I was set to get my patriarchal blessing just as covid hit as well.

Baptisms for the dead were so much fun

How are they going to do that then?

But my friends and I used to go to the provo city center temple after school every week. We had so many great experiences, but we can't anymore though.

Just gonna have to talk to my bishop to get my recommend again.

I guess that's not too bad.

I had it for a while before covid but I kept forgetting to call the patriarch.

My sister got her endowments literally right before they closed the St George Temple.

This is a little late, but I love Mosiah 14:3-5. It’s also in Isaiah.

Oooh, nice.

I received mine on Election Day.

Congrats

Yeah, she's getting married in May. The two events were not related at all.

Good for her!

Not gonna lie, I'm a bit jealous, she is younger than me after all, and I remain single.

Overall though, I'm happy for her. The guys she dated previously were just creepy, even to her. I'm glad she found a decent guy.

Yeah. I mean it's definitely a relief when someone finds a good person. As far as siblings go I don't know the feeling, but my aunt has had a hard time finding a guy. After years of not dating she dated a guy for a few months and he broke up with her in a really trashy way. She's at the point now where she has no faith in (most) men anymore.

That’s just how it is sometimes. Things will work out the way they’re supposed to, though.

Oh. Dang. That sucks.

At this point, I've contented myself with just living with my dog. I'll find someone at some point, but its no use getting tunnel vision on it or waiting for happiness.

I used to be pretty cynical about it, but I've been learning to let things go.

Yeah. I mean, you can always find someone later, too. Honestly, looking for someone to marry just sounds exhausting. And I’m not going to worry about it until after my mission.

Agreed. Mission, then marriage at some point.

Anywhere you'd like to go on your mission?

Wherever the Lord needs me. It probably won’t be outside of the states, but we’ll see.

Best advice I'd give you when you go on your mission: learn to love it. I'm grateful for the mission I served in. I didn't know it initially, but it turned out to be exactly where I needed to be, for others and myself. It was a perfect fit, despite my initial rebellion against some of the rules, and it awakened something I didn't know existed in me until then. It showed me my potential, and nearly everythig I have done since has been born of those lessons I learned about myself.

And keep a journal.

Yep. I know I’ll be sent where I’m needed. And I know to follow the rules and really try. There’s no point being out there if I’m not willing to work and learn.

Everyone I've talked to has learned a lot on their missions. Even my friend's older sister was only out for 5 or 6 months before covid and was brought back. She's not going back because she feels like she needs to stay here, but she says that it was one of the best (and most challenging) experiences she's ever had.

Anyway, I've gtg. But I'm glad I had the chance to talk to y'all!

I mean, my sister felt like she shouldn't serve a mission, and look where it led her: she's getting married... and she's a professional chef.

Oh. For sure. A mission is definitely one of the hardest things you’ll do, but it’ll be worth it.

It’s not the path for everyone. Some people are needed elsewhere.

Oop I’m sad I missed this conversation

Good stuff, it’s fun to talk with fellow members from around

My issues were never with the white handbook, they ended up being more of me not really wanting to follow what I believed to be arbitrary rules (like the rule that we had to walk "with purpose"... fast). I fought back on my first transfer with my 4th companion, who was very strict about keeping the rules. But despite the rocky beginning, I learned a lot from him and we ended up working very well together.

Near the end, I got a taste of what it must have been like for him.

Yeah. It’s kind of nice talking to people with the same beliefs as you.

It's a nice break.

That makes sense. I think one of my biggest issues will be working with a companion. Where did you serve?

Guatemala Central. I think that they made a separate mission out of a couple of our areas.

Now there's also the Antigua mission, that used to be part of ours.

Coool