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.
 |
| 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. |
"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!! |
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.
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
No comments:
Post a Comment