Hen was leaving his usual Tuesday evening Bountiful Temple shift to find this on his car and on the other cars still in the parking lot. A fellow ordinance worker also spotted President Nelson leaving the parking lot that evening. And word has it, this isn't the first time he and/or Wendy have left these notes. What a special gift to walk out to.
Clearly I am pretty behind, so I will attempt this morning to catchup. Today is August 17th. It is approximately 6am. I woke up at 4 this morning since I am catching a flight to Boise today to visit an old friend and once I woke up, I couldn't fall back asleep, so I will attempt to bring you up to date.
So much has happened in the last month since I posted.
July 17th- I got to work in the Baptistery again this Saturday. As I was in the lobby of the Baptistery, my shift coordinator told me, there is someone I want you to meet, her name is Rachel. I walked up to Rachel who was confined to a wheelchair with severe mental and physical disabilities and was probably in her 20's. As I approached I could feel my smile widening.
You see, I was blessed early in my teenage years to have been apart of Special Needs mutual and had the chance to fall in love with so many individuals with special needs that span the entire spectrum of physical and mental handicaps. I learned long ago how truly special and loved these sweet spirits are by our Heavenly Father. They truly are royalty in my eyes, and so are their parents who work so hard to take care of them.
After approaching Rachel, her mom told me that she loves to give out the towels to those exiting the font. Since that was my task for this group, I was so excited to have a helper. I told them both I was so excited they had come to the temple that day and headed to the font. I moved a chair out of the way to make sure Rachel's wheelchair would have enough room and stacked the towels for her to use.
As they made their way into the font area I could feel of not only her and her mom's sweet spirits but many loving spirits of those that surrounded her. I could truly feel of Heavenly Father's love for two of his choicest daughters.
Her mom opened each towel and placed it into Rachel's hands so that she could give one to each person as they had completed their baptisms. Rachel would dose in and out of sleep every now and again as her mom tenderly massaged her head.
As I was squeegeeing up the excess water from those exiting the font. I accidentally hit Rachel's slipper. I quickly apologized, and commented to her mom "I accidentally squeegeed Rachel". Her mom's sweet reply with a smile "It happens all the time". After she left, I thought of my friend Willie who passed away not too long ago. I was in the baptismal font area by myself waiting for the next group to come. It was so quiet and peaceful. In my mind, I told Willie I wish he could visit me. I wished I could see him, even if only for a moment. The response I was received was, you can't see me, but I sent Rachel to you today in my place. The tears came as I realized what a gift it was to have been able to feel of the spirit Rachel and her mom brought with her to the temple.
As I finished tidying up after the group had gone in the locker room, my shift coordinator said she noticed me several times with Rachel. She said you were so perfect with her, and so natural! You didn't seem uncomfortable at all. And other's noticed as well how sweet you were with her. I just smiled at my coordinator, there wasn't time to explain why, so I just said I was grateful to have had a helper today.
July 24th-Pioneer Day-No temple shift, but I did teach a lesson on obedience to our combined young women on the 25th. This was a very different lesson for me to teach. I shared many of my personal experiences over the years to try and help them know that whatever wrong paths they take, they can always come back to the straight and narrow and that they can never lose the love of our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, no matter what they do. I did video a practice run of this lesson and actually shared with several individuals that requested it. Here is a link to that video which I am extremely hesitant to share, but pray that it will be useful to someone at some point in time that may come across this post. Link to Practice Run of Lesson on Obedience. Also the beginning is slow and I struggle a bit, but it picks up pace I promise.
July 31st-I believed this week was my last week in the Baptistry. I was a little sad since I had grown so comfortable in this assignment. I didn't want to leave. I had grown such a love for the other workers I had come to know over the past couple months. Today a small family had made an appointment. A mom and dad and their two sons ages 11 and 16 approximately. As the two brothers went into the font, I found out that the 11 year old had researched the family names that they were doing the work for. As this 16 year old baptized his brother for these family members, the spirit could be felt by everyone in the room. You could tell that there was more happening than could be seen with our eyes. Henry and I have also had special spiritual experiences for members of our family that we have researched and done the work for to prepare the names for the temple. There is definitely something different about doing your own families names. These experiences are not easy to describe but I was so grateful to have been there today to feel of the sweet spirit they brought with them.
August 7th- I found out that I got to be in the Baptistry one extra week to help train the new sisters that would be working there. I was so excited. Since I knew it was my last week, I really tried to be in the moment and just really enjoy it. There was a large youth group that came through and after they had all exited the font and were doing confirmations, it was discovered one of the names had missed receiving their baptism. So two of the youth got dressed again in their baptism clothing to return to the font for that one name. I can imagine that individual who they performed the work for may have felt a spectrum of emotions. Excited that they would finally be baptized, and then sad that they name was missed, and then grateful that they two individuals took the time to go and perform the work for just them. If this isn't an example of Christlike love, I don't know what it. How many times does the Savior in the scriptures remind us of "the one". All sheep are loved by the shepherd, every sheep is important to him. Every soul is priceless to our Savior. These youth could have pushed this name to their next trip to the temple, but they didn't, they knew it was important and that their work mattered. I am so grateful for the reminders and lessons I am learning each week in the temple. The love that exists in this world because the love our Savior has for us is incredible. How blessed we are!
August 10th- I had made an appointment for an endowment session and was inspired to finally complete the work for Henry's Great Great Grandmother Lena Sinckawiez. (This is on the Becker Side)
As I was getting ready for the temple and putting my makeup on that day, I thought to myself I will go downstairs and say a quick prayer to see if the Holy Ghost can inspire me as to whose work I should be doing that day. In my temple binder are many names I have prepared to take to the temple. I hadn't even said the prayer yet, just had made the intent to do so. The name Lena Seinkeiwicz came to the forefront of my mind. It was unmistakable. I went downstairs after getting ready and opened the binder. Sure enough, her name was on the very top of the stack. I felt comforted by the Holy Ghost that this was not a coincidence. She was in fact ready to accept her work being done. All the way to the temple I felt her presence near and spoke to her in my thoughts from time to time. I felt so privileged to get to complete her work. On previous days I had performed her other ordinances starting with her Baptism back in December of 2019. Henry has also done several ordinances for her husband George Becker. Once Henry finishes his endowment work we will be able to have them sealed together. As I sat in the Celestial room of the temple praying and pondering after the endowment session, I was overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude from her for performing those ordinances for her and for doing genealogy work for the Becker family. I can't wait to meet her on the other side one day and give her the biggest hug!
August 14th- My first shift on the second floor. So far I have been spending my Saturdays on the 1st floor of the temple in the baptistery. Starting this week I am on the second floor. I will be assisting in many different capacities on this floor. One of my tasks this week was to check different items on the family name cards people were bringing to the temple as they exited the locker room before they ascended the staircase to their endowment sessions. After I had sat in the chair mere minutes, a brother at the top of the staircase, that was also a temple worker, looked at me and gave me a thumbs up. So naturally, I gave him a thumbs up back. As I sat there a couple minutes longer, I questioned, did that thumbs up mean something? I thought he was just being nice, and was basically checking to see if I was good. I came to find out that because people coming to the temple each had to make an appointment for specific times, the thumbs up was to indicate that everyone that was trying to make their appointment had finished dressing and was out of the dressing room. After learning this, I discussed it with some of other sisters and brother workers there. Luckily, everyone had made it on time, so my thumbs up was the correct gesture, but we all got a good laugh about it. Now every time one of the Brother's passes by me he gives me a thumbs up and says "You Good?" Lol.
Also on this shift I had the opportunity to perform other sacred ordinances that I am unable to go into detail about so not sure how much I will be able to share this month because alot of my time is spent in this area, but I am so grateful for all that I am learning each week. I can feel so many things about my heart and mind changing for the better as I spend more and more time in the temple.
This last week this scripture has come up several times and has spoken so sweetly to my heart, mind, and soul.
D&C 84:88
"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
At a recent devotional put on by our temple presidency, our temple president said "You present your Holiness to the Lord when you walk through the temple doors." I had never thought about it in this context. Initially, I really loved this quote, but as I pondered on this statement for the next several days this concept felt unachievable. As I thought about this phrase "Holiness" it seemed almost to be an unattainable attribute in this life. How are any of us holy enough to truly be in the Lord's house, with the exception of the prophets and the apostles? This is where personal revelation matters for everyone. As I pondered this phrase the Holy Ghost suggested I change the word holiness in that phrase to love and commitment. So the new phrase would read "You present your love for the Lord and your commitment to Him and your covenants when you walk through the temple doors." This felt like something more that I could relate to. I do love the Lord and I am committed to keeping my covenants and obeying his commandments even though I know I am going to fall short because I am not perfect. As I continue to ponder this phrase I think we can become more Holy and more worthy to enter His house as we worthily partake of the sacrament to be cleansed of our sins each week and sincerely and intentionally try to overcome our weaknesses. In this way, both versions of this phrase are possible in this life.
An excerpt from Preach My Gospel that stood out to me today that was shared in our Sacrament Meeting:
“A central purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ (see title page of the Book of Mormon). It testifies of Christ by affirming the reality of His life, mission, and power. It teaches true doctrine concerning Christ’s Atonement—the foundation for the plan of salvation. Several of those whose writings are preserved in the Book of Mormon saw Christ personally. The brother of Jared, Nephi, and Jacob saw the premortal Christ. Mormon and Moroni saw the risen Christ. In addition, multitudes were present during the Savior’s brief but powerful ministry among the Nephites (see 3 Nephi 11–28). Those who know little or nothing about the Savior will come to know Him by reading, pondering, and praying about the Book of Mormon.”
I have a testimony that what this excerpt says is true. ❤️
Today during our prayer meeting, the Sister conducting shared this story written in President Wilford Woodruff's journal. What an incredible and beautiful experience!
—“… 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, ‘… 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 straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon Brother McAllister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence and fifty other eminent men, making one hundred in all. …”
She also mentioned a recent talk by our Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson given on Joseph Smith.
"The Restoration began with the First Vision. There were at least nine other occasions that Joseph saw the Father or the Son. In addition to “these transcendent experiences with the Father and the Son,” Joseph was visited by, or saw in vision, dozens of ancient prophets and angels, said President Nelson.
“Through these remarkable experiences, Joseph came to understand that worldly knowledge pales when compared to heavenly knowledge.”
I am so grateful for the testimony I have of the Prophet Joseph Smith, of his experiences with our Heavenly Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost has born witness to my mind and my heart that these things did happen and are real. Just like Joseph who could never deny what he saw and experienced, I too have had enough confirmation in my life that I can never deny my testimony of that these things are true.
One memory I did want to share from today while serving in the baptistry, was that of a girl probably no older than 13 who came up to me as she was leaving and commented on a moth that had been flying around the ceiling that I had also noticed. I responded to her that I wasn't quite tall enough to reach it. And then said "I am sure that moth will have one relaxing afternoon here in the temple." The girl laughed and then said to me, every time I looked over at you, you were always smiling. I told her "It's the Temple, Isn't it such a wonderful place?" She asked me how often I get to come here. I replied every Saturday. She said "That is so cool." Then she told me that she loved my eye makeup and left with her large group to go home. It is such a good reminder to me that many are always watching, even when we don't realize it. I am so grateful for her kindness and her bringing the Spirit to the Temple with her today that I felt through her countenance.
It's Saturday morning, Hen and I will be boarding a plane in a few hours to go to Virginia to spend time with his family and celebrate his 40th birthday. I recently received a call from the place we normally board the dogs on vacation and was told they had to temporarily close due to a shortage of staff. So I had made a reservation at a new boarding facility that was closeby for the dogs to stay at during our trip.
This new location, while having many of the same staff that used to be at the old place, would be a new environment for them and a strange one because it is only indoors. You can imagine my anxiety was quite high as I loaded all three dogs into our suv known as the "puptaxi".
First the dogs stress level was high from not only seeing our suitcases, but also for me putting all three dogs in the car at once. They are so rarely ever in the car all together. Usually the boys are in together to go to their monthly grooming appointment, but other than that, they are usually in the car separately. I was worried about them acclimating to a new place, about dropping them off by myself at a new location that is near a busy street, what if one of them gets out too early and runs away from me? What if at this new location they don't understand that they can go to the bathroom inside? This was in addition to all the of stress of everything I had left to do to get ready before we left on our flight in a few hours.
After loading the dogs in the car. I got in the driver seat and closed the door. I could tell the dogs were extremely anxious. Normally they get in and just stick their heads out the window in anticipation of the breeze. But today they were all moving around so much like they couldn't find the right spot. I can only imagine what the car looked like from the outside with 3 one hundred pound dogs moving around in the back nonstop.
My heart was nudged to say a prayer. I prayed for comfort for me and the dogs, for calmness, for safety as we drove there (since Lucy has jumped from our moving car before), and safety when I was to unload them from the car and transfer them into the new facility, and help for the dogs to know everything would be ok at this new place and that they wouldn't have to stay there forever.
After closing my prayer, the atmosphere in our car completely changed. It literally felt like unseen angels had come into our car and the dogs became very calm and stopped moving around and I became very calm. Their unseen, but very felt presence brought tears to my eyes, as I could not have denied the abrupt change in atmosphere that happened so quickly.
I am so grateful for answered prayers. After that prayer I was able to drive with calm dogs all the way to the facility and transferred them in safely. They stayed the whole time we were on our trip with no incident.
So if you are ever feeling overwhelmed, don't hesitate to pray, help is only a prayer away.
I love that song "Angels Among Us". This song is generally about people who become earthly angels in our lives in times of need. But on this day I felt there were unseen "Angels Among Us" that were sent because of my heartfelt prayer.
"Oh I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give
To guide us with the light of love"
While researching Angels on the Church's website, I came across this article that explains there are two types of angels. I also find comfort in the scripture Psalm 91:11 "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."
It's Friday morning and I am working from my basement office. The thought came to my mind, "Do not stream your music". But I always stream my music while working, in fact, I almost don't know how to work without it. I knew Hen was going to be taking a test upstairs in his office. But then the rationalization/justification thoughts came to my mind of "we haven't had an issue before", "what a silly thought". So I turned my music on and began working. Then amidst working I ended up having a video call with a coworker. This created two streaming instances at once, one for my music, and one for the video call.
All of a sudden I hear from upstairs, "OH NO! The internet crashed in the middle of my mid term test! I'm just sick about it! What am I going to do? The professor may just make me keep this score, and I was only halfway done."
Of course, immediately I felt regret for not listening to that prompting. While streaming my music might have been ok, having that going on while taking a video call, was clearly too much for our internet to handle. Likely largely because we also have like 8 cameras that also run off of that same signal.
Henry called down to me telling me what happened. I debated whether or not to tell him, but ended up telling him. I told him, "I'm so sorry, it's my fault. I ignored a prompting. The Holy Ghost told me not to play my music while you were taking a test and I ignored it." I felt terrible.
Some of you may say, "How do you know it was the Holy Ghost?" I didn't hear a voice, loud, or small in this instance. It was simply a thought that came to my mind. I know it was the Holy Ghost because it was a thought I would not have had on my own. I stream my music while working everyday. And we haven't had internet issues since we got our last router a few months ago. So it wasn't a thought that would have crossed my mind on it's own.
Part of the purpose of our existence here on earth is to be tested. Can we be obedient? Are we listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost when they come? I think sometimes we have these situations happen because the Holy Ghost wants to remind us he is there. Part of his role in our lives is to guide us to make better decisions and to warn us of danger or harm. In 2nd Nephi 32:5 it teaches us "For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do."
He is a member of the Godhead along with our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. These three beings are completely separate entities but are one in purpose. Their purpose can be found in Moses 1:39 "For Behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." This scripture basically tells us that the purpose of the Godhead is to help us to return to live with our Heavenly Father for eternity after we are resurrected and this can only be done through obedience and good works which includes charity.
In this experience I believe the Holy Ghost was reminding me to not ignore a prompting now or in the future. I believe it was a reminder for me that I must trust his promptings even when they are small, so that when a larger prompting comes along, I won't ignore it.
The good news to this story is that Henry has a very generous professor who let him retake the test on Saturday before our flight out to Virginia. He was able to get a perfect score on it. But it was still a total pain for him to have to retake it.
Moral of the story- do not ignore a prompting no matter how small or dumb or out of place it may seem.
