Tag: god

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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.

The Ancient city of Phillipi

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.

The Prison where Paul was incarcerated

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.

The traditional site of Lydia’s baptism

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.

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Mission

The Girl in the Temple

August 12th, 2024 Catherine Frodsham

There is a young single sister in our ward. She has born her testimony a few times and I noticed her. I never really talked to her except the normal greetings “Bonjour, comment ca va?” She seemed to be struggling in life by her facial expressions and staying to herself at church.

Tim and I went to the Bern Temple a few months ago. We took another senior couple from Geneva to the temple with us to get to know them. They are James and Kim Powers, also serving in the France Lyon Mission.

While I was in the endowment room, I kept looking at the back of a young woman and I wondered if it was the one from our ward. I don’t even know her name. I still don’t. In the dressing room, I saw her come out from a dressing stall and I said you are from my ward. She said yes, I recognize you too. She spoke pretty good English. I said how are you. Then she started to pour out her heart and soul to me. She told me of how she came to the temple today to seek answers. I said what are your questions. She said I have a boyfriend, and he is not a member, and he doesn’t want to be. He doesn’t like my standards and wants to live together. I am afraid if I say no, he will leave. I said you came to the right place today. You are worthy to come to the House of the Lord to receive revelation just for you. How did you feel today. She said I feel as though I should leave him. I said then you have your answer. She said now will be the hard part, breaking up. I said yes it will be hard. But sometimes we learn the most from going through the hardest times. I said, I am so proud of you for knowing where to come for help from the Lord. He has spoken to you. What a blessing that is. I love you. I believe that we are here together because I can physically give you a hug from your Heavenly Father and tell you He loves you. I love you. When one door closes another door will open. I promise you that. We hugged and that was a very spiritual moment for both of us. AND I DIDN’T”T EVEN KNOW HER NAME!! But I knew her.

Here is a picture of my temple friend Anne-Flore and her new boyfriend! July 14, 2024

A few months passed and my son Zane was visiting us in Lyon with Zane, Weston and Bennett! I was on the stand to lead the music, and I saw her! By now, I knew her name: Anne-Flore. She was beaming and looked so happy. I went to give her a hug and she said, “I will never forget you. Thank you for talking to me in the temple. I want you to meet my “new “boyfriend!” She emphasized “NEW”. He is the brother of the 2nd counselor in our bishopric. He is a member and temple worthy!!! What a miracle!!! Heavenly Father knows each of us by name and He loves us, and He will help us through our trials and sometimes he will use those around us as His hands on earth. We need to always be willing to open our mouths and our hearts when we are prompted to do so even when we don’t know them by name. It doesn’t matter that I don’t know her name because I know her, and I love her. When she said I will never forget you, I said I will never forget you either!

Categories
Mission

Serve Now

Catherine and Tim Frodsham, 29 April 2024

There are thousands of reasons why not to serve a mission, and Catherine and I can check the boxes on most of them. I have my first two grandchildren getting married this summer and another special sealing in Catherine’s family. Both of us have family with medical conditions, and it wrenches our heart not to be there to help, console and simply be present for them. In the next year, Catherine and I have four special grandchildren that will be baptized and a new grandchild on the way. We also have a high school graduation of a sweet granddaughter.

Grandsons and tonsils

We will be missing priesthood ordinations, family reunions, graduations and of course, 40 birthdays among our grandchildren and 22 among our children and their spouses. Why did we pick this time to go on a mission? Why so early after our marriage? Why did we not wait until things were more calm in our families, with fewer family events? Why now?

A fathers blessing

There will always be family events, celebrations and hardships no matter when we choose to serve Him. To be frank, there is no “good” time to go on a mission. The ‘right’ time will never come. Our advice to anyone considering a mission, and even to those who are not, Go Now. There may be extreme circumstances why you need to postpone a mission. The Savior understands and will prompt you to the right course to take. Otherwise, Go Now. Your lives will certainly be blessed, but more important for Catherine and I, His spirit will intervene, comfort, guide and bring gently home our children and grandchildren, those who matter most.

As Senior missionaries, there are times when it is appropriate to take a quick trip home. We are planning one trip home during our mission to be present with our families for some life changing events. I believe the Lord aware of the conflicting demands on senior missionaries, and understands the needs for us to serve our families as well. Here is a quote shared with us in one of our central Europe Area devotionals.

Christmas

Elder Bednar, Adriatic North Mission, April 2023

“To you couples, I promise that the most powerful testimony you will ever bear to your children and grandchildren is your absence. Those grandchildren will pray for you now in a way that they will never again pray for you.”

“When you return home, the testimony you bear in person will be magnified because you weren’t there. Your testimony of absence will be far more powerful than anything you can do now or in the future. It will augment that testimony in miraculous ways. I promise in the name of the Lord.”

The little events

For the younger generation; prepare now. plan your finances, your job, your retirement and most important of all, build that mindset now. There is every reason to postpone a mission, but there is one good reason to go: Serve Him. We have been in tears a time or two, aching to be with our families at a time of crisis or celebration, but we both feel an overwhelming peace from Him that we are in the right place. Some of the celebrations we are missing are precisely because we are here, events that are happening at home because His Spirit is working on our children and grandchildren in our absence. Our advice to any senior couple: Go now. Don’t wait for the right time, don’t wait for the right finances. Don’t wait. Serve Him and the blessings will be poured out on your family. Yes, you will miss them and yes, there will be times of almost overwhelming sorrow because you are not there, but His spirit is behind you and He will carry you gently in His arms.

Grandson singing at conference

You will also experience times of unbounded joy, peace and satisfaction for the time you spend in His service.