(Get this design on a T-shirt!)
Free resources about the England Leeds 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 Leeds Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the England Leeds Mission. We try to keep this info up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the mission address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
England Leeds Mission
Lister House, Lister Hill
Horsforth
Leeds
England LS18 5AZ
United Kingdom
Lister House, Lister Hill
Horsforth
Leeds
England LS18 5AZ
United Kingdom
Phone Number: 44-113-258-4221
Mission President: President Martin J. Turvey
England Leeds Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the England Leeds Mission (LDS). To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Leeds Mission:
Videos with Leeds RMs
Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the England Leeds 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.
England Leeds Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the England Leeds Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
England Leeds Mission Groups
Here are England Leeds Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Leeds Mission.
- England Leeds Mission Facebook Group (918 members)
- England Leeds Mission – Stock Years Group (301 members)
- England Leeds Mission – Turvey July 2016-June 2019 Group (276 members)
- Leeds Mission- The Lindley Years! Group (258 members)
- England Leeds Mission – Woodward Years Group (222 members)
- Leeds Mission- David Seamons (1998-01) Group (193 members)
- Leeds Mission Pilkington Years 2013-16 Group (118 members)
- England Leeds Mission President Rowe Years (65 members)
- Leeds Mission- Warren Davis Years Group (48 members)
- England Leeds Mission — Leavitt Years Group (47 members)
- England Leeds Mission Facebook Group (46 members)
- Leeds Mission- Robison and Wigglesworth Group (25 members)
- England Leeds Mission Moms (LDS) Group (18 members)
- England Leeds Mission Lee/Robinson Group (13 members)
- England Leeds Mission- Bruce Bowen Years Group (3 members)
England Leeds Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the England Leeds Mission!
Shirt designs include England Leeds 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 Leeds missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Leeds Mission gifts
Recommended Mission Prep Books
(Fun fact: George Durrant served a mission in England!)
England Leeds Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Leeds LDS Mission.
- 2016-2019, Martin J. Turvey
- 2013-2016, Graham Pilkington
- 2010-2013, Jerel D. Lindley
- 2007-2010, Wallace L. Stock
- 2004-2007, James H. Woodward
- 2001-2004, Bruce B. Bowen
- 1998-2001, David T. Seamons
- 1995-1998, M. Robert Rowe
- 1992-1995, E. Keith Wigglesworth
- 1990-1992, Clarence F. Robison
- 1987-1990, Lawrence Lee
- 1984-1987, Dixie L. Leavitt
- 1981-1984, Warren B. Davis
- 1978-1981, J. Bruce Smart
- 1976-1978, William Roberts
- 1973-1976, Royden G. Derrick
United Kingdom LDS Statistics (2016)
- Church Membership: 186,423
- Missions: 6
- Temples: 2
- Congregations: 332
- Family History Centers: 122
Helpful Articles about England
England Leeds Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from England Leeds RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
*Click here to take a survey to help pre-missionaries going to your mission.
When did you serve?
- 2013-2015 (Kiss)
- 2013-2015 (Devin)
- April 2008-November 2009 (Linda)
- 2004-2006 (Jordan)
- January 2012-July 2013 (Mary)
- 2000-2002 (Steve)
- 1999-2001 (Alan)
- 1996-1998 (Lisa)
- 2012-2014 (Aida)
- November 2013-May 2015 (Suvd)
- 1998-2000 (Joseph)
- October 2009-April 2011 (Jessika)
- 2008-2009 (Julianne)
- 2008-2009 (Anonymous)
- 1979-1980 (Peter)
- 1982-1983 (Mike)
- 1980-1981 (Elizabeth)
What areas did you serve in?
- Grimsby, Barsnsley, Rotherham, Horbury, Dewsbury, York, Alwnick. (Kiss)
- Grimsby, Leeds, Halifax, Keighley, Doncaster, Alnwick. (Joseph)
- Leeds, Bridlington, Durham. (Anonymous)
- Bradford, Wallsend, Carlisle, Sunderland, Leeds, Hull. (Mike)
- York, Hull, Leeds, Stockton on Tees, Newcastle upon Tyne. (Elizabeth)
What were some favorite foods?
- Fish and chips, cottage pie, shepherd’s pie. (Kiss)
- Loved the multi- cultural cuisine, especially the Indian food. (Devin)
- Roast dinner, cream eggs, squash, chocolate gateu. (Linda)
- Kebabs. Whatever we got fed. Any American food we could find. Custard Thornton’s chocolate. (Jordan)
- Yorkshire pudding, gravy, toad-in-the-hole, sponge with hot custard, full roast dinner, parsnips, English stuffing, Donner kebab. (Mary)
- Yorkshire Pudding Curry Custard And oddly, I find myself missing English mushy pees. They are really good with a bit of salt or some gravy. (Steve)
- Kebabs- they’re heaven sent but so bad for you. Yorkshire puddings. (Alan)
- Fish and Chips. Proper Yorkshire dinner: Chicken, Gravy, Roast Potatoes, Puds, with veg. Trifle. Doner Kebabs. (Lisa)
- Yorkshire pudding. Sunday Roast. Shepherd’s Pie. Banoffee Pie. (Aida)
- Fish and Chips, Carrot cake, Yorkshire pudding, Christmas dinner etc (Suvd)
- Donner kebab on naan (called lamb gyro on laffa in NYC), Chips and curry, Sausage rolls, Merengue and cream. (Joseph)
- Shepard’s pie with lamb meat. Meat loaf. Parmesan, fish (haddock) and chips. (Jessika)
- Fish n’ chips, banoffee pie. (Julianne)
- Curry, mincemeat pies, Yorkshire puddings, beans on toast. (Anonymous)
- Rice, pasta, noodles, anything cheap. (Peter)
- Yorkshire pudding. Trifle. (Mike)
- Fish and chips, meat pies, mince, Stottie cakes (large flat loaves of bread, sausages. (Elizabeth)
What was a funny experience?
- One day my companion and I were knocking on doors in Cleethorpes and some 9-years-old kids were throwing gummy bears at us. We just started to play with them and catch the gummy bears. (Kiss)
- Funny experiences will come. How much joy and happiness you will bring into mission field! Be yourself! (Linda)
- We went to an investigator’s house to teach him and he had been smoking weed. All. Day. Long. His apartment was completely hot boxed. Needless to say, we had a big dinner. (Jordan)
- My companion and I were knocking a posh village with out much success for an entire afternoon. We wanted to spice things up, so we were telling each other jokes and funny stories between doors. We kept this up for awhile, until I knocked on a door and introduced myself as a missionary and my companion as my mom (completely on accident). I paused, trying so hard not to laugh. Well, that didn’t work because I busted up laughing and the poor teenager that answered the door looked so confused. My companion, who was maintaining her composure a bit more than I, hurriedly took over. Suffice it to say, we didn’t get in that door, but we laughed about it the rest of the week. (Mary)
- Nerf guns and a 4 man flat. (Steve)
- Preparation days…especially zone p-days were always a blast. Hanging out with different missionaries and making lasting memories and friendships. (Alan)
- One day we were contacting a potential and we ask him if we can meet him on boxing day and this was his answer to my companion: “Yes! But can you come alone because you are beautiful?” (Aida)
- Just hanging out people in England every day is a taste of laugh, if you truly love them. (Suvd)
- In a companionship of three and had a member out knocking with us, my companions, Sister Baxter and Sister Freake wanted to scare us. So after knocking on a posh, gated home, we came out of a gated home and my two companions jumped out from either side, however Sister Baxter slipped on some black ice and fell down unhurt and her pass along cards went flying all over. (Jessika)
- Forgetting my umbrella and getting drenched within 3 minutes. (Julianne)
- Getting into a huge snowball fight in Carlisle with about 20 skinheads. (Mike)
- Blessing a Mars bar in a telephone box. Moving into a flat recently vacated by elders and having to clear up their collection of drinks cans. (Elizabeth)
What was a crazy experience?
- Once my companion and I got attacked in Barnsley by an old lady. She grabbed me and my companion and was trying to choke us. We both raised our hands and we commanded in the name of Christ to let us go. First she was trying to fight but eventually she let us go. (Kiss)
- Hit by car, twice! (Devin)
- A man coming toward us from the other side of his fence with big garden scissors! (Linda)
- Bradford was my second area and this happened about 9 months in. We were contacting an investigator in a dodgy neighborhood and we went into this apartment building to find him. We walked past some Pakistani “gentlemen” sitting out front. When we went in, they gave us the stink eye. We went to the investigator’s apartment but he was not there. We headed down the stairs to leave and the “gentlemen” from out front were now standing at the bottom of the stairs waiting for us. I was in front of my companion and the stairway, being a typical English stairway, I could barely fit in it. One of the guys came running up the stairs, picked me up by my jacket and threw me into the wall. He started yelling at me that I was not allowed in his building and if I ever set foot in the building again, he would separate me from my wedding tackle. My companion was doubled over laughing. We made it out of there in one piece and went on our way. I spent the rest of my mission, save a short stint in Worksop, in and around Bradford. (Jordan)
- Being a sister missionary, there were moments that you didn’t know what a person’s intentions were. My companion and I were tracting up to an estate that had a less-than-favorable reputation to see an investigator. We stopped a man on a street and introduced ourselves. He seemed interested and told us that he wanted to hear more. We replied that we had time before our next appointment, so we could share a mini lesson right there. We were going to do it on the street, but the man insisted we walk into the nature reserve that ran along the road. My companion and I looked at each other, wary of the fact that he wanted to go into an isolated location. We took a moment and decided to lag back, but follow him because he was nice. We walked through the nature reserve to the grounds of some university student housing. We sat down on the wet grass and the man pulled pills out of his pocket and offered them to us. We explained that we didn’t do any drugs and kindly offered him a mormon.org card before we left. He kept telling us that he was interested as we walked away. (Mary)
- Pretending to be a “silently dignified” Samuel the Lamanite as teenagers were trying to throw…with English throwing arms…whatever junk or rocks or snowballs were on the ground. (Steve)
- Crashed a car in the snow. Only small body damage but it knackered the gearbox (transmission is the translation)…6 month suspension from driving mission cars!!! (Alan)
- Another time, we had an appointment and we went inside a man’s house. Then we discover that he was with a friend smoking drugs. So we tried to get out from there quickly. (Aida)
- We had old lady nearly die in her home while she was sleeping. The thing is when we knocked her door, her granddaughter opened the door for us and let us in. We didn’t know why she was sleeping so hard but after long attempt to wake her up, we found out actually there was a problem with her respiratory organ. As soon as we found out, we called the daughter and the doctor. Funny thing was they thought we were Jehovah Witnesses. It was crazy but also spiritual experience. (Suvd)
- My companion and I came down a street we usually took on the way home one night. Upon rounding the corner off it, we came in contact with a worried member. He told us they had reports that some guy was whacking people with a two by four down that very street not too long ago. We were glad we didn’t see the guy or get hit. (Jessika)
- Our next door neighbor committed suicide but we were able to teach his partner the plan of salvation. (Julianne)
- Got confused in a construction zone and went the wrong way round the roundabout and ended up driving on the wrong side of the road. (Anonymous)
- Getting hit with beer bottles riding our bikes in Christmas Eve. (Mike)
- Slipping on ice and sliding down a hill. (Elizabeth)
What was a spiritual experience?
- The very end of my mission in Alnwick. Before my companion and I got there, they had had one baptism finally so I wanted to do miracles. After a couple of hard weeks of working and fasting we met with a lady and her conversion was one of the most spiritual experiences I had. (Kiss)
- That actually you can help people to change their lives and help them become more like Heavenly Father! (Linda)
- I served in Sheffield during my first 6 months and there was a couple, Ricky and Marcia, who had been investigating for a few months. They were a wonderful couple but were not married and living together. We worked with them week after week until one day it seemed to click. Rickey showed up at church in a suit and they were ready to do what they needed to do to get married and then baptized. I left the area the week before they were baptized but it was an amazing thing to see the change they experienced over that 6 months. (Jordan)
- My companion and I were whitewashing an area and had little success in our first transfer there. In our second, we were walking in the university area looking for Chinese students (I was a Chinese-speaking missionary). We met a young student named Eric who had recently arrived from China. We introduced ourselves and set up an appointment. As we walked away, he asked if we were going to become friends. Of course, I told him. As the week progressed, Eric had numberless spiritual experiences. He told us that he had forgotten his umbrella that day he met us and he turned around to go get it. He knew that if he didn’t forget his umbrella, we wouldn’t have met. Teaching Eric and seeing his progress despite that outside circumstances was one of my most memorable transfers on the mission because it was so spiritually uplifting. (Mary)
- Every time we left a teaching appointment with a closing prayer. (Steve)
- Seeing the light come on with investigators, accept the gospel and allow magnificent changes to happen in their lives. (Alan)
- We were knocking one evening and one woman who answered told us that she was busy and could we come another day. I kept trying to talk to her and I shared a scripture about the plan of salvation. When I finished I realized she was crying and she told us that she has lost a granddaughter recently and that scripture comforted her. (Aida)
- Headed back to our main area on the bus when companion hit the button to get off. Confused I followed her off. She said she felt there was a family in the neighborhood we were passing that needed us. We knocked one side of a street then skipped over the other side and instead went down a different street where we were let in by a couple Jane and Allister, who were very receptive and let us teach them. I left the area and never heard of their progress. (Jessika)
- Teaching a progressive investigator. (Julianne)
- All teaching and baptizing. (Mike)
- Baptisms, working with members, zone conferences. (Elizabeth)
What are some interesting facts about the Leeds Mission?
- In my mission. Hmmm… We are the best!!! (Kiss)
- Few missionaries tend to return to live, get married, find their spouses in their mission area! :). (Linda)
- Lots of Muslims. The accent was like watching Monty Python. (Jordan)
- At the time I served, there were four languages spoken in the mission: English, Chinese, Slovakian, and Polish. My MTC companion and I were the first sister missionaries called to the Leeds mission as Chinese-speakers. The first Chinese groups were formed in Hull and Newcastle, the latter is now a branch. When I served, Chinese speakers were put with English speakers because there weren’t enough Chinese speakers to cover all of the university areas. (Mary)
- I entered when common companionship goals were to baptize at least one person during a transfer. I left when common companionship goals were to baptize at least one family during a transfer. I bused a lot more than I biked. (Steve)
- It seemed like it rained nearly all the time, but it didn’t really… It just seemed that way. (Alan)
- I was surprised to see how many Muslims were in Bradford. The members in England are really nice, warm and always willing to help and feed us. My mission has areas with different accents. The “Geordie” accent was really complicated. (Aida)
- Especially the place that I served in had some good shots that Harry Potter had in it. England has hundreds of good, old historical castles and churches. I have visited several of them which were made over 1000 years ago. English people do care about the idea of helping people and they do as much as they do. If you don’t get attention as missionary, just ask some help from them and they will come to you. I love how their different region accents sound differently and confusing at first. As missionary you don’t have to say I am missionary for the LDS church to share the gospel, if you do so you might get 1 response out of 10 or even 0. So just be human and relate to people anyway possible like your hobbies, interest, music or beliefs. If you are fun and considerate, then people will be interested in what you have to share. (Suvd)
- Doesn’t anyways snow, just cold and wet. (Joseph)
- Dialects and accents vary greatly and are geographically linked. Spend a few months tracting in a certain area and it wouldn’t be difficult to listen to a random person in the town center and accurately guess exactly what street they lived on. Henry Higgins didn’t have it as hard as we thought. (Anonymous)
- Leeds is home to the most northerly vineyards in the United Kingdom. (Peter)
- Parts of north Leeds and some other towns have a reasonably high percentage of Jewish families living there. Look out for mezuzahs on the side of door ways. Avoid tracting those areas on Friday afternoons and Saturday. (Elizabeth)
What was the weather like?
- I had surprisingly nice weather but most of the time it was cold and raining and dark. But we had some months when there was no rain and just sunshine–that was beautiful. (Kiss)
- Humid. (Devin)
- Sunny, rainy, sunny, rainy and got two weeks of snow. (Linda)
- Rainy. (Jordan)
- Rainy, rainy, rainy! My first summer was very rainy and cloudy, but English clouds are beautiful, so I didn’t mind. The winter was cold. I was serving in Huddersfield at the time and it was snowy. The autumn was nice and there were those days that were sunny and lovely. (Mary)
- Warmer than I could have imagined in the summer. And so much colder than I could have imagined in the winter, despite less snow. (Steve)
- Ha ha Read my last answer. It’s winter coat weather in winter for sure and light coat in the summer. (Alan)
- Rainy. Cloudy. Rainy. Rainy. I went through 3 umbrellas during my service. Did I mention it rained at least daily with a mild-nearly sunny summer. Snow in winter. Very magical! (Lisa)
- Rainy, cold. (Aida)
- First of all, England is so green in any season. It rarely gets snow but it gets wet cold in the winter. You might need some good waterproof boots. Take your umbrella! with you but from my experience and from all other my companions it doesn’t rain when you have umbrella, haha. So you decide what you want to check out. Weather just depends, mostly cloudy and rainy but you can make most of it. That is the big part of England.We get some good days in the summer. I truly loved the autumn season. (Suvd)
- Cold and wet, except for summer (Joseph)
- Rainy each day at some point. Had two weeks in June where it didn’t rain. (Jessika)
- Raining, all.the.time. (Julianne)
- Rain sometimes. Mostly, it was cloudy. I only heard thunder twice during my whole mission. (Anonymous)
- Temperate climate. some sun, some rain, no extremes of either. (Peter)
- Cold and rainy most of he time. Still a beautiful place to serve! (Mike)
- It rained a lot. Some days, we wore eight layers to protect ourselves from the cold and wet. The wind can be very cold when it comes from the north east. (Elizabeth)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- I love the northern people because they are really nice. They are kind and talkative. (Kiss)
- Kind, honest, generous people with a great faith and great examples! Loved how the church here was guided by the leaders, a lot to learn. (Linda)
- I got to speak “English” and still go to a foreign country. Their passion for sports. It is unrivaled in America. (Jordan)
- These people showed loved and compassion as I have never seen before. I was so impressed with how selfless these members were and how welcoming they were of the Chinese students. I felt like I had a family in England, felt welcomed in their homes. I served for 7 transfers in my second area and it was like I was part of the ward. (Mary)
- I love the country side, the hills, the random small stone walls all over the place, and the genuine and trusting people with honest opinions. (Steve)
- The North of England is filled with the most amazing people. The members of the church up there are some of the best people I have met in my life. Castles are cool too for Americans, wasn’t a big deal for me…we have loads of our own in Ireland :). (Alan)
- Everything. (Lisa)
- English people are a little rude except for the members. I love the places where I served. Especially I loved the landscape. (Aida)
- They truly care about humanism and that is an easier way to relate with them and share our special message. England is so historical; therefore, people know history; therefore, they are realistic and down on earth. Mostly they are really straight forward and get to the point but in genuine manner. (Suvd)
- Everything. (Joseph)
- The people are so kind once they understand that your teaching out of love for them. Once you become their friend and they feel your genuine love for them, then they listen wholeheartedly. (Jessika)
- what’s not to like? Northern England is GORGEOUS!!! The members were lovely. (Julianne)
- Loved the people a northern England accent. Awesome people! (Mike)
- The people have a lot of pride in their heritage and culture. (Anonymous)
- Very direct, but usually friendly. The sense of humor can be rather wry and dry. (Elizabeth)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- Bring warm clothes; warm socks and jumpers. (Kiss)
- I suggest waiting until you get to England to buy most of your suits. They are cheaper and the fashion is different. (Devin)
- Don’t buy lots of clothes, you will find here everything that you need in normal shops and for really good prices! (Linda)
- Make sure your suit is a size or two bigger than you are currently. They feed you well. 10 years later I still haven’t recovered. (Jordan)
- For sisters, make sure your skirts are thicker for the winter. You’ll want to make sure that you bring long socks or leggings to have the layers for those windy days. Buy good shoes and boots! It’s okay to sacrifice fashion to save your feet and make sure that your boots are water proof. I brought a coat to England, but I ended up getting a better one there. (Mary)
- Double up your socks. Rotate your shoes every day – athletes foot is real. And it’s ok to wear jeans or pajama pants under your suit trousers. Basketball/gym shoes are not the best shoes to also do service in. (Steve)
- Loads of trousers/ slacks and top of the range shoes. Your going to walk many miles…enjoy it. Life flies by but it will be the best two years of your life. (Alan)
- Buy yourself a wool coat over there. It keeps you warm, wicks away constant moisture, and lasts forever. If you are a sister, boots, layers of socks and sometimes layers of skirts and tops are welcome come winter. Cold, damp, wet. (Lisa)
- Winter clothes, especially a good raincoat. I don’t recommend taking an umbrella because there is a lot of wind and it can easily break. (Aida)
- Just pack! Don’ take too much stuff because when transfer comes those are stumbling blocks to you. But have raincoat! and waterproof boots. In the winter, thick jumpers or sweaters are the best. (Suvd)
- Buy the type of shoes you can buy again every six months. Don’t bother with your boots unless it’s freezing and wet. (Joseph)
- December is hard to get packages sent out in time so send anything early in the month for it to arrive on time. I also liked writing notes on the envelope to the postal man. Example “have a wonderful day Postal man/woman, God loves you!” (Jessika)
- Lots of warm clothes. I wore layer after layer after layer during the winter. (Julianne)
- Buy your winter coat in England. It’s cheapest and better suited for the area than any you would pay top dollar for at the coat warehouse or the like. (Anonymous)
- Layers and rain gear. (Mike)
- Take thermals and gloves and scarves for the winter, and a good waterproof coat. (Elizabeth)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- I’m not sure; I think that I learned English. I think that slowly my life is going in the right places even if I don’t recognized until now. (Kiss)
- Which once didn’t I receive?? There’s no end to the blessings poured upon missionaries willing to serve with their whole heart! (Devin)
- Knowledge and my family being sealed in the temple. (Linda)
- A hot wife. (Jordan)
- I received countless blessings from serving. Not only on the spiritual side with an increased testimony, but forming deep and lasting friendships with my companions, fellow missionaries, and members are some of the greatest blessings. I love that I have great memories and stories to tell. I also was blessed to learn Chinese, and now I live in China teaching English. I also have been blessed to return to the United Kingdom to do a teaching certification and I will be returning there next fall for my Master’s degree. These are things I wouldn’t have considered without having served there. (Mary)
- Assertiveness. I would not have my wife and my family if not for this attribute I learned directly from my mission. (Steve)
- I have a wonderful family-4 daughters, blessed temporally and most importantly I received a witness of the gospel in action. Many eternal friendships which I’ll cherish into the eternities. (Alan)
- I learned a lot and I developed abilities that otherwise I couldn’t have done. As well, I got eternal friends. I got to know the Lord so much better. (Aida)
- Strengthened my understanding on following principles: my testimony about God’s love for his children even if they reject him. Also have seen the marvelous blessings for anyone who follows His counsel. And of course, eternal family is central to God’s blessing. If we obey then, nothing bad happens, we have surety to see the best. (Suvd)
- Friends. (Joseph)
- Sister Alidi helped me to open up from being shy and sing hymns to investigators with her. I then went home and joined an institute choir where I met my husband. (Jessika)
- My testimony is deeply rooted and I have a stronger conviction to serve the Lord. (Julianne)
- It’s more than I can count. England is part of who I am now! (Mike)
- I learned the value of persistence and endurance. I had good companions with whom I’m still in contact. As a relatively new convert, my testimony was strengthened. (Elizabeth)
What are some skills you gained?
- I think I learned who I am and I learned different leadership skills. I learned how to deal with people. (Kiss)
- Communication. Patience. (Devin)
- Skills to be bold, learned how to teach, how to start to talk with the strangers everywhere. (Linda)
- How to survive on my own. A thick skin. (Jordan)
- Chinese, though it is a bit rusty. My communication skills got better, as well my crisis-management skills. I also became a better planner. My football skills (real football) got a bit better, too. (Mary)
- Smiling at strangers and looking them in the eye. Actually living with someone else who isn’t my parent or sibling. Grocery shopping with a list and a budget. (Steve)
- Patience. Selflessness, goal achieving skill and an incredible appetite to work hard and be successful. (Alan)
- I improved my English. I learned how to take care of others, be organized, how to be lead by the Spirit and to act according to what the Spirit told me. (Aida)
- Multi-tasking, setting goals and making plans, being positive at all times despite the hardships, leading people who are from completely different backgrounds, boldness. (Suvd)
- Priceless experience in teaching and communication. (Joseph)
- I learned to let go of my will and put my trust in Heavenly Father in order to do his will no matter how hard. I learned how to know by asking questions what lesson the person needed to be taught first. (Jessika)
- Being able to talk to anyone and form lasting relationships. (Julianne)
- An ability to not judge others by their appearance and the faith to believe that anyone can repent and come to Christ. (Anonymous)
- Leadership. (Mike)
- The ability to talk to anyone. Appreciation of the church’s Public Affairs program. Being able to buy cheap food and prepare meals quickly. (Elizabeth)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- Diligence and obedience. I wish I would’ve worked hard, and was bold, kind, and patient. (Kiss)
- Should have got my driving license before my mission not after. (Linda)
- A better understanding of how to teach the gospel. Either way I figured it out pretty quick. Desperation is an amazing tool. (Jordan)
- Missions are exhausting and exhilarating, which made sleep elusive. I wish I had known better ways to clear my mind out at the end of the day so I wasn’t always so behind on sleep. I wish I had some more practical knowledge about flat maintenance as well. (Mary)
- The Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon. (Steve)
- I wish I knew/did tons differently but in reality you don’t know what you don’t know. But by the time it’s time to go home, you’ll be good at being a missionary and you’ll be wishing you knew what you knew at the end – in the beginning. (Alan)
- I wish I knew that coming home was that hard. (Aida)
- Be courageous. Take everything easy and live in the moment each day. (Suvd)
- Lose weight. (Joseph)
- I wish I had taken more pictures. (Jessika)
- I wish I was a better scriptorian before I left. I wish I knew the scriptures more at the beginning like I did at the end. (Julianne)
- A second language. ANY second language. They are all spoken in England. (Anonymous)
- Scripture knowledge. (Mike)
- I imagine now that it might be useful to have a knowledge of Polish or an understanding of eastern European culture, or an understanding of Urdu for other areas. Parts of some towns may be very multi-cultural. (Elizabeth)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Leeds?
- I think the advice I would like to have had was not to be a brown nose. Be obedient regardless of what other missionaries say. Obedience sometimes changes because people push the lines; don’t do it. Work hard so that you aren’t ashamed that you failed. And don’t be scared of failing; you will learn from it. Be bold and always strive to do your best even when you feel that it’s not enough. The Lord will guide you. (Kiss)
- Never change who you are, change what you do!! (Devin)
- Be ready for quick weather changes, for many religions and be extra obedient, because there is a lot of work to be done and great things to be learned! (Linda)
- Have a thick skin. Be ready for everyone to assume you’re American whether or not you are. Don’t concern yourself with what people think of America. Have fun. (Jordan)
- Remember the reason you are serving. Missions will cause you to feel the highest of the high and the lowest of the low, sometimes in the same moment. It is important to remember your purpose and cause for serving a mission. Remember that it is about the people, about their welfare, as equally as it is about yours. Take the time to study the Gospel for you, build your testimony. The Lord will support you through your trials and it is likely that the mission will be the hardest thing that you have done up to that point in your life. Despite the struggles, enjoy those wonderful moments and remember your purpose. (Mary)
- Don’t be afraid of rejection or the English wall individuals put up in front of others. The English are very prideful in their traditions. Embrace and love their traditions. Know the difference between these and the Gospel of of Jesus Christ. They aren’t exclusive. That is, they can both coexist in the same individual very strongly. (Steve)
- Just go is my advice to everyone I speak to. But go worthy and pure. You’ll feel better for it and your mind and spirit will be a lot more focused. Carrying past transgressions around is criminal in my mind, and it’s not productive. You’ll learn the gospel and you’ll gain a love and appreciation for your Savior. (Alan)
- Completely become the missionary you dreamed you would be without comparing yourself, your efforts, skills, and talents with any other missionary. Remember that the Lord knows how to grow you so let experiences come without fighting the growth. (Lisa)
- Just to be strictly obedient in order to get blessings and pay attention to the whispers of the Spirit. (Aida)
- Be bold! You will change the world! Be positive. You will feel high on the ground because you have the most glorious message in the universe! (Suvd)
- You get what you sacrifice. Have faith and be obedient. Get registered with NHS as soon as your there and start working on your driver’s license- get the written exam out of the way and wait on driving lessons until your tenth month. (Joseph)
- Put your trust in God and let go of your own pride. Also, don’t try to be exactly like a specific missionary you admire. The mission already has that kind if missionary. Let the Lord shape you into the missionary he wants you to be. He picked you for this mission because there are special knowledge, skill, and character all your own that is needed in this mission. (Jessika)
- Make every day count. You will never get this opportunity like this again at this age, at this place, so make it count! (Julianne)
- Work hard and love the people. Never judge. (Mike)
- Be prepared to be challenged, but avoid contention. Some people are very traditional in their beliefs in mainstream Christianity, particularly in places like York or Durham. (Elizabeth)
What was a funny language mistake?
- I am a Hungarian so in the beginning I had to keep the way I was speaking simple and it was hard to speak in the right sentence. I made some mistakes that are not really applicable.. (Kiss)
- Pants are called trousers….in England pants are underwear. (Devin)
- Do you want to come for a tea? (Tea means dinner) Don’t say pants, because it means underwear. And don’t ask for the bathroom, just ask for the toilet. (Linda)
- Finding out what pants, fanny pack, bugger, spotted dick, and tossed meant. (Jordan)
- I told people that Christ was baptized by James instead of John for my entire mission until I trained a Chinese speaker and she corrected me. (Mary)
- “Pardon” is more common. I had a companion who sounded like a cowboy every time he tried to use it. He got double takes every time. Pet names (Love, Flower, Mate, etc) are also common. Don’t try to use them if you aren’t totally sure how or when they are appropriate. (Steve)
- Served around Newcastle for a good portion of my mission and the Geordie Lingo is absolutely brilliant. They are a breed of people I don’t think you’ll find anywhere else in the world 🙂 I have never even heard of a missionary that was not grateful for the experience to serve in the Sunderland Stake of Zion. (Alan)
- My Tongan companion always got confused with the word silly. She would say don’t be chilly instead of don’t be silly! (Suvd)
- Don’t call the doctrine and covenants D&C, it’s a common birth control. (Joseph)
- Lots of Polish speakers in England so I said “Our message comes in Poli” instead of Polish. (Julianne)
- Not a language mistake but a body language mistake. Holding up two fingers with the back of the hand away from you and the palm towards you is bad. It’s like flipping the bird. (Anonymous)
- Could not understand the accent at first. (Mike)
- There are some strong regional accents in northern England. Any one from Scandinavia, Germany or The Netherlands should not have a problem as some of the word sounds are similar. (Elizabeth)