Editor's note: This article is the first in a series of columns that highlight missionary experiences, showing us the complexion of our worldwide church. Look for future columns in Meridian .

I have always pictured London the way it is illustrated as England of old — half timber buildings stringing together Dickens's Old Curiosity Shop and Holmes's residence on Baker Street . Preparing to go on a mission to London , I saw dark suits and badges in a picture perfect setting. I imagined polished brass door knockers, hearty souls in tweeds gripping umbrellas and others carrying home fish and chips rolled up in today's newspaper. I pictured the old stone churches, bells in their towers, and a tradition of Sunday services and continued reverence for God.

When we arrived in England , my husband called to serve as the mission president of the England London South Mission, we found a little of that and a lot more. The mission is large, reaching reach from London west to Land's End in Cornwall , back to Rye on the East, an old smuggler's cove to the touristy Brighton and shipping magnate Portsmouth on the south and Salisbury right in the middle. Oxford sits at the top. Lots of universities, lots of emigrants and lots of British.

But the scenery quickly fades to the background when the Church becomes the dominant focus.

The community of Latter-day Saints in England is remarkable by any standards. The spirit of the people, their love for God and their appreciation for the gospel in their lives is living testament that the kingdom of God on earth is firmly rooted in what poet William Blake called “this green and pleasant land.”

Take Wandsworth, for example. Wandsworth Stake takes in much of London south of the Thames . No Big Ben or Parliament, St. Paul 's Cathedral or Harrods in this urban landscape. South London is where the people live, people from all over the world.

On Hallowed Ground

Our first stake conference was in Wandsworth. It was a quick introduction to the international nature of our mission — and the Church. We have 28 full time missionaries serving in the stake and a senior couple. Our missionaries come from Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Armenia, Croatia, France, Norway, Ghana, Denmark, Italy, Hungary, Finland, Germany, Scotland, Wales, England and yes, America. The Stake Center stands on hallowed ground with a history of missionary effort dating back to the early 1930s with Hugh B. Brown.

Most of the Wandsworth congregation was emigrants; many were young. Looking at them I thought to myself, “This is England !” The visiting authority was from Spain , a tender-hearted, spiritual man who spoke little English. The stake member from Brazil who spoke Portuguese — and some Spanish and English — served as the translator.

The stake president, originally from Japan , spoke English with a Japanese twist and all the polish and courtesy of his culture. His wife spoke no English though she led the music with skill and a very large smile. As the speakers made reference to scriptures, the president followed in his Japanese scriptures. His first counselor was from Ghana ; his second from Yorkshire . The stake clerk sat off to the side following the scriptures — in his palm pilot. And right near him were two members signing the whole meeting for the deaf sitting before them.

A choir of single adults provided most of the music. Most of them had come from Africa and the Philippines to find work. They also found the gospel.

I looked over the scene and marveled at the diversity yet the unity. We had all come together to worship the Lord and be taught by his called servants. While others played football on the green across the street, we sat in quiet contemplation seeking to hear the word of God.

Where else would so many come from so far with such different backgrounds to join in feeling the spirit? I loved it. I loved the effort that was represented by the congregation — an effort to get to church, to stay active, to be an example, to be humble and to feel the spirit in a noisy and distracted world.

Just recently that stake presidency was reorganized. The first counselor, from Ghana, was called to lead the stake as its president. His first counselor was a convert from India and the second, the Englishman from the previous presidency.

Past Picturesque Churches

Encircling the makeshift chapel was a rusted chain link fence held up by leaning weathered posts. The sign “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints” was secured to the corner wall next to the five space car park. Most members in London take public transport.

We walked into the building through a crash-door that suggested the neighborhood was perhaps less than supportive and were greeted by our elders. They were so excited to see us and they hoped to have five investigators coming to Church.

The Bishop with exuberance said, “We love our new building.” I looked around as he continued. “We are so excited to have our own building. We have been meeting in a school for years and finally the Church was able to rent this building and renovate it for us. It is a great blessing.”

We entered a large room intersected at odd angles by large white posts. Folding chairs were lined up in rows, and there were a few members already in their seats. We sat down on the stand, which was simply the front of the room with a portable podium, and listened to the organist — yes, they had an organist and he knew three songs, he said. He played for the opening and closing hymn and they played the Church recording for the sacrament hymn.

I will always treasure that time in Welling. In Jeremiah we read, “I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” Zion is the Welling Ward.

One by one, sometimes by twos the seats began to fill up. All nationalities, all ages. We sang as the opening song, “Come to Zion and within her walls rejoice,” and I looked at the strollers in the aisles and the little girls with their hair tied up in dozens of brilliantly colored ribbons and the young men in dreadlocks and the missionaries, beaming, because their investigators had come.

The people poured into the building for the meeting. I counted 100 in the congregation. They were happy to see each other and they sang with strength that would have made Craig Jessop and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir proud. I learned so much from these saints who needed no more than the spirit to be with God.

And so it is everywhere in England . The land that fed the early Church of this last dispensation with believers is now growing its own congregations. While the churches up and down the streets sat empty, our church was full of the Lord's faithful.