We had a great opportunity yesterday! President Rasmussen has arranged for all of the missionaries to have the experience of visiting the church history sites of Benbow Pond and Gadfield Elm Chapel. Because the sites are in a rural setting without many facilities, he has arranged for the mission to go in three different groups. Yesterday, the Birmingham and Lichfield zones went, and also all of the senior missionaries. The young missionaries traveled by coach (bus). The senior missionaries carpooled. We were blessed to be able to carpool with Elder and Sister Kendall, a couple who are assigned to serve in the Employment Center adjacent to the Mission office. I felt richly blessed as I listened to Elder Kendall talk about genealogy and church history.
Benbow Pond is located on "Hill Farm," situated on a high hill with a beautiful view. It is privately owned, but the owner allows people to come on the property to see the pond. The farm house is still standing, along with many outbuildings, and obviously was and still is a prosperous farm. As we walked down the hill, I felt a sweet calm. We had a short program there, including a song by our own Sister Jensen who serves in Lichfield. (It was pretty slick. The accompaniment was played on Pres. Rasmussen's IPad.!) Sis. Jensen has a beautiful, sweet, and clear voice. We learned how Wilford Woodruff was teaching in Staffordshire (near where we live) when he felt prompted to leave and travel south. He came to the farm of John Benbow, brother of recent convert William Benbow, and there taught the gospel long into the night and for quite a time afterwards.
The Benbows were part of a group of religious non-conformists who called themselves the United Brethren. I took a photo of a copy of their preaching schedule. Every night, they were preaching at a home in the area. As we were there, I thought of some of my ancestors, including the devout Dunns, who were Quakers and then Methodists, and Solomon Fry and his family devout members and preachers in the Evangelical Association. They truly were seeking God's truth. I feel a deep appreciation for my ancestors, sincere people who loved God and sought to find and do his will.
After Benbow pond, we drove about 20 minutes to the Gadfield Elm chapel, which was converted into a Latter-day Saint chapel after 600 of the 601 members of the United Brethren were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the oldest extant chapel in the world. It is humble building of rock. We had a beautiful presentation there and took photos. I felt a very strong Spirit at that site.
As we drove away from Gadfield Elm, Elder Kendall said it was constructed in such an unassuming way to avoid persecution from the church hierarchy in the area. He taught us of the Church of England's parish system in the 1800's and what Brigham Young called "hireling priests."
We then had lunch and an activity in the chapel in Gloucester, another 20 minute drive away, and then headed for home.
What a wonderful day! We greatly appreciate the opportunity President Rasmussen gave us.
 |
| Outside Gadfield Elm chapel. |
 |
| Senior Missionaries outside Gadfield Elm chapel. |
 |
| Oops! One couple was still in the chapel when the photos were taken. President and Sister Rasmussen are seated in the center. There are eleven couples serving in the England Birmingham Mission, and ten of us were there yesterday, along with President and Sister Rasmussen. Two of the couples serve in the Mission office, one in Public Affairs, one in the Employment Center, and two of us work with the Young Single Adults. The others are MLS (Member Leader Support) missionaries. |
 |
| Here I am with the most handsome senior missionary in the England Birmingham Mission! |
 |
| Two of our missionaries, who are from Texas and East London. They are a great team working in Tamworth. The elder on the left reminds us of our nephew John, who is serving in Spokane, Washington. I think they are about the same height, and they have similar delightful personalities. |
 |
Our District Leader standing at the pulpit where many Apostles have taught. He is from Barcelona, Spain. The British love his accent!
|
 |
| Interior of the chapel, along with the back door. . When Wilford Woodruff was preaching here one evening, a constable was sent from a nearby town to arrest him. (Apparently the Church of England priest was alarmed because so few people were attending his services.) The constable entered in the back door, and said he had come to arrest Elder Woodruff. Elder Woodruff showed the constable his ministerial certificate, and then told the constable he would gladly go with him after the meeting was over. However, at the end of the meeting, the constable asked to be baptized! He went and told the priest he would have to send send someone else or arrest Elder Woodruff himself. |
 |
| This new elder is from Germany. He just arrived in the mission three weeks ago. |
No comments:
Post a Comment