Senior Couple journal — New Zealand Hamilton Mission
October 12, 2014 to October 18, 2014
Dear friends and family,
So much for the spring weather. We are afloat again. Please send snorkels and fins. :o)
1/ Scripture joke for the week: Why are orthopedic surgeons always in good standing with the Lord? See answer below.
2/ Church history quiz for the week: Sylvester Q. Cannon and Rudger Clawson, two apostles who served earlier in this century, died within 24 days of each other. Have any two of our other apostles passed away within a shorter time interval than 24 days?
3/ Quote for the week: “It is better to prepare and prevent, rather than to repair and repent.” — President Ezra Taft Benson.
4/ Update for the week: Our update this week is a wonderful story related by Brother Michael Tutauha, a member of the Hawera Branch. One day he and his wife were traveling on a road near their home, and they encountered a typical New Zealand police “breathalyzer” blockade. These blockades are common in New Zealand. The police set up a diversion of traffic flow and administer an alcohol breathalyzer test to the driver of each vehicle. They also check your driver’s license and vehicle registration at the same time. If you are alcohol-free, you are waved on; if you test positive for alcohol, you are detained, fined, and, at times, arrested. Brother Tutauha dutifully pulled his car into the testing area, and began to search his wallet for his driver’s license. The police officer assigned to his car happened to notice Brother Tutauha’s temple recommend in his wallet. He leaned toward Brother Tutauha and said, “Don’t worry about your license or the breathalyzer test, brother. You can drive on. I have a temple recommend in my wallet, too. I’m a bishop.” Brother Tutauha and his wife moved back into the flow of traffic with broad grins on their faces, grateful in a new way for the Word of Wisdom and the blessings of the temple.
We also enjoyed having President and Sister Rudd in our home again this week. They were in the Taranaki Zone to interview the missionaries and give training. We always receive a boost and an uplift when we get to mingle with our “chosen leaders”. They are wonderful!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
5/ Answer to the scripture joke: In D&C 81:5, the Lord admonishes us to “…strengthen the feeble knees.” Orthopedic surgeons do that very thing on almost a daily basis with their knee arthroscopies and joint replacements. They keep this particular commandment with exactness!
6/ Answer to the Church history quiz: The Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum (both apostles) died within minutes of each other on June 27, 1844. Elder Neal A. Maxwell died on July 21, 2004 and Elder David B. Haight died on July 31, 2004, an interval of just 10 days. Jedediah M. Grant died on December 1, 1856 and Lyman E. Johnson died on December 20, 1856, an interval of 19 days (Lyman was estranged from the Church at the time of his death). Elder Cannon (mentioned in the question) died May 29, 1943 and Elder Clawson died June 21, 1943, an interval of 24 days.
Much love,
Elder and Sister Taylor
Click here to return to the Senior Couple mission index