UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND LOCAL PAGES

AREA LEADERSHIP MESSAGE Gratitude Makes Us Spiritually Strong By President José A. Teixeira, Portugal Europe Area President

e have been commanded to “thank the Lord and refining that come because W thy God in all things. . . . And in nothing of the Atonement of the Savior doth man offend God, or against none is his Jesus Christ. And I grew more wrath kindled, save those who confess not his confident that the Holy Ghost hand in all things.” 1 can bring all things to our re- Ingratitude is one of the greatest of sins; grati- membrance. . . . tude is therefore one of the greatest of virtues. “My point is to urge you The importance of gratitude and its impact to find ways to recognize and on individuals is illustrated in the lives of Laman remember God’s kindness. It and Lemuel. Their response to the Lord’s com- will build our testimonies.” 2 mandment to leave caused thousands Gratitude builds our testi- of people to suffer untold misery for over 1000 mony. The very act of expressing years. Lehi and Nephi were continually praising gratitude recognizes God’s hand God and thanking Him for bringing them out of in our lives and acknowledges Jerusalem. Laman and Lemuel failed to appre- His tender mercies to us. This, ciate what the Lord had done for them. Instead in turn, increases our confidence of thanking the Lord, they complained. As a that the Lord will hear and answer our prayers President José A. result, Lehi and Nephi grew closer to the Lord; and guide our lives. In recognizing our depen- Teixeira Laman and Lemuel pulled away from the Lord. dence upon the Lord, we become more depen- In this we see a great key to becoming spiritually dent on Him. strong—gratitude. As our gratitude for the Lord’s blessings in- We also see that in order to be grateful for creases, our desire to come unto Him increases, something we must recognize its significance and and we will reach out to Him in all we do. appreciate it. “Let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whith- As a young father, President Henry B. Eyring ersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let began reviewing each day’s events to see the all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, hand of God touching his family. He said: let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the “As I kept at it, something began to happen. Lord forever. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, . . . see evidence of what God had done for one of us. and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart . . . As that happened, . . . I realized that trying to be full of thanks unto God.” 3 remember had allowed God to show me what He As we see life through the lens of gratitude we had done. will look unto the Lord in every thought. We will “More than gratitude began to grow in my not doubt; we will not fear.4 heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more cer- The greatest of human tragedies is blindness to tain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers the Lord’s bounteous blessings, whether it be His prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening gentle commands or His tender mercies. In not

January 2015 U1 LOCAL NEWS appreciating the great things He has done for us, we will not use them. Foolishness is being given Chesterfield Members Give Helping a gift and not accepting it. We show our gratitude by using the things we have been given. Chief Hands to the Catholic Eyre Chapel By Jeremy Kay among these gifts is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Laman and Lemuel never saw going to the team of members and mis- from the Eyre family who promised land as a blessing and opportunity for A sionaries from Chesterfield bought the manor of Newbold a new life. With their ingratitude, they trampled performed a Helping Hands in 1570” (“Eyre Chapel,” the blessings of God under their feet. day of service project at Eyre visitchesterfield.info/thedms. Gratitude enables us to see the hand of God Chapel, owned by the Catholic aspx?dms=3&venue=6051991). guiding our lives; it strengthens our will to keep Church, in Newbold. Eyre Chapel has also played a His commandments. We align our will to our Following a request for help significant part in the history of Father’s will. It is a small thing to recognize the from Peter Barr, Chesterfield the Church locally, as meetings hand of the Lord in all the blessings we re- Borough Councillor for Linacre, were held here from time to ceive. The reward is knowing that God is with the team removed weeds and time prior to the opening of the us, guiding us through life’s challenges. Our overgrowth in preparation for new meetinghouse. Eyre Chapel faith is increased and our confidence in God mulching the borders. The was a beautiful setting for many is strengthened. mulch has also been kindly do- Christmas, New Year and Easter nated by a local garden centre. services that were held there, Gratitude is the seed that in loving Eyre Chapel is owned by the and many Church members have soil flourishes. Catholic Church and is run by a happy memories of the times Gratitude . . . engenders respect, board of trustees for the benefit spent, which included Easter forgiveness, healing of the community. A website egg hunts for the children and Gratitude . . . generates uncalculated about the Chesterfield area parties, including an 80th birth- generosity states: “Eyre Chapel stands on day party for Church member Gratitude . . . celebrates the tender the highest point of Newbold Stephen Rhodes, the nephew of mercies of God Village [in Chesterfield], at the Cyril Rhodes of Rhodesia fame. Gratitude . . . enlivens personal revelation meeting point of four ancient Councillor Barr commented, Gratitude . . . prompts prayer and trackways. It isn’t known who “It’s been so good today re-­ emboldens praying knees first built a chapel at Newbold establishing a link with your Gratitude . . . prospers life but, in the mid 1200s, the Abbot church and the chapel. It’s great Gratitude . . . renders repentance, of Welbeck became Lord of to share a piece of our town wisdom, course correction the Manor of Newbold and history. . . . We thank all your Gratitude . . . enlarges hearts may have converted an ex- members and missionaries for Gratitude . . . cherishes covenants isting building into a chapel. their help, and please come Christ himself, on His knees, gave thanks . . . The Chapel takes its name back soon!” ◼ unto His Father in Heaven. May we cultivate this divine quality in our Members and missionaries on Helping Hands day at the Catholic Eyre families. ◼ Chapel with Councillor Peter Barr

NOTES

1. 59:7, 21. MARK KAY 2. Henry B. Eyring, “O Remember, Remember,” Ensign, Nov. 2007, 67. 3. Alma 37:36–37. 4. See Doctrine and Covenants 6:36.

U2 Ensign Grimsby Members Offer Service at Local Hospital and Community Centre By Jenny Collier

he project at the Littlecoates Community Centre, T performed by members of the Grimsby lst ward, involved families and missionaries who brightened up the main hall of the centre by painting all the walls, skirting boards and ceiling. Even the young children enthusiastically helped with the areas they were able to reach. The event was part of a project with community group “Communities Together,” who are committed to rejuvenating the centre. The building is a busy Newton Abbot members picked up litter and rubbish central point in the community where classes such at the local Decoy Park. as new age curling, line dancing, brownie meet- ings, card making, keep fit, Zumba, dance classes DOROTHY MARTIN and pop-in­ mornings take place. Les Bonner, chairman of the community cen- Helping Hands Fun Day Litter tre committee, remarked, “There are a number of Picking in Newton Abbot things in the centre that need improving. Giving the main hall a new coat of paint was our first priority. By Dorothy Martin We have many groups that meet here, including embers at Newton Abbot, “It was great to see young and a number of older residents, and now they will M Devon in the Plymouth old alike involved in commu- have somewhere much nicer to spend their time”. Stake carried out a litter pick nity service in such a popular Bishop Andrew Pearson commented, “This commu- at Decoy Park on the annual place as Decoy Park. It is a nity centre is a great asset to the local area, and we Helping Hands day of service good way to teach children are delighted to have been able to help decorate it”. in September. Families gathered and grown-ups­ that it is better Meanwhile, members of the Grimsby 2nd ward at 9.30am, and after collecting to keep our parks clean and worked hard to clear and clean a hospital quad- their black bags and putting on tidy so that we can enjoy them rangle at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital. their Helping Hands tabards, to the full”. “We turned a wilderness into an oasis,” commented everyone commenced the work Altogether some 16–­20 bags Douglas Kerr on the Helping Hands annual day of in hand. Bishop Peter Vousden of rubbish were collected, plus service project. The quadrangle is regularly used donned his gloves and joined in a very rusty shopping bas- by the hardworking doctors and nurses of the with the labour at this much-­ ket and a child’s trike. Simon Orthopaedic clinic to escape the stresses of hospital loved local park. Cunningham, the Park Ranger, life. This place of refuge had become somewhat Children had fun working was pleased with the effort and overgrown and untidy, so the members rolled up alongside their parents, and grateful for the help at the end their sleeves and got to task with tackling the over- Bishop Vousden commented, of the summer season. ◼ grown plants and weeds.

January 2015 U3 Hospital sister Rachel Beckett said, “Wow, what an improvement. We are so grateful for the work the Church members have done here today”. ◼

Grimsby lst ward painting the main hall at the

Littlecoates Community Centre on Helping Hands day BY JENNY COLLIER (1ST WARD)

Wandsworth Helping Hands Nuneaton Cleans for Housing Estate Residents Up Local Park By Sylvia Anderson By Melvyn Kitsell

he Wandsworth stake mem- to work and cleared the as- Tbers in South East London per- signed areas of all debris. formed an annual Helping Hands Volunteers were also given service project for residents of a the opportunity to weed the local housing estate. gardens of two residents who The recipient of this commu- very much needed assistance. nity project was the Blenhiem & One of them explained that Arpley Housing Estate in Penge, as a result of needing to make South East London. Over a num- frequent hospital visits to her ber of weeks members of the terminally ill husband, it had Housing Association liaised with not been possible for her to the local Council to arrange for a maintain her garden. She ex- range of tasks to be undertaken. pressed gratitude for the work Nuneaton ward members at the Riversley Park Approximately 50 members, in- that was completed in her Helping Hands day activity cluding full-time­ missionaries and garden. Such experiences rein-

children, joyfully donned gloves force the great value of serving hirty-five­ members from the Nuneaton ward BY KENNETH ROWLEY and, armed with litter pickers, set each other. ◼ T gathered together at Riversley Park in Nuneaton for a few hours of litter picking. Wearing bright Wandsworth stake members offer service on Helping Hands yellow protective tabards and with pickers, gloves

SYLVIA ANDERSON SYLVIA day at a local housing estate. and bags provided by the council, they were seen around the park and in various parts of the town centre. In two hours they managed to collect more than 40 bags of rubbish. One of the women found a set of dentures in the bushes, which was a big surprise to her! Bishop Matthew Grant commented, “The life of Jesus Christ was a perfect example of serving, and His example teaches us that we should be active in doing good, in helping out in the community

U4 Ensign and in serving those around us. As we strive to follow Jesus Christ, our desire to serve others increases. Opportunities to contribute to the WENDY RAND community where we live will improve the lives of those around us in addition to our own. As a congregation, we feel more unified as we serve together, and we experience joy as we give help to our friends and neighbours.” ◼

Huddersfield Rejuvenates Local School By Eileen Webb

embers of Huddersfield her children, was impressed M 1st ward had a wonderful with all the effort that the mem- time at their Helping Hands day, bers made. Judith Tomlinson, which took place at Moorlands who helped to organise the day, Youth and children offered Helping Hands service at Primary school. Children and commented, “We like it when the Matthew Fyfe Care Home in Dunfermline. adults worked alongside each we find projects where the chil- other digging out and refilling dren are safe to come along and overgrown boxes, weeding, cut- help or play. They learn a lot ting back trees and bushes, and from working with their parents, Dunfermline Children and clearing paths. and this helps them to develop Youth Give Helping Hands Mrs Swift, one of the teachers a good work ethic for when at the school who came with they are older.” ◼ to Local Care Home By Jurek Mlotkiewicz Members of the Huddersfield lst ward during the gardening work

JUDITH TOMLINSON at Moorlands Primary School on a Helping Hands day hildren and youth from Dunfermline spent C their day of service at the Matthew Fyfe Care Home in Dunfermline. With a few adult help- ers to supervise, the young people were able to clear a raised bed that had been completely overrun with weeds, as well as clear some of the surrounding paths. In just three hours, the bed had been completely cleared, ready for replant- ing. All involved were amazed at the difference and at how much their small force was able to accomplish in such a short space of time. One of the younger helpers, Annabelle, age 9, said, “Even weeding can be fun when you’re helping out. I felt really good inside.” ◼

January 2015 U5 Norfolk Members Clear Local Site By Franz Sidney

eatherd Moor is a 15-­acre site in the cen- N tre of Dereham, in the heart of Norfolk, England. It features a small lake, a forest and

large fields where local residents enjoy walk- NIC READ ing or taking their children to play. The site Members of the Farnborough ward with the Benedictine was looking rather shabby with some litter and monks at St Michael’s Abbey overgrown weeds and ragweed. The local coun- cil was struggling to tackle the area, so when Bishop George of the Dereham Ward proposed Catholic Abbey Thanks to help clear the area under the umbrella of Helping Hands, the local Mayor was very im- Farnborough Members pressed and readily agreed to help. The council By Nic Read provided strong gloves and refuse sacks, which were used by the 37 members who showed up embers of the Farnborough later laid to rest there herself, in on a cloudy morning in mid-­July, equipped with M ward in the Reading stake a granite sarcophagus provided bare hands and lots of elbow grease. were recently treated to a by Queen Victoria. For over five hours they pulled weeds and celebratory barbecue by Father The volunteer group ‘Friends picked litter, gathering 17 rubbish bags and 300 Abbot, monks and parishioners of Farnborough Abbey’ has now metres of ragweed. Local residents looked very of St Michael’s Abbey as a thank established allotments on the surprised and complimented the volunteers for you for service offered two site, turning it into a beautiful their efforts. Two referrals were made from the years ago. and productive garden for local day and one young nonmember enjoyed helping At that time 70 members of residents to grow their own food. along. The sky cleared just as the project drew to the Farnborough congregation Named the Jubilee Allotments, an end, and a warm sun cheered up everyone as organised a Helping Hands it was opened by Father Abbot, they prepared to leave. ◼ project to clear one of the ab- Right Reverend Dom Cuthbert bey’s fields of hay and sticks. Brogan, on the 60th anniversary Bishop Keith George with the collected bags of rubbish Farnborough Abbey is a site of Queen Elizabeth’s corona- after the Dereham Ward’s Helping Hands project steeped in history. In 1880, tion. This month’s barbecue was the French Empress Eugénie an opportunity for the abbey bought a house in Farnborough to thank the members, renew on the Hampshire-Surrey­ bor- friendships, and reveal the fruits der. Crushed by the loss of her of those labours. husband Napoleon III in 1873 ‘Friends of Farnborough and the death in 1879 of her Abbey’ spokesperson Carol 23-year-­ old­ son in the Zulu War, Knight praised Farnborough she built St Michael’s Abbey as members’ work on the site. a monastery and the Imperial “We couldn’t believe how

FRANZ SIDNEY Mausoleum. The Empress was many turned out to help, how

U6 Ensign organized people were, and how of prayer and study, living by much research can be accomplished without even quickly the field was cleared. the works of their hands ac- leaving home. The use of online resources can Without that service we wouldn’t cording to the Benedictine way. now make it easy to find records at the touch of have had the allotments ready in The monks run a guesthouse, a button. time. It’s wonderful.” a small farm of sheep and While the video presentations were taking place, The Benedictine life has been chickens, hives of bees, plus the stake indexing directors, Arthur and Eileen practiced on the site, where a printing house and a craft McClelland, were in the cultural hall helping peo- monks adopt a traditional ritual bookbindery. ◼ ple get started with indexing. The family history library was open and busy as usual. Three youth sessions were held with video pre- sentations from Elder Neil L. Andersen and Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve

NEWS FROM NORTHERN IRELAND Apostles, who taught the youth the importance of getting involved with family history and find- ing family names to take to the . They also Rootstech Comes to Belfast started their own ‘my story’ booklets in which they By Linda Coulter were encouraged to record their memories. The stake family history directors, Brother and RootsTech Family History Fair at Holywood Sister Whittaker, reported that the feedback they re- A Road chapel in Belfast was held recently, with Belfast youth ceived is that people are keen to put into action the local family history societies being invited, and working on new things they have learned, and President James was open to the public. The conference is held their family McCrudden, stake president, expressed his thanks annually in Salt Lake City, and thanks to technol- history at the to the Whittakers for all the hard work they put into ogy, those who attended the Belfast Fair had the Rootstech fair making the event such a success. ◼ opportunity to choose from 14 video presentations from Salt Lake on topics ranging from ‘Fun Family History Activities’ to ‘Introduction to DNA for Genealogists’. Presentations were given simulta- neously throughout the day in various parts of the building. This meant that those attending could choose the topics which interested them most. Diane Loose, in her presentation ‘FamilySearch and Beyond,’ pointed out that, just as we can gain strength from stories about our ancestors and how they overcame challenges which were, perhaps, greater than our own, our stories can strengthen fu- ture generations. She shared up-to-­ date­ information about apps for smartphones and tablets which can help with recording your family history—you sim- ply record onto phone or tablet as things happen. Diane also provided an update on the Church’s partnership with other family history websites. A presentation by Tammy Hepps, ‘Top 10

Things I Learned from My Couch’, illustrated how JOSH IRVINE

January 2015 U7 TRYING TO BE LIKE JESUS

Canterbury Members Rally for Little Sabine “ feel my Saviour’s love when I do my Primary By Naomi Potter I presentation, go to Faith ometimes the smallest people can Naomi Potter, president. in God, and when I serve Smake the biggest impact, and for “Throughout it all they have sup- others. When I was in the the members of the Canterbury Ward, ported their family of three children— British Pageant, ‘Truth Will little Sabine White is making quite the Asher, Maddie and Sabine—with Prevail,’ I felt my Saviour’s impact indeed. the utmost amount of love and care love by showing and In September 2013, two-­year-­old that anyone would be proud of. They teaching people about Sabine was brought into the local have spoken about how their faith in what happened all those hospital after developing a rash on the gospel plan gives them hope and years ago.” ◼ her legs. It was then that she was strength to cope with this trial.” Elisabeth: Age 11, South Ribble diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic Members wanting to help out Ward leukaemia. Her small, frail body did not were limited in their ability to assist take well to the chemotherapy, so she the White family. Elisabeth from the spent quite a bit of time in the hospital. It was then that Relief Society South Ribble Ward “She has spent the majority of her turned to organising a ‘Push, Walk, time in hospital due to side effects Run Mile’ to raise funds for the

from the chemotherapy,” said Sabine’s Padua Ward in the William Harvey JANICE PEERS parents, Simon and Amber White. Hospital, where Sabine frequently Editor’s Note “These side effects have included respi- stays when she is poorly. ratory arrest and complete neuropathy. Twenty-­three women, along he editors, Jason Watling and Debbie Twigger, During these episodes, she has had with husbands, children and youth, Tinvite all news stories, articles and photographs numerous lengthy stays in the Padua pushed, walked and ran a mile along to be sent to [email protected]. Stories Ward of the William Harvey Hospital, Whitstable beach to raise funds for should be in Microsoft Word, 350–500 words, with where she has received great care and Sabine. Together, they have been photographs in jpg format, around 3–4mb in size. attention.” able to collect more than £3,300. Please submit stories for the News section as close Members of Canterbury Ward were The members will endeavour to to the event as possible. inspired by the White family’s ability to continue finding ways to support The signed written permission of all participants endure the obstacles of Sabine’s illness. the White family and ensure that in the photograph, as well as the photographer, “Simon and Amber have been Sabine is able to receive the best is required for the Church to use the article. absolute examples of faith,” said care possible. ◼ Local Editorial Committee Shawna Denny: Maidstone Stake Warrick Kear: Leicester Stake Dawn Keogh: Scotland Debbie Singh-­Bhatti: Sheffield Stake Tracey Prior: Wales

Websites/Social Media The latest news and additional articles can be found at www.lds.org.uk, www.mormonnews- Sabine with room.org.uk, www.facebook.com/LDSUK and her mother, on Twitter at ldschurchuk. Amber, on the All articles and photographs for the promenade websites and Local Pages should be sent COURTESY OF AMBER WHITE at Whitstable to [email protected]. ◼ EUROPE AREA (ENGLISH)

U8 Ensign