Elliot's November 15 email

Here's the latest email from Elliot, along with a few pictures.

Hello family!

Well it sounds like you all are doing very well to me!  That's great that Keith and Kim are gonna be able to get the van and that Shawn is getting married and you guys can go.

Alyssa, keep up the good work! I'm sure singing at Disneyland will be super. We'll definitely go to Disneyland when I come back. Yesterday I was visiting a member’s house and it came up that I sang in the MTC choir in General Conference. They then proceeded to ask me to sing for them, all by myself. I'll admit I really didn't want to, but then I thought about you and I was like, if my sister’s an amazing singer, I couldn't be all that bad! So I sang for them, and it was weird/awkward, but it made me think of you lol. And thanks for cleaning the car! I also heard you're sending in college applications? Let me know what happens!

Thanks for sending out that package mom! Don't worry about not sending the CD, it's no problem. I just hope you're surviving school right now. I'm gonna write back hopefully today and I can tell you all about the people and investigators and everything. I'm gonna send some hard copies of pictures too!

And that's awesome that you were able to spend another week at home, dad. I actually haven't heard about the Sharia Law amendment? We really don't hear or see too much of the news as missionaries. I hope your foot is getting better though!

I'm still doing fine out here and keeping warm. The work out here is really tough, and a lot of people really hate Mormons, but things have been picking up. We've been finding more people and having some more success. This past week I got a flat tire. We had made plans to go all the way to the west part of our area, make some visits and do some tracting, but we no longer could. Fortunately, a member that could help us was at the church and that is within walking distance. So we started to walk there and on our way we saw a young mom, Tiffany, who had just stepped out of her house at the perfect time for us to stop and talk to her. We ended up talking to her and her kids for a good half hour plus and learned that she had recently had a number of experiences to the point that she really believed God was trying to reach out to her through us. We now have a meeting set up with her on Tuesday and really are looking forward to it. This is just one of a bunch of examples I've already seen where I can tell I really am guided; that as long as I'm doing what I should, people will be placed in my path that need to talk to us and need the help that comes through the Gospel. It's incredible for sure. I feel like "the catcher in the rye" for sure.

Well I hope everything continues well at home. I attached some pictures that I hope you enjoy! My companion, Elder Ortiz, is the one that we took in front of the mirror and the picture with the empty pizza boxes is me and Elder Measom, another Greenie. We really did eat a whole pizza each. It was awesome. And York Buffet, the restaurant behind me in the picture where I look like a super hero is easily the worst Chinese food ever. Disfruten! (enjoy!)

Love,

Elder Elliot Adair

Oklahoma City Temple

We think it's great that Elliot is in a mission with a temple, right in Oklahoma City.  Well, technically it's in Yukon, Oklahoma, which is a western suburb of Oklahoma City. 

The construction of the temple was announced on March 14, 1999.  Ground was broken and the site dedicated on July 3, 1999, by Rex D. Pinegar.  From the Church's temple website: 

During the groundbreaking ceremony for the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple, Elder Rex D. Pinegar of the Seventy and president of the North America Southwest Area declared that turning the ceremonial shovelful of soil during groundbreaking services is symbolic of "turning our lives over to Christ and keeping His commandments." He also recognized the role that having a temple in an area plays in aiding members to develop their faith and build strong families. Additionally, the temple's presence will help the youth of the temple district to see their future clearly and understand what the Lord expects of them.  [¶]  During his remarks, Elder Pinegar also referred to the deadly tornado which struck Oklahoma City May 3. After the tornado, he toured the devastated areas and saw little standing but the people, which manifested their faith. He mentioned the pure motivations of Church members who reached out to help others simply because they wanted to help. 

James E. Faust, then the second counselor in the First Presidency, offered the dedicatory prayer on July 30, 1999.  He said: 

We dedicate the beautiful surrounding grounds with their flowers, shrubs, and trees. We dedicate the structure from the footings to the tower with its figure of Moroni. We dedicate the walls and windows that they may be secure against the storms of nature. We dedicate the Baptistry that a great and eternal work may therein go forward in behalf of those beyond the veil of death. We dedicate the endowment rooms, the sacred celestial room, the sealing rooms with their altars where men and women and parents and children may be bound together as families for all eternity. We dedicate the halls and offices and every other facility found in this Thy holy house. May all be sacred unto those who come here. May a spirit of reverence and worship pervade this structure at all times and under all circumstances. Wilt Thou be pleased to smile upon it, to accept of it, and to accept of the labors of those who will work here in Thine eternal cause.

The 10,769 square foot building, which sits on an acre of land, serves members of the church from twelve stakes in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri.  It's a beautiful building, as the pictures show.  We hope Elliot will have opportunities to visit the temple while he is there.



Oklahoma religion news: Court order blocks amendment on Sharia law

The last thing anyone needs is more political commentary in a blog, especially a blog about a Mormon missionary serving in Oklahoma.  But there is an interesting story developing in Oklahoma City dealing with religious issues that I thought would be interesting to share.

On November 2, 70% of Oklahomans voted in favor of State Question 755.  Also known as the “Save Our State Amendment,” Question 755 would amend the Oklahoma Constitution and direct Oklahoma courts to “uphold and adhere to” federal and state law, including the law of other states, but would forbid them from considering international law or Sharia law.  The measure was authored by Representative Rex Duncan, a Republican from Sand Springs, Oklahoma, who said the constitutional amendment was not intended as an attack on Muslims but as an effort to prevent activist judges from relying on international law or Islamic law when ruling on legal cases.

The law, described by a University of Oklahoma law professor as “an answer in search of a problem,” was immediately challenged by Muneer Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Oklahoma.  On November 8, Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange (pictured) issued a temporary restraining order preventing the state Election Board from certifying the results of the election, effectively staying implementation of the law.  She scheduled a further hearing on November 22 to consider whether to enter a preliminary injunction, which would further delay its implementation.

“It thwarts the will of the people,” said Duncan, commenting on the temporary restraining order.  Awad countered: “We're confident in the case. We're confident in the claims we are making.  Today's ruling is a reminder of the strength of our nation's legal system and the protections it grants to religious minorities.”

Interesting stuff.  We’ll follow the story and provide updates.  We’ll also check with Elliot to see if he notices any fallout from the case.

Court order blocks Oklahoma amendment on Islamic law

Elliot's Oklahoma City home

I managed to get a screen shot of the front of the apartment complex where Elliot lives, near the intersection of SW 59th and May in Oklahoma City.  This is his new home away from home, at least for now.

Elliot's November 8 email and pictures

Here is Elliot’s November 8 email and three pictures that he included.  Looks like he’s doing great.

Hola!

Yes I am definitely doing very well right now. This next week my companion and Elder Measom's (another greenie) companion are gonna be in leadership training meeting for four days, basically from early until late. That leaves two fresh, new gringos to hold down two areas of the South Side of Oklahoma! It should be fine, who the Lord calls the Lord qualifies, right?

So just so you know I'm staying safe and taking care of myself. Most everyone in our apartment complex loves us missionaries, so it's all good. Were you able to find the place I live on Google maps? It's called Almonte, just in case.

That's super awesome about Kyle and Javan! Those are awesome places and I know they'll love it. The mission is an incredible experience. No matter how tough it might get at times, the people you come to know and love make it all worthwhile. Send them my congrats!

And sorry to hear about that spill dad. But I'm glad you got to spend a week at home at least! And the Giants won the World Series. And you won the spiciest chili. We can't always have all of the good luck.

But if I could get pictures of the family that's be awesome! I think it'd be a bit easier in a book type of deal, but whatever you'd like. And actually one thing that would be awesome would be like a church Christmas CD maybe? We listen to a bit of music here in the apartment and that would be pretty nice to have for Christmas time. Other than that I think I'm good. Oh maybe some Lactase too lol.

We're teaching a few pretty awesome people right now. One family we're teaching is completely ready for baptism, except one major problem; the husband was married previously in Mexico and can't figure out how to divorce her. So we're trying to figure all of that out with the help of President Taylor. But they will definitely be baptized sooner or later. We also are teaching these three single moms that live together. They work a lot but there are a few times each week where we all can meet together. They're super awesome and have tons of questions for us. That's always a good sign because it means they know we have the correct answers and feel that we are more than just guys in white shirts.

It's awesome to see people's lives change as they turn towards Christ and accept His teachings. I love to tell about how I know my family can be together forever and that theirs can be too. It's powerful to tell people that, and I know that it is true. It meant a lot to see my brother get sealed to Kim before I left, because that was a super powerful experience and I know that the sealing power is real and that it binds families together forever. That's really why I want to teach people, to help them have that same happiness that I have knowing that the ones I love are not until death do us part. And that God loves us so he gave us His son as a sacrifice introducing mercy into the plan that requires justice.

Anyway, I gotta go now. I love you!

Love,

Elder Elliot Adair

P.S. The pictures I attached are one, the Oklahoma sunrise, two, what Oklahoma City really looks like (an empty field), and three, just another picture my comp, Elder Ortiz, took in front of the field. Disfrute! 

New mission calls and the Newhall 1 missionary newsletter

Today was a good day in the Newhall First Ward.  We found out that two young men received their mission calls.  Kyle Hill received his call to Rome and will report to the MTC March 16, 2011.  This should be an exciting time to be in Rome, especially after President Monson announced the construction of a new temple at the October 2008 General Conference.  Groundbreaking happened on October 23, 2010, and the temple is scheduled to open in 2013.  It will be the twelfth temple in Europe and the first in Italy. 

We also found out that Javan Hatch received his call to Auckland, New Zealand.  He reports to the MTC on February 16, 2011.  The church has a temple in Hamilton, a couple of hours south of Auckland.  It was the eleventh temple built by the church.  And New Zealand is where the Lord of the Rings movies were shot and where the Hobbit is scheduled to be shot.  Maybe he can land a cameo.

Today the ward missionary newsletter was distributed, with excerpts from recent letters from all our ward missionaries, including Elliot.  Here's a copy.

Oklahoma City

Since Elliot will be spending nearly two years in Oklahoma, I thought it would be interesting to share some information about the state and about Oklahoma City in particular.  First, I've posted a great picture of the Oklahoma City skyline.  Then you'll find some trivia about Oklahoma from the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce website.  Finally, at the bottom of this post, you will find a promotional video produced by the Chamber all about Oklahoma City. 

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Oklahoma Trivia (source: www.visitokc.com)

Oklahoma means "Land of the Red People" in the Choctaw Language.

According to the 1990 census, Oklahoma's Indian population is 252,420, the largest of any state. Currently, 35 tribes maintain tribal councils in Oklahoma.

Admitted to the Union November 16, 1907, the 46th state

Divided into 77 counties with a total area of 69,957 square miles

Population in 1994 grew by 20,376 from 1993 to 3,258,100

Population per square mile, 46.6 people

Ranks 18th in area at 69,957 square miles: 68,656 square miles of land, 7.5 million areas of forest, 1,301 square miles of water, and more coastline than the Atlantic and Gulf together

Oklahoma is bordered by six states: Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Missouri and Arkansas

Equidistant from Los Angeles and New York, and within 500 miles of 71 million people

State Motto: Labor Omnia Vincit (Labor Conquers All Things)

State Colors: Green and White

State Tree: Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)

State Animal: American Buffalo (Bison)

State Bird: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Muscivora Forficata)

State Fish: White Bass (Sand Bass) (Morone Chrysops)

State Flower: Oklahoma Rose

State Floral Emblem: Mistletoe (Phoradendron Serotinum)

State Rock: Rose Rock (Barite Rose)

State Nickname: Sooner State

State Reptile: Mountain Boomer (Collared Lizard)

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Here is the video about Oklahoma City.