Elder and Sister Sister Dattag wrote on September 19, 2015, "Just a few thoughts about the first week of our mission. the M.T.c. was tough because of our feelings for Ryker. The first Elder that prayed was named Ryker. We felt his presence there. We learned to rely on each other a lot. We talked, studied, and laughed. It was amazing to see the organization of the M.T.C. and the way the Spirit works there. We made good friends. In our district we had a doctor, consultants, teacher, and a small business owner of a towing shop. We had four moms that love their families.
The M.T.C. teachers were teaching part-time and part-time students. We enjoyed our classes. Even technoloty *(funny story about this below). We leanred to rely on the Spirit as we roll played. We enjoyed seeing Elders Miller, Swing, and Malm. They were always singing Happy Birthday!
Our fireside from Sister Wixom was wonderful. We learned to lengthen our stride. The Elders carried bags, opened doors, and were nice to all. We won't pass Provo without thinking about our experiences. We learned to lengthen our stride.
Most of all we want to express our love and apprecation to our family. You helped so much as we got ready and are contiuing to do so. We treasure the quote book and the picture book.
Please update us about everything that happens here. Every score, dance, gymastic event, cheer, debate, wrestling, soccer, swimming, preschool, hunting, plays, cute stories, shop stories, and Emma's new words.
We are taking advice we got from Ryan when he returned. He said, I tried to serve wellso I would have no regrets!"
We are proud of you and love you so much. Continue to growspiritually and love and hug the kids and spouses. They are precious to Heavenly Father and us.
Update we are goingn to Kirtland for a week then towards end of week we will go hunting for a trailer pad. Keep in touch. Love you!
Funny story about "Technology": While at the M.T.C. my mom, Sister Dattage, thought she was taking a picture of my dad with the IPAD. She sent it out to a few family members, Taylor who is 15 was one who received it. Taylor received it while in her L.D.S. Seminary class. Tamra accidentally had the mode set to video and had absolutely no idea.
Taylor yelps out to her class, "I just got a video from my grandparents who are at the M.T.C.!" Of course everyone wanted to watch it. She starts the video which is grandma thinking she is snapping a photo of grandpa! However it is her taking a little video of him and then the camera quickly pans to the floor. She had no idea she was taking video! Taylor said her class may not have got the video they thought they were getting but they all got a good laugh out of it!
We also received this photo! This is Elder Dattage hooking up their new home about 100 miles outside of Zuni, in Kirtland, in a temporary trailor park. They have been assigned to stay for about one week in Kirtland to help with some missionary duties before heading to Zuni and finding a permanent trailor pad. About the temporary pad....well...at least there won't be any yard work!
Looks like Elder and Sister Dattage ran into some familiar friendly faces with these two young elders. How conforting that when these young Elders and Sisters are away from their families they have Grandparents, like Elder and Sister Dattage, there helping them along the way!
Learning the Technology
This picture just may have been Elder Dattage's homework. They sent it saying "Dad is takig a class on the IPAD and doing great!" Wow...Missionary Work has changed! Shea just commented, "We did not have classes on Gospel Apps when I was in the M.T.C." Looks like these two are doing great with the technology piece!
SALT LAKE CITY —Digital Devices Now used by More Missionaries
More missionaries of the Church will be using digital devices as they preach the gospel in the United States, Canada, Japan, and western Europe. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are expanding the use of mobile devices following a successful pilot program that has been in place since last fall involving 6,500 missionaries in 30 missions in the United States and Japan. Missionaries are equipped with specially configured iPad minis for studying and teaching the gospel.
Church leaders will also implement online proselyting in the United States, Canada, Japan, and western Europe following a test in those areas for more than a year. Sister missionaries in some of the Church’s visitors’ centers are also using digital devices and online proselytizing as part of their daily activities. Thousands of missionaries in 35 missions used either a mobile device or existing computers in Church buildings, public libraries or other approved locations to use social media such as Facebook. An emphasis will still be placed on their assigned areas.
By early 2015, the Church expects that more than 32,000 missionaries in more than 162 missions will be using mobile devices. The expansion will begin later this year. The missionaries will be asked to buy their pre-configured iPad minis, which they can keep after their missions, much like they purchase and use their own bicycles. Those who can’t afford the $400 devices will be offered assistance.
“It has been a wonderful experience,” said Elder David F. Evans, a member of the Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Missionary Department. “We've learned that they're very effective tools for planning, for communicating with local leaders, for communicating with their mission president, and for keeping in contact with the investigators that are currently being taught [and] former investigators that they may have taught, either in the same area or some earlier place.”
Elder David F. Evans, a member of the Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Missionary Department.
More missionaries of the Church will be using digital devices as they preach the gospel in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Western Europe.
More Latter-day Saint missionaries can now use digital devices to help teach the gospel.
The new technology enhances existing tools for missionaries. The mobile device includes an app called the Area Book Planner, which replaces the current Missionary Daily Planner and the Area Book (both printed resources). The Gospel Library app includes scriptures, manuals, magazines, and other teaching resources.
“And we know in many parts of the world, the traditional forms of proselyting work very, very well,“ said Elder Evans. ”In some other places where technology and urban life has developed in such a way that missionaries have a harder time contacting people, we hope that these tools become even more valuable in those places.“
Church leaders envision that mobile devices will eventually enable missionaries to begin their formal preparation for missionary service before they enter the missionary training centers (MTCs), and then continue to use them for language and gospel study and to improve their ability to teach the gospel when they enter the mission field. “And then because of the ability to learn beforehand and to learn after the MTC, we anticipate that the MTC experiences will remain shorter as they are now as compared to earlier times,” Elder Evans said.
Missionaries are also learning how to develop positive lifelong digital habits. “We know that even with filters and every other safeguard that we can provide that the only really effective filter for lifelong technology use is the individual heart and mind of the individual young person,” stressed Elder Evans.
He acknowledged that the implementation of the technology will look different in various locations and they will work closely with area presidencies to determine whether missionaries can use the devices safely in all areas.
A record number of nearly 86,000 missionaries are currently serving in 406 missions around the world. That number is estimated to peak at approximately 88,000 later this year. “But we anticipate sometime late in the fall, we’ll begin to plateau and then begin to actually have a decrease in the number of missionaries going into next year,” said Elder Evans, who is anticipating the number of missionaries will stabilize around 77,000 or more and not drop down to 2012 levels.
As of 30 June, there are 85,728 missionaries serving, which includes 6,735 seniors (8%), 54,053 elders (63%), and 24,950 sisters (29%).
With the increase in the number of missionaries, convert baptisms are up; however, Elder Evans said there was not a goal to tie the increase in missionary service to a boost in the number of convert baptisms.
“If you started August of last year and go through our last report, month over month the baptisms are up,” he added. “Right now for this year there's about an overall 15 percent increase in the number of convert baptisms this year compared to a comparable period last year. And we are gratified by that, but again, recognize that that's not the main purpose for what is happening. The greater purpose is to offer the opportunity of missionary service to those who would like to perform this service, meaning the young people of this Church.”
The number of young missionaries serving grew dramatically after the announcement by President Thomas S. Monson in October 2012 that lowered the age required from 19 to 18 years for men and 21 to 19 years for women. At that time 58,500 missionaries were serving compared to 86,000 today.
“They responded magnificently to President Monson's invitation, and thus the increased numbers of both elders and sisters and even senior couples,” said Elder Evans. Last year at this time, 58 new missions were created that he described as the “appropriate size” after the surge of missionaries.
“We believe that the young people of this Church will continue to say yes to missionary service,” he said. “And they'll continue to choose to become young disciples of Christ and continue to realize that missionary service and this intense opportunity to be of service to their fellow man and to preach the gospel is something that they want to have in their lives.”
Elder Evans said the changes have also allowed sister missionaries to gain more leadership experience. “We've seen them participate in what's now known as the mission leadership council, and we've seen them really respond in a wonderful way to the opportunity now to not only serve a mission, but also during the course of that participate in the mission leadership council, to provide input and counsel with regard to the direction that a mission would take and the challenges and problems that are faced, as well as the opportunities.”
Mission leaders report that the early return rate for elders and sisters has gone up, but it is very close to the proportional rise in the entire number of the missionary force. “As we have more missionaries, we're going to have more of everything,” said Elder Evans.
Elder Evans said the safety of the missionaries will continue to be a high priority, although he said it is safe to serve a mission. “I've read statistics that suggest that being on a mission may be as much as 20 times safer than being generally out in the population.”
He explained that with more young missionaries serving, the Church will likely launch a missionary safety program that will encourage them to start their day with a “safety moment” for riding bicycles, service projects, and other activities. “And we hope that by raising the sensitivity of missionaries to safety issues, that in and of itself will begin to diminish any potential for injury that there might be. We love these missionaries, and we know the Lord loves these missionaries, and we are committed to absolutely doing everything we can to protect their safety.”
My parents were asked to report to the Missionary Training Center, M.T.C., in Provo, Utah, between 10:20 and 10:40 in the morning. They will stay at the training center from today, September 14th until Friday, September 18th. Their time will be spent preparing and recieving instruction for their upcoming missionary service in New Mexico.
Wow..this was right as they arrived! They look nervous!
My mom captioned this photo as "The same chapel Lance and Ryan reported to."
We received word that they made it, had a lot to learn, and were grateful to be asociating with other Missionary Couples and young missionaries. Some they even already knew from home. Later in the day we receieved these photos.
Looking so happy and in their element just a few hours later!
"Wow...we have never had so many grandkids!" was the caption for this one.
I bet! What lucky young missionaries to have your example!
Learn a Little about the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo
At the Church's Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah, young men and women as well as retired men and women from around the world come together to prepare to serve the Lord. The purpose of the MTC is to provide anmosphere of peace, love, trust, confidence, and respect in which missionaries can prepare for missionary service.
Whenever I am asked to describe my parents I remark, "They love the lord first, eachother second, and their family third." The priorities they have valued all point to their love of their Heavenly Father.
Both grew up in Cache Valley, within a block of one another. They married in the Logan Utah Temple and started their careers and family. Elden started a thriving family business, Elden Dattage Towing and Auto Repair. Tamra taught pre-school and elementary school for many years.
Together they have served faithfully in various church assignment they have had the opportunity to fulfill. Most recently serving as Temple Workers in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple and as Primary and Sunday School Workers.
Elden is famous in the Cache Valley for his blue tow trucks, contagious smile, and friendly personality. His trademark is a tight squeeze on the arm and if anyone has met him once they are his friend for life. He loves his horses, working on his ranch in Pegram Idaho, and recently has become quite a chef while serving up delicious Sunday dinners along side Tamra for their family.
Tamra is known for being an incredible teacher, neighbor, and friend. She thrives on creating a fun "Grandma's House" where all the grandkids love to come for holidays, dinners, and to play. She loves to serve others and is always sharing meals, cookies, and visits with her neighbors. She loves a good book, staying warm, and literally supports everyone of her grandchildren, in whatever activity they are up to, as if they were the only child on the planet.
In the past two years, more seniors have answered the call to
serve full-time missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The influx follows the age change that allowed young men and women to serve at
a younger age. As of this week, eight percent, or 6,609 of the 83,471 missionaries currently
serving around the world, are seniors (age 40 and older). Before the age
change, there were 5,778 senior missionaries serving. The increase in senior
missionaries is up a tot
Married
couples can be found in the Church’s 406 missions serving alongside the younger
missionaries at a time in their lives they could be enjoying hobbies during
their retirement such as spending more time on the golf course, fishing,
traveling or being with their grandchildren. Some couples end up serving
multiple missions because they find the opportunity to serve others very
rewarding.
In April 2013, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles mentioned senior
missionary service in his general conference address titled “Catch the Wave.” “You senior couples, you plan for the day
when you can go on your mission. We will be most grateful for your service,”
said Elder Nelson.
Changes for senior missionaries were announced
in 2011 such as the length of missions (6 to 23 months) and a cap on housing
costs (not to exceed $1,400). These changes made it possible for some
Latter-day Saints to serve full-time missions who would not otherwise have the
resources.
Full-time senior missionaries are called by
the president of the Church. They serve voluntarily and at their own expense
and generally serve after their retirement from the workforce.
Senior couples and senior sisters fulfill a
wide range of missions, including proselytizing, humanitarian, health and
education, as well as leadership missions. In the 400-plus missions around the
world, senior missionaries help keep the mission offices running as they
fulfill duties including secretarial, finances, telephone, housing, carpool and
tracking weekly referrals (people interested in knowing more about the Church).
They can also be a great asset to local congregations as they seek out
less-active members and mentor local Church leaders.
Elder Steve and Sister Robyn Levesque from
Bluffdale, Utah, are serving for 23 months as proselytizing missionaries in the
Oregon Salem Mission. After spending time in the ProvoMissionary Training Center (MTC) last October, Elder
and Sister Levesque were transferred to Vernonia, Oregon, where they are
serving in the community and working with the branchpresident (local Church leader) and mission leader to find
less-active members, as well as teaching lessons to people of other faiths.
“The greatest advantage to serving a mission
is that you can actually serve the Lord every day without getting interrupted
by job or family concerns,” said Sister Levesque.
Humanitarian missionaries use their talents to
improve the lives of people around the world, working on everything from
medical to agricultural needs. For example, Mormon doctors and nurses recently
traveled to Indonesia to help train local physicians in newborn resuscitation. The Church was recognized
last August for its humanitarian work in Bolivia, including Latter-day Saint
ophthalmologist Dr. Joel Moya, who helped lead the fight against blindness,
especially in La Paz. The Church’s clean water program has helped communities
such as the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.
John Hess and his wife, Shirley, potato
farmers from Ashton, Idaho, are credited with helping the people of Belarus in the Russia Moscow
Mission increase the yield of their potato crops from 50 sacks of potatoes a
hectare (equal to 10,000 square meters) to 550 sacks per hectare, 11 times
better than any previous yield on the land. The Hesses served for 18 months,
beginning in October 1998, to assist the farmers in Belarus. “It was one of the
finest experiences that I ever had,” said John Hess. “I was grateful to serve a
mission and grateful to take my wife and serve a mission.” He served a mission
as a young man to northern California.
John Hess said the farmers in Belarus had
access to pesticides and other modern materials, but they needed advice to
improve some of their growing techniques. “That is the most beautiful soil I
have ever seen — rich, organic based soil. I didn’t bring anything up that I
couldn’t get locally. You had to show them [the potatoes] were very delicate.”
“They were very uplifting to us, and I hope we
did the same for them,” reflected Shirley Hess. “I loved the people. They were
very kind and generous. The members of the ward were very special. I
couldn’t help but love every one of them.”
Senior missionaries do have more flexibility
than young elders and sister missionaries while away from home. “If we get
tired, we can rest. If we need to catch up with our children at home, we can
Skype them,” said Elder Nance. Senior missionaries can get permission to travel
home for family emergencies or special occasions, but must do so at their own
expense.
This is the Levesques’ first full-time mission
serving together after working with the Church’sAddiction Recovery Program in Utah for more than
three years. Elder Levesque served a two-year mission to the West Central
States at age 19.
“The hardest part for us serving so far
was learning how to work together,” confessed Sister Levesque. She and her
husband have been married for 42 years. “This is the best thing we have ever
done together,” she added. They have six married children and 21 grandchildren.
Sister Levesque said one of the biggest sacrifices was leaving their
grandchildren. Their oldest grandson is currently serving a mission in Florida.
Mary Lee and Lloyd Burton were in the MTC at
the same time as their first grandson to leave on a mission. “We were able to
have our meals with him. A very special blessing,” recounted Sister Burton.
The Burtons are home in Utah now after serving
four missions, including missions to historic Nauvoo and the California San
Diego Mission, where they were assigned to the Mormon Battalion Historic Site and they taught newly
baptized marines at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. The Burtons were in
Illinois on a public affairs mission when the Nauvoo Illinois Templewas completed, and they
participated in shows to entertain visitors in the Nauvoo Cultural Hall. “Lloyd played the mandolin and I played the fiddle,” said Sister
Burton. “We had so much fun on this mission.”
The Burtons were able to proselytize and teach
full-time in the Mississippi Jackson Mission before returning to Utah to serve
for three years in the Vernal Utah Temple presidency. Their last mission
call was to the Virginia Richmond Mission, where they were assigned to the
mission office. “We came home more tired from this mission than the others. But
if the Lord called us again, we would go,” said Sister Burton.
Elder Clair and Sister Julia Hopkins have been
serving at the Manhattan New York Temple since last
August. They work five days a week in the temple for seven hours each day. “We
serve asordinance workers and we’re also responsible for all of the laundry
(special white clothing used in the temple),” said Sister Hopkins who lives in
a Manhattan apartment building with her husband next to the temple located near
Lincoln Center in New York City.
The Hopkins started their service in New York
City with a six-month mission, but extended their call for another six months.
“It’s going fast and we’ve enjoyed it,” she reflected. “We’re not thinking
another [mission] at this point in time, but I know we will miss this one,”
said Sister Hopkins.
Sister Hopkins said one of the highlights of
their mission is having their children visit them in New York. “We have been
lucky because four children have made it out here. That’s really been fun to
have them here and show them around.”
The Hopkinses also served a Church Educational
System (CES) mission in Manchester, England, from 2005 to 2006, where they
taught institute classes and assisted with dances for young adults.
Despite the sacrifices and hard work, the
senior missionaries say there are many rewards.
“We don’t want to give the impression that
everything goes perfectly smoothly,” said Elder Nance. “We have our times of
struggle and disappointment and sometimes our mission can be discouraging, but
we know that everything that happens will strengthen us and help us to grow.”
“We have had the experience of living with and
working with choice members of the Church in several lands, and we have gained
eternal friends,” added Sister Nance.
“After four missions, we have literally
hundreds of new friends we would never have had without our missions,” remarked
Sister Burton. “We never felt our missions to be a sacrifice.”
Opportunities and estimated costs for senior
missionaries can be found in the weekly Senior Missionary Opportunities Bulletin. The Church also posts missionary service openings on its LDS
Church-Service Missions Facebook page.
