We actually got to the MTC on our own. As you walk in the front doors, this is what you see. I have carried this pic in my planner for years. It is a carving the President David O. McKay saw in Scotland when he was a missionary and tried to make it a part of his life. I think it is a wonderful motto for all of us to live by. As missionaries, we are going to diligently try to act the part.

As we walked down the hall, we were greeted by a sister who handed us a packet with our names on it. She directed us into a room where we sat with another sister who went over every paper in the packet and explained all of it to us. We got our name tags and put them on. Keys to our room, went and paid our room and board and got cards to swipe for each meal. Went to another area and had questions answered, another place to get our Preach My Gospel manual.

The MTC is one fine oiled machine. You just go from station to station and pick up your supplies that all have your name and room number on. Everything is in place.

And we felt like we had a luxury suite. That is because we walked into our room and it had a bathroom. After having been at Dance Camp and living in the dorms, the bathroom was down the hall. Yea, we had our own bath. We did have to make up our bed with pink sheets and a flowered bedspread, but we are so tired at night that we don't even notice it.

It was lunch time by the time we got moved in and so we headed to the cafeteria. We just sat there with our jaws nearly on the floor as droves of Elders and Sisters were walking quickly around picking up the food they wanted. There is usually three or four choices for every meal. Always salads and sandwiches, fruit and desserts. Elders in white shirts and ties and Sisters in skirts and sweaters. All looking so happy, some studying their little handbooks, laughing together, drinking blue drinks or even Diet Coke Caffeine Free, of coarse.

It has only been the last 2 or 3 years that the Seniors have been here at the MTC. They used to be at a hotel down below the campus. In fact, the place where we spent our honeymoon night. So we are thrilled to be here at the MTC with all of these young people. They hold the doors open for us, let us in front of them in the food lines, and stop us on the sidewalk to bear their testimonies in whatever language they are learning. There are about 2,400 missionaries here right now and it is great. Nowhere on this earth could you get that many young men and women together and accomplish what is going on here. I believe that angels are surrounding the perimeter of the MTC and we are blessed.

There are all kinds of missionaries. Saw a young girl in a wheelchair with only one leg. Several on crutches, some in foot braces, a Sister with an artificial leg, one of the couples with us--the man is blind, three deformed Elders who are trying to walk a little faster than they are used to just to keep up, and one very small Elder with severe deformities, who couldn't even sit straight, he was leaning way back in his chair, but sang with such intensity that I couldn't take my eyes off him.