Farewell Parties

A wonderful farewell party was held at the Wilde home on Sunday evening after Elder Wilde spoke in Sacrament Meeting.  Many church members and friends were in attendance.

 The banner was so fun.  It had a home with little dotted lines which reached to the state of Pennsylvania and city of Philadelphia.  It said:  "From Brotherly Love (and included Elder Wilde with his three brothers) to the City of Brotherly Love.  We love you, Elder Wilde."

 A very good friend of the family made so many creative, delicious desserts for the occasion.

 The desserts included missionary badges, missionaries . . .

 

white shirts and ties . . .

 Philadelphia cheesecakes . . .

 brownies, chocolate chip cookies, gingerbread squares . . .

and little Books of Mormon.

 So many wonderful people came to wish Elder Wilde the best.

 

 

 Meanwhile, Elder Wilde's Uncle Tyler and brother, Tyson, had fun in a challenging game of ping pong.

 While Elder Wilde's littlest brother enjoyed the trampoline with his cousins and friends.

 And now there will be two Elder Wildes!  Elder Wilde in Sydney, Australia.  (The friend had even made a little kangaroo cookie for the missionary in Australia) and . . .

 and now the newest Elder Wilde who will be going to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  

 The next evening, a farewell party was held for Elder Wilde which included all of his closest friends.

 

 It was a wonderful evening for all of his friends to understand a little more of where he is going and what he has chosen to do for the next two years.

 And Elder Wilde's younger brothers are preparing now in their lives to do the same as their two older brothers are doing--being missionaries and serving the Lord.

Speaking in Sacrament Meeting - August 9, 2015

The new Elder Wilde bore his testimony in his Danville Ward Sacrament Meeting on August 9, 2015.  He talked about the process of the inspired calls given to each of the some 80,000 missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  These calls come from the Church Missionary Department and an Apostle assigned to this responsibility.  He, also, talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how our Savior helps us to wipe our slates clean in life as we come unto him and then continue in our lives as we have been commanded, repenting of those things that we stray from the path.  It was a beautiful, spiritual talk that Elder Wilde gave.

 

Elder Wilde

Elder Wilde with his family and extended family who came to hear him speak at Sacrament Meeting.

Elder Wilde's cousin and his brother, Preston

Preston, Elder Wilde's brother, who wants to be a missionary some day, too.

Elder Wilde with his Grandparents George and Laura Copeland

Receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood and Going Through the Temple

Receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood

In the Church today, worthy male members may receive the Aaronic Priesthood beginning at age 12. These young men, typically ages 12–17, receive many opportunities to participate in sacred priesthood ordinances and give service. As they worthily fulfill their duties, they act in the name of the Lord to help others receive the blessings of the gospel. 

Upon reaching the age of 18, the higher priesthood, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is conferred upon faithful male members of the Church.  Through the laying on of hands, the office of "Elder" was conferred upon the new "Elder Wilde."  Through this office of the Melchizedek Priesthood, he may administer in higher ordinances such as giving the gift of the Holy Ghost to newly baptized members, healing the sick, and naming and blessing children.  

Elder Wilde's father, John Wilde, conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordained him to the office of Elder by the laying on of hands with other Melchizedek Priesthood holders.  This line of authority dates back to Jesus Christ.

Those included in the ordination were Elder Wilde's Uncle Tyler Nevenner, his dad, his Grandpa Copeland, and a member of the Stake Presidency

Elder Copeland with his parents on the day of his ordination, August 8, 2015

Elder Copeland with his grandparents, George and Laura Copeland

 
Attending the Temple for the First Time

Elder Wilde attended the Oakland Temple on August 8, 2015.  In addition to his parents, his Grandparents George and Laura Copeland, and his Uncle and Aunt Chad and Bethany VanSweden, and his Uncle and Aunt Tyler and Carrie Nevenner, also attended with him.

Elder Wilde at the Oakland Temple

Elder Wilde with his Grandparents Copeland

Elder Wilde with his uncles and aunts

For a better understanding of why temples are so important in the lives of every individual, please click on the link below:

Why Mormons Build Temples

The Calling of a Missionary

 When a young man or woman decides to go on a mission, he/she must first be found spiritually, physically, and mentally worthy to do so.   

  The Savior taught, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19).  Church members consider it a privilege to show their love for other people and the Lord by sharing the gospel.

 Missionaries generally begin serving when they are from 18 to 21 years old. Many retired seniors, men, women, and married couples also serve missions. Missionaries serve from 18 months to 2 years. Missions are voluntary, and missionaries are not paid for their service.  Missionaries come from around the world, and they serve wherever the Church calls them. While serving full-time, missionaries are official representatives of the Church.

As is done with every single perspective missionary, Elder Wilde first had to fill out his paperwork stating his desire to serve with recommendations from his ecclesiastical leaders of his worthiness in order to serve a mission.  This paperwork was then sent to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

 The perspective missionary then waits for the special letter to come with the particulars of his/her "calling."  This calling and the place where the missionary will serve is done by revelation through the Lord's servants, the prophets. A member of the Quorum of the Twelve assigns prospective missionaries to one of more than three hundred missions of the Church throughout the world.

 When Elder Wilde received his mission call on April 21, 2015, he was absolutely thrilled.  He would be serving in the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission for a period of 24 months, and would be preaching the gospel in English.  He was told that he would be reporting to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on August 19, 2015.

 Some of Elder Wilde's friends who were there when he opened his call.

 In addition to Elder Wilde's immediate family, many grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins were tuned in through phones to hear the exciting news.  Elder Wilde's older brother is currently serving a mission in Australia Sydney North Chinese Speaking and will be returning after his two years in December 2015.  Therefore, by the time they see each other again, it will be nearly four years!  Also, this is the exact mission Elder Wilde's cousin, Elder Taylor Smart served in just a couple of years ago, except he was Spanish Speaking.