Written by Carter

Last Sunday, we played games with some other senior missionaries and with a neighbor from the apartment building that they invited. We had a nice time. I’m grateful for good friends and for new friends.    

We celebrated the 4th of July with the other senior missionaries at the area office on Monday. Faye planned a patriotic music program that went well. It reminded me how humbly grateful I am to be an American! Then we ate ice cream sundaes. This is the first time we’ve all met together since the lockdown. It was good to be together in person again.

Do you remember the missionary I wrote about accompanying home shortly after arriving in New Zealand? They were very emotionally/mentally ill at that time. I’ve been asking their former mission president (and wife) regularly for updates on them. I’m grateful to report that they are miraculously doing much better! They seem to be quite functional now! What a blessing!

On Thursday, I participated in a mission health council (to discuss the mental and physical health of missionaries in that mission) with the new Auckland Mission president, President Parr, and his wife. I look forward to working closely with them.

Yesterday, Faye and I took the bus downtown, where we ate lunch in the revolving restaurant at Sky City that is 52 floors up on top of the building. The bus rides were very quick and easy. We rode home on the top level of a double-decker bus. Faye is a very thoughtful grandmother: we were sitting in the front seat when she noticed two little girls a couple rows back with their father. She asked them if they’d like to sit up front so they could see. They were wide-eyed and nodded their heads “yes.” The father was grateful. When they got off, Faye commented to me what a great dad he was, complete with carrying their pink unicorn backpack! There were two teenage girls sitting in front across the aisle from us. When we gave up our seats to the little girls, they asked us if we’d like their seats? We declined, but it was a nice gesture to offer and was a reminder of how “contagious” kindness can be. I’d like to ride the bus more…just to get more familiar with the city without stressing about traffic, missing the turnoff, etc. The food at the restaurant was very good and reasonably-priced. We had a beautiful view of the city as we ate. What a wonderful day it was!

Here’s a quote I love from Tommy Newberry’s Joy Challenge: “My true self worth is based only on what God says about me…and not on what I do or how I feel about myself. I am an original masterpiece — handcrafted by the Creator of the universe!” Profound! 

A favorite quote from ComeuntoChrist.org: “He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” (Isaiah 40:29) “It does not take much living to find out that life almost never turns out the way you planned it. Adversity and affliction come to everyone. … We all need to repent, to recognize weaknesses, and more fully come unto Christ. … But as we do, we will discover God-given strengths that we may not have otherwise known.”—Ellen W. Smoot   

I had this thought this week: There is a God, Who loves me enough that He has given me commandments, which help me know the path home to His presence. However, He also respects my agency; He allows me to choose whether to follow those commandments or not. My choice to obey or disobey determines my current and future blessings, but does not separate me from His love.

For “Come, Follow Me” Sunday school lessons this week, I have been reading and learning about Korihor and the Zoramites, people who taught false doctrines. I’m grateful for the Book of Mormon, which exposes the doctrines of the devil that are so prevalent today. (Notice the plural form of the word “doctrines” because they change depending on circumstances and how people want to live their lives.) These doctrines are so compelling because they appeal to our carnal or natural man. The Book of Mormon places these false doctrines directly before or after the correct, pure doctrine of Christ. (Notice the singular form of the word “doctrine” because Christ’s doctrine does not change.) How do I “Hear Him” (my Savior, Jesus Christ)? One of the clearest ways for me is through the Book of Mormon. I have learned many things throughout my medical career about the human body, how to help it heal, how to keep it healthy, how to treat chronic conditions, etc. Some of the things I have learned have profoundly influenced how I treat patients. However, nothing I have learned in medicine is more important to me than my knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He is my Savior and Redeemer. And nothing has helped me to know that more clearly than the Book of Mormon.

I wondered to myself how many times I’ve read the Book of Mormon. Since about 1986 (when President Benson emphasized its daily study), I’ve read at least one verse in the Book of Mormon every day…lacking around 10 days during that time when I just plain forgot. Most days I have read at least 1-2 pages per day. That’s 34 years, or 12,410 days. There are 531 pages in the Book of Mormon. At 1-2 pages per day, I have read the Book of Mormon at least 23-46 times since 1986. I say this because I know there are some who wonder if the Book of Mormon is true…and that’s OK. Questions are good, because that’s how you find answers. The important thing is to take those questions to the One True Source of Truth…God Himself. As I have read the Book of Mormon, tried to apply its teachings and prayed to God about its truthfulness, I solemnly proclaim that I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I don’t know everything, but I do know that with all my heart. If you need someone to lean on until you can find out for yourself, lean on me…but keep working on finding out for yourself. I can’t give you that knowledge; only God can.    

In humility, I declare, that in answer to Joseph Smith’s spring 1820 prayer in the woods, God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to him and inaugurated the “restitution of all things” as foretold in the Bible. I believe that and know that to be true, also with all my heart.