May 27th, 2013 - So it Begins!

Well everyone here it is!

I don't know about you guys... but these two weeks have absolutely flown by! I leave the MTC tomorrow morning, and it's been such a blast. My favorite part of being here has definitely been the devotionals we've been able to watch, partially because I know that I'll never get to see those again (unless I end up being like a branch president or something here... that would be pretty sweet). I might have to send out an email next week with my notes from all of them (the parts I want to share) just so you guys can have a glimpse into how awesome they are. Aside from that, my experience here has been pretty sweet. My district is still ridiculously awesome, and it's incredible how close we've gotten over the mere period of two weeks. The study time is still quite awesome, but I think I've begun to enjoy the teaching chances more - TRC (Training Resource Center for those not familiar with MTC acronyms) is a blast.

Just so you're all aware - and this is kind of really really important - I know that the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is the word of God. I know it to be true, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church on the Earth today. That's rather important to me, otherwise I wouldn't be out here getting ready to head off and tell the people of Oklahoma that. I know that if you take the chance to follow the teachings of Christ and his church that your life will be blessed - I've seen it already in mine, and in the lives of those I teach.

Well, aside from that I don't really have any huge major events that have happened since I got here, though I have gotten the chance to see a bunch of Elders and Sisters that I knew previously such as Sister Roseman, Hermana Lind, Hermana Baria, Elder Mccullough, Sister Macintosh, a friend named Robert who I can't spell his last name,  and Elder White. It's been pretty sweet to see familiar faces and it has definitely made the days much easier.

So a scripture I've heard a lot while I'm here is Proverbs 3:5-6, which talks about trusting in the Lord. Goodness how applicable that scripture is here! There are so many things that I just have to take on faith that they'll work out that I don't even care to count them. It also applies in all my relationships with my district and companion as I know there's a reason I've been placed with them.

In addition to that one, a scripture I've looked over quite often is Alma 34:14-17 (and just that chapter in general... it's pretty great). One of the devotionals pointed out those verses to me and had us count how many times the phrase "Faith unto repentance" is there, so I challenge you guys to do that as well.

Then there's one of my favorite scriptures: D&C 121:7-9 which has basically been a great help to me throughout these two weeks as a source of peace and comfort. I know that my time serving the Lord isn't very long (for those of you older than me... what were you doing two years ago?), so I need to make the most of it as I know it will all be a good thing in the end.

On a slightly random note, if you don't have a paper copy of any of these books of scripture that I know are true - specifically the Book of Mormon or Doctrine and Covenants - check out lds.org and go to the scriptures category to find an online version.

As I've been here at the MTC and as I head off to the mission field I plan on taking Nephi's advice in 2 Nephi 33:15 "and I must obey. Amen." The MTC President pointed out that as Nephi's last words of scripture he put that, and he made sure to have us recognize the importance of obedience.

On another note, I hope all of you are doing well out in the world, and that you'll let me know how you are doing, as I love to hear from you! Feel free to send me an email, but since I only check that once a week it might be a better idea to send me real snail mail at the mission home address:
416 SW 79th St

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73139-8121

Sincerely,

Elder Jordan Nielson

May 21st, 2013 - Week 1: The first week of training at the MTC

Spencer here, and this is a new post that Jordan sent me to put up here. So enjoy!

Hey Everyone!

So my first week in the Missionary Training Center out in Provo is over, and it's been super fabulous so far!

The food isn't too terrible, and there is as much of it as I want so that's definitely a good thing for now.

Aside from that, there has been ample time to study the scriptures and learn things, so the majority of this email is probably going to contain stuff about that.

As I've been here so far, on the average day we have at least two hours set aside to study, most of which is personal study time. So I've been reading some awesome scriptures and after this I'll share some thoughts on them.

Recently, one of my favorite chapters to go to is 3 Nephi 27 as there's so much great information to learn from it.

For example, in the first few verses (4-10 or so) Christ is super patient with his disciples as he explains to them in great detail why his Church needs to be called in his name.

Additionally, in verses 13-21 he lays out his gospel in such awesome and plain language that it had never struck me before how simple the gospel really is.

The rest of the chapter has some awesome blessings and things as well, but I haven't gotten around to really studying it yet as I've also studied elsewhere in the scriptures.

We spent some time in 1 Nephi 1, and it's kind of ridiculous how much you can get just from the first verse of that chapter. For example, it shows in the first line how important family is to the Lord.

Then it moves on to let you know that learning is also important to the Lord as it comes right after that. It continues to relate how even through afflictions Nephi was blessed of the Lord.

And he ends the verse telling you that because of all the things the Lord has blessed him to know and see he makes a record of his proceedings. I find it pretty cool that he says he is making the record "of my proceedings in my days" as that shows that even the prophets are only going to talk about what they know. It's just awesome for me to see that.

If you keep reading the chapter dissecting each verse like that it's pretty awesome how much you get just from the first chapter of the book.

For a random note, I want you all to know why I decided to come out here and serve a mission for two years. It certainly wasn't a choice I was pressured to make, as all of that pressure was relieved once the three brothers before me didn't go. So, it was totally my choice to come, and I don't regret it for a minute. I'm here because of the fact that I love my savior Jesus Christ, and know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and is true with all my heart. I wouldn't deny those things for the world, and I'm super grateful for the chance I have to serve the people of Oklahoma for the next two years, and I hope that you all can bear with me as I send you word perhaps kind of infrequently.

On another note, my district here in the MTC is pretty awesome! We have 6 elders (including me) and 4 sisters, so there's a total of ten of us who are all going to the same mission. My companions Elder Pinder is from Boise and is kind of ridiculously awesome. He enjoys singing, and in addition to that has a great sense of humor that keeps me happy and upbeat. He definitely makes this experience a lot more fun than I had planned on it being. Our zone leaders are Elder Garner and Elder Hoddy, yes that is actually his name... and lots of people here think it fits him. They're pretty great, and are both from Utah (one from Orem and one from South Jordan). In addition to them, we have Elder Watkins (our district leader) and Elder Martin his companion. Elder Watkins is from California and loves to sing as well, and he's like 6' 5", easily the tallest of our bunch. Then there's Elder Martin who is from Utah and enjoys singing but thinks he's bad at it and is about 5' 10" and ends up being the shortest of our bunch of Elder. Then there's our awesome sisters, starting with Sister Cooper who is from Riverton, Wyoming and played basketball on her college's team before coming out here. Then there's her companion Sister Williams who is from Utah, and is pretty great at just being an awesome example and happens to be the Sister Training Leader (which basically means she helps train the sisters). We also have Sister Roberts from Boise who does a pretty good job of keeping us all on our toes with her sarcasm and humor that make her a joy to be around (but seriously... it makes the MTC a lot less of a prison to be here with such awesome people). Her companion is Sister Durfee who is from California and is one of those people who loves to sing Soprano because she can make it sound good... not that I have anything against Sopranos....

So that's our district! Our zone has a few awesome people still, but most of them left yesterday. But staying behind we have a few sisters going to the London Visitor's Center, one of which is the previous Sister Training Leader Sister Walmsley who is from New Zealand and has a ridiculously sweet accent. Aside from that, the MTC is just pretty awesome :)

I've learned so much here it's kind of ridiculous, and on a slightly random note if you ever get a chance to watch a talk by Elder Bednar called "The Character of Christ" seize it immediately. Like really. It's kind of ridiculous how awesome that talk is.

'Til Next Time,

Elder Jordan Nielson

This is it!

 Well folks this is it! I'm finally off to the MTC, and I couldn't possibly be more excited. These two years are going to be full of so many different emotions and things that I don't think I could possibly explain how excited I am. In other news, my little brother Spencer will be posting my emails here that are going out to everyone who asks for them (or who I have an email for). He'll hopefully remember to do that each time I send him one. If he doesn't... someone bug him about it.

For those of you who didn't know (for some reason or other) I'm off to the Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In other news, the address for my blog has changed, and is now just eldernielson.blogspot.com
It's still the same old blog, but now it has a new look, url, and title as I'm out on my mission and no longer at school.

Aside from that, these last few weeks preparing have been a whirlwind. I've spent tons of time with family, chilled out a little bit, flew back to Utah, played tennis with my dad and brother, gave my farewell talk, bought my mission clothes and supplies, and found time to skype with my best friends from school.

In addition to that, I kind want to leave y'all with a scripture (which there will likely be at least one in every email) that has hit me pretty hard these last couple days. It's D&C 121: 7-9:

 7 My son, ^apeace be unto thy soul; thine ^badversity and thine afflictions shall be but a ^csmall moment;

 8 And then, if thou ^aendure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy ^bfoes.

 9 Thy ^afriends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

Basically, as I've prepared to enter the MTC, I've been blessed to be supported by an awesome group of friends and family, most of which are probably going to be reading this blog throughout my mission. I'm so excited to go, and I hope that I'll be able to do my best the entire time, from day 1 until I return home.

'Til Next Time,

Elder Nielson