Family History Open House

Members of the Merthyr Tydfil Ward, Merthyr Tydfil Stake, held a family history open day on 10 October 1998. Family history director Phil James reported 600 in attendance, 500 of whom were non-members. Members manned information stalls sponsored by family history societies from counties in South Wales.

"It was a good to be of service to the community," said Bishop Glenn Mahoney. "Our ward mission leader gave out 100 copies of Truth Restored as well as 200 copies of the proclamation on the family."

Two lectures were given during the day, one on Welsh patronymics (family names) and one on the history of surnames. The latter was of special interest to Family History Centre™ workers, as they often receive letters asking something like: "My name is Jones and my family came from Wales. Can you help me trace my lineage?" The lecturer pointed out that in England, the 10 most commonly used surnames account for only 5 percent of the population, but in Wales that figure is 56 percent. - Morgan Evans, Merthyr Tydfil Ward, Merthyr Tydfil Stake

Success in Spanish

Gemma Williams of the Exeter Ward, Plymouth Stake, returned home from her summer holiday to learn that she had passed her A-level in Spanish, which she had taken in May 1998, a year early for her college studies, and found that she was ranked among the top five candidates in the United Kingdom. Letters of congratulations arrived from Exeter College, where she is currently a student, and from the secretary of the examinations board.

The Exeter Express and Echo requested an interview and permission to take photographs. Speaking to the reported, Gemma credited her success, in part, to having a mother from Valladolid, Spain. One of only two students in Exeter to rank among the top five in the country in an A-level examination this year, Gemma studies A-levels in psychology and French and is working towards a degree in information technology.

Gemma attends early-morning seminary in the Exeter Ward, coaches at the Olympic Gymnastics Club, and works as a part-time sales assistant. After completing her studies at Exeter College, Gemma hopes to read Spanish and French at university. - Marjorie Thomas, Exeter Ward, Plymouth Stake

A Night to Remember

Although Halloween night was dark, and wet, nearly 300 members left their warm and comfortable homes to get together in the Swansea meetinghouse cultural hall for a concert and stage show sponsored by the Merthyr Tydfil Stake. Many members from Newcastle-Emlyn, Neath, Llanelli, Pontypridd, Merthyr, and Swansea sang and danced their way through the evening. The final act of the evening was performed by Ria Berry and friends from Swansea.

Enjoying the light and merry atmosphere, both the audience and performers found themselves caught up in the fun. - Elena Neale, Swansea Second Ward, Merthyr Tydfil Stake

A New Beginning

Dale Wood of the Gloucester Ward, Cheltenham Stake, participated in a multifaith celebration held at Gloucester Cathedral on 19 April 1998. The celebration promoted solidarity against racism. Among the many religious faiths represented were Anglican, Baha'i, Buddhist, Muslim, Sikh, Jewish, Unitarian, and United Reformed Church. Each representative had five minutes to address the assembly.

Brother Wood opened his address by quoting:

I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
("I Am a Child of God," Hymns no. 301)

He went on to say that if we accept that each of us is a child of God, then we are brothers and sisters of the same Heavenly Father. He quoted from Hebrews 12:9 "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"

Brother Wood also quoted from the Doctrine and Covenants: "Every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple. Accordingly, all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color" (Official Declaration 2).

From the eleventh article of faith Brother Wood quoted, "We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may." He said it is given to us to love all people whatever their race, faith, or colour.

Brother Wood then concluded his remarks with an original verse:

Some are black, some are white,
Some are sort of yellow too.
And many, many more there are,
Who are just a bit like you.

The Church received an invitation to continue its involvement with other churches, which will help create a better awareness of the Church in Gloucester. - Jennifer Mason, Gloucester Ward, Cheltenham Stake