Institute for the North, Cradle for Christianity, Temple for Eternity

 Institute in Ashington

We started a new institute class on Wednesday evenings for the northern part of the Sunderland Stake in a town called Ashington.  We had felt impressed to do this and the support was overwhelming.  It provides an opportunity for the young adults in the northern part of the stake to gather, share a meal, discuss gospel truths and socialize.  It draws saints from the Alnwick Branch, Ashington Branch and some from the North Shields Ward.  We were pleased to have 11 in attendance on our first week.  

 

We will continue to teach on Thursday evenings in Gateshead for the central part of the stake.  The lesson this last week was on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We are so grateful for this great gift and gospel truth, that He was resurrected and has given us all, without exception, the gift of a resurrection in the future.   

Elder Paul Johnson of the Seventy said, "Each of us has physical, mental, and emotional limitations and weaknesses.  These challenges, some of which seem so intractable now, will eventually be resolved.  None of these problems will plague us after we are resurrected... The miracle of the resurrection, the ultimate cure, is beyond the power of modern medicine but is not beyond the power of God."

Bamburgh Castle - Cradle for Christianity

Our P-day this last week involved a short 1 hour trip to the Bamburgh Castle on the eastern coast of England just north of Alnwick.  Bamburgh is known as "the very foundation stone of England".  Edwin, king of Northumbria, was the first Christian king of Northumbria in the early 600s. St Aidan was invited by king Oswald to bring Christianity to the pagan north.  

The Castle is still owned by the Armstrong family and has been from the late 1800's.  This location has been a strategic center of skirmishes with Scotland over many years in the 1600-1800's time period.  The archeological finds on site date back to the 500 AD time frame and the time when Rome ruled these Isles. The weaponry from the different time periods is amazing and authentic weapons are on display in the castle.  This is truly a treasured history along England's northeastern coastline.  The views from the castle are stunning. 

            

Preston England Temple X 2

The highlight of the week was the opportunity to attend the Preston England Temple.  We accompanied an 11-year member of the church from India to the temple to do baptisms.  Mohan Chukka joined the church in India as a young teenager after he and his brother met missionaries at a bus stop in their home town.  He  has not been out of India until now so has never had the opportunity to see a temple in person, let alone go inside. (He is in England to study international business, working towards a masters degree).  After he finishes his masters degree he is planning to serve a mission for the church.  He is a remarkable, faithful Saint.  Here are his own words about the time we spent in the temple.  

"I'm so excited! I'm so blessed to enter into the place of God. The experience that I had in the temple is marvelous. The ordinances which I performed in the temple, gives immense pleasure and happiness. I believe that showing their faith in Heavenly father and his son Jesus Christ by living the gospel and keeping the commandments. I believe that this is the only true and living church upon the whole face of the earth. There are a lot of testimonies built in temple and church's to carry them till generations. Have faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the blessings will come abundantly. I wish everyone receive the same joy that I received in the temple. I share all these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen!"

Another amazing experience in the temple this week was with a young newlywed couple, Isaac and Julia Woodward.  We were celebrating their one year wedding anniversary.  Isaac joined the church 5 years ago in York and then met Julia, a full-time missionary from Moldova, who had joined the church in Moldova just a year or so before being called to serve a mission to Leeds, England.  They have both been endowed and are looking forward to their sealing in the near future. This was Isaac's second time to go to the temple for an Endowment session.  

Closing Thoughts

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to serve God's children in the Newcastle area of England.  We recognize our attempts are feeble, but joy in the little difference we can make in other's lives.  We are grateful for our dear President and Prophet Russel M. Nelson, who said the following:

“Our Heavenly Father never intended that we would deal with the maze of personal problems and social issues on our own...God so loved the world that He sent His Only Begotten Son to help us. And His Son, Jesus Christ, gave His life for us. All so that we could have access to godly power—power sufficient to deal with the burdens, obstacles, and temptations of our day... When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do…The gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with His power, which is available to every earnestly seeking daughter or son of God.” April 2017