As Scotland marks St Andrew’s Day on 30 November, millions of proud Scots throughout the British Isles – and around the world – will reflect on tradition, culture and simply celebrating that special day with family and friends.
Who was St Andrew? Scotland is one of the few countries to have one of Jesus Christ’s early apostles as a ‘patron saint’ http://www.scotland.org/whats-on/st-andrews-day/who-is-st-andrew
Andrew was a humble Galilean fisherman and brother of Simon Peter, the chief apostle. As a disciple of John the Baptist he met Jesus and then brought Simon Peter to meet Jesus. One of the earliest people called to be a disciple of the Saviour, Andrew was one of the original Twelve Apostles.
His devotion to the cause of Christianity is reflected in familiar Bible verses:
‘And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.’ (Matthew 4: 18-20)
We see the faith of St Andrew in large numbers of Scottish Christians today, including members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), who look to his inspiring actions.
In 1840, Elder Orson Pratt – an early Mormon apostle – dedicated Scotland for the preaching of the gospel, with dramatic results. Over the twenty years that followed, more than 10,000 Scots joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Happy St Andrew’s Day!