Week 2 - MTC

District in front of Moses mural (left to right: elders Bradfield, Banks, Lovell, Webb, Sisters Smith, Jensen, Gillman, Yours Truly, Elders Wilson and Cobb)

WHAT A WEEK.

I'm finally getting the hang of things around here, so I guess it's cool that this time next week I'll be going to Arcadia! The days are all pretty much the same here at the mtc, so I'll just give you all the important bits! After emailing last week, we went to the temple and had lunch and did initiatories. After that, we studied for a while and then went to the Tuesday night devotional! It was amazing! Quentin L. Cook and his wife, Mary came and spoke to us! Sister cook spoke about developing Christlike attributes, and being our own true convert through the end of your life. Elder Cooks talk was a lot longer and he talked about a bunch of different things! Most of his talk was about how we need to have four loves on our mission. 

1. Love your companion

2. Love the people

3. Love your mission president and his wife

4. Love the Savior. It is the single great love to aspire to on a mission. 

He said, "Taking his gospel to the world is how you show you love the savior."

Ya feel? Cuz faith without works is dead. 

After the devotional we had a district meeting that was such a happy time, and one elder started talking about how much he loved everyone and it was a hug/handshake fest. 

Wednesday was my week mark which was weird because I seriously felt like I had just gotten here and not much has changed. Basically we go to class all day and eat food. So many prayers are said and so much studying is done. 

Sister Gillman and I taught relief society on Sunday which was kind of difficult because we had to teach on the apostasy. All is well though, we found a seminary class lesson plan, and adjusted it to fit our needs. It went pretty well. On Sunday nights the MTC shows different talks or church movies after devotionals and on Sunday we went and watched a talk by Elder Bednar called "Recognizing the Spirit." SERIOUSLY THE GREATEST EVER. I'm not sure if you can watch it outside of the mtc, but try. Because it's worth it. In it, Elder Bednar talks about figuring out if it's the holy ghost, or just your thoughts. In essence, the whole talk can be summed up by this. "Stop worrying about it. If you are doing what you're supposed to and being a good boy or girl, your steps will be guided." So I guess I just gave away the ending, but still try and find it because Elder Bednar is the coolest. 

I think that's it! Hopefully when I'm in the field my emails will be a whole lot more interesting! 

Send mail,

Sister Dorrance

Ps. I see Bruce Robinson around the mtc at least once a day. #wardies 

Click HERE to watch Elder Bednar's speech on Recognizing the Spirit

https://video.byui.edu/media/David+A.+Bednar+%22Receiving%2C+Recognizing%2C+and+Responding+to+the+Promptings+of+the+Holy+Ghost%22/0_0nqqrz3z/13946502

 Sister study sesh

 Moses mural 

Moses mural scripture 

 Sister Smith sleeping feat. Sister Gillman

Sister study sesh part 

Week 1 - MTC

MTC companion Sister Gillman

Hi? I guess? I am at the MTC??? I haven't died yet??? Anyhoo, I am here, it is hard, but it oh so worth it. Wednesday, I got dropped off and it was probably the weirdest day ever. I didn't even remember what happened it was so crazy. If I'm being completely honest I don't actually remember most of what happened since I was dropped off. We've taught investigators which I'm  still learning how to do. And we've gone to a lot of classes. I didn't think there would be three weeks worth of things to do at the MTC, but holy cow. If I were to learn everything that I feel like I need to learn, I'd probably be here for months. And I'm speaking English. My district is the greatest. We're all super tight which is nice because some districts don't get along hardly at all. #BFFs my zone is also super cool and basically I'm really lucky. My companions name is sister Gillman, she's from linden, and she went to UVU! We work really well together and we get along great! Our roommates are named sister Smith and sister Jensen. They're the coolest. Sister Smith a I have the same sense of humor so we just laugh all the time. It's great. Our whole district just jokes around (when we aren't talking about how cool this gospel is) which is super helpful because this is a super gosh darn hard thing that we're doing and laughing helps. Last night before we went to sleep, our fire alarm went haywire and just went off and we all had to evacuate. There were girls crying, girls that had been in the shower and just had towels on, and we all started singing hymns. Our room was laughing, it was a swell night. I love being a missionary! I've done what they all said and I've made it to P-day! God is good, the church is true and all is well!

SEND MAIL PLZ  I can't write emails back until Tuesdays, but I can write letters any day! 

Mailing address

Sister Riley Jean Dorrance
OCT03  CA-ARC
2005 N 900 E Unit  33
Provo UT 84602

DO IT. MAIL ME A LETTER. SEND ME A PACKAGE.  SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I'M HERE TILL OCTOBER 3. 

Love, Sister Dorrance

View from where we are studying

Sis Gillman taking a picture of the view.

Roommates:  Left to right: sis. Jensen, sis. Smith, sis. Gillman, me

MTC Drop Off

'70's family head tilt

MTC Companion - Sister Gillman from Lindon UT

First note from the MTC:

They told me to email you and tell you i got here safely but you dropped me off so that's pretty safe to assume i think. my companion is super cool and we got first choice on bunks. so I'm doing great. my bags were really heavy though so i felt bad having my host take the big one up the stairs. shes a trooper though. talk to you later. ive only been here for an hour so thats all ive got. 

-Sister Dorrance

Pre-Mission Photos. (Sisters are Awesome!)