Chris’ Mission–The MTC
I said goodbye to everyone at the house as best I could. All I could really do is hug them and cry. I love my family so much. I have never seen my Dad choked up, but he has been all tears lately. They are all so awesome and I will miss them so much. We came to the MTC and met Grandma and Grandpa Polson there. We went through a brief orientation meeting, watched a short video, and parted for 2 years. It was very hard but it was also very joyous and exciting. I think Sister Grant (MTC President’s wife) said it best with the expression “miserable joy”.
After we parted, I went through some long lines and got a lot of stuff and finally got to my room. There I met my companion, Elder Lee, and my other two room mates, Elder Sullivan and Elder Turner. Then we went to an orientation meeting and met our district. There are 12 of us and everyone is really great. We also met two of our teachers, Elder Jensen for nights and Elder Wallis for afternoons. They are very cool and powerful men and examples. Chris’ Journal Oct. 7, 1992
Today was awesome. We woke up at 5:15am, got ready, ate breakfast and returned to our room. We were there for about 15 minutes until we had to leave for our first class at 6:50. The rest of the day I was only in our room once for about 10 minutes, until 9:40pm. It was definitely a long, hard day but also a memorable and fun day. We met met our morning teacher, Elder Evans, and he is so awesome that now it is a toss up over which teacher I like best. I have felt so close to the Lord today and it feels so good. One of the greatest things about the MTC is that we constantly have to share our feelings about the gospel and this builds my testimony so much. Every time I bear my testimony, it seems to come right back at me, building it. I love it here. Chris’ Journal Oct 9, 1992
An awesome experience I had today was when we did a role play first discussion with bearing our testimony. I paired up with Sister WIttig and I taught her first. And the spirit was there so strong – it was a deep burning inside and I know Sister Wittig felt it too because she was bawling and she told me. I also cried as well. Experiences like this are so awesome. Chris’ Journal Oct. 10, 1992
We all had an interview with our Branch President Abegg today before church. In sacrament meeting, President Abegg got up and called me to be the district leader for my district. That is way awesome. I am really excited to serve my district. I hope and pray that I can stay humble and remember that I am just an instrument in Gods hands. Chris’ Journal Oct. 11, 1992
Today, we got back into our regular schedules. Up at 5:15am, to bed at 10:45, with little or no breaks in between. It was a cool day and we are really coming together as a district. My district in companionships are: Elder Lee and I; Elders Turner and Sullivan; Elders King and Jacob; Elders Larsen and Leeds; Elder Christianson and Boyce; and Sisters Wittig and Berroa. Everyone has an awesome spirit and we all get along very well. We could easily be the best district in the MTC. Chris’ Journal Oct. 12, 1992
Elder L. Tom Perry was our fireside speaker tonight. He gave a really good talk and it was great to hear such a great and powerful man speak. The best thing was that our paths just happened to cross right after dinner, and so I was able to shake his hand. That was quite the experience, to shake the hand of an apostle. Chris’ Journal Oct. 13, 1992
The weirdest thing about this place is that every day feels the same. Today is Saturday, but it feels like Monday or every other day. It is really hard to get used to going to classes all day on a Saturday, but today was a great day and I really enjoyed it. Tonight was the best. Elder Jensen started us off with Book of Mormon sharing. We all had a positive experience and the spirit really joined us and stayed for the rest of the class. Elder Jensen did a role play with me. It was so cool. The spirit was so strong and it was a sweet experience. It showed me that we can even make the role plays feel real. Today was a great testimony builder because I learned a lot about missionary work the commitment process, and about myself. Chris’ Journal Oct. 17, 1992
Today was room inspection, and yes we got the “room of the week” award again. That’s right, we are 2 for 2, undefeated champions of the MTC. We helped ourselves out today by leaving a kiss-butt note and some cookies for the inspector. It was sweet. The inspector wrote, “Outstanding, Celestial, Marvelous, #1, You made your mom proud, and Room of the Week.” Chris’ Journal Oct. 21, 1992
Elder Turner hit his head this morning and a few hours later, he had a total and complete memory loss. I asked Elder Turner if he wanted a priesthood blessing. He did and he asked his companion, Elder Sullivan, to give it. So we reviewed what the process was and said a short prayer in which I asked for the spirit to be upon Elder Turner and especially upon Elder Sullivan so that he could be guided in his words. Then I went and invited all the Elders to come in and participate. I anointed him with consecrated oil and when I put my hands on his head, I was filled with the Holy Ghost. It is an experience and a power and a spirit that I will never forget. Then we all gathered around and Elder Sullivan sealed the anointing. He did a wonderful job and the priesthood power gathered in that circle was just awesome. Amazingly, Elder Turner quickly remembered everything. Chris’ Journal Oct. 25, 1992
I have mixed emotions. I feel I am ready to go teach, but I haven’t been fully prepared. I feel very excited to go to Michigan, but I don’t want to leave the security and spirit of the MTC. But overall, I am ready to go, and pretty prepared to go. Chris’ Journal Oct. 27, 1992
Today was a long, busy day that was totally full. We started out by waking up at 3:30 to get ready. We finished packing and checked out of our rooms and said goodbye to Elder Turner, who has to stay for medical concerns. The bus left at 5:45am and we got the airport at 6:40am. I checked in and got to my terminal and my family showed up about 3 minutes later. There were tons of people there to see me off. It was awesome. Grandma Johnson, Grandma and Grandpa Polson, Chad, Nate, Wes, Luke, Liz Marshall, Kali Spiers, Pat, Greg, Kim, Kristen and Jeff Barratt; Eileen Johnson, Dave Johnson, DeAnn Eves, and Hub were all there. Hub sang me the Michigan fight song and Grandpa gave me some advice on humility, telling me to have pride in my strengths, work on my weaknesses, and to leave it at that. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone. Mom was pretty much crying the whole time, and of course they all cried and made me cry at the end. It was awesome to see them, but very hard to leave them again. But somehow I did it an got on that plane. Chris’ Journal Oct. 28, 1992
