Entry One: T-75 Days

 11/27/24

Ladies, gentlemen, and all other folks (you too Apollo), I am incredibly grateful for all of you. Without each and every one of you, I wouldn’t be who I am today. You have all shown me love and support, and I hope I have done the same unto you. That being said, I welcome you all to my mission email list! This is just the first of many emails that may include (but are not limited to): wondrous tales, heartfelt moments, difficult trials, and hilarious memories. Now, it is important to say that until I depart in 75 days time, these emails will likely be very inconsistent. Also, I am still gathering people’s email addresses (and ultimately will be until I am released from my calling), so if you know of anyone that would like to receive these, send them my way. I will link my current list at the bottom.

So, you may be wondering as to why I am beginning my emails so early? It all started back when my parents and I were talking with the Tafts (a senior missionary couple from my ward) just after their final sacrament meeting in Utah. They were sharing their mission journal so far and encouraged me to begin as early as my mission prep (aka, right away). I had already thought of what a cool idea that would be, so I decided I was going to begin around the one month mark before my mission. However, an interesting development took place this past Monday.

I received an email from the MTC that I had been selected for a pilot program of MTC Mentoring. Essentially, it is a new program they are hoping to implement worldwide, where future missionaries meet with return missionaries to learn and grow as disciples and teachers before any missionary training. Now, it’s important to note that I don’t know too much about the program and whether or not I’m allowed to talk about it, but my mentor didn’t seem to mind when I mentioned I was starting my emails today. Oh yes, how could I forget? Today I had my first meeting with my mentor, Elder Aiu. We spent the hour getting to know each other, and it was very cool to see someone so similar to myself in terms of spiritual development. We clearly hit it off really well, and I am ecstatic, no, elated to be learning from him in these upcoming weeks.

Another word of note: for those who don’t know already, I am an ordinance worker at the Bountiful Temple, and yesterday during our shift meeting, none other than President Henry B. Eyering rolls in (he was in his wheelchair)! It was super sweet to hear the words of a modern day apostle testify of the temple and its blessings. I can testify myself that there are prophets, seers, and revelators in these latter days. In this meeting, D&C 138 (the very last one) was mentioned, and so I gave it a read as I was waiting around during my shift. I would highly recommend reading it if you want powerful insight on the spirit world and the importance of helping gather Israel on both sides of the veil.

I hope you all know how much I love you! I’m so excited to share my journey over these next 2 years, 2 months, and 2 weeks (wow what a coincidence!). I’m not sure if I’ll do this for long, but I’ll have pictures from this week as well as all links down below. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you are!

The world is a beautiful place, you just have to look for the beauty!

With eagerness to tomorrow,

Zach Clayton

Weekly* Photos!

(So apparently idk how to add photos properly (sorry if you have to download one of them 😵‍💫), but from my side they should be in this order:)

1: Me awaiting my first MTC Mentoring

2: It was snowing as I walked out of the temple and the atmosphere was otherworldly!

3: I got a little snowed on!

(The photos confused me enough to forget the link. What a great start 😂)

Email List: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_YNCAT_KrJyAaHBghczy4CQemItSvbeQrKAfOYxAkws/edit?usp=sharing

*Photos will not be weekly in the days leading up to my Home MTC date