Leading by Example

Leaders in the St Austell Ward, Plymouth Stake, decided  they would set an example by participating in Make a Difference Day on Saturday, 17 October 1998. The bishop, a counsellor, the ward historian, the ward clerk, the ward physical facilities representative, the elders quorum president, two missionaries, and others formed a hardworking team that cleaned the grounds of Carclaze Infants School. They cleaned out concrete water channels submerged in silt and carried the silt to nearby shrubs, plants, and trees to aid in their growth. Additionally, all drain covers were removed and the drains cleaned out. When the brethren finished, the grounds looked neat and clean. - Clive Payne, St Austell Ward, Plymouth Stake

A Winning Clown

While on a tour of US cities in April 1998, Derek Brazil, a recently retired professional clown, was presented with a key to the city of Winchester, Indiana, by Major Jack Fowler. Brother Brazil of the Trowbridge Branch, Bristol Stake, was in the States to attend the world clown association convention held in Lowell, Massachusetts, in late March.

After the ceremony Brother Brazil was given a tour of the city, interviewed by the press, and featured on local radio. Know professionally as Zilly, Derek was in Winchester to perform with his protégé Peggy Burns, who is grateful for Derek's influence in the creation of her own routines.

Brother Brazil has worked in many parts of the world, including Israel and America, and given freely of his time to help charities. For the past seven years he has been one of the resident clowns for Dream Flight, travelling as an escort for children. He has also given time to an English charity that sends seriously ill children on holiday to Disney World in Florida.

Brother Brazil has been a member of the Church for 30 years, and he and his wife, Barbara, are currently serving a mission at the London Temple. - Thomas Sage, Trowbridge Branch, Bristol Stake

Bishop Recovers after Accident

In January 1998, Bishop Ian Govier of the Swansea Second Ward, Merthyr Tydfil Stake, was involved in a serious accident when a 15-year-old rammed a stolen car into Bishop Govier's auto. Bishop Govier, who works as a nurse, sustained injuries so massive that his colleagues at Morriston Hospital despaired for his life. He spent five days in a coma, and during the ensuing months he underwent a number of operations, some to repair heart damage. Ward members were deeply concerned.

Bishop Govier, who is serving as a bishop of the ward for the second time, first heard about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1976, when his Welsh chapel singing group was asked to perform in a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse. This opportunity changed young Ian's life. The people he met impressed him greatly, and one young lady named Stephanie captured his heart. He continued to make friends with Church members and took part in their production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury. It was a year before anyone mentioned the missionary discussions to him. His parents gave their consent for him to learn about the Church, and six weeks later he was baptised.

Ian served a mission in Scotland in 1979, where he came to love the country and its people. In 1982, a year after his return, he and Stephanie were married in Swansea. He served as a teacher, Young Men adviser, and high councillor before being called to serve as bishop of the Swansea Ward for the first time.

Bishop Govier decided to enter the medical profession as a nurse, and in 1986 he passed his exams. He decided to specialise in caring for patients who have been badly burned and spent nine months studying at a hospital in East Grinstead that is famous for plastic surgery performed on servicemen from the Second World War. in 1991 he obtained his bachelor's degree in nursing and is currently studying for a master of science degree. Bishop Govier, a father of three, is also a commissioned officer in the medical service of the Territorial Army.

On 21 June 1998, after six months of recovery from the automobile accident, he was able to return to his duties as bishop. Ward members welcomed him with an outpouring of love. He also returned to his duties of running the burn unit in Morriston Hospital. Despite all, he does not harbour a spirit of revenge against the driver of the stolen vehicle. The local newspaper published and article about his forgiving attitude, which prompted many people from South Wales to write with offers of help. - Elena Neale, Swansea Second Ward, Merthyr Tydfil Stake

A Long Road to Conversion

Derek Murray, today a member of the Swansea Second Ward, Merthyr Tydfil Stake, spent many years studying and preaching religion before finding the Church.

In the 1980s, Derek visited a relative in Portland, Oregon, United States. His relative, who was attending Bible College, invited him along. Derek joined him and soon became a professional preacher in a Pentecostal church. He joined a group travelling preachers on a circuit, and though he spent six months travelling and preaching with them, he felt uncomfortable. Derek left and returned to Swansea.

Once again Derek visited a relative, this time in Zimbabwe, and was hailed as a preacher in the native church services. Finding the local inhabitants eager to hear the word of God, he began spending three months of every year visiting Zimbabwe - until he ran out of money.

Back home in Swansea, he noticed one day that missionaries were in his garden seeking shelter from the rain. He invited them indoors, and eight weeks later was baptised. The atmosphere in the ward meetings and the warm welcome Derek received helped confirm that he had found the true church.

Derek serves as a stake missionary and as a home teacher in the Swansea Second Ward.