Shawn's Mission Farewell

Brady spent the week with his Dad in Salt Lake City for Father's Day June 20 - 26. When he arrived home we immediately went to my sister Chris' house for a family dinner. It was our private family dinner to send off Shawn on his mission the following week. Chris prepared a turkey and all the trimmings for dinner. I made my famous rolls which I still need to put the recipe on my blog.

Grandma (my Mom) brought Autumn (my Niece) here from Pocatello for the week. Sunday morning we got up and prepared for church, it was Shawn's mission farewell talk.

"Why does the Mormon Church continue to send missionaries out into the world, particularly to Christian countries?" May I read the words of the First Presidency of this Church,...in which they gave answer to this question. "It is our duty, divinely imposed, to continue urgently and militantly to carry forward our missionary work. We must continue to call missionaries and send them out to preach the gospel, which was never more needed than now, which is the only remedy for the tragic ills that now afflict the world, and which alone can bring peace and brotherly love back amongst the peoples of the earth." Ezra Taft Benson --Conf. Report, April 1942, p. 91.

Autumn and Brady ready for church.

Let's add Grandma for a group picture before we head off to church.

And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation. (D&C 68:4)

Shawn gave a wonderful talk. He will be a fantastic missionary. Shawn is a very likable and outgoing man, who is ready for this exciting time in his life to serve the Lord.

"Circumstances change, but our message does not change. We bear testimony to the world that the heavens have been opened, that God, our Eternal Father, and His Son, the risen Lord, have appeared and spoken. We offer our solemn witness that the priesthood has been restored with the keys and authority of eternal blessings." -Gordon B. Hinckley, "We Bear Testimony to the World," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 4.

Shawn, my sister Christine and husband Kurt.

And we'll add in Kevin who returned from a mission last year from Serbia. Some how Justin always misses the pictures.

Grandma needs a picture with Shawn.

And another one with Kevin and Shawn.

This is Shawn looking very cool with his girlfriend Whitney. I wonder if she will wait?

Shawn arrives at the MTC today. He will stay there briefly to learn the Spanish language. He is serving in Mesa Arizona Spanish speaking mission. I'm excited for him and know he will serve the people and Lord valiantly.

"My beloved brethren, you and I, today and always, are to bless all peoples in all the nations of the earth. You and I, today and always, are to bear witness of Jesus Christ and declare the message of the Restoration. You and I, today and always, are to invite all to receive the ordinances of salvation. Proclaiming the gospel is not a part-time priesthood obligation. It is not simply an activity in which we engage for a limited time or an assignment we must complete as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rather, missionary work is a manifestation of our spiritual identity and heritage. We were foreordained in the pre-mortal existence and born into mortality to fulfill the covenant and promise God made to Abraham. We are here upon the earth at this time to magnify the priesthood and to preach the gospel. That is who we are, and that is why we are here--today and always." -David A. Bednar, "Becoming a Missionary," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 47

I love missionaries and am excited for this great opportunity for Shawn or Elder Stadlbauer. I can't wait to send a missionary off myself... (Brady).