Thursday, October 28, 2010

MTC Week 7

Dallon is mostly responding to our letters this week.  He shares that his days are really busy and seem to go by so fast.  He is working hard and enjoying the friendships he's made.

"After 6 weeks we're still learning lots of Spanish and are now applying grammar rules.  I still have so much I need to learn but without a doubt, I have already learned a lot.  I am not the best teacher but I can get my point across.  Elder Peterson is a really good teacher and knows how to use scriptures really well.  We always get told that he has all the doctrine and I've got the burning testimony.  We're a pretty good team and I'm glad that he is able to answer some of the hard questions that I don't know.  It's cool seeing how even in "mock lessons" the spirit is there.  I just want to get to Chile and start learning and making a difference.  I'm grateful for my experience in the MTC but I am READY!  Elder Peterson and I have been getting along great.  It's funny how the Lord helps you to see people in a different light.  Our experiences  together helped us to help a companionship in our zone.  We were able to share how we are so different but that we can still get along.  The Lord truly works in ways you don't expect.  I love it when I can look back and say "thank you for that Heavenly Father".

"I am enjoying the MTC.  I have made some really good friends.  Being a zone leader has truly been a blessing.  The missionaries are calling me "cayado" meaning brother-in-law because they all want to go home and marry Tori. ha ha  It's just a joke but they always call me family and go out of their way to do extra cool things for me.  I feel so blessed for the people that the Lord has placed in my life."

"I went to the temple today and had an awesome time.  I had a Spanish temple worker talk to me for a whole hour and take me into the baptistry.  I have gotten to know a lot of people at the temple because Elder Peterson and I always go and do service there on Tuesday mornings.  We fold clothes and stuff.  Anyways they have been talking to me about the movie "Secretariat".  I thought it was funny because you guys also mentioned it in your letters.  I want to watch it when I get home. ha ha"

"I had a really scary experience this week.  I was called to the front office!  It made me have an anxiety attack because usually you get called there when there's a problem at home or something bad has happened!  I was freaking out and just praying that my family was ok.  They made it sound really urgent and that I needed to get there asap!  We ran down there and it turns out that Lauren had dropped off a package for me at the front desk!  Boy, was I relieved!  ha ha  So I am extremely grateful that you are all well this week."

"oh, thanks for the scriptures.  I love the book of Alma.  I also love what I have been told over and over again here at the MTC.  You don't have to be the smartest or the best at the language to be the best missionary.  I love that because I've seen the Lord use me even though I am not the smartest missionary in my zone.  I love this gospel and I love serving a mission.  I am hoping to get my travel plans this week.  I actually had a nightmare that I came home!   Thanks for everything and I love you all so much!"

Elder Dallon Smith

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

MTC Week 6

The email this week came later in the day.  Dallon and Elder Peterson are busy as zone leaders from the crack of dawn til lights out.  Dallon is beginning to look forward to getting out into the mission field.  His experiences are becoming more meaningful.

"My weeks are just getting busier and busier!  It's been fun to have so many different opportunities to serve.  I am super tired today because we had to wake up at 5:30 to get everything done that we needed to.  Only in the MTC do you wake up that early to do laundry!  ha ha  It's crazy."

"Being a zone leader has been a blast for the most part.  I think Elder Peterson and I are just ready to get out in the field.  One moment you are feeling confident and good and then the next you are feeling the spirit and calm.  The next thing you know you are sad because you realize that you have so much to learn and do and you never feel like you'll ever be good enough.  It's interesting how everyone handles the switch of emotions but for the most part everything is still good.  This last week flew by.  It feels like I just wrote the other day.  Sorry that my days are so boring! ha ha  We really are doing the same things over and over and over and over again."

"Our quartet auditioned and did great!  The sister told us we would probably get an invitation to sing at a devotional.  We'll see what happens but that would be really cool!  As soon as you send back my sd cards, I'll get a recording of us singing.  The people in the quartet with me are Elders Mace, Mortenson and Carter.  We've had a lot of fun.  We practice for an hour almost every other day and while we are practicing, Elder Peterson goes to play the piano with one of the other elders.  I am helping him learn how to play "Nearer My God to Thee".  He's been doing really well."

"This week we started speaking strickly Spanish.  It's been difficult but still fun.  My Spanish is definitely improving but I want to learn it all right now. ha ha  I've definitely had to work on patience.  It seems like that's what I've had to learn the most here.  Patience.  Patience with the language, companions, leadership, everything!  You always have to be patient and being patient all the time can be hard!  I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn patience.  Man, it is intense here in the MTC.  We are constantly being told how to be better.  It's cool too because it helps you realize how much more you can achieve and at the same time, I'm thinking, "Holy cow, I've got a lot to do!".  ha ha"

"Teaching in the TRC is always a blast.  It's funny because our Spanish struggled so much in the beginning lessons and now, slowly but surely, we are becoming better teachers.  I love teaching in the TRC because it makes time go by so fast and it's a time when you can actually see how much you have improved.  I'm definitely not the best teacher but I have learned a lot and getting much better.  I'm also glad because my first week here, one of my biggest concerns was being able to teach with Spanish.  Elder Peterson was so much better than I was.  Now I think we are about even.  It's been cool to see how much I have learned and I love teaching.  Even though it's only pretend, you can still feel the spirit testifying of the truth.  I love that.  I know that the things we teach are true because I have an overwhelming feeling of peace.  I love that I get to feel that way every time I teach.  I also know when I am in tune with the spirit and when I am not.  Elder Peterson and my lessons are so different when we have the spirit with us and when we don't.  I know that when we have it, we aren't trying to convince people that what we are saying is true, but we are inviting the spirit in order for the investigator to find out for themselves if it is true.  It's cool to see how much of a difference there is.  I know that I have the spirit when I open my mouth and the words in Spanish just flow out.  Of course, it is still broken Spanish but I get the main point across.  We have learned a lot about using the scriptures this week.  I love studying the scriptures and applying them to my life, as well as, to the investigators."

"Last Wednesday I had a really cool experience.  Elder Matt Ross left last Wednesday, but the night before, he came to my room and just talked to me for an hour.  He was nervous about the next day and was just telling me a bunch of funny stories.  He is such an awesome friend and it was hard to see him go.  Anyway, that night he left at curfew around 10:30 and then came back and asked me to give him a blessing.  I wasn't expecting it but I told him I would if he really wanted me to.  He said he did so I said a quick prayer and then proceeded to give him a blessing.  That blessing was one of the most amazing experiences I have had so far.  I know that the words came from somewhere else and that my thoughts were directed by the spirit.  I know that Elder Ross is going to be a great missionary in New York.  The words that came to my mouth were definitely not my own and they were so powerful.  Matt left the next morning at 5:00 and then the next day I got a letter that he had left for me about his blessing.  It was an awesome experience."

"I am learning a lot and being here is definitely beneficial.  I am working hard for those people that need the gosple.  I can't believe that I have already been here for more than a month!  I am nervous because I still have so much that I want to know how to say in Spanish! ha ha  I know I'll be fine if the Lord is with me.  Not going to lie but serving a mission is so much harder than I thought it would be.  I thought I would be ready for everything but it's hard here in every way; emotionally, physically, socially, etc.  MAN!  But I know I'm progressing and that's what I love."

"Let me know how you are doing.  I miss you and want to hear from you."

Love Elder Dallon Smith

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

MTC Week 5

Well, Dallon is over the half way point at the MTC.  He will be leaving for Chile on November 9th.  He tells us that Elder Matt Ross and Elder Mark Hanni will be leaving to their missions tomorrow, October 13th.  He had an eventful week and was just made a zone leader.

"On Sunday, Elder Peterson and I were called as zone leaders.  I was surprised because we had a meeting with the branch president and thought that it was about Elder Peterson getting released as a district leader.  Instead, low and behold, we were called as zone leaders!  President Hollister and President Dennis said that we were natural leaders and that the Lord had great plans for us.  It's been fun because we are over the biggest zone in the MTC, so we get to know a lot of elders that come through here.  Unfortunately, it does take a lot of time.  We are in charge of all the districts and orientating all the new elders.  We have responsibilities that we have to do every day, but I think it will be worth it.  I need all the blessings I can get with this language!"

"My Spanish is improving day by day, slowly but surely.  I finally feel like I can express myself.  I still have a lot of work to do and it is coming along.  I know that I will be fine but I want to learn everything now so that I can be an effective missionary faster.  It is frustrating because I have so much that I want to share, but can hardly find the words to say it in Spanish.  I know the Lord is blessing me and I am only saying what he needs me to say right now.  If the Lord needs me to be able to bare my testimony in Spanish to someone, then he will provide a way for me to do it.  Speaking Spanish is fun but it's also tough.  I just want to know it and not have to work so hard for it! ha ha  But hey.., faith without works is dead, right?"

"This has been a fun week because I've been able to play the piano a lot.  Me and three other missionaries in my district have prepared an acapella version of  "Lead Kindly Light" to sing at firesides.  We have an audition on Thursday, so wish us luck!  It is so awesome!  I love music.  In regards to your question about whether the gospel speaks the same way to me as music...OF COURSE!  The music is only a vessel in which I can feel the spirit strongly.  The gospel is what truly makes me happy.  The gospel is truly amazing!  I don't know where I would be without it.  I know this just sounds like missionary talk, but I want you all back home to know that this work is important to me and that you are all important to me."

"This week  I had an experience where I followed a spiritual prompting that I thought was so strange.  I was told to write a quick note to an elder about how he was a good example and that he was going to be such a great missionary.  I was thinking the whole time that this is so weird.  Why would I randomly write a sentimental note to someone?  But something inside me told me that I just needed to do it.  I hurried and wrote one in Spanish.  It was really short; probably about 5 to 6 sentences.  Anyways, he was reading his scriptures so I just went and put it on his desk and then went back to mine.  Man, it was so awkward!  I didn't know why I did it.  Then I saw him read the note and he just started to cry.  Later he came to see me and told me that what I wrote on the note was an answer to his prayer.  He said that he was reading a scripture and was asking himself a personal question when I gave him the note.  I thought it was so cool and I was glad that I followed the prompting.  It just feels good because I don't have to know Spanish real well or be some heroic missionary in order for the Lord to use me as a tool to help others.  It's nice to know that you can help make a small difference in another person's life."

"I love it here!  I have made so many friends.  It's funny because everyone wants to get to know me because I am really good at volleyball and foursquare. ha ha  Gym is by far one of the funnest things in my day.  The MTC food is still pretty good, surprisingly.  Though I do miss my momma's cookin!  I use sauces to mask the flavor all the time.  I love using Chilula sauce on everything!  It's delicious!  MMMMmmmmm! ha ha  Classes are still really long.  We have two classes a day that are around four to five hours long.  It makes for a long day and we are all crammed into such a small room.  We all love eating because we get to escape from "school on steroids"!  The other part of the day we have five hours of personal directed study.  This is where you have to decide what you need help with and then motivate yourself to work on it.  Some days it is hard to know what to do and others it's like you don't have enough time to do everything that you want to."

Well, I'm outta time.  Man, I miss you all so much and pray for you every night.  I love you all and thanks for everything that you do for me!  Talk to you soon."

Love, Elder Dallon Smith

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Elder Hanni's and Elder Hill's Testimonies

Dallon was able to see Dillon and Mark before they leave the MTC for their missions.  He recorded their testimonies.

"I just did the coolest thing! I went and snuck into Dillon and Mark's building and got their testimonies on film!  I barely caught Dillon.  He is all packed up.  Man, I am so stoked!  Their testimonies are AMAZING!  They are so good.  I'm going to send them home so their families can have them.  I don't want to lose them!  I'm praying that this makes it home.  Talk about tender mercies!"







Tuesday, October 5, 2010

MTC Week 4

Conference was the highlight of Dallon's letter this week.  It was a wonderful experience for him and seems to be all he can talk about.

"This weekend was thee best weekend at the MTC ever!  Conference was honestly an experience that I will never forget.  It was so nice being able to leave the MTC compound.  I got to see our hometown again!  It made me miss home so much.  I miss just driving home from Provo and it felt like I was dreaming on the bus.  It was funny because Matt and I were sitting next to eachother, so it felt like we were just coming home from a high school choir performance.  Matt and I are not the same height, so to sit next to each other at the conference center he had to stand a little on tip toe and I had to bend my knees.  We're conspirators! ha ha  We were so lucky to be able to sit by each other.  While I was backstage, I was able to meet Elder Quintin Cook of the twelve apostles.  Cool right?!  He looked at me and said, "hello".  I wish the Prophet would have come backstage!  Seeing Dad and Jake honestly made my night.  I noticed some missionaries pointing and asking one another, "who is that?".  I looked up and to my amazement it was Dad and Jake!  Dad, Jerone, and Riley Richards were waving their arms and Jake was doing some kind of dance that reminded me of cousin Tayler.  I was so excited and wanted to run up and give them all a huge hug!  It was cool to get to see my family.  I wasn't embarrassed one bit.  We were told not to make a fool of ourselves on the stand and only wave.  It was tough.  It was so good to know I was in the same room as my family."

"General Conference makes the MTC more fun.  Usually we have classes all day on Saturday, but I got a break from everything and left for downtown at 1:30 pm.  I loved it!  We were gone for half the day.  It was so much fun.  We left early so we weren't able to watch the second session on Saturday.  I would say that my favorite talks were President Uchtdorf's about pride and Elder Holland's about counting your blessings.  Overall, they were all good and it made for the best weekend I have had so far.  On Sunday night we had a fireside all about music.  If there is one thing that I have learned here is how much music affects my life.  I love the power and the spirit that music brings.  I know I always have a prayer in my heart because I am constantly singing in my mind.  Music gets me through the day and makes things bearable."

He expresses his love and gratitude to his family. 

"Just wanted to thank you all for being such a big part of who I am today.  There are so many things that I am grateful for and I know that none of it would be possible without the parents I have.  I can't imagine life without you.  I wish I could fly home everyday and then come back and do the Lord's work.  Having a supportive family at home makes all the difference for me.  I am so jealous that you get to be together all the time.  My favorite memories are of us just being ourselves and hanging out.  Thank you so much for your testimonies that you let me build upon to find my own.  There's one thing I know that I won't ever be able to doubt, that I do have a testimony of this church and the gospel.  I know that Heavenly Father lives and loves us and wants what's best for us.  Ma and Pa, thank you for sacrificing so much for me.  I've learned so much about what really matters to me, YOU.  I love my family more than anything in this world.  Thank you for never giving up on me and always directing me to choose the right.  Please know that I am grateful for all that you do and have done for me.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect family.  Doing sealings in the temple taught me so much about how important my family is.  I miss and love you with all my heart."

Elder Dallon Smith

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Dallon sings in the MTC Priesthood Choir!



Elder Matt Ross singing beside him just like the old days.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Videos from Dallon in the MTC!

Dallon shows us around his room at the MTC and introduces his roommates.



This is why they don't get a lot of free time.



Dallon gets ripped!