Free resources about the England Birmingham Mission:
- Mission address and phone number
- Mission map
- Video interviews with returned missionaries
- Missionary blogs
- Facebook groups
- LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
- List of past mission presidents
- Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
- Survey with RMs
*Other Mission Pages: England LDS Missions.
England Birmingham Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the England Birmingham Mission. We try to keep this info up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
England Birmingham Mission
187 Penns Lane
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
England B76 1JU
United Kingdom
187 Penns Lane
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
England B76 1JU
United Kingdom
Phone Number: 44-1213-842032
Mission President: President Mark Leppard
England Birmingham Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the England Birmingham Mission (LDS). To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Birmingham Mission:
Videos with Birmingham RMs
Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the England Birmingham Mission. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.
LDS-Friendly Videos about England
Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about England. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about England, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.
Birmingham Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Birmingham Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
England Birmingham Mission Groups
Here are England Birmingham Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Birmingham Mission.
- England Birmingham Mission EBM Facebook Group (1,297 members)
- Birmingham Mission – President David Jeppson Group (175 members)
- Birmingham Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) Group (18 members)
- Birmingham Mission – Smith Era Group (11 members)
- England Birmingham Mission- The Spallino Era. Group (8 members)
- The England Birmingham Mission Facebook Group (6 members)
England Birmingham Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the England Birmingham Mission!
Shirt designs include England Birmingham Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.
*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: England Birmingham missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Birmingham Mission gifts
Recommended Mission Prep Books
(Fun fact: George Durrant served a mission in England!)
Birmingham Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Birmingham LDS Mission.
- 2015-2018, Mark Leppard
- 2012-2015, Robert Craig Rasmussen
- 2009-2012, John Charles Ogden
- 2006-2009, Richard Moffat
- 2003-2006, Christopher B. Munday
- 2002-2003, Charles Raymond Lowry
- 1999-2002, Micheal R. Hinckley
- 1996-1999, Terry J. Spallino
- 1993-1996, David H. Jeppson
- 1990-1993, Percy E. A. Winstanley
- 1987-1990, Robert H. Garff
- 1984-1987, Veigh J. Nielson
- 1981-1984, Darrell F. Smith
- 1978-1981, Ronald G. Hyde
- 1975-1978, Eldon J. Callister
- 1972-1975, Reed L. Reeve
- 1969-1972, Clifton I. Johnson
- 1966-1969, George I. Cannon
- 1964-1966, Joy, Dunyon
- 1961-1963, James A. Cullimore
United Kingdom LDS Statistics (2016)
- Church Membership: 186,423
- Missions: 6
- Temples: 2
- Congregations: 332
- Family History Centers: 122
Helpful Articles about England
Birmingham Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from England Birmingham RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
When did you serve?
- September 2013-September 2015 (Ryan)
- 2013-2015 (Steven)
- 1996-1998 (Marla)
- 1992-1994 (Marvin)
- 1996-1998 (Chris)
- May 2008-November 2009 (Cami)
- January 2007-December 2008 (Bryan)
- 1996-1998 (Neil)
- 1999-2001 (Beau)
- 1980-1982 (Scott)
- 1972-1974 (Craig)
- 1998-2000 (Chris)
- February 2012-August 2013 (Robyn)
- 2000-2002 (Nola)
- 1994-1996 (Bill)
- 1998-2000 (Walter)
- 2013-2014 (Miranda)
- 2005-2007 (Drew)
- 2008 (Bryan)
- 1992-1994 (Christopher)
- 1994-1996 (Mikko)
- 1840 & 1850 (Cyrus)
- 1977-1979 (Samuel)
- 2012-2014 (TJ)
- 1994-1996 (Tatyana)
- 2012-2014 (Seth)
- 1978-1980 (Daniel)
- 1982 -1983 (Audrey)
- 1979-1981 (Glenn)
- 1991-1993 (Don)
What areas did you serve in?
- Milton Keynes, Liecester, Northampton, Smethwick, Grantham, Telford, Derby. (Chris)
- Coventry, Birmingham (Harborne), Cardiff (Rhwibina) (Cami)
- Solihull, England; Blackwood, Wales; Leicester, England; Canock, England; Swansea, Wales; Milford Haven, Wales (Bryan)
- Birmingham, Coventry, Cannock, Peterborough, Leicester, Nottingham and Rugby. (Neil)
- Warwick, Coalville, Redditch, Wolverhapton, Skegness, Sutton Coldfeild, Milton Keynes. (Beau)
- Birmingham, Congleton, Worcester, Cannock, Rugeley. (Scott)
- Lincoln, Nottingham, Birmingham, Loughboro, Ellesmore Port. (Craig)
- Corby, Crewe, Leicester, Lincoln, Burton-Upon-Trent, Bicester. (Chris)
- Stamford, Banbury, Heads of the Valley, Beacon Heights, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Swindon. (Robyn)
- Notts 2, Merthyr Tydfil, Walsall, Newport, Woodsetton, Banbury, and Kidderminster. (Steven)
- Telford, Walsall, Coalville, Tamworth and Redditch. (Nola)
- Stamford, Telford, Nuneaton, Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Warwick. (Bill)
- Leicester, Nottingham, Wellingborough, Coventry, Mission Office, small suburb of Birmingham, small (satellite ward) in countryside outside Leicester (Walter)
- Worcester, Harbor (Birmingham City Centre Ward), Merthyr Tydfil, and Cardiff. (Miranda)
- Cardiff, Caerphilly, Lincoln, Leicester, Solihull, March, Peterborough. (Drew)
- Redditch, Leicester, Boston, Nottingham, Lincoln, Tamworth, Lichfield, Burton-Upon-Trent, Birmingham. (Bryan)
- Sutton Coldfield, Stoke-upon-Trent, Wellingborough, Nottingham, Stourbridge, Shrewsbury & the Area Office. (Christopher)
- Leicester De Montfort ward, Kidderminster, Birmingham Sandwell ward, Milton Keynes, Daventry and Warwick. (Mikko)
- Served in Birmingham and Manchester. (Cyrus)
- Congleton, Erdington, Cambridge, Wolverhampton. (Samuel)
- Starbridge, Nottingham, Stafford, Solihull, Coventry, Loughborough. (Tatyana)
- Burton-Upon-Trent, Redditch, Gloucester, Wolverhampton. (Seth)
- Birmingham, Stony Stratford, Stonyford, Chester Wales, Wolverhampton, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, Burton on Trent. (Daniel)
- Runcorn, Ryhl, Birkenhead, Morton, Stoke-On-Trent, Birmingham. (Audrey)
- Telford, Nuneaton, Lincoln, Peterborough, Bicester. (Glenn)
- Stoke-On-Trent, Derby, Bicester, Nuneaton, Wolverhampton, Huntingdon, Nottingham-Beeston. (Don)
What were some favorite foods?
- Fish-n-chips, chicken kebab, mince pies, jammy dodgers and rhubarb pie. (Ryan)
- Chocolate. 😀 Pasties. Curry. Kebabs. Roast dinners. Pudding. Trifle. (Marla)
- Chips and battered burgers. Curry. Kabobs. Best traditional meal: leg of lamb with mint jelly, roast potatoes, and roast parsnip with Yorkshire pudding. (Marvin)
- Triffle, Fish n Chips, Kababs, Lilt, roast potato, Yorkshire pudding, curry (all types). (Chris)
- Custard, Kabas, Roasted Potatoes and Parsnips with Gravey, Roast, all the sweets, Indian food from the members, an English breakfast with tomatoes, sausage, and beans. I loved all the food I ate! (Cami)
- Doner Kebab, Tiki Masala Curry, Korma Curry. (Bryan)
- American pancakes with maple syrup. (Neil)
- Chicken kebabs. Yorkshire pudding. (Beau)
- Jamaican spicy food, fish and chips, kebabs, beans on toast. (Scott)
- Trifle, fish & chips, custard, jam fills, toffee (Craig)
- Chocolate, curry, kebabs, battered sausage and chips, Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes, lamb roast with mint sauce. (Chris)
- Lasagne, fish and chips, corned beef hash. (Robyn)
- Roast Dinner, Chicken Korma, Mint Lamb, etc. (Steven)
- Yorkshire pudding and the chocolate. (Nola)
- Yorkshire Pudding. Fish and Chips. Roasted Potatoes. Curry and Chips. Digestive Biscuits. (Bill)
- Fish & Chips with plenty of malt vinegar. I’ll never forget eating duck at my very first dinner appointment in the home of Brother and Sister Rankin of the Evington(?) ward in (NE?) Leicester…but duck was rare and I definitely preferred fried fish and potatoes over Indian curry. (Walter)
- Banoffee pie, sticky toffee pudding, any Indian food that they ever make for you, and roasties. (Miranda)
- Curry, kebabs, Chinese, traditional English roast breakfast and dinner. (Drew)
- Roast potatoes, lamb, curry, fish and chips. (Bryan)
- Main courses: Indian, Pakistani, Malayan. Deserts: Christmas Cake & Christmas Pudding. (English recipes) (Christopher)
- Jamaican food and chicken kebab. (Mikko)
- Beans on Toast. Mars Bars. Toblerone. Kit Kat bars (which were not yet available in the United States). Mushy Peas. Pork Pie (with the boiled egg in the center). Fish n Chips wrapped in today’s newspaper. Vimto. (Samuel)
- Shepard’s Pie, frozen Pizza, Ben and Jarry’s Ice Cream, English Breakfast, Hagga…. and more (TJ)
- Apple crumble,Yorkshire pudding, Cadbury chocolate, everything in the bakeries, and of course, fish and chips with salt and vinegar 😀 British boil most of their veggies (during my time, 20 years ago), but I didn’t mind. I also liked Beans on Toast. (Tatyana)
- Fish & Chips, Roast dinners, squash (the drink), chocolate. (Seth)
- Fish and chips, English fish and chips, not the stuff you get here in the Americas. Hot treacle pudding with hot custard on cold wet nights. Eggs/beans on toast, sausages, again English-made. Faggots were good. Oh, and the shellfish. I ate a raw oyster at Skegness on a dare and loved it and had three more. From there I tried more. Cockles were lovely. You can taste the sea in them, but they need to be very fresh of course. Scones were good. To a hungry missionary whatever was being served up was good. (Daniel)
- Fish & chips with malt vinegar. Trifle Pasties. (Audrey)
- Fish and Chips with salt and vinegar. Lion Bars, Bounty Bars. Proper English Breakfast. Donar Kabobs. (Glenn)
- Lamb with mint, trifle, west Indian beans, and rice. (Don)
What was a funny experience?
- One day my companion and I ran into a man called “Bryn the chin.” He asked for our bikes, which seemed pretty threatening at first, but then proceeded to balance my companion’s bike on his chin. While standing on one leg. This was in Cwmbran, Wales. (Ryan)
- When the pedal of my companion’s bike fell off in the middle of a roundabout. (Marla)
- Compiling the Ramirez & Lindsay Top 40 pictures. It summarized a hilarious companionship in which I grew the most as a missionary. It was the launching point of the missionary I would become. (Marvin)
- Having water fall on my companions face after it rained while talking to someone on their door step. Seeing a card we just gave someone on the ground and my greenie crying out “you said you’d ring the number!” Walking through a storm with really strong winds and trying to protect myself by shielding myself with my umbrella, only to end up literally walking into a poll. And so many more!! (Cami)
- Our land lady not letting us in because we were soaked and covered in mud. So we Southside and had companionship inventory. (Neil)
- I tried to teach my companion to drive a manual, and on British roads (wrong side) more than once and almost killed us. (Beau)
- Going around to pick up a family for their baptism, and finding the Book of Mormon outside the front door. Devastation! Then surprise “got you! Just kidding” everyone came out ready to be baptized. (Scott)
- A canary got out of his cage and landed on my companions shoulder while he was saying a prayer after a discussion. (Craig)
- Another set of Elders in our district tossed our flat to make it look like we’d been robbed. It wasn’t funny at first. (Chris)
- Asking for a glass of water at a house while tracting, only to have the gentleman’s trousers fall down as he carried a jug of water and some glasses to the front door for us! (Robyn)
- Traveling to Swansea to meet with the zone for beach volleyball and working out with my companion Gómez in Newport. (Steven)
- One of my companions told everyone I was a cheerleader. The kids were always so impressed. I have never been a cheerleader and I would make a terrible one. (Nola)
- I arrived on Nov 2 or 3 of 1998. I saw in a large field a huge stack of pallets (2-3 stories high) with a mannequin or doll of some king on top. This was for Guy Faulkes Day on 5 Nov (at least 5 Nov in `98). They celebrate the man who dug a tunnel to try to blow up their government Parliament building(s) each year by burning stacks of wood with a mannequin or doll on top and lots of fireworks. I’m from the South, and Forest Gump was not too old (~4 years) by the time I arrived. I had only been out ~2 months when I attended my first (English) ward Christmas party. I forget to whom or about what I had been talking, but I soon realized there was a gathering of Relief Society sisters gathered behind me listening to me talk. I paused and looked about myself, and one sister encouraged me to keep talking. They enjoyed my accent. Prior to the Christmas party came Thanksgiving. Of course the Brits don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, because that is a North American holiday (the Canadians celebrate it also, but they do it in Oct). However, in my assigned area there was a less active British man and his less active American girlfriend. On the morning of Thanksgiving, Suzy was walking down the streets of Leicester with a 26lb turkey. It was a beautiful Thanksgiving for me thanks to Suzy. I do not remember where I was serving at the time they got married, but I was given special permission to attend their wedding in a different city. He was of Scottish decent, so he wore a kilt at his wedding and they had bagpipes. (Walter)
- My zone leader meant to ask me about an investigator, but somehow ended up asking me to marry him….in front of a TON of other missionaries. He didn’t talk to me for a month after that. (Miranda)
- We always played soccer with the local lads. Taught them American sports. (Drew)
- Exercising to the light of Birmingham song on my first morning of the mission with Elder Hales. (Bryan)
- Did a Christmas play with several other missionaries. It was the Book of Mormon story of Nephi & his brothers around the time they saw the angel. I played Laman, and got to beat up on Nephi. 🙂 Great laugh! (Christopher)
- There were some problems at one of the Birminghams main train stations and we were on our way to a missionary conference. Our train stopped in the middle of nowhere and we were told to wait for a transport. My companion stepped into the train just for a minute an right then the doors closed and the train left. I was all alone and had no way of contacting anyone. In about five minutes the train returned with my companion and a peeved conductor. (Mikko)
- My first experience on a roundabout. I was on my bike. I approached the roundabout from the right side and into on coming traffic. Took the mirror off of a car. (Samuel)
- When I was leaving my first area… Some members came to say goodbye it was in the evening and we where already in our Pjs… So my companion and I locked the door behind when we went to take pictures with this couple… We only took our phone… So we went to our transfer meeting in our Pjs cause the letting agency came way late in the day. (TJ)
- During a transfer, when I had to take a train on my own, I couldn’t take my bike off fast enough, so the door closed, and I had to go to the next town, get off, and take the train back to my new area. (Tatyana)
- Had a guy who thought he was a prophet forbid us from saying amen at the end of a prayer as it was somehow worshiping Amoon, an Egyptian devil, we had to say “so be it” instead. (Seth)
- When my companion tried to Golden Question prostitutes. (Glenn)
- While tracting in January, we were at a house, and my companion Elder Rhodes was knocking. Meanwhile, I see an upstairs window open. Next a bucket of water comes out drenching him. While he stood stunned, here came the second one out the window. I wanted to warn him, but that is difficult while laughing hysterically. Sorry Elder Rhodes. (Don)
What was a crazy/dangerous experience?
- One time my companion cycled in between two double-decker busses. There was about 2 inches of clearance on either side. (Ryan)
- My companion’s bike had wheel issues and we couldn’t continue to ride home. However, we were trying to be exactly obedient and make it home on time; so I carried her bike, pushed mine, and she limped as fast as she could. We made it home on time 😉 (Marla)
- Not being familiar with the politics of the IRA and being asked am “I a catholic Mormon or a protestant Mormon?” I told him, “I am neither, just a Mormon.” To which my companion Elder Griffen told him “Oh he’s a Catholic Mormon” and to which my response was “No, I am just a Mormon!” The guy looked upset and my companion said “Well I am a catholic Mormon!” Elder Griffen was from Paisley, Scotland and was totally familiar with the possible danger of the situation. I was oblivious to it all. This guy was serious and if it weren’t for the fact that I was 6 ft 1 1/2 inches and 320 lbs there would of been a major confrontation. I also believe that he knew that I was totally naive of the political situation there. (Marvin)
- Knocking on a door with my greenie. The lady answered and we begin telling her who we were. She stopped us and said she was going to kill herself and to come in if we wanted to help stop her. She then disappeared and we stood there not knowing what to do. We said a prayer and I called the emergency number and told them who I was and what was happening. They sent an ambulance. Turns out she’s a crazy lady who calls the emergency number all the time telling them she’s gonna kill herself. Very crazy and frightening! (Cami)
- Scariest drive of my life with a driving instructor we later learned had lost his license. (Bryan)
- Going over a fly-over on my bike and hitting a stone and rolling down the exit almost under a car. 😨 (Neil)
- Same as funny. (Beau)
- Riding into the back of a parked car and ending up in an ambulance needing stitches in the back of my head. (Scott)
- Going down a steep hill in Nottingham and having my brakes go out on my bike. Luckily the light turned green at the bottom of the hill and I was able to stop. Guardian Angel stepped up for me! (Craig)
- The time I put my palm through a window, or the time I ended over my handlebars into a ravine full of thorns and stinging nettles. (Chris)
- Skidding on the snow/ice in a car in Wales, and getting stuck halfway up an icy hill another time in the same area with the same car and having to get out and push it up the ice! (Robyn)
- Getting locked in a house with a mad Irish man who fed us raw pork with yogurt. (Steven)
- We shared an entryway and mail drop area with a fairly young man from Pakistan during the time of 9-11. After I left that area, someone sent me an article about him being arrested because he had guns and other weapons. (Nola)
- My companion and I got beat up by a drunk guy, that left the pub carrying his pool stick. (Bill)
- Spelunking in the Peak district on preparation day, going to the beach in Wales…ran to the edge, looked at the ocean, and then ran back. I bought a greeting card to send home, which was in Welch, and had a local in the post office translate it for me. I also, really cool, was able to meet a friend of mine’s dad (non-member) from back home who was in Chester on business and met me in a pub in Wales for lunch and I was able to share the Gospel with him. (Walter)
- We were stuck at a bus stop with just one other guy late at night. He had just gotten out of prison, and was shooting up with drugs already right next to us. A bus coming towards us never looked so beautiful. (Miranda)
- My companions and I were mugged a half a dozen times. Hospitalized once. (Drew)
- Being mugged by chavs because my greenie thought it would be fun to make fun of them for smoking. (Bryan)
- The father of an investigator in her twenties threatened to shoot me and my companion if we did not stop sharing the gospel with her. We lived with a member family opposite a graveyard, and the angry man stood outside the house for a while with a sports bag supposedly filled with weapons. My companion and I had to hide out at the local LDS Chapel until the police escort arrived. (Christopher)
- We were in a bad sort of neighborhood visiting some members in Kidderminster. Some teenagers came to talk to us and when we were about to leave, one of them took hold of my bike and said he wanted it. A great calm overcame me an I gently took him by the hand an said he could not have it. He fell to the ground and we rode away. The teens shot some stones at us with slings but could not hit us. In the same area another teenager pulled a rifle on us and threatened to shoot our heads off. He didn’t though. (Mikko)
- I was on my bike,.. Peddling downhill, my trainer was in front cycling pretty slow… The down slope was so tempting, so I started peddling really fast, up ahead was a 3-way round-about and a car, I thought we had the right of way… But we didn’t… Saw the breaklights on the car ahead and I was a couple of meters away from the car and my wheels were HOT!!! (lol). I applied all my breaks and swerved to the left of the car…. I then hit the curb with my front wheel and my back wheel hit the back of the car, then my bike flipped and then I rammed into the sign post which indicated that there was a round-about ahead…. Lol… From that day I knew how roundabouts work and I was very careful when approaching them. And there are a lot In The UK. (TJ)
- When the non-member husband of a member gave us a ride home after he had actually drank a few beers and was a little drunk (he absolutely insisted to drive us, and neither his wife, nor us could object, so we prayed all the way home!) We were fine, but it was scary. (Tatyana)
- Tracting the ghetto, knocked a door and a guy walked up behind us with a dog and told us we shouldn’t be knocking in this part and that it was time for us to leave. (Seth)
- On October 29 we were visiting an investigator and trying to move her along when she revealed to us that she was a black witch. I believe her and this is really cutting the story very, very short, but we left and did not return. (Daniel)
- We went out in all weather and we’re chastised by members when we traveled in very foggy weather ( literally could not see in front of you). They told us no one went out when it was thick as pea soup! Listen to the locals! (Audrey)
- When men would lay hands on my companions and I had to stop them. (Glenn)
- I got hit by a car while riding my bike. I ended up in the grass without a scratch. My bike did not fare as well. (Don)
What was a spiritual experience?
- We gave a blessing to our ward mission leader. In pronouncing the blessing, his patriarchal blessing was quoted. Numerous times we said to ourselves, “Just one more person.” or, “Just one more door.” That is when we met miracle people! (Ryan)
- Feeling the spirit testify to me of the prophet Joseph smith, as my trainer was teaching about him. It was on the street my first night. (Marla)
- I was able to share my testimony with several families who felt the Spirit and chose to be baptized. The Spirit was so strong during our meetings. It has set the bar high for me to try to keep that level of the Spirit with me for the rest of my life. It was amazing to see how the knowledge of the truth changed their lives for good. There was one time where we had forgotten to bring some sheet music for a musical number and my companion prayed that he would be able to remember the lyrics. Then he sat down and wrote out the lyrics perfectly. (Chris)
- Everyday was a spiritual experience. Someone, I want to believe, was touched by what we had to say even if it was only for a moment and even if they did nothing about it. You could see even for a moment something change. Seeing someone come to know what we were teaching them was true and then watching them enter the waters of baptism was the greatest thing!! (Cami)
- A couple weeks before Christmas, our district was Street Contacting in the city center. I was talking to a guy who wanted to speak with me about the Boston Red Socks when I noticed a lady walk passed me and I was prompted to go talk to her immediately. I apologized to the man and said I had to go. I stopped the lady and started talking to her. She had just lost her baby. I shared our message of hope and told how she could be with her baby again. My companion and I left and went home for lunch. As we walked into our flat we were prompted to call her and go back to city center. We did and found she had a bunch of questions. We set a baptismal date with her and she was baptized on the date we set with her while talking in the city center. I was never a believer in street contacting until that humbling experience. (Bryan)
- Sing the forgotten carols with the zone for a ward Christmas. 😊🎄🎶🎭 (Neil)
- We taught the Barker family in a tent at a camp ground owned by a recent convert. They understood and accepted the gospel and it’s teachings. It was clear, made sense and the spirit was strong. That experience alone more than paid me for my time. (Beau)
- Watching a family accept the gospel and change completely. (Scott)
- Having your contacts tear up and tell you that they know the Book of Mormon is true. (Craig)
- Gaining a sure testimony of the Book of Mormon in my greenie area. (Chris)
- Praying for particular things to happen, and not to happen, one transfers, only to have the exact opposite of what I had asked for happen! But then receiving a call from the Zone Leaders the day after changing my transfer to something that had everything I asked for, even though I said I’d be happy with just one of the things that I could cling to to get through the other things that weren’t so great. (Robyn)
- Learning about the life of Jesus Christ and spending time with my favorite members. (Steven)
- Teaching a young girl whose family turned against us shortly before her scheduled baptism. It hurt that she could not be baptized, but it was peaceful to have the spirit confirm that Heavenly Father was aware of her. (Nola)
- I had been praying since I got transferred to Nottingham 2 weeks earlier for a golden person to teach. My companion and I were walking to the market on Preparation Day and the spirit told me to start street contacting. (Which upset my companion quite a bit.) While he was sulking on the sidewalk, I would ask people on the street if they knew that God had sent a modern day prophet to lead his church, no one was interested and I was about to stop when I felt the Spirit guide my eyes to the face of a man that was walking towards me. I knew I had to stop and talk to him. I approached him and asked him if there was modern day prophet and if it was important for him to know about it. He was very interested in that idea. I asked him if he knew anything about the ancient prophets, he said that he did. I asked him for his favorite bible prophet and he said “Nehemiah”. I was like who? and he pulled out a Bible and showed me the book in the Old Testament. I thought to my self that I had stopped a pastor from another church so I was I worried. He wanted to read to me his favorite scripture in Nehemiah so he pulled out of his jacket another Bible and gave it to me to read. We discussed it and then I asked him if we could talk again at his house instead of the street. He said come to my house now. So I grabbed my whiny companion and we walked to the guy’s house. When we got there, the Spirit directed me to give the most amazing gospel discussion on Heavenly Father, Joseph Smith, and The Book of Mormon. The guy just loved it all and I asked him to say a closing prayer and without me saying anything he said the most amazing prayer and asked Heavenly Father to tell him if The Book of Mormon was true. I left a copy with him. We could not meet again for a week, but he called me every night and reported on what he was reading and how the prayers felt and I gave him more scriptures to read. By the time we met a week later, he had converted himself and got baptized 2 months later. I know with all of my heart that Heavenly Father sent me to England to find this Brother and share the Gospel with him. (Bill)
- I remember in my first area one night a man approached my companion and I and asked us a question intended to trip us up. My companion (being senior) tried to answer the question, but was struggling. Then the Spirit prompted me what to say. I said it, and he did not have any response or further comment on the matter. I wonder if that is what Nephi felt when he confounded his brethren? Whether it is or not, it was cool to see God’s hand in the work. In my last area at the end of my mission, I remember knocking doors with my companion, and I felt prompted to cross to a different part of the road. We would have probably knocked on that door eventually, but sometimes God tells us what to do at specific moments when the time is right to do it. We knocked on this man’s door, and when he answered, we began teaching him on his doorstep. As we got to the Joseph Smith part of the first discussion, he stops us and asks us, “Why are you on my doorstep? Come inside.” We met with him several more times before I received my final transfer (to go to the London temple and then to the airport). I do not know anymore about that man’s progression. There are many other experiences to share, but this will suffice. (Walter)
- In a crazy lesson where an investigator (the night before his baptism) told us he was Christ, I gained a unique, powerful testimony about my Saviour’s individuality that I didn’t know I needed. It was one of the most powerful witnesses I’ve ever had about the nature of Christ. (Miranda)
- Too many to count. Multiple baptisms. (Drew)
- Teaching the first vision at the door while tracting and witnessing people feel the Spirit almost every time. (Bryan)
- A sister missionary had some problems, and I was asked by her district leader to give her a blessing, after he had done the oil anointing. The remarkable thing was that through the spirit I spoke about things that I never could have known about. (Christopher)
- Blessing people. (Mikko)
- Helping to establish the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England.
- The most spiritual experience I had was when I had to frankly forgive one Elder who was really racist towards me…. It really opened my heart to learn to love. My final interview with my Mission President when we talked about the service I did for the Lord in the UK…. (TJ)
- Street – contacting in Coventry and feeling the Spirit even while teaching right there in the streets. (Tatyana)
- Had a man call us the day after giving him a Book of Mormon and tell us he had prayed seven times and gotten the answer that yes it was true seven times. Went on to baptize him and his wife. (Seth)
- There were many, many spiritual experiences. One that I can express would be an investigator Hulu after we have been teaching her for a little while told us that she had had a dream the night before. In her dream she saw many people of different periods of history. They were all in an attitude of excitedly talking with each other and then they all threw their arms up as if to say out here and then pointed at her. That was the end of her dream and she didn’t know what to think of it so she asked me. I explained to her that these were her ancestors and they’re looking for her to do their work for them. Even today the Spirit bears witness to this so strongly that I find it difficult to talk. (Daniel)
- Meeting Elders Mark E Peterson and Neil A Maxwell at the creation of the Chesterfield Stake. Watching the joy and excitement experienced by those who gained a testimony and embraced the gospel. Learning about my own strengths and weaknesses. Coming to understand the importance of “the one”. I found street signs and listings in the phone book with my last name, “Farr”, which was exciting to me. I was serving where my ancestors came from. (Audrey)
- Feeling inspired to challenge individuals to be baptized when the spirit dictated. So many families refused to work and lived on the dole and church welfare. (Glenn)
- Going through the London temple with a family baptized early in my mission. Attempting to comfort a couple we were teaching who had lost their child during that time, and relying completely on the Spirit to know how. (Don)
What are some interesting facts about the Birmingham mission?
- Birmingham is one of the most international missions! In the summer of 2015 there were 60 nations represented. Elder Holland, Elder Cook, Elder Ballard, Elder Hallstrom, and many, many more General Authorities served their missions in England. Have a look at page one of Preach My Gospel. (Ryan)
- It spans from east to west coasts, in the middle. Stratford upon Avon (home of Shakespeare) and Sherwood Forest (Robin Hood), are both in the mission, along with many less known but equally beautiful places. (Marla)
- My greenie area was Shrewsbury. It was the birth place of Charles Darwin! My second area was a city outside of Birmingham, Stourbridge…which many years before some of the brethren served there and baptized thousands and was the catalyst for the church growing. (Marvin)
- Well it’s the Earths Best Mission (EBM) 😉 Coventry is full of history from a car manufacturing factory to the War. Warick has the oldest mound Birmingham is the second largest city Stratford-upon-Avon is in the mission. All Shakespeare Wales is an amazing place! (Cami)
- We were the highest baptizing mission in the Europe West Area. We doubled convert baptisms both years I served. (Bryan)
- I went out of the mission on a zone preparation day, and was only a few minutes from my home, I met my wife and now live within the mission which has changed some what. Best mission. (Neil)
- I was surprised how multi cultural England is… I didn’t expect that. EBM stands for earth’s best mission. British food is pretty good. (Beau)
- Birmingham is the 2nd biggest city in the UK after London. (Scott)
- Two weeks was as long as it ever went without raining. This mission was amazing. From the castles of Wales, Sherwood Forest, Shakespeare country. So rich in history! (Craig)
- Very culturally diverse in a lot of areas! (Robyn)
- It has a huge Muslim population and they are so friendly and kind. The history of leaders of the Church that served there is fascinating. (Nola)
- I street contacted in front of William Shakespeare’s Birthplace. There is an area called Boston in the East Midlands and Joseph Smith’s ancestors can be traced to that area. Stoke-on-Trent has some of largest most famous pottery factories in world. Warwick Castle is a world class castle. (Bill)
- I went to Warwick Castle one preparation day from Coventry or from the office. When I returned home from my mission, I was able to take a girl to the movies to see Knight’s Tale (if I remember right) with Heath Ledger jousting in several tournaments. One of the jousts was held at Warwick Castle, so that was cool to get to tell my date I had been to that castle. (Walter)
- We have the oldest LDS chapel in the world, most missionaries in cities have teaching pools that are mostly Chinese students, and there are some of the best classical, beautiful landscapes, castles, manors and cities anywhere in the world. Also, British missions are the BEST because there is so much lingo other missions don’t have. (Miranda)
- General authorities are there much more than other areas due to European headquarters. Oldest LDS chapel at Gadfeld Elm. (Drew)
- Raining all the time, biking through the rain, great food, train rides, great dinner appointments. (Bryan)
- Many historical and cultural places. Can be very hilly, so you do need to be fit to ride your mountain bike. Famous LDS Church leaders, such as Brigham Young have visited and stayed in the area. (Christopher)
- There’s a great medieval castle in Warwick. You can hardly understand the people in Leicester because they speak with such an accent. Birmingham has most canals in Europe, when measured in miles. Milton Keynes is a made city. It has no ancient history like all others. (Mikko)
- Every county has its own history, so P-days were very fun and really educational. (TJ)
- I had 5 companions during the first 2 months of my mission (they kept getting sick – I promise, it was not me :D) (Tatyana)
- One of the first (if not the first mission ever), first chapter picture in Preach my Gospel is of Dan Jones preaching in Wales which is in the England Birmingham Mission. Gadfield Elm, the oldest LDS chapel in the world is just outside Gloucester and I was able to go to it many times. Many of the prophets served their missions in England. (Seth)
- England is full of fascinating history- both good and bad. I was a bit disillusioned when I realized that many of the more modern (as in 200 and 300 years old) vast estates were built with drug money from when they were shipping tea and opium into the Orient and other parts of the world. On a lighter note, we used to like to take lunch in old church buildings because they never locked them up. On one summer afternoon we were sitting in a building in Stonyford while I was looking at the list of Vickers or priest if you will, who had served there. I realized that the building had been built 400 years before Columbus discovered America. (Daniel)
- Our boundaries changed just before I arrived. The areas I served in early in my mission had been part of Manchester Mission. Then near the end of my mission our boundaries changed yet again as we absorbed the Coventry Mission. We then covered all the midlands and Northern Wales. My trainer was called to northern Wales and opened it for sisters. The missionaries were taught the Welsh language to help them serve more effectively there. (Audrey)
- Being that we worked largely with low income families, we saw a variety of racial backgrounds. (Teach all Peoples). (Glenn)
- I served with Elder Horvath who was the 1st missionary from Hungary if I recall correctly. (Don)
What’s the weather like?
- Wonderful! Hardly ever too hot, and hardly ever too cold. I hope you like rain. And lots of it! (Ryan)
- Cold and wet. (Marla)
- Wet and a very cold and wet winter. (Marvin)
- Rainy, cold/chilly. I always wore a cardigan. Humid, damp. There was one week during the summer when it was actually pretty hot and humid. But it rained a lot. I loved it! (Cami)
- Rain, rain, and lots of rain. Winter was bitter cold but never had much snow. (Bryan)
- Mixed, some sun, rain and a little snow. (Neil)
- It rained every day, the winters are cold and wet. It’s weird to see moss on cars. (Beau)
- Rainy. (Scott)
- Rain year round. Some elders were growing webbing between their toes. Cold winters where you felt the dampness. Summers were nice and never too hot. (Craig)
- Rainy. (Chris)
- A lot of cloud! A fair amount of rain too, but there were plenty of nice sunny days 🙂 (Robyn)
- Wet in winter and muggy in summer. (Steven)
- Rainy. Cold in the winter with some snow. (Nola)
- Cold and rainy. (Bill)
- Wet and cold = miserable. It even snowed in Jan 2000 in Leicester. The rest of the year was wet and cold except for a week in April + a few days in July, and September which was nice. (Walter)
- Rain! But I loved it. It’s a chilly damp winter, warm hopeful wet spring, beautiful summer, and almost unbearably wet fall. (Miranda)
- Summer was very hot and dry. The rest of the year was rainy. 300 days a year rain. The cold is very humid. Snowed 3 times. (Drew)
- Mild and humid. (Bryan)
- Classic English weather. I.e. Lots of rain, but some warm & hot weather too. (Christopher)
- Damp and cold in the winter. The summer of 1995 was the driest summer in 200 years. The weather could change from sunshine to heavy rain in minutes. And then back to bright skies in minutes. Cold is above average coldness due to dampness. (Mikko)
- Oh I love the British weather…. You get all four seasons in one day… And you get them on their extreme… The winter is super cold, so amazing though especially when there is snow on the ground. (TJ)
- Raining a lot during spring, and hot in summer, but not bad overall. (Tatyana)
- Rainy, wet, damp, freezing cold due to the humidity, gray, windy, ugly, crazy, did I mention rainy? Sunny if you got lucky. (Seth)
- Wet, cold, windy, beautiful. I learned to appreciate it. One day my companion and I were walking down the street in a light rain and heard a large truck coming up the street behind us on the wet street. Well it kept coming and coming, but not getting to us, so we turned around to see what was going on and it wasn’t a truck but rather a downpour. It was a wall of rain coming at us at about 3 or 4 miles an hour. It was so heavy that you couldn’t see into it more than three or four feet. Well we took off running and took cover on someone’s front porch and watched it pass. On another occasion on a late morning in May we were tracting in clear weather. We were in a bend in the street which created a kind of protective cove. I was standing kind of behind my companion, because it was his door, we were facing North and I could feel warmth on my back and shoulders. At first I thought I was imagining it, but the vaguely familiar feeling persisted. My companion finished with the door and I turned around to see what was going on and it was the sun shining on my back. Never before or since did I feel warmth directly from the sun like that in England. I live in California, I know what the sun feels like, and by California standards that was very weak, but it surprised me and was a very pleasant and welcome surprise. (Daniel)
- Everything! HA! You can experience every form of precipitation in a single day! Layers are your friend. Be comfortable with wet. Honestly, it was very similar to my home state of Pennsylvania,USA. (Audrey)
- It was rain or fog or snow every day with the exception of one week in April, and one week in July (during Wimbledon ). (Glenn)
- Winter was wet, cloudy and cold to the bone. Summer was cloudy, and warm. Spring and fall were cloudy and cool. I think I had 1 day where there were few clouds and sunny warmth. (Don)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- So many different accents! Many different cultures. British humor! Centuries of history, everywhere you go. (Ryan)
- Loved the people!! The members are amazing, and the investigators became close friends. It is a beautiful country rich in history, with amazing architecture, literature, music, and landscapes. (Marla)
- I am 43 now and still have genuine love for the people. I made friends while serving there that will transcend mortality. I will be forever grateful for my mission. (Marvin)
- I love everything about England. The history, the accent, the food(!), the different sayings, and the different words used. I also met so many polite people. They are very traditional and it makes it hard when it comes to telling them about the Gospel. But I love the different traditions they have from holidays to religion. I served in Coventry, Birmingham, and Cardiff. 3 cities, lots of people. But I love each place. The members are strong and faithful. If you really try to build a relationship with the members they are more than willing to help because they see how hard you’re working. And I love driving over there! (Cami)
- Lots of history. I loved how green everything was. (Bryan)
- The places are some of the nicest parts of the West Midlands. (Neil)
- I love the people in England. Church there takes real commitment, some people travel over an hour to go to their meetings, some meet in town halls or libraries, the people who are truly converted are the strongest you will meet. (Beau)
- They are friendly. (Scott)
- Most people were Christian and believed in Christ. Some of the earth’s best people live within these boundaries. (Craig)
- Everything. It was a wonderful, life-changing experience. (Chris)
- The love and welcoming you feel from members. It really helps when you’re in a new place, and maybe you’re struggling for various reasons, but you know the members around you love you, and are happy to help you where they can, even if its just a smile and a hug! (Robyn)
- Hospitality, friendship and service. (Steven)
- The place was full of history. The people usually were very traditional. No matter where you serve though you love the people because you are serving them. (Nola)
- They are stubborn and hard headed but once they see the truth they never turn away from it. (Bill)
- Nottingham was perhaps my best area. If you follow the Spirit, you will meet all kinds of new people and have memorable experiences. The people in the Nottingham ward and many I met in the city of Nottingham seemed to like me…if anyone serves in Nottingham, look up Ernest Fensom. He lives near the Jaguar dealership South of town.. I think it was Jaguar…some nice car dealership. We baptized him, but the ward dropped him. I’ve often wondered if he was ever fellowshipped back into activity? (Walter)
- There is history, and pride in it. The cultural identity of the English and Welsh is so unique from anything I’ve ever experienced, and it changes so many subtle things about them. And the cities are the best melting pot on earth… I met people from well over 100 countries. You can experience their cultures too! (Miranda)
- Can be friendly if you know how to react to their humor and actions. (Drew)
- I loved it, hard at first. (Bryan)
- The people were/are very friendly. Places have lots of historical things to see. (Christopher)
- I still love England and especially the Midlands and the people there. I have been back a few times, and even worked in Birmingham after my mission. I absolutely adore the Brummy and Black country accents. (Mikko)
- Loved serving the people in England.
- The place is truly natural… The Welsh people are loving at heart… The English are straight forward they wont pretend to like you. So you will know where to sow most of your best seeds. (TJ)
- Nice people, beautiful place, a lot of history. (Tatyana)
- The members that were active were very strong. All the old buildings, castles and cathedrals, the overall feel of the country is very cool. Very different experience from Colorado. (Seth)
- Everything, after I got used to it. The people are wonderful and even the very definition of civility. It is a home to me and therein lies the paradox of most missionaries. The paradox being that they’re homesick for the home where they grew up while on their mission. And at home they’re homesick for the home and loved ones where they served their mission. (Daniel)
- Oh, so hard to list! The people were loving, warm and friendly, loved their families, pets and gardens. The pace of lifestyle was so much calmer than what I was used to. I thoroughly fell in love with the country, customs, history and people of England. (Audrey)
- My favorite times were eorki. With members of the RAF and USAF honorable and courageous as well as kind and hospitable. (Glenn)
- I loved the humor! When invited in a home, you were always offered food, and drink. My last four months were spent in Nottingham. The evening before I left it was December 23rd. The snow was falling, and people were singing in the city with Nottingham Palace lit up on the hill. I thought I was in a Norman Rockwell painting. I will never forget that. (Don)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- Plan on getting a lot of your clothes in England. You will come to despise American style, and American-fitting clothing. (Ryan)
- Get stuff there. Wax jackets aren’t in the United States, but awesome for the rain. Clothes there are better for layering and such, and they will still be in fashion when you get home (if you aren’t sick of them). (Marla)
- Buy a wax jacket or bring a nice gortex one. Hat and nice gloves too. (Marvin)
- Find a good, waterproof (gortex-like) jacket. I had a Columbia jacket that was all black and was perfect, as it looked more like a dress coat than a ski jacket, but both the shell and the liner were waterproof. It was comfortable enough to be wore all day without issue and I could vary the warmth by which part of the jacket I wore. Bring good socks, many times I saw Elders using thin dress socks and they would have to replace them within a month of being in the field. I used black Nike socks. I also had a pair of Thorlos. This is not an ad for Columbia, Nike socks or Thorlos, but those were items I found worked for me. (Chris)
- Warm clothes, good shoes (I had Dansko), plan on going through several umbrellas. I only went through 2-3 but I had companions and knew of other missionaries who were in the double digits with umbrellas. Primark has the best tights for Sisters for so cheap! A pack of 3 or 4 for a pound! And other great things for cheap. Clothing has changed since my mission but pack things that are comfortable. You aren’t there to impress people with what you look like. You’re there telling people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Look nice, but not cute or attractive. That’s not your purpose. If you’re worried about what to wear your priorities are in the wrong place. Take 3-4 skirts and know you can buy some whilst there. Not to mention missionaries going home leave clothes that you can look through. I got a great pair of boots I wore the majority of my mission from a leaving Sister. Get a good, warm, water resistant jacket. Plan on clothes that will be wet the majority of your mission. (Cami)
- Buy a rain coat when you get there. Waterproof trousers and ziplock bags are also a great investment for keeping yourself and your stuff dry. Avoid gel pens they run in the rain. Invest in some heavy waterproof mittens (preferably with Thinsulate) they are easier to take off while tracting and you need to shake hands or write with a pen. They also help keep your hands dry when riding a bike. Safety glasses are great for riding a bike n the rain. (Bryan)
- Waterproof coat and warm socks. (Neil)
- Ugly ties, comfortable shoes. No heavy jacket… but sweater and windbreaker jacket. (Beau)
- Take waterproof clothing and warm clothing. (Scott)
- Get comfortable shoes. Buy a suit in England. (Craig)
- Pack a high quality, waterproof, BREATHABLE rain suit. (Chris)
- A good coat! And comfortable shoes and boots to walk in, especially in the rain! (Robyn)
- Bring lots of white shirts and at least two suits. (Steven)
- Don’t buy a trench coat. Buy a functional raincoat. Find the comfiest shoes because you will probably walk a lot! (Nola)
- Long Johns, wool sweaters that can go under your suit coat. High quality back pack. Tough Shoes, The wingtips are nice looking save them for conferences, for biking and tracting you need Doc Marten work horse shoes. Waterproof jacket with a hood. (Bill)
- Get a good raincoat there. Their waterproofing is better for their style of rain. Always have an umbrella with you. Sisters…..take biking shorts that cover your garments. Pack well, but recognize that you will fall in love with the style there, and also, dress clothes are cheaper there. (Miranda)
- I preferred long trench coats to the knee. Water proof shoes like Ecco. Chukka boots if possible. Backpack preferred. Don’t pack bulky things like sheets or a duvet since you can get them at any store. This country is as modern as the United States after all. (Drew)
- Buy when you get there, otherwise you look like a tourist. (Bryan)
- Autumn/Winter: Protect yourself against a fair amount of rain, but also snow, hail and the cold. Spring/Summer: It can be warm/hot at times. (Christopher)
- Anything waterproof. Mainly shoes and jacket. (Mikko)
- In England you can never be too warm… But you will get wet… That is for sure… So while packing some nice warm clothes don’t forget to pack about 3 waterproof trousers. (TJ)
- A good raincoat. Warm shoes/boots for the long winter hours you’ll be outside talking to people. (Tatyana)
- 1- Bring just one American suit, the English ones are far superior and you’ll want to buy them, trust me. Wait until you get there to get more suits. 2- DO NOT BRING A TRENCH COAT. I don’t care what your mom says, you’ll never use it. EVER. Take it from someone who made that mistake. 3- Invest in a really good waterproof jacket, just a thin one you can layer. You’ll want it if you end up walking or biking in the rain which is what you do as only Zone Leaders have cars. 4- Invest in shoes with Gortex lining. You’ll thank me later when everyone else has soaking feet and your toes are fine. 5- DO NOT BRING BOOTS. You’ll never wear them, it hardly snows there and they’ll be too heavy to wear all day. 6- Load up on skinny ties, fat ties will make you look really dumb over there, also tie your tie so it ends about an inch ABOVE your belt. Don’t tie it so it hits or goes below your belt, you’ll just look silly. 7- Get some colored trousers, don’t go all black. Get some tan or gray as well. 8- They’re trousers, not pants. Pants are your underwear. 9- Don’t really worry about sheets or a duvey cover. Every area I served had both already. If you find yourself really needing them when you get there, they are really cheap to buy. 10- Don’t bring that many white shirts. The American ones are extremely baggy and look awful. Just bring like 3-4 and then buy a bunch of cheap English ones when you get there. People don’t hate Americans but you really don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb over there. People will notice as it is far more fashion forward than in the States. At least from my experience it was. Don’t over pack things, if you ever need something it will be super easy to find just like in the USA. (Seth)
- Go light as you can. Lamb’s wool sweaters are basic survival gear, don’t try to get them in the United States, pick them up in England. Think of your bicycle as a pack animal for transfers. Set up your suitcases where they can be packed, balanced on the frame and it roll alongside you as you walk with it. It would also be good if it was situated or you could wear your luggage on your back like a duffel bag and on the back of your bike saddle bags and ride the bike. I was advised to have two pairs of shoes that I wear alternating days so that they could dry one day while I was wearing the other pair. This did not work, they would be eaten up by mold if you tried this. Your feet will get used to being cold and damp. Athlete’s foot was never a problem. (Daniel)
- Layers and mix and match! The weather conditions can change rapidly and it is easier to stay warm/cool by adjusting layers. Good leather shoes hold up well to the wet if you polish regularly and stuff with paper to dry overnight when wet. (Audrey)
- Swedish knit is both uncomfortable and indestructible. Take a very warm coat. I have never felt so cold in all my life. (Glenn)
- As little as possible if traveling by train. Usually you get to acquire things left from the previous missionaries. (Don)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- First a foremost a personal relationship with my Savior. I gained great knowledge, great friends, and great experience. (Ryan)
- Understanding of the priesthood. Stronger testimony. Increased gratitude for my blessings. An amazing husband who wanted a return missionary wife. (Marla)
- They are innumerable but one that I will profess from the bottom of my heart is the refinement of my testimony. (Marvin)
- My testimony of the Gospel has always been solid, but I learned so much more about it through my studies every morning that I know this Church is true and no one can tell me otherwise. I gained eternal friends on my mission. Not just my companions but the people we found and taught as well as the members. I truly was a disciple of Christ and felt Him with me everyday on my Mission. I learned how to repent. I learned how to fast. I learned how to pray. I learned how to study and not just read. (Cami)
- I am still receiving them to this day. (Bryan)
- A stronger and better understanding of the Atonement. Testimony of the Church and of the Prophet Joseph Smith. (Neil)
- Built a testimony that could only be obtained through that type of service. (Beau)
- Happiness. (Scott)
- Having people you taught and were baptized, still active and have their children serve missions and church callings. Makes you feel like you had a part in it. (Craig)
- I gained a sure testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, of the prophet Joseph Smith, and of the Book of Mormon. (Chris)
- A greater understanding of my own limits, and how it’s not about comparing what I can do with what other people can do. It’s okay to not be as good at something as someone else, as long as I’m trying my best, it will always be good enough. I should never feel like my best is not enough! (Robyn)
- I became more independent and acquired new study methods. I learned about Jesus’s atonement and opened my eyes to the truth. I realized how blessed I am to have the family that God has given me. (Steven)
- A love for service and sharing my testimony. Also, it set me up for a great opportunity to teach at the Mission Training Center when I returned. I loved that job! (Nola)
- I met my best friend whom I baptized and fulfilled my mission goal. (read on). I made lifelong friends with the missionaries I served with. I learned how the Church functions efficiently in a practical real word sense, not just gospel and spiritual matters. (Bill)
- My nature changed. My understanding of the gospel deepened and came alive. My ability to trust God and His timing increased. I found a field I love. I learned to find daily happiness. (Miranda)
- Patience and understanding. It was fun also. Good way to spend a few years. (Drew)
- Buy when you get there, otherwise you look like a tourist. (Bryan)
- My mission experience helped me gain a stronger testimony. (Christopher)
- A thorough understanding of the gospel and of English language. A testimony of the mission of Christ and of the love our Heavenly Father has for us. (Mikko)
- It’s really hard to pin point the blessings I received… Because they’re spiritual. However I count my ability to really love as blessing I got from serving. (TJ)
- My whole life now – my testimony, my husband, kids, where we live, our jobs… nothing would’ve been the same, had I not served a mission! (Tatyana)
- Strengthened testimony, huge amounts of knowledge of the gospel. (Seth)
- Too many to count. The main reasons I wanted my sons to go on missions (and they did), was so they could learn how to work with the Spirit, and make friends with Him. (Daniel)
- Immeasurable ! I have drawn upon lessons learned there my entire life and service in the church since. I came to know myself, my strengths and weaknesses, my testimony, the power of the priesthood, strength of councils and counseling together, the voice of the Holy Ghost and how He speaks to me, the Spirit teaches, Heavenly Father loves His children unconditionally and so should we, the Atonement is real and it works, so many more! (Audrey)
- Seeing the light switch on when a family became converted. (Glenn)
- Lifelong friendships, and special memories. A stronger relationship with my Savior. A love for people. A love of reading the scriptures. (Don)
What are some skills you gained?
- Speaking to people was perhaps one of the biggest skills I developed. I learned how to really pray and really love the people. (Ryan)
- How to study my scriptures. How to teach. How to pray and receive answers. How to budget. How to drive a car on the other side of the road. How to extend commitments and follow up. How to listen. How to get along with a difficult person. Knowledge of how the church really works…it’s truly Christ’s church. (Marla)
- People skills and confidence in the Spirit. That has been invaluable to me in my life and service in the kingdom. (Marvin)
- Teaching was a big one. I love teaching people about the Gospel. Throughout my mission my skills with teaching got better and better. I learned how to talk to people. How to respect their beliefs. I was very ignorant about religions before my mission and now I know more about what others believe and how similar they are to us. With that I learned how to talk with them and how to share the Gospel with them. (Cami)
- Great study and memorization skills. I also learned how to talk to people. (Bryan)
- Teaching, communication, patience, endurance and gratitude. (Neil)
- Hard work. (Beau)
- Communication, tolerance. (Scott)
- How to manage your time. How to be able to speak to people better and articulate your thoughts and words. Work ethic really improved after a mission. (Craig)
- I learned how to manage money a little better, cook a little better, talk to people I didn’t know, and get along with people I didn’t necessarily like very much. (Chris)
- A greater capacity to love without judgement. I’m still far from perfect, but I can see people now with a little more of the love that our Heavenly Father has for them, and less of the worldly judgement we so often let seep into our minds. (Robyn)
- Improved my English. Gained more confidence. (Steven)
- Study skills improved so much. I did better in school when I got back. (Nola)
- Public speaking, Service, Problem solving, Listening, Patience, Tact, Acceptance of other people regardless of their choices or lifestyles. How to show my testimony in my smile. (Bill)
- Being able to small talk, relating to people I didn’t understand. Confidence in unfamiliar settings. Planning my time and coordinating schedules. Travel plans…making good ones, and also just making them up as you go. I learned to talk about hard things and topics, and to use communication better. I learned to be myself. (Miranda)
- Leadership, communication, time management. (Drew)
- Endurance! 🙂 (Christopher)
- Language, juggling, some magic tricks and ability to talk with people more easily. (Mikko)
- My self-esteem grew… I learned to take initiative when approaching life changing choices… I learned to be truly honest especially with myself. The ability to teach…. (TJ)
- Not to be afraid to talk to people or ask questions. (Tatyana)
- Talking to strangers, perseverance, will power, public speaking, leadership. (Seth)
- I learned how to work with people and how to love them. (Daniel)
- Again, too many to list. I learned to listen, to the spirit, people, companions, leaders. I learned to serve with the gifts and talents I had been blessed with by my Heavenly Father, to learn to follow my instinct within the rules. The rules are a safety and blessing that can only be realized when followed. I learned to teach by the Spirit. I learned the power of prayer and obedience. Learning to plan, ponder, evaluate, keep accurate records, follow through to the end, public speaking, loving others, serving others, the power of testimony. (Audrey)
- How to keep my temper in spite of any provocation. How to lead to the truth instead of debating until they gave up. (Glenn)
- Planning, going outside of my comfort zone, good study skills, listening and perceiving feelings. Flexibility. (Don)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- I wish I spent more time around full-time missionaries. It’s helpful to know zones, districts, the schedule, what the MTC is like, skills you need, etc. (Ryan)
- Learned the lessons before, had more scriptures memorized. (Marla)
- Relax and be remember to enjoy the moment. Live it to the fullest because tomorrow is never guaranteed my friend! (Marvin)
- I’ve taken so many institute classes that I wish I had taken before my mission. But that’s not always possible especially now with the age change. (Cami)
- Not sure, it was all a learning experience. (Bryan)
- I wish I knew more about the scriptures and the gospel as a whole. (Neil)
- Knew it would end… when you are there you get home sick, worn out, and frustrated, feels like it will never end, before you know it our time is gone and you can’t go back. (Beau)
- Success comes from effort. (Scott)
- Studied the gospel more. A class in psychology and sociology would have been good. Also learning about other religions and their beliefs would have been helpful. (Craig)
- I wish I had gone out with a more solid foundation and understanding and testimony of the gospel. (Chris)
- That I don’t have to be exactly like everyone else! My strengths are different to everyone else. My companions strengths are different from mine. Maybe I’m not very good at talking to people on the street, or on doorsteps, but that doesn’t mean I’m a bad missionary. There is always something that YOU can do, focus on how YOUR talents could make a difference, and let the spirit guide you to know how best to do that! IT sounds so simple, but it’s very easy to forget when you’re taking in so much new information at once! (Robyn)
- Be brave. I think I was more capable than I realized. (Nola)
- I learned this lesson early on but it made all the difference. Have a feasible, measurable goal for the entirety of your mission to work towards. My goal was to see someone I baptized get their endowment before the mission was over. I got my goal by 2 days and It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t worked like crazy in the first year, because it took a year for my convert to prepare to go to the temple. (Bill)
- I wish I understood that it is okay to feel inadequate, but that my efforts were better than I thought. This may sound harsh out of context, but I wish I hadn’t taken feedback from mission leaders as seriously as I sometimes did…they are young and human too! (Miranda)
- How gratifying it would be. (Drew)
- Investigators need friends at church or they will indefinitely go inactive. (Bryan)
- One is never really prepared for the unknown. (Christopher)
- I wish I’d have prayed more specifically and more for more faith. (Mikko)
- I wish I had studied the Scriptures more. I wish I had had a better attitude than the one I arrived with. (Samuel)
- I wish I had a better understanding of how the Savior is key to bringing others unto Him. How he is the tree and we are branches. However having learned that while serving was worth waiting for. (TJ)
- I wish I knew English better… Everything else comes with listening to your Mission President, and keeping the mission rules and working hard. (Tatyana)
- Preach My Gospel. (Seth)
- The gospel. (Daniel)
- That the time would pass so very quickly and not to waste a single moment. Be completely obedient and faithful because your example may be the only lesson you will teach some people. People watch you and will come to trust your message when they can trust you. (Audrey)
- That the Church is necessarily a bureaucracy, and that what is right does not always dictate the course of the actions of the mission. (Glenn)
- English, as opposed to American. Lol. (Don)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Birmingham?
- It’s not your mission. Decide now that it will be the Lord’s. It’s never about you. Turning outward to serve others means you will work harder, but I promise it is the easiest way to serve. Simply lose yourself! And be grateful for the rain ;). (Ryan)
- You have the truth in its entirety! Don’t be afraid to boldly declare that and invite everyone to find out for themselves. (Marla)
- Study your scriptures and become close to the Spirit. (Marvin)
- Serving a mission is still the greatest thing I’ve done so far. It’s hard, tiring, heartbreaking, rewarding work. Be a Perfect Preach My Gospel Missionary. Follow the Mission rules. Your loyalties are first to the Lord, then your Mission President, then your companion. Do what the Lord wants you to do. Remember why you’re on a mission. It’s not about you, it’s about your brothers and sisters who don’t have the truth in their lives yet. When they turn you down and say no it’s heartbreaking. But you’ve planted a seed to be harvest at a later date. Be respectful of their decision. Love them still and then look for the next one. Talk to everyone!! Don’t let anyone pass you by even if that means running down the street and around the corner after them, which will happen! Take advantage of your 2 hours of study time. You’ll never have that again. Serve your companion, love them. Your time together is short. You will get annoyed and angry with them but don’t dwell on it. Have fun with them. Be friends. Share, laugh, and love them. Have fun! Work hard, yes, but have fun! Take pictures, make memories. Stop and swing as you pass a park. Smell a flower. Observe the beauty around you. Serve the members. Never leave them without sharing the Gospel with them too. Be prompt for dinner appointments and call ahead of time if you are running late. Be respectful of others’ beliefs. If it’s not going anywhere agree to disagree and find someone who will listen. Again, obey the rules. Get up on time, exercise every day, take the appropriate amounts for lunch and dinner. Be home on time, go to bed on time. The Lord will bless you for these efforts. Respect your Leaders. They were called to the position for a reason. You may disagree with them, but remember the Lord chose them. Listen to their counsel. Your mission will be the best 18 months or 2 years if you let it. Remember why you chose to serve. You’re telling people the Gospel has been restored. You need a testimony of it in order to tell others. Work on yours now so you can look someone in the eye and share it. This church is true, restored in its fullness. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Love your mission 🙂 (Cami)
- See my suggestions for items to purchase. Also have a pair of scriptures for marking and studying and a pair for teaching. Some people get offended by seeing your scriptures marked up. This was just my personal experience though. Build a waterproof case/box for your scriptures out of tape and a cereal box. (Bryan)
- Learn of Christ and love him, listen to your heart and follow the prompting of the Spirit. You can’t prepare fully as all missions are different but prepare as much as you can before you enter the MTC. (Neil)
- Take it in, love the people and build the Lord’s kingdom. (Beau)
- Treat it as the best mission on earth and it will become the best. (Scott)
- Work with missionaries in your area. Go on splits with them if possible. Get in shape. Ride a bike a lot if you can. (Craig)
- Learn to rely on the spirit, and how to steer a conversation back to gospel topics. You’ll need to know how to do that. (Chris)
- NEVER let yourself feel like you’re not good enough. It affects your work, and makes you feel even worse. Always focus on the good points, on what you CAN do, rather than on what you can’t do yet, and you will be able to see the steady improvements when you look back 🙂 (Robyn)
- Be yourself and do what you think is right, follow your instincts and don’t let anyone belittle you. Study the life of Jesus and teach of Jesus, as you put Him first in your life you’ll see that everything will become more achievable. (Steven)
- Studying the scriptures and Preach My Gospel. (Nola)
- Practice sharing your testimony at the drop of hat. I never saw a conversion from knowing my scriptures perfectly. I saw conversions when The Holy Spirit would confirm to the other person when I shared my testimony, and how the gospel and its principles made my life better. The Holy Ghost does the converting when you do the testifying. Get really good at testifying at all times and in all places. (Bill)
- Go on exchanges with missionaries as a priest prior to putting in your papers. Also, I recommend seeing England on preparation day rather than merely playing “footie” or “football” or in the United States we call it soccer. You can play soccer at home, but you can only see England while in England. (Walter)
- The time before my mission is a time in my life that I struggled the most with scripture reading. Fight it. Learn some church history, but mostly learn how to be okay with not knowing all. Learn the patterns of revelation. Understand your flaws don’t magically go away once you serve a mission. You are still you. Be you. Just a better version of yourself. You can’t take the changes home if you took on a persona. (Miranda)
- Enjoy it and don’t worry. Just do what you know and are trained to do. You’re sent for a specific person who needs you. Find them. (Drew)
- Go, fight, win. Love the people. Don’t fight with your companion, even when they are lazy and only want to go home. (Bryan)
- Make sure you as up to date as possible on LDS Church history. In this modern computer age you will get many questions presented to you that you will first have to answer for yourself. Expect detailed discussions on the following subjects: Same-sex marriage, polygamy, African Blacks and the priesthood ban, but also many remarks made by LDS Church leaders from the past and present that may seem out of place and/or hard to answer. Brigham Young’s remarks in particular are frequently quoted by anti LDS people. (Christopher)
- You’ll find the humor different from what you’ve been used to. Embrace it. Learn to love the poor and the needy people. They have the greatest hearts you hope ever to meet. Never fear, you always have the advantage when you are right. (Mikko)
- One thing that kept me going was the message that kept President Hinckley going when he served in England: “Forget yourself and go to work”. This was sent to him by his father when he felt like he was wasting his time… And wanted to go home. (TJ)
- Have a good camera and take lots of pictures of the people you meet, and the places you visit – England is amazing. … And as president Hinckley says, “Forget yourself and go to work!” – especially when it seems that nobody wants to listen to you, you miss your family and your old life, and you are wasting your time… You are not, even if you find just one person who will listen to you, you will change that person’s life forever (just like the missionaries who served in Bulgaria changed mine!) (Tatyana)
- You can never be too prepared. (Seth)
- Go clean and work hard. The only days I regret are the ones when I goofed off. (Daniel)
- Love the people, their traditions and country. Embrace them as your own and you will cherish them always! (Audrey)
- Study and be sure you have a strong testimony before you put in your papers. You are called to teach not learn. (Glenn)
- Decide from day one that you will not prejudge anyone, and try to see them as the Savior would. Decide from day one that you will follow the mission rules, and work hard. You will have a magnificent journey. Enjoy the ride, keep a journal, and be respectful, and flexible with your companions. (Don)
What was a funny language mistake?
- A young man at church wore his pants very low (boxers showing) and a young woman pulled down his jeans when I was behind him, then she hid. I was so flustered and embarrassed. I told him it wasn’t me. I then went to explain it to his parents and said, “I did not pull down your son’s pants” Everyone was laughing and I was mortified, pants = underwear. Not missionary (or anyone!) appropriate. The first of my greenie language mistakes. (Marla)
- I can’t say because it would be considered slightly vulgar, though I said it in total innocence. (Marvin)
- Saying pants instead of trousers. Pants means underwear haha (Cami)
- The English have different words for things than we do, more than once I was given crude terms that I didn’t know were crude until corrected later. (Beau)
- Strange accent, very difficult to understand, especially shopping. (Scott)
- One of my companions asked a lady if he could see her pants. Then he asked her if he could see her suspenders. Another companion accidentally bought a can of Shandy thinking it was soda pop. (Craig)
- American Mormons like to use the word “crap” a lot, since we generally try to keep our language clean. In England, this word is far worse than you might think. Also, don’t ever use the word fanny. It does not refer to your bum over there. Trust me. (Chris)
- I can’t remember off the top of my head. Even though they speak the same language as I grew up with, there were still mistakes to be made. (Nola)
- Some members took us out to a very posh restaurant. I spilled some food on my shirt and asked for my host’s napkin. After I heard someone gasp in shock, I remembered that a napkin in the United Kingdom is an unmentionable hygiene product. I quickly corrected myself and asked for a serviette. Awkward. (Bill)
- The foreign missionaries (non-English speaking) believe all English-speakers use Mormon slang. I’ve only heard some of those words from UT/ID missionaries. (Walter)
- Pants means underwear, and holding up the number two is flipping someone off. Needless to say, I messed those up pretty badly before I got used to it. (Miranda)
- Learn the English name for things! Can I bum a fag means something entirely different in the United Kingdom…trust me. (Drew)
- As soon as I start to feel “proud” about my skills in English language, I remember the prayer in a family. I thanked the Heavenly Father for their hostility. I meant to say hospitality. Oopsie! (Mikko)
- I got a Junior Companion from Grangemouth, Scotland. Elder McCormack. His Gaelic accent was so broad that I had to tell him to slow down when he spoke. I could not understand him! (Samuel)
- I don’t remember, but at first my companions had to pull me away from people’s doors when we were tracting because I had no idea what they were saying and kept talking, even when they were apparently swearing (but of course, I had no idea…). (Tatyana)
- In the seventies the term bummer was anything unfortunate or unwanted in a situation and I was very much in the habit of using it. In England a bummer is a homosexual. The landlord in the boarding house where we lived in my first area was a bummer and my companion took 2 or 3 weeks to tell me what the definition of bummer was in England while trying to get me to quit saying it loud when something didn’t go exactly the way I wanted it to. Is that embarrassing enough for you? Another term in England at that time and perhaps till now was that when you go to someone’s house to visit with them and knock on their door they call it “knocking them up”. I first heard this term while talking to an elderly sister who was reminiscing about my senior companion when she mentioned do you remember the time when you knocked me up while I was in the bathtub? Until you truly understand the language, silence is golden. (Daniel)
- “That bugs me” is not an acceptable thing for a missionary to say. (Glenn)
- The word crap is really offensive over there. (Don)