Today, while the birds sing, harbor no care; call life a good gift; call the world fair.

Castle Coombe Village

Now I remember, last year at this time I fell in love with Autumn and here it is again! What a beautiful season! At home in Arizona, we do not really experience fall, so maybe that is why I am so enamored by it here. The air is crisp, there is a breeze and the sun pokes in and out of the clouds.

The past week has been full of the usual events: YSA activity in Trowbridge, church on Sunday, District meeting Wednesday and YSA meal. There were some highlights however.


I had quite a discussion with Rob Glass about the possibility of thundershowers in Trowbridge for our YSA activity for last Thursday. He told me it would not rain, just pray and it will not rain. Apparently my faith was not sufficient because just as we all pulled into the church car park it started rumbling and flashing and sprinkling. We forged ahead to the train station to park and then 'stroll' along the canal...Now it started coming down hard. Still we pressed forward. We came to a park with a play ground and a zip line. Even in the rain everyone took a turn 'Zipping' on the line. Finally we came to our senses left the soggy park to find some hot chocolate.

We found a cafe along the bank that served delicious hot cocoa with mini marshmallows topped in a mountain of whip cream. To make it even more enjoyable we all gathered in a little river boat on the water that was a part of the cafe. While we were merrily sipping and enjoying one another's company there was a huge bolt of lightening and clap of thunder that shook the boat. We all scramed! Some of us rushed out of there to get off the water. Lightening must have hit very close by. We were all safe, but laughing and shaking! Bill and I and a few others left then just as the heavens opened up and poured down. Drenched, we drove home in the storm, a little bit of a white knuckle drive in places. One of the cars full of YSA got bogged down and needed to be rescued. They were from Trowbridege close to home so all was fine. All in all it was a memorable and very enjoyable adventure!!

Sunday was especially busy and fulfilling. I got to teach Primary to the 5 and 6 year olds. The lesson was on the parable of the talents. The three little girls attending have no problem seeing and enjoying their own unique gifts and talents. The rest of us could probably try to be more like them once in a while. Bill got to impromptu teach Priesthood meeting. Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith’s words are timeless and lend themselves to last minute facilitating.

The YSA Regional quarterly meeting was held Sunday afternoon here in Bristol at the Wells Rd Chapel preceding the regional Institute registration and CES broadcast by Elder Christofferson. This is the fourth regional meeting we have attended and it we really enjoy the great people we get to rub shoulders with. There were at least 70 young single adults in attendance and many leaders.

The address by Elder Christofferson is well worth listening to. I would recommend you go to the church web site and listen to or read it. Wow, it sometimes amazes me how much we have access to because of the Internet!

Refreshments and registration followed the fireside. These are the moments that we enjoy so much. We love chatting with and mingling with such fine people. President Beal and Adrian Evans and the two of us met for a few minutes after to discuss implementing some of the YSA guidelines from Handbook 2. I know that Heavenly Father really cares about these young people. He calls great men and women to lead and guide them!

We were tired when we came home that evening but it was a good tired. It is a great thing to get a glimpse at the love the Savior has for the future leaders and future parents of the church!

Monday we decided to take advantage of the lovely fall weather and see some more of this beautiful part of England in which we live. We decided to drive to Castle Combe which is a small little village nestled against forested hills of the southern end of the Cotswolds. This pretty little village is the site where several movies and TV shows have been filmed. The War Horse, Doctor Doolittle and Stardust among the films and some episodes of Poirot.

What a beautiful day, and such a very peaceful place. There were several other tourists there but still no hustle and bustle, just warm rays of sunshine, a gentle breeze and birds singing. We sat on a bench by the river for a while watching two swans foraging for food.

In the Inn where we ate lunch we met a couple from Napa Valley CA. They were on a 7 week vacation. When we told them we were LDS missionaries they expressed how much they loved ancestry.com. They had spent most of their trip driving all over England visiting the places where his ancestors had come from. We wanted to tell them they were experiencing the spirit of Elijah… we didn’t.

District meeting on Wednesday was good as usual. The Zone leaders came and gave a great message of encouragement and instruction. Elder Darcy as usual gave very inspired guidance to this district. It was after the meeting that we experienced the joys of working with 18 and 19 year old boys! They served pancakes and maple syrup for the main course and brownies for desert… Oh yeah with whip cream. It all tasted good but pretty much settled in a sugary lump in the bottom of my stomach. One of the Elders put catsup on his because he could not stand all sweet with no savory. Memorable and fun!

We ran the sisters around afterwards because Sister Connery still has and injured leg and is in a wheel chair. We enjoy helping and they are so sweet in their appreciation.

Wed meal was tasty, and normal after our unusual lunch. As always we enjoyed the company. Today is the first class of Institute. It will be good to get back to learning about the gospel and enjoying the regularity of a weekly class!

Twice this week I have been involved in a discussion about pride, once with my friend Georgia and also in district meeting. Georgia pointed it out a Proverb about it and a commentary by Marvin J Ashton:

Proverbs 13:10. “By Pride Cometh Contention”

Elder Marvin J. Ashton cautioned:

“When one considers the bad feeling and the unpleasantness caused by contention, it is well to ask, ‘Why do I participate?’ If we are really honest with ourselves, our answers may be something like: ‘When I argue and am disagreeable, I do not have to change myself. It gives me a chance to get even.’ ‘I am unhappy and I want others to be miserable too.’ ‘I can feel self-righteous. In this way I get my ego built up.’ ‘I don’t want others to forget how much I know!’

“Whatever the real reason, it is important to recognize that we choose our behavior. At the root of this issue is the age-old problem of pride. ‘Only by pride cometh contention.’ (Prov. 13:10.)

“If Satan can succeed in creating in us habits of arguing, quarreling, and contention, it is easier then for him to bind us with the heavier sins which can destroy our eternal lives. A contentious spirit can affect almost any phase of our lives. An angry letter written in haste can haunt us—sometimes for years. A few ill-advised words spoken in hate can destroy a marriage or a personal friendship, or impede community progress.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1978, pp. 11–12; or Ensign, May 1978, p. 9.)

I feel like I learned a lesson!

Thanks to everyone for being so supportive. We are excited this week because of the choice of a dear friend to be baptized. Change (repentance) takes courage. I testify that there is a loving Heavenly Father and His son the Savior of the world who reach out kindly to buoy us up as we choose to follow the path they have provided!

Have a good week! Try to walk on the bright side of the road often!