At the Temple with Family & Friends

Those that came included:  Cousin Clay and triplets (Brigham, Cooper, Isabelle along with two girl friends), Craig along with Emily and Allie (and one friend), Tisha & David, Chad & Braden, my mom, Corbin, Porter, Paul, and me.

Last Saturday we were able to reserve a time at the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  Porter had found 160 family names that needed this work done.  I was thrilled to have so much support from family and friends.  It took all of us to get this done!  The girls (10 of us) each performed eight baptisms while the boys (5 of them) each did 16!  Holy Cow!  I learned that next time we will need a few more boys and a few more men to make it run more efficiently.

But who can complain about being in the temple.  It was a wonderful evening.  For the very first time, my brother, Chad baptized Mom, Tisha, and me.  I gave Chad the experience that he will never forget.  For some reason, I was creating huge splashes in the font and making quite a scene - it was probably the cause of my bloody nose (which started after I got out of the water).  My new nickname is "Splash".  Maybe next time I can perform it with more grace.

After performing this work, I revisited the talk from Elder Richard G. Scott's titled, The Joy of Redeeming the Dead from the Oct. 2012 General Conference. It is a powerful talk that I encourage you all to read again.  In there many phrases stood out to me.  

"In an epistle written over 150 years ago, Joseph Smith stated: “The Saints have the privilege of being baptized for … their relatives who are dead … who have received the Gospel in the spirit, through … those who have been commissioned to preach to them.” Later he added, “Those Saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation".

He talks about temple and family history being one work with two parts.  And that blessings come from doing each part of the equation.  Then he emphasizes that "there are some members who engage in temple work but fail to do family history research on their own family lines. Although they perform a divine service in assisting others, they lose a blessing by not seeking their own kindred dead as divinely directed by latter-day prophets. …

“I have learned that those who engage in family history research and then perform the temple ordinance work for those whose names they have found will know the additional joy of receiving both halves of the blessing.

Any work you do in the temple is time well spent, but receiving ordinances vicariously for one of your own ancestors will make the time in the temple more sacred, and even greater blessings will be received. The First Presidency has declared, “Our preeminent obligation is to seek out and identify our own ancestors.”

Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life."

 What a powerful statement!  As a parent, I want to make the temple and family history work the top priority, especially knowing the protection that it provides.  That is more than enough motivation.  

I Need Help with Temple Work

This is an email I sent to my family on 4/17/13:

In Elder Bednar's Oct 2011 conference talk, he talked about the youth catching the spirit of Elijah.  And I can say that Porter has caught that spirit and is going full steam ahead in finding family names that don't have all their temple work finished.  We are in need of anyone and everyone's help in keeping up with all the people Porter is finding.

Last week before Paul and I did temple sealings, I dropped off a pile of papers at the temple office for them to print into file cards.  They were amazed at the amount of work a 14 year old boy had done.  They suggested that maybe I only have 1/3 of the names printed because it would be a lot of work.  They asked if I had ward members, friends, and family that would help me.  I assured them that I did, and that we would get this done together.  So they printed off the names and now the work begins.

I scheduled for our family to do baptisms for the dead on April 27th at X:XX pm (we need to be there and ready by X:XX).  If any of you in town would like to join us for that time, please let me know (also youth are invited to join us!)  There are approx. 160 names that need baptisms done before we can progress with any of the other temple work.  If we don't get all the names done, would anyone else like to start with baptisms?

Once those names are baptized and confirmed, then the work really begins!  I would love to send you some names.  Please tell me if you want any family file cards and I would be happy to send them to you.  Also,  I have a TON of names that need sealing work done (probably around 100 names)...any takers?

I told Porter that Tonya and Ryan wanted some cards.  He is excited to work on some more names - he truly loves this work.  It is a powerful testimony to me that the hearts of the children areturning to their fathers.  I am a very happy mother and so thankful that he is giving me a good reason to spend a lot of time in the temple.

If you go to the temple with friends, you can also share the cards with them.  The more help the better!

Thank you so much - we love you all,

Tiffani

Here are the emails I received in response.  I hope you don't mind me sharing these with everyone, I just thought they were so touching:

"We would love some names after baptisms are done.  I went to the cannery with my Temple buddies today.  I told them all about Porter and his genealogy work.  They were amazed!  I have a nonmember friend, Susan in her 70's, that loves genealogy work and cannery too - She is in love with LDS church because their love of genealogy.  

Way to go Porter - I would love for him to teach me a refresher course.  

I go with about 4/5 girls a week - please send lots of lady cards".  Thanks for sharing the names Porter - Aunt Tonya

"How awesome! I'll start with the sealing work if that is ok. Let me know how many leftover baptism names you have. Apparently around here High School starts late on Tuesday so kids go to the temple Tuesday morning and do baptisms for the dead. I may be able to go with some youth in the ward... or maybe we can make it a date night with Tami/Jeff or Chay/April".  Tara

"That is so awesome! Way to go Porter. I got goose bumps reading your email. Chay and I can do sealings for you. If you send them this way we will get them done in May- Now that I've been released from Sunday School I am starting to focus more on my Family History consultant calling. Love temple work"!  April 

I am just catching up on emails.  Keith and I would love to do sealings and endowments.  We can enlist friends in the ward, also.  I will check to see if the youth are going soon for baptisms also.  Send us some names!

 

Porter, Grandpa and I are so pleased about your family history work.  You are a valiant young man and a special grandson.  We need you to teach us how to do what you are doing.  This is all so exciting!  Wow!!!!  It will be a sweet time doing the temple work for these family members.  Thanks, Porter!!!

Our Temple is Almost Ready!

From the LDS newsroom:  The First Presidency has announced a public open house beginning Saturday, 13 October and continuing through 10 November 2012, excluding Sundays. Tickets for the free tour are available by visiting www.boisemormontemple.org or by calling 1-855-537-2000.

The temple is located at 1121 South Cole Road in Boise, just north of the I-84 Cole Road exit. Tours, consisting of a 12-minute video presentation followed by a 30-minute walking tour through the temple, will begin at the meetinghouse adjacent to the temple.

Following the public open house, the temple will be formally dedicated on Sunday, 18 November 2012. Three dedicatory sessions will be held, with the services broadcast to Latter-day Saint chapels in the surrounding area to accommodate Church members who are unable to attend in the temple. The dedication will be preceded by a cultural celebration featuring music and dance by the youth of the Church on the evening of Saturday, 17 November.

The Boise Temple is the 27th operating temple of the Church’s 139 temples worldwide. It is one of four temples in Idaho, with others in Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and Rexburg. A fifth temple in Meridian is currently in the planning and approval phase.

The temple closed in July 2011 for an extensive renovation of the grounds and the interior. The temple’s exterior has been replaced with white granite. A new gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni sits atop the temple’s tallest spire. The temple’s interior now features a syringa flower and trees motif, which can be seen in the art glass and decorative painting. Beautiful grained hardwoods from Africa and the United States add warmth and ambience.

 Latter-day Saint temples differ from the meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered “houses of the Lord” where Jesus Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. Inside, members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to serve Jesus Christ and their fellowman."

 I am totally on fire about the temple being open for public tours!  The very first day that it opened, we were there!  Then I was able to go with Danielle, my sister-in-law and again with my friend, Kim.  Then I went a fourth time on Saturday with my family (their second time) since we had extended family in town.

 It is absolutely breath taking!

 I can feel the spirit there and I look forward to it's dedication on Nov. 18th.

I am getting excited to return to the temple, I have felt a void of not being able to attend as frequently as I would like. I look forward to making it a weekly commitment again.

New Temple Announced!

I just so happened to be temporarily out of the room when President Monson announced the three new temples that are to be built.  Paul informed me that we are getting a new temple here in the valley!  At first I thought he was joking (it's only one day after April Fool's Day), but it was confirmed by Olivia.

I felt blessed to have a temple already near me that I can attend weekly.  But another one, wow, we are spoiled.  I know more will be required of us!  I just can't believe it, this is exciting news!

Temple Celebration in Kyiv Ukraine

Announcement:  20 July 1998
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication:  23 June 2007 by Paul B. Pieper
Public Open House:  7–21 August 2010
Dedication:  29 August 2010 by Thomas S. Monson

Temple Facts

The Kyiv Ukraine Temple was the first temple built in the former Soviet Union and the eleventh built in Europe.

Temple History

The announcement of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple came just weeks following the dedication of Ukraine's first meetinghouse in Donetsk on June 28, 1998.¹

During a trip to Europe in 2002 that included the rededication of the Freiberg Germany Temple and dedication of The Hague Netherlands Temple, President Gordon B. Hinckley visited with the Ukrainian Saints. Many hoped that the site would be pinpointed for the temple in Kyiv, which had been announced four years earlier; but no announcement was made. During the trip, President Hinckley did meet with Viktor Bondarenko, chairman of the state committee on religious affairs in Ukraine, who assisted the Church to acquire property. In an interview during a September 2002 trip to Utah, Bondarenko indicated that as far as he was aware, the process of securing land for the temple was then being finalized, noting that the major obstacle had been the large amount of land, about 3 or 4 hectares, requested by the Church.²

Introduced in 1991, the Church grew steadily in the eastern European nation of Ukraine, reaching a milestone on May 30, 2004, when Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles organized the first stake of seven wards in Kyiv. Elder Nelson blessed members to love their neighbors as Christ that many more stakes might be organized. He also encouraged them in their family history work in preparation for the temple.³

Ground was broken for the Kyiv Ukraine Temple on Saturday, June 23, 2007—nearly nine years since its announcement (that is a long time to wait) —coinciding with the 97th birthday of President Gordon B. Hinckley. The event was indeed a fitting tribute to this inspired leader, whose program for accelerated temple construction worldwide paved the way for this temple.⁴

On Saturday, September 19, 2009, about 680 members of the Kyiv Ukraine Stake, outlying mission branches, and their friends gathered to witness the raising of Moroni atop the spire of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple. The event marked a major milestone in the construction of the temple.

From me:  I just love this video because I can see and feel how excited the youth are to have a temple in their country.  How do we feel about the temples that are so near to our homes?  Do we take advantage of our opportunity to attend the temple frequently to learn more about the gospel plan, to feel the spirit, and to renew our sacred covenants with Heavenly Father?

Here is a wonderful video showing the construction of this temple, narrated by Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley. 

Here is a short video of the inside of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple filmed by LDS Church News.  It is beautiful!

Icing on The Cake: A Visit to Temple Square

Paul and I had a long layover in SLC after our recent trip.  Daniel, Paul's brother (living in the SLC area), came and picked us up from the airport and took us to temple square for a brief visit.  I instantly felt at home once I stepped onto Temple Square -- the spirit is so strong.    First, I asked if we could see the Christus statue.  I love walking up the ramp to the glorious statue of Christ.  He brings me peace in a world of wars and rumors or war, He brings me love, and He shows me the way home to our Heavenly Father.
 

Christus Statue in South Visitor's Center on Temple Square

A model of the Salt Lake Temple in the North Visitor's Center (new on display).  The sister missionaries brought us to this display.  I felt the spirit so strongly as they testified of the temple and it's blessings.  I could barely keep my composure as I felt of my love and gratitude for the temples that dot the earth.  The week of this trip was the first week that I was unable to attend in over a year (besides the times the temple closes for cleaning).  The temple is my home away from my heavenly home.

 

I love this model of the Salt Lake Temple.  I took photos as best I could through the glass covering.

 

It is just so fascinating to see how the temple is designed and to see the rooms in such detail.  The room in the upper right photos is the Council Room, where the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve meet weekly.

Near the model was a touch screen with this short video clip showing the Celestial Room.  This is the temple that Paul and I got married in almost 17 years ago.  I remembering sitting with Paul in the Celestial Room prior to our sealing.  What a beautiful, glorious room!

Paul and Daniel
Thank you Daniel for taking the time to make our trip complete!

Sisters at the Houston Temple

I got into Houston last night in time to visit with the kids before bed, play three rounds of Monopoly Deal (we each won a round - Tonya, Ryan and myself) and meet their new puppy, Roxie.  This morning Tonya and I attended the Houston Temple. It was a special treat.  I was here five years ago with Tara visiting Tonya and Ryan (she was pregnant with the twins at the time).

I forgot my camera so these pictures are from my cell phone.  I tried to take a picture of us.  Tonya is never thrilled about the camera-at-arm-length photo - but she looks great and look at my squinty eyes and face.  Yuck!  So the two ladies you can see in the background, came to the rescue and took this picture of us.

Tiffani and Tonya at the Houston Temple.  Afterwards we enjoyed lunch at Dickeys and took advantage of their $1.00 pork sandwich special and free ice cream cones - couldn't get better than that.

That We May be Redeemed

"That We May be Redeemed" Painted by Glen Hopkinson,

As Tonya and I were in the temple, I came across a marvelous painting (similar to the one pictured). I had never seen this painting before and thought it so appropriate that it was hanging in the Washington D.C. Temple among other historical paintings. I wanted to share it all with you including the significance of it related in the article copied below. Our Founding Fathers were men of God. I look forward to meeting them someday in heaven and hearing first hand their stories of their fight for freedom and our liberty!

Painting honors founding fathers

By Mike Cannon, Church News Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, Feb. 18, 1989 (article came from here)

"I will here say, before closing, that two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, `You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God'

"These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights. I thought it very singular, that notwithstanding so much work had been done, and yet nothing had been done for them. The thought never entered my heart, from the fact, I suppose, that heretofore our minds were reaching after our more immediate friends and relatives."I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon Brother McCallister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men, making one hundred in all, including John Wesley, Columbus, and others." - Elder Wilford Woodruff, in a discourse given Sept. 16, 1877, in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. (Journal of Discourses, 19:229.)

The remembrance of this sacred manifestation to Apostle Wilford Woodruff, who was president of the St. George Temple, has been captured on canvas by LDS artist Harold I. Hopkinson, and the portrayal was placed in the foyer of that temple during a Feb. 3 ceremony attended by several hundred people.

Before being put in the temple, the painting was viewed by the First Presidency in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City and then displayed at the Temple Square North Visitors Center.

In an October 1987 general conference address, President Ezra Taft Benson expressed poignant feelings for the Founding Fathers and the experience of Wilford Woodruff:

"Shortly after President Spencer W. Kimball became president of the Church, he assigned me to go into the vault of the St. George Temple and check the early records. As I did so, I realized the fulfillment of a dream I had had ever since learning of the visit of the Founding Fathers to the St. George Temple. I saw with my own eyes the record of the work which was done for the Founding Fathers of this great nation, beginning with George Washington.

"Think of it, the Founding Fathers of this nation, those great men, appeared within those sacred walls and had their vicarious work done for them.

"After he became president of the Church, President Wilford Woodruff declared that `those men who laid the foundation of this American government were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. They were choice spirits

. . . andT were inspired of the Lord.' "

The depiction of President Woodruff's experience was encouraged by the Church's Constitutional Bicentennial Committee, chaired by Elder L. Tom Perry of the Council of the Twelve. Other committee members are Elder Robert L. Backman and Elder Hugh W. Pinnock, both of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy.

"It seems so natural to me that this man of God, George Washington, when he was exposed to the gospel, would be anxious to have his ordinance work performed for him," Elder Perry told the Church News.

"We hope that this beautiful painting will be a reminder of the sacrifice of these first early leaders of this great nation, who gave us a land of the free and made possible a place where the gospel could be restored in its fulness."

The service prior to the unveiling of the painting was conducted in the chapel of the St. George Temple, and included remarks by Elder Pinnock, temple president Thomas Lavoy Esplin and the artist. In attendance were former temple presidents and ordinance workers, members of area stake presidencies and their spouses.

Elder Pinnock expressed gratitude for those who had served faithfully in the temple, and for those who have gone before, including the Founding Fathers.

"Having learned the truth in the spirit world, the Founding Fathers returned to Wilford Woodruff and asked if he would have their temple work done for them so they could have in their lives the same blessing the people living on earth enjoyed," explained Elder Pinnock. "The gospel provides the potential for exaltation for us all. It incorporates all truth, and we must have the vision of this great work and what it does for mankind - both the living and the dead."

Pres. Esplin recounted the visitation to Elder Woodruff, and Hopkinson related his experience producing the piece, which required 1,500 hours to complete.

"We are very pleased to have this painting," said Pres. Esplin. "It adds greatly to the history and spirit of the temple."

The unveiling was in the foyer of the temple. Enclosed in a gold frame, the painting was unveiled by Anne Pinnock, wife of Elder Pinnock; Phoebe L. Esplin, wife of Pres. Esplin; Vivian Hopkinson, wife of Harold Hopkinson; and Luree S. Schmutz, an ordinance worker.

Hopkinson, 70, a former bishop, high councilor and stake president - said he was pleased to complete the painting before embarking on a full-time proselyting mission in mid-March with his wife.

"It was a lot of work." Hopkinson admitted. "But I had a lot of help. I've really felt that the Lord gives out these talents, and that we ought to use them to encourage people to search the scriptures."

The artist spent two months researching and gathering materials before wetting a brush.

"I read all I could find about President Woodruff's stories, his background and how he looked in 1877," Hopkinson explained. "I found people with body structures similar to those in the painting. I used our ward choir director, who had a beard and was about the stature of President Woodruff. Our bishop was the model for George Washington."

Using the models, Hopkinson painted figures on small illustration boards. He then viewed those boards while doing the final painting. To maintain proper perspective, he researched the height of everybody in the piece.

"It was a special experience for me," Hopkinson expressed.

More information: Here is a link to an addition article written by Glen Hopkinson, the son of Harold, who recalls posing as various people while his father painted this artwork. Glen also painted a piece that he titled "That We May be Redeemed" similar to his father's piece as shown above. I have searched the internet and can not find a picture of Harold's painting, the one we saw in the temple.

Idaho Falls Temple Visitors Center

Idaho Falls Temple

Along with seeing the Heavenly Majesty exhibit, we also watched the movie, "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration". I have seen this movie several times in many different visitor centers and each time my spirit is touched and I shed many tears of both joy and sorrow. The faith of the early saints was remarkable, especially with all the persecution they endured. This time I was focused on Joseph Smith's commitment in doing God's will not his own. It takes great faith to carry on with God's will, because it usually allows us to have experiences that test our testimonies, our faith, our courage and commitment to keeping His commandments.

I hope that all of you take every opportunity to watch this movie, whenever you are close to a visitor's center. I especially like giving my children this experience because I know they can feel the spirit when they view this wonderful production.

Before we left, we walked around the temple grounds. I love the temple and I want my children to know that their mother has a testimony of the temple and that I know that we can be a family forever if we stay true to our covenants and teachings of the gospel.

How is my goal coming?

1/15 32 1st photo -------------------------------------------1/640 5.6 2nd photo
These pictures were taken from my last week's visit to the temple.


I am happy to report that my goal this year of attending the temple once a week is alive and well. I am 100% (not counting the time it was closed earlier this year).

A couple days ago we attended the temple with the ward. It was the first time in my life, that we (our ward) have totally filled a session. Because this Sunday was Ward Conference, the Stake President along with our High Council Representative and his wife also attended the session. It was a very special moment for all of us to be gathered in the Celestial Room as a ward family! I hope we can fill the temple again - it was powerful.

Two for Two

So far so good on my goal this year! Right after attending the temple, I drove down the hill to Larry Miller Honda to have the van serviced. I decided to sit around and wait for it to be finished. I ended up having a 40+ minute conversation (what is it between yesterday and today with these conversations out of nowhere?) with a man that sold us our van three years ago.

Over the years, he let me borrow cars to drive while mine is being fixed and we have maintained a relationship. He has gone above and beyond his duty to treat me as a great customer. And for that I have always appreciated his kindness.

He knew that I just came from the temple and asked me about my visit. His question opened the door for me to share my feelings about the temple and the blessings it has brought to my life and family. I have felt an increased strength and assurance that I am doing what the Lord wants me to do. If I continue, then He will open up opportunities for me to reach out to others and share my testimony with them. I have already felt a tremendous boost in my spirit and I'm just at the beginning of my goal, I know this is going to be the best year yet! And I felt like the opportunity I had to speak with this man was truly a blessing in both of our lives.