OK, I Just Have to Keep 'Writing!


I just posted a portion of this on Facebook and decided I would put it on the blog for those of you who don't have Facebook:  (along with a quote from Dave)

I am not great at selfies!


The sunshine plays down over the gleaming creamy exterior of the Gilbert Temple.  It stands like a rock-solid beacon, imparting peace to my soul.
We returned to Gilbert five days ago from our mission in the England London Mission.  We served in Oxford with the Young Single Adults, the Oxford 1st and 2nd Wards, the young missionaries assigned to Oxford, and under the inspired and inspiring direction of President Dave and Sister Deb Checketts.
This is the 5th day of our self-isolation, as instructed by our mission leadership.  We were given details about  traveling home, self-isolating and self-care during the two weeks we are to be completely apart from other people. 
We had about a day and a half to pack up our apartment, before meeting with other senior missionary couples for dinner and a short devotional at the mission president’s home.  We were at Heathrow Airport the following morning, wading through security lines and wedging into a jet - filled to capacity.
We are unsure if we will be able to return to England to complete our mission, and so we wait.  We wait in the safety of a self-contained apartment away from the people dearest to us. Wait to see if we have come in contact with the virus.
We wait, our hearts filled with gratitude.  Gratitude for a living prophet who guides this church and its membership through these difficult times.  Gratitude for the privilege and blessing of serving with President and Sister Checketts and the other hard-working and faithful missionaries.  Gratitude for the young missionaries who taught us about devotion, faith, hope and the will to work in difficult circumstances.  Gratitude for the incredible young adults in Oxford, who became our own, and who have found an eternal place in our hearts.  Gratitude for the Oxford wards’ sense of family and their Christlike care for each other.
Our hearts are full to overflowing with gratitude for our sweet daughters who threw themselves and their families into overdrive to prepare a private space for us to be isolated, moving furniture, linens, food supplies, kitchen utensils and even beautiful things on the walls.  They check on us several times a day.
Our mission theme begins with “In the England London Mission we follow Christ” based on an experience President Checketts had a few years ago which clarified his Christ-centered faith. 

This is an excerpt from a letter from Dave and Deb, sent out a couple of days ago with a list of all they are doing to keep the missionaries safe:  
My Dear Missionaries and Parents in The England London Mission, this is a remarkable time. It is a time when many who have hardened their hearts to learning more about The God in Heaven and His Son and Our Savior will be more open to the message of The Restoration. It is a time to draw upon the Gift of Faith, given to us as a reward for our personal righteousness.

We will not take unnecessary risks or be unwise in our activities, but we will “trust in the Lord will all [our] heart[s]--and lean not unto [our] own understanding.” In all our ways we will acknowledge Him, “and He shall direct [our] paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

In conclusion, let us share some thoughts given by Lloyd K. Newell at BYU in 2014:

The Lord’s message to you today is the same message He sent through His angels so long ago: “Fear not.” He can say that because He knows more than we do. He sees what we cannot see. He knows what is coming, and, in the eternal scheme of things, it is not as bad as we may think. He knows that we can handle it with His help because He knows how to strengthen and succor us.

Most of all, He tells us not to fear because He knows that fear will paralyze us. It will keep us from knowing and doing His will; accepting His blessings, His love, and His light; and fulfilling His purposes. President Howard W. Hunter said:

Fear . . . is a principal weapon in the arsenal that Satan uses to make mankind unhappy. He who fears loses strength for the combat of life in the fight against evil. Therefore, the power of the evil one always tries to generate fear in human hearts. . . .

. . . A timid, fearing people cannot do their work well, and they cannot do God’s work at all. Latter-day Saints have a divinely assigned mission to fulfill that simply must not be dissipated in fear and anxiety.

Satan wants us to give in to fear. God wants us to hold on to hope.

One of my favorite scriptures is 2 Timothy 1:7. It reads, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Using these words as a framework, let us explore together how power, love, and a sound mind serve as antidotes for fear.

May the Lord bless and keep you and your families safe and well. We pray for you all every day. We love you.

Deborah and David Checketts
England London Mission

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