Tag: christianity

Returning Missionaries

Senior Missionaries

Catherine and Tim Frodsham, 12 May, 2025

We hear of more and more missionaries who are returning early from their missions. According to Jana Riess, that number is approaching 30%. I don’t have statistics on the number of returned missionaries going inactive, but those numbers are rising as well. Why?

Here are some thoughts, not backed in any way by studies or statistics, just my personal experiences. When I returned from my mission 50 years ago, the culture and values of the church were not very different from the societal values and culture of the day. If our values were not accepted by society, at least in general, they were respected.

Missionaries today are returning to an environment when traditional marriage is on the wane, and in many cases mocked. Cultural values are the very antithesis gospel values. We as friends and fellow members need to be actively engaged in welcoming these missionaries home. We need to accept them, integrate them into ward membership and activity, and to love them.

The church is being attacked on multiple fronts, from monetary policy to church history, blacks and the priesthood, the LDS concept of the Godhead, polygamy, the Book of Mormon and even the concept of gender.

America was built on the concept of equality. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (The Declaration of Independence).

In this divinely inspired document, equal was equality in opportunity, equal treatment by the government and in the law. Within this framework, all were free to utilize and magnify their diverse talents and ability. Today, the emphases has shifted from equality to equity. All outcomes must be the same and there is no room for diversity in thought or belief. It is amazing to me how often the great deceiver promotes his failed plan to “save all” and keep the glory, and how compelling that plan appears to so many. Returning missionaries struggle with this and other tactics of the adversary which have gained so much traction in today’s society.

The tide of morality is ebbing and the ten commandments are regarded as obsolete in today’s culture. Many of the doctrines and practices of the church are seen as intolerant, and the arguments of acceptance, tolerance, diversity and equity seem compelling, especially to one who is struggling with the churches seemingly unyielding positions on agency, sin and doctrine. Returning missionaries have to contend with this prophesied perversion of right and wrong. More than ever, they need our strength, support and love.

Images from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Modern technology has been a two edged sword. Social media has isolated us as much as it has brought us closer together. Algorithms designed to cater to our thoughts, tastes and desires are designed to keep us online as long as possible by stroking egos and feeding us information that reinforces views espoused by social media moguls. The bitter political and moral divide, fueled by the internet and social media, pits family members against each other also places us at odds with the Church and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The adversary is working as never before to separate us from our Lord and Savior. The technology he uses to lure us away from a celestial life was not created for that purpose. It was created by our loving God to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and bring families together across the veil. The fact that Lucifer hijacks this technology does not mean he owns it.

Returned missionaries have a vast array of resources available to them to strengthen testimony and transition to post-mission life. The church has such programs as “my plan for returned missionaries”, leaders who are trained and care about the the sons and daughters of god under their care, and for every anti-Mormon website there are a plethora of resources to build knowledge, faith and testimony. To start, go to churchofjesuschrist.org and search for “Returned Missionaries” or “Early Returned Missionaries”. All can help them find and use these resources.

Society is not simply drifting, it is accelerating towards evil. There is a constant re-hash of anti-Mormon sentiment on the internet and social media. In addition there is more openness about the humanity of our church leaders, past and present. All of this forms a perfect storm for a crisis of faith.

In this toxic, noisy, intolerant environment, one cannot simply drift. During Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life, he struggled through darkness before arriving at the tree:

1 Nephi 8:5 And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.

6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.

7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.

8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.

Lehi had an Angel of the Lord to guide him through the darkness. Most of us, me most definitely included, do not have the faith he had to summon an angel, but the Lord, in his tender mercy, planned even for the least of us:

1 Nephi 8:19 And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.

21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.

23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.

24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

In the history of mankind, the mists of darkness have never been greater. Throughout history, the adversary has attacked the church through violence, with former saints leading the charge. Today, he has augmented his tactics, using God given technology to twist the truth, deny the faith, and lead an army of apostates to denounce His kingdom through lies, doubts and fear. His attack is fiercest on those most detrimental to his kingdom. Serving and returning missionaries.

Missionaries must prepare themselves before their missions, and returning missionaries must work to maintain and grow their faith and testimonies. Yes, leaders and programs are not perfect. Yes, they will be tried, offended, bewildered and confused and at times, simply lost in the mists of darkness. They must remember to doubt our doubts, use the resources available to us to search for truth and cling to the iron rod the Lord has so purposefully prepared for these latter days. We as members and friends need to be sensitive to the struggles these returning missionaries face, and to project the love that the Savior Jesus Christ has for them.

We have returned home and joined that ever increasing throng of returned missionaries. We love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We love this restored church, led by Apostles and Prophets called and ordained through priesthood power. Fifty years ago, I served as a young missionary. Catherine and I have both served temple missions and we are now completing a senior mission together.

We served for nine months in Lyon France, strengthening members, teaching leaders and specialists about the self-reliance and emotional resilience programs. We spent the last nine months of our mission in Athens, Greece, shepherding the humanitarian work so desperately needed there. We have been blessed to serve with people of many denominations and all walks of life, who follow the Light of Christ in the service of their fellow man. Their example has humbled and inspired us. Our prayer now is that this great work will continue and the donations of the members of the church, great and small, will continue to bless and improve the lives of all in this historic land.

All missionaries, seniors in particular, must invent their mission. The Lord never tells in minute detail what we must do. As a result, missions can be tumultuous, but the rewards of seeking inspiration, serving Him full time and leaving our comfort zone small in the rear view mirror, are vast. For a time, we leave the world, and returning home from such a spiritual oasis is a change, even a shock, but is a bold and beautiful step for each of us.

Welcome home.

Tags bible, christianity, faith, jesus, missions, returned-missionaries

Mission

Our Ukrainian Refugee Friends

Post author By Catherine Frodsham
Post date May 3, 2025
No Comments on Our Ukrainian Refugee Friends

Catherine Frodsham 3 May 2025

This is Tatiana and Ilya Chekaramit. They are Ukrainian refugees that live in Athens Greece. He has a doctorate in Agriculture Science. They lost their large home and their farm in the Ukraine war. They live in a very small one bedroom apartment with two small single beds, a little desk, an old computer, three small old wooden chairs, one shelf, a little sink in a kitchen closet area, a drawer with a zip lock bag of old pictures, one small fridge and a hot plate. They have no table for meals, no TV and no music.

They don’t speak Greek or English. They are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints and have been sealed together. Our Athens branch had a temple trip and 4 people went with our Senior sisters. They went. They were so happy to go.

I remember one Sunday maybe a month after we came from Lyon, France, we were still getting to know the branch members. It was a fast & testimony meeting. Ilya got up and walked up to the front and he didn’t stay at the pulpit, he stood behind the half wall in front of where the branch presidency sits. He bore his testimony in Ukrainian. I was not even aware of that because I just assumed it was Greek. Brother Price stood up after and started to sob and he said we just witnessed a miracle. I asked Bro. Price what he meant and he told me after the meeting that these two wonderful Ukrainian Refugees come every Sunday and they don’t understand Greek or English or any other language. They understand their covenants. We had witnessed a miracle in our little Athens branch.

Family photos. All they were able to save from the war

They understood the importance of the sacrament and partaking of the sacrament each Sunday. I would watch for them to come through the door. If I was playing the keyboard they would come and give me a hug before taking their seats. I LOVE THEM. We communicated – not through words but through love. I knew they loved me, and they knew I loved them.

Ilya had a stroke a few weeks ago. While Tim and Elder Kanellis went to his hospital room to give him a blessing, I waited with Tatiana in the waiting area, and we talked through google translate on our phones. It was so hard because some words do not translate so we knew, kind of, what each other was saying.

Luckily Ilya has recovered enough to go home. He can walk some, but he is very weak. It is too hard to come to church so the missionaries take the sacrament when they can. It is a harder life here in Greece. Most of our members do not have cars. Everyone has to walk, take buses or the metro to church. It even takes us an hour to drive to the metro and then go all the way down in Athens to church. It is a struggle for all members to get to church.

Tim and I went to say goodbye to Brother and Sister Chekaramit last week. Our mission is coming to an end, and we are going home. My heart hurt seeing the conditions they live in. They were so happy to see us and had us come in. Since they only had three chairs…Ilya pulled up a plastic stool and sat on that. We had brought food for them, and I helped Tatiana put it away. She was telling me about her big house and now look where we are and she smiled and shrugged her shoulders like, Oh well!

I am in awe of these stalwart pioneers. No matter what, they hold on to their testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ. They keep their temple covenants and their baptismal covenants. They love others. They are happy and know who they are. They know God loves them and that possessions are not what brings happiness. They are grateful for their lives and know they will live with Heavenly Father again if they endure to the end.

I want to be just like them. I love this son and daughter of God. I will always remember them and will look for them when we all return to our Heavenly Father. I am grateful to call Tatiana and Ilya, our eternal friends.

Tags bible, christianity, church, faith, Greece, jesus, Missionary work, temple, testimony, ukraine

Mission

Easter in Greece

Tim Frodsham

For my family, the celebration of Easter has always been an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, Easter baskets Sunday morning and a special Easter program at church. The real celebration in the west is Christmas. Weeks, or even months before December 25, we begin our selection of Christmas presents, choose a tree and decorate it as a family. Christmas letters, Christmas cards, gifts, baked goods and other treats to neighbors and fellow saints at their doorstep. Christmas hymns and talks at church throughout the month and the preparation and delight of Christmas morning.

Christmas in Greece

Eastern or Greek Orthodox Christians do it differently. Christmas is a subdued affair compared to the western commercialized extravaganza from October through December, although there are strong traditions. Christmas celebrations in Greece run from 6 December, the name day of St Nicholas, to 6 January, the Epiphany or baptism of Jesus.

The Karavaki involves decorating a wooden boat instead of a Christmas tree. Greece is a maritime nation, and the boat symbolizes the prayer for the sailors to return safely home.

Kallikantzaroi are evil spirits that appear during the 12 days of Christmas, from 25 December to 6 January. They climb down the chimneys to instigate their own kind of mischief. To foil them, a yule fire is kept burning the entire 12 days.

Agios Vassilis or Saint Basil is the Greek version of Santa Claus and is tasked with bringing presents to the children. His birthday is 1 January, which makes for an interesting New Year, Christmas mix.

Kalanta are Greek Christmas carols which are sung Christmas Eve by the youth, in the streets and door to door. The expectation is to give them a little cash for their performance. We did not know this our Christmas in Greece, and I am sure there are a few youth disappointed in those stingy foreigners.

Smashing the Pomegranate. When leaving for church services on New Years, the husband puts a pomegranate in his pocket. He re-enters the house, right foot first, then turns around and smashes the pomegranate in front of the house. The bigger the splash and the better the seeds spread, the better the new year will be.

Some of the traditional breads and treats prepared during the Christmas season are Christopsomo or Christ’s bread, Vasilopita or St Basil’s cake. Cookies such as Melomakarona, Kourampiedes, Melomakarona and Kourampiedes.

The Epiphany is the final celebration of the Christmas season which commemorates the baptism of Jesus.

In General, Christmas celebrations are powerful, but subdued. Other than the Christmas singing on Christmas Eve, we did not see a large outward expression of Christmas. The big celebration is Easter

Easter

Much of the Easter description and some of the pictures below are borrowed from a presentation by our Mission President, David Nelson. The Easter celebration begins well before Easter Sunday.

First is Apokries, which essentially means, “No More Meat.” It is a 3-week prelude to the 40-day Great Lent prior to Easter. Lent is a time of solemnity and fasting, so the Apokries is a time of indulgence: Eat, Drink, & Be Merry! Costumes and masks offer anonymity and freedom of expression. These festivities date back to Ancient Greek feasts organized to honor Dionysus, god of wine, fun and fertility, as a celebration of spring and nature’s rebirth. Red and white Easter bracelets are worn through March, then put on a tree on April 1st and hang on a tree branch for birds to use to make their nests.

Τσικνοπέμπτη or “Thursday of the Smoke of Grilled Meat” is a BBQ feast where the Greeks roast a pig. This occurs the Thursday of the second week of Apokries. Lent is considered meat-free (but not dairy-free), Wednesday and Friday are days of fasting in the Greek- Orthodox Christian tradition, this makes Tsiknopempti one of the last opportunities for people to eat meat. The last two Saturdays of Apokries and the first Saturday of Lent are also times to remember the dead.

Clean Monday: 40 days before Easter, begins the days of Lent. It is a traditional day of house cleaning, began when women would clean their pots of grease from cooked meat, in preparation for the Lent fast. This is also a day for flying kites. We saw stores filled with colorful kites, though not many were flown while we were in Greece because of the weather.

Images of Kira Sarakosti (Lady Lent) from David Nelson

Children bake or paint the figure of a seven legged women, then break of a leg each of the seven weeks till Easter. The last leg is cut on Holy Saturday and hidden in a dried fig or walnut. The one receiving it is lucky.

Lazarakia, sweet, spicy Lenten bread. From David Nelson

Eight days before Easter, is Lazarus Saturday, celebrating the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Tradition holds that in order to escape Jewish persecution, he fled to Larnica on Cypress. His traditional burial sight is the Church of St Lazarus and there are unique celebrations on Cypress for this day.

Holy Week

Palm Sunday, celebrates the Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem. Greeks are allowed to eat fish on this day, commemorating the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

Tuesday of Holy Week, Athenians gather to hear the Hymn of Kassiani, or Hymn of the Fallen Woman. It is heard only once a year.

On Holy Wednesday, children go out to gather grape leaves from the freshly budded vines.

On Holy Thursday, these grape leaves are used to make dolmadakia, which is rice wrapped in the leaves. Greeks may also visit a church for a small bottle of olive oil which has been blessed. They then apply this oil to their children’s hands, feed, forehead, etc.

Children dye hard boiled eggs red. The egg symbolizes the sealed tomb, and the red signifies the blood of Christ. One egg is saved until the next Easter season. On Saturday, last year’s is taken to the church and cracked. The prosperity you will see the next year depends on how well the egg was preserved. Also on Thursday, They make butter cookies called Koulourakia and breads called Tsourekia and Tsourekakia. These are not to be eaten before the end of Saturday.

Holy Thursday evening is the longest service of the year, depicting one of the darkest times in the world. It consists of a reading of 12 lessons depicting the crucifixion and burial of Christ.

On Good Friday is a candle lit procession through the streets, following the “Κουβούκλειο” (Kouvoukleio) depicting the coffin of Christ.

It starts inside the church where a picture or statue of the crucified Christ is lowered into the coffin. It is then taken outside the church for a procession through the streets, with men, women and children following with candles.

Great Saturday is the day between the crucifixion and resurrection and is the day for the tradition of the “Holy Fire” in Jerusalem. for 1200 years, tradition has that divine light descends into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Today, the “Holy Fire” is distributed by air to all Eastern Orthodox nations from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and is then brought to each parish before the day is over. People gather before midnight at their church, most waiting outside. The flame is brought out, usually into a darkened cathedral, and the fire is spread from candle to candle. People then pour out of the cathedral to light the candles of those waiting outside, so all are lit before midnight. At the stroke of midnight, the day of the resurrection, fireworks and music celebrate the coming day.

Almost as impressive is the stream of people, walking to their homes carefully preserving their lit candles. The flame from the candle will be kept burning for days, weeks and even months to remember what happened in the tomb Easter morning.

Easter day is for celebration. Families gather for traditional meals, games and family time. After our church services, I enjoyed a traditional Greek Easter meal with family in our building.

Young Lamb or Goat is roasted along with kokoretsi (lamb offal, or parts of the liver, heart, kidneys and tongue, wrapped in the intestines). As I walked home from the metro station, I saw families, out in their yards, turning the lamb or goat and the kokoretsi. It is definitely an acquired taste.

For many Greeks, these traditions are their only link to knowledge and faith in their Savior. Their faith requires little other veneration and works other than these Christmas and Easter traditions. There is much more to say about Greek Christmas and Easter traditions, but our focus here is to show the power of these traditions in the lives of the Greek people, and how tradition can strengthen and maintain our own faith.

Family Traditions

As a family, we built traditions through the years. We held a simple shepherd’s meal Christmas Eve. Placing a sheet on the living room floor, we brought out simple foods, crackers, cheese, figs and other dried fruit. My children looked forward to that as a highlight of the Christmas season and brought the tradition into their own families. We focused on giving, baking gifts for friends and neighbors, serving and being mindful of others. My eldest daughter’s most powerful memories are from just such an experience.

For Easter, we followed the normal traditions of Easter, egg hunts, the Easter bunny and of course, church services, but as I have watched the Greek people celebrate the resurrection, I wish we had done more.

Traditions are powerful. One of the reasons the church is making little headway in the eastern orthodox countries is the plethora of tradition. Traditions bind individuals, families and generations together, and to their faith.

We need to harness the power of traditions, not only as families, but as a church. The brethren are emphasizing the celebration of Easter, and for good reasons. Traditions are most powerful in binding people to true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Tags christianity, Easter, faith, Greece, jesus, lent, Missionary work

Mission

Philippi & Lydia

Tim Frodsham. 13 April, 2025

On a humanitarian trip to the city of Serres we visited a community center associated with a refugee camp on the outskirts of town. We decided to take a small detour on the way home and visit the ancient city of Philippi. The Apostle Paul preached to the Philippians and was imprisoned there for a time. Most scholars agree that the Paul’s letter to the Philippians in the New Testament is authentic, but is most likely a composite of fragments of letters he wrote to the saints there.

King Phillip II conquered the city in 356 BC and named the city after himself. Gold discovered nearby enriched the city, and Phillip II established a mint there.

We spent a few hours walking through the ruins of Philippi, enjoying what some of our more outspoken young missionaries refer to as “another pile of dead rocks”. That may be. After a while, the “piles” of Greek and Roman ruins do seem to blend together.

In younger days, I took my family on a 5 week tour of historical sights of the modern church in the U.S.A. I have walked the streets of Old Jerusalem, tracing the footprints of Jesus. Now, walking the deserted streets of Philippi, I felt that same spirit of sacrifice and testimony. We gazed into the jail where Paul was purportedly imprisoned, where he crouched in the dungeon like cell and wrote encouragement to the saints.

After the city of Philippi, we drove to the traditional site of Lydia’s baptism. She is thought to be the first convert to Christianity in Europe (Acts 16:14,15). She listened to the preaching of Paul and was converted along with her household The traditional site of her baptism is a quiet, peaceful stream surrounded by rather rugged, dry, hill country.

We have our own unique challenges in these the last days, but we have a common bond with all generations of believers. From the time of Adam, the adversary has plagued all generations. From slaying Abel, the persecution and death of prophets throughout Jewish history, the crucifixion of Christ and the martyrdom of his apostles, the sacrifices of the reformists to the death of Joseph Smith. We don’t worship the sites of early Christian struggles, but learning the history of Christianity gives us history and perspective into our own spiritual journey.

Tags bible, christianity, faith, god, jesus

Mission

An Apostle in Greece

Catherine Frodsham 28 March 25

In October of 2024, Elder Stevenson of the Quorum of twelve Apostles visited Greece, speaking with members and missionaries. During his visit, Elder Stevenson shared a meal with an official from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR). Elder Stevenson explained in profound detail the four pillars of the Church of Jesus Christ: Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Invite all to receive the gospel, Unite families for eternity and Care for the needy. He ended with care for the needy and bore powerful testimony of the humanitarian work done by the LDS church.

Elder Stevenson and the young missionaries on Mars Hill

Pres. McConkie of the Central Europe area presidency came a few days before Elder Stevenson to set things up and meet with priesthood leaders. His wife Lauren came and she is delightful as well. Tim and I were asked by our Mission President to please pick up the McConkie’s from the airport and take them to their hotel. It was fun to meet them and visit as we drove them from the Athens airport. They asked about us and our mission and how the seniors are treated and the blessings of serving as senior missionaries. They had not been home more than 4 days in Frankfurt Germany in the month before they came to Greece. They are very busy and do many things for our Area. They came to church with us in Athens and both of them spoke. Sis. McConkie is such a pleasant, beautiful, kind and loving sister. Everyone loves to listen to her because she is like your best friend. Pres. McConkie is the same. That night all of our missionaries came from Cypress, Crete and Thessaloniki to be here to meet President Stevenson on Tuesday. Monday our mission rented a bus to take all of us to Corinth. Isn’t that so cool that we live only an hour away of CORINTH where Paul taught the Saints.

We had to drive up two missionaries that needed to do a medical exam to renew their visas. So we met every one in Corinth. Then we had to leave early to drive our mission president and Sis. Nelson back to Athens. Tim and I had been working with a man named Manolis from UNHCR -. Pres. Stevenson wanted to know if there were any Humanitarian projects that he could be involved in by giving them a plaque or a thank you, etc. So we had given them several ideas and waited to see what he wanted to do.

Manolis of UNHCR has been working with the church for several years, but Elder Stevenson’s visit opened doors we had only imagined. Not long after his visit, two ministries of the Greek government, the Hellenic Police (National police force) and the Ministry of Migration and Asylum approached Manolis for help from the church. As a result, we are implementing a series of projects to bring bedding and hygiene supplies to tens of thousands of refugees.

Members came from all over Greece to meet with Elder Stevenson

Elder Stevenson ended up wanting to have dinner with Manolis (who is not a member of the church but has contacts within the government) The church likes to establish friendships with the governments so that down the road, when we want to build a temple they know we are friendly, kind and helpful to a country. So at the dinner was the Stevensons, the Nelson’s (mission president and wife), The McConkie’s, Tim and I and Manolis. It was so interesting to listen to Elder Stevenson bear testimony to Manolis about our church and why we do things. He bore testimony about family and our Savior Jesus Christ. Why we do humanitarian work throughout the world. I wish I had a recording of all that he said. I was in awe. He looked right into Manolis’s eyes and touched his soul.

We had to hurry because Elder Stevenson was supposed to drive across town to our church building and speak to all of the members and missionaries in Greece. There were about 30 missionaries young and old and about 40 members and friends that came. So Elder Stevenson, the Nelsons and the McConkies got in their car with their driver. I wish they would have taken Manolis. I think he would have felt so special. But Manolis , Tim and I got a taxi to drive us to the church. They beat us but they had a driver and one thing we have learned in Greece is – if you hire a taxi they get paid by time and distance- ugh. Our taxi driver was going so slow because of time. We should have thought to pay him 20 euros more to get us there quickly. So we rush in about 9 minutes past 7:00 and the missionary choir that I AM LEADING had just stood up. I run up to the front and Sis. Christensen handed me my binder. I smile and we begin! hahah! It was great. We have very talented missionaries.

(Note, we are nearing the last month of our mission and are cleaning up and publishing posts that have been languishing in the drafts folder. Since Elder Stevenson’s visit, we have worked extensively with Manolis of UNHCR and have developed a fast friendship. We will miss him and many others we have worked with in Greece)

Tags christianity, church, leadership, missions

Mission

Our Area Presidency

Catherine Shaeffer Frodsham. 14 March 25

Tim and I have had the wonderful experience of meeting and talking with all members of the European Central Area Presidency in the last few months. They are President Ruben Alliaud, Jack Gerard 1st counselor and James McConkie III second counselor. They are all wonderful men with wonderful wives. It is a joy to be around them.

Elder McConkie was the first to come just before Elder Stevenson and his wife came to Athens. He came to make sure everything was in place and ready for the visit of our sweet Apostle. Tim and I were asked to pick up the McConkie’s from the airport and take them to their hotel. We had a very pleasant chat in the car as we were traveling. They are such kind and engaging people. Sister McConkie made me feel as though we had been friends for awhile. They came to church the next morning and both spoke to our little branch. They have such a way with speaking and motivating people around them and bearing testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. Sis. McConkie spoke of being thirsty and what that feels like. She told some sweet stories of quenching our thirst and then related her talk to how we should year to quench our thirst of the Savior and knowing Him and seeking Him. I wish I had her talk to post here. I need to take better notes….

President McConkie

Then we get to President Alliaud. Tim and I got a call right after we had just returned home from visiting a refugee camp near Ioannina. We spent a couple of days there visiting the Habibi group that our church funds to help refugees with food, clothing and teaching languages and skills so they can learn to be self-reliant. We were tired and we thought we have nothing his weekend except church so we can just rest and catch up on sleep and some projects we were working on. Late that night, our mission president, Pres. Nelson, calls us and asks are you guys home? We said yes. “I need you to pick up Elder Alliaud from the airport and then go pick up our branch president and take them to a sisters home so he can bless a room in her home. She will be translating the temple endowment in Greek.” Pres. Alliaud had been given a letter from Pres. Russel M. Nelson, our prophet to do this right away. So Tim picked up our branch president and then went to the airport to get Pres. Alliaud. They then went to this sisters home and Tim watched as they blessed a room in this sisters home. She can only use that room to do the translating. The Lord has things done in such a special way to keep the endowment sacred and special. We have a room in our church building upstairs that had also been dedicated for the translation of temple ordinances. Then Tim took our branch president and Pres. Alliaud around to visit members of our branch.

The next morning was Sunday and Tim and I picked up Pres. Alliaud up from his hotel and took him to church. He spoke to us and it was so touching. I wanted to write things down to remember them. Here’s what he said:

He said that he gets to see the Apostles and the first presidency often and they attend the temple together. The leaders were having lunch together. President Nelson our sweet prophet was eating soup. President Alliaud said President Nelson always eats soup. Pres. Alliaud said that was amazing you announced 20 temples in Conference. He said Pres. Nelson didn’t even flinch or stop eating he just said, you haven’t seen anything yet. The best is yet to come.

Pres. Alliaud said a lot of older people look back at the past and talk about things long ago. The First presidency looks to the future! He said when they sent to the temple he saw 4 wheelchairs lined up – the first presidency and one for Elder Holland. He said sometimes they act like they are racing each other. Elder Alliaud said Elder Bednar calls Elder Holland “Lazarus the 2nd”. Because he was brought back to life! He also said Elder Holland gets up at 4 am and has a two hour dialysis treatment every morning then he goes to work. Elder Holland is amazing. We have such strong leaders in the church.

Elder Frodsham, President Stimagkiotis, Gogo, President Alliaud

About 6 weeks later, Pres. Gerard and his wife came to visit Athens on a mission tour. We all met at Mars Hill for a testimony meeting. It is a tradition in this mission that all new missionaries and those going home bear their testimonies on Mars Hill right next to the Acropolis. It is special to be there on that high mountain near the Acropolis and know that the Apostle Paul stood right there to preach his sermon “The Unknown God”,

It was that time that Aubri and Ben were visiting with us and they were able to go to Mars Hill and hear the testimonies and meet our fellow missionaries!!

How blessed we are!! I am grateful to be a member of this church. It is true and we are led by men of God.

Tags christianity, Greece, Missionary work, missions

Mission

Zone Conference Feb 25

Tim Frodsham. 2 March, 2025

Every six weeks, give or take, the Athens Zone of the Greece Bulgaria Mission gather for a conference. This comprises all of the young missionaries in Greece: Four young missionaries in Thessaloniki, six young missionaries in Athens and four young missionaries on the island of Crete. Also attending are senior couples and a duo of single sisters who run the office in Athens. The conference is small, but this thin leaven does incredible things. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16

President and Sister Nelson, Hornbarger and Christensen

We start out at Mars Hill to hear from missionaries who are arriving as well as departing.

The young elders and sisters provide most of the training, focusing on precepts from “Preach My gospel”.

Our mission president Nelson focused on building branches and eventually wards and stakes in a sustainable way. After decades of missionary work in Greece, there is one small branch in Thessaloniki, and another in Athens. Several decades ago, there were five branches in the country.

Recent converts have been migrants and asylum seekers, who have been led to receive the gospel where they could not in their own country, but most are transient and bring little long term strength to the latter-day church. What is needed is strong, permanent members who serve as branch presidents, bishops, relief society presidents and other leaders. Leaders who prepare the this country for a temple.

This is The Church of Jesus Christ. We are commissioned by our Savior to spread his gospel: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”Mark 16:15

Tags bible, christianity, church, Greece, history, jesus, Missionary work, missions, Zone Conference

Mission

Calling Senior Couples

Catherine and Tim Frodsham. 14 February, 2025

Happy Valentines Day! When I married my first love, LaNae, we planned from the beginning to serve a senior mission, something I had contemplated even since my young mission service in Quebec, Canada. My financial plans, retirement funds, timing for retirement, revolved around serving missions. We wanted to serve at least three, with a year or two in between to visit children and grandchildren. The best laid plans of mice and men. Just a few short years before my planned retirement, LaNae passed away. At the time, single men, well aged such as I, were not allowed to serve missions, and I started looking at other options.

I considered serving as an ordinance worker at the temple. Again, the single man question reared it’s head. A young acquaintance of mine with some disabilities and never married, served at the temple. On his 30th birthday, he was told he could never serve in the temple again. It turns out that at the time, single men over thirty could not serve as ordinance workers. One exception was men that were married in the temple and then widowed. I fit that exemption, but in good conscience, I could not serve knowing that other single men, much more worthy than I, could not work as ordinance workers in the temple..

I did work as a temple engineer. Each Saturday, to allow the full time staff weekend time with their families, I would come to the temple early, greet the night shift guard at the temple door, and then wake up the temple. Turn on and check lights, monitor and log the air conditioning and heating systems, check the chemistry in the baptismal font, wake up and check the audio visual systems for each endowment room and continue the checklist. The walk through took about 2 1/2 hours, and I would spend the rest of my shift indexing, answering the phone, responding to problems, and if all was quiet, walk the temple and converse with the temple workers. At that time, it was the best way for me to be His hands.

Ten years after loosing LaNae, I am on a full time mission with Catherine. From the time I met my second love, we talked about serving a mission. In fact, no desire to serve a mission would have been a deal breaker for each of us. We submitted our mission papers as soon as Catherine finished the semester teaching seminary and were well into our mission on our first anniversary. I wonder at times why it took 10 years to meet Catherine. We could have several missions under our belts by now. I have asked the Lord many times why it is that those who are the most willing to serve, who would make wonderful leaders, missionaries, mission presidents and bring about much righteousness in His kingdom cannot due to circumstances beyond their control, request the call. He has a much bigger picture of His children than I, and though they cannot serve a mission, He will use them and challenge them in other ways.

In the first years of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young would call missionaries from the pulpit during church meetings, even during General Conference. These were not 18 year old boys, but fathers and husbands. They were expected to depart within weeks, or even days. These missionaries left wives, children, farms, businesses, civic and church responsibilities to answer the call. Many had no idea how their families would survive financially while they served. I have nothing but admiration for these early missionaries. It was their mission and their faith that converted my ancestors in England and Switzerland.

Would we have such faith today? How would you, a senior couple surrounded by comfort, children and grandchildren, respond to a call from the pulpit? Could we, with a notice of a week or two, pack up and travel to the other side of the world? “Could we?” is the wrong question. For most of us, the more relevant question is “Would we?”

Humanitarian missionary training conference in Vienna

According to the unofficial statistics I found, about 1/2 to 1 percent of eligible seniors serve missions. Increasing that to even 5 percent, one couple in 20, would mean 5 to 10 times more senior missionaries serving the Lord around the world. In Athens, Greece, we had a humanitarian couple, yours truly, and two senior sisters serving in the remote mission office (the mission president and the official office are in Sofia, Bulgaria). Last month, two more senior couples came to serve in Athens and the whole dynamic of missionary service changed. These wonderful senior missionaries have been called to branch positions, providing a rock of support to our faithful but inexperienced branch president. Visits to members, active or not, are bolstering the faith and the faithful in this historic part of the vineyard. There is a synergy and a spirit of camaraderie and dedication among we seniors.

Rather than a surprise call from the pulpit, we have options to choose when we are going to serve, the length of our service, and to some degree, where we are going to serve. We have cell phones and internet to stay connected with our families, and jet planes to take us home for those events that cannot be missed. I listed all the reasons to serve a mission in my “Serve Now” post, so I won’t list them again. The delightful senior sisters in the office, whom we lovingly refer to as “The Angels of Athens” say it best. “Who wouldn’t want to be us?”

Bulgaria Greece senior missionaries in Ioannina, Greece

However, I need to add a word of caution here. You have no set schedule and few set responsibilities. You are your own boss and you have to be self starting and self-motivated. There is more work to do than you can imagine, but you have to find it and make it your own. Our own mission has been divided into two parts: Serving in France as WSR or welfare self-reliance missionaries and in Greece doing humanitarian work. Very different missions, and in both cases, we invented our mission. We dug in, looked around, asked around, and most important, we laid it before the Lord. If ever this verse of scripture is relevant, it is while serving a mission. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs, 3:5,6. Our paths have been directed as we have served as His hands.

Souliers, Miners, Hardys, Dinkelmans, Frodshams
Life Long friends – Senior missionaries in Lyon, France

We are not assigned over the pulpit to serve missions, but the obligation and the need is no less paramount. Over the years, the church has and is moving away from obligatory assignments. Home Teaching is now ministering. Ward budgets, building and temple funds come entirely from tithing funds. It is easier to attend temples than ever before, and attendance is neither required nor tracked. The church is following the council of D&C 58:26-28:

“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.”

The Frodshams and Snyders in Paris, France

Serving a senior mission is not compulsory, and we are all the more blessed for following the wise and gentle council of our Brethren and choosing to serve.

Cathy here, I can’t even imagine being called over the pulpit. That was definitely a sacrifice. Our mission is a sacrifice but not like the early saints. Tim and I have thoroughly enjoyed serving our mission(s). At times we have had to be very proactive and look for ways to serve. Our mission presidents (Pres. Lepore in Lyon, Pres. Soulier in Lyon and now Pres. Nelson in Bulgaria/Greece) are so busy with all of the young missionaries. We Seniors need to be offering time and talents and helping to further work of gathering. It takes prayer and an open mind to see what needs to be done and to be available to answer a call at 10:00 pm to go give a blessing or pick up a missionary or mission president at the Airport. Service is never convenient whether you are serving a mission or serving at home.

I can honestly say yes, I have had bouts of homesickness- even with tears but then I look at my sweetheart and know we can do this and we can do it well. We are giving ourselves to our Savior Jesus Christ at this time and happy to be here in Greece. Now that we are about 4 months from returning home, we feel as though there are so many things we want to do before we leave. It is going by fast. We hope our children and grandchildren have been blessed by our service. That was one of the reasons we came to the mission field.

Both Tim and I had talked for years with LaNae and Zane about serving a couples mission. Our children all knew how important that was for us. We are grateful each other wanted to go right away after we were married. WHAT A HONEYMOON it has been!! Serving in FRANCE and then in GREECE; this was a 2 for 1 mission and we are so grateful to be disciples of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Seriously – WHO WOULDN’T WANT TO BE US?

Note: We wrote this post before learning that Jason Soulier, President of the Lyon France mission had passed away. We love him and pray daily for Sister Jennifer Soulier.

Tags christianity, church, faith, france, grandchildren, Greece, lyon, Mission, missionary, Missionary work, missions, Soulier

Mission

Prayers vs. Blessings

Tim Frodsham, 28 January, 2025

I have always been an ardent student and advocate of priesthood blessings. When my children were young, I would spend time contemplating, seeking inspiration from the Holy Spirit before laying my hands on my precious charges to bless them in time of need, or time of change. Priesthood blessings were an integral part of important events such as the first day of school, start of college, start of a mission, before marriage and dealing with a problem or crisis. Don’t let this small list hinder you from taking advantage of any opportunity to bless your children, your grandchildren and any others who cross your path.

Quotes in this blog are from the April 2018 Russell M Nelson, “Ministering with the Power and Authority of God”.

“Brethren, we hold the holy priesthood of God! We have His authority to bless His people. Just think of the remarkable assurance the Lord gave us when He said, ‘Whomsoever you bless I will bless.’ It is our privilege to act in the name of Jesus Christ to bless God’s children according to His will for them.”

Using priesthood power, as a father and grandfather, I called down angels from heaven to surround, protect and nurture the children God entrusted to my care. At the time, we were forbidden by church leaders to record these blessings, and it was not until an empty Nester that the brethren encouraged us to record these moments to pass on to our children.

“Not long ago, I attended a sacrament meeting in which a new baby was to be given a name and a father’s blessing. The young father held his precious infant in his arms, gave her a name, and then offered a beautiful prayer. But he did not give that child a blessing. That sweet baby girl got a name but no blessing! That dear elder did not know the difference between a prayer and a priesthood blessing. With his priesthood authority and power, he could have blessed his infant, but he did not. I thought, “What a missed opportunity!”

In a post on my regular blog, I described a hike down the Zion Narrows, where my young scout leader called down the powers of heaven. It was more than a tremendous prayer. There is a powerful difference between offering a heartfelt prayer to our God, and using Priesthood authority to call down the power of Heaven.

“It is a remarkable blessing to serve in the Lord’s true and living Church with His authority and power. The restoration of the priesthood of God, including the keys of the priesthood, opens to worthy Latter-day Saints the greatest of all spiritual blessings. We see those blessings flowing to women, men, and children throughout the world.”

As a young father and scout leader, I also had home teaching assignments to several families, one of which was my youth leader in the post on the Zions Narrows. I was working in my yard one day when he came down the street to tell me his parents were divorcing. He wanted me to come give him and his siblings a priesthood. On entering their home, mom was there, but from the icy reception, I knew she wanted nothing to do with priesthood or blessings. I started with the youngest child, and rather than pronouncing a prayer of council, I gave a blessing. I called down angels to protect and comfort this tiny daughter of God. Child by Child, I worked up the family, using Priesthood power and authority to call blessings, protection and comfort on this distressed family. When I finished the last child, That confused, stressed and shaken mother sat down in the chair for her own blessing. I was honored to pronounce upon her a priesthood blessing as well.

“Brethren, there are doors we can open, priesthood blessings we can give, hearts we can heal, burdens we can lift, testimonies we can strengthen, lives we can save, and joy we can bring into the homes of the Latter-day Saints—all because we hold the priesthood of God.”

Among other things, the power of the priesthood sets us apart form all the religions and all the sects of the world. We as fathers have a right and privilege to call down the powers of heaven in behalf of our wives, our children, family and any in our circle who request a blessing from God.

Tags blessings, christianity, church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, family, jesus, Ministring, priesthood

Mission

Returning to France

Catherine Shaeffer Frodsham. 19 January 2025

We loved having our young missionaries in Lyon over to our apartment and having their “Amis” (friends) over to have dinner and talk with them. We loved being able to testify of the truths they were teaching. Oh how we loved our missionaries. We consider them our grandchildren!

We kept in touch with them when we moved to Athens, Greece. Elder Tate Last and Elder Enzo Patelo messaged me to let me know that one of our friends who I love with all my heart named YeBei was going to be baptized. I was so excited!!! I had told YeBei that when she was ready for baptism we would fly back. So in October they said come back. I would do anything for YeBei.

I contacted our mission President , President Soulier to see if we could stay in our old apartment that was still vacant since we left. He said check with the office and its OK by him. So we bought out tickets.

A few days before we were to leave for Lyon, the missionaries called me and said there might be a problem. YeBei needed to ask her husband for permission to be baptized. We knew that might be a problem because he was not happy about YeBei meeting with the missionaries and attending our church. He referred to it as a cult. In Preach My Gospel missionaries are told to try and keep peace in families and harmony in the home. When YeBei asked her husband he said no. We were so sad for YeBei. But we went anyway because we had our tickets and our friends were going with us. We had friends from Oregon, the Petrowskys that were coming to visit us in Athens the same time. We said come for a day to Athens and then we are flying back to Lyon for a baptism. They agreed and we were grateful. We rented a car and after we landed we went back to our apartment. I must tell you that it was a bittersweet moment! It was like going home – kind of a weird feeling. I love Lyon, France and we have some very sweet memories there and wonderful friends.

I called our sweet missionaries and they said come to the church building we are meeting with YeBei. So we surprised YeBei and went right to the church, walked in the chapel behind her and she jumped up and we hugged. She apologized for making us come all the way and there was no baptism. We were happy to be there and to let her know we loved her and would support her in anyway we could. It was so wonderful to visit all together.

We went to church the next morning and saw our wonderful special friends in our old ward! It was so nice to see them again. It was wonderful to see Machilo and Munashe and little Elsie! Oh how we love them. Then we say our sweet friend Jeannine Roux who Tim and I love so much. Martine Meyer is so special to me and Teresah and her kids and my sweet Relief Society President Laeticia! Laeticia said her daughter Helena had some news she wanted to tell us. She got her mission call to Washington D.C.!! She is so excited to go. Laeticia and Patrick her husband are going to pick up Helena after her mission and take her to BYU. We are looking forward to having them to our home in Bear Lake when they come. Segolene my sweet, beautiful friend was there! So nice to see her. So wonderful to see our young missionaries there in Lyon!

Then that night I had a dinner at our old apartment and invited the missionaries (6 of them) and YeBei, Machilo, Munashe and Elsie, Martine, Teresah and our friends the Petrowskys. It was a wonderful visit to feel the spirit our good people that we love. I know that YeBei will be baptized. In the meantime, she is involved in the Porte Des Alpes ward and the ward loves her. I am so happy to have met my wonderful friend YeBei. I look forward to the day that we can go to the temple together.

The experiences we have on our mission have taught us how thankful we are to have been able to get to know wonderful, kind, loving , interesting, strong, spiritual people wherever we go. We LOVE YOU OUR FRIENDS IN LYON!!! THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE MADE ARE ETERNAL!!

Tags Baptism, christianity, church, faith, france, grandchildren, lyon, missionary, Missionary work, missions