Twenty Eighth Week

Salt Lake Temple Square Mission
December 15, 2013

Picture of the Temple from the second
floor of the Joseph
Smith Memorial Building

 

 Christmas is fast approaching.  How fun it has been for us to be here at this time of the year because there are so many gala and spiritual events.  But most importantly, the spirit resides on the Square and you can feel Christmas.  Last week was very hectic in the evenings with families everywhere, long lines to the Christus, photographs in abundance, but despite the chaos it was enjoyable.  To be outside with the lights and hot chocolate in hand was a joy never to be forgotten.



Sister Frost and the Singletons

Speaking of events this week the Christmas Concert was held in the Conference Center.  We had an opportunity to go Thursday night along with our friends, the Singletons and our son-in-law, Ken.  Spectacular is the only word to describe what we saw.  Deborah Voigt and John Rhys-Davies were the guest performers this year and they did a fantastic job.  A salute to Dickens’, A Christmas Carol, was performed as the cast members flew through the air.  We had a great time Thursday, but Sunday we waited in the standby line and got in again.  This time our seats were in the balcony and wow what a view we had.  We’ve determined we like the balcony better than the plaza seating.  The performance was not only entertaining but very uplifting and spiritual.  We hope our friends, the Singletons, could feel that as they came.

President Gillette standing and Elder and Sister Clarke
are seated behind him

This week we also had the opportunity to have Elder Don R. Clarke of the Seventy come for a “mission tour.”  For three days he was with us giving instruction to the mission.  He enlightened our minds with his words and after his visit everyone vowed to be better missionaries and hasten the work.  Along with his speaking, a luncheon was held each day in which I was intimately involved.  A good sister in Salt Lake had volunteered to buy food and put together the menu.  I was her sidekick for those three days.  Interestingly, Elder Clarke called Taggart and I to the front of the room and thanked us for our missionary service.  He then told us that our family would be blessed because of our service.  The Holy Ghost confirmed to me that there might be hard times but indeed we would be blessed.

We also had the opportunity to have a first discussion with Jason, our latest missionary contact.  To begin our discussion we asked him to share his story with us.  He grew up in China under the Mao Regime.  Needless to say, his life was not very pleasant because his father was imprisoned for nine years.  He was only released when his mother, a physician, was sent to the country to practice and at that time her husband was able to go with her.  He has very little knowledge of our Savior and so we will have to take it very slow.  We asked if we could pray and he didn’t know what prayer was.  We look forward with great anticipation to the next discussion.  However, this will not occur until after Christmas because he will be joining his family in Canada for the holidays.

Three glorious pictures of Temple Square

As always, we are grateful for the time we have here.  We can’t believe that we have been here almost seven months.  Time is flying by and we know as Taggart always says, “We need to make the most of time before the most of time is gone.”  Our goal for the next several months is to do our best and lengthen our stride.  This time for us will never come again.