Vol.

2
March,

EUROPEAN LABOR MISSIONARY PROGRAM

As We Build Churches, We W ill Also Build People

 The Builder
Vol. 2, No. 3 March, 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 T H E N ETHER LA N D S
gium, France and the French
DRUK ,,'T KOGGESCHIP"
AMSTERDAM speaking part of Switzerland
EDITORIAL

These are they who are valiant

By What a world of meaning can be found in one word! Valiant! I love that word;
ELDER E. ALBERT not only for its implied meanings, but I love the sound of it as it is spoken. It
ROSENVALL seems to connote something special.
Websters dictionary says that a person who is valiant is one who is strong in
mind or spirit to that degree that he can be called stouthearted, brave or
courageous. But I believe that there is something more, even than this, contained
in its true meaning.
In the Doctrine and Covenants we are told that they who are not valiant in a
testimony of Jesus shall not have a place in the Celestial Kingdom, but shall be
relegated to the Terrestrial Kingdom. It seems, therefore, that we should become
intimately acquainted with this attitude or demeanor which must characterize all
who would be approved of the Lord.
Traveling companions to valiant are loyal and steadfast. We seem to always
find them together. I suppose it is because they have so many things in common
that they seem to enjoy each others company.
The valiant are readily distinguished by the quality of service they render. If
we do not give of OURSELVES in service, it cannot be truly said of us that we
are valiant. In fact, we must not only give of OURSELVES, but we must give our
WHOLE SELVES to our service in the kingdom of God before we can be counted
as being valiant. It is put into these words in the scriptures: Therefore, O ye that
embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might,
mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. This
is the constant challenge that is before every labor missionary, before every member
of the Church.
One of the purposes of the Church is to provide opportunities for us to put into
practice the principles we believe in. Perfection in this does not come all at once,
but it can be attained through patient, persistent and humble effort. And I know
of no situation that is more conducive to the development of right attitudes, ten
dencies and all the desirable virtues, than the opportunity of laboring together,
without thought of monetary reward, in the building of our Lathers kingdom.
In many parts of the world the call has gone out to the members of the Church
to accept and participate in the great Labor Missionary Program. And many men
and women of all ages have heeded the call, leaving homes, families and established
businesses to serve wheresoever the servants of the Lord have called them.
It has thrilled me to see the enthusiastic, humble attitude of the young men and
older ones as well who have been called to serve in the various countries of
Europe. There is a spirit which goes with this kind of service that is known only
to those who, forgetful of self, dedicate themselves to the doing of the will of the
Lord. The inner glow that is kindled by the Spirit of the Lord can be seen to shine
upon the countenances of all such.
Now I would like to make a promise to all our labor missionaries, to those who
have been called from America with their families, and to those who are locally
called as well. This is the promise: The inner glow that you felt when you were
set apart will remain with you as long as you are humble and obedient. If you will
give of yourselves in your service and follow the counsel of your leaders, your
testimony of the truth will grow as it has never grown before; life to you will be
more satisfying and enjoyable.
But on the other hand, if you allow yourself to become lifted up in highmindedness
and pride, if you allow yourself to become fault-finding and critical, you will lose
the Spirit, and the evil one will find place in your heart.
Let us therefore be loyal to our leaders, steadfast in keeping the commandments
of the Lord and VALIANT in the cause of truth and righteousness. If we do this,
we shall enjoy peace of mind in this world and Eternal Life in the world to come.

3
Tolte p ro g ra m m ooes on

January 2, 1962 Alfred Zelder from
Beutelsbach, Germany, called to be
a labor missionary. Set apart by Pre
sident Gardner. Assigned to Wilhelms-
burg chapel. Address: c/o James R.
Tanner, Barcastrasse 14, Hamburg,
Germany.
January 12, 1962 - Ground breaking
ceremonies held for Augsburg Branch
Chapel, South German Mission. Elder
Franz Wallner, supervisor.
January 19, 1962 - Howard N. Page,
wife, Elaine Todd Page, children, Carol
9, Lauri 7, Richard 6, and Elizabeth 4,
arrived in England from Idaho Falls,
Idaho. Elder Page is assistant real es
tate representative for the British area.
Address: 19 Woodfield Lodge, Crad
dock Parade, Ashtead, Surrey, Eng
land.
January 20, 1962 - Ground breaking
ceremonies held for Liibeck Ward Chap
el, Hamburg Stake. Elder Walter Her-
tig, supervisor.
January 20, 1962 - Ground breaking
ceremonies held for Swedish Mission
Home, Stockholm, Sweden. Elder Karl
Lagerberg, supervisor.
The following information should have
been in a previous issue:
September 5, 1961 - Robert James
Mawle from Birmingham, England,
called to be a labor missionary. Set
apart September 31, 1961, by President
Cuthbert. Assigned to Crawley Ward
Chapel. Address: 22 Constible Road,
Tilgate, Crawley, England.
September 17, 1961 - Peter Ronald
Burton from Bristol, England, set apart
by President Woodbury to be a labor
missionary. Assigned to Dewsbury.
Address: c/o Robert Smithson, 64 Ulls-
water Road, Dewsbury, England.
September 23, 1961 - John Jeremiah
Wilkinson from Airdrie, Scotland, call
ed to be a labor missionary. Set apart
October 7, 1961 by President Brock-
bank. Assigned to Crawley. Address:
c/o Maurice G. Moore, 50 Parkway,
Pound Hill, Crawley, Sussex, England.
October 29, 1961 - Thomas Mathieson
Ross from Dundee, Scotland, called to
be a labor missionary. Set apart No
vember 7, 1961, by President Richard
son. Assigned to Belfast Chapel. Ad
dress: c/o Stephen James, 10 Garro-
nard Park, Circular Road, Belfast, Ire
land.
November 8, 1961 - John Joseph Gra
ham from Airdrie, Scotland, called to
be a labor missionary. Set apart No
vember 8, 1961 by President Richard
son. Assigned to Crawley Ward Chap
el. Address: c/o Maurice G. Moore, 50
Parkway, Pound Hill, Crawley, Sus
sex, England.
November 11, 1961 - Nyal Norby
from Oslo, Norway, called to be a
labor missionary. Set apart December
4, 1961 by President Gunderson. As
signed to Oslo I Chapel.
Address: Drammensun 96, Oslo S.V.,
Norway.
December 14, 1961 - John William
Passey of Worcester, England, set apart
by president Cullimore to be a labor
missionary. Assigned to Beverley Chap
el. Address: c/o W. Streibel, 13 Good-
sell Road, Beverley, Yorkshire, Eng
land.

GERMANIC AREA

GROUND BREAKING AUGSBURG CHAPEL

SOUTH GERMAN MISSION
Friday evening, January 12, 1962, an orientation meeting
was held with the Augsburg Branch members. The hall was
packed to capacity. After the opening exercises, Ger
manic Area Supervisor Alma E. Gygi gave an explanation
of the labor missionary7 program and the part the members
were to play in fulfilling their obligations. Brother Ehlers
presented the plans of the new proposed building. Then
Labor Missionary Supervisor Franz Wallner, who is assigned
to the Augsburg project, addressed the audience and asked
for their support. The branch president then spoke to
the group and the final speaker was Mission President
Blythe Gardner. The members agreed unanimously to sup
port the program.
Saturday, January 13, 1962, at three p.m. the Augsburg
saints again gathered for ground breaking ceremonies. The
occasion took place on the chapel site. Many saints came
from Munich, including the district president. The local press
was represented and wrote a very favorable article on
our program. Short talks were given by the district presi
dent, branch president and second counselor in the mission
presidency. Then the local architect, Herr Rummel, was
called on and he responded with a few words of thanks
for the confidence placed in him. There were many wet
eyes from the realization that finally a chapel was to
be erected in this ancient city. Construction is starting
immediately.

4
PROGRESS CHART January 1962
S TAR T % CO M P L E T I O N FI N I S H
WA RD OR S TA K E OR
AREA SU PE R VI S OR DATE
B RA NCH MISSION 1 |0 210 3 |0 410 510 6 10 7 '0 80 00 100

25 Ma y 61 i i m i i i i i i m m i i i i i i i i m i i i i i i i i i i i i i m i i i i i i i i i i i i i m i m i i i i i i i m i t i i i i i i i 15 De c 61
1 BR IT IS H WYTHENSHAWE MA NC H ES TE R H. BOREN

27 M a y 61 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiH iim iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

2 B R IT IS H NE. A Y C LI FF E NTH. B R IT IS H J. S PA RK S

3 B R IT IS H R O CH D AL E M A N CH ES TE R L. WO RTLEY 10 J u n o 61 i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i m i i i i i n i

4 B RI TI SH RE A DI NG B R IT IS H C. ER IC K SO N 12 J u n e 61 i i i i i i i i i i i i i i m i i m i m i

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

6 B RI TI SH YORK NTH. BR IT ISH L. H IA TT 24 J u n e 61 i i i i i i i i m i i i i i i i i i i i i E i n i i

1 J u l y 61 m im iim m m iiim iiim ii

7 BR IT IS H W. H A RT L E PO O L NTH. B R IT IS H R. LAN E

3 J u l y 61 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiu iiim ii
8 SCANDINAVIAN L A P P EE N R AN T A FINNISH E. KOH KO NE N

22 J u l y 61 H I I I I I I I I I I 111!
9 B R IT IS H L IV E RP O O L M A NC H ES TE R 0. G RUN DV IG

5 Aug 61 n u ll
10 BR IT IS H STAKE CENTER M A NC H ES TE R H. BOREN

12 A ug 61 111111111111111111
11 BR IT IS H SUNDERLAND NTH. B R IT IS H M. HA R D IN G

N O RW EG IA N 12 A ug 61 lllllllllll
12 SCANDINAVIAN OSLO 1 P. HA NS EN

GERMANIC V IE N N A AUSTRIAN F. W A L LN E R 29 Aug 59 lEiC IIIIIIIIE E IIM IIIIIim illllllllllllllllllllllllllU lllllllllllllllllllllllllll 5 Nov 61
13

BR IT IS H MERTH YR T Y D FI L CEN. B R IT IS H 24 Aug 61 illlllllll

14 A. A N DE RS O N

HEIDE NTH. GER MA N W. KRA ME R 31 Aug 61 iiiE ttiiiiiiim m iiiiiiiiiiim iiiiii

15 GERMANIC

G ER M A NI C WILHELMSBURG NTH . G ER MAN 1 Sep t 61 a m m m im n n

16 J . TA NN E R

BR IT IS H DEWSB URY 2 S e p t 61 iliu m

17 LEEDS R. SMITHSON

GERMANIC K A IS E R SL A U TE R N WEST G ER MA N 15 S e p t 61 m m m in iim n m i

18 F. B IE S IN G ER

CRAW LEY L ON DO N M. MOO RE 16 S e p t 61 m in i

19 BR IT IS H

LOW EST OF T 23 S e p t 61 m in i
20 B R IT IS H CEN. B R IT IS H D. W O O DB UR Y

B R IT IS H DRUMCHAPEL SCO TC H- IR ISh ' M c D o n a ld 14 O c t 61 H ill

21 s.

B ELF AST SC O TC H -IR IS H 19 O ct 61 in n

22 BR IT IS H S. J A M E S

NOTTINGHAM 4 Nov 61 nm
23 B RI TI SH LEI CESTER F. NE IL S E N

B RIT ISH S OU THE ND B R IT IS H 8 Nov 61 m m

24 J. MORSE

B RI TI SH DERBY LEICESTER D. L A S S IG 1 1 Nov 61 in n

25

26 B RI TI SH BEVERLEY NO RTH B R IT IS H W. ST RE IB E L 18 Nov 61 m i

27 SCANDINAVIAN MISSION HO ME DA N IS H M. ANDERSON 6 Dec 61 m in i

28 B RI TI SH STO CKP OR T MA NC H ES TE R M. NEUFFER 15 Dec 0 m

29 G E R M A N IC A UG SBU RG SO. G ER MA N ir. W A L L N E R 12 J a i 62 n i l

.

30 G ER M A NI C LUBECK HA MB UR G W. HERTIG 20 J-sn 6. m i

31 SCANDINAVIAN MISSION HO ME SWEDEN K. LAGE RDETG 20 J u n 62 m i

BUILDING PROGRAM IN THE NEWS

January 19, 1962 (From Time Magazine): By and the past three years. "In the last six months, Britains
"Bubbles Woodbury, beloved retiring president of the Mormons have broken ground for twenty-four new churches,
British Mission, and his wife are cited for their contribu and they plan to start on twenty-six more by July, the
tion to the raoid growth of the Church in Britain during article states.

5
British Area Assistant Treasurer

The call on October 11, 1961 to come
to Great Britain as labor missionaries
came as a great but very happy sur
prise to the Frank D. Hollands, since
their son, Jeff, was just beginning his
second year as a proselyting missionary
there.
Frank Dennis Holland was born at Park
City, Utah, to Joseph Dennis Holland
FRA N K D. HOLLAND
A N D FAMILY
and Mary Elizabeth Malvey. His father
died when Frank was seven weeks old
leaving his mother to provide for him
and his seventeen month old brother.
When Frank was fourteen the family
joined the Church. He spent most of his
life in Salt Lake City until 1936 when
he married Alice Bentley at St. George,
Utah, where they have since resided
except for 1944 and 1945, during World
War II, when they lived in Washington,
D.C. Frank was chief accountant for
War Training Service. He is, by pro
fession, a licensed accountant and had
his own accounting, real estate and in
surance brokerage business since 1939.
Elder Holland is a high priest and has
been a member of the Sunday School
superintendency, member of the bishop
ric, ward and stake Melchizedek Priest
hood leader, Sunday School and MIA
teacher. He is a member of Rotary
International. He resigned as incoming
president of the St. George club of
this organization to accept his mission
call. He has also worked in numerous
civic organizations, having been a mem
ber of the St. George City Council and
county chairman of the March of
Dimes. He has worked in the American
Red Cross, the P.T.A., and for the past
three years has been instigator and
chairman of the Better Fourth of July
Celebration for the city of St. George.
His most rewarding experience to date,
however, has been that of being Senior
Aaronic Priesthood leader and of lead
ing a group of Senior Aaronic members
to activity. He saw three of them go
through the St. George Temple and be
sealed to their families, and has had
these fine members all, on numerous
occasions, express their gratitude to him
for helping them find their way back
into activity in the Church. His hobby
is Book of Mormon study.
Alice Bentley Holland was born in St.
George, Utah, the oldest of six children
born to Herbert Roy and Leonora Snow
Bentley. She is a descendant of John
Benbow of Benbow Farm fame. She
attended Dixie College and worked as a
telephone operator. She has been inter
ested in children, Church activities and
civic affairs having been P.T.A.
president and County chairman of
American Red Cross as well as having
worked in all the Church auxiliary
organizations as secretary, teacher and
in executive capacities; Junior Sunday
School coordinator being the position
she most recently held and the one to
which she has given the most years of
service.
The Hollands are parents of four child
ren, three of whom are living. Dennis,
who graduated from the University of
Utah with a degree in Pharmacy, is mar
ried and lives in Sacramento, California.
Jeff has attended Dixie College and plans
to return there preparatory to a career
in medicine when he has completed his
mission in September. Currently he is
supervising elder of the Croyden Dis
trict. Deborah is six years old and is
enjoying England and English schools
with her parents. The Hollands are ex
pecting their first grandchild in March.

THE BUILDING PROGRAM IN THE NEWS:

January 6, 1962 (From the Church Section of the Deseret
News): President Theodore M. Burton, Assistant to the Coun
cil of Twelve, returns to Germany, succeeding President Alvin
R. Dyer as president of the European Mission.
1 see the hand of the Lord in the labor missionary pro
gram which is stirring the people to the task of getting
properly housed through their own labor and skills. I
look upon each chapel as the equivalent of a half-dozen
missionaries in spreading the Gospel, President Burton said.

6
 B R IT IS H A R E A

Assistant to the Area Architect

GERALD H. H A R T

Gerald H. Hart has come to the British Area Building
Department as an aide to the area architect. He comes
fully able and experienced and has been most helpful in
accepting the responsibilities placed upon him. He has been
with the area office since September of 1961.
A native of Bountiful, Utah, Brother Hart received his
early education in this city. Subsequently he attended the
University of Utah where he attained a degree of Bachelor
of Architecture after five years of effort mixed with
service in the Armed Forces on request of the President
of the United States. After graduation he entered the full
time employ of the firm of Jackson & Sharp, Architects,
in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he had worked part time
for three of his college years.
The wanderlust bug caught Jiggs and with his naturally
shy characteristics he went to San Francisco where he worked
for a time with an architectural firm. He soon tired of this
and decided to try Europe for a while. After a short visit
to Southern Europe he more or less settled in England and
shortly after started his employment with the British Area
Building Department.
Jiggs has a love for classical music along with the related
fine arts of the theater, the opera and the ballet. He enjoys
a session of water color painting and has on occasion daubed
a bit with oils. He is familiar to a critical point with the
musical masters Beethoven, Brahms, and Bach, and even
has developed his musical tastes to Bartok. He maintains his
only regret is that he doesnt play any musical instrument
and that all of his music appreciation is second hand.
He comments that sometimes even this is an advantage.
In his architecture he is a modernist with a good sense of
the economy of good design and this is brought into play
with his work daily. He has indicated his good fortune
in being able to work with the building program in Eng
land by more or less taking roots and becoming active
in the Epsom Branch, oftentimes to the neglect of the arts.

GERMANIC AREA
GROUND BREAKING
LtTBECK WARD
HAMBURG STAKE
Ground breaking ceremonies for the
Liibeck Ward of the Hamburg Stake,
Germany, were held Saturday, January
20, 1962, commencing at ten oclock
in the morning. A large number of
members were present from the entire
Hamburg area as well as a large attend
ance of local members. It was bitter
cold and there were nuge black clouds.
The sun broke through that black mass
for a few seconds, almost incredibly
and symbolically.
After the opening song and prayer,
talks were given by the bishop, Build
ing Supervisor Walter Hertig, local Ar
chitect Horst Miinchow and Area Super
visor Alma E. Gygi. Another long-
awaited building is now under way for
the benefit of the saints in this area.
LABOR MISSIONARY
SUPERVISORS MEETING
A seminar for all labor missionary
supervisors of the Germanic Area was
held Friday, January 19, 1962, at Ham
burg, Germany. All supervisors were
in attendance Franz Wallner, Fred
Biesinger, Marc Jensen, Hans Jensen,
Walter Hertig, Irving Davenport, William
Kramer and James R. Tanner.
The meetings were under the direction
of Area Supervisor Alma E. Gygi and
were held in the Wartenau Branch
house.
The first session was devoted to con
struction problems and those involving
work with local architects and local
practices. The second session was led
by Elder Glen Crandall, area treasurer,
and dealt with the use of forms and
reports.
All declared these meetings to be very
worth-while and it is intended they will
be held periodically. At the close of
the meeting the local labor missionaries
were introduced to the group.
PRESS CONFERENCE
At a press conference held in the Vier-
Jahreszeiten-Hotel in Hamburg, Ger
many, Elder Alma E. Gygi, Germanic
area supervisor, was given the oppor
tunity to present facts and figures of the
Church Building Program in Europe.
There were six or seven reporters pre
sent. During the past short while several
favorable articles have appeared in
various German papers. The building
program is opening many avenues for
a more favorable investigation of the
Church.

7
 British Area Labor Missionary Supervisor
Elder William George Streibel was bom in Ankara, Turkey,
Asia Minor, on May 10, 1908. His parents, Maria Schon
and George Streibel, were both from Germany. They lived
only short lives. He has two older brothers and one
younger sister. William received his early schooling from
a tutor and completed his formal education in Germany.
In February, 1928, at the age of nineteen, he had the
urge to travel, and, enjoying big game hunting and fishing,
made Canada his home where he met and married Lorna
Leone Sims in May, 1938. After the outbreak of the Sec
ond World War he enlisted in the Canadian Army and
served four years as an instructor for the Royal Canadian
Engineers at Camp Chilliwack in British Columbia. After
his discharge at the end of the war, the family settled
in Chilliwack, near Vancouver, in the beautiful Fraser Valley.
Elder Streibel went into construction work, building homes
and industrial plants.
Sister Streibel was born in Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, Can
ada, the third child of a family of three girls and three
boys. The family moved to British Columbia in 1931,
where her fattier took un construction work. He passed
away in 1958. Sister Streibels mother, Sister Sims, has
thirty grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She is
an active and devoted member of the Church, as are her
three daughters.
When the missionaries called on the Streibels for the first
time in August 1955, the family was active in the United
Church but felt that something was missing and welcomed
the missionaries. On June 21, 1957, life took on new
meaning for the Streibels when they were all baptized and
confirmed except Ronald, who was then only six years old.
He was given a blessing. We were always a closely knit
family, they say, but the Gospel brought us closer. The
missionaries had conducted a small Sunday School in
Chilliwack since 1954 for the few members who came and
went and a few investigators. The Streibels were the first
in Chilliwack to be baptized, and have witnessed the
growth of the Church there from a small Sunday School
to a fully organized ward in three years. Bishop Streibel
has had the privilege of serving as a presiding elder, Sun
day School superintendent, and branch president. He was
8
WILLIAM GEORGE
STREIBEL
AN D FAMILY
ordained a high priest and bishop of the Chilliwack Ward
and set apart by President Hugh B. Brown of the First
Presidency in November, 1960.
Anxious to see the Chilliwack Ward members housed in
their own chapel, Bishop Streibel turned over two acres
of land to the Church and hoped to soon start construction
of a new chapel on that site. But before the plans were
finalized. Bishop and Sister Streibel w'ere called on a labor
mission, November 2, 1961, for which they were set apart
and blessed by President LeGrand Richards of the Council
of the Twelve. After a family conference, it was decided
that three of their five children would accompany them on the
mission.
Their eldest son, Ted, twenty-two, just completed a proselyting
mission in the Western Canadian Mission in October, and
returned to his field of labor to take up accounting. Their
second son, Doug, eighteen, preferred to remain in his
home town where he hopes to graduate from senior high
school and later be called on a mission. He is a Queens
Scout and has earned two priesthood awards. Their
daughter I.onni, fifteen, will continue her studies in Beverley.
She hopes to become a teacher of elementary school.
She studies piano and has been pianist in her home ward,
as well as chorister. She has also been attendence secretary
in YWMIA. She has earned two individual awards. She
and Ronald, ten, a real little helper, and Janeen, two, ac
companied their parents to Great Britain where Elder Streibel
is supervising the construction of the chapel in Beverley,
East Yorkshire.
Sister Streibel has served as Primary president, chorister,
Theology teacher and visiting teacher in the Relief Society,
and YWMIA president. We are thrilled with the call and
are thankful for this opportunity to serve in the work
of building Gods Kingdom here on earth. We hoped to
go on a mission some day but never dreamed it would
be now. It has been hard to leave home, friends and loved
ones, especially our little foster child who lived with us
for four years. But the wonderful saints we have met
wherever we have gone, especially the Moores, the Carters
and the Bradleys, have softened the sorrow of parting and
helped to give us the inspiration to do the best we can
in our field of labor.
B ritish A rea Local Labor Missionaries
Im a hodcarrier turned Mormon Latter-day Saints. Ive never regretted
through working on the Church at West
Hartlepool. As a hodcarrier, Im a
laborer to the bricklayers I carry
bricks and mortar to them.
Why and how I turned Mormon
was through a workmate who is also
a Mormon, asking me if I wanted a
job on a Church being built. Of course,
being a sinner hard drinking Church, I find that Im one of the
and hard swearing, I laughed at him. I
thought he was joking, but he wasnt.
Now Im on the site and also learn
ing the true way of living and enjoying
myself through the Gospel of the
TREVOR COBAIN
I was born in Belfast, North Ireland,
on February 12, 1942, and was brought
up in the Church of Ireland (similar
to the Anglican Church). I began going
to the Presbyterian Church when 1 was
twelve. When I was about fifteen I
stopped going to Church as I found
nothing satisfying in it. I left school
and went to Londonderry, where I
worked in the Civil Service.
In my digs (rooms, to you Ameri
cans) I first met two missionaries of
the Church. This was in January 1961.
I accepted their teachings and asked
my father for permission to be baptiz
ed. He was opposed to it and it took
six months to get his permission. My
brother is studying to become a Pres
byterian minister, and the night before
I was baptized he sat up with me all
night trying to dissuade me from my
purpose. At last I just got up, dressed
and left my brother still talking and
proceeded as I had planned. I was bap
tized that morning in June in the freez
ing river at Londonderry. I came to
Scotland and soon after was called to
be a labor missionary.
Since I have been on my mission I
have gained a testimony of the Gospel
and its truthfulness. I can only hope
I will fulfill an honorable mission in
this wonderful Church. I know if I
do, the Lord will surely bless me.
WILLIAM BOAGEY
changing my job because Im work
ing with one of the best building
crews. We are under the supervision
of Elder Lane whom .1 have come to
regard as a very good friend instead
of a boss.
Now that I am a member of this
family as it were. Every person in
the West Hartlepool Branch is to me
a very happy and loving person and
Im grateful to all of them for making
my life worth living.
JO H N JEREMIAH WILKINSON
(This is the history of the missionary
portrayed in our feature story, on page
10).
I was born September 10, 1943 to Jer
emiah Wilkinson and Agnes Taylor
Brown and christened a few weeks later
by the Rev. Alex Innes, minister of
Clastan Parish Church (Church of
Scotland). I was the fourth son and
last member of a family of seven.
It was my good fortune to be loved
and raised in a Christian home. I was
a delicate child and somewhat shy and
obstinate. At the age of eight I tend
ed to become rather despondent and
often plunged into depths of despair.
Singing in the church as a boy soprano
made me happy however as I re
alized the talent I had in my voice.
In reaching the age of twelve some
thing extraordinary happened. From the
shell of darkness and boredom stepped
a fast growing, self-confident youth.
Then at thirteen my world crashed
around my ears. My mother died. From
that day on I hated God, and the
Bible was something I looked upon
with contempt. I could not understand
why God should take away a woman
who was so perfect, so kind and under
standing. Although I had lost faith in
my Creator, I always had a longing
deep inside me for someone or some
thing to worship.
In the years that followed I became
a star athlete at school and won many
medals and prizes. I became a keen
physical culturist and won a physical
culture contest. Much of my time was
spent in gymnasiums. At sixteen my
voice had gained a rich maturity and I
began to sing with a nine piece dance
band which traveled in Central Scot
land. I continued in this field until
April 1961.
In March 1961 I met two wonderful
people, Elders Warren Cottrel and
Ralph Llardy. In my quest for a reli
gion which would give me back abid
ing faith in a living God I met these
missionaries. I was baptized April 13,
1961 and in order to devote my time
to the Church I gave up my dreams
of stardom as a singer.
As a result of joining the Church I was
forced to leave home because of the
bitterness and contempt towards me.
After this tragic affair I lived for three
months with President William Proctor
of the Scottish Central District. Presi
dent Proctor treated me like a son. I
then had the good fortune to be called
as a labor missionary.
I am certainly grateful to my Father
in Heaven for this opportunity to
serve under the supervision of such a
wonderful, inspired person as Elder
Moore. I am glad to have the oppor
tunity and privilege of working with
him and I know that if I am diligent
and fully active I will gain a tremen
dous knowledge of the construction
business as well as contributing some
thing worthwhile to my fellow men.
9
John Being Intervieived By President Thorn
Crawley Ward Chapel
Pictures a n d story by Thomas
Shortly after the Church was organized the saints t
Today the Latter-day Saints continue to build thro
and others who assist them.
The present Labor Missionary Program is not sc
plan the church has used since the beginning. Aftt
area, scores of buildings w'ere erected by volunti
these buildings. This temple required forty years
workers, labor missionaries and others who came
enough to see the edifice dedicated. During the t
were built through volunteer labor. Now the La
importance than ever before, because of the neec
Pictured here is John (IAN) Wilkinson, Labor IV
from Glasgow, Scotland. Brother Wilkinson and 1
Graham are excellent examples of the labor missi<
A Labor Missionary must be called and set apart
assigned to a supervisor and a place of labor. Jof
Moore of Provo, Utah. They are presently laborin;
When Labor Missionaries arrive at their jobs mo:
It is the job of the construction supervisor to teach
build they attend a class each morning where thejf
education which brings meanings to the words of
build churches, we will also build people. Church
Missionaries are becoming leaders, not only in the
At the end of a Labor Missionarys day he kneels i)
is a Labor Missionarys prayer? Lord, I thank TJ
sionary.
 Johns Church Activity

W inkel

tablished themselves as a Church of Builders,

gh the dedicated work of Labor Missionaries

lething entirely new, but is a variation of a

Brigham Young led the saints into the Utah
r labor. The Salt Lake Temple was one of
)f dedicated work rendered by hundreds of
>assist them. Many of them never lived long
re of Joseph Smith two magnificent temples
)r Missionary program is taking on greater
for adequate places of worship.
>sionary, eighteen years of age and a priest,
s companions, Robert J. Mawle and John J.
laries in Great Britain.
>y his stake or mission president. He is then
.Wilkinsons supervisor is Elder Maurice G.
on the Crawley Ward Chapel,
of them are untrained in construction skills,
hem. Besides receiving instructions in how to
tudy Gospel principles. Thus they receive an
resident David O. McKay who said: As we
i are now being built, and many of our Labor
hutch, but also in the community,
prayer by his bed in quiet solitude. And what
;e for the opportunity of being a I.abor Mis-

I
REPO RTS FROM T H E PRO JECTS
From Sister Edith Smithson in Dewsbury:
I shall start with Pete. He was the first
to come to us in Dewsbury. He came
just a little bit on the defensive side,
but with a wide grin said, Here I
am. Why, I dont know. How many
times we were to hear this phrase in
the first few weeks I never kept count,
but it was numerous.
I shall never forget the first time I met
Pete. My husband had come home for
his noonday lunch. Mommy, you must
come down to meet this boy, he has
just told me the most remarkable
story. Brother Smithson had spent in-
between odd jobs on the site in getting
acquainted with this young man. This
is Petes story, as my husband told it to
me:
1 wasnt much interested at first
when the missionaries tried to tell me of
the Gospel. I just didnt want to be
bothered. But something about what
they kept saying must have started to
sink in because it wasnt long before I
was listening. I tried not to believe it,
but I did. I was baptized and started
going to church. It wasnt long before
President Woodbury called me in for
an interview for a labor mission.
When he interviewed me I wasnt bet.
very pleasant about it. Why should I
go on a labor mission? I had a good
job with real good pay. I was having
an enjoyable time. So I was almost in
sulting. President Woodbury didnt say
much, just told me to go home and think
about it. I could not sleep or even
concentrate on my work for a few days.
So I got down on my knees and talked
to my Heavenly Father about it. I
decided to write President Woodbury
a letter and tell him I would go on
that mission. I apologized for the way
I acted, too. President Woodbury wrote
me a letter, a wonderful letter! He
didnt chastize me for the way I acted.
He just thanked me and told me when
to come into the mission home. So here
I am. Why, I dont know.
I went down to meet Pete. I really didnt
know what to expect. As I got out of
the car Brother Smithson said, Mama,
this is Peter Burton from Bristol,
who has come to help us build
12
our Church. I was met with the most
infectious grin and hardy handshake
and a Pleased ta meetcha, Maam. as the boys called it, another boy was
He was just a little bit shy and still
you felt he meant it. I asked, Do you and he was shy, and really not sure he
think you will like us here in Dewsbury?
I surely hope so. Then he turned
his hands over and I got a look at the
blisters on blisters that must have been
torture to hold anything, let alone
wielding an axe all day. Then he said,
1 came on a work mission for two
years. If Brother Smithson can put up
with me, I gotta like it. Well, I didnt know a hammer from a pair of
said, We surely hope you change that
gotta, for we really hope you will
like it.
The first time I heard Pete bear his
testimony I knew his Gotta had They were so proud. I was dressed for
changed, for he bore testimony to the
truthfulness of the Gospel and how he
felt he was trying to help build his
Heavenly Fathers Kingdom in his
small way. He also wanted the people
of the Dewsbury Ward to come out
and enjoy the blessing he was receiving.
Yes, a wonderful boy, our Pete. I asked
him later if he knew now why he was
here and with a grin he said, You
He was asked to give a talk in Sacrament
Then came to our door Alan, as we
were having lunch one day. You could
see he was frightened as he stood
chattering like a magpie. We soon had
him at ease as he shared lunch with us.
He was a tall thin lad and eager as
could be. I somehow got the impression
that here was a boy who was sensitive
and could be easily hurt. He was friend
ly as a kitten and the enthusiasm he
brought with him was soon as con
tagious as measles.
Anything Brother Smithson asked him
to do he tried and the satisfaction he
got from just being there was really
something. Brother Smithson paired him
off with Pete and the two got along
fine. Pete was older and soon steadied
Alan down. They cut down trees, dug
trenches, and moved shrubbery. The
first week was a tough one for Alan,
but he never complained. Then on fast
day he too bore his testimony and we
knew we had another wonderful boy.
When they were building the Hut,
assigned to us. His name was Graham
wanted to be on a work mission,
as Pete called it. He had been assigned
to another place first and decided he
didnt want any part of it. Brother
Smithson took him around for a day
or two and made a friend of him.
Graham pitched right in with Pete and
Alan, and soon the hut was built. They
pliers, but they listened and followed in
structions and soon they had built a
hut. I went down with Brother
Smithson the afternoon they finished it.
work and they couldnt believe I had
come to help. Several of the young
ladies were there and I took them to
dismantle some old partitions. We had
a wonderful afternoon. After that I
was called Mama by the boys, as
Brother Smithson calls me. Graham
worked in fine and it wasnt long before
he was as enthusiastic about the project
as the other boys.
meeting. He told how reluctant he had
been in coming to Dewsbury and how
he had changed his mind about the
Labor Missionary Program. He told
of his joy in working with the people
here and how thankful he was that he
had come.
Then last come Roderick Lewis. Rod
came from a farm. He was big for his
age and knew how to work. He fitted
in like a jigsaw piece of a puzzle. He
was always smiling and ready to do
what he could. He likes to talk and
likes machinery. He has a real testi
mony of the Gospel, has no problems
and is no problem for us.
We are proud of our Dewsbury labor
missionaries. There isnt one I wouldnt
be proud to call my son.
 From Sister Elsie Wortley in Rochdale:
The boys take over
A sense of responsibility and deep in
terest in their work was remarkably
well demonstrated by the Rochdale
labor missionary boys. The concrete
pour required intricate shuttering form
work) and was poured in sections. As
it grew in height, it became increasingly
difficult for Brother Wortley because of
a bad condition in his hip which handi
caps his climbing.
As the boys, Royce Goodier and Stuart
Bourne, worked with Elder Wortley,
they saw this difficulty and solved the
problem. They demonstrated their skill
in building shutters; then they took
over. They did the last three sections
(the highest) entirely without help from
the supervisor, and they did them well.
Not only is Elder Wortley pleased
with their workmanship and attitude,
but the interest they have developed in
the project is commendable.
From Sister Beth Anderson in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales:
We had a very happy Thanksgiving. It
was probably the first time anyone ever
had Thanksgiving dinner in a bedroom,
on a big sheet of plywood, with saw
horses for chairs and sheets for table
cloths.
From Sister Vivian Grundvig in Liverpool:
We really do appreciate our labor
missionary boys and at home night once
a week at our house, we are thrilled to
discuss and study the Gospel with them
and hear them bear their testimonies.
We are so thankful to be on this mission
and to know' each of you and all the
good saints here. We are learning so
A new kind of missionary
By their works ye shall know them.
There are people who will not listen to
the Gospel; they have no interest in
religion, they cant be bothered with
philosophies. They want works. Well,
such a man is a contractor in Rochdale,
and he is having the opportunity of
seeing the works of we labor mission
aries.
His curiosity took him to the building
site where he examined carefully the
concrete work. To a member-friend he
reported, The shuttering is very
different from any Ive seen in Eng
land. But I must admit that Ive never
seen better concrete work. How can
you get that kind of work out of in
experienced boys?
This provided the opportunity to ex
plain to the contractor how our Church
operates.
Around the table with us were three
Englishmen, a redheaded Welshman,
and six proselyting missionaries from
America. We had turkey from Wales,
pumpkin from Chicago, cranberries
from Scotland and yams from the
much. We value the experiences and
feel more joy in the work each day.
Learning the Gospel is as important as
learning to build chapels. Therefore, we
are given the opportunity of holding a
regular study hour each day with our
labor missionaries. This is in harmony
with the Thirteenth Article of Faith
and theyre doing it themselves
The members of the Rochdale Ward
have taken every opportunity to tell
people that the new chapel is being
built by the volunteer labor of the
members. Sister Caffery overheard the
following conversation on the bus re
cently, which reveals how some people
react to this doing it themselves
business.
As the bus passed the building site, one
lady turned to her companion and re
marked, Isnt it a shame that those
Mormons have that beautiful site for
their chapel. Its one of the best lo
cations in town.
Yes, and have you heard how they
are doing it? They are building it them
selves. Cant you just imagine what it
will look like with a lot of ignoramuses
building it?
(Well, somebodys going to be surprised.)
West Indies. (Dont get stuck on the
yams, though. Theyre terrible).
It was the first Thanksgiving dinner for
the labor missionaries. Afterwards we
all sang songs and played games.
which states in part: We believe in being
honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous,
and in doing good to all men . . . If there
is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good
report or praiseworthy, we seek after
these things.
13

Scandinavian A rea
Groundbreaking
Swedish Mission Home
This is the beginning of a New Era
in Sweden, announced President A.
Gideon Omer of the Swedish Mission,
at the ground-breaking ceremony held
January 20, 1962, for the mission home
to be built just outside of Stockholm.
One hundred saints gathered on top of
the hill in Botkyrka community to wit
ness the first shovel-full of dirt being
removed, as constructional processes be
gan on the new $ 172,000 mission home.
The service, conducted by President
Gosta I. Malm, first counselor in the
Swedish Mission, began with opening
song, Come Ye Children of the
Lord, and opening prayer was offered
by Stockholm District President Bo G.
Wennerlund. Visiting officials from
Botkyrka community were Mr. Pontus
Eriksson, mayor, and Mr. Evald Wahl-
strom, city engineer. Other honored
guests were Architect Sten Ramel, and
from the Church Building Committee,
President E. Albert Rosenvall, Scandi
navian Area supervisor, and Elder
Richard W. Jackson, Scandinavian
Architectural representative.
This is the first completely new
mission home to be planned and built
in all of Europe, announced Labor
Missionary Supervisor Karl Lagcrberg.
Elder Lagerberg expressed appreciation
to the community, the architect, and all
others who helped prepare for this great
event. Mr. Pontus Eriksson then ex
pressed the feelings of the Botkyrka
community in welcoming the Latter-day
Saints and wished them well in their
building program. He told how, at the
time the Church purchased this prop
erty the local community needed
money to build a filtering plant for their
water works and therefore accepted the
Churchs offer. Mr. Eriksson expressed
gratitude that the Mormon Church took
such good care of their youth, and
looked forward to seeing this phase of
the Church come into their community.
President Rosenvall then told how
the building program is going forward
throughout all of Europe with many
buildings now in the planning, one
hundred of which are scheduled to begin
during 1962. According to President
Rosenvall, such a building program is
not feasible without faithful members
who are willing to devote all their time
and energy to the Church. President A.
Gideon Omer then spoke and related
how, since the announcement of this
new mission home has gone out, many
people have called and asked him where
the Church got so much money to build
thbse buildings. It is not hard to under
stand, explained President Omer,
when the payment of tithing is now
higher among Swedish members than
it has ever been before.
The shovels were then passed out, and
all the Church and community leaders
dug into the earth. Voices joined in on
the closing song, Put Your Shoulder
to the Wheel, and Dr. B. Ake Tern-
strom offered the closing prayer.

The Building Program in the news:

January 6, 1962 (From the Church Section of the
Deseret News):
President William Bates of the Manchester Stake in England
presented a gift from the First Presidency of the Church
to His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh. It was a
special bound, autographed, four-in-one combination of
the Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants
and Pearl of Great Price.
The presentation was made by President Bates after being
invited to St. Jamess Palace to join with a grand council
in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program for youth which
has been used in the MIA program in England for the
past three years. President Bates explained to the Duke in
part: We are at this time building over fifty youth cen
ters, incorporated in our chapels, and these are being
constructed almost entirely by volunteer labor. A total of
10.000.000 of the Church funds is to be spent on these
projects. During the time arrangements were being made
for President Bates meeting with the Duke, the equerry
of Prince Philip called President Bates and told him that
His Royal Highness had been most impressed with the folder
of the Church Building Committee showing Church build
ings around the world, which President Bates had enclosed
with the letter.
President Bates said he was able to explain the Church
building program telling of the inclusion of cultural
halls which would accommodate the youth and give the
opportunity for families to worship together but at the
same time allow them to be occupied in their own par
ticular age-group interests through the MIA and other
auxiliaries. He said the Duke was tremendously interested.
How grateful I was to have been able to deliver the
Holy Scriptures in their fullness to the Royal Family at
Buckingham Palace, said President Bates.

14
Scandinavian Area Local Labor Missiotiaries
NJAL N O R BY
I was born in the city of Stavanger,
Norway, on May 22, 1941, the only
child of Ashley and Helga Norby.
My mother was the first of our family
to become a member of the Church. It
was because of her and by reading
some of the Church books that I be
came acquainted with the Gospel. I
received a testimony of its truthfulness
and after frequent visits by the elders I
was baptized on February 19, 1960.
My father is not a member of the
Church, but when we talk about the
Gospel to our friends, he is always
The Building Program in the news:
January 15, 1962 (From The Stars and
Stripes, European Edition):
The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints commonly known
taking our side. I hope he will soon
make the decision to follow the road
of truth.
Prior to my call as a labor missionary
I was secretary and later second coun
selor in the Stavanger Branch presidency.
When I was assigned to Oslo to help
build the new chapel, I was called to
be second counselor in the YMMIA in
Skarjsno Branch.
It was with great joy in my heart that I
accepted my call and am grateful for
the opportunity to serve the Lord this
way.
TOM SJOVALL
I was glad the day President Joseph A.
Gundersen of the Norwegian Mission
asked me if I would accept a call as a
labor missionary.
My name is Tom Sjovall. I was born
June 1, 1943 in Oslo, Norway. I came
into the Church almost five years ago.
At that time my mother had been a
member for some years. My younger
brother, Per, was baptized the same
day as I.
Oslo has been home all my life but I
have seen some of the outside world.
I have had the great opportunity of
visiting the London Temple twice, and
I have seen many churches in Northern
Europe. I have attended a Realskole
and taken a course at a commercial
as the Mormon Church has an
nounced it will build a skyscraper in
Manhattan. The structure, between
thirty and forty stories high to be built
on busy Fifth Avenue, will be a center
college. Later I plan to go to radar
school in the Airforce.
My family and I have always been
active in the Church. My father is now
a district president. I know that the
'Church takes a lot of time, but it gives
a lot back, like blessings. I have been
MIA secretary and now I am secretary
in the Sunday School. My hobbies are
cars, television, and playing the ukulele,
which is a little guitar with only four
strings.
I know activity in the Church brings
many blessings. I know that if we follow
our leaders in the Church, who are
inspired men, and live as well as we
can, following the commandments and
Word of Wisdom, we will one day
return to Gods Celestial Kingdom.
of worship; missionary, administrative,
cultural, recreational and informational
activities to be a center for the
local stake as well as international ac
tivities.
15
B ritish A rea office
My appointment to the building com
mittee office staff came in a most un
expected way. I went to Brother Moore
for my patriarchal blessing and he asked
me if I would like to work for him.
On September 5, 1961, I became one
of a team in this wonderful program.
I truly love the work and am grateful
for this blessing. My testimony has been
magnified, I love the Church and all
it stands for, and pray sincerely that I
will always stay true to the gospel
teachings and so prove worthy of the
patriarchal blessing I received under the
hands of one of Gods chosen servants.
I was born in Manchester, England, to
Maisie Doris Picken of Wellington,
Shropshire, and Thomas Sutton of
16
DOREEN MAISIE G U N N
Stockport, Cheshire. I was the youngest
of my parents two children. My
schooling was at Council School and
Stockport College, where I was study
ing to be a teacher of dressmaking.
Due to illness I never took the final ex
aminations. I had taken a commercial
course, and this was the type of work
I did until my marriage.
On March 1, 1941 I was married to
Edward Gunn and we have three
children, Christine Jane, nineteen; Mar
garet Louise, sixteen; and Gerald Ed
ward, ten years of age.
The gospel came to me in a rather
unusual way. My husband, children and
I had gone to live at my mothers home
when one day two young men came
to the door and asked if she knew where
they could live. When she heard they
were in a strange country with nowhere
to live, her ever generous heart prompt
ed her and she let them stay at her
home. It was the first day in the mission
field for one of the elders, so you can
guess how he felt.
During the time the elders were there
I read the Book of Mormon. Although
I had been married in a Methodist
Church (my husbands religion), 1 had
been brought up in the Church of
England faith. The reading of the Book
of Mormon caused some concern to
MAUREEN URSENBACH
Maureen Ursenbachs home is really
in Calgary, Canada, but at present she
calls Epsom, England her home.
Maureen fulfilled a mission in Switzer
land and was released last January.
She must have loved Europe, for she
came back last fall to do some touring.
On her way home to Calgary she met
Elder Neil Bradley of the British Area
Building Department, and her tour then
became extended to include an in
definite stay in Epsom to work as a
stenographer in the Epsom office. She
me and night after night I would waken
with the words its true ringing in
my ears. I was baptised nine months
later. This was a truly wonderful day
in my life, one which I shall always
hold amongst my dearest experiences.
Six years later my husband was bap
tised although he had been active in the
Stockport Branch long before his bap
tism, and within ten months he was an
elder and had baptised our two
daughters.
Three years ago my husbands work
brought us to live in Coulsdon, Surrey,
where we are the only Mormon family
at the present time. He works in the
city, and we belong to the South London
Ward. 1 have worked in the Relief
Society and am now work counselor
on the Stake Relief Society Board. My
husband is secretary of the Stake Senior
Aaronic Priesthood, and secretary of
the ward Sunday School. Our daughter,
Christine, is YWMIA stake secretary. I
have just been asked to be a teacher in
Junior Sunday School. I am thrilled with
this call and look forward to a new
experience.
My hobbies are sewing, arts and crafts,
interior decorating and many other
things if only there were more hours
in a day.
has been with the building department
since the end of September.
A teacher by profession, Maureen re
ceived her education at the University
of Alberta and Brigham Young Uni
versity, after having completed her
earlier schooling in Calgary. At the con
clusion of her work with the building
department, she plans to return home
and resume teaching, but in the mean
time she is making the most of the
opportunity of living and working with
members of the Church in a rich
country.

Ruth Marie Lassig
I would like to start my history in the
same manner Nephi started the Book
of Mormon, by saying I have been
born of goodly parents who have been
married for time and all eternity and
who have shown me the way that I
might return to my Father in Heaven.
I was sent to this, my second estate, on
the spring morning of May 10, 1944,
the fifth of nine children. I was
especially welcomed because it was
during the war and my family were
entitled to another food ticket.
I had a lot of fun in the houses my
father built until it came to incidents
such as the time I was chasing my
brother through the attic of a house
under construction. Only the plaster
board had been put in, and as I was
running I hit a soft spot and went
through to the floor below. When I
hit bottom it was on my back in the
bathtub.
At fourteen, I came to the age where
I knew everything. In fact, I knew
much more than my parents. After all,
what did parents know about boy friends
and falling in love, etc. It still amazes
me how much my parents have learned
in the past three and a half years.
At this age I was permitted to skip the
ninth grade. I know now that this was
done with the help of the Lord, be
cause if I had not done this I would
not be serving him now in this capa
city, but would still be in school.
When I was sixteen I received my
fourth Individual Award, representing
four years of one hundred per cent
attendance at Sunday School, MIA and
Sacrament meetings. I am so glad that
the Lord has given me health and
strength that I could accomplish this.
In our ward at home I played the organ
in Sunday School, MIA and Sacrament
meetings. I also played at school and
seminary graduation.
When I graduated I received a scholar
ship, but because of the still small
voice inside me, I refused it, even
though I had no other plans. During
the summer I found a very good job,
and couldnt understand why my father
said, Youll be sorry, until later a brother working in California and
when he told me he had been called on
a labor mission. Actually, I was glad
that I had a means of support be
cause I didnt want to go with them
because I felt there would be nothing
for me to do. Two weeks before my
family were to leave Salt Lake, Brother
Mendenhall called me into his office
and asked if I would come with my
parents and work in the office as a
labor missionary. It was then that I
realized how close God has been with
me; why I skipped a grade, why I
Elizabeth Otene
Elizabeth is a very fortunate girl be
cause she has two families. Born in
Rawene, New Zealand, March 10, 1940,
she is the youngest of three boys and
three girls. Her father. Grey G. Otene,
taught the gospel to her mother, Eliza
beth, and six months after they were
married, her mother joined the Church.
Her father died of double pneumonia
when Elizabeth was a year old. Her
mother later married again. Elizabeth
states, My mother did very well rais
ing six young children on her own.
She was still very young. I am happy
she had the opportunity of marrying
again.
It was while staying with her aunt and
uncle that they were called on a labor
mission to Hamilton, New Zealand.
Elizabeth went with them. It was in
Hamilton that she met the ones who
were to be her second family, the
George R. Biesingers. At the age of
fifteen she joined the Biesinger family,
whom she learned to love as dearly as
her own.
Elizabeth left New Zealand with the
Biesingers for Salt Lake City Decem
ber 17, 1960. After three months in the
states they came to England.
Elizabeth is a graduate of the Church
College of New Zealand. She was class
president for one year and choir pre
sident. Her cooking class prepared re
freshments for President David O. Me
Kay and other General Authorities.
She served as a student patrol leader.
refused a scholarship, why I was given
the opportunity to work in our ward at
home, why my father had taken such
pains to teach his children the gospel.
The Lord was helping me to prepare
myself for this work.
I have two sisters and a brother with
my parents in Derby. I have a married
sister, a brother in the armed forces,
going to school, and a brother going to
the BYU who has filled a mission to
Japan. I had another little sister whom
we lost some years ago.
I do have a testimony of the gospel. I
love it and J love the Lord. I hope I
can show this in some small way, by
serving Him here in the British Isles
and wherever else He sees fit to send
me; for in my heart I sing the words,
Til go where you want me to go,
Dear Lord, Ill be what you want me
to be.
She has been a Sunday School teacher
and secretary, YLMIA attendance
secretary and drama director, Genea
logy first counselor and secretary. Her
present positions are YLMIA first
counselor, beehive teacher and Sunday
School secretary.
Elizabeth says, 1 really enjoy the work
I am doing. I served as a labor mission
ary for nine months before coming to
England and was honorably released
in New Zealand five days before I
left.
1 would like to publicly express the
love I have for the wonderful family
I have here who are so devoted to the
building up of this Church. I pray I
will always be appreciative of the things
they do for me and that I will so
live that they will always be proud to
have me as a member of the family.
17
 Germatiic A rea Local Labor M issionary

ALFRED ZELDER

God moves in a mysterious way his
wonders to perform. Elder Alfred Zel-
der can testify that this is true be
cause had it not been for the Church,
Alfred might still be living in East
Germany.
Alfred was born February 27, 1940, in
Breslau (Schlesien), to typesetter Her
bert Zelder, who was the first son of a
Mormon family in the Breslau District,
and Erika Heinrici. Alfreds grand
parents have been members of the
Church for forty-one years.
When five years of age he fled with
his parents from Schlesien, over
Zwickau, to Winterstein (Thuringen)
where Alfred attended elementary
school from 1947 to 1956. He then be
came an apprentice in a furniture
joinery. Because his mother married a-
gain that year, the family moved to
Miihlhausen.
While living in Miihlhausen Alfred had
to walk an hour and a half and then
take a train for an hour in order to go
to Gotha where the closest branch of
the Church was. He was not able to get
to meetings often, but he paid his tith
ing. The missionaries sometimes visited
them.
Alfreds step-father was not a member
of the Church and for this reason he
moved to the home of his grandparents
in Bischofswerda, District Dresden. Be
cause his grandparents planned to move
to Western Germany to be by a
daughter living there, Alfred had to
depend on himself. He decided to move
to Wiirtenberg Fellbach, Kreis Waibling,
to live with his other grandparents. He
requested a passport three times before
he was able to get one. His brother
accompanied him, but shortly thereafter
returned to his mothers home. Alfred,
with the help of his grandfather, found
a job in a building joinery and com
pleted his apprenticeship. Before his
mission he was employed at the railroad
in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt.
Alfred has been very active in the
Stuttgart Branch, helping a great deal
with sports activities. He was goalkeeper
for the Stuttgart football team, which
played in Munich, Niirenberg, Saar-
briicken and Heidelberg.
When he was recommended for advan
cement to elder in the priesthood he
was asked if he would be willing to
serve a labor mission. This he agreed
to and was assigned to labor in Ham
burg. With faithful, loyal young men
such as Albert putting their shoulders
to the wheel we have no doubt that
there will be many fine churches a-
rising in every country before long.

HEIDE CHAPEL - GERMANIC AREA

The Mormon church being built in Heide, Germany, has
come to the attention of local residents through the news
paper Dithmarscher Heimat, Mittwoch, 10 January 1962.
The article states that the new church house will cost
250,000 marks, that forty-five branch members will build
it themselves and pay 20% of the total costs. This fact
is proof of willingness to sacrifice in our time of material
thinking and is worthy of mention.
The Church has been in Heide since 1956, but the name
of this Church is bound to us with memories that the
Mormons were among the first who brought the German
people food, clothing and goods, in time of want and
hunger in 1945.
The construction of the building is under the direction
of Contractor William Kramer of Salt Lake City. This city
in the valley of the Great Salt Lake, capitol of the state of
Utah in the U.S.A., is the center of the Mormon Church
whose full name reads Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
For some time now we find in Heide two American
students serving as missionaries, Elders White and Lyons.
They are not theologians; Whites desires go to psychology
and Lyon would become an engineer. For two and a half
years they leave their studies to serve in the world as
missionaries. The cost of their stay in Germany they pay
themselves.
The branch house being built in the northwest on the
Dr. Lammers-Strasse will contain a chapel, a great baptismal
font, class rooms for Sunday-School, etc. Planned also on
the ground next to it will be a play area, and later the
building of a cultural hall. As Elders White and Lyons added,
The Mormon Church has great interest in youth programs.
Financing for the building, in addition to the 20% from
the branch members, will come through the headquarters
of the Church in Salt Lake City. Preparations are, according
to the two missionaries, going forth for a great building
program of the Mormon Church in Europe.
Two pictures were printed with this article, showing the
progress of the building.

18
* * * * * * * * L jou a n d your ( f a m i l y
Janine says Thank you . . .
Last September, all supervisors and
labor missionaries of the British area
held a special fast for little Janine Hiatt,
whose left hip was out of the socket.
Since that time many prayers have been
offered in her behalf. We on the Builder
staff were delighted to receive the news
that Janine is walking again. Janines
mother writes us:
We wanted everyone to know how
much we appreciated their fasting and
prayers in her behalf. She was blessed
with a patience and endurance for pain
that amazed the nurses and doctors in
the hospital. Through her own deter
mination, ignoring the stiffness and
pain, she walked by herself just four
days after the cast was removed. The
first few days she was being supported
by nurses and was walking only on the
toe of her left foot with it turned side
ways. She cannot walk perfectly yet,
but at the rate she is going it shouldnt
take too long. When she took her first
steps a colored nurse near by saw the
glow on her face and started singing
Im Walking Back to Happiness.
Janine picked up a bit of it and started
singing it over and over, adding
oompa oh yay ee yay.
I wish to thank each one of you
For your fasting and your prayers
That helped me through my recent seige
Of operations and repairs.
Ive managed through it all just fine
My thanks of course to you
And to my Heavenly Father for
His many blessings too.
I ve been in plaster from chin to toe
Unable to move much more than my
eyes
Which isnt very much fun you know
Im sure you all can sympathize.
Now once again Im on my feet
As you can plainly see
And raring to be off again
On a three-year-old size spree.
I ve been cooped up so long it
seems
Im anxious to be doing
So if you see some dust oer York
Itll just be me your viewing!!!!!!!
GERMANIC AREA: FUN TIME
Following the Liibeck ground breaking
ceremonies a large group, including the
local architect and three labor mission
aries, gathered at the apartment of
Elder and Sister Walter Hertig where
a delicious meal of goulash, potatoes
au gratin, home-made hamburger buns,
set salad, relishes, punch, chocolate
eclairs and applesauce cake, was served.
Sister Jean Jensen from Berlin, who
* * * * * * * *
attended the ground breaking cere
monies with her husband, Elder Marcus
Jensen, writes: We stayed with the
Irving Davenport family in their one-
dwelling home with a retractable stair
way, on the northern outskirts of Ham
burg and were treated royally. Sister
Davenport is a professional cook and
nurse and she and Marc had a wonder
ful time making doughnuts.
WEDDING BELLS
Sister Astrid Steen-Nielssen of the
British Area office staff was married
to Brother Conway Richards of Resol-
ven, South Wales, Saturday, December
23, 1961, at a ceremony performed by
Bishop Greenwood at the South Lon
don Ward. The bride was given away
by Elder James Martin of the Eastwood
Ward in the absence of her own father
who was unable to come from South
Africa for the wedding. Sister Nielssen
was grateful that her mother could
make the trip in time for the wedding.
Brother Richards is a recent conveit
and has not yet been io the Church
a year. They hope to go to the temple
in Surrey and be married for time and
all eternity at some future date.
SUctPrs Prirnfir Hazel