Oh, What a Week!

Elder Bayless (ZL) and Elder Penman

This was the last full week with President and Sister Brown.. I will probably see them again because they live in Dundee stake! 

For P-Day Elder Zander and I did something the locals call sapling climbing. you climb up a little baby tree and it then you stick out your legs and it lowers you to the ground slowly! Its pretty fun! 

I got to go on exchanges with the Zone leaders, one of my way good friends, who I served around in Northern Ireland, Elder Bayles. He is From Green River Wyoming.. So he always makes jokes about Laramie and Rawlins that only him and I get. We had so much fun! We street contacted in a downpour but met a super solid lady who lives toward Edinburgh! We saw the English Border, drove over some super bumpy dirt roads over hills and through farmers' fields! It's crazy! Only In Dumfries!

We got to teach E___, but J____ wasn't in. We had a good discussion on who God is and on prayer, how it is a direct conversation with our Father. It was so good.

We also had 3 dinner appointments! Sister Crighton gave me a stylish Aran weave cardigan jumper! It's great! The next morning we went for an * mile run. 50 minutes. It was so good we were going to do a half marathon but we slept through the early alarm! 

We had a cottage evening with a couple of families from the ward. It was so fun we played games and had a spiritual thought at the end. I loved it because we hosted it but also we got to know members better! 

Painting by Liz Lemon Swindle

In my Atonement study From the Book of Mormon I have gotten stuck in the awe inspiring verses in 2 Nephi 9. I absolutely know with out Jesus our Savior we would have no joy. We would be stuck in a endless gall of bitterness. All of us would. End of story. I have come to the knowledge of the realness of the Savior's honoring performance of the Atonement in Gethsemane and also when He broke the bands of death for forever. At that very moment He raised Himself from the dead He did work for the dead that we can only imitate a little by doing the ordinances for those beyond the veil. I Know that that the Savior lives. I have received a sure answer from the Holy Ghost that He lives and that His atonement is infinite and we can all use it now and forever to become as He is!

Elder Penman

Elder Sorenson (MTC Comp), Elder Penman

Elder Penman, Elder Campbell

Faith and Obedience

Not too much happened this week! 

In Galashiels, Elder Henrie and I went bus contacting and we had talked to a man with full expectation that he would accept the message. He invited us to his house and he was talking about how God could never forgive him. We read one of my favorite verses in Alma 36:15-21. He said he had a warm feeling come into his heart that he has never felt before. He knows now that God will forgive him if he betters himself and comes unto Christ!! Bummer he's not in my area, but still I love these moments! HE even closed the meeting with a prayer! 

Alma 36:15-21

Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.   And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.  And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.   Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.  And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.  And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!  Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

We had a lot of things fall through but we made some good contact with some less actives! It was amazing!

I have been studying Faith and Obedience. Both are so close... with such similar structures. Obedience should be done with a willingness for it to have the greatest effect on our lives and to show God we Love him. Faith is an action but if faith is done with fear in our hearts... yes, we are still acting but we will not get the results we want. Our need is we reserve some of our faith with fear inside. Fear and faith are opposite. Same with murmuring and obedience. 

I  Love the Savior so much for all He is teaching me and helping me become: the friend, son, brother, husband, father, and the man I need to be to change the world!

Elder Penman

Elder Penman and Elder Zander receiving a message from
the heavens

Morton Castle (near Thornhill)?

Elder Penman captured by camera

The Deseret News reporter Gerry Avant just happened to take a picture of Elder Andrew Penman during the Scotland/Ireland missionary conference June 13, 2015.  He had participated in a quartet with three other Elders singing "Arise O God and Shine."

Elder Thomas, Elder de Vries, Elder Penman, Elder Beckstrand (Taken by the Church News)

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865630841/Elder-Holland-in-British-Isles.html?pg=all

Elder Holland visits Scotland and England

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

Twenty-five years ago, President Gordon B. Hinckley called Elder Jeffrey R. Holland into his office and gave him a special assignment: Move to the United Kingdom and preside over what was then the Europe North Area. 

Elder Holland, then a fairly new member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, and his wife, Patricia, and a son, David, lived in Solihull, England for three years, from 1990-1993.

“We loved all of your nations, we loved your languages … but we especially loved the people — we especially loved you,” Elder Holland said as he addressed a conference originating in the Edinburgh Scotland Stake Center on June 7 and broadcast to 56 stakes throughout Northern Europe. 

“It was a tearful day for us when our service came to an end, and we returned to Church headquarters in Salt Lake City.” 

Elder Holland spoke of his days as a young man serving as a missionary in Great Britain when he “read the Book of Mormon seriously and voraciously for the spirit it gave to me. It was while reading this sacred record that I felt — again and again — the undeniable whispering of the Holy Ghost declaring to my soul the truthfulness of its message. To those first convictions have been added, one way or another, endless other quickening moments and sanctifying manifestations that give meaning and purpose to my life.” 

He bore testimony of the Book of Mormon as “a true witness — another testament and a new covenant — that Jesus is the Christ” and that Joseph Smith “was and is a prophet of God.” 

He spoke of the conversion of his great-great-great-grandfather on the Isle of Man in the earliest days of the Restoration, who said: “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so” (George Q. Cannon, in Andrew Jenson, Historical Record 6:174). 

Elder Holland’s visit coincided with the 175th anniversary of the Church in the United Kingdom. Elder Orson Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated Scotland for the preaching of the gospel in May 1840, having climbed a hill near Edinburgh Castle and asking the Lord for 200 souls who would receive the gospel. By the time Elder Pratt left Scotland 10 months later, his prayer had been answered, as witnessed by his entry in the Millennial Star: “On the 30th of March (1841) I left upwards of 200 disciples under the watch-care of Elder George D. Watt, a faithful and humble brother from Preston in England. The prospect is still cheering in that city (Edinburgh) and no doubt there will be hundreds who will yet … embrace the message which God has sent to them” (Breck England, “Gospel Seeds in Scottish Soil,” Ensign, February 1987). 

During his travels, Elder Holland addressed the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Foreign Affairs in the House of Lords at the UK Parliament on Wednesday, June 10. (Please see Church News, June 14, p. 11.) Accompanied by Elder José A. Teixeira of the Seventy and president of the Europe Area of the Church, and Elder Clifford T. Herbertson, an Area Seventy, Elder Holland presided over a priesthood leadership conference and met with missionaries in the Scotland Edinburgh Mission. 

175th Anniversary of the LDS Church in Scotland

Don’t miss this wonderful video presented by mormon.org.uk!  Scotland just celebrated the 175th anniversary of Church in Scotland. In the early years of the Church, Elder Orson Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles climbing a hill high above Edinburgh Castle. There, in May 1840, he knelt and dedicated Scotland for missionary work.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, who has special ties to Scotland through his own missionary service, talks about the sacrifices made by the missionaries and converts of Scotland.

Elder deVries (E. Penman's trainer) and Elder Ndck make
an appearance in the video 

The special video commemorating Elder Orson Pratt's dedication of Scotland can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=242&v=53APVvcYDNM

Scotland the Brave, quoted at the beginning of the video

Looking through the Savior's Eyes

What? Is it even possible for it to get hot in Scotland??

   So last week Elder Zander and I went to chase some sheep around and we found a huge hole in the ground that opened up to a bunch of cellar rooms under ground. It was pretty awesome! 

   All week long it was like 30-32°C (85-90°F)  it was burning up. But it made for a good week. We did tons of service for people, chopping wood, burning stuff, planting trees, moving stuff, and more. It is so fun to work out side and help strengthen our relationship with the ward. 

   We were able to start teaching 3 new people this week. We are teaching J____ and E___, neighbors of Brother Hann, our ward mission leader. We also started teaching a young man named K_____, a girl in young women's told us to try by him and he seemed pretty interested. Then the next night we were driving back to our flat and he asked us to come over. So we taught him prayer and how he can find answers for himself with all his questions in the Book Of Mormon. He is a solid kid!  

Healing of a Blind Man by Brian Jekel

    I spoke in sacrament this Sunday about unity in the ward. I talked about looking through the Savior's eyes that I learned from the Dundee stake conference. I held up a 20 pound note and asked who wanted it. People raised their hands. I crumpled it up and asked again, still people raised their hands. I smashed it into the ground with my foot and asked again who wants it. Still people raised their hands. I said, "You are now looking through the Savior's eyes at all of us." I went on to talk about how we could see others the same way with the same worth and how we need to be unified to help the Savior's work push forward. 

The Good Samaritan by Ferdinand Hodler

It's like the parable of the Good Samaritan. The Good Samaritan is Christ. People who don't understand the gospel, or haven't used the atonement  are the wounded Jew. The innkeeper is us as a ward. Christ would never bring a wounded soul into a bad inn. So how do we see people with the same worth even after they make mistakes? First we must stop all bad thoughts or feelings towards them. The spirit cannot dwell in unholy places! Second we must forgive others of everything because it is not our place to do that sort of thing. Third we must serve one another even if you do not like each other. Replacing bad thoughts or actions with service will give us the pure love of Christ towards them! We need to do all of these things because God Is Our Father In Heaven and we are his spirit Sons and Daughters. If we are righteous we will be sealed to all those who have been worthy to make it to celestial glory. Just like we are sealed to our parents and siblings or children. Who wants to be sealed to someone with awful feelings or even negative feelings towards one another. Not me!! That's why I will try my best to love and see every one As HE does! 

Thread of Faith by Howard Lyon

I love The Gospel!

Elder Penman

"Love one another as Jesus loves you. try to show kindness in all that you do"-- So that others who are weak in faith can have the strength to fight!

 

News Story of Elder Holland's Visit to Scotland

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Visits Scotland 

during Church's Scottish Anniversary Year

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, from the worldwide Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), visited Edinburgh (Sat 6 Jun and Sun 7 Jun) for a visit to local Church members and missionaries that coincided with the 175th Anniversary of the Church’s first baptisms in Scotland.  Elder Holland paid tribute to the Christian faith of thousands of early pioneers who joined the Church in Scotland and their legacy to the Church’s modern-day Scottish membership.

During a Sunday address broadcast live across 56 stakes [dioceses] throughout Northern Europe, Elder Holland spoke of his faith in the scriptures and the spiritual conviction that kindled within him while serving as a missionary in Britain:

“The spiritual experiences and holy affirmations I have had regarding the Saviour and His restored church first came to me as a young man on a mission here in the United Kingdom when I read the Book of Mormon.”

He continued: “The Book of Mormon stands preeminent in my intellectual and spiritual life, the classic of all classics, a reaffirmation of the Holy Bible, a voice from the dust, a witness for Christ, the word of the Lord unto salvation.”

Those attending the Sunday broadcast spoke enthusiastically about the gathering in Edinburgh:

“A sign of a good meeting is to leave better than when you arrived – I’m leaving feeling enthusiastically renewed.”  (Penny Casey from Dalkeith)

“It was truly special to have an apostle of the Lord in Scotland bearing his testimony so strongly of the Saviour Jesus Christ, His gospel and the importance of the Book of Mormon…I plan to share this experience with my friend.”  (Simon Beveridge from Edinburgh)

One well-known early missionary preaching in Scotland during the 1890’s was David O McKay who later became President of the Church.  He was once feeling homesick on his mission and said that while walking around he saw an inscription chiselled in an arch – ‘What E'er Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part’ – which buoyed him up.  The words are now found on an inscription in the grounds of the Church’s mission headquarters in Edinburgh.

There are over 26,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Scotland
within the UK’s total membership of 186,000.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.uk/article/elder-jeffrey-r--holland-visits-scotland-during-churchs-scottish-anniversary-year 

Elder Holland, Singing, and Studies

Elder Zander, Elder Penman

Well this week we had a wonderful visit from Elder Jeffery R Holland (of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). One of God's living prophets on the earth! It was so cool. He had every one shake his hand at the beginning of the meeting before anything else had happened. I was the first one... It was so awesome he is a super funny man! I went to give him a hug and he rejected me so hard. He told me I couldn't because then everyone would have to do it. We then went to go sit down after everyone had shaken his hand and he said, "wait, I think I owe you a hug." So yes I got a hug from The Jeffery R Holland. It was so funny though.
We then got to sing "Arise O God and Shine" in a quartet. It sounded so good considering all four of us were scattered all over Scotland and only had one day to sing together. It was really good

At rehearsal with Elder deVries, one of his missionary
trainers, now an assistant to the President

though. After that Holland said that when he shook our hands and looked into our eyes he had a one on one personal interview and said that our mission was a very obedient mission and said be glad you aren't disobedient  or else you would be bouncing around the room and things would get ugly. You would have to crawl out of there. 

When Elder Holland went to leave he forgot to get his scriptures so I handed them to him.... You should have seen how intensely they were marked. They were so studied! I realized then that Elder Holland was just a normal man who had dedicated his life to diligent study. Those scriptures I held were the scriptures that he had written tons of General Conference talks from, he had come to know the Savior in a perfect knowledge from them. 

But yet I have the exact same version he has on me right now... How much do we take for granted what we have... We have the iron rod in our homes and we neglect them. If you are or have had or will have hard trials you need  to look to the example of the disciples in Lehi's Dream. Hold to the Rod The Iron Rod and push forward.  

Stuck in a traffic jam

This week Elder Zander and I got stuck in a traffic jam for 2 hours. We ended up having to drive 17 Miles the wrong way on the Motorway! It was Great!

Patience.  Elder Penman's greatest virtue ;) 

The emergency helicopter
landing around the bend

On Sunday, Elder Holland gave another talk on the Book Of Mormon and it was amazing.. He said that the way he came to receive revelation and came to know who Christ was, was from the Book of Mormon and diligent study! Don't neglect the scriptures!  

I have had a good study on the Atonement. I have learned that Jesus didn't just pay for our sins alone. He paid the way for our sins with His mercy and grace. There is nothing I can do to receive Eternal Life in my own way. Its all in Christ's way. We truly just need to be Christ's best friend. Now think of a best friend, would you consider a your best friend someone to go against the rules you have and to disrespect your possessions? I wouldn't. That is why it is so important TO LIVE THE way that He has asked us to. If it weren't for Jesus, we wouldn't be able to be here, He owns everything. The whole Plan of Salvation would fall and crumble. But Christ's endless, unimaginable love for us all will let us in to the highest degree of glory and to live with God again and He will offer it to all of us. There will be some who do not accept it because they do not feel comfortable. Have you ever been around someone you don't get along with? You don't want to be there! Some will feel that way. But I know God Loves ALL if us! I love the Savior so much! 

Reporting from The Bottom of Scotland

Elder Penman

Elders Penman & Zander, Brother Gaskell (owner of the farm)

Statue of Robert the Bruce in the centre of Lochmaben
in Annandale Dumfries and Galloway Scotland

The McKenzie Family and a friend, E. Penman, Bro and Sis James

Elder Zander