The MTC

August 16, 2016

The MTC is so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! It's like EFY on steroids and I am having so much fun and learning so much! They keep us super busy here with lots of classtime and role play experiences. It's really easy to talk to people here and I make a new friend like every 20 minutes. My companion's name is Elder Ketring and he is an awesome guy, we get along pretty easily. He is from Washugal (or something like that), Washington and he likes to ski and cycle. He has 3 other siblings and I have fun working with him. The first couple days were a little bit confusing because they had 1st week missionaries telling the newest missionaries how everything works and they weren't very good at it so we just had to figure everything out by doing it but it wasn't so bad, I've got everything down now. 

My companion's name is Elder Ketring

    

We do so much role play, first our MTC teacher would pretend to be an investigator that they had when they were missionaries and we would have to teach them and just yesterday we started doing TRC (Teacher Resource Center).TRC is when you are assigned people that are recent converts acting as themselves before baptism or actual investigators. It was so awesome being able to teach them. The first man we taught was Austin and that lesson went pretty sucky actually because the spirit just wasn't really there and I just didn't think it went very well but our second lesson with Parker went amazing and the spirit was so strong. 

Pretty much all we talk about in lcass is our purpose as missionaries, teaching with the spirit and teaching people, not lessons. Its a lot different teaching people here rather than mission prep but we are doing pretty good for the most part. I was also able to join the MTC choir on Sunday and that was so cool, it literally has 1000+ members and they choir director is awesome! We'll be singing with the National Tribute Band this Tuesday. We have devotionals every Sunday and Tuesday nights and we hear from a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles on the Tuesdays and I heard Elder Holland is speaking to us this Tuesday!! 

My district is awesome too, we have 8 elders and 4 sisters and they are all great and so fun. Our teacher is Sister Thompson and she is just a few years older than us and is a really great teacher. I've learned so much. The food is great here too, you can get as much as you want and it's all pretty good except I keep hearing not to drink the orange juice because apparently you'll get some unfortunate bowel movements. Oh and on Sunday we get to watch some church films and we watched "The Character of Christ" by Elder Bednar and dang it was honestly life changing and I would highly recommend it and spoiler alert, you get to hear Elder Bednar pretend to be the cookie monster. 

Mt District Brethren

In the classroom

There is also a black market here for ties and watches haha! Pasley ties are pretty good but floral ties are gold so I'm glad I brought mine. This is probably going to break your fragile little hearts but I've had zero homesickness and its been really easy to adjust to everything. So far I would say the main thing I have learned is how to keep the spirit with me all the time, especially when teaching. The only thing that takes a little work is being with someone for 24 hours of the day 7 days a week and getting along with them the whole time but even that is pretty easy. it just seems like everyday here is better than the last so it has been easy to stay happy. Sorry all my thoughts were so scattered, hope it makes sense. 

Love you all!
Elder Morgan

More Pictures from the MTC:

Jonah's Great-Uncle Greg Bertola!

He's Off!

August 10, 2016

Early Morning at the Sacramento Airport

Elder Morgan!

At the Sacramento Airport

The Brethren Arrive

Our boy is off!

Uncle Jerum

The Wassoms!

Getting ready to enter the MTC

Jonah's Setting Apart

Jonah’s Setting Apart

August 9, 2016

Words spoken by President McKee before the setting apart:

• Jonah is family. I feel like I’ve been a part of their family for years.
• I think back to the youth temple trip we took and I remember thinking I am no longer trying to teach him, I’m walking next to him.
• When he received the Melchizedek Priesthood he was given a college level exam by President Taylor. He answered. It was a coming of age. He’s a strong man.
• People on that map (of the Colorado Springs Mission) need you specifically.
• You have gone through things that are going to be helpful for individuals in that area.
• You will be prompted - act.
• You are easy to get along with. Not always the same for others. You will have unique companions. Be patient with them. Love them.
• In wrestling you’ve carried people on your back. You may be doing that on your mission. Do it with patience.
• You have a good family. Your family loves you. It makes it hard to leave.
• You will be loved on this mission. You will have a President and a mission mom. Listen to them.
• Keep the countenance of Christ.

Words spoken by President Fry before the setting apart:

• Something I’ve always loved about the Morgan family - you’re always sure of yourselves!
• Not cocky but confident. Where does that come from? - knowing who you are, where you came from, and where you’re going. Not everyone knows that. You will have to teach that to others. You will do that.
• I’ve never noticed this from you but don’t allow confidence to turn to cockiness. Be humble.
• We had a great opportunity this last weekend to be on the trek. You got to be with your family. The Morgans made a huge impact on the trek.
• You don’t have to go on a mission. You chose to go.
• You will touch people's lives. You will benefit from it as well.
• Listen to your mission president. He knows you. He knows the mission. Follow his counsel 100%.
• When Tara Simmons got home she said “Obedience brings blessings. Perfect obedience brings miracles.”
• The gospel is true. The Savior lives. Because he lives we will too.

Blessing/Setting apart given by President Taylor:

• You are blessed with rights and powers that pertain to a full time missionary because of your worthiness, willingness, and righteousness.
• You will feel the spirit and be guided and directed.
• Learn your duty. Magnify your calling. The Spirit will be with you.
• You have a wonderful disposition. This will be a blessing as you meet others. Use discernment to know what is in their hearts.
• You will have the ability to teach. I promise you the gift of teaching. Teach in the Savior's way.
• May you have the strength of the Sons of Helaman. You will be blessed and protected with that power all the days of your mission.
• Have humility.
• Follow the rules = experience miracles.
• Take the opportunity to develop talents. You will be blessed with leadership and also to be a follower.
• You have physical strength. You will not have difficult physical challenges.
• You won’t suffer from depression or discouragement.
• You have a positive outlook. Carry that spirit with you. The Lord will be with you.
• Your family will be blessed temporally and spiritually.
• Your siblings look up to you as an example.
• I promise you angels will be round about you to bear you up.
• After the blessing President Taylor said “The Lord has great blessings for you. You are one of the valiant ones. One of the one’s Abraham saw”

Letter from Provo MTC Presidency

August 4, 2016

Dear Elder Jonah Scott Morgan,

Congratulations on your call to serve!  We are excited about your arrival at the Provo Missionary Training Center next week and are grateful for your decision to serve the Lord.  We would like to share some important information about your stay at the MTC.

You should arrive for your training at the main MTC campus (2005 N 900 E).

This will be your MTC mailing address:

Elder Jonah Scott Morgan
AUG29  CO-COSP
2005 N 900 E Unit 165
Provo UT 84602

Please share this address with those who may want to write or send packages to you while you are in the MTC.

Also, please pay close attention to the following instructions:

  1. Your service begins the day you check into the MTC.  Remind your family that complete separation from loved ones is part of the sacrifice that families and missionaries contribute to the work.  For this reason, you should ask your family and friends not to attempt to see or visit with you while you are at the MTC, not even during your temple walks or at other places near the MTC.
  2. All missionary mail must come through the US Mail or commercial delivery services.  These services should not be used to send pizzas, fast foods, ice-cream, or any items that will spoil if they are not refrigerated within 24 hours.  Missionaries are not called out of class to receive packages, nor do they have access to a refrigerator.  For security reasons, we cannot accept any items delivered by hand.
  3. Communication with family can be done through your missionary email account on your weekly Preparation Day. We cannot accept telephone calls for missionaries.
  4. Families and friends should not visit missionaries as they depart to their field of labor, whether at the MTC or at the airport.

Please do not reply to this email.  If you need to communicate with the MTC, please call 801-422-2602.

Sincerely,

Provo MTC Presidency