Letters From London: How You Grow From Doing Temple Work

It is Saturday afternoon:

I am so-o-o tired I can hardly push down the keys on this keyboard. It’s a good thing I’m not having to type on an old-fashioned typewriter. (Any kids reading this better ask their grandparents what they were like.) We got up this morning and couldn’t even see out of the windows because they were being pelted with large drops of rain. Of course, my first thought was: Well, maybe this won’t be one of those crazy Saturdays at the temple with patrons coming out of the woodwork and our meager amount of temple workers trying to cover all the bases, etc. WRONGO! Listen, around here, when the heavens weep, the saints don’t sleep. (They come to the temple!) As ‘trainers’, Niel and I are the ‘go-to’ temple workers who—oh, how shall I say it?—do everything that needs to be done. What a day!

But we are still alive and breathing.

Monday morning:

We are starting to recover. Maybe by Tuesday, I’ll be able to walk without limping. Sunday was a remarkable day. We went to the Crawley Ward in a rain storm, but were so thrilled to see that the speakers for our Sacrament Meeting were Elder and Sister Pinegar, who are the directors of the Visitor’s Centre, here on the temple grounds. They are both wonderful people and I knew from the start that we were going to be ‘spiritually fed’. They didn’t disappoint us. Sister Pinegar talked about the purpose of the members of the Godhead. She only had enough time to talk about Christ’s role. She had some very insightful things to say about Jesus and what He was trying to teach us, here on earth. She mentioned the time that Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and praying for 40 days, and how, at the end of that time Satan tried to tempt Him. She said that everything Jesus spoke was and is scripture, so He could have told Satan just what He was thinking in answer to the temptations. But, what did Jesus use? THE SCRIPTURES! What a wonderful example. Therefore, everyone who is reading this, I hope you realize how important is it for you to read, know and study the scriptures. I always think it’s so wonderful when speakers or teachers or anyone can divine important doctrine from what happened during Christ’s visit to the earth. Brother Pinegar also spoke about miracles. He is so tall (and so is she) that when he stood up to the pulpit, they had to almost pull the microphone out of the stand to reach him. He is one of those speakers who you cannot repeat exactly what he said, but, you get this heavenly feeling (the Spirit) so strongly from him. He really is a gentle giant (physically and spiritually).

Okay, now, back to Monday. We spent an absolutely delightful day browsing for antiques in the little hamlet of Nutley. Most of you know how much I love to look through antiques stores and this was my first real experience on our mission. There was loads to see and ooh and aah over. I found some beautiful little doilies and I even found some tatted ones, but they were in too rough of shape. I brought the doilies home with me, though. I found Niel an old bamboo fishing rod, which he didn’t buy, but he did buy an antique book on fly fishing. I was shocked. He made the excuse that it had some knots in it that he didn’t know how to tie. I hope he can use it. We also stopped to see some gorgeous restored cars. Niel fell in love with a 1995 MGB. He would have bought it on the spot, but it was too pricey at 25,000.00 pounds. Too bad.

In the evening, we went out with a group of about 25 fellow temple workers to a farewell dinner for Leighton and Arline Jones. They are such a special couple. We have worked with them the whole time we have been serving in the London Temple. We have visited them in their home in Wales (Merthyr Tydfil). When we get back, I will attempt to speak with a small Welsh accent, so that you’ll know what Sister Jones sounds like. She has been so sweet and loving. (Only she says, lovin’) The Welsh people are great singers and, I think, they sing when they talk too.

Goodbye Dinner for the Jones

Tuesday:

We are almost recovered from last Saturday and ready to begin what we came here to do, temple work. I will finish the laundry chores and cook a small dinner/lunch, make our lunches for later this afternoon and off we will go to serve the Lord on the late shift. Doing this temple work is the best thing, ever, for our hearts and souls. We love these people (They are still coming from Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Africa, Germany, Norway etc.) too. Last week there were usually two to three languages spoken in most sessions. What is so wonderful to experience, though, is to interact with people with whom you can’t really communicate, but you both believe in the same religion and, therefore, you feel that common bond and love for each other. It’s great!

I almost forgot to tell why I chose the theme of this particular blog. It has to do with why we are here on earth. The Lord sent us here to refine ourselves by experiencing trials, tests, giving service, gaining knowledge, getting married and having children and, in short, over-coming the world. I, unfortunately, along with several of my offspring, have only been able to learn through trial and error. The ‘refiner’s fire’ works over-time in my life. But, since serving on this mission to the temple, I have been so thrilled to realize and experience that serving, being and participating in the temple on a regular basis is the best kind of ‘refiner’s fire’ there is. I can truly testify that what we do in the temple and, if we do it on a regular basis, refines us more than we realize. It is more of a blessing than you would ever think.

That is a truth!

Now, I hope it sinks in and all will avail themselves of the blessings of the temple.

We hope you are praying for us as much as we are praying for you!

Love to everyone.

Niel (Grumpa) and Carolee (Gram)