Elder Brinkerhoff 2.0 and MY BIRTHDAY - from 09/29/2018

How’s everyone doing? Things are going great and I love everything more and more. It’s also been a great week.

A group picture I took on my birthday

Birthday: My birthday was amazing. I am officially 20 and it feels great. Also, it was Google’s birthday on Thursday. We’re twins because we have the same birth year and birth day. It makes my birthday extra special. Anyway, it was a great day. I started off going to my new zone (which I’ll explain later) and then I went to lunch at the City Creek Mall with Elder Shaw, Pastor, Shultz, Rich and my new companion, Elder McNeeley. Then we went back to zone and then went to classes. Tonight, to finish celebrating, my companion and I are planning to go to Cheesecake Factory. I got a few packages and birthday cards from family and friends. Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. It means a lot and I’m extremely grateful for the birthday wishes.

A picture of Elder McNeeley

Transfers: On Tuesday, we had transfers and both Elder Shaw and I were transferred out of QRC. I’m still in the Family History Library, but now I’m in help services on the 3^rd floor. Elder McNeeley is my new companion. He’s been out for 19 months and he’s from Syracuse, Utah. I know that sounds close, but many missionaries here are from the surrounding area. Of course, we have elders from Oregon, North Carolina, Florida, California, Idaho, Oregon and other states, but we also have elders from within Utah. There are elders from Herriman, St. George, Provo, northern Utah, and we have an elder who lives 5 minutes away. It’s sort of interesting for some of these elders who live so close but can’t visit their home for 2 years.

Title: Ok. So my title is Elder Brinkerhoff 2.0 because my new companion looks just like him. Elder Brinkerhoff was my second companion in Vegas and left a transfer after I left. But, Elder McNeeley reminds me so much of him and it’s kind of weird because I feel like I’m companions with Elder Brinkerhoff again. I’ll attach a picture later. There are a few differences, but I feel like they are pretty similar.

New responsibilities: As sad as I was to leave QRC, I really love help services. I am usually busy helping people and interacting with others. I usually help people set up accounts and get their family tree started. I get to talk to them and find out more about them and make them feel welcomed. For those who really know me, you know I’m a super social person and this new zone is much better. I actually get to talk to people and interact with others. I really love it. I’ve met a lot of people from around the country and most of them aren’t members of the church.

Highlights of the week: I guess I will start listing off highlights of the week, if I can think of

A birthday cake delivered by one of
my parents  friends', Gail Gentry Payne

 some.

1.       Being in an apartment with Elder Royal and Elder Walton is really fun because they are both super funny and awesome and we all get along really well.

2.       One of our classes Thursday was about security and it was actually fun. There are about 5 or 6 homeless people around Temple Square that security and everyone knows by name. The security missionary who gave the class talked about every homeless person and told us which ones are nice and good to talk to and then which ones to absolutely stay away from. Most of them are fine to talk to and say hi, but there’s two of them who will yell at you if you don’t give them something or if you try talking to them. We are told not to give food or money because most of them are panhandlers and there’s better way to help the homeless, but we are to still be friendly. I’ll talk about the ones I can remember. I’ll change the names of the negative ones to prevent any bad talking.

A.      Johnny- if you’re ever in the area, say hi to Johnny. He has a walker and breathing tubes and is super nice. He will always say hi to the elders and ask us how our day is going. He sits in between the JSMB and the admin building at the crosswalk to City creek. He doesn’t get mad if you don’t give him food or money and always wishes you a good day. We saw him on Thursday and one of the elders mentioned my birthday so he wished me a happy birthday. He is always fun to talk to.

B.      Miles (Dwayne) - he’s cool too. He will sit and say hi to you and sits at the north visitor’s center gate. He always says hi to the elders too and once again loves interacting with us.

C.      Sally (name changed) - she’s crazy. She’s nice, but makes her rounds around Salt Lake City to get stuff. Then once in a while she will have a dog with her. I usually smile at her and wave and she seems to be nice.

D.      The couple- I forget their names, but security told us they have some sort of disease and we are not to touch them. I’ve heard they’re nice, but I’ve never seen them.

E.       Tom (name changed) – we are told to never talk to him. He’s bald and always has a backpack with him. He always has run ins with people and will yell at you. We had a senior missionary go out and talk to him one time and all he did was yell vulgar words at the missionary. And he will yell at people who don’t give him food or money.

Most of the homeless people around the area are really nice, but we just have to be careful about the few. It’s interesting serving “on temple square” because you get to know people and all the secrets. I’ve heard about elders who are friends with some of the security and then of course some elders are friends with the sisters. I hope to be able to make some friends with security and the sisters because they all seem really awesome. Plus, I miss proselyting where I made friends with the sisters. I think that’s the only downside to this mission. I’ve gotten use to everything and started to love the mission, but I miss having sisters in the mission. I created some good lasting friendships in Vegas with the elders and sisters, which I definitely miss. But, like I was saying, it’s different being in a mission where you are at the church headquarters and get more crazy people and have to be careful with everything.

Thanks again for all your love, support, and prayers. I truly do appreciate the birthday wishes and it made my day. I can’t wait for next year’s birthday, but until then I have to focus on my missionary purpose and what I’m doing here. Every single person reading this email is awesome and I love you all. Thanks for being a friend and supporting me through everything. Continue sending me letters and emails. It’s good to hear from everyone.

Aloha

Elder Michael Skaggs

15 E. South temple

JSMB 3 East

Salt Lake City, UT 84150

Skaggs Memorial Chapel - from 09/22/2018

Well, here’s to another week of awesomeness and fun times.

      A great pic that I took 

    of myself while studying

Birthdays: Ok. So I thought about it yesterday and I didn’t know if I should continue birthday shoutouts because I don’t know if some people want their birthday announced to the world. Instead, I’ll just send personal emails to you and wish you a happy birthday.

The Skaggs Memorial Chapel

Fun stories: Nothing too exciting happened again this week. We did a service project right up the street from East High, where they filmed High School Musical. Right across the street from East High is The First Baptist Chapel and there was a sign that read, “Skaggs Memorial Chapel”. Apparently, there is a memorial chapel in my honor or something. I didn’t know I had a Baptist memorial chapel considering I’m a Latter-Day Saint. Other than that, things have been same old and slow.

I swear if I think of anything, I will try to add something, but so far there hasn’t been much going on. Well, besides the fact that I got to practice my ASL again with a deaf lady and it was super awesome to try and remember ASL.

Ok and I may or may not have
 had fun and decided to have
 a stupid and random photo
 shoot in front of the mirror.
 Here's a few pics. Haha.

Spiritual Thought: I actually wanted to address the reason I put Latter-Day Saint and not Mormon. Everyone has read the recent “name change” of the church, however, it’s not a name change. The name of the church has always been The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. D&C 115:4- “For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.” Keep in mind that “my” in that verse is referencing Jesus. From the beginning, that was the name of the church. The church is named after him because it is his church. We aren’t called the Smith church or something like that. We aren’t the Mormon church because we don’t worship Mormon and it’s not Mormon’s church. He was just a prophet in ancient America. I think that’s something important for us to remember when we see “name change”. Even for those who read my emails and aren’t part of the church, it’s important to remember and realize that. We aren’t the Mormon church. We are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I’ve never had a huge issue with going by Mormon, but it does turn the attention away from who we really are and how people have misinterpreted the way we worship. Anyway, just thought I’d share that for the day.

I hope everything is going well, wherever any of you may live. Go out there and change the world and do something nice for someone. That’s my challenge to everyone this week is do something nice then report back to me. I would love to hear what you guys are doing to make the world a better place. Also, send me pictures and updates on what all of you are doing. I want to see your adventures and your family vacations and activities any of you may be doing at school. It’s fun to hear about what’s going on and I want to see the lives of all of you. I don’t have Instagram or Facebook and so this is my form of social media.

Thanks for all the support and love. It means a lot and I know there’s plenty of people out there wanting me to do the best. Thanks for the emails and letters. They always brighten my day. Continue to write and email me. Hopefully, I’ll have a more entertaining week. And I guess I’ll be a year older when I email you guys next. Well, we have transfers so who knows what will happen.

See you all next week!!!

Elder Michael Skaggs
15 E. South Temple
JSMB 3 East
Salt Lake City, UT  84150

Slow Week - from 09/15/2018

Hello people!!!!!!!!

Elder Buers (an AP) and me!

So this week hasn’t been too bad. Definitely better than last week. I usually type up my emails the day before during day zone, but I totally forgot. So, I’m currently on B2, for night zone, with 20 minutes left of zone typing this up so I don’t waste time tomorrow (which is technically today now).

Birthdays: I don’t know of any right now except I know I missed Alex Villar’s birthday last week. I am probably missing birthdays so I’ll get it sent out next week. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!! I HOPE IT WAS GREAT.

Visits: I saw my mom and sister Tuesday. That was amazing!!!! I love them. They were driving through and dropped something off at the JSMB and decided to take a short trip over to the FHL. It was nice though, because I had been struggling earlier this week and I needed to get some advice from my mom.

School starting: It’s really weird because school is starting and I know that all my friends will only be like 4 hours away from me now. Plus, I have seen the Salt Lake Express more often because everyone comes to Salt Lake to get to Rexburg. It is kinda rough having the drop off and pickup location right next to my apartment because it makes me miss Rexburg. But, it’s fine because I’ll be back in 2 years.

I can’t really think if anything interesting happened this week. My mind is drawing a blank. Zone is just the same old. But, transfers are coming up and who knows what will happen.

Well, since I’m rushing this email and I can’t think of a spiritual thought this week, then I’ll go without one. I’ll just throw in a quick scripture. Here’s Ether 12:27. I know it’s one that everyone knows, but it’s a good one. 27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

 Elder Buers and I  with Elder Martin
photobombing

Funny moment: This morning Elder Shaw and I were walking through temple square. Some lady sees us and is like, “Hey, can one of you tie this tie for me?” We were expecting it to be a little kid, but immediately we see a grown adult dressed up without a tie. A family member was coming out of the temple in a few minutes and they needed it tied. It was funny because we didn’t expect it to be an adult. They were really nice though and I used my awesome tie tying skills to quickly tie it.

Anyway, thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. It’s been working and helping me. Keep writing and sending me letters and emails. Trust me, these 2 hours end up becoming really slow once I finish sending out my weekly email and responding to emails in my inbox. You are all awesome.

XOXOXOXOXOXO (I try to think of something different every week)
Elder Michael Skaggs

15 E. South Temple

JSMB 3 East

Salt Lake City, UT 84150

Exercising with Pres. Oaks - from 09/08/2018

A few Elders hanging out on a nice evening
Elders Schultz, me, Martin & Shaw

Ok, let’s begin with the reason behind this title. I technically did work out with President Oaks yesterday morning. We have been given access to the Church Office Building gym, but I haven’t used it before. I have heard rumors that President Oaks will work out there and elders have seen him before. We got up at 5 am, yesterday, to get there right as it opens at 5:30. We show up and President Oaks is working his arms on one of the machines. We aren’t allowed to approach them, and I never got to say hi, but it was pretty darn amazing. He was also in a white shirt and pants. Apparently, apostles of the Lord like to stay semi-formal even when they are working out. Haha. It was cool to be standing five feet away from an apostle and someone with such a strong testimony in Christ. It’s one thing to be in the same room as him at conference or something, but seeing him work out, not dressed in a suit, and only a few feet away is something special. Oh, and we didn’t go to the gym hoping to see President Oaks, but I figured he might be there because he has been there in the past.

Birthdays: Happy late birthday to Wesley Dernbach. He’s an amazing friend and I’m super excited for him to be in Ventura.

The mission: There isn’t much else that has gone on. Things have been good. It has been a little bit rougher than usual but I’m still loving it and I am here. I do miss Vegas, but I have to focus and dedicate my mind here.

A cool rainbow this morning

Funny moment: Elder Shaw and I were at the City Creek mall food court eating McDonald's. Two other elders came up and sat next to us. I looked at the french fry box and it said that you can win McDonald’s for life. I look at the fine print and it says 2 meals a week for 50 years. I then said, “I don’t think McDonald’s understands what life means. 50 years isn’t a full life and 2 meals a week isn’t for life.” One of the elders then replies, “No, they know what they’re saying. They know that if you eat McDonald’s twice a week for 50 years that you won’t make it that long and it will be the end of your life.” Haha. It was funny because it was so true.

For a quick spiritual thought, I want to tell everyone to read the new Saints Volume 1 book. The history and persecution of the early Saints is insane and blows my mind. It amazes me how they were treated, but they persevered to preserve the restored gospel. It’s an amazing book and in only two days, I have read almost the whole entire 600-page book.

Anyway, sorry that this isn’t much more exciting. Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, and support. It means a lot and helps me out. Continue to write and email me. Don’t forget about my birthday in 19 days. WAHOOOOO!!!!!!! I’m stoked. Hopefully, I’ll have more to write next week.

I love you all!!!

Elder Michael Skaggs
15 E South Temple
JSMB 3 East
Salt Lake City, UT  84150