2nd LETTER from the MTC

Hey everyone! Wow, this week really flew by fast for me and the other guys in District 43-B. A lot has happened that I haven't yet had the chance to talk about. So, let us begin, shall we?

First, I had my first Sunday at the MTC this last week. If you think that it wouldn't be a very spiritual experience due to the fact that I practically live and breathe church all day long now, you are badly mistaken. The day started with a Sacrament Meeting presided by the members of our Zone Presidency. Some of the Elders and Sisters were called up to perform musical interlude music, or say one of the prepared talks we were all asked to have ready, just in case someone called on us. Though, the best part of the day was when we listened to a video of a talk Elder Bednar gave to the MTC a few years ago. It explained on what we as missionaries are supposed to do, as well as how to truly go about it; by showing everyone we meet the pure love of Christ; Charity. It was an amazing meeting, and I won't ever forget it.

Throughout the rest of the week we had lessons and Role-playing activities with our teachers, but nothing truly impactful came of it due to the fact that we were all still struggling to know just how to teach. However, the week was not lost, because Elder Noh and myself had an amazing investigator to teach. At the MTC, they have missionaries train by teaching REAL LIVE INVESTIGATORS in the MTC. Our investigator was a man named George Cepull (pronounced like steeple), a 65-year old man who had lost his leg four years back, and had to have a prosthetic leg attachment. We were worried how to teach him, but we didn't need to. Because, the saying they have at the MTC is 'you don't teach George--he teaches you'. And that's just what happened. He talked a little bit, mostly about himself, but when he'd get deep into talking, the spirit poured out of him like it was coming from a fire hose, just gushing and gushing until it filled the room. I have never been so touched by the spirit in my entire LIFE! It was amazing!

Another thing that I've been able to take out of the MTC so far is choir. Elder Noh loves singing, and when he found out the MTC had a choir, he begged me to join so that he could go, too. Begrudgingly (though not really all that begrudgingly) I joined as well. Turns out I'm a Tenor, apparently, and a pretty good one, too. Tenors are good because they can play the middle area, but go High or Low if they need to. It's really cool, also, to sing with all of these worthy young men and women around me, and be able to fill the spirit so strongly as well. It was an amazing experience, once again!

Well, that's all for this week. Just a few days until I leave this place, too...that. Is. Crazy!! Wish me luck in Colorado, everyone! Bye~!

Sincerely--

--Elder Zachary Steven Weber

1st LETTER from ELDER WEBER

Hey everyone!

It's me, Elder Zachary Steven Weber, reporting back for the first time ever from my mission! It's been an amazing experience for me so far, filled with wonderful moments with the Spirit, with my teachers, and with the fellow missionaries I will have the privilege to serve with over the next few years.

 So, life at the MTC is fairly placid, for most parts. When you get there, you are assigned a District made of people in your same mission, and additionally a companion to help in studies, Role-Playing teaching, and feeling the Spirit. My District is made up of ten other Elders, a fairly large group compared to others, apparently. There's me and my companion, Elder Noh (who is almost exactly a foot taller than me...like being with Brandon all over again), then there're Elders Dixon and Lirers (a pair of sports-brains with Southern accents), Elders Pratt and Clavel (a Utahn and a Brazilian who have great senses of humor), Elders Christensen and Leavit (a pair of fairly humble and quiet Elders who keep to themselves mostly), and finally Elders Nielson and Genther (a big-boned-big-spirited man and his skinny and slightly awkward yet lovable partner). Together, we form the Colorado Fort Collins missionaries at the MTC, and we are proud of it. They are a really nice bunch, and I'm really glad to have gotten the chance to know them.

 

Lessons are fairly decent here at the MTC. So far we've been focusing on learning what the Doctrine of Christ is (the Atonement of Christ, and how to access it, ie 4th Article of Faith), as well as how we can be able to apply it into our teaching towards our investigators. Most often, we teach our Teachers at the MTC, who role-play scenarios from their own missionary experiences, and have us try to teach them in a way that can work out best. Our teachers are Brother Welch (a guy who reminds me of Matt Mease or Ben Stiller), and Brother Pitt (a nice guy with a very laid-back kind of attitude). Elder Noh and I have been trying to teach Brother Pitt as a college student named Nick, but so far we haven't been able to do much. Hopefully we'll be able to find what Nick needs or wants to know, and help him find that. In addition to the Role-Playing Teaching, we also get chances to teach actual investigators, who volunteer to learn more about our religion from the missionaries at the MTC. The questions they ask, and the wants and needs they have, have helped me understand how best to speak to the investigators in the future. I just hope I remember it enough to use it in the field.
 

When we aren't in our lessons, or teaching real (or unreal) investigators, we are also studying. Hard-core studying. Oftentimes, our District bands together in the classroom, when the teacher isn't around, and just hammers lessons and chapters of scripture, trying to squeeze out every last drop of personal and spiritual knowledge we can gain. It's really interesting, watching the spirit work on us so deeply, with so many others who can connect with the spirit on that level. Every once in a while, one of the Elders shouts out after a verse 'Red Scripture' or 'Blue Scripture', and we all instantly pull out whichever scripture marking utensil we have on us, and box/underline/cross the verses spoken. I've already filled my scripture journal to ten pages with all of the spiritual moments and verses that I've learned and felt. It's a really wonderful experience.
 

Of course, not all things are roses and daisies. There have been a few thorns over the course of the last week. It's nothing major, just that every afternoon, 'bout around two or three, everyone just slowly starts to shut down. I'm not the only one that has this happen, it's literally like one minute, the classroom is filled with excited and energetic Elders, and the next, we've all had our batteries drained, and can barely function. We push through, mostly, but when we do, we sort of cut off all connection we have with the spirit. And ten Elders with no spiritual connection cannot end well. Hopefully we'll find a way to overcome this by next week, but until then, we're just going to have to push through, and try our hardest to stay awake, and in tune with the spirit.

Well, that's all I really have to say for now, guys. Thanks for listening, and I'll catch you all again in about a week. I love you all, and I hope to see you all again in two years.
 

Bye!
 

Elder Zachary Steven Weber

IT'S HARD TO SAY GOOD-BYE

 We did it.  Wednesday, August 20th we dropped Elder Weber off at the MTC.  It was a pretty nice day.  I had made a big family breakfast and we sat around the table talking and laughing.  It felt very bitter sweet to me.  I knew this was the last time for 2 years that all my chairs would be full.  I didn't add to the conversation much, rather I sat back and tried to take mental pictures that I could hold on to.  Once breakfast was done we took some family photos down by Oquirrh Lake.  The wind wasn't cooperating, but we found a pleasant spot to take a few snapshots.  We then headed home and loaded Zack's suitcases into the van and we were off.  I enjoyed the kids banter in the backseat as we made our way to Provo.

 Many of my friends had warned me that when you drop them at the MTC you have about 2 minutes to say good-byes and then they whisk him off.  So the "thing to do" is to stop at the Provo Temple across the street and get some finally pictures together and have your GOOD BYE MOMENTS and then do the drop.  The lawn outside the temple is peppered with missionaries and their families doing much of the same thing.  It was nice to have this peaceful moment with him before actually watching him walk away.  I think we all took a moment to say our last goodbyes and add our last words of wisdoms in person.

We pulled into the MTC drop off area and were instructed to pull into spot 24, which we did.  A "host" Elder met us and retrieved Elder Weber's suitcases and inquired about where is was going.  We then all got our final hugs (and a kiss on the cheek for mom) and I watched as my 18 year old son walk away to experience the "Best Two Years".



Final Speaking Assignment

 

Zachary had his final speaking assignment in our ward yesterday.  He has had many opportunities to speak in our ward through the years.  In the early years it was in a small primary room with me standing by his side helping him with the bigger words, in the chapel as a youth with a 3-5 minute talk on a topic assigned by the bishopric or when he has been moved by the spirit to approach the podium to bare his testimony.  And each of those times have been special, but there was something very powerful in seeing him sitting on the stand in his suit with his stoic grin on his face conversing with the other adult speaker...I realized it has happened, he is a missionary.  This moment that I thought would be gutt wrenching, did tug on my heart, but the pain I had anticipated was exchanged with great pride and peace.  We had a few friends and family members join us to listen to him orate, but we have many friends and family  who live great distances from us and I wanted to share the words of his talk.

Hello, everyone. My name is Zachary Weber. Though, you probably already knew that. I’ve been up at this podium more than once over the last eleven years, either giving a talk I was asked to prepare by the Bishop, or just coming up and saying a spur of the moment testimony that came from my soul. Growing up in this ward has been a great experience for me, and every time I step up at this stand to say what I feel, I feel so glad that I can look out, and see so many friends and teachers, that have helped me grow to who I am now. So, before I begin, I would just like to say, thank you.

Today, I have been asked to tell you about how personal experiences and revelations have helped my testimony and relationship with my Father in Heaven grow over the years. To begin, I would like to say that I have always been a firm believer that God’s hands can be seen in all things, and if we are worthy, he will give us blessings and lessons through the experiences we have throughout our lives. There have been many moments in my life where I feel I have grown closer to my Father through the experience; however there are two that really stand out to me.

The first began about six years ago, when I was first entering Middle School. I wasn’t a really impressive or outstanding kid at the time; in fact, if you asked my mom, she would probably tell you that I was probably just a hair short of becoming a depressingly introverted teenager. I wanted to find a way to help express myself, but I didn’t know how. I remember having this want, this strange desire to join the orchestra and take up violin, but unfortunately I needed more experience in music before I could even think of joining them. So, I decided to join one of the band classes, learn a different instrument first, tough it out for a year, and then join the orchestra later on. But things didn’t end up going that way.

Instead of just wanting to tough it out for a year, I found out that I was actually very good at the instrument I had decided to take up; the oboe. Supposedly, it was a very tough, hard-to-play instrument, but I was improving and growing as a musician very quickly and very well with the oboe. By the time my first year ended, I was hooked, and I wasn’t leaving the oboe or the band any time soon.

Fast forward about a year, and another major event in my life came around. Darin Graber, the band teacher at Bingham High School, came to the Middle School to showcase the skills of his Marching Band. Around this time, I was fairly passionate about my oboe, and had this feeling that I could do just about anything that came before me, as long as it included music and performances. When I heard about the Marching Band, I felt that I just had to do it. I wanted to see just how good I could become, and plus it sounded like a really fun and cool experience. Big mistake.

I did not expect the grueling torture that came with joining the elite gang of musicians. For just over a week, I and other students like myself were subjected to monotonous drills, working for twelve hours a day under the baking sun, while proper performance posture was hammered into us constantly. And that was just the beginning of the year. After that, we’d meet together after school three times a week, three hours a day, for nine hours a week, beating drills, music, and style into our program. Some people got sick, or injured, or just couldn’t handle the stress, and dropped out. It really looked as though Marching Band would become the biggest mistake I had ever made.

Four years later, though, I look back at marching band, and can’t help but smile. Sure, the training and practices were torture, sometimes too sadistic even for the Devil to enjoy. But the pay off was well worth it. Over the four years I had been a part of the marching band, I had performed in four complex and rigorous productions, two of which I had the fine opportunity of performing as a soloist, and one of which made sixth place in the Western States Division of the Bands of America Competition. Though the road had been rough, it had definitely been worth it, and I wouldn’t change it, not in a million years.

So what do learning to play the oboe, and joining the high school marching band have to do with Heavenly Father, and the Spirit. On their own, nothing. But to me, these experiences were more than just moments in my life. They were turning points, where Heavenly Father was able to show me who I was, what I could do, and how I could grow greater.

I probably would have never known how skilled I was a playing the oboe, had I never wanted to join the orchestra, and fallen short of the requirements. I believe, wholeheartedly, that the desire to join orchestra was Heavenly Father’s way of helping me onto the path that lead me towards the oboe, and discovering a hidden skill I never knew I had. In music, I also learned that I had the ability to perform before large groups, and not be afraid. When I joined the Marching band, I learned how to get out of my comfort zone, and try new and exciting things. I learned how to trust in myself and my own abilities, as well as how to raise others up, and help them along the way. I was able to be proud of myself, of my own accomplishments. But most important of all, for the first time ever, I was able to find people that, for the first time ever, I could consider as my friends. For the first time ever, I found people that I could place my trust in, and I knew that they would protect it.

In all of this, I knew my Heavenly Father was there. He was the one who was giving me these chances to learn, to grow, and I was lucky enough to be open enough to learn from them. And while I was learning these lessons that made me grow as a successful young man, I was also able to feel my spirit grow along the way. Because, through these events and experiences, I was able to feel my Father’s hand in every practice, every mistake, every success. What I learned, was that He truly was my Heavenly Father. He cared for me, and what I did, and if I was worthy or deserving, He would help me achieve what it was I wanted to succeed in. If I became too prideful or boastful, he would scold me, and make personal success more difficult for me to achieve. Whenever I actually did fall short on my own, he was there to stir confidence within me, and push me to continue on. He was there for me, and all He asked in return was that I continue to serve him. Which I now have the chance to do so.

However, knowing how to serve my Heavenly Father, and actually having a plan to do said service were two completely different concepts entirely. All my life, I had just assumed that I would go on a mission. It seemed like the right thing to do, what was expected of a young man in the church to do, and what I felt my family wanted me to do. It even stated in my patriarchal blessing that I was to have the privilege to serve a full-time mission when I was ready. But when the age change was announced to the church during General Conference 2012, I began to have personal doubts. When should I leave? How should I prepare? Would I even be ready to leave at the age of 18? I remember having those questions bouncing around in my head, until one day while I was in Seminary.

My teacher at the time, Brother Richardson, had told us his story of his mission, and how he had decided to serve. My questions, which I had left bottled up, surfaced again, and that night I went to my scriptures for an answer. I ended up coming across the passage of Alma the Younger’s story, and how overnight he had gone from the worst man possible to one of the greatest missionaries in Nephite history. While I read the passage, I remember hearing a voice in my head ask me, ‘Are you going to keep wondering over what God wants you to do, or are you going to stand up, and find the answers yourself?’ That voice stirred the resolve within me, and I quickly turned to my Heavenly Father for an answer.

My answer came to me quietly. I simply felt peace roll over me, calm and supreme. And that was when I knew that I had to go on a mission. And not only that, but I had to go on a mission once I turned 18, because that was what my Heavenly Father wanted me to do. When I finally opened my call over a year later, I felt that peace again, as I knew that the Fort Collins, Colorado Mission was the mission I was meant to serve in. I knew I was worthy to serve, and I had the testimony and the knowledge of my Heavenly Father to push me on. Not only that, but He had also passed on to me the life lessons I would need on my mission in Fort Collins, Colorado, which I had earned from my life in marching band. I knew how to work well with others, to act as a leader and an example to others. I had been taught how to form bonds with others, to make friends, and to lend a hand to others who are struggling. And I had learned how to not be afraid of putting myself out before others, and doing things I wouldn’t normally be comfortable doing. With these skills and lessons on my shoulders, I knew that my Father had prepared me well for my mission, and that I will now be able to serve him, and the people in Fort Collins, Colorado, to the best of my abilities.

In conclusion, personal experiences and revelations have been a major part of my spiritual growth. They have played a major role in helping my personal relationship with my Heavenly Father grow and flourish. Because of the events of my life, and the revelations I have had between just myself and my Father, I have been able to see who Heavenly Father is to me; my loving Father, who only wants the best for me, and will aid me in my endeavors, so long as I prove worthy of his help. I know that He has a plan for me here on Earth, to grow and learn so that someday I may be able to return to him once again. I know that his son, my elder brother, Jesus Christ, is the Savior of the World, and that he did take upon himself the pains of the world so that we may all be able to live again. I know for myself, by revelation from my Father in Heaven, that the Book of Mormon is true, and by extension, that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, that this Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, is the one true church on the Earth today, and that it is lead by the current prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who leads our church through revelations given to him directly from our Heavenly Father. This is what I believe to be true, through the revelations and experiences I have had.

I say this in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.