"The hour of your mission is come" (D&C 31:3) - June 5, 2021

Hello everyone,

After waiting for this day far longer than I thought I was capable of in December 2019, I am finally sending an email reporting on my first week of missionary service.  As the events of this week have unfolded I have found myself thinking about the many changes we face throughout our lives.  Each of these brings with it a sense of sadness as we turn the page on one chapter of our lives, as well as excitement for what the future may hold in the next.  These events could include a move to a new location, a career change, or something such as a mission, a marriage, or the birth of a child.  As eternal beings we were never meant to stagnate in one location or situation.  Rather, or purpose is to spend this brief mortal experience learning and growing in order that we may become the men and women our Heavenly Father intended us to become.  

As I have considered these periods of change, I have found myself pondering on one that happened before we ever entered this probationary state.  I am confident that when the time came for the veil to be placed over our minds prior, to leaving our heavenly home, our Heavenly Father pulled each of us aside and gave us final, individual, parental guidance.  In such an exchange our Heavenly Father might well have called each of us by name then said something to the effect of: 

You have been faithful and kept this "first estate".  You have proved yourself valiant in defending the plan I have chosen and my Son who is central to it.  Now, the time has come to leave my presence, though I will never truly be far from you.  Your memory of this time with me will be dimmed and you will face challenges and temptations that will test your allegiance to me.  In this new mortal experience, you will feel joy, happiness, and fulfillment but you will also taste of heartache, sadness, and disappointment.  You will laugh but you will also cry.  In time, I will call you home to me.  If, through it all, you have proved your devotion to me you may not only return to my presence, but, in time, you may become like me.

I acknowledge that the scene described above is my own imaginings.  However, I am confident that a loving parent must have said something similar before our experience in this telestial world began.  I am profoundly grateful for our knowledge of the divine nature possessed by each of us, the atoning sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ, and the guiding and directing influence of His spirit. 

The MTC has finally begun!  I was set apart as a missionary on Tuesday evening.  Since then, my MTC classes have consisted of study from Preach My Gospel as well as Malagasy training.  Malagasy is one of several languages that are part of a new pilot program the MTC is trying.  This was first tried with French and Portuguese and consists of spending the first two weeks of training almost entirely in English before transitioning to more intensive language training.  So far this approach is going well but I will let each of you know if that changes once we begin Malagasy in earnest.  

My companion is named Elder Fergus.  He is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and also delayed his mission last April when COVID began.  Our experiences leading up to our missions are eerily similar.  Elder Fergus is very knowledgeable about the gospel and has provided great insights in our classes and companion study periods.  I would tell you more about my district but I have actually introduced you to everyone that is in it.  Yes, my entire district consists of Elder Fergus and myself.  Additionally, we have been told that, aside from the two of us, there have only been three Malagasy missionaries trained since October.  Each of those missionaries was in a district of one.  I actually enjoy having a smaller district because it requires everyone to be engaged.  My MTC teachers are Brothers Maguet, Stepan, and Mannewitz. 

Reassignment

 The other exciting news is that I have received my temporary reassignment.  I will be serving in the Utah Layton Mission.  I will serve in Layton until American missionaries return to Madagascar at which point I will go to my original assignment.  I will arrive in Layton sometime around July 13th.  The Layton mission includes Layton, Syracuse, Bountiful, Farmington, Woods Cross, Clinton, and Morgan.  I recognize that this call lacks the glamour or shock factor that my original assignment may carry with it.  However, I am genuinely excited to serve in Layton.  I firmly believe that there are no coincidences.  For this reason, I am confident that there are bigger plans being put into action than any of us may understand.  These plans may relate to my mission, they may have implications after my mission, or both scenarios may be true.  "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God." (D&C 18:10).  A soul is as precious to our Heavenly Father regardless of where that person may live.  Our joy, and more importantly our Heavenly Father's, should be as great if we bring one soul to him in Layton as it would be in some far flung locale in darkest Africa or on the unreached frontier.  I am anxious to serve the people wherever I may be assigned and sincerely pray that I can be an instrument in our Savior's hands.

I hope each of you have a wonderful week,

Elder Payne

With my family after being set apart

Walking up to the door of the MTC

My nametag

Saying goodbye to my family at the MTC

Saying hello to my family (an hour later when I needed a drink).

Going into my first class at the MTC

10 - In class with Bro. Stepan. ("Rahalahy" means "brother" in Malagasy, just in case you look closely at this picture)

First companion study with Elder Fergus

In class with Bro. Mannewitz (I didn't get one with Bro. Maguet so I will send that next week)