Church News

We received our Church News today.  It was exciting to see the picture of missionaries on the front page, knowing that we will soon get to interact with them on a daily basis.  

We have to admit, that seeing our picture posted under the heading of New Mission Presidents, made it more of a reality.  We couldn't help but think "this is really going to happen". Again....mixture of emotions, humility and gratitude.

I've had a lot of comments from close friends and family on this particular photo..."it looks like your chewing gum", your eyes don't really match your smile but you guys look great and so young", the list goes on but my most favorite has to be from my 12 year old son who said, "dad looks SO HAPPY in this picture"! 

A note to those who are not members of our faith:

What is the Church News (or LDS Church News)?

The Church News is a weekly tabloid-sized supplement to the Deseret News and it is the only publication by the LDS Church that is entirely devoted to the news coverage of the LDS church.

(OCL for those not computer savy...online computer library center)

Type	Weekly newspaper
Format	Tabloid
Owner	Deseret News Publishing Company (Deseret Management Corporation)
Editor	Gerry Avant
Founded	April 4, 1931[1]
Headquarters	30 E. 100 South Salt Lake City, UT 84111 United States [2]
OCLCnumber	11655569
Official website	www.ldschurchnews.com

Current Mission President and wife of Fort Worth

                                                        Joseph M. and Sherre Jean Sagers
We received a phone call from President Sagers tonight.  Rodney and President Sagers spoke for over an hour.  I then received a phone call from sister Sagers a few days following.  They both are so kind, helpful and assuring! She reminded me a lot of our Stake President's wife and my good friend Rebecca, in that she seemed to be very positive, happy, efficient and very organized.  She had great counsel and support to offer.  As an example, she put together this binder for us full of so much information, answering a lot of our where?when?what?how?! 

Read and Retain

When we received our call, we were told that we would receive a packet which would include various medical and dental forms that needed to be completed along with eye exams, shots, tests, blood work, dental forms/work, physicals, biographical information, professional photograph etc!  And did we ever receive it! 

 Here is some of our material from one of the packets we received.  In addition we were asked to set up a member profile on www.mormon.org and familiarize ourselves with this site. 
We were also told that we would be contacted by someone from the MTC who would assist us in arranging a tutor to prepare us and that we would be spending 20 hours per lesson; a total of 6 sessions.
So far we have done 3 classes and we are loving every minute of it! 

Besides all the running around and trying to get ready temporally, we feel that we are growing much more than we thought possible.  
We are also to be receiving information about when we will be contacted from by our move coordinator, Travel Services, and our in-field service representative (IFR), when we will be contacted about our medical info, will be invited to participate in a conference call with a General Authority in the Missionary Department, will be invited to participate in a conference call with a member of the Area Presidency and assigned a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, and will receive training on the internet Mission Office System (IMOS). 

Meanwhile, Rodney is to wrap things up at the Law Firm, we are in the process of renting our house and sorting through all the things that we have in piles all over the house.  Its crazy, exciting, inspiring, exhausting, and energizing all at the same time.  

Trying to get caught up on studying some of the material

Stake Conference/Adult Session-Beyond Words

In order for us to prepare and train for our mission, we were asked to be released from all callings/positions that we were currently serving in, so we knew that Stake Conference would be a bitter sweet.  Words can't even describe the feelings and tender love we had and felt from the members of our stake. We were inspired and uplifted from all of the talks and songs sung.  Afterwards we had one last meal together as a Stake Presidency (wives and husbands) before Rodney was released the following morning.  One of Rodney's very  good friends, gave him a gift to open following the meeting, and now its official....he's a cowboy once again.

Here is where I am starting to wonder if he's going to wear them cowboy boots to bed.....thanks a lot Bart! Seriously though....thank you, he LOVES them.

A note to those who are not members of our faith:

What is a Stake Presidency?

A Stake is an administrative unit comprised of multiple congregations in the LDS church.  It is comparable to a deanery in the Catholic Church, or perhaps a diocese in other religions.  The name "stake" derives from the verse "enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitation: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes" (Isaiah 5:42)

The presiding officer in a stake is known as the stake president.  He is assisted by two counselors, the three forming a stake presidency.  They along with twelve members of the high council, handle the administrative and judicial business of the stake.  The three members of the stake presidency are given the honorific title "President".  These are all volunteer positions.

Stake President Jeremiah J Morgan
First Counselor Sean Foley
Second Counselor Rodney A. Ames