July 17-29, 2018  - High Tea, Pioneer Day, Chartwell and Portuguese Endowment Session

We have a wonderful ministering couple the Rogers, Nigel and Denise. They are from London and having been serving here at the London temple for the past five years on and off. They are making sure we are introduced to British traditions especially those associated with food. For our visit this month they brought over all the trappings for "high (or afternoon) tea". A few years back they took their mothers (who are now in their late 90's) to "high tea" at the Ritz in London and used that for their model. As you can see from the picture they did a great job of introducing us to a British must do, without the expensive of the Ritz. 

Denise and Nigel Rogers, our Ministers (aka Home Teachers), treated us to "high tea" which consisted of, from top to bottom on the tiers, sweets, scones and finger sandwiches along with strawberries & cream, vegetables and herbal tea, water and a lime mix which was delicious. They prepared this for us after a full day of work at the temple.

Legend has it that afternoon tea was started in the mid-1800s by the Duchess of Bedford. Around this time, kerosene lamps were introduced in wealthier homes, and eating a late dinner (8-9 pm) became fashionable.  This increasingly late dinner was one of only two meals each day - the other was a mid-morning, breakfast-like meal.

The story goes that the Duchess found herself with a "sinking feeling." This was likely fatigue from hunger during the long wait between meals. She decided to invite friends over for assorted snacks and tea, which was a very fashionable drink at the time.  The idea of an afternoon tea gathering spread across high society and became a favorite pastime of ladies of leisure. Later, it spread beyond the highest echelons of society and became more accessible for other socioeconomic groups.

Our high tea (or sometimes called "afternoon tea") was delicious.  The Rogers have been wonderful friends and we will be sorry to see them go as they complete their temple service next month.  They have a daughter and her family in Denver who they plan to visit.

A few weeks ago, President Freeman who is second counselor in the Temple Presidency and responsible for the temple grounds and temple workers, asked if we would organize the annual Pioneer Day activity for the full-time temple workers.  Since we didn't know anything about what had been done last year (turns out it had been a barbecue) we put together a plan.  The activity was held on Monday, July 23 since that is the P-Day for temple workers.  We had 46 people who attended  So here's a description and pictures of what we did.

Poster for the Pioneer Day activity that we organized for the London Temple ordinance workers.

2018 London Temple Pioneer Day Program

The "History of the Church in the British Isles" slide show was taken from a Mormon Newsroom presentation that was published in 2015.

The London Temple Pioneer Story was the story of Sister Maureen Ludlow and her family who were the first family to be sealed in the London Temple in September 1958 and we shared her story in a previous blog.

Here are some pictures of what the Accommodations Center Dining Room looked like with the table decorations prepared by Sister Burkinshaw.

The Accommodations Center Dining Room set up by Sister Burkinshaw for the Pioneer Day Breakfast.

Table setting for the Pioneer Day Breakfast.  There were eight tables set for six people at each table.  Missing here was the giant sunflower in the center of every table.

Close-up of the individual place setting for the Pioneer Day Breakfast in the Accommodations Center Dining Room. Sister Janda prepared the "Faith in every footstep" tag and Sister Burkinshaw made the "meadow muffins" (no-bake cookies)! ;-)

The Pioneer Day breakfast and temple workers began filing into the Accommodations Center Dining Room.

Sister Burkinshaw and President Freeman (and Elder Burkinshaw's plate - full of food) at the head table for the Pioneer Day Breakfast. We served breakfast casserole (we had a ton of questions ahead of time from the Brits who wanted to know what a breakfast casserole was--our best explanation quiche, something they eat a lot of, without the crust), breads (muffins, croissants, cinnamon rolls, etc.), fresh fruit and juice. 

Elder and Sister Ruse (from Providence, UT) and a temple patron from Germany, staying in the accommodation center, who wanted to be included in the festivities.

L-R Brother and Sister Russ (Wales), Sister Haines (Phoenix, AZ), Elder and Sister Turner (Blackfoot, ID), Sister Jenson (Ogden, UT).

L-R Sister Dockerty (London), Elder and Sister Lamoreax (Provo, UT), Elder and Sister Linford (Casper, WY).

L-R  Sister and Brother Wade (Kent, UK), Brother and Sister Reid (London, UK), Brother and Sister Dodkins (Sussex, UK).

President Freeman narrating the slideshow of the "History of the Church in the British Isles" and Elder Burkinshaw doing what he does best. :-)

2018 London Temple Pioneer Day Trek Path

Sister Murdoch (Logan, UT) on the trek.

Elder and Sister Page (South Jordan, UT) and Elder Murdoch (Logan, UT).  Note that each of the five companies had a different colored flag, prepared by Sister Burkinshaw

The Pioneer Trek at the clearing near the David O. McKay oak tree preparing for pioneer stories mid-way through the trek around the London Temple grounds.

Elder Burkinshaw introducing the talk we listened to from President James E Faust
"A Priceless Heritage."

Picture of the ordinance workers on the east steps of the London Temple following our pioneer trek.  Following the picture, many of the workers selected a flower bed around the temple to weed.
 

London Temple ordinance workers on the east steps of the London Temple.  Couples who are two-deep are included together as if they were on the same row going left to right.
 Front row: Sister & Elder Janda (Paris, France), Brother & Sister Kelly (Ireland), Brother & Sister Wade (London), Elder and Sister Burkinshaw, Elder and Sister Murdoch (Logan);
Second Row: Sister Dockerty, President Peel (Presidency First Counselor) Sister Balloch, Sister Peel (Asst Matron), Brother and Sister Reid, Brother and Sister Russ (Wales), Sister Guenther (Alberta, Canada), Sister and Elder Page (South Jordan, UT), Sister Rachel Dodkins, Brother and Sister Dodkins, Elder and Sister Turner;
Third Row:  Sister and Elder Ludlow, Elder and Sister Wolsey, Elder Guenther, Elder and Sister McQuivey, Sister Haines, Sister Ruse, Sister Jenson, Sister Freeman (Assistant Matron) and President Freeman (Presidency Second Counselor), Sister and Brother Lamoreaux and Sister and Elder Linford (Shift Coordinators).

Obviously the Pioneer Trek didn't wear us out enough, so we drove about 25 minutes to Chartwell, which was the home of Sir Winston Churchill for over forty years.  He once said , "A day away from Chartwell is a day wasted."  He bought the property in September 1922 and lived there until shortly before his death in January 1965. It is a beautiful spot and although it was an unusually warm day and a little crowded, we still enjoyed touring the home and learning a little more about Churchill and his wife Clementine. They were both amazing people who served many and sacrificed much.  We really couldn't begin to take pictures of all the significant documents and events presented there but it was a very awe-inspiring visit.

Winston and Clementine Churchill's began as a love story and great happiness together even though they sacrificed much.

This interesting description of their first year together by Clementine Churchill demonstrated that she was one who always saw the glass as half full.

This reading helps one appreciate that Chartwell was probably more for Winston than for Clementine (she was obviously more concerned about their finances), but even so, she devoted herself to making their house a home and many still enjoy it today.

Chartwell, the home of Winston and Clementine Churchill.

Chartwell's backyard and pond. It has not rained here in southern England since May 27th with record-breaking temperatures. This picture was taken a week the drought ended on July 27th so the grass was looking pretty dry.

A beautiful view of the Chartwell countryside from the deck outside the master bedroom.

Winston Churchill's study desk at Chartwell. 

Clementine Churchill's desk and waiting room was a very calming baby blue.

Churchill will always be remembered for the speech he gave three days after being elected Prime Minister of Great Britain on May 13, 1940 in perhaps their darkest hour as World War II was about to begin.  Said Churchill,

"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.  We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy?  I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us;  You ask, what is our aim?  I can answer in one word: It is victory; victory at all costs; victory in spite of all terror; victory, however long and hard the road may be."

Later he would say, "...appearances are often very deceptive, and as Kipling well says, we must '...meet with Triumph and Disaster. And treat those two impostors just the same.'  ...from this period of ten months this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.   ... Do not let us speak of darker days: let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days; these are great days - the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race."

In his last major public appearance, Churchill responded to praise of his war leadership by commenting, "It was the nation and race dwelling all round the globe that had the lion's heart. I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar".

On Saturday, July 28th we Elder Burkinshaw officiated and Sister Burkinshaw was the follower for a special 3:30pm Portuguese endowment session. The Portuguese-speaking City Ward, which meets in London, brought three sisters to the temple to receive their own endowment and about 40 members of the ward. It was a wonderful experience for all and it was extra special for us because three of the sisters on the session we knew from Maruípe Ward in Vitória, Brazil from our previous mission.  All three of these young women have served full-time missions. Natália (who served her mission in Brasil) is married and lives with her husband, Diogo, in Leeds. Priscilla (who served her mission in London) is living in London and waiting to hear about a scholarship to attend BYU-Idaho.  Laís, the daughter of Bishop Jocimar and Renilsa (who served her mission on Temple Square) is engaged to Daniel da Silveira. Daniel lives in London and they will be married in January 2019 in São Paulo after which they will be living in London. 

Brazil reunion at the London temple. Natália, Elder Burkinshaw, Sister Burkinshaw, Priscilla and Laís. 

Elder Burkinshaw, Laís's cousin, Laís and her Uncle (her mother's brother) - such a great family! We have such fond memories of our monthly almoço's at Bishop Jocimar's home in Vitõria. It was a wonderful day for us!!

Finally, this was also our week to provide a spiritual thought on the Thursday, July 26 and Friday, July 27 preparation meeting before our shift began.  The thought was to be based on the conference talk by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Behold the Man."  Here are the thoughts we shared:

Sister Burkinshaw's Spiritual Thought, Thursday, July 26, 2018

I have always appreciated Elder Uchtdorf’s short phrases which remind us of the doctrine that he has taught. You might remember “stop it” as he taught us how to fix strained and broken relationships or “forget me not” as he taught the women of the church to never forget they are truly precious daughter’s in God’s kingdom. And as my husband reminded this morning "life where you stand" which he taught to the priesthood brethren. For me “Behold the Man” is another of these short phrases that helps me apply his message in my own life.

After describing in beautiful detail what the Savior has done for us Elder Uchtdorf concludes with these words, “My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify that the most important day in the history of mankind was the day when Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, won the victory over death and sin for all of God’s children. And the most important day in your life and mine is the day when we learn to “behold the man”; when we see Him for who He truly is; when we partake with all our heart and mind of His atoning power; when with renewed enthusiasm and strength, we commit to follow Him. May that be a day that recurs over and over again throughout our lives.”

One of the great blessings of serving in the church and here in the temple is we have the opportunity to “Behold the Man”….”over and over again”.

I share with you two experiences from last week each directly related to the “two great, insurmountable challenges (as Elder Uchtdorf taught) that every one of us faces. First, we all die (and will be resurrected with a perfect body) and Second we have all sinned (and will be resurrected with a perfect spirit).”

During my assignment to coordinate the veil last week a sister in a wheel chair came to the veil and doing the best she could, performed the ordinance for her kindred dead. As I watched I was reminded that someday she will walk again, that she will enter the presence of the Father with a perfect body. It was a Behold the Man moment.

We also had the opportunity of helping a Portuguese speaking family through their temple experience last week. In doing so we learned their conversion story. How faith and repentance changed a father, healed a marriage and brought them to the temple with their four beautiful daughters, to kneel around the holy altar and be sealed for eternity, it was another “Behold the Man” experience.


I close with Elder Uchtdorf’s words, “Those who find a way to truly “behold the Man” find the doorway to life’s greatest joys and the balm to life’s most demanding despairs. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Burkinshaw's Spiritual Thought, Friday, July 27, 2018

Elder Uchtdorf teaches us that “… the most important day in your life and mine is the day when we learn to “behold the man”; when we see Him for who He truly is and partake with all our heart and mind of His atoning power”. (Dieter F Uchtdorf, “Behold the Man”, Gen’l Conf April 2018)

President Nelson has taught:. “Before we can comprehend the Atonement of Christ … we must first understand the Fall of Adam. And before we can understand the Fall of Adam, we must first understand the Creation. These three crucial components of the plan of salvation relate to each other....”  and he calls these events the Three Pillars of Eternity.

Does that sound like the Endowment? For 20 minutes we are taught about the creation and that paradise may not be what it seems (only 10 minutes in the “A” film).  For 7 minutes the portrayal of the Fall teaches of both agency and accountability.  And for the rest of the endowment we learn of the Savior’s atonement where he paid the debts we could not pay, healed the wounds we cannot rectify, restore that which we have taken but cannot return.  And the laws of obedience, sacrifice, the gospel, chastity and consecration and the other rites and ordinances of the New and Everlasting Covenant teach us how “we can partake … of His atoning power.”
  
Elder Boyd K Packer taught that “The Lord provides ways to pay our debts to Him. In one sense we ourselves may participate in an atonement. When we are willing to restore to others that which we have not taken, or heal wounds that we did not inflict, or pay a debt that we did not incur, we are emulating His part in the Atonement.” (Boyd K Packer, “The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness”, Gen’l Conf Oct  1995)

This sounds like ministering.  President Nelson recently said, “… we have been seeking a better way to minister to the spiritual and temporal needs of our people in the Savior’s way. … we will implement a newer, holier approach to caring for and ministering to others.”  Could this consecration of our time, talents and means be how we could “Behold the Man”?

Years ago, I remember a comic strip where two homeless friends sat on a park bench talking.  One said to the other, “So if you had two homes, you would share one with me?”  “Yes” replied the other man.  And if you had two yachts, you could I have one of them?”    “Certainly” was the response.  “And if you had two cars, you’d want me to have one?”  “Of course” he said. “So if you had two shirts, you’d share one wouldn’t you?”  “No!” came the unexpected answer  “But why not?” the friend protested.  “Because I have two shirts.”

The law of consecration does not ask for what we don’t have, but rather for what we do have.  “… Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.” (Romans 12:6)  Perhaps Elder Uchtdorf would say it “Lift where you stand.”

“…  as we “behold the man,” we will find meaning, joy, and peace in this earthly life and eternal life in the world to come.”  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.


Elder and Sister Burkinshaw

July 3-16, 2018  - Baptistry, Brighton, Dover, Canterbury and Leeds Castle

During the past two weeks, we have completed our training as the baptistry coordinators and we have had some great experiences with a number of ward youth groups as well as individuals and families that come to perform vicarious baptisms and confirmations for their ancestors. Often these groups are multiple families or Stakes with multiple wards. One session we had a newly baptized young adult sister join the ward youth. She was so excited to be there. She had a wonderful experience and shared with us that her memories of grandparents, particularly her grandfather, have been flooding her mind as she has worked on putting together the information to do their work, her last name was Drummond (which is an Oklahoma name so easy for us to remember). We also had a family from Merthyr Tydfil Wales come, the Morgan family, you will recognize that name from the Abraham side of the family. They were a great family and if we both printed out our family fan we would most likely connect at some point. We loved the baptistry and look forward to that assignment again, especially since it won't be for two straight weeks.

On Monday, July 9, 2018 we drove down to the southern coast of England to the city of Brighton (often referred to as Brighton by the sea).  The weather was nice and cool and we enjoyed a walk along the beach, similar to our time in Brazil when we walked along the beach in Vitória and Vilha Velha.  The beach at Brighton was gravel rather than sand as you can see in the pictures below.

The beach at Brighton with the Brighton Palace Pier amusement arcade in the background.  Note that the beach here is gravel rather than sand and as even southern England is about the latitude of Calgary, Canada, the water does not get very warm.

Looking south across the English Channel from Brighton, which is about 30 miles south of the London Temple.  If you zoom in, you can see the Rampion wind turbine farm which is 17 miles off-shore costing £1.3 billion for 116 monopile offshore turbines with a total capacity of 400 MW.   

The following week, we continued our adventures to the coast, this time to the famed white cliffs of Dover, which is the closest location to France.  Interestingly enough, we were close enough to France that our cell-phone provider sent an automated message welcoming us to France and reminding us that our package included data and phone service in France!  As we drove to Dover, we saw the signs for cars to access the Eurotunnel car train which runs between Cheriton (near Dover) and Calais, France via the channel tunnel in just 35 minutes. Once onboard passengers stay with their vehicle throughout the channel tunnel crossing in bright, air-conditioned carriages for about £49 per vehicle.  We also noticed a number of signs reminding the drivers coming of the Eurotunnel to "drive on the left"! :-) 

Here are a few of the pictures we took and what we learned.

Sister Burkinshaw with the white cliffs of Dover in the background.  We walked about 5 miles along the edge of the cliffs.

This picture and the next one are favorites of Sister Burkinshaw.

Elder Burkinshaw with the white cliffs.  Because of their composition (explained below), the white cliffs are nearly vertical.  And because there are similar white chalk cliffs across the channel in Calias, France, it indicates that at one point in time France and England were joined (much to their respective national chagrin! :-)

The white cliffs are composed of chalk which is a form of CaCO₃ called calcilte which formed with the accumulation of calcite shells from the skeletal remains of minute planktonic green algae.  You can also see strata or nodules of blank flint (SiO₂) as well, which is thought to be formed from the remains of silicious sponges.  

The cliffs are bright white when the sun shines on them and stunningly beautiful against the green grass, blue ocean and gray shore below.

In the distance, you can see the Port of Dover, which is just 21 miles across the channel from France.  It is one of the world's busiest passenger ports, with 11.7 million passengers, 2.6 million lorries (18 wheel tractor trailers), 2.2 million cars and motorcycles and 80,000 coaches (passenger buses) passing through it in 2017, with an annual turnover of £58.5 million a year. The Channel Tunnel in nearby Cheriton now takes an estimated 20 million passengers and 1.6 million trucks.

Sister Burkinshaw on the walking path with the cliffs and oceans in the background.

The South Foreland lighthouse is located along the white cliffs and has the distinction of being the first lighthouse to use an electric light as a marker of the coast for ships at night.

The South Foreland lighthouse.

This picture, taken from the port, shows cliffs we walked (about 2.5 miles one-way).  Note that on the left-side of the picture, there is an area of the cliffs with foliage growing and you can see a zig-zag trail which leads down to the shore.  On the far right, you can see the top of the lighthouse, which was our furthest point to which we walked.  

We walked down the zig-zag trail hoping to get to the shore below.  You can see the port in the distance.  Unfortunately, you can also see how the last part of the trail was swept away when part of the chalk cliffs gave way.

Here is a better picture of the trail, with a nice hand-rail (it was fairly steep) which shows where the path ended because of the chalk slide. 

Sister Burkinshaw looking down the trail before returning to the top of the cliffs.  We were more formally dressed than the other hikers and not nearly as young but one of the young women hikers asked Sister Burkinshaw, in between breaths, how it was that we were able to climb so quickly!  We thought (but did not say out loud) that "... all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings [the Word of Wisdom] ... shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint." (D&C 89:18,20)

Our next stop was in the ancient city of Canterbury to the Cathedral which is the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the the head of the Church of England (although Queen Elizabeth is the supreme governor of the Church).

Sister Burkinshaw in front of Canterbury Cathedral.  Much of the exterior on the far end of the cathedral was under restorative construction so we focused on the Trinity Chapel side of the cathedral.

Canterbury Cathedral was first founded in 597 AD as represented by the ancient wall in the foreground but the oldest part of the current cathedral was constructed in 1070 AD.

Elder Burkinshaw in front of the Trinity Chapel section of the Canterbury Cathedral, which was expanded after the 1170 AD murder of Thomas Beckett as he served as Archbishop of Canterbury.  A shrine was constructed for pilgrims who came to worship St. Thomas who is considered a saint by both the Catholic and Anglican churches. 

This replica of a decoration on his shrine represents the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket.  As a young man, Beckett demonstrated great administrative abilities and was named Lord Chancellor of Great Britain by King Henry II, which post even outranked that of Prime Minister.  King Henry even sent his son Henry to live in Becket's household. The younger Henry was reported to have said Becket showed him more fatherly love in a day than his father did his entire life.  When Beckett was consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury, King Henry II assumed Becket would continue to put the royal government first, rather than the church. Becket however, resigned his chancellorship and made the church his sole focus.  Legend has it that King Henry II, complained about Beckett in front of four of his knights, saying "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"  The knights took this as a mission and confronted and savagely martyred Beckett in Trinity Chapel.

A shrine to St. Thomas Becket stood in Trinity Chapel where thousands of pilgrims came to worship him and leave many jewels and riches.  "Canterbury Tales" are 24 tales of pilgrims on their way from London to the shrine of St Thomas Becket which written by Geoffrey Chaucer and have read by many students of English Literature and Philosphy.  However, during the English Reformation, King Henry VIII called on Thomas Becket to answer to charges of treason against the monarchy.  When Becket (obviously deceased) failed to appear, Henry VIII confiscated the riches left at the shrine (some of the jewels are part of the crown jewels kept in the Tower of London) and destroyed Becket's shrine at Canterbury Cathedral and had his bones dug up and burned - Henry VIII was not very nice!).  In St.Thomas Becket's honor, a candle now burns in place of the shrine.

Sister Burkinshaw stands in front of the "Chapel of Saints and Martyrs" which is also known as Becket's Crown, memorializing his martyrdom and that of all others.

A professional photo of St Thomas Becket's Crown in Canterbury Cathedral which provides more detail when enlarged.  Note the beautiful stained glass and altar.

A statue of St Thomas Becket praying located in the "Chapel of Saints and Martyrs" also known as Becket's Crown.

Trinity Chapel where the window in the center is that of the "Chapel of Saints and Martyrs" showing the beautiful ceiling as well.

The Quire (Choir) of Trinity Chapel built in the 12th Century.

The cloister or covered walkway surrounding the courtyard in Canterbury Cathedral.  Note the beautiful and ornate stonework which dates back to the 12th Century.

Our final stop was Leeds Castle which was a royal residence since the 13th Century and noted as the home that Henry VIII gave to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.  In more recent times, Leeds Castle was purchased in 1926 by American heiress and socialite Lady Olive Baillee.  Lady Baillee restored parts of the castle to their medieval state and other parts were remodeled in the fashion of the Roaring 1920's.  When she passed away in 1974, the Castle was willed to the Leeds Castle Foundation, which operates and maintains the grounds today.

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the Gunnera bushes on the Leeds Castle grounds.  These leaves can grow to widths of 6 feet.  In Brazil they call it giant rhubarb and use it for food.

The gate into the Leeds Castle grounds which is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds.  It has various buildings on it since 1086 and in the 13th century, became the royal residence of King Edward I.  Henry VIII gave the castle to his first of his six wives, Catherine of Aragon. 

Here you can see Leeds Castle is built on an island in a lake formed by the River Len.  

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the grounds of Leeds Castle near Maidstone, Kent, England.

Medieval armor shown at the entry to the Castle.  We weren't sure if the bars were to protect the visitors or the knight in armor! ;-)

This is the "Catherine of Aragon" bedroom.  The green wall covering is actually hung so it could be moved to other castles when she traveled.

This is the royal bathtub in the bathroom complete with curtains and buckets.

These are the only known sculptures of Henry VIII's children.  Mary was the daughter of Catherine of Aragon, Elizabeth was the daughter of Anne Boleyn and Edward was the son of Jane Seymour.

This was Henry VIII's Dining Hall.

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the fireplace in Henry VIII's Dining Hall.

This was the Leeds Castle Chapel and was recently reconsecrated for Anglican Services by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The conference room where the Camp David Accord first began on July 18-19, 1978 at Leeds Castle.  It was later signed by President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in September 1978, establishing a framework for a historic peace treaty between Israel and Egypt .

This was the modern (1920's) bathroom of Lady Baillee.

Lady Baillee's blue bedroom.

We were surprised to see the motto of Oxford University's New College here but we learned that William of Wykeham (1320-1404), the founder of New College, actually made his fortune as surveyor and chief keeper several royal residences including Leeds Castle. 

This is Lady Baillee's Yellow Sitting Room, so named for obvious reason.

The Library.

It is unfortunate that most of our blogs contain only information about our Monday trips that are focused on the history of England, the land of our forefathers.  Our temple service on Tuesdays through Saturdays is not often referenced because the events that shape most of our experience at the London Temple is of a sacred nature that cannot be shared outside of the Temple.  We love learning about this wonderful land and we gain a greater appreciation for our ancestors.  This reminds us of something said by a wonderful Latter-day Saint, Carlfred Broderick, as he discussed how he excelled in scholarship.  He said:

"I have attempted to achieve my mother's faith and my stepfather's scholarship. I have been richly blessed by both pursuits, but of the two, faith is at my core, rooted in my most unchallengeable experiences. Scholarship is my most valued auxiliary. Through it my mind is enriched, my relationships enlivened, my living procured, and such worldly reputation as I have, sustained. But I never forget that when the Savior greets me at the veil, it will not be my scholarship that will be examined."  (Carlfred Broderick, My Parents Married on a Dare, Deseret Book, 1996, p. 50)

Love,

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw