January 2025 Newsletter

• Stake Presidency Message
• Editor’s Message
• Meet President Ashley Devine
• Meet President Robert Gilmore
• Village Ventures
• Lighting the World
• Poetry: Life’s Storms
• Safeguarding
• Welfare and Self Reliance
• Called to Serve

Stake Presidency Message

Hello everyone! I hope you’ve all had a great Christmas and can I be the first to wish you a happy new year.

Many people have asked what the stake focus is this year and it’s probably no surprise that I feel our focus is very much in line with President Nelson’s.

If I were to ask lots of people what they felt President Nelson’s main message has been since his call in 2018 I wonder what would come out on top? He has certainly talked a lot about revelation, gathering Israel and about being peacemakers, but I think if we look at what President Nelson has actually done since being called or what he has given the most resources to, I think it would be hard to argue that temple building isn’t the focus of his presidency.

We have built more temples and at a pace that is unmatched at any point in human history. President Nelson himself has announced over 168 temples as President, which is nearly half of all temples operating or planned.

Who would have ever thought it possible a few years ago that soon we will have 5 temples in the UK and Ireland? That is simply breathtaking to me in its potential impact spiritually for our country.

Why is this happening, why is there so much investment and so many resources being used? President Nelson’s comments in General Conference give us a clue.

“Time in the temple will help you to think celestial and to catch a vision of who you really are, who you can become, and the kind of life you can have forever.

Regular temple worship will enhance the way you see your self and how you fit into God’s magnificent plan.

I promise you that. Nothing will soothe your spirit more during times of pain. Nothing will open the heavens more. Nothing!”

What amazing promises made by a prophet of God, and so vitally needed now more than ever.

So what is our focus as a stake for 2025? The temple. If you haven’t been it would be wonderful to set a goal to get there. If you haven’t been in a while it would be wonderful to set a family or personal goal to attend more.

If we have the desire and time it would be wonderful if many more of us could be ordinance workers, and with the new flexibility that President McKie has introduced it’s easier than ever to fulfil that call.

To close, can I quote from President Nelson again? He said recently, “unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.”

We are in unprecedented times; times in which we need the covenants to protect us, to give us strength and power, and to be the difference-makers in our homes and communities.

I hope with all my heart that we can see as clearly as President Nelson the importance of the temple covenants in our lives.

With love,

President Graeme Holt

Editor’s Note

I’d like to start my message this month by expressing heartfelt thanks to Brothers Richard Walshaw and Simon Wainwright for their service as counsellors on the Stake Presidency.

I think that anyone who has ever served in a position of leadership knows that the calling brings with it the need to make sacrifices as we consecrate our time and energy to the Lord.

So I hope we can find time to thank these two brethren and their families for the offerings they have made. In fact, it would be good to acknowledge the efforts of all our leaders and not wait until they get released to let them know they are appreciated and loved!

I attended a stake adult training meeting in November. The focus was on missionary work, and part of the instruction was about using social media to share our testimony and let others know who we are and what we represent.

We were encouraged to be open and honest and intentional in our posts. I have to admit that at the time I attended the meeting I was not very active on social media.

I had become somewhat bored with Facebook and Instagram and was barely using them. But I decided to take on board the counsel of our stake leaders and I got the idea to post every day in December about our family’s Christmas traditions.

I was really encouraged by the response I got to my posts – particularly from my non-member friends. Their likes and comments gave me the chance to explain a little further about why my traditions are important to me – that at their root is a firm belief in God, family and friends. In another post, a friend shared that she was going through a difficult time with a house move.

As I expressed my wishes for a good outcome, she commented that prayers had been said. I don’t know this friend very well and we have certainly never had a conversation about faith and belief, but I think she felt safe sharing this with me because I had been open in expressing my own spiritual feelings and experiences.

Doors have been opened!

So, as a new year approaches, I am considering as I always do what I would like to achieve over the next twelve months. I’m going to try and keep it simple.

First and foremost, I need to re-establish better daily habits of prayer and study that have slipped recently.

These must be my priority. I know that if I put the Lord first, everything else will fall into place and I will get the guidance and inspiration I need for the other bits of my life.

Happy New Year!

Debbie Singh-Bhatti

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President Ashley Devine, First Counsellor

• Born November 1985 in Nottingham (39 years old)
• Youngest of four children to Ken and Beverley Devine. Siblings Martin, Jonathan and Juli
• Served in the Scotland Edinburgh and London South missions Jan 2005 – June 2007
• Married to Amber for 16 years with three children: Edith (15), Finley (12), Oswyn (9)
• Have worked for Currys plc for the last 14 years in various roles, previously at Marks & Spencers, Vodafone, and McDonalds.
• Hobbies/Interests: Movies, mountain biking, exploring nature and star gazing

A little about me for those who don’t know me. I grew up in Cotgrave, a village on the outskirts of Nottingham, and moved to Mansfield 15 years ago whilst my wife Amber and I were expecting the birth of our first child, Edith.

We are blessed with three children, Edith, Finley and Oswyn. I’ve worked for Currys plc. for 14 years in various job roles, with the most recent pro motion in April as Logistics Service Delivery manager.

So December has been a busy time playing Santa, ensuring that all stores and home delivery centres get their deliveries so that customers get their new appliances or electronics when they should.

As a third generation member of the church, I have my grand parents to thank for accepting the gospel after searching for a church that would allow them to take their daughter (my mum) into the church with them.

All the ones they had previously visited had asked that they leave my mum in her pram in the porch area so as to not disturb the service.

Through their righteous examples to their children (my mum and uncles), I grew up in a Christ centred home with the gospel of Jesus Christ being taught.

It wasn’t, however, until I was 17 and faced with the prospect of a mission not being far away, that I found my own personal testimony and was converted to the gospel.

I make that sound like it was an instant thing – it wasn’t at all – but in my genuine search to know whether it was all real, the answer that there is a God who loves me, and that I was important and known to Him – that was instant.

Serving in the Scotland Edinburgh mission helped me learn important lessons about life, working with others, counselling together and service.

During my mission, my Grandad passed away.

I was on Shetland at the time, so at the furthest possible distance from my family, and when I asked my mission president about going home for the funeral, he said no because my grandad wouldn’t be there and that my call as a missionary was for a short time with so much to do.

I found this difficult to accept at the time, but looking back, I’m grateful for inspired leaders who understood the work to be done and for the people God placed around me.

I served 19 months in Scotland before coming home to work on myself and be in a position to finish my mission. Coming home early was a very difficult thing to experience, but again, having supportive parents, leaders and friends, I grew from it.

Returning to the mission field and finishing my mission in the England London South mission was a great four months and is where I met my wife Amber who was serving as a missionary too. The Lord places us where not only He needs us, but where He can bless us most too.

Through challenging life experiences and through serving in the callings that I have, I can see the Lord preparing me each time for the future ones. Ward Mission Leader, Young Men President, Elders Quorum President, Stake High Council, Stake Young Men Counsellor, and then Bishop.

I have felt His love each time, enabling me to see others as He does – as sons and daughters of a loving God who wants them all to come home.

I have lots to learn and improve on, but one thing I do know without a doubt is that Jesus Christ lives, He is our Redeemer and giver of hope and grace through His atonement. He is the way to eternal happiness and joy.

If we bring our offerings to Him daily, He will magnify them and work miracles in our lives. I am grateful for the tender mercies of a loving God who knows us intimately and provides unique, individual blessings every day.

The words from one of my favourite hymns best expresses it “Oh how sweet the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives”. I love you my brothers and sisters and am humbled by the call to serve on the Stake Presidency.

Elder Hirst’s words from October’s General Conference best represent my feelings when he said, “We have every good reason to ‘rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men.’ Let’s get full.”

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

President Ashley Devine

President Robert Gilmore, Second Counsellor

• Age: 39 (40 in January!)
• Married to Laura for over 18 years (she’s the spiritual powerhouse in the family), we have 4 children: Ben 15, Amelia 13, Phoebe 9 and Ava 4.
• Profession: Town Planning Consultant (lots of phone calls, emails and looking at maps!)
• Hobbies/Interests: These days I try to do a bit of running to keep healthy, and also I follow/ support Sheffield United, which is never boring!
• Church callings: I served in the former England London South Mission. I have served over 6 years as the bishop of Sheffield 3. Previous callings include Ward Young Men’s President, Ward Mission Leader, counsellor on bishoprics.

I was born in the Church to parents Michael and Jacqueline, who have always been very active and committed to living the gospel and serving faithfully in the Church – they have always been an example to me.

I was taught as a Young Man that I needed to gain my own testimony, which is something that developed over time as a youth, particularly when at age 16-18 years I went on some teaching appointments with the missionaries and had to pray, study and share my testimony (at the time) of Joseph Smith and his first vision of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I also read the Book of Mormon in preparation for serving a mission and tested Moroni’s invitation to know if the book was true and another testament of Jesus Christ. I’ve had lots of spiritual confirmations and testimony-building experiences since then, but these are part of my spiritual foundation.

In recent years I’ve seen as a bishop, time and time again, that God really cares about His children and that Christ is willing to help us in our lives as needed, and often inspires people around us to reach out, help, guide and counsel.

It’s also my firm testimony that Christ leads His Church today through a Prophet of God who speaks and directs the work of salvation and exaltation for the whole world, on Christ’s behalf.

President Robert Gilmore

Village Ventures

Thankfully we have been able to have your donations of food, biscuits and chocolate distributed on the frontline in Ukraine.

Children in kindergarten received sweets and chocolate, frontline military hospital received dried meats, elderly in nursing homes also had dried meats as well as individuals whose homes are almost destroyed due to constant bombings.

We’re ever grateful to you for your support and the opportunity we have to try and serve a little in war-torn areas. God Bless.

Let’s pray for peace in this coming New Year 2025.

Pam Young, Sheffield 3rd Ward

Sheffield 3rd Ward – Light The World

Over the Christmas season, members of Sheffield 3rd Ward have enjoyed taking part in various Light the World service activities.

One service activity, which is done annually, is making and delivering hampers to various members of the ward – 21 overall!

It is always a big ward effort, where members enjoy serving together. Relief Society prepare the hampers, whilst the youth, Primary and missionaries deliver them, along with singing carols and visits.

The hampers are always well received and the activity enables ward members to connect with and to share their love for one another.

One Primary child came home beaming after delivering two hampers, saying “I made two people’s day today.”

Another activity that members of the ward took part in this year was carol singing at a local care home.

Both the care home residents and members who took part thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, and we were invited back at Easter!

Other service opportunities with the ward throughout December included donating to and sorting at the local Grace Food Bank, where food bags were made up for local families in need and Christmas gifts were wrapped.

Sheffield 3 also hosted a Blood drive on Boxing Day, where members of the ward and those in the community could donate blood.

These small acts of service were a great collective ward effort and they helped us to light the world and to remember the true meaning of Christmas!

Hayley Bernades, Sheffield 3rd Ward

Life’s Storms

Along the path of life we walk.
We walk the walk, we talk the talk.

Through life’s storms we walk straight through
Smashed and broken, and oh so cruel.

We crawl sometimes, falling to our knees
In despair, God help us please.

Then the light opens up and we see Relief at last,
Trials pass by, and the windy blast.

We look up and see that sunshine from above
That radiates our soul with peace and love.

The storms in our lives, test us to the core
To see what we are made of - peacemakers for sure.

One day we will pass this test of life
And graduate to a heavenly flight.

You will then see, why all this happened to you
You will be blessed, with your mansion awaiting you.

The tears you have cried and the pain you have suffered
Will not ever be lost, you see, it all mattered.

Answers will then come, why we went through so much.
You are definitely heard, you are not out of touch.

Miracles happened, in the midst of the storms.
The daylight breaks, then the sunlight warms.

I know now, why!

Do you?

I wrote this poem on 28th September when the country was being ravaged by storms. I felt inspired to write it for people going through storms – not only weather related, but through life’s trials.

Focus on him, not the storm!! Hold on! Relief is coming! Just trust in Him and have faith.

Trudy Brimble

Safeguarding Update

It is now over a year since the church introduced mandatory DBS certificates for the specific callings that work with children and youth.

Since November 2023 the Stake has completed 236 applications with just a few still outstanding.

Below is a reminder to everyone about the process involved.

1. Bishopric or Branch presidency identifies someone they would like to call to a calling that requires a DBS (these are all callings that involve working with children and youth).

2. The person is approached and informed they are being considered for a calling that requires a DBS and is asked for their consent to begin the application process.

THEY MUST NOT BE CALLED AT THIS TIME.

3. The ward/branch clerk or assigned member of the bishopric/ branch presidency completes the request via www.dbschecking.uk, downloading and populating the spreadsheet with the details of the person, including their email address. They then email the form to office@dbschecking.uk.

4. The person will then receive an email with the title UCheck which will contain a link to for the person to click on and do their application.

5. The person needs to know that the application is in 2 stages: first the application form and then the ID verification.

6. ID verification can be done either online as directed or by completing the ID Verification form which I have previously sent to all units and emailing a photo of the completed form to office@dbschecking.uk

7. Once the application is completed the person will receive their DBS certificate, usually within 2-3 weeks and church HQ are automatically informed and the person’s membership records updated.

8. The person should also be asked to register with the update service within 30 days via the gov.uk site which would then mean they never have to complete the application for church callings again.

9. Finally the calling can be extended to the person.

Obviously if the person does not complete this in a timely manner the application link will expire. Their application status can always be checked via me and new links requested. The only applications that can be made retrospectively are for bishoprics/branch presidencies and stake presidencies

If the person already has an enhanced child DBS certificate that is dated within a year, a photo of that can be sent and will usually suffice.

I am available to give safeguarding training to units and ward/
branch councils if required.

Sue Mace, Sheffield Stake Safeguarding Specialist

English Connect

Hello everyone

Do you know anyone for whom English is not their first language? A work colleague or a neighbour maybe? Or a member of your ward?

Would you like a way to support them to improve their English skills for conversation or for more success in the workplace?

Could you support a small group of English learners with the help of the full-time missionaries in your ward?

If so, please click on the following link: englishconnect.org

The church has produced a course called ‘English Connect’ which consists of three workbooks starting at a novice level up to an intermediate level. All the materials needed are included in the manuals which is enhanced by practice on Duolingo.

The manuals can be found on the Gospel Library app under Life Help / English Learning. Paper copies are recommended as the manuals are work books to be studied and written in.

Paper copies can be purchased from the online store.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Tara Gill, Stake Welfare and Self-Reliance Specialist

Called to Serve

Missionaries Serving From Home

Sister Wendy Gore Doncaster Ward September 2023—August 2025 Church Education System

Elder Philip Aldred Mansfield Ward September 2023—August 2025

Sister Aylish Aldred Mansfield Ward September 2023—August 2025

Sister Sharon Falkner Doncaster Ward April 2024 – Chaplain

Elder David Dewey Doncaster Ward December 2023 – Chaplain