Saturday, July 9th, 2022: Temple Shift, President Seaman & Kim, Gospel symbolism, Baptistry, Sonic, "Games in a Ballroom", Scarlett & Charlie,

 

Meridian, Idaho

158th operating temple

Dedicated: 19 Nov 2017

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Second Coming

Revelations 22:7

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Book of Mormon

Alma 30:29-45

37 And then Alma said unto Korihor: Believest thou that there is a God?

38 And he answered, Nay.

"Come Follow Me"

2 Kings 7

AprGenCon

"Lift Up Your Heart And Rejoice"

Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis

Of the Seventy

As President Nelson said: "Anytime you do anything that helps anyone - one either side of the veil - take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that."

Today's preparation meeting at the beginning of our temple shift was the best one that I have ever attended because of the things that President Seaman shared. He told about a young girl with downs syndrome who came in to do baptisms with her father. When she got into the water, she was so small that it came clear up to her chest. President Seaman said he felt something, there was a reverence in the room and when he looked up there was a throng of people from beyond the veil looking on. Those being baptized had a special joy on their faces. He said he realized that he felt close to heaven and it was because of the purity and cleanliness of this young girl.  

President Seaman asked us what the arch represents and then asked if we remembered the new logo that President Nelson introduced with the living Christ and His arms outstretched. An arch is also in the picture and it looks as if Christ is coming out of the arch. The arch represents the empty tomb. He said in many churches built in the last 20 years there is an arch at the front of the chapel.

He then asked us if we had noticed the squares with the circles within throughout the temple. He pointed out the decorative trim around the doors in the room where we were, the endowment room. 

He said the square represents the earth, such as is mentioned regarding taking the gospel to the four corners of the earth. The never-ending circle within the square represents eternity or heaven. The temple is the place where heaven meets earth. As I worked in the baptistry today I noticed the windows in the chapel near the baptistry,  three squares with circles within, the circles made of beautiful cut glass. They could also represent the three degrees of glory. I love gospel symbolism. 

President Seaman also said that our little temple does 6,000 baptisms a month and he is amazed by that number. 

Those attending our preparation meeting this morning:

President and Kim Seaman, Steve and Mindy Hamblin, the Curetons, the Elmers, Sister Owens, Sister Richardson, Sister Bigler, Brother Webb and Sister Flake who are young return missionaries who hold hands during the meeting. The older Hamblins, James and I, the Reidheads, Brother Farr, Brother and Sister DeSpain, Brother Bushman, Five Neffs, Brother and Sister Wilkins, the Gentry's, and a brand new young brother, Brother Neat. 

I worked in the baptistry the entire shift. James is the assistant baptistry coordinator so it was nice to be working near him. We were quite busy today. Our first group was a group of young men and women who were from Mesa, staying in Heber for a family reunion. 

The next group was 16 young women from St. Johns. I visited with one of the young women leaders as I was assigned to stay in the dressing room. She was very friendly and we had a nice visit. It's one of the places in the temple where you can actually talk out loud. Their ward attended girls camp at the Wallace's which is called Diamond W Ranch. I told this sister that the Wallace's were in our ward and we had ward parties at their place.

The last group were four Navajo sisters from the reservation. They wore masks until Sister Neff, the sister baptistry director, told them it wasn't necessary. James was in charge of confirmations and really enjoyed these sisters. He said one of them told a story about being in the temple with her daughter and they both heard a choir singing while no one else did.

I was finished a little after noon and went outside to wait for James. I forgot to get the car key so I just enjoyed being outside. It had rained and was nice, no wind. I looked out over the ledge towards Vernon and this is what I saw:

Before going to the lookout I had to take a

picture of the flowers.

Rain just east of Greens Peak.

Rain clouds starting to form.

Rain coming together

Rain in Vernon!

Yay!

Too tired to go to a restaurant so we went to Sonic and listened to our book on the way home. We got into rain between Show Low and Vernon and sure enough it had rained in Vernon earlier. The air is so fresh and clean after a rain.

Rest, a Christmas movie, "My Grownup Christmas List" starring Kevin McGarry and Kayla Wallace. Also watched a movie I had seen before but one that I really enjoy, "Christmas Town" starring Candace Cameron Bure. 

James and I listened to a couple of more chapters from "Games in a Ballroom" while we walked. I finally got my 10,000 steps.

Best Friends

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