Love,
Mom & Dad
Dear Brethren,
Here is an email from my Brother Gordon Clark, who is an expat currently working in Istanbul, Turkey. I thought you might enjoy seeing the gospel being opened up for the first time in Turkey since the Apostle Paul. The attachment and photos are from my Brother's personal journal and camera, and are not any official news release, however they give a wonderful perspective of the work going forth to every nation, kindred, tongue and people.
Love,
Pres. Clark
A WEEK OF MIRACLES IN TURKEY
The Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints in Istanbul, Turkey
There have been decades of many earnest prayers from faithful Turkish members and senior missionaries assigned to Turkey over the years, to see the Church officially accepted by the Turkish government. After many months in 2011 of concentrated and dedicated effort by the legal teams and entities and those assisting them, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints received official legal status from the Turkish government on October 19th, 2011. The organization is registered as an association according to government law. The legal name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- Istanbul Association.
On Saturday February 11th, 2012 the First General Assembly of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- Istanbul Association was held at the new Istanbul meetinghouse which is located in the area called Levent.
Even though it was a cold and snowy day, the overwhelming warmth of the Spirit of the Lord was abundant and apparent to the 22 people present. The purpose of the meeting was to elect the Presidency of the Association, approve honorary members of the Association, submit the financial and administrative activities of the temporary Board of Directors that had been set up to establish the Association, and consider and vote on 2 minor amendments to the Charter.
Elder Steven Canfield, a senior missionary, serving in Istanbul, called the meeting to order, and Murat Cakir, the Istanbul Branch President gave the opening prayer. Elder Canfield acknowledged those present and indicated that Gregory Schwitzer, President of the Europe East Area, was presiding and participating by phone. Brother Robert Lochhead, the Europe East Area General Counsel, then presented the agenda and voting. The following officers were presented and sustained by unanimous vote:
Elder Steven Canfield, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Murat Cakir, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
Adam Kocaman, Treasurer
Sister Anita Canfield, Executive Secretary
Also approved by unanimous vote were the following honorary members of the Association:
Gregory Schwitzer, President Europe East Area
Larry Lawrence, Counselor in Presidency Europe East Area
Randall Bennett, Counselor in Presidency Europe East Area
David Stapley, Director of Temporal Affairs, Europe East Area
The following members of the Association attended: Susan Cakir, Matthew and Angie Bond, Ryan and Angi Reynolds, Noah and Kendra Donadieu, Mine Askan, Duard and Sandy Pederson, Dennis and Joni Neuenschwander
Also present were the attorneys from the Turkish legal counsel; Nuri Bodur, Suat Balar and Serhat Aydin
President Schwitzer gave the closing remarks by expressing much gratitude to the Lord for His hand in the coming forth of this great moment and event of establishing the Church in Turkey. He thanked all those who were present for sustaining the efforts to finalize the particular legal requirements. And he spoke about the blessings that await the people of Turkey now that the missionaries will be allowed to proselyte. He bore testimony that the Lord was well pleased with what had just transpired that morning, and all present felt the same remarkable witness.
Elder Canfield gave the closing prayer and the meeting was adjourned.
Arrival of the First Four Elders
Three days later, on Tuesday February 14th, 2012, Elder and Sister Dennis and Joni Neuenschwander and Elder and Sister Steven and Anita Canfield, and President Murat Cakir welcomed the first four missionaries to Turkey, Elders Gerrit Seymour, Trent Christensen and Derek Huish from the United States and Elder David Redpath from England.
What a wonderful moment it was when these four choice young men walked through the doors bringing with them the power to teach the doctrine of Christ and baptize in His name. Transferred from the Bulgaria ,Sofia mission, the mission president, Gerold Roth , had spent many hours seeking the Lord’s will as to who should come as part of the first wave to open this nation to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When these four young men came through the gates, it was hard to restrain the tears. There are no words to adequately describe the great spirit that rushed along with them. They have come well prepared, armed with power and authority, with honor... as having proven themselves worthy of such a noble calling and responsibility. And they come clothed in righteousness and obedience and great, great humility.
These Elders arrived with so much eagerness and ready to go to work immediately. Which they did! After dropping their luggage they went straight to their language training class that had been prepared under the direction of Elder Dennis Neuenschwander, counselor in the Bulgaria, Sofia Mission. They will study an intense immersion curriculum for 4 weeks. They are dedicated and determined to succeed here, and are so focused on the instruction and yet they remain very humble and willing to depend on the Spirit.
The arrival of these four elders means the country of Turkey will never be the same. The gospel will be preached once again in this land as it was in the days of the apostles of old.
Three hours after landing in Turkey the Elders begin learning Turkish
(L to R) Elder and Sister Steven and Anita Canfield, Elder Trent Christensen, Elder Gerrit Seymour, Branch President Murat Cakir, Elder Derek Huish, Elder David Redpath, Elder and Sister Dennis and Joni Neuenschwander
The First Four
(L to R) Elders Trent Christensen, Derek Huish, Gerrit Seymour, and David Redpath
Elders Canfield and Neuenschwander greeting the newly arrived Elders
February 11, 2012, General Assembly Meeting held in the Levent meetinghouse (L to R) Front Row: Matthew Bond, Amelia and Chase Bond, Angie Bond, Anita Canfield, Joni Neuenschwander, Sandra Pederson, (L to R) Second Row: Dennis Neuenschwander, Duard Pederson, Svet Beller, Steven Canfield (L to R) Third Row: Murat Cakir, Susan Cakir, Ryan Reynolds, Mine Askan, Adem Kocaman, Robert Lochhead (L to R) Standing: David Stapley, Nuri Bodur, Angi Reynolds, Kendra Donadieu, Noah Donadieu
February 14, 2012 (L to R) Elders Trent Christensen, Derek Huish, Gerrit Seymour, and David Redpath arrive in Istanbul,Turkey
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