The Temple is the House of the Lord
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| Wild flowers at the Big Horn (can see the snow capped mountains in the background) |
We won’t write too much about most of the week since the most exciting part was Friday and Saturday.
At the beginning of the week, we had a few lessons to teach, District Council, and serving at the Senior Center. We were finally able to finish putting up shutters for the Checketts and they really look nice. I think the next project is shelves in a closet and I get to organize it. Love it! It’s great being able to help the Bishop. It’s haying season and that’s not something Walt can help with at all - he’s allergic to hay. So we help where we can.
We were able to help a new family of 7 move into the ward. We are always excited about new people. We need lots. The youth all helped them with the move. They are still looking for a house to rent and so had to move their stuff into a storage unit. The youth were really great at helping with it all.
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| Moving in new family |
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| Moving the new family in |
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| Sis Ott and Sierra posing for me. |
Transfers for the young missionaries was this week. Elder Glover has been here since we have. He actually came one week before. This was his first area; so it feels we’ve grown to be missionaries together. Staying 6 months in one place for a young one is quite unusual; but he was able to stay just long enough to baptize Kay. He is going to be serving in Red Lodge, MT. We hear it’s quite pretty there and they have trees. It will be sad to have him gone, especially since we have to (get to ) start with someone new. Elder Kerr is still here though. We were quite excited that Elder Glover was given permission to come to the temple with the Smiths on Friday. When a young missionary is personally involved with a baptism/teaching of someone, if that person goes to the temple, they try to allow them to be there.
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| Our last District council with these specific missionaries. Elder Glover (2nd to left) and Sister Knight (in the pink beside me) both got transferred |
Thursday, we took our P-Day (we decided that meant Physical Fitness Day for us). We had plans to drive to Sheridan on Thursday, spend the night with the Baileys and drive the remaining 2 hours to Billings on Friday for the Smith's sealing. The Baileys live right near the Big Horn mountains, and we wanted to do some exploring. It was a beautiful day! We got there about 12ish and drove until we found a place that looked good. It is quite a long road up there with an abundance of places to hike, camp, fish and explore. We drove down a dirt road to Circle Road Camp. There is regular camping with some facilities, and then some camping where you can just pick a spot off any of the “spurs” (smaller dirt roads) and camp. There is no fee for that and can stay up to 2 weeks, but there are no facilities. It really made us miss being able to camp. I guess Girl’s Camp will have to be enough this year.
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| Our adventure in the Big Horns |
We saw some beautiful fields of wild flowers. Wyoming is quite amazingly beautiful; especially in the summer when everything turns green and starts blooming. We found a great trail to hike; we even planned ahead and brought our walking sticks with us. It reminded us a lot of the Appalachian Trail at home - steep inclines and lots of rocks. We’re finding it a bit more difficult to hike here due to the higher elevations at which we start/live. I wanted a longer break and told Walt to go exploring. I sat on a rock and within 5 minutes there were at least 30 flies surrounding me. So I had to start walking again. I figured sooner or later Walt would find me. I found I did have a bit of signal so I called him to give him the scoop. I couldn’t really stop and rest without a horde of flies settling down with me. This trail is available for horseback, thus the flies and horse poop. After a bit, Walt suggested I just start moseying down the mountain and he would catch up once he hiked up a little further. I tend to be a slow hiker because of short legs, and the need to tread carefully with my bad foot. He wasn’t long getting to the car after me. We’re hoping to get back another time and get some more exploring in. Maybe by the time we leave - next summer - we will have made it to the top. There is till snow on the very top right now.
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| Beautiful field of wild flowers at the Big Horns |
Friday was all about being at the temple with the Smiths. Richard and Renee went for their endowment (see the link here for a little more understanding of that). Then they were sealed to their family. We have been helping them achieve this goal since March. It was hard to believe that special day was finally here. Their transformation as a family and personally has been a special thing to experience in preparing for the temple. With Renee’s ALS, there were quite a few accommodations needed for her physical limitations. We have been working with the Temple Presidency and secretary for over a month on covering all our bases. Things went so smoothly. A lot of the accommodations were something this temple has not dealt with before, but did a flawless job. They both had such a good experience. It took every ounce of Renee’s energy to get through the whole thing, but she hung in like a trouper. She didn’t even use a wheel chair. I always feel like the best part of the temple is the sealing. Couples and families are sealed together for all eternity. Richard’s parents had just been sealed this past week. His parents and him and Renee had both started on the journey of preparing for the temple, yet neither knew the others were working that. What a great surprise it was for them to discover they were working for the same goal at the same time. His parents were able to come this weekend and be part of Richard and Renee’s temple experience.
After the endowment, we all went to the sealing room. (see the link for more info and pictures of this ordinance). Richard was first sealed to his parents. Such a tender moment. Then Richard and Renee were sealed as a couple. There are mirrors on each side of the alter where the couple holds hands. It gives us the view of what eternity might look like. Because of the mirrors, I could see both Renee’s and Richard’s faces as they were sealed. The love and devotion on their faces was priceless. So wonderful to see. The kids were brought in next. Children that are being sealed to their parents stay in a youth center part of the temple until it is their turn. The workers care for them and get them ready in their white clothing. Everyone changes to all white clothing in the temple. It’s a symbol of purity and how we are all the same in the Lord’s eyes. It makes a person feel like their in a part of heaven. It was so endearing to see those three children all dressed in white, and grinning from ear to ear. Nicholas was the funniest. He is 4 and evidently was enthralled with this white tie that was his size. He walked into the room and says “Isn’t this the cutest tie?” He went to each person and showed it off. (It reminded me of something Emma would do). When it was time for the sealing, all the children were good as gold; even Nic. That really surprised me how still he was for the whole ordinance. Then there were lots of hugs and tears. Then Nicholas decided using the kneeling cushions made a great trampoline. What do expect from a 4 year old little boy?!
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| Group Photo with the Smith's at the Temple |
We all took lots of pictures afterward in front of the temple. Not all of the family there were able to attend the sealing (must be a worthy member of our church), but loved all the support from friends and family regardless. There were 6 or so of us, that were friends from Newcastle. The whole group went to Golden Corral afterwards. Most of us were pretty hungry since we had arrived at 11:45 a.m. and weren't done about 5:30 p.m. The Bishop was so kind and paid for all 4 of us missionaries. It was all such a great experience. Renee is ready to go back again as soon as possible. I told her she just needs to call whichever temple she goes to, a few days in advance and let them know the accommodations needed. They will assign a temple ordinance worker to be by her side and help with everything she needs. One thing I forgot to mention. Whenever a female is being sealed, she gets to dress and prepare in the Bride’s room. Even if she has already been married civilly. That was really nice - makes a girl feel quite special.
The Smiths had rented a house in Billings for Wednesday though Saturday, so they all spent the night there as a family - parents, children, cousins, etc. It was great Renee had a little chance to rest up before the 5 hour ride home on Saturday. She was actually still a bit worn out today from the whole thing. We stayed with the Child’s (another sr. missionary couple in Billings) for the last time. They are finished their mission on July 17th. We will truly miss them. They have been so good to us from the beginning, when we first got our call for our mission. They are from the state of Washington and I think will miss being in Montana, but are excited to be returning to their family. They have seen some wonderful blessings in their lives during these past 12 months. Just an FYI - differently couples serve for different lengths of time. The options are 6, 12, 18 or 23 months. We requested 12 months, but the Lord needs us here for 18.
Saturday, was the Aylesworth’s day at the temple. Keith has made one of the biggest transformations that I have ever seen. When we first met him, he almost looked like a biker. I think he still had pretty long hair and a beard at that time. He also always wore sleeveless shirts. He is an amazing man. His love for the Savior is something that he shows in his countenance. He just glows - especially after going to the temple. Over time, he has less facial hair and his hair has gotten shorter. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, he went to a straight regular man’s haircut. No one asked or required this of him. I guess he was just feeling the need to change the outside appearance to reflect the changes inside. Their marriage has gotten so much stronger since they have been preparing for the temple. The work in unity and love and it’s wonderful to see. I have been trying to keep up with them on that one.
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| Keith before - 2 months ago |
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| April and Keith walking out of the temple. |
The smiles and tears of joy were abundant there. April had received her endowment in March, but this was Keith’s day for that. Then we all went to the sealing room. Each sealing seems to be different. The ordinance and words are the same for everyone, but the Sealer usually shares some words and thoughts with the group before starting the actual ordinance (ceremony). So no two sealing are really the same. Each Sealer seem to express the precise comments
and feelings for each of these two couples. I am sure they are guided by the Spirit. The temple president was actually the one to seal Richard and Renee and the 2nd counselor in the temple presidency sealed Keith and April. Usually, just the men ordained to be Temple Sealers perform the ordinance. So it was quite special to have these men seal these two amazing couples. A couple can request a particular sealer if they know one from that temple. Abe and Anya didn’t really know any at the Philadelphia Temple when they were sealed, so Walt asked President Boik of that temple’s presidency to perform that ordinance for them. During our time of working at the Philadelphia Temple, we become quite close with that temple presidency. |
| The Paynes and the Aylesworths |
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| Walt snuck in a selfie with April and Keith |
What miracles we have seen since we have been here. All of God’s children are so precious to Him; no matter what religion or beliefs they have. If they have a desire to follow Jesus Christ and have a strong relationship with Jesus and God, He is joyful. He wants nothing more than us to return to live with Him again. How blessed we are to be part of that progression for others. Having these families/couples go to the temple to receive these eternal ordinances feels like miracles for both groups. We know the Lord will continue to bless them in their lives as they continue to grow in their faith and love for the Savior and God.
We are truly grateful for this opportunity!
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| Walt and I in front of great convenient store in Moorecroft |
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