Parker's Mission to Gilbert, AZ: December 2018

Friday, December 28, 2018

Christmas Skype - December 25, 2018

Our first Skype was great. Everyone was home for Christmas, so we were able to chat with Parker as a family. Best Christmas gift a mamma can have...

First Email from Arizona - December 24, 2018

That's great to hear everything is going well back home. I'm sure that break will be a very much needed break. That is so weird that it's not snowing there. That's crazy.

There are 2 seasons here that I have picked up: cool summer and hot summer. We bike all the time so hopefully my pants don't get too tight that I'll have to get new ones. I'm sweating and everyone else is in jackets like a bunch of weirdos. My trainer is alright. He's been out for 5 months so he knows what he's doing so that's good. He helps me out a lot because I have no idea what I'm doing. We have so many weird rules. We can't do service for members, we ask investigators to be baptized the 1st or 2nd lesson. It's so weird. I don't even get a sim card for my phone. We get 1 sim card per companionship. Of course, my trainer is the DL and the other companionship in our apartment are the zone leaders. I have not taught a single lesson. Every person who we have talked to shot us down in about 3.2 seconds. Every appointment we have had set up fell through. The members are really what's up though. They help us so much. There are a lot of them too.

A pretty spiritual experience I had was that one night I was just thinking about how everyone doesn't want to talk to us and we are at a dead end and I prayed about it. In the middle of my prary, I had a feeling of hands on my head. The Lord reminded me of when I was set apart to do this work and that I will bless lives. It's be rough but it will get better hopefully. Been an interesting first week.

Love,
Elder Smith

He made it-December 19, 2018

We got notice that Parker arrived in Arizona safe and sound. Now the real work begins...

Parker, President & Sister Wheeler

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Leavin' on a jet plane...

Parker flies out to Arizona today...safe travels, bud!!!

December 15, 2018 Email

The new phone is working pretty well. I will have to get a case when I get there so that won't be an issue. I hope Dad's talk goes well. If he needs to see how a good talk is written, then he can look at mine. Ha-ha just jokes. The potluck thing at church will be different, but a lot more people will be able to attend so that's good. I can't wait to see all of you guys on Christmas day. That will be a great gift. It's great that everything is going well at home.

I'm kind of tired of being here. It's fun and all but the classes are just kind of meshing together. I want to get out to the field, but I know I'm not prepared for it. The district here is still great. We are all talking about hanging out together when we all get back. So me and Elder Hall have 2 lessons to 4 TRC people. We did our last one on Thursday. Out of all the lessons we gave, that was the best. The Holy Spirit guided the whole thing. I did most of the talking. I started every sentence not knowing how it was going to end, but the Lord helped me out the whole time. We talked about His purpose here on Earth and it was just an amazing experience. At the end of the lesson, we got hugs and a selfie with the guy. That lesson reminded me of why I'm out here. I'm out here to change lives and bring people home.

I'm nervous to fly out because I've never been on a plane and I'll start going work right when I get there. The MTC has helped me out quite a bit but I will learn so much more out in the field. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be here and be out in a couple days doing what the Lord has in store for me. I don't know why people would need me...I barely know what I'm talking about. But at least one person needs me, and if I only change one life while I am out, than that will be good for me. So great shall be the joy of your soul into me...or something like that. Like I said, I don't know what I'm talking about.

Love you guys and can't wait to see you guys on Christmas. Seeing you guys will be the best gift that I can get.

Love,

Elder Smith

If you know Parker, this will make total sense. He prefaced this picture by informing me..."this is what someone put in the snow, I swear that it wasn't me"!

Monday, December 10, 2018

December 8, 2018 Email

It's been good here. The new class buildings we are in are like 6 floors and really nice. We even have an observation room to watch teaching demos. Our teachers are really cool and really spiritual. Our morning class teacher is Sister Tuttle and our afternoon class teacher is Brother Dummer. They both are really helpful with teaching us. I'm slightly, maybe getting a little more comfortable with teaching people. My district is super awesome. We are one of the only districts that stay together and do things together. They have helped a lot with the rough days when I feel really homesick. My companion is pretty much Elder Protical because he is a rule follower in every sense of the word. It's probably good for me though to have a companion that follows all the rules.

So we do TRCs where we contact people that work at the MTC but act like investigators and teach them 2 or 3 times. This past week we had 2 ladies that we were teaching. The first one was from the contacting activity and the other was a referral. The first lady was really good to teach because she asked questions and took notes and what not. The second lady was hard and teacher her was a drag. We weren't prepared and she didn't talk much. Those 2 lessons with the second lady took my confidence down quite a bit, it's just more learning experience. We had a contacting activity again yesterday and the guy we talked to is pretty good and I think we'll be able to have a good teaching experience with him. I'm learning a lot and some days take forever to get through with 2 four hour class times, but it's good for me.

That's awesome that Brigham got first in speech and drama. It's going to be fun to have Stockton back after the semester. Hopefully Mitchell can get all his work done and have a good attitude throughout the day. I'm glad to hear that you and mom are doing well. You guys have given me so much and I'll never be able to repay you for that. Love you guys and hope that things keep going well.

Love,

Elder Smith

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

December 1, 2018 Email

So our P (preparation) days at the MTC are on Saturdays so this is when I will be emailing you guys. So it has been an okay week at the MTC. We have learned a lot and we have done a decent amount of activities where we just go up to talk to people and that isn't my forte so it has been kind of rough with that stuff and pretty overwhelming. We had an activity where we had an investigator and me and my MTC companion, Elder Hall, got to know her and find out what kind of lesson she needs based on what she told us. We will be teaching her 3 times next week. When we talked to her it actually went really well. We kept asking questions to keep the conversation going and it was a good experience. It almost felt natural and I was nervous about it, but I didn't show it and I tried to be confident and it somehow worked. The only problem was that we didn't get her name. I guess that's kind of important, haha. We are going to teach her the plan of salvation*. I'm hoping the spirit helps me out a lot because I am going to need it.

I have an amazing district here. We all get along real well and everyone is funny and most of them are pretty talkative. The missionaries in my district are going to go out and be great missionaries. Today we went to the temple to do endowments and it was great. It was nerve racking at the end because the gentleman who was helping me had hearing aides and a speech impediment. Luckily I am starting to learn what to say and do...sort of. It was still a great experience.

Provo Temple

It feels different, in a good way, reading the Book of Mormon everyday and praying up to 5 times a day. It's really helped me get more comfortable here. I still don't know where everything is. Luckily my companion does for the most part. My last day here will be the 18th so if you guys could get a phone to me as soon as possible, that would be awesome.

The MTC is a pretty big place

Fun fact, we played basketball today and I learned two things: members can ball and I am way out of shape. I also found out that I am terrible at polishing my shoes.

Hopefully everything at home is going well. I hope that Brigham is doing well in speech and drama and school. I hope that Stockton is doing well at school and making the right decisions. I hope Mitchell doesn't feel so stressed at work. I hope that you and mom have a sense of peace and comfort. I hope work is going great for you guys as well. I wish you guys all the best. I love you guys and miss you everyday.

Love,

Elder Smith

*The Plan of Salvation

In the premortal existence, Heavenly Father prepared a plan to enable us to become like Him and receive a fullness of joy. The plan of salvation is the fullness of the gospel. It includes the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and all the law, ordinances, and doctrines of the gospel. Moral agency, the ability to choose and act for ourselves, is also essential to Heavenly Father's plan. Because of this plan, we can be perfected through the Atonement, receive a fullness of joy, and live forever in the presence of God. Our family relationships can last throughout the eternities.

You are a participant in Heavenly Father's plan, and your eternal experience can be divided into three main part: premortal life, mortal life, and life after death. As you come to understand the plan, you find answers to questions asked by so many: Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going after this life?

1st Email-November 28, 2018

We got this email the first night Parker was at the MTC. Didn't expect him to email that quickly, but it was a great surprise.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. It's been kind of a crazy day. I have a great companion who is helping me a lot. It's been a lot of learning and not exactly sure what is happening. It's a lot of information and it's going to take a lot of time to get my thoughts together and organized. This is going to be an amazing experience and I can't wait to get out in the field.

Love,

Elder Smith

Missionary Training Center

Dropping Him Off-November 28, 2018

We dropped Parker off at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. He will be there for a few weeks and then head out to Arizona. Good luck, bud...we LOVE you!!!

Family Time...Well Spent-November 27, 2018

We were able to spend some quality time together as a family before Parker left. What a great opportunity to make memories...

2 Years in 2 Suitcases-November 26, 2018

How do you fit 2 years of your life into 2 suitcases...this is how!

Saying goodbye...Smith style-November 25, 2018

A little going away party with a nacho bar and cactus cakes lets us enjoy each other's company before we are parted for 2 years.

Temple Trip-November 4, 2018

Going to the temple with family, always a treat!

What happens in a temple?

At one time or another, most people have wondered about the purpose of life. Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where will we go after this life is over? In temples, Church members learn more about the answers to these questions and God's loving plan for the happiness of His children.

One of the sacred ceremonies performed in temples is the Endowment ordinance. Through this ordinance, participants are reminded that our life on earth is part of an eternal journey--a journey that began before we were born, when we lived with out loving Father in Heaven as His spirit children. We came here to receive a body, gain experience, and learn to follow God's plan for our happiness.

The role of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of all God's children is central to the Endowment ordinance.

Participants also make sacred promises with the Lord, called covenants. These covenants include obeying God, following Jesus Christ, being morally pure, and dedicating their time and talents to the Lord's service. These commitments become guiding principles in their everyday lives. Honoring these sacred covenants brings greater peace, joy, and blessings in this life as they strive to return to live with God forever.