December 23, 2018 - Runup to Christmas
Since our last post, we have had a number of Christmas Activities and visits to several sites to see the Christmas decorations. We have filled the weeks with Christmas lights, decorations, delicious food, music and of course daily visits to the temple both to serve the patrons and to do work for our own and others kindred dead. What a wonderful place the temple is to be at Christmas time. It was nice to take a few quiet moments in the Celestial room and express gratitude to a loving Heavenly Father for His most precious gift, for He is "....the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stand today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gifts of His divine Son." (The Living Christ, 2000)
Now a run down of our extracurricular activities for the past couple of weeks. On Monday, December 10, 2018, we had the Temple Ordinance Worker Lunch in the Accommodation Center dining room and then a Devotional with the Temple Presidency in the Visitors Center. This was also Sister Burkinshaw's birthday but due to the time difference, we were all finished with the lunch and devotional when our children made their birthday calls.
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| Temple Ordinance Worker Christmas Devotional Luncheon serving table. |
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| Elder and Sister Burkinshaw's plates at the Christmas Devotional Luncheon. |
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| The London Temple Ordinance Worker Choir singing at the Orpington Ward Christmas Carol concert. Sister Burkinshaw, as always, is the pianist. |
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| The London Temple Ordinance Worker Choir singing at the Orpington Ward Christmas Carol concert. Elder Burkinshaw is visible in this picture. |
On our Monday day off, we went to Standen House, which is an estate built in the late 1880's where the grounds and home are preserved and decorated for the season. It's a fun way to see how the English aristocracy lived at that time. It's similar to what you might see at Downton Abbey.
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| Christmas tree in the courtyard decorated with various cross-stitched ornaments. |
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| One of several Christmas trees throughout the house with some turn-of-the-century dolls. |
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| Stairway and landings decorated. |
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| Standen House stairway decorated for Christmas. |
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| Yet another Christmas tree set up at the bottom of the staircase. |
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| The dining room set up for holiday festivities. |
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| The Christmas tree in the library. |
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| An original copy of the first colored storybook entitled "The Visit of St Nicholas" but which eventually became known as "The Night Before Christmas" |
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| The backdrop for the children to act out their plays in the drawing room. Note the basket of costumes at the side. |
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| An explanation of the Drawing Room Dramas that took place at Standen House when occupied by the Beales. |
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| Of course one always has to take advantage of the mistletoe when it's available! ;-) |
December 21 is the shortest day of the year, so we provide a screen from WeatherChannel which shows that we are far enough north that there was less than 8 hours daylight.
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| Shortest day of the year shows 7 hours of 54 minutes of daylight. |
On Friday afternoon, December 21, after our early shift in the London Temple we drove over to Hever Castle to see their Christmas decorations.
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| The entrance to Hever Castle about 3:45pm in the afternoon, just before it got dark. |
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| Hever Castle with the bushes and trees decorated for Christmas. The castle itself was lit by a variety of shifting shades of light. |
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| Sister Burkinshaw in front of the purple Hever Castle. |
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| In the Hever Castle courtyard was a tree with a nativity scene set up in the branches. |
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| The drawing room of Hever Castle set up for Christmas, all the arrangements were done with fresh greenery--they were beautiful and smelled wonderful. |
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| The grand dining room with Christmas decorations |
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| Another of the drawing rooms festively decorated for the season. |
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| Nutcrackers guard the chimney where St Nick will emerge early Christmas morning with a nearby Christmas tree and candles. |
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| More nutcrackers protecting the grand wedding tapestry for Henry VIII and Anne Boelyn. |
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| A laser light show was presented at the lake adjacent to Hever Castle. |
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| The light show was choreographed with classical music. |
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| The pictures don't really do justice to the light show, but it was very nice. |
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| Sister Burkinshaw among the festively decorated Christmas trees outside. The snow was artificial as it was about 45°F outside - unusually warm. |
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| Elder Burkinshaw amongst the Christmas trees on the grounds of Hever Castle. |
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| Sister Burkinshaw along the Christmas path at Hever. Note the beautiful full moon. |
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| The Christmas was at Hever used A Christmas Carol theme and Scrooge was shown with the three different ghosts of Christmas. |
We finish our post with some pictures at our apartment showing the cards and gifts we have received from our kind colleagues and fellow ward members as well as the nativities we have acquired for Sister Burkinshaw's collection while we have been here.
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| This basket of goodies was a gift from our special friend Pam Lunn who is normally the organist/pianist for the Addlestone Ward. She and Sister Burkinshaw played an organ and piano duet of Hark the Herald Angels Sing for our Christmas eve eve sacrament meeting. Since Pam has been called to the Stake RS Presidency, Sister Burkinshaw plays the organ in her stead when she is traveling to other units. |
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| All our Christmas cards are set up on the window sill looking out our back window with our potted amaryllis flowers. It is beautiful to see the lush green grass. |
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| On the left is a wooden carved nativity that we bought in Lucerne, Switzerland. On the right is a carved wood nativity we got in Killarney, Ireland. In the center is a molded set of carolers with a scroll of music from the Christmas carol "The Holly and the Ivy" which we found at the gift shop at Hever Castle. This is a favorite Christmas carol for the British and we sang it at the temple ordinance worker Carol Concert held Wednesday, Dec. 19th. There are two Christmas crackers in front also a British tradition. A cracker consists of a segmented cardboard tube wrapped in a brightly decorated twist of paper with a prize in the middle, making it resemble an oversized sweet-wrapper. The cracker is pulled apart by two people, each holding an outer chamber, causing the cracker to split unevenly and leaving one person holding the central chamber and prize. The split is accompanied by a mild bang or snapping sound. |
Despite being apart from our children and grandchildren, we feel very blessed to be here serving in the London Temple at this time. We aren't at liberty to speak of the many special and spiritual experiences we have here in the Temple but they are very real and significant.
Early one morning last week, I felt inspired to summarize the momentous events that have transpired in the past 15 months in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Lord's hand can surely be seen and an unmistakable message emerges. The summary begins with a teaching and warning from the Prophet Joseph Smith.
“I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the Saints
prepared to receive the things of God; but we frequently see some of them, after suffering
all they have for the work of God, will fly to pieces like glass as soon as anything comes that is contrary
to their traditions: they cannot stand the fire at all. How many will be
able to abide a celestial law, and go through and receive their exaltation, I
am unable to say, as many are called, but few are chosen [see D&C 121:40].”
(“Chapter
45: Joseph Smith’s Feelings about His Prophetic Mission,” Teachings of
Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2011), 518)
27 Oct 2017: In a letter to all
General Authorities, General Officers and Area Seventies, entitled “Your Role
in Helping to Reduce and
Simplify the Programs and Initiatives of the Church”, the First
Presidency said, “As members of the Church strive to better focus on what is truly essential,
they are able to center
their lives on the Savior and His gospel. To this end, it is incumbent
upon each of us to more fully engage in seeking ways to lessen the burdens placed on Church leaders and
members. As general and area Church officers and department managers,
you play a significant role in carrying out this charge by prayerfully identifying the essential
work of your areas of responsibilities and departments, simplifying that essential work,
and reducing or eliminating
nonessential tasks.
27 Oct 2017: In a Letter to all
Church Members, the First Presidency said that the two General Women’s Sessions
the week before General Conference would be eliminated and the Saturday evening
Sessions would be simplified
with Priesthood Meeting in April and General Women’s Meeting in October.
14 Dec 2017: In a First
Presidency Letter, Priests
were authorized to serve
as baptizers and witnesses for proxy baptisms in the temples. Laurels were authorized to assist in baptistry roles previous reserved for endowed sisters.
16 Jan 2018: President Nelson,
newly set apart as the President of the Church said, “Now, to each member of
the Church I say: Keep on the covenant path. Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants
with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual
blessing and privilege available to men, women, and children everywhere.
As a new presidency, we want to begin with the end in mind. For this reason,
we're speaking to you today from a temple. The end for which each of us strives
is to be endowed with power in a house of the Lord, sealed as families,
faithful to covenants made in a temple that qualify us for the greatest gift of
God, that of eternal life. The ordinances of the temple and the covenants you
make there are key to strengthening your life, your marriage and family, and
your ability to resist the attacks of the adversary. Your worship in the temple and your service there
for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace
and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path.” (Church
News)
31 Mar 2018: In General
Conference it was announced that Melchizedek Priesthood Quorums would be
simplified by including High
Priests and Elders in a single Elders Quorum. Home and Visiting Teaching were “retired” and
replaced with a simplified but better focused ”Ministering” program.
01 Apr 2018: President Russell M
Nelson warned, “You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely
trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the
word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s
Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart
and mind about what is true.
… In coming days,
it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing,
comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead
with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation.”
08 May
2018: In a Joint Statement, the Church announced
it would end BSA sponsorship at the end of 2019.
A new youth
leadership and development program will replace scouting.
04 Sep 2018: Saints (Volume 1): The Story of the Church of
Jesus Christ in the Latter Days is published. Unlike past histories, which were primarily
written as reference works, Saints is written as a narrative that is engaging
to read and is also a multilayered
history that allows readers to explore topics in depth with links to explanatory topics and
the primary sources behind the text. It is based on decades of rigorous research.
06 Oct 2018: In General
Conference, “A New Balance between Gospel Instruction in the Home and in the
Church” was announced with a simplified
2 hour block meeting schedule in 2019.
Individuals and families were encourage to study the gospel at home on Sundays.
14 Dec 2018: In a First Presidency Letter, a simplified Age-Group Progression for Children and Youth was announced where children and youth advance in Aaronic Priesthood, Young Women and Primary classes at the beginning of the calendar year of their respective birthday rather than on their individual birthdays..
30 Oct 2018: The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints has been officially organized for 188 years—exactly double
the age of President Russell M. Nelson.
From a room overlooking the newly dedicated Concepción Chile Temple,
President Nelson spoke about the “young Church,” which has only spanned about
two lifetimes. “If you think the Church has been fully restored,
you are just seeing the beginning. There is much more to come.” (Church
News)
28 Nov 2018: "Wait until
next year," President Nelson said in an interview … "Eat your vitamin
pills. Get your rest." (Deseret
News)
"The best is yet to come."
Elder and Sister Burkinshaw
