Sat, Apr 23rd, 2022: Reno Nevada Temple, Temple shift - Sister Wilkins, Gail Hancock, Jeanie Gentry, Taco Bell, Cupcakes, ward party, food and skits

 

Reno, Nevada

81st operating temple

Dedicated: 23 Apr 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Savior

Romans 11:26

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 15

"Come Follow Me"

Exodus 20:1-7, 18-26 It is important to put the Lord first in my life.

AprGenCon

"The Power of Spiritual Momentum"

President Russell M. Nelson

President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I would like to suggest five specific actions we can take to help us maintain positive spiritual momentum.

Liahona

"Learn the Healer's Art"

Up at 3:48. It's temple day. I said my prayers first and then got ready to go. We left the house at 5:20 for the temple in Snowflake. We arrived early enough to not be rushed. The Seaman's are presiding which always makes me happy. Sister Kim Seaman did some training on initiatory during our preparation meeting. Sister Hamblin, our co-ordinator, asked me to make sure Sister Wilkins, who is here for only the second time, is comfortable working in initiatory. Sister Seaman, Kim, said we could go in the matron's room if we were going to be talking and training. Sister Wilkins and I talked and I explained to her everything I know about initiatory, including how to rotate. Sister Wilkins has been to the temple doing initiatory and to study the cards that are available. I think she is going to be an amazing temple worker because of her desire and dedication!

During my break, in the break room, I visited with Gail Hancock, who is George Brinkerhoff's sister. George graduated from high school the same year James and I did. I remember him very well. He was extremely smart and nice looking. James remembers he was the only guy who would climb the town water tower with him. Gail said he died of colon cancer when he was 31 leaving behind 5 children and a wife. I also talked with Jeanie Gentry about her eye problem. She has Fuch's Dystrophy which means she has dead cells behind her eyes and she needs to have surgery as this makes her vision very blurry. She is going to be too busy to have surgery in May but will probably have it in June, in the valley. She has to stay down in bed and can't go to a high altitude right away so she will have to find a place to stay in the valley. I told her that she is on my prayer list.

James was the officiator for the 9:30 endowment session which means he had to find a witness couple. He recognized brother David Bowman who is the artist of the picture we have in our dining room of the Savior and a child that Jared gave us one year for Christmas. He asked Brother Bowman and his wife to be the witness couple and they were happy to do it. 

On the way home we stopped at Taco Bell for lunch. When we got home I made some cupcakes because I wasn't sure if we would have enough desserts for our ward party tonight. I also did some walking because I had less that 2,000 steps when I got home. James and I walked together and listened to Lily of the Valley. A little before six we packed up our double Texas sheetcake and our 20 something cupcakes and left for the church. Our ward party consisted of a dinner and skits afterwards. We sat by the Brown's, the Diewald's, and Chuck. For dinner we had baked potatoes with smoked pulled pork, chili, cheese, sour cream, onions, and lettuce. The desserts were many and varied. I did not have any. James said my Texas sheetcake was the best dessert out there. The best skit was done by the young men and young women leaders which included: Sean Hunsaker, Alicia Hunsaker, Becky Skousen, Willy Grombach, Bishop Hunsaker, Michelle Tesarek, Cody Snyder, and LeeAnn Snyder. They all sat in a row and acted as if they were at a movie. Sean wanted to be with LeeAnn and kept sending kisses, drinks, hugs, down the row. The two funniest people were Willy and Michelle. It was a great way to start the skits! They sort of went down hill from there. It was a fun night and we had lots of non-members attend. We have a new family in the ward with five boys. Their last name is Crane.