What do we do a lot of each week?

We drive our wee car and park it in a wee parking place and then go grocery shopping at ASCO. That is Scotland for Walmart. Honest!

Doug pays 2 pounds to park, then gets that refunded at the check out stand.

We take the lift upstairs.

Then we take the BEST shopping carts ever. You can move them with one finger! HONEST! They have a hook in the middle of the cart close to where you put your hands to hang your shopping bags. They have most everything you want to buy. It looks different, costs a lot, but does taste pretty similar. 

Linlithgow Palace

Linlithgow Palace is one of the most important buildings to survive from late medieval Scotland. It was built and developed over two centuries by successive Stewart kings of Scotland.  A castle or manor existed at Linlithgow at the time of David 1, the founder of the burgh, who reigned 1124-53. Edward 1 of England exploited the potential of the site as a military base in the early 1300's and created a garrison fortress.

The fountain symbolizes the kings power with the crown at the top of the fountain. This is a functional fountain today and is the first structure you see upon entering the gates.

After the Wars of Independence, the old castle was restored for royal use once more but a great fire in 1424, destroyed the castle and much of the town. The retreating soldiers left their straw beds too close to the fireplaces and the roofs and floors of the castle were all destroyed.

From the ashes rose James 1's new pleasure palace where the sovereigns of the royal house of Stewart held court in grand style.

The name Linlithgow means 'the loch in the damp hollow' a compound of llyn "loch", llaith "damp" and can "hollow". The palace stands on a promontory overlooking the small loch.

Both James V and his daughter, Mary Queen of Scots, were born here. Mary was taken to Stirling Castle to protect her against possible abduction after she was promised to Edward, Prince of Wales as a 7month old infant.

Beautiful views out the castle windows. Would love to return on a warm day and go sailing.

St. Michael's Parish founded 1242

The graveyard has some very old headstones, many of which belong to children. It was a hard life in Scotland.

New ADDITION to the Flat

Now I feel at home. The owner gave permission to put the flower hanger in the wood. I told her I would leave the hanger there when I left. She said no problem. So, the flowers welcome us home and anyone who happens by, usually the Elders and Sisters. I planted daffodils and hyacinths yesterday outside and have put 4 daffodils in the fridge to force their blooms come Feb. Will send you pictures.

It Was Only a Matter of Time!

Everyone knows I have to have something green . I purchased this at the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow. It is from the cactus family.

This is looking down the fence at our back door on the right. Notice the weeds.

I forgot to take a picture on the left BEFORE weeding. But you can tell where I weeded and planted some pansies. They should last through the winter. I see the flowers every time we come and go. They make me happy.

Scotland/Ireland Mission Home

Scotland/Ireland Mission Home built 1866

 The beautiful intricate detail is hard to describe.

President David O. McKay 1873-1970
President McKay was born in 1873. His mother was Welsh and his father was Scottish. They were both immigrants.
David was called on a mission to Scotland and was feeling homesick after being in the mission for just a short time and spent a few hours sightseeing at nearby Stirling Castle. When he and his companion returned from visiting the castle, they passed a building where the stone above the door had a carved inscription of a quotation usually attributed to Shakespeare, which read: What E're Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part.

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This marker stands in the garden at the mission home.

Recalling this experience in a talk given in 1957, President McKay explained: “I said to myself, or the Spirit within me, ‘You are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. More than that, you are here as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. You accepted the responsibility as a representative of the Church.’ Then I thought [about] what we had done that forenoon. We had been sightseeing, we had gained historical instruction and information, it is true, and I was thrilled with it. … However, that was not missionary work. … I accepted the message given to me on that stone, and from that moment we tried to do our part as missionaries in Scotland.” ¹

This message—What E’er Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part—was so important and had such an impact on Elder McKay that he used it for inspiration for the rest of his life. He determined that whatever responsibility he had, he would do his very best.

Perfect End to a Perfect Day--a Baptism

Farrah was baptized after Stake Conference. We were blessed to be able to meet her. She is attending school in Glasgow and will be going home to Hong Kong in about 3-4 months.

Preston, England Temple

The Preston England Temple is the 52nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church took root in Preston, Lancashire, when the first Mormon missionaries arrived in 1837.The Preston England Temple is located in the town of Chorley, 10 miles (16 km) south of Preston, in Lancashire. It is the centrepiece of a 15-acre (6 hectare) complex that includes a stake centre, a missionary training centre, a family history facility, a distribution centre, temple patron housing, temple missionary accommodations and a grounds building. The temple itself has a modern, single-spire design and an exterior finish of Olympia white granite from Sardinia. The white granite exterior and zinc roof have caused it to be described as reminiscent of England's old churches.

The Hong Kong China Temple was built in 1996. It is the 48th operating temple. When it was completed it served as headquarter of the LDS Church in Hong Kong, as well as a meetinghouse for a local congregation. The offices of the China Hong Kong Mission were also located in the building, as were living quarters for the temple president, mission president, and others. In 2005, with the completion of the new Church Administration Building in Wan Chai, the headquarters for the church moved there. In June 2010, with the completion of a new chapel across the street (street address: 18 Dorset Crescent), the meetinghouse and offices for the China Hong Kong Mission were relocated to this new building. The living quarters for the temple president, mission president, and six missionaries are still located in the temple building.

Hong Kong Temple

A Special Stake Conference

Elder Jose Reina, from the Canary Islands, was our visiting Area 70 at the Glasgow Stake Conference. We had a wonderful time with him on Saturday and Sunday. The couple on the left is Elder and Sister Browning, YSA Missionary couple.

Elder Reina was a wonderful teacher. He invited people to open their mouths and share the gospel: D&C 123:12 “For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men. Whereby they lie in wait to deceive and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.”

"Christ said to go and baptize-so go and act, visit people. Share the gospel. Maybe you will be afraid. You overcome your fears as you do the work of the Lord. You have many opportunities to tell people about the gospel. If you only have 10-30 seconds say:

1.       We are Christians and we believe in Jesus Christ.

2.       We belong to the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

3.       I love my family. It makes me happy. I live my religion"

He encourage all of us to be full tithe payers: Malachi 3:8,10 "Will a  man rob God? Yet he have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. . .Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

"We have this law at home: JOY.

 J stands for Jesus    

O stands for Others   

Y stands for Yourself   

JOY in that order.

If  loving yourself comes first, then others, then Jesus, it  just doesn’t make sense.    Y   O   J