Week 3

Dearest Family,

   

Happy Valentines da....I mean anniversary of the 12 Apostles founding. (gotta stay focused :)

 Thank you all for your letters. I am so pleased to hear of all the fair weather...or lack thereof. In any case I'm glad that you are all safe. You better bet that I've been singing 'Gone to Carolina in My mind' I'm excited for all 3 of you, Andrew, Caitlyn, and Seth, to go be missionaries again. But meanwhile don't get offended if I start singing, 'Gone to Shqipëria in My mind" (albania). 

    Over and over again, the Sabbath day amazes me. This Sunday was bitter sweet. First, we had to say farewell to our Branch President, Kenneth Andersen. He is an amazing man, I think I've said a lot about him before, but you can't say too much! Along with his farewell was the farewell of the Finnish District. They are in our zone, along with the Hungarians. Even though we learned different languages, we still grew close as friends, some of which will probably be friends when I come back to BYU. The sacrament meeting was....well lets say emotional. Mom! Thanks for letting me play the piano when I was supposed to be doing something else. I played prelude for sacrament meeting from the Marshall McDonald Book (thanks Andrew, (I guess if you were wondering where it was...I have it :) ) Many zone members commented on my playing and all I could do was smile. I am so grateful to come from a musical family. My district is sort of musical...every once and awhile we may break out in  "Into the Fire" or Phantom of the Opera or Forgotten Carols. Our Croatian Elder loves the song Lollipop, lollipop, o lolly lolly lolly pop!...It's pretty fun.

   Also, thanks mom for the whoppers! I love eating them everyday! Oh ya, and don't forget the AMAZING LEMON BARS that our entire hallway was raving about. One Elder said he hated lemon desserts and was instantly converted when he tried yours. Another Elder considered converting to another religion so he could worship you as a saint! (Not trying to be sacrilegious). Each bite was a taste of home...mmmm good. 

    Home comes to mind all the time. I grateful that it is not a distraction but a boost to my mindset every time I think of home. A few examples: I run into Kalan at the Gym or Brother Sowby all the time randomly; we sing Love at Home in Shqip (hint hint title) and I think of bedtime songs; I go to the temple and think of my parents, siblings, and ancestors; People see 'Bangerter' and just tell me how great a family I have. So thank you, all of you for the wonderful examples you are to me. I truly love you all.

   The spiritual high of the week award goes to....Sunday Night Devotional! Like I said last week, Elder and President Holland (who's who!?) spoke pertaining to Joseph Smith. Rather, Elder Holland said (paraphrasing, because it's hard to copy exactly what he poetically states, "Tonight, I don't want to be a member of the Quorum of the 12, but a garden-grown proud father of an amazing son." President (of UVU) Holland then spoke of Joseph Smith's experiences. For me, I'd heard a lot of the stories, though his wording was very eloquent and painted great pictures. So, again, music conquered and the spirit was felt as the Orem institute Choir sang, "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" to the tune of "Come Thou Fount", then a soloist sang "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief", and finally, they and us, the choir, sang Mack Wilburg's "Praise to the Man". 

   Now I've been on Heritage tours, and I've read the Doctrine and Covenants, and read a lot and seen a lot of portrayals of the prophet Josef Smith's life, however, when that choir reached "Sacrifice Brings forth the Blessings of Heaven..." I, like never before in my life, felt the spiritual chills travel like the Joy school song so perfectly describes, "from my head to my feet". Oh boy, I had joy. It was an amazing feeling that did not cease until we concluded "millions shall know Brother Jozef Again." Wow, I have felt things here at the MTC that I know I can never deny. I know God lives and that Jozef saw them in that sacred grove. I've memorized the first vision in Albanian and I love it even more:

   "Unë pashë në styll drite, tamam mbi kokën time, më e shkëlqeshme se dielli, e cila zbriti graduallisht, dërisa ra mbi mua. Kur drita pushoj mbi mua, unë pashë dy Personazhe, shkëlqimi i lavdia e te cilave i kapërcene të gjitha përshkrimet, duke qenduar mbi mua në ajer. Një prej tyre më foli, duke më thirrur në emer, dhe tha, duke treguar tjetrin, Ky është Birin Im i Dashur, Dëgjoje Atë!"

Well, I hope that was right, cause it was just from memory (If Benson reads this, don't judge me).

I was going to say more, but I feel this is what needed to be said. Thanks agian for all the support, I hope to hear from yall soon!

Love,

Elder Bangerter

P.S. Family use Dear Elder. Aka, I wanna hear from zou siblings about zour lives and your previous lives when zou were on missions!