Senior Couple journal — New Zealand Hamilton Mission
March 1, 2015 to March 7, 2015
Dear friends and family,
Love and warmth to all of you from rainy New Zealand as a busy and challenging week comes to an end.
1/ Scripture joke of the week: The smallest communities in the Book of Mormon? There were some very, very small ones. See explanation below.
2/ Church history quiz of the week: Eight brethren served as Patriarch to the Church in this dispensation. One brother served as Acting Patriarch to the Church. How many of these nine brethren can you name?
3/ Quote of the week: “He [the Lord] presides over this Church. He is no stranger to His servants.” — President Boyd K. Packer
4/ Update for the week: This week, I get to brag about my wonderful companion. Sister Taylor is a remarkable missionary. She never misses an opportunity to talk to people about the Church and the reason why we are here in New Zealand. Here is just one of dozens of examples I could give. Not long ago, I dropped Susan off at a local store while I ran to take care of a quick item of branch business. As I returned, I saw her on the street corner near the store, engaged in conversation with three “tweeners”, young men around 11 or 12 years of age. They had their skateboards and scooters, and Sister Taylor had her ever present “pass-along” cards and friendly smile. By the time I arrived, she had talked with these boys about missionaries, the location of our chapel in Hawera, our Wednesday night sports night (to which she invited them), the importance of choosing the right and growing up to be respectable adults, and the times of our Sunday meetings. She next showed them a picture of our temple in Hamilton and told them of its significance. She gave each one of them a pass-along card as she invited them to come to church and meet some of our young missionaries. Most of us would not have given these young men a second glance, but Sister Taylor reached out in love. Another example — We had befriended a young man named Ethan that worked at Pita Pit here in Hawera. Having learned that he was soon to leave for Christchurch for college, Sister Taylor sent him on his way with a pass-along card, a Church-produced DVD about Christ, and a sincere expression of friendship and love. One more example — Sister Taylor loves to (lives to) shop, but she turns all of her shopping experiences into missionary experiences here in New Zealand. She has befriended so many dress store owners, giving out pass-along cards to all. She presently is working on a sweet woman in a dress boutique in Hawera. Sister Taylor has enlisted the help of our two sister missionaries who are currently serving in Hawera and also love this boutique. The owner is now the target of a Mormon tsunami and she will soon be invited to an upcoming branch “Movie Night” where we will be showing “Meet the Mormons”.
Hawera is small enough that most of the vendors and store keepers here are now accustomed to seeing this beautiful, immaculately-dressed American with the black name badge. She has engaged most of them in conversations about our missionary service and the Church. She exemplifies the truth stated by Paul in Romans 1:16 — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…”
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5/ Answer to the scripture joke: In Mosiah 27:6, it states that the people built “cities and villages in all quarters of the land”. A village in a quarter? That is one small village!
6/ Answer to the Church history quiz: The eight Patriarchs to the Church were Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyrum Smith, William B. Smith, John Smith, John Smith, Hyrum Gibbs Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith, and Eldred G. Smith. Hyrum Gibbs Smith passed away in 1932, and no Church Patriarch was sustained until 1937, when George Franklin Richards was sustained as ‘Acting Patriarch to the Church’. Elder Richards served in this capacity until 1942 when Joseph Fielding Smith was sustained as Patriarch to the Church (this is not the Joseph Fielding Smith who served as President of the Church). No Patriarch to the Church has been sustained since October 6, 1979.
Much love,
Elder and Sister Taylor
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