Old friends, new challenges

 Hey everyone!

First off, happy Veteran's Day! 

So, things in zone are coming along quite nicely. The basic training for the zone is finally finished, and we will be getting trained further in the weeks ahead. The new missionaries in the zone will begin training in account-related cases (the ones that the contact center specialized in before the changes). In the future, we will all be trained on other types of cases as well. I also think the zone wants to train the other Young Elders in helping out new Stake Temple and Family History consultants get started with their new callings (we call this "outreach support"). For now, a few of us who have already worked doing this type of work, including myself, have been accepting phone calls again. I feel a lot more productive doing this than I have in the past couple of weeks - training is important and all, though it is much more gratifying to actually be helping people with their problems. I do look forward to getting trained into doing other types of cases though.

We have had our Young Elder mission conference this month as well. I don't remember if I ever told you about the standard model for these mission conferences: after starting off with an opening hymn and prayer, we get a message from the assistants to the president. After that, we hear from some of the senior missionaries who work with the Young Elders in some way or another - this month, it was the Browns, who are finishing their service as Young Elder coordinators. After that, we hear from the wife of the member of the mission presidency who has been assigned to speak at the conference - this month, it was Sister Fenn. After this, we get a short break to stretch our legs and even enjoy some refreshments; then, we get an intermediate hymn. After this, we hear from the member of the presidency who's wife had just spoken, in this case President Fenn. This usually lasts from about twenty to thirty minutes, and it was no different at this conference. He spoke to us on the priesthood, it's importance, and how it works. After this, we get our closing hymn and prayer. So, this conference was great, just as it always is. It is nice to hear the messages which are shared, and try and apply them to better our missionary service. I look forward to this every month, and it is a pretty good experience for us as a mission.

We have also had our Young Elder temple trip this last Friday. Some of you are probably thinking that it is a bit early in the month to be going on a temple trip. Yes, it is pretty early, but there are a couple of good reasons for this. First off, transfers are coming a bit early in the month, and we usually base our temple trip off of that. Second, due to the holiday coming this next week, we have had to move it back a week. So, we went to the Salt Lake temple again. It's nice to go there: it is truly a great temple, and it is convenient to not have to wake up so early in the morning to catch the bus. I was able to take a name in my own family tree through too - a name which had all his temple work stop in May of 2003 - this was a couple months before I started kindergarten. Imagine, waiting those long 14 years! The temple is truly a blessing to go visit, and I am glad that I can attend the temple (almost) as often as I want!

I may have mentioned before that I had been asked to play guitar at transfer conference. Again, playing guitar is usually not allowed on a mission at all, but when the mission president approves it, then it's alright. Anyway, it has been approved for this purpose, and I have gotten my instrument earlier this week. One of the senior missionaries in the training zone had talked to her daughter about this, and she was able to loan it out for me. It is currently back at my apartment. Some of you have probably already guessed by now that I have put some extra miles on that, and let me tell you this: I do not think I have fully realized how much I have missed this! I have not let it get in the way of the important stuff of course, but it feels great to be doing my thing again! Of course, after transfer conference (which, by the way, is the Tuesday after next Tuesday), I will likely have to give it back. But, I will enjoy it while I can!

Well, that is my week for you guys. Thanks for all the support, I appreciate reading your E-mails. Have a great week everyone!

From,

Elder Bryce Petersen

Challenge: I have heard said once before, "Put the Lord first, and everything will work out". As you likely can tell, this is a way of saying that if we remember to keep the important things as our top priority, then everything else will fall in to place. I understand that not everyone who receives my E-mails may be a member of our church, but even if you are not, there are still things which are more important than others, things like family, for example. However, how often do we make compromises which put these things lower on our list of priorities? For example, we may argue that we simply do not have time to attend the temple, or we may want to go straight to bed without saying prayers, or we may skimp on scripture study. One such compromise can lead to another, and then another, until these things become not as important anymore. So, to remember to keep the important things first, the best thing to do is to simply start small. If you simply cannot find the time to do these things, you will have to make time. Remember, if you put the Lord first, everything will work out. Also, you do not have to try to make one big change - doing so at first will be difficult, and may discourage yourself. Instead, start out small - just read one chapter from the scriptures, for example. By remembering to keep the Lord and the important things first, you will find that it is not as hard as you initially thought. You will still be able to get everything else done, and your life will be much better because of it.