Elder Skaggs attends a sealing - from 01/18/2020

I think this week was such a phenomenal week! So much has happened and such a spiritually high week! So, let's get started.

The Tolman's and I - they're
a senior couple I've gotten
close to and they leave this month

Sunday started off with the norm of going and hanging out with old people. I got cussed out by one of  the guys before sacrament. He can't drive his motorized wheelchair on his own, so someone has to do it for him. I was helping him drive, but he's really picky at the speed and everything and he hated my control of his wheelchair. Which led him to cussing me out and it was great. That was sarcastic, in case you couldn't tell.

Elder Christofferson devotional: Elder Christerofferson spoke at UVU on Sunday and we watched it as a mission. He spoke about a few reasons why we don't commit to the Lord and church. The fear of missing out, fear of sacrifice, and fear of failure. He told us that we need to commit to the Lord and serving Him. We should slow down and make up our mind and decide on what we should do. I think it was a great reminder for all of us.

Book of Mormon class: We had our monthly Book of Mormon class. President talked about Mormon and how great of a leader he was. It was great to think about him and all he did in his youth and growing up. Mormon was a great prophet and from such an early age, he was loved by the Lord and trusted as one of his select.

Elder and Sister Turner are going
home and we got them a card
with pictures of each one of us
doing silly things. Don't mind my
smile in the one with us about to
introduce the card to her.

West missionaries: For the past few months, I've seen on my ward and stake directory (stuff for members of the church to be able to contact those who are in the local congregations) that there was a Sister Anderson serving in the SLC West mission. I've been hoping to meet her because I don't know her. Well, Tuesday, I finally met her while waiting in Family Services. Apparently, her family just moved to Temecula from Oregon, which is why I don't know her. But, it was fun meeting someone from back home, even though she hasn't even lived there since her family moved there after she left on her mission.

Snowy day Thursday

Oh, it snowed during the week too. That was great. We actually got quite a bit of snow and it's been amazing.

A group photo with the young
elders and Sister Ober (she's in the red)

A photo of me in my presentation

First Vision presentation: While working on my project, I came across the idea of putting together a presentation on how the Church commemorated the 100th anniversary of the First Vision. Well, while I've been working on it, I asked if I could give a presentation in the Church History Library, that got scheduled for next Wednesday. A senior elder in the mission office asked if I could give it to the mission. So, I gave a lunch and learn (what we call them) to those who showed up. I had roughly around 100 people from the mission there. Technically small numbers compared to the 1000 seniors and young elders we have, however, it was a success with so many people coming up and complimenting me afterward. I hope to be able to give the presentation in firesides and stuff after the mission. I'm excited to do the one next Wednesday.

The sealing: There is a senior sister whose husband passed away a few years ago and he wasn't baptized. She was able to get her sealing cancelled to her ex husband and finally was getting sealed to him. Elder Dunn and I did the baptism and endowment work for her father and husband. Therefore, this was a very special moment for us because we have been there since the beginning to see him be baptized and everything. She invited us to attend the sealing last night and we got permission to go. Attending a sealing really just strengthens your testimony on the importance of an eternal marriage. The importance of finding someone you are to marry and get sealed to them for all eternity is something special. It makes me look forward to receive the same ordinance with the one I love. However, I am on the mission, so I am currently focused on one part of life.

 

Here's my Jersey Mike's
sub in shotgun

After the sealing we went to Jersey Mike's. I wanted to let my sandwich have shotgun, but I had to let Elder Dunn sit in the front. (I have pics for proof)

Anyway, all is well. I'm enjoying life, the mission, and everything else. Thanks for the love and support. Oh, and I still need humility stories for my class! Please send me some!  See you all later!

Elder Michael Skaggs

15 E South Temple

JSMB 3 East

SLC, Utah 84150

I told Siri I got hit by a car
(totally kidding) and this is
how she responded (technically
he because we have the
settings put to Indian Man).
I guess pizza isn't a bad idea
when you get hit by a car.

The south visitors center
getting demolished

Snowy day again

Sister Merkley and Ober on the left
and Sister and Elder Turner on the right

President Unger joined us and
is right behind the Turner's

Then the young elders and Sister Merkley, 

Sister Ober, and Elder Turner (on the right of us)

 

There's me making my grand exit. And
by grand exit, I mean I was leaving
and Sister Turner just so happened
to get a photo with me leaving
in the background. Majestic, right?

Elder Skaggs vs lots of driving (ALSO IN NEED OF HUMILITY STORIES) - from 01/11/2020

Hey everyone, I hope you all had a great week and enjoyed your time. I actually did have a fun-filled week and I'm pretty content with how things have gone.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Saw this sign in the senior center
 bathroom and thought it was funny

To start off, Sunday was a great day. We went to visit old people again, which is something I love doing. And then church as usual. And then some of the elders had a dinner party to go to in Holladay. There is a senior church service sister who opens up her house a couple times a year for those who are in the zone. So, I got to drive down to Holladay and attend that. I loved it because I got to drive and it was fun getting out of the city. There were 16 of us who ended up going. While there, I decided to go sit outside because it wasn't super cold and it was too crowded inside. Also, her dog, Ada, followed me outside. So, picture me sitting on backyard steps eating food, with a dog sitting next to me while I talk to the dog. That basically sums up my evening. Quite honestly, I was content with it because I love dogs and Ada was a good listener. The conversation, however, just consisted of me telling her it's beautiful outside and that she's not going to get any of my food. 

A couple of pics of Ada and I. Sadly, 

no one got any pics of me and Ada 

outside. I thought it would have been funny.

Monday was actually a slower day. We haven't done much. We spent the evening hanging out at the apartment. One fascinating thing, though, is watching the progress of the temple grounds. They have chopped down a ton of trees and they are getting ready to take down the South Visitors Center. It'll be super awesome. The longest project, I think, will probably be them putting in the new earthquake proof stuff. So, some of my week has been just intrigue and fascination at the destruction of temple square.

Driving down to South Jordan

Tuesday: Oh my, what a wonderful day. Elder Martin had a dental appointment in South Jordan. Since his companion had an appointment at Family Services, that meant I got to drive him. I GOT TO GET OUT OF THE CITY!!! We had a blast just talking and driving down there. We drove right near the Jordan River temple, which I thought was neat. While there, I just spent time in the lobby reading a book. It was also nice because as missionaries, we're supposed to be within sight and sound, however, at appointments, it's kind of relaxed because privacy stuff. So, we still have to stay in the building and can't just wander off, but it was nice to just be able to sit in the lobby and enjoy the peace and loneliness. Anyway, his dental appointment took forever, but afterward we went over to see the Oquirrh Mountain Temple because we were driving right past it. We walked around and then he took a pic of me. Such a beautiful building. The last thing, before we went back, is go to In-N-Out. Elder Martin is actually from  (which is why we went to South Jordan, he had to get work done by his home dentist), so we went to In-N-Out he worked at before the mission. It was good. Also interesting to see the place where all his interesting stories have happened. Then we went back up.

Seeing the sign to go to Las Vegas
always makes me miss Vegas
and makes me want to go back

When we got back, we had a zone social right away, so we drove straight to that. It was a tour of a old historic rock chapel. It was built in around 1925 and so they used to give tours of it. We were able to get a tour of it as a zone and it was fascinating. I tried looking for any secret tunnels because old buildings almost always have those, but I couldn't find any, sadly. But, it was still amazing. 

As for the rest of the week, not too much happened. Wednesday, we did the same old. It snowed Thursday evening, so I guess that was the most that has happened since Tuesday.

A pic of me in the library, they
just had this new Chinese New
Year thing in the FHL and I decided
to try it all.

Today, we went to an Ethiopian restaurant for lunch and it was pretty good. Some lady for paid for us which was nice. We really enjoyed it and the food was surprisingly good. I would recommend it to other people. 

Humility stories: So, I'm teaching a night class for the elders about humility. My plan is to just share a ton of different stories regarding people who had to humble themselves. I have it all figured out. Please send me stories you may have about times you had to humble yourself. Ask around and just send me a ton of stories. Ask family member and friends. Ask coworkers. I just want to compile a ton of stories. Please help me out!

Hope you all have an amazing week! 

Elder Michael Skaggs

15 E So Temple

JSMB 3 East

Salt Lake City, Utah 84150

P.S. My homecoming talk will be March 8th at 9:00 AM.

In case anyone is interested in the construction progress of Temple Square, here are some pictures.

They just chopped down some trees and they just took the Hyrum and Joseph statues away. 

Elder Skaggs vs a New Year - from 01/04/2020

Hey everyone, I hope you all had a great week. And not only a great week, but a fantastic New Year's. I hope you all have a great 2020. Now, not too much happened this week, so I'll focus on the topic of reflecting on your past.   

  

The district at Tony's Burgers.
It's a burger place that gives
half off for missionaries and
it's really good.

As we come to a new year, it's important to always improve and do better. A great way to do it is by reflecting  on your past and seeing where you started and where you are now. Think about what you have improved on in the past year. 2019 was definitely a great year, but it had its fair share of problems. I didn't enjoy it at all times, but I learned a lot from it.   

  

2019 was the year that 2 of my closest friends left to go on missions. Two friends that I have seen grown so much in the gospel and I am extremely proud of how far 2019 took them. 2019 was the year I stopped drinking soda and I have no regrets. 2019 was the year that President Nelson announced a lot more changes in the Church and also announced the renovation of Temple Square. 2019 was the year that two of my other closest friends returned from their missions stronger than when they left and stronger in the gospel. 2019 was a year that I learned a lot about myself and I discovered things in my life that I didn't know before.  

  

Elder Ghiya and I on New
Year's Eve. He's such an
awesome elder and I love
him to death.

But, 2019 was a rough year. 2019 was the only full year I will have on my mission. And to be honest, that also means that it made the whole year rough. Being on the mission is hard and having a full year dedicated to being a missionary made it hard at times. However, I was able to learn a lot and grow.   

  

Fences put up around Temple
Square before they demolish
 the Visitors Center and start
on the new construction

Ok. I will be honest, I can't think of too many bad things in 2019. All the bad things that happened all encompass the fact that the mission has been rough. That's another reason why I love reflecting because if you have the right mindset, you can only think of positives and the negatives won't come to you. Think about how much better life is when you only think on the bright side of things.  

  

You know how my email last year for New Year's was really dumb and I talked about how I liked 2018 and then 2019 came in and kicked him out and this and that. At the end I said, “He tells me that he wants me to do good in life and enjoy life. He also promises me that I'll have a ton of fun, but also be blessed with a good life… Hopefully I learn to love him.” As I reflect on the year, I think what "2019" told me was right. He wanted to make it a good life and bless me. I did have a ton of fun and I ended up loving the year. So much good came from 2019. I could go on a huge long list of all the good things that happened, but I don't need to. I will at least tell you that 2019 was great. 

 

I figured I would take one last
picture of the Visitors Center
before it gets torn down.

As we enter 2020, I want to challenge all of you to have a great year. Go out and do good for others. Love everyone around you. Do what makes you happy (unless it involves bad stuff, then find a new thing that makes you happy). Make 2020 a great year. I know it will be amazing if you make it amazing. 

 

Workers on the Visitors Center.
Looks like they're prepping it
for when they tear it down.

Now, there's not much to report on my week.  New Year's Eve we had a BBQ place catered for us.  It was amazing. Then we watched the Rookie, a film from 2003 about Jim Morris. New Year's Day, it snowed and then we hung out as a district and partied. The sidewalks in the area and a huge portion of Temple Square is now closed off for the renovation. It's super insane. I'm excited. 

 

Anyway, have a great 2020!! Oh and stop drinking soda. It's not healthy for you and I am starting a revolution for everyone to stop drinking soda. Haha. If you want to, then drink it. But, I think we should all stop.  

 

Love you all, 

 

Elder Michael Skaggs 

15 E South Temple 

JSMB 3 East 

SLC, Utah 84150 

A picture with some random people we met on Temple Square. We talked to them for like half an hour and then they wanted to take a pic with us. The guy on the right is wearing the girl's jacket because he didn't have one and it was freezing. At least that's the excuse he is giving us. Haha.