Hello family and friends,
I made it to another Thursday! I am so grateful to be here
at the MTC; it has been another terrific week. First off, Mom, thank you for
all of the DearElder letters (and thanks to Ashley, Abby, Dad, and Tara too) I
really appreciate them. Mail just makes my day. Ash, thanks for the scripture
reference (Deut 4:29-31) I totally loved it and shared it with about nine
people. I love it. I love how it talks directly and specifically to us in the
"latter-days" and how every time if we seek out the Lord we will find
him. I think the most oft repeated commandment in the scriptures is "seek
and you shall find" (okay, I guess it may be a promise more than a
commandment) and I love how no matter what the Lord will not forsake us, will
not forsake me. Though, we do have to recognize that the promise in Deuteronomy
is predicated upon our turning to Him for aid when we are in tribulation and
being obedient to his voice (and we can tack on the voice of His servants too
because my main man Amos says that they're the same thing in chapter 3). I keep
learning here that obedience is the most critical thing. The Lord loves
everyone but if we "do always those things which please him" then we
shall always have him to be with us. Obedience. So good.
This week the MTC felt pretty crowded. For pretty much the
entire week we had the New Mission President's Seminar going on so 1M (the main
building and Caf) had security to the nines. It was pretty much on lock down
because over the course of the week the entire First Presidency and Quorum of
the 12 were in the house. As far as my tally of General Authorities goes I
did alright. I didn't see any of the 12
or first presidency up close but Elder Christiansen and I did run into the
entire presidency of the 70 on our way back from the copy center. I was just
like "oh, hello Elder Rasband, Elder Holstrom, how are you?.." It was
neat, though I was kicking myself right afterwards for not shaking any of their
hands. There were a couple of close misses on the Apostle watch, though. I just
barely missed seeing Uchtdorf, Bednar, and Packer. Maybe next time...
On to the Sunday night devotional. We were all hoping that
because all of the big dogs were at the MTC that we would hear from one of them
for our devo, but it was not to be so. We showed up and found out that the
keynote speaker was Janice Kapp Perry (composer of songs like "a child's
prayer", "I love to see the temple", and "we'll bring the
world his truth", and "sister's in zion". So it was a little sad
that we couldn't hear from President Monson, but I think Sister Perry was a
good alternative. Actually, her talk may go down as a first in MTC history,
Here's why: so we had a great time singing some of her medleys and she shared
with us some experiences from her mission and from her song writing, but the
best part was her account of how she and her husband met. They were both music
majors studying at BYU and had about four classes together. They went pretty
much the entire semester and never said a word to each other. She said that she
was waiting to go in to the professor and take her test on the clarinet (they
had to learn all of the instruments. wow.) She was wetting her reed in
preparation when Brother Perry turns to her, pauses for a second, then says (as
his very first words) "it seem to me that those lips of yours were made
for something better than playing clarinet.." Sister Perry says this and
the whole auditorium breaks out laughing. There was some cheering and some
general guffawing. So great. We start to calm down and Brother Perry stands up
and starts walking towards Sister Perry, presumably to confirm the story or
something, He gets right up to Sister Perry and then he kisses her! We're
talking 10-15 seconds and if I thought were cheering before then I was mistaken
because we nearly took the roof off. Everyone was clapping and cheering, cat
calls and applause ringing through 19M. So great. I feel confident in assuming
that was the first in-devotional kiss in the MTC history. It was hilarious.
On a note related to the devotional, I don't know if it has
been published or not but Sister Perry played for us a new version of As Sister'sin Zion with new lyrics that reflect the swell of sister missionaries since the
missionary age has been lowered. Actually, here at the MTC the numbers are
nearly equal with Sisters making up 43% of the population. This work is so
inspired and I can feel Elder Ballard's words: this truly is "the greatest
time in the history of the world to do missionary work!"
Our Tuesday night devotional was keynoted (is that really
word? spell check didn't pick it up..hmmm) by my good 'ol pal D. Todd
Christofferson. His talk was centered on the worth of soul and how great it is.
One of my favorite quotations was that "the worth of a soul is as great as
its potential to become as God." It is humbling and comforting to realize
and contemplate my real identity and my potential. and your potential. And I
think the remainder of my email will be devoted to 2.0 to share some of the
more spiritual matters.
2.0
Because our souls are so precious and so linked to the glory
of God, he sent His son to suffer so terribly for us. That is so great to think
about. Whenever or if ever you feel angered at someone or just can't seem to
get along, perhaps imagine them as God sees them. See them as they were born to
be, glorious and like Him. It changes our perspective.
There is no greater work that that which I am doing
(missionary work). It is the same task He has appointed to Himself -to bring to
pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Missionaries must act in love.
They must have charity, the pure love of Christ.
One last thought I learned from Brother Lee of the Branch
Presidency. Two of the most dangerous thoughts you can ever have are:
1. I know it all. I understand everything about this and
don't need to learn anything else.
2. I don't need help anymore.
2. I don't need help anymore.
This contradicts both 1 Corinthians 8:2 and 2 Nephi 28:30.
Always continue to ask God for help. Help to pay the mortgage, help to raise
the children, help to pass your class, and especially for help to be more like
our Savior. We sing and must keep singing "more holiness give me."
And lastly, I love how the lord takes Nephi and the Brother
of Jared and others to the promised land. He moves them and takes them to the
very best possible place for them to be. And He does it capital "h"
HIS way. We aren't in charge and His way is always better. You betcha it will
be difficult, the high road always is (and I'm convinced that the straight and
narrow way that leads to the Tree of Life is an uphill climb) Take His way.
What is your promised land and where are you going? Is He leading the way?
The church is true. I know it. Keep moving forward. Onward
and upward! On to the victory!
Elder Tucker
 |
| MTC companion Elder Christiansen |
 |
| MTC District |
 |
| Top Bunk Selfie! |