Read the Book of Mormon!

                                                 Nature paints the best pictures!

                            Elder Clayton is worn out at the end of transfer week!




We've had some special times during the holidays the past month.  We missed the tradition of being with family and the special things we do around the holidays, but we have enjoyed being here in New Zealand.  It is a special time in our lives that has given us so many opportunities---to concentrate on service to our missionaries, to meet and mingle with people who have a distinct culture, to live in and get to know quite intimately a different country and its traditions and customs.

We had another missionary go home this past week who became very dear to us.  He was an assistant to the president of the mission for about seven months, so we saw him regularly at the office.  About three weeks ago, he started having some mental health issues, and it was decided he needed to be home to receive the type care he needed.  His release date was 4 February, so he went home just a few weeks earlier.

We worked a half day on New Year's day and then we took a forty-five minute drive to Blue Springs.  It was a nice "Mama" hike (as Doug would call it--haha) along some beautiful springs.  The water was so clear one could see to the bottom of the river bed.  At several places along the trail, the water was an incredible greenish blue.


                                                             


It was a quieter week at our office.  Wednesday through Friday, President Erekson was out on the road doing interviews.  Many people in the area take a long holiday this time of year, so Elder Folland had time to catch up on a few things.  I am even ahead on some things, so it feels good.

We were able to touch base with some of our missionaries on Monday, as they were in the office for interviews.  It was nice to get to know them better and hear about the work going on in their areas.

We are grateful to study the Book of Mormon this year in our Sunday School lessons and our individual study at home.  There are many promises from the Lord through our prophets associated with the reading and study of the Book of Mormon.  Our current prophet President Russell M. Nelson, said:  "When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power.  The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls."
As another testament of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon is a witness of the divinity and majesty of the Savior.  The prophet Joseph Smith declared, "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and that a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."  We are promised that we can overcome addictions of any type as we study daily the Book of Mormon.  It seems like a simple thing---but by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass.  As we have studied the Book of Mormon as a famiy in our home over the years, we have indeed received of these promised blessings.  I would invite all to try it--READ THE BOOK OF MORMON!

We love you all!  May this new year 2020 bring to you fulfillment of goals, desires, and the blessings of love and peace in our homes and nations.

Elder and Sister Folland



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