Mathew West Wins Scouting Awards

The year 2000 was eventful for 19-year-old Mathew West of the Truro Branch in the Plymouth Stake. It started in March with a trip to London, where, in the medieval splendour of the Guildhall, he was presented with the Queen's Scout Award by the Chief Scout, George Purdy. The following month Mathew was at Windsor Castle, where he had been invited to take part in the annual St George's Day parade. Mathew, who has been a member of the 18th Truro (St George's) Scout Group since the age of eight, then set as his goal the major Scouting award, the Explorer Belt, only achieved in living memory by two other Cornish Scouts.

To accomplish this goal, he completed an international expedition comprising a 100-mile hike, a preplanned major project, and 10 surprise projects requiring initiative, teamwork, resourcefulness, and endurance - as much in the planning as in the actual event. Mathew and his five travelling companions chose to travel to Norway. Fundraising, project research, and fitness training all had to be fitted round a full time job to raise for his mission, a management training course, home teaching, and his duties as Young Men president for his branch.

In August, it all came together when the group flew out to Torp airport, where they were met by Bishop Rolf Isaksen, of Skien Ward, who provided inestimable help in making travel and camping arrangements in Norway. The expedition proved a wonderful experience and a good missionary tool, for Mathew was the only Church member in his group. He is currently continuing his missionary efforts, having accepted the call to serve in the Germany Munich Mission. - Ros West, Truro Branch, Plymouth Stake

Helston Ward Makes a Difference

The contribution by members of the Helston Ward, in the Plymouth Stake, to Make a Difference Day on 28 October 2000 involved the clearing of the grounds around the community hall at Nancegollan, near Helston in Cornwall. The hall is an old Methodist chapel and is surrounded still by a graveyard, so work included clearing around the headstones, cutting the long grass, and giving the grounds a general cleanup. Fortunately, one of the members has a gardening contracting business and kindly lent the necessary tools for the job. - Richard Topham, Helston Ward, Plymouth Stake

Historical Sites Pamphlet No. 9 is Available

The largest concentration of LDS converts of the 1840-41 mission of the Council of the Twelve in Britain came from the area around Ledbury, primarily in Herefordshire, but extending towards Gloucester and Worcester. Here, where Wilford Woodruff came into contact with the United Brethern, stands the restored chapel at Gadfield Elm. At Castle Frome lived the Benbows, on whose farm many were baptised by Wilford Woodruff. Nearby in Dymock is the important site where Brigham Young healed Mary Pitt, who had been an invalid for many years. Herefordshire Beacon on the Malvern Hills is where, at British Camp, Brigham Young, Willard Richards and Wilford Woodruff sought the Lord's guidance to publish the Book of Mormon and a hymnbook in Britain.