Mothering
This last week we taught a pair of institute lessons on the Sacred Responsibilities of Mothers and the Sacred Responsibilities of Fathers. It was the week preceding the UK celebration of 'Mothering Sunday' (2nd Sunday in March) which we often call Mother's Day in the US (2nd Sunday in May).
We love how the British call this special day "Mothering Sunday" because it recognizes all women and their innate gifts and doesn't only focus on those who have born children.
Heavenly Father has blessed His daughters “with an innate capacity to love and nurture,” which can help women fulfill this influential and sacred responsibility of being a mother. President Nelson taught that “every woman is a mother by virtue of her eternal divine destiny”.
Sheri L. Dew, former counselor in the general relief society presidency said: "While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve “the mother of all living” —and they did so before she ever bore a child. … Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us. …As daughters of our Heavenly Father, and as daughters of Eve, we are all mothers and we have always been mothers."
We honor all women this day and their God-given gift to nurture and mother the family of God.
Stake Conference
This last weekend was also stake conference for the Sunderland Stake.
Our Saturday Evening session was conducted by Debbie Deacon, a counselor in the Stake Relief Society Presidency and featured all women speakers and their faith journey as mothers. Sister Clare, wife of President Clare, our Mission Leader, was the concluding speaker and talked about how her parents taught her three simple important truths to help her through life's challenges:
1. Focus on the Savior, 2. Seek to worship in the Temple, and 3. Listen to the Lord's Prophets. What great, simple truths to help us succeed in life.
Our Sunday General Session featured the testimonies of the full-time missionaries who have gone out from the stake-- Jacob Clutten (Australia), Joshua Hansens (Australia), Adam Hughes (Australia), and Jake Spencer (Brazil) as well as recently called sister Erin Power (Canada); all have left since we have been here. Following their video testimonies each of the mothers of these missionaries spoke about their experience mothering them, helping them to build testimonies and how their child's mission has blessed their family.
We played a role in the music of conference -- Sister Betteridge played the piano for three choir numbers, performed a piano duet for a musical 'item' (British call musical numbers 'items'), accompanied Sister Moss, full-time young sister missionary in the North Shields ward, who sang a solo, and led the congregational singing for the Saturday Evening session. AND Elder Betteridge sang in the choir. It was a joy to see Sister Betteridge's talents serving the saints here.
The Onslaught
We were advancing along the Rock-solid pier fighting the waves which were huge and terrible, crashing against us row after row as if Satan were throwing a repeated barrage of temptations at our position but we were not effected because we were standing on the Rock …the Rock was immovable and boldly repelled back every advance… creating great tumult and confusion in the adversary's ranks... the deflection of forceful waves back into the on-coming waves caused a great tumultuous upheaval and confusion in his ranks.
David Abel
David is from Nigeria, a student at Durham University, studying conflict prevention and resolution. He was a Christian looking for a church to go to while he is living in England and going to school. He found an online ad from the church about meeting with other believers in Christ. He was contacted by the missionaries pictured below, (Elder Jolliffe and Elder Page), but at first he wasn't interested. They reached out again after a couple days, hoping he would have a change of heart. His heart had changed and he said he was ready to learn more. At one of his first lessons at a member's home he was shown a picture of the temple-- it touched him. He was drawn to it and had a deep desire to learn more about temples. He then set his goal to go to the temple to learn more about the Savior ! He has taken the first step on this path and was baptized on Saturday.
What is important to the Hughes family?
The Andrew and Helen Hughes Family-- President Hughes is 1st counselor in the stake presidency and the one with whom we work to minister to the YA in the Sunderland stake, his wife Helen has been the Stake Primary President. Their oldest son Adam just left for his mission to Australia in August last year. Before he left we worked with him and invited him to come to institute. He finally did for a month or so before he left and became a great contributor in class. Here is what he wrote in a note to us-- since he has been on his mission -- this brought us great joy.
"Hey Elder Betteridge, I am watching conference and feel inspired to give you a message of thanks. Thank you for making me feel comfortable in serving and for inspiring me to go out and do the work of the lord. Thank you for your sacrifice and for your dilligence and warm nature as you inspire the YA of the stake. You and your wife inspire so many people and you're doing an amazing job. Everyone appreciates you and your efforts so thank you. Thank you for taking the time to go on a mission and to bless so many people. Keep doing your incredible work and thank you so much. Have a great week! Elder Adam Hughes
The Hughes family motto is at the bottom of the "What is Important Tree" below --
What we do in life echoes in eternity!
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