Our Jarvis Jive: Anniversary & Chaplain Conference

Ever since Roz was born on our anniversary two years ago we haven't quite figured out when to celebrate it! Her birthday is September 26th, Jeremy's is October 1st, and Chaplain Conference every year is also on the weekend of the first (along with General Conference)! So, busy time. But we celebrated our 12 year anniversary this year!

We planned a fun little family trip for Chaplain Conference/General Conference, and Mom and Dad met us at Wolf Creek where we stayed in a condo for the weekend. They were willing to watch the kids for us Friday night, and all day Monday and Tuesday and did a great job! This is the first time I was able to attend all the days of chaplain conference with Jeremy and it was a huge blessing. Another special part of this weekend was that we were able to be set apart as a Chaplain and Chaplain Spouse. That was something we had been looking forward to for a couple of years and it was a really amazing experience. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. Brianna was able to watch the kids so that Mom and Dad could join us for the setting apart, and then they headed back up to put them to bed while Jeremy and I attended the dinner that evening.

Two general authority seventies, Elders Wood and Carlson were doing the setting aparts that day. Elder Wood did ours, then Elder Carlson introduced himself after. We waited in a waiting room for about an hour, and chatted and had some refreshments while we waited. Then we were called into a conference room with floor-length windows on two sides so you could see out across Salt Lake City, it was beautiful. Elder Wood shook all of our hands and we all sat down and he got to know us a little bit and asked us some general questions. I thought one comment was kinda funny, he said "Oh, Chaplain Jarvis, I've heard about you." Haha. I have no idea what that was supposed to mean, but hopefully he heard good things! Anyway, I had brought my journal and a pen to try to write down as much of the blessings as I could because they wouldn't let us record them.

Every year during chaplain conference new chaplains are set apart. So, even though Jeremy commissioned on June 18th, we had to wait until yesterday to be set apart. We have been looking forward to it for a long time, especially once we officially became a chaplain family. This is an official church calling and it just doesn't feel like you are completely ready until you've been set apart, so yesterday was very much a blessing.

We were able to invite three other people, so we asked Brianna to watch our kids and invited Mom and Dad to join us. We arrived at the conference center and went up to the 24th floor where we were then led to a waiting room with refreshments until it was our turn. There were several people there waiting to be set apart, it's pretty amazing to see how many LDS chaplains there are.

When it was our turn we were led into a conference room with tall windows overlooking the city, it was beautiful. There was a large conference desk with chairs all around it and they told us to take a seat, so we did. We met Elder Wood, the Seventy who was going to set us apart, had me introduce my parents, and he asked a little about our history, where we met, our previous military experience, and then he told us a few stories. He was very clear that this is an important time for chaplains to be in the military.

Jeremy was set apart first, and Elder Wood asked Dad if he held the Melchizedek Priesthood, because he does he was invited to participate, which was really amazing. They don't allow any type of recording, so I tried to write down as much as I could, but I wasn't able to write it all, same for Mom during my blessing. But I want to record what we did get because it was so special.

He set Jeremy apart as a missionary in conjunction to his military position as a chaplain.

You have served your Heavenly Father and your country for many years, nobly and with honor.
Blesses you to continue as an Air Force chaplain and missionary, that your connection with heaven will be greater than ever before.
The Spirit will lead you for right and you will be increasingly more sensitive to those who come to you and who seek guidance.
Blessed with the spirit of discernment
Demonstrate by how you live and counsel those who come to you to arrange the affairs of their lives to be closer to God and centered around family.
Blessed with health and strength, insight, uncommon knowledge, and to excel as never before as a husband and father.
Veil will grow thing and you will see/be part of the great enterprise that reaches to eternity. You will be touched by thing of eternity in what you say and do.
You will be led forward and transcend all challenges that come before you, and in so doing all aspects of your life will be sanctified: spiritually, your family, your work.
Rejoice in your identity as a son of God.

Jeremy and Dad were both asked to participate in my setting apart. When I stood and approached the chair Elder Wood asked me if I had ever served a mission, and I replied that I hadn't. He then asked if anyone had told me that this calling was a mission, and I said that no one had directly told me that, but that I had assumed. He then said, "then I should ask you, do you accept the call??" And I said, "of course," with a big smile. That moment was amazing. I don't know how to describe it, but I literally accepted an in-person call to serve a mission from a general authority and was able to say "of course." It really makes me feel complete in this calling.

He set me apart as a missionary in conjunction with my husband as a chaplain.

Rejoice in your life.
Find happiness and joy in this calling
You will transcend all challenges and struggles.
You will find joy and happiness
Like the apostles you are called with a special calling to stand as a representative and witness of Jesus Christ.
You will bear testimony. It will burn bright within you.
Reach out to others in a way that they will trust. Be sensitive and build trust and friendship and it will soften hearts toward the truth of the Gospel.
Blessed with health and strength in all ways, mind, spirit, and body.
Myself and our family blessed with safety and protection of guardian angels over our family during times of separation and challenges/hardships.

Afterward, we got some pictures and also met another seventy, Elder Carlson, who was a 4-star general in the Air Force.

After we were set apart. :)

Us with Elder Wood. :)

We had just finished at Chaplain Conference and decided to stop at this tasty ice cream shop in Ogden before we went back to the condo. Date! :)

Us with Mom and Dad after we were set apart, before they headed back to watch the kids for us. :)

Elder Uchtdorf spoke on Tuesday, he sat just a few rows in front of us before he walked up there!

Afterward, the person conducting said we wouldn't be able to shake hands with him because of covid, but when it ended Uchtdorf immediately made his way into the crowd and started meeting people, so a really kind lady who was a hostess of some sort told us to stand by this door and we could shake his hand before he left, so we did. Jeremy and I both got to shake Elder Uchtdorf's firm hand. It lasted a few seconds, but I looked into his eyes and felt his special spirit as an apostle. Then he shook two more hands and left. It was really amazing.

Over the weekend we watched General Conference and also celebrated Grandpa Brown's birthday with Jeremy and Roz's. We planned a doughnut party for Roz, so of course we had doughnuts for dessert!