Luke's Home MTC and Goodbye
Luke was set apart on Tuesday night — just 22 hours after we arrived home from our big trip to Croatia and Slovenia. We were blessed to have the jetlag work in our favor as we were ready for bed at 10:00 and seemed to naturally wake up early. Luke, Matt, Chris and I headed to the Stake President’s office at 7:30.
The Sunday previous (just a short two days earlier) our Stake was divided, President Searle was released and both new Stakes received new Stake Presidencies. We had watched Sunday evening online from our apartment in Croatia as each member, departing and arriving, bore their testimony and it was a great meeting.
President Houghton met us and we introduced ourselves and sat in a circle in the high council room. He invited Matt, Chris and I to tell him our favorite qualities of Luke. We shared that he knew who he was, he was determined, he wanted things done the right way, he was obedient… I was emotional and Dad shared his gratitude of the blessings our family would receive because of his service. President Houghton invited Chris to be part of the circle and then President Houghton set apart Luke to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and then blessed him with health as he served and to know that he is supposed to be serving where he serves — and that even if things change or his mission changes it will be where he is supposed to serve and that only he can touch the lives of some people within his mission (or something like that). Luke was excited to tell President Houghton that an exact phrase he used in the blessing was also in his Patriarchal blessing worded exactly the same. After walking around to the back of the building we ran into President Searl who came up and gave Luke a hug. A tender mercy to be able to see him tonight.
After Luke got his call, I put up this little ‘Mission Wall’ with some things to be focused on as well as a picture of his mission map and a list of things that we needed to do before he left. It was a fun way to be focused and celebrate what was coming next.
Luke started Home MTC on Wednesday and had classes for several hours in the morning and in the afternoon, making Dad’s office his own. He also had an hour of personal study each day — which he ended up loving — and an hour of companionship study as well.
I’m just so proud of Luke. All day he was either in classes, teaching or learning about the Book of Mormon or doing personal study. In his spare minutes, he was anxiously engaged in preparations, getting hsi email list redy and chatting about different aspects of mission life. It’s been so fun to be a part of his home MTC experience and watching him become a missionary right before our eyes. Tonight after doing some checklist items on his missionary portal, we headed upstairs to the theater room ro watch another 30 minutes of a Chosen episode. Before bed we said a family prayer and Dad asked Luke if he’d say it. We started our fast for Matthew in preparation for his patriarchal blessing tomorrow and Luke said a great prayer blessing Matthew to know aht a blessing this will be to him and helping him and all of us to have a good experience. Just so grateful for Luke and his example these days.
Thursday was his P-Day so he and Chris and I went to the Red Cliffs Temple to do Sealings together.
Friday and Saturday he resumed his typical schedule with classes. Every time he had a little break he’d walk in to the kitchen to get some food and I’d run in with a few packing questions. We laid out piles of clothes, ties and toiletries on the loft floor with his new luggage and slowly worked on organizing and packing. I loved doing that with him.
We played several games of Forest Shuffle and most nights we watched an episode of the Chosen. Luke wisely took off all the apps on his phone and just looked at it occasionally to text the family. It was really a great week watching him literally turn into a missionary.
From my Saturday night journal…”I’m just so proud of Luke. All day he was either in classes, teaching or learning about the Book of Mormon or doing personal study. In his spare minutes, he was anxiously engaged in preparations, getting hsi email list redy and chatting about different aspects of mission life. It’s been so fun to be a part of his home MTC experience and watching him become a missionary right before our eyes. Tonight after doing some checklist items on his missionary portal, we headed upstairs to the theater room ro watch another 30 minutes of a Chosen episode. Before bed we said a family prayer and Dad asked Luke if he’d say it. We started our fast for Matthew in preparation for his patriarchal blessing tomorrow and Luke said a great prayer blessing Matthew to know aht a blessing this will be to him and helping him and all of us to have a good experience. Just so grateful for Luke and his example these days.”
I don’t have too many pictures of Luke during Home MTC, so I had to include these action shots. He laughed that I was taking a picture of him doing the dishes and so immediately added some poses and it made me smile. Love this kid.
It was such a special Sunday. We woke up early and we’re dressed and hanging out together by 7:30am. Luke suggested to Matt that he read in the topical guide about patriarchal blessings, which he did and then we talked about it a little. The boys on the floor of my room, Chris on the bed. I pulled out an article I’d saved about patriarchal blessings and how we can mark it up in different ways and study it more frequently. We made extra copies of all of our blessings. Luke for his mission, and Chris for HXP. Once Matt has his, he’ll take it to HXP as well to study.
As we walked into the chapel for church then Luke said ‘Matt, let’s go bless one last time together.’ So fun to see him up there with his tag on! Relief society was a beautiful lesson and we talked about Best Days Worst Days from Emily Bell Freeman. Back at home we studied another conference talk on patriarchal blessings, talked to Emily for a bit and then headed over to Patriarch and Sister Johnson’s home. Diane exclaimed, “wow this is the last Patriarchal blessing of your kids!” and just that comment had me in tears. I was pretty emotional the whole time. Right in their front entryway, Diane explained about a painting that she had commissioned from one of her missionaries on how people come to Christ. We headed to the living room to discuss what a Patriarchal blessing was and Patriarch Johnson explained in detail what being part of the lineage of Abraham really meant and more about the 12 tribes and 14 sons. Then we headed into his office for Matt‘s blessing. It was long and detailed and beautiful and really tender. And just the perfect blessing for our mighty Matt. It highlighted his strengths and even though he’s the youngest that he will be known for his valiance, example and leadership. He also highlighted how much everybody loves Matt, which is so true. The spirit was strong and I just was emotional through the whole thing. It really was such a neat experience.
Back at home, we ended our fast kneeling, and Chris prayed and thanked heavenly father for these two boys at the end of our family and expressed his love for them. What a great day! This is the last day the four of us will be together for over three years.
We ate honey lime chicken, and played a game of forest shuffle and then Luke and I drove dad to the airport and Luke and dad said goodbye. Chris is working this week and will miss the MTC drop off. Chris was emotional as he shared some final thoughts with Luke in the car and praised him for his great attitude in the Home MTC and encouraged him to go go to the MTC and be all in. He expressed his love and how much it’s meant to him to be his dad and to have shared this these years together and how much he’s gonna miss him. Luke said, “you guys have done a great job”. I think the reality of him leaving was sinking in after hugging dad and walking back to the van.
At home, we watched the MTC new missionary and Family devotional. — 70% of the missionaries right now are Sisters! With the age changing from 19 to 18 for sisters, double the amount of sisters are entering the MTC this summer!
After the fireside Luke and I headed over to the St. George Temple so he could take pictures with a huge group of missionaries that had their calls. I watched from the side and then took some pics of Luke and his friends. Then over to the Farnsworths for a quick goodbye.
Luke, Matt and I drove up to Provo on Monday mid morning. Luke decided we should listen to the whole soundtrack of Joseph and the Amazing Techna Colored Dream Coat — to go along with the mini lesson we had before Matt got his Patriarchal Blessing - haha — and it was so fun.
Grandma Walton hosted a big Walton family dinner on Monday night and it was so fun to spent the evening talking with Mike, Carly and the girls, Scott, Elisha and the boys (right before Foster headed to the airport for HXP), Katie and Taylor, Megan, Annie, (Molly on FaceTime) Brian and my mom. It was a lovely evening. We sat outside and talked for a long time as well.
At the end of the evening Luke asked Taylor for a blessing and Mike stayed for that as well. It was such a neat moment. So grateful for my family and their support.
Megan slept over and took the morning off and we enjoyed just hanging out with Luke, Matt and Grandma. For lunch we met Katie and Taylor at Slackwater Pizza for great pizzas and a few last pictures before heading over to the MTC. We would have loved to have Granny J with us but she’s been so sick lately and wasn’t able to come - she had a tearful goodbye with Luke over the phone the night before.
Everyone hopped in my car and we had Dad, Emily, Ryan and Cassie on Facetime as we headed down into the garage. Love this picture! We lost service down underneath but Megan videoed the whole thing and they stayed on the phone to hear all the details after.
It was a quick goodbye. He hugged everyone, we took a group picture and off he went. We watched to see if he would turn and wave but he didn’t. He’s just ready to go!
Marilee volunteers at the MTC and asked to be placed right at the front where she could see every missionary as they approached. She told her supervisor… “I will be giving him a hug because he’s like a son to me.” haha Fun to get these pictures of him heading in!
