TOMORROW WE FLY...

June 17, 2015
Well, I mentioned that we would be in the Salt Lake Temple for training before our mission begins.  When we first got our call I was a little disappointed that we wouldn't get to experience the MTC.  I needn't have worried at all about that.  Our experience has been so very spiritual.  We have met several wonderful people and felt of their testimonies and love of the gospel and temple work.  We met as a group at the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake City on Monday morning. Brother and Sister Hicken. in charge of logistics of the temple department, met all of us and took us to the temple where training began. So helpful to all of us in finding our way around, making it where we needed to be and on time. There were a total of 15 couples and five single sisters that have been assigned to temples literally all over the world. Hong Kong, Peru, Philippines (both temples), London, Washington, D.C., Argentina, Samoa and of course Hawaii.  As we introduced ourselves we were humbled by the trials that some of these people were leaving as far as very ill children and grandchildren, a flooded home just three days before leaving, family events and yet they were willing to drop things in their lives to serve the Lord.  One sister said her daughter is waiting for her mission call  and won't even be there when the daughter leaves for her mission.

Our trainers were Brother Richard and Sister Kathleen Walker.  She is the oldest daughter of President Hinckley.  What a treat to be in their presence.  They have served as Temple President in Madrid, Spain; MTC President in Preston, England; and
Temple President in Salt Lake city.  They also served as Mission President in Washington, DC.  How privileged we were to glean from their wealth of experience.

So we were not disappointed in the content of our training.  Some of the things on the agenda were a great review of things we have learned previously like proper administration of ordinances but most things were given with a new or more in depth outlook to things we have been doing for years in the temple.  One very important message was the importance for members of the church doing their family genealogy and finding names to complete ordinances for. The work will mean so much more if we are bringing our ancestors into our eternal families.

Today we were able to take a "walk-about" around the Salt Lake Temple.  Such an historical building.  We started in the basement where the workings of the temple are, went in to the Baptistry (how beautiful that room is).  Then we climbed the beautiful spiral staircase to the fifth floor (yes, 104 stairs!) We went in the room that James E. Talmage used when he was commissioned by the church to write Jesus The Christ.  We were able to spend some time in the Solemn Assembly room and even listen to fun stories about President Hinckley told by his daughter.  They were so awesome to answer any question we could think of to ask them about temples, ordinances, procedures and the like.

So happy to be able to serve my Heavenly Father in this capacity as a temple missionary.  Stay tuned for more experiences, feelings and adventures as we begin in Laie, Hawaii tomorrow.