mtc: week #3

So this week has just flown by! This morning we had service at 615AM then went to the temple at 830, went to main campus to print off emails, went to Brigham's landing where we can go to eat off of campus, print pictures and do a few other things! Then did laundry, and now writing letters! me and my comps are always so stressed out during email time! It is THE MOST STRESSFUL part of our week! Today is not as bad for me though which is good! 

On Sunday ELDER HOLLAND came to the MTC!! He didn't come to speak to us, but to listen to his son MATTHEW HOLLAND who is the president of UVU! It was also Sister Hollands birthday so we sang happy bday to her. Elder Holland got to introduce his son though so that was really neat we got to hear from him for a few minutes. I definitely felt the spirit when he walked in! It was so powerful! Elder holland said something to the extend of this" most people think apostles live in some unreal world and that we are not regular people just like every person in the world", it was interesting to think about that. That they really are just people, they do have a calling and assignment, but they are people just like us. Anyways so Matthew holland talked about the story of Joseph Smith, it was so powerful! I learned so much! It was a beautiful Devotional. We as the MTC choir sang Praise to the Man along with the UVU insitute choir , that was really an amazing experience!  The UVU choir also sang A Poor way Faring Man of Grief, it was so touching, many eyes were filled with tears. I hope that you all will take the time to read the words to that song again and ponder the meaning of them. We are so blessed to have a knowledge of the Savior! This week I have learned a lot about Joseph Smith and his upbringing and trials of his life. It truly is amazing what he did. I know that he restored Christ's church upon the earth. I know that through him, we have the BOM today. The Book Of MOrmon was written for intent. Those who seek knowledge with real intent willl find answers to their questions in the BOM. It is the most true book on the earth and that is why it is so important for each person to know about it and have an understanding of it. It can change each one of our lives if we let it. If we follow the counsel that is directed in it we can return and live with our Heavenly Father again. 

On Sunday my district sang I need the Every Hour in sacrament mtg, it was so nice to sing in church! I did a solo and it was fun! I'm so grateful for music in my life and for the love I have for it! I know that music can be a powerful tool in our lives if we choose to use it appropriately. 

We had a workshop on sat night that was about following the promptings of the spirit and How do I know if it is the spirit or not? We then watched a talk given by Elder Bednar. It is an amazing story what happens, don't have time to explain it, but here is what I have learned. 

If it is a GOOD thing, do it! It may not be a life changing experience, but it will bless your life or the life of another person. Here is an experience I had last night. We were leaving our classroom to go to Devo. I had my journal and then I saw my other journal and had a thought " I should take that one too" I pushed it way thinking, eh what do i need my gratitude journal for?.. then I decided heck ok I will just take it..who knows..so i did and im glad I did. We were having choir practice and we practice in the gym where we have our devo. I saw a girl in front of me who was new. Everyone comes in to the MTC on wednesday, but if for some reason they have to come a day early, they can..so this was the case.. I thought to myself, hmm she is new and probably didn't know to bring a notebook to take notes in. She was a rather quiet and a little just on the..idk how to say it.awkward?..anyways. I didn't have a pen, but sitting mext to me was a hermana I had gone to LAs Vegas with and she had her bag. I got a pen from her and them offered this sister infront of me a piece of paper and my journal to write on. She gladly accepted it and I think that she was very grteful for it in the end. I'm grateful I listened to the first prompting I had to take my other journal with me. It wasn't a big thing but then I was able to follow a prompting I had. This gave this new sister an opportunity to take notes and remember things that she needed in her life at that time. It was a blessing for me because I was able to help someone. I know that we  can all have these experiences in our lives if we choose to do the little things in life that matter most. When we came back from the devo we had a District mtg..one of the branch prez councilors is always there. at the end  I showed Prez Bahar and his wife pics of our fam! It was so fun sharing that with them and talking about the people I most care for and deeply love. Prez Bahar then gave me a compliment that was small but so meaningful to me. He said, I love the way you take notes! You are a good note taker, it was because he saw that I had highlighted things. It really meant a lot to me and im sure he thought nothing of it! 

 I know these things are true! I hope you all will learn from the things I have written. Read 2 Nephi 2 and 31! both amazing scriptures! 

Love,

Hermana Matiaco