The "Real" Elder Price, Part 1: The Missionary Training Center

Elder Price was paired with Elder Seth Lee, from Seattle, who was also headed for the DR-Kinshasa mission.

Elders Price and Lee by Provo Temple

We asked each missionary to tell us a little about their lives thus far.

Brandon Price had been a student at Dixie State College, studying theater. He believed in the gospel and wanted to share it. Of course, most of the missionaries are fulfilling family expectations, but such expectations are cumbersome when the real work begins. As the president of the MTC once said, "It doesn't matter what got you here. You might be here because your girlfriend said she wouldn't marry you if you didn't go on a mission. You might be here because your father promised you a car. All that matters is that you're here. And now, if you do your part, you will become a disciple of the Lord."

Some missionaries have agonized over the choice to serve—two years far from home, and at their own expense. One, older than most in the MTC, reflected on his decision in these words:

It was at the invitation of a friend to pray and fast about it that I really began to explore the possibility of going on a mission. I remember having dinner prepared and leaving it on the table to go up to my loft to pray. The Lord had chastened me. He had taken away the things that I was hanging onto, and when there was nothing left (or so I felt) I was in that oh-so-familiar place: kneeling next to my bed, saturating my comforter and sheets with my tears and pleas to Heavenly Father. The direction became clear.

I talked with my Bishop. I went through heart-wrenching moments, acknowledging and sharing everything. I remember the difficulty and the love. I remember the anxiety and the peace. And the day I knew a mission was a real possibility, I made a decision. I did not do it for my mom or dad; I did it because I knew it was right for me, that I had to make sacrifices; that if I did not do it, my life and ideals would amount to mere words. I had been given the opportunity to truly contribute to the welfare of the world by serving Heavenly Father's children one by one.

Most of the MTC elders are still in their teens, so such introspection is not the norm, and childish antics are not uncommon. Elder Price wrote in his journal: "I do get a little frustrated some days with the immature high school-ness of some people, but that's okay and normal, I guess. The MTC really isn't that horrible."

Elder Price in MTV

Though they will still behave like the teenagers they are, most of the missionaries find themselves praying with new intensity as they begin this mission they've been planning for so many years. Elder Price's companion had simple counsel for him: "Lighten up." Indeed, Elder Lee, with a gift of humor, would always honor serious things as a missionary, but would be able to crack a joke when the tension got too much.

Tension could get particularly thick during language classes.

Sleeping missionary in language class

Our missionaries were all learning French, and were expected to develop at least some fluency within the two months of their MTC stay. Toward the end of his two months, Elder Price wrote to his family: "I've been freaking out about forgetting all my French, but apparently I'm doing something right, because the other night, one of our new roommates told me that I was talking in my sleep in French. So something's getting down into my brain somewhere."

Elder Henry Lisowski (who arrived three months after Elder Price) wrote to me about how hard the language had been for him in those classes. "You've probably heard of the struggles I had with French," he said. Yes, he thought his ineptitude was legendary.

My husband and I got to spend two months with our missionaries before sending them to their various mission fields. We welcomed, supported, and then said good-bye to them. Those farewells were often emotional, as I described in this note:

Elder Price with district in language class