Senior Couple journal — New Zealand Hamilton Mission
January 18, 2015 to January 24, 2015
Greetings, dear friends and family,
We have enjoyed another rain-free, sunshine-filled week. We are blessed beyond measure.
1/ Scripture joke of the week: Hobbits in the Bible? Surely not! See the explanation below.
2/ Church history quiz of the week: How many operating temples are there in the state of Utah at present, and how many of them do not have Angel Moroni statues? Can you name the temples without Angel Moroni statues?
3/ Quote of the week: “He who knows truth is not the equal of him who understands truth. He who understands truth is not the equal of him who loves truth.”
4/ Update of the week: In November of last year, we had the opportunity to travel to Hamilton to attend the temple with our branch members. Each morning during our stay, I jogged through the campus of the Church College of New Zealand. The college has been closed for many years, and is now being torn down in preparation for the construction of a new stake center and mission offices. I typically keep my eyes on the ground as I jog, looking for coins or aluminum cans. However, on a particular beautiful morning, I happened to look up as I was jogging along a road in a remote corner of the campus. I saw before me a most remarkable tree. I came to an immediate halt, being enthralled by this tree’s size, shape, and appearance. The tree was massive and imposing. It was perfectly symmetrical, with limbs growing almost as far horizontally as vertically. I quickly realized that I had just discovered my own personal “tree of life”. I am doubtful that Lehi’s ‘tree of life’ could have been much more majestic than this tree. I estimated the height of the tree to be 90 or 100 feet, and I measured the circumference of the trunk to be 25 or 26 feet. As I absorbed the grandeur of this tree, I noticed that many species of birds were finding refuge in its branches and limbs. Many small birds were flitting about the lower limbs. Larger birds were seen higher up. The sounds of their various calls and chirps filled the air. I thought about the tens of thousands of birds that had found refuge and safety in this tree over the decades of its life. I pondered upon how many storms this tree had weathered on this very spot, facing hailstorms, rainstorms, and windstorms beyond counting. I thought about its root system, and how massive and sound it must be to support its massive weight, size, and expanse. I thought how many college students had found shade under its limbs, and how many had climbed to frightful heights on its limbs. For me on that beautiful morning, the tree represented solidarity, purpose, strength, endurance and longevity. Lehi’s tree was representative of the love of God. I can make no such grand comparison for “my” tree, but it certainly deepened my love for the wonderful living creations of a loving Heavenly Father. From this point on in my life, discussions on the “tree of life” will always draw me back to my own personal tree in a remote corner of a church college in Hamilton, New Zealand.
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5/ Answer to the scripture joke: Isaiah 7:20 states that the Lord would use a ‘razor’ to shave the head and the “hair of the feet” of the house of David. Hairy feet? Could that be describing anyone else besides Hobbits? (That joke was contributed by Sister Taylor of the New Zealand Hamilton Mission. My warped wit is rubbing off on her.)
6/ Answer to the Church history quiz: There are currently 14 operating temples in the state of Utah. Three of them do not have Angel Moroni statues ( the Logan Utah Temple, the Manti Utah Temple, and the St. George Utah Temple ).
Much love,
Elder and Sister Taylor
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