Vol. 2 No.

February,

EUROPEAN LABOR MISSIONARY PROGRAM

As W e B uild Churches, W e W ill A lso B uild People

 The Builder
Vol. 2, No. 2 February, 1962

Editor George R. Biesinger

Managing Editor Vernice G. Rosenvall
Associate Managing Editor Ruby R. DeBry
Photography Thomas R. Winkel
Proof Reader and Consultant Hazel Jackson
British Area Correspondent Pearl Moore
Germanic Area Correspondent Vera Gygi
Scandinavian Area Correspondent Reba Winkel

ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS:

Vernice G. Rosenvall Amersfoortsestraatweg 166

Bussum, N.H., Netherlands
Telephone: Bussum 1 12 42

Pearl Moore No. 3 The Ridings

Epsom, Surrey, England
Telephone: Epsom 30 01

Vera Gygi Zum Jungen Strasse 14

Frankfurt a/m, Germany
Telephone: 59 57 79

Reba Winkel Herdersweg 1

Laren, N.H., Netherlands
Telephone: Laren 24 97

BRITISH AREA: England, Scotland, Ireland

and Wales
GERMANIC AREA: Germany, Austria and
Switzerland
SCANDINAVIAN AREA: Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Finland, Netherlands, Bel
PRINTED IN THE N ETHER LA N D S
gium, France and the French
DRUK ,,'T K0GGESCH1P"
AMSTERDAM speaking part of Switzerland
EDITORIAL

Progress of the Program

By
ELDER J. NEIL BRADLEY
As we come to the conclusion of the first year of the Building Program in Europe,
it is good to look back and assess the work which has been done. Many chapel sites
have been purchased many plans have been drawn construction on many
buildings has been started. Some buildings have been completed. Many labor
missionary supervisors have been called and many more labor missionaries are on
the job. Many, many dollars have been expended. In a great measure, all of this is
success. However, if we have not As we build churches-built the people, then we
have failed in a degree.
Now is a good time to evaluate our works and if necessary to re-dedicated ourselves
to our slogan.
A few days ago at a ground breaking service in Beverley, President Grant Thorn
of the North British Mission explained that the Gospel had only come to Beverley
some thirteen months ago, but already Church membership had grown to the extent
that it was practical to erect a chapel in which to worship. Of course, it goes without
saying, it wont be easy, but by long hard hours of physical labor, it can be done.
The president concluded with the thought taken from the life and sayings of the
Savior as He performed miracles, As ye believe, so shall it be unto you . Someone
else has phrased it slightly differently, If we think we can (believe) we shall succeed
(so shall it be). Success is 99% mental attitude.
Through actual experience we can now prove that the Labor Missionary Program
can succeed in England. The past month a major remodel and addition was com
pleted at Wythenshawe in the Manchester Stake. At the Thanksgiving service the
keys were turned over to the bishop of the ward and an accounting was given of
money expended and donated labor credits. Everyone was thrilled to learn that, of
the 20% of the cost of the building to be raised locally, all but 262 had been
raised by donated labor through the labor missionaries and the local people. It was
an even greater thrill to know that the ward had raised more than enough cash to
pay the balance of the 20% of the cost of the building.
In our own area we are thrilled with the progress of the program. We now have roofs
going on several buildings a testimony to the bond of love and devotion which has
grown between local people, labor missionaries and supervisors. We have sixty labor
missionaries. Among them are several who are already requesting that they be
permitted to continue their mission beyond two years. Thus is added credence to
the thought, If there is something men love more than themselves they will sacrifice
or risk much for that something .
We are so grateful to all these young men who have the lofty ideals and steadfast
purpose to devote their lives in this unselfish service. We are also grateful for the
wonderful co-operation and support of the stake and mission presidents.

3
T o \te p ro g ra m m o v e s on

December 1, 1961 - John Stevenson
Shields from Shantallow, North Ireland,
called to be a labor missionary. Set
apart December 5, 1961 by President
Brockbank. Assigned to Newton
Aycliffe. Address: c/o Jeffrey Sparks,
14 Stanfield Road, Newton Aycliffe,
England.
December 6, 1961 - Addition and Re
modeling started on Danish Mission
Home. Martinus Andersen, supervisor.
December 7, 1961 - William George
Streibel, wife, Lorna Simms Streibel,
daughters, Lonni 15, Janeen 19 months,
and son, Ronald 10, arrived in London
from Sardis, British Columbia. Elder
Streibel will supervise the construction
of the Beverly Chapel. Address: 13
Goodsell Road, Beverley, Yorkshire,
England.
December 15, 1961 - Ground breaking
ceremonies held for Stockport Branch
Chapel, Manchester Stake, England.
Elder Myron D. Neuffer, supervisor.
The following information should have
been in a previous issue:
September 1, 1961 - Gerald Heber Hart
from Bountiful, Utah, joined the
British Area Building Department.
Address: 1 Hawthorne Road, Sutton,
Surrey, England.
September 5, 1961 - Doreen Maisie
Gunn joined the British Area office
staff. Address: 51 Coulsdon Rise,
Coulsdon, Surrey, England.
October 1, 1961 - Allan Edwards from
Birmingham, England, called to be a
labor missionary. Set apart by Bishop
Dixon. Assigned to Dewsbury Ward.
Address: c/o Robert A. Smithson, 64
Ullswater Road, Dewsbury, England.
October 13, 1961 - Thomas Bryan
Mullan Ditty from Merthyr Tydfill,
Glams. Set apart as a labor missionary
by President Cullimore. Assigned to
Drumchapel. Address: c/o Stevenson
McDonald, 26 Glennefer Road, Ren
frew, Scotland.
October 24, 1961 - Christopher /dan
Crabtree from Bristol, England, callec
to be a labor missionary. Assigned tc
Leeds Chapel. Address: c/o Carlton
A. Harris, 1 Moseley Wood Gardens,
Cookridge, Leeds 16, England.
November 4, 1961 - Ground breaking
ceremonies held for Nottingham Ward
Chapel, Leicester Stake, England. Fllder
Floyd T. Nielsen, supervisor.
November 25, 1961 - Frank D. Holland,
wife, Alice Bentley Holland, daughter
Deborah 6, arrived in England. Elder
Holland is assistant treasurer for the
British Area Building Department.
Address: 2 Walnut Close, Epsom Sur
rey, England.
Would you like a complete history of
the European Building Program? If so,
save all your copies of The Builder, as
we are looking into the possibility of
having them bound at the end of the
year. Ed.

BRITISH AREA
G R O U N D BREAKING
DERBY WARD CHAPEL
LEICESTER STAKE

Brother Frank Orme, who broke the ground for the new
Derby Ward Chapel of the Leicester Stake and who also
offered the benediction, is ninety-two years of age. He
is the oldest member of the Derby Ward. The ground
breaking was held November 11, 1961. There were sixty-
seven people present, forty-two local and twenty-five saints
of the Burton area who came by bus to join in the cere
monies.
Bishop Gordon Sherlock conducted the meeting and El
der Neil Bradley presided. The invocation was by High
Councilman Benjamin Cooper and the speakers included
Brother Benjamin Cooper, Area Supervisor Neil Brad
ley, President Kenneth Pool and Brother William Shaw
of the bishopric.
The skies were cloudy and threatening at the beginning
of the meeting, but before the congregation went outside
the sun came out and the weather was pleasant and
remained so until the ceremonies were over.
Elder Don G. Lassig is supervisor of construction.
PROGRESS CHART December 1961
WAR D OR STAKE OR STAR T % CO M P L E T I O N | FINISH
AREA S UP ER VI S OR
B RA NCH MISSION DATE
1 |0 2 0 3 10 4 '0 5^0 6 [0 7 |0 80 90 100

1 B R IT IS H WYTHENSHAWE MA NC H ES TE R H BOREN 25 Ma y 61 im iiiiiim iiiiiiiiiiiiim iiim iiiiiiiim iiiiiiiiiiiiiiim im iiiiiiiiiiiiiii 15 Dec 61

2 B R IT IS H NE. A YC LIF FE NTH. B R IT IS H J. SPA RK S 27 M a y 61 m iiiiiim m iiiiiiiiim iim iiiiiim i

3 B R IT IS H RO CH D AL E M A NC H ES TE R L. WORTLEY 10 J u n e 61 mmnnnnnnnnnn

R E A D IN G BRITISH C. E RI CK SON 12 J u n e 61 iiiiiiiiiiim iiiiiiin

4 BR IT IS H

5 B R IT IS H LEEDS LEEDS C. HA RRI S 17 J u n e 61 iiiiiiiiim m m m i

6 B R IT IS H YORK NTH. B RI TI SH L. H IA TT 24 J u n e 61 iiim m m iiim iim iii

7 B RI TI SH W. HA R TL E P O O L NTH. B R IT IS H R. LAN E 1 J u l y 61 m m iiim im iiiiim m ii

8 SCANDINAVIAN LA P P EE N R AN T A FINNISH E. KOH KO NE N 3 J u ly 61 t iiiiiiiiiiim iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

9 B R IT IS H L IV E R P O O L MA NC H ES TE R 0. G RU ND VI G 22 J u l y 61 im iiiiiiii

10 B R IT IS H S TA KE CENTER M A NC H ES TE R H. BOREN 5 Aug 61 llll

11 BR IT IS H SUNDERLAND NTH. B R IT IS H M HARDING 12 A ug 61 iiiiiiiim m m

12 SCANDINAVIAN OSLO 1 N O R W E G IA N P. HA N S E N 12 A ug 61 minim i

13 G E R M A N IC V IE N N A AUSTRIAN F. W A L LN ER 29 Aug 59 nininininnniiiiinnnniniiinininim niinnnnm ninm nnnnni 5 Nov 61

14 BR IT IS H MERTH YR TY D F I L CEN. BR IT IS H A. A N DE RS O N 24 Aug 61 mini

15 GERMANIC HEIDE NTH . G ER MAN W KR AME R 31 A ug 61 nnnnnnnnnnnnni

16 G E R M A N IC WILHELMSBURG NTH . GER MA N J . TA NN E R 1 S e p t 61 mmnninn

17 B R IT IS H DE WS BU RY LEEDS R. SMITHSON 2 S e p t 61 linn

18 G E R M A N IC K A IS E R S L A U T E R N WES T G ER MA N F. BIE S IN G ER 15 S e p t 61 nnnnnnnnni

19 B RIT ISH CR AW LEY LON DO N M MOO RE 16 S e p t 61 linn

20 BR IT IS H L OW EST OF T CEN. BR IT IS H D. WO O DB UR Y 23 S e p t 61 inn

21 B R IT IS H DRUMCHAPEL S C O T C H - IR IS H S. M cD o n a l d 14 O c t 61 nn

22 B R IT IS H BEL FA ST S C O T C H - IR IS H S. J A M E S 19 O c t 61 nn

23 B R IT IS H NOTTINGHAM LEI CESTER F. NE IL S E N 4 Nov 61 mi

24 B R IT IS H S O U TH E ND B R IT IS H J. MORS E 8 Nov 61 nil

25 BR IT IS H DERBY LEI CESTER D. L A S S IG 11 Nov 61 in

26 B R IT IS H BEVERLEY NORTH B RI TI SH W ST RE IB E L 18 Nov 61 n

27 SCANDINAVIAN MISSIO N HO ME DANISH M A N DE RS O N 6 Dec 61 m ini

28 B R IT IS H S TO CKP ORT MA NC H ES TE R M NEUFFER 15 Dec 61 1

GROUNDBREAKING
STOCKPORT BRANCH CHAPEL - MANCHESTER STAKE
The most beautiful site in all of England is the way
Elder Myron D. Neuffer, building supervisor in charge,
described the place where ground was broken, December
15, 1961, for the new Stockport Branch Chapel. President
Bates also complimented the members on their choice loca
tion and expressed appreciation to Elder Neuffer and all the
labor missionaries for their efforts in the building program.
He told of the determination of members to have a new
chapel in spite of many obstacles to be overcome. Elder
Bradley said, As ye believe so shall it be, in building
churches as in all the Lords work. He urged the members
to work together in love and harmony.
Invocation was offered by Brother Bergen and benediction
by Brother Edward Bardsley. Ground was broken by
Sister Molly Wood, oldest member in the branch. There
were approximately fifty present. The opening song was
one of the most inspirational Mormon hymns, Come,
Come, ye Saints, and closing song was The World
has Need of Willing Men. Elder Neuffer expressed the
sentiments of all labor missionary supervisors when he
said, It will truly be a labor of love to work with the
missionaries and members in erecting a chapel.

5

Germanic Area Labor Missionary Sup ervisor
IRVING FRANZEN DAVENPORT
AND FAMILY
In 1908, Elder Davenports father, Earl Remington Daven
port of Hood River, Oregon and Logan, Utah, was sent
on a mission; first to Switzerland, then to Germany, where
he spent a night in jail for speaking at a meeting (contrary
to law then). Finally he was sent to Budapest, Hungary. At
that time there were many Jewish families living in Budapest
and proselyting was slow and tedious among them.
One day as Elder Davenport was tracting in a Jewish sector
of Budapest he came to a large apartment house, many
stories high. As he scanned the doors, he saw door after
door with the sign of the Jorah on it. Discouraged, he
decided to pass on. But after a few steps, he returned and
looked again row after row of doors, and all Jewish.
Shrugging, he went on. But again, something stopped him.
Resignedly, he went back and began knocking on doors.
At about the thirtieth door on the very top floor, a young
girl opened the door and invited him in. She, Ottilia Fran-
zen, a Saxon Lutherau from Sieben Birgen in Medias,
Transylvania, Hungary, and all her family, became converts
to the Church. They emigrated to Oregon. About a year
and a half later Elder Davenport returned home and the
following year he married Ottilia Franzen and a year later.
May 20, 1913, Irving was born. The oldest of four sons
and three daughters he grew up in Portland, then in Walla
Walla, Washington, where he attended Whitman College.
He then returned to Portland, where he met and married
Ellen Gene Johnson, daughter of Swedish-American parents,
whom he later converted to the Church.
Sister Johnson was born February 26, 1922, in Powell Butte,
Oregon, to Charles Elof Johnson and Ebba M. Lindquist.
She relates, Our home was Alfalfa, Oregon, a small farming
area in the high desert near Bend, Oregon. We owned eighty
acres and used unlimited acres of government grazing land.
T had two brothers, John and Elmer. I worked in the fields
with the men, herded cattle and sheep, and attended the
local school with twelve other pupils. Sometimes the tem
perature would get to forty below zero. We learned to ride
horses about the same time we learned to walk. I milked
cows from the time I was fourteen years old and won the
cow milking contest the year I was fourteen. Our high school
was forty miles from home and we rode the bus every
morning.
I graduated from Redmond High School and then left home
6
to go to St. Helens Hall, a girls college at Portland, to
study nursing. My career was interrupted by illness. We did
not have civilized diseases where I was raised so I had all
of them after I grew up.
Irving and I were married in 1941. I had not known many
Mormon people just Jack Mormons, and they were
not the best representatives of the Church. I began to feel
the Mormons were just like other people except they had
funny ideas. My father-in-law tried to convert me, but being
a stubborn, independent soul, I tried to prove he was wrong
by archeology and proven facts. To my dismay I began to
find myself wrong. The books confirmed Mormonism. I
could not deny it, but it took two years to admit I was
wrong. It took many years to gain a testimony.
The Davenports are parents of six children. Perry lives in
Price, Utah, with his wife and three children. Earl is also
married and lives in Seattle. Charles is in the service in
Chicago. Frederick 18, Janice 16, and Sam 14, are in Ger
many with their parents. Frederick hopes to go on a mission
while here. Janice and Sam are going to German schools
in Hamburg.
Elder Davenport is a high priest and has held a variety of
Church positions. He has been in the Sunday School super
intendency and a teacher for many years in Sunday School,
MIA and priesthood quorums; presiding elder, clerk, elders
quorum president, seventies group leader. If a man who has
been active in the Church and raised six children can be said
to have other hobbies, they are reading, languages and travel.
As to Sister Davenports activities she states, I was active
in civil defense and cooked the Church dinners for many
years. I taught Sunday School and was MIA activity direc
tor. My hobbies are collecting beer steins, riding horse
back, cooking and small boys. It seems our house was
always full of small boys eating cake or cookies. She
loves to landscape and grow flowers.
In 1956 Elder Davenport was asked to supervise the building
of the Walla Walla Chapel. At this time his father was in
Germany on another mission following the death of his
wife in 1952. So, almost fifty years from the time of his
first mission, Irvings father was again in Europe. At the
conclusion of his mission he asked Irving and Ellen Gene
to come over and tour Europe with him. This they did,
visiting Sister Davenports people in Gland, Sweden, and
the Swiss Temple before going to England, from whence
the Davenport family had come in 1620. At that time the
Davenports decided that when the children were all grown
they would return to Europe.
After the completion of the Walla Walla Chapel Elder
Davenport went back to the building industry which he
had followed for twenty-five years. Then in August 1961,
came the call of the Building Committee and on October 23,
1961 the Davenport family of five arrived in Frankfurt.
Elder Davenports first assignment was to Hamburg, where
he is helping with the construction of new chapels and
enlarging of the branch chapel which will be the Hamburg
Stake House.
The call to the building program in Europe came as a
surprise to the Davenports and they hesitated in accepting
because of the education of the two children still in school.
But at a family meeting, it was decided to accept the call,
and the feeling in the family is that the blessings of the
Lord will surely follow in the wake of the effort being
made. And if the gift of tongues was ever needed, it is now!
British area labor missionary supervisor
STEPHEN C. JAMES
AND FAMILY
Great Britain has in the last century
given to the Church some of its greatest
leaders and finest workers. An example
of this is the Steven C. James family.
Elder James father, Thomas R. James,
was of Welch descent, and his mother,
Mary Ann Chadwick, of English an
cestry. Sister Berniece Read James is a
daughter of George Orson Reid and
Alice Tracy, whose mother was a
convert to the Church from Liverpool
and at the age of eighteen crossed the
ocean to join the saints in America.
Sister James father, George Orson Reid,
was also a convert to the Church,
joining shortly before his marriage in
the Logan Temple. Both of Sister
James parents are still active in the
Church, and her father, now eighty
years old, is presently a temple
ordinance worker. Stephens father
passed away in 1939 and his mother,
a number of years later.
Elder James was born May 31, 1912,
at Ogden, Utah. His parents resided in
Park Valley, a little settlement, twenty
miles or so west of Snowville. Stephen
was the tenth child in a family of seven
girls and three boys. All ten children
were raised to maturity, all active in the
Church, and all were married in the
temple.
Most of Elder James life has been
spent in Salt Lake. He received a high
school education, plus vocational
training in the construction business. He
has built many beautiful, quality homes
in the Salt Lake Area.
The James were married February 10,
1938, in the Salt Lake Temple. They
are the parents of four children. The
oldest, Jacquetta, was married in the
Salt Lake Temple in September of last
year. She is working in the Church
Building Department in Salt Lake. Her
parents feel that she is a wonderful girl,
and they are very proud of her. Gary
Reid, their oldest son, is twenty, and
now serving a mission in Texas. The
James are also very proud to call him
their son. Janene is in Ireland with her
parents. Now fifteen years old, she is
attending Ashfield School for Girls. She
wears the regulation uniform and is
happy with her new friends, and for
the opportunity to explore new places
and customs. She has a beautiful singing
voice as does her older sister. The two
girls and their mother formed a trio at
home and they had many happy hours
singing together for Church gatherings
and other entertainment. This was their
main hobby and where most of their
spare time was spent. Janene is the
enlistment secretary in the MIA in
Belfast.
A fourth child, Stephen, whom they all
loved and adored beyond words can
express, was born September 23, 1955.
He was struck down by a speeding
motorist in September, I960, while
returning from Primary. He died five
hours later, never regaining conscious
ness. The Lord giveth, and the Lord
taketh away. Blessed be the name of
the Lord. They will ever be grateful
for the five short years they were per
mitted to have this angel child in their
home.
Elder James has always been active in
the Church. He has served on many
committees, participated in Sunday
School teaching and MIA. He was one
of the seven presidents of seventies in
his stake for several years, a stake
missionary, etc. He is currently a priest
hood teacher in East Belfast.
Sister James has worked as a teacher
in every organization in the Church
since her early youth. She was music
director of auxiliaries and Singing
Mothers; Stake Sunday School board
member; she also served a mission
among the Mexican people in Texas
and California. She is currently the
organist for the East Belfast Sunday
School and branch meetings, literary
teacher in Relief Society, and she is
teaching and conducting music in the
Irish District.
The James received their call to work
in the Church Building Program the
middle of August, 1961. They arrived
in Europe on October 12, 1961, and
are currently working on the Belfast
Chapel. They state, We are grateful to
be numbered among those called to
serve in this capacity. We realize our
limited knowledge and pray we may,
with the help of the Lord and the won
derful saints here, accomplish our
assignment.
7
 A N D N O W WE A R E I N BERLIN
By JEAN JENSEN
(Jean is the wife of Elder L. Marcus Jensen,
Germanic Area Labor Missionary Supervisor Ed.)
You are assigned to go to Berlin, renovate the mission
home and build churches there. This was the simple
sentence with a terrific impact that has directed our lives
and steps to this destination.
It was with mingled emotions that we looked down from
the skies from a four-propellered airplane and saw our
future home with the huge and famous Templehof Airport
coming into view. As we saw its long, curved roof, with
no supporting posts except at the ends, we had a thrill of
patriotic pride as we thought of the many airplanes that
had taken off and come down there every three minutes for
months with the precious supplies to keep the people of
Berlin alive during the history-making Air Lift. Then we
saw Mission President and Sister Fetzer, who looked like
beautiful white-haired angels, coming to meet us. Sister
Fetzer presented us with a bouquet of red and white
carnations, the colors of Berlin, and their welcome was so
genuine and sincere that it brought tears of joy to our eyes
and renewed our dedication to our work. We were taken to
the mission home where we resumed our treasured friend
ship and had a delicious dinner.
The mission home is a gracious, lovely old home located
in Dahlem, on the edge of the Grunewald Forest, a wooded
area beauty spot where many of the homes of the former Nazi
political leaders were located. We enjoyed the spirit of that
wonderful home and we felt it a privilege to mingle with the
missionaries and the Felzers two sons, Robert and Clark.
We were then initiated to the main down-town area of
Berlin the famous landmarks, the bombed-out buildings
by the side of the new ones, and we could see why Berlin
is known as The Beautiful City, even though it is a city
of scarred dignity. Kaiser Wilhelm Church, which was
bombed, has been left standing in its bombed state as a
constant reminder of the great war. The Hilton Hotel is
near to it, all bright, shiny and modern; one of the tallest
buildings in Berlin. It is about twelve stories, where most
average six. We could dimly see the Shandmauer Wall of
Shame in the distance with the tanks and soldiers guarding
it. The entrance at Brandenburg Tur has been sealed with
cement blocks and the entry now is through Friedrich-
strasse. We have learned many heartbreaking stories of
separation from families and loved ones that seem im
possible in this day and age. In fact, it has been reported
that four hundred people took their own lives in East
Berlin over the Christmas holiday season. You cant imagine
the sadness that exists here unless you hear the stories one
by one of the tragedies.
We were surprised when given a huge ring of keys to our
apartment, but were told that the German people, as a rule,
do not trust each other, and this stems from ancient days
when the land was ruled by many kings. There are keys to
everything every door, every cupboard in the house. We
only hope we can find the key to unlock the walls that
people have built around their hearts, especially since the
days of Hitler, and bring to them the Light of the Gospel
of Love.
We live on the third floor of an old apartment, with
8
character, and twelve foot ceilings, which has damage from
bomb repercussion. One of our dear neighbors showed us
her kitchen which still has huge cracks in it, and another
neighbor has a little old coal stove in the kueche and the
wohnzimmer, even though there is steam heat in the
building, because they remember the cold days of the war.
We have a large living room and dining room, which are
getting much use for dinners and cottage meetings; three
bedrooms and a very small, antiquated badezimmer and
small kitchen which has new cupboards and a new gas
range and refrigerator. The hausmeister has been unable
to get the place wired and plumbed for a washer, so we have
washings in the bath tub three times a week and take turns
swishing the clothes with the handle of a broom.
We belong to the Templehof Gemeinde which meets in a
large Catholic school, and it is growing constantly. One
member told me this morning that when she joined a few
months ago there were only a few people and this morning
there were sixty or more. We are trying diligently to help its
growth so that the saints may soon have a church building
of their own to meet in.
We have attended many meetings and a very enjoyable
bazaar, and we take our non-member friends with us to
any meeting to which they agree to go, but the most thril
ling meetings of all are the baptisms or Taufen which
occur quite frequently. It is the sweet custom for friends
to give flowers to the ones baptised and the sacredness of
those meetings with the converts in their white baptismal
gowns and the beautiful expressions on their faces as they
come up out of the waters of baptism, is divine.
We are in the south central part of this huge city of
2,500,000 people and find that it is many cities combined
into one. The sections with which we are most familiar
are Spandau, Neukolln, Steglitz, Langwitz, Templehof,
Dahlem and Charlottenburg. There are thirty-two sections
listed in our guide so you see we have only scratched the
surface. You should see the family pouring over the large
map of Berlin; daddy with his tri-focals, mamma with her
bi-focals and a flashlight, and finding every street on which
we must travel so that we wont get lost or find ourselves
too close to the boundaries, borders, and walls that are so
inhuman.
It is a strange feeling to live on an island with East
Germany all around us and a guarded Corridor, the only
way out except by air. We appreciate our U.S. Army here
and so do the German people. We have enjoyed their radio
broadcasts. In fact, they are our contact with the outside
world, other than our beloved letters and Church publica
tions. Our German neighbors tell us they know when or if
the Americans leave this city, all will be lost.
We attended a real German dinner close to the southern
border and our Army had placed tall Christmas trees
sparkling with white lights all along the border as far as
one could see. Larry, in his exploring, came close to the
border in another direction and returned home on the
double to tell us how it felt to have loudspeakers blaring at
him from across the border.
We have been very fortunate to make good friends in the
apartment, many of whom speak a little English and they
have taught us many interesting things about Berlin. There
is one family above us consisting of the Grossmutter, Frau
von Bentheim, who is a charming, brilliant woman. Then
there is Gisela Frucht who, like her mother, Mrs. Bentheim,
tells us she was always sad until we came and now she has
much happiness and volunteered the information that now
she does not drink coffee. She and her family fled from
East Germany and left most of their treasured possessions
behind, but she says, It is better to live in freedom without
them. Her oldest son, Uli, is studying to be a doctor and
works at the Krankenhaus and plays the bass violin in an
orchestra. Hubertus, the next, plays the flute, guitar, and
xylophone, goes to school and works part time. Kordula,
14, plays the piano and Gabrielle, 12, is an artist. They
come often to exchange German lessons for English with
Mary Anne, and have made many cookies and popped corn
and helped string it for the Christmas tree. They and the
Schaars, to the side of us, seem like life-long friends.
Mr. Schaar tells us that Berlin comes from the Yugoslavian
language and means Ber or stopping place, as it was
halfway to the coast. The bear is a symbol used. Mrs.
Schaar and I exchange goodies and recipes at the back door.
We have loved our evenings together, learning songs of both
countries, either around their piano or our table with the
Advent Wreath, a national custom before Christmas,
consisting of a wreath made of pine boughs with four
candles in it, one of which is lighted the fourth Sunday
before Christmas, two the next, and so on.
Christmas was celebrated for two days with much church
going, ringing of bells, and parties. Presents are opened on
Christmas Eve and their Santa Claus is the Weihnachtman
who was dressed all in white with a white beard and a white,
almost pointed cap and a bag over his shoulder at the
Christmas party at Templehof Gemeinde where he gave
sacks of fruit and candies to the children who had recited
many darling poems and sung songs of Christmas. (I wish
I had a magic hearing aid to understand it all).
On December 6 they celebrated Nikolausabend and the
children put a shoe out in front of their doors and Nikolaus
left goodies for them. You cant imagine the goodies of all
kinds of chocolate, filled with various fillings, including
liquor, that are on display in the Konditorei shops. They
have all types of Anhangers in brightly colored foil and
we decorated our Christmas tree entirely of home-made
cookies, popcorn and Anhangers. We used real red candles
in little clip-ons that we lighted a few times and watched
carefully.
We watched Frau Bentheim prepare a huge carp Christmas
Eve. It had been speared alive and sold on the open-air
market. She poured hot vinegar over it and it turned blue.
Marc had just read to me that the people of Berlin eat
200,000 pounds of carp a year and three-fourths of it
during the Christmas holiday.
We had just returned from a Relief Society bazaar and we
saw a sight I like to remember. In front of the mission
home front door were the Fetzer boys shoes, one lined
with waxed paper and the other laced with a gold string
and a note to Nickolaus. I like to remember the good
laugh Marc and I had when we found every shoe our
children owned lined up in front of their doors, and what
fun we had filling one of them for each with goodies Sister
Fetzer provided because I forgot, and then we hid all the
other shoes for a surprise for them in the morning!
Speaking of customs, the day before our Thanksgiving Day
was a national holiday here, similar to our Decoration Day,
when everyone takes wreaths with a background of pine
boughs to put on the graves of their dead. The day is called
Buse und Beten Tag and means Prayer and Repentance
Day. Maybe you have seen news reels showing the people
placing wreaths along the Wall for their dead in East
Berlin. The Wall cuts through the heart of the city and
where a home or building was on the border, they have
either demolished it or sealed its windows up with cement
blocks on the West Berlin front. We had a young German
teacher of religion here for Christmas dinner whom I had
met in a cleaning establishment when I was struggling to
be understood. He spoke English and I learned that he was
here alone, separated from his loved ones in East Berlin,
and there are many like him. In Ulis class alone there are
thirty young people in a similar circumstance. He told us
many interesting things about the schools here and followed
the dear custom of bringing flowers to the hostess. Usually
they bring three flowers, roses, carnations, anemonies, and
a little asparagus fern. They also bring welcome plants for
the windows and we have six lovely plants now to remind
us of our new friends here.
Last Wednesday we had the Templehof Relief Society
sisters here for their meeting and Christmas party and in
troduced them to Chip Dip with various salty crackers,
as there are no potato chips and other American cooking.
There were four non-members here from the apartment and
a shop keeper who enjoyed it with us. The next night we
had a Cottage Meeting under the direction of the mis
sionaries. We had eight non-members who enjoyed pictures
of Salt Lake City, and the first lesson.
We had the experience of going through the Corridor to
the conference at Hamburg and are grateful to have heard
President Dyer and his wife give inspirational messages,
and to renew our acquaintance with President Maycock,
meet his wife, and many of the missionaries. Especially
were we thrilled to mingle with the Davenports, Tanners and
Hertigs, labor missionaries in that area, and have a good
session on the Building Program, its development and pro
blems here. A busload of thirty went from the Berlin Stake
and some of them had to fly or they would have been
arrested and taken back to East Berlin if they had gone
through the Corridor. There are four stops, two at each
end and passports are collected, money is declared, and
signatures are written and then you wait to see if you will
be delayed. They say some times trucks have been lined up
for miles waiting to go through. It was interesting to see
how tense everyone was while we went through the Corri
dor with the lights out in the bus and everyone quiet, and
then how the lights went on and everyone seemed so re
lieved and happy and started to chatter and sing again when
we were through it. The Relief Society prepared delicious
food for each meal during the two day conference, and
gave us sandwiches to eat on our way home. The singing
in Germany, and especially at that conference, was heavenly
the choir gave a Christmas concert on Saturday night that
had me in goose-pimples the whole time.
There were 55,000 men working in West Berlin who com
muted from East Berlin before the Wall and now that
they are unable to return we see many women doing mens
work. Berlin has many, many old people, especially women.
They say the climate agrees with them and as I see them
walking, walking, walking, and going in motored wheel
chairs when they are unable to walk, no matter what the
weather, and carrying all their needs from the many small
shops and a few super markets which are being established,
and pedaling bicycles even in their eighties, I think it is
because of their outdoor activity and the weather.
(cont. on page 10)
9
We will never get used to seeing the shells of beautiful
homes staring at us vacantly out of their broken windows
or the huge buildings which are nothing but rubble, and
East Erench
our hearts cry out in anguish at the waste and destruction
and the selfishness and greed of the leaders of men who Mission House
rule with force instead of love.
Geneva, Switzerland, is the center of a tremendous building
New years Eve is really celebrated in a big way here with
activity. The neutrality of the nation and the freedom
fireworks (much to Jays delight), balloons, serpentine and
existing there invites all nationalities to build. Property is
confetti, and all types of tricks and in many instances, much
difficult to obtain and permission must be received from the
liquor. There are Weine, Spirituosen and Tabakwaren
government even to purchase a building site.
shops in every little area and I saw the liquor being imbibed
Some time ago it was decided that the needs of the East
freely Saturday at the open-air market. The symbols used
French Mission could be better met if they were located
in foods and decorations for New Years are little pigs,
in this beauty spot of Europe. A search for property was
four-leaf clovers, lady bugs, chimney sweeps and mush
begun and continued for several months. In the process of
rooms.
the search everything was reviewed; present buildings, vacant
Yes, there are alerts and tanks rumbling down the
sites, old villas, and all. Quite by chance it was found that
streets, but we are busy in the work of the Lord and All
a developer had made a mistake and built two villas too
is Well.
close together, with a common driveway, and had reduced
the ground area for each villa as required by law to below
the allowable minimum, hence he could not sell the houses
individually. Who would want to buy two houses with a
common driveway? The Church did, and now has a delight
ful home for the mission president and his family and the
lady missionaries; and the other house has been remodeled
for the mission office, elders quarters, printing, etc. The
villas are very well built and with a minimum of design
change have been adapted into efficient space for the mission
headquarters. These changes have been executed by Elder
Herbert G. Hansen, labor missionary supervisor.
President and Sister Moyle moved in for Christmas and the
office will be ready for occupancy in the very near future.
By acquiring these two villas, two years of work on the
part of the building department was saved which can be
put to other use. On good days (and there are more good
than bad in Geneva) one can see beautiful Lake Geneva
from the living room window. We are sure President and
Sister Moyle and those connected with this mission will
receive much joy and inspiration in this lovely place.

M IS S IO N H O M E I N D E N M A R K Presently these services are cramped into any space

available.
Late this past summer a handsome villa with large rooms, It is expected that the new structure will be completed for
high ceilings, a charming wall around a beautiful sunken occupancy by early summer of 1962 and we know that
garden, and a charming and inviting gate, was purchased President and Sister Thorup are looking forward to this
in the heart of Copenhagen just a few blocks from the day.
present mission home. The present home has been mission
headquarters for the past thirty years and has become just
too small. The new one is also too small, so an addition
is in progress under the supervision of Elder Martinus
Andersen, who has previously been in the Netherlands
assisting with remodeling projects.
In the middle of December the last of the redtape was cut
allowing the Church Building Department to commence
construction on an addition to the building so that it will
completely house the mission president and his family, lady
missionaries, elders of the mission office staff, and the
mission office. A spacious basement will house the printing
operation of the busy mission.
The present office space in the rear of the chapel at
Priorvej will be released to the branches for much needed
additional storage. The present mission home will be used
for new missionary housing, traveling and supervising elders
quarters, as well as for the missionary training school.

10

BRITISH AREA
Thanksgiving Service
It was with heartsfull of thanksgiving and gratitude that
the saints of the two Manchester Wards met, December 16,
1961, to hold the long-awaited Thanksgiving Service in the
new building, where, not so long ago, there was just a small
branch. Into the lives of those who have worked on this
project has come something fine and noble, something each
will cherish until his dying day. The Boren family, for
example, will long remember this day, and no doubt the
thrill they felt was reflected in the beautiful prelude music
of Christmas carols played by Maxine Boren on the piano
and her daughter, Marilyn, on the organ.
Conducting the service was Bishop Walter Weston, who was
probably visualizing many great things for his beloved
people in this sacred place. Invocation was offered by Brian
Roper and benediction by Frank Blease, two faithful labor
missionaries whose contribution to this project has been
magnificient. Speakers were Bishop Clarence Corbishley of
the Manchester South Ward; President William Bates of the
Manchester Stake; Elders Henry Boren and Myron D.
Neuffer, building supervisors; President Grant Thorne of
the North British Mission; Bishop Walter Weston of the
Manchester Ward; Elders J. Neil Bradley and Lewis W.
Moore of the Church Building Department. A choir com
posed of members from both wards furnished the in
spirational music. There were one hundred eighty-four
present.
It is felt that the completion of the Wythenshawe Chapel is
proof that the Labor Missionary Program will indeed be
succesful in the British Isles. There were 8,894 hours of
work contributed by the labor missionaries and 4,516 hours
contributed by the local saints. The old Wythenshawe Chapel
contained 2,155 square feet. The new addition is 2,900
square feet, making a total of 5,855 square feet. The old
chapel was converted into the cultural hall and a new
chapel added, plus four new teaching areas, making a total
of ten teaching areas. A library; bishops offices; lounge;
new rest rooms; kitchen with steam table, triple sinks, range
and refrigerator; Junior Sunday School room equipped with
dividing folding doors, small pulpit, a sacrament table, and
two spacious floor-to-ceiling cupboards were also added.
On the outside a brick tower was attached, topped with a
needle-like gold-leafed spire. A new parking area was also
constructed.
The chapel itself is lovely, with walls tinted in dusty rose,
ceiling in white tile, floors tiled and aisles and stand
covered with deeper rose-toned carpeting. Opera seats on
the stand have medium green seat and back covering. The
front wall in the chapel is done in wood paneling with
open grill-work on the upper third of the wall.
The new baptismal font is off to the side of the cultural
hall and is done in light buff tile. It has been used con
tinually since the first forming of the cement floor and
walls. Before the painting was done on the upper wall and
ceiling, a Mr. Hughes visited the ward on a work night,
saying he wanted to see what kind of people were in the
church which his son was investigating. Being a painter by
trade, he stayed to paint the baptismal font upper walls
Wythenshawe Chapel
Manchester Stake
and ceiling. He helped with other painting for several
evenings and at the end of two weeks was himself baptized
in the font he had helped decorate he and his wife and
daughter. This is just one experience associated with this
marvellous building program. A seaman from Manchester
spent his entire leave at home working on the chapel and
was baptized before going back to sea.
A stake priesthood leadership meeting was held in this
building last October and there was a noticeable difference
in the feeling of reverence and attitude of the members
toward the chapel. The Primary children, too, feel a differ
ence and enter quietly and reverently. One of the most
important aspects has been in the reactivation of the mem
bers. As one of the ward bishops stated, What a wonderful
reactivation program. We have had people working on this
building who have not been out to church for years.
May the Saints in Manchester remember this thought:
I am your Church.
I shall reflect you as clearly as a mirror.
If outwardly my appearance is pleasing and inviting,
it is because you have made me so.
If, within, my spiritual atmosphere is kindly, yet
earnest; reverent, yet friendly; worshipful, yet sincere;
divine, yet humanly expressed; it is but the mani
festations of the spirit of my membership.
But if you should by chance find me cold or dull, I
beg of you not to condemn me, for I show forth
only the kind of life I received from you. I am the
reflected image of your soul. Make of me what you
will.
(from I am your Church
St. Andrews Church
Nanaimo, British Columbia)
(Our heartfelt thanks to Sister Boren for sending in the
lovely description of the church, and to all others who
contributed to this article. Ed.)
11
Newspaper reprint fro m Crawley Courier, England, December 28, 1961:

Mormon Chapel will be completed in two years

70,000 project will be community centre

A < 70,000 building project is under way at a two acre
site on the Old Horsham road, Crawley. This morass of
mud and pools, intersected with deep trenches, will be
transformed into a Mormon Chapel within, it is hoped two
years. , land to see the money allocated for the building of chapels
For the followers of the Latter-day Saints, their Chapel is
more than a place of worship, it is an extravagansa of
sumptious planning designed to meet all their needs both
spiritual and cultural.
When the Crawley Courier visited the site recently, the
bishop of the Mormon community, Mr. Peter English, was
working down in the trench, handling his shovel like an
experienced workman.
He explained in the comfortable estate office on the site,
that the chapel was a part of a great building programme
being carried on in the British Isles. At the beginning of
next year we shall have about 20 under construction. This
chapel here will be quite a small one, said Mr. English.
He explained that his title bishop did not mean he was a
high ranking officer in the Mormon church, but simply a
leader of a community.
This building will be something more than a place to wor
ship, it will be the centre for the Mormon community. We
shall have a chapel which will hold about 250 people in
addition to a cultural hall, reading rooms and facilities for
dancing and basketball.
There are at present 160 converts in Crawley, quite a large
number for a minority group, and the question this figure
prompted was is . 70,000 a lot of money to spend on a
handful of people?
A Mormon from Utah, Maurice G. Moore who is in Eng
is being used well, said he thought not. You see, we dont
look upon building this chapel in the light of dollars per
person.
The quietly spoken, amiable American, head of a con
struction firm in his own country, added thoughtfully, We
Mormons like to live pleasantly. We like to hold banquets,
and we encourage dancing and good clean sport.
The building will be of brick construction with a mosaic
facade. The interior will be of plaster, and the chapel will
be panelled in oak. The whole will be floodlit when com
pleted. It is described as unpretentious and quite an
average church.
The money which is being spent on this building indicates
the enormous amount of capital the Mormon church has
behind it. Mr. English explained that all members of the
congregation give 10 percent of their earnings to the church.
When the interview was over, Mr. English and Mr. Moore
left the warm hut to return to work in the bitterly cold
trenches, with the other men. Building their own churches
is not a Mormon idea, the monks did it many centuries ago,
but it does show the dedication of the men who belong to
this faith.

GROUND BREAKING
NOTTINGHAM WARD CHAPEL
LEICESTER STAKE
Stanholme Square, Wilford Hills, Not
tingham was the scene of ground
breaking ceremonies held November 4,
1961 for the Nottingham Ward Chapel.
Stake President D. A. Cuthbert presided
with Bishop A. S. Green conducting.
Invocation was offered by Stake
Patriarch Oliver Storer and benediction
by High Councilman Clive B. Payne.
The seventy people present listened in
tently to the messages of President
Cuthbert, Elders J. Neil Bradley and
Stanford W. Bird of the Church
Building Department, and Brother
Kenneth S. Poole, first counselor in the
stake presidency. Ground was broken
by President Cuthbert. Supervisor of
counstruction on this project is Elder
Floyd T. Nielsen.

12
 NOTES
ON VISIT by Elder E. Albert Rosenvall
TO ENGLAND
It was my good pleasure, in company with staff members
from all three of the European construction areas, to visit
some of the labor missionary construction projects going on
in Northern England. The trip proved to be very interesting
and inspiring. I have been asked to record my observations
so that others may be inspired also.
Our plane landed at Manchester in the midst of a blinding
snow storm, but the unpleasant weather was soon forgotten
when we arrived at the Wythenshawe Ward Chapel. There
we enjoyed a lovely lunch prepared by the Relief Society
under the direction of Sister Maxine Boren. This chapel
was completed and ready for use. Elder Henry Boren was
the supervisor and along with four or five local labor mis
sionaries had done practically all the work on this building,
assisted in a large measure by the local saints. The only
work contracted out was that requiring special skills they
did not have.
At the lunch a young man by the name of Royce Goodier
was called upon to represent all the dozen or so labor mis
sionaries present to tell us how he felt about his assignment.
I was greatly inspired by the sweet, humble attitude he,
and all the others exhibited. They seemed to really appre
ciate the opportunity of serving as labor missionaries.
That same afternoon we visited the Rochdale chapel, which
was being constructed by Elder Lawrence Wortley and four
labor missionaries. They all seemed very happy in spite of
the fact that snow and ice was giving them great difficulty.
On this same job we met Elder Ted May and his crew of
brickies. They were in the process of laying up all the brick
work on this chapel. Elder Mays four brickies were four
labor missionaries whom he had been training for about
three months. Their work was excellent. When I compared
this job with their first one, which was a wall around the
building site at Sunderland, I could see that they were doing
remarkably well.
At Leeds we visited the chapel being built by Elder Carlton
Harris and his labor missionary crew. When we asked one
of this crew how he liked being a labor missionary he said,
I woudnt trade this job for all the tea in China! And his
partner said, That goes for me too! This chapel was also
making good progress. It is on a beautiful site on the brow
of a hill overlooking the city.
At York we visited the chapel being constructed by Elder
Lewis Hiatt and his crew. York is one of the oldest cities
in England and the old city wall still stands. They have a
nice building site there and the chapel is to the stage where
the roof trusses were being put into place. The quality of
workmanship was exceptionally good and in this case, as
in all the others we visited, the majority of the work was
being done by the labor missionaries, assisted in great part
by the local saints.
At Newton Aycliffe we saw the lovely chapel being built by
Elder Jeff Sparks and his crew. Nearly all the roof was
on. This building also showed evidences of fine workman
ship.
When we arrived at West Hartlepool we were nearly
frozen, it was so very cold, but all the crew were hard at
work, seeming to ignore the unpleasant weather. Elder Ralph
Lane and his men were handling this project.
It was interesting to note that on nearly all these buildings
the architects had been cooperative and had designed them
so they were simple in structure but beautiful in form. This
made it possible for much more of the work to be done
by the supervisor and his crew, without having to call in
specialists to do too much of it.
It is evident to me that the Lord is preparing the hearts and
the minds of the people for this great building program,
which is so essential to the spiritual growth and development
of the saints. These beautiful chapels not only provide
adequate places in which to meet; the building of them also
provides opportunity for the members of the Church to learn
the joy of service and reap the blessings that come from
sacrifice.
Father, where shall I work today?
And my love flowed warm and free.
Then He pointed me out a tiny spot
And said, Tend that for me.
I answered quickly, Oh, no, not that.
Why no one would ever see
No matter how well my work was done
Not that little spot for me.
And the word He spoke, it was not stern;
He answered me tenderly,
Ah, little one, search that heart of thine.
Art thou working for them or Me?
Nazareth was a little place
And so was Galilee.
13
REPO RT FROM T H E PROJECTS
Sister W anda Harris writes from Leeds:
We surely have three choice missiona
ries. A few weeks ago when these boys
heard the ward here was low on funds
for their support, they asked my hus
band if they could use their free time
to do extra work away from the site to
From a local missionary in Leeds:
There are many fancy, flowery words
I could use to express the way I feel
for being called on a labor mission.
This is the word I have chosen,
Wonderful! This word expresses
everything that is inside of me. I will
not beat around the bush and say that
From Robert and Edith Smithson-Dewsbury Chapel,
Leeds Stake:
Ive been wondering what we could tell
you of our project that would be most
inspiring and interesting. I will start by
telling of a lovely girl who is very
faithful in coming to the building site
to help.
Patricia is sixteen years of age and is
the eldest of eight brothers and sisters.
She is a convert of about six months,
and the only one of her family
belonging to the Church. A few weeks
14
help the ward raise money for the
missionaries7 expenses. The ward has
been able to raise the necessary money,
but we feel these boys are really noble
and try to go the extra mile, and we
are so grateful to them and for them.
the work is easy or that I never receive
temptations from the devil, or that I
am never tired. If I did, then I would
not be telling the truth, because I am
tired when I reach home, the devil does
tempt me; and although I dont get paid
for the hours I put in and Ive had to
leave my friends, relatives and parents
at home, I wouldnt swap this work for
all the tea in China (if I may be
allowed to use that expression).
I know that I have changed since being
called, because never before have I
been able to love three men the way
I love my wonderful supervisor, Bud
Harris, and my companions, Malcolm
and Chris. Once again I repeat, this
work is absolutely wonderful, and I pray
the Lord will give me strength to carry
it out. This may not be a masterpiece
in literature, but by golly. Im writing
it with tears in my eyes.
May the Lord bless all you wonderful
people in this wonderful work.
ALAN KENNINGTON
(Alans history appeared in
the January issue).
ago her mother became very ill and
was taken to the hospital for surgery.
Patricia has had the entire care of her
brothers and sisters, also the cooking
and washing, and has proven to be a
very good little housekeeper along with
attending school and being a Primary
teacher, too. With all this she has found
time to help on the project. Her father
has not encouraged Patricia in her
Church activities, but a more valiant
member of the Church you could not
find.
On Saturday the full time missionaries
came to help on the building site.
Brother Smithson assigned each elder a
pier hole to excavate and a young per
son to keep the dirt cleared away for
him by shoveling the dirt into wheel
barrows and hauling it away, dumping
it in a place that needed a little fill.
Patricia was assigned to one of the
elders. They started a little competition
with their hole digging and everyone
was really having a good time. A hot
meal was provided for them by the
Relief Society sisters at noon. After
dinner they went back to work. When
the afternoon had slipped by and it
was about four oclock, the elder that
Patricia was assigned to climbed out of
the hole and came over to Brother
Smithson and said, Golly, Im really
bushed. I wish that girl would quit, but
she hasnt looked up, and Im. ashamed
to stop. However, the day was saved
for him because it wasnt long before
Patricia came to us and said she must
go home, that she had her evening meal
to get for her family. The elder was
really relieved.
This is the spirit we have on our
project, so how can we fail. Patricia has
ninety-six donated hours from our first
slips that have gone in September
23, 1961 to December 23, 1961, making
an average of thirty-two donated hours
a month. Keep in mind that she has
only been able to come after school and
when her work has been completed, and
on Saturdays under the same conditions,
and has no encouragement at home. We
think this is really commendable.
From Marvin and Olive
Harding in Sunderland:
We left the little town of Ashtead, near
London, about 10:30 in the morning of
July 24. With Michael and me at the
road maps and Elder Harding at the
wheel of our little green van, we set
out for the north country with Sunder
land as our destination.
It was rather hectic at first with the
wrong-side of the road driving and
the novelty of the round-abouts con
stantly amazing us; but when we finally
left London behind, we settled down
to just enjoy the trip. The lovely shades
 of green and the beautiful flowers, as
well as the typical English towns, were
very colorful and interesting. We found
it a bit difficult to obtain lodging the
first evening because of the holiday
season.
The following morning we visited the
inspiring city of York, and also met
Elder and Sister Hiatt and their three
daughters. The welcome they gave us
made us feel like old friends.
When we left Ashtead we had been
given the phone number in Sunderland
of President F. W. Oates. He is first
counselor in the North British Mission
and is a member of the Sunderland
Branch. He had the keys to the house
we were to live in, and as we approached
the town we decided to keep a sharp
look-out for a phone box so that we
could call him and get directions to his
place of business.
We found a phone booth and Elder
Harding parked the van and crossed the
street. He had just entered the booth
when Mike and I saw a man
approaching the van, and immediately
we thought we must be parked in a
no-parking zone. He rapped on the
window and as I hurriedly rolled it
down he smiled and said, You wouldnt
happen to be a family by the name of
Harding, would you? It was President
Oates! In a town of about 200,000
people the man we had been looking for
had found us.
Maybe it had been a round-about
that did it, but we were not on the
street we should have been on con
sidering we had been coming from the
south. President Oates had passed us
as he was returning from a business call
and when he saw the little green van
he stopped and walked back to where
we were parked.
We had been thrilled with the whole
experience of being called to England
on a labor mission, and you can imagine
the additional thrill we experienced in
meeting President Oates under such
unusual circumstances.
We are so grateful for the privilege of
coming to England to work in this part
of the Lords plan. We are especially
grateful that we were assigned to help
build the Sunderland Chapel. Truly,
home is where the heart is, and we
feel that Sunderland and its people
have captured our hearts, with the love
and kindness they have extended to us.
THE MARCH OF TIME
by JOSEPH L. HASOPPE
French Area Labor Missionary Supervisor
It sometimes happens that after a number of years, we meet a dear friend that
we had known earlier when he was struggling under all kinds of difficulties.
This friend, having continued the daily struggle courageously, has been able to
gain a respectable position in society. Great is our joy, then, to realize the
marvellous progress he has made during our separation.
This is the comparison I am pleased to make on coming back to these fine old
countries of Belgium, France, and Switzerland. Time has undertaken to trans
form them to their advantage.
I knew these three countries well, nearly fourteen years ago, when, in my
capacity as Counselor in the French Mission. I had to travel through them
frequently to give assistance to the District and Branch presidents in the dis
charging of their duties.
At that time, Switzerland seemed to me to have been especially blessed, for she
was spared the ravages of the last two world wars. By contrast, France and
Belgium, who had just been ravaged, seemed to be in tatters, and their in
habitants in very humble circumstances.
Because of the rather special work for the Church Building Program that I have
had to do since my arrival, I have had the opportunity of coming back to
these beloved countries; and great has been my joy to find them in the
conditions they enjoy today.
Switzerland is still strong and prosperous. France, despite her civil disorders,
does not appear desirous of remaining in the condition that an ungrateful fate
has placed her. From north to south and from east to west, France is rising
proudly. In all of her great cities, new buildings of all kinds are under con
struction. Her business enterprises are so vast that she is obliged to call on
foreign labor in order to accomplish her redevelopment program.
Belgium in no way lags behind her French neighbors. All of her great cities
have undergone a metamorphosis as if under the spell of a magic wand.
If these blessed changes are pleasing to my soul, my heart leaps up with
rejoicing for another reason, more dear to me than any other.
For nearly a century, these people had seemed scarcely disposed to listen with an
attentive ear to the message that the missionaries brought to them. It was at
the cost of tremendous efforts of all kinds that a rather limited number were
converted to the restored work. Today we find these same people under the
influence of a very different spiritual atmosphere. The number of doors which
now open to hear this message is extraordinary.
Our missionaries are enjoying a success never known before. In the French
Mission (as well as in the French East Mission), we now have more baptisms
each month than we used to have per year, for the combined area of the two
missions, when I was on a mission myself.
Without pretending to be a prophet, one still does not find it difficult to feel
that this is only the beginning of a spiritual rebirth in these countries which
formerly constituted the cradle of civilization. Everywhere that branches were
established a few years ago, it is becoming urgent that we construct chapels.
In July, 1961, when I received my call to be a missionary in the Church
Building Program, Paris was slated to have one chapel. Today, evidence leaves
no doubt that very soon this city will need three or four of these edifices where
the Saints will be able to sing hosannas to their Creator. This, in the very
place where for so many years it was possible to convert only a very few
members!
How marvellous is the joy that I feel to be among those who have been given
the responsibility of the Church Building Program here in Europe!
Yesterday has forever disappeared; today is marvellous; and in doing all that is
within our power, we cannot doubt that our God will make tomorrow glorious.
15
British Area Local Labor Missionaries

THOMAS DENNIS STARR

I am Thomas Dennis Starr from Radcliff Ward in the
Manchester Stake. I am 22 and was born on January 9,
1939, in Liverpool to T. D. Starr and Lillian Marsden.
My mother died when I was thirteen months old, and I
was brought up in the Liverpool Childrens Home until I
went in the army. I attended Sherwood Lane School and
sang in the school choir. I have one brother and sister who
are not in the Church.
I first heard about the Church from my girl friend. The
Elders came to her house, but I was the only one who was
baptized. I will always remember the first time I went in
vestigating. It was Brother Dennis Boydells farewell service
for he was going on a labor mission to York. It was then
that I said I would be baptized. I was baptized on August
18. I was not in the Church eight weeks when I was called
on a labor mission, and I was so thrilled to go that I could
hardly wait. I know that I have been blessed on this mission
inasmuch as my aunty and three children were baptized
three weeks ago. While I have been in the Church, 1 have
been first counselor in YMMIA and at the moment I am
teaching the Explorer class at Reading and hope to get
them to build a model of the stake house that we are
helping to build here. I pray that the Lord will always help
me in this work.

CHRISTOPHER ALAN CRABTREE

Milton Brow-weston-S-Mear is the
birthplace of Christopher Alan Crabtree.
The year was 1945. His six brothers
and sisters are Brian, John, Martyn,
Pat, David, and Paul. From Milton,
where he spent the first year of his life,
he moved to the B Estate where he
lived for the next twelve years. It was
during this time that the elders visited
this home, and as a result, the Crabtree
family was one of the first families in
the Weston-Supe-Mear Branch. Chris
topher says, I was baptized at Bristol
at the age of eight. I will always
remember my baptism because the
heater broke and the water was cold.
It was just like the saints of old when
they were baptized in the river.
Christophers hobbies are ballroom
dancing, stamp collecting and gardening.
As to his missionary call he states, At
conference on October 22, 1961, I was
listening to a talk by President Bird,
first counselor in the British Mission.
He was talking about the labor mission
ary program. I said there and then to
myself that I would like to go on a
labor mission. I told my father about
my thoughts and he said he would get
in touch with President Bird as soon as
possible. At the last session of confer
ence I was asked to see President
Woodbury after the meeting. Sister
West, one of the sisters sitting next to
me said, Good Luck! She knew what
it was by the happiness on my face.
President Woodbury told me to write
him after I had given it some thought
and talked to my parents about it. On
Monday I wrote to him and on Tuesday
he wrote back saying that I would be
instructed later where to go. My call
came on the first of November and I
was assigned to work with Elder C. A.
Harris in Leeds. I left November 13
by train after saying goodby to my
parents. My journey took six hours. I
was then taken to the home of my
companions, Alan, Malcom and Tony.
They have all been very kind to me and
made me feel at home and Elder Harris
has been like a father to me.
To end, I would like to bear my
testimony that I know this is the true
Church of Jesus Christ. I am very grate
ful to my parents for bringing me up in
the Church and I know that if I live
the gospel I will be blessed for it.

16
ARTHUR LEONARD

Brother Arthur Leonard was one of the I had my education at Moldgreen

many who heard and recognized the
truthfulness of the gospel at once. He
had been attending two or three dif
ferent churches until one day a brother
in law of Arthurs found the Book of
Mormon in a telephone booth, gave it
to him, saying, Here is something that
may interest you. Arthur states, I
read the Joseph Smith story and knew
it was true as soon as I read it, and
also the Book of Mormon. It is true,
and I know that Jesus lives, and I knew
the bible was true even before 1 be
came a Mormon.
Brother Leonard was born March 24,
1925, at Newcastle upon Tyne, Dur
ham. He has four brothers and twelve
sisters of whom thirteen are living and
four dead. Arthur credits his mother
with giving him his greatest faith.
Council School and at Beaumont.
During my youth I spent my time in a
club called the Central Lads where I
was very happy. At eighteen I was
called in the army and served from
1943 to 1946. I was wounded during
the war and spent a little time in Ger
many, France and Belgium, Arthur
recalls.
He has served as president, counselor
and teacher in the MIA, secretary in
the branch presidency, first counselor
in the bishopric, and first and second
counselor in the branch. He claims that
the five years he has been a member
of the Church have been the happiest
years of his life and he is certainly
trying to serve the Lord to the best
of his ability.

ROBERT JAMES MAWL

When we sing our beloved Mormon hymn The World Has
Need of Willing Men we are referring to such men as
local labor missionary, Robert James Mawl. At the time
of his birth, November 27, 1943, in Birmingham, England,
to James and Evelin Mawl, little did his parents realize
the great contribution he would later make to his Church
and to his community. He is a fine example to his younger
sister and brother, Linda and David.
Of his conversion he states, My mother and I were taught
by two lady missionaries and were baptized in December
1951, and my father joined a year later.
He attended Handsworth Grammar School in Birmingham
and after five happy years he left, obtaining a General
Certificate of Education in five subjects. Then, until called
on a labor mission he worked as a junior technical assistant
at the Dunlap Rubber Company.
During the ten years Robert has been a member of the
Church he has held the positions of branch librarian, first
counselor in the MIA, and Junior Sunday School coordina
tor. He was ordained a priest in February, 1961, and called
to be a labor missionary at the Leicester Stake Conference,
September 3, 1961. He was very please when called as he
had always wanted to go on a mission, and here was the
opportunity to help build the Kingdom of God. On October
9, 1961, he arrived in Crawley, and after spending the first
night at the home of the building supervisor, Elder Maurice
G. Moore, he was introduced to the fine family with whom
he is now staying, Brother and Sister Lawther.

TREVOR C. KENNINGTON
In the year 1946 John Charles and Minnie Kennington and
their two sons joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints. This brought great joy to the family and little
did they realize at that time that these two fine sons would
grow up to serve their Church as labor missionaries. Trevor
and Alan his missionary brother, have also been blessed
by having two little sisters.
Trevor was born September 26, 1944, and at the age of
five years attended the Beverly Road Infants and Junior
School. Six years later he was graduated to the Wilberforce
High School, and after three years there he again was
transferred to Greatfield High School where he finished his
schooling at the age of fifteen. He then found employment
with an architect and from this position he went to another
firm and became an apprentice electrician. At this place he
worked on trawler, fixing radars, lights, and dynamos.
Trevor declares that this mission has added great strength
to his life and he wouldnt give it up for anything as he has
the very best supervisor and wonderful work mates. His
testimony is that this Church is true, that there is a prophet
on the earth today, and that Jesus Christ is indeed the son
of God.

17
Scandinavian A rea Local Labor M issionary
JOUKO KALEVI KIRSI
On June 3, 1961 the Finnish Mission
called as a local labor missionary Elder
Jouko Kalevi Kirsi. This call was only
possible because of the determined
efforts of Jouko and the missionaries
who taught him. From the beginning
his father, a building contractor himself,
had tried in every possible way to refute
the truth of the teachings that he saw
his son accepting, but as time passed
by his heart was opened and he also
gained a strong testimony of the gospel.
This influenced very greatly his three
brothers and three sisters as they saw
Jouko take on not only his labor mission
but also a post in the Branch M.I.A.
Elder Kirsi is now approaching his 20th
birthday which means he will have to
TH E WOES OF A R E A L E ST A T E REPRESEN TATIVE
18
leave his work to serve one year in the
Finnish Army. He has been with the
building of the Lappeenranta chapel
from the beginning and he will be
greatly missed when he leaves but he
has done a great deal of good, not only
for the church there but also for him
self. He is an example of an in
dustrious and conscientious boy. He is
a graduate of the Lahti Technical
School and has followed athletics in his
spare time.
As President John D. Warner and
Construction Supervisor Elmer Kohko-
nen know, Jouko is a great help to the
Church in Finland and he will certainly
be missed for the year he is away
serving his country.
THE SEARCH
FOR SITES GOES ON
Recently Elder Thys Winkel, real estate representative for
the Scandinavian area, made a trip to the town of Dor
drecht, Holland, to search for a site for the Dordrecht
Branch chapel.
Because Dordrecht is an old, Dutch city, and the city area
is rather small, it is impossible to find a vacant piece of
property, but the city planning engineer came up with what
he thought would be the solution to the problem. He said:
There is an old Dutch Reformed church for sale cheap!
The city and the Dutch Reformed Church will pay 65 % of
the cost of the restoration of the building; however, in no
way should the beauty of the church be marred. (see
photo)
Even though this building is out of the question, it is in
teresting to note the concern the civic officials have toward
our building program. Not long after this talk with the
Dordrecht city officials, some possible sites were found in
a new building development.
Brother Winkel still smiles when he recalls the Old Dutch
Reformed Church. What will be next a cathedral?
********
(It is certainly hard to please everybody
and although this magazine does not
have an Advice to the Lovelorn
Column we have decided to let down
the barriers this once and try to help
straighten out a matter concerning the
sons and daughters of American per
sonnel connected with the building
program in Europe. Ed.)
MEMO FROM ENGLAND:
S.O.S. to Church Building Committee,
From this time forth send only labor
missionary supervisors having eligible,
good-looking, teenage sons.
(signed)
The Epsom Lonely Hearts Club.
WE HEAR FROM HOLLAND:
An open letter to Elder George R. Bie-
singer,
Here we are intelligent, well-
mannered, likeable, well-adjusted, and
extremely good-looking boys all
alone in this far away country, without
an American Mormon girl for miles,
and England with an overabundance!
Seriously, sir, dont you consider this
rather unfair? Weve taken drastic mea
sures to rectify this situation, and have
even resorted to sending in a CBC in
an effort to even things out a bit, but
nothing has been done. We are trying
to be big about this, and we dont want
to complain, but with a little planning,
dont you think you could straighten
things out?
Sincerely,
The Desolate Dutch.
P.S. We do have one girl in Holland,
but shes eighteen and a sister.
(We havent heard from Germany so
we are assuming that everything there
is fine. Ed.)
FROM ENGLAND:
More teenage girls joined us in England
when the Don C. Lassigs arrived from
Salt Lake City. The gang from Epsom
welcomed the Lassig kids into their
group with a rousing popcorn and pizza
party held at LeAnn and Marilyn
LJouand yo * * * * * * *
Carters. Those present were Ruth 17, decided to save the root beer and drink
Mary 14, Paul 11, and Molly Lassig 8. it New Years Eve on the boat going
Also Kathy Bird, Yvonne Harless, back to Germany.
Kathy Biesinger, Joan and Pat Brad
ley, Margaret and Janice Darley, and
LeAnn and Marilyn Carter.
Ruth is now serving as a labor Today, January 3, 1961, we are
missionary in the Church Building planning a special trip to London with
Department office in Epsom. The rest the missionaries. It all happened this
of the Lassig family are now in Derby way:.
where Elder Lassig is building super Shortly after Marilyn and LeAnn Car
intendent and the other children are ter and Margaret and Janice Darley
attending school. arrived at Roseberry County Grammar
School, a home night was planned and
Some of the girls at Roseberry County held. Twenty girls were present. Among
Grammar School have become interest them was Kathryn Brooke. She became
ed in the gospel since Elder Holland very interested and after attending
and Elder Yaggy visited the religious another home night was taught by the
instruction class and explained the missionaries in the Wesley Carter home.
gospel to them (much to the distress She has studied very hard and is being
of the R. I. mistress). baptised by Elder Wilkey and Elder
The elders good looks and personality Proffer today in the Hyde Park Chapel.
made some of the girls swoon. How
ever, a lot of the girls were sincerely
interested in the gospel and the teachings
of the Church. They asked the Ameri (Many thanks to the unknown author of
can girls many questions. We hope to these interesting news items from Eng
invite them to a home night soon. land. Keep up the good work (and sign
your name). Ed.)
Other events of interest in England
during November were: Guy Faux
We are happy that Sister Janie DeJel,
parties. Thanksgiving dinners, and the
who, after spending three weeks in the
Sadie Hawkins dance at Hyde Park
chapel. hospital, is home recuperating and we
all pray for her good health.
On the twenty-first of December a
SISTERS SOB CORNER - by Hazel
Christmas party was held at the home
of Joan and Pat Bradley.
We had a wonderful time caroling to
members and non-members in this area.
We then returned to the Bradley home
where chili, seven-up, ice cream and
cookies were served and fun games were
played. The evening was ended by the
exchanging of gifts. Special guest was
Mary Jane Andrew from Germany, who
lived previously in Epsom and had re
turned with her parents and the Bie
singer boys to spend the holidays.
Both boys and girls were present at
Steve Biesingers birthday party on the
night of December 30, 1961. Stephen
received many gifts from the group, one
of which was fourteen cans of root beer
given to him by David Hemingway. He
19