Long week at the Empty Sea

This week at work was the week we train for all year. For one week each summer, one third of all the Mission Presidents are new and come to Provo to receive training. Besides being available for mission president's personal needs, we are also there to provide close security for those offering training sessions: members of the Quorum of the Twelve and other General Authorities.

We work long, long work days, get great food and get to be around many wonderful people. Throughout the week, I was able to meet and provide security for Presidents Monson, Eyring, Uchtdorf, and Packer as well as Elders Perry, Holland, Bednar, Hales, Scott, Christofferson, Cook, Wirthlin, Oaks, and Ballard. I was also around the Presiding Bishopric, the seven Presidents of the Seventy, and some 50 or so other general authorities.

We spend many hours rotating through various positions (many of which include standing in the sun in your suit) but the highlight for me was when Elder Christofferson offered me his hand to shake and I completely blanked on his name. In my head, "Chris..Christo..I know this!!". Instead I just said, "Hello, sir." Classic.