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LONDON — Elder Duane and Sister Margaret Cardall are having unique experiences in a city they love as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They say it’s a rare opportunity and a gift.
“This is the most remarkable city in the world, bar none," Elder Cardall said, speaking about serving in the city of London. “It is an incredible melting pot of nationalities and people. (In) the membership of the Hyde Park Stake, a survey was done a couple of years ago, 110 nations are represented.”
Three wards of Latter-day Saints meet in the Hyde Park chapel. It is also the headquarters of the England London Mission, the first one the church created in the 1830s.
“Six presidents of the church and 20 apostles have been president of this mission, so it’s a fairly impressive place,” Elder Cardall said.
In 2012, when the world came to London for the Olympics, the church added a visitor’s center. The Cardalls oversee the visitor's center at the Hyde Park chapel and supervise young sister missionaries who come from around the world.
“One thing that’s interesting about the visitors center in the Hyde Park chapel is we are the only visitor's center in the foyer of a chapel,” Sister Cardall said. “It is a busy, busy place.”
Located on Exhibition Road, one of the busiest streets in London, there is a tremendous amount of foot traffic. The building itself with the Christus statue attracts some, others have seen the “Book of Mormon” musical and stop by wanting a copy of the real thing.
We're about three-fourths of a mile from Buckingham Palace. Will and Kate just live up the street in Kensington Palace with the new kids. And you know, we kind of feel like their neighbors; we never see them.
–Elder Duane Cardall
Throughout their missionary service, the Cardalls said they’re constantly reminded of the rich history of Great Britain.
“We’re about three-fourths of a mile from Buckingham Palace,” Elder Cardall said. “Will and Kate just live up the street in Kensington Palace with the new kids. And you know, we kind of feel like their neighbors; we never see them.”
With Imperial College and the London School of Economics nearby, many Chinese students find their way to the visitors center.
“I love being a missionary, but I love serving with my companion,” Sister Cardall said. “We can count it as a real added blessing to be able to serve a mission together later in life and enjoy the wonderful, wonderful blessings of serving our Lord.”
“That’s been the joy of my life and my experience here is getting to know people from all walks of life from every social, economic status, from all of these different nations,” Elder Cardall added. “It’s a microcosm of what’s happening in the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And that to me is absolutely stunning.”
