Turning Back the Clocks

    Preston, England is a very important place in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was here that the first missionaries sent to Europe came. They traveled into Liverpool and then made their way up to Preston to preach the gospel. We were able to have a tour of important church history sites by the architect of the Preston Temple. We saw the apartments where the first missionaries stayed, the spot where they first started meeting for church that was outside of member’s homes, the river that the first new converts were baptized and the spot that missionaries would preach in the town center. At one point, 5,000 people gathered to hear them speak. 7,000-9,000 people went to the first baptism to watch too. It was incredible to hear the stories of these early members. 
    My favorite part was hearing our tour guide talk about his personal experience. 25 years ago, when he was the Bishop of the Preston ward, they were planning a 150th anniversary of the church beginning in Preston and he sent a letter inviting Gordon B. Hinckley to the celebration. At the time, President Hinckley was the first counselor in the First Presidency. To the Bishop’s surprise, President Hinckley accepted the invitation. Upon arrival, before visiting church history sites President Hinckley told the Bishop that he had somewhere to take him. They arrived Wodham Street. President Hinckley then pointed to the second house on the left, number 15, and said that was the house he stayed in for most of his time as a missionary when he had served 50 years earlier. He went up to the house, knocked on the door, explained the situation and was invited in. President Hinckley said that it was in the second floor room with the bay window that he received the infamous letter from his dad when he was struggling. His dad wrote, “forget yourself and go to work.” It was in that room that he knelt, prayed and dedicated his life to the mission and the gospel. It was amazing to sit there and look at the house, just an ordinary house, but imagine the significance it had on President Hinckley’s life as well on the world. 
    Now we are in Ambleside which is a part the Lake District. It is absolutely beautiful here. We are across the street from a lake, in an adorable little town. And of course we are watching the Olympics. How could we not?

 Outside the Preston Temple. 

 Second house in is where President Hinckley stayed while a missionary.

 Where the first missionaries stayed.

 Ribble River where the first converts in Britain were baptized.

Our cute hotel we are staying in. It is so adorable here.