The First Time I have Seen and Touched This Book!

 Dear Friends and Neighbors: 

Wanna read a good book?  Try the Book of Mormon—it’s the best of all current books!  It may not be on the top 10 best seller list but it is on the top of the top reader’s list.  You’ll like it!  You can be one of the top readers too!  Read Sister Taylor’s recent experience with  sharing the Book!

 

George & Debbie Taylor

The First Time I Have Seen

And Touched This Book!

During the Open House of the new Missionary Training Center we had the wonderful opportunity of escorting the Catholic Bishop of a very large diocese here in Manila.  He lingered with us for two hours or more.  The Bishop’s personal responsibility is to serve over one and one half million members!  What a challenge for him!  Just think how it would be for our bishop to try to help so many! We have now escorted two Catholic bishops through the MTC—both men gracious and appreciative! 

This dear man asked why he was honored to receive an invitation to the Open House. He was sincerely interested in learning about the Church; he asked many questions.  The President and I explained that Jesus Christ is our Lord and our Savior; He invites all to “Come unto Him.”

“Who is Joseph Smith?” He asked.

“He is a prophet of the Latter-Days like was Moses of earlier days of old.  Joseph saw and spoke with God the Father and Jesus Christ. He was told the location of the ancient record of the Savior’s visit to the America’s after His resurrection. Because of Joseph Smith we have “Another Testament of Christ,” The Book of Mormon.

As we walked down the hall we came to the table where was laid a copy of the Book of Mormon translated into Tagalog. The Bishop stood before the book gently touching the cover and said, “This is the first time I have ever seen or touched this book!” He stood reverently for what seemed a long time. I was moved by his sincerity and the value he showed for “The Book of Mormon.”

I wondered if I appreciated the book as he appeared to appreciate it.  Do I take it for granted because I have known about it for so many years?  We have many copies sitting on our shelves in our MTC storage room.  We provide a copy to each missionary to give to other interested persons. 

As I was thinking, I remembered Joseph Smith’s history; I tried to imagine his excitement as he was told about the sacred plates and then actually seeing them after he had pried away the stone.  It was difficult for him to refrain from touching and holding them.  Even now, I can feel his disappointment as he was forbidden to touch them until four years would pass away. What a test of obedience and patience!

This experience made me think of the similarity between the Bishop and Joseph Smith.

I asked the Bishop if he wanted to have a copy. His face lit up and responded, “Oh yes, May I? I want to read it and put it in our library!” I asked him which language he would prefer, “English or Tagalog?” He said that most of the Bishops read Tagalog. “Would you like an English book also?” I asked.  “That would be wonderful, because the English copy can be for me and the Tagalog copy can be for the library. I’m sure the other Bishops will be interested in reading it.”  

As he was leaving the Open House I asked if he would read my favorite passages about the Savior’s visit to the people after His resurrection. “I love that part in the Book; I always feel the Savior’s nearness to me.  I know that you will too!” I testified of its truth.

I am thankful for this moment we had to remember the great worth of “The Book of Mormon” and the privilege of seeing, holding, and reading it’s inspiring words. (1 Nephi 19:7; 2 Nephi 33:2).

 Debra S. Taylor

March 5, 2012

Blind Since Birth

I experienced an epiphany and apocalypse the other day after reading Mathew 9:27-30.  I became conscious of one of the reasons, why I believe in Jesus Christ and want to follow Him.

The New Testament records,

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind followed him, crying and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

And their eyes were opened…

 I have read many times about the Savior’s healing powers during his ministry and after his resurrection.  I realized my own need for those blessings. I especially need the restoration of my sight.  I acknowledge the spiritual handicap of my weak eyes and poor vision since my birth.  My separation from My Father in Heaven has blinded me!  The veil has shrouded and dimmed my eyes and makes me blind.

Along with me, have you experienced blindness in four areas?: 1) Nearsightedness (Myopia),  2) Farsightedness (Hyperopia),  3) Astigmatism and, 4) Convergence Insufficiency (CI).  May I explain further?

1.      Nearsightedness is when you can see close up better than you can see in the distance. Maybe I could say that I have been “short-sighted”, focusing only on that which was “right under my nose”. At times I have totally depended on “seeing to believe”. By doing so, I have missed the big picture; become self centered, obsessive, even lost the vision to give me faith and hope.

2.      Farsightedness is when you can see far away better than you can see up close. This farsightedness has caused me to “shoot beyond the mark”; forgetting the importance of being “close and personal” which builds relationships and then worrying about that which too far in the future and beyond my control.

3.      Astigmatism is when you have distortion in addition to a blurring of vision. My perception has been faulty and unclear. I have thought that what I saw was clear when in reality it is a “mirage”. I have become offended when there was no offense intended and misinterpreted reality.

4.    

           Convergence Insufficiency (CI) is where our two eyes are directed to an image but one of the eyes will be slow to follow causing a division of vision. Focusing has been difficult, if not impossible and I have wavered, vacillated, and become “double minded”. I have had to train my eyes to work together to become “eye single.”

Along with these blindness consequences which I have personally spiritually experienced,  here are a few other symptoms of spiritual blindness: 

Short Attention Span; Inability to Concentrate; Confusion; Distraction; Avoiding Eye Contact; Headaches; Trouble Remembering; Misjudgment; Making Unnecessary Mistakes; Becoming Overly Frustrated or Angry; Loss of Depth Perception; Loss of Coordination; Procrastination.

After all, when the blind lead the blind, “both fall into the ditch.”! I don’t want to fall into any more ditches; I want to see the bull’s eye clearly without “spinning my wheels” and without having “crossed eyes.”

 I have decided to continue my groping to follow the Savior, crying unto him for mercy upon me, that “my eyes are open, and I see”!

Debra S. Taylor March 2012

Why Not One With A Red Helmet?

Dear Friends and Neighbors: Attached is another one of Sister Taylor’s observations. One of my predecessor MTC president’s bought him a bright red hot motorcycle and drove out in the Manila traffic. Maybe I’ll get me one!? What do you think? Love and Best Wishes, George & Debra Taylor

Today I saw the most unusual thing in the Temple. It caught me quite off guard.  Just as I was putting my key into my temple locker and looking around, I was surprised to see a bright red, very worn, motorcycle helmet on top of the opposite locker in the sister’s dressing room.

“What is a red motorcycle helmet doing in the temple locker of a mature sister temple worker?”

I smiled to myself as I could see in my “mind’s eye” a small white haired Sister wearing a huge motorcycle helmet, goggles,  black leather jacket, long white dress, and biker boots riding on an oversized “Hell’s Angels’” motorcycle through the congested streets of Quezon City.

Then I thought, “Why not? Didn’t Paul counsel us to put on the ‘Whole Armour of God,’ the ‘Helmet of Salvation,’ that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6)?”

There are all kinds of angels.  Instead of a “Hell’s Angel,” why not one from heaven with a bright red worn motorcycle helmet?

Debra S. Taylor 2012

Goood Mooooooooooooooooorrrning!

Being a president of an MTC is like going on a recycling youth camp for two years.  President Taylor has mentioned the similarities between running a Wood Badge camp over and over again, like the movie, “Ground Hog Day!”  The only difference is that we change the youth every 19 days.

We all arise at 6:00 a.m., and my job is to sing “Good Mooooooooooorrning” through the halls and over the intercom system. When I don’t hear a reply, I keep singing.  If I wasn’t required to do that job I would stay in bed. The President says that all of us experience “the mattress affect” every morning. “The mattress affect” is where the monster mattress responds to the 6 a.m. alarm clock by reaching up and around and grabbing hold of you as soon as you try to get up and out of the bed.” He says it’s a true and universal phenomenon and must be fought against or you’ll be overcome and enslaved for the rest of the day!

We all gather at 6:15 for roll-call and for gym. When we first moved in to the new MTC  facility, the excuse we received from a few missionaries for not being on time was that they didn’t know what time it was.  Most of the missionaries don’t have watches and they do not bring alarm clocks.  The next day I purchased 60 wall clocks for all of the residence rooms. Usually, I run down the hall whispering under my breath, “I’m late, I’m late, and I’m late; for a very important date. No time to stop, no time to wait, I’m late, I’m late I’m Late!” (Alice in Wonderland).  That’s me—I’m in a wonder land all the time!   

As we assemble for early morning roll call, the districts all report as loud as the district leader can yell out, “ALL PRESENT!” When every district is complete and when all are present, the President yells at the top of his lungs, “Well  Doooooooooonnnnnnnnn! until he is red in the face and I think he will pass out or blow a blood vessel in his head.

Most of the time we have warm running water for showers and plenty of toilets; 42 to be more exact. The facilities are a lot newer than the dirt and fire of camp, but the supervision is the same.  After gym we all go to breakfast, get ready for the day, and start classes at 8:15. We stay very scheduled throughout the day.

At 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. the missionaries have a snack outside in the garden area. The area is growing and getting very beautiful. They like it.  It’s becoming our “secret garden.” 

Lunch is at 12:30 and of course we have rice three times a day. They consider white rice as the only real food! The Filipinos believe that any other food is just a “snack.”

 

Our purified drinking water is brought in large 5 gallon bottles along with the food. I asked the cooks how much rice we used and they said about one ton per month. I am so grateful we don’t have to garden and hunt for our food.

We eat with the missionaries most of the time in the cafeteria. “The family that eats together, prays together, and plays together, stays together!”  I guess that could be our motto.

In the evenings the missionaries prepare to teach, have personal and companion study, and sometimes enjoy a fireside from a local speaker or an MTC Devotional from one of the Area Presidency or local Seventy. Classes and other activities end and they prepare for bed. Lights go out at 10:00 p.m.  The President states rather arbitrarily, “What time do missionaries go to bed—Not One Minute, Not One Second After 10:00 p.m!  Lights out!  Covers up! Eyes Shut! “How grateful I am for the night—soothing, precious, restful, blissful night!”  I immediately give in to the mattress. 

On our Preparation Day we “try” to train 80 missionaries how to wash their clothes and clean their rooms. (If you think training your children is a challenge, think again.) Many have never used a shower, washer, dryer, or had a flush toilet. I teach them how to turn on the taps and machines. It is amazing the colors of whites the missionaries come up with after washing their clothes.

On our Service-Day we have the missionaries wash windows, cars, haul water bottles, and prepare packets for the upcoming missionaries.

Sunday is a very busy day:  

·         8:30 Prayer Meeting

·         9:00 Sacrament Meeting

·         10:00 Relief Society and Priesthood

·         11:00 District Meetings

·         12:00 Lunch (with ice cream!)

·         1:00 Leadership Meeting

·         3:00 Song Practice and Visiting the Temple

·         5:00 Dinner with ice cream again)

·         6:00-9:00 Fireside and Church Videos

I know why the Lord had only one day in seven to rest; that is all he could take!  It was easier to get back to work on Monday.  I love Monday’s! 

I wondered why we had so many callings the last 6 months before our mission. Now I know. It was to help us prepare for the busy schedule we keep. I do want to report that I have a nap every day and I don’t feel at all guilty.  I try to remember what the President says, “A day without a nap is a day wasted!”  We have “wasted” a lot of days here. 

We live in a large area enclosed by a fence which includes—

·         The Philippines Area Office Building,

·         The Temple Patron House

·         The Missionary Training Center

·         The Mission Services Building which soon will house the MRC (Medical Recovery Center), the cafeteria and a few apartments. 

This area is guarded by 10 rotating security guards.  They are on site 24 hours per day working 12-hour shifts, seven days per week. The Manila Temple is across the street. 

My favorite things about my mission are the missionaries, playing at gym, hearing them sing, seeing them grow and my being called “Sister Taylor!”  

Many have lost parents or are the only members of the church. We become an extended family and it is always hard to say good-bye. Most of the missionaries have never eaten so well or had a living place so “luxurious.  They like to weigh themselves and see how much weight they have gained in 19 days. 

One very special experience occurred on the last day of gym with our last group.  As mentioned earlier, every morning at 6:15 a.m. we gather in for roll call and for prayer. At the end of gym the zone leader calls us all together again for a brief closing prayer and a blessing over the breakfast food. This particular morning was different; the zone leader asked us to kneel. There we were, all bowing our heads and kneeling in the middle of the concrete parking lot. I had to open my eyes and touch the ground. As I did so, I realized that I was facing east towards the temple and Angel Moroni was standing on the tower above my head.

As I looked up at him I wondered what I would be doing when the Savior returned to the earth. I felt that I was more ready than before; I hope to be completely ready when He really comes.

Debra Sue Taylor