The following is Lauren's first email from the MTC. 

HEY MOM!!!!!!! it is my first P day so I am e mailing you :).  It is so good here! I feel the Holy Ghost testifying to me the truthfulness of the gospel everyday! I definately feel close to Daddy, I have actually brought him up on several occasions (he really is a light on a hill like his patriarchal blessing says.) One cool experience I have had here while teaching a person named Marissa is that I felt the Holy Ghost tell me the church is true, but more specifically that the prophet recieves direct revelation from God. I also know that we can. I know that if someone seeks for the truth, he will find it and that as a missionary I need to challenge investigators to try it out and testify that I know that they will find an answer( because I know they will) if they do that. I also know that the spirit teaches missionaries who then say what needs to be said in order for the investigator to feel the spirit and in turn, they know that there is somethiong about this message that is familiar to them becase they knew it in the pre earth life.  T he spirit is crucial to teaching. Anywho, I am working on a letter that I will send to you sometime soon. I am so busyyyyy!!!!!! no time for anything but the schedule. 

They feed us good here though. OH! President Monson is comming today!!!!!!!! how exciting is that! well, got to go!

Love ya!!

Lauren