Temple Sealing!

Taylorsville Utah Temple

Plum & Pine Event Center

Pre-reception dinner!

Wedding Reception

Our Wedding

I first noticed Michael, or “Elder Hazel” on a mission-wide zoom call in winter of 2023. At the time, he was leader over teaching family history to the missionaries, so he was given time on the call to present a short training. I remember thinking he was really bland and unexpressive - a short-sighted, quick, and unfair judgment of mine. I didn’t have another interaction with him (after his companion and he passed along a family for us to teach that same winter) until I was called to be a sister training leader in the fall of 2024. He was called to be an assistant to President Chibota, so he worked very closely with the zone leaders and sister training leaders in each zone every week to ensure the success of all the missionaries. The main time I remember was when my eyes were first opened to more of who he is. He came to a district council meeting in my district, and something about the way he spoke to me drew me in. Being me, however, and remembering my missionary purpose, I quickly did my best to close that avenue off as effectively as possible; it was not in the cards for me to lose focus. However, as time went on, I started noticing him more. The way he treated other missionaries and people in general, how he served the Chibota’s, how he didn’t fear correcting others, but always did it in a way that would lift them up rather than tearing them down. A true disciple of Christ. But I prayed every night to stay focused. I wanted to always remember my purpose and prove I was only there to serve the Lord. It turned out to be quite the test but also a huge blessing; I grew a lot! Then I got transferred to Michael’s district. Then his area, where we ward-shared. What a good test! God really enjoys doing that. What was wonderful about it, though, was that my companions and I really got to know Michael and his companions on a friendly basis, and learn from each other. It was a blast! I had extended my mission a transfer, and boy, was it a wonderful, miracle-filled transfer.&nbsp; On the night I was to leave (a couple of days early because my brothers were graduating), we were gathered in the mission home for dinner and another mission-wide call where transfer news would be announced. Michael and I found ourselves “alone” in the kitchen (though our companions were right there nearby), and I told him that, per his hinting over the weeks, if he wanted to tell me something, he’d better do it now. He agreed, and immediately - and boldly - declared that he’d like to date me, and wanted to know if the feeling was reciprocal. I was literally stunned into silence! All I could do was quickly nod my head.&nbsp; Keep in mind, he had told my companion at the time, Sister Hardcastle, that he was going to tell me something that night, and she automatically told me, so I’d been sort of stressing that day. Not only was I going home, but the missionary I so admired now…… admired me?? Needless to say, I barely ate a crumb that whole day in anticipation and stress. Heart pounding and face burning after nodding my consent to Michael’s adorable request, I listened as he described, in as much of a professional, missionary-like way that he could, how he felt about me. He told me he could scarcely look at me in the temple, and when I asked why, he told me it was because I was beautiful and that I glowed. I think I must have melted in that moment. I told him about a short letter I had given Sister Chibota containing my number that he would receive soon, and then we were ushered back into the chaos of the night with the other missionaries. I didn’t sleep a wink that night, nor on the plane rides the next day. A few days after arriving home and experiencing all the immense joy that comes from seeing beloved family and being swept up into home life once again, Michael and I got in contact and set up a date for the following week. In the months that followed, there would be many more dates and even more opposition to our courtship and relationship, but through the power of prayer, revelation through the Holy Ghost, and significant spiritual experiences I had on my own and with Michael, I came to know - not just believe, but know - that he was the one I am to be with for eternity.&nbsp; There’s a special thing about knowing something to be true. There are all sorts of things we believe, hold close, and keep special in our lives, but how many things have we gained an actual, solid knowledge of? How many beliefs are subject to change, whereas knowledge is rock-solid? Long story short, I knew. As Joseph Smith said, “I knew it, and I knew God knew it, and I could not deny it.” This is how I feel. I know Michael is my one! :)

From the Perspective of Emma...

I have a vague recollection of my first seeing Emma last fall at a Mission Leadership Counsel. I do not remember all of the details. From what I can recall, she was quiet and yet she carried a bright confidence. She glowed. I remember thinking that she seemed like an excellent missionary. I love that it was not love at first sight, though. In fact, it was not love at first conversation either. Funny enough, prior to the fall of 2024, we actually spoke over the phone briefly in the winter of 2023 when my companion and I handed off a family that we began teaching in Emma's area of Defuniak Springs. Again, nothing spectacular occurred - no angels shouted her name from any mountain tops (as far as I know). I do, however, remember our first substantive interaction. It was at a district council in Leeds, AL. My companion and I were visiting the area for exchanges. Emma and her companion Sister Okuda were running behind and came in the room with gusto! They took their seats beside us and prepared themselves with their notes and scriptures. My companion, Elder Lunt, commented that Emma's notes looked like a "pinterest board" and I looked over to get a look. She had beautiful and fun handwriting. I could see an incredible and powerful personality on those pages. Throughout the council Emma proceeded to give insightful thoughts and offer relevant personal anecdotes. I remember coming away from that meeting feeling impressed. She was not an ordinary missionary and I was excited to work with her more. From then on, it was hard not to notice Emma. The mission was very clearly bringing her more toward the Lord Jesus Christ and that closeness was manifesting itself in powerful ways. She was no longer as quiet and/or shy. Instead, she was continually sharing miracle after miracle in the chats and on mission-wide calls. She was a missionary that you wanted other missionaries to be patterned after. It was clear to all that she was truly letting God prevail in her life. My admiration had grown and I was always eager to hear what she would share next. Her joy was contagious. Nevertheless, the mission was so deeply ingrained in me that I never saw her as more than an excellent missionary and someone I was happy to be serving with. For the majority of this period, our interactions were mostly limited to once a week zone call-ins where we would discuss the needs of the missionaries of her zone. However, in January of this year, Emma was transferred from her area in Locust Fork to my district in Birmingham to serve with Sister Thompson. Serving more closely with Emma was terrific! Sometimes the various responsibilities that my companion(s) and I had would leave us a little low on energy. However, Emma and Sister Thompson were an electric duo that brought so much energy and an over-abundance of the Spirit to every meeting, preparation day, and Sabbath. It seemed that just being around them could revive your day. It was a joy to spend more time working with her. Everything about missionary work was made brighter by her presence and enthusiasm - all of which was made possible by how she carried the Spirit of the Lord with her. That was one of her most immediately obvious characteristics. After that first transfer, she and Sister Thompson were transferred to share the Inverness Ward with my companion and I. We were beyond excited! We were eager to see how the two best missionaries in AL "did their thing" and to learn from them. It was a treat! Still at this point, I did not see Emma as anything more than the incredible disciple of Christ that she is. I had not yet recognized how beautiful she was. I had not even realized how much I loved spending time with her and talking with her. We were just kindred missionaries and spirits. We ended up sharing the Inverness Ward together for the last three months of our time in AL. As our last transfer began, I woke up one morning and something had changed. I began feeling that perhaps there was something that could be there at the end of our time. With just over a month remaining, it occurred to me that I would have to ask her on a date when we returned home. One day I told her that I had something to share with her before she was to go. A few weeks later, our district went to the temple together with only a few weeks remaining on the mission. I will admit that at this point I had developed a very real "crush" on the beautiful and fun girl! However, in the temple that day everything changed. We participated in several ordinances in behalf of many of our deceased ancestors that day, including my Grandfather John Robert Hazel. That was beautiful. Furthermore, throughout our time in the house of the Lord, I felt impressed that there was something more going on that day. It had to do with Emma - every time I looked at her, I was filled with joy and could not help but smile so big! As we were drawing to a close on our time there, we were performing sealings and I was acting as a witness as Emma knelt in the place of a child who had not yet been bound to her parents. As I looked upon her, it was as though she began to emit light. She shone so bright - a near perfect radiance. Reflecting on that experience, I am convinced that she was surrounded by angels from the presence of the Father. All I can see in my mind's eye is white and the brightest most glorious light I have ever beheld in the mortal body. In that moment I had the unmistakeable impression from the Spirit that she was the one I am to marry. Fast forward a few weeks and we are departing the mission in a few days. Like every missionary who is preparing to go home, I met with President Chibota to talk about what comes next. At one point in our interview, he asked if there was anyone who had caught my eye. I said Sister Pratt of course! He nearly laughed his way off of the couch! He shared that she had said something similar and left a note for me upon her departure. I was elated. Later that night, she and I found ourselves momentarily alone in the kitchen amongst the swirling of our companions, new missionaries, and Chibotas. Emma told me that if I had something to say, now was the time to say it. As crazy as it may sound, I immediately had the urge to tell her that I loved her and wanted to marry her! However, I opted for a safer option and said that I would like to date her when we got home later that week. I asked her if there was reciprocity and she nodded. When I departed that night, her last in AL, I told her that I will see her soon. My last night in AL, Sister Chibota handed me the note from Emma. It was tender, awkward, and precious (I keep it on my nightstand to this day). She left behind her number and I waited all of an hour after being released as a full time missionary before I sent her a text (which is longer than she waited I might add - ask her about it)! We called the next day and soon set up a time to get together for a date! We went on our first official date the next week at the Idaho Falls Temple. It was perfect. In fact what stands out most to me about everything related to Emma is how perfect it has all been. Time, space, and the limits of the english language do not give me the luxury to describe every unique and precious spiritual experience we had together and individually. Over the next few months we did our best to see each other as frequently as we could. There was a lot of opposition and sometimes that really weighed on us. Nevertheless, we continued to date, and talk, and open up in remarkable ways. The most incredible part in all of this was how frequently and powerfully we saw the hand of the Lord in our lives. Never has He with such clarity and power made the truth so clear. I know by divine revelation that Emma is my eternal companion.

From the perspective of Michael...

Our Story

Photos

Spunky, talented, and fabulous little sister to the bride!

Addison Pratt

The man, the myth, the legend. 
Nothing more needs to be said.

McKay Hazel

The most wild and hilarious transfers of Sister Pratt’s mission..

Tanaeya Thompson

Best friend since 4th grade! Silly goose moved to OK, though.

Brandon Ducat

A real firecracker! She knows what’s up.

Brynn Hardcastle

Best friend since 6th grade! I do not know what else to say, you will just have to meet him.

Matt Marshel

Brooklyn Kjar

Super genuine human being and great friend! Do not talk about minecraft with him, though.

Domenico Lucido

Emma’s partner in crime, best friend, and cousin!

Kaytlyn Duffin

He was my longest mission companion! We served together for three long transfers in Birmingham. He is truly singular!

Dallin Lunt

Lauren Zaleski

He is the A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R he is meant to be a colony that runs independently... Just kidding. You can just call him Bert! We served together in Mobile and later in Birmingham where he sent me home after one last transfer together.

Zander Bertola

Wedding Party

Travel

The temple is the house of the Lord. In temples, God's children draw nearer to Him and His Son Jesus Christ by making sacred promises with Him. Temples are the only places on earth where families can be united eternally. Those who worship in the house of the Lord receive peace, inspiration, joy, and spiritual power.&nbsp; The temple is used for participating in sacred ordinances such as&nbsp;proxy baptisms, endowment ceremonies, and sealings, each of which are fundamental to the Christ’s doctrine of eternal families and personal salvation.

Emma & Michael

Emma & Michael

Things to Do

Walk the temple grounds!