The Mormon Missionary Choir

Elder Ladle and I have been touring with this wonderful choir since Tuesday, Dec. 2nd. We joined them in Edinburgh on Saturday, Sunday and Monday for their rehearsals and then were off to Aberdeen for our first performance, then Dundee, Paisley, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

This group of 32, is drawn from a complement of over 200 young missionaries who are currently volunteers for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Every 6 weeks new missionaries arrive from countries all over the world as others complete their voluntary service of 18 or 24 months to return to their homes. Changes in assigned areas need to be made to accommodate these arrivals and departures so the choir, taken from those presently serving in Scotland, have had a short window of less than a month to receive their music, practice, and perform. Choir members are between the ages of 18 and 24.

They sang beautiful Christmas carols with duets, sextets, solos and full choir numbers. Some of the songs are very familiar and others are new, but added so much to the program. Joy to the World, Oh Holy Night, Away in a Manger, Breath of Heaven, Oh, Come All Ye Faithful, What Child is This, Emmanuel, I heard the Bells, In the Bleak Mid Winter, Shine for Me Again, Still, Still, Still, Angels We Have Heard on High, Guard Him Joseph, Savior Redeemer and ending with Hark, the Herald Angels Sing. We had a flutist only in the mission for 3 weeks before the tour, two violinists, 3 pianists, and an organist with talents on the recorder as well.

We love the skyline of the cities--beautiful old cathedrals next to high rise apartment buildings.

Our choir director--Elder Black.

Dinner at the mission home--one long table.

We had violinists, flutist, (banjo and mandolin added to the bus and entertainment after the concert.)

Ready to begin the tour after 2 1/2 days of practice together.

We laughed, sang, shared special stories and learned a little more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Great group of missionaries, always smiling and helpful.

Every night, sleeping bags off, luggage off. In the morning back on again. Often it would take 2-3 trips to the homes of members to get everyone there with their luggage. One sister dropped off the sister missionaries and took off with their luggage. We had to call the husband to have him send her back.

Dundee Shopping Center

This young girl in pink was enthralled with the choir and twice stopped to listen to the choir for more than 5 minutes.

This bird was inside the shopping center.

Beautiful view from Senior Couples flat.

Kelvingrove Art  Gallery and Museum
It was originally built out of sandstone  in 1888 in the Spanish Baroque style. A major refurbishment in 2006 at cost of 28 million pounds restored it to its original beauty inside and out.

We hope to enjoy a concert next time we come on their beautiful organ.

The acoustics were outstanding.

Last unloading at the mission home. They would throw the 32 sleeping bags at the elder in the far back and he was able to field them all.

St. Giles Cathedral. Called the High Kirk (kirk means church) of Edinburgh. It is the principal place of worship for the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Obvious Gothic architecture. John Knox preached here. The female pastor thanked everyone for coming to take a few moments for perfection.

350 people enjoyed the performance of the choir.

These are two large,  live owls.