Week 2

7-13 September 2025

Our second week as missionaries was spent mostly at the MTC being trained on the office tasks we will do as the General Secretary (Sister Hoffer) and Finance Secretary (Elder Hoffer). Friday was our first day in the mission office.

Sunday

We had the opportunity to participate in our first great-grandchild's blessing. Her name is Ellie Lavon Reynolds, daughter of Parker and Alyssa (our granddaughter) Reynolds.

After sacrament meeting at the BYU married student ward, we went to the Missionary Training Center and enjoyed the large murals in buildings T3 and T4. Each mural has an associated scripture. Then we returned home and prepared for our weekly family Sunday dinner.

MTC Training

While last week's training focused on Preach My Gospel, this week's training focused on our office tasks. Our training was in separate classrooms. Sister Hoffer learned about General Secretary tasks and Elder Hoffer learned Financial Secretary tasks.

Monday

On Monday evening we attended a discussion given by Brother and Sister Taylor, a prior missionary office couple now assigned as senior missionary mentors. The title of their presentation was "Making the Office a Spiritual Experience." They gave us great advice on the finer points of being office missionaries.

Tuesday 

We got to tell another senior missionary couple about being in the MTC at the same time as our grandson because Cael showed up at our table during Tuesday lunch. That evening was the weekly MTC devotional. The general authority that spoke with his wife was Peter M. Johnson.

 Elder Johnson shared that he was a convert to the Church who later chose to serve a mission in the Alabama Birmingham Mission. One of his companions received a great deal of family support, and every single day letters arrived for him. Wanting to collect his mail as soon as possible, this companion insisted that they return home by 11:30 a.m. each day.

Day after day, Elder Johnson watched his companion open stacks of letters—from parents, siblings, and several different girlfriends. Meanwhile, Elder Johnson received no letters at all. This routine continued for quite some time, and the contrast became increasingly difficult for him.

Then one morning, when they returned home at 11:30 as usual, only one letter was waiting in the mailbox. It had no return address but was clearly addressed to Elder Peter M. Johnson. Excited, he ran upstairs, tore open the envelope, and began to read.

The letter was from his companion.

In that moment, Elder Johnson felt a change within himself. That simple act of kindness gave him the encouragement and strength he needed to carry on, and it became a turning point in his mission.

Wednesday

Wednesday was a full day of training. There were no extra meetings that evening so we enjoyed getting home early and the extra rest.

Thursday 

Thursday was a shorter review day. For the morning devotional, Brother and Sister Larsen, a prior missionary office couple showed pictures and told stories from their mission. We really enjoyed their presentation.

American Heritage School Students

Here are some pictures of Elder Hoffer's former students at American Heritage School that we bumped into at the MTC.

 

Our First Day on the Job

Friday was the first day at the mission office where we had a full day of one-on-one training. It was like drinking from a firehose. We will be replacing Elder and Sister Gerhart who are both excellent trainers.  There is so much to learn.

Uplifting Story

Here’s a story our young MTC trainer, Brother Easton Favila, shared with us.

He served his mission in Chile and loved it. But one transfer took him to a very remote area, deep in the forest, with only a few people nearby. For someone as outgoing as he is, this was especially difficult. He thrives in a crowd of hundreds, teaching and testifying of the gospel. But instead, he suddenly found himself in a tiny hut with few neighbors and only four members in the entire area.

Their hut had a single water tank outside, which they relied on for cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Since it was only refilled once a week, they had to carefully ration their water each day. The isolation and living conditions weighed heavily on him.

One day, feeling discouraged and wondering why the Lord had sent him to such a place, he found a quiet spot outside to pray. He poured out his heart: “Why am I here? What do you need me to do? I don’t think I can go on like this. I need you to speak to me!”

A clear impression came: “Read your scriptures.”

Frustrated, he returned to the hut. He had been reading and praying faithfully every day, trying his best to be exactly obedient, so the answer felt almost disappointing. Still, he opened his scriptures, and they fell to Doctrine and Covenants 100:3–5, 12

3 Behold, and lo, I have much people in this place, in the regions round about; and an effectual door shall be opened in the regions round about in this eastern land.

4 Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls.

5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;

12 Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end.

Brother Favila said that from that moment on, he knew God was aware of him and his struggles. It became a turning point in his mission. With renewed faith, he pressed forward and was able to help bring several souls unto Christ.