Manila, Philippines
29th operating temple
Dedicated: 25 Sept 1984 by: Gordon B. Hinckley
Alma 56:41-57
Would you go to battle, or make a sacrifice or do something hard, for what you believe in?
*Today dad and I reported for work at the Snowflake temple. We got up at 4:30 to leave by 5:40 to get to the temple at 6:30 in time to get dressed and ready for our shift which starts at 7.
We finished at 1, and we were both exhausted.
Sometimes doing the Lord's work is hard. We have to remember what He did for us and that makes it all worthwhile.
You meet some amazing people in the temple. My co-ordinator is 57 years old. She told me her story. Her husband died 12 years ago and she was called a s a temple worker one year after his death. She can't imagine her life without the temple. She has received blessings she never even imagined were possible.
There were three other new temple workers today who were set apart with us. To me,they are the real heroes. They remind me of the 2,000 stripling warriors.
Brother Somers is a return missionary of two months who drove from Flagstaff this morning. I was afraid to ask him what time he had to get up. He is looking for a job, going to school and still has time to serve in the temple.
Brother McClaws lives in Holbrook and just graduated from high school. He has been called to the Georgia, North Atlantic mission and leaves in October. He works 50 hours a week at his job. He got off at 2 am and was at the temple at 6:30 am to report for duty this morning.
Last but not least, Brother Eagar who just graduated from Blue Ridge high school and has been called to the Indiana, Indianapolis mission and leaves October 3rd. He's a football player and a cowboy, and is very sweet, and good looking too. he just got his endowments yesterday and today he's a temple worker, working two shifts a week. A real hero dedicated to the Lord.
This is going to be an amazing calling! I am so grateful to be doing the Lord's work and I am so grateful to associate with such amazing people!
Who do you know that does amazing, hard things that has inspired you?
DC 124:31-49
Why are we commanded to build temples?
*Verses 4&5, "verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people; For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times."
General Conference
Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"Do we live in a time of peril and turmoil? Of course we do. God Himself has said, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.' (John 16:33). Can we exercise the faith to believe and to act accordingly. Can we live up to our commitments and sacred covenants? Can we keep the commandments of God even in challenging circumstances? Of course we can! We can because God has promised, 'All things shall work together for your good, if you walk uprightly.' Therefore, let us set aside our fears and live instead with joy, humility, hope and a bold confidence that the Lord is with us."
Our shift at the Snowflake temple started at 7 am. Prayer meeting in the endowment room. After prayer meeting we were set apart in the president's office by President Miller and Brother Coltrin. James actually joined them during my setting apart. Sister Winhardt and I made a connection as we walked down to a sealing room to view a video for all new temple workers. Eb Lewis, who was my bishop and stake president when I was growing up in Show Low is her uncle. Her dad is Don Lewis. She also knows Marva Maxwell McClintock who is one of my grandpa's sisters.
After the video the men went with Brother Coltrin and Sister Winhardt gave me a temple tour. Our first stop was the celestial room. There was one sister in the celestial room. Sister Winhardt told me there always has to be at least one person in the celestial room and if I am assigned to be there it is important that I come on time. The schedules are set up with changing assignments every 30 minutes. The only exception is if you are assigned to do a session, which I am today.
Next stop was the initiatory where I was shown how to check out the study cards. Everyone is expected to memorize the ordinances. The initiatory ordinances have the most to memorize. I was shown where I could go to study. These study cards cannot be taken from the temple. You study alone and you are not allowed to take notes.
We went downstairs to the baptistry. There is a picture of the Savior with two small children. Sister Winhardt said how much she loved this picture and the little girl on the right reminded her of her granddaughter. I ask her if she knew the Lambson's in St. Johns, she lives in St. Johns, and she said yes that she was Kyra Lambson's visiting teacher before she passed away. I told her the same little girl in the picture reminded me of Kyra's daughters. She agreed.
All of the new temple workers were assigned to go to the 9:30 session. This was about the only time I got to see James. President Miller said when he and his wife were called as temple workers they were excited to be spending time together. Even though they were called together they didn't get to work together very much and he says that is true of all husband and wife temple workers.
We did go in the office together and give our names to Brother Hatch who engraved our name tags for us.
Names on the prayer roll: James, Karen (Sister Winhardt told us too), Joe, Alex, James Hayden, Anna, Emmy, Jared, Dallin, Michael.
After the session I went down to the kitchen to grab a bite. Everyone brings potluck. I have 1/4 of an egg salad sandwich and headed back up to study the initiatory ordinances. As I was checking out a paper, the sister in charge at initiatory told me they needed me to work. I reminded her that this was my first day. She said it didn't matter, I could read from the paper. I was assigned the anointing and I guess I did okay. One of the sisters said I did fine and another said I needed to slow down a little. There is a way of doing everything, even opening the curtains which is done by touching them with the back of your hand, not the front.
By this time I am pretty exhausted. I have one last assignment, assigning lockers to people as they come in. I also have to go through and check all of the lockers to make sure no one has left anything. As I was assigning lockers my dear friend from Chandler who now lives in Snowflake came in from doing a session. We hugged and talked for a few minutes. Oh the people you meet.
Others I made a connection with while serving: Gracie Jones who was Gracie Peterson in high school. She came up to me and asked if I knew Terral Lambson. She remembered him. She also remembered James and Gerald Hatch being good friends and being on the wrestling team together. Claudia Crandall who now has a different last name. She was from Heber. Ron Solomon, Bill Solomon's brother. Darolyn DeWitt was another worker who was especially nice. Sister Farr from Holbrook is fairly new. I identified with her because of that and also because she showed me where the fans were. I needed one!
Our shift ended at one o'clock. We were both pretty wiped out. We stopped at Sonic for some refreshments on the way home and get behind Brother Eagar in the line. He waves at us.
Can you tell how tired we are.
I read from "A Lady in Disguise" until we got to Show Low. James needed something at Home Depot so I went in to Walmart. When I was finished I texted him to pick me up. I called but his phone went straight to voicemail. I was a bit angry and frustrated when I finally contacted him. I could tell that I hurt his feelings and it made me feel horrible. How could I act this way after spending most of the day in the temple? I have a lot to learn. I spent the rest of the day apologizing and trying to be extra kind.
This evening I worked on my Primary lesson. James is not teaching tomorrow so he did some reading. The clouds and rain we got were unexpected but very much appreciated!
Photos
Today's sisters' temple schedule
My assignments are hi-lighted in yellow.
One of my favorite pictures of the Savior.
I wonder if Sedona is in the Snowflake
temple district?
The beginning of an eternal family
Our second home
