from: Den Danske Mission

​I made it to Denmark safely. It's beautiful here and a great relief to not fly anymore. We just ate some Danish food at the mission home, and soon we will be having interviews and then contacting. I couldn't remember dad'd email for this one so let him know. I love you lot's and I'm glad I got to talk to you yesterday! Email you later!

Love, Ældste Smith

Denmark or Bust!

So I'm down to my final days here at the MTC. I love it and I've learned so much, but I'm so excited to get to the field. I can't believe it's actually happening. So cool things are going on. I got to sing today for the mission presidents' seminar. 9 apostles were there. I didn't get to meet any of them but I got a good look at a few. Before the performance some of us went to the bathroom. I walked up to the urinal and looked to my right. The man next to me had a blue nametage on that read Quentin L. Cook. So that was interesting. I'm hoping we actually get to meet a couple when we sing tomorrow or Saturday.

Yesterday we hosted new missionaries coming to the MTC. We greet them and help them get to their classes. I hosted five new missionaries going to all kinds of places. It seems like so long ago when I came to the MTC but it was just 5 weeks ago. I feel like so much has happened. Which is true I guess. It's been a really busy week for me and it probably will be more busy with the mission presidents seminar and packing and everything. My schedule is a little weird so it's been interesting.

So the funny story this week. A couple weeks ago Elder Carlson got a box of donuts and after a while they finally got thrown in the trash (in the box). Then the other day Elder Stapley is walking by the bathroom and notices them. "Are those donuts?!" He then decides he is going to eat one. He proceeds to take it out of the box and then a custodian walks around the corner right as Elder Stapley takes a big bite out of a two week old donut. The custodian laughed and continued on with his day. We all had a good laugh.

So a spiritual thought for today. On Tuesday we were privileged to hear from Brent H. Nelson of the seventy. His talk was very good but his wife said something that stood out to me. She shared with us that we cannot do anything without the Savior, but that with the Savior, we can do anything. I know this to be true because I can share with you that the MTC is a very humbling experience. It has been the hardest thing I've done in my life, but I know that the Savior has helped me through it. I know that if I want to accomplish anything on my mission or in my life I need the Saviors help. I also know that with the Saviors help I can do literally anything because the Lord does work miracles. I hope you all let the Savior help you in your lives and use his help to accomplish amazing things.

I miss you all a lot and the next email you get from me will be coming from halfway around the world. I have some pictures I'll send later today but next week they will be pictures from Denmark. Thank you all for your prayers and support. I am grateful for each and everyone of you. You are amazing examples to me. Thanks for everything! Jeg elsker dig!

Love Ældste Smith

Here are a few pictures! One  of my zone in front of the temple, and one of me with one of my best friends Elder Allred. He left for Paris on Monday. I just had to show you all that I taught Søster Player how to tie a tie. She now refers to this tie as her tie.





To Mom:

I got my camera and stickers. Thank you so much, they are super great. The camera is the same one they sell at the bookstore. I sang in my special choir this morning and I sing tomorrow and saturday morning as well. I haven't met any apostles yet but I really want to. I got Teri's email. I'll try my best to email her before I leave. I'm glad my handwriting isn't terrible. I have my flight times. I'll send them to you tomorrow or saturday. I will get to call you most likely in Atlanta. Thank you for sending everything I need! I will be sending one package of things I don't need and some letters for you and that will be all.

from Email a couple of days later: Oh also guess what. Yesterday I shook Neil L. Anderson's hand and today David A. Bednar came and thanked the choir for all of our hard work. It was cool.

To Dad:

Hey papa! I'm sorry to hear about your surgery, but I'm really glad that it wasn't a heart attack or something worse. It sounds like it runs in the family so at least I have that to look forward to. I'll be praying for you and I'm sure that everything will go well. I'm really nervous. I can't believe it's actually happening now. I will definitely take your language advice. Jared did send me a dearelder. It was really good. I'll try my best to write him back. He good switched from young mens right before I left. I can't think of anything else I have to have so I think I'm good. I'll be sending a box home sometime with stuff I don't need. I have some cash, but I'm supposed to have at least 200 dollars on my card available while traveling. So can either you or mom do that for me? I can't think of any questions. I'm really excited. Thanks for everything. I love you.

Love Elder Smith

One and a half more to go

Hey everyone! How's it going!!! I hope you have all had a great beginning of summer. I definitely had. My time is running short here at the MTC. I leave in a week in a half for Denmark so be quick if you want to send me any letters at the MTC before I hit the field. I am beyond excited for the events happening over the next couple of weeks. I found out that myself and another Elder from my zone have made it into a special choir that will sing for the new mission presidents seminar. We will be singing some music at the beginning of meetings that some of the first presidency will speak at. I am pretty excited for that. We were chosen out of over 1500 missionaries that are here at the MTC.

Something funny that happened this week. The Elders in my zone have been putting together a musical number for Sunday. We are singing I Need Thee Every Hour but on the 3rd verse we are all singing a piece in a different language. It will have Icelandic, Arabic, Spanish, Swedish, French, Danish, and Finnish. We've been trying to practice but every time we hit the Finnish part and Vanhin belts out his line we can't help but laugh. I'm not sure why but the Finnish is just so different it sounds hilarious. That might not be funny to any of you, but I can't help but laugh just thinking about it. I just wish you all could hear it. Then you'd understand.

On Tuesday we were privileged to hear from Elder Soares from the presidency of the seventy. His talk was fantastic and he has a nice Brazilian accent. Something from his talk that he mentioned was that if we want to change the hearts of others we must first change our hearts. Not much to say on that but it's something to think about. We can all become better and we can all take a look at our own hearts and desires and try to change ourselves for the better. Another spiritual moment I had this week was on Sunday. After our Sunday devotionals we get to watch a film. Myself and some of the other Elders decided to watch "John Tanner" it's a church film from I don't know how long ago, but if you get a chance look it up and watch it. This man gave everything he had to the Lord and he did it all with tremendous faith. I was touched by the example from that film.

I'm sorry I have no pictures this week. I sort of slacked off. I love you all and hope to hear from some of you before I head for Denmark. Thank you all for being such great examples and supporting me! You're the best!

Love, Elder Smith 

My companion was able to grab a couple pictures so you all got lucky. Paisley tie day and my tripanionship. Love you all!!!

To Dad:

Hey dad I'm doing great here. I'm happy to hear that trek went good for you even though you had to deal with some hard weather. I'm sure most of the pioneers weren't blessed with perfect weather either. I hope everything holds up good on the little farm. I'm sure you'll be able to figure something out. I miss horseshoes with you. Maybe I'll try to get one of the other Elders to play a game with me for exercise time one day. That is cool that Christian is working in the temple. I miss working there even though I get to go sometimes. I have been writing in my journal every night. It's hard but I have a good habit going. Elder Bednar's talk was so good. I hear that this next week it might be President Nelson but I'm not sure. The special choir is going to be so cool. I wrote about it in my large email. Let's just say it's possible I may get to shake the hands of some apostles and first presidency members. I'm excited. And the songs are so good. The language is coming along well. It's hard but good. My teachers say I'm doing good. I wouldn't think they would say otherwise. Well I hope everything is going well. Let me know if you have more questions. I love you lots.

Love, Elder Smith

To Mom:

 Well I might not get to talk to you today. I hope you are doing well. I'll try to send one or two more letters before I leave the MTC. I'm trying to think of things I need. I will probably want I camera, I think you're right. I also think I will need more of the colored stickers. I think I'll be okay with the white shirts I have. I don't use all of them every week. I have enough socks for now and the holes are just small. If you can find like a low profile, cheap scripture case that would be nice for my new scriptures. Any last minute letters you want to send before I leave. I can't think of anything else. If you can then send it, haha. I love you lots. I'll write some more meaningful stuff in a letter.

I'm on for maybe 5 minutes. I thought of something else I need. A bigger pair of jeans. I know what you're thinking. But I brought the wrong pair. they are 32s. If you can I can think of one pair that would be good. they are 36x32 and the brand is maybe apt.9. They are a lighter jean color. If you can't find them any bigger pair would be better.

One By One

It has been quite the week here at the MTC. We have received a new Elder who is going to Iceland. His name is Elder Ludwig. I am officially part of a tripanionship consisting of Vanhin Sisco, Oldungur Ludwig, and myself. We are a fun group of Elders.
So something funny that happened this week, all of us were in the Swedes room hanging out one night. Vanhin was in the bathroom brushing his teeth. He walks into the room with a worried look on his face. He then asks Elder Stapley if he is good at biology. He says sure. Then Vanhin says look at my tongue! Elder Stapley says what's wrong with it? Vanhin says there are little dots on it! They weren't there before! So Vanhin has now discovered that he has taste buds.

This week was fast sunday and a bore my testimony in Danish. I personally thought it was pretty cool. I went from speaking no Danish to 2.5 weeks later being able to share how I feel and what I know about this gospel in Danish. The gift of tongues is a real thing.

We had some amazing speakers this week. On Sunday we heard from Sheri Dew and from our MTC presidency for MTC conference. Tuesday we had the amazing privilege of hearing from Elder David A. Bednar. His talk was more amazing and spiritual than you would believe. He talked about a couple accounts in third Nephi when the Lord came to the Americas to teach. In all scripture when Christ teaches, we notice a special pattern. This pattern is that the Savior teaches, blesses, and knows each of them one by one. He took the time to bless and interact with each of them individually. I know that he knows each of us individually and he knows each of our trials and needs. He blesses each of us one by one because he knows and cares about us one by one. After Elder Bednar's talk we (the MTC choir) sang a song called "One By One" which was written by David A. Bednar. It will show up in the New Era in the next month.

Something else that Elder Bednar shared with us is that "there is no such thing as coincidences when you are on the Lord's errand." No matter what happens on my mission or in any of your lives it is meant to happen. Our Heavenly Father puts us in places and we may not know why, but it is for a reason. Always remember that. I love you all! I left my camera back at my room so I'll send my pictures later but I do have a few. Thank you all for the examples you are to me and thank you for all the help! Till next week! 

Love, Ældste Smith

This is a few pictures. One of my zone, one of my district, and one of my tripanionship. Love you all!

These are my new scriptures. I love them.

To Dad:

It has definitely gotten hot here as well. I do not like it. Especially being dressed up all the time. I can't wait to get to Denmark where hopefully it will be a perfect summer. I'm excited to hear how trek goes. I wish I could go with you. I'm glad Cooper had some friends over. I'm sure it's hard for him out of school. I'll keep writing him but tell him he better start answering my questions. I like our new companion. He's very nice and friendly. We haven't spent a lot of time with him yet because he has been doing first day stuff. But we'll be with him most of the time starting tomorrow. I wanted to share something cool with you. We gave two blessings this week, both were sick blessings. I gave one to sister player in my district and Vanhin gave one to sister Wilson from his. At the times of the blessings both of them were very sick and looked anything but okay. Sister player could barely stand up but withing a couple of hours she was up and walking around like normal doing her normal Sunday activities and she only seemed a bit tired. Sister Wilson was playing basketball with us at exercise time the morning after her blessing. It's amazing what a priesthood blessing can do. I miss you a lot! How are you doing with Hazel? I love you.

Love, Elder Smith

The MTC Orange Juice Rumor is a Lie

I hope everything is well for you all! I've had a fantastic second week at the MTC. All of the new missionaries in my zone love to sing. So everywhere we go we are harmonizing hymns for all of the MTC to hear. It's fun. I'm so glad to have music in my life and use it to bring the spirit with me all day long.

I said the prayer at a devotional on Sunday and it lasted all of fifteen seconds. I was at a loss of words and in front of a lot of missionaries. It's fine.

There is a rumor here that the orange juice will make you very sick and send you straight to the bathroom. So me and 2 other Elders tested the theory and proved it false. Just so all you missionaries coming soon know that the rumor is a lie. We like to test our luck at meals so on Wednesday another Elder and I decided to have a PBJ and 4 bottles of chocolate milk for breakfast. It was a great idea, we lived through that one as well. One more funny story that had most of us Elders in tears from laughing: My companion Vanhin Sisco seems to have gas everywhere we go and always talks about it, and it just so happens there is a scripture about him. One of the bathroom stalls has a reference grafitied into it. Jeremiah 4:19-20. Vanhin laughed harder than any of the rest of us at that one. It was a good time.

On a spiritual note. We heard from Randal K. Bennet on Tuesday, he is a member of the seventy. He talked a lot about being a consecrated missionary and making every service sacred. He also talked a lot about repentance. Something he said that really stood out to me is that repentance is part of a joyful daily process. Repentance is not just for serious sins and it is not scary! Repentance doesn't even have to be for sin. If there is something that needs taken care of in your life, take care of it, but at the same time, repent daily. Think of Christ and his atonement and what it means to you, and make it a JOYful daily process.

I love you all and have loved hearing from many of you! Jeg elsker dig!

Love Ældste Smith

Sorry I forgot to attach pictures to the first email. I only have one this week though. This is all the Elders in my Zone. We decided to all wear gray suits and purple ties on Sunday. And then fit 7 of us on a small bench.

To Mom:

Hey I'm doing good. I found out about the accident on Tuesday. It was kind of a shock and it's hard for me to think of, but I can't really do anything besides pray for his family and others involved. Someone checked on me last night, I told him I was alright and was aware of all the help I have here. I wish I would have sent Sandon an email last week. I wish so badly he was on a mission right now. I wish I could have been at his funeral. It's hard for me to understand why he had to go then. I guess there is just so much we can't understand.

I'm glad you like my letters! I haven't written one in a couple days because I email today but I will send one tomorrow.

I'm excited to have another missionary coming.  I love the devotionals here. This week we heard from a member of the 70 and I got to shake his hand. I said the prayer at the Sunday devotional. I'll give you two guesses on who we get to hear from next Tuesday. It's great.

I got separates in brown leather. I like them a lot. I've still used my small ones to take to devotionals because we cant bring a bag and they're smaller. But if I have no use for them I might just send them home. I'll have to see how the sister worked with the holy tabs. I just liked the idea because the topics go directly with the lessons we teach. I don't want my pages to rip though. That would be bad.

I love you lot's I'll be on later to email and send my group email but I have to go with my companion to the clinic because he says he hurt his back playing volleyball. Talk to ya later! I love you!!!

(note from mom: I guessed Holland or Uchtdorf for my two guesses...)The speaker on Tuesday is neither of those but I will give you a hint. We (the choir) are singing a song that just happens to be written by David A. Bednar. I'm excited. 

I don't really have a favorite meal. None of it is amazing but none of it is terrible.

Yeah I got your package! I hope the pants are big enough. They felt a little tight at the waist and thighs but I wore them a while and they seemed better.  (note from mom: could be the FOUR CHOCOLATE MILKS??!!)

I'm so excited to hear from him. So something else exciting is that they are going to have a special choir at the end of June right before I leave and I think it might be an audition. If it is I hope I'm a part of that. It also means that there will probably be a very special speaker. I'm looking forward to that.

I love singing and I love all the new Elders. They are so much fun.

To Dad:

Hey dad! I'm doing pretty well! It is hard news but I'm hoping to use it to help me. I'm sorry to hear about the stores. I hope your guys get things figured out okay. Let me know what you end up doing and try not to move away. The seventy was Randal K. Bennet. It was so good and gave me some great ideas on becoming a better missionary. We are hearing from David A. Bednar this Tuesday. I am so excited. I really love the devotionals and they are always so good. The language is hard. It's amazing how much I've learned but it's hard to teach and prepare in a language I don't know. The hardest thing is when I know how I want to answer a question or explain something but I just don't have the words to do it. It is very frustrating. Aubrey didn't email me this week but last week she did. I have emailed her both times. Thanks for the advice. How are things going? How are the animals? Anything exciting and happy happen?