Chapter 3 - The Hyde Park Chapel and the Chinese

Chapter 3 — The Hyde Park Chapel and the Chinese 

The Salt Lake Temple and the Tabernacle were for decades — and may remain — the two best known Mormon buildings in America.  Similarly, the London Temple and the Hyde Park Chapel (at least until the Preston temple was recently built) have been the two key buildings in the U.K.  The London Temple is actually not in London.  But about an hour to the south — by train and taxi — in the village of Newchapel.  The Hyde Park Chapel is, on the other hand, in the centre of London, half a mile from our flat.  (If interested in these locations, you might check out the maps posted earlier.)

Our Hyde Park Chapel has quite a history.  The five-story building is the headquarters for the London Mission.  It is our Stake Centre, and home to two family wards along with our YSA ward.  It also houses a Visitors Centre.  (Notice how native I’ve gone.  Our apartment is a “flat.”  I spell the word “centre,” and so forth.  The Brits love me for it.)  For more than half a century the Hyde Park Chapel has been the place where Prophets and General Authorities come to meet the Saints of Britain.  I consider this 3-minute video clip well worth a look.  Give a click:

https://www.facebook.com/HydeParkVC/videos/193572377424772/

Here is a view of our Chapel from the street.

I’m sure I’ll have much to say about our Hyde Park Chapel as this blog develops.  For now let me speak of our Chapel’s curious connection to China.  Which lies, at this very moment, at the heart of what might prove to be one of the great pioneer stories and Gospel developments ever.

Across the street from the Hyde Park Chapel lies the Imperial College of London (ICL). The staff and alumni of ICL include 15 Nobel Laureates.  With faculties in science, engineering, medicine, and business, it is consistently ranked among the Top Ten Universities in the world.  Here is a view of the ICL from the doorway of the Hyde Park Chapel:

Here are a few other views of the layout:

Close by are also the London Economics University, King’s College, and a host of other world class institutions.  And why do we care?  We care, because there are now loads of Chinese attending these prestigious schools.  (Litrally.  Loads of them.)  Some from Taiwan and Hong Kong.  But mostly from the People’s Republic.  Chinese who are, in general, the elite of their society. 

Entry and survival at these London Universities is tough.  Most the students are both intellectual and highly disciplined.  And the interesting thing about these godless Chinese — from the still-supposedly-Communist PRC — is that they tend to be very spiritual.  As in receptive to the Holy Ghost.  And drawn to the Church.

Our ward is repeatedly among the best, if not the best, baptizing ward in Europe.  And that is largely due to the Chinese.  Every couple of weeks, another bright Chinese grad student joins the Church here.

Certainly Christ’s parable of the sower and the seeds applies to the Chinese as well as other people.  There are testimonies and conversions that sprout and grow only for a while, and are then scorched by the sun, choked by thorns, etc.  But none of us who meet these Chinese have any doubt that many are noble and great ones.  Valiant pioneers.  Placed here by the Lord.  For this very hour.

These Chinese are so cool.  Most of them have been raised completely atheist.  No clue about God and Christianity.  They are trained to think logically and rationally.  But then you talk to them about things of the Spirit.  How spiritual learning can come through study, prayer and the Holy Ghost.  You invite them to “experiment with the word of God.”  And they do so.  Humbly and sincerely.  And it works!  They have these powerful conversion experiences.

Here is a little interview with a great young brother of mine, Mengchu.  He was baptized a month ago.  His conversion is typical of so many of our beloved Chinese:

In our YSA Ward, at the Hyde Park Chapel, we have a Chinese Sunday School Class.  Here is a glimpse of that class (today it’s being taught in English — often it’s in Mandarin):

Having Chinese for dinner has taken on a whole new meaning.  Nothing to do with Panda Express or any specific food.  It means wonderful evenings when our Chinese family come to visit.  Here’s a glimpse of that scene:

There is perhaps no more brilliant, sweet and lovable PhD student in the whole world than my buddy Kaiyan, who has been a member for about half a year.

As you know, some Chinese names are strange or difficult for us to pronounce.  Thus, many 

Chinese adopt Anglo-Western names (like Helen, Wilma, and Jared).  Here is a clip of two of our great Chinese brothers on their baptism day.  One of them — how cool is this — has taken the name Helaman.

There’s a story among the missionaries here in London.  I’m quite sure it’s true, not apocryphal.  One of the senior missionary couples serving here not long ago — I believe they were the Cottles — came from Salt Lake.  The missionary husband had worked at Church headquarters in news media or public affairs, where he had occasional contact with President Hinckley.  Once, this brother got talking with President Hinckley about China.  The brother expressed his dismay over the sheer numbers.  Now nearly 1.5 billion!  Even if we greatly increased the size of our missionary force, and sent most of them only to China, it would still be tens of thousands of Chinese for every missionary.  How could we ever hope to do the work?

President Hinckley was said to have replied with his usual calm faith.  He was not worried.  This was the Lord’s work.  And already the Lord was doing far more than the world recognized, to lay the groundwork.  So that when China does open its doors the Gospel it will move forward effectively and in order.

That story rings true.  But even if the conversation never happened quite as described, if we look close, we can see that’s exactly what’s happening.  That is, a great foundation is being laid — as we speak.  I hope this little chat with our dear Sister Helen (now wrapping up her PhD) gives you a glimpse into the great pioneer story unfolding.  And also a glimpse into the soul of one of these valiant converts.

In short, this China connection is one of the big reasons we so love this mission to London.   First, I we really do have the thrilling sense that we are eyewitnesses to History.  And playing our own small part in a great story of the Last Days.  But perhaps even more rewarding is that human touch.  The personal one-on-one love we feel for — and receive from — our wonderful kindred from China.