Awesome Firesides and Cafeteria Food

I'm not exactly sure where to start. This week has been so long but at the same time it has been really good. All of the days kind of blend together because I'm just in class the whole time. 

We taught lessons this week and they seemed to go ok. Spanish is hard but I'm hoping it will come better in Guatemala. I only have a week left here! It's crazy! I got my travel plans a while ago and we fly to LA and then down to Guatemala. I can't wait. 

We had some awesome classes and some really awesome firesides. The one we had last night was amazing. He taught us all about our purpose and what the point of being here is. I'm so happy I'm here!

Today we went to the temple again and it was really good. I realized a few things I had never before. Even though it was kind of hard to stay awake I managed. The sleep schedule here isn't as nice as the one I had at home but hey after I write this I get to go take a nap! 

P-days are great. Usually I just read and this morning I finished the book Our Search for Happiness. It is an amazing book! I couldn't stop reading haha. I might read it again but I might just read Jesus the Christ instead. It's long so I guess I better get started. Our Search for Happiness is one I wish I would've known about before my mission. I could've used some of the stuff in it to explain to my friends what we believe. 

Tomorrow we have a devotional by another General Authority. Last week was a man from the seventy...I can't remember his name but he was incredible. Rumors are going around that we are due to have an apostle or one of the "Big 3" soon. I'm not so sure but I would love that.

Ok I'm just having a hard time remembering everything this week cause it all seems like one day. The food is well...Lets just say I'll be happy to get to Guatemala where they say it's amazing. 

In the cafeteria I ran into Jared George a couple times! I haven't seen him in forever. I also keep seeing him around campus so that's pretty cool. I love the yard signs you put out! I bet they all win just cause of them. 

Is Curtis liking band? He better be playing first trumpet in Winds by this point! It has already been a week. Also thanks Briana for the package! I liked the watermelon candy haha.

Well I guess that's all I have time for. I can't think of anything else. All my days seem kinda the same except P-days and Sundays. I hope all you guys are doing well and just by the way I kinda keep forgetting to take pictures. I never have my camera with me so sorry. I'll try to get some before I leave next to the map and stuff. 

Well I love you guys and miss you! I know the Church is true and the Book of Mormon was restored by Joesph Smith. I'm so happy to be here and can't wait to go out into the field and get working. This might be my last e-mail from here cause next Monday I might have an orientation thing before I leave but I'll call from the airport if you're lucky! Ha just kidding I will...Probably. Alright bye. 

Report From the Provo MTC

Well hey family!

The MTC so far has been crazy! My head hurts but They say once you make it past your first Sunday it gets easier. The past few days have been non-stop with language and devotionals. On Friday I had to teach my first lesson all in Spanish!! Luckily my companion (Elder Steed from Canada) kinda knew what he was doing. We taught him the first lesson but it turned out pretty bad. Oh well the next time we saw him was much better. We actually got him to promise to be baptized! Well I think...I couldn't really understand anything. Oh yeah and the first day here I met Gordon B. Hinkley's son. The problem was I didn't know it was him till later. He just came into our class to talk to our teacher and once he left Brother Snyder told us who it was. That was kinda lame but still cool.

Mom the food here is good but I can see how it would get old after awhile. It's basically just cafeteria food. Nothing special. I'm so happy Curtis went to Pep Band! That's hilarious. So he met Gonzo (Taylor) and Jane. They were pretty good friends but apparently they're blind if they think Curtis looks like me! I hope he likes it. He should just cause band is awesome. As for the BYU game I heard. That's soooo lame! Most people in my District were pretty happy cause I'm the only one who goes to BYU. They go to Utah State and Utah. Other then that though my District is awesome. 

I'm already getting Spanish and English mixed up sometimes just because all I do it seems is study it. Sometimes I'll be saying my prayers and slip into Spanish without realizing it just cause I've practiced the Spanish prayer so many times. I really don't know much but I'm getting better. Oh and yes I got your package. Oops (he forgot his alarm clock).

Dad that's crazy about the volcano! Elder Steed saw the picture too and we freaked out! That's so close to where we'll be going. Too bad we didn't start in the Guatemalan MTC cause we would've seen it maybe. 

Nothing like that has happened here but we have had some amazing devotionals. Last night was awesome! We had a fireside by Brother W. Tracy Watson. He talked about the Book of Mormon and how it applies to us. It was awesome! After that we watched a talk by Elder Bednar called the Character of Christ. It probably is now my favorite talk I have ever heard. It was a talk he gave in the MTC last Christmas about how we become converted. Being in the MTC is crazy but it's really amazing.

I'm so happy I'm here and know I did the right thing by coming. I can't wait to get out into the field and start teaching but I still love it here. They have a saying that the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. It's so true! I've already been here almost a week. Whoa. Only two more to go!

Well time's almost up so I better go. I miss you guys and hope you're doing well! Tell Curtis to practice trumpet.

Love,

Elder Layton     

Elder Layton is Off to the MTC

Elder Layton was set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on September 11, 2012. Here he is with a surprisingly tall President Rau.

Curtis is next

This is Elder Layton, only minutes after being set apart by President Rau...back in the Layton home. The name tag was mine, from my mission to Mexico some 30 years earlier.

Early on 9-4-2012, Brenda, Elder Layton and I set off for the Redmond airport. Here Brenda and Elder Layton spend a last few minutes together before his departure at 6:20 AM. 

We rarely get a normal pose out of Eric

Yes, mom was crying. Eric was not.

On his way to the Provo, Utah MTC

Seems like we were just here and just did this with Briana

Going Through Security