Week 1 in Ogden Utah - By Emma

Hi! It’s Emma and this week is mine to write on the blog. This last Sunday at the end of June we got to the mission home. I was particularly nervous because the very next day I had girls camp with just my ward.  I had never met a single girl in person, but I had talked to a few online. I started stressing myself out because so many people were telling me how “brave I was being” and that “they would never do that” and I hadn’t thought of it as a big deal before but now started worrying that it was! I shouldn’t have. I woke up at 5 am and had to be at the church at 6. I met everyone and they were super nice. Then we drove up to girls camp. This girls camp was unlike any I had ever experienced. Some of the things we experienced included repelling down the side of a cliff, rock climbing a cliff, canoeing for 45 minutes to get to some cliffs where we cliff jumped into the water, sleeping in tents, and so much more!  We were really into activities involving cliffs I guess. It was an amazing experience! I love every single girl in the ward and they totally welcomed me in. I got back Wednesday afternoon.

The next day we had our mission introduction. We walked in and were shocked at the amount of missionaries there! There were 130 young missionaries and over 100 senior missionaries. Each person in the family gave a little introduction about themselves with pictures on a slide show behind them. I talked about my love for singing, running, hiking, skiing, etc.  After the kids introduced themselves, Mackenzie, Eliza, and I sang  “I Stand All Amazed”. Afterwards, my mom and dad spoke. It was very powerful and I am so happy that the missionaries have them to look up to.  

Yesterday for the Fourth of July, our family woke up Early to go to a parade in Plain City/ Farr West Utah. We drove in an old antique car and got to throw candy out the windows to the kids. I wont deny that I hit the missionaries walking with our car numerous times and might have chucked some of the candy a little too hard sometimes. Oops. It was a lot of fun even though it was very hot. I love all of the missionaries so much & they are like siblings to me already. Later that night I went and watched fireworks with a TON of new people from Bonneville High School.  I’m so glad I got to meet all of them and they were all nice and happy to have me in their friend group. J Today was the first day we went to our new ward! It’s small compared to our old ward but everyone is kind.  I miss all of you in CA! Be sure to come visit. :)      

                              Emma Jaggi                                                                           

Day 3 in the MTC

Today June 27th marked 171 years to the day of the martyrdom of the prophet Joseph Smith. The 12 apostles knew it and they let us know it. Each one testified of the divinity of Joseph's calling today. Elder Nelson, Elder Uchtdorf, Elder Cook, Elder Ballard and Elder Bednar specifically taught us about Joseph's prophetic calling. 

I thought of Joseph's journal. And the prophecy that is coming to pass in this, the dispensation of the fullness of times. The last dispensation. Joseph Smith's History: He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people. 

There have been many apostasy's. Adam, Noah, the Nephites, and even the Christians after Jesus crucifixion and the apostles were killed. There will not be another great apostasy. The Book of Mormon stands as the witness that despite Joseph the man's frailties and imperfections (of which we all have) he was the Lords chosen prophet for the latter days in preparation for the Lords 2nd coming. We are preparing by flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon (over 100 million copies printed and distributed to date) and tens of thousands of missionaries and members bearing witness of the truth. 

A few days before he died, Elder Perry recorded his testimony for the mission presidents seminar. He rejoiced in his own mission to Illinois and Ohio. He had a "remarkable" experience forming a branch in Marion Ohio. He wants us to help the missionaries (and I thought of our children) recognize the remarkable experiences happening around us all the time. Miracles are prevalent. 

I thought of Nephi's interaction with the Holy Ghost..."Look!" The spirit told Nephi and we will See. We can help others to Look and See the remarkable experiences and miracles around us. 

It was a delight to see Sister Shanti De Ruyter. She will be serving in Mongolia. She and her companion carried a magnificent spirit of light and service. She taught us a few Mongolian words. Whoa, it was complex! We know she will be excellent. 

We also visited with Elder Sitati from Africa. He visited Newbury Park in February. It was great to meet his wife. He spoke so highly of her and he treated her with so much respect and kindness. 

We love you and are praying for each of you. Pray for your missionaries, pray for opportunities to open your mouths. It is a blessing to have and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Day 2 in the MTC

Elder Eyring spoke this morning.  His was a special witness of the Savior. "Oh ye that embark in the service of God, see that he serve Him with all your heart, might, mind and strength..." He learned from President Hinckley a quote that he etched into a wood frame and hung in their home when his children were teens. He brought it with him and showed us with some emotion..."My Mission is to Bless." That is a mission for every human soul...to bless the lives of others. He promised us that D&C 100:1 applies to us, our immediate and extended families (all of you) "Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you...your families are well; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power." The spirit was overpowering as he made this declaration and many tears were shed by grandparents who are leaving their frail and elderly parents and their grandchildren, some with disabilities. It applies to those taking teenagers thousands of miles away, some even to finish their senior years of high school, it applies to those taking grade-schoolers who are leaving the only homes and friends they know. Families will be blessed because what the Lord seemeth good, is good for all. 

Elder Oaks and Elder Anderson of the quorum of the twelve apostles were companions today. They taught the doctrine of repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Some highlights for me. Repentance is a process. Repentance requires a degree of suffering. Those who haven't repented will not stay in the church or feel really good about themselves.  Us doing our own work to rid ourselves of sin through our behavior is good, but we cannot be or feel forgiven until the Redeemer (R) is involved. The R's to repentance (recognize, repent, make restitution, recommit) are of little import without the Redeemer of the world. 

We spent an hour with Maren tonight. She is already a powerful servant of the Lord. We took pictures with her and her mission President. We also practiced teaching a group of Mandarin speaking missionaries about the importance of the Book of Mormon and Praying to God to know for ourselves what is truth. The Young missionaries are easy to love. We also met with Elder Smart from Texas and Elder Santos from Brazil who will be coming to our mission and speaking Spanish in August. It was great to meet our own missionaries! 

We love you dear family and friends. The closer we draw to the Lord, the closer we feel the eternal Union of our families. Our eternal covenants are real. We have consecrated our lives to Him. We love Him. 

Day 1 at the MTC

The day opened with Elder Bednar conducting and a fabulous missionary choir that brought us all to tears. We looked at Maren Cline (our niece who will be serving in Nagoya Japan)  in the eyes and she smiled at us and we wept like babies. The spirit is real. It comes from God to confirm the truth of all things. Elder Nelson, Elder Evans, Elder Holland and Elder Christofferson followed. They are disciples of our Lord and Savior. We learned to follow the Saviors example by "submitting our will to the Father" and were assigned to read the gospel of John and 3rd Nephi 11-19 in the Book of Mormon and count how many times the savior intimates or references submitting himself to the father. He, a God, creator of heaven and earth submitted to His Father and taught us how to do the same. If we will submit, "all things are possible." The spirit confirmed that truth that we are led by living apostles and prophets. We love you dear family.

Jeremy and Amy

Test Blog

Jeremy and Amy will enter the MTC on June 23rd for 4 days, they will then travel to Ogden, to begin their service as Mission President and sister beginning on July 1st, 2015.  They would love to hear from you so feel free to send them an email at:  presidentandsisterjaggi@gmail.com.  Someone from the Jaggi family will be updating the blog, so stay tuned.