Senior Couple journal — New Zealand Hamilton Mission
May 31, 2015 to June 6, 2015
Greetings, wonderful friends and family,
We are hearty and well, and continue to love our mission. More miracles occur each week than we can tabulate, and we are blessed to be part of this glorious work! Next week we will be able to report on one of the crowning events of our service here in New Zealand. Stay tuned!
1/ Scripture joke of the week: Elastics are mentioned in the Book of Mormon? Surely not! Well, check out the reference mentioned below!
2/ Church history quiz of the week: Can you identify which of our 16 prophets was totally ambidextrous and could pitch a baseball equally well either right or left handed? The answer perhaps will surprise you.
3/ Update for the week: This week I share a faith-promoting story recounted by one of our full-time missionaries. The story is as follows — A young man that had been raised in the church had fallen into total inactivity. One day he was out working in his yard, and he saw two of our missionaries ride by on their bicycles. He recognized them as missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but they had no idea who he was or that he was actually a member of the Church. They simply waved to him as they rode by. For a few seconds, a spiritual thrill or enlightenment entered his soul with unmistakable power. He did not call out to them or ever see them again, but he remembered that feeling. He knew it was a call from a divine source. At that time he did not respond to this prompting. Just a few years down the road, he again saw two Latter-day Saint missionaries as they approached him on the street. He immediately remembered with clarity and freshness the feeling that had filled his soul a few years ago. He stopped the elders, invited them into his home and his life, and this time responded with interest to their message. He and his family came back into the church because of a wave of the hand of two devoted missionaries years before. “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass!” Never underestimate the power of a smile, a wave of the hand, a good deed, or a word of praise and love!
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4/ Answer to the scripture joke: Elastics are clearly referred to in the Book of Mormon. In Helaman 6:37, it mentions a “…band of robbers…”. Sounds like a “rubber band” to me (if you slur the word ‘robber’ just a little bit :o) )
5/ Answer to the Church history quiz: President Joseph Fielding Smith was our ambidextrous prophet. This unique ability also made him extremely proficient and competitive at handball. He was rarely beaten on a handball court because of his unique talent at hitting the ball accurately and with power with either hand.
Much love,
Elder and Sister Taylor
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