A Letter From the Mission President

To the Parents of Missionaries and Missionaries in the ENGLAND LONDON MISSION:

As the Mission Leaders in this great mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we send to you our love and our prayers during this important hour. The COVID-19 virus, also known worldwide as the Coronavirus, continues to spread through every nation and continent in the world. In Europe, France has just announced a 15-day lockdown, where people are restricted from being out anywhere; Spain is also in the top 5 of total diagnosed cases; and Italy, as you know, is in very difficult straits as they struggle to contain the second-most cases in the world after only China. To say the least, Europe is under pressure to take steps to contain the spread of this virus.

As for our beloved England--where we serve together with what has been a remarkable group of missionaries and senior missionaries--we have been making many changes and taking action to protect our missionaries as the virus spreads throughout this “green and pleasant land.” In the last week, we have sent home almost all of our senior missionaries and temple missionaries, as well as many full-time proselyting missionaries. Here is what we have been doing:
  1. Sadly, we said goodbye for now to 26 senior missionaries and sent them home on Saturday, the 14th of March. They were great pillars of support in our mission, and we love them so very much--but President Nelson sent us a clear message on Thursday afternoon last week that our first priority was to get all of them home. At the last minute, the Area Presidency asked us to keep one couple in our office who had one year left on their term (the Hartvigsens) as well as our mission doctor and his wife (the Sumkos) to continue to support the health and well-being of all our missionaries. We also have one couple for the largest YSA ward in Europe, the Heningers. We cannot say enough about their willingness to stay as we adjust to this “new norm.”
  2. Missionaries who serve in the London Temple are missionaries from the England London Mission. Although our interactions were limited, we were sad to send home 27 senior temple missionaries on Saturday as well. The London Temple is closed for the next two weeks and then open for only limited living ordinances. We so appreciate the leadership of our temple president, President Irwin.
  3. Tearfully, we have now sent home 15 young missionaries with health concerns--from seven different countries. This was high adventure as many people are trying to get to their homes across the world. With London Heathrow and Gatwick being among the busiest airports, we are grateful that all have arrived home safely.
  4. Now for what we have done here in England: on February 29th, we put forward a “no touching, hand-shaking, hugging” policy during our mission-wide conference with Elder and Sister Patrick Kearon of the Presidency of the Seventy. At that same gathering, missionaries were given a sturdy zipper bag with a thermometer and masks to use if they feel ill. With the bag, funds were also given to shop for a list of food items to sustain them for 72 hours in their flats. We have followed that up by encouraging constant handwashing and use of hand sanitizer, which was given to each missionary in February zone conferences.
  5. Most recently, “social distancing,” including the cancellation of Church services, zone conferences, district councils, overnight missionary exchanges, and the overall avoidance of any large crowd, has all been put in place in the ELM. Yesterday--Monday--each companionship received significant additional funds and a list of items to purchase to sustain them for two weeks. This is in case England goes into lockdown mode to stop further spread of the virus. In that situation, missionaries would be given a list of activities, including outside exercise and inside on-line proselyting and other ideas to keep them engaged in their missionary purpose.

    Now--for what is next--we will be doing virtual zone conferences, on-line interviews using Facebook, and regular check-ins with our companionships, especially new missionaries as they adjust to this unique missionary life. We will avoid larger gatherings of any kind (like zone P-days), but missionaries are able to go out and talk to people in the streets and visit members in homes that are unaffected.

    Parents, many of you may want to send goodies or supplies to your missionary. Your options are as follows:

    --The safest option is to continue to send letters and packages to the mission office. That address is:    

                        Missionary Name
                        England London Mission
                        64-68 Princes Gate
                        Exhibition Road
                        London, SW7 2PA

    We will then do a weekly delivery to zone leaders and sister training leaders, who can distribute these items.

    --The other option is to get the direct address from your missionary and send to their address, keeping in mind that this address could change in as little as a few weeks.

    --And…in a major announcement, Sister Checketts has ordered for quick delivery enough UNO Card sets for each companionship in the event of a lock-down!

    My Dear Missionaries and Parents in The England London Mission, this is a remarkable time. It is a time when many who have hardened their hearts to learning more about The God in Heaven and His Son and Our Savior will be more open to the message of The Restoration. It is a time to draw upon the Gift of Faith, given to us as a reward for our personal righteousness.

    We will not take unnecessary risks or be unwise in our activities, but we will “trust in the Lord will all [our] heart[s]--and lean not unto [our] own understanding.” In all our ways we will acknowledge Him, “and He shall direct [our] paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

    In conclusion, let us share some thoughts given by Lloyd K. Newell at BYU in 2014:

    The Lord’s message to you today is the same message He sent through His angels so long ago: “Fear not.” He can say that because He knows more than we do. He sees what we cannot see. He knows what is coming, and, in the eternal scheme of things, it is not as bad as we may think. He knows that we can handle it with His help because He knows how to strengthen and succor us.

    Most of all, He tells us not to fear because He knows that fear will paralyze us. It will keep us from knowing and doing His will; accepting His blessings, His love, and His light; and fulfilling His purposes. President Howard W. Hunter said:

    Fear . . . is a principal weapon in the arsenal that Satan uses to make mankind unhappy. He who fears loses strength for the combat of life in the fight against evil. Therefore, the power of the evil one always tries to generate fear in human hearts. . . .

    . . . A timid, fearing people cannot do their work well, and they cannot do God’s work at all. Latter-day Saints have a divinely assigned mission to fulfill that simply must not be dissipated in fear and anxiety.

    Satan wants us to give in to fear. God wants us to hold on to hope.

    One of my favorite scriptures is 2 Timothy 1:7. It reads, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Using these words as a framework, let us explore together how power, love, and a sound mind serve as antidotes for fear.

    May the Lord bless and keep you and your families safe and well. We pray for you all every day. We love you.

    Deborah and David Checketts
    England London Mission

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