And so it begins ...

Prior to arriving on our mission, we sold our home in Winter Garden, Florida and our two cars and most of our furniture; stored what was remaining in a 20’ x 10’ storage unit; gave our dog Maggie to our son and his family; took a few trips; cancelled our membership at Bay Hill; retired from work at CATIC; participated in the blessing of our youngest granddaughter, and trained, trained, trained and did some more training.

We enjoyed a tender mercy when boarding our plane to Salt Lake City. As we boarded the plane, Anne pointed out that Elder Neil A. Anderson (one of the Twelve Apostles in our church) was on our flight to SLC. I said hello to him and told him I was happy he was on our flight.

Anne and I were set apart (blessed and given authority) on Tuesday at the Church Offices in downtown SLC. I was supposed to have been set apart by Elder D. Todd Christofferson (another of the Twelve Apostles) but when we arrived we were told we were to meet with President M. Russell Ballard (the senior Apostle in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles) instead. We were not told why the change - though we found out below in this post. 

President Ballard spent about ½ hour with us sharing stories and advice and ultimately setting me apart as the President of the Utah Salt Lake City mission. What a beautiful experience! President Pearson (our Area President) then set Anne apart as a full-time missionary and companion/leader with me. President Ballard invited me to join in Anne's setting apart. Both settings apart and blessings were beautiful, inspiring, encouraging and they brought peace and comfort. Again, it was an amazing experience!

Wednesday was an interesting day. I woke up Wednesday morning and, while getting showered and dressed, I had an incident where I knew something was wrong and thought it might have been a small stroke. The best I have been able to think to describe it is a “brain fog” where my thoughts were confused. My worst fear as that event transpired was that it would delay my ability to begin our mission. Anne's brother (who gave me a priesthood blessing), a doctor friend of ours who was at the MTC with his wife to serve a mission in another mission, and two of General Authorities at the Missionary Training Center, who were over Missionary Medical, advised that Anne take me to the Emergency Room Wednesday night after dinner to have tests to determine if there was a serious health issue. Fortunately, the blood tests and CT scan showed it was not a stroke but, rather, Transient Global Amnesia. The ER doctor indicated that TGA was not common, but that it was not uncommon either, that there was no known cause or trigger for a TGA episode, and that in most cases episodes never recurred. He also indicated that they were temporary – typically no more than 24 hours – and that there was no health risk associated with them. I asked him if I could drive and he indicated that I could. So Anne and I drove back to the hotel exhausted.

The rest of the week was absolutely amazing! We were instructed over those next 3 and 1/2 days by each of the Twelve Apostles and First Presidency of our church (the First Presidency is comprised of the Prophet and his two counselors) and other General Authorities and General Officers of the church. We learned at the Seminar that Elder Christofferson had tested positive for COVID19 so that he was unable to attend the Seminar in person (and hence why he was unable to set me apart on Tuesday). It was easily the most spiritual experience of Anne's and my lives. We were also shown many tender mercies throughout the week, seeing friends of ours who would be serving like us as Mission Leaders around the world. We also learned that three new mission presidents and their wives were jailed in Africa unjustly for three days without food or water; but that they sang hymns, prayed and taught the gospel to their jailors. They joined us remotely as they were not able to get to us in time to attend in person.

Sunday was the pinnacle of our experience and training as we got to have a sacrament meeting with President Russell M. Nelson (the prophet in our church). Before the meeting started, it was fun to watch the missionaries that were to help with the administration of the sacrament. Many of the Apostles and the Prophet touched or patted the shoulders of the six missionaries sitting on the side of the dais where the Apostles and Prophet walked in. It was so moving so see these missionaries’ eyes light up with surprise to have been acknowledged by these spiritual giants and heroes.

My testimony of the truthfulness of the restoration of the gospel and my role as a disciple of Jesus Christ was made manifest throughout the Seminar. For more than three days, we were not only taught by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, General Authority Seventies, and other Church leadership, but we were able to mingle with, eat with, and talk with all of these men and women throughout the day each day. I can testify that they are called of God.

Anne and I moved into the mission home (where we will be living for the next three years) on Monday and began our service on Tuesday morning. We met with all of our missionaries during three different "Meet & Greets" and were able to spend a lot of time with our Assistants (4 young missionaries who are absolutely amazing) who keep us focused where we need to be and when we need to be there.

Over the past three days, Anne and I have been able to meet many of our missionaries individually in interviews. It is so encouraging to see the strength of these young men and women. They come in all shapes and sizes, from different backgrounds and upbringings but they are united in their desires to be disciples of their Savior Jesus Christ. We are so lucky to get to associated with them.