Week 5 - Provo MTC

Hello everyone!

How's it going?  Things are as busy as ever here.  This week went by pretty quickly.  As of today, I have officially been in the MTC for a month.  Already halfway through my time here.  I can't wait to get out into the field. 

On Thursday, we heard from Elder Anderson, and that was super cool.  He spoke of being grateful for our trials, even if they are really hard.  During that devotional, we (as in the choir) sang "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing".  We sang the arrangement that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang in general conference in April.  It's a really powerful song.  

When we were practicing, Brother Edget, the chorister, explained what it means in the song where it says "Here I raise my Ebenezer".  In the Old Testament, the Israelites were sometimes really good people who would follow the Lord, and then they would get stuck in sin again and it was a constant cycle.  In 1 Samuel, there is an army of the Philistines that comes upon the Israelites.  This is at a time when the Israelites were worshiping false gods and they are very afraid.  Samuel, the prophet, exhorts them to serve the Lord and call upon him, repent of their sins, and put their trust in Him, and they will be delivered.  The do so, and during the battle the Lord "...thunder[s] with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines..." and the Israelites are delivered.  (1 Samuel 7:10)  Samuel then has a very large stone placed where everyone can see.  He names the stone 'Ebenezer' and it's purpose is to remind the people of the time where they repented, changed their lives, and were delivered, and to remind them that they will never go back to their old lifestyle.  Brother Edget then challenged us to raise our Ebenezers that day.  It was really powerful.  I guess I'll pass that challenge along.  Raise your Ebenezer.  

I love you all, and have a great week!

Starszy Hadfield