Week 2 at the MTC

Dear Mom & Dad (and everyone else),

As I said in my last letter and even though you guys are probably tired of hearing it, the MTC is amazing!  I've had the opportunity to teach so much and as a result, I've learned so much here.  My testimony has grown so much just in the short week and half that I've been here.  The truths I've come across and with the help of the Spirit testifying, I have come to a new understanding of the Gospel.  It's more than just learning doctrine.  It's about the love of Christ and how his Gospel can help every single person on this earth, no matter their situation.  The joy it brings is undeniable and I cannot wait to be able to share it with the people of Salt Lake City!

My companion is awesome!  He's 20 years old and from Washington state.  He was born in Minnesota and has lived all over the US.  He as a hard time explaining himself while teaching, but is getting better everyday.  he as improved tremendously since day one.

Thanks for the packages!  My companion and other elders in the district loved them!

They said there are over 4,000 missionaries currently in the MTC and growing.  It's crazy how many there are and how the Spirit is so constant with servants of the Lord always present.  My 2 weeks is almost up and it flew by!  But I feel like I've made the most of it :)

The food is good, some days better than others.  They have lots and lots of varieties--up to 4 choices every meal.  Plus, there is always a salad bar.  Ice cream is served on Sundays and Wednesdays.  But the best part...UNLIMITED/FREE CHOCOLATE MILK!!!  I drink two glasses with every meal :)  and as a result, I've gained about 5 or 6 pounds!  I love it!! haha :)

Thanks you everyone for the letters and DearElder.com letters.  It really makes a missionary's day here when they open the mailbox and see even just one letter for them.  So thanks to everyone!

I will be leaving the MTC this Wednesday (7/31) and headed to Salt Lake City!  So email me at hayden.carroll@myldsmail.net because DearElder.com will no longer work.

You are all in my prayers.  Hope everything is well at home.

Love,
Elder Carroll

P.S. My favorite scripture this week:  Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:20)

P.S.S  The Church is TRUE!

First letter from MTC!

Dear Mom & Dad (and everyone),

Well, it's true what they say...the MTC has a great and unique spirit that I don't think can be found anywhere else.  As we all arrived yesterday, we jumped straight into class.  My teacher is from South Africa and served his mission in Ogden, Utah.  After his mission, he loved it so much, he moved back here 6 months later.  He attends BYU, while teaching here at the MTC.

I have a very unique companion.  He was born with a heart condition (I don't know what condition exactly), and has to take medicine constantly.  He also (I think) has slight autism or ADHD or something like that.  The best way to describe him is like Uncle Ryan.  Always laughing at his own jokes before he tells them and laughing uncontrollably.  Maybe a bit odd, but I love him to death.  He's bad outside of class and at other places, but as soon as we are in class, he is quiet and attentive.  He invites the spirit and is actually really smart.  I'm grateful for all the years Uncle Ryan spent time with me and taught me to love unconditionally.  I feel blessed to be Elder Westlund's companion and to be able to help him.

The rest of the guys in my district (basically the guys who I share a room with and have the same schedule as me) are awesome!  There are 6 of us total and we are all going to serve in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission.  We all get along perfectly and I can feel a great spirit when we are together.  I love it here!  Although, I find myself tired during classes, there is no where else I'd rather be.  The Church is true and I already can't wait to get out into the field.  Hope all is well at home.  I'm praying for you all :)

Love,
Elder Carroll

PS  DON'T FORGET TO WRITE ME!!

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July 19, 2013

Hey Mom!

I sent a letter in the mail yesterday, so I'm not gonna write much on this email! Everything is going great, and I just got asked to serve as the District Leader for my district! I'm over 5 other elders and 4 sisters. Basically what that means, is that i preside at every meeting and class we have, and I get to collect the mail every day for all of the missionaries in my district. Let me know if you don’t get my letter in the next few days, but it should be there today or tomorrow! Hope everything is good at home! If you could, have Brother Ritchey email me! Mckenzie will know how to get ahold of him. The MTC is awesome, and the spirit is strong here. My P-days while I'm here is on Friday's, so that’s why I'm writing today!

Much love,

Elder Carroll

WHAT WILL HAYDEN DO ON HIS MISSION???

The life of a full-time LDS missionary can be rigorous because serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints means being and working as a representative of Jesus Christ at all times- 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But what do missionaries do? Find out about the life of a missionary including what they teach, who they work under, and what they invite others to do...

LDS Missionaries Teach the Truth
One of the most important things Mormon missionaries do is to teach others about the gospel of Jesus Christ. They work to spread the "good news" to all those who will hear. The "good news" is that Christ's gospel has been restored to the Earth. This restoration includes the return of the priesthood-God's authority to act in His name- and modern revelation including The Book of Mormon, which comes through living prophets. 

LDS Missionaries Obey Rules
For their safety and to prevent possible problems missionaries have a strict set of rules they must obey. One of the biggest rules is that they always work in pairs, called a companionship.  Additional rules include dress code, travel, viewing media, and other forms of conduct. Each mission's rules may be slightly different as the mission president may adjust rules to fit the mission.

LDS Missionaries Proselytize
With tens of thousands of missionaries throughout the world you have most likely seen a pair of them at some point in your life, they may even have knocked on your door. That's because part of the life of an LDS missionary is to seek out those who are ready and willing to hear their important message. Missionaries proselytize by knocking on doors, handing out pamphlets, flyers or pass-along cards, and speaking to just about everyone they meet.

LDS Missionaries Study
A large part of a missionary's life is to study the gospel, including The Book of Mormon, other scriptures, missionary guide books, and their language (if they are learning a second language). LDS Missionaries study on their own, with their companion, and at meetings with other missionaries.  Learning to more effectively study the scriptures helps missionaries in their efforts to teach the truth to investigators and those they meet.

LDS Missionaries Invite Others to Act
A missionary's purpose is to share the gospel with others and invite them to follow Jesus Christ. Missionaries will invite investigators to do any of the following:

• Listen to their message
• Read sections of The Book of Mormon
• Pray
• Attend church
• Obey specific commandments
• Repent
• Invite others to be taught
• Be baptized

LDS Missionaries Baptize Converts
Investigators who gain a testimony of the truth for themselves and desire to be baptized are prepared for baptism by meeting with the proper priesthood authority. When they are ready a person is baptized by one of the missionaries who taught them or any other worthy member who holds the priesthood. Investigators make the choice of who they would like to baptize them.

LDS Missionaries Receive Transfers
Very few missionaries are assigned to the same area for the entire duration of their mission. Most missionaries will work in one area for a few (or sometimes several) months until the mission president has them transfered to a new area. Each mission covers a very large geographic area and the mission president is responsible for placing missionaries where they work.

Local Members Provide Meals for LDS Missionaries
Local church members help the missionaries by having them in their home and feeding them dinner (or lunch, depending on the mission). But anyone can offer to feed the missionaries- you don't have to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ to serve the elders or sisters in this way.

LDS Missionary Daily Schedule
The following is a break down of an LDS missionary's daily schedule from Preach My Gospel pg viii. 

Missionary Daily Schedule*
6:30 a.m.	Arise, pray, exercise (30 minutes), and prepare for the day.
7:30 a.m.	Breakfast.
8:00 a.m.	Personal study: the Book of Mormon, other scriptures, doctrines of the missionary lessons, other chapters from Preach My Gospel, the Missionary Handbook, and theMissionary Health Guide.
9:00 a.m.	Companion study: share what you have learned during personal study, prepare to teach, practice teaching, study chapters from Preach My Gospel, confirm plans for the day.
10:00 a.m.	Begin proselyting. Missionaries learning a language study that language for an additional 30 to 60 minutes, including planning language learning activities to use during the day. Missionaries may take an hour for lunch and additional study, and an hour for dinner at times during the day that fit best with their proselyting. Normally dinner should be finished no later than 6:00 p.m.
9:00 p.m.	Return to living quarters (unless teaching a lesson; then return by 9:30) and plan the next day's activities (30 minutes). Write in journal, prepare for bed, pray.
10:30 p.m.	Retire to bed.

The Call

Last April, Hayden received a mission call from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to labor in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission.  He will report to the Mission Training Center on July 17, 2013.  He is one of the lucky young men to be the first to serve as an 18 year old missionary (former age requirement 19).  Less than 2 months after graduating from high school, he will be set apart as a missionary and leave home for two years.  We are so proud of him and his decision to serve!  We hope that you will follow his labor of love as we try to document it thru this blog.