heal the sick. He said he remembered that in the bible. I told him that little children are whole and need no physician. We talked a little more about it, but that's the gist of what I said. I then bore testimony of the truth of that principle and reassured him that he has not lost his soul, but that he has hope in Christ's atonement. I bore testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I challenged him to read it and pray to know if it was true. I felt the Spirit, and I promised him that he would receive an answer if he prayed with a sincere heart with real intent and having faith that he will receive an answer. The teacher stopped us there and said we were out of time. He pulled me aside as we were leaving and said it was interesting that I opened and closed with that investigator. The Spirit was there to testify of the truth that was being taught. 

 

We were organized into districts. My district didn't really know what to do and we were splitting off into championships to do things. I felt that something was off. Thankfully I have a companion with enthusiasm about the work and a firm testimony. We are becoming good friends. Thursday night we met with our branch presidency. That is exactly what we needed, Priesthood leadership. We found out that we were supposed to be sticking together as a district. They met with us individually to get to know us and where we are at spiritually. From there on we have grown so much in unity as a district. I was chosen to be the district leader; AKA, the mailman. Even though I mostly get the mail, I am to preside over my district, lead in discussions, conduct meetings, and interview the senior companions to find out how the companionships are doing and check up on their goals. I also get extra training :). 

 

Things are really picking up and coming together. I feel the joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know this church is true. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that he is mighty to save. I was a little discouraged the first couple days, but the Spirit directed me to Ether 12:27 in the Book of Mormon. If I humble myself, he will comfort me, stand by me, and teach me, and he will make my weaknesses become strengths. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I challenge everyone to read it. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. I testify that our Father in Heaven is mindful of us, loves us, and wants to talk with us through prayer. I also challenge everyone who has not, to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true. If it is, Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and this is Christ's church on earth today. I testify that these things are true, I have received my own witness. I also know that baptism is essential to entering God's Kingdom and coming to Christ (see John 3:5). I challenge all who haven't, to follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God which authority is had in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

-Elder Record 

KSL MTC Tour

This video news segment is really good. It is called "An Army of Faith: Inside the MTC" and explains what missionaries go through as they learn in the MTC. It helps understand what Elder Record is doing right now.

KSL MTC Tour

Angels Round About You

Missionaries are blessed with angels to protect, lead and guide them. We were reading this scripture again.

"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." (D&C 84:88)

We then noticed that Elder Record already has an angel by his left shoulder in this picture.

Click on the picture and zoom in on the reflection of the picture of Jesus Christ and the child. There is a faint reflection that appears like an angel standing in front of the Savior and pointing to Elder Record with his right arm. The angel is dressed in a white robe and his left shoulder is directly in front of the child's face. The angel's robe drapes down from his right arm across the midsection of his robe in a layered effect. The bottom of his robe can been seen covering the inscription plaque inset in the frame centered below the picture of Christ. Not sure how the reflection showed up, but it is really inspiring to look at. See if you can see the image of the angel.

Elder Record has Reported to the MTC

Elder Record reported to the MTC and is ready to go to work. Good luck Elder Record, we will be praying for you and your success.