Heisann fra MTCen!‏

Heisann!

Okay! This is my first email from the MTC - how exciting!

The MTC is amazing. I have never felt so supported, nor the Spirit so strongly than I have here in the MTC. The spiritual impressions are deeper, the Holy Ghost stronger, and it is just an incredible experience. Everyone should serve a mission - it's amazing. Even the food isn't too bad - they have salads every lunch and dinner. And thanks to Garrett's "grayndrank" I feel pretty regular . . . ly awesome! As you can tell, P-day is on wednesday, so this makes one whole week for me already! My goodness. It is true the first few days are long, but once Sunday comes around - it doesn't slow down!! Thank you everyone for your letters and packages - I love receiving them. Honestly, I can't each that much food, nor can my district. So just letters would be fine :).

I love my district. I am companions with Elder Knudson (as I thought I would be), and he is from Salt

Elder Knudson- MTC Companion

Lake. He went to BYU this past year, and it has been great getting to know him - but we have much to learn about each other even still. We also have Elder Farnsworth, Peterson, Argyle, Williams, and Sister Grass and Floyd in our distrikt (8 total). We also have 4 missionaries who are being held here because their work permits aren't clearing with Norway (paperwork issues). We are extremely grateful for them, Elder Godfrey, and Sisters Butterfield and Taylor. When we have Norsk questions, we just ask them! Also, Elder Larson has already left for Sweden. He had his grandpa's journal here with him, who also served in sweden, and his grandpa served with an Elder Johnson for a time in the late 40's, early 50's. He may have served with my Grandpa! Sadly Grandpa Larson has passed away and can't send a letter to Grandpa :(. Ah well. I love my district, and I greatly respect them. They work so hard - it is awesome.

Brother Jaffa- MTC teacher

Due to the Spirit here in the MTC, learning is a whole new experience. The spiritual impressions are deeper, and feelings that you have never had before suddenly come to you, it's incredible. Bror Jaffa (our teacher) presents the climate so well for our class that we can't help but have the Spirit. Yesterday we went over our purpose and the importance of baptism. I have never felt so strongly about baptism in my life. It isn't just an initiation. It isn't just something we do. It is literally the action taken to follow our Savior Jesus Kristus. Our purpose in one word is baptism - to invite others to come unto Christ. A little bit on how we study - personal study time is really up to you, so a little bit of PmyG here, BoM there, prepare lessons here, etc etc. We divide it up so it is goal oriented, focused, and not monotonous. With time I bet we'll be some of the best students in the world :].

Okay. Norsk. Let me tell you how tempting it was to write this email pa norsk. I love it. I absolutely love it. The first day we walked into the classroom and Bror (Brother) Jaffa just spoke to us 100% norsk for 45 minutes, and we learned so much! Bror Jaffa is such a great teacher, we are so grateful to have him. Since then we have learned truly providential amounts of Norsk. Tungemulsgaven ( the gift of tongues) is truly real. On day 2 (last fredag), we taught our first investigator Anders (pronounced Ahn-dursh) in 100% Norsk. We were so nervous. So nervous as to not really feel a whole lot of the Spirit. But since then, we have taught him 3 lessons that God is our Heavenly Father, how to pray and the apostasy and restoration (including the First Vision) 100% Norsk. By week one. Tonight we are checking up with him to see if he has read Mormons Bok and teach him about the Gospel and invite him to be doppt (baptized. Yes, it is related to the word "to be dipped" - I love it too). I really really want to thank Dad for teaching me 2 years of German back in high school, despite my poor attitude, and getting me to conjugate verbs. Pa Norsk, we conjugate nouns as well as verbs, and that experience has really helped me pick up Norsk much more easily.

A little bit about Norway. We have learned that the missionaries in Norway are the most spoiled missionaries in the church. Oslo is one of the most (if not THE most) expensive city in the world. Bror Jaffa was telling us crazy stories about how a sandwich costs inordinate amounts and talking showers and etc etc. I found this fact very interesting, so I thought you would like to know, but it is completely irrelevant because the Gospel is still needed around the world, despite costs. It will be difficult at times to soften the hearts of some of those in Norway because they are so comfortable. I believe through love and obedience and faith we can bless many lives, including my own. A general authority has stated (I hate it when people don't give references correctly), that Norway has enough people ready to hear the Gospel to make 2 more stakes in Norway. 2 more stakes!! Our goal is to open up a second stake by the end of this year, and after that - most likely a temple!! That would be so awesome! We just need to find those people looking for and ready to hear the gospel of Jesus Kristus. Norway is otherwise on fire.

I have never felt more satisfied or happy in my life. My mind is so constantly stimulated - it's amazing. Learning a language outdoes even anatomy. I truly feel that my mind has been prepared my whole life to learn a language, because I am so excited to learn it and motivated to use it. All the time. And that's the best way to learn a language! My trials have prepared me to be an a mission because I see many missionaries who are not taking their mission seriously. This is serious. This is God's work. Eternal life is at stake! It is truly amazing seeing how God has prepared me to be here, to learn a language, and share the gospel message through love and faith.

Elder Larson- Swedish Missionary.  Our grandfathers

 went on splits together in Sweden.

I love you all, and I feel absolutely amazing. I love it here, and I very much appreciate your letters. I would rather you (yes all of you) for now use Dear Elder, because I can get them anytime, and it's really convenient and nice to receive letters. Mom, thank you for your letters, I love them. The gospel is true, and it is the only way that we can bring nations and people together in peace, love and understanding. Jeg er veldig spent a dele evangeliet med Norge! ha det bra! (that means good bye or literally "have it good")

-Elder Bryce Thomas Johnson