Elder McNew: MTC drop off

Becoming a Missionary

My beloved brethren, you and I, today and always, are to bless all peoples in all the nations of the earth. You and I, today and always, are to bear witness of Jesus Christ and declare the message of the Restoration. You and I, today and always, are to invite all to receive the ordinances of salvation. Proclaiming the gospel is not a part-time priesthood obligation. It is not simply an activity in which we engage for a limited time or an assignment we must complete as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rather, missionary work is a manifestation of our spiritual identity and heritage. We were foreordained in the premortal existence and born into mortality to fulfill the covenant and promise God made to Abraham. We are here upon the earth at this time to magnify the priesthood and to preach the gospel. That is who we are, and that is why we are here--today and always.
- by Elder David A. Bednar
From The Ensign, Nov. 2005, Page 47

Saturday, November 20, 2010

MTC drop off

On Wednesday, November 17, 2010 Elder McNew entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. He's been looking forward to and preparing for this day for a long, long time. For all of us, the day crept up on us quite quickly. He was to report at 1:15 in the afternoon so we decided to go out to lunch at La Puente in Draper before taking him down.

If you haven't been to the MTC in a few years (for me it had been more than 10!) they've changed things up a bit. You just drive in, unload, and off he goes. There isn't any program, or going in to say goodbye or anything. It's kind of a shock to the system, but the last thing we heard Justin say was, "I'm ready!".

We pulled up and they had many missionary "Hosts" lined up waiting to greet the new missionaries. They grabbed Justin out of the car and welcomed him there. They asked him where he was from and where he was going.