Fukuoka, Japan
88th operating temple
Dedicated: 11 June 2000
By: Gordon B. Hinckley
Jesus Christ, Firstborn
DC 107:19
To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.
Book of Mormon
Alma 40:15-26
New Testament"The Lord Has Called for Us To Preach the Gospel"
Acts 21
General Conference
Good Shepherd, Lamb of God
Elder Gerrit W. Gong
"Today our Savior desires that what we do and who we are becoming will invite others to come, follow Him. Come find love healing, connection, and covenant belonging in Him, including in God's holy temple, where sacred ordinances of salvation can bless all family members, thus gathering Israel on both sides of the veil."
James woke me up at 5. I wonder if I would have slept until 6 and missed going to the temple if he hadn't woke me up. I never set an alarm. Anyway, we left before 6 and made it to the temple around 6:30. We took both rolls and cookies for the potluck.
President and Sister Palmer did our training today. The downstairs greeter no longer has to keep track of how many are going to be in the next session. That makes it so much easier!
President Palmer said our theme for this month is "More Holiness Give Me." He talked about pioneer day and how there are pioneers all over the world as the Church grows in other countries. He told about serving their mission in India and meeting a nine year old girl who joined the Church with her family. He said she is now a medical doctor and a prominent leader in the Church in India. He called her a pioneer.
I am the veil director again and Sister Rubert is my assistant. We sat down together and filled out our clipboard paper for all of the sessions. We have one own endowment today for women and the men also have one. James is assigned to be his helper and Sister Reidhead is the sisters helper. It is a young couple who will be getting married next week.
James and I had our break together. We sat with Sister Rubert and Sister Mangisi. Sister Mangisi said, "I don't know who made these rolls but they are the best I've ever had." I told her I made them. Sister Rubert said, "I could eat these all day." Should I have told them they are the Rhodes Texas sized frozen rolls?
Sister Larsen was telling stories to Sister Palmer, the young one who is leaving to go to college, about growing up in Holland. I love to hear her stories! She told about coming across on the boat with her husband, two small children and her mother to America in 1956. She married a missionary who later became a soldier.
A little after ten, Sister Elmer and I were waiting upstairs for the veil bell to ring. Two sisters and a brother came walking up the stairs. They walked over and shook hands with Sister Brewer who was in the upstairs greeters chair. One of the sisters had blonde hair and she looked so familiar to me. I told Sister Elmer, "that sister looks so familiar, I know her but I can't think of her name."
About that time Brother Hunt walked over to us and said, "Do you know who that was? It was Sister Bingham, the General Relief Society President." That explains why she looked so familiar. I guess she was here with her sister who lives in Joe City. They are related to the girl who is going through to get her own endowments. Wow! This is a special day for the Snowflake temple. As I watched Sister Bingham, I noticed she had a glow about her that set her apart. We treated her with the same love and respect we treat all of the patrons of the temple with. The sister workers were all in a buzz about her. Sister Palmer the temple matron, told us we couldn't ask for her autograph.
I was the veil director and directed Sister Bingham to the veil. Sister Bradshaw got to assist her at the veil. Sister Bradshaw was glowing afterwards. I told her she was the chosen one.
As James and I were leaving the temple Sister Bingham was getting in to the vehicle waiting for her. We drove right passed her and we looked at each other and smiled. James was in the Celestial room when she was there and he said she was very gracious, going around and shaking hands with others in the room. It was a neat experience for both of us. Sister Bingham is one of those people you are immediately attracted to. It is an attraction of the Spirit. She is more beautiful in real life than when you see her on TV or in a photo.
Her hair is longer now, and although she is normal
heighth, she seems tiny because she is so very thin.
Waiting for Sister Bingham but
James came out first.
The car waiting for Sister Bingham
Young Sister Palmer and Sister Mangisi
Today was their last day working at the Snowflake temple.
They are going to school at EA. President Palmer is Sister
Palmer's grandpa and his brother is in the temple presidency at
the Gila Valley temple and I am sure these two sisters will be
called as temple workers at that temple.
On the way home we stopped at Sonic for chicken sandwiches. I also got a cherry limeade. I forgot how much I love them!
We went through a cloud burst on the way home but we were not fortunate enough to have any rain in our area of Vernon.
Cloudburst. View from the temple grounds.
I got a call from my sister-in-law Denise when I got home. She was the bearer of sad news. Our cousins, Randy Tenney, has been diagnosed with brain cancer. He is in Barrows St. Joseph Hospital in Phoenix. Dennis was actually born in St. Joseph's hospital.
Randy is Dennis's age and they were good friends growing up. They still get together with their wives and go out to eat.
A sweet thing that Denise told me about Randy came from Aunt Gene. She says Randy is such a good son. He comes to see her every week and sits down and talks to her for at least an hour. Aunt Gene is 92 years old and as a mother I know how much she must appreciate this attention from her son. She is so worried about him and says this should be happening to her, not him.
Today is Deb, Randy's wife's birthday. Her kids joined her at the hospital and took her to lunch in the hospital cafeteria and then later out to dinner. We will be praying for Randy and his family.
Randy is the former mayor of Show Low and a former bishop.
This evening we watched the latest Hallmark summer movie, "Love in Rome." The leading actress is new and James and I both really liked her and we also really liked the movie.
What is on my shirt?
I like it mom!
Ok, I'm ready to be done.
