OUR FAMILY: Lola Ruby Trina

Oakland, California

13th operating temple

Dedicated: 17-19 Nov 1964

By: David O. McKay

Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd

3 Nephi 15:21

And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall her my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 13:1-15

Why is it so important to forgive our fellowman?

New Testament: Thessalonians 1-2: "Be Not Soon Shaken in Mind, or Be Troubled"

2 Thessalonians 3

General Conference

Holiness and the Plan of Happiness

President Henry B. Eyring

"Greater happiness comes from greater personal holiness."

The Brimhall's presided at the temple this morning during our shift. In our preparation meeting President Brimhall announced that Brother Hatch, our recorder and fixer of all things broken, was called to server as a recorder in the Los Angeles temple. When they had a going away dinner for him Brother Hatch said, "Don't worry, I will be back, I'm an Arizona boy."

When President Brimhall pushed the button to play a training video the narration for the endowment session began. He immediately stopped it and went to the office. When he came back he explained that he had downloaded the video but it had reverted back to the previous mode. He said, "And guess who's not here to fix it?" That is an indication of how much we depend on Brother Hatch.

President Brimhall pushed the button again, and the training video began to play.

I was assigned today to do something I have never done before. I was assigned to be a helper to a sister who was here for her own endowments. I was supposed to meet her at the front desk at 10 o'clock in the morning. I got there right at ten because I was in initiatory from 9:30 until 10:00. I sat by the front desk. Two sisters came in and I thought it was the sister I was to help and her escort. It was Sister Yates's sister. I sat awhile longer and began wondering if my sister was going to be a "no show." Soon Sister Shelton saw me and came over and said, "I've been looking for you. Your sister is already upstairs in the recorders office. She had come early while I was still in the initiatory room.

Sister Elmer had already taken the new sisters personal belongings into the locker room. The sisters name is Karen Hayden. When Sister Hayden came out of the recorders office she wondered where her suitcase was. Sister Crosby said, "Oh we have already taken it to a locker." She seemed a little taken aback and said, "I had some personal items in there." We all walked back to the locker room. Sister Jones took over for me here. "We have already checked your ordinance packet and everything is there. Your garments have the proper signs. We now need you to take all of your clothes off and put on your garments, white dress, white hose and shoes." Sister Hayden went in to the locker and made the changes. When she came out I pinned a paper badge on her that said: "Own endowment; Karen Hayden."

As the other sisters go Sister Hayden ready for the initiatory ordinances, I went in to the clothing section of initiatory. I sealed the anointing ordinance as you normally do when you are in clothing and read the clothing ordinance along with the new name presentation.

Next I escorted Sister Hayden and her escort, who happens to be a worker in the Denver temple, to the matron's office where Sister Brimhall will speak with them and the other new sister and her escort. Sister Yates and I waited in the hall for 25 minutes until they were done. Sister Brimhall told me Sister Hayden is hard of hearing in her right ear and when I am at the veil with her I need to be on her left side. If necessary I should change with someone.

Sister Yates and I escorted the new sisters and their escorts to the front row of the endowment session where ropes had been lain over the chairs to save for them. While they were in the session I did initiatory again for the third time today. I guess Sister Elmer thinks I need lots of repetition so I can learn all of the ordinances.

When it was time to do the veil I told the others sisters going to the veil that I needed to be on the left side of Sister Hayden. There is no longer an extra sister to come in and be the veil director. The first follower in the session directs the veil. Today it was Sister Crosby. I told her the same thing about Sister Hayden's hearing that I told the sister in the hall. I thought when I was finished at the veil that I would be dismissed but Sister Elmer told me to go and be with Sister Hayden in the Celestial room and wait for her and walk her back to the locker room.

Sister Hayden was with five other people in the Celestial room, including her husband. I went over and gave her a hug and she thanked me for helping her. I went and sat in a chair by the door and waited for her to leave. They stayed in the Celestial room a long time. When she left, I followed her and her escort back to the locker room and said goodbye. Honestly, it almost felt like I was stalking her.

It was a good experience though. I thought about hearing initiatory for the first time and all of the special blessings that are given. When Sister Hayden was in the Celestial room she had the happiest look on her face as she held hands with her husband. I saw that they are being sealed next Saturday, November 2nd.

After our shift was over we went outside in the car and waited for Brother and Sister Elmer to come out. I had promised I would make refreshments for the devotional tomorrow night for temple workers but I knew we would not be back from the valley if we went to hear Stacy sing. When Sister Elmer came out she was holding a crockpot and Brother Elmer's hands were full too. We followed them back to their car and gave them our two loaves of banana bread. They are going to Thatcher to see their grand children's Primary program and then will come straight to the devotional tomorrow. My bread will be sitting in their car another 24 hours or so. I hope it tastes good when it finally comes time to eat it.

I went in to Walmart to get some bread and some other items while James bought gas for the car. On the way home we stopped at Sonic. I ordered a breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese and bacon and a large cherry limeade because it was happy hour. James ate most of the breakfast sandwich but he should have taken the bacon off first because it really hurt his throat. I took the rest of the bacon and ate it and he finally was able to finish the rest of the sandwich.

At home I worked on my blog, walked, drank some herbal tea and watched the new Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Christmas movie, "A Merry Christmas Match." There will be new Christmas movies on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night until Christmas.

Two will be on channel 187 Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and two on channel 185, the Hallmark channel.