Sunday my nephew Easton spoke in church.  He leaves for England on the 29th to serve a mission for our church.  Yep, I am a mormon... a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (And I love it)!   Easton is going to share his testimony of Christ with those in England.

Easton is returning to the land of his ancestral heritage.  Infact, Heber C. Kimball his great, great great... (you get the picture)  was the first missionary on English soil.  When his boat was about to dock, he leaped to shore so as to be the first mssionary from his company to set foot in England.

Also, from England is Thomas X. Smith.  Thomas X Smith was a hat maker in England.  When he joined the church, his family disowned him.  He later returned to England to serve as a missionary and then returned to the United States.  He is buried in Logan, Utah where he served as bishop for over 40 years.

He married Annie Masters Howe also from England. ( She married Thomas X. Smith) At the age of 14 Annie worked at a lace factory.  Annie would walk to this lace factory 3 miles each way.  Annie's family was introduced to the gospel  by a Moses Thatcher who urged them to join the saints in Utah.  Annie's Family came to America with John Mcgraw and Fredrick C. Anderson.  They left England on June 4, 1865 aboard John Bright's ship with 722 Saints.

This is just a sampling of my English heritage.  I have the life today because my ancestors heard the message of Christ and embraced the gospel.  I am so excited for Easton to return to his ancestral land.  This time he will have a chance to "give back" for all of us here who were blessed by the lives of missionaries who were courageous and obedient and determined to share the word of the Lord.  God Speed, Easton.