The Church Lowers Missionary Service Age

This past weekend, I was able to attend General Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
It was a wonderful experience and we were able to sit in the conference center when a special missionary announcement, by President Thomas S. Monson...our prophet, was made. 
Being that this is a 'missionary oriented blog' I thought it fitting to post the announcement here for any who aren't familiar with the changes.  There was a wonderful spirit felt as President Monson made this announcement.  My mind reflected on the many, many prospective Elders and..especially...Sisters who are of that age and and I felt a real excitement for all of them.  You may want to watch the News conference afterwards, with Elder Nelson and Elder Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve. You will note that Elder Holland said that this change has nothing to do with 'you' (prospective Elders and Sisters) but, that it has everything to do with hastening the Lord's work.  It was so exciting to hear!!!

Here is the announcement below for your interest:

Church Lowers Missionary Service Age

Salt Lake City — 

In a move to expand the opportunities for young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve full-time missions, Church President Thomas S. Monson announced today that, effective immediately, men may now begin serving at age 18 and women at age 19.

The previous age for beginning missionary service was 19 years of age for young men and 21 for young women.

The announcement was made during the opening session of the Church’s 182nd Semiannual General Conference, broadcast worldwide from Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Church anticipates that lowering the age requirement will significantly increase the number of missionaries who will serve by expanding the options for when they may begin their service.

“I am not suggesting that all young men will — or should — serve at this earlier age,” President Monson said. Rather, he said, the option is now available based on individual circumstances, as well as upon a determination by local Church leaders. (Read President Monson's full remarks.)

Elder Scarlett leaves Slave Lake....

Elder Scarlett has been busy serving for the past several months in Slave Lake:

Here's his quick latest 'blurb'-

"So am leaving Slave Lake and heading to the city, to make it even better a {YSA}branch.  Am super excited to go there and i hope it will be awesome!
Its called Garneau YSA Branch and its in Millwoods, Alberta."

Have fun Elder Scarlett!!!  We love and miss you!!! Does anyone recognize the 'character' standing beside him?  Former Elder Kearl who served here in the Vancouver Mission and went home a few months ago!!!

The Work Continues....

Sister Sloan  continues to love, love, love serving on Temple Square.  Every letter she sends is so enthusiastic.

This week has been great! I forgot to tell you that last week we brought around two couples from England and Wales. They were awesome! During the tour we taught the JS Story and one of the ladies started crying during it! Our last stop was at the Christus and then we invited them to learn more about the gospel.  They politely declined so we walked in one direction and they walked the other way.  As we were walking through the Old testament paintings display after the tour we heard one of the ladies, on the tour talking about how powerful our tour was and how she felt something.
This past week we brought around about 45 youth from ONE ward here in Utah. Oh man that was a good tour! At the end, one of our contactors was asked what the church was like in the Ukraine and so she talked about it, then the rest of us bore our testimonies of gaining a testimony and going to church. Afterwards there was one young man who came up to me and one of the other sisters who was contacting.  He was wearing a Crosby jersey and didn't look like he was really paying attention during the tour but he told us that that was what he needed to hear and that we did awesome!
Then two days later about 100 High School football players (catholic) from Cali came down for a tour. Its hard because most were underage so we can’t teach them but only answer their questions and once in a while sneak something in. We had 25 from the group. At first I was worried because they're in High school, they play football and so usually you think of them as just being crazy teens but our group was soo good and they were really paying attention to what we were saying!

Yesterday we had more great tours! in the morning my companion had a first transfer meeting so I was on exchanges and had a motor coach tour with a sister from the Ukraine. It was awesome! 6 people referred for missionaries! One we couldn't count because they didn’t end up giving their full address and two were going back to China in the next couple days.. It was so sad! Last night I kept thinking about those two girls around my age who wanted to learn more about God, and about their purpose in life and we can’t help them! They both got a copy of the book of mormon. We give them out only to Chinese people who are going back to china, but I felt so devastated! I want to keep teaching them! But I know that God will provide a way for them to hear the message of the Gospel again.  I don't know when that will be but I have faith that they will have the opportunity to hear it again. Yesterday we also talked with a guy from England who has come to Utah so many times but not to temple square.  This time, while he was here, he felt something different and we taught him about the temple and how families can be together forever and he’s says that’s something that he wants to believe in, so we got his number and will call him later. Tola our investigator in Nigeria is doing great! He has a fiancée who we just talked to today who also wants to learn more too so we are going to start teaching her on Thursday! Our other investigators are doing well too!

PS I saw Elder Perry this morning!! We go to the track to run, behind/ just past the Conference Centre. At the end of our run there is a steep hill that I like to run up. Usually there are a couple of sisters that run with me but they weren't there today so I ran by myself up it and I waited up at the top waiting for the other sisters to come up. While I was waiting, I turned around and I could see elder perry walking down the hill, towards me.  He's tall... just saying...and as he walked past me he said 'So, what are you doing out in the dark?" All I could say was "I'm running!"  He just smiled.  I was in aww haha and he just kept on walking... what a great moment!!  Love you.  Love, Sister Sloan

Keep up the great work Sister Sloan. Hoorah for Zion!

He's on His Way....

Elder De Vera has been so good at writing letters.  We've received one just about every week that he's been in the MTC.  It reminds me of all the other Elders and Sisters who are now so busy 'in the work' that they find it much harder to write consistently.  We take what we can get and are grateful for all of their service.

Here is portion from Elder De Vera's latest letter:

I'm doing great!  I just got my flight plans.  It's so exciting!  I fly out on Monday, October 8th (he's already gone by the time we received this) at 5:30am.  I think I might just miss the MTC.  Elder Neil Anderson came to speak to us.  We've had other seventies who have also been here.  Life's been great.  Worry Free and well fed! Such great and inspiring devotionals and firesides.  I will miss the MTC because of those.  The language...I've got it!  So a day in the life of Elder De Vera is:  6:30am wake up and get out of bed.  'Drag' a comb across my head.  Breakfast after planning and study then the rest is either personal, language, additional studies, class for 3 hours, then another class for 3 hours with lunch or dinner in between.  A LOT OF STUDYING.  I've read through the BOM once and now halfway through Matthew and Jesus the Christ.  That's a lot of reading....for me!  I miss you all.  Hope you are doing well.  When I get settled in my new area, I'll write again.  'Til next time.  Elder De Vera

Keep up the great work Elder De Vera.  The adventures are just beginning!!!