The secret life of a British Mormon
In the UK there are 200,000 Mormons. However, although there are two temples and over 300 meeting houses across the UK, what it means to be a British Mormon is commonly misunderstood, writes Hamish Bailey.
"I just heard little things such as gay people are sinners and that they go to hell, which for a young girl who knows she’s attracted to women, it’s a huge deal."
Jess Graves described herself as, at one point in her life, the poster girl for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Heading on her mission to Utah to spread the message of the church, she was so loyal, she even returned to work at Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City.
BYU is highly regarded as a Mormon University with alumni such as Mitt Romney, the Republican 2012 presidential candidate, who subsequently created a phenomenon nicknamed the 'Mormon Moment'.
However, now, she is happily married to her wife, Jill, and has left the Church completely. In a escapade of events, she escape the grasp of the Church’s control, an abusive husband, and admitted to herself that she is gay.
“I’ve known I was gay since I was 12, so it’s been a huge thing in my life where I just heard little things such as gay people are sinners and that they go to hell, which for a young girl who knows she’s attracted to women, it’s a huge deal."
Jess grew up in a Mormon family in Leighton Buzzard, a small town south of Milton Keynes. Her parents, who have been Mormon their whole life, brought her and her siblings up in the Church, which she stayed a faithful member until she was 23.
Heading to Utah on her mission when she was 19, the youngest a woman within the Church can be sent, the experience is often said to be life-changing. However, for Jess, it led to some of the toughest years of her life.
A mission is a period of voluntary service in which church members, usually aged between 18 to 20, devote themselves to assisting the Church away from home in it's humanitarian and church efforts.
Interact: TikTok made by Jess Graves reflecting on her time as a missionary.
"I was ready to just be me and admit I didn’t want any chains holding me down. I told my ex-husband I was a lesbian and left him. "
She said: “When I was on my mission, I went to therapy which was about how I needed to marry a priesthood holder for me to be able to be a whole person. Not only that, but also how I should be a stay-at-home mum which are things that therapy shouldn’t be about. Ultimately, it was conversion therapy."
After therapy, Jess went home from her mission with one goal. To marry a priesthood holder within a temple. A priesthood holder is someone who acts on earth for God, can perform ordinances, and be a leader within a church.
Jess believed this would deepen her relationship with God and push down her homosexual thoughts which she feared would result in a lack of acceptance from the Church. However, it quickly became apparent after she married her husband, nothing promised by the Church in therapy was true.
Watch: Jess explains the Church's views on being gay and towards women.
She said: “He turned out to be very abusive and manipulative which led to us getting divorced eight months later. Through therapy and finding myself, I was ready to just be me and admit I didn’t want any chains holding me down. I told my ex-husband I was a lesbian and left him. "
Although she left her husband, she found it harder to leave the Church. Jess stayed with her sister after she left her husband and returned to Utah for work.
"There are obviously those who are old school who are still trying to get to grips with the changing nature of society so the language they use may be inappropriate."
The Church allows members to be openly gay but has strict rules on what is allowed. Members of the Church who are part of the LGBTQ+ community can’t marry and shouldn't have sex with the same gender.
This has significant impact on any gay members of the Church due to the Church’s belief system in which to enter the highest level of heaven, known as the Celestial Kingdom, one must be married.
Interact: infographic explaining the Church's afterlife belief system
Dr James Holt, Associate Professor of Religious Education at the University of Chester and a Mormon himself, said: “The way the Church speaks about the LGBTQ+ community has come on leaps and bounds, however, the official teaching is that sexual relations should only be between a husband and a wife who are married.”
Dr Holt referred to how gay members of the Church, as long as they stay within the rules, can be involved within the Church and it’s activities. He referred to a teaching known as the Teachings of the Saviour which talks about unconditional love for all. By this teaching, Dr Holt suggested that the gay community should always be welcomed into the Church.
However, while this is the ideal situation and the way his family may be, it's not always be the case.
He said: “There are obviously those who are old school who are still trying to get to grips with the changing nature of society. So the language they use may be inappropriate and the way that they speak and welcome people will not always be the way that it should be.”
Interact: infographic that explains the Church's official views on gay members of the Church.
"I was homophobic and that’s something I resent the church for.”
Jess had heard stories of Church members that came out and had received full support from the Church, revolutionising their life.
Deciding it was worth a try, she met with missionaries in Utah and spoke to leaders in the church but something felt wrong.
She said: “I think I kind of felt that I was just being used as a project so that they could make me straight again. I didn’t want to keep being changed, so it was at this point I realised if I’m really going to embrace who I am, then I have to leave. Otherwise they would keep trying to change me, and I didn’t and don’t want to be changed.”
Realising she had had enough of fighting herself and being terrified of the Church’s and God’s judgements, Jess left. However, after years of homophobic teachings, she continued to find it hard to truly accept herself.
One moment in Sunday school imprinted on her mind when the teacher told the class that God would love you as long as you didn’t do two things: murder and homosexuality.
While acknowledging in the UK the Church is much less fundamentalist than in America, Jess said much of the homophobic and sexist teachings still cross the pond.
One of the many messages Jess received after coming out on Facebook.
One of the many messages Jess received after coming out on Facebook.
She said: “I remember I was on a basketball team at the same time as the Sunday school teacher told me that. At that time I had a big crush on a very beautiful girl on the team, but after I was taught that, it made me feel like I was an awful human. At that moment, all I heard was I was as bad as a murderer.
“That shaped my reality, I could have come out at 16 and not have been ashamed of myself but, because of that specific experience, I became ashamed of myself and shamed others who were also in the LGBTQ+ community. I was homophobic and that’s something I resent the church for.”
Jess openly came out on Facebook and, while her family understood and accepted her, it was a lonely experience at first.
Jess not only lost her community, she also received online abuse after coming out.
She said: “I got a lot of comments like ‘how dare you turn your back’, ‘you’re a hypocrite.’ It was so lonely. I already felt like God didn't love me, but those people who said they would always love me, don’t either.”
"I feel like we now realise we’re in this together forever and that’s really nice. The best thing is calling her my wife, I love it.”
However, it was through this loneliness Jess was able to find her future wife, Jill.
Jill grew up in Arizona and is also an ex-Mormon who recently left the Church after experiencing her own abusive relationship. Sharing a joint experience, the couple were able to bond.
Jess said: “From a very early point in our relationship we had each other’s backs and that’s stayed the same for the two years we have been together.”
Jess and Jill married on May 6 2023 in Jess’ sister’s back garden inviting family and friends from the UK.
Listen: Jess and Jill chat on their biggest takeaways from Mormon culture
The couple was married by an officiant, a person who performs religious ceremonies like weddings, they found on TikTok through their community. Since their ceremony, both said there’s been a new stability in their lives.
Jess said: “We’re very stereotypical lesbians in the way that we moved in together after a month of dating. I feel like we now realise we’re in this together forever and that’s really nice. The best thing is calling her my wife, I love it."
"We love being around each other and we’re actually madly and deeply in love. We want to work things out and we want to get better."
The biggest change in their lives however is that they both want to be married to each other, unlike in their previous relationships. Jess’ first marriage was in order to ‘heal’ her of being gay and it wasn’t a choice.
But this time, it’s because they genuinely love each other.
She said: “We uplift each other. We love being around each other and we’re actually madly and deeply in love. We want to work things out and we want to get better. My first marriage was for selfish reasons and my second marriage was for, well, selfish reasons too, but also because I love how much she can help me and also how much I can help her.”
Interact: TikTok made by Jess addressing her fight with depression while a member of the Church.
While the couple’s church days are behind them, they still live in Utah but have plans to move. The couple admitted they don't always feel safe living on the doorstep of Salt Lake City, home of the biggest Mormon population in the world.
Interact: infographic visualising the three largest Mormon populations in US States
Currently working at a Jewellery store directly opposite Brigham Young University, Jess has faced discrimination from Mormons. She has experienced them leave the store, ask for another staff member, and has even been called to repent.
She said: “There’s been many times we’ll go to the store and hold hands and get lots of stares. Most of the times we try and stay holding hands but there are times we feel very uncomfortable or unsafe and we have to let go.”
Interact: infographic visualising Utah Mormon views on if homosexuality should be allowed
"I remember he wanted me to say exactly what I did which made me cry. It was humiliating.”
While Jess' story is unique to her, the treatment of women in the Church is often criticised due to it's traditional views.
Abstinence from sex before marriage is one of the biggest rules within the religion and anyone who decides to not wait is committing a serious sin.
This is what Gemma Holt discovered when she was 15, after losing her virginity to her boyfriend at the time. Publicly shamed after confessing to the bishop and not allowed to take the sacrament, the moment haunted her, putting her relationship with the Church into disrepair.
She said: “It was a horrible experience, my mum was very upset and I had to confess for her sake. I thought it would be a good laugh but I ended up feeling so humiliated.”
Gemma grew up surrounded by a Mormon family in Chorley; her mum raised her within the community.
While devout as a child, she began questioning certain teachings and behaviours of people in the church as a teenager.
She said: “I remember hearing multiple conversations of people judging others in the Church. My best friends were judging peers for not being holy enough or dating outside the church, which was seen as wrong.”
While she admitted she was critical of others for such unholy actions, she was unaware that soon she was to be judged herself after meeting her first boyfriend.
Interact: TikTok made by Gemma Holt explaining her time as a church member and her experience, telling the bishop she lost her virginity.
Gemma spoke fondly of her first boyfriend and stated he was a Catholic. While that didn’t particularly matter besides the odd sly comment, she decided not to tell her mum when they first began dating.
She said: “I didn’t tell my mum anything and I think religion had something to do with that. Once she found out, she grounded me. If she found out I had a boyfriend afterwards, she would give me serious talks about sin.”
Sin in the Church is formed by the Plan of Salvation, a belief that God decided to fashion human beings to live on the earth. However, he knew he would need help humans progress, aware that they would sin and need salvation.
While Lucifer, also known as Satan, offered to help, God chose Jesus. In anger, Lucifer rebelled which meant God chucked him out of heaven to earth along with his followers, creating ‘fallen angels’.
Douglas J. Davies, Professor in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University said: “My students get funny feelings when I say this, but Mormons believe these fallen angels are all around us at all times trying to lead us astray. We are here because we sided with Jesus.”
If one was to be tempted by the fallen angels, not only would one be committing a sin, you are also not being obedient, another significant philosophy within the Church.
Originating from Jesus’ obedience to God, sacrificing himself for our sins, repentance would be required to return to the Church if one went against either philosophy.
Gemma said : “While most parents will teach you about safe sex, my mum taught me about the law of chastity and why not to have sex before marriage.”
Listen: Gemma looks back on her time as a Mormon and response to her TikTok.
Gemma explained that when her mum found out she had lost her virginity, she was given an ultimatum. You tell the bishop or I will.
Gemma had a complicated relationship with her mum at the time and, scared of what she may say to him, she agreed to confess to the bishop.
She said: “I didn’t have a choice, she called the meeting for me and told me the bishop wanted to have a word. I think she had already told him but I remember he wanted me to say exactly what I did which made me cry. It was humiliating.”
Put on a repentance program, Gemma wasn’t allowed to take the sacrament for six weeks or, for four weeks, pray in lessons.
The sacrament is a symbolic act representative of the events of the last supper, in which the bread and wine served was said to be Jesus' flesh and blood. It's a religious act shared by several Christian denominations and includes all Church members. Therefore, to be excluded is not only noticeable, it signifies impurity.
Watch: Gemma explains the sacrament and what it means should one be not allowed to take it.
Gemma said: “When you are told you can’t take the sacrament, everyone sees you and starts talking and asking questions. It’s a horrible feeling with people guessing why, even though it’s nobody's business.”
Gemma left the Church before she finished the repentance program, telling her Mum that, not only was she right in believing that she wasn’t a virgin, she also wanted to leave the Church.
Unable to comprehend the news, Gemma’s mum stormed off and told her to tell the Bishop herself. However, she made no comment on her admitting that she had lost her virginity.
Gemma said: “She was more upset that I wanted to leave the church. Now we don’t talk about it. I’ll always respect her, she sometimes tries to educate me and I’ll let her because it’s her life. Although it put a wedge in our relationship, I believe we now have a mutual respect for each other.”
Gemma doesn’t hold a grudge against the Church either, mainly as it saved her mum’s life.
She explained how it gave her mum purpose after the family found itself homeless. The Church gave them food, a place to stay, and never expected a penny back.
She said: “Without the Church we would have nothing and we would be on the streets or starved and, for that, I will be forever grateful to them. My relationship with the rules and laws has changed, but the kindness of the individuals within the Church is something I’ll always be thankful for.”
Interact: TikTok made by Gemma explaining her time as a Mormon.
Gemma admitted that, at first, her experience did have a profound effect on how she viewed sex. However, she now believes it’s made her more open about a subject which was once taboo in her life.
She said: “I hope that one day when I have kids, I’ll tell them these things and also let them know I don’t expect them to tell me everything. I won’t judge them if they do because of the guilt I felt.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was approached for comment on both Jess and Gemma's experiences but didn't comment.
For many, like Gemma's mum, the Church has been a saviour and, while some have had negative experiences, the misconceptions depicted through media has led to a relentless fight for the Church in the UK.
From the hit West End Musical, ‘The Book of Mormon’ to 'South Park', the public perspective has created a certain illusion of what a Mormon is.
Dr Holt believes one of the biggest misconceptions is that the Church is not Christian.
He said: “I spend an awful lot of time in my career, talking about how to teach religion. One of the conversations I often have is about who decides to draw the boundaries of who is Christian and who is not?”
“Scientology is on a completely different path of thought. While you can see similarities, they are not doing the same thing."
A Mormon himself, he believes at the heart of the issue of public's outlook is the belief the Church is a cult similar to Scientology rather than a member of a mainstream religion.
According to the most recent census data in 2021, the UK is home to 27.5 million Christians. While the Church only makes up 0.7% of this figure, they often fail to be recognised as part of the community.
Interact: infographic explaining the key statistics of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the UK.
Prof. J. Davies said: “Scientology is on a completely different path of thought. While you can see similarities, they are not doing the same thing. Mormonism is on the family pathway, not to control your subconscious mind.”
Watch: Dr James Holt explains the idea of posthumous baptism and how he baptised his deceased father.
Prof. J. Davies made clear that the Church’s beliefs are more wholesome than often given credit for.
Part of the reason they are depicted as similar to Scientology is through misunderstandings such as that members are polygamous. While this has not been in the mainstream Church since 1890, it’s a common error made by the public.
Dr Holt said: “Polygamy was ruled out of the mainstream Church a long time ago and groups who still practise it wouldn’t be considered part of the church people call Mormons.”
"Although they are taking the mick, it always produces curiosity and they want to know what we actually believe."
Another misinterpretation is that Mormons are simply trying to convert you to their religion, a major plot point within ‘The Book of Mormon’.
Following the story of two Mormons sent on their mission to Uganda, ‘The Book of Mormon’ satirically suggests that the objective of a mission is to convert people into Latter-Day Saints. While one may assume the musical might upset those in the Church, Sheffield-based missionaries Elder Quinn Bailey and Elder Tavin Shurtliff were able to laugh it off.
Elder Bailey (left) and Elder Shurtliff (right) in front of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' Jordanthorpe building, Sheffield
Elder Bailey (left) and Elder Shurtliff (right) in front of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' Jordanthorpe building, Sheffield
Baptism pool within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint's Jordanthorpe, Sheffield, meetinghouse.
Baptism pool within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint's Jordanthorpe, Sheffield, meetinghouse.
Elder Shurtliff said: “Whenever someone brings ‘The Book of Mormon’ up, it tends to be positive. Although they are taking the mick, it always produces curiosity and they want to know what we actually believe because it’s clearly a joke.”
For both missionaries, the misconceptions they have come across aren’t annoying but an opportunity to help people understand the religion.
Responding to the mistake that the Church is not a Christian denomination, Elder Bailey said: “Everything we do in church or the temples is to draw us closer to Jesus Christ and to our Heavenly Father. The definition of a Christian for us is someone who believes in Christ.
"It even says on the front of our scripture, The Book of Mormon, that it’s another testament of Jesus Christ.”
“In England, people are a lot more reserved in how they interact and this is sometimes reflected in how they perform things at church."
Elder Shurtliff has now finished his mission after spending two years in Yorkshire. In his final few weeks, he reflected on the differences between the Church in the UK and it's holy land, Utah, which is also his home.
He suggested that while, as a whole, the Gospel and the Church acts the same, it's culture tends to change across different parts of the world.
He said: “In England, people are a lot more reserved in how they interact and this is sometimes reflected in how they perform things at church. For the most part, things are very similar. The Church is also more spread out and much smaller.”
Interact: number of full-time missionaries worldwide spanning 1972-2022
Both laughed when they agreed the biggest difference they’ve noticed overall is the temperature and food, both big fans of an full English breakfast. While Elder Shurtliff is from St. George, Utah, Elder Bailey arrived from Georgetown, Canada, a small town outside of Toronto.
In conversation with them, it’s easy to fall on your prejudices and fear that you will succumb to their persuasiveness. Although they are kind and easy to talk to, you worry this is the bait which they want you to bite.
"We’re not saying 'we will mow your lawn if you come to church.'"
However, this is not true. Like most other Christians, they believe they are on a mission to follow God and help a community, offering a hand to whomever reaches out.
Elder Bailey said: “We volunteer at a local food bank, this morning we helped out at Baby Basics in Sheffield City Centre, and tomorrow, we’re painting a fence for a woman with multiple sclerosis. We’re always looking for ways to help people out and lots of members are like that.
Listen: Elder Shurtcliff explains temptations at university and advice for a mission.
"It can be hard to help lots of people due to the perception of our religion but that’s truly the reason we are here. We’re not saying 'we will mow your lawn if you come to church.'"
Put well by Elder Bailey, it’s simply trying to help people the way that Christ would and doing so with no expectation of reward, except possibly putting a smile on someone's face.
“That was the hardest goodbye. It was awful, there was so much uncertainty around when we would next see each other."
Scott and Anastasia Gilmour met when both were serving their missions in Moscow. Now approaching five years since they started their mission, sitting together happily married in Preston, it hardly paints the picture of the hardships their relationship has had to endure.
Since the two met in Gorky Park, Moscow, they have been brought together by a pandemic and torn apart by the largest ground invasion in Europe since World War Two. The only thing that brought comfort to them was their faith in each other and in God’s plan.
Scott said: “We knew when you get married, a commitment to each other is made. There was never a doubt when we were separated, we would wait as long as it took because it didn’t matter how long we would have to wait to see each other.”
Told he was to be sent to Moscow, Scott explained that before he stepped foot in Russia, he had to learn how to become a missionary.
In a nine week intensive course, Scott learnt how to speak Russian in a Missionary Training Centre in Provo, Utah. However, as effective as the course was, he didn't truly learn how to speak the language until he was out there.
Interact: all Missionary Training Centre locations worldwide.
He said: “Adjusting to Russia was a massive task. You have to figure out small things such as sending a letter, where's the post office, what do you eat as there’s no food that you’re used to. There’s all kinds of things you need to adapt to but you just do”.
Listen: Scott and Anastasia explain why they decided to go on a mission and Scott explains the food he ate in Russia.
Like most missionaries, once Scott had been given his area, sent to a city called Nizhny Novgorod, four hours east of Moscow, he was fully focussed on his mission. While one would not expect Russia to welcome the church, Anastasia explained that most Russians are very religious.
She said: “Compared to the UK, I would say the public are more open to the idea of religion, especially younger generations. Older generations are stricter on believing that the Orthodox Church should be the main church and other religions are not true faiths.”
Interact: Instagram from Scott's account posted from when he was on his mission. He can be seen with fellow missionary, Elder Grube.
Anastasia suggested the main problem she found was a trust issue due to people assuming it’s an American church. She found the best way to break down these walls was to build a natural relationship in order to establish a connection.
Ironically, it was through this method that the couple were first able to establish their own connection.
First meeting while playing a game of volleyball, Scott said: “Everyone was nervous to speak to Nastya [Anastasia] because she was the most attractive Russian girl. Not only that, she judged your Russian, she was scary!”
"I knew I wanted to marry Nastya so I asked God to guide me."
The relationship between the two began to grow as soon as they met. By the time Scott was sent home in August 2020, he knew he needed to see her again and made an even further journey, visiting her and her family in their hometown, Omsk, Siberia.
When Anastasia in December 2020 flew over to the UK to see Scott, he decided that he wanted to marry her and proposed on Christmas Eve in front of the Preston temple.
Interact: Scott's Instagram post after proposing to Anastasia in front of the Preston Temple. The caption in Russian reads: "Yesterday, my best friend agreed to put up with me for a very long time. P.s. Nastya... this is for a long time;)."
He said: “I remember driving in the New Forest and parking the car in the middle of the night and starting to pray. I knew I wanted to marry Nastya so I asked God to guide me. In the spur of the moment, we drove up to Preston and I proposed.”
"British weddings are boring so I wanted to bring the party element we have from Russia."
While Scott managed to fly out to Omsk and get home safe amidst the chaos of the Covid pandemic, Anastasia was less lucky on her visit. On 6 January 2021, England entered its third lockdown which meant Anastasia was stuck in the country for six months.
Listen: Anastasia explains her thought process when Scott proposed and her decision to marry him.
Anastasia went home to Omsk before she returned August 2021 when the couple married.
Anastasia said: “We added some Russian traditions to the wedding such as steal the bride which is when, half way through the wedding, the bride is stolen by the best man and the groom needs to steal her back. British weddings are boring so I wanted to bring the party element we have from Russia.”
Once the couple were sealed in the London Temple, a sacred ceremony which sees the couple married for eternity, Anastasia went home for a while, with plans to return permanently.
Watch: Professor Douglas. J. Davies explains the importance of marriage within the Church and the what the term 'sealed' refers to.
However, while Anastasia was home, on 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Disorientated by the cacophony of news reports, she realised it meant she couldn't leave Russia. After being together for so long due to a global pandemic, the couple were now separated.
Anastasia said: “At first, I didn’t know what was going on, I thought it would be over in one week but it was Scott who made me realise this was a big deal. Originally, we thought it would be over in a month but the fighting kept getting worse and it started getting scary.”
"At one point he told me that we might need to live in Kazakhstan for a while."
Anastasia was able to get a visa before the war but, due to the change in the UK’s political relationship with Russia, securing a visa suddenly became almost impossible.
Although she had finished her visa application before the war started, they were left in agonising silence by the Immigration Office.
She said: “Scott had plans to live in Mexico; at one point he told me that we might need to live in Kazakhstan for a while. Instead, we were able to find a neutral country and we met in Armenia for a few weeks.”
Watch: video footage from Scott and Anastasia's time in Armenia. Song credit: The Beat of Nature by Olexy
Meeting in Armenia, the couple spent precious time together amidst the chaos of the war. As Anastasia explained, the couple were incredibly happy to see each other and still reflect back on their time together as one of their favourite memories.
Forgetting the background noise of Ukraine, it was their first glimpse of married life. Nonetheless, with Anastasia still unable to secure a visa, both had to return home, unsure of when they would next see each other.
Anastasia said: “That was the hardest goodbye. It was awful, there was so much uncertainty around when we would next see each other."
Anastasia eventually received her visa after writing to the Immigration Office 6 months after it was meant to arrive. She travelled to Novosibirsk, eight hours east of Omsk by train to wait for two weeks before finally allowed to collect it.
"We will sit down and watch TV together and we’ll just turn to each other and say 'I can’t believe that you’re here.'"
While euphoric at the notion that she and Scott could finally be together indefinitely for the first time in their married life, she was aware that once she left Russia, she had no clue when she would be able to see her family again.
She said “It’s the hardest thing I’ve done in my life. Since I’ve arrived, I feel like I can’t fully enjoy it because I don’t want to seem happy here without them.”
Listen: Scott and Anastasia reflect on Scott's first meeting with her family and what his first impressions were.
While Anastasia spoke about leaving her family, she began to tear up. Although living with Scott was the only thing she had been looking forward to since the war had started, she had to make a huge sacrifice, leaving the life she had always known to begin one full of unknowns.
Both found the Church and their community offered much needed support in these trying times. Scott works at the England Missionary Training Centre as the training supervisor for Europe and Africa and said he was grateful for how kind his surrounding colleagues were.
He said: “Everyone at the MTC was great and I’m lucky that I have a really good group of friends whom I work with. My boss was constantly trying to help us in small ways like giving me more hours so I could earn more money to help Nastya get over here.”
Although both joked they sometimes found people asked too many questions, they are hugely grateful for the support they were given. When Anastasia arrived in the UK, Scott’s boss offered her a job which, not only gave her an income, but also a community in a time when she had lost one.
Now happily living together, the couple have finally begun building a life together. Described as full of joy by Anastasia, they both added that they are just trying to enjoy every moment.
Scott said: “We will sit down and watch TV together and we’ll just turn to each other and say 'I can’t believe that you’re here.'”
Interact: Scott celebrating at his graduation with Anastasia posted on his Instagram.
As the couple look to the future, Scott has just graduated from Russian and International Business at the University of Central Lancashire, and, in the long term, both said they would love to be part of helping rebuild Ukraine and Russia.
Although there is no sign of the Ukraine war ending, both are hopeful that once it does, they can return to Russia and live there permanently.
