Inside This Issue:
- Stake Presidency Message
- Editor’s Message
- Sheffield Stake Youth Camp 2024
- Rising Generation: Why We Knead You!
- Sheffield Stake Women’s Conference
- Cateract Surgery Programme
- Game Night
- Postcard Service Project
- Roadshow 2024
- Stake Choir Needs You
- Lessons Learned from the Olympics
- Mountains of the Moon
- Acting on Spiritual Promptings
- Ode to the Spellchecker
- Gaining An Eternal Perspective on our Journey Home
- Called to Serve
- Missionary Messages
- An Invitation From President Nelson
- Chesterfield Emigrating Saints & Early Church History
Stake Presidency Message
As I was studying Alma 32 recently, it made me think of the many people I have spoken to who say they’ve never felt a burning in the bosom, and therefore do not ‘know’ or have a testimony.
Well, President Dallin H Oaks has said he’s never experienced that so I’d say if that’s how we felt we’d be in good company.
Equally in Alma 32:22 we read that ‘God is merciful unto all who believe on his name” and that should bring us comfort.
Alma 32:28 expands upon our quest of knowing, encouraging us to give place to the seed, teaching us that it will swell, and when you feel these ‘swelling motions’ ye will begin to say within yourselves it must needs be that this is a good seed, for it:
- Beginneth to enlarge my soul
- Beginneth to enlighten my understanding
- Beginneth to be delicious to me
Our testimony is very much about swelling motions, or in other words growth. I’m grateful that Alma teaches us that part of ‘knowing’ is about us reflecting on how applying the principles of the gospel have improved us. Part of us ‘knowing’ is also that the gospel makes sense to us, it ‘fits’ and tastes good.
So, a question for Alma 32 & 33… “What is the seed Alma asked them to plant?”
If you say faith, the only thing wrong with that answer is it’s incorrect!!!
The seed is not faith.
He answers it in Alma 33, verse 22 and 23 teaching us to begin to believe in the Son of God that He will redeem, atone, resurrect, and judge.
Alma says “I desire you plant this word in your hearts”, (maybe even ‘the word’). The word he’s asking them to plant is exactly what the Zoramites said they did not believe in their prayers. He’s asking them to plant Christ and His mission in their hearts and then nourish it with their faith.
My prayer is that we’ll plant the Saviour’s life, mission and love deep into our hearts, as we do so we’ll start to grow our tree within us, nourishing it with our belief, with our faith, with our trust, so that it will “spring up in you unto everlasting life’.
And my wish is the same as Alma’s, that God may grant unto you that your burdens may be light through the joy of his Son!
President Richard Walshaw
Editor’s Note
Our family has just got back from a week’s holiday in Scotland.
Every other year we go away with our four daughters, their husbands and an ever increasing number of grandchildren! It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to spend quality time together and to strengthen the bonds that unite us.
Scotland is a beautiful country. It never fails to inspire and uplift me and I’m grateful that I have a daughter who lives there, which gives me an excellent reason to visit several times a year!
This holiday, five intrepid members of our party took a trip through white water rapids. The real dare devil of the group was thrown off the raft and almost didn’t surface again. It was very scary for all concerned!
The following day, four of those same adventurers tackled Ben Nevis. It was a gruelling, relentless climb and our daughter Sophie has vowed never to do it again!
Most evenings we sat around the kitchen table playing games, whilst the male members of the group teased and took the rise out of one another. Never having raised boys, it was quite an eye opener to see how differently they act compared with girls!
We gained a new grand daughter two months ago, so it was a joy to have her with us during our stay. It often fell on me to look after her whilst mummy and daddy ate dinner or when they needed a break. I loved those special, cuddly moments together.
Why am I writing all of this? To express my gratitude for family relationships and for the promise that they can be eternal.
Though life isn’t perfect for any of us, we can still find hope and joy.
Debbie Singh-Bhatti
Ignite the Light
Sheffield Stake all-aged Youth Camp 2024 was to “ignite the light” of gospel principles in our lives through:
- connection as friends and community
- bravery in overcoming fears and ‘first evers’
- adapting and changing attitudes
- giving of time and talents
– and our amazing youth rose to all these challenges!
Ever been coasteering? Our intrepid youth have! The best description is horizontal cliff climbing with the tide at your ankles and base jumping seaward!
The swim-able youth were brave, adventurous and triumphant and rightfully proud of the achievement.
Meanwhile the momentum and energy was building with rifle shooting, archery and team games.
Groups getting temporarily lost and finding camp, swimming, lip-sync sing-a-longs, beach party, and s’mores in the rain.
You may think all this is just about making friends and good memories, but you’d be wrong.
Each young person had the chance to put the gospel into action as they included others from the fringe of activities, as they cheered and believed in someone else, as they apologised and repented of careless acts or attitudes, and as they offered caring words and company to com-fort the scared and anxious.
Our youth raised the bar of discipleship even higher as they determinedly painted fences, filled in potholes, cleared spaces of severe overgrowth and even used their hands to clean out guttering of the camp lodges.
The volunteer management team of the camp site were so overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of our youth in just those few hours.
They said the amount of work achieved equated to at least a month’s volunteer work!
In recognition of this outstanding achievement they rushed off to personally curate an award of gratitude and present it to camp on the Friday closing devotional.
Did youth camp “ignite the light”?
YES, the testimony meeting on the last night reverberated with the Holy Ghost bearing witness to the truth of each person’s experience and gospel understanding that was improved by living it.
Many youth chose to get involved and share how they felt about their Saviour and how their faith had been tried and strengthened through the week.
The maturity of that meeting has never been felt by the leaders in previous years.
What an awe in-spiring legacy for the stake, as we stand shoulder to shoulder with our rising generation of disciples of Christ.
Cataract Surgery Programme
I’m very happy to announce that arrangements are almost finalised for our Cataract surgery programme in Diema, Mali.
I mentioned previously this is the International Crossroads of the Country and we have many people with eye issues.
If the surgeons are happy with the facilities we have in Diema hospital next week when they visit, the programme will begin on 15th September 2024.
The last Cataract event we had in Diema, we managed to examine 2,400 people and operate on 243.
As Diema has a population of more than 200,000, it was only a small percentage who had the opportunity to see the doctors, hence the need for a second event.
We still need your prayers. Thank you again for supporting our programmes, both in Ukraine and Africa.
God Bless.
Pam Young, Sheffield Third Ward
Postcard Service Project
Members of Sheffield Third Ward’s Elders Quorum wrote and sent postcards to Salthouse Care Home after our lesson on 11th August.
Care workers read the postcards to residents, which helps with memory.
In total 28 were sent by the quorum.
The project was detailed on the JustServe website and was a very easy and accessible service project for all.
Brother Michael Gilmore, Sheffield 3rd Ward
Roadshow Details
On 16th November at the Stake Centre we are bringing back the roadshows! It will be a time travelling, alien busting extravaganza!
The evening will commence with a prologue where our hero and 3 companions find a strange looking box with very attractive levers and buttons.
Before they know it they are lost in time and space, trying to find their way home.
Each roadshow continues the story in a 10 minute Doctor Who-esque episode starting from exiting the Tardis onto a new world or point in time and ending with running back to the Tardis (maybe just in time).
What’s involved?
Generally essential would be an alien(s), a dastardly plot, an innovative twist and a lot of running.
- Digital scenery equipment
- Doctor Who costumes (Tom Baker and Jodie Foster)
- Coloured spot lights, smoke, sound effects and 2 radio mics provided (we’ll train a technician from each unit to operate these from a laptop)
Awards on the night will be presented, including:
- Best script
- Best alien costume
- Best prop
- Best digital backdrop/use of technology
- Best (over)acting
Further spot prizes will be awarded for:
- Dancing
- Singing
- Comedy appeal
- Audience participation
All of the above is encouraged, but not required by each act due to the short time frame necessary to allow all units to participate (even with a small cast of 5 – Doctor Who, three companions & one alien)
Please book us in for a theatre workshop, maybe on a Tuesday night, where we can show our video, practice script and song writing with ChatGPT, demo the tech, make props from the contents of a ‘recycle bin’ and other fun stuff.
Stake Choir Needs You!
Lessons Learned from the Olympics
I’m sure many of you, like me, spent part of the summer holidays watching the Olympics and cheering on Team GB!
There were some remarkable moments from the retirement of British superstars Andy Murray and Tom Daley to the unexpected brilliance of the new kid on the block, Toby Roberts.
There were heartwarming moments too, such as New Zealand’s Haydn Wilde congratulating GB’s Alex Yee in the men’s triathlon, despite being favourite to win and leading out for most of the race.
On the medals podium, China’s He Bingjiao showcased the Spanish flag pin next to her silver medal in honour of the Spanish athlete Carolina Marin who would have qualified in her place if she had not had to withdraw due to injury.
There were many other examples of great sportsmanship and camaraderie amongst the athletes, including the unlikely photo of the North and South Korean table tennis teams posing together for selfies with their gold and silver medals!
We also witnessed the power of music (and a sense of humour) as the Beach Volleyball teams from Canada and Brazil, who were embroiled in an on-pitch argument, were calmed down by the Arena DJ playing John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ – they got the joke and smiled and later hugged and made up.
Despite the spectacle of the opening and closing ceremonies and the adrenalin rush of watching and cheering as athletes compete at the very top of their game, from field and track, to cycling, rowing, archery, speed climbing and everything in between, perhaps one of the most memorable moments to come from the Olympics was a simple interview with Australian bronze medallist, race walker Jemima Montag.
Her comments were a gold medal worthy life lesson!
She said there is a careful balance between wanting that medal but not needing it, it’s a really nuanced difference between not needing it for your own self-worth or so that people will love you, but wanting it enough to give it a go.
Such great life advice! If it doesn’t happen, the sun will still rise tomorrow, but you’ll have given it a go!
She went on to say “Play on!”
This journey isn’t without its challenges and it doesn’t matter what level you want to take it to, sport is about community and a sense of belonging, it’s about making friends and looking after your physical and mental health, and it’s about learning amazing life skills like dedication and leadership.
So, play on in your own way, because we (you) belong here!’ I think we could say exactly the same about Church activity.
There was so much to inspire in these Olympic Games and so much more inspiration to come during the Paralympics, but I also think there’s a lot we can learn about being there for each other, being happy for another’s success, being content with our own best efforts and being determined to always put our best foot forward.
May we do the same as we exercise our discipleship as members of His Church.
Sister Carol Rose, Stake Relief Society President
Mountains of the Moon
Showing in Chesterfield Chapel on Saturday 26th October is Mountains of the Moon, a family musical by the professional team who created “The Crooked Spire musical” (May 2022) for Chesterfield’s Pomegranate Theatre.
Mountains of the Moon won the best children’s show award and the best young actor award at Buxton Fringe Festival 2023.
This high-energy family theatre performance portrays a group of thirsty animals learning how to work together after their river dries up.
Rainforest noises fill the air as a small boy plays with his soft toys, the suggestion being that these are about to come to life in his imagination.
Then the fun begins in earnest as the cast bounds on to the stage area and bursts into song.
The stylised costumes take a little getting used to but it doesn’t take long to become acquainted with Monkey (Laura Mae Mellor), optimistic Gecko (12-year-old Eddie Waller putting in a particularly bright performance), Bat (Drew Sinclair), Camel (Simon Lewington) and Owl (Rachel Roberts), the actors’ facial expressions and skills in movement proving highly effective to differentiate each animal.
Mountains of the Moon is full of imaginative touches including shadow puppetry, a river of flowing cloth and inventive use of props; at one point a parrot is evoked simply through the flapping of a multi-coloured fan of feathers.
A feast for the ears as well as the eyes, the show boasts cheery music and song – more than one of them could play an instrument – and lots of laughs too as the animals reveal their foibles and cook up ever more hare brained schemes to bring back the rain.
Three beautiful fables are woven into the story and there are serious messages about putting aside petty rivalries in order to stand together to change things for the better.
There are moving moments as the animals gather under the “magic moon”, wishing for a better future, but by the end of the show it is time to party again, the audience rising to its feet and dancing along with the tireless crew as tissue paper rain falls all around.
Acting on Spiritual Promptings
Since my mother passed on September 11th last year, I have received more promptings of the Spirit than ever before, and I have to listen to them and take action.
One recent prompting came from my mother, urging me strongly to go to London Temple to do an ordinance.
Without hesitation, I asked my wife if, during the summer, we could take a couple days off work and travel to London Temple and stay overnight there. Without any hesitation she said that it was a great idea (bear in mind that my wife is not a member).
I rang London Temple, booked a room in the accommodation centre and made the plans for our trip, but the week leading up to it, there seemed to be a lot of adversity getting in the way.
Weirdly, I became very ill; but I pushed through and made the trip.
I’d made plans to do endowments but had to change them due to time restraints.
Instead, I did work in other areas of the temple, which gave me the opportunity to visit the sealing room where my family was sealed back in 1981.
I took a special moment to sit and ponder in this room. With tears streaming down my face after feeling my mam’s spirit, I knew I had overcome the power of adversity.
I felt a calmness, and although my body was not well, my spirit was!
Afterwards I did some more sealings and went into the Celestial Room, where I felt at peace.
After finishing my work in the Temple, I had to ask for a sick blessing before going back to my room so that I could take some rest.
The blessing was quite unusual, proving that the words spoken came directly from the heavens.
The following morning when we went to check out, we bumped into one of the brethren who had assisted in the blessing.
He looked at me and said, “What happened in that room?”
There had been four of us in the room when the blessing was given, and after I left, the others turned to one another and asked “What just happened?”
They were all witnesses to a miracle. The words spoken were too spiritual to put in writing, except to say that the things said were amazing. How did he know these things?
So my message is, don’t let adversity stop you from doing the Lord’s work. If you feel and hear promptings, listen to them and take action!
I am full witness to many miracles in my own life. We need to recognise these moments and cherish them. They all form part of our own testimony, in our own virtual journal.
My journey continues.
Brother Colin Bacon, Doncaster Ward
Ode to the Spellchecker
Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong or write
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee for two long
And eye can put the error rite Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.
Robert Field
Gaining An Eternal Perspective on our Journey Home
A few weeks ago in our priesthood class we briefly discussed the word ‘odyssey’ that appeared in the talk we were studying.
Based in Greek mythology, it means journey or voyage and originates from The Odyssey, an epic poem in 24 books attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer.
The poem is the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who wanders for 10 years trying to get home after the Trojan War.
In the August 2024 Liahona, Elder Dale Renlund tells a story in his article titled God Will Support and Preserve Us.
“In 2004, I visited Elder [Neil] Maxwell in his hospital room not long before he died. He was so kind to everyone who visited or helped him. Health-care workers went into his room and came out weeping.
I said to him, “Elder Maxwell, this is really hard.”
He chuckled and said, “Oh, Dale, we are eternal beings living in a mortal world. We are out of our element, like fish out of water. It is only when we have an eternal perspective that any of this will make any sense.”
We should never lose sight of the large compo site of our divine nature and eternal destiny and the diabolical forces that oppose us.
Correctly understanding Heavenly Father’s plan will motivate us to keep fighting for our eternal salvation and for our freedom from spiritual bondage.”
So, what is an eternal perspective? How do we gain an eternal perspective?
In the Garden of Gethsemane, while Christ our Saviour was suffering for all of us, he offered up this prayer:
Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luke 22:42
When Jesus said “thine be done” was he trying to ‘opt’ out? I don’t think so. Christ our Saviour could have opted out but because he had an eternal perspective he chose not to. D&C 19:19 tells us what we already know:
Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.
Elder Gary E Stevenson also mentions this in his article in the November 2017 Liahona:
“Like Christ, we can gain an eternal perspective. A gospel perspective expands our sight to an eternal view.
When you put on gospel glasses, you find enhanced perspective, focus, and vision in the way you think about your priorities, your problems, your temptations, and even your mistakes.
You will see brighter light that you could not see without them.”
When I first read the Book of Mormon, I enjoyed the history of the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites.
I was fascinated by the faith, ingenuity, and tactics used by Captain Moroni, a military commander who was appointed leader of all the Nephite armies when he was just 25 years old.
He was wise, strong, and shrewd. He was totally committed to the freedom and welfare of his people.
Elder Renlund also loves the accounts of Captain Moroni.
He was not a blood-thirsty commander; he was a humble and successful one, accounting his success to God and Jesus Christ.
Never at any time did Captain Moroni take credit.
He spoke with prophets, he prayed, he utilised spies, he planned, he deployed his resources. He was never content with past victories – in other words he planned everything, never leaving anything to chance. “When you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.”
Around 74 years BC, Captain Moroni said this in Alma 44:3:
But now, ye behold that the Lord is with us; and ye behold that he has delivered you into our hands. And now I would that ye should understand that this is done unto us because of our religion and our faith in Christ. And now ye see that ye cannot destroy this our faith.
We live in times of turmoil too. We face battles of another kind. The war in heaven is still continuing, Satan and his hosts are all around.
Are we all aware that we are eternal beings?
Do we have an eternal perspective or know how to get one?
These are some of the basics we need to know and we need to have a personal relationship with the Saviour.
One way to do that is through personal prayer, fasting, seeking out our Heavenly Father and his Son, strengthening ourselves and our families.
Brothers and sisters, these are the last days – we only have to look at the news to know that.
In Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, chapter 6:10–18 talks of the armour of God:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
Like Odysseus, we’re also on an odyssey/journey to get back home. We all have different needs. Our Heavenly Father knows us all personally but we have a greater need to know him.
He has been through this, as has our Saviour. No matter how much we feel we have let Him down, He still loves us the same.
We need to have a personal relationship with our Saviour, we need to know Him.
Along with our odyssey we need to fit ourselves with the armour of God because like Odysseus we have many battles to fight on our journey home.
Brother Bob Hulme, Sheffield First Ward
Called to Serve
Sister Katie Baines
Bulgaria/Central Eurasia Mission
katie.baines@missionary.org
Mar 2023 – Sep 2024
Elder Benjamin Brown
South Africa Pretoria Mission
bcbrown@missionary.org
Apr 2023 – Apr 2025
Elder Jonah Hirst
Canada Vancouver Mission
jonah.hirst@missionary.org
Apr 2023 – Apr 2025
Elder Austin Wright
England Bristol Mission
Apr 2023 – Apr 2025
Elder Joseph Dyson
Kenya Nairobi Mission
Sep 2023 – Sep 2025
Elder Joshua Marshall
England London Mission
joshua.marshall@missionary.org
Nov 2023 – Nov 2025
Elder Samuel Hearten
South Africa Johannesburg Mission currently serving in London Mission
samuel.hearten@missionary.org
May 2024 – May 2026
Sister Anna Baines
of Sheffield Third Ward has been called to serve in the England Manchester Mission
Sep 2024 – Mar 2026
Elder Malachi Basoah
of Mansfield Ward has been called to serve in the Ghana Accra West Mission
Sep 2024 – Mar 2026
Sister Skie Miller
of Sheffield Second Ward has been called to serve in the Italy Rome Mission
Oct 2024 – Apr 2026
Elder Zachary Needham
of Sheffield First Ward has been called to serve in the Philippines Baguio Mission
Nov 2024 – Nov 2026
Elder Joseph Martin
of Mansfield Ward has been called to serve in the New Zealand Auckland Mission
Dec 2024 – Dec 2026
Sister Wendy Gore
Sheffield England Stake
Senior Service Missionary
supporting the CES system
Elder Roman Dyson
Released with honour from the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission and is now reunited with his family.
Missionary Messages
Elder Joshua Marshall
Well hello there everyone! No, I didn’t die in Brixton Wow how time flies now ’m pretty much 10 months into the mission which is crazy. Well lemme update you guys on what’s going on in the world of Elder Marshall.
Well me and Muthu had a great time in Wandsworth, maybe too much fun. But yeah that brother has helped me so much on the mission. He helped me realise how good being a missionary can be.
We got to see Man Utd win the FA Cup Final, unfortunately not in Wembley Stadium but still a great time. The weather as well was just beautiful. We managed to get 5 cars in a non car area. But all good things have to come to an end and me and Muthu had to say goodbye. He moved to the land of the June people. He was not happy, the brother woke me up shouting when he found out.
So with Muthu gone I got a new companion, his name is Elder Clauson. He’s a good’n. We did quite a lot in Wandsworth. I got my first baptism, his name is Olu and he’s a legend. Supports Man Utd so we got along very, very well. Also had my birthday this transfer too (btw thank you everyone for the birthday wishes).
That day was a lot of fun; played football with the Spanish speaking ward then had Chapel tours later and we got to the Chapel and Sister Joyce and Sister Holmstead had bought me gifts. I was not expecting that at all. They are both amazing sisters.
My ZL’s made this transfer so good. Elder Turner and Elder Arrington, both of em are absolute legends. Had some very fun P-days of us lot just having a great time. But like I said all good things have to come to an end. So I was off to Basildon and my companion looked like a legend and the district looked SO good and I was so fetching excited for this next transfer.
So transfer day came around and I’m saying goodbye to Elder Clauson and Sister Joyce and Sister Holmstead. Then I met my new companion, we put our stuff in the car and dipped. We make to Basildon and It looks beautiful. Unpacked everything and oh what’s that?? Looks like I’m being moved to Stevenage??!!!! When I tell you I was angry that’s an understatement. The only saving grace was I am with Elder Mártinez. We were in the MTC together and I love him he’s amazing.
And just had Church yesterday and the ward is just incredible with missionary work. Donny take notes… Already found some links from Stevenage to Doncaster. I told this guy I’m from Donny and he says “Oh so you know The Pretty Ugly then?” BROOO I COULDN’T BELIEVE MY EARS But yeah that’s pretty much been Stevenage so far. Can’t wait to see how it goes here. It’s actually such a good area.
I love you all and miss you all everyday.
joshua.marshall@missionary.org
Sister Katie Baines
Okay so the week started in Plovdiv.
P-day we went to Bachkovo monastery, super pretty.
Tuesday I exchanged with Sister Dew. Whooop it was so much fun. At lunch we got matching T-shirts and also got ice cream.
Wednesday we got the train back to Varna. But at the train station in Plovdiv, we got a text from our Canadian friend Kirk, saying “Hey I have some availabilities in the next few days, I want to understand how to become a member of the church” so that was crazy!
We’ve not even taught him yet – he’s just been to church. He hasn’t replied since though.
Thursday we got to go to the zoo with the primary kids and it was so cute. Def learnt some new Bulgarian words hehe.
Also shout out to Anna for her CRAZY A level results. I’M PROUD.
Friday we had lunch with Anna-Maria; she told us all about her new boyfriend.
Saturday ANOTHER miracle! We had a lesson with our friend Vladimir and talked about baptism. So we asked him to be baptised and he was like “yup”.
He said he was already pretty “convinced” before he even requested to meet with missionaries lol. Anyways he’s amazing.
I’ve not taught anyone before who is literally so prepared. He knows everything before we teach it. Sadly I won’t be there lol but he’s so cool.
Sunday was fun. I had to teach Primary again and also met Sister Недялка’ s son who served in Sheffield. She was like “he came today for you” lol, so that was pressure.
Then we stayed up till midnight waiting for the Sofia sisters to arrive for exchanges this week, so we had a spa night. Whoop!
Anyways, hope you all had a lovely week, keep finding the joy!
Сестра Бейнс
An Invitation From President Nelson
On September 9th, President Russell M Nelson will celebrate his one hundredth birthday.
On June 1st he made a social media post, inviting Latter-day Saints worldwide to participate in the celebration.
“I am soon approaching my 100th birthday. One of the places where the Saviour used the number 100 in the scriptures was the parable of the lost sheep. Though 99 of his flock were safely by his side, the shepherd went in search of the one who was lost.“
“At age 99, I have no need of physical gifts,” he continued. “But one spiritual offering that would brighten my life is for each of us to reach out to ‘the one’ in our lives who may be feeling lost or alone.”
What could this spiritual offering look like? President Nelson invited all to prayerfully consider a few questions over the coming months:
- Who do you know who may be discouraged?
- Who might you need to reconcile with or ask for forgiveness?
- Has one name been on your mind lately, though you haven’t quite known why?
As these questions are brought to the Lord, “He will inspire you to know how to reach out and lift one who needs help,” President Nelson wrote.
“What a beautiful example the Saviour has shown us — that through each of us ministering to just one within our reach, we can spread the love of Jesus Christ throughout the world.”
Although there is now less than a week to go until President Nelson’s birthday, it’s not too late to reach out and minister to the one. By small and simple acts, great things can come to pass!
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