When I entered the MTC in Provo, Utah, on that Monday morning—3 March 2008—I had no idea how much my life would change. Receiving training at the MTC, teaching by the Spirit, meeting new people from all walks of life, and being able to sit and be taught at the feet of general authorities like Elder Jeffery R. Holland was so amazing to me.The most exciting time in the entire mission was preparing to leave on my mission. I was leaving dear friends who have been there for me to keep me on the straight and narrow track so I was able to serve this mission. I was leaving friends I have made while living in Woodstock, but knowing that we would meet again in just eighteen short months.
I am in Natick, Massachusetts, serving as the mission secretary for the mission president. Serving in this capacity has afforded me the privilege of being among many such secretaries who have served before me with men such as President Dale B. Murphy, President Mitt Romey, and President Boyd K. Packer, to name a few of these great men.
Being a secertary to a mission president is a twenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week job.You are mother, grandmother, and best friend to all you serve. It's amazing how a day will go in the life of the mission. Every six weeks we have transfers, but before that happens certain key factors have to come into play. It is like "Ground Hog Day" every six weeks because the cycle repeats itself. The first week you have to prepare for those new missionaries coming in from the MTC. The second week you have to prepare for those who are going home by making flight reservations, checking to make sure that they have their same bishop and stake president (we don't want to delay those release papers) and also making sure that Mom or Dad will be coming to the mission to pick up their great missionary. The third week you are preparing for zone conferences, which happens again in that six-week cycle. In preparation for zone conference you have to reserve a building where the conference is to be held and find a Relief Society president who would like to prepare lunch for some hungry missionaries. The thanks she gets is a smile and a song ("As I Have Loved You") sung by the attending missionaries . . . what a blessing. The fourth week is getting close to crunch time: making new mission handbooks and arrival packets for those coming in and making departure packets for those who are leaving. The fifth week there is mission council, where district and zone leaders meet with the mission president to discuss the affairs of the mission. Did I also mention that during these weeks we have staff meetings with the office staff and assistants to the president to talk about affairs of the mission? Then the sixth week we greet the new missionaries from the MTC and orient them to the working of the mission and what is expected of them. There are also the goodbyes to those you have gotten used to as if they were your own children. Then there's the departing testimony meeting (what a tear-jerker!). And guess what? Then the process starts all over again.
Serving in this mission is really the most wonderful thing that I have ever done in my life, especially experiencing the strength of the valiant youth of our church and feeling a part of their work, as I do things for them that will ease their load. These missionaries are so great. I have come to love each of them, and believe me, each has his/her own personality. Some have great senses of humor, which I have always enjoyed. Their testimonies are humbling and their spirit is so pure, coming from nineteen- to twenty-one-year-olds.
I have extended my mission an extra thirty days because of training a new mission president and to train someone to take my place. I will not be home until October. The new mission president is William T. Evans, son of Elder Richard L. Evans, who narrated "The Spoken Word" for so many years. I am honored and priviledged to be of service to such a humble and sweet servant called by our Father in Heaven.
This I do know, Christ died for each of us as the ultimate sin offering. He lives, the first to rise from the dead. We can all look to that and to be with Him and His Father in Heaven, if we accept and keep the commandments and love them as they love us. His Church has been restored to the earth in its fullness, and we need to share the joyful news with everyone who will listen. I have experienced life without this assurance and knowledge and now with it, and I can tell you having the joy of the gospel in my life is the Beat. I am thankful that our Lord continued to work with me, and prepared me, and then had me taught by those who could explain it in a way I could understand. His great love is so wonderful. Seek Him and He will answer.
I love all of you and will see you soon, but remember the best way to lose yourself is to lose yourself in service to others.
—Sister Anita L. Durphey