18 April 2018 - Wednesday

18 April 2018 - Wednesday

We just completed our third day here at the MTC.  It was a day of study and teaching and associating with some great people.  We have college age facilitators who are all returned missionaries.  It is inspiring to associate with them and feel of their love and commitment and conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

After our classes this afternoon, mom and I passed on dinner and attended the 5:20pm temple session.  At this the Provo Temple, they encourage the MTC missionaries to attend sessions by providing them with the clothing they need.  Although this was not the motivating factor for us to attend, it was a nice benefit that we have enjoyed on each of our visits to the MTC and the Provo Temple.  

The insights we are receiving from our fellow missionaries is wonderful.  There is such a wealth of church knowledge and church service, and we are enjoying our association with each of them.   And, by the way, we have seven couples here with us who have been called to the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission!

View from T4 Classroom setting

Eating healthy!

We took advantage of the temple experience after our classes today.  We attended the 5:20pm temple session and felt invigorated!  It was wonderful to spend our P-days in the Nauvoo Temple, but now we will spend everyday in what has become such a sacred place in Church History!

17 April 2018 - Tuesday

17 April 2018 - Tuesday

It was another busy day at the MTC day #2 for us.  Our meetings began sharply at 8:00am so our time was tight getting up at 5:00am.  We had our workout and showers before our scripture studies at 6:15am.  Then we went to breakfast and on to our 8:00am meeting.  I took some fun pictures of the snow that fell last night and this morning, but I can't get them from my phone to the blog yet.  I am not sure the magic touch I need to access them!

Mom and I both have an assignment to teach in Sunday School this Sunday in our Senior Branch.  That should be fun.  Last Sunday there were eight couples with the branch presidency, but we should have more this Sunday.

General opening session today

16 April 2018 - Monday

16 April 2018 - Monday

Today we were officially welcomed into the MTC for our pre-mission training.  We were up and headed to the exercise room by 5:00am.    We walked over three miles on the tread mill and burned over 400 calories in a 45 minute workout.  What a great way to begin the day!  Then we showered and dressed and made our way to the cafeteria for breakfast. 

It was then our goal to return to the bookstore after three years and buy additional bottles of the hand sanitizer  that we took to the Philippines with us in 2014.  We were disappointed that they no longer carried it.  Apparently after the inventor passed away, his children fought over the inheritances generated by the product and the Church was obligated to take it off the market.  We did find out that members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve all used the product in their world-wide travels!  The sister telling us this sad tale took us into a back room and gave us one of the remaining bottles for our use at Martin's Cove.  We appreciated the gift!

Our orientation today was at 10:00am and we got fully checked in.  We also got our schedules and an itinerary of the weeks schedule.  We had a 1:00pm general welcoming meeting with the MTC Presidency and their wives.  They have all served missions and have been mission presidents.

We also got our district assignments and got acquainted with the other 3 couples in our assigned district.  Then we had a FHE assembly after dinner this evening with a video of a devotional that David A. Bednar gave on Christmas morning in 2011.  He spoke on the Character of Christ. 

He taught us that it is not enough to have a testimony of Jesus Christ.  He said that about 60% of the missionaries in the MTC that day would fall away from the church within 5 years of returning home if that is all they possessed.  They needed to be fully converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and become one with the character of Jesus Christ.

In his fireside he gave some examples of the character of Jesus Christ when He was more concerned about the welfare of others that He was about Himself.  One example was when the three disciples could not stay awake in the garden and one of His disciples would soon betray Him.  That is when the Roman guard had his ear cut off and He healed it even though 4 of His 12 apostles were not in full support of Him.  He turned outward to others when the rest of us would have turned inward and focused on our own trials.

That was huge for me to better understand the principle of turning outward to help others.  And it is not enough to just put this principle to work for my benefit.  I need to do this especially when it is not convenient and make it a part of my life to be more like the Savior in every thought, word and deed.

Boy do I have a long ways to go!
  

15 April 2018 - Sunday

15 April 2018 - Sunday 

We began our Sabbath Day with our morning prayers and scripture reading.  We had our first meal at the MTC this morning at breakfast and met several senior couples.  We had a very small group of senior missionaries at the Sacrament meeting.  They have a special branch just for the senior missionaries with their own branch president.  After the change at General Conference in combining the Priesthood Quorums for the purpose of allowing the most experienced members rub shoulders with the newer members, I can imagine that this separation will be changed!

However, we enjoyed our meetings and getting better acquainted.  These senior missionaries are going to Germany, Africa, the Philippines, (we cringed a little as they were telling us), and the United States.  What an undertaking by these senior missionaries to serve in all parts of the world!

In our Sacrament meeting we heard about the reactivation of a sister in California who came back with her "whole being".  What a statement and testimony of the power of ministering!  I can imagine the strength she must be to her ward family.

This evening we were taught the principle and the power of boiling water.  It was discussed how boiling water reaches that state by hitting the boiling point.  And that it then triggers the power to purify, and how the water expands when it hits the boiling point and creates more power,  Now relate that to a "boiling point missionary", and that was our devotional tonight.

To be a boiling point missionary you can't fulfill your full potential unless you hit the boiling point of pure obedience, and work on becoming better each day.  And reaching that boiling point requires the water to be replenished regularly to avoid burnout!  No one was sent out to be an "average" missionary.  Of course the Scripture message directly relating to this effort is found in Revelations 3:15-16;  15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

We have had a marvelous first day here at the MTC and are more committed to be the best we can be!

Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission - Assigned to Martin's Cove

14 April 2018 - Saturday

14 April 2018 - Saturday

Well, this certainly was a wonderful and bittersweet day for two senior missionaries.  We had the Sathre Family, The Lasher Family, the Brown Family and the Gratton Family present for our setting apart this morning at 8:00am.   It was a very special setting apart with our stake president who gave us very specific instructions and counsel from the Spirit.  Thanks to Josie and Ali, we have a copy of those blessings with us to review regularly.

Granny and Grandpa at setting apart today

We went home and changed to our traveling clothes.  It was so difficult and tender as we said our good-byes to our precious children and grandchildren.  Then we quickly jumped in the car and began our journey waving our good-byes with tears in our eyes.  But we are excited to serve the Lord and pledge to do our very best in this mission!

Saying our good-byes

The last hugs and kisses for a small season

Grandchildren lining the street and waving goodbyes

President Russell M. Nelson is on a world tour and made this statement, in effect, while in Jerusalem;  We are bringing the love of God to the world so that the people will have that love to share with each other.  We have so much anger and hate in the world, and the world needs to feel the Saviors love for them.

We stopped in Orem, Utah, on the way to the MTC to have lunch with our dear friend Claudia Goodman.  It was good to see her again!  We served with her in Nauvoo and enjoyed our association there with her.  She picked a wonderful Thai restaurant that was one of her favorites and we agree!  Then she escorted us the rest of the way to the MTC and it was there we waved goodbye as we entered the MTC check-in and parking area.  We are grateful for the wonderful missionaries we have been privileged to serve with!

We settled into the lobby of the MTC and got checked in.  The desk clerk came and helped us unload our luggage and got us safely to our assigned room.  The area we entered into was the same door that Josie, Bob, Amy and Ali dropped us off in November 2014.  The room we were assigned was the same room we had in 2014!  The difference in feelings from 2014 to April 14, 2018, is about as different as it can get!  We were so unsure of the mission assignment in 2014 and the feelings were very troubling.  Today we felt joy in our assignments.

Heavenly music CD currently filling our room with joyful sounds!

How wonderful it will be as we make the effort to share the love of the Lord with those we serve with, as well as those we come in contact with everyday!  This is our desire and with His help, we can do hard things!  Actually, I feel very thankful that Heavenly Father has allowed us this opportunity to serve!  We love our precious family members and our friends for their love and their support, and especially their prayers!

7 April 2018 - Saturday

7 April 2018 - Saturday

We are in the final stages of preparing and packing the mission essentials.  It is getting harder for mom and me to think about leaving this precious family.  We are planning meals together this entire week as we anticipate the morning of April 14th!

At the gun range with Bob Jr, and Bob III

Teaching Cody how to operate the new zero turn Toro!

Having fun with the grandson's this final two weeks.  Baseball games and lawn mower training and gun range shooting are par for the course!

2 April 2018 - Monday

2 April 2018 - Monday

We just experienced the most inspiring General Conference in my Church lifetime.  On Saturday morning we participated in a solemn assembly to sustain a new Prophet, Seer and Revelator, the 17th one in this dispensation, President Russell M. Nelson.  It was so apparent that the sustaining of President Nelson was exactly what the Lord wanted for His Church membership at this critical time.

Every talk, every song and every prayer denoted the exceptionalism of this 188th Annual General Conference!   Helen and I are so grateful that we can, again, join the ranks of the missionary force!

We have confirmation from our Stake President that we will be set apart as missionaries on Saturday April 14, 2018, at 8:00am.  We are excited to be with family and friends on this special day for us.  Helen and I will then leave for the MTC in Provo, Utah, to begin our 10 days of training.  We will then leave the MTC on Wednesday April 25, 2018, and drive straight to Alcova, Wyoming, to begin our service in the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission where we are assigned specifically to Martin's Cove.  We hope to see many of our friends during our service!

Our mailing address and contact information is;

Elder Robert and Sister Helen Lasher

Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission

47600 West US Highway 220

Alcova, WY  82620-8803

 (208) 520-6317 (Elder Lasher's cell - probably messages only)

 1-307-328-2953 (Main line at Martin's Cove to leave contact information)  or;

robertlasher@gmail.com 

Our home for the next six months... or so!