SUD News

Six future missionaries learn to serve

Bristol — 

The church has been calling for better prepared missionaries and the Bristol Stake have responded to this call with a unique event to supplement the missionary preparation classes that are run. A Missionary Training Centre (MTC) Experience was held one Saturday at the Stake centre. Five members who have received their calls and one who plans to submit his papers next year attended a day of workshops and then went out with the full-time missionaries serving in the area to teach and do some tracting.

The workshops, run by returned missionaries, covered the purpose of missionaries, using time wisely and what to teach. These were followed by a class on teaching skills and some role plays to give the future missionaries some practice. Then after something to eat they went out with serving missionaries to teach and knock on doors.
Although the weather was pretty wet and windy they all returned to the chapel excited by the experience and eager to share their experiences and testimonies with each other to conclude the evening.
The future missionaries commented that it had been a ‘fantastic day that has helped me prepare’, ‘great day’, ‘a great spiritually uplifting experience’’ ‘so much fun’ ‘the testimony meeting has really strengthened me’ and ‘I have really felt the Spirit’. Their enthusiasm for the gospel and for the opportunity they will shortly have was palpable. They have had some ideas reinforced and been introduced to some new ones and will go to their various assignments in the UK, Africa and Australia well prepared.
Parents and Stake Leaders are grateful for their righteous desires and to the organisers of this event. Stake President, Martin Turvey commented:  “To see the spirit and enthusiasm that existed at the end of the day within all of these young men was truly amazing. Each of them left with an increased desire to serve a dedicated mission and we are excited to see them leave and know they will be outstanding missionaries.”
_{Article written by Vince Harvey}

Sports SNI

Mormon Paralympian, Jason Smyth, Ready to Defend his Title

Ireland — 

While Usain Bolt recently successfully defended his title of 'The fastest man on earth' at the London 2012 Olympics, mormon sprinter, Jason Smyth, will be defending his title at the Paralympics as 'the fastest paralympian on the earth'.  Jason, from Eglington, County Derry, Northern Ireland, won two gold Paralympic medals for Ireland at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, setting world records at the Men's 100 metres T13 and the Men's 200 metres T13, which caused some Irish media to compare his feat to that of Usain Bolt.

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Jason Smyth, the Irish mormon sprinter, prepares to race at the London Paralympics©

Jason is visually impaired with only 10% of average eyesight, diagnosed when Jason was 8 years old with an eye condition called Stargardts Disease which affects his central vision.  Despite achieving world records at sprinting Jason only started running at the age of 16 years after being spotted by an athletics coach at school.  He initially entered able bodied championships and won the Irish Schools Championships for 3 consecutive years before being entered for Paralympic sports and setting world records in the European and World Paralympic Championships.

Becoming the first Paralympic athlete to qualify and complete in the able bodied European Championships in 2010, and making it to the semi-final in the 100 metre race spurred Jason on to qualify and race in the World Championships in 2011.

Newsroom recently spoke with Jason to see how he is preparing to defend his title at the forthcoming Paralympics in London and his amazing journey.

"Well I suppose there has been a long journey with highs and lows when I look back from 9 years ago when I started until now and how much I have achieved. I suppose more recently I have tried to give myself the best opportunity to improve and get closer to reaching my potential which involved me basing myself in the USA 7/8 months of the year."

Jason moved to America to train at the National Training Centre in Clermont, Florida with top athletes, including Tyson Gay, one of the elite sprinters in the Olympic US team and a gold medal winner at the London 2012 Olympics.  Regarding the experience he says,  "I had to make a lot of sacrifices financially, away from family and friends and I have lived a lifestyle which seemed to only really involve eating sleeping and training, but hard work and sacrifices are what is needed to be the best you can be."

Jason attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Northern Ireland where there are eleven congregations.  He talked about how his faith has helped him along the way and motivated him in the tough times.

"I would say my faith is probably the biggest thing that motivates me. I Know I have been given a talent, a talent in which I have to increase to the maximum but one in which I can do much good throughout the world in being an example and making people more aware of the gospel.

"I never had an opportunity to serve a mission because of my eyesight but I firmly believe my mission is in my career as I go throughout the world where people learn of me and my beliefs."

"Also comes the tougher times like this year I missed out in competing at the Olympics by 0.04 seconds and being the 1st visually impaired athlete to do so but if there is one thing I have learn't is things happen for a reason but it always takes time to find out why. I look at 2 years ago when I missed out in competing at the commonwealth Games because of injury but as a result of not being there I went to the USA and to cut a long story short I met my fiance."

Jason recently met his fiance in America through an uncle who lives in Utah and is marrying Elise Jordan from Orem, Utah in Salt Lake City in December at the Salt Lake Temple.  He comments,  "I am getting married in December in the Temple so I want to make the most of my career to be able to best provide for my soon to be wife and eventually family."

Remarkable success has been achieved by Jason in such a short time, breaking world records at Beijing Olympics in 2008 and becoming a Paralympic champion.

"The opportunity I had in Beijing to win 2 golds to represent my country and the feeling of hard work paying off is very hard to describe but totally worth it. I have had the opportunity to travel many places throughout the world, see many cultures and meet all walks of life."

Jason can be seen in action at the heats for the 100 metres on August 31st and the 200 metre heats on 6th September in the Olympic Stadium in London, representing Ireland.  He states, "I am really looking forward to the Paralympic Games, this is the biggest competition, this is what you put in all the hours of hard work and sacrifices for to have the opportunity to be on the big stage and hopefully succeed. Obviously going in as the champion from Beijing there is only one thing in my mind which is to retain my titles. I hope I can achieve that, I know training has been going really well this year and especially in the past few weeks running up to the Games so I am optimistic and keeping positive."

Read more about Jason at http://www.jason-smyth.com/

MESSAGE LDS

Russell Holmes: Mormon Athlete in Olympic Volleyball

Russell Holmes: Mormon Athlete in Olympic Volleyball

 

By Rebecca

Russell Holmes is one of a dozen Mormon athletes, who have qualified to compete in the 2012 Olympics, in London. Each Mormon Olympian not only represents his or her country but also represents Christ as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly referred to as the Mormon Church by some). Russell enjoys soccer, volleyball, surfing, and snowboarding  but currently plays on the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team as a middle blocker. “The team will leave its training headquarters in Anaheim, California, on July 19 [to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games].” 

By Rebecca
Russell Holmes is one of a dozen Mormon athletes, who have qualified to compete in the 2012 Olympics, in London. Each Mormon Olympian not only represents his or her country but also represents Christ as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly referred to as the Mormon Church by some). Russell enjoys soccer, volleyball, surfing, and snowboarding  but currently plays on the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team as a middle blocker. “The team will leave its training headquarters in Anaheim, California, on July 19 [to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games].”

The Mormon athlete’s talent began to manifest itself as a Californian soccer star, until Russell’s friends convinced him to try volleyball.

From age 4 until 17, his passion was on the soccer field, not the court. He never planned on pursuing volleyball until his friends eventually coaxed him into giving it a shot. He was a junior in high school and a star soccer player at the time.

“So I thought why not give it a try,” Holmes said. “I didn’t know I was going to be so tall.” The idea to switch sports came easily for the 6-foot-8 Holmes 

Russell studied sociology, married his wife Julie, and played volleyball while attending Brigham Young University (BYU).  He started out of shape, because he had taken a break from being a Mormon athlete to serve as a Mormon missionary for two years, preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in London, England. Upon returning, he passed out during his first day of workouts in the BYU weight room. Fortunately, he quickly moved up from being a redshirt freshman to captain of BYU’s men’s volleyball team.

“He’s our team captain,” Millar said. “He has a nice, calming influence on the guys when they get too riled up.”… Holmes’ coaches say his steadying personality and consistent play is a stabilizing presence during the matches.

“He’s like another coach on the floor,” BYU co-head coach Shawn Patchell said.

…Holmes was recently selected the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Week, making him one of five nationally recognized BYU Cougars this season. 

Some of the Mormon athlete’s accomplishments include being an Eagle Scout, father, one of Volleyball Magazine’s Fab 50 (2001), and more—

The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team was awarded the 2012 FIVB World League silver medal on Sunday after falling to Poland in the championship match, 25-17, 26-24, 25-20. The U.S. Men completed the World League Final Round with a record of 2-2 and completed the 2012 World League with an overall record of 11-5… Middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.) finished with seven points on four attacks and a team-high three blocks. 

In 2001 his Long Beach club team won the Junior Olympics gold medal and he was named an All-American…

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: 2012- NORCECA Men’s Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament (gold medal). 2011 – FIVB World Cup… London Volleyball International Invitational (Bronze Medal)… FIVB World League. 2010 – FIVB World Championship… FIVB World League. 2009 – Brazil Tour… FIVB World League. 

Family life is very important to the Olympian Russell Holmes. He considers “[h]is happiest moment in life was witnessing the birth of his daughter.  He works hard to provide for his family and believes modern teachings from the prophets—

The family is ordained of God… Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ… By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. 

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