Provo Temple

Another Perspective

Jaren's missionary companion.

The following is parts of a letter written by Elder Richards, (Jaren's companion), to his family and posted on his blog.

So the first day, was pretty cool I got  all set up and it was pretty nice. I actually really like this place. My companion is from Nebraska and is a really cool guy, he played football at SVU, that school that offered me that lacrosse scholarship. He loves to sing all the time...I mean all the time. He's a cool kid though. So I'm in a room with two other guys that are in my district, one is from Idaho and the other is from Australia, he is quite the card and really never stops talking. The weirdest thing about all my roommates is they think that I talk funny, they say my accent is weird..... my accent... That's not something I'm used to hearing... I speak normal, they are the ones that speak funny, not me....

Hmm not that much happens here to be honest, so my teacher served in Alabama and is amazing!! He has taught me so much and does an amazing job of bringing the spirit and teaching! My study ability has grown so much with what he has taught me. Everyone in my district is going to Argentina... everyone but me and my companion, we are the only two we've met that are going to Peru Lima West and only three other elders going to Peru... Quite insane... more on that later.

Okay, so back to those Other Peru Elders. One of them that I've become rather close with came running up to me yesterday and told me that he got is visa and that he was leaving today at 5 am... So really the cool thing is that I could get my visa any day and will be out of here the next day!! Then I'll really be able to share the exciting things that have happened to me, because there will actually be some!!

Elder Richards

Jaren's 2nd P-Day

4-25-13

Family!!!!! How are you all???? Mom the living room looks great! haha I recognize the backsplash on the tv stand as well! So remember how I told you I was district leader? yeah the day after I told you that, I got called to be zone leader! How cool is that?! I've only been in two weeks! We had our first TRC as a companionship yesterday which is when real members from the area volunteer to just come in and talk to us and let us give them a lesson. It's sort of like a home teaching or visiting teaching visit but they come to us instead of vice versa. It’s all in Spanish as well of course. So as for my Spanish progress, I can understand about 85 % of what someone says to me if they talk kind of slow. I'm getting to the point where I can speak fairly comfortably in Spanish about the Gospel. I'm still working on every-day conversation Spanish. I am learning so much so fast!!!!! They opened up the MTC field for the first time yesterday since before winter so I got to play soccer! It was SOOO fun to be outside! I got the cutest letters from Sara and Sam and the girls. The girls drew me pictures. It was so cute! Shayna sent me a really sweet letter about how they are all doing and about Tanner and about how Macy is doing in her mission. My Spanish teacher here went to the same mission Macy is in now, Spanish speaking as well. He got home before she went out though of course.

How are you all doing? Yes Grant I got your letter and loved it! How's Seth's concussed head? Is Nathan prepared for the summer of his first high school football experience?? How is school and work going for all of you? Dad....keep working on that Spanish! haha You'll never guess who I saw here at the MTC yesterday. Kristen Nichols! She is going to the Las Vegas Nevada Mission! How awesome is that? She looked great. I also met a sister missionary that is called to serve in the Nebraska Omaha, visitor’s center mission so I made sure she knew a lot of her meals would be spent at our house. She took my name down so she'll keep an eye out for ya! haha

Well I miss you all so much. I love you all. I don't have a lot of time to respond to everything you all send me but I LOVE that you do and I read your Dear Elder letters all the time. I love you so much!

Elder Hackleman

*Till We Meet Again* 

Oh yea, and every other missionary in my district including my roommates are going to Resistencia Argentina. The rest of my entire zone which consists of 3 districts my size or larger are going to either Argentina, Mexico, or Washington Spanish speaking haha. We are the only Peruvians in my zone. Also, next week we are supposed to be getting sixteen new missionaries! That's about 2 districts. I will have about 30 or so missionaries under my stewardship!!! Totally awesome. Ok just wanted to give ya another update haha Love ya'll!!

Elder Hackleman

Alma 37:33-35

Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.  O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yeah learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.

Updated Wall Photos

MTC Companionships

Elder Hackleman from Papillion, NE (center right) and his MTC companion Elder Richards from Lehi, UT (far right). Elder Ovard from Boise, ID (far left). Elder Taylor, from Australia (center left). All roommates! Funny, not one of their beds are made! They'll get along great!!

When I have grown a foot or two.

Jaren's 1st Email from MTC

Hey Family!!!!!!!!! So my P day is on Thursday but we didn’t get one last week because it was only the first day after we got here.

The MTC is SOOOO fantastic! First off, I got called to be district leader ONE day after I got here!!!!! I am district leader over another companionship of elders and 2 sister companionships. My companion's name is Elder Richards. He's from Lehi and we are both going to the same mission. He is sooooo awesome. We room with the other set of elders under my district stewardship. Elder Ovard is from Boise and Elder Taylor is from Sydney Australia! Isn't that awesome!!!!!!! The Sisters or Hermanas are Hermana Healey from Taylorsville UT, Hermana Elton from Eugene OR, Hermana Tollman from Vancouver Canada, and Hermana Phillips from Logan UT! I have to go rotate my laundry, I'll be back. haha Love you all!!!!

Ok Sorry!!! So anyways. I have learned more Spanish in the last week than i did the two years in high school combined!!! I can already pray and give a simple testimony completely in Spanish!!! We've already started teaching our first "investigator." We teach completely in Spanish. His name is Eric. He volunteers to be an investigator so we can practice teaching lessons. Not a single word of English is spoken. We've taught him 3 lessons already. The Preach My Gospel Manual is literally second only to the Book of Mormon and Bible. The entire thing is full of Spiritual principles that could not be explained better.

We had a devotional on sunday given by the director of public advertising or something for the church. He talked to us all about the "I'm a Mormon" campaign the Church has come out with and about LDS advertising in general. It was soooo cool. He also talked about the Book of Mormon Play that's big right now and how, despite the raunchiness of it, it has actually brought a lot of investigators because people go see it, get incredibly offended, and decide to see what the church's stance is on it. On Tuesday we had another devotional given by....THE Richard G. Scott of THE Quorum of the Twelve Apostles!!!! It was sooooo amazing! He talked all about the importance of talking to our Heavenly Father through prayer and the importance of actually praying out loud. He also talked about how important missionary work is. Before he gave his talk, the president of the MTC was reading an introduction for him so we could all know more about him. Towards the end of it, the president said, "And even though all of these things are important and fun to know about Richard G. Scott, he leaned over to me before I stood up here at the podium and said, Don't worry about all that stuff. Just tell them that I love my Heavenly Father." How awesome is that!!!!! The entire room full of the thousands of missionaries could barely breathe the entire time he was there because of how awesome it was and how strong the Spirit was. I sang in the MTC Choir and we sang Nearer My God To Thee right before he spoke. When he stood up the first thing he said was, "I've died and gone to Heaven. That was the most beautiful song I've ever heard." HOW AWESOME!!!!! Anyways, as you can tell, I am having a total blast.

Seth! You need to be careful with that head. One can only take so many concussions in a life ha ha. I'm glad you got to go to prom though. I hope it was a blast. Nathan, keep working on those hands. You'll be starting X receiver before you know it! Grantee!!!!! I hope you’re having fun in school!! Well guys my time is running out so I better go. I love you all. Use Dear Elder to send letters sometimes too. I get those right away then I can just send you letters back. Love you all!!! Thanks for writing me!!!!! 

Dad. Su Espanol es muy bueno. Keep it up haha!

Elder Hackleman's Excited

These were taken two days before Jaren entered

The Provo MTC.

Minutes Before being Dropped off at the MTC

Minutes before going to the MTC.