Skip to main content


So, it's week 3 (technically speaking end of week 2) and things are moving along at the MTC. I've had a lot of challenges, but overall, it has been very rewarding.
 
There are a lot of opportunities here at the MTC to come closer to Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. As we study daily, attend devotionals, and do the work of the Lord, we are definitely blessed.
The experience here is definitely to refine us as men and women and to get us in the mindset that we are not doing our own work, but the work of God as representatives of Jesus Christ. I have had the most amazing companion who is incredibly respectful, dilligent and hardworking. Often times, he makes me look bad with the amount of effort he puts forth. His example makes me want to be a better person and missionary.
 
This last Sunday was Easter Sunday. For Easter, they had an MTC wide sacrament meeting. As the MTC currently has 3,000 missionaries, there were 3,000 missionaies partaking of the sacrament at the same time. It was amazing. I could feel the spirit of the Lord so strong, and the symbolism of the sacrament was so apparent. I'm grateful to be a follower of Christ.
 
So, on to the language. It's been difficult. I hardly understand any of it, and my memorization skills have gone out the window, but I'm still working at it and trying, and little by little it's coming. (that was an awkward sentence, and I know if I put some effort into it I could make it better, but I don't really care at the present time.) So far we've taught 4 lessons to "investigators" (our teachers) and they've definitely improved since our first. Even though I'm still reading out of my phrase books, and pages and pages of notes, my reading comprehension and fluency has improved so now I'm somewhat coherent. In a few more weeks I will be able to teach a whole lesson without notes -- I hope -- .
 
For those of you LDS people reading this, how is your Home Teaching coming? For the Sisters, How is your Visiting Teaching coming? For everyone else, what have you done this week to help someone, or to befriend someone, or to make someone else's day seem brighter? If you can't give a positive response, I want to challenge you to try. Do something small everyday.
 
With all my best,
 
An Uncommon Elder
 
Elder Timothy Scott Ryan
 
4/2/2013




Popular posts from this blog

I think I may have forgotten to write for a while... - 2/10/14

So, working in the mission office for the last few weeks has been an interesting experience. I've been able to use the skills that I've acquired from my previous work experience, and help out the mission in different ways. It's very interesting to see how the work in the mission field is affected by the decisions and things that happen through the mission office. When things run well in the mission office, things in the mission field are a lot more smooth in terms of operations. I have a lot of respect for all of the missionaries that serve in the mission offices worldwide, they do so much to make sure that we as missionaries have a pleasant mission experience. There is a lot of work that goes into flats, cars, supplies, transfers, zone conferences, visas, etc. I have a new respect. Much Love, Elder Ryan
Read more

Spiritual Insights (9/2/13)

So, this week I had a little more time to study independently (and unlike other weeks, I remembered to bring my notes to the library) so today, my blog post is going to be mostly on how to answer the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Many people have asked this question, and many people have used it as grounds to disprove that there is a God. Don't let yourself get caught in that trap. God is real, he loves you! If you don't know it now, seek him out and I promise you will find him. In my studies, I have found a few scriptures that helped prove this in my mind. In Joseph Smith's adversity he was comforted by these words from the Lord, "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;" (D&C 121:7) and was later counseled, " 7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if th...
Read more

7/28/13

So, After an awesome week following a hard week, I've had another trying week. Things seem to work that way. We have a few really solid investigators right now, but we also have some that are going through difficulties in finding faith and keeping that faith that they have already found. They claim to have experiences, they're not sure what they're feeling, and they're not sure if it's coming from God. Unfortunately, no amount of testifying, no amount of smiles and warm greetings can substitute for that foundational belief of faith. The only way to gain that faith is through action, through calling upon God, keeping His commandments, reading His scripture. Without doing these fundemental things with patience and forebearance, it is impossible to gain a solid faith in God. If you are currently struggling with your faith, seek God and you will find him. I promise you will.
Read more