Church News Article

Missionary Reunion

Parents, Daughters Meet at the MTC

 

By Gerry Avant, Church News Editor

Published: Saturday, June 30, 2012

PROVO, UTAH

President Paul R. Lovell, who is the new president of the Argentina Neuquen Mission, and his wife, Sister Brenda T. Lovell, were among mission leaders attending the 2012 Seminar for New Mission Presidents, held June 24-27. They received counsel, guidance and words of inspiration from President Thomas S. Monson and his counselors in the First Presidency, President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, as well as from members of the Quorum of the Twelve, Quorum of the Seventy and Presiding Bishopric.

Gerry Avant, Church News

President Paul R. Lovell, who will be new president of the Argentina Mission, and his wife, Sister Brenda T. Lovell, attended the 2012 Seminar for New Mission Presidents. While there, they spent a few moments with their daughters, Sister Ashley Lovell, who is assigned to the Chile Concepcion Mission, and Sister Brittany Lovell, assigned to the Spain Malaga Mission.

Added to all these blessings was being able to see the two youngest of their nine daughters, Brittany and Ashley, who were also at the Missionary Training Center. The daughters, fraternal twins, entered the MTC on Wednesday, June 20. The parents entered on Saturday, June 23.

Gerry Avant, Church News

Brenda and Paul Lovell meet daughters, Ashley, second from left, and Brittany, at the Missionary Training Center. The parents are going to Argentina, the daughters to Spain and Chile.

The daughters were members of a choir that performed on each day of the seminar. The parents and daughters first caught sight of each other on Sunday morning.
While all those attending the seminar were seated in a large room before the meeting began, members of the choir waited outside the room until it was time for them to sing and then left afterward.
"I just sat and looked at them when they came in," Sister Lovell said of catching a first glimpse of her daughters in the MTC setting. "Their faces were glowing. Their countenances were bright."

Gerry Avant, Church News

Brenda and Paul Lovell meet daughters, Ashley, second from left, and Brittany, at the Missionary Training Center. The parents are going to Argentina, the daughters to Spain and Chile.

President Lovell said, "When I saw them come into the room, I thought, 'What a great blessing.' When they walked out after they sang, I started crying."
Sister Brittany Lovell, assigned to the Spain Malaga Mission, said, "I felt so blessed to see my parents sitting before me and the First Presidency and the Apostles and other leaders sitting behind the choir."

Gerry Avant, Church News

President Dieter Uchtdorf and his wife Sister Harriet Uchtdorf meet with President Paul R. Lovell, who will be new president of the Argentina Mission, and his wife, Sister Brenda T. Lovell, at the 2012 Seminar for New Mission Presidents. While there, President and Sister Lovell spent a few moments with their daughters, Sister Ashley Lovell, who is assigned to the Chile Compecion Mission, and Sister Brittany Lovell, assigned to the Spain Malaga Mission.

The choir sang, "Consider the Lilies of the Field," said Sister Ashley Lovell, who is assigned to the Chile Concepcion Mission. "I looked at my parents and started crying as I was singing. It was a beautiful experience."
President and Sister Lovell, members of the South Jordan (Utah) River Ridge 7th Ward, have a third daughter who is a full-time missionary: Sister Erica Lovell left in March to serve in the Italy Rome Mission. Another daughter, Jamie L. Moss, served in the Chile Antofagasta Mission.
— Gerry Avant