USLCHQM ORIENTATION WEEK LOG

FRIDAY February 27^th

Short version: This was a lllloonnggggg week! 

Thursday we learned we should be moved out of our room in the Mission Training Center (MTC) by 8 a.m. the next morning, Friday. However, classes were scheduled until 3 p.m. We packed all but a single change and loaded the car Thursday evening.

We asked, and were told to do only the morning class list, eat lunch one last time there, and keep appointments and schedules at Mission Headquarters.

We arrived in Salt Lake for a brief introductory interview appointment with the Mission Presidency at 2:40 pm in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB). A group of approximately 20 other new senior missionaries met together for a first orientation and introductions before meeting assigned ministering missionaries. Most of our classes and training happen there.

I sneezed violently, a lot, in the main classroom so was delighted to walk the block to the cafeteria and another to a different class, and here, there, and elsewhere for the rest of the day. We will seldom need to use our car.

Ironically, our ministering couple are Elder and Sister Long - seriously, no kidding! And we don’t know how we would have managed without their kindness.

They provided directions to the Eaglegate Apartments (where 9 or 10 other apartments have missionaries but the majority are not missionaries), and walked the block or so to wait very patiently while we located our car in the massive conference center underground parking and drove around the required 5 or 6 blocks to get to our parking garage entrance.

The Eagle Gate from our apartment balcony

The apartment is along a street with limited access each way, and of course on the same corner as the famed Eagle Gate.

The Eagle viewed from the street corner

During orientation we were given all the housing, parking, and security information and equipment, met the Long’s, and then moved into our mostly furnished 2-bedroom, 2 bath apartment on the 3^rd floor. 

Eaglegate apartment on move in day

The Longs and Elder Campbell, (another missionary who happened past the parking place) help unloaded our stuffed car onto luggage carts, and drag everything up to a room in the apartment.

Beehive house renovation

The apartment has a wonderful view of all the construction and renovations across the street on Temple Square.

We took a short nap until a ministering Sister missionary brought over a bag of toffees and chocolates, and a package of toilet paper – all proved to be essential! We didn’t know where anything was and were too tired to really care!

Later we walked a block to City Creek Mall (across from Temple Square), to eat a yummy bowl of chicken noodle soup at Kneaders Bakery and Café, before we crashed for the night.

Good night view of the Salt Lake Temple

SATURDAY February 28^th

Our mattress seemed a bit soft, and we requested a firmer one. It is no fun to wake up stiff and sore from sleeping!

We drove to Bountiful and stuffed our car with things from our trailer that were stored at a son’s home. These included some pre-frozen meals we had prepared in advance, and transported in a cooler. And I almost stopped sneezing!

We managed to unload the car without bothering other missionaries, and attempted to begin to organize basics. Saturday’s will be our Preparation Day (P-day) – a day to chill and take care of errands, shopping, and personal needs.

SUNDAY March 1^st

We were not assigned to a congregation yet (a Ward unit to attend) so drove to Bountiful and attended a Fast and Testimony meeting with our son Benjamin and his family. What a delight.

All the missionaries in Eaglegate and Brigham Apartments had a ‘Complete the Fast’ meal together to break the monthly fast in the social room here at Eaglegate social room. It was nice to not eat a frozen meal again. We haven’t really had time to go shopping yet, but we do get a good lunch (with ‘to go’ leftovers) from the cafeteria at the Church Office Building.

MONDAY March 2^nd

Pictures! Group pictures – big groups and small! More pictures, and still more pictures. I do not remember ever before having so many photos taken for so many purposes! We hardly recognized ourselves in the photos - we look so tired! And old!

We walked to classes, and lunch at the cafeteria, by following our herd of new missionaries, but afterwards later in the day couldn’t find our way home again. We were in an underground maze and eventually a security officer walked us home through the dark, rainy night. There ARE places we are not allowed to access in these mazes. What a grand adventure!

We were glad for security’s presence when he needed to report the homeless person pounding on doors and windows along the street.

TUESDAY March 3^rd

We walked to the JSMB across campus and by staying outside managed to circumnavigate as needed without getting lost too much or too many times. And we even found the cafeteria again. The food is decent and very inexpensive for missionaries. And yes, that classroom started me sneezing again!

Many essentials are still packed, here and at our son’s home, and some seem to be lost! Where is the cord to Elder Ames electric razor? Shrug! Or his computer? We had to go shopping and buy those so he didn’t show up 2 days in a row with a longer stubble growth. That was about all we got done that evening.

WEDNESDAY March 4^th

One of the things we do most, other than sit at a computer, is walk. We try to do it outside whenever possible and are grateful for mild sweater weather.

And we sometimes walk a bit more because we forget things. Apparently we must have a phone at all times to receive ‘push notifications’ that allow us access to places we don’t even know we need to get to. Elder Ames forgot his phone and had to walk home, and back to class. There are many types of security in many places and we have many ways to accomplish access.

THURSDAY March 5^th

SNOW! Swirling and whirling and wet and cold! Guess what? We walked a lot in that mess. But at least we knew where to walk to!

We met with Elder and Sister Brown, counselors in the mission presidency, and have been assigned to the Family History Projects Zone. We will begin there in the morning. They introduced us to our Zone leaders Elder and Sister Hope - again, a bit ironic.

The Hope’s showed us new ways to walk through the maze and get lost! But at least it was inside and not out in the blizzarding rain!

And yeesss – we did get some new directions from another security officer. We did not, however, require an escort this time.

FRIDAY March 6^th

What a day! We spent the morning becoming oriented to our Zone! What do we do? We may figure that out by next week! 

We also were assigned where and when to attend church.

At lunch time we asked what time to return. “Oh,” Elder Hope explained, “Friday afternoons are this Zone’s temple day – we want all missionaries to attend a temple each week.”  

Hooray! We have so missed being able to worship in a temple since leaving home. So we drove to Bountiful, the nearest temple, and really relaxed – eventually – because we almost got lost again! Except for assistance from some very kind temple workers, we would have been too late.

I was waiting for Elder Ames standing near the elevator and he was waiting for me seated nearby just out of sight! Sigh! But we had a very nice evening, and then stopped by our son’s for another carload of stuff! We do that each time we go to Bountiful.

SATURDAY March 7^th

Cleaning, and cleaning, and cleaning a bit more. How many places can an apartment hide smudges, dust, or downright dirt? Too many to clean carefully all in one day. And that was after I had dabbled at cleaning every week night! Have you ever looked at the bottom of your closet shelf? Metal hangers leave nasty black streaks. We used a small box of erasing pads! 

SUNDAY March 8^th

Finally, a day of rest - and the first week is complete! 

We skipped a morning devotional in favor of a lllloonnggggg nap!

 

SENIOR MISSIONARY SERVICE INDEX

INDEX of MISSION POSTS

Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission [USLCHQM]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2025

Christmas morning, as we finished opening our stockings (including the one we always hang for Jesus), I noticed a text arrive. 

It said, "Thank you for your desire to serve. You can view your mission call by signing in ... with your Church Account. ..." 

What? On Christmas morning? 

Yes - December 25, 2025 - Christmas morning at 7:03 am!

What a wonderful present! The rest of our presents got ignored until much later - noon in fact. And just after opening mission call, our oldest daughter and her family phoned for a Zoom video conference. They got to hear the news almost as soon as we did! 

Merry Christmas to all!  

MISSION 2026

    January:

• CONFIDENTLY Terrified USLCHQM 1
• KEEP or TOSS? USLCHQM 2
• INVITATIONS USLCHQM 3

    February

• COVENANTS and COMMITMENTS USLCHQM 4
• CHRISTMAS IS COMING! USLCHQM 5
• COMPOUNDS USLCHQM 6
• STUFF USLCHQM 7

    March

• AGAIN and AGRIN USLCHQM 8
• SENIOR MISSIONARY SERVICE INDEX USLCHQM 9
• ORIENTATION WEEK LOG USLCHQM 10
• USLCHQM 11

    April

• USLCHQM 12

MISSION 2027

AGAIN and AGRIN

 USLCHQMission 8

Guest Blogger: Elder David D. Ames

On Monday, February 23^rd at 10:15 a.m., we pulled through the security gates at the Provo Utah Missionary Training Center (MTC).  

We watched as young missionaries met Senior missionaries in the car before us with cheers.  They unloaded the luggage from that car and took them off to their apartment and assignments. 

Next it was our turn.  The young missionaries cheered.  They loaded our luggage onto carts and we received a packet of instructions.  With the packet were keys to our room.  Friendly people handed us an envelope and explained “these keys will not match your room.”

I went with an attendant to park the car, and Sister Ames (followed by the entourage of young missionaries and luggage carts) was guided to a meeting area. I soon joined her.  

When we got to our room our keys did not match. Everyone seemed surprised. We weren't - and reassured them we were warned.  

We were on a schedule so our luggage was stored in a courtesy closet and a young Elder disappeared with our bogus keys.  We were escorted to seven stations, each with important information …

I don’t remember any of that information - other than I saw the Elder who was solving the problem of the keys.  I waved.  He disappeared for about a minute and came back with keys.  

When we got back to our room the keys worked.  I should have gotten his name.  We thought there was a problem but a young missionary with a bit of a smile made it no problem at all! Hugs to that young man!

We moved our stuff into our room and showed up only a few minutes late for our first class. Note: our stuff was merely in our room – not unpacked. As we attempted to find life essentials, we showed up just a few minutes late for meals and many classes for the rest of the week!

We were careful not to be late for Wednesday devotional. In fact, those who wanted to sing in the choir were invited to come an hour early. 

I wanted to sing in the choir. Can see me? There are 2 more sections of choir, one of them double this size. ASL is on the front row of this section.

The usher said that my companion couldn’t come in if she was not singing in the choir.  I suggested that there was reserved seating for senior missionaries.  He allowed her to go down to the senior missionary section.

When everyone was seated they announced that those who had not been to practice on Sunday needed to wait in the mezzanine.  I went, with half a dozen other missionaries to wait.  

Soon they invited us all to come back.  Then the choir director got up and said everyone who had not been there on Sunday needed to leave.  This time about 30 missionaries got up - the director added “except for Senior missionaries.”  I sat back down. 

Sister Ames, from the reserved section noticed that the number was being performed in American Sign Language (ASL).  She went over to them and was invited to join the Choir.  It makes me smile to think that we joined with 300 other voices in praise to the Lord through music.

On our last day at the MTC fences went up and work began to tear down the administration building.  Only a slight inconvenience.  We had to walk an extra block to buy a meal.  

And so, as we experience what seems to be trials again and again, we find that they are most easily resolved with a grin.

STUFF

USLCHQMission 7

Our home was full of stuff – stuffed, and spilling into our garage!

Our living room was occupied by a full-sized organ and piano, as well as other typical furniture, and our kitchen full of gadgets and gizmos to enjoy the process of living.

Family and friends came and provided serious assistance cleaning, filling boxes, carrying and lifting, as well as carting off discards no one needed - or wanted.

So why do we keep so much of such stuff?

Just because it seems useful to us? – if not immediately, perhaps for a possible future project, or plan?

Or do we let stuff own us?

How many memories can be cherished? For how long?

We began to let go - and we shared! Lots of other people needed such stuff. It was useful to them.

Do we depend on ‘things’ for prideful status, appearances, or some way of emotional or physical security?

What about our spiritual status or security?

Is it on hold, packed in some corner of our mind and life - until when?

We mostly stuffed our things tightly into 2 of 4 bedrooms (including closets), then covered racks and shelving with household linens, and locked those doors. We also covered garage storage cabinets and shelving with protective plastic.

We decide to take some stuff with us in a 5'x8' trailer.
Driving with a trailer can be a cumbersome task.
The trailer seemed huge, but it was quickly stuffed.

So was the car - no space left!

None at all! YIKES!!

This all makes my brain feel stuffed. BUT we are packed, a renter is living in our home, and we are traveling to our mission.

We gained a fresh perspective at a rest stop when we parked in 'truck and trailer’ parking with the nose of our car aligned with the nose of a semi-truck. Our car and trailer seemed so tiny.

We laughed! New perspectives change most problems, whatever their size, making concerns seem much smaller. We marveled at God’s love. He allowed His son Jesus Christ to compensate for every burdensome worry, or misery. What is that perspective? Will I allow Him to help? Will we?

We drove several hours, slept and breakfasted at a hotel, did the same Saturday, visited a cousin overnight, attended church there on Sunday, and arrived in Utah to briefly visit with family.

We enter the Mission Training Center (MTC) Monday, February 23, 2026 to learn more about accepting the atonement of Christ and how to assist other people around us to gain the same knowledge.

We will move to our apartment and assignments in Salt Lake on Friday.

COMPOUNDS

USLCHQMission 6

Good is a simple word of only four letters.

We all know when something is ‘good’ – don’t we?

It is a readily applied descriptive term in common use.

I quired the internet. AI quickly provided an overview of synonyms and options to succinctly summarize and delineate what ‘good’ really can be.

The lists went on and on and on and on – including new to me slang from younger generations. It seems every decade develops a unique flair of expression. 

Synonyms may include “excellent, great, fine, nice, pleasant, satisfactory, beneficial, admirable, and superior … depending on if you mean high quality, morally sound, skillful, or favorable.”

However, “to add impact” and emphasis “for quality try superb, exceptional, outstanding, virtuous, or righteous,” or if you are referencing skill “choose words like masterful” or “use skilled, proficient, or adept,” and a word such as “remarkable for something surprising.”

When Job of biblical fame was faced with the extreme opposite of ‘good’ scriptures tell us that he told his wife, “What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?”[1]

His experience seems to indicate that our lives consist of both good and opposites of good – opposition.

In the Book of Mormon[2] the lives of the prophet Lehi and his family consisted of much good and otherwise. He counseled one of his younger sons, Jacob, “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. … Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; …” [3]

Elder Ames comments, “If something is happening, that is good – things that occur give us choices. If nothing is happening that isn’t good!” I like that. Whatever may be happening we can make good choices, choices that increase good for ourselves and others.

In 1830 Joseph Smith taught his associates that all things are both spiritual and temporal. “And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet”[4]

We intend to look for more ‘good’ – especially during opposition. These 2 things are a synonymous compound!

Opposition is our reminder to watch for hidden good! Where? What? When?

---

[1] Job 2:10

[2] The Book of Mormon is an ancient volume of holy scripture like the Bible. The Bible is one witness of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon is a second witness of His ministry, His teachings, and His mission as our Savior.

[3] 2 Nephi 2:11

[4] Doctrine and Covenants 29:39

Christmas IS Coming!

USLCHQMission 5

Guest blogger: Elder David D. Ames

We weren’t waiting for a temple in Moses Lake.  I was waiting to retire so we could move somewhere to live near a temple – anywhere near a temple (ideally within walking distance); but we didn’t have to move.

April 7, 2019, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it would build a temple right here – in Moses Lake, Washington. We were astonished - a dream come true! 

When we were first married, the nearest temple was about 600 miles (10-12 hours driving). 

We began to plan, sold our home 10 miles (15 minutes) away from the announced location, and as construction began summer of 2022 moved within 3 blocks of the new Moses Lake, WA temple .

Retired couples often serve 6–23 months as missionaries. We weren’t waiting to go on a mission.  

Linda and I agreed that serving in the temple, helping in our community, and other church callings would be our mission.  We began when the temple was dedicated September 10, 2023.

We were content. Content, until one day, in September 2025 (two years later) we were impressed that we should serve a formal mission. We went to the ‘serve a mission’ website and began the process:

Interview with the Bishop. 

Interview with the Stake President. 

Fill out questionnaires.

See the doctor for extensive physicals.

See doctor again - records DO state we are a bit over 50!  

Medical tests. Eye tests. Hearing tests.

More medical tests.

Blood tests.  More blood tests. 

Still more blood tests. And yes, just one more blood test.

Stress tests. Radioactive stress tests. 

(Did I morph into a super hero? You guess!) 

With the medical papers completed and on the Bishop’s desk, we waited, and waited. 

 Curious, I went into the ‘we want to be a missionary now’[1] website [2] and discovered that we had to push a SUBMIT button to say, “medical papers are on the Bishop’s desk.” 

There are stories about people putting in mission papers who are called the next day.  That did not happen with us.  We had to wait. With all the waiting I told my wife: “Christmas is coming.” My family used to say that when we had to wait.

7:03 a.m. Christmas morning a text said to check our email. Our call to the Utah, Salt Lake City, Headquarters Mission arrived.   We clicked the red ‘DO IMMEDIATELY’ link and began filling out forms.  There appeared to be just 2 or 3.

Each form seemed to generate a dozen more forms!  With the forms filled out, calls started coming from the mission asking for clarification to answers on the forms, giving instructions, making sure we had no questions...

So, what will we be doing? We will find out once we get there – after a week at the Mission Training Center, and then orientation week! 

Check back in a couple weeks ...

Elder David D. Ames

[1] Children’s Songbook page 168

[2] See ‘Mission Portal’ on the ‘Resource’ tab drop down menu at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng 

COVENANTS and COMMITMENTS

USLCHQMission 4

Covenants are promises ...

Commitments are promises ...

What is the difference? 

And so what? Why do either matter? 

Defining differences and meanings may help to clarify what matters, and convince us of truths or errors in belief or resolve.

What are promises? 

Merriam Webster dictionary states that a promise means to "definitely do, give, or arrange something; undertake or declare that something will [or will not] happen." 

These action verbs create expectations. 

Commitments usually involve trust and imply obligations of loyalty and support. They are "an agreement or pledge" to engage directly in future dedicated actions. 

Covenants are defined as formal contractual agreements between 2 or more individuals or parties - promises generally pledged in writing and/or ceremonies that enforce duties and outcomes for all involved. 

We have covenanted to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with our fellowmen for 23 months, almost 2 full years! We have committed ourselves to follow His example to assist with assignments in the Utah, Salt Lake City, Headquarters Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Who is our covenant with? With Jesus Christ, of course.

What exactly does that mean? 

What will we be doing daily? 

We will be inviting others to have faith in Jesus Christ and know more about Him - about His love, His mercy, and His grace. We will do that in a variety of ways for 40+ hours each week. 

AND we will also attempt to let you know the daily details, and exciting results of the nitty gritty nonentities - the seemingly insignificant sequences involved. 

INVITATIONS

 USLCHQMission 3

When was the last time you received an invitation? 

Was it to a wedding or a funeral? A church service or a birthday party? Invitations vary a lot! So do expectations. 

I suppose that is the thing I wrestle with most. 

What does "invitation" even mean? I mean - no pressure, right? You are not required to do whatever is being asked BUT you have been asked to do something - a request has been made. 

At times do you struggle with requests? Or make excuses, perfectly valid of course, but nevertheless ways to avoid or minimize a request? 

When I truly want to accept invitations I seemingly can manage to arrange - or even rearrange - my schedule so that my time, energy, emotion, and money are able to be directed toward what I want. 

Can I do the same for the things others may want or need? 

Is it a sacrifice? Sometimes! Yes, sometimes such changes may involve significant sacrifice. 

Remember our opportunity that arrived a month ago? Well, we received an e-mailed invitation for us to each submit 3-4 photos of ancestors. That was the extent of the request!

What? Why?? Purpose? I mean I have 100s - perhaps even 1000s ...

This?

Abraham Day Family Reunion 1877

Or this? 

Lorenzo Hill Hatch

Or randomly either? Or both? 

More information please ... 

Thankfully a link was provided to facilitate my invitation for answers to such questions, and after informing us the photos are "for a presentation we do at the end of orientatation week" we were instructed that "portraits or small family works best. Send people who you know about or mean a lot to you."

clockwise: Forsyth Hatch Campbell Bohne

OK! I can do that! I clicked through photos representing each of my 4 ancestral lines, selected some, and emailed them. BUT funny thing, although these days I find myself too busy to do many things I want desperately to accomplish, I spent hours scrolling through photos of people that "mean a lot to me."

That is what invitations usually are - to accept or do things that are meaningful, or will be, to myself or someone else. 

Good invitations effect good things - things I don't even realize possible until after they have happened. 

Invitations often involve efforts. And outcomes generally exceed invested energy, emotion, or even expense expectations - for myself and others. 

Such outcomes may even be unknown. Sometimes we learn later.  

I may be able to provide an update about how and why these photos were meaningful AFTER 'orientation week' is completed near the end of next month. 

Keep or Toss?

USLCHQMission 2

Preparing to spend 23 months as missionaries focused on the example of Jesus Christ's service to humanity is daunting. 

We are sorta sorting - our routines, habits, and possessions. 

Stuff can be managed incrementally in categories as, each day or two, mail is disposed of or filed, and every month or so used things such as magazines discarded, while yearly planning goals calendar when and what to clean, change or renew. But longer storage baffles us somewhat. We see through a different lens. Thank goodness for laws and common sense dictating some details, but ...?

Old medical and tax records, photographs, books, games, videos, memorobilia, files, decor, tools, and even clothing demand scrutiny and decisions. What can go digital? Do I really need to keep my wedding dress - yes!  What about the dried roses from loving bouquets? No! 

Do you craft and want some? 

How long should how much of what be stored? Why? Where? How will factors of privacy, possible insects or vermin, temperatures and humidity be controlled? 

We love our home and routines to reflect the joy of changing seasons and holiday activities. But how much of what is realistic? And for how long? What do we cherish? And to what extent? What might bless the days or life of someone else? 

Abundance can clutter and smother. Sure, decades can gradually pass when we are here to routinely display, rotate, clean and store the comforts and fun of day to day living during the passing of weeks, months, and years but sudden prolonged change compels compounding decisiveness.   

Possessions can own us. Homes, yards, and necessary furnishings require regular upkeep and maintenance. All these plus the enjoyment of learning, music, athletics, art, and other hobbies or passions encumber life with supplies and tools. What is truly needful, desirable, and worthy of physical, financial, and emotional space?

North American society and countries are comparatively affluent, and despite segments living in homeless or abject poverty, many tend toward lives of ease. 

Digital access allows avoidance of face-to-face interactions as texting, buying and selling, and even jobs permit insulated isolation to become realities. Electronics with remote and voice control for motor vehicles, home and utility functions of many every day chores may foster indolence. I can order and pay to any location at my convenience and see the delivery arrive via security technology, and language barriers fall to database interpretations. 

We notice our own laziness. When hurried or hungry, buying the readily available instant meals or treats of prepared meats, fruits, vegetables, and desserts gracing the shelves of stores, deli showcases, and restaurant menus allows gratification without investing time or labor. 

What are we willing to labor for? Spend our time, money, emotions, and lives to facilitate or accomplish? 

Luke 10:42 teaches that Mary chose the "one thing [that was] needful." She worshipped and served at the feet of Jesus Christ. Did Martha do less? She served differently and was instructed to not take Mary's choice from her. 

We want to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are willing to spend our time, money, emotional energy, and very lives in the hope that others can learn about the choices the Atonement of Jesus Christ provides. It requires preparation, and labor - labor of all kinds. 

We begin to sorta sort - sort out what "cumbers us" and what we are willing to give or keep to allow a choice like Mary's, of what is most "needful." 

CONFIDENTLY Terrified!

USLCHQMission 1

January 2026 has arrived! Somehow! 

Time transitioned from January 2024 in a jump, almost as if without existence - yet I have lived!

I haven't even noticed as days bolted through weeks, months, and now years? I am astonished at years. 

How? Mostly in peace and prosperity. 

This January I am insecure, emotional, and absolutely terrified. 

My husband and I have chosen to serve as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We have been assigned to the Utah, Salt Lake City, Headquarters Mission (USLCHQM). 

We will leave our home, familiar life, and personal activities for 23 months. Will those years pass into oblivion as quickly as 2024 and 2025? Obviously! The months will march into the future at the pace the calendar dictates, yet what about me? my home? familiar life? and activities?

When I was young enough to cling tightly to my father's knee, screaming and fighting as he attempted to help me attend a church nursery, after cuddling me to his shoulder and comforting me enough for sobbing tears to subside (only slightly), he pointed out another crying, snotty red-faced child and asked me if I wanted to look like THAT. I did not! I wanted to look like the imagined adorable, curly-haired, only-girl-so-far, in the Forsyth bunch of 5 boys that observers regularly commented I was as they patted the ringlets my mother fussed into place after every bath. 

Since that time I attempt to make choices to avoid traumatic confrontations, and especially to look like and become (at least in part) the 'model of princess propriety' that might make my parents proud. That elusive model, however, always has puzzled and frustrated. 

Intervening years have illustrated graphically how distant models of opinion are, and always have been, from my thoughts and words and actions! That comparison is debilitating, undeniably out of reach - except ...

Except, I know who I really am. I am not adorable and, as I age, tangled curls have become stiffly straight and white. I am not the little sister of 4 older brothers, I am not the big sister of 6 younger siblings, I am not a wife, a mother, a grandma - I have such relationships, yet am more than any and all those titles, and other titles, that are mere labels competing for allegiance to someone affixing designations.

I am a spirit daughter of God - a father more loving and merciful than even the physical father willing to patiently comfort and teach his fearful daughter. A father who could see beyond toddler (and teen) tantrums and phobias. God knows I am terrified. He comforts and sustains AND invites my fears toward forward faith. 

I can count on Him, a good, kind, all knowing, forgiving father who promises grace to me and others through Jesus Christ, His son. They are real. I know this truth. 

If Peter could walk on water, can I?  Peter's example is instructive: "... Lord, save me." Matthew 14:30

I am confident I can count on a wise Heavenly Father willing to let me learn the differences and nuances of who I am and what I can become. Scriptures and prophets provide fundamental examples, patterns, and directions to all who want to know truth. Can I follow God's directions - His instructions about how to always have more good? 

Can I become more than I now am? 

I can try! I can even help others around me to know and grow - to try. I can share time, talents, and blessings. And I can keep learning - gaining knowledge of this physical place called earth (and my existence here), and the place called heaven that can seem as foreign as other countries and cultures. 

Details of trying to follow ...