Temple WORK!

June 23, 2013 

On Brighton Pier

Temple WORK

(Letter from Niel/Dad)

After one week of temple service, we have decided that temple WORK is the best way to describe what we are going through. We were on the “early” shift this week, 9am-3pm and by the end of the shift, we were both tired. Once they discovered we had previous endowment worker experience, and were able to do the work, we were assigned to every part of the temple except the baptistery. One day I was on my new knee so long that my knee and ankle swelled up like a football. (maybe not quite that big) But I was sore and tired. 

My temple trainer is Bro Kelly. He has not been a trainer long, but is very experienced and determined that I do things the London Temple Way. For example, I thought I would save some time and wear my dark suit along with white socks and white tie to report to the temple. Notta. We must change our clothes once in the temple. Of course I agreed to that right away. There were other “issues” that needed correcting in terms of procedure. Bro Kelly has said to me more than once, “you’re a big guy ehh” (aren’t you) He is about 5’3”. I love the guy and he is very easy to take direction from.

I had couple of experiences this week while doing the work that I won’t be able to include here. One that I can include related to a little English man in his 80’s that spent nearly the entire week doing work for his ancestors. I had been with him at different areas of the temple. As I stood by him and helped him in the area where the temple ceremony concludes, tears came to my eyes as I saw this feeble man with Parkinson's Disease faithfully serving in the House of the Lord. At his age, he could have very well been at home acting his age. Instead, he was concerned that other deceased members of his family share in the blessings of the gospel that he knew to be true.

I’ve seen tears shed as temple work was completed for deceased family members. Something tells me there will be some wonderful rewards for these dedicated church members that forget themselves and do temple work.

Tonight we said goodbye to two couples who have finished their temple missions. One English couple from Devonshire, last name of Essoms and the other couple from Hooper, Utah named Fowers. Brother Essom is a sealer and I have not worked with him much. This mission concludes Elder and Sister Fowers third mission, one to Armenia, then Florida and then the London Temple.  I just can’t even imagine that kind of dedication in terms of missionary service. I’ll go ahead and do my best to complete number one.

We called Rulon and Marylou tonight in Aberdeen, Scotland. They were in a meeting at 9:30 at night.  Carolee and I looked at each other and commented that missionary work requires dedication.

We miss you all and hope that you are doing well.  Did I say we miss you??? Yes we do.

Love, mom and dad

Dear family and friends:  
(Letter from Carolee/Mom)

We really are enjoying this mission. They were gearing us up for the shifts on Saturday, saying that there would 3-4 stakes and a couple of wards coming to do work all day. One of the wards brought young people to do baptisms too.  Well, you’d think the sky was going to cave in and after it was all said and done (at 5:00 pm, mind you) I felt like I had done a shift on a normal day at the Provo Temple.  However, the day did go fast.  They are determined to hold a session on the hour during the day on the week days and for a lot of the sessions there may only be four or five patrons. So, we put on temple clothes and go in to the session and help. Some workers changes clothes it seems five or six times a day.  I have been helping in the Initiatory quite a lot.  It gets hot and muggy in there. Thank goodness I have my trusty fan.  I was worried that they wouldn’t let me use it in the temple because it is wooden and not white, but so far so good.

There are several things that we have had to learn about here. I’ve been trying to keep a record of them as they occur during the day.  They do not have knee-hi socks here, they are called “pop socks” because, when asked, you just pop them on.  There are also no parking lots, they are called car parks.  I have looked and looked for my beloved bleach for my towels and have found out that they do not have bleach here, but use a form of Oxi-clean.  Yesterday I had rhubarb yogurt. Go figure.  No one knows what a cent is because they are called p’s and a penny is called a copper (if you can find one).  There is no tax on food etc. so the price of everything is exactly what is says on the price tag or label.

We are still trying to work our phone situation out.  It may take a little more time though.  We went down to Brighton today with the Littlefields. It was a fun trip, did a lot of walking and sight-seeing.  

Town centre detention box for drunkenness crimes

Brighton Pier

Dust bin worker

Trip to Brighton

Littlefields

Very tired tonight! Well, I'm off to the laundry and get the towels and underwear into the dryers.  

Love to everyone,  
Mom/Carolee   

View from outside their apartment window

King George IV Palace in Brighton

Lily pond flowers in Brighton

Beautiful flowerbeds at King George IV Palace in Brighton

First week in Review

June 16, 2013

Reporting for Service

This is the third time I have tried to compose this message. No more straight to the email.

We reported to the SL Temple with recommends in hand Monday June 10^th at 8am. Our instruction continued over a three day period through Wednesday and consisted of video presentations of temple ordinances we would be performing, questions and comments, reporting to the area in the temple where that particular ordinance would be performed and then back to the instruction area for more questions, comments etc. We covered it all. Our instructor was Bro Thueson of the temple department. We hoped it would be Elder and Sister Hammond but they have now been released due to health issues.

The final day of training included a visit to the 5^th floor of the temple (assembly hall) which is used for important instruction to leaders. I have been to three “solemn assemblies”, once while serving as an Elders Q President in Sandy, again as a bishop and finally as a stake president.  In my last solemn assembly, members of the twelve passed the sacrament to all in attendance. My row received the sacrament from President Packer (then Elder Packer). The topic was important and related to personal worthiness of priesthood leaders.

We were told the temple fourth floor was only used by GA’s and we were not invited to look.  However, we were invited to go to the basement of the temple and look at early pictures of the temple construction. Much of the foundation has been secured by a concrete encasement. Some of the original sand stone blocks were retained but most were replaced by granite when flaws were detected while being set.

Our visit to the 5^th level included a tour of the room given to Elder James Talmage while he wrote “Jesus The Christ”. His roll top desk remains in the room along with other antique furnishings. We also took a look at the spiral stair case in that corner of the temple and we were told that each step in the staircase weighs 1,700 lbs. The tour concluded with an address by a member of the Seventy. The spirit was strong in the room and all were lifted spiritually. Our instruction was short but to the point. The focus of all of our training was “show love and support for temple patrons”. Do not detract from their temple worship experience. Too many temple workers are critical of items that really make no difference other than that’s the way they have seen it done etc. Do not attract attention to a patron to their embarrassment. The Lord will accept the ordinance as performed, even if not perfect.

Our flight to Las Vegas was delayed to the point we almost missed our connection to London Gatwick Airport. We had to move all our luggage from the Delta terminal to the British Air terminal, no small task. But we made it with literally minutes to spare. The flight to the UK was long and tiring. I could not sleep and tried to keep my leg active by walking around.

We were met at the airport by Sister Cook, assistant matron and wife of the 1^st councilor in the presidency. We were also delighted to see Ian and Maggie Turner who welcomed us with open arms. They have been so kind and literally signed over a car for us to use while here. The 2^nd Councilor in the presidency is President Locke. My good friend Dennis Johnson was instrumental in his conversion nearly 47 years ago. Other Springville missionaries, Elder Denny Engle and Elder Roland Senior were part of that process. All because of basketball. President Locke went on about how wonderful these Elders are and were in his life.

Our apartment is small and very cozy. I mean small. We brought way to much stuff. But all will be well after we relocate our empty luggage. We are literally together 100 percent of the time.  So far, so good.

The shower pumps out a cup of water per minute and we're not kidding. 

We were set apart by the Temple President, President Lowry on Saturday morning. He is a very humble genuine man and gave us both wonderful blessings as he set us apart. His wife, the Matron, was with us in his office. His office window looks out over the temple grounds and is breath-takingly beautiful. He mentioned that the temple was due for certain renovations but they had been delayed due to temple funds being moved to the missionary efforts and younger aged missionaries. He also confirmed the rumors that the temple will be completely closed September 1^st through November 15^th while HVAC improvements are made. What will we be doing?   Sounds like they will give us a two week leave and then we will do whatever they ask, including landscaping improvements, office work, etc.  I think the diversion will come just at the right time.

Today we were invited to eat Sunday dinner with Elders and Sisters Murdoch of Logan, and Christensen of West Jordan. Elder and Sister Littlefield of Lehi joined us. The Littlefields trained and traveled with us and we have taken a liking to them. This is their 4^th mission. First mission was in Nigeria, then Russia, then the Navaho Nation, and now London Temple. Elder Nelson arranged for them to come to this mission and said they needed a “cushy” mission after all their previous assignments. That made us slide down our chairs a bit. They have some very interesting stories to tell and we have invited them to travel in the car with us.

Elder Littlefield

We visited Costco on Saturday. Just like the US Costco in terms of operation but the shelves are filled with brands and stuff we have no idea what it is.  We sent a picture of our little car loaded with goods including loafs of bread in the back window. But we made it after a good laugh.

Tomorrow, (Monday) we will shop again and then it is to work on Tuesday pm shift – 2pm to 9pm.  We are called both black and white badge missionaries and wear whichever badge fits the occasion.

We attended church in Crawley today. Sacrament meeting was very good along with other meetings. There is some strength in the church here but just not enough of it. Still, there was some impressive instruction and leadership.

Yes, we are ready to serve but we also miss our family very much. I have had to double up on "vitamin Z" (Strong slang for Zoloft) to get past the first couple of days. Want you all to know how much we love you and how much we are relying on your prayers. They will be essential to our success. Thank you for your support and confidence in us.  Again, we love and miss you very much.

Love,

Dad and Mom

London Temple Sunday morning

Rhododendrons are in bloom

Littlefields from Lehi, Utah

They're Official...Name Tags and All!

Elder and Sister Strong at the Salt Lake Temple grounds. They look happy!

And They're Off!!!

Today was the big day! Kind of bitter sweet (heavy on the sweet though.) Almost all of us were all able to attend Mom and Dad's setting apart as full time missionaries at the Stake Center. Each of their blessings were wonderful in different ways. The promises in each blessing brought peace and joy to our hearts. Although it was difficult to say goodbye, we know that this is the beginning of a wonderful time in all of our lives. The blessings that come with serving in the House of the Lord are many!

Mom and Dad shortly after being set apart as full time missionaries for
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Goodbye Mom and Dad. Thank you for blessing our lives through your  dedication
to serving our  Savior, Jesus Christ. We Love you!!!

One Last Get Together

We decided to meet together for one last meal before mom and dad head out tomorrow. We met at Ruby River (a good, and close, standby for us) We had great conversation, food, and even shed a tear or two, (Lezlee.) And you know us Strongs and food. Well, let's just say everything revolves around food. We're not saying it's good, just saying. It was a wonderful evening for us to spend together.

All photos taken by Dad at the head of the table.

Temple Miracles

A Special Session, first published in LDS Living Magazine August 28, 2006

For decades, the London England and Bern Switzerland Temples were the only temples on the European continent. They served a large geographical area that includes districts on the African continent. Many members made tremendous sacrifices to attend these temples, knowing that a temple trip could be a once-in-a-lifetime event.
In the late 1980s, a couple from Ghana in western Africa saved their money and traveled to the London Temple on an uncomfortable freight vessel. They arrived in England on a Friday night and awoke the next morning eager to visit the temple. With the help of a deckhand from the freighter, they found the temple Saturday afternoon. Their anticipation turned to sorrow when they learned that the temple was closed on Saturday afternoons; the last session of the day had begun a half hour before their arrival. The temple would reopen the following Tuesday—the same time their freighter would be returning to Ghana.
After traveling a vast distance at a great cost, the couple was overwhelmed with anguish and feared their dreams of achieving temple blessings would not be realized. They broke into tears. Arthur Henry King, who served as president of the London England Temple from 1986 to 1990, soon learned of the couple’s plight. President King arranged for a few temple workers and local members to participate in a special, additional session that day. His actions allowed this humble African couple to receive their endowments and the sealing ordinance that afternoon. They left the temple late in the day filled with peace and joy found in temple blessings.