Saying Goodbye to Elder White :-( - Testimony of the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ - The American Flag

From: "Taylor Graves" <tgraves@myldsmail.net>
Date: Jun 28, 2014 2:09 PM

Alright everybody! Another great week! I seriously can't express how much I love it here. I have cried so many times since I have been here... not because I'm homesick (there is no time to be homesick) it's because the spirit is constantly confirming truth to me. For one reason or another that includes crying for me so all the other Elders think I'm just a big baby ;) My first Sunday...oh yeah and I guess my only Sunday here so far... we had the AWESOME opportunity to watch "The Joseph Smith Movie". I cried 8 times. Yeah it was bad. There was an Hermana(Sister missionary) sitting next to me and I am pretty sure she thought there was something wrong with me. There were two parts that really hit home for me. The first is when the black man who had been a slave but had been freed, he had tried to also break his son out of the slave camp, without success and he came to Joseph Smith asking if he would talk to the governor to see if he would allow the fine to be overlooked. Joseph Smith reviewed with him Article of Faith number 12. We must abide by the law, therefor he needed to pay the fine. The man then worked for a time so he could pay the fine off. When JOseph was informed of this he gave the man one of his best horses so he could also buy his son. While watching the man burst into tears when getting his son back, it reminded me of the love that my Dad has for me. It also reminded me of the love that my Father in Heaven has for me. He wants us to return to us, probably even more than we want to! This concept, had me bawling. Yeah I know I'm a baby. I don't know what's wrong with me. Then when Hyrum was shot through the door, Joseph held him. calling his name. As I have done in times past, I imagined my brother and I in their shoes. I love that kid. He is pretty great!

Well on a different note, Elder Blanco (Elder White) was informed on Thursday night that he was being flown to Mexico for the rest of his MTC experience. We were all heartbroken. Seriously, the whole Spanish MTC community loves this guy! One random experience with Elder Blanco, that is super funny to me, but probably not to anybody else:

Elder Blanco came into breakfast one day, we were having these awesome potatoe wedge things that were awesome. When he came to sit by me I noticed that he had whipped cream on his potatoes... yeah it was weird... haha so I said to him, "Hey Elder, why do you have whipped cream on your potatoes?" and then he responded in his cute innocent voice that makes you smile every time you hear it by saying, "Well Elder Graves... ya gotta live right?" 

Yeah I could tell you guys a thousand stories about him, but then thats all I'd have time for!

 

We surprised Elder Blanco the night he was leaving! It was actually realllllly sad! Going to miss him!

Okay so probably the most important/coolest thing I will say on this blog while on my mission is coming up. So buckle up...

I KNOW that we have prophets on the earth today. I literally know this to be true. I had the opportunity to sit in the same room as 6 apostles on Tuesday. This was perhaps the high point of my life, thus far. We were sitting there, singing practicing for our performance, (I'm in the choir! It's super fun!) and we had heard that there was a small chance that an apostle might come speak to us. As we sat in our chairs, awaiting our next direction from our choir director, I was hit with a feeling of the spirit, tears were streaming down my eyes and I didn't know why. Then I heard somebody say "there are 6 of them". Right then I knew that I had been told by the Spirit that those men were truly apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. I wish each of you could have been here to experience that feeling with me. 

Lastly, I want to share a picture for my Dad. We were driving down the street, and there was a huge American Flag. My dad noticed me staring at it. He told me, to always appreciate that Flag and the freedom it represents. He said the day I return home and see all the American​ flags, I will appreciate that flag so much. I love what he said, and with Independence Day coming up, I wanted my Dad to know how much I love him and how because of that simple statement, I have gained more of an appreciation for that flag.

 

I love all of you! Send lots of pictures and letters!

Elder Graves

Taylor's Mailing Address  (Until July 29, 2014) Send letters and packages to:
 

Elder Taylor Nevin Graves

Provo Missionary Training Center

JUL 29 ARG-POS

2023 N 900 E Unit 820

Provo, UT 84602

Taylor Runs Into Some Friends at the MTC

On June 24, 2014, I got a text from Tanner Jensen with a surprise picture of Taylor, his companion and a friend (Jenna Isom) in Provo.  While riding the bus, a friend ran into them on the bus for this rare photo opportunity!  

 

Then later on that same day, we got another surprise picture from our good friends Jon and Alexis Schmitt.  Jon was Taylor's Bishop & Stake President (while Taylor was in primary).  The Schmitts children and our children were close friends in our Pearland, TX ward.  Jon has been called to serve as the mission president in San Diego California.  I am so glad that they got to see each other again in the MTC!

 

Taylor's Mailing Address  (Until July 29, 2014) Send letters and packages to:

Elder Taylor Nevin Graves

Provo Missionary Training Center

JUL 29 ARG-POS

2023 N 900 E Unit 820

Provo, UT 84602

1st Letter from MTC - Taylor's companions

From: Taylor Graves <tgraves@myldsmail.net>
Date: Sat, Jun 21, 2014 at 3:04 PM
Subject: to everyone!

Hola familia y mis amigos!

This has been a sureal experience already! I am so happy to be here. Honestly did not expect it to be that fun in these first couple of days but it really has been awesome! There is always something to do and for me that is so important! I don't have time to be home sick in all honesty! I do miss all of you I promise! But I have been able to stay very focused and it is muy bien. Saying goodbye to my family was very difficult but I am glad it was difficult. There are some Elders here who are not missing there families all that much. I feel very lucky to be blessed with an incredible family.

Yo entiendo un poco de espanol ahora. I seriously am blown away by the high expectations of the teachers here in learning the language and using the spirit to teach. From el primero dia we have been thrown into spanish and it has been so crazy! I am seriously blown away by how much I understand already. Speaking is muy dificil, but if I am given plenty of time to think about what I am going to say I can almost always get my point across. I know the gift of tongues is real! It just takes time! Speaking of very high expectations on dia tres our teacher told us we had to teach a lesson to a non member. It was no bien! The problem was we forgot to pray. The meeting wasn't horrible but we didn't really get the point we wanted to across unfortunately. It was a very good experience though. After that thought my companion and I, who I will introduce momentarily, were studying in a park when a Mexican man named Gabriel came up to us and started speaking en espanol to us. It was crazy! We knew what to say most of the time! We taught him un poco de the restoration and the book of mormon. He was very willing to listen and we were much more happy with that discussion than the one before.

So my companioons name is Elder Peterson. He is a very serious guy who would rather jump in front of a bus than break a rule. You see, I am very strict with the rules as well, but I would rather break a small rule than die... if that makes any sense...

Excuse me not having my tag on, we were just getting ready for the morning, but Yeah he is definitely a "no nonsense guy" but we will work really well together I am sure. He is really smart and told me that he received a 34 on his ACT. However, he has not received any emails from family or friends or any letters. If possible could some of you email him??? I get like infinity, and he sits there waiting me to read all my letters! I feel so bad!!!!!@!!!! His email is jonpeterson@myldsmail.net

Just had a random memory from el primero dia. When the hosts pick you up from the curb they are very kind and always carry all of your things. Well my hosts were both tiny skinny little guys. They kept on insisting that they wanted to carry my things but then we arrived at the stairs... I can't tell you how many times these two stumbled and tripped and struggled to get up the stairs with my luggage.

There is so much to say but not much time. One thing I want everyone out there to know is that my testimony has already grown a lot. It has been awesome to devote all my time to service and the Lord.

My favorite experience to this point was the moment when I saw this big goof ball. I wish I had a picture of us hugging in the lunch room, but it was pretty epic. Everyone in the cafeteria was looking at us. Haha!

I was so glad I got to see him he is so awesome and made me sooooooooo much happier to be here! (I was already on cloud 9). I get to see him every meal until he leaves on Monday!

Okay guys probably my favorite person here is this Elder White. He seriously IS Elder Calhoun from "The Best Two Years". He is so shy, so bad at the language, but most important, he is SOOOO full of the spirit! Also like Elder Calhoun, Elder White is short and plays Chess! Haha, we call him Elder Blanco! His comp is one of my good friends and we play basketball together. His name is Elder Wendt. Lo ciento for all the pictures but yeah I want you to meet all these awesome guys!

The one on the right is Elder Blanco. Just seeing that Elder makes my day better! 

There are so many things i want to say but these are just the fiew things that I could think about!! My Pdias are always en Saturday! (Until Argentina)

Oh and by the way one of the Elders and I are having a competition for receiving the most mail. Him and I have by far received more mail than any one in our district so we decided to make it a competition! So send anything and everything! Even an empty envelope would be good! Pictures are bonus points... and packages are bonus points so keep that in mind! 

Con amor, 

Elder Graves

PS Send lots of stuff :)

Taylor's Mailing Address  
(Until July 29, 2014)
Send letters and packages to:

Elder Taylor Nevin Graves
Provo Missionary Training Center
JUL 29 ARG-POS
2023 N 900 E Unit 820
Provo, UT 84602

Saying Goodbye at the MTC

On June 18, 2014 we dropped off our son, Elder Taylor Nevin Graves at the MTC as he continues his preparations to serve the Lord in the Argentina Posadas mission.  While we already miss him more than words can express, we know that he has an important role to fill in the work of the Lord.  We are so excited for him.

Taylor's Mailing Address  
(Until July 29, 2014)
Send letters and packages to:

Elder Taylor Nevin Graves
Provo Missionary Training Center
JUL 29 ARG-POS
2023 N 900 E Unit 820
Provo, UT 84602

Taylor's First Companion - Dad - Elder Graves AND Elder Graves

I was given the great privilege of being Taylor's first missionary companion.  Because the Stake President would be at Young Women's camp, Taylor was set apart as a missionary on Monday (two days before he would enter the MTC).  This meant he was to begin his service as a full-time missionary before he left our home.

As a  set apart full-time missionary, even though he was still living at home, he had to obey all mission rules - up to and including being with a companion at all times.  This was my assignment and one of my favorite priesthood responsibilities of all time.  I cherished the opportunity to work with him.  The Spirit was with us as a continually.

There was so much to be completed before his first 'transfer' from our home to the MTC, that we were rushed,  but we did manage to have companionship prayers, study and planning sessions.  I even spent those nights with him in his bedroom and we even made time for one last companionship morning run together.

In one of our 'companionship study sessions' we discussed priesthood blessings.  Learning the basic mechanics of a priesthood blessing was the main focus, but that evening when Taylor gave his Mom, brother, sisters and me a priesthood blessing - Taylor had a profound ability to listen to the promptings of the Spirit and became an instrument in creating perhaps the most spiritual experience our family had ever shared together.  I can not describe the evening adequately with words, but I will never forget the Spirit that touched our hearts as he blessed each one of us.

Planning the next two days as companion - which would include one final run together in the morning.  I'm going to miss him!

With the help of my (still favorite) companion, Kirsten (his Mom), we packed and prepared him for his first 'transfer'.

Packing!

Teaching him to polish his shoes.

Taylor's Mailing Address  
(Until July 29, 2014)
Send letters and packages to:

Elder Taylor Nevin Graves
Provo Missionary Training Center
JUL 29 ARG-POS
2023 N 900 E Unit 820
Provo, UT 84602

Set Apart as a Missionary!

Taylor was set apart as a missionary tonight!  

Amber is missing from the picture below because she was at young women's camp serving as a junior leader.  She returned the next day from camp to see Taylor off at the MTC (at which time Kirsten, Amber and Shauna all went to the last 3 days of Young Women's camp together - leaving Jake and I some guy time - which we thoroughly enjoyed).

Taylor's Mailing Address  
(Until July 29, 2014)
Send letters and packages to:

Elder Taylor Nevin Graves
Provo Missionary Training Center
JUL 29 ARG-POS
2023 N 900 E Unit 820
Provo, UT 84602

Farewell & Celebration

Several of Taylor's friends and family gather to visit one last time before he is set apart as a missionary.  Here are some pictures:

Graves family with Cake by Adele!

Even the seagulls came to say goodybe

Friends forever!  Tyler's flight had been delayed on his trip home.  As soon as he landed, he headed for our house.  He couldn't miss this celebration and didn't have time to change into his mission appropriate attire :-)

Admiration is in the air, but really...I think they are both thinking of 2016 New Year's Eve Ping Pong Re-match.  Taylor isn't going down without a fight and Matt claims he can not be beat.

Yipee!  He got his call and he's headed to Argentina!!!

Hi Five Buddy!

Loralie was our photographer and wasn't in many of the pictures as a result, but here she is wishing Taylor the best and giving words of encouragement and love.

Coach Allan.  Friend, Coach & Mentor. 

Tanner had to leave early for his cousin's farewell and the picture taking didn't really get started until right after he left, but...I found one proving that he was here (He is over on the far right).  We love you Tanner.

Photo Bomb!!!

Photo Bomb!!!

Photo Bomb!!!  Love this one :-)

Taylor's Mailing Address  
(Until July 29, 2014)
Send letters and packages to:

Elder Taylor Nevin Graves
Provo Missionary Training Center
JUL 29 ARG-POS
2023 N 900 E Unit 820
Provo, UT 84602