Sunday, February 6th
Sacred Ground
This week we had additional training, Dave as veil coordinator, me in sealing room office, and us both as initiatory coordinators. Happily, we both know the procedures well from previous temple service but just need to learn the "Nauvoo" way of doing things.
The most exciting thing that happened this week was the mission call of our fourth grandchild Karaia Daly! She is the eldest child of my eldest daughter Emilie and son-in-love Kevin. Her daddy nicknamed her Sunshine when she was little and she is going to the sunshine state of Florida, serving in Orlando! We got to see her open her call via Live Instagram and will hopefully watch her speak via zoom. Can't be there for the temple but we will survive. We are so excited for her and so happy she is willing to serve this way!
Wednesday morning we had a snow storm and the boiler for the snow melt system on the stairs leading to the temple failed and the ice was too thick to get to the temple, fortunately, there is a side door we could get in but sadly a few patrons came and then returned to their homes when they saw the gates locked to the front temple doors. Since we have appointments now, we were able to call them to let them know they could use the other door and still do what they wanted to do. I guess there is unforeseeable advantages to things we don't really appreciate right now. I'm thinking appointments will always be required from now on but hopefully, we will still have a "walk in" option too. Dave is looking at the blueprints of the ice melt system to try to figure out why it happened.
We still pinch ourselves to see that we are really here, especially when we look out our window or drive by the temple. There really is not another place like this on the earth. To be surrounded by the history and spirit of this place but yet living in modern times. President Marshall shared this poem with us in one of our preparation meetings and it touched me at how blessed we are to be in this temple, (or any temple) every day.
"Enter this door as if the floor were gold;
and every wall of jewels all of wealth untold;
As if a choir in robes of fire were singing here;
Nor shout nor rush but hush... for God is here."
We went to the second dance class and the heater hadn't been turned on so we had to wear our coats for the first little while. We do enjoy this activity quite a bit. I'm grateful Dave is happy to be there, other husbands seem to just be showing up because they love their wives...
Saturday was the reenactment of the Nauvoo exodus. We weren't able to participate because of our temple shift but we got some pictures shared to us. It really makes things real. All these people had suitable clothing and got to go back to warm homes after being in the cold for a couple hours but not so for the people 176 years ago. They were truly amazing, faithful souls. All they had to do was renounce the church and the prophet and they would be left alone but they didn't do it and suffered greatly for their choice to remain faithful but they have blessed so many lives because of it. That is the kind of spirit you get to feel here in Nauvoo. You walk on sacred ground where ever you go.
We hosted a "break the fast" dinner with some fellow temple workers tonight and it was really pleasant and fun to get to know them better. Happily, one of the other couples is plant based as I try to be so I didn't have to worry about feeding them what I like to eat and everyone enjoyed the meal. I made African peanut stew and chia seed raspberry pudding. and Dave made a loaf of potato bread.
My tooth continues to be a miracle.....
No comments:
Post a Comment