Kody is a Missionary!

Kody was set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this evening. His mom dad and all of his siblings were there along with president McCook from the stake. We all shared mission advice, and then Kody bore an amazing testimony about receiving revelation and knowing this gospel is true. Then President McCook set him apart as a missionary and gave an amazing blessing. I got his room all ready to begin online MTC training tomorrow. I found a picture of Kody when he first started Stake Youth Mission and now as Assistant to the president. He was so little, and now a grown man leaving for 2 years to serve the Lord.

I recorded Kody's setting apart. Kind of his Patriarchal blessing for his mission. I wanted him to be able to read it and remember. 

"Kody McKay Wastlund, by the authority of the Melchizedek priesthood which we hold, we lay our hands upon your head and set you apart as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints assigned to the Santiago, Chile South Mission.  Kody we bless you, to know that this calling has come of God to serve Him.  We bless you that as a full time missionary you will embrace the rules and the work.  We bless you to be able to take advantage of this time as you do your home MTC that your home will become an even more sacred place to you.  That you will feel the spirit communicating to you and teaching you, and that you will be able to improve your teaching and ready yourself to serve Lord.  We bless you to be able to get along with your companions throughout your mission. To be able to see the good in each of them.  To be able to learn from each of them, and to be able to see beyond the things that might bother you at times and to love them. We bless you to remember to serve them. To serve your companions every day.  We bless you as you serve those that you come in contact with that you will not hold back, but that you will open your mouth and let your testimony be heard. We bless you with the ability to testify with power and authority.  That you will be able to convert and be a tool in our Father in Heavens hands in conversion.  That you will be able to enter homes and other places, and that those that see you will recognize you as a servant of God and as a representative of Jesus Christ.  We bless you with a strong mind and a strong body.  We bless you with a strong immune system that will allow you to serve.  We bless you to recognize the importance of exercise during your mission and taking care of yourself, that as you do this it will help relieve stressful situations and will allow you to have peace of mind, and will allow you to be healthy and strong.  We bless you that as you practice the Spanish language that is will come to you and that is will come quickly.  We bless you that as you are obedient to the rules, and obedient to the commandments, and as you strive to do your best the Lord will bless you with the gift of tongues that you will be able to speak the language quickly and understand it and be a blessing in the lives of those you come in contact with.  We bless you to love you mission president, that you will listen to their counsel and their teachings, and be able to apply the things that your learn as you are training and serving, and the lessons you learn will not only bless your life as a missionary but will bless you eternally. And we bless you to know that the people you will serve will be eternally blessed because of your willingness to serve the Lord.  That for them you will be a Savior on Mount Zion.  That for them they will always remember Elder Wastlund and the blessing he brought into their lives.  And we bless you to remember that especially if things feel hard, that you will be able to remember that you are there for those people and not any other reason.  That as you think of that, you will feel strength and a willingness to fight through any hard times.  We bless you to be able to see your way through any difficult times.  We bless you will be able to receive answers to your prayers that are clear and understandable, and that you will know the direction that your Father in Heaven has given you.  We bless you to be able to focus on the task at hand and not worry about home, but to be able to focus and see your purpose and be able to recognize your purpose quickly and what it is that you've been called to do.  We bless you with an understanding of the scriptures, that the more you study them the more they will speak to you.  We bless you that you will come to love them greatly, and that this will not only bless you now, but it will be a lifelong blessing.  And we bless you to have the confidence and the courage to go forward, to serve and to help bring our Fathers children to the truth of the restored gospel, that through you people will know that they have a Savior in Jesus Christ, that has died and suffered for them.  We bless you to be able to do this and to witness miracles.  And we do this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."