Elder Scott Edgley Memorial Issue

Elder Scott Edgley Served in the Leeds England Mission 1977-1979

Ecclesiastes 11:1

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." 

So we see with the mission labors of Elder Edgley after 45 years--  he is recognized and cherished to this day after he served amongst the saints here. 

Approximately 48 years ago, Scott Edgley joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tacoma, Washington when he was around 17 years old.  He was friends with Elder Betteridge's sister Merilee as well as Donny Blackner and several other Latter-day Saints at Curtis High School.  He was called to serve a mission for the church in Leeds England where we now serve.  

When we arrived in the mission we were assigned to serve in the Sunderland Stake in the northeast of England in the Newcastle upon Tyne area.  We learned from Elder Betteridge's sister, Merilee, that Newcastle was also one of the areas where Scott had served when he was on his mission.  We had always hoped to meet someone that would have remembered him some 46 years ago when he was here.

Bingo! This last week we have met several people who remembered Elder Scott Edgley.  As you may recall from a previous blog post we have been re-assigned to serve in the North Shields ward after being in the Newcastle ward since we arrived 10 months ago.  This has opened up the opportunity to meet and learn more about several other members of the church here in our new ward that we wouldn't have met had we remained in the Newcastle ward for the remainder of our mission.  We feel these meetings are by Divine Design and recognize these meetings as small miracles in our service. 

Scott lived at 183 Salters Lane just 10 minutes from where we now live in Newcastle:

One of the members Elder Edgley visited was Christine Steele and her husband Frank.  Frank, is not yet a member but has been very supportive of his wife Christine for over 45 years.  Christine is undergoing treatment for an unfortunate infection she received in the hospital during a hip replacement surgery.  We visited her and took the Sacrament to her this last week.  Because of Christine's interest in family history, Frank has learned that he is 100% of Viking descent.  He is a potter and very talented as well.  It is easy to see why Elder Edgley made the Steele home one of his regular visits while he was here. 

As we were reviewing the North Shields ward list to find other individuals that may have known Elder Edgley, we felt impressed to reach out to a Susan Arkley, who we noticed was baptized in the time period that Elder Edgley served in the Newcastle area.  We asked her if she knew him, here is what she said:

Elder Edgely was one of the Elders that actually found us ! ! ! ! 



Yes, Yes, Yes !!!

He was one of the missionaries who taught me.

I have his wedding invitation which he sent me

WOW !

I was baptized November 1977 so he must have been serving here then or on splits.

WOW again ! ! !

Love

Susan

Susan has been a faithful member of the church, since 1977 and is currently a Family History Specialist in the North Shields ward and a seminary teacher in the Sunderland stake.  She has had 2  children (boys), one of whom served a mission.  She also has 2 grandsons.  

We asked Susan more about the circumstances of Elder Edgley finding them and this is what she said:  Elder Edgley told us that in August of 1977 the mission president had asked all the missionaries in the mission to fast once a week and pray every day until they find someone new to teach. In accordance with this direction, Elder Edgley faithfully followed his mission president's council and then one day felt inspired to travel to Blyth (a nearby town) to knock on doors.  He had passed over several streets and then felt impressed to walk to the end of the next street and knocked on the last door on the street.  

Susan Arkley answered the door.  She recalls it was a Sunday.  She was busy cooking dinner at the time and answered the door and there stood two missionaries at her door.  She then called to her husband who was upstairs to come downstairs.  She told her husband quietly,  there are a couple of guys at the door who want to talk, just get rid of them so we can have dinner.  Her husband Keith came down to the door and as they tried to find a time when they could come back he said, just come in, let's do it now. They put their dinner on hold and listened.  

Elder Edgley and his companion showed them the "Man Search for Happiness" filmstrip and the rest is history.  They loved the message and joined the church shortly thereafter.  Elder Edgley was able to teach them many of the lessons but was transferred out of the area before they were baptized.  Elder Edgley made an impression on them and they kept in touch.  He later came back when he was in mission leadership and was able to meet with them.  Here are some excerpts from Sister Arkley's journal at that time:

Sister Arkley with Elder and Sister Betteridge below.  Sister Arkley received a wedding announcement from Scott and Merilee and has kept it all these years.  Also pictured is Brother Arkley who serves as 1st counselor in the Ashington Branch Presidency.

Shortly after Elder Edgley returned home from his mission he married Elder Betteridge's sister Merilee and they have had 3 wonderful children; Aaron, Adam and Alex.  As we told Scott's story to Sister Steele and Sister Arkley that remembered him, they were saddened to hear of his passing over 40 years ago, but grateful to know of his continued faithfulness in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We honor Elder Edgley and the many young Elders and Sisters who have served full-time missions over the years.  Where would the Body of Christ be today without the faithful, humble service of these disciples of Christ and the legacy they leave.