Mission update 8/24/2025

Hello Family and Friends!

It was a funny week with things just not normal. It started out with a great devotional where Matt Grow who is over the Church History Department spoke. He shared information about the church acquiring the Kirtland Temple and it made us again really want to go visit! The men from the choir sang Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy and it was beautiful!

Men of the Elijah Choir

Tuesday and Wednesday were mostly normal with interviews, computer work and devotionals. Then, on Thursday we showed up in casual clothes and worked on packing up everything in the North Office Building to be ready for movers to come on Friday. Gary worked with several other missionaries and a few young service missionaries to dismantle and pack all the computers. The young missionaries were a great help especially at crawling under the desks and disconnecting cords. 

Thursday evening we went to the Syracuse Temple with what's left of our MTC group and two other couples from our mission. It was a beautiful session and we went out for dinner afterwards.

Great Mission Friends!

Friday we had the day off while the movers did their work so we went with the Smiths to the Manti Temple. A beautiful drive which we especially appreciate once we are able to get off the freeway! After the session we were able to get a bit of a tour from the Temple Recorder who is a friend of the Smiths. It was so cool! 

Packs and Smiths at the Manti Temple

Way Up in the Manti Temple Spire

Afterwards we went to see the progress on the Ephraim Temple and it looks so close!  They are finishing up the landscaping and seem to have almost all of the exterior work done.  This is only a few miles from Manti, but it will allow better handicapped access.

At the Ephraim Temple

It was such a fun couple of days! 

Sunday we had Stake Conference and got to walk since it was held in the church which is the bottom few floors of an office building on Social Hall Avenue--about a block from our apartment. The meeting was translated into both French and English and the French branch provided the choir. Our Stake President said that we have 40 countries represented in our stake. So cool!

Saturday and Sunday we spent some time with grandkids and loved it.

Our Youngest Grandchild!

From Gary:  It is interesting to come closer to the end of this mission.  We are still very engaged every day with all of the things we are doing, and we are now starting to train a new couple who will be taking over the main assignment that we have doing BYU Pathway interviews.  We know that we have worked hard and made a difference, but just like we have always experienced in our lives, coming to the end of a calling is never easy.  I think this is a really important thing to learn regarding enduring to the end with enthusiasm and continued growth!  As we have studied the Doctrine of Christ, the whole idea of enduring to the end has evolved in my mind to be more about repenting every day and doing more every day to become better disciples of Christ than just living through another day.  

With that in mind, have a wonderful week and endure it well!

We love you all!

Elder and Sister Pack