(Get this design on a T-shirt!)
Free resources about the England London 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 London Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the England London 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 London Mission
64-68 Princes Gate, Exhibition Road
South Kensington, London
England SW7 2PA
Phone Number: 44-207-838-1950
Mission President: President Mark W. Stevens
England London Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the England London Mission (LDS). To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the London Mission:
Videos with London RMs
Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the England London 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 London Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the England London Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
England London Mission Groups
Here are England London Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the London Mission.
- England London Mission Facebook Group (229 members)
- London Mission, Alldredge Years 1997-00 Group (222 members)
- London Mission (Turvey era 88-91) Group (214 members)
- London Mission (Robison era 91-94) Group (183 members)
- England London Mission Facebook Group (104 members)
- London Mission, Pres. Wheelwright, Banks Group (18 members)
- London Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) Group (8 members)
- London Mission: Goodman Years 1982-85 Group (3 members)
- England London Mission Cookbook Group (4 members)
England London Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the England London Mission!
Shirt designs include England London 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 London missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse London Mission gifts
Recommended Mission Prep Books
(Fun fact: George Durrant served a mission in England!)
Also, the following are authored by Ed J. Pinegar, who presided over the England London South mission from 1985 to 1988!
England London Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the London LDS Mission.
- 2015-2018, Mark W. Stevens
- 2012-2015, David James Jordan
- 2009-2012, Renn M. Patch
- 2006-2009, Clayton Flint Foulger
- 2003-2006, Benjamin Edwin Banks
- 2000-2003, Steven Charles Wheelwright
- 1997-2000, O. Claron Alldredge
- 1994-1997, Donald Hall Steele
- 1991-1994, E. Doyle Robison
- 1988-1991, Arch J. Turvey
- 1985-1988, Wendell J. Ashton
- 1982-1985, A. Harold Goodman
- 1980-1983, John D. Parker
- 1979-1982, Ben E. Lewis
- 1978-1980, Carl D. Jones
- 1978-1979, Robert D. Hales
- 1975, Robert L. Simpson
- 1975-1978, Douglas Alan Smith
- 1972-1975, Milan D. Smith
- 1969-1972, W. Dean Belnap
- 1967-1969, Reed E. Callister
- 1964-1967, O. Preston Robinson
- 1962-1964, Marion D. Hanks
- 1958-1962, T. Bowring Woodbury
- 1955-1958, Clifton G. M. Kerr
- 1952-1955, A. Hamer Reiser
- 1950-1952, Stayner Richards
- 1946-1950, Selvoy J. Boyer
- 1944-1946, Hugh B. Brown
- 1940-1944, Andre K. Anastasiou
- 1937-1939, Hugh B. Brown
United Kingdom LDS Statistics (2016)
- Church Membership: 186,423
- Missions: 6
- Temples: 2
- Congregations: 332
- Family History Centers: 122
Helpful Articles about England
England London Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from England London 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?
- 1979-1981 (Douglas)
- December 2003-December 2005 (Tyler)
- 2001-2003 (Nate)
- 1981-1983 (Michael)
- 1981-1982 (Timo)
- 1982-1984 (Alison)
- February 1984-September 1985 (Ans)
- 2000-2002 (Galina)
- 1996-1998 (Matthew)
- 1989-1991 (Monica)
- 1991-1993 (Vanessa)
- 1990-1992 (Ian)
- 1993-1995 (Graham)
- 1993-1994 (Jacqui)
- 1993-1995 (Dustin)
- 2007-2009 (Edward)
- 1977-1979 (Deen)
- 1981-1982 (Timo)
- 1982-1984 (Anonymous)
- 1990-1992 (Ian)
- 1980-1982 (Bjarne)
What areas did you serve in?
- London, Kent, Brighton, Essex. (Nate)
- Enfield, Luton, Tottenham, South End on Sea, and back to Tottenham for six more months. (Vanessa)
- Cambridge, Luton, Basildon, Southend-on-Sea, Romford, Chelsmford. (Ian)
- Stratford, Southend, Luton, Shoeburyness, Colchester, Sudbury. (Graham)
- I was lucky enough to serve in areas that were both in the country and in the city centre (London). (Jacqui)
- Hackney, Grays, Stevenage, Cambridge & Norwich. (Dustin)
- Hayes, Chelmsford, Ayelsbury, Leighton, Buzzard, Huntington, Hitching, Deal, Romford. (Edward)
- Aylesbury, North London, Southend, Ipswitch, Norwich Kingslyn, Colchester. (Deen)
- Greater London area only. (Timo)
- London Catford. London Hyde Park. Romford. (Anonymous)
- Soutendonsea, Basildon, Chelmsford, Billiricki, Luton, Cambridge, Romford. (Ian)
What were some favorite foods?
- Doner kebabs. Fish & Chips. Wendy’s McDonald’s. (Douglas)
- NANDOS!!! Kebabs. Sunday Roasts. (Tyler)
- Pot roast, bangers and mash. (Nate)
- Gyros, Fish n Chips, Chicago Pizza (closed years ago, alas), Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pudding , Trifle, Mars Bars. (Michael)
- Döner Kebab. Christmas pudding. Wimto. (Timo)
- Pancakes, meatloaf, steak pie. (Alison)
- Yorkshire pudding, salt and vinegar crisps, Shepard’s pie. (Ans)
- Roast dinner, curry, tikka massala, chips, rhubarb pie. (Galina)
- Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, bubble & squeak, chicken curry, custard. (Matthew)
- Chips from the chip shop, African fufu, Shepherds Pie. (Monica)
- Yorkshire pudding Kebab Chips with vinegar. (Vanessa)
- Jalaf rice dish from Jamaica. (Ian)
- Cheese and onion pasties. Fresh cream cakes. Most of their candy. (Graham)
- Jollof rice, fried chicken. (Jacqui)
- Shepard’s Pie, Beans on Toast, Yorkshire Pudding, Pot roast. They are pretty much a meat, bread & potatoes eating people. (Dustin)
- Fish and chips, kebabs, Yorkshire puddings. (Edward)
- Trifle, Yorkshire pudding, and sausage rolls. (Deen)
- Fish and chips, Döner Kebab, Christmas Pudding. (Timo)
- Cornish pasties. Roast Beef with baked potatoes and greens with lots of gravy. (Anonymous)
- Kubabs, chipbutty, Crisps. (Ian)
What was a funny experience?
- Lots of them actually but the one that stands out is when my companion and I were exploring an old Church and looked behind a curtain and scared the you know what out of ourselves when we saw our reflection in a mirror. (Douglas)
- My companion and I had been out tracting when we walked by a fenced off portion of grass. The fence happened to be about shin height; so my companion shoved me sideways which caused me to trip hard on the fence. It was a funny way to break up the monotony of the day. (Tyler)
- Translating Cockney into American English. (Michael)
- One female investigator wanted to have my sweater as a souvenir. I gave it to her. (Timo)
- Losing President Spencer W. Kimball’ s niece (we were companions at the time). (Alison)
- Spending almost 4 months with the funniest companion ever. (Ans)
- When two members of the ward I was serving in were on their way to home teaching and decided to surprise us by stopping their car right by our bikes (while we were cycling). I was shocked and fell from my bike. It hurt but they found it hilarious. (Galina)
- My companion had a clip on tie and it fell off during a door approach. (Matthew)
- Dog chasing my companion down the street but did not even bother me. (Ian)
- Paddling in the fountains at Picadilly Circus. We learned later that it’s totally illegal and we could have been arrested! Different accents, confusing my companions. A small branch filled with former Catholics, using Elder’s Quorum as a confessional. (Graham)
- Practical jokes between missionaries! (Jacqui)
- Milk is still delivered in glass bottles on doorsteps in some areas. Had a guy chase us off his property throwing glass bottles of milk at us. (Dustin)
- Tea towel fight with my companion and investigator. (Edward)
- Joyce Mckinney had kidnapped an elder (which wasn’t funny), but after all the publicity of the event, my companion and I were tracking down the street and herd cat-calls from a flat and “someone yell “Chain them to the bed.” To say the least, I said to my companion, “let’s get off of Sodom street.” (Deen)
- One regular Bobby thought that I and my companion were Scotland Yard detectives.
- When we had a district meeting and chocolate chip cookies were filled with mustard. (Anonymous)
- Being stop by police for riding a bike carrying a baseball bat which we had borrowed from investigators so we could play baseball with a group the next day. The police thought we might be up to something as it was dusk with a bat in Southend on Sea. (Ian)
What was a crazy experience?
- Hooky bobbing behind a car one night after it snowed a little bit and hit a dry spot in the road. I sprawled out a cross the road but my Swedish knit Mr Mac suit protected me just fine. Just a couple of scratches on the suit. (Douglas)
- During my first 6 weeks with my trainer, we had a bomb scare from an investigator at our chapel, causing an investigation and many hours at Scotland Yard collecting details. (Tyler)
- The day the IRA blew up a nearby Wimpy Hamburger bar. (Michael)
- A man poked his finger into my eye. No effect, whatsoever. I felt I was protected. (Timo)
- Having to walk through a red light district at night to reach the zone leaders’ flat. (Alison)
- The man that threatened us at a door with some tool in his hand. (Ans)
- We were tracting while we heard someone being murdered at that moment. We heard the final cry of that person and then while still tracting in the neighboring houses the police vans pulled over and started the investigation of the crime. (Galina)
- Teaching a discussion to a guy while he was smoking hashish. (Matthew)
- Got locked in a man’s apartment and he asked me and my companion what we would do if he raped us. (Monica)
- Having the Spirit prompt you to go home, even though it was early. We also were told out loud that it was time to get out of a house because it was dangerous. This occurred during a prayer and I thought my companion said it, but she didn’t. (Vanessa)
- Person pulled a knife on us at that door. (Ian)
- I truly did nothing crazy or dangerous. (Graham)
- Going in to proselyte in a dangerous housing estate that hadn’t had missionaries for a long time, elders couldn’t go there because the people living there would think they were police. (Jacqui)
- I never encountered any dangerous situations other than a bomb went off a few tube stations (subway) away from the station we were at. (Dustin)
- Getting into a car accident with my companion. (Edward)
- Elder Cole and I were jumped by five blacks in an alley, it was winter and we had overcoats on with Books of Mormon in our pockets. Anyway, they ask for fags, in which we replied we didn’t smoke, then they asked for money, in which I replied that we had no money, we were missionaries. They then replied, In the name of God? I replied yes, then they slugged my companion and he doubled over and I commanded them depart in which they ran. I asked my companion if he was okay, he smiles and said they hit me right where he had a hard cover Book of Mormon—we then laughed. (Deen)
- Attending the Spiritualist Church services to rescue one of our investigators. (Timo)
- Riding the bike down hill but the front wheel was loose without knowing. Also swallowing mercury accidently. (Anonymous)
- Had a couple interesting ones. A big German shepherd came at us as we approached the house…it chased my companion down the street until the owner told him to say sit and the dog sat. As for me, it just ran past me…I guess my bigger companion look more tasty. (Ian)
What was a spiritual experience
- Oh so many. Standing in the circle while, then Elder Monson, gave a nearly dead elder a blessing and “commanded him to be made well” and he walked out of the office. This was in the Mission Training Center. I will never forget the feeling of the Spirit I felt that day. (Douglas)
- An elderly lady from Zimbabwe shared with us a near death experience including an angel that matched a lot of details of how Joseph Smith described the angel Moroni. She was later baptized. (Tyler)
- Every single mission conference. (Michael)
- I saw a house in my dream that we needed to find. We did find it and got in to teach the first discussion. I had many spiritual experiences that led into conversions or other good things. (Timo)
- Feeling the strength and reality of the priesthood at Zone testimony meeting. (Alison)
- The first time I challenged someone for baptism. The spirit was so strong and it was the best feeling ever when they said yes. (Ans)
- When an investigator from a previous area called me on the phone to tell me she was just baptized an hour ago! (Galina)
- Going to the temple during Christmas and teaching discussions. (Matthew)
- The day we found Maureen. It was frigid, raining. We were drenched and miserable. We found her after a full afternoon of rejection. She was baptized and remained faithful. My companion and I are doing her temple work for her this year [2016]. (Monica)
- Having the spirit tell us it was time to go home early. We had no idea why but we listened. Meeting President Hinckley and looking into his eyes. It is the closest I have ever come to feeling like I was looking into the eyes of Christ. His eyes were so full of love and compassion. It took my breath away. (Vanessa)
- Finding a family through fasting and prayer. (Ian)
- My whole mission! Feeling the Spirit with SO many members and investigators. Using music to share testimonies and to spread the gospel. (Graham)
- Seeing people’s lives change as they accept the gospel plan and start living it! 🙂 (Jacqui)
- Baptizing a 85 year old American who investigated the church for 40 years. He finally realized baptism was the first step not the last. He died 2 months after he was baptized. (Dustin)
- My investigator was told she wouldn’t last through the night. She was happy to see us missionaries come to visit her late at night. We told her about the priesthood blessings and we had faith she would be healed that night. I knew I was going to give her the blessing and she asked me to give her a blessing. Before that I prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help me say the words He would say according to His will if He were standing with her. I was speechless and had no words to say by the time I laid my hands on her head but words flooded into my head and I told her ” it is your time to leave this world but you will first come into the Lord’s fold and partake of His eternal blessings and it will be up to Him to decide when you leave this world.” (Edward)
- I had two of the best Mission Presidents a Missionary could have. (Deen)
- That experience above turned out to be a spiritual as well, when we got a chance to teach the first discussion to a medium that presided over that congregation. She was almost converted. (Timo)
- Feeling the Spirit when we had prayer circle with investigators or watching the First Vision with them. (Anonymous)
- Fasting and praying for a family that we were struggling to make an appointment with and getting invited in to teach afterwards. Another was after teaching a first discussion, we knelt down and asked the father to pray and then bowed our heads and after a couple of minutes of not wanting to pray, with encouragement he gave the most beautiful first ever prayer. (Ian)
What are some interesting facts about the London Mission?
- Many former prophets served there. (Douglas)
- Lots of hard work that requires determination and faithful service. Many of the modern day prophets served in this mission. (Tyler)
- We gained few converts. But this in no way diminished our love for the English people. Our members were extraordinary! (Michael)
- Very international mission at the time. (Timo)
- It’s the oldest one in the church. (Alison)
- In London, you find people from all over the world so you get many nationalities to teach. You are always invited to eat with people you teach…mostly the African people. English people are very polite…liked that a lot. (Ans)
- Tons of sightseeing places (and no time to see them)! Many apostles and presidents of the Church have served there, including President Hinckley who was an office elder in the mission office. (Galina)
- It is the oldest continuously operating mission in the world. Brigham Young, John Taylor, Heber C. Kimball, Gordon B. Hinckley and other notable church leaders served in my mission. (Matthew)
- ELM is the crossroads of the world. I expected Caucasian investigators. I wasn’t prepared to find that the majority of the people we taught were from other countries [Africa, Greece, China, Italy, India, France]. (Monica)
- If you served semi close to London, we could visit the different sites on preparation day. We also found the only McDonald’s on our side of the mission (north of Thames) and it was sure nice every once in a while. It rained a lot and we always had a flat with black mold growing in it! Lol We had so many different ethnicities to teach! I spent 6 months in Tottenham and we mostly taught people from Africa. If you are a sister, you will probably be proposed to at least once! (Vanessa)
- A lot of culture and history, and how great friends the British people are, once you are able to talk with them. (Ian)
- London is RIDDLED with history – so many great buildings with intriguing architecture. Stunning! (Graham)
- We were allowed to see two of the West End shows on our preparation days if you lived close to the city. Trafalgar Square. (Jacqui)
- So much history. Church related and non-church related. (Dustin)
- Culture shock and big city. Being the first from a small island and to serve in a big city like London. (Edward)
- The English had many strikes back in those days and I was there when they had a bread strike, and electricity strike, and the most interesting one was the garbage strike and the people were placing there garbage in the parks in London. (Deen)
- We had the worst ever baptismal monthly number since the days of Brigham Young. I believe it was as low as 23. We also had missionaries from 20 different countries at that time. (Timo)
- 20 sister missionaries. London East Mission was divided into London and London South Mission. (Anonymous)
- The history of the British Islands and the history of the church going to Hefershere Beacon where the British Isles where blessed for the coming forth of the gospel. (Ian)
What was the weather like?
- Hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The winters were short though. (Douglas)
- Cold, wet air will penetrate all layers of clothing regardless of your preparation to be otherwise warm and dry. Humid year round. (Tyler)
- Wet, damp, moldy, broken up by brilliant rays of sunshine. (Michael)
- Very good all the time. (Timo)
- Hot in summer, wet all year round. (Alison)
- Lots of rain, but also sunshine. A very cold winter…everything was frozen even inside our home. Sometimes very hot. (Ans)
- Really nice. Rained almost every day but wasn’t too bad. It never rained too heavy. No snow back then (now it snows). Summers were great. Never too hot. (Galina)
- Hot and muggy summers, cold and damp winters – nice in the autumn and spring. (Matthew)
- Cold and wet most of the year. Summer’s were very hot and humid. (Monica)
- Rain, rain, rain. We did have some nice sun in south end by the sea. (Vanessa)
- Rainy. (Ian)
- Wet, damp, cold to the bone in the winter. Hot in the summer. (Graham)
- We enjoyed all seasons. Cold, mild, warm, hot. (Jacqui)
- Pretty mild. Four seasons typically. A lot of overcast days. Wet. (Dustin)
- Rainy and cold all the time. (Edward)
- Humidity was piercing. I got there the first week in September and I could not get warm for the life of me. A kind Scottish landlady gave me her son’s navy duffle coat. I latter found out he had been killed in the service and that coat meant the world to me. God bless Ma Hansen. (Deen)
- Sunny, dry, wet, foggy, everything else but dry cold. (Timo)
- Lots of rain. (Anonymous)
- Rain, sometimes some light snow, but a lot of rain during the winter time. (Ian)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- What was there not to like? (Douglas)
- A lot of tradition and history. Great stories. (Tyler)
- It was a great place and I love coming back to visit. (Nate)
- It was London – coolest city in the world! (Michael)
- It was the whole world in one small mission field. (Timo)
- There was such an incredible mix of social and cultural backgrounds. (Alison)
- London is an amazing place…loved it. Some wards took you in as a ward member very nice. In some places, lots of dinners. (Ans)
- The members who were willing to work with us were great. The investigators of African descent were amazing. Both the white and the black ones. (Galina)
- The history and culture were phenomenal, the architecture is fantastic – I constantly felt like I was living in a story book all the time. The people are very reserved but once you get to know them they are warm and friendly. (Matthew)
- Gracious and diverse. Loved them all. (Monica)
- The different ethnicities and the different types of cooking. The people were wonderful. We had a lot of fun especially in Tottenham. We met in a school house instead of church building and the people were so grateful and humble. (Vanessa)
- People very helpful. (Ian)
- Everything! Their acceptance and welcoming personalities. The place = beautiful, historic. The mission is sort of split into two: Country mission and city mission. The city is very aristocratic and fast paced, with so much diversity in the culture with people from all over the world living there, whereas the country was VERY British, with family atmosphere and much slower paced. I was blessed to served about 50/50 city/country. (Graham)
- There were people from all over the world. Most were friendly. The wards were great. (Jacqui)
- History/architecture. For the most part, very friendly people but not too interested in religion. (Dustin)
- People were willing to serve and help. Some were eager to know the gospel. I served in Chelmsford…beautiful place to serve where we were always busy teaching the gospel. (Edward)
- They were polite and manners were a must. Please and thank you were just part of their vocabulary. They were generous and always wanting to feed us. They were genuinely interested in the welfare of the missionaries. (Deen)
- I loved it. (Timo)
- British humor. West Indian people were easy to fellowship but tough to commit. (Anonymous)
- The places and people are wonderful. I still keep in touch with some from my mission via places like Facebook. (Ian)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- A warm, long over coat for the winter. Good walking shoes. Don’t wear wool suits. (Douglas)
- Buy suits in the United Kingdom. Much nicer for one thing, but will be much better fit for the local weather. Same goes for a coat. The rubber overshoes are awful and you’ll not use them anyway so don’t buy them. (Tyler)
- Don’t buy Mr. Mac suits. Use duffle bags. (Nate)
- Natural fibers – wool, cotton. Synthetics will do nothing to shield you from the most penetrating cold you’ve ever felt. (Michael)
- Please wear a smile at all times. It keeps you more comfortable than anything else you can wear. (Timo)
- Layers! (Alison)
- Warm clothes and good walking shoes! (Ans)
- Buy the clothes there. Prices are reasonable, second hand stores have brand new items as well and everything is very affordable. Something waterproof to start with would be nice (like fully waterproof jacket) and lightweight umbrella. (Galina)
- You’re going to want to always carry an umbrella with you – you never know when it might start raining. (Matthew)
- For sisters: comfort over fashion. Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Clothes you can layer in the winter. Long Johns or thermals, wooly tights. Skirts are easier than dresses. (Monica)
- Raincoat for sure, a long one. Comfortable shoes sisters! We walked miles tracting and ran for a lot of buses and tubes. Sidewalks are cobblestone and not even. (Vanessa)
- Wet weather gear. (Ian)
- Waterproof! Thermal socks and underwear, warm everything. Short sleeve shirts for the summer. (Graham)
- Prepare for all weathers, but don’t bring too much, it’s a nightmare lugging it all round so much. (Jacqui)
- Water or weatherproof shoes, rain gear. (Dustin)
- Wear a rain coat and stay warm. (Edward)
- Take a warm duffle coat. (Deen)
- Nothing particular. Dr. Martin’s shoes were good for walking and Hush Puppies. (Timo)
- Rain proofed shoes and coats. Umbrellas don’t work so much because it is windy too often. (Anonymous)
- Wet weather gear for sure. (Ian)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- My testimony of Christ’s gospel. My commitment to our church leaders. (Douglas)
- Family at home was well taken care of. I was protected and kept safe. (Tyler)
- A deep appreciation for the blessings of obedience. A deep and sustaining faith in God, and in his Son. (Michael)
- I learned a new approach to events in life. I learned to love all people. (Timo)
- It prepared me to serve and lead in the church. (Alison)
- Learning to live with the Spirit and handle likewise and listen to the Spirit. Getting along with all kind of people. Meeting great people like companions. Baptisms you never forget. Especially one of them being able to speak English and translate in church, read in English. Could not do that before my mission. (Ans)
- Helped me know how to serve in all my future callings, helped me with my marriage, helped me strengthen my testimony. (Galina)
- Deepened and enriched testimony – a closeness to the Lord that has been very difficult to recapture. (Matthew)
- Perseverance. Ability to finish things – especially when it gets difficult. Firm testimony. (Monica)
- I had only been a member for 18 months so my testimony soared! I also met my husband several years later, converted him, adopted his three children and we were all sealed for eternity! I wouldn’t have really understood the plan of salvation and eternal families if it wasn’t for my mission! (Vanessa)
- Health, strength, testimony. (Ian)
- Testimony. Sure knowledge of God and how He works. (Graham)
- It’s been 23 years and still every lesson, every talk I give will be based on things I experienced and learned on my mission. The best decision a person could make. (Jacqui)
- Strengthened testimony. Foundation of my life. (Dustin)
- I met my father for the first time while serving. And married the most beautiful, loving girl in the temple I always dreamed off. (Edward)
- Innumerable, it truly was the best years of my life. I still keep in touch with friends and old companions. If you go out with the right heart to serve and do it faithfully then the growth in your own personal life will be tremendous. (Deen)
- I wish I knew. Obviously too many to count. (Timo)
- Uncountable..my friend, we could baptize and they are still active. Testimony. Learning how the Lord works. HIS love. Miracles. (Anonymous)
- Ability to speak out. (Ian)
What are some skills you gained?
- Cooking, driving on the other side of the road. Driving a stick shift. (Douglas)
- Talking to people, depending on local transportation such as buses, trains, and cabs. (Tyler)
- I learned to see people as people and that they are human. (Nate)
- I learned how to cook! (Michael)
- How to listen to the Spirit and how to listen to the people. I also learned that those two things are somehow closely related. (Timo)
- Leading music, almost riding a bike, getting along with other people. (Alison)
- Being positive always. Patience. Understanding others even if you don’t get the point. Getting along with companions who where very different than I was. (Ans)
- Leadership, organizational skills, social skills, how to handle any conversation, how to teach, how to live peacefully with any kind of person, how to have unity with the people I work with. (Galina)
- I gained a deeper knowledge of the gospel and learned to appreciate people from all corners of the world. (Matthew)
- Overcoming fear of people. (Monica)
- Public speaking, empathy, how to support our beliefs both logically and spiritually. Our minds were so enhanced with gospel understanding. (Vanessa)
- How to speak in front of groups and people I did not know. (Ian)
- Communication, how to be a husband and father, people skills, ability to talk to anyone about anything! (Graham)
- Confidence, being able to talk to people. Knowledge, you learn all the time on a mission. Patience and understanding, learning to live with someone 24 hours a day for sometimes months at a time teaches you to have genuine love and tolerance for people, good practice for when you get married! (Jacqui)
- Patients! Great preparation for marriage. (Dustin)
- Socializing with people and making them smile. (Edward)
- Confidence and the ability to be compassionate to others. When working with people be tolerant because they are just starting to grow in the gospel. Don’t expect them to be perfect. None of us are. (Deen)
- English. Tolerance towards different cultures. (Timo)
- Learning English. Working hard. Love the people. Cry and laugh with them. Empathy. How to pray and listen. How to overcome being shy. Teaching. (Anonymous)
- Preparing myself, talking, planning. (Ian)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- The scriptures better. (Douglas)
- Study more and have a stronger testimony. (Tyler)
- The importance of complete obedience, and the value of faith-driven prayer. (Michael)
- I wish I had obtained a Visa beforehand. I wish I had known the scriptures better. (Timo)
- Not to waste time. (Alison)
- How to motivate people in a better way without getting impatient. (Ans)
- I wish I knew more about the country itself. I knew nothing! (Galina)
- Your best, no matter how miserable it may seem, is good enough for the Lord. You don’t need to be a super missionary – just do your best and don’t worry about the mistakes you may make along the way. (Matthew)
- Missions are difficult. May be the hardest thing you ever do. They are not always full of spiritual experiences but those you are blessed to have make it worth it. (Monica)
- Maybe what some of the words meant….bathroom toilet…loo water closet, your not stuffed after a big meal (that meant you were pregnant) ha-ha. A better knowledge of the shoes I would need. How to spend money more wisely…also that no matter what you do, sisters will gain weight on their missions. It’s a test of putting the work first and not focusing on yourself. If you get that, you will lose it before you go home. So put away those scales! I also wished someone would have told me to have fun. It’s easy to feel inadequate because we are trying so hard to do what is right. Have fun and laugh some too! (Vanessa)
- How to speak in front of groups and people I did not know. (Ian)
- To not go in with the goal of baptisms. Go loving the people and serving. The other stuff all falls into place naturally. (Graham)
- To really think about everything you say and do while you’re a missionary. (Jacqui)
- An unbelievable mission. An amazing country full of history. London proper is a melting pot with an opportunity to meet and teach people from all over the world. (Dustin)
- That God speaks to His prophet today as he’s done in old times. (Edward)
- Discussions by heart in English. (Timo)
- London English . Couldn’t understand a word. (Anonymous)
- Wish I had the strength to speak out sooner. (Ian)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to London?
- You will love it, let yourself be obedient, and you will come home a changed person. (Douglas)
- Love the people. Forget yourself and go to work. Sin never was happiness. (Tyler)
- Trust in God. He really wants you to succeed! (Michael)
- Give it to your best and it will make you the very best you can become. (Timo)
- You’ll have 18 months/2 years to serve, and the rest of your life to think about it. Make them good thoughts. (Alison)
- Gain a strong testimony. Read the scriptures. Try to already respect all people. Be aware of how hard it can be living with someone 24 hours. (Ans)
- Just prepare to serve the Lord and be 100% obedient to whatever your leaders on your mission ask of you and this will always lead to success! Prepare by being obedient now! (Galina)
- You get out of your mission what you put into it. Follow the rules to the best of your ability – get up on time, get your studying done, be patient with your companions and work hard. (Matthew)
- It may not be the best 2 years of your life but it will be the best 2 years for your life. A mission is what you make it. Obedience matters. The Lord will bless you in the mission and throughout your life if you are obedient. (Monica)
- Just as said above, remember to have fun. Heavenly Father gave us all our emotions so we could use them. Christ had emotions, even anger. Think of when he was in the temple and saw the gambling, he knocked over tables! I’m not saying to knock out a few tables at the local fish and chips store, just remember that all emotions benefit us so use them, but not to the extreme! Lol (Vanessa)
- Study the Book of Mormon, go out with missionaries to learn how to approach people and how to share the gospel. (Ian)
- Don’t compare home to your mission. Never use the term “Where I come from, we do it like [this]”. Be open minded, loving and accepting. You will run into all walks of life from down and out homeless, to the richest of the rich. Learn to communicate with all types of people. Be real. Be honest. (Graham)
- yes, There were a lot of things I was not looking forward to starting my mission, 1. The early mornings 2. All the walking 3. Living with someone every hour of every day 4. Having to be nice to every one I would meet. 5. The early nights 6. No reading any fiction 7. No dating/flirting 8. All the strict rules BUT you soon get used to that way of life, being set apart helps you set the world as you knew it aside. You become comfortable with the rhythm of mission life. You don’t miss things as much as you thought you would. You feel a kind of peace knowing you are doing the Lord’s work. When you go home, you will miss it so much, you’ll never be the same again, (in a good way, actually in a GREAT way. (Jacqui)
- An unbelievable mission. An amazing country full of history. London proper is a melting pot with an opportunity to meet and teach people from all over the world. (Dustin)
- BE OBEDIENT AND HAVE FUN SERVING GOD’S CHILDREN. “Serving a mission is not about you. It’s about seeing others progress in the gospel,” Elder Andersen. (Edward)
- Read the scriptures. Go to the temple often before entering Mission Training Center. Meet with missionaries for joint teaches. Serve. (Anonymous)
- Prepare, study your scriptures as you may find yourself speaking with others with a strong Bible knowledge base and the Spirit will help you answer their questions if you have taken the time to prepare and listen to the Spirit. (Ian)
What was a funny language mistake?
- Using the word pants on the bus. I realized later that is the word for women’s underwear. (Douglas)
- I made the mistake of calling people “mate” even if we weren’t mates (friends). The older generation typically gets mad about this misuse of language. Learn the language and use it properly. (Tyler)
- Pants. Say nothing about Pants! And the Telly is TV, not the phone. Really! (Michael)
- I didn’t pass my Discussions within a month, although it was required 🙂 I never went to the Mission Training Center before my mission. It was not available for us Europeans. My native language is as far from English as Mandarin Chinese. (Timo)
- Haha. I made them all the time. Especially teaching the law of chastity. (Ans)
- In my greenie area, my companion and I lived with a member of our ward. The bed I slept on pulled down from the wall. My first morning there our landlord asked how I found the bed (meaning: what did you think of the bed?) and I told him that my companion showed me where it was. My landlord just gave me a funny look and it wasn’t until some time later that I realized what it was that he was asking me. (Matthew)
- Saying I was stuffed and that meant I was pregnant, which I definitely was not! (Vanessa)
- I came from a British background so had no problem but many companions made the mistake of saying they were stuffed after eating at members homes. Stuffed in England meant you were pregnant. (Ian)
- Asking for a “sheet” of paper, my Portuguese companion asked for some other kind of paper. (Graham)
- One day in one of our areas, we had just got home for lunch, when the doorbell rang, when we opened the door a guy stood there and just started making all these clicking clucking noises. When we asked him, he said that he had been talking in tongues and was testing us to see if we would recognize it!!! SO FUNNY! 🙂
- I pulled a prank on my companion that a woman was on the phone and wanted to speak to him. But before I came into the area, I was told the woman proposed marriage to him. So I pretend that she was on the phone and eager to talk to him. Gosh, he freaked out 😆. (Edward)
- Didn’t know how to say daughter properly. Likewise with v and w. (Timo)
- My bike was broken and I asked for toys to fix it instead of tools. (Anonymous)
- Many American missionaries said after eating a big dinner at a members house, “I am stuffed”. Which in England means pregnant. (Ian)