UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

AREA LEADERSHIP MESSAGE Increasing Faith through Christ’s Constant Love By Elder Patrick Kearon, Great Britain Elder Europe Area President Patrick Kearon

he Savior is the perfect example of ourselves and others as He does. Be a Third, find an ancestor. Through find-

T love in thought, word, and deed. good friend. A simple text message or ing an ancestor, you can discover more The scriptures give us insight into His phone call can make a big difference about who you are and where you loving nature. As the Redeemer washed in another’s life. Invite a friend to join come from. This knowledge will lead to the Apostles’ feet, He taught, “A new you for a walk, to eat with you, and an even greater understanding of where commandment I give unto you, That ye to come to church with you. You will you are going. As you discover new love one another; as I have loved you, become more aware of that friend’s connections to your ancestors, you will that ye also love one another.” 1 Christ joys and needs and be given opportu- come to a deeper understanding that invites us to look for ways to show and nities to share the pure love of Christ.2 you are a loved daughter or son of God. to feel greater love in our lives. Second, become spiritually and As you steadily act on these three invi- Through this simple plan, we have temporally self-reliant. When revelation tations, setting a goal for each, you will opportunities to learn about the Savior comes, respond swiftly. Revelation can begin to receive the reward promised to and His love. These three steps bring be directed towards both spiritual and those who strive for righteousness, “even us closer to Him and His teachings. temporal matters. Spiritual strength can peace in this world, and eternal life in First, bring a friend. The Savior be increased by reading scripture more the world to come.” 3 Working on these loves each and every one of God’s regularly and fasting with greater pur- goals with constant Christlike love will children. We can grow to see pose. You may receive a prompting to bring you a deeper appreciation of the advance in education, apply goodness of the gospel and an increased for a better job, or to increase desire to share it.4 ◼ your personal savings. As you NOTES become more self-reliant, 1. John 13:34. 2. See Moroni 7:47. you will be more capable of 3. Doctrine and Covenants 59:23. strengthening others. 4. See Alma 34:4.

June 2017 U1 LOCAL NEWS

Getting involved with the blood NHSBT—Helping to donation initiative is not difficult. Save and Improve Lives Contact should initially be made with a regional contact from the NHSBT, and By Debbie Singh-Bhatti from there arrangements can be made to make the ward or branch cultural or the past seven years, Latter-day counting branches), less than 7% have hall available for a donation session. F Saint meetinghouses throughout the become involved. The purpose of the Church and that UK have been opening their doors to The NHSBT needs to attract of the NHSBT are not too far apart. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) 200,000 new donors every year simply They both strive to save and improve to facilitate blood donation sessions. to replace those who can no longer lives. Let’s follow the mandate of The NHSBT, whose purpose is to save donate. In addition, it needs to recruit President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910– and improve lives, is most grateful more young blood donors aged 17–24 2008) to “try a little harder to be a little to the Church for its support, and its years. What an opportunity for the better”¹ and do what we can to help chairman, John Pattullo, and CEO, Ian young single adults to participate in a the NHSBT achieve its objectives! ◼ Trenholm, met with Elder Clifford T. service project that could really make Herbertson, Area Seventy, and a difference to someone’s life! NOTE 1. Gordon B. Hinckley, “We Have a Work to

Brother David Eaton of the national The NHSBT also manages the Do,” Ensign, May 1995, 88. EATON COURTESY OF DAVID public affairs council to express their National Transplant Database. Every appreciation. day three people die due to a short- Currently, 1.3% of blood donated in age of suitable organs. The NHSBT is the UK comes through LDS meeting- keen to promote organ and stem cell houses. During 2016, 232 blood dona- donations to give those on the wait- tion sessions were held in 33 wards or ing list the chance of a better life. In branches from 15 stakes up and down particular, they are looking for donors the country. More than 21,765 dona- from the Afro-Caribbean, Asian and tions of blood were made, which had other ethnic minority communities. the potential to help 65,295 adults and “The membership of the Church over 152,395 babies. is diverse, with people from many “The NHSBT is very grateful to the different cultures and backgrounds,” Church for its commitment to help,” comments Brother Eaton. “We are explains Brother Eaton. “The free ideally situated to promote the needs use of Church buildings is invaluable of the NHSBT to our members and to them, but if additional wards and the larger community to which our branches got involved, we could members belong.” do so much more to help save and improve the lives of sick people.” Left to right: Ian Trenholm, NHSBT CEO; Currently there are 45 stakes in John Pattullo, NHSBT chairman; Elder the UK, but only 15 (about 33%) Clifford T. Herbertson; and Brother are participating in the blood dona- David Eaton tion scheme. Of the 286 wards (not

U2 Ensign UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

that, serving a mission never seemed From Professional Footballer like an option. Football was too impor- to Mormon Missionary tant to Daniel for him to give it up. However, when his younger brother By Elder Lee Burke Timothy was serving his mission, Daniel began to think about going hen Daniel Sintim-Aboagye into The Church of Jesus Christ of back to church. He started to read the

W gave up his football career to Latter-day Saints at age 9, his focus was Book of Mormon. For several weeks, serve a mission, he showed that he more on football than on the Church. the full-time missionaries would vis- is one of those special individuals When he was asked to play on it his home and read the Book of who recognise what matters most and the Woking Football Club in the Mormon with him. He watched mov- choose to follow it. Conference Premier as a defender, ies about the value of serving a mis- When he was a young man, centre back, Daniel felt like his dream sion. He began to feel the Spirit telling Daniel’s ultimate desire was always to had finally been realised. Unfortunately, him he should serve. At about this be a professional football player. His playing football—especially on time Daniel began to lose interest in entire life seemed to be centred upon Sundays—kept him away from church, football, as he knew it was not the life

COURTESY OF ELDER DANIEL SINTIM-ABOAGYE that dream. Although he was baptised and he eventually went inactive. After he wanted. He started to go to church and later received a calling to serve as the ward clerk in his ward. About six months before his brother was to return home from his mission in the England Manchester Mission, Daniel emailed Timothy to tell him that he was considering serv- ing too. Six months later when Daniel went to Manchester to pick Timothy up to bring him home, the mission president told Daniel that he would go on a mission and he would come to the England Manchester Mission. As time passed, Daniel became more active in his ward, and in November 2015 he received a call to serve in the England Manchester Mission. Although he was 25 years old, Daniel decided he wanted to serve a mission. He gave up his football Elder Daniel Sintim-Aboagye (right), who is now career, and he is now more con- serving a full-time mission after turning down the opportunity to play professional football. On cerned about passing out copies of the left is his brother Timothy Sintim-Aboagye. the Book of Mormon than about passing footballs. ◼

June 2017 U3 state one thing they intended to do Nottingham Stake as a result of their visit. Home pro- Self-Reliance Road Shows duction and storage featured most, followed by writing of journals, mak- By Elder and Sister Goddard Self-Reliance Services ing wills, having a healthier lifestyle, practicing better financial manage- year-long self-reliance road show booklet summarising what they had ment and improving spirituality. A exhibition that travelled around learned together and matching scriptur- The six areas of self-reliance cov- all seven wards within the Nottingham al references to enable them to contin- ered were: England Stake ended in December ue to discuss self-reliance issues in their • Spiritual strength 2016 having had 250 visitors, repre- homes during family home evenings”. • Financial management senting one-third of the stake’s active Those attending the road shows • Education membership. signed a visitors’ book in which they • Employment President Jonathan Gray, the wrote their comments and feelings • Home production and storage Nottingham stake president, explained: about the event. Here is a sample of • Health “Because of the large area of the stake, their comments: rather than expect members from afar “Fabulous”. President Gray states: “I have a to come to the self-reliance centre to “Brilliant”. strong testimony of self-reliance, learn about self-reliance, we decided “Wonderful and very informative”. and the work that Elder and Sister to take self-reliance to the members “Excellent presentation and very Goddard are doing has served to in their own ward buildings. Elder enlightening and enriching”. strengthen that. I have heard many Ken and Sister Patricia Goddard, the As one of the objectives of the road members bear testimony of the way stake self-reliance specialists, who are shows was to engender changes in the road shows have blessed their serving a three-year part-time welfare people’s lives, there was a column in lives, and it is clear that it is having mission within the stake, were asked the visitors’ book to allow people to a real impact in our stake.” ◼ to organise and direct the road shows”. Sister Goddard stated: “We started Elder and Sister Goddard, self-reliance missionaries from scratch compiling all the data available and producing charts, displays, exhibitions, information, testimonies, games and activities for children, etc., about all six aspects of self-reliance. We visited a different ward each month and set up the various displays throughout the chapels. Members and friends were then invited to visit the road show any- time in the afternoon”. Elder Goddard added: “As well as gaining knowledge about all six areas of self-reliance, visitors were given handouts in each department and a COURTESY OF ELDER AND SISTER GODDARD

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Paignton Celebrates 10th Anniversary By Tony Arkell

embers of the Plymouth England M Stake saw a hive of activity at their meetinghouse on Belle Vue

Left to right: Linda Good, Shirley Boycott and Jemma Road, Paignton, Devon, as they cel- Sanderson with Jeremy and Harvey Sanderson displaying ebrated the 10th anniversary of the some of the donated goods which were sent to Bulgaria dedication of the building with atten-

STEVE BUTCHER dance from Kevin Foster, MP. The celebrations began with a cantata of music and the spoken word Help for Refugee Camp in Bulgaria called “The Saviour of The World”, which By Annette Arbour was enjoyed by everyone. The choir from the Church’s Newton Abbot Ward hen members of the Norwich and hardship. The school provides sang, with the members of Paignton tak- W England Stake discovered that children between the ages of 4 and 14 ing part in the spoken word. The effect a mother-and-daughter team from with a range of activities and lessons to was very spiritually uplifting. Cambridge had set up a school within develop maths, science, art and English Afterwards a large collection of arts a refugee camp in Southern Bulgaria, skills, knowledge and understanding, and crafts were displayed, including about 20 minutes from the Turkish as well as opportunities for personal, jewellery making, quilt work, knitted border, they were keen to help. social and emotional development. goods, cross-stitch and pictures painted The Church members from The school is a centre for play- by members of the Church. There was Norwich launched an appeal to gen- based learning and play therapy. also an exhibition of a 72-hour emer- erate supplies that the children would When it opened in 2014, there was gency pack, with an explanation of be able to use. After just two weeks, little sanitation, no heating and very why it is important to have one. Videos a significant quantity of material had little food. The project has been a made by the young people of the been donated. The donations weighed great success, and the school now Church were also shown. Included in 107 kilos, and they were subsequently accommodates up to 200 children at the exhibition was a video showing still packed into 18 boxes before being a time. As Bulgaria is a poor country, photographs of the building, which had shipped to the Harmanli Refugee Play the school has relied on the generosity been created by Bishop Peter Schofield, Camp in Bulgaria. of people in countries across Europe. the local leader of the Church. Gil and Sadie Clasby set up the A spokesperson for the Harmanli The author researched the history of school, using their previous experi- Refugee Play Camp said, “This is one the building and exhibited historically ences in childcare and teaching to help of the best donations, if not the best, interesting findings for all to view. Ken the Syrian refugee children, who had that we have ever received! Just per- and Gwyneth Mealey’s display of their gone through a great deal of trauma fect! I can’t stop smiling!” ◼ family tree made the day complete. On

June 2017 U5 to live in peace and practice our faith”. At the Weymouth event, stake Relief Society president Tracey Au spoke about the history of the Relief Society. The local advocate for the Black and Minority Ethnics Group addressed the delegates, as did Sayma Ahmed, the founder of Unity in Vision, and Rita El-Gazali, the current chairperson. These presentations were followed by a multi-cultural buffet provided by the

JON MARTIN Friendly Food Club. A straw poll of the attendees showed that there were Left to right: Kevin Foster, MP; President Martin of the Plymouth England Stake; and Bishop Schofield of the Paignton Ward people from America, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the United Kingdom, Europe, including Russia, and across hand was a family history consultant Bishop Schofield welcomed the spe- the Arab countries. who helped people with their own cial guest, Kevin Foster, MP for Torbay. The event held in Poole was in two family history research problems. The congregation was addressed by parts. In the afternoon, participants As part of the celebrations, a spe- President Paul Martin of the Plymouth were invited to attend a number of cial Sunday service was held, and stake and Bishop Schofield. ◼ workshops which were presented by members of the Church. In the early evening there were presentations from the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths and a young refugee girl who Interfaith Work in Poole Stake had recently arrived in the UK from By Moira Head Libya. The event concluded with sampling a wide range of foods from embers of The Church of Jesus included Christian, Muslim, Jewish, different cultures. M Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hindu, and Sikh. Across the two events, about Poole and Weymouth, both in the Moira Head, who represented 180 people attended, including in county of Dorset, recently built new the Church, said, “Friendships were Weymouth the High Sheriff of Dorset, friendships with other faith groups formed as we learned, side by side, the Mayor of Chickerell, the Mayor as they joined together to celebrate to cook and appreciate each other’s of Weymouth, and the Mayor and International Women’s Day. dishes. We discovered that as Mayoress of Dorchester. The Poole Church members joined with Unity women of faith, we have more that event was attended by the Mayor of in Vision and the Friendly Food Club unites us than divides us. First and Poole with her escort and the Mayor to host a series of multi-faith and foremost we are women, with all and Mayoress of Bournemouth. Both multi-cultural cookery courses. The the same emotions and priorities— events were conducted by Roger faith groups represented at the events to feed and nurture our families, Head, director of public affairs for

U6 Ensign PAULINE KEARNEY PAULINE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND U7 -

June 2017

Left to right: William Ryan, second Ireland District Limerick counsellor, presidency; Senator Kieran O’Donnell, Member of the Irish Senate; President Limerick Branch presi David Kelly, first counsellor, dent; Robert Kearney, Limerick Ireland District presidency For many, the highlight of the show the For many, While Limerick Branch has quite an international community among its membership, nonetheless all had a wonderful evening. Much of what we celebrated on the night had to do with nation which as a the story of Ireland, of its people to lost more has probably emigration than any other nation on earth. This allows them to empathise afar with those who have come from to live among them, and the Irish have always made them feel welcome. ◼ written by Limerick man Johnny Duhanwritten by Limerick man sang Robert also called “The Voyage”. another Limericka song composed by “Limerick,man, Denis Allen, called a Lady”. You’re brass andwas the final act, a local known as the Boherbuoy band reed formed in 1850 inBand. The band was in Limerick and has played a huge role Their final piece was the life of the city. the Irish national anthem. - - - brated Emphasising the local nature of the Emphasising the local nature Also on the bill was local poet Kearney gave a beautifulIrenee The Irish Night included perfor n Spring 2017, the Limerick Branch, n Spring 2017, District, held their Limerick Ireland event, Robert Kearney sang a ballad rendition of a haunting song which rendition is part of an ancient myth of Ireland of Lir”. One of entitled “The Children the youngest performers was 13-year- who played a old Saoirse Freeman, number of Irish tunes on a traditional tin whistle. The audience joined in many of the songs. Another poet who performed was Paul McNamara. He with travails put a new look on life’s his poem “Having a Mid-Life Crisis.” hard- and soft-shoe numbers. These hard- high well known for the dancers are that they achieve. standards who has a reputa Thomas McCarthy, tion for composing thought-provoking was a set of old Irish verse. There melodies performed by Pat O’Connell by accompanied on piano accordion, his son on guitar. of Irish Week. This week is cele­ of Irish Week. and incorpo each year in Ireland The event Day. rates St. Patrick’s was attended by over 180 people, including Senator Kieran O’Donnell and Maurice Quinlivan, Teachta Dála (Member of Parliament) for the Limerick City constituency. mances by a large number of people, including the O’Rourke School of Dancers, who performed both NEWS FROM IRELAND Limerick Irish Night in By Patrick Kearney “Seachtainannual Irish Night during which is the Irish translation Gaeilge,” I Moira Head added, “During the“During Moira Head added,

the Poole stake president, John Crew. Society president), the Mayor of and Portland, Roger Head Weymouth (Poole stake public affairs director) and in Vision chairman), the Mayor and in Vision the Mayor Mayoress of Dorchester, Au (stake Relief of Chickerell, Tracy Moira Head (stake public affairs). Left to right, standing: Saima Afzal Rita El-Gazali (Unity (Unity in Vision), Left to right, seated: Sayma Ahmed founder), the High (Unity in Vision Sheriff of Dorset (Sir Phillip Williams), Photo taken at International Women’s Photo taken at International Women’s chapel. Day celebration at Weymouth and we look forward to joining with look forward and we our Muslim sisters again in the very ◼ near future”. work. If we didn’t actually get to ‘walk didn’t actually get to If we work. we moccasins’, a mile in each other’s had made a good start, that we all felt and beliefs. Our desire to break down and beliefs. purpose to our false barriers gave weeks of preparation for these events, these events, of preparation for weeks came to a better understanding we faith each other’s and respect for, of, Poole and representing the Church. Poole JAYNE KYPRIANOU JAYNE Grandmother Serves Missionaries By Angela Tivinan Belfast City Sister Pauline Poppy Day fter her husband, Ron Spindloe, Spindloe Apassed away nine years ago, Sister By Terence McKenna Pauline Spindloe from the Hartlepool embers and missionaries from Branch, Billingham England Stake, found life as a widow very difficult. One way the Belfast Northern Ireland M she has found comfort and feels of Stake turned out in large numbers service is to be like a grandmother to the to help the Royal British Legion with young missionaries serving in the branch. the Belfast Poppy Day on the 4th She has fed them until they were burst- November last year. Apart from the ing, given the sister missionaries lifts,

normal Poppy Day collections, this and phoned the mission home to make ANGELA TIVINAN was a day set aside in Belfast with sure they got help when it was needed. many volunteers flooding the city She really cares for the missionaries like the bottom of her cushions is a scripture: centre to raise money for veterans they were her own because, she says, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a of war and conflict. “I would hope members would do that for my family if they were on missions.” few things, I will make thee ruler over Pictured is President James One thing she did that has now many things: enter thou into the joy of McCrudden, recently released as the become a tradition is to make the thy lord” (Matthew 25:21). Belfast Northern Ireland Stake president, missionaries a cross-stitched cushion, Sister Spindloe has been a member helping on the Belfast Poppy Day. ◼ on which she includes their names, start of the Church for over 40 years and and end dates and mission. At the end has been the pianist for her local con- of their mission, each missionary gets gregation most of that time. Over the a cushion to take home as a reminder years she has served in just about every of their special time. Cross-stitched on available calling. ◼

Editors’ Note

he editors, Jason Watling and Local Editorial Committee

EVE O’CONNOR TDebbie Twigger, invite all news Des Waddington, Shawna Denny, stories, articles and photographs to be Debbie Singh-Bhatti, Tracey Prior, James McCrudden volunteering sent to [email protected]. Jonathan McColgan, Chelsea Craven on Belfast Poppy Day Stories should be submitted in Microsoft Word, 300–500 words, with photo- Websites/Social Media graphs in jpg format, around 3–4mb in or the latest news and updates, Correction size. Please submit stories for the News please visit www.lds.org.uk, In the April 2017 issue, on page U2, F www.mormonnewsroom.org.uk, part of the caption was missing from the section as close to the event as possible. photograph of President Michael Peel, second The signed written permission of all www.facebook.com/LDSUK and counsellor in the London England Temple pres- participants in the photograph, as well as ldschurchuk on Twitter. All arti- idency, and his wife, Sister Valerie Peel. The the photographer and author, is required cles for inclusion should be sent to full caption should read: “President and Sister for the Church to use the article. [email protected]. ◼ Peel, second counsellor and assistant matron.” ENGLISH—EUROPE

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