I can't even explain this week - from 04/13/2019

From left to right: Elder Shults,
Elder Bellos, Elder Gatlin, Elder Barron,
and me. We got to the standby line
around 5:45. I didn't get any sleep
this past weekend.

Welcome everyone to, yet another edition of my weekly emails. I know I broke the trend of what my titles usually say, but that's because I just have too much to say. This week you'll hear about general conference, running into my best friend, meeting Elder Anderson and Elder Soares, my priorities when there's a fire, and how I got slammed by an elevator door in front Sister Bonnie H Cordon. So, let's get rolling because this email will probably be the best email ever because it was the best week ever. 

General conference: 

This is 11 year old Susan. She loves to
roast me. It's really weird that this is
the 2nd time I have run into her.

Ok. Well, general conference was totally awesome this time. I went to the 

priesthood session and then waited in standby for the Sunday morning session with a few other elders. The girl who roasted me last year roasted me again this year, but it was more mean than funny. However, she's only 11. I told her I'd see her next time. LOL. Conference highlights. I realized it would be too long to mention all my favorites, so I'll do one a week. 

Beautiful flowers on Temple Square

Elder Hales: I loved his talk. He talked about how prayers won't always come when we want them, sometimes they won't always be answered the way we want them, and quite frankly, they sometimes won't be answered in this lifetime. However, the Lord will still bless us in different ways, no matter what. Sometimes we won't see those blessings right away though, but we'll look back in time and realize it was for our own good. A quote I loved from him is, "Sometimes our prayers are not answered in the way we hope for, yet with time we learn that God had greater blessings prepared for us than we initially anticipated." For example, I wanted to serve my mission almost 3 years ago, but I left one year ago. I am so grateful for the fact that I waited 2 years and he didn't answer my prayers right away. 

I encourage everyone to study up on the conference talks and listen to the counsel of the prophets and apostles. They are a huge source of strength for us. Ponder and pray about their words. 

Seeing my best friend:

9 months ago, I emailed Tara Pope, a friend serving in the Salt Lake City mission.  I told her I would be coming

Another picture of Sister Pope and I,
with her companion Sister Stephens

One of the pictures of me with
Sister Pope

to the headquarters mission. She replied that we would probably run into each other at some point. For the past 9 months, I haven't had any contact with her. While on a mission, you aren't supposed to email people of the opposite-sex within your mission boundaries. Now, it's not too strict, but when it comes to missionaries, then it needs to be enforced. Well, I knew she goes home in about 3 weeks and I was greatly disappointed that I hadn't seen her. At the end of conference, I figured this would have been my last chance to see her and I accepted the fact I would just have to email her in a couple weeks. However, this conference I still wasn't focused on seeing friends or family. I hadn't seen anyone. While walking home, I just wanted to get home and get out of church clothes. I also didn't want to see friends. But, as I walked into my apartment complex gates, I looked over to the outside and then backed out the gates. I look over and then Sister Pope looks up and we both go, "NO WAY!" It finally happened. It was a great 

moment to see her after not seeing her for over a year and a half. We talked for a few minutes and took a picture. I'm just happy I finally got to see her. 

Elder Andersen and Soares visit: We had an amazing visit by these 2 apostles. I loved

More beautiful flowers on Temple
 Square

 their message. Elder Andersen confirmed to us that where we serve our mission and what we do doesn't matter. I got the confirmation of what I have always known that it doesn't matter if you serve a service mission or a full-time mission. They are both equally important and needed in the building up of Zion. If you serve a full-time mission, it doesn't matter if you serve proselyting, the headquarters (like me), or a visitors center. All of them are the same. We do different things, but we are building up the church and sharing the gospel in different ways. He told us to be proud of our missions and not be disappointed in where we got called. 

FUNNY STORY: As they finished, he was about to bear his testimony. Before he did that, he said, "Is there an Elder Skaggs here? I want to shake your hand." I was like yeah me. Then he was like, "I talked to your family. Don't worry, good things." It was sort of funny, but I'm still super confused.  

Elder Johnson and I. We went on a hike
with about 10 elders Sunday evening to
enjoy a nice day.

Fire priorities: So, yesterday, we were sitting at our computers finishing up our lunch when the fire

 alarm goes off. Of course, we had to head out so we get up and are about to head down the stairs. But, before we left, I grabbed something. No, it wasn't my journals, or my camera, or my flashdrives. I went and grabbed the rest of my sandwich because I didn't want my lunch to go to waste just in case it was a real fire. I think my priorities in life are pretty good. 

Flowers on Temple Square

Elevator slamming: Last night, we were in the JSMB lobby heading over to the elevators. My comp was like, "Hey, that's Sister Cordon." She was getting on the elevator. Well, I figured I would wait to get on the elevator because they were ahead of us, but it wasn't closing for a couple seconds. I figured we might as well get on then if it's still open. As soon as I step on, the doors close and slam into me. HAHAHAHAH. I'm just standing there super awkward because I just got slammed by an elevator in front of the Young Women General President. But, in case anyone needs their life saved, I have almost been crushed by elevator doors many times, because I try getting into them right as they are closing. So, I will sacrifice my body to save your life in case it ever comes down to it. Although, I can't  think of any cases where that would happen.

Yes, even more flowers on the Square

Anyway, as I said, I think this has been the best week ever. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns, rebuttals, or threats. I'd be down to answer or address them. Unless you have any threats, then you need to reevaluate your life because I'm too awesome to have any threats against. I'm super thankful for all of your love and support. And I'm glad I finally have pictures and fun stories, this week. Don't expect this all the time. Peace out!! 

Elder Michael Skaggs 

15 East South Temple 

JSMB 3 East 

Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 

My socks

Also, I have a funny story. Saturday, I got changed and then decided to fold my laundry. I got down to two last pairs of socks, but they were both missing their pair. So, I figured I might check the laundry room later, but went about my day. Well, later on that evening, I'm sitting in my former comp's apartment and I look down. I HAD GONE ALL DAY WEARING MIX-MATCHED SOCKS!!! I felt really stupid and embarrassed. But, ya know, life happens. 

Elder Skaggs vs the Anti's (I swear it's not what it sounds) - from 04/06/2019

Elder Eades and I chilling at our
computers last night for night zone.

Hey ya'll!! Welcome to another addition of a bunch of random stuff and confusing things written by Elder Skaggs about his life on the mission. In this addition Elder Skaggs explains his super random title, runs into the same 11-year-old girl who roasted him last conference, talks about how he did nothing once again during the week, inserts a semi spiritual thought about a recent church announcement, and then ends by persuading everyone to watch General Conference this weekend and reading the Book of Mormon. To unsubscribe... Oh wait, there's no unsubscribe button, you just gotta bear with me for another 10 months or just delete my emails when you get them. They're only once a week. The only spam emails that you don't receive every day. Disclaimer: I am all over the place in this email. But, I think that's what makes it so entertaining.  

Title: Ok. I know what you are all thinking, "Oh no!!! Michael has no filter and he probably got in it with an anti and argued." I don't blame anyone for thinking that because it sounds like me. But, I am currently Elder Skaggs and the new and improved Michael Skaggs (for after the mission), does not do that. I just titled it that because well that's what I'm going to have to deal with all this weekend. Last conference, we walked out of the Sunday afternoon session and some guy had a sign about Mormons and what not. I turned towards some random people who were coming out of conference too and said, "Should we break the news to him that we aren't called Mormons?" Everyone laughed. I thought it was pretty good. I don't know how anyone could have nothing better to do than stand outside a religious organizations meeting where they spend hours talking about Jesus and Heavenly Father and then try calling them to repentance and tell me I need to worship Heavenly Father. Like, boy, I just spent 8 hours doing that, what do they think we do in conference? Eat pizza and party? As fun as that would be, that's definitely not what we do and they are able to watch it on TV. Anyway, it's always really funny to have protestors around.  

Getting roasted: Does everyone remember last conference when I got roasted by an 11-year-old girl? The volunteer came out of the tabernacle and told everyone in the standby line that we would be let in in about 15 minutes and then asked if we had any questions. Well, I said, "What's 2 plus 2?" He said, "5" and then I said, "no, 22. You put the two 2's together." There was a family behind me and the boy was like, "Oh yeah, that makes sense." Then his sister jokingly tried arguing it was 4 and I said it was 22. Finally she said, "Man, I thought missionaries were supposed to be smart." Well, this morning, on our way to Kneaders, I went over to some elders waiting in standby to say hi to them. All of a sudden a familiar face behind them said, "Hey, I remember you." I then said, "Hey, you're the one who roasted me last time." It was really fun. I asked them how they were doing and briefly said hi. I thought it was really coincidental that I ran into them. Really awesome people. I actually don't regret getting roasted and I thought it was hilarious.  

The week: I woke up, got ready, did stuff, drank some water, ate some food, breathed some air, read some scriptures, and then slept. That's basically what I did. Ok. All jokes aside, I did do a few things. Monday evening, we went to the senior center and helped them with Family Search. Also, I drove the new mission van and it is amazing. Everything is automatic, INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. It started sprinkling and all of a sudden the windshield wipers went off. I was like, "Elders, I swear I didn't just turn on the wipers, I think this car is haunted." I think I almost crashed because like the car is haunted. We all know what happened in the Disney (I think) movie Smart House (No, I'm not thinking of Monster House). When you give houses the ability to think for themselves and act smarter than humans, they turn on you. The same thing is gonna happen with cars. I don't trust cars anymore. Let's go back to walking everywhere. Anyway, the rest of the week was good. I got a haircut, so I'm kinda proud of that because, not to brag, but I think I look pretty good. LOL. Yesterday, Elder Shults and I walked to the dry cleaners to turn in our suits. It was almost a 2 mile round trip and we were tired. Lesson learned: Walking is the worst. That's actually really contradictory considering I just said above that we should get rid of cars and walk everywhere. I'm also a really indecisive person. Anyway, I think that's enough about my week. Let's move on. 

Church announcement: I love how the church continues to receive revelation from God. This is in regards to the announcement made just the other day. It's so awesome how Heavenly Father continues to reveal things to his representatives. My favorite part about the church and the gospel is that policy can change, but doctrine will never change. Doctrine is set and stone and it is the word of God. But, Heavenly Father can change policy when he sees fit for his people and the government. I'm even more grateful for the 2 years I have to be a representative of Heavenly Father in this church, during this time. I know the prophet will continue to reveal things to us through the power of God. 

General conference: Woah, speaking of revelation and church, you should all watch conference right now. The next one starts at 2 pm MST. Find it like anywhere. Trust me. Just find your nearest friend who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and ask them if you could watch it. If they pass out, don't worry, they're probably surprised that you approached them and asked them to watch it because we love it when friends watch it with us. But, if you don't have friends, or if I'm your only friend, then go on churchofjesuschrist.org

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Find messages of Christ to uplift your soul and invite the Spirit. churchofjesuschrist.org

and you can find it. If you don't want to though, I won't hate anyone. AGENCY is awesome. But, read the Book of Mormon. I really love it. You should all give it a try. Maybe talk to the boys in white shirts and ties with name tags. If they are not wearing white shirts and a tie and they aren't wearing a name tag and they come to your door they are either: 1- Jehovah's or 2- salesmen. It is possible for it to be the UPS man too. I love the UPS man because he delivers packages and  I love getting packages. If you all ever want to send me a package, I wouldn't be disappointed. I don't eat sugar though, so don't send me candy. Anyway, I hope you all have fun watching conference or football or basketball or The Office or whatever.  

A bunch of us elders at Kneaders today

In case anyone is here for conference, you probably won't run into me. I'm not working discovery

 floor right now. I'm currently on a certain unspecified floor of the JSMB on my work computer watching conference and doing emails. Although, I will be going to the priesthood session tonight and will be in standby early tomorrow for the morning session. 


I love you all. Thanks for putting up with me.  You only have to do this for another 10 months.  I found out I come home February 25th, 2020, so be prepared. Details on my homecoming will come at a way later date, because I don't even think about coming home yet. Peace out!!!

Elder Skaggs 

15 E South Temple 

JSMB 3 East 
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 

For videos go to my Google Photos page that I shared last week